Bangladesh
Boat capsizes in Turag, pregnant woman drowns
The body of a pregnant woman was recovered from the Turag River in Ashulia union of Savar upazila of Dhaka after a boat sank in the river Monday morning.
The deceased was identified as Rozina Begum, 22, wife of Ashiqur Rahman of Rangpur and a garment worker in Ashulia, said Idris Hossain, in charge of Tongi Fire Service.
The boat with 30 passengers on board sank in the mid river in the morning. All the passengers but Rozina managed to swim ashore, he said.
Also read: Over 14,000 children die in Bangladesh due to drowning every year
A diving team of Tongi fire service fished out her body from the river around 12 pm.
“The boat might have capsized due to overload. The body has been handed to the family,” he said.
Also read: Young tourist drowns in Nikli haor
3 members of theft gang held in city
Detectives on Sunday arrested three alleged members of a gang of thieves in the capital.
The arrestees are Anik Hasan,22, Nahid Hossain,19 and Nadeem Mohammad Sagor, 18.
Read: Youth gets bail after marrying victim in Ctg
Tipped off, a team of DB police conducted drives in capital's Bashundhara and Vatara areas and in Cumilla on Sunday and arrested them, said DMP’s Media and Public Relations wing Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Faruque Hossain.
Young girl gang raped in Chattogram
A young girl has reportedly been raped by four men on Bayezid-Fouzdarhat Link road in Chattogram, police said on Monday.
The crime was took place on Saturday under no 2 bridge of Sitakunda upazila.
The girl is now undergoing treatment at One-Stop-Crisis Centre of Chattogram Medical College and Hospital.
Also read: Female UP member ‘gang-raped’ in Faridpur, one held
Waliullah Akbar, officer-in-charge of Akbar Shah Police Station, said the rapists with a promise to provide her a good job, took the girl to the area where they were supposed to meet person for her job.
At one stage, they violated her in turns.
Later, she made a phone call at emergency helpline 999 and then police rescued the girl.
Also read: 2 rape accused held by Rab in Cox’s Bazar
Following her statement, police arrested one Bappi in this connection on Sunday.
Police also identified two associates of Bappi—Ripon and Russel.
Barguna fishermen rejoice at abundant hilsa catch
Fishermen in Barguna have been delighted after netting huge quantity of hilsa after a 65-day ban imposed by the government ended on Saturday.
Huge hilsa netted from the Bay of Bengal and different rivers have flooded the wholesale fish market of the district.
On the first day after the ban lifted, the fishermen of Patharghata coast went to rivers and the sea for netting hilsa and brought those to the market as well.
Joy spread among the trawler owners, traders and fishermen as the fishing trawlers arrived at the Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC)ghat with a load of fish.
Read: Hilsa will soon be on platter of common people, says Rezaul
During a visit the UNB correspondent found around 20 to 25 fishing trawlers are anchored at Patharghata fish landing centre and workers are picking up fish from the trawlers.
Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of the District Fishing Trawler Owners’ Association, said at least 25 fishing trawlers came to the ghat on the first day and the fishermen are getting good prices.
Biplab Kumar Sarkar, marketing officer of BFDC, said that a total of 11,869 kg of fish, including 7,780 kg of hilsa, were sold at Tk 67.56 lakh at the BFDC fish market on the first day. Out of this, the government received a revenue of Tk 84,460.
4 CU students suspended over ‘sexually assaulting’ two students in 2021
Chattogram University on Monday suspended four students for their alleged involvement in sexually assaulting two female students of the university last year, officials said.
Those suspended are Junayed of Arabic Department of the university, Rubel, Islamic History and Culture Department, Md Raju and Md Emon, of Philosophy Department of the university.
All of them were suspended for one year, said CU Registrar (Acting) SM Manirul Hasan while talking at a press briefing held at the conference room of the VC.
The university authorities also asked to resolve two more allegations received by Sexual Repression Cell.
Read: CU student assault: Police seek 7-day remand for arrestees
Already three allegations received by Sexual Repression Cell were resolved and the authorities concerned also warned two more teachers of the university of the allegations brought against them, said Manirul.
On September 16, two students of Communication and Journalism Department were allegedly sexually assaulted in front of CU Central Mosque.
Besides, another female student was sexually assaulted by five youths while she was going to the Botanical Garden from Pritilata Hall of the campus with his friend on July 17, this year.
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) detained four people in connection with the alleged assault of a female student that sparked protests on the campus.
Over 14,000 children die in Bangladesh due to drowning every year
Marking the World Drowning Prevention Day, WHO and UNICEF on Monday called on the governments, development partners, communities and individuals each to do their part to raise awareness and work to prevent the untimely deaths of thousands of children across the country.
