Bangladesh
Municipality Councilor among three sent to jail over attacking headmaster in Kushtia
The Kushtia Chief Judicial Magistrate Court has ordered to send three people, including a Councilor of the local municipality, to jail for attacking a headmaster of a local school on Sunday.
The accused are—Sohel Rana Asha, 45, son of Afzal Hossain, Md Faruk, 45, son of late Niyamot Ali and Ansar Ali, 35, son of Polan Mondol. All of them are residents of Molla Teghoria area under Kushtia Sadar upazila.
Also read: Severing college teacher’s wrist: Seven held in Kushtia
Among the convicts, Sohel is the Councilor of Ward No 21 of Kushtia Municipality.
According to the court sources, Councilor Sohail was damaging the environment of Kushtia Sadar’s Lahini Secondary School by stockpiling construction materials including sand and bricks on the school’s playground. He was also using the school’s electricity illegally.
The attack took place when Nazrul Islam, the headmaster of the school, tried to protest against the Councilor’s unlawful activities. Sohail along with some of his accomplices attacked Nazrul and injured him severely on March 31.
Also read: 1 held after Kushtia college girl forced to marry at gunpoint
Arrests were made by the police after Nazrul filed a case with Kushtia Model Police Station the next day. Although the convicts came out of jail on bail for six weeks, their request for securing bail once again has been denied by the court this time.
“I respect the laws of the land. I believe that laws will follow their own course. I demand proper actions against those who have attacked me”, said Nazrul.
Sylhet JCD leader arrested over alleged derogatory comment on PM
Police arrested a leader of Companyganj upazila Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) in Sylhet for alleged derogatory remarks on the prime minister on social media. The arrestee was identified as Emdadur Rahman Inzad, Joint Convener of JCD Companyganj committee.
Also read: Youth held for making ‘derogatory comments’ against PM in N’ganj
He was arrested Saturday night from his residence following a case filed by Ahmed Reza Rubel, president of Telikhal Union Bangladesh Chhatra league committee, said Sukanta Chakraborty, Officer-in-Charge of Companyganj police station. According to the case complaint, on May 22 the accused posted a status on his Facebook profile degrading the PM over State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Imran Ahmed distributing relief among the flood affected people at Companyganj. He wrote, “If vote stealing PM Sheikh Hasina can say popular PM Begum Khaleda Zia should be drowned in the Padma River then we can also say that Hasina should be dropped off from without Hasina's flight after it takes off from Zia International Airport. Thus the country and its people will be freed from vengeful Sheikh Hasina.”
Also read: GD filed for making ‘derogatory comments’ on Bangabandhu, PM On May 31, Rubel filed the case under the ICT Act against four people including Inzad and two more anonymous people at Companyganj police station.
HC orders to set up information centre at SC within 60 days
The High Court (HC) has ordered to set up an information centre following the obligations of the Right to Information Act-2009(RTI) at the Supreme Court(SC) within 60 days.
A two-member HC bench comprising Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Mia and Justice Khijir Hayat pronounced the verdict after hearing a writ petition.
Also read: Children’s death from adulterated syrup: HC orders DGDA to pay Tk 15 lakh to 104 victims’ families each
The writ petition was filed by Advocate Shishir Monir on May 26. Shishir conducted the hearing himself while Deputy Attorney General Bipul Bagmar stood for the state.
Replying to questions after the pronouncement of the verdict, Shishir said that instructions have been given to the Registrar General of the SC along with Registrars of both the Appellate and the HC divisions to set up the information centre.
According to the writ petition, the Right to Information Act-2009 directs to establish information cells and recruit Information Officers(IO) in all the constitutional institutions of the country, including the government and the autonomous bodies.
The writ petition also says that free flow of information is peoples’ constitutional right according to section 39 of the constitution. People are deprived of this right due to the absence of information cells and information officers at public offices.
Also read:HC orders inquiry into harassment of students wearing burqa, hijab
“The plaintiff had requested the Registrar of the HC for providing information regarding capital punishment. The plaintiff didn’t get any response from him. Later, he submitted a request to the Registrar General of the SC to implement the RTI-2009 Act. The plaintiff finally had to file a writ petition after not receiving any response from the SC official either,” adds the writ petition.
