Bangladesh
Faridpur temple fire: Villagers clash with police demanding arrest of accused in construction workers' lynching
Thousands of villagers on Tuesday clashed with law enforcers as the public demanded the arrests of the accused involved in the brutal deaths of two construction workers in a mob beating following a fire at a temple in Madhukhali upazila of Faridpur last Thursday (April 18, 2024) night.
Some members of the law enforcing agencies and villagers were injured in the clash that lasted for around three hours on Dhaka-Khulna highway but the exact number of the injured could not be ascertained.
One of the injured was sent to Bangabandhu Sheik Mujib Medical College Hospital in the district due to critical condition, confirmed Madhukhali police station’s Officer-in-Charge Miraj Hossain.
Witnesses said thousands of villagers formed a human demanding arrest of the accused on Dhaka-Khulna highway in Madhukhali Sadar in the morning and later brought out a protest procession which started heading towards Dumain Panchapalli where the lynching occurred last Thursday.
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Being barred from the law enforcers, the villagers became angry over the matter and started hurling brickbats targeting the enforcers, resulting in a chase and counter-chase for the three hours.
Due to the clash, hundreds of vehicles got stuck on both sides of the road, causing immense suffering amid the scorching heat.
Deputy Commissioner Md Qamrul Ahsan Talukder said he tried to assuage the agitated villagers but they didn’t pay heed to it.
“On behalf of the administration, we will consider the demand for which you are agitating with utmost importance. But the protesters did not respond to the administration's call and continued their programme,” he said.
Additional superintendent of police Md Imdad Hossain said following the Panchapalli incident, protesters tried to block the road from Madhukhali Sadar to Kamarkhali, while police tried to disperse them by firing tear gas and blank bullets at some places.
“We completely cleared the road by 3 pm. Vehicular movement is now normal,” the police officer said.
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Benazir’s wealth: HC orders ACC to submit progress report of investigation within 2 months
The High Court on Tuesday asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to submit a progress report on the investigation about the alleged illegal wealth of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and his family, within two months.The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Ebadoth Hossain passed the suo moto order.Advocate Sarwar Hossain and Barrister Manoj Kumar Bhoumik stood for the petitioner while senior advocate Shah Manjurul Haque and Syed Ahmed Raza stood for Benazir while Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the ACC and the state respectively.The HC bench said like India, Bangladesh should also have a wealth statement law for government employees. If there was a law, no one would have to guard their (government employees) property.
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In India, government employees have to submit their wealth statements at the time of joining and retiring from the job. Action is taken if there is a difference of more than 10 percent of the assets in the statement. To materialise Bangabandhu's dream of Sonar Bangla, such a law will have to be enacted, it added.
Earlier, ACC formed a committee to investigate the alleged corruption of Benazir Ahmed and his family.ACC secretary Khorsheda Yeasmin informed the update at a briefing held at the headquarter of the Commission on Monday.
High Court orders to recruit 285 people with disabilities under quota in govt primary schoolsBesides, a writ petition was filed with the High Court seeking investigation into the allegation brought against ex-IGP Benazir and his family.Salauddin Regan, a Supreme Court lawyer, filed the writ petition.The writ petition also sought investigation into the allegation.
It also sought issuance of a rule asking the government to explain as to why the ineffectiveness of the ACC in investigating the wealth of Benazir should not be declared illegal.Chairman of ACC, ACC Commissioners and ACC secretary were made respondents to the writ petition.A vernacular daily published a report on the title of ‘Aladiner Cherag at the house of Benazir’ on March 31.Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Sumon MP filed a petition with ACC seeking legal steps against Benazir on Sunday.
Body of Kaptai road crash victim received by inconsolable family in Narshingdi
“Shanto told me after he completes study, he will go abroad and then I can start my treatment. Now what will happen, where did my son go? Bring back my child please.”
These are the words of the bereaved mother of Shanto Saha, who died yesterday (22 April) in a road crash.
Shanto was a promising third-year student of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology’s (CUET) Civil Engineering department.
Cuet students continue demonstration for safe road, boycott classes
“My kid is no more, I do not want to live anymore,” Sheuli whispered brokenly through tears.
After Shanto’s dead body reached his house in Narshingdi’s Sheba Sangha area, this morning (23 April), his mother Sheuli was crying out those words.