Each year, over 14,000 children in Bangladesh die due to drowning.
Although largely unrecognized, drowning is the second leading cause of death for children under the age of five in the country, making it a major public health problem.
“It is heart-breaking that so many lives are lost each year in this country. We know that these deaths are preventable. We urge individuals, communities and the government to join us in raising awareness and doing all we can to ensure every child’s right to survive and thrive,” said Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh.
Globally, drowning claims the lives of over 230,000 people every year.
Nine in ten drowning cases occur in low- and middle-income countries, with children under the age of five being at the highest risk.
Read: Drowning kills 2.5 million people in last decade: WHO
In Bangladesh, where large areas of land remain submerged due to yearly floods, the absence of awareness and swimming skills can prove to be life-threatening.
Children in rural areas who grow up near bodies of water are also exposed to the risk of drowning daily.
Drowning is a significant public health concern and the third leading cause of unintentional death worldwide. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death among children in Bangladesh.
WHO recommends strategies and interventions to prevent drowning and continues to promote a multisectoral approach. By enhancing multisectoral collaboration, promoting strong leadership on drowning prevention, and implementing necessary actions, we can prevent the tragedy of drowning and achieve a safer, healthier future for all,” said Dr. Bardan Jung Rana, WHO Representative to Bangladesh.
Evidence shows that drowning is preventable through low-cost solutions. Increased awareness among families and communities, providing safety and swimming skills for children and adolescents, ensuring childcare facilities for pre-school children, and national policies and investments for prevention can make a significant difference.
In 2021, the United Nations General Assembly declared July 25 as World Drowning Prevention Day to acknowledge drowning as a leading cause of death around the world and highlight that every drowning death is preventable.
WHO and UNICEF have been working with Government and non-government partners around the country to increase awareness on drowning prevention and provide children and adolescents with safe swimming skills.
Case against Prof Yunus: Final hearing on scrapping case on Aug 11
The High Court on Monday fixed August 11 for the final hearing on the appeal to scrap the case filed against Nobel Laureate and Chairman of Grameen Communications Dr Muhammad Yunus over violation of the Labour Law.
The HC bench of Justice SM Quddus Zaman and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar Kajol passed the order.
Lawyer Md Khurshid Alam Khan represented the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments while lawyer Abdullah Al Mamun stood for Prof Yunus.
On June 13, the Appellate Division stayed the trial proceedings of the case for two months.
The SC also ordered the HC bench led by Justice SM Kuddus Zaman to dispose of the rule seeking explanation as to why the case against Prof Yunus should not be cancelled, said Attorney General AM Amin Uddin.
On June 7, the Appellate Division ordered disposal of the rule within two months.
Read: Case against Dr Yunus: SC stays trial proceedings for 2 months
On September 9 last year, Labour Inspector Arifuzzaman of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, filed the case with Dhaka third labour court.
Other accused in the case are- Ashraful Hasan, Managing Director of Grameen Telecom, its director Nurzahan Begum and Shahjahan.
According to the case, in an inspection visit to Grameen Telecom inspectors of the department found that 101 workers and staff who were supposed to be permanent were not made so.
No participation fund and welfare fund was formed for them and five per cent of the company’s profit was not provided to the workers following the law.
Upon the complaint a criminal case was filed under section 4, 7, 8, 117, 234 of the Labour Act.
On October 12, the labour court granted bail to the all four accused.
Later on December 7, Prof Yunus filed a petition with the High Court seeking cancellation of the case.
On December 12, HC stayed the procedure of a case for six months.
The court also issued a rule asking the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments why the case will not be set aside. The court asked secretaries of the ministry of law, ministry of labour and employment and others involved to respond to the rule.
Southeast Asian MPs condemn barbaric executions of 4 political prisoners in Myanmar
The recent executions of four political prisoners at the hands of the illegal military junta in Myanmar is an act of judicial barbarism, Parliamentarians from Southeast Asia have denounced on Monday, after the state media announced that the death sentences have been carried out on an unspecified date at Insein Prison, in Yangon.
The four executed men, all charged under anti-terrorism laws, are Phyo Zeya Thaw, former lawmaker for the National League for Democracy (NLD); the prominent activist Kyaw Min Yu, widely known as ‘Ko Jimmy’; Aung Thura Zaw; and Hla Myo Aung.
These death sentences are the first known judicial executions in Myanmar since 1988, according to Amnesty International, which hitherto has considered the country as “Abolitionist in Practice”.
“These executions are nothing but appalling acts of evil committed by a brutal junta that has shown no qualms about waging a war against the Myanmar population in order to cement its power. The global community, and all ASEAN members in particular, should take these cold-blooded assassinations as yet another wake up call on the true nature of the regime of terror that the Myanmar military is attempting to impose in the country,” said Eva Sundari, former member of the House of Representatives in Indonesia and Board Member of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR).
