Bangladesh
Donald Lu: Issues of participatory polls, CHT discussed over lunch at FSA
Participatory election, overall election process and Chittagong Hill Tracts issues were briefly discussed at a meeting over lunch with US Assistant Secretary of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu held at Foreign Service Academy on Sunday.
Awami League International Affairs Secretary Dr. Shammi Ahmed, Prof. Imtiaz Ahmed, Dr. Lailufar Yasmin, Dr. Delwar Hossain and Chief Executive of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) Syeda Rizwana Hasan, among others, were present.
“They (US side) said, we don’t speak on behalf of any political party; we talk about certain processes and the rights of the people,” said Syeda Rizwana while talking to the reporters after the meeting.
She said only participation of the BNP and other parties and the election process were discussed and there was no further discussion on any other aspects of the election scenario in Bangladesh.
Also Read: Rab made ‘tremendous progress’ in ‘respecting rights’ while performing duties: Donald Lu observes
She mentioned that no BNP leader was present at the meeting.
According to a meeting source, two of the participants expressed optimism about the BNP’s participation in the next election.
“There was no conclusive discussion about human rights issues, but the Chittagong Hill Tracts issue was discussed during the meeting,” said Syeda Rizwana in response to another question.
The US senior official is visiting Bangladesh to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relationships, expand economic engagement, and go over the labor and human rights situation.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen hosted the lunch in honour of Donald Lu and his delegation members.
How Metro Rail almost didn’t happen after Holey attack and how the Sheikh Hasina govt brought it back on track
As Bangladesh jubilantly celebrated the unveiling of another mega project, the much-awaited mass rapid transit ‘Dhaka Metro Rail’, it also solemnly recalled the seven Japanese engineers and consultants who died in the gruesome Holey Artisan Bakery attack in July 2016.
With the launch of a section of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Line-6 on December 28, 2022, Bangladesh embarked on a new era of public transport with electricity-powered metro rail that will change the way people travel in one of the most congested cities in the world.
A plaque at a newly inaugurated metro rail station honours the seven Japanese engineers and consultants, who were in Bangladesh to set in motion the construction of the Dhaka Metro Rail, and were among those taken hostage and brutally murdered by armed militants on that fateful night of July 1, 2016.
Also read: Metro rail to start 30 mins later, add Pallabi station from Jan 25
The terror attack by jihadis of the Neo-JMB (Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh) raised severe doubts on Bangladesh’s growth trajectory, with security of foreign nationals coming here to supervise overseas-funded infrastructure projects like the Dhaka Metro Rail emerging as a key issue.
The Bangladesh Government, led by PM Sheikh Hasina, bravely kept its focus on development despite the violence unleashed by jihadi radicals, often backed by the country’s Islamists.
Of the foreigners killed in the terror attack at Holey Artisan Bakery, two women and five men were Japanese nationals. Only one of the eight Japanese experts in Dhaka for the metro rail project made it out of the Holey Artisan Bakery alive.
Read More: Dhaka Metro Rail Uttara to Agargaon Route: A Detail Overview
Tomaoki Watanabe, who was hospitalized after being shot, was one of four employees from Almec, a transportation consultancy firm with offices in Manila, Hanoi, Jakarta and Ulan Bator, according to its website. The other three – Yuko Sakai, Rui Shimodaira and Makoto Okamura – were killed.
Okamura’s father, Komakichi Okamura, told Japanese media that his 32-year-old son’s death was “unbearable as a parent”.
Another victim, Koyo Ogasawara, worked for Katahira & Engineers International that has worked on projects in Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Read More: Foreign envoys remember those killed in Holey Artisan attack
The other three were working for Oriental Consultants Global. They were identified as Hideki Hashimoto, Nobuhiro Kurosaki and Hiroshi Tanaka.
Japan’s then PM Shinzo Abe, who later died in an attack in Japan, expressed “profound grief and anger” over the deaths of the Japanese nationals in the Holey Artisan attack. “We feel very indignant toward the perpetrators, because these people were working hard for the development of Bangladesh,” said Shinichi Kitaoka, president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Kitaoka called for strong security for all Japanese nationals involved with the metro rail and development projects funded by the JICA.
