Bangladesh
France to donate 2mn doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Bangladesh: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said France declared 2 million doses Covid-19 for Bangladesh as donation.
The announcement came after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron and French Prime Minister Jean Castex, Dr Momen said.
Bangladesh will get around 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Saudi Arabia.
Also Read: Warm welcome to Hasina at French presidential palace
"Our Ambassador in Riyadh has informed me that 1499270 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine will come from the King Salman Relief Fund," he said in a message from Paris.
The vaccine doses will arrive in Dhaka over the next two to three days, Dr Momen said.
Meanwhile, he said, Poland will provide 3.3 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses free of cost to Bangladesh.
Also Read: Be humane in building livable society for differently-abled people: FM
These are expected to be shipped any day, Dr Momen said.
Poland donated these vaccine doses through the European Union (EU).
BCL activists get 2-months jail for misconduct with magistrate
A Sylhet magistrate on Tuesday sentenced two Bangladesh Chaatra League activists to two months in prison for misbehaving with him (the magistrate) during an anti-electric vehicle drive in the city.
The two accused were identified as Mazed Ahmed, 27, and Tarek Ahmed, 30, both members of the Sylhet district unit of BCL.
READ: Clash between BCL factions at CMCH; several injured, 16 sued
The incident occurred when executive magistrate of Sylhet City Corporation Md Motiur Rahman Khan, leading a mobile court, went to fine Mazed for wrongly parking his motorcycle at Ambor Khan point.
As the magistrate asked to see his driving license and other documents, Mazed said: "I have no documents, but I have links with the top people in the administration. I will see how you seize my bike."
He called out another BCL man, Tarek, to join him and then both of them allegedly misbehaved with the magistrate.
READ: Counter-FIR filed over BCL clash at Ctg medical college
At one point the magistrate too called on additional police forces and had them arrested.
"Tarek and Majed have been sentenced to two months in prison under section 186 of Penal Code," said Motiur Rahman.
Both of them were sent to jail around 3:30 pm.
Journalist leader picked up with 9 Jamaat women leaders in Feni
A leader of a faction of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) was held Tuesday as police raided a residence in Feni’s Sonagazi and picked up nine women leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islam Bangladesh.
BFUJ central committee president M Abdullah was visiting his sister’s house in Ward-3 of Sonagazi, at the same time as a clandestine meeting of Jamaat, the party without a registration, was being held on the property, according to police.
Abdullah’s sister is married to ex-Jamaat Ameer of the upazila, Kalimullah, who wasn’t home during the raid.
At around 8pm, police raided the house and broke up the allaged meeting, making 10 arrests. The arrestees included the nine leaders and activists of Jamaat, all women, and journalist leader Abdullah- although police say they are merely interrogating him.
READ: 4 Joypurhat Jamaat leaders held for allegedly planning vandalism
The Jamaat leaders are Mahila Jamaat secretary Shaheda Akter, Jahanara Begum, Lutfun Nahar, Amina Begum, Shahida Akhter, Shahnaz Akhter, Zakia Akhter, Rabia Akhter and Kusum Akhter.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Masukur Rahman of Sonagazi Circle confirmed the arrests, adding that jihadi literature and anti-government propaganda, a membership list and written action plans were also recovered during the raid.
A case was being prepared against them, the ASP said.
READ: Info Minister blames BNP Jamaat for recent anti-Hindu violence
M Abdullah, who already gave his identity as a journalist, is being interrogated. He would be shown arrested with the others if he fails to explain his presence at the house at that time satisfactorily.
M Abdullah said, “Police arrested me while I was visiting my sister's house. I have no idea who was in that house.”
Padma Bhushan for late Muazzem Ali, Padma Shris for three other Bangladeshis
President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Padma Awards, the highest civilian awards of the Indian state, for 2020 and 2021 through a Civil Investiture Ceremony held over two days Rashtrapati Bhavan this week.
Four Bangladeshis were recognized over the two days, with the 2020 awards ceremony that was precluded by the Covid-19 pandemic held together with 2021.
The Padma Shri Award was presented to Lt Col (Retd.) Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir for Public Affairs.
Colonel Sajjad was a freedom fighter recognized with the Bir Protik, a Swadhinata Padak winner, and independent researcher who has authored a number of books on the Bangladesh Liberation War.
He was a serving officer in the Pakistan Army, when he defected to join the call of Bangabandhu for an independent Bangladesh.
He has also played a pivotal role for the 'Friends of Bangladesh' award of the government of Bangladesh, which was constituted to recognize contributions of citizens of other countries, or foreigners, who played a significant role in the War of Liberation.
READ: Late Muazzem Ali awarded ‘Padma Bhushan’ by India
Eminent musicologist Sanjida Khatun received the Padma Shri Award for Art.
