Jahangirnagar University, Oct 17 (UNB) – A faction of teachers and employees of Jahangirnagar University (JU) loyal to Vice-chancellor Prof Farzana Islam brought out a candle-lit procession on the campus on Thursday evening against injustice and in favour of development work.

The procession started around 6:30pm from the Shaheed Minar premises on the university campus. 

Prof AKM Shahnewaz of the Archeology department said he knows the vice-chancellor personally and the allegations brought against her are baseless. 

He also demanded that conspirators be identified and brought under justice.

Prof Ali Azam Talukder of Microbiology department said, “The gathering today proves that the allegations against the VC are false.”
 

Dhaka, Oct 17 (UNB) – Mentioning that a very favourable environment for investment is prevailing in the country, President Abdul Hamid on Thursday assured Saudi entrepreneurs of providing all necessary cooperation to execute their projects. 

He came up with the assurance when a Saudi business delegation made a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban in the evening and expressed their keen interest to invest US$3 billion in Bangladesh’s power and energy sector.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, President’s Press Secretary Joynal Abedin said Chairman of ACWA Power of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Abunyyan led the eight-member high-powered business delegation of two Saudi Arabian companies - AWCA and Aramco Trading.

During the meeting, they apprised the President that they will invest about US$3 billion to build an efficient and modern power plant and also solar system in Bangladesh.

Abunyyan hoped that this investment will encourage others to invest here in the future.

He said the Saudi Arabia always considers Bangladesh’s manpower as a key resource.

Welcoming the delegation, the President said Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh currently have excellent relations and Bangladesh evaluates the existing good ties with Saudi Arabia as a special one.

Mentioning the recent visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Saudi Arabia and the visit of Saudi High-powered delegation to Bangladesh, he said these visits helped strengthen bilateral relations and investment between the two countries.

Through the visits between the two countries, the bilateral relations will be expanded gradually and turned into a multilateral one in the days to come.

Other delegation members were VP of Aramco Trading M Abdul Salam Al-Hazmi, AWCA Power CEO Paddy Padmanathan and AWCA Power Chief Investment Officer Rajit Nanda.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Private Industry and Investment Advisor Salman F Rahman, Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chairman Sirajul Islam and Ambassador of Bangladesh to Saudi Arabia Golam Moshi, secretaries concerned to the President and Foreign Ministry senior officials were, among others, present at the meeting.

Dhaka, Oct 17 (UNB) - Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Thursday said its members were forced to fire back in self-defence after being attacked by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along the Rajshahi border on Thursday that led to the death of a BSF man.

In a press release, the BGB said the BSF members intruded into Bangladesh territory and tried to snatch an Indian fisherman detained while illegally fishing in the Padma River. 

“BSF members first opened fire while fleeing from Bangladesh territory towards India in the morning,” the release said.

The incident took place 650 yards inside Bangladesh territory in Shahariaghat Balughat of the river under Charghat upazila in Rajshahi district.

The press release, signed by Public Relations Officer of the BGB headquarters Md Shariful Islam, said three Indian fishermen were seen fishing in the Padma River in an engine-run boat 350 yards inside Bangladesh from the zero line under BGB Rajshahi Battalion Charghat Border Outpost (BOP) around 10:40am.

A patrol team of BOP along with Charghat Upazila Fisheries Department's Field Assistant Abu Raihan and two other assistants went to the spot as part of mother hilsa protection campaign. They detained one of the fishermen along with illegal current net while two others fled, the release added.

Later, four BSF members from Kagmari BOP under BSF 117 Battalion entered 650 yards inside Bangladesh territory through Shahariaghat Balughat in a speedboat. One of them was in uniform while three others were wearing half-pants and under-vests. They were also carrying firearms, the release said.

As the BSF men tried to flee along with the detained Indian fisherman forcibly, they were informed that he (fisherman) would be returned through a flag meeting, it said.

Besides, the BGB patrol team informed the BSF members that they (BSF men) would also be returned through the flag meeting as they trespassed into the Bangladesh territory.

At this stage, the BSF members got panicked and tried to flee along with the fisherman and but the BGB men obstructed them, the release said.

Being agitated, BSF members opened fire and started their speedboat towards the Indian territory, it said, adding that the BGB patrol team then fired for self-defence.

A flag meeting was held between the Commanding Officer of Rajshahi Battalion and the Commandant of BSF 117 Battalion in this regard. 

The flag meeting revealed that one BSF member was killed and another injured in the incident. 

At the meeting, both sides agreed to investigate the incident from their respective positions and take action accordingly. 

They also agreed to hold the flag meeting again for further discussions on this issue.

Dhaka, Oct 17 (UNB) - Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday expressed deep condolences and sympathies to Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf over the loss of lives and injuries in a bus accident near Madina.

Thirty-five foreigners were killed and four others injured when a bus collided with another heavy vehicle, according to international media.

Foreign Minister Momen, in a message to his Saudi counterpart, prayed for salvation of the departed souls. 

He also prayed that the families and near and dear ones of the victims may have enough fortitude to withstand the loss.  

The Foreign Minister wished speedy recovery of the injured.
 

Chattogram, Oct 17 (UNB) – The Chittagong Port Authority on Thursday signed a deal with US firm EagleRail Container Logistics to introduce EagleRail Overhead Conveyance System, a fully-automated technology to handle containers, at the port.

Chittagong Port Authority Chairman Rear Admiral Zulfiqur Aziz and CEO of EagleRail Container Logistics Mike Wychocki signed the deal on behalf of their respective sides at the Port Bhaban at noon.

Once the project is implemented, the container movement will be increased by 15 percent at the port, said insiders.

There will be no need for any vehicle if containers are transported from the hook point of a ship to the delivery point or from the receiving point to the hook point using the Eaglerail.

Over 5,000 vehicles, including trucks, covered vans and container movers, enter the port every day to transport cargos and containers, triggering traffic jam on the Airport Road and in different areas of the city and affecting the public life, said sources at the Chittagong Port.

Once the ‘EagleRail Overhead Convenience System’ is launched, it will reduce the traffic jam in the city and expedite the supply of goods.

Top officials of EagleRail Container Logistics visited the port twice before the signing of the agreement. They also conducted the feasibility study of the project. 

The US company has also supplied this technology to different ports in some developed countries.

The technology works like a cable car. A track is built on a steel frame 40 feet above the ground. While railway trains run above the track, containers hang below the track on Eaglerail. Containers will be released at designated destinations on Eaglerail like a cable car.

Initially, two tracks of Eaglerail will be installed from the NCT yard of the port to the overflow yard. It will be possible to move 300 TU containers per hour using the Eaglerail.

Scott Harper, Sania Irwin, Masud Jamil Khan and M Samayal Hassan were present at the deal signing ceremony on behalf of EagleRail Container Logistics.

Zafar Alam, member (admin and planning); Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury, director (administration); Aminul Islam, chief engineer (mechanical); Habibur Rahman, chief finance and accounts officer; Mahbub Morshed Chowdhury, head of planning; Enamul Karim, director (transport); Mirza Rakibul Islam, assistant chief engineer (mechanical); Habibullah Azim, plant manager; Goutam Baroi, authorised officer; and Azizul Mowla, deputy secretary (coordination); were present on behalf of the Chittagong port.