Bangladesh
3 siblings drown in Sunamganj haor
Three siblings drowned as a boat sank in a haor at Gobindapur in Sadar upazila of Sunamganj district on Sunday.The deceased were identified as Chandni, 12, Rabiul, 3 and Tanni, 8—three children of Sohel Mia of the upazila.
Minor boy among 2 drown in Ctg
The three children were in Kharcha haor in the morning.
At one stage, the boat carrying them sank in the Haor due to strong current, said Ikhtier Uddin Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station.
Three schoolgirls drown in NarayanganjOn information, a team of divers from local firefighting units rushed to the spot and fished out the bodies.2 children drown in a pond in Jamalpur
Media people, academics denounce misinformation involving PM Hasina
A statement falsely attributed to Bangladesh Prime Minister raised at a U.S. state department briefing by a former press official of Begum Khaleda Zia reiterated the call by rights activists and journalists for not counting on “single and controversial” source for receiving information and drawing judgements.
Under the pretext of asking question to Mathew Miller, Spokesperson for US Department of State, Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey put forward a statement turned out grossly inaccurate with many calling it a “deliberate and ill motivated attempt” to drive a wedge in bilateral ties between the two countries.
CGS hosts dialogue on confronting misinformation in Bangladesh
In reference to a small but strategic island Ansarey, who served as an assistant press secretary during BNP’s last stint can be heard saying “Bangladesh PM said US wants to grab Saint Martin” in a media briefing asking response from the spokesperson.
“Such outright egregious assertion can no way fall in ambit of journalism, defies all academic criterion of what we consider work of journalism in academic arena. Rather we can better describe such act as textbook case of propaganda peddling,” AAMS Arefin Siddiq, a former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University and a former professor at its journalism department.
In reference to a series of past false assertions by Ansarey, another former professor of mass communication and journalism department Golam Rahman added “ Such sort of campaign should not be treated as work of journalism— activists can run motivated campaign — in the wake of such activism, objective work of reportage comes at play. independent work of journalism is a good tool to fight out such menace”
Attendees tight-lipped on inter-ministerial meeting to tackle propaganda, misinformation
The academic also reminded of an earlier barrage of disinformation campaign to justify World Bank's earlier move to pull out funds from Padma Bridge project, while later a Canadian court ruled out such allegation and observed such assertions were based on flimsy ground and faulty evidence
“But a reality check reveals, the premier did not mention any reference of US in her statement on explaining the growing geo-strategic importance of the Island”, added Harun or Rashid, a senior journalist.
Using the scope of asking questions before US spokesman, presenting such level of disinformation, not even sparing a Prime Minister, and then throwing up questions is an attempt to clearly draw an “instigating” answer, says Ajoy Das Gupta, a senior journalist and researcher.
“A journalist should remain careful in framing questions backed by substantive evidence. Any breach in this basic guideline would surely eliminate objectivity and expose agenda driven activism”, told a senior journalist Haroon or Rashid.
“In the pretext of asking questions, leaving half-truth ridden innuendos in no way boost credentials of any journalist and stands as a clear attempt to mislead the one who is answering alongside can not be regarded as journalism rather activism”, he added
My aim is to change fate of the people of Bangladesh: PM Hasina says at Tungipara
The practice of outright false attribution centering PM at such befrinings is surely considered as a classic case of disinformation campaign, violates all ambits of responsible journalism and is dangerous and can not be taken lightly as it’s a brazen abuse of freedom of press, says Gazi Nasiruddin Khokon, who worked on a leading outlet Bdnews.
He also stressed on lack of absence of a rigorous cross checking segment for spokespersons before they issue their comments,
Earlier, renowned rights activist Sultana Kamal has said the UN bodies and other international organisations, while taking information on human rights issues, should not rely on a single source.
Reminding a recent move by the administration of US President Joe Biden in defence of a new initiative to help target disinformation, Professor Delwar Hossain, an international affairs expert , said that “in every country, the menace of disinformation has become commonplace.
