Bangladesh
Man arrested in capital for strangling wife to death
A 21-year-old woman was strangled to death allegedly by her husband in the capital’s Shyampur area on Friday.
The deceased was identified as Sathi, wife of Farukur Rahman, 34, of Barishal district.
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Police arrested Faruk after recovering the body, said Md. Sihab Uddin, inspector (investigation) of Shyampur Police Station.
On information, police recovered the body from the rented house in Shyampur DIT Plot in the evening and sent it to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital Morgue for an autopsy, the inspector added.
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In primary interrogation, Farukur admitted that he killed his wife over a family dispute.
A case is under process over the incident, added the inspector.
Army chief returns home from Gambia
Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed returned to Dhaka on Friday, wrapping up his state visit to the African country Gambia.
During his visit, General Shafiuddin met Gambian President Adama Barrow, foreign and defence ministers Mamadou Tangara and Sheikh Omar Faye, the chief of defence staff Yankuba A. Drammeh, high military officials, and representatives of civil society, reads an ISPR press release.
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During his meeting with the Gambian President, the army chief assured him that the Bangladesh Army will provide all kinds of support to the fraternal Gambia Armed Forces to implement the co-deployment initiative which will be an example for all in future peacekeeping operations.
Earlier on Sunday, General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed departed Dhaka for Gambia aiming at testing capabilities and fixing the next course of actions on the co-deployment of Bangladeshi and Gambian troops in the United Nations Peacekeeping Missions for the first time.
Different issues, including bilateral cooperation and training in peacekeeping activities, were discussed between the countries.
Read: Fakhrul vows to stay 'in the field till illegal govt toppled' through movement
It is expected that friendly relations with Gambia and Bangladesh will be strengthened through this visit.
TIB condemns killing of journalist Rabbani
Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep concern and condemned the killing of journalist Golam Rabbani, Jamalpur correspondent of online portal Banglanews24.
The organization called on the government to set an example by ensuring the protection of journalists and delivering exemplary punishment to those directly and indirectly involved in Rabbani's brutal murder.
Read: Take immediate action against journalist Rabbani's killers: Sultana Kamal-led MSF
“The incident serves as the latest example of the torture and killing journalists face in Bangladesh when reporting on irregularities and corruption,” it said in a statement cmedia release.
Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, the Executive Director of TIB, emphasized the alarming frequency of attacks, lawsuits, torture, and killings targeting journalists who expose the wrongdoings of the powerful.
“These acts have unfortunately become commonplace in Bangladesh, where impunity seems to favor those in positions of authority. The lack of success and indifference, and sometimes even tacit support, from administrative and law enforcement authorities in preventing such attacks further emboldens the assailants. The recent murder of journalist Golam Rabbani in Jamalpur exemplifies the desperation of those in power, including national and local-level figures, to conceal their corruption and injustice,” he said.
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Dr. Iftekharuzzaman highlighted the prevailing environment where individuals responsible for the torture of journalists often enjoy impunity if they are associated with power in any way.
“To address this crisis and protect the freedom of journalism, the government must demonstrate its commitment by ensuring exemplary punishment not only for those directly involved in Rabbani's murder, but also for those who ordered, colluded, or protected the interests of the perpetrators,” he said.
Read: Fakhrul vows to stay 'in the field till illegal govt toppled' through movement
Furthermore, TIB emphasizes the government's obligation to effectively implement the eight recommendations under the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
Sweden keen to collaborate in IT development, green transition
Sweden has appreciated Bangladesh’s achievements in the IT sector and climate change adaptation and expressed their keenness to collaborate with Bangladesh on IT sector development and green transition.
Terming Asia as the engine of growth and highly praising Bangladesh’s high economic growth, Swedish State Secretary for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Håkan Jevrell also expressed Sweden’s desire to enhance trade and investment relations with Bangladesh in the context of evolving geo-political developments.
Read: WTO chief meets PM Hasina, wants Dhaka to reduce subsidies on fisheries
The Swedish State Secretary shared this with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam in a meeting in Stockholm on Friday.
Highlighting Bangladesh government’s plans and programmes for digitalization, State Minister Alam suggested close cooperation between the two countries on software technology, 4iR-enabled agriculture and human resources development.
Newborn's death at Central Hospital: DGHS orders closure of Operation Theatre
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Friday ordered private ‘Central Hospital’ to suspend activities of its operation theatre until further orders due to dissatisfactory services at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and emergency department.
