Bangladesh
Indian High Commission pays tribute to Group Captain (retd) Shamsul Alam, Bir Uttom
A wreath from the High Commissioner of India was placed on Friday as a mark of respect and remembrance for Group Captain, retd, Shamsul Alam, Bir Uttom, the brave fighter of “Kilo Flight” - the Mukti Bahini combat aviation formation during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 who passed away in Dhaka on December 8. He was 74.,
He was among the numerous Freedom Fighters whose sacrifices, along with those of Indian soldiers who fought with them during the Liberation War of 1971, continue to inspire and reinforce the close bonding of friendship and solidarity between India and Bangladesh. The wreath bears a message, "Forever Missed, But Will Never Be Forgotten.”
Read: 'Kilo Flight' fighter Group Captain Shamsul Alam Bir Uttam, 74, dies
Covid: Bangladesh sees 30 more cases, zero death
Bangladesh reported 30 more Covid cases in the 24 hours to Friday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,036,760, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,436, as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity rose to 1.14 percent from Thursday's 0.99 percent as 2,633 samples were tested during the period.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent, while the recovery rate rose to 97.53 percent.
Read: Covid-19: Bangladesh sees one more death, 32 more cases
In November, the country reported 10 Covid-linked deaths and 1,345 cases.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.
President for ostracising the corrupt for combatting corruption
To combat corruption, President Abdul Hamid has called on everyone to ostracise the corrupt as their "dominance can now be seen everywhere – in towns, cities and villages."
"There was a time when there was no social acceptance of bribe takers, usurers and the corrupt. But with the passage of time, that value has gradually eroded. Now there is a dominance of the corrupt everywhere in towns, cities and villages. No one cares about the source of the money anymore."
He said this at a discussion held at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day on Friday, which is observed globally on December 9 to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it.
Read: Increase quantity, quality of scouts: President Abdul Hamid
The president also asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to take effective and bold steps to combat corruption.
Earlier, ACC Chairman Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah also called on everyone to identify the corrupt and ostracise them.
He made the call while standing in a human chain formed in front of the ACC headquarters in the capital's Segunbagicha, marking International Anti-Corruption Day.
International Anti-Corruption Day is being observed in eight divisions, 64 districts and 495 upazilas of the country.
Read: President Hamid urges public representatives to work for the people
International Anti-Corruption Day seeks to highlight the crucial link between anti-corruption and peace, security, and development. At its core is the notion that tackling this crime is the right and responsibility of everyone, and that only through cooperation and the involvement of every person and institution can we overcome the negative impact of this crime.
States, government officials, civil servants, law enforcement officers, media representatives, the private sector, civil society, academia, the public and youth alike all have a role to play in this.
Bangladesh reports 118 more dengue cases, zero death
One hundred and eighteen more people were hospitalised with dengue in the 24 hours to Friday morning.
However, the official death toll from the mosquito-borne disease remained unchanged at 263 – the highest on record after the 179 deaths recorded in 2019 – as no fatalities were reported during this period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
A total of 1,217 dengue patients, including 692 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
The DGHS has recorded 59, 813 dengue cases and 58,333 recoveries so far this year.
Read: Dengue death toll now 263 with three more deaths
Bangladesh is being hit hard by a recurrence of an outbreak of dengue, the disease that is endemic to the country.
Doctors and health experts say that measures taken by the city corporations and other authorities are not proving to be effective. The publicity and drives carried out by the authorities to destroy larvae of Aedes mosquito are proving to be inadequate.
ACC chief bats for identifying the corrupt, ostracising them
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah Friday called on everyone to identify the corrupt and ostracise them.
He made the call while standing in a human chain formed in front of the ACC headquarters in the capital's Segunbagicha, marking International Anti-Corruption Day, which is observed globally on December 9 to raise awareness of corruption and of the role of the Convention in combating and preventing it.
The anti-corruption watchdog chief said: "Once Bangladesh ranked as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Things have changed now. But corruption cannot be rooted out overnight. It will gradually disappear."
Read: ACC to investigate 3 Islamic banks over scam
Requesting everyone to identify the corrupt, he said: "You know who the corrupt are. Boycott them socially."
International Anti-Corruption Day is being observed in eight divisions, 64 districts and 495 upazilas of the country.
International Anti-Corruption Day seeks to highlight the crucial link between anti-corruption and peace, security, and development. At its core is the notion that tackling this crime is the right and responsibility of everyone, and that only through cooperation and the involvement of every person and institution can we overcome the negative impact of this crime.
Read: Basic Bank loan scam: HC orders ACC to complete probe in 3 months
States, government officials, civil servants, law enforcement officers, media representatives, the private sector, civil society, academia, the public and youth alike all have a role to play in this.
Mandous turns into severe cyclonic storm, but won't hit Bangladesh: BMD
Cyclonic storm Mandous over the Southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining area has moved west-northwestwards and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the same area.