While terrorists carried out the heinous attack, the opposition rushed to manufacture a scare tactic – that the government had failed to check terrorism and Bangladesh was unsafe for foreigners. The opposition had itself launched violent street protests after boycotting the 2014 parliamentary polls.
Read More: Govt satisfied with Holey Artisan attack verdict: Law Minister
When the government resorted to some tough policing and hit back hard at the terrorists, neutralising nearly the entire top leadership of the Neo-JMB, including its Canada-based chief Tamim Ahmed, the same opposition started blaming the government for “blatant violation of human rights”.
Taking on the colossal challenge of completing the Padma Bridge (despite the World Bank pull-out on corruption charges that could not be proven) and the Dhaka Metro Rail project (despite the terror attack) is thus part of a bigger story for the Sheikh Hasina government.
The government stayed on the development course with single-minded focus amidst numerous challenges.
Read More: FM thanks Japan for support in metro rail, other development projects
Sources in the Japanese government have said that it was Bangladesh’s prompt counter-terrorism response that gave its funding agencies the confidence to carry on the metro rail and other projects in Bangladesh.
At the opening of the Dhaka Metro Rail, PM Sheikh Hasina recalled the tumultuous times in her speech and paid tribute to the Japanese consultants who lost their lives in the Holey Artisan attack.
“Though that attack put the work on hold for a while, finally it started again,” Hasina said, recalling the contribution of then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
These accomplishments have a much bigger message for the world: come what may, come hell or high water, Bangladesh is unstoppable.
Read More: Metro rail to start 30 mins later, add Pallabi station from Jan 25
Bangladesh reports one more dengue death: 22 new cases
Another person died from dengue in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
With the new number, the official death toll from dengue rose to three this year, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Besides, 22 people were hospitalised with the mosquito-borne disease. Of the new patients, five were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and 17 outside it.
One hundred and twenty dengue patients, including 48 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
Also read; Bangladesh reports seven more dengue cases
The DGHS has recorded 399 dengue cases and 276 recoveries so far this year.
The country recorded 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019.
The DGHS recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries in the past year.
Mostakim arrested for protest over dialysis fee hike at CMCH gets bail
A Chattogram court on Sunday granted bail to Md Mostakim who was arrested during protests against the recent hike in dialysis fee at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital.
Metropolitan Magistrate Oliullah passed the order when Advocate Zia Habib filed a bail petition in the morning.
Earlier, Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation appointed a lawyer for Mostakim.
Mostakim was arrested during a protest and the court granted his bail unitl submission of a chargesheet in the case, said Advocate Zia.
Also read: CMCH installing 10 more dialysis machines amid protest against fee hike
The kidney patients and their relatives staged demonstrations in front of the dialysis centre of the hospital for several days protesting the hike in dialysis fee.
Police arrested Mostakim from the spot and a casewas filed against 60 people including Mostakim with Panchlaish police station on charge of attacking police.
PM Hasina urges affluent section to stand by destitute people
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged the affluent section of the society to stand beside the destitute people as her government has been working to arrange houses for all homeless people of the country.
“Not a single person will remain landless and homeless in Bangladesh. That is our goal,” she told the representatives of the Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) during a meeting at her office here.
In the meeting 36 banks donated a total of Tk 113.25 crore for the construction of houses for homeless people under Ashrayan-2 project, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon while briefing reporters.
The premier said most of the country's homeless and landless people have already been given houses and the remaining people will also get abodes. “Nothing can be greater than the smile and satisfaction of the people who got Ashrayan houses,” she added.
She said many people who got Ashrayan houses on two-decimal lands are also growing vegetables, rearing chickens, opening cottage industry and shops there. “They’re finding a way to make a (decent) living. The life of the people is changing for the better,” she said.
Hasina asked the well-off section to come forward in the construction of houses for landless and homeless people. “Not only the government, but we all together will take the country forward on the path of development,” she said.
