Bangladesh
Govt has no bar for BNP to hold peaceful demonstrations: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Sunday said that the law enforcement agencies will not restrict the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) if they carry on their programmes in a systematic way.
The minister was speaking to journalists after attending a meeting at the Secretariat on law and order situation during the National Mourning Day on August 15.
“BNP is a political party. They have their own strategies. It’s up to them whether they’ll participate in the next general elections or not. But we won’t let them to block the roads or damage peoples’ lives and properties,” said Kamal.
Also read: ‘Mega’ corruption, plundering by govt behind loadshedding: BNP
Kamal added that the fact that the government isn’t interrupting BNP’s activities in front of the Press Club shows that the government has no objection to peaceful political activities.
“The people will decide whether they’ll listen to BNP’s call to come to the streets or not. The way the country is moving forward indicates that the people won’t go back to darkness,” added Kamal.
According to the minister, security will be beefed up in Dhanmondi and Banani areas of the capital on August 15 as important persons including the prime minister and foreign diplomats will move on the day.
Also read: Creating rumors now the main task of BNP leaders: AL
“Even the mausoleum of Father of The Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Gopalganj will be covered in security blanket. A large number of police will be deployed across the country while the Detective Branch (DB) of police will also ramp up its surveillance. We won’t let anyone to carry out any subversive activities,” Kamal said.
Bangladesh reports 3 more Covid deaths, 365 new cases
Bangladesh recorded three more Covid-linked deaths with 365 fresh cases in 24 hours till Sunday.
With the latest numbers, the total fatalities reached 29,291while the caseload 2,005,257, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case positivity rate declined to 6.38 per cent from Saturday's 6.64 percent as 5,720 samples were tested.
Also read: Covid-19 vaccine consignment for kids arrive in Dhaka
Of the deceased, two were men and one woman.They were from Dhaka, Sylhet and Rangpur division.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.46 percent. The recovery rate rose to 96.87 per cent from Saturday's 96.84 per cent.
In June, the country reported 18 Covid-linked deaths and 20,201 new cases, according to the DGHS.
Also read: Uptick in migrants heading home as world rebounds from Covid: IOM
Bangladesh reported its first zero Covid death on November 20 last year since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020.
The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.
AL proposes using EVM in all the 300 constituencies
Bangladesh Awami League on Sunday prposed that the Election Commission uses the electronic voting machines (EVM) in all the 300 constituencies in the next general election.
An AL delegation, led by its general secretary Obaidul Quader, placed a 14-point proposal joining the EC's talks at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city's Agargaon area.
"We want EVMs. We, on behalf of our party, want the EVMs in all 300 constituencies," said Quader.
AL, in its written paper placed before the EC, said there is no alternative to EVM to prevent vote-rigging. Although some voters disliked the use of EVM system at the beginning, it has been proved in the course of time that it is possible to implement a sustainable and transparent election system by stopping vote-rigging, center capture in a scientific manner, it added.
Terming the caretaker government system a 'past and closed chapter,' AL said the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court declared the system unconstitutional and invalid.
According to the Article 111 of the Constitution, no other authority has jurisdiction to take any other decision in this matter. Any controversial comment on this matter is tantamount to violate the Constitution, it said.
The ruling party proposed to bring administration and law enforcement agencies and all other agencies and institutions, which are necessary for conducting the polls, under the supervision of the Election Commission during the election.
It suggested that the election-time government be limited within only routine works. "To rely on sustainable constitutional, legal and regulatory system instead of ad-hoc or interim system," AL said.
Read: EC: EVMs to be customized in presence of candidates in Cumilla polls
AL proposed to keep the partisan officers, who were appointed in the EC, police and civil administration during the BNP regime considering their political identity, out of the election duty to show responsible and impartial behavior of Election Commission Secretariat and its field level officers and employees.
The party said a large number of political leaders and activists were recruited in the EC, police and civil administration who are now either in important posts or waiting district-level responsibilities.
Other proposals include demonstrating the EC's capacity to carry out the responsibilities given in the Constitution and laws by maintaining its independence, neutrality and acceptance; carrying out the responsibilities by the ministries and agencies concerned during the polls; and appointment of responsible officers and employees of the Republic as presiding officers and polling officers instead of the staff of non-governmental organizations or institutions.
