Bangladesh
New censorship law passed in parliament
Bangladesh Film Certification Bill 2023 was passed in the Parliament on Sunday aiming for development and protecting the creativity of the film industries.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud moved the Bill and it was passed by voice vote.The proposed law will replace the Censorship of Films Act, 1963.
According to the objective of the bill, it will be protecting, developing, preserving, family and social values of the domestic film industry, the spirit of the liberation war, independence, integrity, sovereignty, creativity of the film industry as well as the overall development of the film industry, and will provide film certification and fair screening of certified films.
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Bangladesh demands immediate end of Israeli brutalities in Palestine
Bangladesh has strongly condemned the slaying of innocent civilians including women and children and demanded an immediate end to Israeli brutalities in Palestine, according to a statement by the country's MInistry of Foreign Affairs issued on Sunday.
It said Bangladesh played a significant role in organising an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on the Palestine situation and co-sponsored the resolution adopted in the session held on 27 October 2023, with two-thirds majority, calling for a humanitarian truce in Gaza.
The General Assembly asked Israel to stop its attempts to forcibly transfer the Palestinian civilian population and called for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians who are being held captive illegally.
"We denounce the utter disregard shown by Israel to the international human rights and humanitarian laws and international community's call by escalating attacks in Gaza immediately after the adoption of the resolution," the foreign ministry statement reads.
"We firmly believe that a two-State solution is the only viable way to ensure lasting peace in the region; and we reaffirm our unwavering support to the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people through the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State," the statement said.
8th CJEN Conference concludes with declaration
With the Draft Policy on “DIU 2023 Declaration: Advancing Local and Regional Media for a Sustainable Future,” the 8th CJEN Bangladesh Networking Conference, jointly organized by the Department of Journalism, Media & Communication at Daffodil International University and DW Akademie, concluded on Sunday.
The two-day conference was held at Daffodil International University’s permanent campus in Daffodil Smart City, Birulia, Savar on the 28th and 29th of October.
The draft policy presentation session was chaired by Dr Golam Rahman, Professor at DIU and the Chief Patron of the conference. Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Associate Professor, Begum Royeka University, Rangpur, joined as the Co-Chair and Aftab Hossain, Co-convener of the conference, Head and Assistant Professor, Department of Journalism, Media and Communication, DIU were present in the hybrid session.
Faruque Ahmed, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting joined the policy presentation as the chief guest. “It is imperative for newspapers and media outlets to enhance their vigilance and online presence. I believe the government will spare no effort to bring them to fruition. It necessitates a collective commitment from all stakeholders," he stated.
Daylong hartal marked by clashes, vandalism, and chase –counter chase in Bogura
The daylong hartal enforced by the BNP in Bogura, the birthplace of the party founder late Ziaur Rahman, was marked by clashes, vandalism, chase and counter chase, and picketing on Sunday.
Forty men from BNP, five to six from Awami League (AL) were injured and 17 vehicles vandalized in tripartite clashes among AL, police and the opposition amid the hartal.
No intra-district and long-haul route buses moved in the district but train communication remained as usual. Most establishments including markets also remained closed fearing damage.
Witnesses said four to five Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD, student wing of BNP) activists including district unit president Saidul Islam sustained bullet injuries in a clash with police when they brought out a procession in favour of the hartal from in front of the party office on Nababbari Road in the district town around 8am.
At 9am, at least 10 to 15 BNP men and five to six AL men were injured in a clash between the parties in Galapatti area of the district town. Police opened rubber bullets to bring the situation under control as the cocktails were exploded at the time.
Four to five BNP men were hurt in another clash with the AL when an AL procession was passing out in front of the BNP office.
District chapter BNP president Rezaul Karim Badsha alleged that the AL men swooped on them leaving four to five supporters injured when a peaceful hartal was going on. Later the BNP supporters were removed from the area.
Read: Fakhrul brought to DB office for questioning: DMP Commissioner
Denying the allegation, the district unit AL Publicity and Publication Secretary Sultan Mahmud Khan Rony claimed that the BNP men hurled brickbats targeting them from the BNP office leaving eight supporters including office secretary Al Raji Jewel injured.
