Bangladesh
Padma boat tragedy: Death toll rises to 5, 3 remain missing
The death toll from last week’s tragic boat accident in the Padma river rose to five with the recovery of another child’s body on Monday.
Three people still remain missing, said the officials.
The body of missing Brishti Khatun,8, daughter of Harunur Rashid of of Bish Rossia village in Panka union of Shibganj upazila was recovered from barrier dam-8 area of the river.
Officer-in-Charge of Shibganj police station, Asaduzzaman said family members of the child spotted the body in the morning and recovered it from the river.
Also read: Padma boat tragedy: Death toll rises to 4
The body was buried without an autopsy according to the family’s request, he said.
The tragedy occurred on September 29, afternoon when the boat carrying 47 people sank in the Padma river off the coast of Laxmipur in Shibganj.
The other five deceased were identified as Nilufar Begum, 62, wife of Khairul Islam of Bish Rossia village in Panka union of Shibganj upazila, and her grandchildren Maisha, 5, and Asmaul 7, children of Babu Ali, and Daisy Begum,35, wife of Harunur Rashid, Bish Rossia village.
Also read: 2 dead, 7 missing in Sirajganj boat accident
Shibganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shakib Al Rabbi said the boat carrying around 50 people capsized in the river around 2.15 pm owing to strong winds.
The boat was heading towards Bishrashia from Boglauri of Shibganj upazila.
Photos of teacher with student’s baby on lap at classroom go viral, sparks online debate
Some exceptional photos of a school teacher teaching in a classroom with a baby on his lap have recently gone viral on social media and sparked debate.
The incident took place at the Chinair Anjuman Ara High School in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila where English teacher Pankaj Madhu was seen taking lessons holding a five-month old child of a student on his lap.
Talking to the UNB correspondent, teacher Pankaj said a class IX student of the school was married off during the closure of the educational institutions due to the Covid pandemic.
Also read: Viral: Woman tortured for failing to pay interest on loan
“When the school reopened after the long closure we noticed the girl was absent. Later, we took initiative to bring back the dropped out student to school,” said Pankaj.
“We came to know that the student was married off and gave birth to a child when we went to visit her house and requested her family to send her back to school,” he said.
On Sunday, the girl came to her school with her child.
“As the school girl was facing problem to attend the class, I took the baby on my lap and started teaching. I had no intention to make the photos viral,” said the teacher.
Many people on social media appreciated the teacher for helping the student by holding her child while some expressed concerned over the baby’s health and hygiene issue.
Many raised questions blaming the mother for taking her child to classroom.
Contacted, headmaster of the school Mosharref Hossain refused to make any comment over the issue.
Also read: Audio clip of Kurigram DC, journo Ariful goes viral
Upazila Education officer Jiban Bhattachariya said the student should not take the child to school as the government did not make school attendance compulsory.
Jatiya Press Club gears up to celebrate anniversary
The Jatiya Press Club (JPC), passionately called as the ‘Second Home’ by its members, has taken up various programmes to celebrate its 67th founding anniversary after a hiatus of one year due to the pandemic.
JPC acting general secretary Mainul Alam unveiled the two-week programme at a views-exchange meeting with journalists at an auditorium of the club on Monday.
He said the programmes will begin on October 6 with a meeting remembering 34 club members who died over the last one year.
Read: JPC condemns BFIU as it seeks bank account details of 11 journalists
As part of other programmes, Mainul said, an eye camp will be held on October 7 on the club premises, followed by Shishu Ananda Mela on October 8 and 9, chess competition on October 10 and 11, an air-gun shooting competition on October 12 and spades trump competition on October 13 and 14.
Besides, he said, Ludo competition for female members will take place on October 14, table tennis on October 16 and 17 and mini-marathon in the early morning of October 20 and a cultural function on the same day in the evening.
The participants of Shishu Ananda Mela and sports competitions will have to ensure their entries into the competitions by October 6.
Speaking at the programme, JPC President Farida Yasmin said they could not arrange elaborate programmes last year, rather than arranging a memorial meeting, to celebrate the 66th founding anniversary of the club due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We have had a miserable time over the last two years due to the pandemic. Our children have gotten fed up with staying at home for a long time. The children and spouses of our members are eagerly waiting to join the founding anniversary programmes. As the Covid situation is relatively better, we’ve decided to mark the event this time with various programmes,” she said.
The JPC president said they will arrange all the programmes maintaining social distancing and health safety rules as the virus is yet to be eliminated.
Read: Jatiya Press Club announces 67th anniversary programmes
She said 34 JPC members died over the last one year since October 11. “So, we’re passing through a very painful and sad time. But we’ve to move ahead amid such a bad time.”
Farida said the media sector has been growing through a crisis period like all other sectors, but the situation is improving and media outlets are trying to stay afloat overcoming all the difficulties.
She said they want to turn the JPC into a more dignified institution so that it can help the journalists enhance their professional skills.
The JPC president said they have already held various programmes, including seminars, to develop the skills of journalists.
She said they will celebrate Bangabandhu's birth centenary and the golden jubilee of independence in a grand manner in December, the month of victory.
MoU with Press Club of India
Farida said the Jatiya Press Club and the Press Club of India, Delhi have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase mutual cooperation among the journalists of the two neighbouring countries.
Read:Farida Yasmin becomes first female President of Jatiya Press Club
As per the MoU, she said, JPC members will be able to use the facilities of the Press Club of India while their members can use all the JPC facilities during their visits.
Besides, the JPC president said, various reciprocal programmes will be taken to enhance the cooperation between the members of the two clubs.
She said both the clubs will jointly organise training and various other programmes for enhancing the professional efficiency of journalists.
Judgment in Babar’s graft case on Oct 12
A Dhaka court on Monday fixed October 12 for delivering its judgment in a case filed against ex-state minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar for amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 7.5 crore.
Judge Mohammad Shahidul Islam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-7 fixed the date after closing the law-point arguments from both sides.
Read:Babar, 18 others to die; Tarique among 19 get life term
On January 13, 2008, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case with Ramna Model Police Station.
On July 16, 2008, deputy assistant secretary of ACC, Rupok Kumar Saha submitted a chargesheet against him.
Babar was arrested from his Gulshan residence on May 28, 2007. He was sentenced to 17 years’ imprisonment in an arms case on October 30, 2007.
Read: Verdict in Aug 21 grenade attack cases: Babar, Salam among 31 accused taken to court
He was also sentenced to death in the 10-truck arms haul and August-21 grenade attack cases.
In 2018, a speedy trial tribunal sentenced 19 people, including Babar, to death in a case filed over the August-21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in the capital in 2004.
Kitchen markets in Dhaka take the heat from 22-day Hilsa ban
Kitchen markets in Dhaka saw huge crowds of Hilsa lovers on Sunday evening as they rushed to buy the delicious fish ahead of a 22-day ban on its catching, selling, hoarding and transporting.
Many of the customers, however, retuned home empty as most of the sellers of the popular fish ran out of their stocks by 10 PM due to its high demand and supply crunch.
Read: 22-day ban on Hilsa fishing begins Sunday midnight
Talking to UNB, some Hilsa traders at Karwan Bazar said this season saw its higher prices due to its short supply and large volumes of export.
“The demand was very high, even well before the restriction period, due to the short supply,” said Kamrul Hasan, a fish trader.
The government has given a go-ahead to 52 companies to export 2,080 tonnes of Hilsa to India by October 10, ahead of Durga Puja, the largest festival of the Hindu community.
The government had banned the Hilsa export to India in 2012 but it approved the export of 500 tonnes of the fish in 2019 and 475 tonnes in 2020.
The 22-day Hilsa ban took effect on Sunday midnight as it is aimed at ensuring the safe spawning of the popular fish during its peak breeding period. The ban will remain in place till October 25.
Read: Durga Puja: 23 tonnes of Hilsa sent to India through Benapole
Fisheries Department, upazila and district administrations, police and coast guard personnel will carry out regular drives to make sure that the ban is implemented strictly.
Aminul Islam, district fisheries officer of Laxmipur, told UNB that there are around 52,000 fishermen in his district and 3,000 of them are registered.
They will get around 40 kg food aid as compensation during this restriction period, he said.
Meanwhile, the district administration was seen campaigning along riversides to make the fishermen aware about the importance of the government decision.
Read:Govt to consult experts to boost Hilsa production: Dipu Moni
On Sunday, Raunak Mahmud, secretary of the fisheries and livestock ministry, said some 1,118.068 metric tons of VGF rice has been allocated for 555,944 fishermen families in 36 districts where the ban on selling and fishing Hilsa will be enforced.
According to Protection and Conservation of Fish Rules, 1985, fishermen not abiding by the ban can be punished with a minimum of 1 to maximum of 2 years’ rigorous imprisonment or be fined up to TK 5,000.
Kuet dorms to reopen on October 22
Khulna University for Science and Technology (Kuet) will reopen its dormitories from October 22 for 3rd year, final year and Masters students.
Rest of students will be allowed to stay at dormitories from November 5.
