Bangladesh
Chamber Judge stays HC’s verdict sentencing five Agrani Bank officials for contempt of court
The Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division in the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday stayed a High Court (HC) verdict that sentenced five top officials of the Agrani Bank including its Managing Director Murshedul Kabir to three months' imprisonment for disobeying a lower court order earlier.
Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order after hearing a petition in this regard.
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin stood for Agrani Bank in the court while counsels Md. Akhtaruzzaman, Momtaz Uddin Fakir, Shamim Khaled and Barrister Tanjibul Alam represented the bank officials.
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The defendants’ lawyers said the HC verdict will remain suspended until March 18 following Thursday’s verdict.
As a result, the officials will not have to surrender before the trial court within this period and police will not have jurisdiction to arrest them, they said.
On January 23 this year, the HC sentenced the five officials to three months' imprisonment for defying a court order by including Moon Group's name in the list of Credit Information Bureau (CIB) of Bangladesh Bank (BB).
The four other officials are its principal branch’s General Manager Md Fazlul Karim, on post-retirement leave (LPR) General Manager AKM Fazlul Haque, Deputy Manager-2 Shyamal Krishna Saha and Deputy Managing Director-1 Wahida Begum.
Advocate Nurul Amin who stood for the Moon Group said the HC sentenced the officials for contempt of court and ordered to confiscate their properties while details will be known when the full verdict is published.
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Later, a petition was submitted with the Chamber Judge Court on Wednesday against the HC verdict.
It was learned that on September 20, 2021, the principal branch of the bank sent a letter to the Moon Group to pay 25 percent of its dues in installments.
The letter reads if the group does not refund 25 percent of the loan by September 30, 2021, it will be listed as a defaulter and sent to the BB’s CIB.
Challenging the legality of the bank's letter, a decree was sought in the lower court. At the same time, a temporary ban was sought against the bank's letter on behalf of the group.
Being rejected by the lower court, the group submitted a miscellaneous appeal with the HC against this order while the HC issued status quo on the bank's letter and a rule as well.
Meanwhile, the bank sent the group to the BB’s CIB listing it as a defaulter for not paying 25 percent installments of the loan within the stipulated time.
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Later, the group submitted a violation case against the five with the HC in this regard.
After hearing the case, the court sentenced five officials to three months' civil imprisonment.
According to the case statement, the group owed Tk 539 crore to Agrani Bank till 2017.
Education Minister calls for further review of exam and evaluation system
Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel on Thursday urged the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) to make recommendations to the policymakers for further review of the examination and evaluation system.
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The minister made the request after a views exchange meeting with the experts of the examination and evaluation system at the Curriculum and Textbook Board in the capital's Motijheel on Thursday.
He also urged them to discuss with experts and gather information from the experience generated up to January and February, the first month of the academic year over the issue.
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Among others, Chairman of National Curriculum and Textbook Board Md Farhadul Islam, and Dhaka University IER Professor Dr Tariq Ahsan were present.
JnU to organise 3-day theatre festival from January 28
The Theatre and Performance Studies Department of Jagannath University (JnU) is going to organise a three-day theatre festival.
Catharine Purification, chairman of the Theatre Department, announced the festival in a press conference on Thursday held in the central auditorium of the university.
The festival will be held for the second time in the central auditorium of the university on January 28, 29 and 30.
Catharine Purification said that next Sunday (January 28) at 11 am the programme will be inaugurated in the presence of the vice-chancellor of Jagannath University (JnU), prof. Dr. Sadeka Halim and prominent actor Asaduzzaman Noor, also an MP.
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In this festival, six dramas will be staged. They are “Radhaman Dhanpudi” by Mohammad Khorshed Alam, “Letter to a Child Never Born” by Oriana Fallaci, “Raktakadam” and “Jomaloye Ekbela” by Manmath Roy, “Tapaswi O Tarangini” by Buddhadev Bose and “Miss Julie” by August Strindberg.
These dramas will be staged under the guidance of students as part of the 'Student Drama Instruction' course of the 2017-18 academic year of the Theatre department.
On the first day, “Radhaman Dhanpudi” will be staged at noon and “Letter to a Child Never Born” at 6 p.m. On January 29, “Raktakadam” will be staged at noon and “Tapaswi O Tarangini” at 6 p.m. And the last day, January 30, “Miss Julie” will be staged at noon and “Jomaloye Ekabela” at 6 p.m.
Anyone can enjoy each play with only Tk50 for students of Jagannath University and Tk100 for outsiders.
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The students of the academic year 2017-18, who will perform in the dramas, are: Parma Raha, Milton Chakma, Priya Banik, Alimul Islam, Jobaida Faisal Eva, Ibrahim Zaman Elin, Shamima Akhter Swarna, Ibrahim Hossain Sanim, Shafiqul Islam, Arifur Islam, Lamia, Shakeel Ahmed, Ucchash Talukdar, Sabiha Haque, Nafis Ismam Tashiq, Anika Ibnat Anamika, Md. Manyur Islam Nibir, Jannatul Ferdous Runa and Shahinul Islam Sagar.
Chinese Communist Party leader Sun Haiyan meets Speaker Shirin Sharmin
Visiting Chinese Communist Party's Vice Minister of the International Department Sun Haiyan paid a courtesy call on Speaker of Bangladesh National Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the city on Thursday.
During the meeting held at the Speaker’s office here, they discussed different issues including bilateral friendship, trade and business, Rohingya, Bangabandhu’s visit to China and parliamentary activities, said a press release.
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The speaker said Bangladesh has a long-standing friendly relationship with China. This relationship can be strengthened further through formation of parliamentary friendship groups and exchange of parliamentary norms between the national parliaments of both countries, she said.