On January 8, International Business Times UK, an online news portal, ran two separate statements attributed to the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs and six Congressmen, which were said to have been obtained from an aide of Khaleda Zia's elder son and BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Days later, the portal withdrew the statement and published a fresh one in which the US body on foreign affairs blasted those working behind this “fake” statement.
Quran burning: Bangladesh summons Swedish Embassy Chargé d’Affaires to protest incident
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today (July 02, 2023) summoned Jakob Etaat, Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) at the Swedish Embassy in Dhaka, to protest burning of a copy of the Holy Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm.
Salwan Momika, said to be an Iraqi living in Sweden, set fire to a copy of Islam’s holy book outside Stockholm’s central mosque on Wednesday, according to BBC.
Earlier on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the “deplorable act” in a statement published on the ministry’s official Facebook page.
Also read: Dhaka strongly condemns burning of Quran outside Mosque in Sweden
“Bangladesh expressed grave concern over such heinous acts of insulting the sacred values and religious symbols of the Muslims in the name of ‘freedom of expression,’” the statement read.
“Bangladesh yet again urged all concerned to put an end to such unwarranted provocations for the sake of harmony and peaceful coexistence,” the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added.
Also read: Sweden arrest 5 suspected of terror, ties to Quran burning
The Quran burning was condemned by many Muslim-majority countries.
Meanwhile, the Swedish government said it strongly rejects the Islamophobic act committed by individuals in Sweden.
This act in no way reflects the opinions of the Swedish government, according to the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Also read: Bangladesh strongly condemns burning of Holy Quran in Denmark
Heavy rains may trigger short-term flood in Sylhet, Sunamganj
North-Eastern and adjoining upstream region of the country may experience short-term flood due to heavy rainfall in 48 hours since Sunday (July 02, 2023) morning, said a bulletin of Flood Forecasting and Warning Center of the Bangladesh Water Development Board.
Some rivers of this region including Surma, Old Surma, Sarigowain, Khowai, Jadukata, Someswari, Bhogai-Kangsha may rise rapidly and cause short-term flood in the adjoining low-lying areas as there is a chance of heavy to very heavy rainfall in the region during the period, it said.
The Brahmaputra-Jamuna and the Padma rivers are in steady state, while the Ganges River is in rising trend, which may continue in next 48 hours.
Read: Flood crisis grips Kurigram: thousands trapped, shortage of food-water intensifies
All the major rivers in the North-Eastern region of the country are in rising trend.
Due to the chance of heavy rainfall in the adjoining upstream, the Teesta, the Dharala and the Dudhkumar rivers in the Northern region may rise rapidly at times in the next 48 hours.
Teesta river may cross danger level at Dalia point in the next 24 hours, said FFWC.
Read: Flash flood inundates Haor areas in Kishoreganj, ferry services suspended
Last year, the residents of Sylhet district experienced a devastating flood as 70 percent of the district went under floodwater while 10,000 dwelling houses were damaged, causing immense sufferings to thousands of people.
Read more: Onrush of upstream water, rain trigger flood in Kurigram
Rights activists question 2 int’l groups’ campaign ‘against including Bangladeshi security force members in UN peacekeeping missions’
Several human rights activists, war heroes and academics have questioned what they called a “disinformation campaign” against Bangladesh by two international organisations – exerting pressure on the UN to stop including Bangladeshi security force members in peacekeeping missions.
They also referred to the earlier stance of Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International against the country’s war crimes trials – “acting like defenders of Jamaat who committed crimes against humanity in 1971.”
They urged the UN not to rely solely on the organisations, but rather verify with multiple credible sources before drawing any conclusion.
Also read: BNP’s ‘Killers should not be peacekeepers’ tweet draws condemnation, experts question motive
In the run up to the recent visit of United Nations Under-Secretary General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and UN Under-Secretary General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance Catherine Pollard, HRW and Amnesty raised demands for “enhanced screening” of Bangladeshi peacekeepers.