Besides, the hospital’s gynecologist Dr Sangjukta Saha has been asked not to provide any specialist service at the organization until any written approval from the DGHS is served.
A visiting team formed by the DGHS upon the allegations of wrong treatment to one Mahbuba Rahman Akhi gave the directives after visiting the hospital.
A media release signed by Hospitals and Clinics department Director (DGHS) Dr Md Daud Adnan and its Deputy Director Dr Moinul Ahsan said this on Friday afternoon.
Read: 2 physicians arrested over death of newborn baby due to alleged negligence in Dhaka
The hospital authority will bear all costs of treatment of the patient Akhi and refund the bills taken from the victim’s family in exchange for treatment.
All documents related to her treatment and physicians who were involved with the delivery operation will have to be sent to Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) and actions will be taken later.
The hospital authority will pay all costs to run the under trial case filed against six identified people while two of them have already been arrested--Dr Shahjadi and Dr Munna.
Any compensation claim by the victim family will have to be settled in accordance with the existing law.
All documents related to the allegations will have to be sent to the Health Services Department and Health, Family Welfare Ministry. Actions will be taken following directives from the authorities concerned in this connection later.
According to the case statement, pregnant Akhi had been under supervision of gynecologist Dr Sangjukta Saha of the hospital for the last three months and her condition was stated to be normal.
Earlier, the gynecologist assured the victim’s family that Akhi would give birth through a normal delivery.
Akhi was hospitalised with labour pain at the hospital under supervision of the gynecologist around 12:50am on June 10.
Read:Attack on doctor: Medical services at Khulna hospitals hampered as physicians go on 24hr work abstention
Though Dr Sangjukta was not present at the time of hospitalisation, her assistant said that she was working at the Operation Theater.
The arrested physicians allegedly conducted the delivery operation which caused the death of a newborn baby and critical condition of the patient.
Her husband Yeakub Ali Sumon filed a case last Wednesday against six identified individuals and several other unidentified persons bringing allegations of a wrong treatment by the physicians that allegedly led to the death of their newborn baby.
Police arrested the physicians from the hospital on that night.
Read:Wrong treatment allegedly kills woman in Natore
Budget will help to build Smart Bangladesh: Speakers
Speakers on Friday said that the budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 will help to build a smart, prosperous and balanced Bangladesh by combining education, research and development.
The speakers said this at a seminar on budget titled "Building a Prosperous and Balanced Budget: Budget 2023-24" at Abdus Salam Auditorium of the National Press Club in the capital around 10am.
The platform for academicians 'Education, Research and Development Forum of Bangladesh (ERDFB)' organised the seminar
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Presided over by President of ERDFB and University Grants Commission (UGC) member Prof Sazzad Hossain, BUET vice chancellor Satya Prasad Majumder was present at the event as chief guest.
Praising ERDFB for organising such a seminar, Satya Prasad Majumder said, the budget put huge emphasize on the agriculture sector. The budget will play an important role in building a smart and prosperous Bangladesh by building a smart agricultural system, he added.
"It is not enough to announce the budget, we have to make proper use of it", Majumder added.
Read: Budget is inconsistent with goals of Smart Bangladesh: Speakers
Former governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Atiur Rahman said that the current budget is basically a budget to meet the challenges. The huge changes have been made in Bangladesh's economy between 2006-2023. The size of agriculture, exports and remittances increased by 4, 5 and 6 times, respectively.
The government's successful budget has reduced poverty and extreme poverty rates to 18.5 and 5.6 percent, Dr Atiur added.
"This budget is in no way ambitious but future-oriented," he opined.
In his speech, ERDFB president Prof Sazzad Hossain said the budget led by prime minister Sheikh Hasina will undoubtedly play a vital role to build Bangabandhu's Sonar Bangla and Smart Bangladesh.
Read: Parliamentarians urged to safeguard education, health, protection in national budget
He also urged the government to reconsider the small areas of the current budget that would make it more rational.
Moderated by Prof. Dr. M. Badruzzaman Bhuiyan, general secretary of ERDFB, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Dr. Abdul Jabbar Khan gave the welcome speech at the event.
Charmonai Pir vows to unseat govt at any cost
Islami Andolan Bangladesh Amir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim (Pir Shaheb Charmonai) on Friday called on the people to prepare for another liberation war if necessary to save the country by kicking out the present government.
Calling for resignation of the CEC, the Charmonai Pir said, “We were attending the local level elections to strengthen the party in individual level. But what was done by present government, EC and administration in Barishal City election will remain as history of stigma in the world. I condemn this CEC.”