In the morning, 13 people including a child were injured in clashes between police and BNP men on Dhaka-Dinajpur Highway in Bagherpara Kholer Ghor area under Sadar upazila.
The injured child was admitted to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital.
At least 17 vehicles including the Sadar Upazila Nirbahir Officer’s one were vandalized. Later a few other vehicles also got torched there.
The BNP men using mikes from mosques allegedly asked police personnel to go away from the road. However, the Rapid Action Battalion brought the situation under control.
BNP Organizing Secretary Sahid-Un-Nabi claimed that at least 40 supporters were injured in attacks by the AL and police in the district.
Twenty-nine BNP men from Dupchanchia upazila and three from Adamdighi Upazila were arrested, he said.
Read: BNP announces 3-day countrywide blockade from Tuesday
Demanding immediate release of the arrested leaders and activists, Nabi claimed that five leaders including district unit Vice President MR Islam Swadin were arrested from Sirajganj when they were returning from Dhaka to Bogura on Saturday night.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Sudip Kumar Chakrabarty said the BNP men got involved in clashes with law enforcers after calling from the mosque by mikes.
A few people including a child were injured when people tried to remove the picketers, he said.
Additional SP Snigda Akhter said they used five rounds of bullets to disperse BNP men during clashes with law enforcers.
Read more: BNP man dies ‘while fleeing after attempting to set bus on fire’ in Dhaka
45 fire incidents recorded in 2 days across country: Fire Service
A total of 45 fire incidents were reported across the country by riotous people from 1 pm on Saturday to 6 pm on Sunday, Fire Service said.
Of these, 27 fire incidents were reported in Dhaka City Corporation, Fire Service and Civil Defense Media Cell said in a press release on Sunday.
According to the press release, 41 cases of fire were reported in Dhaka division, 1 in Rajshahi division, 2 in Khulna division, and 1 in Rangpur division. A total of 19 buses, 3 microbuses, 3 ambulances, 1 truck, 7 motorcycles, 3 pickups, and 1 CNG were burnt.
Besides, the police box, electricity office, bus counter and political party offices were also burnt during this period, added the release.
Violence marks BNP’s daylong hartal; 3 killed
At least three people died amid sporadic clashes, arson attacks and arrests marking the nationwide general strike on Sunday with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) announcing fresh protest plans from October 31.
The BNP enforced the daylong general strike on Sunday, a day after its supporters clashed with security officials in Dhaka during a massive anti-government rally that turned violent, forcing the party to abruptly end the rally.
A Sramik League leader was killed in Lalmonirhat, a BNP leader died in the capital’s Mohammadpur area and a bus helper died in Dhaka’s Demra on Sunday during the strike as the traffic in Dhaka was thin.
More than 100 people were injured in separate clashes in Narayanganj and Bogura districts on Sunday, UNB correspondents reported.
Ctg city traffic normal despite hartal
In Dhaka, a 22-year-old assistant of a bus driver, identified as Md Naim, was burned to death after the Asim Paribahan bus was set on fire by miscreants in Dhaka’s Demra area around 3 am while he was asleep, said Demra Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Saidur Rahman.
Separately, a 35-year-old BNP leader, who tried to set a bus on fire, died after falling off a building while fleeing in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area during the strike in the afternoon.
The deceased was identified as Abdur Rashid, local government affairs secretary of Adabor ward 30 unit of BNP.
Streets empty, vehicles burnt and vandalised in Dhaka as BNP-Jamaat observe hartal
In Lalmonirhat, an activist of Sramik League, identified as Jahangir Hossain, 50, was allegedly killed in an attack by the BNP people during the strike at Mahendranagar in Sadar upazila.
The leaders and activists were seen picketing in support of hartals in different parts of Dhaka city including Moghbazar, Shantinagar, Badda, Rampura, Purana Paltan, Mohammadpur, Jatrabari and Gulshan Link Road.
UNB correspondents reported that the hartal supporters were engaged in clashes, vandalism and arson attacks in different districts, leaving many people injured.
Six vehicles were torched in different parts of the capital, and in Magura, Manikganj and Gazipur districts during the shutdown.
Bus set on fire in Manikganj during hartal
Miscreants set the local BNP offices on fire at Boikali in Khulna city and in Lalmonirhat district while BNP-Jamaat activists vandalised a car of Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Itna upazila under Kishoreganj district.
