Bangladesh
EC: EVMs to be customized in presence of candidates in Cumilla polls
The Election Commission will customize electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Cumilla City Corporation election in presence of candidates or their representatives.
The commission sought applications from the candidates to witness the customization process of EVMs to be held in Dhaka ahead of the city election slated for June 15 next.
According to a notification issued by election returning officer Md Shahedunnabi Chowdhury on Tuesday, an interested contender can send one or two technology experts as representatives to see the customization process.
READ: Poll panel still lacks capacity to use EVMs in all 300 seats, says CEC
The candidates for the mayor, councilors and reserved seats in the city polls will have to apply within Thursday.
DSCC to construct public toilets at all wards: Mayor
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said at least one public toilet will be constructed in 75 wards each under the city corporation.
He came up with the announcement while briefing journalists after inaugurating a public toilet at Janapath intersection of Jatrabari in the capital on Wednesday.
Also read: DSCC anti-mosquito drive to begin from June 15
“It is the long-standing demand of the city dwellers to construct public toilets in the places of mass gatherings. We have already started the work. Primarily, we will construct 75 public toilets in every ward under DSCC and later, it will be increased based on demand and survey.
Mentioning that DSCC has been working to ensure the basic amenities of citizens without wasting public money, Taposh said, “You have seen that we have constructed a public toilet at No 50 ward. Both men and women can use this toilet maintaining discipline.”
Also read: DPDC blames delay in launching Dhanmondi underground cable project on DSCC, hails DNCC cooperation
The DSCC mayor also said they have a plan to rehabilitate the homeless and floating people.
Dhaka-5 constituency lawmaker Kazi Monirul Islam and DSCC chief executive officer Farid Ahamed were, among others, present at that time.
PM: Keep environment in mind in development projects
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to take high care of environment and ecology while taking up any development project.
"Everybody has to pay attention to environment in any project,” she said. “The project has to be executed keeping water reservoirs, adequate green area and rainwater harvesting system.”
The prime minister made the directives while witnessing the designs of four projects, which were presented by the Housing and Public Works Ministry and the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) at her official residence Ganobhaban, said a press release from the Press Wing of the Prime Minister’s Office.
The four projects are Keraniganj Waterfront Smart City, Conservation of Flood Zone at Turag River and Compact Township Development, Construction of Sheikh Hasina International Convention Centre at Zajira end of Padma Bridge in Shibchar (Madaripur) and Construction of Multistoried Residential Building for Government Officials and Employees at Sher-e Bangla Nagar in Dhaka.
Also Read: PM Hasina: I had to redesign the Padma Bridge to make it longer
Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 30 new cases, no death
Bangladesh registered 30 new Covid cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning taking the country's total caseload to 1,953,328, health authorities said.
With no new Covid deaths reported during the period, the total fatalities from the pandemic have so far remained unchanged at 29,130.
The daily test positivity rate slightly dropped to 0.65 per cent from Tuesday’s 0.79 per cent as 4,660 samples were tested, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
On Tuesday, the country saw 34 new cases with zero death.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rate rose to 97.35 per cent as 215 patients recovered during this period.
In April, the country reported only five Covid-linked deaths and 1,114 new cases, while 14,100 patients recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS.
Also Read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 34 new cases, no death
Among the five deaths during the period, two were unvaccinated patients while three were vaccinated with two doses of the Covid vaccine.
The country reported its first zero Covid death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest positivity rate of 33.37 per cent.
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.
Speakers for joint efforts to prevent human trafficking, migrant smuggling
Speakers at seminar here on Wednesday laid emphasis on joint efforts and broader cooperation to prevent human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized the hybrid seminar on "Promoting Multilateral Cooperation to Prevent Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling" at the BIISS auditorium.
Also read: Human trafficking has no place in world: Miller
Head of Delegation, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley spoke at the seminar chaired by BIISS Chairman Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain.
BIISS Director General Major General Mohammad Maksudur Rahman, OSP, BSP, psc Director General, BIISS, delivered the welcome address.
In his address, Major General Mohammad Maksudur Rahman said that Bangladesh is aware of the increasing challenges of human trafficking.
“Bangladesh, realizing, the urgency. passed the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act in 2012 and has also become a party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Migrant Workers and Their Families and also adopted the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act in 2013.”
Moreover, under the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also implementing a National Action of Plan (NAP) for Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking for the year 2018-2022, he said.
Ambassador Whiteley noted that refugee issue has become one of the hot and red button topics in Europe.
Sexual exploitation also continued to be the most commonly-detected form of trafficking, he said.
The envoy observed nowadays migrants smuggling has become a profitable business.
He praised the government of Bangladesh's effort in reducing human trafficking and noted that the EU is supporting Bangladesh in reducing human trafficking.
Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain said that South Asia comprises countries that are source, transit and destination countries for trafficking in persons.
The working session of the seminar was chaired by Professor Dr. Tasneem Siddiqui, Department of Political Science,University of Dhaka.
Benuka Ferdousi, Research Fellow, BIISS, presented on "Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants- Global and Bangladesh Perspective".
Md, Obaidul Haque. Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, presented on "Preventing Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants: Challenges".
Also read: Human trafficking: 20 more teenagers return home from Indian prisons
Yujin Park, Program Manager of Migration and Protection Unit, International Organization for Migration (IOM), Bangladesh presented on "Multilateral Cooperation to Prevent Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants- Global Perspectives".
