Bangladesh
2 kids to stay with Japanese mother till Feb 6: SC
The Appellate Division on Monday ordered that the two children of Bangladesh-born US citizen Imran Sharif and Japanese mother Nakano Erico will stay with their mother till February 6.
A five-member full bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Justice Md Nuruzzaman passed the order following a petition.
The two girls will remain at a hotel in Baridhara and their father, Imran Sharif, can visit his daughters between 9am and 9pm every day during this period.
The court also fixed February 6 for the next hearing.
Barrister Ajmalul Hossain and Advocate Ahsanul Karim stood for Erico while Advocate Fida M Kamal and Advocate Fouzia Karim for Imran.
On January 3, the Appellate Division ruled that the two children of Imran and Erico will stay with their mother till January 23.
READ: SC: 2 Japan-born girls to stay with Japanese mother for 2 days
On November 21,2021 the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman ruled that the Japan-born daughters of Imran and Erico will stay with their father.
However, the mother can exclusively meet the daughters, aged 11 and 10, three times a year for 10 days at a time and Imran, the father, will bear her travel and accommodation expenses, said the court.
If Erico wants to meet her children beyond the court-prescribed time she has to do it at her own expenses, the court said.
Imran was also instructed to allow the children to talk to their mother on video calls twice a month on holidays.
Following a writ petition, the High Court also ordered Imran to give Tk 10 lakh to Erico for the expenses she incurred to travel to Dhaka and stay here for seven days.
The concerned social service officer was directed to continue monitoring the development regarding the children and submit a report to the Registrar of the High Court on the issue of children every three months.
However, the high court rejected the writ petition filed by Imran seeking order to produce their third and youngest daughter, who is in Japan.
On December 5, Erico filed a petition with the Appellate Division challenging the High Court order.
After 12 years of marriage, on January 18, Erico, a physician, appealed for divorce from Engineer Imran Sharif over marital dispute.
On January 28, 2021 she also filed a case with a Tokyo family court for custody of their three children.
READ: HC allows two girls to stay with Bangladeshi father in custodial battle with Japanese mother
But on February 21, Imran returned to Bangladesh with the first two girls from Japan. After that a Japanese court passed a verdict giving the children under their mother’s custody.
On August 19, Erico filed a writ petition before the High Court here seeking custody of the two girls.
15 robbers held for abducting 17 fishermen in Chattogram
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members detained 15 robbers from Banshkhali upazila in Chattogram and Pekua Kutubdia of Cox's Bazar for abducting 17 fishermen.
During the drives conducted on Friday and Saturday, chief of the robber gang Nurul Kabir, its second-in-command Md. Mamun were detained.
Other detained gang members are Nurul Afsar, Nurul Quader, Hasan, Abdul Hamid, Abu Bakkar, Md. Yusuf, Gias Uddin, Safiul Alam Manik, Abdul Khaleq, Rubel Uddin, Saiful Islam Jiku, Md. Sultan and Manzur Alam.
READ: 6 robbers held in Cox’s Bazar
Two pistols, six one-shooter guns, four cartridges, five swords, one knife, one machete and two locally made sharp weapons were seized from them.
RAB-7 Commander Lieutenant Colonel MA Yusuf said on Saturday evening said that the gang known as Kabir bahini used to physically torture fishermen and extort money from them.
On January 14, the gang kidnapped 17 fishermen and demanded Tk 10 lakh as ransom from the boat owner.
READ: 3 “robbers” killed in lynch-mob attack in Narayanganj
After the owner managed to give them Tk 2 lakh, they snatched 2,000 pieces of hilsa from the fishermen.
The gang released the fishermen when they came to know about the RAB drives, he said.
Trade Organisation Bill placed in JS
The Trade Organisation Bill, 2022 was placed in Parliament on Sunday, aiming to allow the foreign traders to form joint-trade bodies in Bangladesh.
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi placed Bill and it was sent to the scrutiny committee for further examination. The committee was asked to submit its report within 30 days.
This will replace the Trade Organisations Ordinance, 1961.
The draft law stated that some legal bases have been laid down for the women entrepreneurs in trade organisations through licensing.
READ: Cabinet approves President’s draft speech to be delivered in Parliament
A provision has been made for a joint chamber of commerce and industry (between countries) and a chamber of commerce and industry alliance.
The foreign traders will be able to form a joint chamber.
READ: President to deliver speech in Parliament on Nov 24
Much-hyped EC formation Bill placed in parliament
The much-talked-about Bill, “Appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners Bill-2022”, was placed in parliament on Sunday as the government wants to have a law in this regard as per the Constitution.
Law Minister Anisul Haq placed draft law and it was sent to the scrutiny committee for further examination. The committee was asked to submit its report within 7 days.