According to the Myanmar group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), as of 22 July there were 76 prisoners in Myanmar sentenced to death, including two children, while 41 people have been given the death penalty in absentia.
Since the coup on 1 February 2021, at least 2114 people have been killed by the self-styled State Administration Council (SAC), led by General Min Aung Hlaing, in its campaign to suppress the widespread opposition to military rule.
Read: Myanmar executes NLD lawmaker, 3 other political opponents
These death sentences should be viewed as an attempt by the Myanmar military to provide a veneer of legality to political assassination.
Yet it is evident that these sentences were handed without fairness, by military tribunals conducting trials lacking in any respect for due process, APHR denounced.
“It is clear that these executions are made to strike fear among representatives of the democratic forces and political activists who oppose the junta . We believe that all those accused by the military junta are tried in secret, unfair and biased trials with no legal safeguards. Many political prisoners are subjected to torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and now there are dozens of prisoners in Myanmar jails who could be executed at any moment,” said Tom Villarin, former Philippine MP and APHR Board Member.
“Not even the previous military regime, which ruled the country between 1988 and 2011, dared to carry out the death penalty against political prisoners. This means yet another increase in the junta’s brutality, which comes from a sense of impunity largely fostered by the failure of the global community to do anything effective to prevent it from committing further atrocities,” said Charles Santiago, Member of Parliament from Malaysia, and APHR Chairperson.
The executions also serve as proof that the SAC led by Min Aung Hlaing has no intention to engage in any meaningful political dialogue with the pro-democracy forces led by the National Unity Government of Myanmar (NUG). Such a dialogue, one of the key points of the Five-Point Consensus agreed by ASEAN member states and Min Aung Hlaing’s junta in April 2021, has never materialized.
The Consensus also called for an immediate cessation of violence, something that the Myanmar military, which continues shelling villages and killing protesters, has also failed to implement.
Yet the Myanmar military, in its all-out war over its people is committing “systematic and widespread human rights violations and abuses” that may amount to “war crimes and crimes against humanity,” according to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
“The junta’s contempt for the agreement it signed is clear, especially considering that the announcement of these executions comes two weeks after the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair to Myanmar, Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, visited the country. The Special Envoy, and ASEAN members, should condemn these executions, and seriously rethink their approach to the crisis in Myanmar. For starters, they should begin exerting pressure on the SAC with targeted sanctions and travel bans in the region in order to show Min Aung Hlaing and his men that they cannot commit their crimes with impunity,” said Kasit Piromya, former MP and Foreign Minister in Thailand, and APHR Board Member.
Parts of Sylhet city to experience 13-hour load shedding per day
Sales and Distribution Division of Sylhet Power Development Board (PDB) on Sunday published a new schedule of load shedding which shows some areas in Sylhet city won’t have electricity for 13 hours a day.
Electricity generation falls in the country due to soaring prices of fuel in the world market. To save electricity, the government enforced area-wise load shedding for one to two hours all over the country from July 19.
Following the decision, Sylhet PDB decided to resort to load shedding for four hours (Two hours in the morning, two hours in the evening) in Sylhet city area on a daily basis.
Read:Most distributors cross targeted load shedding amid lean power supply
But, PDB’s schedule failed as Sylhet city residents experienced load shedding for seven to eight hours per day.
The authorities said the schedule could not be maintained as supply of electricity less than half compared to the demand.
The rural areas of Sylhet are also facing a disastrous situation as electricity remains for only four to five hours a day there, said locals.
Abdul Kadir, Chief Engineer of Sylhet PDB, said that in the five power divisions in Sylhet city, electricity demand was 200 MW on Sunday afternoon. But, they managed to supply only 90 MW of electricity.
“Load shedding is happening for longer hours due to a shortage in electricity supply,” Kadir said.
Kadir hoped that the situation might improve within next two to three weeks.
Monsoon showers likely in parts of country
The weather department has predicted showers in parts of Bangladesh in next 24 hours commencing 9am on Monday as Monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate elsewhere over North Bay.
“Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Dhaka, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country,” the department said in its bulletin Monday morning.
Day temperature may rise slightly over western part and it may remain nearly unchanged elsewhere over the country. Night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, it added.
Read: Rain brings relief from scorching heat
The weather office recorded the highest rainfall at 81mm in Patuakhali of Barishal division in 24 hours till 6am on Monday.
The highest temperature was recorded at 33 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi, while the lowest temperature was recorded at 24 degree Celcius in Sitakunda.
The axis of monsoon trough runs through Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal to Assam across central part of Bangladesh.
One of its associated troughs extends upto Northwest Bay, as per the bulletin.