Bangladesh
Indiscriminate firing at Tejgaon: Injured lawyer dies
A 52-year-old lawyer who sustained injuries during an indiscriminate firing by a group of terrorists on a road in Dhaka’s Tejgaon area, died on Monday.
DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq set to retire
Bhuban Chandra Shil succumbed to his injuries at 10:35 am today while receiving treatment at the intensive care unit (ICU) of Dhanmondi Popular Hospital in the capital.
His brother-in-law, Palash Chandra Shil, confirmed the news.
A group of terrorists opened fire indiscriminately at the private car of a top terrorist around 10 pm in Tejgaon industrial area of the capital on September 18.
Mohammad Ali Khokon re-elected BTMA president unopposed
A bullet struck Bhuban in the head while he was crossing the area on his motorcycle. He was returning to his residence at Arambagh in Motijheel from his office in Gulshan.
Bhuban was rescued and rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and subsequently transferred to Dhanmondi’s Popular Hospital.
He is survived by his wife and one daughter. He worked as a legal consultant for Gomti Textile Limited.
3 children crushed under wheels of train in Mohakhali
US Sen. Bob Menendez charged with corruption-related offenses for the second time in 10 years
New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez was charged last Friday with corruption-related offenses for the second time in 10 years, reports CNN.
Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, are accused of accepting “hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes” in exchange for the senator’s influence, according to the newly unsealed federal indictment.
Incidentally, Senator Menendez, joined by Senator Todd Young, led eight of their Senate colleagues in calling on the then Trump administration to impose sanctions on senior commanders of Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
Prosecutors allege the bribes included gold, cash, home mortgage payments, compensation for a “low-or-no-show job” and a luxury vehicle.
This is the second set of corruption charges levied against Menendez by the Justice Department in a decade.
Read: Malaysia ex-PM Muhyiddin charged with corruption, laundering
He previously fought off conspiracy, bribery and honest services fraud related to alleged personal favors.
Menendez is up for reelection next year. He has been in the Senate since 2006, according to the CNN report.
Senate Democratic Caucus rules will force Menendez to step aside as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, but he can still serve on the panel, it said.
Read: Some people have become rich through ‘mega corruption’, says BNP leader Nazrul
Menendez slammed the indictment in a statement: “For years, forces behind the scenes have repeatedly attempted to silence my voice and dig my political grave. Since this investigation was leaked nearly a year ago, there has been an active smear campaign of anonymous sources and innuendos to create an air of impropriety where none exists.”
Menendez also previously set up a legal defense fund. Beginning in April, his wife sold gold bars worth as much as $400,000, according to the senator’s most recent financial disclosure form.
Read more: Pakistan court suspends the corruption conviction and sentence of former PM Imran Khan
Sweetmeat shop catches fire in Dhaka's Lalbagh
A fire broke out in a shop in the capital's Lalbagh area on Monday.
The fire broke out around 1:35pm at ‘Madina Mistanno Bhandar’ at 92 Lalbag Road, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters media cell.
Read: High-rise building catches fire in capital's Shyamoli
On information, seven firefighting units rushed to the spot and are trying to tame the blaze.
No casualties were reported as yet, he added.
Read more: Lamp post catches fire at Banani
What could be the possible reasons to apply US visa restrictions against someone?
The United States has said its visa restriction policy can be applied to anyone "found to be undermining" democratic elections in Bangladesh.
“This could include vote rigging, intimidating voters, use of violence to prevent people from exercising their rights to freedom of association and freedom of peaceful assembly, and the use of measures designed to prevent political parties, voters, civil society, or the media from participating in the electoral process or expressing their views,” US Embassy Spokesperson Bryan Schiller told UNB while responding to a question.
Read: US Sen. Bob Menendez charged with corruption-related offenses for the second time in 10 years
He came up with the remark when asked whether journalists may also come under visa restrictions.
Clarifying the issue further, the US Embassy in Facebook post said, “We are applying the [visa restriction] policy in a balanced way against anyone [undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh] - regardless of being pro-government, opposition party, members of law enforcement agencies, members of the judiciary, or media persons.”
