Bangladesh
5 killed in Sirajganj road crash
Five workers were killed and six others injured when a truck crashed into a mini passenger vehicle on the busy Hatikumrul-Bonpara highway in Sirajganj in the early hours of Thursday.
The deceased were identified as Mukul Hossain, 35, son of Abdul Majid, Monir Hossain, 34, son of Abul Bashar, Makbul Hossain, 35, son of Jamir Uddin, Abdul Halim, 45, son of Izal Haque, and Haidar Ali, 40, son of Abdul Kuddus of Natore district.
Also read:2 primary teacher candidates killed in Chandpur road crash
All the victims were occupants of the mini passenger vehicle (locally known as Leguna).
Lutfur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Hatikumrul Highway Police, said that the accident occurred in the Ramarchar area of the district's Solonga upazila.
"The stone-laden truck crashed into the Natore-bound Leguna, leaving three dead on the spot and eight others injured," he said.
Two other injured died on the way to hospital, he added. "The other injured are being treated at different hospitals."
Road accidents in Bangladesh continue to claim hundreds of lives every year.
As many as 543 people, including 81 children, were killed and 612 others injured in 427 road accidents in April, the Road Safety Foundation said in its latest report, released on May 7.
Also read: UP member among 3 killed in Dinajpur road crash
The non-government organisation said 206 lives were lost in 189 motorcycle accidents, which is 37.93% of the total deaths. Also, 116 pedestrians and 87 drivers and their assistants were killed in March accidents.
On the other hand, accidents on waterways claimed at least eight lives while 23 were killed and five injured in train accidents across Bangladesh last month.
Ramna Batamul carnage: Death row convict held in N’ganj
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has claimed to have nabbed a fugitive death row convict in the 2001 Ramna Batamul carnage case.
Mufti Abdul Hye, 57, former amir and founder of Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (HuJI-B), was apprehended during a drive in the Fatulla area of Narayanganj on Wednesday, Rab said on Thursday.
He was also a death row convict in a case filed over a murder attempt on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Kotalipara in Gopalganj in 2000, according to Rab.
Tipped off, a Rab-2 team conducted the drive in the Fatulla area, said assistant SP (media wing) at Rab headquarters Imran Khan. "Abdul was wanted in as many as 13 criminal cases."
He was also sentenced to life in jail in the August 21 grenade attack case, and wanted in two separate cases of murder, including that of former Finance Minister SM Kibria.
Also read: Ramna Batamul carnage: Fugitive death row convict held in Kishoreganj
Arrest warrants were also issued against him in seven cases in Cumilla district.
Abdul had been absconding since 2006. Initially, he went into hiding in his parents-in-law's house in Cumilla district and worked as an assistant in his father-in-law's shop.
In 2009, he left Cumilla and moved into a rented accommodation in Narayanganj from where Rab detained him, said Imran.
On February 15, Rab detained Mufti Shafiqur Rahman alias Abdul Karim alias Shafiqul Islam, another fugitive death row convict in the Ramna Batamul carnage case.
A Dhaka court on June 23, 2014, sentenced eight militants to death for the 2001 Ramna Batamul bomb attack that claimed the lives of 10 people and injured 50 others during new year celebrations.
On August 20, 2017, the Speedy Trial Tribunal-2 in Dhaka sentenced 10 people to death in another case filed over the murder attempt on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Kotalipara in Gopalganj in 2000.
Police found a 76kg bomb near a shop adjacent to Sheikh Lutfur Rahman Government High School on July 20, 2000, where Hasina was supposed to address a rally on July 22.
Another 40kg bomb was also recovered by an Army bomb expert squad from near the Kotalipara helipad on July 23, 2000.
Two Rab members among 3 thrashed by locals in Ctg
Three people, including two Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel, were badly beaten up by locals in Mirsarai upazila on Wednesday night after being mistaken as robbers, officials said.
The injured Rab men have been identified as Kausar, 29, and Mokhles Uddin, 33. The other victim has been identified as Rab informer Pervez, 28.
Also read: Lalmonirhat lynching: 38 surrender, sent to judicial custody
The two Rab members were brought to Dhaka for better treatment by a helicopter around 9.30pm, said Rab's senior assistant director (media) Nurul Absar Chowdhury.
The trio went to Baroiyarhat Municipality Bazar in a car around 8.45pm to gather information about drugs-business in the area, the Rab said in a release.