18 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24hrs
No fresh death due to dengue was reported in Bangladesh in the 24 hours till Thursday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, 18 more patients were hospitalised with the viral fever during this period, according to the DGHS.
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Of them, five were admitted in Dhaka hospitals, while the rest were outside the capital.
A total of 133 dengue patients, including 50 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
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So far, 945 dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024.
Last year, a total of 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record.
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The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3,18,749 recoveries last year.
Last year’s September was the deadliest month for the dengue outbreak, with 396 fatalities and 79,598 cases, according to DGHS data.
EBL, icddr,b join hands for sustainable healthcare waste management
Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) and icddr,b have joined forces in a pioneering initiative to advance healthcare waste management through sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices.
The partnership was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at EBL's head office in Dhaka on Wednesday.
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The new partnership with Eastern Bank PLC will enable icddr,b to establish a state-of-the-art solid biohazardous waste treatment facility.
This facility will be equipped with advanced waste sterilizers and shredders, allowing for the complete decontamination and destruction of biohazardous polymer products, said a press release.
This initiative paves the way for recycling polymer materials, thereby converting waste into an asset and significantly reducing environmental impact of waste management.
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Dr Shams El Arifeen, Acting Executive Director and Senior Director, Maternal & Child Health Division at icddr,b, said, "This collaboration with Eastern Bank PLC is a testament to the importance of corporate responsibility in fostering sustainable healthcare practices. It marks a crucial step towards a more eco-friendly approach in healthcare waste management."
Ali Reza Iftekhar, Managing Director and CEO of EBL said, ‘Solid biohazardous medical waste poses a significant challenge for Bangladesh and the management of medical waste is still in its early stages. We are very happy to partner with icddr,b in this timely initiative. “
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The project aims to promote similar initiatives across Bangladesh, with icddr,b hosting workshops and seminars to share its expertise in sustainable waste management with healthcare leaders and government officials.
India to work together with Bangladesh to prevent wildlife trafficking: Environment Minister
Dhaka, Jan 25 (UNB)- India will work together with Bangladesh to prevent wildlife trafficking, said, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury on Thursday.
The implementation of the protocol signed between Bangladesh and India on tiger conservation and the activities of the joint working group of the two countries on the conservation of the Sundarbans will be strengthened, he said.
A delegation of the Indian Working Group will visit Bangladesh very soon on the occasion.
The Environment Minister said these after Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Prannoy Verma called on him at the Secretariat, said a press release.
The environment minister said that both countries will work together to deal with climate change.
Implementation of Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan and National Adaptation Plan will also be done simultaneously, said the minister.
He said, the two countries will also work together in marine biodiversity conservation, eco-tourism and capacity building.
The Indian High Commissioner said that the mutual relationship between Bangladesh and India in environment, forest conservation and development is very important.
“We intend to take various steps to further strengthen this relationship.”
Process of inking cooperation deal on judiciary with Saudi Arabia begins: Law Minister
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Haq has revealed that the process of signing an agreement on mutual cooperation between the judiciaries of Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia has commenced.
Bangladesh has already sent the contents of the accord to Saudi Arabia, he said.
After meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Issa bin Youssef Al-Duhailan, the minister briefed the media at the Secretariat on Thursday.
The meeting also discussed its progress, which was fruitful, he added.
"The Saudi envoy told us that the Muslim world thinks Sheikh Hasina is their sister and they are interested to further strengthen this relationship," Huq said.
Dhaka receives assurances of continued French-German support on dev journey
France and Germany have agreed to individually widen their bilateral relations with Bangladesh and assured of standing beside the country on its development journey.
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said this after holding separate meetings with German Ambassador Achim Tröster and French Ambassador Marie Masdupuy at his office in Segunbagicha on Thursday (January 25, 2024).
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The two most important European ambassadors discussed issues related to trade and investment, climate change, security cooperation and cooperation in the aviation and education sector.
Responding to a question on Bangabandhu Satellite-2, the foreign minister said this is definitely a priority for the government of Bangladesh and hoped that the discussions with France in this regard will see further progress.
On purchasing aircraft from the European aviation giants Airbus, the foreign minister said Bangladesh will buy when the country's economy permits.
Asked if the decision to buy the planes was final, Hasan Mahmud said such 'final decisions' on purchase are not taken at the Foreign Ministry.
The two ambassadors also handed over congratulatory letters from their respective heads of government.
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Both these countries are major development and trade partners of Bangladesh and the ambassadors discussed widening the relations in the coming days, Hasan Mahmud said.
Talking to reporters, French Ambassador Marie Masdupuy said France wants to start a new exchange programme for young teachers and students with Bangladesh.
First official visit post-election: PM to attend Munich Security Conference, says Foreign Minister
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has decided to attend this year’s Munich Security Conference, the most high-profile annual dialogue on security issues, to be held in Germany next month.
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud confirmed PM Hasina’s participation in the global conference while talking to reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
He said his ministry is working on the bilateral meetings to be held on the sidelines of the conference.
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The Prime Minister last attended the Security Conference in 2019.
Though the Prime Minister has received invitations from various countries and international organisations, her first official visit post-election may begin with Germany, a diplomatic source told UNB.
Apart from bilateral engagement with the German leaders, she will have meetings with global leaders on the sidelines.
The Munich Security Conference (MSC) 2024 will take place from February 16 to 18, 2024, at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich.
The MSC 2024 will once again offer a unique opportunity for high-level debates on the world’s most pressing security challenges, said the organisers.
Additionally, the MSC, founded in the fall of 1963, will celebrate its 60th anniversary up to and during the next main conference.
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The Munich Security Report is published annually before the Security Conference.
The report contains exclusive data and graphics on current security policy issues, compiled in cooperation with renowned partner institutions of the MSC.
The Munich Security Report serves as a basis for discussion at the conference in Munich.