Dhaka, Oct 9 (UNB)- Police arrested an alleged criminal along with one foreign made pistol, 64 rounds of bullets, nine bottles foreign wine and 120 cans of beer from the city’s Uttara on Wednesday.

The arrestee was known as Md Ashinul Kabir alias Rajan, 27.

Based on secret information, a team of Uttara West police station conducted a raid at a house of Road no-13 under Uttara sector-3 at around 1:30 am, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Media) Masudur Rahman.

The police also recovered the pistol, bullets, wine and beer from his possession, he added.

Two cases were filed –one under Arms Act and another under Narcotics Control Act—with the police station in connection with the incident.

Dhaka, Oct 9 (UNB) - Omera Renewable Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of East Coast Group, on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tarasima Apparels Ltd, a subsidiary of Bitopi Group, for the installation of a 2.6 MW Rooftop Solar Grid-Tied System.

The signing ceremony was held at East Coast Centre, Gulshan, Dhaka expecting that the partnership between the two leading private sector companies would open up a new horizon towards greener initiative, said a press release.

Tanjil Chowdhury, Managing Director of East Coast Group, and Miran Ali, Managing Director of Bitopi Group, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides. East Coast Group Chairman Azam J Chowdhury and other senior officials of the companies were also present on the occasion.

Bangladesh’s leading solar energy company Omera Renewable Energy Limited has ventured into a target of producing 200 MW of electricity from rooftop solar installations by 2021 in the country in line with the government’s target to add 10 percent power from the renewable energy sources to the national grid.

Miran Ali said, "This is a game-changing moment for the country’s energy sector. We’ve talked to other companies but finally we’ve decided to work with Omera for their professionalism and track record in the energy sector of Bangladesh."

Dhaka, Oct 9 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the bilateral ties between Bangladesh and India reached a special height generating a new momentum in the relations between the two neighbouring countries through her recent visit to India.

“Bangladesh’s bilateral relations with India have reached a special height. Overall, I think a new momentum has been created in our bilateral relations through this visit,” she said.  

The Prime Minister came up with the remarks in her written speech at a crowded press conference held at her official residence Ganobhaban in the afternoon focusing on the outcomes of her recent visits to the USA and India.

Sheikh Hasina convened the press conference and highlighted the outcomes of her participation in the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly and other various high-level side events in New York as well as her recent visit to India.

The Prime Minister said priority was given mainly to issues related to climate change, poverty elimination, quality education and inclusive development in the 74th UNGA.

Besides, a number of high-level events were held on some other important issues like sustainable development goals and universal health coverage, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said in her speech at the UNGA, she placed a four-point proposal at the UNGA general debate to solve the Rohingya crisis.

In her four-point proposal, Sheikh Hasina said Myanmar must manifest clear and concrete actions for sustainable return and reintegration of Rohingyas to Myanmar, discard discriminatory laws and practices, guarantee security and safety of the Rohingyas by deploying civilian monitors from international community in the Rakhine State.

In the proposal, she also said, international community must ensure that the root causes of Rohingya problem are addressed and the violation of human rights and other atrocity crimes committed against the Rohingyas are accounted for.

The Prime Minister said she highlighted her government’s unprecedented success during the last 10 years in various sectors, including socio-economic fronts, as well as in poverty reduction, social safety net, education and health care.

Besides, peaceful use of nuclear energy, climate change and establishing culture of peace were also highlighted in her speech at the UNGA, she added.

On the sidelines, Sheikh Hasina said, she attended and addressed a number of high-level side events, including on migration, Rohingya crisis, universal health coverage, mental health and on Council on Foreign Relations.

She said she held bilateral meetings with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres there.

She also had talks separately with ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, Chair of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates, UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development Queen Maxima and Honorary President of Global Hop Coalition Irina Bokova.

Besides, Sheikh Hasina received ‘Champion of the Skills Development for Youths' Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to skill development of the youth, and ‘Vaccine Hero’ award in recognition of Bangladesh's outstanding success in vaccination to immunise children.

