Bangladesh
HC orders probe into Tk 1500 cr embezzlement allegation against FMC dockyard MD
The High Court on Sunday ordered the authorities concerned to investigate the allegation of Tk 1500 embezzlement by Mohammad Yeasin Chowdhury, Managing Director of FMC dockyard Limited.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat ordered Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate the allegation within two weeks.
The HC bench passed the suo moto order when ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam drew attention of the court after attaching a report published in a vernacular daily on January 5 headlined ‘Yeasin in abroad after embezzling Tk 1500 crore’.
Also read: High Court asks government to urgently appoint five recommended BCS cadres
The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the ineffectiveness of the respondents in taking action against MD Yeasin should not be declared illegal.
The court also fixed March 9 for next hearing.
Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
According to the newspaper report, MD Yeasin embezzled Tk 1500 crore from different banks and financial institutions and fled the country.
A number of cases were filed against him in Chattogram and an arrest warrant was also issued against him.
MD Yeasin took loans of Tk 1,243 crore from a number of banks. Besides, he owes Tk 113.83 crore to Bismillah Marine Services.
Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 17 more cases
Bangladesh registered 17 more Covid cases in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,037,267, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,440 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity rose to 0.84 per cent from Saturday's 0.39 per cent as 2030samples were tested during the period.
The mortality and recovery rates remained unchanged at 1.45 percent and 97.61 per cent, respectively, it added.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh registers another death, 23 cases
In December last year, the country reported seven Covid-linked deaths and 540 cases.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 in 2021 and daily fatalities of 264 on August 5 the same year.
Vote using ballot papers if EVM scheme not passed by mid-January: Commissioner Rasheda
Election Commissioner Begum Rasheda Sultana on Sunday said that if the scheme for the electronic voting machines (EVMs) is not passed by mid-January voting in the next general election will be held by using ballot papers.
"Unless the new scheme of the EVMs is passed by mid-January, these machines cannot be used in 150 (parliamentary) seats. In this case, the EC will have to prepare for voting on ballot papers," she said.
She made the comment to journalists after a meeting with technical experts at her Election Commission office in Agargaon. The Election Commission had earlier proposed a project of Tk 9000 crore to the government for procuring and using EVMs in 150 seats. That proposal has not yet been cleared.
Also read: With or without BNP, election to be held on time: Razzaque
The EC commissioner said the EVM project does not seem to have progressed much.
"We said that we will use EVMs in a maximum of 150 seats subject to receipt of project funds," she said. "If it comes on time, it is better. If not, we will do with what we have. We have the capacity to use EVMs in 70 to 80 seats, (but) I don't know what we have now," she added.
She said that they did not talk to the policymakers (ministries) about this and said that it is not customary. The EC Secretariat may discuss.
Passenger says immigration officer at Dhaka airport advised her to “find a Bangladeshi man, get married”
A female passenger has reportedly been advised to get married and settle down in Dhaka by an immigration officer at Dhaka airport.
The passenger, Priyanka Basu, shared her experience on Twitter on January 5, 2023 – that received a lot of reactions, reports the Hindustan Times.
After enquiring her details at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the immigration officer apparently advised Priyanka to “find a Bangladeshi man, get married and settle in Dhaka.”
Read More: E-gates at Sylhet airport will improve passengers’ experience: Foreign Minister
He also noted down her contact number to be in touch if a “suitable match” comes up, Priyanka tweeted.
There were many responses to the tweet, with Twitterati making jokes and mocking the immigration officer’s advice.
“Never knew this was part of their job description,” said one Twitter user.
Read More: Dense fog: 8 int'l flights diverted, 7 delayed at Dhaka airport
Another wrote, “Sounds like this officer has stakes in a ‘marriage bureau’, start-up (dating service) as you call them in the West. I hope he will soon make you an offer you cannot refuse.”
Police cordon off ‘militant den’ in Sunamganj
Sunamganj, Jan 8 (UNB) - Police cordoned off a house at Fechi Atghar in Jagannathpur upazila of Sunamganj district on Sunday, suspecting it to be a militant hideout.
Subhasish Dhar, additional superintendent of Sunamganj (Jagannathpur circle) police, said a team of police cordoned off the house Sunday morning on an information that there are a huge quantity of illegal firearms and bombs in the abandoned house.
Also Read: 6 ‘Al Qaeda-inspired militants’ arrested in city
The owner of the house is a resident of Sylhet city, he said.
A bomb disposal unit went to the spot.
Patients, relatives stage demonstrations at CMCH protesting hike in dialysis fee
Hundreds of kidney patients and their relatives on Sunday staged demonstrations in front of Chattogram Medical College and Hospital(CMCH) protesting the recent hike in dialysis fee.
Holding banners they took position in front of the Kidney Dialysis Centre of the hospital in the morning and staged demonstrations demanding restoration of the previous fee for dialysis.
The protesters said a patient needs dialysis eight times in a month and they have to pay Tk 2,795 first two times and Tk 510 for each of the rest.
Now the hospital authorities raised the fee to Tk 2935 and the patients have to pay it four times and Tk 535 for each of the rest dialysis in a month, they said.
The protesters also threatened to continue their protest if the authorities concerned don’t take any steps to reinstate the previous fees immediately.
The protesters also confined Brigadier General Shamim Ahsan, director of the hospital, for three hours on Saturday for same reason.
Also read: Ganatantra Moncho announces sit-in protest on January 11 after mass procession
Shamim Ahsan said the hospital has the capacity to conduct dialysis of 6500 patients but the number has increased. As per the directives of the Health Ministry and due to the limitations, the authorities have to raise the dialysis fees.
Already a letter has been sent to the ministry concerned and the problem will be resolved soon, he said.
