Bangladesh
3 held over murder of Eng. Imtiaz Bhuiya
Detective Branch of Police in a drive arrested three people in connection with the death of engineer Imtiaz Mohammad Bhuiya who was found dead in Munshiganj on March 8.
The arrestees were identified as Milad Hossain Munna, 19, Anwar Hossain, 38 and Ehsan Alias Megh, 23.
Imtiaz went missing from Crescent Road in Kalabagan area on March 7. Later, his family lodged a complaint with Kalabagan Police Station on the following day.
Later, police recovered the body of Imtiaz from a roadside bush on Nawabganj Highway road in Sirajdikhan upazila of Munshiganj district on March 8.
Police arrested Munna from Sirajganj on March 26 and following interrogation, police arrested Anwar and Megh from Kalabagan area of the city, said Additional commissioner (DB) Harun-or-Rashid while briefing to reporters from DB’s Minto Road headquarters.
When briefing, he said, “Imtiaz developed a relationship with one of the accused Alif through Grindr, free dating app serving the LGBTQ community. Imtiaz had gone out from his home after receiving a call from Alif. At one stage, Alif along with Arafat alias Foysal Ahmed Rahat alias Hridoy and the arrestees beat Imtiaz up mercilessly as he refused to provide money demanded by Alif.”
However, Alif and Arafat are on the run.
After interrogation the arrestees said they are members of LGBTQ and transgender community and they were involved in making friends with people of the community through the Grindr app and looted valuables including money after inviting them to a house, he said.
After killing Imtiaz, the accused took the body to Munshiganj by a private car owned by Megh and dumped it there.
Police also seized the vehicle.
New weather forecasting system launched for Bangladeshi farmers
A new weather forecasting system titled 'Sub-Seasonal to Seasonal Forecasting for Agriculture in Bangladesh' has been launched to help farmers decide their production plans.
The scheme has been implemented in collaboration with the 'Department of Agriculture Extension' and 'Bangladesh Meteorological Department' for providing accurate and up-to-date weather information to farmers under the 'Agro-Meteorological Information Systems Development project.
The new weather forecasting system was launched at the Bangabandhu Military Museum's Multipurpose Hall at Bijay Sarani in the capital on Monday.
Agriculture Secretary Wahida Akhtar was the chief guest on the occasion.
Through this system, farmers will get weather forecast for the next four weeks to three months, which will help them make production decisions based on the weather pattern.
Weather Impact and Wageningen University and two renowned Dutch institutes in partnership with the Digital Innovation for Impact (Dii) led the development of the system supported by the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI).
Speakers at the inauguration highlighted that this automatic forecasting system will be a breakthrough for agriculture.
HC seeks postmortem report and details of RAB members involved in Sultana's death in Naogaon
The High Court on Monday summoned the police report and postmortem report on the death of a union land office employee— Sultana Jasmine— in RAB custody in Naogaon district.
The court also sought details of Rab personnel who arrested and interrogated Sultana.
Concerned government officials have been asked to produce these reports before the court by tomorrow.
The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Ahmed Sohel made the orders after taking newspaper reports into account regarding the issue.
Advocate Manoj Kumar Bhowmik presented the reports published in various news outlets before the court. After that, the High Court asked Assistant Attorney General Abul Kalam Khan Daud to find out whether there was any case involving the death.
After 15 minutes, the state lawyer told the court that no case has been filed so far.Earlier, an employee of a union land office died in the custody of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) being allegedly tortured by the elite force on Friday morning.The deceased was identified as Sultana Jesmine, 45, office assistant at the Chandipur union land office of Naogaon Sadar upazila.The victim was detained from Muktirmor area of Naogaon city on Wednesday morning and died at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on Friday morning.However, the elite force denied the allegation of torture. They claimed that the victim was arrested for interrogation as there was an accusation of fraudulence against her.
Shahed Hossain Saikat, son of Sultana Jesmine, alleged that his mother was a victim of conspiracy. “She was tortured while in RAB custody which led to her death.”
Naogaon municipality’s former councilor and Sultana's uncle Nazmul Haque Mantu told journalists that Sultana was arrested by a group of people wearing RAB uniform on Wednesday morning from Muktirmor area.“After 12pm, we came to know that Sultana had been under treatment at Naogaon Hospital. We rushed and found RAB people there. My niece was unable to speak that time”, said Nazmul Haque Mantu.Rajshahi RAB-5 Company Commander Major Nazmus Sakib said they got an allegation of fraud against Sultana and arrested her for interrogation, finding evidence of an unusual transaction in her bank statement.“She fell sick immediately after the detention and was rushed to Nagaon Sadar Hospital. After primary treatment she was moved to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital where she died of stroke on Friday morning”, said the RAB officer.The body was handed over to her family on Saturday after completing all legal procedures, he added.
Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 7 more cases
Bangladesh reported seven more Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Monday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 20,38,008 according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,445 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity rate increased to 0.63 percent from Sunday’s 0.46 percent against the tests of 1,120 samples.
During this time, seventeen patients recovered from the disease, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2006801.
The death and recovery rates remained unchanged at 1.44 percent and 98.47 percent, respectively.
END/UNB/SIS1735Hrs
4 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24 hours
Four more people were hospitalised with dengue in the 24 hours till Monday morning.
All the new patients were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Twenty-two dengue patients, including 13 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, the DGHS has recorded 829 dengue cases, 798 recoveries, and nine deaths this year.
The country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year.
Doctors at 30 govt hospitals can run private practice in own institutions from March 30: Minister
Doctors in 10 district government hospitals and 20 upazila hospitals will be allowed to see patients in their respective institutions after office hours from March 30, said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Monday.
“As a pilot project it will be introduced in 10 district hospitals and 20 upazila level hospitals initially. Doctors will be allowed to run private practice by rotation from 3 pm to 6 pm,” the minister said while talking to reporters at the secretariat.
Also read: Vaccine drive to prevent cervical cancer from September: Health Minister
The project will be introduced in all government hospitals gradually, he said.
However, the government has also fixed Tk 500 as honorarium for senior professors under the project, Tk 400 for assistant professors and senior consultants, Tk 300 for assistant professors and junior consultants, and Tk 200 for physicians having MBBS and BDA.
‘You set an example of empathy, generosity for the world’: Biden writes to PM Hasina
US President Joe Biden has said his country made a commitment to finding long-term solutions to the Rohingya refugee crisis and holding perpetrators of the atrocities accountable.
“You set an example for the world of empathy and generosity in practice,” the US President wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The US Embassy in Dhaka shared the letter on Sunday (March 26, 2023) which was originally sent on March 21.
The US president said Bangladesh has opened its arms and welcomed nearly one million Rohingya refugees.
Read More: UK King Charles eyes continuing strong, close partnership with Bangladesh
In a message to PM Hasina, Biden on behalf of the United States, wished her and the people of Bangladesh a happy Independence Day.
Bangladeshis understand deeply the value of freedom and independence, as they fought courageously in 1971 to choose their own fate and to speak their own language, Biden wrote in the letter that he concluded with "Joy Bangla."
As Bangladesh approaches its next election, the US president said, he is reminded of the “deep value” both the nations place on “democracy, equality, respect for human rights, and free and fair elections.”
Read More: British parliament urged to recognise Bangladesh Genocide
He applauded Bangladesh’s demonstrated commitment to protecting the most vulnerable as the largest contributor to peacekeeping operations.
“We thank Bangladesh for cohosting the Global Action Plan ministerial that significantly elevated the political commitment to end the global pandemic,” Biden said.
In over 50 years of diplomatic relations, the United States and Bangladesh have achieved a lot together – advancing economic development, strengthening people-to-people ties, addressing global health and climate issues, partnering on the humanitarian response to Rohingya refugees, and committing to a prosperous, secure, democratic, and independent Bangladesh, said the US president.
Read More: Bangladesh’s tremendous achievements widely commended by int’l community: Xi Jinping
Two 'Proloy gang' members arrested over assaulting DU student
Two members of ‘Proloy gang’, a Dhaka University based gang, have been arrested for assaulting a student of the university in front of Kabi Jasimuddin Hall on Saturday night.
The arrestees are Naimur Rahman Durjoy of Anthropology Department and Foysal Ahmed Sakib of International Business Department. Both are the students of 2020-21 academic session.
Noor Mohammad, OC of Shahabag police station, said following a complaint of the victim's mother the two students were arrested on Sunday night and then sent to court.
Victim Jobayer's mother, Sadia Afroz Khan lodged a complaint with Shahabag police station against 24 students of the university.
The accused belong to a group formed by some DU students of 2020-21 academic session named 'Proloy'. Its members are allegedly involved drug abuse, extortion and assaulting outsiders on the campus specially at the Suhrawardy Udyan and Shaheed Minar area at night.
PM slams BNP over calling for movement in Ramadan
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday called upon the people to join forces with her party to resist the 'ghosts' of illegal power grabbers who want to foil the fruits of independence and the country's development spree.
“The independence of the country must not be allowed to fail. The illegal power grabbers who killed the Father of the Nation and their ghosts must be prevented from demolishing the independence of the people of Bangladesh," she said.
The prime minister was addressing a discussion organised by Awami League on the occasion of Independence and National Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Center here.
She said that Bangladesh has achieved remarkable development as democracy has been prevailing in the country since 2008.