She was one of the principal founders of Bangladesh Mukti Sangrami Shilpi Sangstha during the Liberation War of 1971, as well as Chhayyanaut, devoted to Bengali culture, in the early 1960s.
Under her tutelage, Chhayanaut has risen to be recognized as an institute par excellence, promoting classical music and dance forms and earning global repute.
The Padma Bhushan, which is one level up from the Padma Shri and the third-highest civilian award conferred by India, went posthumously to the late diplomat Syed Muazzem Ali (Posthumous) for Public Affairs.
Ambassador Syed Muazzem Ali, a member of the distinguished Bangladesh Foreign Service, served as High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India from 2014-2019 and played a key role in bringing about greater political, economic, and security cooperation between the two countries.
He was closely associated with starting energy cooperation and land connectivity between Bangladesh and India.
Another Padma Shri was conferred on Prof Enamul Haque for Archeology.
He is the founding Director General of the National Museum of Bangladesh.
He is a distinguished archeologist and a highly respected cultural activist who dedicated his life to the field of archaeology and the associated development of the Museum.
Bangladeshi Afrin to meet 40 Nobel laureates in Chemistry
A graduate of Cumilla University’s Department of Chemistry has got the opportunity to meet 40 Nobel laureates in her field from around the world.Khandaker Afrina Haque, from Cumilla’s Chauddagram, was a student of just the third graduating batch of the department at CU, and is now doing an M.Phil at BUET.She will travel to Germany to attend the 71st Nobel Laureates Reunion at Lindau, where she will have the opportunity to meet some 40 Chemistry laureates, when they gather in the German tourist town from June 26 - July 1 next year.Afrina is one of just two Bangladeshis invited to join them by the Lindau Nobel Laureate Committee after various screenings under the auspices of the Bangladesh Academy of Sciences. "It's like a dream, I never thought I would get such a huge opportunity," the budding chemist gushed. Afrina attained the highest GPAs - 3.89 at Bachelor's and 3.92 at Master's - recorded till now in the Chemistry Department of Cumilla University, and she was research-oriented from the very beginning.
READ: 3 US-based economists receive economics Nobel Prize
She said, “From the very beginning, I was interested in studying and researching.”She is currently pursuing research at BUET under Al Naqib Chowdhury, who advised her to apply for this event.Afrina's teachers are also happy with her success. Cumilla University Department of Chemistry’s Prof. Syedur Rahman said Afrina was talented and hardworking from the beginning. "We are very proud. Such students are the assets of the department, the star of Cumilla University. We look forward to more of her success," Prof. Syedur said.
READ: Russian Nobel winner: Peace Prize is for my paper, not meThe Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings focus on Nobel Prizes in Physiology, Medicine, Physics and Chemistry. Each meeting is organized consisting of various sessions, lectures, discussions, master classes, panel discussions and exchange of knowledge, ideas and experiences of young researchers with Nobel laureates.
Quader warns stern action against charging higher transport fare
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader on Tuesday said strict legal action will be taken if bus operators are found forcing the passengers to pay higher fare than that has been re-fixed by the government. "I am urging the leaders of the owners and workers' federation not to collect more than the re-fixed rate and refrain from harassing the passengers. Otherwise, strict legal action will be taken against those responsible for it," he said.
READ: PM monitoring situation over fuel price hike: Quader
The minister said this call at a briefing at his Secretariat office amid allegations of charging higher bus fares by transport operators in breach of their commitment to the government. Quader also said that the government has re-fixed the fares of diesel-powered passenger transports only after a hike in the prices of diesel and kerosene.
READ: Quader blasts BNP for creating religious division in Bangladesh
He said that BRTA's mobile courts have been deployed in different parts of Dhaka metropolis to act against collection of extra fare. He called upon all concerned police and officials concerned to ensure that passengers are not harassed. Quader said that certain media outlets’ harsh criticism of the fuel hike has been unexpected, even though some others are playing a responsible role. Fuel price was routinely raised during the BNP's rule and the people did not forget it, he said. Obaidul Quader further said BNP increased the price even when it was low in the international market. The Awami League has increased prices 5 times in the last 13 years but has also reduced prices 5 times. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reduced the price of fuel oil in 2009 within seven days of taking office.
He claimed that the people of the country are moving forward.
Sunken ferry Amanat Shah salvaged after 14 days
Two weeks after its sinking the Ro Ro ferry Amanat Shah was salvaged from Padma River on Tuesday.
Joint director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority Fazlur Rahman supervising the salvage operation told UNB the ferry has been handed over to deputy director general of Bangladesh inland Water Transport Corporation, Zillur Rahman on Tuesday evening.
The ferry was salvaged by private company Genuine Enterprise appointed by the BIWTA.
