Bangladesh
Migrants Face Reintegration Challenges: IOM’s Project Provides Innovative Solutions
Returnee migrants struggled with multiple adversities in Bangladesh in the context of the amplified challenges posed by the global pandemic, reports IOM.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with its implementing partners, supported returnee migrants with its innovative "REMA(K)ER project.
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The Project initiated with the support of the IOM Development Fund (IDF), was implemented with the overarching goal to better enable Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) namely, Bangladesh Nari Sramik Kendra (BNSK), Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), and the WARBE Development Foundation (WARBE DF) to assist returnees and their families in achieving economic resilience and contributing to sustainable reintegration.
Following the successful completion of this pilot project, IOM Bangladesh organized a dissemination event today focusing on the lessons learnt on IOM’s Integrated Approach to Reintegration (IAR).
The event included relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, representatives from civil society, private sector, and development partners.
Today’s event was concluded with all stakeholders recognizing the importance of localization in expanding the reintegration knowledge and expertise at the grassroot level. The international Organization for Migration was commended for this initiative engaging CSOs as they play an integral role in supporting vulnerable returnees and communities.
Bangladesh Embassy in Myanmar celebrates Sheikh Russel Day-2023
The discussants, in the seminar organized by Bangladesh Embassy, Yangon on the occasion of Sheikh Russel Day 2023, made a clarion call on the national governments and the international community to ensure the rights of the children and safe childhood for them.
The speakers expostulated the brutal killing of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members on 15 August 1975.
Also read: Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore marks 'Sheikh Russell Day-2023'
Particularly they mentioned the killing of Sheikh Russel, a 10-year-old child, as one of the worst signs of violation of children's rights.
Nadia Khoury, head of delegation, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) in Myanmar was present at the Seminar as the main discussant.
Amon others, Brig. Gen. Md. Aftab Hossain, PhD, defence advisor at the Embassy, Shihab Uddin Ahamad, country director at WaterAid, Myanmar, public health expert Dr. Syeda Afsana Amin, and child rights activist Probir Ranjan Bijan Bishi participated as speakers.
They discussed various thematic issues chalked out for the seminar.
Also read: Sheikh Russel Day is celebrated in Japan
The seminar, chaired and moderated by Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar Dr. Md. Monwar Hossain, also had the presence of representatives of International Organizations, officers and officials of the Embassy and members of Bangladesh community in Myanmar.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar Dr. Md. Monwar Hossain in his speech paid tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his martyred family members, 30 lac martyrs of the liberation war and all the freedom fighters of the liberation war of Bangladesh.
Also read: Perpetrators of August 15 need to be punished to honour Sheikh Russel: Info Minister
Referring to various articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Ambassador explained the necessity of implementing rights of the children.
He stressed that the killing of Sheikh Russel is a severe violation of human rights.
While mentioning the immense potential of Sheikh Russel by highlighting his strong will to serve the cause of humanity, Ambassador added that if Russel would have lived today, he would be a fine leader to realize the dream of Golden Bengal envisioned by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He expressed his hope that the children of this age will show Bangladesh a brighter way upholding the humanitarian attitude and simplicity of Sheikh Russel.
While highlighting the development trajectory of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the ambassador expressed his firm conviction that Bangladesh will reach her goal to become a developed country by 2041.
Organized at the Chancery premises, the programme included events, namely, laying of floral wreath before the portrait of Sheikh Russel, reading out of messages of President Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, screening of documentary on the life of Sheikh Russel.
Special prayers were offered for the salvation of the departed souls of the martyrs who were brutally killed on 15 August 1975.
Prize and certificates were given away among the children taking part in the Art Competition organised on this occasion.
IATA Member Certificate handed over to US-Bangla Airlines
US-Bangla Airlines recently became a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
For the first time a private airline in Bangladesh got IATA membership.
IATA's Regional Director for the Asia Pacific Region - Operations, Safety and Security, Blair Cowles, officially handed over the IATA Member Certificate today. US-Bangla Airlines Chief Executive Officer Captain Lutfor Rahman accepted the certificate.
Chief Financial Officer of US-Bangla Airlines Habibur Rahman, Head of Sales Shafiqul Islam, General Manager - Public Relations Kamrul Islam and Industry Affairs Manager of IATA Bangladesh Parvez Ibrahim were also present at the time of handing over the IATA member certificates.
AOSED receives "Smart Bangladesh 2023" Award
An Organisation for Socio-Economic Development (AOSED) received the prestigious "Smart Bangladesh Award-2023" in recognition of its exceptional role as a leading organisation in fostering resilience and expertise among coastal districts through an ICT-based Early Warning Response Mechanism.
The award was presented during the Sheikh Russel Day 2023 ceremony held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Wednesday.
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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the chief guest in the award presentation ceremony. The award, along with a certificate and a laptop, was handed to AOSED's Executive Director Shamim Arfeen.
"We consider this award not only as an honour, but also as an opportunity for further responsibilities. We aim to extend the reach of this programme extensively. We expect the cooperation of all government, non-government, and relevant individuals and institutions,” said Arfeen.
