Bangladesh
Man's wife, daughter tortured in medieval style over land dispute
A Rangpur man's wife and their daughter were tied to a tree and tortured over a land dispute between two families in Onondi Dhoniram village in Parul union of Pirgacha upazila, Rangpur.
This extremely inhumane incident came to light over the weekend, after a video recording went viral on social media platforms on Friday. It then emerged that the incident itself had occurred two days earlier- Wednesday, January 12.
The victims are Golapi Begum, wife of Shajahan Mia of the village, and their daughter Rabeya Begum,
Shajahan Mia filed an FIR on Thursday accusing 17 people with Pirgacha Police Station over the incident.
According to the FIR, there was an existing land dispute between Shahjahan Mia’s family and their neighbour Ziaru Mia.
On Wednesday, Ziaru and his men went to the victims’ land and started cutting down the trees.
When the victim’s family tried to stop them, they were tied up to a tree and beaten up mercilessly.
Later, the Pirgacha police rescued the women after getting a call from 999 and took them to the Upazila Health Complex. The severely injured victims are currently undergoing treatment there.
Meanwhile, the family alleged that no action has been taken so far as the accused are influential.
"I have heard of mother and daughter being tied to a tree and tortured," was all that local Union Parishad member Abdul Khaleque would say. The victims, he added, have been advised to take legal action,
The matter is being investigated, said Abdus Shukur Mia, Inspector (Investigation) of Pirgachha Police Station.
Release Prof Tajmeri or face movement: Peshajibi Parishad
Bangladesh Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad on Saturday threatened to take to the streets if Professors Tajmeri SA Islam, adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, is not released in a week.
Shawkat Mahmud, a senior journalist and acting convener of the Peshajibi Parishad, an association of working professionals aligning with the BNP, issued the threat at a human chain programme.
"Professionals are now staying in jail. They can't express their opinions and exercise their human rights. They have been sent to jail on false charges. Tajmeri SA Islam was arrested for spreading fear,” he said.
Shawkat Mahmud said professionals will not back off from raising their voice against injustice and misdeeds of the government.
“We want to see in a week whether Tajmeri SA Islam has been released. If he is not released, then our movement will start on the streets and this movement will turn into an anti-autocratic one to ensure fall of the current regime.”
Read: AL conspiring to rig votes again, alleges BNP
Bangladesh Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding the release of it’s one of its members Tajmeri Islam, a retired Professor of Dhaka University who was arrested and sent to jail on Thursday last in a case filed in 2018.
Shawkat Mahmud, also a vice-chairman of BNP, said they will continue their movement without any compromise if their demand is not met.
He also warned the professionals not to be confused as he feared that the government will try to thwart their movement by creating divisions and misunderstandings among them.
The BNP leader called upon the professionals who want to ensure the fall of the Awami League government to take to the streets. “Or else you will be considered as collaborators (of govt).”
He alleged that the current ‘despotic’ government has started attacking university teachers and intellectuals before its looming fall and the final victory of people.
Read: Freedom fighters human chain demanding expulsion of Quader Mirza
Shawkat said the government is trying to cling to power by hiring lobbyists in different countries. “But it won’t work this time due to the way the international organisations and global community have been raising their voice against the government. They (govt) won’t be able to suppress the country's people the way they are awakening.”
Uttara police arrested Prof Tajmeri on Thursday, in a case filed over obstructing police from performing duties during an anti-government demonstration of the party in the capital's Uttara on September 23, 2018.
Later, she was sent to Kashimpur Central Jail as a court rejected her bail petition.
Prof Tajmeri, a former dean of science faculty, chairperson of Chemistry department and provost of Ruqayyah Hall of Dhaka University, was involved with White Panel, pro-BNP teachers' association of the University.
Bangladesh navigates Covid-19 relatively well: UN
Amid sound macroeconomic policies, Bangladesh has navigated the Covid-19 pandemic relatively well, says the United Nations (UN).
The country's total economic output is projected to expand by 6 percent in 2022, according to the UN's World Economic Situation and Prospects 2022, which was launched recently.
Bangladesh economic activities ride on export growth and the rising demand for apparel, robust remittance inflows, and accommodative fiscal and monetary policies, it said.
However, the outlook is more challenging for other countries in South Asia, including those more dependent on tourism.
In the Maldives, economic activity is gradually improving partly due to a solid rebound in international tourism. But renewed Covid-19 outbreaks, locally and abroad, could easily derail the recovery.
The country's gross domestic product (GDP) may remain well below pre-pandemic levels; the risk of debt distress could be high.
In Sri Lanka, GDP growth is projected at 2.6 percent in 2022. Its major challenges include food shortages, dwindling foreign reserves and sovereign debt risks.
Afghanistan's severe downturn has come amid drastic political changes, a decline in international aid and a lack of access to offshore assets.
The worsening situation is leading to extreme poverty and food insecurity with the risk of the entire country becoming a humanitarian catastrophe.
Govt school in Chandpur charging students Tk 50 per jab of vaccine!
Parents and students alleged the authority of Chhengarchar Government Model High School in North Matlab upazila of Chandpur of taking Tk 50 per Covid-19 vaccine jab to students.
When asked, Benzir Ahmed, headmaster of the only government school in the area, even accepted the allegation saying, “To meet the many expenses of conducting the vaccine campaign from our school as a center we are taking Tk 50 from the students per jab.”
Read: US donates additional 9.6 million Pfizer vaccine doses to Bangladesh
Parents claimed some students had to pay more than Tk 50.
There are 1,000 students currently enrolled in the school which indicates only from its own students the authority could collect Tk 50,000 in this regard.
