Bangladesh
11 Bangladeshi auto mechanics get jobs in Japan
Eleven auto mechanic students who graduated from Japan Automechanic School (JAS) in Dhaka, are all set to leave for Japan to start their professional career.
These students received two years of simultaneous training in automechanics and Japanese language by the school established by Japan Automechanic Ltd (JAL) – a Social Business joint venture created by SK Dream of Japan and Grameen Shikkha, an organization founded by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, said a press release.The graduation ceremony of the students was held at the Telecom Bhaban on March 14 in Dhaka's Mirpur.
The ceremony was attended by Professor Yunus, chairman of JAL Tsuneaki Hirao, MD of Japan Automechanic Ltd, among others, said the release.At the ceremony, the students spoke in Japanese language and talked about their training, aspirations and future plans.All the students have already been chosen for the TITP (Technical Intern Training Program), an overseas workers employment opportunity in Japanese companies under the recently published Technical Intern Training Act of Japan Government, it said.
Currently two JAS graduates are working in a Mercedes Benz Dealership in Japan.
From now on, a group of 10-12 JAS graduates will go to Japan every year to work under TITP, said Tsuneaki Hirao.Already 46 auto mechanic students graduating from JAS in previous years are working in different auto mechanic workshops in Bangladesh including, Rangs Workshop Ltd, the release concluded.
Bangladesh reports 4 more dengue cases
Four more people were hospitalised with dengue in the 24 hours till Saturday morning.
All the four new patients were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Twenty-two dengue patients, including 15 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, the DGHS has recorded 800 dengue cases, 769 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.
300 people sued over attack on police in Patuakhali
A case was filed accusing at least 300 unidentified people in connection with the attack on police during allegedlt from the processions of two factions of Awami League during the celebration of the 103rd birth anniversary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Pathuakhali’s Bauphal upazila on Friday.
Md Moniruzzaman, a sub inspector of Bauphla police station, lodged the case in this connection on Friday night, the police station’s officer-in-charge Md Al Mamun said.
Earlier on Friday morning, at least 20 activists of Awami League were injured in the clash between its two factions during celebration of the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation and National Children’s Day.
Of them, Bauphal upazila unit AL General Secretary and Upazila Parishad Chairman Abdul Motaleb Hawlader was sent to Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital with serious injury.
On the occasion of the Bangabandhu’s birthday, local AL lawmaker ASM Feroz, Bauphal upazila unit AL General Secretary and Upazila Parishad Chairman Abdul Motaleb Hawlader and district unit AL Joint General Secretary and Bauphal municipal Mayor Ziaul Hoque Jewel announced separate programmes.
Of them, Feroz and Motaleb called the programme at the same place and time.
Motaleb and his followers brought out a procession around 11:00am.
Read more: Banganbandhu’s birth anniversary: 20 injured in Awami League’s infighting in Patuakhali
Police obstructed the procession in front of upazila parishad gate when it was marching towards the party office.
Suddenly, several hundred supporters of Jubo League leader Faisal Ahmed Monir, also nephew of Feroz, attacked Motaleb and his men with sharp weapons when an altercation broke out between police and him.
Supporters of Motaleb allegedly attacked cops during the clash.
Law enforcers fired at least 7-8 rounds of rubber bullet to bring the situation under control.
OIC members must share responsibility for sustainable solution to Rohingya crisis: Momen
Bangladesh has said the OIC member states must share collective responsibility to ensure safe and dignified return of the most persecuted community– the Rohingyas to their homeland, Myanmar.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen made the call during the open-ended meeting of the OIC Ad Hoc Ministerial Committee on Accountability for Human Rights Violations against the Rohingyas, held on March 17 in Mauritanian capital Nouakchott on the margin of the 49th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.
During the meeting, the Gambian Foreign Minister updated the status of the case filed by the Gambia against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice to hold Myanmar accountable for the Human Rights Violation against the Rohingyas.
The status on the voluntary contribution by the member states and the summary of the fund requirements to continue the case were presented, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.
