Bangladesh
Regent’s Shahed, 2 others indicted in fraud case
A Dhaka court on Tuesday framed charges against three people including Regent group chairman Mohammad Shahed and Managing Director (MD) Masud Parvez in a fraud case.
The formal trial in the case has started with the charge framing.
The other accused in the case is Shipon Ali, general manager of Regent KCS Ltd.
Read: Regent Group Chairman Shahed put on 4-day remand
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Devdas Chandra Adhikari frame charges against them rejecting their plea for exemption from the case.
The court also fixed February 15 for recording the statements of the witnesses, said State Public Prosecutor Azad Rahman.
On July 24, 2020, SM Shipon, a sand trader, filed a case against the trio at Uttara West Police Station on charge of fraudulence.
On November 8 of the year, CID Inspector of Police Akram Hossain submitted a chargesheet against the three after investigating the case.
According to the case, accused Shipon Ali ordered 50 lakh CFT sand worth Tk 19.75 crore from the plaintiff’s company. Shipon Ali issued three cheques of Pubali Bank in this regard that were dishonored later.
Meanwhile, according to the order, SM Shipon delivered sand worth Tk 61 lakh.
Later, accused Shipon informed that the sand was ordered by Regent Chairman Shahed and the company’s MD Masud.
Read: HC rejects Shahed’s bail application
On February 14 the same year, Shipon took the plaintiff to Shahed and Masud for money when the accused threatened the plaintiff.
On the other hand, on July 6, 2020, Rab raided the Uttara and Mirpur branches of Regent Hospital. During the operation, fake Covid test reports, and various irregularities including collection of money from patients in the name of Covid treatment were unveiled.
The next day, a case was filed against 17 people at Uttara West Police Station. On July 15, from the border area of Satkhira, Regent Group and Regent Hospital Chairman Shahed was arrested by RAB. Shahed has been in jail since then. Last year, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment in an arms case.
Momen discusses ways to enhance cooperation with Maldives
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen had conversations with Maldivian Health Minister Ahmed Naseem over phone on Tuesday; and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation.
They also discussed cooperation between the two countries in the health sector, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
READ: Cambodian chairmanship of ASEAN to expedite Rohingya repatriation: FM
The two ministers lauded the recent “successful” State visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Maldives.
Dr Momen and Health Minister Naseem also exchanged New Year’s greetings during their conversations.
READ: Bangladesh to lobby, if required, anywhere in US: FM
Zia’s 86th birth anniversary Wednesday
BNP will celebrate the 86th birth anniversary of its founder Ziaur Rahman on Wednesday.
Born on January 19, 1936 at Bagbari in Bogura, Ziaur Rahman founded BNP in 1978 and became the country’s seventh president. Zia was assassinated by a group of army officers at Chattogram Circuit House on May 30, 1981.
Read: Zia's birth anniversary: BNP chalks out elaborate programmes
BNP and its front organisations have taken various programmes to mark the day with due respect.
As part of the programmes, BNP standing committee members together with party leaders and activists will place wreaths at Zia’s grave around 11am on Wednesday.
Besides, the party flag will be hoisted atop all BNP offices across the country at 6am.
The party will arrange a discussion at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh in the afternoon in memory of Zia.
Besides, Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) will arrange a free medical camp at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office the same day.
BNP will also arrange a free medical camp at the same venue on January 20.
The party has taken steps for publishing special articles in national newspapers on the occasion.
BNP’s associate bodies will also mark the day with various programmes, including discussions, a photo exhibition, and an essay competition as part of the birth anniversary programmes.
The party’s city, district and upazila units will also observe the day with different programmes.
Read: BNP to observe ‘Baksal Day’ on Jan 25
Meanwhile, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir issued a message on the occasion paying deep homage to Zia.
He recalled the BNP founder’s contributions to the country’s deployment and restoration of ‘multiparty democracy’.
Fakhrul also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul of Zia.
