Bangladesh
Body of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant contractor's driver found in Pabna
The decomposed body of a driver of a sub-contractor organisation involved with Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) in Pabna, was on Saturday recovered inside a vehicle on the banks of the Shilaidaha River two days after he went missing.
The deceased was identified as Md Samrat Hossain Khan, 25, son of Abu Bakkar of Pabna’s Iswardi upazila. He was the driver of sub-contractor ‘Nikimos’ of the RNPP Project.
The victim’s father lodged a General Diary at Ishwardi police station in this connection as he was missing since March 23.
Locals said they spotted a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado vehicle parked on the bank of the river for the past couple of days.
On Saturday morning, they smelt a bad odor spreading from the vehicle and informed police in this regard.
Also Read: Ex-AL lawmaker from Pabna-2 landed in jail in rape case
Aurobind Sarkar, officer-in-charge of Ishwardi police station, said they recovered the decomposed body wrapped in a gunny sack from the vehicle and sent it to Pabna Sadar hospital morgue for autopsy.
The reason for the death will be known after getting the autopsy report, he said, adding that the body bore marks of several injuries.
The OC said they detained a suspect named Sima Khatun, wife of the victim’s friend Momen Khan, who earlier used to work with Samrat, in this connection.
During primary interrogation, the detainee admitted that she killed Samrat with a hammer to take revenge for beating her earlier.
The OC said an extramarital affair or exchange of money might have led to the killing.
IGP defends arrest of 53 BNP members at Banani Club as lawful
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on Saturday said police followed the law of the land in arresting leaders and activists of opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The IGP said this while replying to a question on whether the recent arrest of BNP leaders and activists under the Anti-Terrorism Act without any warrant has been lawful.
He was talking to journalists after attending a function organized at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.
Police are doing everything according to the law of Bangladesh, he added.
When asked what type of terrorist work the BNP activists had done in Banani, the IGP said, “You will understand it if you see the FIR (First Information Report) of the case. However, the matter will be investigated. After investigation we will take steps.”
BNP has claimed that the arrest was made in order to harass and obstruct the opposition party.
When asked about this, the police chief said that it is not like that, everything will be clear after seeing the copy of the case.
Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested 53 BNP leaders and activists while holding a meeting at Banani Club in the capital on the night of March 19.
Read more: BNP urges DMP not to arrest its leaders, activists without any warrant
Police said the arrested BNP members were planning anti-state activities while sitting in Banani Club. The police arrested them after receiving the news. Later, the police filed a case against the 53 people at Banani police station under the Anti-Terrorism Act and sent them to court.
When his attention was drawn to Rabiul Islam alias Aram Khan, the fugitive accused in the murder of police inspector Mamun Imran Khan, the IGP said that a red notice has been issued against him by Interpol. Liaison with Interpol and Dubai Police continues. Based on the information provided by the Bangladesh Police, Interpol has issued a red notice against Rabiul, he said.
Asked if there is any obstacle to bring Aarav Khan back to Bangladesh as he went to Dubai using an Indian passport, the IGP said we are working on it.
He said he has no information about Arab’s arrest or detention in Dubai.
Convict in BDR mutiny case dies at Kashimpur Jail
A convict in the BDR mutiny case died in Kashimpur central Jail in the early hours of Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Sambhu Kumar Sharma 62, son of Harendra Nath Sharma of Gopgram Jotpara area of Kushtia's Khoksa Thana.
He was sentenced to 16-year imprisonment in a case filed over the mutiny.
Amirul Islam, senior jail superintendent of Kashimpur Central Jail-2 , said Sambhu fell sick around 3am in the jail and was taken to the prison hospital.
However, he was later sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
The body will be handed over to the family after post-mortem, Amirul Islam added.
Seventy-four people, including 57 army officials, were killed in the mutiny in the capital's Pilkhana headquarters of the erstwhile Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) on February 25 and 26 in 2009.
A total of 58 cases, including one for murder and looting and the rest for mutiny, were filed in connection with the incident.
Some 152 people were sentenced to death and 423 others to different jail terms in the case. Besides, 277 accused were acquitted.
Bangladesh reports 4 more Covid-19 cases
Bangladesh reported four more Covid-19 cases in the 24 hours till Saturday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 20,37,993 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 0.26 percent from Friday’s 0.23 percent against the tests of 1,519 samples.
During this time, nine patients recovered from the disease, bringing the total number of recoveries to 2006780.
