Bangladesh
No megaprojects now but no compromise on welfare-oriented ones: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday (November 07, 2022) asked the authorities concerned to come up with small-scale, rural, or public welfare-oriented projects.
She gave the directive while chairing the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) at the NEC conference room in Dhaka’s Sher-e Bangla Nagar area.
“The Prime Minister said that megaprojects can’t be undertaken, but there cannot be any compromise on small-scale, rural projects or welfare-oriented projects,” Planning Minister MA Mannan said while briefing reporters after the meeting.
Sheikh Hasina, also the Ecnec chairperson, stressed the need for a thorough feasibility study in case of undertaking any big project.
Read more: Ecnec nods 6 projects worth Tk 7,018 crore
She also asked the authorities concerned to identify uncultivated land everywhere across the country and prepare those for cultivation.
“The Prime Minister said production will have to be increased. Not a single inch of land can be kept uncultivated,” Mannan said, adding that the PM directed the Cabinet Secretary to identify uncultivated land with the help of deputy commissioners.
The PM asked everyone to be frugal and stop wastage amid the ongoing global recession.
The Ecnec meeting cleared seven projects with a total estimated cost of Tk 3,981.90 crore (only additional costs of three revised projects were counted here).
Read more: Ecnec approves Tk 7,189cr Cumilla-Brahmanbaria 4-lane highway project
Of the cost, Tk 3,392.33 crore will be drawn from the Bangladesh government’s fund, while Tk 267.35 crore from the own funds of the organisations concerned and Tk 332.21 crore will come from foreign sources.
Among the fresh four projects, the “Construction of Jetty with ancillary infrastructures at Mirsrai and Sandwip in Chattogram, Sonadia Island in Cox's Bazar and Teknaf (Sabrang and Jaliar Islands)” one will be implemented at the cost of Tk 1913.70 crore by June 2024.
The project titled “Improvement of Service Passages including Damaged Road Infrastructures in Zone-2 and Zone-4 of Dhaka North City Corporation will be executed at the cost of Tk 963.30 crore by June 2025.
The two other new projects are “Electrical-Mechanical and Security Development Works of Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban Area” with the estimated cost of Tk 92.17 crore and “Sustainable Agricultural Development in Dinajpur Region” with Tk 65.32 crore.
Besides, the meeting approved the first revision of “Expansion and Strengthening of Electricity Transmission System in Chattogram Region,” raising its cost by Tk 502.41 crore (now cost stands at Tk 1861.29 crore) and extending its deadline till June 2025 instead of June 2022.
In the meeting, the first revisions of two other projects were cleared. The projects are “Bariyarhat-Heyako-Ramgarh Road Widening” with additional cost of Tk 261.59 crore (now its cost stands at Tk 1107.12 crore) and extension of deadline till December 2024, and “Nabinagar-Ashuganj Road Development (Z-2031)” with extra cost of Tk 183.41 crore (now cost is Tk 604.86 crore) and extension of the deadline till June 2023.
JCD leader Milon’s custodial death: Court rejects plea to sue 6 cops
A Dhaka court on Tuesday rejected a petition seeking permission to file a case against six policemen, including the OCs of Shahbagh and Ramna police stations, over the custodial death of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) Dhaka north city unit vice president Zakir Hossain Milon in 2018.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court Judge Asaduzzaman turned down the plea, said Tapas Kumar Pal, additional public prosecutor of the court.
Earlier on October 12, Milon's uncle BM Wali Ullah submitted a petition to file a case under the Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention) Act, 2013.
Read: Attack on Tabith Awal: Court dismisses case against 15 AL men, OC
The court fixed Tuesday for the order.
The petition was submitted to sue Ramna Model police station OC Kazi Mainul Islam, Shahbag police station OC Abul Hasan, Sub-Inspector (SI) Sujan Kumar Roy, SI Saidur Rahman Munshi, SI Amal Krishna and SI Shahriar Reza and some 4-5 unnamed police officers.
On March 6, 2018, Milon was detained when he was returning from a programme at the Jatiya Press Club.
Read: HC clears way to continue graft case against BNP leader Dulu
According to the petition, the Chhatra Dal leader was tortured by Shahbagh police. He was later sent to jail after completion of his remand in a case filed for obstructing police from performing their duties.
On March 12, 2018, as Milon fell sick, jail authorities took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.
Attack on Ghoraghat UNO: One gets 13 years jail
A Dinajpur court on Tuesday sentenced a man to 13 years jail in a case filed over murder attempt on former Ghoraghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Wahida Khanam.
Judge Sadia Sultana of Additional Sessions Judge Court-3 pronounced the punishment.