Graft case: HC rejects ex-MP Bodi's plea challenging indictment order
The High Court on Tuesday rejected an appeal of former Cox’s Bazar MP Abdur Rahman Bodi seeking the cancellation of indictment order in a graft case.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Judge Md Mostafizur Rahman rejected the petition saying the petition was not placed properly.
Read:Ex-MP Bodi indicted in corruption case
It also ordered quick disposal of the case in a magistrate court.
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the Anti-Corruption Corporation (ACC) while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik for the state and Advocate ARM Hasanuzzaman for the accused.
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan said Bodi had sought exemption from charge framing but the lower court rejected his appeal. The accused later filed a petition with the High Court.
On December 17, 2007, ACC filed the case against Bodi on charges of concealing information of assets worth Tk 57,11,500 and acquiring wealth illegally worth Tk 79,37,797.
Read: Ex-MP Bodi infected with coronavirus
In 2017, the proceedings of the case started after a long delay.
On September 13, 2020, a Chattogram court ordered charge framing against him in the case rejecting his plea for exemption. Bodi appealed to the High Court for the cancellation of the order.
80% Covid patients in Bangladesh of Delta variant: BSMMU survey
Eighty per cent of the total Covid-19 patients in the country were infected with Delta variant while 20 per cent with Omicron during December 8, 2021-January 8, 2022, says a study.
Supervisor of the Genome Sequencing Research Project Professor Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), on Tuesday revealed the findings of an ongoing survey at a press briefing.
The survey is being conducted by a BSMMU team, led by Dr Laila Anjuman Banu, a professor of Genetics and Molecular Biology and chair of the Department of Anatomy, collecting samples of patients across the country from June 29, 2021 to January 8, this year, he said.
“From the data found, we fear a multiplied surge in the number of Omicron cases in the country in the current month,“ said Dr Sharfuddin.
Nasopharyngeal samples of total 769 patients as representative samples from each division of the country were collected for genome sequencing during the period.
READ: Delta variant Covid patients account for 98% in Bangladesh: BSMMU
“Some of the Omicron infected patients received two doses of vaccines while a few of them re-infected for the third time with the Delta variant,” the professor added.
Hospitalised patients were not found infected with Omicorn and it might be due to mild symptoms of Omicorn infected patients, he said.
Dr Sharfuddin went on saying, “As patients with mild symptoms are less likely to get them tested for Covid-19, we think there are more Omicron patients in the country who have remained undetected till now.”
From July to December’s first week in 2021, 99.31 per cent patients tested positive with Delta variant while one each sample was of Alpha or UK variant, Beta or South African variant and 20 B variant, according to the genome sequencing data.
According to the survey findings, most of the patients were aged between 21 to 58 years, and children were also infected with Covid-19, revealing that they are not immune to Covid infections.
The mortality rate was found high among the Covid-19 patients with comorbidities like cancer, respiratory disease, heart disease and diabetes. Patients aged above 60 are more likely to die if contracted with the virus for the second time, the study shows.
READ: Omicron v. delta: Battle of coronavirus mutants is critical
The results revealed today were from the findings of six months and 15 days.
The ongoing research of the BSMMU team aims to create a Covid-19 genome database of Bangladesh, revealing its characteristics, mutation types and its interrelation with the global Covid-19 genome data.
Prof Sharfuddin Ahmed said they are hopeful of updating the results of the coming weeks soon.
Actress Shimu’s death: Husband, driver remanded
A Dhaka court on Tuesday placed the husband of actress Raima Islam Shimu and his driver on a 3-day remand each in a case filed after recovery of her body in a sack.
Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Court Judge Rabeya Begum passed the order after the investigating officer in the case Chunnu Mia, Officer-in-Charge of Keraniganj Model police station, produced the accused before court and sought a 10-day remand to interrogate them.
Earlier in the day, Shimu’s brother Harunur Rashid filed the case against her husband Shakhawat Ali Nobel and his driver SM Farhad along with some anonymous people at Keraniganj Model police station.
On Monday morning, spotted by some locals, the 35-year old actress’s body was found in a sack near a bridge in the Keraniganj upazila. She was identified through her finger print by Police Bureau of Investigation (PIB) later in the day.