The death and recovery rates remained unchanged at 1.44 percent and 98.47 percent, respectively.
Countries sided with Pakistan in 1971 urged to act in getting int’l recognition of genocide
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam on Saturday urged those countries which sided with Pakistan during Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971 to play key role in getting international recognition of Bangladesh genocide.
“Many countries supported Pakistan during the 1971 War of Liberation. Those countries today remind many countries very strongly of establishing the rule of law and democracy. Those countries talk about many of our internal affairs no matter whether we want it or not,” he said while speaking at a discussion.
Without mentioning any specific country, Alam said they acknowledged genocide in Myanmar and Bangladesh will keep eyes on how they see and describe 1971 genocide.
The United States, which was sided with Pakistan in 1971, formally determined that the Myanmar military committed the crime of genocide and crimes against humanity against ethnic Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine State.
Read more: Recognise March 25 as International Genocide Day: PM urges UN
The State Minister said many of the conflicting States of today's world were, in a sense, in favour of genocide and continued to supply military weapons to Pakistan. “They could not deter Pakistan, Yahya Khan, Tikka Khan – from their brutality.”
“As a friendly country, we will appeal to those countries to play a leading role in getting international recognition of Bangladesh genocide,” Alam said.
To commemorate the Bangladesh Genocide Day, Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Liberation War Museum organized the special event at the Liberation War Museum.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque who spoke as the chief guest, said although many countries were not in favor of Bangladesh during the Liberation War, the people of the world were in favor of Bangladesh. “That is why we had achieved independence in just 9 months.”
Internationally reputed rights activist and genocide scholar and President of Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) Barrister Patrick Burgess delivered the keynote speech on "Bangladesh Genocide and Global Community: Then and Now."
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, among others, spoke.
1 arrested with 7 gold bars in Chuadanga
Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested a man along with seven gold bars from Jibannagar upazila of Chuadanga district on Saturday.
The arrestee is Jewel Hossain, 38, son of Abdul Khaleq of Darshana Dakshinchandpur village under Damurhuda upazila.
Lieutenant Colonel Masud Parvez Rana, director of the BGB-58 in Maheshpur, said a team of Natunpara Border Outpost (BOP) took position in the area tipped-off that a consignment of gold would be smuggled to India through border in Mollabari Morr in Jibannagar upazila.
Jewel was arrested on suspicion and later seven gold bars weighing 829.27 grams were recovered from his possession after checking, he said.
The gold was deposited to the treasury office while a case was also filed in this connection, the BGB officer added.
Bangladesh reports 6 more dengue cases
Six more people were hospitalised with dengue in the 24 hours to Saturday morning.
Of the new patients, five were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside it, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Twenty-two dengue patients, including 14 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, the DGHS has recorded 825 dengue cases, 794 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.
Researchers, scholars urged to present facts of Bangladesh genocide before global community
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam on Saturday called upon genocide scholars, researchers, civil society organisations, human rights activists, print and electronic media to present before the global community the facts and figure of Bangladesh genocide.
It is the moral obligation on the States and international community to show due respect to the victims of Bangladesh genocide and thus demonstrate their commitment towards the promotion and protection of human rights, he said.
Bangladesh Genocide was hardly discussed and the victims were hardly remembered since 1975 till the Awami League formed the government in 1996, said the State Minister while speaking at a programme marking the Bangladesh Genocide Day at the Liberation War Museum.
“Rather deliberate attempts were made to distort the facts and figure of Bangladesh genocide during that period,” he said.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque spoke as the chief guest while President of Asia Justice and Rights Barrister Patrick Burgess presented the keynote speech.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, among others, spoke at the discussion.
After the brutal killing of Bangabandhu on 15 August 1975, the State Minister said, a dramatic change appeared to take place in official policy towards the issue of the 1971 genocide under the military government.
The Collaborators Act 1972 was repealed, all those leading war criminal-suspects who had fled the country and lost citizenship rights, were invited to return, he said, adding that many of the war criminals were rehabilitated into the mainstream politics and were offered to enjoy state power.
The State Minister said around 32 years of 52 years since independence, the government was led by pro-Pakistani forces.
“I can assure everyone today that the government under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would continue its sincere efforts to achieve recognition of 1971 genocide in Bangladesh,” Alam said.
In view of the then domestic and international context, he said, Bangabandhu declared limited amnesty for the local collaborators in December 1973.
However, the amnesty did not cover “anyone who killed people, raped and set fire or caused to damage people's homestead with explosives or convicted for damaging water-transport”.
