Panchagarh, Sept 19 (UNB) – Local activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) reportedly stopped work on a model mosque in Tentulia upazila on Thursday as the contractor refused to give them Tk 20 lakh as toll.

They, led by Kazi Masfiqur Rahman Sakib, general secretary of upazila unit BCL, also beat the contractor, an engineer and workers, alleged contractor Nazmul Haque.

He said Sakib and his followers demanded Tk 20 lakh from him as he got the contract for constructing the mosque. “A group of 20-30 men, led by Sakib, came to the site in the morning and forced us to stop the work as we refused to give them money,” he said.

They also vandalised chairs, table and temporary houses built for the work and beat him and engineer Husain Md Safi Mondal and some workers, the contractor alleged.

Contacted, Sakib denied the allegation, saying, “We didn’t do anything like that. I don’t believe in extortion. But I wanted to manage work for my followers.”

Sadar union parishad Chairman Kazi Anisur Rahman, also Sakib’s father, also denied the allegation. “Some BCL leaders came to me to give them the scope to supply some materials for the project. That’s why they roam around the site.”

Husain Md Safi Mondal, deputy engineer of Panchagarh Public Works Department, said, the incident took place in his presence and he was also manhandled. “I informed the higher authorities of the incident,” he added.

Jahurul Islam, officer-in-charge of Tentulia Model Police Station, said he visited the spot after hearing the incident. “We’ll take legal steps after getting complaints,” he said.

The government initiated to set up some 560 model mosques across the country, aiming to develop and spread the Islamic values and culture.
 

Dhaka, Sept 19 (UNB) - A woman died of dengue in Khulna on Thursday night while 491 new patients were hospitals across the country in 24 hours till Thursday morning. 

In Khulna, Rozina, 35, wife of Khairul Islam of Jhikargachha upazila in Jashore, succumbed to the mosquito-borne disease at Khulna Medical College Hospital around 9:40pm, said Dr Shailendranath Biswas, resident physician of the hospital.  

Rozina was admitted to the hospital with dengue around 4am on Thursday and died while undergoing treatment at the intensive care unit.

Of the new patients, 159 were hospitalised in Dhaka and 332 outside, shows daily dengue update from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

About 2,226 patients are currently being treated at hospitals across the country, it said.

Since the beginning of this year, 83,481 people were hospitalised with dengue, most of them in Dhaka. Of them, 81,052 made full recovery.

Since January, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) received information about 203 dengue-related deaths. It has so far reviewed 116 cases and confirmed 68 dengue deaths.
 

Dhaka, Sept 19 (UNB) - Bangladesh receives on an average 2000 mm rainfall every year and this is adequate to meet most domestic needs, said experts on Thursday.

At the 4th Rainwater Harvesting Convention held at a city hotel, they also opined that by collecting rainwater for reuse and recharging fast-depleting groundwater sources, water scarcity can be mitigated and increased resilience against climate change can be achieved- – reducing waterlogging and restoring water-related ecosystems.           

With proper design and management, Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) system can provide acceptable water quality for drinking in households and industrial areas in both rural and urban city, said Prof Dr Tanvir Ahmed of the Department of Civil Engineering, Buet. 

Rainwater harvesting is a practical, cost-effective and sustainable solution to many of the water management issues that the country is currently facing, he added.              

WaterAid in collaboration with HSBC, RAIN Forum, ESTex, BAE and ITN-Buet organised the convention.

The first phase of the daylong convention was chaired by Prof Dr M Ashraf Ali, Director of ITN-Buet, and the second phase was chaired by Dr Kazi Matin Uddin Ahmed, Professor of the Department of Geology, University of Dhaka. 

Md Shahid Ullah Khandaker, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works, was present at the convention as the chief guest.

The convention ended with a panel discussion on the need to address the country’s emerging water crisis and the role of rainwater harvesting in achieving SDG 6 by 2030. 
Shyamal Dutta, Editor of The Bhorer Kagoj; Md Shahadat Hossain, Chief Engineer of Public Works Department; Brigadier General MA Mohy, Chief Engineer of Health Engineering Department; ASM Raihanul Ferdous, Chief Engineer of Rajuk; and Engineer Mohammad Shamim Akhter, among others, took part in the discussion.

Over 100 participants at the convention discussed and debated on policies, challenges and prospects of rainwater harvesting.
 

