Bangladesh
Suspension of Gaibandha-5 by-polls was right, former commissioners tell EC
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said on Wednesday that former chief election commissioners, election commissioners and secretaries endorsed the Election Commission’s decision over the suspension of the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary seat by-polls.
He made the remarks at the EC headquarters in Dhaka after a meeting with the former officials to discuss the election process.
“The decision to cancel the election at Gaibandha-5 was correct,” he said of the outcome of a closed-door discussion with them. “We invited them to discuss if the decision regarding the Gaibnadha-5 by-polls was fine in line with law. Everybody said it was correct,” he said.
The CEC said that the former election commissioners and secretaries advised the EC to maintain “continuity” of its work and action.
He said that the former election commissioners also told the EC that use of the CCTV cameras and the EVMs are helpful in holding a free and fair election.
Read: Gaibandha-5 polls: Not a reckless decision, says CEC
But former Election Commissioner Sakhawat Hossain told reporters that he advised the EC to use the CCTV cameras more instead of EVMs.
“Good or bad, there is controversy about EVMs. More use of CCTV cameras will be better with the (same) budget meant for the EVMs at 150 parliamentary seats,” he said.
"Where EVMs are needed, use them. (But) ballot papers are possible to find out if they are taken (snatched by someone). Subtle manipulation is possible with EVMs. There is no chaos outside, nothing, but what was going on inside in Gaibandha that we saw,” he said.
Sakhawat said that the Election Commission must maintain the continuity of what it has done regarding Gaibandha-5 by-polls.
Otherwise, he said, people would think that the EC cancelled the election in Gaibandha to just demonstrate a scenario for a different reason.
“So far so good, don't skip the next steps. If you do, then a different message will be sent to the nation that you have done this to show,” he said.
He said that the EC should take action against the people responsible for manipulation in Gaibandha.
Read: Gaibandha-5 by-election cancelled over 'malpractices'
"If you fail to find out who is guilty and if you don’t take action regarding Gaibandha, then you will not get (the people’s) confidence in the future. So, it must be done,” he said.
“Measures should be taken by applying the power that is there. Action should be taken against the officials who have issued letters claiming that the election was fair," he said in reference to the points he shared during the meeting with the EC.
About the recent move to bring the NID registration under the Ministry of Home Affairs from the Election Commission, he said: “Why does the government want to take NID registration under the ministry? That is not clear. The Election Commission has developed the system for so many years. Whenever it will be taken the voter list will be questionable at some points, which is not right.”
Former chief election commissioners--Abdur Rauf, KM Nurul Huda, Kazi Rakib Uddin Ahmed, former election commissioners M Sakhawat Hossain, Rafiqul Islam, Kavita Khanam, former EC secretaries Mohammad Sadiq, Mohammad Abdullah, Sirajul Islam, Helal Uddin Ahmed and former additional secretaries Jasmine Tuli and Mokhleshur Rahman took part in the discussion.
Bangladesh reports 2 Covid deaths, 300 cases
Bangladesh reported two more Covid-19-linked deaths and 300 fresh cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning.
The country's total fatalities rose to 29,410 with the new deaths and the new cases raised the total caseload to 2,033,419, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case test positivity rate rose to 7.18 per cent from Tuesday’s 6.97 per cent as 4,176 samples were tested during the period.
Among the latest deceased, one was a man and another was a woman and they were from
Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions.
Read: Bangladesh reports 6 Covid deaths, 287 cases
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 per cent and the recovery rate rose to 97.17 per cent.
In September, the country reported 40 Covid-linked deaths and 13,251 cases.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and its highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.
Govt cheating nation in name of development before democracy: GM Quader
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Wednesday alleged that the nation is being deceived in the name of development before democracy.
“Acceptable elections are the gateway to democracy. Democracy cannot be practised without free, fair and acceptable elections,” he said.
Speaking at a programme at Jatiya Party Chairman’s Banani office, GM Quader also said the main objective of their party’s politics is to establish democracy and ensure people’s rights.
He alleged that some people want to misinterpret democracy in the name of development as they say development should be given the priority over democracy.
“In fact, there is no such thing as developmental democracy. The nation is being cheated in the name of such democracy,” the Jatiya Party chief observed.
He said that the country's development and good governance will be ensured if democracy is established. “All the rights of people will be ensured only if democracy is guaranteed.”