Kidney Dialysis Centre was launched at the hospital under the public-private partnership project in 2017 and it is now operating with 32 dialysis machines.
According to the agreement with the Ministry of Health, Indian company Sandor will continue its operations at this center for ten years. The institution will use government space for this. A patient has to pay about Tk 3000 against kidney dialysis each time.
E-gates at Sylhet airport will improve passengers’ experience: Foreign Minister
The electronic gates at Sylhet Osmani International Airport will improve passengers’ experience and enhance quality of service, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said today.
“We have already launched e-gates at three international airports in our country and have issued many e-passports so far,” he told reporters after the inauguration of the e-gates at Sylhet airport.
Passengers who have e-passports will be able to complete the immigration activities through e-gates, he added.
Recently the passport services have improved a lot, and one does not have to wait for a long time like before, Momen said.
“The quality of our passport (service) will increase further through the launching of e-gates. Then we won’t need visas to visit many countries. Many countries are eager to sign visa waiver agreements with us,” he said.
Also read: E-gates at Sylhet airport to open for passengers today
Six e-gates were launched today at Sylhet airport. Three of them were set up for departure and three for entry.
On Saturday, Maher Uddin Sheikh, deputy director of Sylhet Divisional Passport and Visa Office, said that immigration process will be completed fast. The government has taken this initiative, considering the convenience of expatriates, speeding up immigration procedures and raising the standard of services.
Passengers can easily pass through the e-gates as the gates will be opened automatically after submitting an e-passport and the whole process will be completed within 18 seconds, said airport authorities.
Earlier on June 7, twelve e-gates were inaugurated at Dhaka Airport.
Bangladesh Ikebana Association delegation meets new Japanese envoy
A delegation of Bangladesh Ikebana Association (BIA) on Sunday met newly appointed Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori at the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka.
Prof Dr AKM Moazzem Hussain, founder of BIA, led the delegation and explained BIA’s mission, vision and its activities in Bangladesh since 1974.
Life patron and honorary CEO of BIA Masud Karim said Japan is a friendly country of Bangladesh and the two countries have long diplomatic relations.
“Along with Ikebana, we will continue to work to deepen the cultural relations between these two countries in the future,” he said.
President of Bangladesh Ikebana Association Shahinoor Baby said they always seek the cooperation from the Ambassador in all their Ikebana activities in Bangladesh.
The Ambassador said that the Embassy of Japan will always cooperate with the BIA and its activities as much as possible, said a media release.
Bangladesh Ikebana Association held various programmes on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Japan-Bangladesh diplomatic relations in June last year.
Youth dies after being hit by truck in Dhaka’s Rayerbazar
A 22-year-old man was killed as a truck hit a rickshaw van in the capital’s Rayerbazar area on Sunday morning.
The deceased was identified as Rabbi, an employee of a chicken wholesale shop at Rayerbazar.
Read more: 3 family members among 5 dead in accident involving truck, pick-up and microbus on Dhaka-Sylhet highway
The accident occurred near Martyr Intellectual graveyard around 6 am when the truck hit the van carrying Rabbi on his way back to his shop after delivering chickens at Nabisco area of Tejgaon, said his co-worker Ohid Mia, who was peddling the van.
Rabbi fell from the van and was crushed under the wheels of the truck, he added.
Read more: Teen girl dies after truck overturns in Ctg
He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) where doctors declared him dead, said Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of DMCH police outpost.
The body has been kept at the hospital morgue, he added.
PM emphasises signing PTA, FTA with Brazil and three other South American countries
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today stressed the need for boosting trade and business cooperation between Bangladesh and Brazil.
There is a huge prospect of business expansion between the two countries, she said.
The premier said this when Brazilian Ambassador to Bangladesh Paulo Fernando Dias Feres paid a courtesy call on her at the latter’s official residence Ganabhaban.
Read more: Doing whatever is needed to ease pains despite war, pandemic: PM
PM’s speech writer Md. Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.
Sheikh Hasina requested the Brazil government to prioritise expansion of bilateral trade and business.
She emphasised signing preferential trade agreement (PTA) or free trade agreement (FTA) with Brazil and three other MERCOSUR (The Southern Common Market) countries – Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – soon, as Bangladesh will graduate into a developing country in 2026.
Noting that discussions are continuing over signing PTA or FTA with the MERCOSUR countries, the PM urged for completing the signing process of the agreements soon.
Bangladesh mainly exports pharmaceuticals items and RMG products to Brazil and imports soybean, raw sugar and wheat.
The PM also emphasised on enhancing agricultural cooperation between Bangladesh and Brazil.
Noting that pharmaceutical items are now facing some restrictions over registration process in the Brazilian market, she asked the Brazil side to ease the restrictions.
About the Rohingya issue, she said Bangladesh is providing shelter to more than 11 lakh displaced Rohingyas, which is a huge burden for the country.
Read more: Stay alert against anarchy ahead of next election: PM Hasina to the Nation
She said the displaced Rohingya population continues is growing with the births of 30,000 babies every year.
The PM asked Brazil to play a decisive role in the United Nations Security Council over the Rohingya issue.
She congratulated the newly elected Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Sheikh Hasina expressed profound grief at the death of Brazilian football Legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento Pelé and conveyed condolences to his family and the people of Brazil.
The Brazilian ambassador said Bangladeshi readymade garments have a great demand in the Brazilian market. Brazil can be a major market for Bangladeshi RMG products, he added.
He said there is a huge scope to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, particularly in trade and technology.
Paulo Fernando put emphasise on enhancing the people-to-people and business-to-business contact between the two countries.
Regarding the bilateral agricultural cooperation, the envoy said agricultural good practices, experiences and technology can be shared with each other.
PM's Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin, Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Foreign Senior Secretary Masud Bin Momen were present at the meeting.