Bangladesh
Auto-rickshaw transport workers submit memorandum to realise 10-point demand
Auto-rickshaw and light vehicle transport workers submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner (DC) offices in Dhaka and other districts to realise their 10-point demand.
After a gathering at Bahadur Shah Park in the old city, the leaders and activists of Bangladesh Auto-Rickshaw Light Vehicle Transport Workers (BALTWF) submitted their memorandum to the DC office in the city.
The demands include immediate handing over of promised 5000 auto-rickshaw (3-wheelers) in Dhaka and 4000 in Chattagram to the drivers as per decision of the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, proper implementation of driver appointment law 1980, amendment to 21 clauses to the Road Transport Law 2018, constriction of divider and by-lane on the highways to check accidents, providing training to drivers at the government initiatives and issuing gazette notification to include the representatives of three wheelers in district RTC.
Read: Indefinite transport strike called in Sylhet from Wednesday
The meeting, with BALTWF president Abul Hossain, was addressed by general secretary of the organisation Golam Faruk, Haji Bahauddin Nobel, Rafiqul Islam and Zainal Abedin.
At the end of the meeting, a delegation led by the president and general secretary of Dhaka district unit of BALTWF submitted the memorandum to the deputy commissioner of Dhaka.
Read: Indefinite transport strike on Sylhet-Tamabil road from Monday
According to a press release, the other units of BALTWF similarly submitted their memorandum to the DCs of Cumilla, Brahmanbaria, Habiganj, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Kurigram, Sherpur, Faridpur, Rajbari, Rangpur, Bhola, Chittagong North, Chittagong South, Cox's Bazar, Khulna, Jessore, Rajshahi, Narsingdi, Jamalpur, Mymensingh, Netrakona, Naogaon.
Read: Indefinite transport strike in Sylhet from tomorrow
9930 MW electricity generation from renewable sources in pipeline: Nasrul
State Minister of State for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that the generation of 9930 MW of electricity from renewable sources is in the pipeline in Bangladesh.
He informed this while Winnie Estrup Peterson, the outgoing Ambassador of Denmark, called on him at his ministry office in the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday. During this time they discussed various issues related to mutual interest.
Read: Power generation rises to 15,304 MW setting new record
He also informed that Bangladesh is in process to import electricity to be generated from renewable sources from neighbouring countries.
Thanking the Danish envoy for his country’s interest in Bangladesh Nasrul Hamid said that Bangladesh has given special importance to renewable energy.
Read: After record, country’s power generation again drops below 15,000 MW
He said that 1194 MW of electricity is generated from renewable sources, but 825.23 MW of electricity is coming to the national grid.
Another 1262 MW power generation projects are underway through 30 projects from renewable energy and 8668 MW power generation projects are under process, he added.
Expressing interest in producing 500 MW of electricity from offshore wind, the ambassador said Danish companies are very interested in cooperating with Bangladesh to harness the blue-economy.
Read more: Despite further increase in power generation country reels under severe power cuts
Railways to utilize electricity in push to modernize
Railway Minister Md. Nurul Islam Sujan announced plans to introduce electricity as a means to modernize and upgrade the railway communication system in Bangladesh.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took several efforts to transform the Bangladesh Railway system into a modern, sustainable, and eco-friendly mode of transportation. Today’s contract signing is part of that modernization efforts,” he said during a contract signing ceremony with Tumas Turkish Engineering Consulting and Constructing Company on Sunday.
He expressed his optimism that the assigned task of utilizing electricity for railway operations, specifically for the Traction Narayanganj to Dhaka, Dhaka to Chattagram, and Tongi to Joydebpur sections, would be completed within the designated timeframe.
Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar rail line to open this year: Railways Minister
The minister emphasized the global trend of using gas and electricity in railways, citing Europe and many other countries as examples.
He highlighted the environmental benefits of this approach, saying, “It does not emit carbon, it is environmentally friendly, for the first time, the idea of using electricity is introduced in Bangladesh.”
Cox’s Bazar to be brought under rail connectivity within June: Railways Minister
The agreement was signed by Md. Habibur Rahman, Chief Electrical Engineer (East) representing Bangladesh Railway, and Ismail Heydarli representing Tumas Turkish Engineering Consulting and Constructing Company.
Railways Minister updates House on steps for rail security
Army corporal among 2 killed in separate road crashes in Dinajpur
Two people including an army man were killed in separate road accidents in Dinajpur district on Sunday.
Ruhul Amin, a corporal of 8th Engineering Battalion of Bangladesh Army and son of Zakir Hossain of Parbatipur upazila, was killed when a microbus hit his motorbike on Dinajpur-Rangpur highway at Champatoli of Chirirbandar upazila at noon, said Rezaul Haque, in-charge of Highway Police camp.
Meanwhile, a bus driver was killed and 10 others were injured when a bus plunged into a roadside ditch after being hit by a truck at Dinajpur-Phulbari regional highway in Phulbari upazila around 2pm.
Police recover man’s body from a field in Kushtia
The deceased was identified as Abu Bakkar, 30, son of Aftab Uddin of Sadar upazila.
Tanvirul Islam Tanvir, in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said the accident occurred when the bus of ‘Pronoy Paribahan’ fell into a ditch after being hit by a truck while overtaking it, leaving the driver dead on the spot and ten others injured.
Injured woman dies at DMCH
Air chief off to China
Chief of Air Staff of Bangladesh Air Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan left Dhaka for China on Sunday for an official visit along with his spouse and four-person entourage on an invitation of China People’s Liberation Army Air Force (CPLAAF).
During the visit, the air chief will make a courtesy call on General Li Shangfu, State Councilor and Defense Minister and General Chang Dingqiu, Commander of PLAAF, said ISPR in a media statement.
Read: Dhaka court rejects father’s petition; Japanese mother gets custody of 2 daughters
They will exchange views on different issues like training, modernization and exchange of technology between Air Forces of the twocountries.
Besides, Shaikh Abdul Hannan will visit China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC), Hongdu Aviation Industry Group, Air Force Command College (AFCC) and Aviation University of PLAAF.
Read: Air force trainer aircraft makes emergency landing in Bogura: ISPR
It is expected that the visit of the Chief of Air Staff will play a significant role in further strengthening the existing relationship between Bangladesh and China, ISPR said.
DMP has no such objection to BNP’s marches in capital on July 18, 19: Anee
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has no such objection to the BNP’s two-day marches in the capital, but they suggested changing the route of Tuesday’s programme, said party’s publicity secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee.
“We discussed with the DMP commissioner the march programmes of our one-point movement. They have no such objection. We sought their cooperation. We hope they will cooperate with us,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks on Sunday after a BNP delegation’s meeting with DMP Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq at his Bailey Road office.
Not possible to go to polls under AL: BNP tells EU delegation
Anee said the DMP authorities have suggested changing the route of Tuesday’s march programme to avoid the road in front of the Planning Ministry. “We’ll take a decision on it in consultation with our senior leaders.”
Besides, he said they also talked about BNP’s scheduled 'youth rally' in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office on July 22.
Asked whether the DMP gave BNP verbal permission to hold the march programmes, the BNP leader said, “Actually we’ve informed them (DMP). During the table discussion orally, we sought their cooperation and they’ll cooperate with us.”
He said their party has a team of volunteers who will work responsibly at each spot to hold the programmes peacefully.
EU Election Exploratory Mission holds meeting with BNP
“We’re going to hold our programmes peacefully as we want to intensify the movement by involving people,” Anee said.
Asked if there are any instructions on using the loudspeakers, he said the police authorities have requested them to conduct the campaign on social media instead of using the loudspeakers.
Replying to another question, the BNP leader said their party will come up with rallies, mass processions, mass hunger strikes and other tougher programmes to force the government to accept their one-point demand.
Earlier on July 12, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir formally announced a ‘one-point’ movement with the goal to remove Awami League from power to hold the upcoming national elections under a neutral government.
Countdown begins for govt's downfall, says BNP Leader Rizvi
As part of the first programme to realise the one-point demand, he also announced a two-day countrywide march programme for July 18 and 19.
On July 18, the BNP leader said the road march will be held in all metropolitan cities and districts across the country to realise one-point demand while the same programme will be observed in Dhaka stretching from Gabtali to Bahadur Shah Park in the old part of Dhaka from 10am to 4pm.
Besides, he said the party will also march on July 19 from Uttara’s Abdullahpur to Jatrabari from 10am to 4pm.