Read: Bangladeshis burning in hell, says GM Quader
At the programme, renowned physician Manjur-A-Khoda joined Jatiya Party by presenting a bouquet to the party chairman.
GM Quader welcomed the physician and urged him to play a role in strengthening the organisational capacity of Jatiya Party.
Jatiya Party presidium members Advocate Md Rezaul Islam Bhuiyan, Mostafa Al Mahmud and Office Secretary-2 MA Razzak Khan, among others, were present at the programme.
Tourist killed in Rangamati road accident
A tourist was killed and six others were injured when a ‘Chander Gari’( a vehicle that usually carries tourists) fell into a ditch while returning from Sajek on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Mohammad Sagar Ahmed, 32.
According to Atulal Chakma, Chairman of Sajek Union Parishad, the accident occurred around 11:00am when the Chander Gari reached House Para from Sajek’s Ruilui Para, overturned and fell into a ditch.
Read: 75-yr-old killed in road accident in Dhaka
“Upon receiving information from the locals, a team of Bangladesh Army and police rescued the injured people and took them to Dighinala Upazila Health Complex for treatment. Sagar died while undergoing treatment there,” Atulal said.
Officer-In-charge (OC) of Sajek Police Station Nurul Haque confirmed the matter saying that all the victims of the road crash were residents of Dhaka city.
Family, friends remember artist Kalidas on 3rd death anniversary
Kalidas Karmakar, the internationally acclaimed painter and printmaker who significantly advanced Bangladeshi art through his fascinating art, shocked the world with his sudden demise on October 18, 2019, at the age of 73.
The artist was remembered on the third anniversary of his death in an exclusive commemorative event on Tuesday night at his Bangla Motor residence in the capital.
In remembrance and celebration of the beloved artist – fondly called “Kali Da” – several acclaimed artists and renowned personalities joined the event, discussing the majestic life of Kalidas Karmakar.
The vibrant list of speakers and guests included WildTeam Chairman Enam Ul Haque, veteran artist Biren Shome, Ekushey Padak winning Bangladeshi artist Dr Farida Zaman, Assistant Professors of Dhaka University Faculty of Fine Arts Drawing and Painting Department Kamal Uddin and Bishwajit Goswami, New York-based eminent artist Khurshid Alam Saleem, legendary artist Hamiduzzaman Khan, Gallery Cosmos Executive Artistic Manager Sourav Chowdhury and others.
“Kalidas Karmakar is my classmate from Faridpur High School and has been a lifelong friend of mine. He and I shared so many memorable incidents, and because of his inspiration, I showcased my photographs in three exhibitions, including my expedition to Antarctica. He had always been an unimaginably cheerful man, aside from being a legend in the Bangladeshi art scene,” Enam Ul Haque said at the event.
Freedom fighter and veteran artist Biren Shome said, “Right after the Liberation War in 1971, Kalidas Karmakar was one of the pioneers bringing the energy in our art sphere. He was a man who always embodied freedom and youthfulness.”
Kalidas Karmakar’s eldest daughter Dr Konka Karmakar reminisced about her father, saying, “Everyone knows him as a legendary artist, but I have been fortunate to get his love as his elder daughter. He was a larger than life soul, a great cook, a traveller; a complete role model – not only as an artist but also as a father.”
At the event, Dr Konka Karmakar and Biren Shome alongside, Gallery Cosmos Executive Artistic Manager Sourav Chowdhury, jointly handed over the certificates and prize money to two young and promising artists, Fakhrul Islam Mazumder and Md Rafiqul Islam, as recipients of the ‘Kali Artist Residency Grant.’
Read: Gallery Cosmos remembers artist Kalidas Karmakar
The yearly grant was launched on the second death anniversary of Kalidas Karmakar last year, allowing its recipients Tk 2,00,000 and access to practice at the Cosmos Atelier71 for three months, along with other artistic facilities. The recipients have recently rounded up their working projects at the Atelier71.
Munia rape, murder: PBI finds no evidence against Bashundhara MD, 8 others
The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) has said it has not found any evidence against Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir and eight other accused in college student Mosarat Jahan Munia rape and murder case.
It also recommended their acquittal from the charges.
The PBI submitted the report to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka on Tuesday, said Deputy Inspector Saifur Rahman, the general recording officer of the court.