“My son told me ‘I will pass engineering and go abroad, I will take you abroad for treatment. Who will tell me this now?”
Shanto's father, Kajal Saha, a cloth trader in Shekherchar Bazar, struggles to find words amidst his grief. “Shanto was our hope. A road accident destroyed everything. Our son said, ‘When I finish studying, you will not have to suffer any more.’ But today, everything is over.”
Shanto went to the university campus on Sunday after spending the holidays of Eid-ul-Fitr and Pahela Baishakh. Shanto's classmates informed his elder brother Kaushik Saha, a bank official, the news around 4:30pm on Monday.
Two CUET students on motorcycle killed by speeding bus in Chattogram
Shanto was the youngest of three brothers. His elder brother Prartha Saha is a student of a university in India. Prartha is coming to the country from India. Shanto's body will be buried on the bank of the Meghna River in the city as soon as his brother arrives home.
Shanto, and another student of CUET were killed after a speeding bus knocked down their motorcycle on Kaptai road in Chattogram on Monday.
The crash occurred around 3:30pm in the area adjacent to Selina Quader Chowdhury College on Chattogram Kaptai Road on Monday (April 22).
After the autopsy, the university authorities brought Shanto's body to Narshingdi in a freezing car at around 6:30 am. Two assistant provosts and seven classmates of Shanto brought the body.
Load shedding crosses 1000 MW amid sweltering heat
The extent of load shedding in the country crossed 1000 MW on Tuesday in electricity supply against soaring demand.
This is first time in recent days the power shortage crossed such a level while the highest load shedding was recorded at 966 MW on Monday although the power generation set a new record with the figure at 16,233 MW.
Amid the sweltering heat, first working day starts with 966 MW of load shedding
According to the National Load Dispatch Centre (NLDC) at the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), the country’s demand was recorded at 15,200 MW at 3pm on Tuesday, when the load shedding was 1049 MW.
On the other hand, the demand forecast for Tuesday evening was 16,800 MW and supply forecast was 16,530 MW.
According to official sources, maximum burden of the loadshedding was diverted to rural areas, as part of a policy to avert power outages in capital Dhaka and other large cities.
Gas supply situation slightly improves, load shedding continues
Reports from different areas said the extent of loadshedding is aggravating the plight of the rural people amid the sweltering heat this summer.
Meanwhile, state-owned Petrobangla’s official data shows that the country’s gas production was 3,056 million cubic feet per day (MMCFD) against a demand for 3,760 MW.
Despite weekly holiday, Saturday starts with 1,636 MW of load shedding
It shows that a good number of power plants, specifically those using gas as their primary fuel, remained off generation due to gas shortage.
The power plants received a supply of 1330 MMCFD gas against their demand for 2316.9 MMCFD, the data shows.
Bus ploughs through shop in Bagerhat; one dies
A youth died as a bus ploughed into a roadside shop in Matharia area of Kochua upazila on Bagerhat-Pirojpur highway on Tuesday morning.
The bus driver sustained injuries as he got stuck in the seat.
6 die in road accidents in 3 districts
Two people who were asleep inside the shop survived.
The deceased was Rakib Mollik, 27, son of Harun Mollik of Puthiakhali village of Morelganj upazila of Bagerhat.
Rickshawpuller injured in road accident dies at Dhaka hospital
The affected shop owner, Ekhlas, said that the speedy bus ploughed through his shop at around 6 am and fell into a nearby ditch.
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Ashraf Ali, sub-inspector (SI) of Katakhali Highway Police Station of Bagerhat, said police and fire fighters rescued the bus driver and sent him to Khulna Medical College Hospital.
DMP providing drinking water amid heat wave
Bangladesh police is organizing safe drinking water for daily wagers, rickshaw pullers and low-income people amid the ongoing heat wave that is sweeping across the country for the last several days, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Habibur Rahman.
DMP kept arrangements of pure drinking water by setting up some trolleys of water in different parts of the city under 50 police station areas, he said while briefing to reporters at DMP Media Centre.
He also believed that Bangladesh Police has not only set an example in maintaining law and order situation but also in humanitarian issues.
Replying to a question about changing the uniform of traffic police, the DMP commissioner said so far there is no such thought but there is a norm to provide white umbrellas instead of black.
Besides, the police hospitals are kept ready to provide treatment to the sick policemen if they fall ill amid the heat.