The government directed to vaccinate the school students on an emergency basis by January 31 to ensure the quality of education and their attendance in the schools amid a surge in the Covid-19 cases.
Though the government is vaccinating the students free of cost, collecting money by the Chhengarchar Government Model High School authority has agitated the parents and concerned locals.
Read: Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 3,447 fresh cases with 7 more deaths
However, Abdul Kayum Khan, Upazila Secondary Education officer told UNB he didn’t receive any complaint in this regard and will take actions after an inquiry.
Meanwhile, Md Gias Uddin patwari, District Secondary Education officer also said he had no such information and will take administrative measures if it's true.
President's address to kick off first session of 2022 in JS
President Abdul Hamid on Sunday will address the 16th session of the 11th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) in the afternoon.
President's press secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB that the President is expected to begin his speech at 4pm.
The president has to address the first parliament session of every year, according to Article 73(2) of the Constitution.
Read: JS goes into session Sunday
The President's speech has also already been approved in the cabinet.
The session will start after the president’s speech while it will be the maiden session of 2022.
Earlier, the President convened the first parliament session of 2022 exercising the power bestowed upon him as per the Article 72 (1) of the Constitution.
The 15th session of parliament ended on November 28. According to the constitution, there cannot be more than 60 days between two sessions.
All eyes on Narayanganj, gearing up for Sunday’s city polls
After an 18-day high voltage campaigning Narayanganj City Corporation is all set to go to polls on Sunday with focus on who will be the next mayor.
The electioneering officially ended on Friday midnight.
Although seven candidates are running for the post of the NCC mayor, ruling party nominee Selina Hayat Ivy and her principal rival – Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker, a veteran BNP leader fighting as an independent candidate – have stolen all the attention.
Election watchers are expecting a tight contest between them. Supporters of both candidates have conducted hectic electioneering.
Also read: NCC poll: Electioneering ends with exchange of blows, allegations
Besides 148 candidates are contesting for 27 ward councilors post while 38 women are contesting for conserved seats for women in the NCC polls.
This time the NCC elections have 517,357 voters – including 257,519 females. As the candidates are trying to woo voters with promises, all the voters want is the development of their city.
The candidates' qualifications, popularity, party symbol, gender, age, electronic voting machines (EVMs), and turnout could be the deciding factors this year. Women and youth are expected to play a pivotal role. All the heavyweight mayoral candidates are making last-minute efforts to win their votes.
However, there are some 42,418 first-time voters. Whoever wants to win the election must bag a major chunk of the first-timers, according to popular perceptions.
Youth’s body recovered in Dinajpur
The body of an unidentified youth was recovered from Dalia canal at Jotraghu village in Dinajpur district on Saturday, said police.
Local people spotted the body floating in the canal and informed police who recovered it at noon, said Subrata Kumar Sarkar, Officer-in-charge of Chiribandar police station.
Also read: Ex-DU professor’s body recovered in Gazipur, suspected killer arrested
The youth’s body bore some injury marks and it will be sent for an autopsy on Sunday, he said.
Meanwhile, three suspects were detained from Balapara village in Syedpur upazila later in the day, said OC Subrata Kumar.
Also read: Woman's decomposed body found in Jashore school's septic tank
20th DIFF begins showcasing creations of best contemporary filmmakers
The 20th edition of the Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF), one of the most prestigious film events in Bangladesh, officially began in the city Saturday to showcase the creations of some of the best contemporary filmmakers – 225 films from 70 countries.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen inaugurated the nine-day festival as the chief guest while the event was chaired by State Minister for Foreign Affairs and chief patron of the festival Md Shahriar Alam.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Vikram Kumar Doraiswami and festival director Ahmed Muztaba Zamal also spoke.
Also raed: Doraiswami hopeful of commercial screening of Indian films in Bangladesh
Dr Momen said the DIFF has created space for young and aspiring filmmakers in Bangladesh and beyond to connect with global artistic trends – contributing immensely to shaping an increasingly healthy and positive national film culture.
BGB seizes Yaba worth Tk 6 crore from Cox’s Bazar
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recovered two lakh pieces of Burmese Yaba worth Tk 6 crores during a drive at Ukhiya Upazila in Cox’s Bazar, said a BGB media release on Saturday.
The illegal drug was being smuggled to Bangladesh from Myanmar through Balukhal Katapahar area on Thursday, added the release.
Read: Follow the chain of command, PM tells BGB personnel
Tipped off, a patrol team of BGB-34 under Balukhali BOP, conducted a drive in the area around 12:30am and challenged 4-5 people.
Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the suspected smugglers abandoned a sack and fled into the deep jungle.
Read: BGB seized smuggled goods, drugs worth over Tk1073 crore in 2021
Later, the patrol team recovered the Yaba pills from the sack they left at the spot.
Legal steps are being taken in this regard, said the release.
Killing of ex-DU teacher: Arrested mason remanded
A Gazipur court placed mason Anwarul Islam on a three-day remand on Saturday in a case over the killing of former professor of Dhaka University Saida Gaffar.
Gazipur Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court-2 Judge Mehedi Pavel Sweet passed the order after police produced the arrestee before it and sought a 10-day remand to interrogate him,said Dipankar Roy, sub-inspector of Kashimpur police station.
Saida Gaffar, a former Professor of Institute of Nutrition and Food Science of the university, was found dead at Kashimpur in Gazipur on Friday, two days after she had gone missing.
Also read: Killing of ex-DU teacher: Arrested mason remanded
The professor was buried on Friday night at Mirpur Martyred Intellectuals Graveyard, said her family.