As per the proposed law, a search committee will be formed taking approval from the President over the constitution of the Election Commission.
The search committee will recommend the names of suitable candidates before the President to appoint the CEC and other election commissioners,” the Bill says.
The move came just one month before the expiry of five-year tenure of incumbent Election Commission, led by CEC KM Nurul Huda, as it is going to complete its five-year term in mid-February.
READ: Much-hyped EC formation Bill set to be placed in parliament Sunday
Qualifications
Qualifications of CEC and election commissioners are: they must be Bangladeshi citizens with minimum 50 years of age, and have at least 20 years of work experience in important government, semi-government, private or judicial posts.
If a person is declared ‘insane’ by any court; has not been released from the jail after being declared as ‘bankruptcy’; acquires the citizenship of or affirms the allegiance to, a foreign country surrendering Bangladeshi citizenship; has been convicted for a criminal offence involving moral turpitude and sentenced to at least two-year imprisonment; convicted by international crime tribunal; and is disqualified for such posts by or under any law, he or she would not be eligible for the post of CEC and election commissioners.
Ineligibilities
A person once held the post of CEC or the Chief Justice, he or she would not be eligible for the post of the CEC. But if a person held the post of election commissioner, he or she might be considered for appointment to the CEC.
READ: Bangladesh’s Golden Jubilee of Independence: PM seeks general discussion in Parliament
In order to give legal protection to the constitution of previous election commissions, it would be considered that these were made under this law, he said.
A justice of the Appellate Division, nominated by the Chief Justice, will be the head of the six-member search committee.
The five other members will be a justice of the High Court Division nominated by the Chief Justice, the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Chairman of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission, two other personalities nominated by the President.
Though the Constitution suggests the appointment of the CEC and other election commissioners under a law, the law was not formulated in the past.
The Article 118 (1) of the Constitution states, “There shall be an Election Commission for Bangladesh consisting of 1[the Chief Election Commissioner and not more than four Election Commissioners] and the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (if any) shall, subject to the provisions of any law made in that behalf, be made by the President.”
What done in the past
In the past, the President appointed the CEC and commissioners in absence of the law.
The last two election commissions, headed by Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed and KM Nurul Huda, were constituted through search committees formed by the President following his dialogues with political parties.
The President picked the CEC and four election commissioners in 2012 and 2017 from the names suggested by the search committee.
This time, President Abdul Hamid also started a dialogue with registered political parties on December 20 last to discuss the issues related to the constitution of the Election Commission ahead of the 12th general election to be held at the end of 2023 or the early 2024.
According to Article 118 (1) of the Constitution, the Bill will be brought to give a legal shield to the appointments of the CEC and elections commissioners to form the EC.
The tenure of the incumbent KM Nurul Huda-led election commission will expire on February 14.
The cabinet approved the draft of appointing CEC and other election commissioners on January 17—the day the ruling Awami League led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held dialogue with President Abdul Hamid at the Bangabhaban on formation of the next EC.
SUST stalemate: Students’ virtual meeting with minister brings no solution yet
Although there was an hour-long virtual meeting between Education Minister Dipu Moni and protesting students of SUST early Sunday, no solution is in sight yet to break the long standoff on the campus.
After the meeting, the students who are on a hunger strike since Wednesday demanding resignation of Vice Chancellor Fariduddin Ahmed remained stuck to their previous decision not to break the fast until he steps down, representatives of the dissenting students told UNB.
They claimed that no discussion was held at the meeting over the VC’s removal or sending him on leave.
The students said they want to continue the discussion but they will not break the fast. They will brief reporters this afternoon, if everything goes well, they added.
Dipu Moni suggested the students submit their demands in a written form and then she will go for the next step.
READ: SUST unrest: Resolution a Zoom call away?
The virtual meeting was held in presence of a delegation from Awami League, led by its central organising secretary Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel.
Briefing reporters at 2:30 am after the meeting, Shafiul Alam said 23 of the students have already fallen sick and the number will rise further if they continue it.
The minister assured the students of resolving the crisis and requested them to end the hunger strike as she is ready to hear their problems, Alam said.
Shahriar Abedin, Apurbo, Mir Rana, Sabbir, Umar Faruk, Yasir Sarkar, among others, joined the meeting on behalf of the students.
On Saturday, the minister held a meeting with a delegation of teachers from SUST at her residence at 6:05pm when she urged the dissenting students to sit with her for talks to resolve the current standoff.
Earlier in the day, the students brought out a symbolic coffin procession on the campus. Around 8pm, they lit candles at Golchattar as part of their protests.
Meanwhile, 17 of the 24 students – already on hunger strike since Wednesday afternoon – were hospitalised.