Dhaka, Sept 19 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday directed the leaders of Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL) to do politics with honesty and humility for gaining the trust of people and brightening their image further.

“You'll have to do politics with humility, honesty and ideology…you’ll have to build your own image and brighten that of the country as well,” she said pointing at the leaders of Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL).

The Prime Minister gave the directives when a group of BCL leaders, led by its new acting president Al-Nahean Khan Joy and new acting general secretary Lekhak Bhattacharjee, met her at her official residence Ganobhaban.

The Prime Minister said the government has now gone harsh on Jubo League after Chhatra League. “We’ve caught Jubo League after Chhatra League. All social inconsistencies will be removed,” she said.
Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher briefed reporters after the meeting.

Sheikh Hasina asked the BCL leaders to try to gain the trust of people first by being humble, not demonstrating power.

Mentioning that students from different parts of the country are admitted to universities, Sheikh Hasina directed the BCL leaders to build good relations with them.

Issuing a note of warning, she said, “We’ve given the responsibility to you keeping trust and confidence in you. If you fail to keep up the dignity, we won’t need you.”

Talking about casinos, the Prime Minister said any clash and killing over casinos will not be tolerated.

Noting that foreigners are working in casinos, she questioned as to who brought them and gave them visas. “All things about casinos are being investigated,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina said the government attained many successes for the country and developed Bangladesh by working hard. “I’ll in no way allow any stigma on it (the hard-earned achievements). I won’t spare anyone. If anyone hampers it (the government’s success), he/she won’t be spared,” she said.

She directed the BCL leaders to leave the politics of showing power. “You shouldn’t move with motorcycles, protocol, and showing power.”
 

The Prime Minister said she had to face many adversities in her life. ‘’No one faced so much adversities as I faced in my life. I was given offer but I didn’t compromise.”

She asked them to strengthen the organisation to keep it on a strong foundation and take collective decisions to this end.

“I want you to lead life bearing an ideology and take the country forward…. it’s you who will take the country forward further till 2041,” Sheikh Hasina said.

Highlighting the glorious history of student organisation, she said Chhatra League played the leading role in all struggles and democratic movements in the past.

The Prime Minister said it was Chhatra League which had raised Joy Bangla slogan and national flag of Bangladesh first following the directive of Bangabandhu.

Referring to the Bangabandhu's Unfinished Memoirs, Jail Diary and Intelligent’s Secret Documents, she advised the student leaders to read the books.

They will get real teachings and lessons from there to be good politicians, the Prime Minister said.

The BCL leaders sought blessings of the Prime Minister to brighten the image of the student organisation and bring back its lost glory.

The new BCL president and general secretary greeted the Prime Minister by presenting a bouquet to her.

On September 14 last, Al-Nahean Khan Joy and Lekhak Bhattacharjee were given the charge of BCL president and general secretary respectively.

They replaced immediate past BCL president and general secretary Rejwanul Haque Choudhury Shovon.

Dhaka, Sept 19 (UNB) - Indian High Commission in Dhaka on Thursday hosted a reception to celebrate the 55th Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Day.

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud attended the reception held at the High Commission of India as the chief guest. 

Speaking on the occasion, High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das underscored the importance of such programmes in strengthening the capacity of officials of Bangladesh working in various ministries and departments. 

She said such programmes will further enhance the already excellent bilateral cooperation that exists between the two countries.

ITEC, a flagship programme of the government of India was instituted in 1964 as part of India’s Development Assistance Programme within the framework of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation offering developing countries the benefit of India’s development experience and appropriate technologies, according to Indian High Commission in Dhaka. 

Every year, over 10,000 training slots are offered to 161 partner countries for training courses in various areas like accounts, audit, management, SME, rural development, parliamentary affairs. Bangladesh is India’s foremost and valued partner under the ITEC Cooperation. 

Over 4,000 young Bangladeshi professionals have undergone such specialised short and medium term courses in India under the ITEC programme since 2007. 

These training programmes provide an opportunity to share best practices with the brightest brains and India equally benefits from the developmental experiences of Bangladesh.

Around 300 ITEC alumni from all walks of life, besides distinguished guests, attended the programme.

A short cultural programme organised by Nrittya Chhanda and Bir Srestha Noor Mohammad Public College, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Dhaka was also presented on the occasion.