The PM thanked the BAB and bankers for providing donations on different occasions saying, “I don't even need to tell you (for providing assistance). You all come spontaneously and help during any disaster and crisis.”
Also read: AL always fulfills election pledges made to the nation: PM Hasina
Focusing on the outcome of her government’s initiative to open banks in the private sector, she said three lakh graduates were employed due to the establishment of private banks. “It's a big matter,” she added.
PM Hasina said the country is marching toward prosperity overcoming all natural and manmade disasters.
Referring to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war on the global economy, she said, “We’re not in big trouble, unlike other countries. We are overcoming it.”
Also read: Work collectively for a fair economic order: PM at Voice of South Summit
PM’s Principal Secretary Tofazzel Hossain Miah conducted the event, while BAB chairman Nazrul Islam Mazumder also spoke on the occasion.
Dense fog: 4 Int’l flights diverted, eight delayed at Dhaka airport
Flight operations at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka were disrupted on Sunday due to dense fog.
Four international flights were diverted and operations of eight others were delayed due to dense fog, Group Captain Kamrul Islam, executive director of the airport, told UNB.
Flights of US Bangla Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Vistara Airlines
were diverted while flights of eight airlines--Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Emirates Airlines, Salam Air, Vistara Airlines, Air Arabia, US Bangla Airlines and Biman Bangladesh Airlines- were delayed due to poor visibility caused by dense fog.
On January 8, eight international flights were diverted and operations of seven others were delayed due to the same reason.
Also Read: Dense fog: 8 int'l flights diverted, 7 delayed at Dhaka airport
Earlier on January 4, an international flight was diverted to Hyderabad in India and operations of seven others were delayed.
On January 3, two international flights carrying passengers from Qatar and Saudi Arabia headed for Dhaka airport made emergency landings at Sylhet Osmani International Airport due to dense fog.
459 Bangladeshis’ properties in Dubai: HC orders investigation by ACC, 3 agencies
The High Court on Sunday ordered four agencies, including the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), to investigate about properties of 459 Bangladeshi nationals in Dubai.
The other agencies are Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and National Board of Revenue (NBR).
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order after hearing a writ petition in this regard.
The court asked the four agencies submit the progress within a month.
Read more: HC orders investigation on assets and bank accounts of Rajarbagh Pir
The court also issued a rule questioning why the inaction of the authorities concerned should not be declared illegal in taking action regarding the complaint of the properties of 459 Bangladeshis in Dubai.
On January 12, Advocate Subir Nandi filed the writ petition attaching a report in this regard published in a national daily.
According to the report, a huge amount of money has been transferred to Dubai from different parts of the globe including Bangladesh openly and secretly.
Based on a report of US-based Centre for Advanced Defense Studies, the EU Tax Observatory said 459 Bangladeshis have purchased properties in Dubai concealing the information in their own country and the number of properties was 972 in 2020.
According to the report, Bangladeshis have purchased properties worth approximately one billion dollar during this period and Bangladeshi people were the top buyers in the real estate sector of Dubai.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is now in any way trying to boost foreign investment. For this, it is offering various facilities for rich people from abroad to buy properties.
Read more: ACC may submit progress report of probe against Wasa MD within 15 days: HC
Experts believe that huge amount of money are being transferred due to the lack of effective and strong measures to stop money laundering, it said.
Rab made ‘tremendous progress’ in ‘respecting rights’ while performing duties: Donald Lu observes
Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu has appreciated the “tremendous progress” made by Rab in “respecting human rights” while performing its duties.
“We had quite a good discussion about the Rab. If you have seen the statement this week by the Human Rights Watch, they recognised and we recognised tremendous progress in the area of reducing extra judicial killings by the Rab,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.
“This is amazing work. It shows the Rab is able to carry out its important counterterrorism and law enforcement function while respecting human rights,” Lu added.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen also spoke on the occasion.
The senior US official said they had “very honest and open” discussions with the Bangladesh foreign minister and foreign secretary.
“We have expressed our commitment to democracy and human rights. We will speak when we see problems and when we can offer suggestions. We will stand up for freedom of speech, freedom of expression. And we look forward to working very closely with our partners here in Bangladesh,” Lu said.