READ: 17 students still at hospitals as SUST unrest continues
On Friday, Education Minister Dipu Moni talked to the students and said she wants a solution to the crisis as soon as possible.
On Monday, the students wrote an open letter to President Abdul Hamid, chancellor of the university, demanding the immediate removal of VC Farid Uddin Ahmed.
The students also turned down the notice of shutting down the university for an indefinite period and the directive to leave their dormitories.
Currently, the students are staying on the campus.
SUST was supposed to shut down following a clash on the campus between police and the protesting students on January 16. The students were asked to leave the dormitories by 12pm the next day.
Dhaka again ranks world’s most polluted city
The densely populated capital of Bangladesh has once again topped the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
On Sunday, Dhaka’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 254 at 10.36 am, and it was classified as 'poor' or 'very unhealthy'.
China’s Shenyang and India’s Kolkata occupied the next two spots, with AQI scores of 197 and 188 respectively.
An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
READ: Experts lament lack of steps to check air pollution in Dhaka city
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy during winter and improves during monsoon.
A report by the Department of Environment (DoE) and the World Bank in March 2019 pointed out that the three main sources of air pollution in Dhaka "are brick kilns, fumes from vehicles and dust from construction sites".
With the advent of winter, the city’s air quality starts deteriorating sharply due to the massive discharge of pollutant particles from construction work, rundown roads, brick kilns and other sources.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
READ: Experts seek winter plan to fight Dhaka’s air pollution
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Uphold democracy, discharge duties with professionalism: PM to police
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday asked police personnel to discharge their duties with utmost professionalism and uphold democracy in the country apart from maintaining peace and stability.
“I believe every police personnel will perform his or her duties with professionalism to maintain peace and stability in the country and uphold democracy through pro-people policing,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina said this while inaugurating the Police Week 2022 -- from January 23 to 27 -- with the theme ‘Skilled Police, Prosperous Country, Bangabandhu’s Bangladesh’.
The programme was held at Rajarbagh Police Lines in the capital while the Prime Minister joined it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
Hasina said the long 24 years of struggle of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the win in the Liberation War in 1971 has brought this independence for the country. “You’ve to protect the country's independence from all kinds of blows as it came in lieu of your predecessors’ blood,” she said.
READ: Give highest importance to human rights, rule of law: PM to police
On behalf of the Prime Minister, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal inspected the parade and took the salute. He also distributed Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) and President Police Medal (PPM) awards among the winners on behalf of the Prime Minister.
This year, as per the Public Security Division’s Police Wing-2 of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ notification, Bangladesh Police Medal (BPM) and President Police Medal (PPM) awards were given for outstanding work in 2020 and 2021. Around 115 police officials got awards for each year.
Fifteen of them will receive the BPM-gallantry and 25 the PPM-gallantry awards for their courageous and heroic activities for 2020.
Besides, 25 personnel will get the BPM-Service and 50 the PPM-Service awards for their outstanding performances in unearthing mystery of important cases and controlling crimes and for commendable contributions with skills, piety, integrity and disciplinary behaviour.
In 2021, another 115 members of the police and RAB got the prestigious BPMs and PPMs for their outstanding performances in 2021.
Of the awardees, 15 will receive the BPM-gallantry, 25 the PPM-gallantry, 25 the BPM-Service and 50 the PPM-Service awards.
The last police week was held in 2019. The Police Week did not take place in the past two years due to Covid-19 pandemic. So, medals for both the years were given together.
READ: Maintain peace for development: PM to police
Hasina said the government is providing all the required modern facilities and transports like helicopters alongside modern training to render quick services to people.
Describing various measures taken by the Awami League government for the overall development, she said they have raised facilities regarding housing, ration, healthcare, providing training and supplying necessary vehicles and other equipment.
Returning to power in 2009, she said the government has created 82,583 new posts in the police force alongside forming special police units like tourist police, industrial police, the Police Bureau of Investigation, anti-terrorism, counterterrorism and transnational crime.
The Prime Minister said the government has also established Rangpur and Mymensingh ranges, one armed police battalion at airport and two armed police battalions in Cox’s Bazar, three battalions for RAB, 30-inservice training centres, 62 police stations, 95 investigation centres, one police outpost and 999-unit after forming government in 2009.
She said the Awami League government has reintroduced a rank badge for the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and created two posts for grade-1 and 11 for grade-2, 52 DIG, 159 additional DIG, 402 police supers and 800 for additional police supers.
Hasina said the government has promoted 215 additional police supers to police supers, 253 senior assistant police supers to additional SPs and made the posts of sub inspectors and sergeants to second grade from third grade while the posts of inspectors were made first class from second class.
The Prime Minister thanked police personnel for their successes in controlling the BNP-Jamaat-sponsored violence, sabotage and arson attacks to kill innocent people and destroy the state property recalling deaths of police personnel in the attacks.