Tweets from Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) verified account and Basherkella – a pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Twitter account – referring to Bangladeshi peacekeepers, that includes members of the country’s armed forces, in UN missions and calling for Lacroix to publicly voice concerns over “abuses by government security forces” during his visit to Bangladesh drew criticism from netizens, including AL activists and supporters.
A tweet from the verified, official account of BNP read: “Killers should not be peacekeepers.”
Also read: Peacekeeping Forces: UN says it does 'due diligence', thanks Bangladesh
“How could international rights bodies be so motivated and guided by certain political philosophies to demand that the United Nations take punitive measures against the largest contributor of troops to peacekeeping missions?” – asked Prof Mizanur Rahman, former chairman of National Human Rights Commission of Bangladesh.
“Not only is Bangladesh one of the largest contributors of troops, but so far around 150 Bangladeshi peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives to ensure peace around the world,” he observed.
Referring to HRW’s position on Bangladesh’s war crimes trials, Prof Rahman mentioned a November, 2014 statement released by HRW that called for immediately halting the death sentence against Muhammad Kamaruzzman, a Jamaat-e-Islami leader convicted of war crimes during the Liberation War.
Also read: Those trying to undermine peacekeepers’ achievements are Bangladesh’s enemies: Shahriar
Kamaruzzman was awarded capital punishment for “advising members of Al-Badr and Razakar forces on July 25, 1971 to commit a large-scale massacre in association with Pakistani troops in Sohagpur village of Nalitabari upazila in Sherpur… The collaborators murdered 164 unarmed civilians, 44 of whom have been named, and raped many women. So many men were killed in the attack that later on Sohagpur became known as Bidhoba Palli (village of widows).” [Source: The Daily Star]
On the other hand, Amnesty International, in October, 2014, released a statement saying, “Death penalty will not bring justice for crimes during independence war.”
In October, 2015, the rights body went as far as to say, “Serious crimes were also committed by pro-independence forces, but no one has been investigated or brought to justice for them.”
Also read: Tweets by former US diplomat on role during Dhaka stint in 2007-08 and recent Bangladesh focus generate curiosity, debate on social media
“Would anyone question the war crimes trials against the Nazis and their collaborators?” – Prof Rahman asked.
Earlier, in an interview with India Today, renowned human rights activist and lawyer Sultana Kamal had said, “I am of the opinion that HRW and Amnesty International’s role regarding the trial of war criminals was not fair. Also, they are not being vocal against war crimes committed in 1971.”
Also read: ‘What future do BNP and their paid agents plan for defence forces when they challenge their qualification to serve as peacekeepers?’ — Shahriar Alam asks
My aim is to change fate of the people of Bangladesh: PM Hasina says at Tungipara
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said her goal is for improving the condition of the people of the country.
“My goal is to change the fate of the people of Bangladesh,” she said at a meeting at Tungipara in her home district of Gopalganj.
The premier was exchanging greetings and views with local leaders and members of Awami League and its associate bodies, public representatives and local people at AL office here on the occasion of the Eid-ul Azha. She is now on a two-day visit to the district.
Also read: Media people, academics denounce misinformation involving PM Hasina
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of ruling Awami League, said her government has made massive development of the country through implementation of different programmes including "My House, My Firm", community clinics, Digital Bangladesh, "My Village, My Town," as well as reaching electricity to every house.
“Now everyone sees Bangladesh as a role model for development,” she said.
Sheikh Hasina in her concluding speech said her government has successfully curbed terrorism and militancy in this country.
Also read: Vote for Awami League in upcoming national election: PM tells people in Gopalganj
“Still some quarters try to indulge in such activities. If the people remain cautious, they won’t be able to do it,” she said adding that the engagement of people is most essential here.
Referring to the torture and violence unleashed by BNP, the PM said the people of the country witnessed the terrorist face of BNP-Jamaat. They didn’t make any development of the country, rather they became the owners of assets and properties and siphoned money off the country, she said.