The proposals also include to maintain neutral and responsible behavior by the members of law enforcement agencies; not to allow any person, group or organisation that are identified for its affiliated to any party or candidate as election observers; to stop the use of muscle power and illegal money as well as to ensure the scope for all voters including ones of the religiously minority communities to apply their voting rights: and to ensure the overall security of the public before and after the elections.
With the talks with AL, the Election Commission concluded its dialogue with registered political parties seeking opinions over the 12th parliamentary elections.
AL leaders Amir Hossain Amu, Matia Chowdhury, Kazi Zafarullah, Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Faruk Khan, Hasan Mahmud, Shahbuddin Chuppu, Abdus Sobhan Golap, Barrister Biplab Barua, Salim Mahmud, Shamsunnahar Chapa and Sayeem Khan were the delegation members.
Among 39 registered political parties, 28 political parties took part in the EC's dialogue, but nine didn't join the talks and the remaining two political parties sought time for this.
PM urges the youth to acquire skills to become entrepreneurs
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said her government is focusing on developing skilled manpower to transform the country’s demographic advantage into dividends.
She said this while delivering her inaugural speech at the first meeting of the Governing Board of the National Skill Development Authority (NSDA) at her office (PMO).
Each year in Bangladesh, up to 22 lakh young people arrive in the labour market, she mentioned stressing the need for providing them training to hone their skills so they turn into entrepreneurs rather than only looking for jobs.
The premier said that the government wants to accelerate country’s progress towards achieving the Vision 2041 utilising the demographic dividend.
Also read: PM: Bangladeshi investors can set up fertilizer factories in Uzbekistan
She said that the youth of the country must be developed as skilled manpower.
“As the world is evolving continuously in technology, our aim is to build the future generations as the skilled hands to cope with up the changes,” she said.
She said Bangladesh having a huge number of young people has a demographic advantage over many countries of the world which are becoming lands of old people.
The PM said her government wants that the youth utilise their potentials in the world market as skilled manpower.
Also read: PM: Useless Ukraine-Russia war benefitting only arms producers
“We want that future generations of the country will be equipped with modern technology-based knowledge. We want to create skilled manpower keeping the fourth industrial revolution in our mind,” she said.
Hasina put emphasis on training the manpower keeping in mind the demand in the world market.
She said that Bangladesh wants investment from home and abroad in which skilled manpower will play a key role.
She reiterated her call to reduce the country’s dependency on the remittance from the expatriates for foreign exchange reserves.
“We have to increase and diversify our production. We have to expand our export basket,” she said.
She asked the officials to search for new markets and find out their demands so Bangladesh can make export products accordingly.
“We have to find out our way for producing new items for international market,” she said.
She also advised Bangladeshi businesspeople to look for opportunities to invest abroad.
“Not only we will invite investment, we also can invest in other countries. For all these we need skilled manpower,” she said.
She urged the young generation to acquire skills in various fields – instead of just getting certificates - so they can start their own enterprises and create jobs for others.
She said that a good number of youths run after jobs after having certificates from their educational institutions.
“We want that the young generation will be made a skilled workforce,” she said.
The prime Minister vowed to develop Bangladesh as a prosperous country through implementing the programmes undertaken by her government overcoming all the obstacles.
She mentioned that works on developing the national skill portal is progressing aimed at promoting countrywide skill development as well as for coordination of all the information on training about skills.
The PM said that training on quality innovative skill development has been ensured to develop the manpower of the country to meet the demands in domestic and international labour markets.
Referring to the activities of the NSDA, Hasina hoped that it will undertake necessary measures to improve living standard of the common people and work for establishing a prosperous Bangladesh.
She said the NSDA will also play its role to remove the existing negative attitude in the society about skill development training.
She said the 21st century is witnessing the creation of new professions on the basis of the demand of modern industries due to 4th industrial revolution.
She mentioned that new sectors like E-commerce, cloud computing, robotics, block chain, artificial intelligence, nano technology and internet of things are becoming important day by day.