She said the police force responded quickly to the people’s calls through 999 service that created confidence and belief in the police force as they are working accordingly.
Referring to the influx of Myanmar nationals into Bangladesh, she said the Bangladesh Police is playing a praiseworthy role in providing shelters and security to the huge number of displaced Myanmar citizens.
The Prime Minister reiterated her commitment to transform Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country as envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman maintaining the status of a developing nation, calling upon the police to continue their efforts to materialise the Vision-2041.
Global Covid cases surpass 348 million
Amid the rising Omicron cases across the world, the overall number of Covid cases has surpassed 348 million.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 348,592,351 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,590,277 Sunday morning.
The US has recorded 70,464,222 cases so far and 865,310 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 38,903,731 Saturday as 337,704 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, as per the federal health ministry data.
Friday was the second consecutive day when over 300,000 daily cases were registered in more than eight months.
READ: Global Covid cases top 340 million
Besides, 488 deaths due to the pandemic since Friday morning took the total death toll to 488,884.
Brazil, which has been experiencing a new wave of cases since last January, registered 23,931,609 cases as of Saturday, while its Covid death toll rose to 623,191
Covid situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh logged 17 more Covid-linked deaths with 9,614 fresh cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning with a slight decline in the infection rate.
The daily positivity rate declined to 28.02 per cent from Friday’s 28.49 per cent after testing 34,311 samples, according to the Directorate general of health Services (DGHS).
The country last logged 17 deaths on October 13 last with 513 cases.
Bangladesh reported 1,434 fresh cases with 12 deaths on Friday.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,209 while the caseload mounted to 1,674,230 on Saturday.
Among the new deceased, 11 were men and six women.
Eleven cases were reported in Dhaka division while two each in Chattogram, Khulna, one each in Barishal and Mymensingh divisions.
READ: Global Covid cases top 337 million
Meanwhile, the mortality rate further declined to 1.68 per cent.
New Restrictions
All schools, colleges and universities in the country will remain closed from January 21 to February 6 in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic, the government announced on Friday.
The Cabinet Division issued a notification in this regard, imposing restrictions on the overall activities and movement of people in the country amid a worrying spike in Covid cases.
The notification asked all to wear masks and maintain health rules at public places like markets, shopping malls, mosques, bus stands, launch terminals, railway stations. Local authorities have been instructed to monitor and ensure compliance.
Minor girl burned to the bone in Vatara fire
A minor girl diagnosed with Asperger's was burned to death on Saturday night, as a fire broke out in a shanty at Vatara.
The deceased was identified as Rabeya Akter Meem, 12, daughter of Abdul Mannan from Kashba in Brahmanbaria.
Deputy assistant director (media cell) of the Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters Shahjahan Sikder said the fire broke out around 8:15pm and engulfed the shanty.
On information, two fire fighting units rushed to the spot and doused the fire after an hour, he added.
They recovered the charred body of Rabeya from the spot and handed it over to police.
However, the reason behind the fire is yet to be known.
SUST unrest: Resolution a Zoom call away?
There is some guarded hope for a resolution to the crisis at the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), after agitating students seemed prepared to sit for discussions with Education Minister Dipu Moni over an online platform like Zoom. This was after the education minister urged the protesting students once again to sit with her for talks to resolve the current standoff, moving away from their hunger strike.
“Students can hold a discussion with us even during the hunger strike if they wish as it is the only way to reach a solution,” the minister said after holding a meeting with a delegation of teachers from SUST at her residence at 6:05pm.
She went on saying, “Due to some family obligations, I’m unable to go to Sylhet at the moment but the door is always open for the students for discussions. A delegation team from the ministry will go to SUST if they want.”
She also said the police action on the students was really unfortunate. “We never expect this type of incident”.
Later, in response to the minister’s call, the students said they want to sit for discussions with her on an online platform. “If she can’t come to Sylhet, we’re ready to have discussions.”
Earlier in the day, the students brought out a symbolic coffin procession on the campus. Around 8pm, they lit candles at Golchattar as part of their protests.
Meanwhile, 17 of the 24 students – already on hunger strike since Wednesday afternoon – were hospitalised.
On Friday, Education Minister Dipu Moni talked to the students and said she wanted a solution to the crisis as soon as possible.
On Monday, the students wrote an open letter to President Abdul Hamid, chancellor of the university, demanding the immediate removal of VC Farid Uddin Ahmed.
The students also turned down the notice of shutting down the university for an indefinite period and the directive to leave their dormitories.
Currently, the students are staying on the campus.
SUST was supposed to shut down following a clash on the campus between police and the protesting students on January 16. The students were asked to leave the dormitories by 12pm the next day.