At least 42 vehicles including three BRTC buses were vandalised in the capital’s Uttara and in Bogura town and Sylhet city during the shutdown.
Many law enforcers from police, RAB and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) were deployed at important points across Dhaka to tackle any untoward incident.
The activists of the ruling Awami League and its associate bodies including Jubo League and Chhatra League were seen on the streets with party banners alongside the law enforcers.
Police arrested over 200 people from different places of the country, including Dhaka, Sylhet, Dinajpur, Nrayanganj, Feni, Bhola, Benapole and Chuadanga districts, UNB correspondents reported.
Also 7-8 crude bombs were exploded in Galapotti of Bogura district town during a clash between the supporters of the BNP and the Awami League.
At least 70 people were injured as the leaders and activists of the BNP and police locked into clashes during the hartal at Araihazar and the Press Club areas in Narayanganj on Sunday.
In support of BNP's hartal, the leaders and activists of Araihazar Upazila BNP and its associate bodies led by BNP International Affairs Assistant Secretary Nazrul Islam Azad, brought out a procession on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in the morning.
When they took position in the Panchrukhi area of Dhaka-Sylhet highway and blocked the road by burning tyres, police charged with batons to disperse them, triggering the clash.
In Bogura, 45 people were injured while a child sustained bullet injuries during a clash between police and the BNP supporters during the shutdown.
Witnesses said police obstructed a procession brought out by the BNP at Nababbari Road in the district town at 8 am. Police fired tear gas to disperse them.
At least five people including district unit Chhatra Dal President Saidul Islam sustained bullet injuries during the clash.
Meanwhile, a clash was locked between the BNP and the Awami League activists at Galapotti area where 4-5 crude bombs were exploded.
Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets, leaving 10-15 people injured.
Clashes were also reported from other parts of the district.
Police also arrested 32 leaders and activists from different parts of the district.
On Saturday, two people, including a police constable, were killed and several hundred others injured in violent clashes between law enforcers and opposition activists in Dhaka.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced a day-long nationwide shutdown for Sunday before suspending the rally.
On Sunday evening, the BNP announced a three-day blockade programme to be enforced from October 31 across the country.
Finance Companies Bill, 2023 placed in JS
The Finance Companies Bill, 2023 was placed in Parliament on Sunday aiming to deal with loan defaulters in the country.
Law Minister Anisul Huq, in absence of Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, placed the Bill and it was sent to the respective scrutiny committee with a three-day deadline to submit its report.
According to the Bill, someone can be considered a wilful defaulter for three reasons. If the money is not paid within two months, a criminal case can be filed against the wilful defaulter. The defaulter will not be able to go abroad and there will be a trade licence ban.
Secure Transactions of (Moveable Assets) Bill, 2023 passed to broaden collateral terms
The three reasons why someone can be declared a wilful defaulter are if the person does not repay the loan on time despite having the ability, if he uses the loan for other reasons instead of using it for the reason the loan was given, and if the documents submitted for the loan are later found as fake.
Regarding the draft law, Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain had earlier said that the existing law did not specify what percentage of shares a person can hold in a financial institution. It is now being said that no more than 15 percent of the shares can be taken from the same family.
The number of directors was not specified in the current law. It can now have two independent directors and 15 directors in total.
Bangladesh Dairy Development Board Bill, 2023 passed in JS
However, if the amount of shares from a family is less than 5 percent, there will be a director. If more than 5 percent, there can be a maximum of two. It would not allow to have more than two directors from one family.
In the existing law, there was no term of the director. Now the director's term is being extended to three years and one can be a director for three consecutive terms.
As per the Bill, banks can create subsidiary companies. According to the new law, financial institutions in Bangladesh cannot be made subsidiary companies without the approval of the bank.
There was no directive in the existing law regarding interest waiver. Now it has been said that interest cannot be waived without the permission of the Bangladesh Bank. Full interest can never be waived. The cost of funds must be recovered.
In some cases, fines have been increased. The punishment for not complying with the conditions of the licence has been increased from Tk 10 lakh to a maximum of Tk 50 lakh.
