Bangladesh
Revoke decision to hike in LPG prices: BNP
BNP on Tuesday demanded the government to immediately revoke its decision of hiking the prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sold by private companies.
“The prices of essential commodities, including fuel oil, gas, rice, pulses, edible oil are being continuously increased, cussing serious misery to low-income people,” said party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Read: LPG gets costlier by Tk 62 per 12-kg container
Speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said their party thinks the prices of fuel oil and other essentials are being increased for creating a scope of corruption by the government and the unethical profits by the ruling-party-backed businessmen.
He urged the government to take steps to lower the prices of essential items at the consumer level.
“Especially, we demand the cancellation of the decision to increase the LPG prices and restore its previous prices,” Fakhrul said.
He also warned that they all together will take to the streets if their demand is not met.
Read: People to turn down search committee’s recommendations: BNP
The price of private operators' liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was increased by Tk 62 to 1,240 from Tk 1178 per 12-kg container with effect from Thursday (Feb 3) at the retail level.
As per the announcement, the prices for other quantities of the LPG will also go up in line with the new price at the same ratio. The price of autogas for motor vehicles has also gone up to Tk 57.51 from the present price of Tk 54.95 per litre.
Khaleda conferred with 'Mother of Democracy' award
The Canadian Human Rights International Organization (CHRIO) has conferred BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia with 'Mother of Democracy' award for her outstanding contributions to democracy.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presented the crest and certificates given by the Canadian organization at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on Tuesday.
Read: BNP leaders upset over Khaleda’s recovery: Dr Hasan
“We’re delighted to inform you that the Canadian Human Rights International Organization (CHRIO) has provided our leader Begum Khaleda Zia with the award of ‘Mother of Democracy’ for her significant contributions to democracy and its protection,” he said.
The Canadian High Commission in Dhaka has also endorsed the award.
JMB man gets life term jail for 2005 bomb blasts
A Chuadanga court on Tuesday sentenced a member of banned militnat outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to life term imprsionement in a case filed over 2005 series bomb blasts.
Chuadanga Additional District and Sessions Judge Court-2 acting Judge Lutfor Rahman Shishir pronounced the judgment in presence of the accused.
The lifer is Saikhul Islam alias Rakib,35, son of Giasuddin of Panchakaran village in Bagerhat.
The court passed the order after examining statements of 18 witnesses in the case, said Public Prosecutor advocate Giashuddin.
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On August 17, 2005, some JMB militants exploded bombs at the court premises and old jail area in Chuadanga city.
Abdul Motaleb, then Sub-Inspector of Chuadanga sadar police station, filed a case under the Explosive Substances Act over the incident.
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On August 27, 2006 police arrested Shaikhul Islam.
People to turn down search committee’s recommendations: BNP
BNP standing committee has said that the people of the country will turn down with “hatred” the recommendations of the search committee for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioners and other Commissioners.
At their virtual meeting on Monday, the BNP standing committee, the highest policymaking body of the party, also said almost all members of the search committee are directly or indirectly involved with Awami League, said a press release signed by party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday.
Read: ACC probes wealth of Ex-MD of Eastern Refinery Rezaul and his wife
“Our meeting felt that BNP did not want to show any interest in the search committee as the Election Commission to be formed by them (search panel) would not be able to conduct an acceptable, free and fair election unless it’s held under a neutral government,” it said.
The BNP policymakers also think the formation of the Election Commission through the current search committee as per the ‘controversial’ new law is unacceptable and meaningless.
“It’s clear that the Election Commission to be formed based on the recommendations of this search committee will aim to bring Awami League back to power like the outgoing commission. This is nothing but another deception with people. People will reject such a mockery with hatred.”
The BNP standing committee alleged people’s basic human rights and right to vote have been snatched in the last one decade. “This is a big crime. Awami League will have to face trial.”