FBCCI thanks PM for rational gas price policy
FBCCI President Md. Jashim Uddin on Sunday thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for keeping gas prices rational amid the global turmoil caused by the Ukraine-Russia War and the rising trend of LNG price.
He called upon the distribution companies to ensure uninterrupted gas supply to keep the factory production incessant, according to an FBCCI press release.
Also read: FBCCI President mourns deaths in container depot fire
It said that Earlier the distribution companies proposed for more than 100 percent price increase, while the new tariff rate for captive power has been increased by 15.5 per cent, large scale industry by 11.96 per cent and medium industry by 10 per cent.
In contrast, small and cottage industries will pay almost 37 percent lower tariff than current price. The price of gas in the power sector has been increased by 12.81 percent per cubic meter. Reducing tariff will help the small and cottage industries to revive at this stage of the post-Covid economic recovery. It is also expected that the public transport fare will remain the same as the CNG tariff is kept unchanged.
Also read: FBCCI seeks loan moratorium till December
The FBCCI believes that the new rates have been set taking into consideration the capabilities of all types of industries in the country, national and international perspective.
FBCCI president President Md. Jasim Uddin believes that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's far-sighted decision regarding gas tariff will further accelerate the country's industrialisation and economic growth.
Youth whose Facebook Live captured blast amid fire turns up dead
The young man whose Facebook Live broadcast captured the deadly explosion that occurred as fire fighters fought the initial blaze at the BM Container Depot in Sitakunda on Saturday night has, as feared, died.
The deceased was identified as Oliur Rahman, son of Ashik Miah of Moulvibazar. He was a young worker at the Container Depot.
Oliur remained missing until Sunday noon. Later, his co-workers identified his body at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH), confirmed one of his co-workers Ruel.
Also read:Firefighter Maniruzzman transferred to Kumira 2 months ago, says uncle
Ruel said Oliur might have died from the impact of the blast.
He said, “It was dinner time when the explosion occurred. We left the depot for dinner, but Oliur stayed there to make it live on Facebook.”
Oliur went live from his Facebook when the massive fire broke out at the container depot in Sitakunda on Saturday night. He was informing everyone about the fire on Facebook Live.
The broadcast firefighters and other depot staff struggling to contain the fire. Around 41 minutes into his broadcast, a blast occurs and the screen goes black, indicating whoever was holding the phone had clearly lost control of it.
People calling Oliur's phone from that point onwards found it switched off and he went missing. The blast amid the fire is suspected to have also been the cause for the greatest loss of firefighters in a single incident in Bangladesh's history.
Oliur’s relatives went to the CMCH to receive his body, said Ruel.
“The death toll from the fire climbed to 49 and there were seven fire service members among the deceased,” said Anisur Rahman, deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defense, while briefing reporters at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital over the deadly fire incident.
Besides, over 200 people suffered injuries.
Also read: Sitakunda fire exposes fragile state system
Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defense Assistant Director Faruk Hossain Shikdar said a large explosion rocked the area on Saturday night.
"The explosion was heard within a radius of 4km from the spot," Faruk added.
A total of 15-20 explosions occurred at the depot following the fire, he said.
Shahjahan Shikdar, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters (media), said 13 firefighters are undergoing treatment at Chattogram Combined Military Hospital (CMH).
WB to provide Tk 255 cr as food aid to Rohingyas: State Minister
The World Bank will provide a grant of Tk 255 crore for food aid to the forcibly displaced Rohingya community from Myanmar staying at Teknaf and Ukhia in Cox's Bazar, said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman on Sunday.
The state minister told reporters after the signing ceremony of an agreement between the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief and the World Food Program (WFP) at the ministry.
Also read: Rohingya repatriation should be UNHCR's priority: Momen
Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Md Kamrul Hasan on behalf of the ministry and Country Director Jane Pearce on behalf of the WFP signed the agreement in presence of other senior officials from the ministry and the WFP.
Under the agreement, WFP will provide food aid to Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar through the Safety Net System for the Poorest project, funded by the World Bank, said the state minister.