Also read: Private company begins salvage work of sunken ferry Shah Amanat
Pontoon has been constructed at the Terminal 5 of Paturia, where the vessel sank, so it can operate again, said Fazlur Rahman.
The salvaged ferry is currently anchored near terminal 4 and on Wednesday it will be adjoined with the floating factory Madhumati of Terminal 5, he said.
Manager of Genuine Enterprize Ajay Debnath said, the ferry was salvaged with the help of five barge winch machines and it will be kept under observation for the next two days.
On October 27, MV Amanat Shah capsized near Paturia's fifth ferry terminal while preparing to dock. It was carrying 14 goods-laden trucks and four motorcycles at the time.
Also read: Paturia ferry accident: Salvage vessel ‘Rustom’ joins rescue operation on day 4
Rustom and Hamza two ships worked to rescue the vehicles that went down in the river along with the ferry.
Later a Tk 2 crore worth deal was signed with Chattogram-based Genuine Enterprise to salvage the ferry.
Bangladesh to get 5mn AstraZeneca jabs from Poland, KSA: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has said Bangladesh will soon get around 5 million of AstraZeneca vaccine doses from Poland and Saudi Arabia as gifts.
Bangladesh will get around 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from Saudi Arabia.
"Our Ambassador in Riyadh has informed me that 1499,270 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine will come from the King Salman Relief Fund," he said in a message from Paris, France on Tuesday.
READ: Bangladesh receives 10 lakh doses of AstraZeneca vaccine from India
The vaccine doses will arrive in Dhaka by the next two to three days, Dr Momen said.
Meanwhile, he said, Poland will provide 3.3 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses free of cost to Bangladesh. These are being shipped, Dr Momen said.
READ: One million AstraZeneca vaccine doses to reach Dhaka from India today
Poland donated these vaccine doses through the European Union (EU)
BGMEA shares RMG success stories at IAF meeting
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Faruque Hassan has shared "impressive stories" of Bangladesh's RMG industry while attending the Board meeting of the International Apparel Federation (IAF) held in Antwerp, Belgium.
He also took part in the General Assembly of IAF members.
BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali attended the General Assembly on invitation.
Faruque Hassan has been elected as a Board Member of the International Apparel Federation (IAF) at the General Assembly of IAF members this year.
He was the first from the BGMEA Board joining the IAF in 2013.
The BGMEA President gave closing remarks at the 36th IAF World Fashion Convention held in Antwerp, Belgium on November 8 where he apprised the audience of the current status of Bangladesh’s RMG industry and its impressive strides, especially in the areas of workplace safety, environmental sustainability and workers’ wellbeing.
He also invited all to the next IAF Fashion Convention which will be held in Dhaka, Bangladesh in November 2022.
BGMEA Vice President Miran Ali attended the opening keynote panel of the IAF Convention as a speaker and discussed responsible purchasing practices.
The outgoing IAF President Han Bekke handed over the IAF presidency to Cem Altan during the 36th IAF World Fashion Convention.
BGMEA Director Abdullah Hil Rakib also participated in the 36th IAF Convention.
IAF is the world’s leading federation for apparel manufacturers, their associations, and the supporting industry that represents the interests of apparel companies in different stages of the supply chain, including brands, retailers and manufacturers.
IAF’s membership includes apparel manufacturing associations as well as brands from more than 40 countries.
BGMEA has been a member of the International Apparel Federation since 2013.
The IAF provides its members with valuable information and guidance and it represents its members on several international platforms working incessantly on more industry standardization, harmonisation, industry collaboration and inclusiveness of global solutions.
Cabinet committee seeks Law Division’s opinion to retrieve e-commerce customers' money stuck in gateways
The cabinet committee formed over e-commerce issues by the Commerce Ministry has sought the opinion of the Law and Justice Division for retrieving Tk 214 crore stuck in the payment gateways and returning it to the customers.
Additional Secretary of the ministry and coordinator of the committee AHM Shafiquzzaman said this to journalists after attending the third meeting of the committee held at the secretariat on Tuesday.
AHM Shafiquzzaman said letters had already been sent to the Public Security Division and Crime Investigation Department (CID) of police for returning the amount stuck in escrow or the gateway.
Also read: 49 e-commerce platforms are blacklisted, refund of customers’ money in process: Commerce Ministry
In the meantime, the Cabinet Secretary held a meeting with CID, Bangladesh Bank and another involved to discuss the process of returning money, he said.
Following the meeting, legal opinion from the Law and Justice Division was sought as a huge amount is stuck due to pending cases.
Depending on the opinion, they might be able to return the amount which is out of legal issues, he said.
Also read: E-commerce firms must get registered within 2 months: Cabinet
Replying to a question the secretary said, “It is taking time to return the money because CID has freezed it.”