Bangladesh
One year into Myanmar coup: Stronger course of int’l action needed
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tom Andrews on Tuesday reiterated the urgent need for the UN Security Council to impose an arms embargo on the Myanmar military and stressed the need to significantly increase financial pressure on the junta, as many in Myanmar are doing with boycotts.
“The fact that one year has elapsed with no Security Council Resolution imposing a comprehensive arms embargo — as arms continue to flow to the junta and kill innocent people — is unacceptable,” he said. “The people of Myanmar deserve better from the United Nations.”
Read: Myanmar takeover anniversary marked by strike, int’l concern
One year after the Myanmar military launched a coup, the UN Special Rapporteur released a video featuring the voices of some of those in Myanmar who have suffered greatly and are taking action to defend their country.
Tom Andrews implored States to take a more robust course of international action “before it’s too late”.
“Now is not the time for more rhetoric, it is time for meaningful action,” the UN expert said. “The international community must take strong, meaningful steps to cut the junta’s access to weapons, funds and legitimacy.”
Andrews said he would soon release a report that identifies the weapons that continue to flow into the arsenal of the junta and where they are from.
“The military junta is functioning as a criminal enterprise, committing murder, torture, abductions, forced displacement, all the while stealing the revenue and seizing the assets that rightfully belong to the people of Myanmar,” he said.
What is worse, they appear to be getting away with it. Their attacks continue unabated. The suffering of the Myanmar people is steadily increasing.
“Recent months have seen an even further escalation of violence, and a campaign of terror now widespread across the country. I have received more reports of mass killings, attacks on hospitals and humanitarian targets, and the bombing and burning of villages,” Andrews said.
Read: Dozens arrested to suppress protests on Myanmar anniversary
Despite great risks and immense hardships, he said, the people of Myanmar are responding with courage, tenacity and an unwavering commitment to save their country and their children’s future.
“I am amazed at the resilience of the Myanmar people. In the face of aerial assaults, and mass arrest and torture, they continue to strike, to protest, to speak out and to defend themselves. They need and deserve stronger support from the international community,” Andrews said.
On this first anniversary of the illegal coup by the military junta, the best and worst of humanity is unfolding in Myanmar, he said.
“As we mark this dark day and what amounts to a military occupation of Myanmar, let the international community, and Member States of the United Nations, offer not only words of concern, but strong action. The people of Myanmar deserve nothing less,” he said.
Ctg madrasha principal gets life term for violating female teacher
A Chattogram tribunal on Tuesday sentenced the principal of a local Madrasha to life imprisonment in a case over violating a female teacher in 2016.
The convict is Maulana Nizam Uddin, principal of Ummul Kura Dakhil Madrasha in Satkania upazila. The court also fined him Tk 50,000. He was tried in absentia.
According to the prosecution, Nizam Uddin raped an assistant teacher of the madrasha on January 3, 2016.
On September 26, 2016, the woman lodged a complaint with Woman and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal.
Also read: O-level student ‘rape, murder’: Court permits drug test on Dihan
On February 8, 2017, Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) submitted a chargesheet against Nizam.
Also read: O-level student ‘rape, murder’: 3 suspects freed
After examining the records and six witnesses, Woman and Child Repression Tribunal-4 Judge Jamiul Haidar handed down the verdict.
Commerce minister warns against using fake FB accounts in his name
Unscrupulous elements have been operating multiple fake Facebook accounts using the name and picture of Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi in a campaign that is likely to tarnish his image, the commerce ministry said on Tuesday.
Legal action will be taken against the operators of these fake accounts unless they refrain from the immoral activities, the ministry said in a statement.
Read: Edible oil price may go up further: Tipu Munshi
It said law enforcers, including police and the RAB's IT intelligence branch, are conducting necessary investigation in this regard.
The statement said the commerce minister does not have any Facebook account.
Earlier on July 6 last year, a general diary (GD) was filed at Ramna Model Police Station in this regard, said the ministry.
Worker dies at Sitakunda shipyard
In a freak accident, a 27-year-old worker died at a ship recycling factory in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram in the early hours of Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Ariful Islam Sujan, a resident of Fultala village in the district's Sonaichari union. He worked as a cutter at Kabir Steel Shipyard.
Also read: 4 burnt in Sitakunda Shipyard blast
The accident occurred at 1.30am when Sujan suffered a hit by an iron rod while working. His co-workers rushed him to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Abul Kalam Azad, officer-in-charge of Sitakunda police station, said the body will be handed over to family after an autopsy.
Also read: Worker killed in Chattogram shipyard
"Legal procedure is underway in this regard," the OC added.
30-year-old rapes schoolgirl in Magura, held
A 30-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping a schoolgirl in Magura's Sadar upazila.
The arrestee has been identified as Kajal Hossain, 30, son of Altaf Biswas of the upazila.
Monjurul Alam, officer-in-charge of Magura police station, said that Kajal used to tease the girl on her way to school.
Read: Man to die for killing woman after rape in Ctg
"On Saturday night, Kajol barged into the girl's house and raped her. Hearing her screams, neighbours rushed to her house but the accused managed to flee," he said.
