Bangladesh
Sourcing from Bangladesh: BGMEA proposes collaboration with Disney
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has proposed collaboration with The Walt Disney Company to start unconditional sourcing from Bangladesh.
BGMEA President Faruque Hassan had a meeting with David Grazi, president of Disney's major sourcing partner Dreamwave, and Albert Daniel, global vice-president of sourcing at Dreamwave, in New York recently.
The apex body of the country's apparel industry proposed a partnership with Disney to start unconditional sourcing from Bangladesh and build capacity together, focusing on their specific need in technical issues, social compliance and sustainability.
READ: BGMEA wants to increase RMG exports to Canada, promote positive image
BGMEA Director Abdullah Hil Rakib and its former president Md Shafiul Islam were also present at the meeting with the US-based apparel brand.
They had discussions on other issues, including the potential of Bangladesh as a sourcing country for activewear, outerwear, swimwear, and workwear.
READ: BGMEA chief invites Canadian businessmen to invest in Bangladesh
The BGMEA president requested Dreamwave to increase its sourcing from Bangladesh – namely, garments produced from man-made fibre.
They also discussed how BGMEA and Dreamwave could work together to showcase the good stories of Bangladesh's apparel industry.
Case filed against NGO officials for cutting down trees
A case was filed against four people including two NGO officials Sunday at Dhamrai upazila in Savar for illegally cutting and selling 132 government trees from beside the road.
The accused are Director of NGO Shojag Abdul Matin, 62, manager of the NGO Md Masudur Rahman Masud, 50, buyer Md Naif Ali Bepari, 30, and Sodhu Bepari, 60.
Upazila Forest Officer Md Motalib Al Momin filed the case at Dhamrai police station on Sunday.
According to the complaint, Shojag cut down the 132 trees from alongside 3 km of the road from Chapila area in Sombhag union to Naogaon and 1 km from Kushra union to Pothhara area without the approval of the Forest Department.
The NGO officials didn’t pay any heed to the Forest Department officials when they were asked to refrain from cutting the trees.
According to the upazila forest office, the trees were planted in 1990 under a World Food Program project worth Tk 9.10 lakh.
Forest Officer Md Motalib said the fallen trees and instruments used for cutting them were seized.
The NGO director Abdul Matin couldn’t be contacted over the phone in this regard.
Officer-in-Charge of Dhamrai police station Md Atiqur Rahman said legal actions will be taken against the accused in the case.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Hossain Mohammad Hai Jaki said cutting trees from government-owned land is against the law and action will be taken in this regard soon.
Ex-state minister Mannan, his wife stand trial on graft charges
The trial of Abdul Mannan Khan, former state minister for housing and public works, and his wife Hasina Sultana formally began on Sunday after a Dhaka indicted the couple with illegal acquisition of wealth.
The court framed charges against the two in two separate graft cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Special Judge Court-3 Justice Mohammad Ali Hossain set October 18 for recording testimonies, said prosecutor for ACC Mir Ahmed Ali Salam.
On August 21, 2014, the ACC filed a case against Abdul Mannan, who was in office in the Awami League government during 2009-2014, for amassing illegal wealth worth over Tk 75 lakh, exceeding his known source of income.
On August 24, he surrendered to Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court and got a bail.
On August 11, 2015 the ACC submitted a charge sheet against Abdul Mannan before the court.
According to the charge sheet the amount of illegal wealth acquired by him increased to Tk 2.66 crore and he concealed information about wealth worth Tk 31lakh.
On October 21, 2015 the anti-graft body filed a case against his wife Hasina Sultana for acquiring illegal wealth worth Tk 3.45 crore.
On October 24, she surrendered before court and was granted anticipatory bail.
BPCC protests vandalisation of idols and arrest of Gouranga
Bangladesh Puja Celebration Committee (BPCC) have called for a protest rally against the arrest of Bhola Puja Celebration Committee president Gouranga Chandra Dey and the vandalisation of idols at different places of the country.
The protest rally will take place at 4pm on Monday in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh.
On September 23, the president of the Bhola committee was arrested on suspicion of making slanderous comments against Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) on Facebook messenger.
Read: Temples, Hindu households vandalised in Khulna: Puja Udjapan Parishad
Gouranga Chandra Dey was arrested under section 54 of the penal code and produced before court, said district police Superintendent Sarkar Mohammad Kaysar.
According to police sources, screenshots of messenger chat between two FB profiles named Gouranga and Jay Raam went viral on social media on Wednesday night.
In this regard Gouranga Chandra Dey himself filed a general diary at the police station the same night.
Meanwhile some miscreants damaged a personal vehicle of Gouranga by throwing brick chips.
Read: 1 arrested in Joypurhat over vandalism of Hindu temples
On Thursday afternoon, activists of Islami Andolan Bangladesh north district branch gathered in front of Hatkhola Mosque premises to protest against the incident. The organization demanded exemplary punishment for the real accused and gave a 72-hour ultimatum to investigate the matter.
Police Super Mohamad Kaysar said Gouranga Chandra’s house is currently under police protection and investigation is going on to identify the real culprits.
10-year old boy drowns in Buriganga while bathing, his family says
A 10-year old student drowned in Buriganga river near Bosila bridge on Sunday while taking bath with friends, his father said.
The body of Mohammad Sifat, madrasa student, was recovered by fire service drivers after an hour of search, his father Badrul Alam said.
Also read: 3 female students drowns in Turag, another missing
It was found at Basila-Uttarpara area where Buriganga joins with Turag river, said Rojina Akter, duty officer at Fire Service Headquarters control room.
Also read: BRAC university student drowns in Cox’s Bazar
Ismaili community volunteers distribute masks to frontline workers
In the first ever Global Ismaili CIVIC Day, the Ismaili Muslim Community in Bangladesh has joined tens of thousands of community volunteers from over 30 countries, in partnership with over 60 civil society and government partners to improve the quality of life of the communities in which they live.
This international endeavour reflects the community’s ethic of civic commitment and good citizenship as well as shared core values of service, peace, compassion and care, said a media release on Sunday.
A diverse array of activities took place simultaneously across the world, focusing on two extremely pertinent themes: Environmental Stewardship and Response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Ismaili CIVIC volunteers contributed their time, knowledge, and skills for the betterment of their fellow citizens.
Read: Shakti Foundation continues countrywide free masks distribution
Destiny, Jubok clients can be compensated by 50 to 60 per cent by selling assets: Tipu Munshi
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Sunday said that it’s possible to give 50 to 60 per cent money back to the cheated clients of the Destiny Group and Jubok by selling the assets of the two companies which collapsed amid widespread fraud.
“To my consideration, the cheated clients can get up to 50 to 60 per cent of the money back…. But the issue remains pending with the court for settlement”, he said while addressing a workshop organized by the Bangladesh Competition Commission (BCC) for the members of Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) at the BCC office in the city.
The BCC organized the event to discuss the issues for creating a fair competition environment in the market through implementation of the Competition Law.
Tipu said that he discussed the issue with the law minister who informed him that the law ministry has been working on how to compensate the Destiny and Jubok clients.
As per the estimation by different government bodies, Destiny and Jubok have about Tk 7,000 crore assets.
Grey Advertising wins first Grand Effie for Bangladesh
Grey Advertising Bangladesh has won the "Grand Effie or Best-in-Show" for Project AgroBanking at the APAC Effie Awards 2021, where marketing professionals across the region joined the celebration via livestream.
Battling through more than a hundred finalists, the advertising agency clinched Grand Effie – the world's first financial service designed to lift unbanked farmers out of poverty by transforming their unsold produce into bank account savings.
Grey and its clients United Commercial Bank – banking partner for Project AgroBanking – and ACI Logistics – retail and logistics partner for Project AgroBanking – also won the first Grand Effie and Gold Effie for Bangladesh. Besides the Grand Effie, the project won two golds and one silver.
Grey Group scored second place as the agency network of the year at the ceremony.
Throughout the event, 123 finalists across 14 territories vied for the top honours this year, with 71 winners emerging with the following metals – one Grand Effie, 17 golds, 29 silvers and 24 bronzes, said a media statement Sunday.
Project AgroBanking previously won Grand Prix and category disruptor special award in Warc Prize for Asian Strategy 2020, two Cannes Lions (one silver, one bronze) in Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2020-21, three Cannes Lions (two silver and one bronze) at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2019 and nine Spikes (one Grand Prix, two golds, three silvers, and three bronzes) at Spikes Asia 2019.
Three hurt in unexplained explosion while cutting tree at Rajbari
Three persons including a woman sustained injuries Sunday in an unexplained explosion at Baliakandi upazila of Rajbari district while cutting trees.
The injured are Aleya Khatun, 34, Abdar, 45, and Jinnat, 35.
Two of them were transferred to Faridpur Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College and Hospital as their injuries were critical.
Abdus Salam, Chairman of Narua Union said around 11 am an explosion occurred at Sadar Ali Sardar’s house when workers struck the root of a tree with an axe.
In the explosion two workers and the woman who brought water for them got injured, he said.
Some GI pipes were seen underneath the soil at the spot of the explosion, said the chairman.
Officer-in-Charge of Baliakandi police station Tariquzzaman said the reason behind the explosion couldn’t be identified yet. Investigation is going on.
Don’t resort to arson again in name of movement, Quader warns BNP
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said his party is ready to give a fitting reply if BNP tries to resort to arson violence again in the name of the movement.
Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, was speaking as the chief guest at a discussion on the occasion of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's birthday to be celebrated on Sunday.
The meeting was organized by the party's relief and social welfare sub-committee at the party’s central office.
Referring to the BNP's series of meetings as part of what he alleged the conspiracy, Quader said, "It seems that there is a conspiracy to indulge in arson violence again in the name of the movement.”
He sounded a warning saying that if BNP resorts to violence and disrupt the development works of Sheikh Hasina, then “We are ready to give a befitting reply together with people.”
Quader blasted BNP Secretary General’s Mirza Fakhrul for saying that the prime minister’s visit to the US has not been successful.
“You have no information. You haven't read the New York Times. Every statement of the prime minister, including the speech at the UN General Assembly, has been praised by the world leaders,” Quader said dismissing Fakhrul’s comments.
Quader said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called for the eradication of corona vaccine inequality and asked to ensure vaccines for everyone.
"Mr. Fakhrul, haven't you heard the news? Didn't you read the New York Times?" he added.
The reports suggested that if a nation wants to eliminate poverty, it should follow Bangladesh and witness the development carried out by Sheikh Hasina's government, he mentioned.
He said developed countries have not done anything for Bangladesh to accelerate the repatriation of the Rohingyas. But PM Sheikh Hasina raised her voice with courage on this issue to the world leaders.
Awami League presidium member Matia Chowdhury presided over the meeting while presidium member Abdur Rahman, joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organizing secretary BM Mozammel Haque also spoke.
Member secretary and relief and social welfare secretary of the party's relief and social welfare sub-committee Sajit Roy Naddi conducted the meeting.