The southern coastal areas of Bangladesh, where approximately 3 million people reside and depend predominantly on engine-driven small boats for their livelihoods in the coastal and adjacent areas, have experienced an exponential growth in vulnerabilities to climate change-induced disasters such as cyclones, depression, storm surges and salinity over the last two decades. Consequently, the income of the coastal people has decreased, mirroring the impact on their livelihoods.
The climate change-induced impacts, as well as the various natural hazards have exacerbated vulnerabilities to disasters in the coastal districts. By utilizing this system, real-time vessel tracking from central monitoring hubs to the coastal areas and communicating essential weather-related information has led to increased resilience in the coastal districts.
Moreover, since the project has been successfully implemented, there are plans for its expansion in the future across the coastal districts.
Given the notable success of this project, it is seen as an integral part of the 8th Five-Year Plan of the Government of Bangladesh, SDG 1, 2, 13, and Blue Economy.
Rab arrest man for fraud claiming to be close to PM’s family
The Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested an alleged fraud on charge of embezzling a huge amount of money by claiming to be a close relative of the prime minister's family from the city's Bashundhara residential area on Tuesday night.
The elite force also recovered one foreign-made firearm, ammunition, one car used for fraudulent activities and videos and edited pictures from his possessions.
The man has been identified as Abu Hanif Tushar alias Hanif Mia, 39. He is a resident of Kasba in Brahmanbaria.
Also read: 8 arrested for smuggling dollars through betting apps in Khulna: RAB
Recently, Hanif demanded Tk 200 crore from a political leader of Awami League for managing nomination in the upcoming parliamentary elections. After that the AL leader complained to Rab. After investigation, the intelligence wing of the Rab headquarters and members of Rab-1 jointly conducted a drive in Bashundhara residential area and arrested Hanif.
Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of law and media wing of the Rab headquarters, disclosed the information in a press conference at Karwan Bazar Media Centre in the capital on Wednesday afternoon.
During the preliminary interrogation, Hanif said that he was involved in illegal activities, Al Moin said.
Also read: 6 Ansar Al Islam operatives held by RAB from different areas of capital
The Rab's media wing director also said that Hanif started working as a personal assistant of a political leader in Brahmanbaria in 2015, but he did not take any salary in return. He used to meet dignitaries attending seminars and take pictures with them. Later, he used to upload these pictures in Facebook.
Hanif used to take pictures not only in the country, but also in India with the dignitaries.
He used to tell people that he had good relations with the prime minister's close relatives and the Bangabandhu family, the Rab official said.
He also said that Hanif used to target various political figures. He used to demand 200 crore taka promising nomination as MP candidates. He has recently spoken to 10 to 12 such people.
Rab got such information from Hanif's mobile message. However, Hanif claimed that he did not take money from anyone.
The Rab spokesman said that Hanif had initially admitted to them that he made more than 5 crore rupees so far through fraudulent activities.
Also read: RAB arrests 4 ‘gang members’ who stole three-wheelers in Chapainawabganj
He used that money in the transport sector to run buses on streets. He also has expensive cars, houses and 20 bighas of land. The value of his property is huge, the official said.
Hanif also cheated on government officials by enticing them to get promotion.
ACC files case against ex-police official in Chattogram
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against a former police official in Chattogram for amassing wealth allegedly beyond his known sources of income.
The accused police officer has been identified as Md Shah Alam. He was posted as DIO-1 of the Office of District Superintendent of Police Chattogram. He is currently retired.
ACC’s Assistant Director of Chattogram Integrated District Office-1 Md Emran Hossain filed the case on Wednesday (October 18). In the case, Shah Alam has been accused of amassing assets worth Tk 1,07,41,721 beyond his known sources of income and concealing information about his assets.
Also read: ACC files case against DNCC ward councilor
Shah Alam, 59, is the son of Yaqub Ali of Master Bari under Muradnagar police station in Cumilla. He currently resides in CDA Agrabad R/A under Double mooring police station in Chattogram.
ACC Assistant Director Md Emran Hossain said the ACC filed a case against him after finding evidence that he had amassed a huge amount of money illegally.
"The ACC will now investigate the case further and take action accordingly," he added.
According to the case statement, on May 23, 2022, in the wealth statement submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission, Shah Alam has declared assets worth Tk1,99,62,954 including movable assets worth Tk 71,05,650 and immovable assets worth Tk1,28,57,304 in his name and Tk16.97 lakh in loans.
Also read: Ex-ACC official's death in custody: Court orders to take case against OC, 9 others
Of this, assets worth Tk 1,07,41,721 were inconsistent with his known source of income, which was initially proved. Therefore, a regular case was filed against him under Section 27 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004. If evidence of anyone else's involvement in the incident is found during the investigation, it will be taken into consideration.
Resolving Palestine crisis depends on ‘united efforts’ by Muslim Ummah: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said the solution of the Palestine crisis depends on the united efforts of the Muslim Ummah.
“If Muslim Ummah works unitedly, it is possible to solve the Palestine crisis,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while the envoys of the OIC member states assigned in Dhaka met her at her official residence Ganabhaban.
