bangladesh
IU teacher accused after wife found dead in Kushtia
The wife of an Islamic University teacher has been found dead at her residence in Kamalapur area of Kushtia town, police said on Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Nurjahan Parvin Minu, 40, wife of Nazrul Islam, an associate professor of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in Islamic University (IU).
Deceased’s brother Jahangir Hossain Milon said they found Nurjahan lying dead on the floor in her room after breaking the locked door as they didn’t get any response from her on Monday night.
He also alleged Nurjahan's husband Nazrul is a drug-addict and used to assault Nurjahan throughout their marriage.
READ: IU teachers decline to take combined admission test this year
Jahangir said Nazrul had brutally beaten and strangled her sister to death. After the murder, the scarf was hung with the fan to prove it as suicide, he added.
He claimed that his sister had bruises on various parts of her body.
The body was sent to Kushtia General Hospital for an autopsy, said Sabbirul Alam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Kushtia Model police station.
The OC said they suspect the woman committed suicide. “It can be ascertained after an autopsy,” he added.
Home minister bins BNP allegation on BCL-JCD clash
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal has brushed aside BNP’s allegation that the government was behind Tuesday’s attack on the party’s student front Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on Dhaka University campus.
“These are political tactics, many people spread such propaganda. There is no truth in these,” he said while responding to a question from a reporter at the Secretariat.
Also read: 35 hurt in BCL-JCD clash in Dhaka
The home minister’s comment was sought on BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s remark that the government carried out a planned attack on JCD in the Central Shaheed Minar area.
Fakhrul was referring to a clash between activists of JCD and pro-government Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) that left at least 35 people injured earlier in the day.
Man’s throat-slit body found in Barishal
A man was found dead with his throat slit at Charkomishoner village in Muladi upazila on Tuesday morning.
The deceased was identified as Monir Hawladar, 32, son of Salam Hawladar of the village. He worked as a ticket seller at a bus counter in Muladi.
Also read:50-yr-old killed over family feud in Barishal
Maksudur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Muladi Police Station, said locals spotted the body in a canal of the village in the morning and informed police.
On information, police recovered the body and sent it to Barishal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.
No Monkeypox cases detected in Bangladesh: BSMMU VC
No Monkeypox cases have been detected in Bangladesh so far, said Prof Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
“We have taken all necessary preparations to provide treatment for Monkeypox virus although we have not yet found any patient infected with the virus in the country,” he said.
Also read: Monkeypox: Govt orders screening passengers at all airports, land ports
Ther BSMMU VC revealed the information while talking at a press briefing held at Shaheed Dr Milton Hall on Tuesday.
He also urged people to not to be panicked hearing any rumour.
Prof. Sharfuddin said Monkeypox cases have been reported recently in 14 countries including the UK, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, Australia and Canada.
Already, the health authorities have alerted all land ports and airports to prevent spread of the virus, he said.
Monkeypox is a DNA virus. It is believed that it can be transmitted if people came in contact with infected animals or take inadequately cooked meat, said the BSMMU VC.
The symptoms of the virus are Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes), cold, fever, perspiration, headache, backache, loss of appetite, breathing problem and cough, he said.
Also read: New Monkeypox Outbreak: What We Know So Far
BSMMU VC also advised people to refrain from getting close to infected or suspected animals. But if anyone found infected he/she should stay in isolation until their lesions have crusted.
Referring to the Facebook post over detection of first Monkeypox case at BSMMU that went viral, Prof. Sharfuddin said assistance was sought from the Cyber Crime Investigation Division of Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) Unit of police verbally to identify those involved in spreading the rumour.
Covid-19: Bangladesh reports 34 new cases, no death
Bangladesh registered 34 new Covid cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning taking the country's total caseload to 1,953,298, health authorities said.
With no new Covid death reported during the period, the total fatalities from the pandemic so far remained unchanged at 29,130.
Also read:Pfizer says 3 COVID shots protect children under 5
On Monday, the country saw two deaths from Covid-19 with 31 new cases.
The daily test positivity rate slightly increased to 0.79 per cent from Monday’s 0.67 per cent as 4,333 samples were tested, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent. The recovery rate rose to 97.34 per cent as 228 patients recovered during this period.
In April, the country reported only five Covid-linked deaths and 1,114 new cases, while 14,100 patients recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS.
Among the five deaths during the period, two were unvaccinated patients while three were vaccinated with two doses of the Covid vaccine.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh registers 2 deaths with 31 new cases
The country reported its first zero Covid death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic broke out here in March 2020.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest positivity rate of 33.37 per cent.
The country registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 in the same year.
Bangladeshi woman confined, tortured in KSA; Case filed
A 33-year-old Bangladeshi female migrant worker has allegedly been tortured by 'human traffickers' in Saudi Arabia since April.
Victim’s mother filed a complaint with the Anti-Human Trafficking Offence Tribunal in Barishal on Monday.
Read: Haji Salim moves SC seeking quashing of 10-year prison term
The accused are Lucky Begum, wife of Delwar Hossain of Palashpur Guchhgram in Barishal, her son Ajman, Kazi Atahar Hossain, director of Aziz & Recruiting Agency in Dhaka’s Naya Paltan, Anwar Hossain, office executive of the agency and four or five more anonymous people.
Tribunal judge Manjurul Hossain directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate the matter, said Md. Kakon, the bench assistant of the court.
Earlier, the accused allegedly trafficked the woman to Saudi Arabia through Aziz & Recruiting Agency on April 4 this year promising a job with a handsome salary.