Under the existing law, the company has to pay a fine of Tk 10 lakh if the loan is given in violation of the rules. It has been amended to say that Tk 10 lakh or whichever is higher than the existing status of the loan released will have to be paid as penalty to every director and officer.
Zoo Bill 2023 passed in JS with stricter measures
When a person is listed as a wilful defaulter, the Bangladesh Bank can prepare a list of wilful defaulters from the concerned agencies and impose a ban on foreign travel, ban on trade licences, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC).
This means that when a person is identified as a wilful defaulter, he will be banned from doing any business or going abroad.
If he does not repay within two months, a criminal case can be filed directly.
Mian Arefy, so-called ‘adviser to Biden’, detained from Dhaka Airport
Police have detained Mian Zahidul Islam Arefy, who identified himself as an “advisor to US President Joe Biden,” from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka today.
Arefy was detained this noon when he went to the airport to fly out to the United States, Faruk Hossain, deputy commissioner (media) of the DMP, confirmed the development this afternoon.
Arefy was taken to the DB headquarters on Minto Road for questioning, he added.
BNP announces 3-day countrywide blockade from Tuesday
On Saturday, Arefi went to BNP’s central office in Naya Paltan and spoke to reporters, introducing himself as an “adviser to Biden.”
Sitting with BNP leader Ishraque Hossain, Arefy even went as far as to claim that the US president is “in full favor of restoration of the caretaker government.”
BNP man dies ‘while fleeing after attempting to set bus on fire’ in Dhaka
Arefy also bragged about his day-to-day contact with the US State Department and embassy officials in Bangladesh, and claimed that all key players within the US government back the opposition's movement.
Video of Arefy sitting at BNP office, surrounded by party leaders, was circulated on social media by pro BNP and Jamaat netizens claiming that Arefy, “on behalf of Biden,” came to BNP’s party office to support their cause to overthrow the government.
Police cordon off BNP's central office with crime scene tape
Power Division ranked first, Energy and Mineral Resources third in APA implementation
The Power Division has grabbed the first position while the Energy and Mineral Resources has ranked third in the implementation of the Annual Performance Agreement (APA) with the government for the financial year-2022-2023.
Congratulating both the Divisions of the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that they have to improve the quality of their services further for the power and energy consumers.
Editors' Council condemns attacks on journalists
“You have to reach the services to the doorstep of the customers”, he told the officials of the two divisions.
He said it is essential to take up a pragmatic action plan to explore the primary sources of energy. There should be coordination between the power distribution and transmission segments.
ILO Governing Body to hold 349th session in Geneva from Oct 30 to Nov 11
Urging continuation of the team efforts, he said making prompt decisions can yield good results in the performance.
It is mentionable that among the 52 ministries and divisions of the government the Power Division obtained 99.96 marks out of 100 in the APA implementation to become the first entity in the ranking while Energy and Mineral Resources Division received 99.43 marks to become third.
Several restaurants, including Bangladeshi-owned, in the UK losing license for employing undocumented workers
According to the ministry, the point analysis showed that the Power Division obtained 70 marks out of 70 in its own activities while it got 29.96 marks out of 30 in the case of good governance and reforms related activities.
Editors' Council condemns attacks on journalists
The Editors' Council, or Sampadak Parishad, has expressed deep concern and condemnation over the attacks on journalists during the political programmes in Dhaka on Saturday (October 28).
In a statement signed by Mahfuz Anam and Dewan Hanif Mahmud, the group said that as part of their professional duties journalists collect news and present it to the public.
Read: DCAB condemns attacks on journalists while on duty
“But it is very worrying that the journalists are attacked or their security is disrupted when they are performing their duties. On October 28, around 25 journalists were injured or attacked in different parts of the capital while performing their professional duties, which is highly condemnable and worrying,” reads the statement issued on Sunday.
The Editors' Council also requested all political parties and law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of journalists, it added.
Read: JPC strongly condemns attacks on journalists
According to media reports, several journalists were injured and their vehicles were burnt while performing professional duties at the political rallies.
Some of the journalists were critically injured and hospitalised.
Journalist Rafiq Bhuiyan, who sustained injuries on Saturday amid violence at Segunbagicha in Dhaka, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday while undergoing treatment at Birdem General Hospital.