Bangladesh
BGMEA ties up with CNN to promote 'Made in Bangladesh'
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has entered a partnership with US-based CNN International Commercial (CNNIC) to promote "Made in Bangladesh" by showcasing the country's success and potential in the international arena.
Through this partnership, the apex trade body of Bangladesh's garments manufacturers will team up with CNN to sketch the stories of how the garment industry has been driving Bangladesh forward and contributing to building a more prosperous future it.
CNNIC will showcase the compelling stories of Bangladesh's apparel sector – namely, the strides the country has made in ensuring workplace safety, environmental sustainability and workers' wellbeing – said the BGMEA.
Read: Apparel industry carrying 'Made in Bangladesh' mark across the world: BGMEA
Steps taken by the industry to enhance competitiveness through innovation, diversification, technology upgrading, and upskilling will also be highlighted.
The apex trade body signed a memorandum of understanding with CNNIC's local representative Spellbound Communications Sunday.
Read: Apparel makers urged not to take export orders without justified rate
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan inked the agreement in the presence of Dr Md Jafar Uddin, chief executive officer of the Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI).
BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim, BFTI Director Md Obaidul Azam and Spellbound Communications Managing Director Mohammad Sadequl Arefeen were also present.
Environmental organizations protest dysfunction of rules to protect forest-wild animals
Environmental organizations have protested the dysfunctional role of the Forest Department to stop the killing of wild animals in Bangladesh.
Environment workers and their 33 organizations have submitted 8-point to the government for proper implementation of wild animals including elephants by the smuggling group.
They placed the demands from a sit-in program held in front of the Bon Bhaban (office of the Forest Department) at Agargaon in Dhaka on Sunday.
Read: Another Asian elephant found dead, this time in Chakaria reserved forest
A total of 33 environmental organizations took part in the protest program under the Bangladesh Nature Conservation Alliance (BNCA) platform.
The united platform launched the protest for failure of the authorities concerned as well as the Forest Department to stop deforestation and killing of wild animals.
Read: Elephant carcass found along Sherpur border
Prof Dr Kamruzzaman Majumder, convener of the BNCA and joint secretary of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan (BAPA), presided over the program.
Saudi keen to finance upgradation of Ctg-Cox’s Bazar, Jashore-Khulna highways
The Saudi government has expressed interest in financing a project of upgrading the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar and Jashore-Khulna highways into four lanes, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Sunday.
Quader informed this after a meeting with a delegation led by Saudi Minister for Transport and Logistic Services Eng Saleh Nasser Al-Jasser at the parliament's office room.
The minister further said that Al-Jasser expressed interest in financing the project of upgrading 150 km long highway from Chattogram to Cox's Bazar and 62 km long Jashore-Khulna highway into four lanes.
Read: Saudi entrepreneurs eye Bangladesh for investment, says its minister
The Saudi minister also expressed interest in investing in other potential areas of Bangladesh, Quader added.
Besides, Obaidul Quader also mentioned the importance of increasing Bangladesh's manpower export opportunities to Saudi Arabia and stressed the bilateral relations between the two countries.
BCL leader killed in Lakshmipur poll violence
A leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) was killed allegedly by the supporters of the independent candidate during UP poll in Lakshmipur’s Ramganj upazila on Sunday.
The deceased identified as Sazzadur Rahman Sajib was the president of Ichapur Union Chhatra League.
Read: 2 hacked dead, 10 hurt in Meherpur pre-polls violence
Police said a clash broke out between the supporters of Al-backed candidate and independent candidate at Nayanpur Primary School in Ichapur union around 5pm, leaving Sajib seriously injured after being hit on his head.
Later, he was sent to Chandpur Sadar Hospital where the doctor declared him dead on arrival.
Read: Jashore pre-polls violence: Injured man dies at DMCH
Lakshmipur SP AH Kamruzzaman said they are investigating the matter.
Meanwhile, the law forces detained 40 people with a number weapons from different places of the upazila.
25% price hikes of construction materials: FBCCI urges government to curb price
The Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) has urged the government to revise the price of construction materials in the official tender and procurement.
