Bangladesh
Discrimination, sexual abuse have no place in Peacekeeping Missions, Dhaka says
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen today said Bangladesh looks forward to explore effective strategies to ensure that all peacekeepers, irrespective of gender, can thrive in a safe and supportive environment.
“Discrimination and sexual abuse have no place in our Peacekeeping Missions, and we must collectively strive to eradicate such occurrences,” he said.
The Foreign Secretary was speaking at the opening session of the preparatory meeting of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial.
He said their collective presence here today is a testament to Bangladesh’s commitment to strengthening peacekeeping efforts.
“I firmly believe that this preparatory meeting will set the stage for the upcoming UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting, which would need to take into account emerging concerns of the member states about the security situations in some missions,” Masud Bin Momen said.
Read: US Embassy expresses sadness over attack on 3 Bangladeshi UN peacekeepers in Mali
The commitments and recommendations that emerge from the discussions will constructively shape the future of peacekeeping, inspire all member states, and propel them towards a more inclusive, gender-responsive, and effective peacekeeping architecture, he said.
“Let us work together to create a more inclusive and equitable peacekeeping environment, where the voices and contributions of women are recognised, valued, and celebrated,” the foreign secretary said.
The theme of the preparatory meeting, ‘Women in UN Peacekeeping,’ resonates deeply with the values and principles that Bangladesh holds dear, he observed.
As a leading Troop and Police Contributing Country to UN Peacekeeping Missions, the foreign secretary said, Bangladesh remains firmly committed to the principles and objectives of the United Nations in promoting peace, security, and gender equality. “We believe that, gender equality and empowerment of women are crucial for sustainable peace and development.”
Read: 3 Bangladeshi peacekeepers injured in IED blast in Mali
United Nations Under Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Under Secretary General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance Catherine Pollard joined the two-day meeting.
“We will discuss how we can increase the number of women in peacekeeping and ensure they access all roles within our missions. It requires everyone’s commitment, including member states and partners,” the foreign secretary said.
USG Lacroix will join the site visit to Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) in Gazipur with other delegates on the second day of the conference.
Read more: US lauds Bangladeshi peacekeepers' role
Four war criminals sentenced to death
The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) today sentenced four war criminals, including Jashore’s Md Amzad Hossain Mollah, to death for crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.
The other three convicts are Wahab Mollah, Md. Mahtab Biswas and Md. Fasiar Rahman Mollah.
A three-member bench of the International Crimes Tribunal, headed by its Chairman Justice Md Shahinur Islam, passed the order. The other two members of the tribunal are Justice Md Abu Ahmed Jamadar and Justice KM Hafizul Alam.
Also read: RAB arrests convicted war criminal in Sylhet
This is the tribunal's 52nd verdict. The verdict began at 10:35 am. Justice KM Hafizul Alam read out the first part of the 169-page verdict. Two-thirds were read out by Justice Md. Abu Ahmed Jamadar.
The main part of the verdict was read out by the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Md. Shahinur Islam. At the time of the verdict, the only accused arrested in the case, Md Amjad Hossain Mollah, was present at the court.
Earlier on June 21, the tribunal fixed the date to pronounce the verdict against four accused, including Md Amjad, in a case filed over crimes against humanity.
Also read: 2 fugitive war criminals on death row arrested in Dhaka, RAB says
On May 11, arguments were completed against four accused, including Md Amjad of Bagherpara in Jashore.
The accused are: Md. Amjad Hossain Mollah, Wahab Mollah, Md. Mahtab Biswas, Fasiar Rahman Mollah, and Md. Nowsher Biswas.
Md Amjad was arrested in the case on May 22, 2017. The other four were absconding. However, one of the absconders, Nowsher Biswas, died.
Also read: Fugitive death-row war criminal held in city
According to the case statement, Md Amjad and his associates abducted Md Moinuddin of Bagherpara area in the Bangla month of Bhadra in 1971, taking him to Premchhara Razakar Camp where he was killed after three days of torture.
They were also accused of torturing and killing Dr Nowfel Uddin Biswas, Surat Ali Biswas and Moktar Biswas for assisting freedom fighters during the 1971 Liberation War.