DGHS issues directives to reduce risk of heat stroke
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Tuesday issued some directives to reduce the risk of heat stroke in extreme heat.
According to the DGHS Facebook page,
· It asked people to refrain from severe heat and keep rest in sheds occasionally.
· It also asks to drink plenty of safe water (2.5 to 3 litres for adults) and avoid having street food and beverage to avoid waterborne diseases like hepatitis A, E and diarrhea.
· It also asks people to take bath multiple times, if needed.
· The DGHS asks to wear loose and light colour dress and avoid from deep colourful dress amid hot temperature.
· It also asks to go to the hospital immediately and consult a doctor if any symptoms like stop sweating, nausea, severe headache, and rises in body temperatures, urination decreases, urinary irritation, seizures and occurrence of fainting are found in a person.
· To take medical treatments during extreme heat in any health issues like diabetics, kidney disease, high blood pressure and others.
· It also asks to take care of mental health and follow the directives and inspire others to follow it.
· Make a call to Health care service 16263 for health related issue.
Bangladesh reports 23 COVID-19 cases in 24hrs
Bangladesh reported 23 more COVID-19 cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total COVID-19 caseload rose to 2,049,897, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,494 as no new fatalities were reported during this period.
The daily case test positivity rate was 4.55 percent as 506 samples were tested, said the DGHS.
The recovery and death rates stood at 98.41 percent and 1.44 per cent, respectively.
11 dengue patients hospitalised in 24hrs
No fresh death due to dengue was reported in Bangladesh in the 24 hours till Tuesday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, eleven patients were hospitalised with viral fever during this period, according to the DGHS.
Of them, four were admitted in Dhaka hospitals, while the rest was outside the capital.
A total of 120 patients are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, 2, 051dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024.
Last year, a total of 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record.
The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3, 18,749 recoveries last year.
Last year’s September was the deadliest month for the dengue outbreak, with 396 fatalities and 79,598 cases, according to DGHS data.
Seminar: All actors urged to work together to secure rights of migrants
Speakers at a seminar on Tuesday highlighted the emerging challenges of labour migration from South Asia and urged all actors to work together to secure the rights of the migrants.
Speaking as the chief guest, PM’s Economic Affairs Adviser Dr. Mashiur Rahman spoke about the contribution of labour migrants to the South Asian economy and highlighted Bangladesh’s enthusiasm for working together with other countries.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in collaboration with the Consortium of South Asian Think Tanks (COSATT) and Political Dialogue Asia Programme, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) organised the regional seminar on “Labour Migrants from South Asia: Issues and Concerns” at BIISS auditorium.
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Khairul Alam spoke as special guest.
BIISS Chairman Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker chaired the inaugural session while Director General of BIISS Major General Md Abu Bakar Siddique Khan and Convener, COSATT Dr. Nishchal N. Pandey delivered welcome remarks.
Regional Programme, Political Dialogue Asia, KAS, Singapore Andreas Klein Director also spoke.
The seminar was divided into two working sessions. The first working session was focused on “Labour Migrants from South Asia: Contemporary Challenges” which was chaired by Dr Tasneem Siddiqui, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Political Science, University of Dhaka.
Five presenters: Md Shariful Hasan, Programme Head, BRAC Migration Programme; Dr Mallika Joseph, Senior Fellow, WISCOMP, New Delhi; Mahesh Raj Bhatta, Research Officer, Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu; Shishir Khanal, Member of Parliament, Kathmandu and Col. Nalin Herath, acting Director General, Institute of National Security Studies, Colombo participated in the first session.
The second working session was concentrated on “Addressing Challenges: Regional Cooperation and Partnerships”.
It was chaired by Megha Sarmah, Programme Manager 2030 Agenda, KAS, Singapore.
The second session also had five presentations from Dr. Benuka Ferdousi, Senior Research Fellow, BIISS; Sugeeswara Senadhira, Advisor, the Prime Minister’s Office, Colombo; Hernaikh Singh, Deputy Director, Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore, Anu Maria Joseph, Research Associate, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru, Dr. Anasua Bosu Ray Choudhury, Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata.
Senior officials from different ministries, diplomats, senior civil and military officials, media, academia, researchers, faculties and students from various universities, and representatives from international organisations participated in the seminar.