On Saturday, a six-member search committee, led by Appellate Division Justice Obaidul Hasan, was formed to suggest the names of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners.
Read: ACC probes wealth of Ex-MD of Eastern Refinery Rezaul and his wife
At their maiden meeting on Sunday, the search committee decided to request the registered political parties to propose names of eligible persons for the posts of chief election commissioner and other commissioners for the reconstitution of the Election Commission.
The BNP policymakers said there is no alternative to a neutral government in overcoming the current political crisis in the country.
Replying to a question, Mirza Fakhrul said the Awami League government has destroyed every institution.
“The Election Commission is not only failing to hold credible elections, but they are stealing public money and involved in corruption. “It's unbelievable,” he said.
The BNP leader said their party strongly believes that no fair and acceptable election can be held under a partisan government in Bangladesh.
BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said the government must quit dissolving the parliament and then a new interim government will be able to constitute an impartial election commission and bring back the democratic institutions to the right track.
ACC probes wealth of Ex-MD of Eastern Refinery Rezaul and his wife
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday asked the former managing director of Eastern Refinery, Chattogram Rezaul Alam and his wife to submit their wealth statements.
A notice signed by ACC's director Akter Hossain Azad has been sent to the couple, according to the commission’s public relations wing.
Read:ACC files graft case against 3 Krishi Bank officials and two others
The notice sought statement of their all immovable or movable property acquired in the name of the couple and their dependents.
The source of income and the detailed information on how those were acquired will have to be submitted to the ACC within 21 working days of receiving the notice.
HC moves to confiscate bank accounts of Evaly bosses and relatives
The High Court on Monday asked Evaly’s jailed executives Mohammad Rassel, his wife Shamima Nasrin and their close relatives to explain why their bank accounts won’t be confiscated.
The couple, their siblings, parents, parents-in-law and daughter have two weeks to defend them, according to the court’s order.
The HC bench of Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar passed the order during a hearing on an appeal from the new board of embattled e-commerce company Evaly.
The court also assigned a Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court to auction some cars owned by the company on February 10. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner and the Rapid Action Battalion director general have been asked to provide security during the auction.
Lawyer Morshed Ahmed Khan appeared for the new Board of Directors while lawyer Syed Mahsib Khan presented the writ petitioner’s side.
Lawyer Morshed said the court has also asked Nijhum Majumdar who claimed to be legal coordinator of Evaly in different YouTube videos he published, to appear before court within two weeks.
Read: Nipun moves Supreme Court against HC stay on Zayed's disqualification
Otherwise, the court will order his arrest, the lawyer said.
On last September 22, the High Court ordered a ban on the sale and transfer of movable and immovable property after an application submitted by an affected customer seeking dissolution of the company and direction on forming a board of directors for the company.
On October 18, the High Court formed a 5-member board, led by former justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, to manage, control and assess the liabilities of shuttered e-commerce platform Evaly.
Other members of the board are former secretary Mohammad Rezaul Ahsan and additional secretary Mahbub Kabir Milon, chartered accountant Fakhruddin Ahmed and lawyer Barrister Khan Mohammad Shamim Aziz.
Covid-19 in Bangladesh: Daily deaths hit 43
Bangladesh logged 43 more Covid-linked deaths with 8,354 fresh cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
The daily positivity rate slightly declined to 20.03 from Monday’s 21.07 per cent after testing 41,879 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The number of deaths is highest in nearly six months as the country last recorded 43 deaths on September 19, last year with 1,383 cases and the daily positivity rate at 5.62 per cent.
Read:Single-dose Sputnik Light Covid-19 vaccine gets EUA in India
On Monday, Bangladesh reported 38 more Covid-linked deaths with 9,369 fresh cases.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,670 while the caseload mounted to 1,879,255.
Among the new deceased, 26 were men and 17 women.
Fifteen of the deaths were reported in Dhaka division while 13 in Khulna, 11 in Chattogram, two in Rajshahi, and one each in Mymensingh and Rangpur divisions.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained static at 1.53 per cent.
