United News of Bangladesh

Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank Anna Bjerde on Thursday reiterated the global lender's support to the interim government for rebuilding Bangladesh. "I want to express our support… count on us for whatever support you want," she told Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus during a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in the Swiss city. Dr Yunus urges Meta to intensify efforts against misinformation, fake news The World Bank Managing Director for operations said the bank would like to extend its support to Bangladesh in the second half of the year, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. During the talks, they spoke briefly on the July uprising, reform initiatives of the interim government and the state of Bangladesh economy. DP World, Maersk eye major investments in Bangladesh ports Lamiya Morshed, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator of the Bangladesh government, and Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Bangladesh’s permanent  representative to Geneva, also attended the meeting.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Sajjat Ali has announced that a policy is being drafted concerning the operation of battery-run rickshaws. Under the proposed guidelines, no individual would be permitted to own more than one battery-powered rickshaw, in line with the principle that the driver should also be the owner, he said during a meeting with battery-run rickshaw owners and workers' associations at the DMP headquarters on Thursday afternoon. While highlighting the challenges associated with these vehicles, he said, “Although battery-powered rickshaws have created employment opportunities, they have also led to various problems. We must collectively address these issues.” He urged owners and drivers to ensure these rickshaws avoid major roads and bus routes. He also instructed authorities to take legal action against battery-powered rickshaws entering Dhaka from outside the metropolitan area. Sufficient security measures taken for Ekushey Boi Mela: DMP Commissioner During the meeting, the commissioner issued a firm warning against extortion in the transport sector, stating, “Any form of extortion will not be tolerated. Neither owners nor workers should pay any extortion money. If anyone demands such payments, report it to the nearest police station or outpost.” Representatives from rickshaw owners and workers' associations raised several concerns and requested the DMP Commissioner's intervention in resolving them.

Labour and Employment Affairs Adviser Brig Gen (retd) Dr Sakhawat Hussain has said that it is not feasible to reopen the closed factory of Beximco Industrial Park. "For some time, the environment was peaceful. Suddenly, yesterday, they (workers) organised an assembly and presented three demands. I believe it is impossible for any government to fulfil these demands as they are highly unreasonable,” he said. Beximco workers' protest foiled amid tight surveillance in Gazipur “Despite this, they announced they would form a human chain and block roads. They followed through, and we did not intervene. Police were deployed, but they were not obstructed,” said Sakhawat, who is also the convener of the Advisory Council Committee for reviewing the labour and business situation of industrial institutions in Beximco Industrial Park, on Thursday. The labour affairs adviser was speaking during a press conference on Thursday at the Secretariat. Beximco workers block Chandra-Nabinagar highway, 3 vehicles set on fire Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashiruddin and Home Affairs Adviser Lt General (retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury were present at the time, among others. "We assumed, and still assume, they would present their demands responsibly, and we have no objections to that. However, what happened yesterday was unprecedented. Over 100 buses were burned, and various establishments were vandalised. This should not have occurred. It has never happened before. Why did this suddenly happen? We will investigate. I believe this is completely irresponsible. Those leading this have acted deceitfully and nearly created a significant crisis,” he added. "Extreme patience was shown, but that patience was not respected. During yesterday's meeting, the secretary spoke, and they assured us they would engage peacefully. Today, they came and spoke. So far, no one has been physically harmed, but now it seems this restraint is being perceived as a weakness. Many police officers have been injured. They even attacked the police and set army vehicles on fire," Sakhawat also said. Beximco Industrial Park workers block highway in Gazipur over wages Asked whether there was any possibility of reopening the closed Beximco factory, Sakhawat replied, "With what? How?" Responding to concerns about whether buyers might refrain from engaging with Beximco, he said, "Buyers will not come. Who will take responsibility for these assets? (Referring to Beximco's financial state) Is it possible to operate a factory under these circumstances? Will you run it?" Employees of Beximco have demanded a loan of Tk 700 crore by mortgaging 23 acres of land. When asked about this, Sakhawat responded, "That land is already mortgaged."

Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Ambassador Lee Jeongkyu w on Thursday reaffirmed his country's support for Bangladesh's interim government and its reform efforts. He extended South Korea's support to Bangladesh during a meeting with Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He expressed satisfaction with the robust trade, investment, and economic ties between the two countries, highlighting that 150 Korean companies are operating in Bangladesh, with more seeking investment opportunities in key sectors. South Korean special envoy to pay “goodwill” visit to Bangladesh Jan 22-23 The Foreign Secretary informed the Special Envoy about Bangladesh’s ongoing reform initiatives following the July-August revolution to promote transparency and accountability. The Foreign Secretary also mentioned the active role of the interim government in creating a conducive environment for organising the election to ensure a smooth transition of power. He emphasised Bangladesh’s interest in attracting Korean investment in agriculture, high-tech RMG, smart city development and electronics. Jashim Uddin stressed the importance of enhanced business-to-business and Chamber-to-Chamber engagements and urged swift progress on the Economic Partnership Agreement to strengthen bilateral trade and investment. The Special Envoy praised the Bangladeshi workers for their contribution and hard work. The Foreign Secretary praised ROK’s Employment Permit System (EPS). He also acknowledged ROK’s transformation into a developed nation, describing it as an inspiration for Bangladesh’s own development aspirations. Dr Yunus urges Meta to intensify efforts against misinformation, fake news He also praised ROK’s global soft power, including the cultural influence of K-Pop and K-Dramas, which continue to win hearts worldwide, including in Bangladesh. The Foreign Secretary also thanked ROK, being supportive to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue, with the Special Envoy reaffirming Korea’s support. The meeting concluded with a commitment to advancing high-level engagements to deepen Bangladesh-ROK relations.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday urged Meta to step up efforts to tackle misinformation and fake news being spread through Facebook in Bangladesh. Dr Yunus said "oligarchs and politicians" linked to the "toppled dictatorship of Sheikh Hasina" siphoned off tens of billions of dollars from Bangladesh during her 15 years of rule. "These people are now spending their fortune to spread lies and misinformation about Bangladesh," the Chief Adviser told Sir Nick Clegg, the head of global affairs at Meta, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in the Swiss city. DP World, Maersk eye major investments in Bangladesh ports Clegg is also a former deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom. Probir Mehta, Director of Policy Planning of Meta; Lamiya Morshed, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator; and Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam, Bangladesh's Permanent Representative in Geneva, also joined the meeting. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented, virtual and mixed reality to help build the next evolution in social technology. Clegg said Facebook would continue to do fact-checking and digital verification in Bangladesh as it is an important country, with its population the world's eighth largest, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. Meta's decision to stop fact-checking in the United States would not be applicable for Bangladesh and countries in Europe, he said. Switzerland reaffirms support to Bangladesh during important phase of transition He said Facebook would likely scale up its digital verification service in Bangladesh and would explore ways to do fact checking by users -- similar to the operation of Wikipedia. During the half-an-hour-long meeting, Clegg also offered Meta's expertise in drafting a new cybersecurity laws. "We have a lot of experience here," he said. The Meta global affairs chief said Llama, the company's recently launched open-sourced large language model AI, could help revolutionise health care, farming and education. He hoped it would be popular among the users in Bangladesh. Prof Yunus asked Meta to organise month-long training programs on Llama in Bangladesh. "It will open up new opportunities for Bangladesh's young people," he said.

Chittagong University has expelled 73 students for their involvement in attacks on students and journalists during the anti-discrimination student movement. “We have expelled a total of 73 students for the incidents of attacks on students during the movement and on journalists who supported it,” said CU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof Kamal Uddin on Thursday. DU provides financial assistance to students injured in July Uprising “Initially, we have expelled those against whom we found evidence. More students will be expelled later based on further evidence,” he added.

Workers of Beximco Industrial Park in Gazipur’s Kashimpur failed to stage a protest on Thursday due to heavy surveillance by law enforcement agencies. Md Abu Taleb, senior assistant superintendent of police, Gazipur Industrial Police-2 (Konabari zone), said that an adequate number of police along with army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel, were deployed around the Chandra-Nabinagar highway and the industrial park to maintain order. Beximco workers block Chandra-Nabinagar highway, 3 vehicles set on fire Workers have been protesting for several days, demanding the reopening of 16 closed factories within the industrial park, banking facilities, and the settlement of unpaid dues. Despite plans to gather for a protest this morning, the workers were unable to proceed due to the heightened security measures. Beximco Industrial Park workers block highway in Gazipur over wages Earlier on Wednesday, protesters had blocked the Chandra-Nabinagar highway, causing significant traffic congestion. The demonstration escalated into violence, with protesters vandalising approximately 50 vehicles and setting some on fire. Police resorted to tear gas and sound grenades to disperse the crowd and restore order.