Also read: Three robbers lynched in Manikganj, two die
Suspecting them as robbers, local people thrashed them, leaving the three injured. On information, a team of Rab-7 rushed to the spot and rescued them.
Truck ploughs into Chandpur highway eatery, 1 killed
A 52-year-old man was killed as a truck ploughed into an eatery along the Chandpur-Cumilla highway on Wednesday afternoon, police said.
The deceased was identified as Md Khorshed Alam, a daily wager and a resident of Cumilla’s Nangalcourt upazila.
Also read: Two killed in Bagerhat road crash
The accident occurred around 2pm in Chandpur’s Shahrashti upazila when the driver of the Cumilla-bound freight truck lost control of the vehicle during heavy showers.
"Khorshed was standing in front of the hotel. He was crushed to death under the wheels of the speeding truck," said Md Abdul Mannan, officer-in-charge of Shahrashti Model Police Station.
Also read:8-yr-old killed in Dhamrai road accident
The body was later handed over to his family, the OC said.
Gold worth Tk6.5 crore seized at Dhaka airport
Dhaka Customs House seized 8kg gold worth Tk6.5 crore from a Biman Flight Catering Centre (BFCC) staff at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital Wednesday.
Mohammad Abdul Aziz Akand was held with the precious yellow metal in front of the BFCC, Md Sanwarul Kabir, a deputy commissioner at Dhaka Customs House, said.
Acting on a tip-off, Dhaka Customs House officials managed to seize the gold from Aziz at 8pm after waiting for seven hours to catch him, Sanwarul added.
"The gold was smuggled into a Bangladesh Biman flight that returned from Dubai. Aziz was supposed to illegally transport it. A case will be filed against him," he said.
Alsor read: 1 held with 124 gold bars worth Tk 10 cr in Jashore
National dialogue on 'Fear of Violence' held
A national dialogue on "Fear of Violence" was held in Dhaka Wednesday.
Policymakers, law enforcers, and representatives from NGOs, INGOs, and youths from different parts of the country were present.
The national dialogue aimed to discuss the situation around fear of violence, how it affects one's daily life, and how to address the situation nationally.
Kashfia Feroz, director (girls' rights) at Plan International Bangladesh, moderated the discussion.
One of the panellists of the discussion Md Muhibuzzaman, additional secretary at the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, said: "The government has taken initiatives and involved women in all of its systems. We are moving towards transformation, sharing gender-defined responsibilities."
Taslima Yesmin, associate professor of law at the University of Dhaka, highlighted the improvement of the Infrastructural system. She said, "We must ensure a rehabilitation system for the victims."MH Tanshen, country representative of the Malala Foundation, said: "We need collaborative space in educational institutes. We need to have quality teachers through proper training. Furthermore, the teaching methods of the teachers need to improve around fear of violence."
Kamrun Nahar, member of Naripokkho, said: "We want freedom; we do not need protection."
She also emphasised involving more youths and government officials in the process of challenging fear of violence.
Maleka Banu, general secretary of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, encouraged the youths to challenge the difficult situations they face. According to her, youths need to come forward and stand up for themselves whenever they face any violence.
Kashfia said: "Not only violence but also the fear of violence is a huge challenge for young people. By eliminating the fear, youths will be able to fully develop their potential."
To build capacity and sensitisation among the youths about challenging and conquering the fear of violence, Plan International Bangladesh and JAAGO Foundation launched a campaign on International Women's Day 2022.
The campaign "Challenging Fear of Violence – Shohingshotar Bhoy ar Noy'' was designed to raise mass awareness among youths in Dhaka, Barishal, Rangpur and Cox's Bazar.Also read: Nationwide youth campaign starts 'challenging fear of violence'
Riverbank erosion leaves Jaintapur residents on edge
Due to the continuous erosion of the Nayagang and Saburi rivers, roads, houses and crop lands in Jaintapur upazila of Sylhet have gone into the gorge of the rivers.
Thousands of acres of arable lands, including hundreds of houses and rural roads in Barbhag, Mallifaud, Katakhal and Lamni villages are under threat due to river erosion. One and a half kilometers of Katakhal road has been devoured by the river.
Due to the dam of Bangladesh Power Development Board (WAPDA), the Nayagang river is flowing at a faster speed than normal with strong current, threatening the houses of the people living along the river to face erosion.
