United News of Bangladesh

Specific allegations of corruption related to the July Uprising Memorial Museum  project will be investigated and referred to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury said on Tuesday. "The complaint must clearly identify the individual involved, the nature of the allegation, and how the alleged corruption occurred," he said at a press briefing at the Secretariat ahead of the museum's inauguration. The minister said authorities could not take legal action based on vague or general allegations. Nitai Roy said claims such as "there has been a lot of corruption" are legally considered "vague and indefinite" and are insufficient for initiating legal proceedings. "A complaint must be specific. If such a complaint is received, it will be investigated and necessary action will be taken," he said. The minister also said an investigation committee would be formed after the museum's inauguration following discussions with its governing board to determine whether any irregularities or corruption occurred. If the investigation finds evidence of irregularities or corruption, action will be taken in accordance with the law, he said. Responding to another question, he said newspaper reports or statements made at public rallies are not admissible as evidence in court."Evidence acceptable in court must be obtained through procedures prescribed by law," he said. He added that the ministry could also initiate an internal inquiry if deemed necessary as part of its administrative responsibilities, with the museum's governing board making the final decision. The minister said recruitment would be carried out in line with ministry policies and the process is underway.

A Pathao rider was killed when his motorbike was hit by an unidentified vehicle in the Hatirjheel area of the capital on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Md Hasan, 30, a resident of Begumganj upazila in Noakhali district. He had been living in the Hatirjheel area. The accident occurred around 5:00 am when the unidentified vehicle hit his motorcycle, leaving him critically injured, said Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital police camp. Later, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Eng. Waleed Elkhereji on Tuesday met Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman and discussed issues of mutual interest. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, and Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir, among others, were present at the meeting held at the state guesthouse Padma. The Saudi vice minister arrived in Dhaka on Monday night on a two-day visit. Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Humaiun Kobir received him at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. He is scheduled to leave Bangladesh on Tuesday afternoon.

At least 10 people were injured in several rounds of clashes between leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal and Bangladesh Islami Chhatrashibir at Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur on Monday night, leaving the campus tense. The clashes began over a banner displayed at a Shibir-organised exhibition featuring photographs of several people convicted of war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War. The confrontation started around 7:30pm and continued for nearly three hours, with the two groups engaging in chases, throwing bricks and chairs, and attacking each other with sticks. After the clashes, the two groups remained positioned against each other on the campus until around 12:20am. Shibir activists took position near the university's main gate, while Chhatra Dal activists gathered near a mosque at Park Mor on the Rangpur-Lalmonirhat-Kurigram road. Additional police were deployed on the campus to bring the situation under control. The injured included former university Shibir president Sohel Rana, current secretary Imran Khan Saurav, activist Mehdi Hasan , Baizid Shikdar, Mursalin and Chhatra Dal leader Ashik. All 10 injured people received primary treatment and later returned home. The campus was calm on Tuesday morning, although tension was still prevailing in the area. According to witnesses and sources, the university Shibir unit organised an exhibition titled “July Against Oppression” throughout Monday. The exhibition displayed photographs of several political figures, describing some of them as victims of “judicial killing.” Chhatra Dal activists objected to a banner portraying BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, who was convicted of war crimes, as a victim of judicial killing and demanded its removal. An argument between the two groups over the banner soon escalated into a clash. Shibli Sadik, office secretary of the university Shibir unit, alleged that Chhatra Dal activists pressured them to remove the banner. He said they wanted to leave the matter to the university administration, but Chhatra Dal activists attacked them. “We tried to stop after the situation became relatively calm following the arrival of the proctor. But they suddenly attacked again with sticks and bricks. We tried to resist the attack,” he said. Begum Rokeya University Chhatra Dal president Md Yamin said photographs of Jamaat leaders including Golam Azam, Abdul Quader Mollah and Motiur Rahman Nizami had been displayed alongside a photograph of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at the exhibition. We asked them to remove those photographs. They responded by throwing chairs, and one of our activists was injured, he said. University Proctor Dr Ferdous Rahman said those involved in the clashes would be identified by reviewing video footage. “A probe committee will be formed and necessary action will be taken quickly,” he said. Officer-in-Charge of Tajhat Police Station under Rangpur Metropolitan Police Rafikul Islam, said police reached the campus soon after receiving information about the clash. “There was a physical altercation between Chhatra Dal and Chhatrashibir. No written complaint has been filed so far. The situation is currently under control,” he said. Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Showkat Ali said the administration would examine video footage and take disciplinary action against anyone found involved. The vice-chancellor also alleged that banned Bangladesh Chhatra League could be trying to create instability on the campus and urged everyone to remain alert. Additional police have been deployed across the campus to maintain order.

Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam returned to Bangladesh early Tuesday after completing a personal and family visit to the United Kingdom. He arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 5:15am, according to an official statement. The Chief Whip had left Dhaka for the United Kingdom on July 28 for the personal trip.

The Directorate of Prisons on Monday inaugurated a medical centre and a pathological unit at the Old Dhaka Central Jail to provide healthcare services to prison officials and employees, said a press release issued on Monday. Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Syed Md Motaher Hossain formally inaugurated the facilities, established under the Directorate's own management. Officials said the initiative marks a significant step in improving healthcare and welfare services for prison personnel. The medical centre and pathology unit will provide services to officials and employees of the Directorate of Prisons as well as prison staff from across the country who come to Dhaka for medical treatment. Under the new facility, prison staff, their spouses and children will receive pathological laboratory services free of charge. Their parents and parents-in-law will be eligible for the same services at a 50 percent discount on the government-approved rates.  

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members detained a Nigerian national while he was attempting to enter India illegally through the Nijkalikapur border in Parshuram upazila of Feni on Monday. The detainee was identified as Austin, 39. According to BGB, a special team from the Nijkalikapur Border Outpost (BOP) under the Feni Battalion (4 BGB) conducted a raid in the evening based on secret information that a Nigerian national was staying at the house of a local resident named Rafik. During the operation, BGB members detained Austin. During preliminary questioning, he told BGB that he arrived in Bangladesh in March and later travelled from Dhaka to Nijkalikapur with the intention of crossing the border into India illegally. Commanding Officer of Feni Battalion (4 BGB) Lt Col MM Zillur Rahman said BGB remains on high alert to prevent illegal border crossings, smuggling and drug trafficking. He said intelligence surveillance and border patrols have been strengthened to ensure border security, prevent illegal infiltration and reduce border-related crimes. The detainee was later handed over to Parshuram Police Station for legal action.

Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Eng. Waleed Elkhereji arrived in Dhaka on Monday. Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister, Humaiun Kobir, received him at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The Saudi vice minister is on a two-day official visit to Bangladesh. He is scheduled to leave Bangladesh on Tuesday afternoon.

The US Embassy in Dhaka has reminded prospective travellers to the United States to demonstrate that they have sufficient financial means to support themselves during their stay and are unlikely to become dependent on public assistance. In a nonimmigrant visa reminder posted on its official Facebook page on Monday, the embassy advised visa applicants to come prepared for their visa interviews with evidence showing they can cover their travel expenses, including any unexpected travel disruptions or medical emergencies. "If you're planning travel to the United States, make sure you have the financial means to pay your own way—including any travel disruptions or medical emergencies that could arise," it said. The embassy also urged applicants to bring proof to their visa interviews demonstrating that they are unlikely to become a public charge after being admitted to the United States. It warned that abusing US taxpayer-funded public benefits could have long-term immigration consequences. "Abusing U.S. taxpayer-funded benefits may have permanent consequences that make you ineligible to travel, study, or work in the United States in the future," it said.

A container vessel ran aground in the Chattogram port channel on Monday afternoon after a steering problem, port authorities said. The vessel, MV CNC Uranus, struck Red Buoy No. 2 near the entrance of the Karnaphuli River before becoming grounded against a retaining wall at around 2:30pm. Chattogram Port Secretary Sayed Refayet Hamim said the accident occurred when the vessel suffered a steering gear malfunction while entering the port channel. "The ship hit Red Buoy No. 2 due to the steering failure and later became stuck against the retaining wall," he said. Two port tugboats- Kandari-4 and Kandari-11 have been deployed to safely refloat and remove the vessel from the channel. The Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Coast Guard are also working in coordination with the port authorities to ensure the safety and security of the navigation channel, the port secretary added. According to the Chattogram Port Authority, the 170-metre-long container vessel, built in 2017, has a maximum draft of 9.5 metres and was carrying 1,282 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) of containers from Shekou Port in China. Despite the incident, vessel movement through the port channel remains normal, the port authority said.