Dhaka, Sept 22 (UNB) – Voicing high hope over foraging a grater national unity, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said their chairperson Khaleda Zia gave them a message from jail to make the unity process a success.

“We’ve made a good progress over forging the national unity through this rally. We hope we’ll be able to forge the unity very soon under the leadership of the national leaders (Kamal and B Chy) and move forward,” he said.

Speaking at a rally arranged by Jatiya Oikya Prokriya at Mahanagar Natya Mancha, the BNP leader further said, “Our chairperson Khaleda Zia gave us a message from jail to create the national unity at any cost to oust the fascist regime.”

Top leaders of around 30 parties, including BNP, its some alliance partners, Bikolpo Dhara Bangladesh, Jataiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob), Nagorik Oikya, and Ganosanghati Andolon, and some civil society members joined the rally.

Fakhrul thanked Dr Kamal Hossain and B Chowdhury for taking steps to forge the national unity as the government is trying to establish a ‘one-party rule by destroying democracy’.

There is no alternative to forging the unity to get rid of misrule of this government, and remove it from power, he said.

He called upon the national leaders to launch a united movement to force the government to release Khaleda Zia, all political prisoners, and ensure a fair and credible election. “We must get united for it.” 

He also called upon all to join the movement for realising people’s all the demands.

BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said a national unity is very crucial now to restore democracy and ensure good governance in the country.

“Let’s get united, irrespective of party and opinion, and move ahead for establishing a pro-people government,” he said.

BNP sanding committee member Moudud Ahmed said it will not be possible to oust an autocratic government without forging a national unity.

“Today is a new milestone for Bangladesh’s politics as we’ve started a new journey for forging a national unity. “I believe this unity process will be strengthened further in the days to come to unseat the despotic regime by uniting people of all walks of life,” he observed.

He also assured that their party will be there with B Chowdhury and Dr Kamal for launching a united movement for the restoration of people’s voting rights.
 

Bogura, Sept 22 (UNB) – Rail communications between Dhaka and three northern districts--Bogura, Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha-have remained suspended since Saturday morning following the collapse of soil beneath Chokchkia Rail Bridge in Dighalkandi village of Sonatala upazila.

The snapping of rail link forced Bangladesh Railway to cancel plying of all trains to three districts yesterday, causing sufferings to thousands of passengers, said Bogura Railway Station Master Benjurul Islam.

Dhaka-bound Lalmoni Express from Lalmonirhat was stopped at Sonatola Railway Station around 1 pm. Santahar-bound Lononchapa Express train was also stationed there in the morning.

Meanwhile, the repairing works have begun from the noon and the rail communication is expected to be restored from Sunday morning, said the railway official.

Dhaka, Sept 22 (UNB) - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said the International Criminal Court (ICC) has recognized it capacity to deal with the Rohingya issue to investigate widespread allegations that Myanmar forces have driven Rohingya from their homes.

“As far as I understand, the ICC has recognised its capacity to deal with the issue. So, I think that this is already on course,” he said.
 
The UN chief said there was an initiative already by Bangladesh in relation to the ICC. “So, the question is already on the table.” 

UN Secretary-General made the remarks at a press conference at United Nations headquarters on Thursday when a questioner wanted to know whether UN Security Council should refer the situation in Myanmar to the ICC.

On Aung San Suu Kyi's remarks last week about the Reuters reporters, Guterres said he believes that it is not acceptable to have the journalists of Reuters in jail for what they were doing.  

“It is my deep belief that that should not happen, and I hope that the Government (Myanmar) will be able to provide a pardon to release them as quickly as possible,” said the UN chief.

The recent ICC decision opens up the possibility of crimes against Rohingya people being prosecuted at the Hague-based court, even though Myanmar is not a member of the court.

The court said in a statement that Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda must take the jurisdiction ruling into account “as she continues with her preliminary examination concerning the crimes allegedly committed against the Rohingya people.”

The UN chief will launch a new strategy called “Youth2030” on Monday as well as an initiative named “Generation Unlimited”, both designed to help young people secure quality education and decent jobs, and contribute to preventing radicalization.

Guterres, on the same day, will launch his strategy for financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

A surge in investment for the Sustainable Development Goals is needed, as well as a systemic change in the way the world does business, and a clampdown on illicit capital flows such as money laundering and tax evasion, he said.
 

Dhaka, Sept 22 (UNB) - A total of 338 foreigners including Bangladeshi nationals were detained after immigration officers raided a factory in Cyberjaya of Malaysia on Saturday.

The detainees included 55 Bangladeshi men, 36 men and 172 women from Indonesia, 25 men and three women from Myanmar and 47 Nepalese men, reports The Star Online citing Malaysian Immigration Department Director General Mustafar Ali.

“We checked 2,230 people at the location and detained 338 foreigners.  Most of them were detained for using temporary foreign worker permit (PLKS) belonging to different companies,” Mustafar said.

Initial investigations revealed that a few companies supplied foreign workers who were registered to one company but ended up working for another, he added.

“The employer and company owner had openly flouted immigration rules and regulations pertaining to the hiring of foreign workers. The employer took the easy route despite knowing that those with PLKS must work at the address or location stated in their permits,” he said.

The workers could be detained and their permits revoked if they were discovered to have worked at a place not stated in their permits, Mustafar said.

“Other offences discovered during the raid were overstaying, not having personal documents and infringing on regulations for their permits. Those detained have been placed at the Bukit Jalil Immigration depot,” he said.

 “We urge those with information to come forward as soon as possible,” Mustafar said.

Munshiganj, Sept 22(UNB) - Police arrested a man along with a human skeleton from Malkhangar area in Sirajdikhan upazila on Sunday.

The arrestee was identified as Md Saiful Islam, 40, son of late Abul Hossain of Biddagaon Residential Area in Mymensingh town.

Being tipped off that a consignment of medicine was coming to the town, a team of police conducted a drive in the area, said Md Farid Uddin, officer-in-charge of Sirajdikhan Police Station.

When the law enforcers gave a signal to stop a CNG-run auto-rickshaw, two of its passengers ran away but one was held by them, he added.

After searching the auto-rickshaw, police recovered the skeleton from inside a packet, he added.