However, the recovery rate slightly increased to 86.36 per cent with the recovery of 10,800 more patients during the 24-hour period.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its earlier highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths.
On December 9 last year, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic was apparently showing signs of easing.
Read: A different COVID-19 vaccine debate: Do we need new ones?
The country reported this year’s first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.
Bangladesh, India share best practices in waste management
Indore Municipal Corporation in India and Dhaka North City Corporation have held productive discussions on how to take forward cooperation in the field of solid waste management and other municipal services.
They have shared the best practices in solid waste management noting that there is much scope for mutual learning.
A virtual dialogue was organised between the two sides to that end on Tuesday.
Read:Korea intend to intensify engagement with Chattogram
The webinar was facilitated by the High Commission of India and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs of India.
Bangladesh-Japan partnership poised to soar high: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the “Comprehensive Partnership” between Bangladesh and Japan is now poised to be raised to “Strategic Partnership”.
“I’m happy today to note that our time-tested friendship has evolved in depth and dimension. So much so that our “Comprehensive Partnership” is now poised to be raised to “Strategic Partnership” in the near future,” she said in a video message marking the Golden Jubilee of the diplomatic relationship between Bangladesh and Japan.
Read: Make overseas employment process transparent, PM asks ministry
Hasina also acknowledged the sustained economic cooperation and support of Japan.
“I’m heartened by the increased Japanese investment in various sectors in Bangladesh. I notice with delight that Japanese companies find the investment climate attractive in Bangladesh, and are ready to invest,” she said.
Referring to the logo of the 50th Anniversary celebration that symbolises the mood of “Bangladesh-Japan Friendly Relations”, Hasina said it reflects that the two countries are celebrating this milestone year in a befitting manner with many events, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Here, I must thank the government and the people of Japan for their assistance to face the pandemic.”
She mentioned Bangladesh and Japan, as trusted partners and peace-loving nations, both have always worked in supporting one another in international forums to promote global peace, progress, prosperity, stability and sustainable development.
“Importantly, both share common views on resolving the crisis of forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar’s Rakhine State,” Hasina said.
She also said Bangladesh sought Japan’s support for an early voluntary, safe and sustainable repatriation of these displaced people back to their ancestral homes in Myanmar.
The Prime Minister said the bilateral relations between the two countries have many reasons for enhancement in the coming days.
“Indeed, mutual initiatives are imperative to avail of these opportunities. As Bangladesh strives to be a prosperous, developed country, and our Father of the Nation’s “Sonar Bangla” or “Golden Bangladesh”, our last fifty years of enviable cooperation would remain an inspiration for the coming fifty years. Bangladesh is firm to engage with time tested friend Japan for mutually beneficial gains.”
Hasina mentioned that the two countries have been enjoying excellent relations since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 and Japan’s early recognition on 10 February 1972.
Read:Powerful poems stronger tools to motivate people: PM
“Our people remember with gratitude the precious support and contributions of Japan and its people, particularly school-children, during our War of Liberation. Japan was among the first few countries to open a resident diplomatic mission in Dhaka.”
In this connection, she said the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Japan are based on mutual trust, respect, friendship and cooperation.
Hasina said the historic visit of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, to Japan in October, 1973, set the tone of the bilateral relation. It laid the foundation of a steadfast and lasting friendship.
“For me, it was an honour to carry on my father’s legacy and visit Japan in 1992, 1997, 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2019 to further strengthen our two countries’ relations.”
Youth crushed under train in city
A 22-year-old year youth was killed after being hit by a train at Kamalapur TT Para rail gate on Tuesday.
The identity of the deceased could not be known immediately.
The train hit him while he was walking near a rail track, leaving him dead on the spot around 6 am, said sub-inspector of Bangladesh Railway Police Anwar Hossain.
Police sent the body to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy.