bangladesh
BGB's seizures nationwide in April worth almost Tk 275 crore
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized smuggled goods, arms and drugs worth over Tk 272.31 crore in various drives across the country in April.
The figure is more than double what it was in March, indicating a possible increase in such illegal movement of contraband and other illegal items. BGB reported seizures worth Tk 112.89 crore in March.
The smuggled goods seized between April 1-30 included 11,01,619 pieces Yaba pills, 26.418 kgs crystal meth, 23,437 bottles of phensedyl, 22,209 bottles of foreign liquor, 4,859 beer cans, 1843kg cannabis, 19.905 kgs heroin, 19,292 stimulating injections, 6,248 Senegra tablets, 4,766 Eskuf syrups, 1179 bottles of Cofidil, 13,21,056 different types of medicines and 2,15,850 other drugs - Shariful Islam, public relations officer of the BGB headquarters, said Tuesday.
Besides, 33.799 kgs gold, 16.985kgs silver, three touchstone statues, 2,97,043 pieces cosmetic items, 26,943 pieces sarees, 9,327 3pcs/shirts pcs, 5,417 readymade garments, 3,390 cubic feet of timber, 3,397 tea leaves, 75,490 coal, 9,656 pieces imitation ornaments, 2,198 kg current net, four trucks/covered van, 13 private cars/microbuses, six pickup trucks, 24CNG/battery run auto-rickshaws and 74 motorcycles were seized during the period.
Two pistols, one rifle, four magazines, 31 petrol bombs and 11 rounds of bullets were also recovered during the period.
Besides, legal actions were taken against 137 people smugglers during this period.
Some 26 Bangladeshis and eight Indian nationals were arrested for crossing the border illegally, Shariful said.
Case filed against unidentified persons for pelting stones at metro rail
The metro rail authorities have filed a case with Kafrul police station on Monday night accusing some unknown people for pelting stones on the windows of the metro rail in the capital, damaging the glass.
This is the first case filed under the Metrorail Act 2015.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kafrul Police Station Hafizur Rahman said the case was filed under the Metrorail Act-2015 on Monday night involving the incident of throwing stones at the windows of the metrorail.
He also said that Md Samiul Kadir, Assistant Manager (line operation) of Metro Rail Line-6, filed the case accusing several unidentified persons.
The OC said that no one has been arrested or identified so far. However, multiple teams are working to identify those involved. Those involved will be identified and brought under the law.
According the First Information Report (FIR), it was alleged that unidentified people threw stones from east side of Kazipara metro rail station on the rail track that broke a window glass of a Uttara-bound metro rail on Sunday morning. Estimated damage is around Tk 10 lakh in the incident.
Bus runs over mother, daughter in Narsingdi
A woman and her daughter died Tuesday morning after a bus ran them over on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Narsingdi.
The accident occurred in front of the Rural Electricity Office adjacent to Morzal bus stand at around 9:30am. Mozammel Haque, officer-in-charge of Bhairab Highway Police Station, confirmed the matter.
The deceased were identified as Tumpa Begum (26), and Nishi Akter (6) of Morzal area of Raipura upazila.
According to the highway police and relatives of the deceased, Tumpa left home to take Nishi to her school. While crossing the highway in front of the Rural Electricity Office, a Tisha Paribahan bus, which left Brahmanbaria, crushed them.
Nishi died on the spot, said police.
Locals rescued Tumpa from under the bus and took her to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital. The duty doctor of the emergency department gave her first aid and referred her to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Tumpa passed away on the way to Dhaka.
The bus was seized with the help of locals, but its driver managed to escape. Legal action is underway in this regard, added the OC.
Multimodal connectivity to shape future links between Bangladesh, India: Pranay Verma
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Tuesday said the future links between Bangladesh and India would be shaped by multimodal connectivity, including through road and rail, inland waterways, coastal shipping, as well as energy and digital connectivity.
He emphasized the long-term significance of connectivity in facilitating closer economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties.
With a contiguous geography and shared history and culture, the high commissioner said, raising the scope and quality of connectivity is a common aspiration, as well as a driver of India’s growing partnership with Bangladesh.
Verma was invited to deliver a keynote address at a seminar organized by Unnayan Shamannay on “Multimodal Connectivity” between Bangladesh and India.
The event was organized by former governor of Bangladesh Bank Prof Dr Atiur Rahman and chaired by Prof Dr. Delawar Hossain from Department of International Relations in Dhaka University.
Cultural and historical relations between India and Bangladesh, as well as their geographic proximity, need to be leveraged to materialize the economic potentials, said the envoy.
