Bangladesh
Hefazat leader Mahmud Habibi held in Demra
Police on Wednesday afternoon arrested Hefazat-e-Islam joint secretary general of Dhaka metropolitan (zone 10) Md. Mufti Faisal Mahmud Habibi from the capital’s Demra area.
A team of Mirpur DB police arrested him at around 4 pm.
Also read: Intelligence agencies to identify Hefazat financers: Minister
He worked as the Khatib of Medina Chattar Central Jame Mosque in Demra and lived on Badsha Mia Road of the area.
Many Hefazat leaders have been arrested in the country recently following the vandalism and arson attack carried out by its activists across the country protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi marking the celebration of golden jubilee of the country’s independence last month.
Also Read: 2 more top Hefazat leaders held
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Wednesday said, "As per our investigation, Hefazat-e-Islam carried out violence with an aim to repeat the incident of Shapla Chattar it unleashed in 2013."
Hefazat leader held in Netrokona
Police have arrested a member of Hefazat-e-Islam's dissolved central committee leader Maulana Abdul Qaium from Netrokona in a case over violence dating back to 2013.
He was arrested from a madrasa in Netrokona’s Kendua upazila on Wednesday, confirmed district Detective Branch (DB) OC Khandaker Saker Ahmed.
Abdul Qaium was the director general of the Malni Jamia Hussainiya Madrasa in Netrokona.
Also read: Intelligence agencies to identify Hefazat financers: Minister
OC Khandaker Saker Ahmed said Maulana Abdul Qaium was the accused in the case filed in connection with the 2013 Hefazat violence in Narayanganj's Sonargaon.
A court arrest warrant was pending against him in that case for a long time, he added.
Many Hefazat leaders have been arrested in the country recently following the vandalism and arson attacks carried out by its activists across the country protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi marking the celebration of golden jubilee of the country’s independence last month.
Also read: Hefazat central committee dissolved
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Wednesday said, "As per our investigation, Hefazat-e-Islam carried out violence with an aim to repeat the incident of Shapla Chattar it unleashed in 2013."
Nor'wester coming, likely to hit five divisions
A nor'wester is likely to lash parts of Bangladesh, including Dhaka, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said in an update Wednesday.
The update on the BMD app, sent around 10pm, said to expect rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally winds, or Kalbaishakhi, "in the next 3-4 hours."
A heatwave is sweeping over Sitakunda, Rangamati, Cumilla, Maijdee Court, Feni, Rajshahi, Pabna; and Dhaka, Rangpur, Khulna, Barishal and Sylhet divisions.
Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind or Kalbhaishaki is likely to sweep over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and Cumilla in the next 24 hours, the BMD said earlier.
Nor'wester or the Kalbaishakhi occurs in India and Bangladesh, often with violent hurricane-speed winds and the pre-monsoon nor'wester is caused by heavy convection for excessive heat.
A severe Nor'wester hit Dhaka and northwestern Bangladesh on April 4, 2015, leaving a trail of destruction – killing at least 24 people and injuring hundreds, uprooting countless trees and flattening many tin built houses and mud-built houses and snapping road and rail communication with affected areas.
Another danger that has come to the fore in recent years is lightning accompanying the nor'westers, that have taken scores of lives in recent years. In 2016, 42 people were killed in a single day of nor'westers across the country.
International tender called for reopening closed jute mills: Jute Minister
Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi has said effective steps are being taken to reopen the state-owned jute mills that were closed down last year soon.
The mills would be reopened under private management on lease basis. The minister also added that international tenders have already been called in this regard.
He came up with these remarks while speaking to the press after joining the monthly coordination meeting of the ministry online on Wednesday afternoon.
The minister claimed that jute farmers are currently getting a fair price for raw jute as the value and demand of jute has increased across the world. The average price of raw jute in the current jute season is up to Tk 3,000, which is about 50 percent higher than last year, he added.
He also said that Bangladesh earned $953.56 million by exporting jute and jute-made products in the first nine months (July-March) of the current fiscal year 2020-21, which is 22.94 percent more than the same period last year.
The growth is also around 10.64 percent higher than the target, the minister said.