Read: Hubby among 2 held for actress Shimu's death
Shimu’s body was kept at Mitford Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members detained Nobel and his driver Farhad from the hospital on Tuesday.
"The two were later handed over to the police. The duo broke down and confessed their crime during interrogation," said Ramzanul Haque, the officer-in-charge (investigation) of Keraniganj Model Police Station.
Shimu used to live at city’s Kalabagan area with her husband and two children. On Sunday morning she went out from the house and remained missing since.
A general diary was lodged at Kalabagan police station in this regard on Sunday night.
Shimu worked with many renowned film directors after making her debut in 1998.
Don’t abuse power while discharging duties, President Hamid asks DCs
President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday asked the deputy commissioners not to abuse power while discharging their responsibilities to the citizens.
"The exercise of power is essential for the proper and efficient discharge of responsibilities,” the president said addressing virtually the DC Conference at Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
“But it is even more important to ensure that power is not abused. So consciously maintain the difference of responsibility and power in the workplace," he told the top district-level officials.
Also read: Work rising above fear and greed: Hasina to DCs
President Hamid reminded the officials of the great leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the creation of independent Bangladesh.
"We should not forget that since the country became independent under the leadership of Bangabandhu, today I have become the president, you have become the secretary, divisional commissioner and deputy commissioner," he said.
Stating that getting services is the right of the people, he said you will have to perform duties as a servant of the people.
"Deliver government services to the doorstep of the people. It should be remembered that we run our family with peoples' money. So providing government services is not a matter of kindness or benevolence," he said.
Mentioning social security programmes as an effective medium for poverty alleviation and social justice, the president said the officials concerned must ensure benefits of the programme reach the real poor.
"You have to provide effective leadership to meet the basic needs of poor people of the country, social protection and public empowerment of people, especially women empowerment," he also said.
He said land records and survey management is being digitized to ensure the best use of land and land related services.
Also read: PM’s 24-point directive to DCs to improve public services
"But during the land record, a group of dishonest employee is doing many irregularities in collaboration with local influential brokerage and taking illegal facilities. It is increasing the public sufferings," he said.
He also asked the officials to be strict in these matters and take a strong step to stop any irregularities and ensure the punishment against the involved officers and employees.
Describing corruption as the biggest obstacle to the development, he said "Durable development is being interrupted due to corruption. The culture of transparency and accountability in each level of field administration must be developed."
Hamid said that the Deputy Commissioner Conference is an important forum for discussions about the activities taken up for people at the field level.
Cabinet Secretary Khandhakar Anawarul Islam delivered the welcome speech while deputy commissioner of Sunamganj Jahagir Hossain and divisional commissioner of Chattagram division Kamrul Hasan spoke at the session.
Classes to go online if Covid spreads to educational institutions: Minister
Education Minister Dipu Moni on Tuesday said classes will be held online if the Omicron variant spreads to educational institutions.
“The situation to shut all the educational institutions has not been created yet in the country,” she said while talking to reporters after attending the DCs’ Conference 2022 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
READ: Don’t pay heed to rumours over closure of educational institutions: Ministry
“Students will join online classes from home if Omicron spreads in educational institutions. Until then, there’s no plan to shut in-person classes,” Dipu Moni added.
She said some of the university students have contracted the Omicron variant of Covid-19 but they are staying isolated and no one of them is seriously ill.
The education minister said the information was confirmed by public university VCs during a meeting held on Tuesday.
She said now priority is being given to vaccinating students, aged between 12 to 17 years. “Until Monday, 86 lakh students have been brought under the Covid vaccination campaign”, she said.
Educational institutions are being monitored on a regular basis and a meeting will be arranged with the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Covid-19 on the overall situation in a day or two, said Dipu Moni.
READ: Decision on educational institutions after meeting with NTAC: Dipu Moni
After a long closure due to the pandemic, the students of schools and colleges in Bangladesh returned to their classrooms on September 12 last year.