Munia's sister Nusrat Jahan filed the case with Dhaka Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-8 against the eight people on 6 September, 2021.
The other accused in the case are – Anvir's father Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, his mother Afroza Begum, wife Sabrina, Sharmin, Saifa Rahman Mim, Faria Mahbub Piasha and Ibrahim Ahmed Ripon.
Read: Munia's death: Bashundhara MD among 8 sued over ‘rape, murder’
Later, the case was handed over to the PBI for investigation.
Earlier on August 19, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury relieved Anvir of the charge of incitement to suicide of the college student.
On July 19, the investigating officer of the case, Gulshan Police Station officer-in-charge Abul Hasan, submitted a final report to the court giving a clean chit to Anvir.
Anvir was not found culpable in the suicide incitement case of Munia in the final report submitted by the investigating officer and asked for his name to be dropped.
On April 26, police recovered the hanging body of Munia from a flat in the capital's Gulshan area.
Munia's elder sister, Nusrat Jahan Tania, filed a case against Anvir that night accusing him of incitement to suicide.
According to Tania, her sister, Munia, was in a relationship with Anvir who regularly visited her at the Gulshan apartment.
“Please don’t use labour weaknesses as a tool to achieve political gains”
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has urged the International Labour Organization (ILO) to join Bangladesh in its forward-looking efforts without dragging them into the unfortunate past that otherwise only helps serve some “vested” national and international interests and agenda.
“Please don’t use labour weaknesses, if there be any, as a tool to achieve political gains, rather try to help and assist to overcome those weaknesses with generous support and financing,” he said.
The Foreign Minister was speaking at a national seminar on “Fundamental Principle and Rights at Work” held at the Foreign Service Academy to discuss the progression in the area of labour rights, decent work and social justice.
It has been 50 years since Bangladesh joined the ILO as a member state. To mark the occasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and ILO jointly organised the seminar.
Momen said he publicly made these observations in the spirit of Bangladesh’s “constructive engagement” with ILO and in their mutual interest.
He reiterated that the government of Bangladesh remains willing to facilitate appropriate course-corrections in the labour and employment sectors in response to its socio-economic context at any given time.
“We would, however, expect our relevant international partners including ILO to acknowledge the value of local level knowledge and insights without taking a one-sided prescriptive approach that one model fits all,” Momen said.
He said the government remains determined to navigate the current cost-of-living crisis in the wake of the war in Ukraine by continuing its efforts to create decent jobs for the young workforce and by expanding the reach of social safety nets to help poor households offset the inflationary pressures.
“It is critical that the international financial institutions provide the required fiscal space to developing countries like ours by taking certain proven policy measures in the face of a likely global recession,” he said.
Read: Momen seeks Kuwaiti, Iranian support on Rohingya issue
Momen recalled ILO’s resurgence and relevance in the international policy discourse during the global financial crisis of 2008-09. “We would wish to see ILO living up to its expected role as we countenance yet another multiple crisis period.”
Speaking at the seminar, ILO’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Chihoko Asada-Miyakawa said ILO will continue to support the government with the application of ratified conventions.
ILO has supported a systematic approach to skills governance and anticipates further modernization and ILO is committed to continue this partnership, she said, adding that “Together with the government and social partners we will continue to strive to reach common goals.”
The ILO senior official said the overarching goal is to see Bangladesh achieve an economic and social recovery from the crisis that is fully inclusive, systematic and resilient.
She laid emphasis on strengthening policies that prioritise the creation of decent works for all and address the inequalities.
Reaching this goal will mean making progress through a comprehensive agenda and promote quality employment, economic development, workers protection, universal protection and social dialogue, Asada-Miyakawa said.
She highly appreciated Bangladesh’s commitment in advancing the decent work for all.
Flagging five specific issues of interest for reinforcing and recalibrating future cooperation with ILO, Momen hoped that ILO would give enhanced focus on supporting the government and social partners for the rapid transformations to be taking place in the world of work due to climate change, digitization, artificial intelligence and other factors.
“We would like to see ILO taking a future-leaning approach in supporting our long-term development aspirations in lieu of resorting to short-term project-driven engagements carried out through hired expertise,” he said.
Secondly, he said, Bangladesh wants to see ILO take a more vocal stand in favour of upholding the fundamental rights at work for migrant workers around the world.