The court also fined convict Robiul Islam Robi, the former gardener of Ghoraghat UNO, Tk 13,000, in default, to suffer nine months more in rigorous imprisonment.
Ghoraghat UNO Wahida Khanam and her father Omar Ali were seriously injured in an attack by miscreants at her house on the Upazila Parishad premises on September 2, 2019.
They were first taken to Rangpur Medical College and Hospital. Later, the UNO was airlifted to Dhaka by a Bangladesh Air Force helicopter.
Police arrested eight suspects including the prime accused in the case Rabiul.
Inspector of DB police and also the investigating officer of the case Abu Imam Zafar submitted chargehseet against Rabiul on October 21, 2019.
Bagerhat road crash leaves 3 dead
Three people, including two members of a family, have been killed when a trolley hit a motorbike on Bagerhat-Khulna highway in Fakirhat upazila of Bagerhat district.
The deceased were identified as Matleb Kha, 80, Ruhin Kha, 45, grandson of Matleb and Soikat Kha, 25, of Sugondhi village in the upazila.
Read: Lyricist Omar Faruk dies in Narsingdi road crash
Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Katakhali Highway Police Station, said the accident occurred around 7 pm on Mondaywhen the brick-laden trolley hit the motorbike carrying three people, leaving one rider dead on the spot and two co-riders injured.
Later, the injured were taken to Khulna Medical College and Hospital where one died around 9 pm and another at 11 pm.
Read: Man, woman on motorbike killed in Tangail road crash
Police seized the trolley but could not arrest its driver.
Despite ample supply, winter vegetables costly in Chandpur
Prices of winter vegetables are still relatively high despite adequate supply at kitchen markets in Chandpur, adding to the woes of people with fixed income already overburdened with soaring prices of daily essentials.
Early winter vegetables are available at all the kitchen markets in the district but the exorbitant prices of vegetables make it difficult for low- or middle-income people to purchase them.
Visiting different kitchen markets including Palbazar, Natun Bazar, Puran Bazar, Biponibag Bazar and Wireless Bazar, in Chandpur district town, this UNB Correspondent learnt that all kinds of winter vegetables are available at the markets.
One kg of red spinach is being sold at Tk 30-35, one kg of radish is being sold at Tk 35-40.
Besides, one kg of tomato is being sold at Tk 120-140 while one kg of bitter gourd and beans are being sold at Tk 60 and Tk 80 per kg, respectively.
One kg of okra is being sold at Tk 60 and a small bottle gourd costs Tk 40. A big bottle gourd is being sold at Tk 70-80 at the local markets.
Price of one cauliflower is Tk 40-50 while per kg green chilies is being sold at Tk 80, coriander leaves per kg at Tk 80, cucumber at Tk 40 while four pieces of green banana is being sold at Tk 30-40.
Per kg of eggplant is being sold at Tk 60 at the local markets.
Daily wage earner Sumon Mia, worker Kabir Hossain, school teacher Ibrahim Khalil and private employees Farid Mir, Billal Hossain, Yunus Khan – all at the market – claimed that the prices of winter vegetables is beyond the general consumers’ reach.
High prices of vegetables did not, however, benefit the farmers who are producing the vegetables. Prices of vegetables become higher at the customer level due to exchange of hands, they said.
Mobarak Hossain, senior officer of Department of Agriculture Extension, Chandpur, said winter vegetable production has been affected due to the cyclonic storm Sitrang and the farmers have counted a loss of Tk 158.38 crore.
Attack on Tabith Awal: Court dismisses case against 15 AL men, OC
A Dhaka court on Tuesday dismissed the case against 15 Awami League activists and officer-in-charge of Banani police station over the attack on BNP executive committee member Tabith Awal and others at a programme in the capital's Banani on September 17.
Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Mohammad Asaduzzaman passed the order, said additional public prosecutor Tapash Kumar Pal.
Earlier on Monday, Tabith filed the case against 15 Awami League leaders and activists and officer-in-charge of Banani police station Nur-e-Azam.
Read: HC clears way to continue graft case against BNP leader Dulu
Later, the court fixed Tuesday morning for hearing the complaint after recording the statement of the plaintiff.
Advocates AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Masud Ahmed Talukdar stood for Tabith.
According to the case statement, leaders and activists of BNP’s Dhaka North City unit were holding a candlelight vigil around 7:45pm on Kamal Atartuk Avenue, the main thoroughfare in Banani on September 17.
Towards the end of the programme, the activists of Awami League and its associate organisations - Chhatra League and Jubo League - suddenly attacked the BNP leaders and activists with rods, brick chips and sticks, leaving at least 10 individuals injured.
BNP’s executive committee member Tabith Awal was among the injured.