"There is no possibility of the severe cyclonic storm lashing the Bangladesh coast, and it is likely to cross over India's Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu coasts. It may weaken into a cyclone and then into a deep depression while making landfall," Meteorologist AKM Nazmul Haque of the Bangladesh Meteorology Department (BMD) told UNB.
Read: 1,000 more cyclone shelters to be set up: Enamul
The maritime ports of Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisting distant warning signal No. 2, meaning a storm – wind speed of 62-88km per hour – has formed in the distant deep sea; ships may fall into danger if they leave the harbour.
As of 6am today, the storm was centred about 1690km southwest of Chattogram port, 1640km southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 1560km southwest of Mongla port and 1565km southwest of Payra port.
"All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to come close to the coast and proceed with caution. They were also advised not to venture into the deep sea," the BMD said.
Read: After playing down chances of Sitrang, Enamur now warns of December cyclone
"The sea will remain very rough in areas near the cyclone centre, with the sustained wind speed within a 64km radius rising up to 117kph in gusts."
205 BNP leaders, activists sued over crude bomb blasts in Barishal
Police have filed a case against 55 named and 150 more unnamed BNP leaders and activists on Friday over crude bomb blasts at a school ground in Barishal's Babuganj upazila.
Sub-Inspector of Babuganj Police Station Abdul Hannan filed the case under the Explosive Substances Act early Friday, Mahbubur Rahman, officer-in-charge of the police station, said.
Read: Nayapaltan clash: 445 BNP activists including Rizvi, Annie sent to jail, 2 get bail
"They accused tried to create panic among people through sabotage and subversive activities. However, their identities cannot be disclosed right now due to an investigation," he added.
Police have not made any arrests over the crude bomb blasts but a special operation is being conducted to arrest those involved in it, Mahbubur said.
On Thursday night, two crude bombs exploded at Ishwar Narayan Secondary School ground in Babuganj. Police claimed they later seized three more unexploded crude bombs from the spot.
Read: Nayapaltan clash: Over 3000 BNP activists, others sued
However, Abul Kalam Shahin, member secretary of the South Barishal BNP, said the party was not involved in the incident and the blasts were a ploy of the administration to foil the BNP's December 10 rally in Dhaka.
Fakhrul, Abbas being questioned, not arrested: DB Chief
The Chief of Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Harun Or Rashid on Friday said the BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas who were picked up from their house in the early hours are being questioned.
“They have not been arrested. They were brought to the DB office for questioning on some issues,” he told the media at the capital's Minto road.
“They are still at DB office premises. Our next step in this regard will be informed after the questioning”, he said.
“We can question them if we feel it’s necessary. The situation that arose two days ago when at least 50 to 60 police members were hurt and we are questioning them about the overall issues,” said the DB Chief replying to a question.
“In Yesterday’s discussion, BNP proposed Kamalapur Stadium for December 10 rally venue but we suggested Bangla College Field as there is synthetic grass laid in the stadium for the cricket match which will get destroyed,” he said replying to another question.
Read more: BNP to hold its Dec 10 rally at Nayapaltan
Police have decided on approving Bangla College Field. But some of the BNP leaders are now talking about Golapbagh field which was not discussed at the meeting,” added DB Chief Harun.
BNP in the early hours on Friday claimed that plainclothes police picked up its Mirza Fakhrul and Mirza Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city.
BNP’s Media Cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan said that a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police went to Fakhrul’s Uttara house at the dead of night and picked him up around 3:00 am.
He said another team of the DB police raided the house of Abbas at the same time and picked him up from his Shahjahanpur home in Dhaka.
Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain condemned the detention of the two top party leaders and said their party’s decision about Saturday’s rally will be announced after a virtual meeting of the standing committee that was supposed to begin at 11:30am.
Talking to reporters on Friday morning, Fakhrul’s wife Rahat Ara Begum said four DB police members came to the upstairs of their house around 3am while som others were staying downstairs.
“I asked them the reason behind their arrival here at the dead of night. They said they came here to take him (Fakhrul) away as per the directives of the higher authorities,” she said.
Rahat Ara said as she asked them whether they had any warrant for his arrest, the law enforcers said he was accused in two or three fresh cases that were filed yesterday.
“I was asleep when Abbas woke me up and said they (DB members) were going to take me with them and I couldn’t believe it at first,” said Mirza Abbas’s wife Afroza Abbas.
Read more: Mirza Fakhrul, Mirza Abbas picked up by detectives: BNP
They said they will return him after discussion with him, she said.
Earlier on Thursday night, a BNP delegation had a six-hour meeting with the DMP commissioner where they talked about holding the rally on Saturday (December 10) either at Kamalapur Stadium or Mirpur Bangla College ground.
Later, Abbas with some BNP leaders visited the two venues.