He hoped that not only would the old workers be rehabilitated, but also new employment opportunities will be created once these privately run mills become operational.
On July 1 last year, 25 jute mills under the control of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) were declared closed with the aim of creating a competitive environment in the jute sector.
Muniya case: Bashundhara Group MD seeks anticipatory bail
Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir on Wednesday (April 28, 2021) filed a petition with the High Court, seeking an anticipatory bail in a case filed over abetting the suicide of a young girl whose body was recovered from a flat in Dhaka’s Gulshan area.
The petition was included in the cause list for hearing at the bench of Justice Mamunur Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman, court sources said.
Also read: Young woman found dead in Gulshan; case filed against Bashundhara MD
As per law, the accused must appear before court physically for hearing on an anticipatory bail plea but the accused could be connected virtually with the court during the virtual hearing.
On Monday, police recovered the hanging body of Mosarat Jahan, 21, daughter of late Shafiqur Rahman, a freedom fighter of Monoharpur in Cumilla district, from a flat in Dhaka’s Gulshan area.
Also read: Dhaka court imposes travel ban on Bashundhara MD over abetting suicide
Following the recovery of her body, the victim's sister, Nusrat Jahan, filed a case under section 306 of Bangladesh Penal Code with Gulshan Police Station around 1:30 am on Tuesday.
In the case, Nusrat Jahan made Sayem Sobhan Anvir, managing director of Bashundhara Group, as the lone accused of abetting the death of the 21-year-old college student.
Read Those responsible for Muniya’s death to be brought to justice: Minister
Army operation in Bandarban: Weapons, huge amount of ammunition and equipment recovered
An operational team of Bangladesh Army conducted a raid at a terrorist den at Noapatang under Roangchhari upazila in Bandarban district and recovered huge quantities of arms, ammunition, local weapons and other materials early Wednesday.
The army was for a long time aware of information on the presence of an armed miscreant of Jana Sanghati Samity (JSS) Santu Larma group, named Apu Chakma, in Bandarban area. He is known to have carried out all kinds of extortion, arms exchanges and miscreant activities in Bandarban and adjoining areas.
Acting on a tip off, the Army members of Bandarban Army Zone conducted a successful operation in the area of Noapatang at around 5 am in the hideout of armed miscreants of JSS (Santu Larma), said an intelligence official here.
The armed group was trying to establish a reign of terror by taking hostages at gunpoint, extorting huge sums of money from the poor and carrying out miscreant activities, the intelligence official said requesting anonymity.
The Army team led by Bandarban Army Zone Commander reached the area by crossing various natural obstacles and inaccessible mountain paths. When the team reached near, the armed miscreants fled to the forest.
During this time there was a brief exchange of fire with the Army members. Later, their hideout was found and searched.
During the operation, one 9mm pistol loaded with magazines, AK-47 magazine, multiple ammunition bundlers, sharp domestic weapons, commando knife, large quantity of ammunition, communication device (walkie-talkie), solar charger, various types of electronics, 13 cell phones, JSS books, diaries, multiple olive-colored uniforms and shoes used by the JSS's armed affiliates, large quantities of indigenous drugs, large sums of money collected as tolls and receipts of JSS levies, records of extortion per neighborhood, miscreants' national identity cards and bags used in miscreant activities were recovered from the hideout. Later, the hideout was destroyed.
Decibel Hell: Noise pollution ‘affecting 50 lakh people’ in Dhaka
Noise pollution in Dhaka city is now three times higher than the tolerable level, and the invisible danger is putting around 50 lakh people at health risk, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Mohammad Shahab Uddin said on Wednesday.
Noise pollution, considered to be any unwanted or disturbing sound that affects the health and well-being, has become an increasingly big issue in cities like Dhaka.
People are often becoming the source of indoor and outdoor noise pollution without being aware of it, the minister said.
Also read: Noise pollution: Even the pandemic has failed to quiet Dhaka!
The minister was speaking at a virtual workshop organised by the Department of Environment on the occasion of International Noise Awareness Day 2021.
From traffic noise to loud or inescapable sounds from construction sites and social and political programmes, sound pollution is impacting millions of people daily.
The most common health problem causes irreversible noise induced hearing loss (NIHL), according to experts.