The United Arab Emirates-based DP World and Denmark-based A.P. Moller–Maersk, on Thursday expressed interests in making big investments in Bangladesh's shipping industry to help the country build new ports along the coast of the Bay of Bengal and become a major global export hub. A.P. Moller - Maersk is a Danish shipping and logistics company while DP World is a leading provider of smart logistics solutions, enabling the flow of trade across the globe. The two leading companies came up with the proposals when Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World, and Robert Maersk Uggla, Chair of A.P. Moller–Maersk, met Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus in the Swiss city during the World Economic Forum annual meeting. Dr Yunus invited the DP World and A.P. Moller–Maersk officials to visit Dhaka with concrete investment proposals. Dhaka, Beijing "must cooperate wholeheartedly" to resolve Rohingya crisis: Foreign Adviser tells Shanghai Seminar "We have to build a series of ports along the coast of the Bay of Bengal to use our full potential as a regional business hub," said the Chief Adviser, welcoming FDI for capacity building of Bangladesh ports. DP World CEO said they want to invest in New Mooring Container Terminal, aiming to reduce congestion in Chattogram Port, reduce emissions and boost the efficiency of the port. The CEO of the UAE-based logistics company expressed optimism that investment in the New Mooring Container Terminal would help Bangladesh attract more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and reduce pollution. It happened in every country where DP World invested, Sulayem told the Chief Adviser, adding that they also wanted to invest in Bangladesh in 2022 but were snubbed by the then government, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary told UNB. Sulayem said that they also want to introduce a digital online customs procedure in Chittagong Port, which would help reduce corruption drastically.

A lineman died after falling from a ladder while working on an electric line behind the BSMMU [PG] hospital on Thursday. The deceased, identified as Zahid, 35, was employed by Moon Power Company. He was from Sadar upazila in Jamalpur, said Inspector Md Faruk, in charge of the Dhaka Medical College Police Outpost. Jubo Dal activist dies in Rajshahi road accident Zahid was rushed to PG Hospital, before being transferred to the DMCH emergency department for advanced treatment at 3:20 pm. Doctors declared him dead at 4:25 pm, the police official said. Zahid had been working on a DPDC electric pole to install a mainline wire when he fell from a height of 12-15 feet around 2:30 pm, suffering severe head injuries. Bus helper hit by covered van dies in Dhaka’s Jatrabari The body has been sent to the DMCH morgue for an autopsy, and further procedures are underway, the police official added.

The Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday filed two separate cases against the former Director General of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), Maj Gen Ziaul Ahsan, and his wife Nusrat Jahan over significant suspicious transactions. Ziaul was sent into forced retirement from the army after August 5 last year, following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. Commissioned into the military in 1991, he was a trained commando and paratrooper. ACC forms committee to probe allegations against Ziaul Ahsan The cases were filed with the ACC's Integrated District Office in Dhaka-1, ACC Director General (Prevention) Md Akhtar Hossain announced during a brief held at its headquarters. The Commission identified Tk 340 crore in suspicious transactions through 12 bank accounts linked to Ziaul Ahsan, while his wife was found to have suspicious transactions amounting to Tk 222.50 crore through four bank accounts. Additionally, the ACC uncovered Tk 120 crore in suspicious transactions across eight of his bank accounts, and his wife was accused of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 18.59 crore. The charges against the couple include violations of Section 27(1) of the ACC Act 2004, Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947, and various provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012. Ex-Maj Gen Ziaul Ahsan remanded for 8 days It was revealed that Ziaul Ahsan has been a citizen of the tax haven Antigua and Barbuda since 2017. During the acquisition of his citizenship, $200,000 was paid to C & C Consultancy and Management Services by Martil Consulting Malaysia Berhad SDN BHD in Malaysia on behalf of Ziaul Ahsan and his family. He has also invested approximately $135,000 in five-year bonds of Antigua and Barbuda. The ACC initiated an investigation into Ziaul Ahsan for accumulating illegal wealth through corruption and abuse of power. A three-member probe team was formed to investigate the allegations against him on December 18 last year. Led by ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin, the team also includes Assistant Director Ranjit Kumar Karmarkar and Deputy Assistant Director Jabed Hossain Sajal. On August 19, the Bangladesh Bank suspended transactions from the bank accounts associated with his family and related entities.