The government shut the educational institutions on March 17, 2020, after the country reported its first Covid-19 cases on March 8 and later the closure was extended several times.
Cambodian chairmanship of ASEAN to expedite Rohingya repatriation: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said the Cambodian chairmanship of ASEAN provided a great opportunity for them to facilitate the speedy, safe and dignified return of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Dr Momen spoke to Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn on Tuesday and discussed the issues of mutual interests.
Read:Rohingya Crisis: Dhaka voices concerns over security implications in entire region
The Foreign Minister congratulated his Cambodian counterpart on Cambodia’s assumption of ASEAN Chairmanship and on the latter’s appointment as the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair to Myanmar.
Dr Momen also sought to sensitize his Cambodian counterpart of the potential security risks to Bangladesh, Myanmar and to the greater region if the crisis is left festering for a much longer period of time due to the vulnerability of the displaced people to radicalism, extremism, terrorism and cross-border crimes.
Referring to the longstanding and excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, Dr Momen mentioned that Bangladesh highly valued its relations with Cambodia as an important partner in the neighborhood.
AL govt did never engage lobbyist, no plan to do either: Shahriar
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam on Tuesday said the Awami League government did never engage any lobbyist in its last three tenures but engaged a company purely on media front in 2015 to help the world know Bangladesh based on facts and counter propaganda against the country and its people.
“We want to make it clear the Awami League government in its last three tenures didn’t engage any lobbyists. What we did is purely media-related print-media targeted,” said the State Minister.
He talked to a small group of reporters as some of the journalists approached him to know more about his statement he made in Parliament on Monday.
Also read: BNP spent a lot on lobbying by US firm: Shahriar
The State Minister said Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) spent at least US$ 3.75 million on lobbyists and shared relevant documents with the media which are also available in public domain.
Shahriar mentioned fact-based stories on women empowerment, climate change, poverty alleviation and Rohingya crisis that appeared in the international mainstream media in the last four-five years.
The State Minister said Bangladesh also countered with facts when there is any negative perception in the global media and when someone writes something negative about Bangladesh and its people deliberately.
“We engaged the PR company as in most cases rejoinders aren’t published with due importance which is a common practice at home and abroad,” he said, adding that it is not a lobbyist firm.
Shahriar said the government will do only those things which are “judiciously correct” and acceptable to the people of the country.
The State Minister said some media outlets, being operated from foreign lands, are acting as spokespersons of BNP-Jamaat, and they are pointing fingers against Bangladesh.
He said they have so far eight agreements in hand and at least three agreements show BNP’s central office address.
One of the agreements was signed with Blue Strategies, LLC in Washington for a period - September 2018 to May 2020, Shahriar said.
Also read: Bay of Bengal resources to be tapped in environment-friendly way: Shahriar Alam
He said they will forward these documents related to eight agreements to the Bangladesh Bank governor to check how BNP sent that huge amount of money abroad.
Shahriar also said they can share those documents with the Election Commission through relevant Bangladesh Missions abroad and also from here if they want as every year political parties show their incomes and expenditures.
Responding to a question, the State Minister said BNP and Jamaat are two sides of the same coin and mentioned that they found Jamaat’s names in the contents of four documents.
“I’m sure there are more beyond these agreements,” he said, suggesting journalists to do investigative journalism.
The State Minister said there is nothing wrong in engaging a lobbyist but it is not good to hide the fact and act against the interest of Bangladesh and its people.
Asked whether he sees it as a defeat of the government's diplomacy against lobbyists, he said, “We don’t see it as a defeat against lobbyists using dirty money against our diplomacy.”
Responding to a question on RAB, he said the government remains engaged with the US and there will be an exchange of high-level visits soon. “I don’t want to elaborate. We hope there’ll be a solution to the problem.”
He hoped that they would bring a positive outcome through engaging with the US directly without engaging any lobbyists. “We do believe it. We don’t have an immediate plan to appoint a lobbyist firm.”
Shahriar said they do not believe in pursuing political agenda using that route where cash is involved.