Apart from the BNP, 36 other like-minded political parties also announced the one-point movement and similar programmes to press home their demand to hold the next parliament elections under a non-party government.
BSMMU intern doctors protest at Shahbagh, demand increment in allowances
Postgraduate intern doctors at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) have held a protest in Dhaka's Shahbagh area, demanding a higher monthly allowance, timely payments, and clearance of dues.
They demanded a raise in their monthly allowance — from Tk 20,000 to TK 50,000.
The protesters called for a sit-in at the Shahbagh intersection this morning at the behest of the Postgraduate Private Trainee Doctors’ Association.
BSMMU students demand allowance increment
However, police personnel deployed in the area ahead of the demonstration stopped them from marching towards Shahbagh intersection.
In a protest against police interference, they locked up all the gates of BSMMU around 12 pm. Later, they came out of the hospital and staged a protest, blocking the road in front of BSMMU.
Witnesses said, around 1 pm some of the protesters came out of the hospital and tried to block Shahbagh intersection but police stopped them.
Neurosurgery training centre to be introduced at BSMMU
Tension escalated between doctors and the police, resulting in a chaotic situation. During the protest, doctors tried to obstruct the road, leading to the Science Lab from Shahbagh.
Eyewitnesses, including a nearby vendor, reported that in response to the road blockade, police resorted to using batons to disperse the doctors.
Protesting intern doctors said that police have been interfering in the protest since they announced their demand publicly. Postgraduate doctors get Tk 20000 as allowance per month which is insufficient to meet their basic needs, they said.
BSMMU prepared against Monkeypox: VC
They also said that they are not allowed to see patients outside BSMMU.
In an attempt to pacify the protesting students, Dr. Sharfuddin, Vice-Chancellor of BSMMU, made an appearance at approximately 3:50 pm.
Addressing the demonstrators, he stated, "In response to your demands, I have successfully arranged for the payment of your outstanding dues. Today, I held a meeting with the relevant officials to discuss the issues you have raised. If you heed my advice and return to the hostel, I anticipate being able to provide you with positive news soon. However, if you choose not to follow my instructions, you will need to find your own means to resolve the situation."
He asked the students to give him seven days to resolve the situation and urged them to get back to their studies.
The protest and blockade, lasting four hours, resulted in significant traffic congestion heading towards the Science Laboratory. The tailback caused considerable delays for motorists in the area.
END/UNB/AHT/FK/KW
TCB family card holders can buy 5 kg rice alongside oil, sugar, pulse from Sunday
Trading Corporation Bangladesh (TCB) card holder families can purchase 5 kgs of rice alongside its products including oil, sugar and pulse from Sunday.
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder inaugurated the TCB programme at No 1 ward of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi was present there.
TCB starts selling subsidised products to 1 crore families Sunday
Under the programme, a total of one crore TCB card holder families can purchase 5kgs of rice at Tk 30 per kg and the TCB dealers will fix the date and time.
One card holder family can purchase two litres of edible oil at Tk 200, two kgs of pulse at Tk 120, one kg sugar at Tk 70 and 5 kg rice at Tk 150.
One crore TCB card holder families to get 5 kg rice at Tk 30 from July
Talking to reporters, the Food minister said every year, the government distributs almost 30 lakh mts of food grain among people.
1 crore families to get smart cards to remove anomalies in TCB work: Commerce Minister
Jatiya Party central leader found dead in Dhaka
Abdus Salam Bahadur, finance secretary of Jatiya Party (JaPa), was found dead in Sher-e-Banglanagar area in Dhaka on Saturday night.
Abdus Salam Bahadur, 52, was also a contractor by profession and he used to live in Dhanmondi Road No. 27.
Utpal Barua, officer-in-charge of Sher-e-Banglanagar police station, said some miscreants threw him out of a red private car in front of the emergency department of Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital between 11:30pm and 12pm.
Later, on duty doctors at the emergency department declared him dead.
The body was sent to Suhrawardy Medical College Morgue for autopsy, OC Utpal said.
Reshuffle in police admin: 51 senior police officers get new postings
In the latest reshuffle in the police administration, 51 senior police officers including Additional Deputy Inspector General, Additional Police Commissioner, deputy inspector general of police and joint police commissioners have been transferred to different districts.
Public Security Division under the Home Ministry issued two separate notifications in this regard on Sunday.