“The world considers Bangladesh as the role model of development. From now on Bangladesh will not go backwards, it will move forward with an irresistible speed,” she said.
Hasina, also the chief of ruling Awami League, said the country witnessed darkness for 29 years from 1975-1996 and 2001-2008.
“We have brought new light for the people of Bangladesh removing that dark clouds. Bangladesh is advancing and will continue its journey towards development and prosperity,” she said.
She said that come what may Bangladesh will continue its journey towards the path of light.
She urged the Awami League activists and leaders to take forward the trust and confidence of the people in building the golden Bangladesh as dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“Let's not be confused by anyone's false statement,” she said.
She stated that she knows it very well that there are international powers who do not like the continuous democracy in Bangladesh.
“And there are some intellectuals of ours who do not like this at all. They think if any unusual government prevails in the country they will get importance as illegal power grabbers need some sticks like them. They are feeling hurt as they can't become that sticks (of the illegal power grabbers),” she said.
She said that these people are relentlessly tarnishing the good name of the country abroad. Some inside the country are writing rubbish saying that nothing good happened here, she added.
Hasina also highlighted distortion of history and destruction of the spirit of the war of liberation, arson terrorism, militancy, killing, lotting, money laundering and corruption by Zia, Ershad and Khaleda Zia-led BNP-Jamat alliance across the country.
She said that all the governments after the August 15 carnage tried to protect the killers of the Father of the Nation and allowed to participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections.
Referring to 2008 elections, the premier said, her government has been able to establish Bangladesh as a developing country and its per capita income has risen to 2824 dollars, and annual budget to over Tk 6 lakh crore while Bangladesh has now become the 35th largest economy in the world.
Sheikh Hasina said her government has made Bangladesh self-reliant on food and there is no shortage of food in the country despite entire world is facing food crisis.
She mentioned that the government has constructed Padma bridge with country’s own fund, introduced metro rail service in Dhaka, while the Bangabandhu Karnofuli Tunnel will be opened soon and construction works of Paira Deep Sea Port are progressing.
She vowed that none would be able to suppress the Bangalees any more and reaching fruits of independence to every house of the country is the pledge of her government on this Independence Day.
The PM slammed BNP for calling movement in the month of Ramadan disregarding its sanctity and peace in public life.
She recalled that Khaleda Zia during her regime had killed 17 labourers in the month of Ramadan as they waged a movement for raising their salaries.
"Those who shot dead people in the month of Ramadan, how will they show respect to the holy month? So, they have called for a movement. They have no feeling for Ramadan and the sufferings of the people," she said.
She also said that her Awami League party has decided against holding any iftar party this Ramadan to save the money to buy food for the poor people.
Awami League presidium members Shahjahan Khan, Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Awami League International Affairs Subcommittee chairman Ambassador Muhammad Zamir, Awami League presidium member Abdur Rahman, Awami League Central Committee members Parvin Zaman Kalpona and Advocate Nadira Khanom, Liberation War Affairs Secretary of Awami League Advocate Mrinal Kanti Das, general secretary of Awami League Dhaka South unit Humayun Kabir And Awami League Dhaka north unit general secretary SM Mannan Kochi also spoke at the programme.
Lightning strike kills 5 in Shariatpur, Barishal
Five fishermen including two of a family were killed by lightning strike in Barishal and Shariatpur districts early Monday and Sunday.
In Barishal, a man and his son-in-law were killed when thunderbolt struck them while catching fish in the Gazaria river of Mehendiganj upazila in Barishal district.
The deceased were identified as Shaheed Biswas, 69 and his son-in-law Russel Bepari, 32, son of Shaheed Bepari of Mehendiganj upazila.
Maruf Hossain, in-charge of Kaliganj river police said Shaheed and Russel went to the river to catch fish on Monday morning.
A thunderbolt struck them there, leaving both dead on the spot, he said.
In Shariatpur, Lightning strike left three people dead at Bahir Kushia village in Naria upazila of Shariatpur district on Sunday.
Also read: Lightning strike leaves carpenter dead in Kishoreganj
The deceased were identified as Shaheen Sheikh, 38, Siraj Ojha, 50, Shaheen Majhi, 40 of Naria upazila.
Hafizur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Naria Police Station, said all of them died on the spot when a streak of thunderbolt struck them while they were fishing in a pond.
Later, locals recovered the bodies.
Lightning strikes have become one of the deadliest natural disasters in Bangladesh, claiming over 200 lives on average every year - more than by floods, cyclones and other calamities.
According to the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, some 2,164 people died in lightning strikes in the country from 2011 to 2020. The number of deaths in 2021 was 362.
Farmers working out in their fields are the most frequent victims.