She said they (BNP-Jamaat) committed many misdeeds like siphoning money, terrorism, corruption, creating militants, killing the people, preparation of electoral rolls with 1.23 crore fake voters.
Also read: PM Hasina reaches Kotalipara on two-day visit to Gopalganj
Referring to the arson violence carried out by BNP-Jamaat during the 2013-2015, the PM said those who can burn and kill the innocent people alive have nothing called politics.
“For them the power is the money-making machine and to play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people,” she said.
The premier asked all to remain alert so that none can play with the fate of the people of Bangladesh anymore.
Referring to Bangabandhu ‘s foreign policy dictum of ‘Friendship to all, and malice towards none’, said her government follows this policy.
“But we don’t want anyone to create obstacles on our development journey or our progress. We will not tolerate that,” she said.
Also read: Let’s share the joy of Eid-ul-Azha, imbued with amicability and sense of brotherhood: PM
Coming down heavily on some Bangladeshis who complain against the country, she said those who have no strength on their own soil, and have no trust and confidence in the people of own country complain (before the foreigners) going abroad and spread false information to misguide the people.
“Today my promise is that none will be allowed to play ducks and drakes with the fate of the people of this country. The people of this country will be a hunger-poverty-free, developed and prosperous nation,” said Hasina.
Mentioning that Bangladesh will start its journey as a developing country in 2026, she said if BNP-Jamaat come to power again, they will play foul with the people of this country and will ruin it.
“So, everyone will have to work together to stop them,” she said.
Also read: AL must be in power for Bangladesh's graduation to developing country: PM
Citing that many people including AL men were killed by BNP terrorists, PM Hasina said the Canadian Federal Court declared BNP as a terrorist organization.
“This terrorist organization has no right to talk about the people of Bangladesh. The false information they spread would not last long,” she said.
Criticizing the leadership of BNP, Hasina said she behaved with kindness to suspend the corruption sentence of BNP leader Khaleda Zia and allowed her to stay home.
BNP acting chairperson (Tarique Zia) is also a convicted person in 10-truck arms-haul and August 21 grenade attack cases and he is now staying in London as a fugitive talking big through social media.
Also read: When AL in power, fate of people improves: PM Hasina
“Why doesn't he (Tarique) come to Bangladesh since he says he has so much courage? He can’t do it. He can’t show such courage,” she said.
She said Tarique fled the country giving an undertaking to the then caretaker government that he won’t do politics anymore.
The people of this country and Awami League have no such wretchedness that they will have to hear such words and take lessons from them now, she said.
The PM asked all to exercise austerity in the use of electricity and water, plant trees in the rainy season and not to keep an inch of land uncultivated for boosting food production amid the current global situation.
Also read: BNP-Jamaat out to destroy the country: PM Hasina
The AL chief heard from the local leaders of the party and public representatives particularly regarding the development in her constituency.
They wished that Sheikh Hasina will be the next prime minister.
Sheikh Helal Uddin, MP, and Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel among others, were present at the function.
Tungipara AL president Sheikh Abul Bashar Khair was present on the dais while its general secretary Md Babul Sheikh moderated the function.
Sheikh Hasina will return to Dhaka today ending her two-day visit to her home district Gopalganj.
Also read: AL wins election through people's vote, not by rigging: PM Hasina
DB arrests 4 in connection with police constable's death from stabbing in Dhaka's Farmgate
Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested four people from different areas of the capital last night in connection with the murder of a police constable.
Md Golam Sobur, deputy commissioner of the DB Police (Tejgaon Division), said, "We have arrested four, and one of them admitted to his involvement in the attack."
Also read: Police constable stabbed dead in Dhaka
Police are still conducting operations to arrest others and further details will be disclosed later, he added.
Maniruzzaman Talukdar, 45, a constable of Tejgaon Traffic Division, sustained severe injuries after miscreants stabbed him multiple times on Indira Road in Dhaka’s Farmgate area early Saturday.
Also read: Man stabbed to death in Jashore
On information, a police team rushed to the spot and took him to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.