On January 30, police arrested Kajal on rape charges. "The girl has already recorded her statement before a judicial magistrate after her medical examination," the OC added.
Four days in a row, Tetulia records minimum temperature
The coldest upazila in Bangladesh's northernmost district of Panchagarh is living up to its reputation this winter.
For the fourth day in a row, Tetulia upazila recorded the lowest minimum temperature in the country -- at 7.1 degrees Celsius -- on Tuesday morning.
On Monday, the lowest temperature in the upazila was recorded at 6 degrees Celsius.
Also read: People shiver as cold wave persists in Bangladesh
Meanwhile, a mild cold wave is sweeping over Rangpur division and the districts of Noagaon and Moulvibazar, and it may abate from some places, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department has predicted.
No US plan to impose sanctions on Bangladesh: Congressman Meeks
Influential US Congressman and Chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Gregory W Meeks has said they do not want to impose any sanctions on Bangladesh as there is an excellent relationship between the United States and Bangladesh.
"We want to make sure we aren’t (imposing any sanctions) against Bangladesh and we’re still working with the government and people of Bangladesh," he told a fundraising luncheon function at a restaurant in New York's Queens area on Monday.
Meeks, also an eminent lawyer, has been a US representative of Democratic Party from New York since 1998, and serving as the chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs since 2021.
"We aren’t imposing any embargo on Bangladesh. The sanctions were imposed on some individuals of an organisation, not the entire organisation ... we’re looking into the scenario there," he added.
Read: Bangladesh, Australia want meaningful partnership
The US Congressman also replied to a question about a vested quarter who is strongly lobbying from inside and outside Bangladesh for imposing sanctions on more officials and the politicians as well, said the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC.
"We’ll not do it as per their words ... it's not possible, and we'll take the right steps after scrutinising all things," he said.
Meeks said he will visit Bangladesh this year to see the human rights situation and other issues. "Before then, I’ll talk to the State Department and Congress Sub-Committee on the Asia-Pacific ... if necessary, we'll arrange a hearing in the Congress on Bangladesh issues," he said.
Known for his compassionate and tenacious representation of his constituents, and his coalition-building skills, Chairman Meeks proudly serves the constituents of New York's Fifth Congressional District, which is a major Bangladeshi American concentration.
Coming soon: Window on Korea at IUB
After Dhaka University, the South Korean government has decided to set up a Korea-devoted section in the library of Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB).
The 'Window on Korea (WOK)' will be installed at IUB this year through the National Library of Korea, the South Korean Embassy in Dhaka has said in a press release.
This programme is aimed at increasing the understanding and interest of IUB students in Korean culture and history through a wide range of books and study materials related to Korea, according to the release.
Also read: Bangladesh, S Korea ink MoU on scientific, technological cooperation
Under this programme, the National Library of Korea will fund the purchase of facility equipment such as computers, chairs, desk and signboard as well as books and materials related to Korea from 1,500 to 3000 volumes in the first year and 200 volumes yearly during the next five years.
Dhaka University installed the Korea Corner at its central library in 2013 with support from Korea Foundation (KF).
In addition to the Window on Korea, IUB is expected to host a King Sejong Institute, a Korean language education programme, this year with the support of King Sejong Institute Foundation of Korea.
Also read: Korea resumes taking Bangladeshi expatriate workers
Khaleda to return home from hospital this evening
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is going to return home this (Tuesday) evening from the capital’s Evercare Hospital after a long treatment for her various health complications.
“Doctors have decided to discharge Madam (Khaleda) from the hospital this evening,” her media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan told UNB.
He said Khaleda will leave the hospital for her Gulshan residence around 6pm.
Sayrul said the medical board, formed to ensure Khaleda’s treatment, will hold a press conference on her health condition at the hospital at 6pm.
Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital for various health complications since November 13.
Read: No legal scope to send Khaleda abroad: Home Minister
Her medical board members said Khaleda immediately needs to go abroad for better treatment as she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.
On behalf of her family, Khaleda's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on November 11 urging the government to allow her to go abroad for better treatment.
The government still did not dispose of the application while ministers are saying the BNP chief has no scope to go abroad until she files a fresh application returning to jail.
Hit by speeding bike, man killed while crossing road in Barishal
A former junior community medical officer was killed after being allegedly hit by a speeding bike while crossing a busy road in Barishal city on Monday night.
The deceased was identified as Shishir Ranjan Baishnab, a resident of the BM College Road area in the city. He retired as a deputy assistant community medical officer.
Read: Motorbikes are becoming the biggest killer on roads in Bangladesh: Experts
The accident occurred near a temple in the the BM College Road area.
Eyewitness said that Shishir suffered serious injuries in the head after he was hit by the bike while crossing the road. He was rushed to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital, where he died of his injuries.
Ajimul Karim, officer-in-charge of Kotwali model police station, said that a case of unnatural death has been lodged in connection with the death. "The body was handed over to the victim's family after an autopsy," he added.