Momen reiterated the importance of repatriation of the Rohingyas to avoid transnational socio-economic catastrophe, especially derailment of thousands of juveniles and youths with uncertain future.
While thanking the Gambia and the OIC and for the kind support for the legal action, he shaded light on the importance of ensuring the momentum of the case to provide justice to Rohingyas.
He also called for burden sharing from the member states by contributing voluntarily to the legal expenses of the case.
The meeting was attended among others by Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Nigeria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, Gambia.
Read more: Bangladesh seeks OIC’s help to continue Rohingya genocide case
The Foreign Minister also had bilateral meetings with his counterpart of Cameroon and Mauritania.
Both countries expressed their appreciation on the rapid and consistent economic progress of Bangladesh and hoped that scopes of bilateral cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, trade, education and collaboration in various sectors would take place.
He also had courtesy meeting with the United Nations Assistant Secretary General for Middle East, Asia and Pacific.
Momen led the Bangladesh delegation to the 49th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held in Nouakchott, Mauritania from 16-17 March 2023.
DSA case: Actress Mahiya Mahi sent to jail
A Gazipur court on Saturday sent actress Mahiya Mahi to jail, hours after she was arrested from Dhaka airport in connection with a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).
Gazipur Metropolitan Magistrate Iqbal Hossain passed the order when police produced her before the court seeking a seven-day remand prayer in the case. The court also rejected the remand petition.
Mahi was arrested from the airport after her arrival from Saudi Arabia but husband Rakib Sarker, also an accused in the case, did not return home with her.
Briefing reporters, Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam said, “A case was filed against Mahi and her husband under the DSA Act on Friday night for ‘tarnishing the image of Police Commissioner and Police Department’. Police arrested her from Dhaka airport soon after she arrived at the airport from Saudi Arabia this noon.”
Also read: Actress Mahiya Mahi arrested from Dhaka Airport after landing from Saudi Arabia
Mohammad Ibrahim, deputy commissioner of DB of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said a team of Gazipur police arrested Mahi and took her to Bason Police Station.
Rokon Mia, sub-inspector of Bason Police Station, filed a case under Digital Security Act against Mahi and her husband Rakib on Friday night on charge of “defaming police” after going live on Facebook.
Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, a businessman, filed another case with Bason Police Station against 28 people including the couple on charges of assault, vandalism and land grabbing.
Abu Torab Mohammad Shamsuddin, deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said police filed the case against the couple for “tarnishing the image of police, including Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam,” after going live on Facebook.
According to the case statement, Mahi, from her Facebook page, went live early Friday — making allegations against police.
During the live session, she said Ismail Hossain and Mamun Sarkar, through their people, carried out an attack on a car showroom, Sony Raj Car Palace, owned by Mahi, on Dhaka-Tangail highway near Bhawal Badre Alam Government College.
The actress and her husband also alleged that the Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner “supported the attackers” after taking bribe.
She also said she feared getting arrested after returning to the country from Mecca. During the Facebook live, Mahiya’s husband Rakib alleged that police arrested security guards of the car showroom.
Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, owner of Rod Binding Factory in Itahata area of Gazipur city and plaintiff of a case, in his complaint said, he has been running a factory in the area for the past 10 years after purchasing land there.
On Friday, some people on behalf of Rakib and Mahiya attacked and vandalized the factory, he said. They also beat up 5 people at the factory, leaving them injured, while trying to occupy the land, according to the complaint.
Contacted, Molla Nazrul, Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said, “Actress Mahiya brought allegations against police on Facebook and tried to draw sympathy through lies.”
So far, police arrested nine people in connection with the case filed by businessperson Ismail. Mahi and her husband were the principal accused (hukumer ashami) in the case, said commissioner Nazrul.
Ambassador Imran urges guardians to let know children about country’s glorious history
The 103rd birth anniversary of greatest Bangalee of all time Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children’s Day-2023 was celebrated at Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on Friday with due respect and festivity.
To celebrate the day, the Embassy organized elaborate programs which included hosting of the National Flag, placing a floral wreath at the bust of Bangabandhu, discussion meeting, essay and painting competition for the children, cultural function and screening of two documentaries on Bangabandhu.