About her visit to India, Sheikh Hasina said she joined the WEF’s Country Strategy Dialogue on Bangladesh and in the closing plannery session of the WEF’s India Economic Summit held in New Delhi.

In her speech at the closing plannery, the Prime Minister said, she underscored strengthening joint efforts in further enhancing regional, sub-regional and bilateral ties.

Besides, she joined an interactive session with selected CEOs of Indian Organisations, and the inauguration of India-Bangladesh Business Forum.

During the tour, the Prime Minister held bilateral talks with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

After the meeting, seven MoUs were signed and exchanged between the two sides to further strengthen cooperation on various sectors, she said.

During her stay in New Delhi, the Prime Minister paid a courtesy call on Indian President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

On the other hand, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and President of India’s National Congress Sonia Gandhi called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

About her meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister, the Prime Minister said she proposed introducing air flights on Dhaka-Chennai and Dhaka-Mumbai routes.

Besides, proposal was also given to use Saidpur Airport of Bangladesh for communication and carrying goods to northeastern states of India, she said.

Apart from these, Sheikh Hasina said, she attended an event on 150th birth anniversary celebration programme of Mahatma Gandhi in which a number of heads of the states and governments joined.

Meanwhile, Asiatic Society of India honoured Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with the prestigious “Tagore Peace Award 2018” in recognition of her contribution in maintaining regional peace and prosperity.
 

Dhaka, Oct 9 (UNB) – Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said it is completely illegal that many foreign companies in Bangladesh are showing foreign channels through Direct-to-Home (DTH) downlink service without the government’s approval.

He made this remark during a meeting with the leaders of Federation of Television Professionals Organisation (FTPO) at the Secretariat today.

“Since the inception of this DTH service, Tk. 700-800 crore is being transferred to foreign countries through hundi which is harmful for Bangladesh,” the minister said.

“We have taken many steps to bring discipline to the broadcasting sector of Bangladesh. Previously, I managed to stop foreign advertisements in Bangladeshi channels,” he added.

According to the minister, government’s permission will be required to dub any foreign movie in Bangla. A preview committee will be set up to ensure if this directive is being implemented or not.

Replying to a question from reporters, Hasan Mahmud said many of the accused in the Buet student murder have been arrested as per the instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. All the necessary measures will be taken to ensure exemplary punishment to the killers.

Kushtia, Oct 9 (UNB) – Vice-chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) Prof Saiful Islam was barred by agitated locals from meeting the family of Abrar Fahad at Raidanga village in Kumarkhali upazila on Wednesday.
 
The Buet VC set out for Kushtia from Dhaka in the morning to offer fateha at the grave of Abrar who was beaten to death reportedly by some Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders at a dormitory of the university, and convey his deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.
 
He along with Deputy Commissioner Aslam Hossain and Superintendent of Police of the district SM Tanvir Arafat reached the village around 4:30pm, met Abrar’s father Barkatullah and offered fateha at Abrar’s grave.
 
As the news spread around, angry locals gathered in front of Abrar’s house and chanted anti-VC slogans and demanded justice for Abrar.

 
They obstructed Prof Sirajul when he tried to enter the homestead to meet the family members.
 
Amid the resistance, he finally stepped back without meeting the family members.
 
After the VC’s departure, police charged baton on the agitating locals to disperse them, injuring four people, including Abrar’s brother Abrar Faiyaz.
 
Abrar, 21, was found dead on the staircase of Sher-e-Bangla Hall of the university early Monday after some BCL leaders beat him at room-2011 of the dormitory on Sunday night suspecting his link with Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir.
 
Meanwhile, a commemorating meeting on the Buet student was held at Kushtia Zilla School from where he passed his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination. Huge people attended the programme.
 
Speaking at the event, Abrar’s father Barkatullah expressed dissatisfaction at the role of the Buet authorities over his son’s murder.
 
He also alleged that the names of most of those captured on the CCTV footage were dropped from the case. “The boy who led the torture was not made accused in the case.”