PM Hasina said the government is currently facing various challenges like the impact of corona pandemic and Ukraine war and consequent sanctions from the USA and the EU on Russia.
She mentioned that her government has been implementing the 8th five-year plan to materialize the 2021-2041 perspective plan and achieve sustainable development goals like MDGs.
Education Minister Dipu Moni, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, State Minister for Labour Begum Monnujan Sufian, State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain, Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam, Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and FBCCI President Md. Jashim Uddin, among others, were present.
SUST student Bulbul’s mother seeks justice from PM
Mother of Bulbul Ahmed, a SUST student who was stabbed to death on Monday last, has urged the Prime Minister to take step to ensure punishment of the killers of her son.
Bulbul’s mother Yasmin Begum made the request when she went to the provost’s office of Shah Poran Hall of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) on Sunday to receive his son’s belongings.
The victim’s siblings were also present at that moment.
Also read: SUST student murder: Knife used in killing, victim’s mobile phone recovered
Terming the murder as pre-planned, victim’s sister Sohagi Akter urged the authorities concerned to find out the actual culprits through proper investigation to ensure justice for her brother.
“Real culprits might have hired killers in exchange of money. They might have killed him out of anger. Proper investigation will reveal everything,” she said.
Sohagi said the identities of the main culprits will be disclosed if the detainees are placed on remand.
Bulbul, a third year student of the Public Administration Department of the university, along with his friends, went to the New Zealand area, adjacent to Shaheed Minar, on the campus on Monday last.
At one stage, his friends rescued him as he was allegedly stabbed by muggers.
Bulbul was first rushed to the university medical centre and later shifted to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College and Hospital where a doctor declared him dead around 7.45pm.
Also read: Probe body formed over SUST student Bulbul's murder
Besides, the authorities concerned of SUST formed a five-member probe body to look into the death.
Police detained three people in connection with the murder of the SUST student on the campus on Monday evening.
On Monday night, a case was filed at Jalalabad police station over the murder.
Police on Wednesday recovered the knife used in the murder of Bulbul and his mobile phone set at Tilagaon near the university campus in Sylhet.
High Court gets 11 new additional judges
Eleven new additional judges have been appointed to the High Court Division of Supreme Court.
The Law Ministry issued a gazette notification in this regard on Sunday.
President Abdul Hamid made the appointments for two years in line with article 98 of the Constitutions, according to the gazette notification.
Also read: JU students Sumaiya-Meem will able to sit for the exam: High Court
The eleven news judges are—District and Sessions Judge Shawkat Ali Chowdhury, Cumilla District and Sessions Judge Mohammad Atabullah, Deputy Attorney General Biswajit Debnath, Deputy Attorney General Aminul Islam, Advocate of Supreme Court Mohammad Ali Reza, Registrar General of the Supreme Court Mohammad Bazlur Rahman, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate KM Imrul Kayes, Tangail District and Sessions Judge Fahmida Quader, Deputy Attorney General Bashir Ullah, Advocate of Supreme Court SM Masud Hossain Dolon and Advocate of Bangladesh Supreme Court AKM Rabiul Hasan.
Also read: Dispose child custody cases in 6 months: High Court
Mohammad Saifur Rahman, registrar of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, said the additional judges will take oath at the Supreme Court Judges Lounge around 4:30 pm today.
Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique will administer the oath.
2 to die, 2 get life term jail for killing businessperson in Ctg
A Chattogram court on Sunday sentenced two people to death and two others to life term imprisonment for killing a businessperson in 2016.
Chattogram Additional Metropolitan Sessions Court-4 Judge Shariful Bhuiya handed down the punishment.
The condemned convicts are Kamal Hossain and Russel while the lifers are Surma Akter and Lilu Akter Ria. Of them, Lilu was tried in absentia.
Also read: 350 sued over Thakurgaon UP polls violence that left infant dead
According to the prosecution, Jalal Uddin Sagar, of Double Mooring area, was found dead, with his hands and legs tied up, from the north gate of CDA Residential area on October 20, 2016.
Imaz Uddin lodged a complaint with Double Mooring Police. Police registered an FIR after getting the complaint.
On May 28, 2017, police submitted chargesheet against four people.