Asif Munier, Migration and Displacement specialist, presented on "Multilateral Cooperation to Prevent Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants- Bangladesh Perspectives".
Two youths found dead at Kamrangirchar factory
Police in Keraniganj on Wednesday recovered the bodies of two youths from a plastic factory after getting a call from the national hotline number 999.
The deceased were identified as Meraz 19, and his friend Rubel, 18.
Kamrangirchar police station sub-inspector Aniruddha said on information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the bodies.
Also Read: Unidentified man’s body found inside plastic drum in city
However, police could not confirm the reason behind their death, he said.
Deceased Meraz used to work at the plastic factory.
Police are investigating the incident and details will be informed later, added the police official.
Parliament gets Tk 341 crore for FY 22-23
The Parliament Secretariat Commission on Wednesday approved a Tk 341.89 crore budget for Parliament to spend on its development and non-development activities for FY2022-23.
The approval was given at the 33rd meeting of the Commission held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.
Also read: Budget 2022-23: Economic self-reliance, adequate supply of commodities to be key challenges
The budget for the next fiscal is 1.72 percent higher than the main budget of the current financial year, which was Tk 336.14 crore.
The Commission in its meeting also revised the budget for the outgoing fiscal to Tk 316.01 crore.
Commission Members Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Law, Justice, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq and Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud was present on behalf of the opposition leader in the House. Chief Whip Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury attended the meeting on special invitation.
Speaker Shirin Sharmin later told reporters that the Parliament spent less than the allocation for the current FY21-22.
“We can return around Tk 80 crore at the end of the fiscal, as per the information from the Secretariat officials,” she said.
She pointed out that the money was saved as there were fewer working days during a session and reduced foreign trips and training programmes due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Also read: JS budget session to commence June 5
The meeting increased allowances for its employees and officials while the House in session.
Parliament Secretariat's Secretary AKM Abdus Salam placed the agenda of the meeting, while the high officials concerned were present.
DU student assaulted ‘by BCL man’ for not offering salam
A student of Dhaka University was assaulted allegedly by an activist of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Masterda Surja Sen Hall for not greeting him by saying salam.
Sajjadul Haque Sayedee, a student of Department of Anthropology of 2018-19 academic session and a resident student of Surya Sen Hall, lodged a written complaint against Mankiur Rahman, a student of Political Science department and a follower of Chhatra League general secretary of the hall unit Siam Rahman, with the hall administration regarding the physical assault.
Also read:DU student 'assaulted' for missing BCL event ahead of hall conference
"On Tuesday night, I was attending an online class at that time when some BCL activists stepped into my room. As I was busy in my class I couldn't greet them by saying salam. Being angered, BCL activist Manikur Rahman slapped me and kicked me", he wrote in his letter.
“Manikur scolded me and my roommates for not attending their programme and threatened me for not greeting them. When I stood up after disconnecting the Zoom link, he slapped me and kicked me in the chest and threw me away," he added.
Manikur did not receive the phone call when the correspondent tried to contact him for comment.
Also read: DU student allegedly thrashed by Jagannath Hall Chhatra League leader
Admitting the incident of beating, Chhatra League general secretary of the hall unit Siam Rahman said ,"The incident that happened last night is totally unexpected. I will settle the issue with them this afternoon."
Surya Sen hall provost prof. Mokbul Hossen Vuiyan said, " I have received the complaint letter and formed a three-member probe committee to investigate the incident within three working days. Action will be taken if the allegation is proved true."
Bangladesh, South Korea ink MoU on cooperation for peaceful nuclear energy use
The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) and Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the collaboration in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The signing ceremony was held at the BAEC building in Dhaka on Wednesday. Dr Park Won Seok, President of KAERI, Dr Md. Azizul Haque, Chairman of BAEC, Lee Jang-keun, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bangladesh and other officers of BAEC and KAERI were present.
Also read: South Korea committed to deepen ties with Bangladesh through EPS prog: Envoy
According to the MOU, KAERI and BAEC will strengthen cooperation in various aspects of peaceful utilization of atomic energy, including development, utilization and upgrade of research reactor, production and application of radioisotope, development of radiation technology, neutron science and management of nuclear/radioactive waste.
Korea expects that the signing of the MOU will provide important momentum to take the existing collaboration between the two agencies to a new height.
Mentioning that KAERI has established a solid infrastructure as well as operation know-how of research reactors through the development of HANARO of Korea, JRTR of Jordan, OYSTER of the Netherlands during the past 50 years, Dr Park Won Seok expressed his confidence in cultivating and strengthening trustful partnership in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Cop suspended for ‘raping girl’ in Feni
A police constable of Feni Model Police Station has been suspended for allegedly raping a girl.
The suspended police constable is Sharif Uddin Bablu, 26, son of Jamal Uddin of Jamtala Chowdhury Bari in Chhagalnaiya upazila.
Also read:Youth gets life term for raping Thakurgaon woman
The action was taken after the girl lodged a written complaint with Feni Model Police, said Mohammad Nizam Uddin, officer-in-charge of the police station.
According to the complaint, the policeman brought the girl to a hotel in Mahipal area of Feni from Zorarganj upazila of Chattogram on false promise of marriage and raped her there several times.
Also read:Seven get life term for raping Bangladeshi woman in India
As the girl put pressure on him to marry her, Bablu refused to marry and stopped communicating with her, she wrote in her complaint.
Legal action will be taken in this regard, said the OC.