The traders hoped that the construction sector would turn around with the bunch back of Covid-19 pandemic hit the economy of the country, but sky rocked price of construction raw material fallen in hurdle the sector, said FBCCI leaders on Sunday.
In a meeting in the capital of FBCCI, the Standing Committee for Construction Sector came up with the demand to adjust the price variation clause in the government tenders.
READ: FBCCI seeks enhanced trade, investment ties with UK
The price of rods, stones, bricks, sand, Thai glass, aluminum products, SS pipes, indoor fittings and other construction materials have risen 20 to 25 percent in the last 4 to 5 months, they claimed.
The meeting urged that due to the recent price hike, it is not possible to complete the construction work as per the pre-agreed price.
In addition, the government's fiscal policy, including AIT and VAT, is often changed after tenders are submitted. In these cases, the members of the FBCCI's Standing Committee for Construction have suggested that there should be a price verification clause in government tenders.
READ: FBCCI keen to sign MoU with top Spanish trade body
Md. Jashim Uddin, President of FBCCI presided over the meeting held at FBCCI office. FBCCI Senior Vice President Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, Vice President Md. Aminul Hoque Shamim, Director Rejul Kariem Rejnu, and Director in Charge of the Standing Committee Engineer Ghulam Md. Alomgir, Chairman of the Committee Engineer Khan Md. Aftabuddin, Co-Chairmen Engineer S.M. Khorshed Alam also spoke in this regard.
Khaleda diagnosed with liver cirrhosis: Medical board
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, now undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital, was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, her medical board member Dr FM Siddique said on Sunday.
“We’ve already informed Madam’s close relatives that she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, and asked them to take steps to send her abroad as soon as possible,” he told a press conference at the BNP chief’s Gulshan residence.
The doctor said Khaleda’s condition is now stable but it can deteriorate anytime in the case of further bleeding from her liver.
“The bleeding has stopped now, but re-bleeding can start anytime. If it happens, her life will be at high risk,” he said.
He said they now feel very helpless over the current condition of Khaleda for lack of technology to treat her.
The physician said Khaleda needs to go to an advanced medical centre abroad urgently for her treatment by applying “TIPS’ technology.
Read: Khaleda free, not in govt custody: Law Minister
He also feared that a time may come when it will be difficult or impossible to shift Khaleda abroad.
Dr Siddique said Khaleda already bled thrice and the third time bleeding was severe, impairing her liver function. "In the last 24 hours, there was no bleeding. “There’s a 50 percent possibility of rebleeding in the next week while 70 percent within the next six weeks. This is obvious.”
"We don't have the supportive technology to control or stop it if Madame bleeds again, we're afraid. If she bleeds again, the risk of her death will increase a lot,” the physician said.
Kuwaiti court jails ex-Bangladeshi MP Papul for human trafficking
Kuwait’s top appeals court has sentenced an ex-Bangladeshi lawmaker Mohammed Shahid Islam Papul to seven years in prison in a high-profile human trafficking case, reports Gulf News.
The court fined the convict of KD2.7 million.
The Court of Cassation also ordered the defendant be deported after serving the sentence.
Read: HC rejects writ challenging gazette on Papul’s MP post
The court also handed down similar jail terms to Kuwaiti Undersecretary of the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry Maj. Gen. Mazen Al Jarrah and Hassan Al Khedr, a manpower director; and ordered their sacking from their government posts on charges of bribery in the same case.
Last February this year, a Kuwaiti criminal court sentenced Papul to four years in prison and ordered him to pay a fine of KD1.9 million.
He was charged with receiving money from dozens of workers in return for bringing them in from Bangladesh to Kuwait through a company he managed with illegal assistance from Kuwaiti officials charged in the case.
Read: MP Papul’s parliamentary seat declared vacant
He has reportedly amassed KD5 million worth of assets in the Gulf country.
The Kuwaiti public prosecution contested the rulings handed down to the prime defendant and convicted accomplices and demanded tougher penalties.
Man detained with Tk 5 crore worth Crystal Meth in Teknaf
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Saturday detained a drug trafficker with 1 kg crystal methamphetamine or Ice worth Tk 5 crore from Teknaf upazila in Cox’s Bazar.