Police constable among 2 dead in Munshiganj road crash
Two people including a police constable were killed and three others injured as a speeding microbus hit them in front of Padma Uttar police station in Munshiganj on Sunday.
Constable Md Motaleb Miah, 32, was posted at Mawa Traffic Point while the identities of the deceased woman and injured victim could not be known immediately.
Read: Hanging body of cop recovered from police barrack in Mymensingh
Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Padma Uttar police station, said the Shariatpur-bound microbus from Gazipur’s Tongi knocked down five people around 9:30am when a front tyre of the vehicle got punctured in Medhinimandal Khan Bari area, leaving the woman dead on the spot.
Read: Cop crushed under wheels of train in Gazipur
The injured were taken to a local hospital where constable Motaleb succumbed to his injuries, he said, adding the rest were receiving treatment there.
The bodies were sent to Munshinganj General Hospital morgue for autopsy, the police office said.
The microbus was seized but its driver managed to flee.
Read: Cop dead, colleague hurt in Mongla road crash
Sonamasjid land port to remain shut for 6 days for Eid-ul-Azha
Trade with India through the Chapainawabganj’s Sonamasjid land port will remain suspended from June 27 to July 2 for the Eid-ul-Azha holidays, port authorities said.
However, cross border travel will continue through the immigration check post of the port during this time, said Kamal Uddin, manager (operation) of Panama-Sonamasjid Port Link Limited, which operates the port.
Also read: Sonamasjid Land Port in Chapainawabganj to remain closed for 6 days during Eid
Kamal said the matter has been reported to the Mahadipur Exporters’ Association and C&F Agents Association of India.
“Trade activities will resume at the port from July 3,” he added.
Also read: Benapole Port to remain shut for 5 days
Body of teen who jumped into pond being chased by dogs recovered in Natore
The body of a teenage boy who jumped into a pond after being chased by a pack of dogs was recovered from the water body in Sadar upazila of Natore early Sunday.
The deceased was Shihab, 16, son of Khokan Ali of Boroharipur area under the upazila and a class IX student of Natore Government Technical School and College.
Read: Woman’s body recovered with hands, feet tied in Narayanganj: Police
Abul Kalam Azad, inspector (investigation) of Natore Sadar police station, said the dogs chased Shihab and his friends when they were roaming in Choukirpar area last evening.
Read: Man’s body recovered from tea garden in Sylhet
Though all managed to flee, Shihab jumped into the pond to escape from dog bite and drowned, he said, adding that the family members and others searched for him in the pond but didn’t find.
Later, the body was recovered around 1am, he added.
Read more: 10th grader’s body recovered from Buriganga
Man on the run after ‘beating elder brother to death’ in Ctg, 2 more injured
An elderly man was beaten to death and two others were injured in an attack allegedly by his younger brother and others in Hathazari upazila of Chattogram district on Saturday night.
The deceased was Abu Taher, 60, of Gordoar union under the upazila and the injured are his son Azam and his wife.
Mohammad Sarwar Morshed Talukdar, chairman of Gordoar union parishad, said there had been a dispute between the families of Taher and his younger brother Yousuf over setting up a makeshift room by the pond in the homestead.
Read: Village quack stabbed, beaten dead in Narail
On Saturday afternoon, the victim's son Azam broke the structure, bringing the allegations that Yousuf’s sons were bringing outsiders and they were harassing women coming to the pond to take bath.
Enraged by this, Yousuf accompanied by his sons and some outsiders carried out the attack on Taher, his son, and daughter-in-law with locally-made arms around 8 pm last night, leaving Taher dead on the spot and the couple critically injured, he said.
The perpetrators fled the area after the incident, he added.
Read: Father beaten dead for protesting abusive words against daughter in Jamalpur
Ameer Hossain, sub-inspector of Hathazari police station, said on information they recovered the body and sent it to Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. The injured were also being treated at the hospital.
He said drives were on to nab the accused involved in this incident.