It is unfortunate that the international trade union bodies often pay nothing more than lip service for protecting the rights and interest of migrant workers, he said.
Read: Democracy in US has weaknesses too: Momen
Momen said Bangladesh wishes to see ILO as a partner in capacity building and not necessarily appropriate what should be matters of local competence.
“ILO is expected to act as a UN agency and appreciate the dynamics of national or local narratives and aspirations,” he said.
Bangladesh, like many other countries, had experienced some gravely tragic incidents in the labour sector, even till recently.
“As a nation with a resilient spirit, it is our continuous effort to learn from those tragedies and overcome the structural and systemic constraints underlying those incidents,” Momen said.
The foreign minister said Bangladesh remains convinced that without a productive workforce employed in a decent work environment, it would be a challenge for them to realize the Vision 2041.
“Our government will sustain the momentum of reforms in the labour sector building on our shared achievements and experiences in the last fifty years,” he said, adding that Bangladesh has proved itself to be a poster child for much of the UN's development activities.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and other stakeholders spoke at the seminar.
BNP public rally: Bus services in Khulna to remain suspended Oct 21, 22
Khulna bus-minibus owners association and motor workers’ union have decided to keep bus services suspended on October 21 and 22 due to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s divisional rally on October 22.
They took the decision on Tuesday night.
General secretary of motor workers’ union Jakir Hossain said movement of all buses from Khulna will remain suspended on October 21 and 22.
The BNP will organize the rally on Sonali Bank premises in the city.
District unit BNP general secretary Monirul Hasan Bappi alleged that the decision was taken to restrict the BNP leaders and activists of different upazilas of Khulna district and nine districts of Khulna division from joining the rally.
“We apprehended the matter earlier and have taken preparations accordingly,” he said.The BNP activists were asked to come to the city few days ahead of the rally and stay in hotels or relative’s houses, he added.
Earlier on September 28, BNP announced to hold public rallies in 10 divisional cities in protest against the killings and filing of cases against the party leaders and activists, price hikes of fuel and daily essentials and demanding the unconditional release of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
The party has already arranged two massive rallies in Chittagong and Mymensingh.BNP leaders alleged that many BNP leaders and activists were attacked, arrested and implicated in ‘false’ cases in Chittagong and Mymensingh over holding the rally.
Dhaka court frames charges against contractor Shamim, mother in graft case
A Dhaka court on Wednesday framed charges against "influential" contractor GK Shamim and his mother Ayesha Akter in a disproportionate assets case.
Judge Sheikh Nazmul Alam of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-4, framed the charges against the mother-son duo for corruption and fixed November 7 as the next date for hearing the testimonies of witnesses in the case, said Belal Hossain, a court official.
Framing of charge is vital to a criminal case as it gives the accused precisely what the prosecution intends to prove against them.
Shamim and his mother have been charged with graft for acquiring excessive assets -- worth over Tk 298 crore -- by corrupt means, the court official said.
Earlier, on December 22, 2020, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) approved the chargesheet against Shamim and his mother in the graft case.
He was arrested with illegal firearms and a huge amount of money from his Niketan office on September 20, 2019, during a drive against illegal casinos and other businesses.
Seven of his bodyguards were also arrested during the raid.
Rab members seized Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) worth Tk 165 crore, Tk 1.81 crore in cash and a huge amount of foreign currencies.
A foreign-made pistol, seven shotguns and a huge cache of bullets were also seized from the office of ‘GKB & Company Pvt Limited’.
The elite force lodged three complaints – one under the narcotics control act, another under the money-laundering prevention act, and the third under the arms acts – against Shamim with Gulshan police the next day.
Coaching centres to remain closed Nov 3-Dec 14 ahead of HSC: Dipu Moni
All coaching centres across Bangladesh will remain closed from November 3 to December 14, ahead of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations, Education Minister Dipu Moni said today.
HSC and equivalent exams will begin on November 6, she said at a press briefing at the secretariat.
Read: No SSC question paper leaked, Dinajpur incident regrettable: Dipu Moni
This year, a total of 12,03,407 examinees will sit for the exams. Of them, 6,22,769 are boys and 5,80,611 are girls.
HSC, equivalent exams will be held in 2,649 centers and 9,181 institutions. Examinees will not be allowed to carry mobile phones or any devices.