Also read: Take care of Rohingyas like Bangladesh: UNHCR to regional countries
The project will provide nutrition education to women, assistance to children under the five in health centers, materials and training in vegetable gardening, plantation and preservation of trees, and mountain slopes, cleaning roads and sewers and carrying out various awareness activities to prevent anti-social activities in the Rohingya camps, he added.
Ctg Depot Fire: DCCI expresses deep condolences at loss of lives
President and members of the Board of Directors of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) on Sunday expressed their deep condolences and shock at the unexpected loss of lives of 37 people so far at the devastating fire incident happened at BM Container Depot at Sitakunda in Chattogram.
They also expressed their deep sorrow and profound sympathy to the bereaved family members.
Also read: DCCI invites Indian investors to invest in EZs in Bangladesh
DCCI also prayed for the early recovery of the wounded in this fire incident.
Moreover, Dhaka Chamber also emphasized to identify the cause of this unexpected incident and urged concerned authorities to be cautious in future, to avoid such loss of lives.
Rice price coming down after anti-hoarding drive: Food Minister
The government’s drive against illegal hoarding of rice has been successful in lowering the price of the essential item in the market, Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said Sunday.
The minister said this while talking to journalists at the logo unveiling of the ‘International Nutrition Olympiad 2022’ at his ministry.
“On Tuesday evening, the drive against hoarding of paddy and rice began a day after it was discussed at a cabinet meeting. In the drive conducted across the country till Saturday, a huge amount of illegally stockpiled rice was found and actions were taken,” said the minister.
Also read: AL profiteers’ foul play behind rice price hike: BNP
While replying to a question he said, “The price is lowering but when it will come down exactly is hard to say. We are conducting drives in mills after receiving specific complaints.”
The minister said that a meeting of the Food Planning and Containment Committee, the highest committee of the government on food, would be held on Monday where other measures to control the market prices will be discussed.
Also read: Rice cannot be packaged for sale after buying those from open market: Minister
EC suspends Chambal UP election in Ctg
The Election Commission has suspended the election of Chambal Union Parishad at Banshkhali upazila in Chattogram over violation of election regulations by a chairman candidate.
In a press release on Sunday the commission said the election slated for June 15 has been suspended until further notice.
According to the notice, chairman candidate of Chambal UP Mujibul Haque Chowdhury has announced that he will hire men to help people for pressing the EVM button and threatened to snatch win in the election using EVM as per his wish.
Also read: Next election sans BNP won’t be acceptable: Ex-CEC Nurul Huda
He also said he would have collected all the votes by night if there was no EVM which has been published in different newspaper and television reports. Local Administration and Election Officer found proof of the statement later through a probe.
“Such actions are criminal offence according to the Union Council (Election Behaviour) Rules, 2016 and The Local Government (Union Parishads) Rules ,2010. The commission directs to file a case against the Chambal UP chairman candidate,” said the EC.
Also read: No scope to manipulate polls flexing muscle power: CEC
First hajj flight leaves Dhaka with 410 pilgrims
The first hajj flight from Bangladesh has left the country around 9:00am on Sunday.
The flight operated by Biman Bangladesh Airlines was carrying 410 hajj pilgrims and was about to reach Jeddah around 12:45pm today.
State Minister for the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali MP, State Minister for the Ministry of Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan MP, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Sazzadul Hasan, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mokammel Hossain, Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Air Vice Marshall Md Mafidur Rahman, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Dr Abu Saleh Mostofa Kamal and other officials were present at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport(HSIA) and bid farewell to the hajj performers.
Also read: First hajj flight from Bangladesh to leave Sunday
A total of 57,585 people are going to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia(KSA) from Bangladesh to perform hajj this year. Among them, a total of 28,793 hajj pilgrims, which is almost 50 percent of the total hajj pilgrims, will be transported by Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ flights.
Biman will operate a total of 130 flights carrying hajj pilgrims this year, among which 65 flights will be operated between June 5-July 3 as pre-hajj flights and another 65 flights will be operated between July 14- August 13 as post-hajj flights.
Also read: Hajj cost goes up by Tk 59,000
The Hajj Programme-2022 was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last Friday.