10-member medical board formed for Khaleda's treatment
A 10-member medical board was formed on Wednesday for the treatment of BNP Chairperson Khaleda at Evercare Hospital in the capital.
She was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday night.
“A 10-member medical board with seven physicians from Evercare Hospital and three others from her medical team, including Dr FM Siddiqui, me, and Dr Al Mamun, was formed today (Wednesday),” said Khaleda’s personal medical team member and BNP vice-chairman Dr AZM Zahid Hossain.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, he said the medical board reviewed the reports of her tests that have so far been conducted.
“They also recommended conducting some more tests,” Zahid added.
He said the medical board also added some new drugs to the prescription that the BNP chief was following during her treatment at her residence for Covid infection and other complications. “Alhamdulillah, she (Khaleda) is now doing well.”
Zahid said some of the tests suggested by the medical board will be done on Wednesday while the rest on Thursday. “On completion of the tests, the overall treatment plan for Madam (Khaleda) will be made after reviewing all the reports.”
The medical board was formed headed by Evercare Hospital’s Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.
Also read: Khaleda hospitalised for thorough health checkup
Zahid, also one of the members of the 10-member medical board, said they are very hopeful about taking the BNP chief back to her residence soon. “But we could not say the specific time or make any prediction about her release before reviewing her all reports.”
He urged the country’s people, including BNP leaders and activists, to pray for the quick recovery of 76-year-old Khaleda.
The physician said alongside a fresh CT scan, the BNP chief underwent some other tests, including ECG and Echo on Tuesday night
“We found minimum infections in her lungs in the first report of the CT scan. But her fresh CT scan conducted yesterday (Tuesday) suggests she has no infection in her lungs. No cardiac problem has also been detected in her test report. “It’s a good sign,” he added.
Khaleda staying at non-corona unit
Zahid said the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at a non-corona unit of the Evercare Hospital as she has no Covid symptom.
"As per the international medical rules, if a patient does not have any symptoms after two weeks, then there is no need to do a corona test, and we can assume that there is no chance of spreading corona infection by her.”
Also read: Benign Covid infection hasn't left Khaleda yet
He said Khaleda has long been suffering from some health complications, including arthritis, diabetes and eye problems.
Zahid said the BNP chief needs modern treatment at an advanced centre for her underlying health conditions.
He said Khaleda’s family members long ago sought permission from the government for taking her aboard for treatment.
Asked whether the fresh tests are being done to create a ground for sending her abroad, Zahid replied in the negative, saying her health checkup is necessary based on reality.
He said the BNP chief could not go through some necessary tests for over a year as he could not go to any hospital. “There’re some post-Covid complications that may flare up later. Considering all these things, we think she needs these tests.”
On Tuesday midnight, Khaleda, infected with coronavirus, was admitted to the Evercare Hospital temporarily for her thorough health checkup.
Doctors said her fresh CT scan report conducted on Tuesday suggests that she made a good recovery from Covid as she has no symptom of the virus.
Earlier on April 14, Khaleda was taken to the Evercare Hospital for the CT scan and later doctors said a very nominal infection was found in her lungs.
Also read: Khaleda Zia infected with Covid-19
Khaleda Zia tested positive for Covid-19 test on April 10 as eight people at her residence were infected with the virus.
She underwent the second Covid-19 test on April 24 and her report was positive.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government freed Khaleda Zia from jail for six months through an executive order suspending her sentences on March 25 last year.
She was released from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) the same day, and she has been staying at her Gulshan house since then.
On August 27 last year, the government extended her release for six more months and it was extended again for six months on March 15 last.
On February 8, 2018, Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Central Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years’ imprisonment in Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case. The High Court later doubled her jail term.
Khaleda was found guilty in another corruption case the same year. Her party claims both the cases are politically motivated.
Hefazat leader Habibullah Kashemi held in city
Police on Wednesday arrested Hefazat-e-Islam leader Md. Mufti Habibullah Mahmud Kashemi from the capital’s Vatara area in a case over 2013 Shapla Chattar violence.
Md. Azharul Islam Mukul, chief of Demra zonal team, conducted a drive around 5:20 pm and arrested him, said Md A Ahad, DC, Detective Branch, Wari.