The day’s programs of the Embassy began in the morning with formally hoisting of the National Flag in front of the Chancery Building by Ambassador Muhammad Imran.
Officials and employees of the Mission were present at that time.
Later, the Ambassador placed a floral wreath at the bust of the Father of the Nation at Bangabandhu Corner in the presence of the officials and employees of the Mission.
Messages issued on the occasion by the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister for Foreign Affairs were read out at the Bangabandhu Auditorium.
Consular (Minister) Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Defense Attaché Brigadier General Md Shahedul Islam, Counsellor (Public Diplomacy) Arifa Rahman Ruma and First Secretary (Passport and Visa Wing) Md Abdul Hye Milton read out the messages.
Taking part in the discussion, Ambassador Imran paid glowing tributes to the Father of the Nation< and recalled his long struggle from the great Language Movement to the War of Liberation to achieve the much-anticipated independence of Bengali nation.
Under the undaunted leadership of Bangabandhu, Bangladesh emerged as an independent and sovereign country in the world after the nine-month-long armed war in 1971, he said.
While talking about the National Children’s Day, the Ambassador said the government led by Bangabandhu’s able daughter and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken various programs to make the country a safe abode for the future generations.
Read more: Bangladesh remembers Bangabandhu on his 103rd birth anniversary
He urged the guardians to let know their children about the country’s glorious history, culture and Bangabandhu’s great sacrifice for independence.
Ambassador Imran called upon all to work unitedly under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasin to build a happy and prosperous Bangladesh free from hunger and poverty by embracing the spirit of the Liberation War and the ideology of the Father of the Nation.
Minister (Press) AZM Sajjad Hossain also took part in the discussion highlighting Bangabandhu’s long struggle for independence and huge contribution to rebuilding war-ravaged nation.
The morning part of the programs ended with offering a special prayer seeking eternal peace of the departed soul of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of the August 15 carnage as well as continued peace, progress and prosperity of the nation.
Later in the evening, the Ambassador cut a cake with the participation of the children.
N’ganj warehouse blast leaves one dead, 9 wounded
A 40-year old man was killed and 9 people were injured in an explosion that triggered a fire at a warehouse in Narayanganj’s Nitaiganj Saturday morning.
Awlad Hossain succumbed to his injuries at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the capital, Anisur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Narayanganj Sadar police station, confirmed.
The rest burned injured are undergoing treatment there, he said.
Shahjahan Shikdar, deputy assistant director (media cell) of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the fire broke out in the two-story building around 9 am following an explosion.
A portion of the building collapsed after the explosion, he said.
On information, six firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control around one and an half hours after the incident.
However, what caused the explosion and the subsequent fire could not be known immediately, he said.
Read more: 2 injured as fire breaks out in Narayanganj building following explosion
Fakhruddin, an assistant deputy director of Narayanganj fire service, said the building was declared risky as it may collapse any time.
Abdul Kadir, president of Nitaiganj Multilateral Cooperative Society, said former president of the district’s flour mills owners’ association Illias Dewan is the owner of the building which was used as warehouse of pulse, rice, salt and other products.
The first floor of around 100-year-old building was declared abandoned around 10 years back, he said.
Golam Mostafa Russell, superintendent of police in the district, said onlookers were removed from the spot after the building was declared risky.
How was Bangabandhu’s birthday celebrated on March 17, 1975?
How was Bangabandhu’s birthday celebrated on March 17, 1975, before he was brutally assassinated 5 months later?
A video posted on Prime Minister’s ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy’s verified Facebook profile shows how the country celebrated the Father of the Nation’s birthday that year.
Along with the video, Sajeeb Wazed posted a caption that reads: “March 17, 1975 was a memorable one as all ways led to Dhanmondi 32 where thousands of people gathered since the dawn to wish their leader on his birthday.
Read More: Bangabandhu’s birth anniversary and National Children’s Day celebrated in Canberra
“My grandfather Bangabandhu appeared before them, exchanging greetings and shaking hands. His day was tightly knitted with programs from appearing in an award-handing ceremony to receiving greetings from overseas diplomats. In addition, school students also greeted their leader inside the national parliament premises.