Later, the war criminals and their sympathisers tried to misguide people with distorted facts that Bangabandhu pardoned all, Alam said.
Read more: Recognise March 25 as International Genocide Day: PM urges UN
“The intent was obvious, which was to destroy Bengali nationalism and shatter their political aspiration for a free and independent Bangladesh. So, it was cool-headed and deliberate act of genocide from their part,” said the State Minister.
He said the government has incorporated the history of the 1971 war and the genocide into the national curriculum. “This is aimed at ensuring that future generations are aware of the atrocities that took place and are committed to preventing similar events from occurring in the future.”
The State Minister said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is firmly committed to continue its efforts towards recognition by global community of the historical facts of Bangladesh genocide and the importance of preventing such acts of genocide from occurring in future anywhere in the world.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Bangladesh Missions abroad have been actively working to internationalize the issue of the genocide committed during the Bangladesh Liberation War, he said.
As a result of our combined efforts, he said, the Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention recognized the Bangladesh genocide 1971 on 31 December 2022.
“We also welcome recent bipartisan move in the US Congress for recognition of genocide committed by the Pakistani army in Bangladesh. We will continue to welcome any such initiatives by friendly countries while highlighting correct perspective of the Bangladesh Genocide,” he said.
Alam said media can also play a key role in mobilizing public opinion and shaping international responses to the genocide.
“The reporting of the international media has provided us a strong record of genocide, which has been important and will remain useful to hold the perpetrators accountable and get the recognition of Bangladesh genocide by the wider global community,” he said.
Bangladesh High Commission to Brunei observes Genocide Day 2023
The Bangladesh High Commission to Brunei Darussalam observed ‘Genocide Day-2023’ with due solemnity on Saturday.
Bangladeshi communities, academics and members of civil society organisations of Brunei, among others, attended the programme organized by the High Commission, marking the Genocide Day.
The event started with recitation from the holy Quran and prayers for the salvation of the departed souls of all martyrs who sacrificed their lives on the fateful night of March 25, 1971, and during the Liberation War and father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Before beginning of the function formally, a one minute silence was observed there. Later Bangladesh High Commissioner Nahida Rahman Shumona read out messages of President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
A video documentary was screened on the history and background of the Genocide Day.
Recognise March 25 as International Genocide Day: PM urges UN
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday urged all international community including the United Nations to recognise March 25 as the International Genocide Day.
“Internationally we want that …March 25 will get recognition as the International Genocide Day,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while delivering her introductory speech in the Awami League Parliamentary Board (ALPB) meeting at her official residence Ganabhaban.
On the night of March 25 in 1971, the Pakistani military junta resorted to mass killings and arson in Dhaka to implement their blueprint to thwart Awami League assuming office following its victory in the 1970 election.
The night also witnessed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s proclamation of independence before he was arrested by the Pakistani troops and subsequently taken to West Pakistan.
The Prime Minister said that Bangladesh had started its journey with this “wound (genocide).”
Read more: Why hasn’t the UN recognised 1971 Bangladesh Genocide yet?
She mentioned that Pakistani occupational forces had committed genocide over unarmed Bengalis.
“They unleashed attacks on the people of Bangladesh in a horrific way and killed people for long nine months,” she said.
In this connection, the Awami League chief said that some 30 lakh people embraced martyrdom, three crore people were forcibly became homeless.
“They torched homes and one crore people took shelter in India as refugee,” she said.
She said that there were dead bodies on the roads, bodies were eaten by jackals and dogs, and the people of the country saw that.
“There was inhumane oppression on women, they were taken to the army camps,” she added.
The Prime Minister said that Father of the nation had built a country ravaged by the war.
“We also got the recognition as the least developed country during his three years and seven months tenure. It was unfortunate that the father of the nation was killed brutally.”
She said that blood of the martyrs would never go in vain.
“Our Independence that we got in exchange of millions of martyrs, we have attained the status of developing country, we want to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country. It is our pledge to millions of martyrs and to our father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she vowed.
Read more: Genocide Day to be observed on Saturday
In the attack on March 25, 1971 dubbed 'Operation Searchlight', the Pakistani forces mercilessly killed Bangalee members of the East Pakistan Rifles and police, students, teachers and common people.
They killed people indiscriminately, set houses on fire and looted business establishments, leaving a trail of destruction.
The day is being observed as Genocide Day officially for the seventh time in the country since the parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on March 11, 2017.