Many Hefazat leaders have been arrested in the country recently following the vandalism and arson attack carried out by its activists across the country protesting against the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi marking the celebration of golden jubilee of the country’s independence last month.
In Chattogram students of Hathazari Madrasa carried out infernal violence for two days, on March 26 and March 27.
Also read: Intelligence agencies to identify Hefazat financers: Minister
They set fire to the car of the Assistant Commissioner (Land) of Hathazari that worth Tk. 55 lac. All documents from the AC land office were burned.
Government rest houses and three motorcycles were set on fire.
On March 27 in Brahmanbaria, at least five people were killed and around 50 others, including 25 cops, injured in clashes between members of law enforcement agencies and locals during Hefazat’s demonstrations at Nandanpur in Sadar upazila.
Also read: Hefazat central committee dissolved
They had staged the protests against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh.
The next day, during Hefazat’s countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal protesting police action on their anti-Modi processions in Dhaka, Chattogram and other districts, activists set fire to three buildings, including the land office in Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila.
They had also attacked a Chattogram-bound train at Talshohor Rail Station in Brahmanbaria town.
Also Read: 2 more top Hefazat leaders held
Besides, the Hefazat supporters also vandalised several private and government establishments, including Zila Parishad building, municipality building, Police Lines, Industrial School, land office, Alauddin Music Academy, and Foirtala Bus Stand in Sadar upazila.
The supporters had also attacked Brahmanbaria Press Club and confined some journalists to the premises.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Wednesday said, "As per our investigation, Hefazat-e-Islam carried out violence with an aim to repeat the incident of Shapla Chattar it unleashed in 2013."
Doraiswamy’s keynote to stimulate dialogue on Indo-Bangla relations
An array of experts from Bangladesh and India have been brought together for an online symposium hosted by the Cosmos Foundation to assess the state of relations between the two countries and identify the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the effort to take it forward.
The keynote address at the symposium titled ‘Bangladesh-India relations: Prognosis for the Future’ will be delivered by Vikram Doraiswamy, High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh.
Chairman of Cosmos Foundation Enayetullah Khan will deliver the opening remarks at the event, which is set to premiere on the Facebook page of Cosmos Foundation at 8pm BST on Thursday.
Also read: Bangladesh-India bilateral talks begin at PMO
Renowned scholar-diplomat and adviser on foreign affairs to the last caretaker government Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury will chair the session.
It is the latest instalment in Cosmos Foundation’s Ambassador Lecture Series, in which the envoys of various countries stationed in Dhaka are invited to deliver a keynote, before engaging with a high-level expert panel on bilateral ties between Bangladesh and the country they represent.
For this edition, the panel of discussants drawn from both sides of the border will comprise Ambassador (Retd.) Tariq A. Karim, Professor C. Raja Mohan, Professor Imtiaz Ahmed, Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, Dr.Debapriya Bhattacharya, Major Gen. (Retd.) A. N. M. Muniruzzaman, Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Brig. Gen.(Retd.) Shahedul Anam Khan, and Ambassador (Retd.) Krishnan Srinivasan.
Also read: Bangladesh-India to strengthen ties through mega events in 2021
The full video of the event will be available for viewing on the Facebook page of Cosmos Foundation, and (elsewhere) from Thursday at any time, following the premiere.
Over the better part of the last 12 years, India and Bangladesh have diligently forged a warm and friendly relationship that has been described as a textbook example of a neighbourly relationship.
The essence of the bond between the two countries lies in a shared heritage of culture and history that can never be erased, which culminated during Bangladesh’s struggle for independence in 1971.
Also read: Doraiswami for infrastructure dev to boost Bangladesh-India trade
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attendance as the most honoured chief guest during Bangladesh’s Golden Jubilee celebrations of independence just last month, served to reiterate that the two countries are experiencing a ‘golden age’ in their relationship.
Against this backdrop, Cosmos Foundation, the philanthropic arm of conglomerate the Cosmos Group, brings together the finest minds to arrive at a prognosis for the future of the relationship, in line with its commitment to eliciting strategic insights and policy solutions for Bangladesh as it charts its course toward a future that is ever-brighter.