And so, blocks need to be set up urgently to protect the villages of Moakhai, Lamni, Katakhal and Mallifaud on the banks of the river. Otherwise, the people of these areas will suffer immense loss and the crop lands will be devoured by the river during floods.
According to locals, many villagers are leaving their homes and moving to other places due to river erosion by this time.
The villagers demanded that the Water Development Board take initiative to set up permanent embankments to protect the villagers from river erosion.
Jaintapur Upazila Parishad Chairman Kamal Ahmed said initiatives are being taken to repair and repair rural roads in different areas soon after the water recedes.
Besides, due to river erosion, it has become very difficult to protect the residents of Barbhag, Kandi, Mallifaud, Katakhal, Moakhai and Lamnigram.
He will make a written request to the Water Development Board to take immediate action to save the villagers from erosion during monsoon.
Also read: 70-80 houses in Kurigram threatened by untimely Teesta erosion
Fugitive PBI inspector suspended over Khulna college girl's rape
Authorities have suspended a Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) inspector for raping a 20-year-old college student.
Accused inspector Manjurul Ahsan Masud became a fugitive after a case was lodged in this regard.
PBI Khulna’s Superintendent of Police Syed Musfiqur Rahman said that the decision was taken by higher authorities as Masud was a fugitive and an accused in the case.
He said that the CCTV showed evidence that inspector Masud took the student to a house and came out after quite some time.
“The student had earlier met Masud at the PBI office and it is learned that the student also took a set of extra clothes before leaving the house that day,” he further said.
A 20-year-old woman was raped allegedly by a PBI official at Mirzapur Road in Khulna city on May 15.
Police said a college student came to PBI Inspector Majurul Ahsan Masud five days ago following a cyber-issue.
The crime occurred when Inspector Masud took her to a newspaper office at Mirzapur Road promising her to solve the problem.
Later, the victim lodged an FIR at the Khulna Sadar police station immediately after the incident, said Officer-in-Charge Hasan Al Mamun.
The woman was sent to the One Stop Crisis Center (OCC) of Khulna Medical College Hospital for medical examination, he added.
There was prima facie evidence of the crime, said the OC.
Also read: House tutor arrested for trying to rape 9-year-old in Feni
BSC to compensate Hadisur's family with $500,000
Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has arranged a compensation amount of $500,000 (USD) for the family of naval engineer Hadisur Rahman, who was killed in a rocket attack at the port of Olvia in Ukraine, while serving on the Banglar Samriddhi - a BSC vessel that was docked at the port.
BSC also announced a payment equivalent to seven months' salary for other members of the Banglar Samriddhi, that was damaged in the attack. Hadisur’s brother has been offered a job at BSC and will join on June 1.
The announcements were made at a meeting of the Board of Directors of BSC in the city on Wednesday.
The meeting was presided over by State Minister for Shipping and Chairman of the BSC board of directors Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury.
On March 3, Hadisur, 47-year-old third engineer of Bangladeshi vessel ‘Banglar Samriddhi’, was killed in a rocket attack on the ship stranded at Ukrainian port Olvia.
The BSC ship was positioned in the inner anchorage of Olvia port (Ukraine), when Hadisur was killed due to a missile attack.
Earlier on March 9, 28 surviving crew members of the Bangladeshi ship who were stranded in war-torn Ukraine, arrived back in Dhaka. They went from Ukraine to Moldova to reach Bucharest in Romania, from where they flew to Dhaka. The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation ship had been stranded at Olvia port in Ukraine since February 23, following Russia's invasion of its eastern European neighbour. Hadisur’s body was preserved in a bunker near Ukraine as the procedure to bring it back was delayed due to the worsening situation in Ukraine. Later, on March 14, his body did reach Dhaka.
Also read: Hadisur buried in Barguna
Dollar rate: BB governor to hold meeting with bank MDs Thursday
Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Fazle Kabir will have a meeting with the managing directors (MDs) of commercial banks on the volatile dollar.
The meeting will be held Thursday, Sirajul Islam, spokesperson and executive director of the central bank, told UNB Wednesday.
"The governor will hold a meeting with leaders of the Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB) Thursday to discuss the overall forex market situation."
The meeting will look into why the banks are selling dollars at higher rates than the inter-bank exchange rates.
Other issues in the banking sector can also be discussed, Sirajul said.
Also read: BB depreciates taka by Tk 0.40 against US dollars