The embassy spokesperson said the US Department of State relies on extensive, well-resourced, and fact-checked case-by-case review of credible information about those undermining the democratic process in Bangladesh to determine whether to apply visa restrictions.
Read: Haas raises eyebrows by saying members of media may face visa restrictions
US announces in-person interview waivers for certain visa applicants throughout 2023
The United States has said it will not release the names or numbers of people in Bangladesh subjected to the visa restrictions.
"Visa records are confidential under US law," US Embassy Spokesperson Bryan Schiller told UNB earlier.
But, he said, the US government has looked very closely at incidents since they announced this policy.
"After a careful review of the evidence, we have imposed visa restrictions on members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition,” said Bryan Schiller.
Read: 'Smart Bangladesh' needs to harness full potential of women
In May this year, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the new visa policy under Section 212(a)(3)(C) (“3C”) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to support Bangladesh’s goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful national elections.
Under this policy, the United States will restrict the issuance of visas for any Bangladeshi individual, believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.
The United States notified the Bangladesh government of this decision on May 3, 2023.
The Department of State on Friday said they are taking steps to impose visa restrictions on Bangladeshi individuals responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh.
Read: European Film Festival presents a true cultural collaboration between Bangladesh, EU: Dutch Ambassador
"Our actions today reflect the continued commitment of the United States to supporting Bangladesh’s goal of peacefully holding free and fair national elections, and to support those seeking to advance democracy globally," said its Spokesperson Matthew Miller in a statement.
These individuals include members of law enforcement, the ruling party, and the political opposition, he said.
"The United States is committed to supporting free and fair elections in Bangladesh that are carried out in a peaceful manner," Miller said.
These persons and members of their immediate family may be found ineligible for entry into the United States.
Additional persons found to have been responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process in Bangladesh may also be found ineligible for US visas under this policy in the future, according to the US Department of State.
This includes current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of opposition and ruling political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services, Miller said.
Schoolgirl, another die ‘by suicide’ in Magura
Two people including an eighth grader have allegedly committed suicide in Magura's Mohammadpur upazila.
The deceased were identified as Sagar Samajdar, 23, son of Sanjit Samajdar of Madhupur village under Palashabaria union of Mohammadpur upazila, and Ayesha Khatun Oishee, 15, daughter of Akkas Ali of Dhoyil village of Sadar union.
Read: School girl drowns in Chattogram pond
According to police and family sources, Sagar Samajdar was sleeping in his own grocery shop at night. Getting no response from Sagar on Sunday morning locals broke open the shop and found him hanging with a piece of cloth.
Besides, Ayesha allegedly committed suicide by hanging herself in a cowshed on the same day following an altercation with her sister over a trivial matter.
Read: Mother ‘poisons 3 children to death’, her condition critical
Mohammadpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Borhan Ul Islam confirmed the deaths and said two separate cases of unnatural death have been filed with the police station.
BCL activist run over by truck dies in Natore
A local leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League was dead and another youth sustained injuries after being run over by a truck in Natore's Singra upazila on Sunday night.
The deceased was identified as Ovi Rahman, 19, deputy office secretary of Singra Gol-E-Afroz Govt. College unit Chhatra League.
Injured Milu, 19, is undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, said Rafiqul Islam, inspector (investigation) of Singra Police station.
Read: Mother ‘poisons 3 children to death’, her condition critical
OC Rafiqul said Ovi and his friend Milu were going to Sherkole from Singra town on a motorcycle around 9 pm on Sunday. When they reached Ninguin area of the Natore-Bogura highway, a goods-carrying truck coming from the opposite direction hit the motorcycle, leaving Ovi dead on the spot.
Injured Milu was admitted to the Upazila Health Complex and later moved to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for better treatment, he said.
Read: RMG worker killed in Gazipur road crash
Locals apprehended the truck but its driver and assistant managed to flee, added the OC.
CEC replies to EU letter seeking cooperation in organising elections
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal has sent a letter to the European Union (EU) in reply to the letter it sent informing the decision not to send a full-fledged observation team to Bangladesh during the upcoming national election.