Read: Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal leader held in city
Later, Tabith requested the Banani OC to ensure holding of peaceful vigil programme but no one paid any heed to his request.
Quader Khan, vice-president of Dhaka Metropolitan North unit Awami League, Jashim Uddin, former vice-president of Banani Thana unit Awami League, Mir Mosharraf Hossain, former general secretary, Amzad hossain, joint general secretary of Banani Thana unit Swechchashebak League and Mafizur Rahman, vice-president of Banani Thana unit Awami League were among the accused.
The accused included 200-300 unidentified people and 20-30 unidentified policemen.
Injury marks on head, body of Buet student Fardin: Doctor who conducted autopsy
The body of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) student Fardin Noor Parash bears several injury marks, according to the doctor who conducted the autopsy this morning (November 08, 2022).
“There are several injury marks on Fardin's head and body,” said Sheikh Farhad, a physician at Narayanganj General Hospital where the autopsy was done.
Maniruzzaman Moni, officer-in-charge of Narayanganj River Police, said police have detained two friends of Fardin for interrogation.
They are also trying to find clues to and possible reasons behind Fardin's death, he said.
Read: Missing BUET student found dead after 3 days
Meanwhile, Fardin’s father Nuruddin Rana said that the family received a phone call on Monday (November 07, 2022), informing them of Fardin's dead body.
Earlier on Monday, police found Fardin's body from the Shitalakshya river, three days after he went missing.
Fardin was a 3rd-year student of civil engineering department of BUET and a resident of Qutubpur area in Narayanganj's Fatullah, said Maniruzzaman.
On November 4, Fardin left home and did not return. He was also unreachable on phone.
Read: Minor girl murdered after rape in Chattogram, accused arrested
Later, his father lodged a general diary with Rampura Police in this regard.
On Monday afternoon, the dead body was seen floating on the river just behind a cotton mill at Siddhirganj.
On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the body, added the OC.
Political violence ‘obviously a concern’, says UN Resident Coordinator
UN Resident Coordinator (UNRC) in Bangladesh Gwyn Lewis has made it clear that it is not for her or the UN to take decisions or engage in the election process of Bangladesh and laid emphasis on peaceful exercise of political activities.
She said people have been injured and killed over the past months which is “obviously a concern” and called for “calm” and to find avenues for discussion.
“It’s not for me or the UN to really decide and engage in election,” Lewis said, adding that there is no mandate for the UN to engage in election here unless they get a specific request from the Security Council or General Assembly or the country.
Lewis made the remarks while responding to a question at “DCAB Talk” held at Jatiya Press Club. DCAB President Rezaul Karim Lotus and its General Secretary AKM Moinuddin also spoke.
Read: Dhaka seeks proactive role from Thailand, ASEAN to repatriate Rohingya
The UNRC said she is talking with the ministry of home affairs and also talking with various security forces to try and protect lives and find ways on how things can be done in a safe way.
Lewis said despite other major developing crises in the world, the United Nations continues to focus on the Rohingya issue, and has been trying to find a political solution.
“It’s incredibly challenging. The focus is there,” she said, adding that they are working on the ground for the safe and dignified return of the displaced Rohingyas – currently in Bangladesh – to Myanmar.
Asif A. Chowdhury elected World Federation of Consuls Vice President
Asif A. Chowdhury, Honorary Consul for Chile in Bangladesh and Managing Director of Chowdhury Group, has been elected Vice President of World Federation of Consuls (FICAC)-Board of Directors for 2022-2025 term unanimously.
Chowdhury, a renowned businessman and former President of Japan-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI), is the first ever Vice President elected from the Asia region in the FICAC.
The voting took place at the 13th World Congress of Consuls organized in Limassol, Cyprus on Monday by FICAC, said a press release.
Chowdhury, also past President and founder Secretary General of Consular Corps in Bangladesh (CCB), held the post of Director of FICAC since 2015.
FICAC is a global network of Consular Associations created to support and improve the status, legitimacy and effectiveness of all consular officers in all receiving States.
FICAC, also called World Federation of Consuls, was founded in Copenhagen on 2 October 1982 by a small group of visionaries led by Consul General Vagn Jespersen of Denmark.
Nikolaos Margaropoulos, Honorary Consul General of Philippines in Greece was elected its President unanimously, and P. Bhaggeria Hon. Consul of Moldova in India was elected Secretary General.
END/UNB/MK/FH
No improvement in Dhaka's air quality this morning
Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the 'unhealthy' zone Tuesday morning.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 167 at 8:35 am, the metropolis ranked fifth in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
India’s Delhi, Vietnam’s Hanoi and Pakistan’s Lahore occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 309, 185 and 185, respectively.
An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Also read: Dhaka’s air quality ‘unhealthy’ this morning
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.