Read: Reinstate religious subjects in public exams: Charmonai Pir
He made these remarks while addressing a protest rally in Barishal demanding justice for the attack on Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) mayoral candidate Mufti Syed Faizul Karim and other party leaders and activists in Barishal City Corporation (BCC) election.
The activists then took out a massive protest march in the city.
Rezaul Karim said the county is under threat today. It is run by foreign countries. The way the decision is taken from there, it is implemented in our Bangladesh.
“We sacrificed lives in the liberation war. We will do war again to protect our country and to overthrow the oppressors,” he said.
Read: Indian aggression over water, govt's 'knee-jerk' foreign policy destroying livelihoods: Charmonai Pir
Before the rally started, the leaders and activists took out processions from different parts of the city and gathered at the venue with different slogans.
During this time, they protested symbolically with the effigy and coffin of the CEC. Several teams of the Metropolitan Police were deployed at the venue to avoid any untoward incident.
Take immediate action against journalist Rabbani's killers: Sultana Kamal-led MSF
Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF), a rights group led by noted activist Sultana Kamal, strongly condemned the killing of journalist Golam Rabbani, Jamalpur correspondent of online portal Banglanews24.
Expressing deep concern, MSF called on the government to take immediate legal action against the identified attackers and ensure exemplary punishment, reads a media release.
“The frequency of attacks on journalists and media outlets in Bangladesh has become alarmingly common, posing a serious threat to press freedom and journalists. Golam Rabbani's death has instilled fear and anxiety among those who value freedom of thought and expression,” it said.
Read: Journalist injured in attack by miscreants in Jamalpur dies
Considering the importance of media freedom, the role of the media in a democratic system, and the wider implications of this incident on journalism, MSF demands swift arrests and necessary legal measures against those responsible for the journalist's death, it added.
Golam Rabbani was returning home on June 14 when he was attacked by a group of terrorists in Bakshiganj. The assailants physically assaulted him before fleeing the scene, leaving him unconscious.
Golam Rabbani's wife, Monira Begum, alleged that her husband was killed on the orders of Mahmudul Alam Babu, Chairman of Sadhurpara UP in Bakshiganj Upazila, due to his news reporting.
She claimed that her husband had been subjected to various forms of harassment before the incident, and it was the Chairman's associates who carried out the killing. Monira Begum demands that those involved in the incident receive exemplary punishment.
Read: Award-winning Hong Kong journalist wins appeal in rare court ruling upholding media freedom
Local residents rescued and rushed him to Bakshiganj Upazila Health Complex with severe injuries. Due to the critical nature of his condition, he was later transferred to Jamalpur General Hospital during the night for better medical care. However, as his condition worsened, he was admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital on the morning of June 15, 2023, where he passed away while undergoing treatment.
Mohammad Sohel Rana, the officer-in-charge of Bakshiganj police station, said that six individuals have been arrested based on CCTV footage, and efforts are underway to arrest others.
However, no formal case has been filed at the police station in relation to the journalist's murder.
Read: Journalist Azhar Mahmood dies at 53
Fisherman killed by lightning strike in Kishoreganj
A fisherman died and another was injured after being struck by lightning in Austagram upazila of Kishoreganj on Thursday.
Sojib Ali Hossain, 22, was a resident of Adampur union’s Boragirkandi village. He and the injured Ruhul Amin had gone fishing in Lodarbil Haor after dark on Thursday.
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Around 9.30pm, the weather took a turn for the worse with torrential rain accompanied by thunder and lightning. At one stage, the duo were struck by a bolt.
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Locals rushed them to hospital, but Sojib died on the way.
Also Read: Lightning kills farmer in Chuadanga
Body of businessman recovered in Magura
Police recovered the hanging body of a cosmetics shop owner, who went missing on Thursday noon, from a forest of mahogany trees in Sreepur upazila of Magura on Friday.
Sadhan Kumar Saha, 35, was son of Apurbo Kumar Saha of Nakol Sahapara village under the upazila and owner of a cosmetics shop at Wapda Busstand Bazar at the upazila sadar.
Read: Man arrested after wife, 10-year-old daughter found dead in Dhaka’s Badda
Kanchan Kumar Roy, officer-in-charge of Sreepur police station, said they recovered the body hanging from a branch of a tree with rope from the forest nearby Kadirpara union parishad bhaban after being informed by locals who spotted it in the morning.
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The body was sent to Magura Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, he said, adding that cause of death will be known after getting the autopsy report.
An unnatural death case was filed in this connection, the OC added.
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