Regarding the labour rights issue, he said it is important for Bangladesh and for trade relationships.
“I had the honour of sitting down this morning with (PM’s adviser) Salman F Raman to talk about the way forward, so that we can cooperate on improvement of labour rights in this country. I’m very confident we’re going to make progress this year,” said the US official.
INDO-PACIFIC STRATEGY
Asked whether the US wants Bangladesh to join the Indo-Pacific Strategy, Lu said they had a “wonderful discussion” on the Indo-Pacific Strategy. “It’s a strategy, it’s not a club. We don’t join.”
Regarding restoration of GSP (generalised system of preferences) facilities for Bangladesh, the US official said they are still waiting for the Congress to authorise GSP for any country.
“We are working very closely with the government of Bangladesh,” Lu said, adding that Bangladesh will be the first country on the list if the Congress authorises.
“I am here to strengthen the friendship with Bangladesh when the world is struggling to establish peace and justice,” he said before taking questions.
Talking to reporters, Foreign Minister Momen said, “I am very happy. We had very constructive discussions. The US is our old friend and our relationship turned deeper over the last 50 years. We want to make the relationship much deeper in the next 50 years.”
Momen said the US side invited them to visit this month or in April. “This engagement is very effective.”
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said they discussed all issues of mutual interest – trade, investment, labour rights, sanctions, human rights, democracy and development, as well as Bangladesh’s views on the Indo-Pacific.
“Through our sincere efforts, we will be able to elevate our relations to a higher level,” said the foreign secretary.
Read more: US committed to continued cooperation with Bangladesh to improve labor rights: Donald Lu
LABOUR RIGHTS
The United States is “committed” to continued cooperation with Bangladesh in its efforts to improve labour rights, Lu said.
At a meeting with Bangladeshi labour rights leaders, Lu listened to their experiences and concerns.
Earlier in the morning, he had a breakfast meeting with Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman.
The US Assistant Secretary had a meeting over dinner with Foreign Minister Momen at his residence on Saturday night.
Key issues of bilateral relations were discussed during Lu’s over one-hour stay at the foreign minister’s official residence, a diplomatic source told UNB.
Lu, who arrived in Dhaka on Saturday evening, directly went to the foreign minister’s residence accompanied by US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Peter Haas.
The US senior official is visiting Bangladesh to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relationship, expand economic engagement, and go over the labour and human rights situation.
Mild cold wave sweeps 4 districts
Mild cold wave is sweeping Kishoreganj, Nilphamari, Panchagarh and Kurigram districts and it may spread, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said Sunday morning.
Temperature between 8 to 10 degrees Celsius is considered a mild cold wave, 6 to 8 degrees Celsius a moderate cold wave and less than 6 degrees Celsius a severe cold wave.
Read more: Mild cold wave sweeps several parts of Bangladesh
Besides, moderate to thick fog may occur over the river basins and adjoining area and light to moderate fog may occur elsewhere over the country during midnight to morning and it may continue till noon at places, it said in a bulletin.
The lowest temperature in the country was recorded at 8.3 degrees Celsius in Tetulia in 24 hours till 6am today. The highest temperature was recorded at 29.4 degrees Celsius in Teknaf.
Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country.
Read more: Cold wave: Jashore, Chuadanga record lowest temperature at 7.8 degree C
Night temperature may fall by (1-2)°C and day temperature may rise slightly over the country, it added.
US committed to continued cooperation with Bangladesh to improve labor rights: Donald Lu
The United States is "committed" to continued cooperation with Bangladesh in its efforts to improve labor rights, visiting US Assistant Secretary Donald Lu said today.
At a meeting with Bangladeshi labor leaders, Lu listened to their experiences and concerns.
Earlier in the morning, he had a breakfast meeting with Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman.
Read more: Momen, Lu discuss key bilateral issues over dinner
The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs had a meeting over dinner with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at his residence on Saturday night.
Key issues of bilateral relations were discussed during Lu's over one-hour stay at the foreign minister's official residence, a diplomatic source told UNB.