Ambassador of Palestine Yousef S. Y. Ramadan led the delegation.
The prime minister assured that Bangladesh stands by the Palestinians and would continue to do so following the policy initiated by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Read: No one wins by killing innocent people: Momen tells OIC meeting in Jeddah
Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said that the OIC member countries discussed the issue of Gaza situation in the wake of the escalation of the military action and humanitarian catastrophe there.
“Bangladesh will continue to support for the cause of the Palestinians as it did in the past,” she was quoted as saying.
The prime minister mentioned that special mujajat will be offered at the Jumma prayers for the Palestinians in all mosques across the country on Friday.
At the meeting, the Palestinian Ambassador elaborated severity carried out by the Israeli military in Gaza and its surroundings, saying it has created a humanitarian catastrophe, and the Israeli forces are using the most advanced US technology.
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Yusef Y Ramadan said that the Israeli forces carried out air strikes in Gaza despite the innocent Palestinians--most of them being children and pregnant women--took shelter in a hospital run by the Christians as they believed it to be safer.
During the time, he mentioned that the Palestinians who studied on medicine in Bangladesh are now working in the war field.
Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Essa Yousef Essa Al Duhailan, Ambassador of Algeria Rabah LARBI, Ambassador of Morocco Majid Halim, Ambassador of Qatar Ali M. S. Al-Qahtani, Ambassador of Libya Abdulmutaleb S M Suliman, Ambassador of Turkey Ramis Sen, Ambassador of Iran Mansour Chavoshi, High Commissioner of Brunei Haji Haris Bin Othman, Charge d' Affaires of UAE Hamid Al Tamimi, Charge d' Affaires of Iraq Mohanad Al Darraji, Charge d' Affaires of Oman Fathia Al - Bulushi, Charge d' Affaires of Indonesia Raden Usman Effendi and Charge d' Affaires of Egypt Mina Makary were present during the call on.
Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman was present during the meeting.
NBR seeks C&F agents’ details by Nov15 to prevent money laundering
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Wednesday instructed all the Clearing and Forwarding Agents (C & F Agents) to send their details to the customs authorities to prevent money laundering through import-export under false declaration.
The NBR sent instructions to the association of C&F agents and the agencies related to the imports and exports to provide the information by November 15, NBR officials confirmed it to UNB on Wednesday.
According to the NBR, after collecting the information these agents will be entered in NBR's ASYCUDA WORLD System. Following this initiative, customs authorities can easily identify a C&F agent of an importer. As a result, imports and exports will be stopped by fake bills of entry or bills of export.
Read: No one wins by killing innocent people: Momen tells OIC meeting in Jeddah
According to the directive, a C&F agent cannot undertake any activity related to commercial imports unless his information is in the database of the software.
Officials concerned said that recently the involvement of several C&F agents in smuggling huge money in the guise of exports came to the attention of the government. The new initiative of the NBR is taken to prevent false declarations of imports and exports.
According to the data of the customs department of the NBR, there are 8,422 importers listed under the bond facility in the country. The total number of importers and exporters is over 20,000. There are also around 10, 000 registered C&F agents in the country.
President Shahabuddin undergoes successful open-heart surgery
President Mohammed Shahabuddin underwent a successful open-heart surgery at the National University Hospital in Singapore on Wednesday.
“ The president has regained consciousness. He is currently under the care of doctors at the Incentive Care Unit of the hospital. The president's physical condition is gradually improving, “ his press secretary Joynal Abedin told UNB.
He said the surgery was performed under the supervision of eminent cardiac surgeon Prof. Dr. Kofidis Theodoros.
The president was admitted to the hospital after the necessary health check-up on Tuesday morning.
The president is expected to return home on October 30.
Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore marks 'Sheikh Russell Day-2023'
Bangladesh High Commission in Singapore on Wednesday celebrated 'Sheikh Russell Day-2023' with dignity and solemnity.
A special seminar was organised in the high commission auditorium to mark the day.
Members of the expatriate Bangladeshi community in Singapore, high-ranking officials of the Bangabhaban who accompanied the President and officials and employees of the Bangladesh High Commission attended the seminar.
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The speeches given by the President and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh marking the day were read out in the seminar. Then a documentary on the life of Sheikh Russell was displayed.
Professor Abdul Mannan, a renowned educationist, connected through Zoom from Dhaka, delivered the keynote paper in the discussion.
Regional Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Singapore Miz Ya-Min Woo made a call urging to stop child abuse by abstracting the theme of Sheikh Russell Day on a global canvas.
After that, President's Press Secretary Md. Joynal Abedin, public division secretary Md. Wahidul Islam Khan and President's secretary (Senior Secretary) Sampad Barua took part in the discussion.
High Commissioner Tauhedul Islam delivered the closing speech on the occasion. He paid tribute to the memory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation at the beginning of his speech.
“Even though the brutal bullet of an assassin took the life of a 10-year-old child Sheikh Russell on August 15, 1975, the assassins could not erase the memory of Sheikh Russell,” he said.