“Who knew that this man who kindled the spirit of freedom in the hearts of millions would be gunned down by the assassins the same year? The successive military rulers sealed the chapter in such a way that even the footages, recorded and stored by Bangladesh Film Archive, were not allowed to see the light.
“However, owing to the tireless works of those who preserved it, these footages are now made public.”
Read More: The Fearless Call commemorates fearless Bangabandhu
“On his birthday, I would like to pay my tribute to the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” Sajeeb Wazed wrote.
Actress Mahiya Mahi arrested from Dhaka Airport after landing from Saudi Arabia
Police today (March 18, 2023) arrested popular film actress Mahiya Mahi, from Dhaka Airport, in connection with a case filed under Digital Security Act.
Mohammad Ibrahim, deputy commissioner of DB of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said a team of Gazipur police arrested Mahi from Dhaka Airport.
Mohammad Ziaul Haque, additional superintendent (media) of Airport Armed Police, said Mahi arrived at the airport from Jeddah. “A team of Gazipur police arrested her around 12 pm.”
Earlier, Rokon Mia, sub-inspector of Bason Police Station, filed a case under Digital Security Act against Mahiya Mahi and her husband Rakib Sarkar on Friday (March 17, 2023) night on charge of “defaming police” after going live on Facebook.
Also read: 2 cases filed against actress Mahiya Mahi, husband in Gazipur
Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, a businessman, filed the other case with Bason Police Station against 28 people including the couple on charges of assaulting, vandalism and forcibly occupying land.
Abu Torab Mohammad Shamsuddin, deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said police filed the case against the couple for “tarnishing the image of police, including Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam”, after going live on Facebook.
According to the case statement, Mahiya Mahi, from her Facebook page, went live early Friday — making allegations against police.
During the live session, she said Ismail Hossain and Mamun Sarkar, through their people, carried out an attack on a showroom, Sony Raj Car Palace, on Dhaka-Tangail highway near Bhawal Badre Alam Government College.
Read More: Actress Mahiya Mahi collects AL nomination form for Chapainawabganj-2 by-election
The actress and her husband also alleged that the Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner “supported the attackers” after taking bribe.
She also said she feared getting arrested after returning to the country from Makkah. During the Facebook live, Mahiya’s husband Rakib alleged that police arrested security guards of the car showroom.
Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, owner of Rod Binding Factory in Itahata area of Gazipur city, in his complaint said, he has been running a factory in the area for the past ten years after purchasing land there.
On Friday, some people on behalf of Rakib and Mahiya attacked and vandalized the factory, he said. They also beat up five people at the factory, leaving them injured, while trying to occupy the land, according to the complaint.
Read More: Mahiya Mahi set for motherhood
Contacted, Molla Nazrul, Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said, “Actress Mahiya brought allegations against police on Facebook and tried to draw sympathy through lies.”
Bangabandhu’s birth anniversary and National Children’s Day celebrated in Canberra
The 103rd birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children’s Day was celebrated at the Bangladesh High Commission in Canberra on Friday.
Children participated in speech, poem recitation, and singing where they highlighted Bangabandhu’s love for children.
Rashna Farruk Siddiki, wife of High commissioner Allama Siddiki,cut a cake with the presence of a number of kids for celebrating the birthday of the great leader.
She also distributed prizes among the children. The evening event begins with placing wreaths in front of the portrait of the Father of the Nation. A discussion session was held where the speakers recollected the legacy of the Father of the Nation and highly admired the sagacity and farsightedness of this great leader.
They also highlighted Bangabandhu's uncompromising stance on the Bangla language, culture, and self-respect for Bangladesh. Children from this generation should learn from the life of this great leader, they stressed.Chargé D'affaires Dr Dewan Md. Shahriar Firoz hoisted the national flag in the morning.
Messages from the President Md. Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen and State Minister Md. Shahriar Alam for Foreign Affairs were read out.
A Special munajat was also offered for the salvation of the departed souls of Bangabandhu, his family members, liberation war martyrs, and for a peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous Bangladesh.