The arrestee was identified as Md Rafiq Mia, 37, a resident of Noapara Jele Ghat village in Teknaf, said BGB-2 Teknaf battalion in a press release issued on Sunday.
Following a tip-off about a large shipment of crystal meth being trafficked from Myanmar through the south of the Jaliardwip area, a patrol team of BGB Teknaf battalion took position on Saturday night.
Also read: BGB seizes 1500 grams of crystal meth in Teknaf
Around 9:30 pm a hand-rowed boat crossed the zero line of the border from the Myanmar side and the BGB team immediately advanced towards them but most of the traffickers jumped off in the river and managed to flee, said BGB-2.
The patrol team gheraoed the boat and held Rafiq Mia with the crystal meth in a plastic bag, said the press release.
The procedure is on to hand over the detainee to Teknaf model police station, said BGB.
Also read: Woman arrested with crystal meth in Ctg
Tobacco industry’s interference continues: Study
The incessant interference from tobacco industry has put the public health of Bangladesh under a greater risk as the country's score in the 2021 Tobacco Industry Interference Index stands at 72 which was 68 last year, as per a study.
PROGGA, a research and advocacy organization conducted the study on ‘Tobacco Industry Interference Index: The FCTC Article 5.3 Implementation’.
The study report was revealed at an event jointly arranged by PROGGA and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) in the city’s CIRDAP Auditorium, said a press release.
Read: Speakers for amending Smoking and Tobacco Usage (Control) Act
As per the report, the implementation of World Health Organization (WHO)'s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and also the realization of Bangladesh's vision for becoming a tobacco-free country by 2040 are hindered due to aggressive activities of tobacco companies during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment, Forestry and Climate Changes Saber Hossain Chowdhury said tobacco claimed more lives than Covid-19.
“Tobacco is killing more people than COVID-19. Nonetheless, the government is yet to take effective tobacco control measures. The question arises whether the government bodies really hold the spirit of FCTC and the PM's vision of a tobacco-free country,” he said.
Convener of the National Anti-Tobacco Platform and also eminent economist Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said Bangladesh has made very poor performance in the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index.
“We also scored the poorest among our South Asian peers. Why did we perform so poorly?" he said.
To improve the situation, he demanded divestment of the government's share in BATB and reinstatement of 25% export duty on tobacco.
Read: Raise tobacco prices, taxes: Activists
Noted journalist Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul said the government bodies need to be sensitized for not receiving any aid from tobacco industry.
“Receiving donations from the tobacco industry is a clear violation of FCTC as well as in conflict with the declaration of the Prime Minister,” he said.
The study findings show that interference from tobacco companies has increased during January 2020-March 2021 and there has been no progress in the implementation of FCTC Article 5.3 Guidelines.
The tobacco industry's attempts were seen to interfere and exert influence in policy-making via diplomatic channels during the period , as per the report.
Barishal court summons Evaly CEO Rassel in 3 cases of cheque fraud
A Barishal court on Sunday issued summons to controversial e-commerce platform Evaly’s Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Rassel in three cases of cheque fraud.
Barishal Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate judge acknowledged the cases filed by three affected consumers of Evaly and summoned the accused, said the plaintiff’s lawyer Mostafizur Rahman.
Read:HC committee seals off 4 warehouses of Evaly
According to the case complaint, Barishal resident Niloy Sharif paid Tk 3.50 Lakh, Sadikur Rahman Suruj Tk 2.71 lakh and Md Ferdous Tk 1.74 lakhs to Evaly for purchasing motorcycles which they did not receive.
Later Evaly provided them cheques to return the amounts they paid but the cheques were returned by the bank authority.
The three victims sent a legal notice through the post office to return their money to which the company did not respond and later they filed three separate cases with the court of cheque dishonor under the Negotiable Instrument Act.
Read:Ministry working to refund Evaly customers’ money: Munshi
Evaly CEO Mohammad Rassel and his wife Shamima Nasrin, the chairman of the platform were arrested on September 16, after a customer named Arif Baker filed a case at Gulshan Police Station alleging that e-commerce platform was not delivering products despite taking advanced payments.