Election commissioner Brigadier General (retd.) Md Ahsan Habib Khan gave this information to reporters while talking to journalists at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon on Sunday.
He said the CEC in the letter said the EC would be able to hold a free and fair election if it continues to get the cooperation it is receiving from the government and other stakeholders.
Read: Powers of presiding officers have been enhanced through law to ensure that elections are fair: CEC
In the letter, the CEC expressed his expectation that the European Union would send even a small team to observe the next general election.
The CEC in the letter said that the more local and foreign observers would be there, the more transparent the election will be and there will be some kind of pressure on everyone. It will also increase the acceptance of elections home and abroad.
Read: British High Commissioner wanted to know EC’s efforts in ensuring that journalists can work freely: CEC
Election Commissioner Ahsan Habib Khan also said EC would hold a workshop on the role of candidates and polling agents with the former chief election commissioner (CEC) and EC in the first week of October aiming to hold a fair election.
The workshop would involve former chief election commissioners (CEC), election commissioners (EC), senior election commission officials, media personalities, and university professors, he added.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) received an email from the European Union over their decision about not sending its full-fledged election observation team to Bangladesh for the upcoming national election.
CU orders former and expelled students to leave dormitories
Chattogram University authorities have ordered those who are staying in the hall after the end of their academic session and those who are under expulsion for their involvement in anti-disciplinary activities at different times to leave the hall within 24 hours.
The directive was issued in a press release signed by CU acting registrar KM Nur Ahmed on Sunday evening.
Meanwhile, police recovered eight sharp weapons and 17 pipes during a raid at Abdur Rab Hall of the university on Sunday afternoon following various clashes between different sub-groups of University unit Chhatra League in the past few days.
Read: BCL men assault Prothom Alo CU correspondent for reporting on their activities
University Proctor Dr Nurul Azim Sikder said, "Some iron rods, cricket stumps and local weapons were recovered from Abdur Rab Hall. The situation is calm now. Additional police have been deployed on the campus.”
An emergency notification on Sunday said that the students who have already completed their study and are still staying in different residential halls of the university have been asked to leave the hall by 6 pm tomorrow.
Read: BCL dissolves its CU unit committee
Besides, those who have been expelled for their involvement in anti-disciplinary activities at different times have also been ordered to leave the hall within the same period.
If such a person is found in the hall after a certain time, legal action will be taken against him.
Shahriar Alam looks forward to even closer ties with South Korea
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has expressed his hope that further close collaboration with South Korea can significantly help towards realizing the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s dream of achieving ‘Sonar Bangla’ or the Golden Bengal.
He was speaking at a reception marking the National Foundation Day Reception of the Republic of Korea (ROK) as the chief guest on Sunday evening.
The State Minister congratulated the ROK Ambassador Park Young-Sik, the Embassy officials as well as the ROK community in Bangladesh.
He expressed gratitude for the ROK’s recognition of Bangladesh as an independent state at a very early stage of our independence on 12 May 1972.
Read: 'Smart Bangladesh' needs to harness full potential of women
Shahriar Alam referred to the 50 years of glorious bilateral relations and expressed hope to take this friendship to the next level by creating a more in-depth, all-encompassing collaboration.
He referred to the recent meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Yoon Suk Yeol held on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders Summit in India.
Read: No tension with the US, Foreign Minister Momen says
The State Minister reiterated the vision of the Prime Minister to achieve a knowledge and technology-based prosperous smart Bangladesh by 2041.
He expressed satisfaction on the steady growth in bilateral trade and investment.
DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq set to retire
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruk is retiring from his government of Bangladesh after serving his full term.
This information was given in a notification signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Md. Mahbubur Rahman Sheikh from the Police-1 branch of the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday.
Read: ‘How many in Bangladesh police want to go to America?’ DMP Deputy Commissioner asks
According to the notification, from September 30, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruk has been sent on retirement from government service as per section 43 (1) (a) of Act No. 57 of the Government Service Act, 2018.
According to the rules, he will be entitled to retirement and post-retirement leave benefits.
Read: Habibur Rahman made new DMP Commissioner
On Wednesday, the government of Bangladesh appointed Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Habibur Rahman as the new commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).