At that meeting, police authorities assured of reopening BNP office at Nayapaltan.
On Wednesday, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office ahead of its December 10 rally.
On Thursday, a Dhaka court sent 445 BNP leaders and activists to jail in two cases filed over Wednesday’s violence.
Party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Dhaka south city unit convener Abdus Salam and Publication Secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie were among the top leaders who were sent to jail, pending further legal procedures.
Begum Rokeya’s dreams about women empowerment fulfilled in Bangladesh: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said the post of deputy leader in Parliament will be fulfilled by a woman again.
“We’ve almost fulfilled Begum Rokeya’s dreams as we, four key persons, in Parliament– the Speaker, the Leader of the House, the Leader of the Opposition and the Deputy Leader of the House were women. Unfortunately, our deputy leader Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury passed away a few days ago. We’ll fulfill the vacant post by a woman again,” she said.
The premier was speaking at a programme arranged in the city’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium to celebrate Begum Rokeya Day-2022 and distribute Begum Rokeya Padak-2022.
Hasina handed over the prestigious medals to five women for their outstanding contributions towards the society, women education and women empowerment.
The Women and Children Affairs Ministry organised the event marking the 142nd birth and 90th death anniversary of Begum Rokeya Shakhawat Hossain.
Read more: PM hands over Begum Rokeya Padak to 5 women
The PM focused on her endeavours to ensure the presence of women in different sectors and posts, including the higher court, the armed forces, Border Guard Bangladesh, the posts of secretary, deputy commissioner (DC), superintendent of police (SP) and even Officer In-charge (OC) after formation of her government in 1996 and 2009.
“Today there is the presence of women everywhere,” she said.
“We’ve largely implemented dreams of Begum Rokeya. Had she (Begum Rokeya) been alive today, she would be happy,” said Hasina, adding that the AL government established a college and university after her (Rokeya’s) name and also arranged training for women in her birth place.
The five noted women who received Begum Rokeya Padak this year are --Rahima Khatun from Faridpur for her contribution to women's education; Prof Kamrun Nahar Begum (Advocate) from Chittagong for her contribution to the establishment of women's rights; Farida Yasmin from Khulna for her special contribution to women's socio-economic development; Dr Afroza Parveen from Narail for her contribution to the enlightenment of women through literature and culture; and Nasima Begum from Jhenaidah for her contribution in rural development.
Read more: Don’t allow arsonists, anti-liberation forces to assume power: PM
Dr Afroza Parveen, on behalf of recipients, shared her feelings on this occasion.
Each recipient received a gold medal, a cheque for Tk 4 lakh, and a certificate of appreciation.
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira chaired the event, while women and children secretary Md. Hasanuzzaman Kallol delivered the welcome speech.
The PM said Begum Rokeya had dreamt that one day women would be judges, magistrates, take different responsibilities and be present everywhere. “We’re on the way now to gradually attain what she had desired,” she said.
Recalling the women’s participation in the country’s freedom struggles, S Hasina said both men and women had also equally joined the Language Movement in 1952.
She said the contribution of Begum Rokeya is there behind today’s achievements over women education and awakening of women. “Hadn’t she received education and taken steps for women's education breaking the stalemate, none of us could be in our present positions,” she said.
She said Begum Rokeya showed the women the path of standing on their own-feet by receiving education and attaining economic-dependency.
The premier asked all to value the household work as the management of household affairs is a huge task but remains uncounted.
She highlighted different steps implemented and taken by her government for the wellbeing of the women. “We’ve started construction of hostels for employed women even in district and upazila level,” said Sheikh Hasina.
Magura road crash: Two Rab men killed while 'chasing drug-laden pickup'
Two members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) were killed in a road accident on the Magura-Jhenidah highway early Friday while chasing a pickup van suspected to be transporting illegal drugs, police said.
The pickup van driver also died from the impact of the crash.
The dead were identified as Corporal Anisur Rahman, 38, and Constable Faruq Hossain, 38, of Rab, officer-in-charge of Magura Police Station, said. "However, the pickup van driver's identity could not immediately be confirmed."
Read more: 4 die as train hits auto-rickshaw in Cumilla
Another Rab member Nazmul Hossain who was injured in the accident was taken to a Dhaka hospital.
The accident occurred around 4:30am when a Rab patrol car crashed with the pickup van in the Rautara area of Magura Sadar upazila, leaving three people dead at the scene.
Earlier, Rab set up a check-post on the Magura-Jhenidah highway after being tipped off about a pickup van transporting illegal drugs.
Read more: Three of a family killed in Madaripur road crash
"Spotting the vehicle, Rab members signalled it to stop. But the pickup van driver accelerated towards Magura. Then a Rab car chased it. As the Rab car sped past the pickup van and tried to stop it, the vehicles collided," the OC said.
Two separate cases have been filed with police over the crash, he added.