Read more: ‘Criminal’ beaten dead in Cox’s Bazar
UN USG for Peace Operations Lacroix in Dhaka; will meet PM
United Nations Under Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix arrived in Dhaka on Saturday.
Director General (UN), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Director General (Ops and Planning), Armed Forces Division, and Deputy Inspector General (Operations) of Bangladesh Police, welcomed him at the airport.
"We will discuss how we can increase the number of women in peacekeeping and ensure they access all roles within our missions. It requires everyone's commitment, including Member States and partners," he said upon arrival.
Lacroix is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam during his visit.
Read: UN USG for Peace Operations Lacroix to attend 1st peacekeeping ministerial preparatory meeting in Dhaka
He also has scheduled meetings with the Chief of Services (Army, Navy, Airforce) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP), said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The UN Under Secretary-General for Peace Operations holds an important portfolio providing political and executive direction to UN peacekeeping operations around the world and maintaining coordination with the UN Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict, in the implementation of UN Security Council mandates and the deployment of military capabilities in the UN missions.
Read: Climate change: Foreign Minister highlights adaptation efforts
UN Under-Secretary General for Peace Operations Lacroix and Under Secretary General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance Catherine Pollard will grace the opening and closing ceremonies of the two-day preparatory conference of the UN peacekeeping ministerial in Dhaka on June 25-26.
Lacroix will also speak as a guest speaker in the PrepCon session on ‘Gender-Responsive Leadership and Inclusive Teams’.
USG Lacroix will join the site visit to Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) in Gazipur with other delegates on the second day of the conference.
He will leave Dhaka on June 27.
Three construction workers killed as crane crashes in Demra
Three construction workers were killed when a crane crashed on them at an under construction building at Demra in the city on Saturday.
The victims were identified as Jafar, 50, Mostafa, 42, and Mizan, 32.
Contacted, Sub Inspector Abdul Awal of Demra Police station said, the incident took place at around 2:00 pm when the three victims along with others were busy working at an under construction building near Noor-e-Madina mosque of Noapara in Demra.
Suddenly, the load line tore off a crane, which was lifting construction materials, falling on the workers leaving Jafar, Mostafa and Mizan dead on the spot, SI Awal said.
The bodies were sent to Mitford hospital morgue for postmortem.
Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya founder, his wife remanded
A Dhaka court has put Shamin Mahfuz, founder of militant group Jama'atul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya and his wife Naznin Sultana on a four-day and three-day remand respectively in a case lodged under the Anti-Terrorism Act with the capital's Demra police.
Read: DB arrests 4, inc. ACC employee extorting cash in Motijheel
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ahmed Humayun Kabir passed the order as police produced the duo before the court and pleaded to place them on ten-day remand on Saturday.
Earlier, the Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit (CTTC) members on Friday arrested the duo from the city's Demra area.
Read: IGP warns against stopping vehicles carrying cattle without specific complaints
A large number of arms and explosives were seized from their possession at the time.
Chattogram City Corporation, Unilever Bangladesh Limited and YPSA sign MoU towards plastic circularity
Unilever Bangladesh Limited (UBL) signed an MoU recently with Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), and Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) for improved plastic circularity in Chattogram City Corporation at an event at the Radisson Blu Chattogram Bay View in Chattogram.
Sheikh Mohammad Tauhidul Islam, chief executive officer, Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), Zaved Akhtar, CEO and managing director, Unilever Bangladesh Ltd (UBL), and Palash Chowdhury, finance director, Young Power in Action (YPSA), signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.
Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, mayor of Chattogram City Corporation, was present at the event as the chief guest.
Unilever Bangladesh in collaboration with YPSA started a plastic circularity project in Chattogram City Corporation in 2022 with the vision to enhance the informal value chain and increase plastic waste collection. Since June 2022, 7000 tonnes of plastic waste have been collected, more than 2000 waste workers were trained and received livelihood support, and 100% collected plastic was recycled.
Under the MoU, Unilever and YPSA aim to collect 10% of Chattogram's plastic waste, strengthen 5000 waste workers' livelihoods, increase citizen awareness and formalise the informal recycling value chain in Chattogram, said a press release.