Also read: Regent's Shahed gets bail in Tk2.75 crore embezzlement case
Irregularities in train ticket sale: HC stays realisation of fine from Shohoz
The High Court (HC) on Sunday stayed the realisation Tk 2 lakh fine imposed by the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) on e-ticketing platform Shohoz.com following a complaint by a Dhaka University student over irregularities in ticket sale.
The HC bench of Justice Mohammad Khoshruzzaman and Justice Iqbal Kabir passed the order after hearing a writ filed by Shohoz, said Lawyer Tanjib-ul Alam, counsel of Shohoz.com.
The court also issued a rule questioning why DNCRP’s fine on Shohoz.com should not be declared illegal.
On July 26, Shohoz.com filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the legality of the Tk 2 lakh fine imposed by DNCRP.
In the writ, Shohoz.com appealed to the court to suspend the realisation of fine by the DNCRP and issuae a rule declaring the fine illegal.
Four including the commerce secretary and DNCRP have been made respondents to the rule.
Read: Shohoz files writ with HC challenging legality of Tk 2 lakh fine
On July 20, DNCRP fined Shohoz.com, an online ticketing platform of the country, Tk 2 lakh after finding evidence of its mismanagement in selling tickets for Bangladesh Railway.
The DNCRP organised a hearing after receiving a complaint from Mohiuddin Rony, a 4th-year student of Dhaka University's Theatre and Performance Studies Department, over irregularities in ticket sale by Shohoz.com.
On July 25, Shohoz claimed there was no negligence while providing service.
In a statement, the company said service was provided to Mohiuddin Roni following the terms and conditions mentioned on the ticketing website of Bangladesh Railway (www.eticket.railway.gov.bd).
Read: Shohoz fined Tk 2 lakh after DU student’s complaint over irregularities in ticket sale
Mohiuddin Roni, a Dhaka university student, from July 8, has been demanding the implementation of his six-point demand after being deceived by shohoz.com while buying a train ticket to go home during the vacation of Eid-Ul-Azha.
He suspended his movement on July 25 after a meeting with the high officials of Bangladesh Railway including the Railways secretary and Director General at Rail Bhaban.
Ferdous Wahid returns home after successful bypass surgery
Popular singer Ferdous Wahid has returned home after successful bypass surgery at United Hospital.
Ferdous suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital from where he was shifted to United Hospital.
He underwent bypass surgery under Dr Jahangir Kabir at United Hospital on July 18 and was discharged from hospital on July 25.
Habib Wahid, another popular musician and son of Ferdous Wahid, has posted a photo of his father on Facebook where he said, “Due to your prayers and the will of Almighty Allah , Ferdous Wahid has had a successful bypass surgery and is returning to his usual self gradually.”
Read: Pop legend Ferdous Wahid hospitalised
“The surgery was complex but Dr Jahangir did it efficiently. We express our gratitude to him,” read the post.
Earlier, rings were placed in Ferdous Wahid’s heart as doctors found several blocks there. Besides, he had other health complications including diabetes.
1 killed, 30 hurt as BNP, police clash in Bhola
A man was killed and 30 people including seven policemen were injured in a clash between BNP activists and police during the party’s protest rally at Kalinath Roy Bazar in Sadar upazila of Bhola district on Sunday.
The deceased was identified as Abdur Rahim, an activist of BNP.
As part of BNP’s demonstration programme in districts, the leaders and activists of the party gathered in front of their district party office in the morning.
At one stage, police obstructed them when they tried to stage demonstrations at Kalinath Roy Bazar around 11:30 am, said Additional superintendent of Bhola Police Farhad Sardar.
The leaders and activists pelted brickbats targeting police, prompting them to fired bullets and lobbed teargas shells, triggering a clash that left one people dead, he said.
Read: Power Outages: BNP announces 3-day protest programme
Humayun Kabir Shopan, joint secretary of District unit BNP, said, “A BNP activist identified as Abdur Rahim was killed in police firing.”
Additional police have been deployed in the area to avert further trouble. A tense situation has been prevailing in the area following the clash.
BNP on July 26 announced three-day demonstrations across the country to protest against the ongoing load-shedding and mismanagement in the power and energy sector.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office.