He said the governments of both the countries and other stakeholders are working relentlessly to enhance connectivity infrastructure to bolster intraregional trade and have achieved commendable progress during the recent years.
Expert discussants at the seminar were- Professor Mustafizur Rahman, Distinguished Fellow, CPD, Neelima Akhter, Additional Secretary (Road Transport & Highways Division), T.I.M. Nurul Kabir, Executive Director, Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, CEO, PRAN-RFL Group, Shoeb Chowdhury, Vice President, India Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Dr. Syed Ferhat Anwar, Professor, IBA, Dhaka University.
While presenting the keynote paper Dr. Atiur pointed out that within South Asia- India and Bangladesh remain each other’s largest trading partner.
“Yet the level of trade between these two countries remains suboptimal. There is no alternative to enhancing connectivity between these two countries,” he said.
However, he added that the discourse must remain keen on multimodal connectivity rather than relying solely on any single mode of transportation.
He urged that Bangladesh’s export could be increased by 19 percent if proper measures related to connectivity and logistics could be implemented.
Read more: Bangladesh-India relation historic: Pranay Verma
He also indicated that a number of initiatives are afoot to enhance multi-modal connectivity between the two countries including improvement of port infrastructure, railways and waterways.
Businessman killed in Ctg road crash
A businessman was killed after being hit by a bus in Banur Bazar area in Chattogram’s Sitakunda upazila on Tuesday.
The deceased, Lokman Hossain, 50, was on his way home after he dropped his HSC examinee daughter at the exam centre.
A Dhaka-bound minibus hit his motorcycle, leaving him critically injured.
Belal Uddin Jahangir, officer-in-charge of the Aulia highway police station, said locals rushed him to a private medical hospital where he succumbed to his injuries around 12:30 pm.
Extradition of convicted Tarique Rahman depends on UK govt: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said her government is trying to bring back home BNP's convicted acting chairman Tarique Rahman to implement the court verdict, but it all depends on the UK government.
“He is there (UK). Whoever the criminal is, they should be brought back and their sentence should be carried out. We are making our efforts in this regard. But now it totally depends on the British government. Will they keep him there or allow the punishment to be executed? It totally depends on them,” she told Voice of America Bangla service in an interview in Washington.
The prime minister said initiative is always there from the Bangladesh government side. She mentioned a number of cases including money laundering, arms smuggling, corruption and also the 21 August grenade attack. “Many more such cases are pending against them.”
Hasina said Tarique left the country during the caretaker government period signing a bond. “So we want him to be brought back as soon as possible to implement the verdict in this case.”
Earlier, the VoA journalist wanted to know whether the prime minister had any discussions with the UK government about taking Tarique back to Bangladesh.
In reply, the PM said, “Of course. At one point we repeatedly contacted the UK government.”
26, 777 out of 30,000 hacked documents recovered: Rajuk tells HC
Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) on Tuesday informed the High Court that some 26,777 out of total 30,000 documents which were disappeared from its server have been recovered.
Imam Hasan, a lawyer who stood for Rajuk, presented the information to the High Court bench led by Justice Nazrul Islam Talukder .
Hasan also said that the documents were hacked from the server by cybercriminals, but those have been retrieved.
The deleted files have been recovered by the consulting firm Technohaven Company Limited, according to Rajuk.
Following the update, the High Court directed the three-member inquiry committee of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to submit a report within 60 days of receiving the order and fixed July 9 for next order.
Lawyer Md. Khurshid Alam Khan stood for the ACC while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
Read more: Breaching Rajuk plan: Most markets under Dhaka city corporations at fire risk
The incident was first reported by Prothom Alo on December 29, 2022, with a headline stating '30,000 customers’ documents are missing from Rajuk.'
On January 2, senior lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan brought the report to the attention of the court.
Following this, the High Court sought an explanation from the Rajuk Chairman and asked the ACC to investigate the matter.
On Tuesday, Rajuk filed an affidavit confirming the recovery of the missing documents, while the ACC said that they are currently investigating the incident. The committee has already requested information from Rajuk.
According to Rajuk's affidavit, on December 6, 2022, the documents stored in BDCSL's data center were deleted, and the Construction Permit (CP) system was stopped after a malicious attack. The system was later reactivated on December 21.
On December 22, Rajuk filed a GD at Motijheel police station, while on January 26, they made an agreement with Buet for investigation over the incident. Buet's investigation team submitted an interim report on the matter on April 29, and their final report is expected soon.