Read:DU dormitories to reopen on Oct 5
The decision was taken at the 81st (emergency) meeting of the Academic Council chaired by University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kazi Sazzad Hossain on Sunday afternoon after reviewing the instructions of the Education Ministry and University Grants Commission (UGC).
According to the meeting, classes of the 3rd, final year and Masters students will start on October 25 and classes of the 1st and 2nd year students will start on November 7.
Read:University students to be vaccinated for reopening dorms: UGC
Students who have received the first jab of the Covid-19 vaccine will be allowed to enter halls after showing the vaccine card.
PM to meet the press at 4pm
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to address a press conference at 4pm on Monday on the outcome of her recent visit to the United States for joining the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Prime Minister will attend the press conference at her official residence Ganobhaban. Some journalists will be in the Ganobhaban, while others will remain connected from the Prime Minister’s Office through a virtual platform.
Read: PM to address press conference Monday
Sheikh Hasina returned home on Friday last from Washington, wrapping up her two-week foreign trip.
On September 17, the Prime Minister left Dhaka to attend the 76th UNGA. She reached New York on September 19 after a two-day stopover in Finland.
During her stay in New York from September 19 to 24, Hasina addressed the UNGA general debate (Sept 24), attended high-level events and bilateral talks with heads of governments, states and organisations.
She also planted a honey locust tree and unveiled a bench at the UN gardens dedicating these to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of his birth centenary.
In New York, Hasina was honoured with the ‘SDGs Progress Award’ in recognition of Bangladesh’s achievement in sustainable development from 2015 to 2020.
Read: Hasina places six proposals before world to fight Covid
The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and other several organisations, including the Earth Institute of Columbia University and the Centre for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, jointly conferred the award on her.
Later, the Prime Minister went to Washington DC on September 25.
During her stay in Washington, Hasina opened the newly-constructed ‘Bangladesh House’ and planted a fringe tree on its premises.
UNB correspondent resigns from Sirajganj Press Club’s executive committee
UNB’s Sirajganj district correspondent Masud Rana has resigned from the member post of the executive committee of district press club.
He resigned protesting the formation of new executive committee without holding any election.
Read: Bagerhat DC visits ailing UNB correspondent Bisnu
A new executive committee of Sirajganj Press club was formed in February this year without holding an election.
“Despite being a member of the committee, I gave them an ultimatum to hold election. But not only did they listen to me, they have not invited me at any meeting although the committee has been active for almost 7 months,” said Masud Rana.
Ferry services on Shimulia-Banglabazar route resume after 48 days
Ferry services on Shimulia-Banglabazar route that remained suspended for 48 days resumed Monday morning on trial basis.
BIWTC Shimulia ghat assistant general manager Shafiqul Islam said,” Ferry ‘Kunjalata’ left Shimulia ghat for Banglabazar at 11am on Monday. The full resumption of ferry services depends on the success of this first journey.”
Read: Ferry movement suspended on Shimulia-Banglabazar route
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation on August 18 suspended all ferry services on the route for an indefinite period due to strong current in the Padma River.
The decision came after at least five ferries hit the Padma Bridge bridge pillars between July and August this year.
Majhirkandi Ghat of Zajira in Shariatpur was prepared on August 26 as an alternative. But it not possible to operate ferries from this terminal too due to navigability crisis.
Read: No ferries to ply Shimulia-Banglabazar route at night
The long suspension of ferry services on Shimulia-Banglabazar route, the gateway to 21 southern districts of Bangladesh, had an adverse impact on trade and commerce of the region.
The only mode of communication was small launches or boats which were only available during the day.
Momen greets Mamata; hopes to have closer ties with WB
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has congratulated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party Trinamool Congress for her resounding victory in the by-polls. In a message to Mamata Banerjee, the Foreign Minister hoped that Bangladesh's relations with West Bengal would be closer and complementary in the days to come in the interest of mutual welfare and development.
Read: Mamata wins crucial Bengal bypoll Dr Momen said the landslide victory in the Bhabanipur constituency for the third consecutive term is a reflection of the people of West Bengal's continued confidence and deep faith in Mamata Banerjee's leadership. He wished the people of West Bengal all the betterment and prosperity under the able leadership of Mamata Banerjee. The Foreign Minister wished the Chief Minister of West Bengal good health and continued success and greeted her ahead of Durga Puja.
Read: Crucial bypoll begins in Bengal to decide Mamata's fate Mamata Banerjee won Bhabanipur Assembly by-polls on Sunday by a record margin of 58,832 votes against Priyanka Tibrewal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This victory makes Banerjee a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and will allow her to continue as Chief Minister of West Bengal. She was unanimously elected Chief Minister by the Trinamool Congress legislature party in May 2021.