More rain likely across Bangladesh over 24 hours: BMD's weather forecast
More rain is likely across the country over 24 hours, starting from 9 am today (July 02, 2023), as monsoon is active, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) predicted.
“Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind are likely to occur at most places in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions; and at many places in Khulna, Dhaka, Barishal and Chattogram divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over the country,” said the Met Office.
Read: Light to moderate rain may continue in Dhaka, other divisions: BMD’s weather forecast
Rainfall may also increase in the next 72 hours, it reads.
Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged in the country.
Monsoon is active over the northern part, fairly active elsewhere in Bangladesh, and moderate over north Bay, the weather report says.
Read: Weather forecast: Dhaka, other divisions may have light to moderate rain in 24 hours
The weather office recorded the highest 124 mm rainfall in Netrokona in 24 hours till 6 am today.
The mercury reached 35.5 degree Celsius – the highest – in Jashore, while the minimum temperature was recorded at 23.5 degree in Tangail.
Read more: Heavy rainfall likely in 24 hours in 8 divs
2 pedestrian women die being hit by bus on Dhaka’s airport road
Two women were killed in a hit by a speeding bus of Binimoy Paribahan on the Airport Road in Dhaka on Saturday, said police.
Minara Begum, 55, and Moni Begum, 37, were residents of Dhaka’s Dakshin and Dakshingaon areas respectively.
Also read: Biker dies in collision with auto-rickshaw in Dhaka
Md Aslam Uddin , inspector (investigation) of Airport Police Station, said the speeding bus of Binimoy Paribahan knocked down the duo while they were crossing the road in front of a restaurant around 11am, leaving Minara dead on the spot and Moni critically injured.
Also read: Pedestrian hit by bus in Gulshan dies
Moni was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where she succumbed to her injuries upon arrival, Mollah said quoting the hospital police outpost’s Assistant Sub Inspector Md Masud Miah.
Also read: Out-of-control Mitali Paribahan bus kills pedestrian, easy-biker in Sylhet
The bodies were kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy, he said, adding that the bus and its driver were detained in this connection.
Dev agencies should concentrate on development issues, not politics: Momen
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today called upon the people of the country to boycott those “on a mission to destroy the country.”
"People are with us. Complaining to foreigners will bring no benefits," he told reporters at the Foreign Service Academy.
Also read: US wants stronger relationship with Bangladesh, leaving aside ‘misunderstandings’: Momen
Earlier, visiting Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, Amina J. Mohammed, met the foreign minister and discussed various issues of cooperation.
The deputy secretary general made an urgent call for global re-commitment to the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and international solidarity for increased financing, technology exchange and a just transition to renewable energy.
Responding to a question, Momen said they did not discuss any political issues but discussed ways to address the challenges together.
"We face challenges every day. Poverty alleviation, further development and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — these are our challenges ahead," he said.
Sadly, Momen said many development institutions remain busy with politics.
"We said this to them. All development agencies should concentrate on the development issues, not on politics. Election will be held on time. We guarantee a fair and free election," said the foreign minister.
Also read: Bangladesh a model country for World Bank: Momen briefs media on PM’s US visit
Seemingly referring to BNP-led opposition, Momen said that they do not have faith in people. "Conspirators have always been there. Conspirators are still there. People are with us," Momen said.
He said if the country develops, everyone will be benefited, and everyone should work for the country’s development.
The foreign minister said the developed nations should share the developing countries’ burden of losses due to climate change.
He said countries like Bangladesh need money and technology for achieving SDGs but developed nations' response has so far been very unsatisfactory. "Neither money nor technology is coming."
Momen shared with the UN deputy secretary-general regarding what Bangladesh wants to achieve SDGs by 2030.
He laid emphasis on stopping the war and focusing on SDGs.
The deputy secretary-general will report to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres after her visit.
Momen said the graduating countries must not be punished.They both also attended a seminar on “Road to Sustainable Development Goals Summit 2023."
Foreign Minister Momen spoke at the seminar as the chief guest.