Unemployed population increased by 2.70 lakh in 1st quarter of 2023: BBS survey
The number of unemployed people has increased by 2.70 lakh to 25.90 lakh in the first quarter of current year (2023), said a survey on labour force conducted by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
The BBS disclosed the survey report in a press conference at the conference hall of National Economic Council (NEC) on Tuesday.
Read more: 12-kg LPG price goes up by Tk 57 to Tk 1235
According to the BBS, there are 25.90 lakh people unemployed in the country in the first quarter (January-March) of 2023, while the number was 23.20 lakh in the last quarter (October-December) of the previous year (2022).
Disclosing the report, Dr Shamsul Alam, State Minister for Planning, said that there are less job opportunities during winter, especially in the agricultural sector. Now the paddy harvesting season has started and job opportunities have increased with it.
As a result, the number of unemployed people will decrease again, he said.
According to the Labour Force Survey, 2022, the total number of unemployed people in the country was 26.30 lakh. Among them, the number of male was 16.90 lakh and the number of female was 9.40 lakh.
Read more: Road crashes kill 285, injures 454 during Eid journey: Report
The survey data revealed, unemployment rate in the country was 3.51 percent in the first quarter of 2023. The unemployment rate among men is 3.54 percent and among women it is 3.46 percent.
According to the Labor Force Survey 2023, the total population employed in the country is 7.36 crore during January to March and the employed population is currently 7.11 crore.
Population outside the labour force is 4.62 crore and the labour force participation rate is 61.37, according to the report.
Read more: Avg life expectancy in Bangladesh dropped by six months: BBS Survey
It said 3.19 crore people are engaged in agriculture sector, 1.22 crore in the industrial sector, 2.69 lakh in the service sector.
Apart from this, the country's youth labour force is 2.73 crore.
The total employable population is 7.36 crore, which is 20.15 percent of the country's total labour force.
According to BBS, the unemployed population consists mainly of those who have not worked for at least one hour in the past seven days, but were willing to work in the past seven days and have sought work for wages.
President Shahabuddin urges India to play a bigger role in resolving Rohingya problem
President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Tuesday urged India to take more effective steps in persuading Myanmar to take the Rohingyas back home from Bangladesh for resolving the issue.
The president made the call when Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Kumar Verma met him at Bangabhaban. Verma became the first foreign envoy to meet the president since he took office on April 24 last.
Press secretary Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meeting.
Read more: External pressure behind World Bank's withdrawal from Padma Bridge, says PM Hasina urging it to look into future
President Shahabuddin said that Bangladesh has sheltered Rohingyas for humanitarian reasons, and their prolonged stay is creating problems not only for Bangladesh but for the entire region.
He expressed his gratefulness to India for the crucial support it had given to Bangladesh War of Liberation in 1971 led by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
He also shared his experience as a freedom fighter during the Liberation War and the training in India.
Shahabuddin stated that Bangladesh attaches highest importance to its relations with India which is so closely linked by geographical proximity, shared history and sacrifices.
He noted with satisfaction that India can now permanently use ports in Chattogram and Mongla for transporting goods from the mainland to its north-eastern states
Read more: Stay with us in implementing future physical & social mega projects: PM Hasina to WB
"This will help boost the trade volume alongside the socio-economic development," he added.
He hoped that the two countries will continue working together in diverse areas for mutual benefit of their people and would also contribute in bringing peace and prosperity in the region.
He stated that Bangladesh-India bilateral ties have been strengthened by the unprecedented state visits by both the President and the Prime Minister of India to Bangladesh in 2021.
He hoped that the two countries would amicably resolve the unsettled issues between them, including the water sharing of common rivers, for greater benefit of the two peoples.
He also hoped that the trade deficit and the issues of trade barriers, would be addressed in a balanced manner.
The president said that the excellent relations between the two neighbourly countries would be elevated to an even newer height in the coming days and the two countries will continue to cooperate at different regional and multilateral forums.
In his remarks, the Indian high commissioner said India attaches highest importance to the relationship with Bangladesh.
"The connectivity between the two countries has increased manifold over the last 15 years. People of both countries are enjoying this," he said.
Praising Bangladesh's zero tolerance policy against terrorism and militancy, he said this has brought stability in this region and is playing a positive role in economic development.
Bangladesh logs 27 more dengue cases
Twenty-seven more people were hospitalised with dengue in the 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
Of the new patients, twenty were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and the rest outside it, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Seventy eight dengue patients, including 62 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, the DGHS has recorded 1037 dengue cases, 948 recoveries, and eleven deaths this year.
The country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year.