Read: Graft case: Ex-OC Pradeep’s wife sent to jail on surrender
The woman was sold there for unethical activities and held captive in a room in a city in Jeddah where she was physically assaulted.
On April 14, the victim called her mother and described her ordeals.
When the matter came to light, the relatives of the victim contacted the accused who demanded Tk 1,20,000 as ransom for her release.
Dhaka wants UN actions to ensure early repatriation of Rohingyas
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has urged the United Nations (UN) to take practical actions to ensure early repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland- Myanmar.
He also underscored the importance of starting the work of UN bodies in Bhasan Char following the signing of an MoU between the Government of Bangladesh and UNHCR in October, 2021.
Momen made the call when newly appointed Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Gwyn Lewis presented her credentials to the Foreign Minister at State guesthouse Padma on Tuesday.
Read: Prolonged repatriation may push Rohingyas to crimes, Hasina tells UNHCR
She handed over a letter from Secretary General António Guterres, thereby officially entering into her new role by succeeding Mia Seppo.
The Foreign Minister welcomed Lewis to Bangladesh and expressed deep appreciation for long-standing cooperation between Government of Bangladesh and the UN in diverse fields ranging from development, peace and women empowerment.
Minister Momen briefly touched upon the historical root and background of Rohingya crisis.
He thanked the UN bodies for standing beside Bangladesh with humanitarian assistance.
CEC: Not fully confident over EVM yet
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Tuesday said the commission is not yet fully confident over the use of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in the next parliamentary elections.
"We’ve sat in five meetings, but we could not be fully confident over EVM. There will be more meetings to review it (the use of EVM). We want to gain the confidence of everyone over EVM,” he said.
Also read: Poll panel still lacks capacity to use EVMs in all 300 seats, says CEC
The CEC was speaking at a press conference at his office in the city’s Agaogaon area.
Habibul claimed that he did not announce any ‘peculiar’ reward of 10 million dollars in case of detecting any fault in EVM.
"Only five-seven days ago, we informed everyone through letters that we’ve not reached any decision on EVM. We are not bowing our heads to any pressure....We haven't decided yet,” he said.
According to media reports, Election Commissioner Anisur Rahmnan at a recent function in Madaripur said that the CEC announced a reward of 10 million dollar if anyone can detect fault in the EVM.
In this regard, Habibul said it is not the remark of the commission. He, however, said that election commissioners should be careful and responsible in their remarks.
Also read: EC to hold polls with cooperation from all parties: CEC
About the next national election the CEC said, "We have no intention of turning the election into a farce. We’re saying from the heart that the healthy trend should continue through fair and participatory elections.”
Election commissioners Ahsan Habib Khan, Rasheda Sultana, Md Alamgir and Anisur Rahman were present.
Expelled JL leader Samrat sent to jail in graft case
A Dhaka court on Tuesday sent expelled Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat to jail upon surrender in a graft case.
Judge Al Asad Md Asifuzzaman of Dhaka Special Judge Court-6 passed the order when Samrat surrendered before the court and sought bail.
Also read: Order cancelling Samrat's bail upheld by Appellate Division
The court also fixed June 9 for hearing on his bail petition in the case.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the High Court order that cancelled the bail granted to Samrat in the graft case. Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order after hearing a petition filed by Samrat seeking a stay on the High Court order. The petition likely be heard in the regular bench of the Appellate Division on May 30. On May 18, the High Court cancelled the bail granted to Samrat in the graft case. Earlier, on May 16, the ACC filed a petition before the High Court seeking cancellation of the bail of Samrat in the graft case. On May 11, the Dhaka court granted bail to Samrat in the graft case, paving the way for his release from judicial custody. Earlier, the same court turned down his bail plea in the corruption case filed by the ACC twice -- on April 28 and April 13. Samrat secured bail in a drugs case on April 11 and in an Arms Act case and a money laundering case on April 10. The expelled Jubo League leader has been undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) since November 24 last year. On October 6, 2019, Rab detained Samrat and his associate Enamul Haque Arman from Chauddagram in Cumilla. Rab raided his Kakrail office later that day. Huge quantities of foreign liquor, pistols, and two hides of kangaroo were seized from his office. He was later sentenced by a mobile court to six months in prison under the Wildlife Conservation Act.
Also read: HC cancels bail of expelled JL leader Samrat On October 7, Abdul Khaleque, deputy assistant director of Rab-1 lodged two complaints against Samrat at Ramna police station under the Arms and the Narcotics Act. Arman was also made an accused in the narcotics case. On November 4, Shekhar Chandra Mallik, a sub-inspector, submitted a chargesheet against Samrat in the Arms Act case. On November 12, the ACC lodged a complaint against him for acquiring assets worth Tk 2.94 crore beyond his known sources of income. On September 12, 2020, Rashedur Rahman, sub-inspector of CID, registered a case against him at the Ramna police station for laundering Tk 195 crore to Malaysia and Singapore. Lastly, on November 26 last year, the investigating officer in the case, Jahangir Alam, submitted a chargesheet in the court.
Hasina to unveil Padma Bridge on June 25
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate Padma Bridge on June 25, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said.
Read: PM Hasina: I had to redesign the Padma Bridge to make it longer
"The bridge will be named after the river Padma only and not after anyone in the Bangabandhu family. Hasina will inaugurate the bridge at 10am on June 25," he told reporters after a meeting with the PM at Ganobhaban on Tuesday.
Bridges Authority has, meanwhile, said that the revised cost of the ambitious Padma Bridge project is Tk 30,193.39 crore.
Read: Padma Bridge not AL’s ancestral property: BNP
According to the progress report of the project received last April, work on the bridge was 92% complete. At the time, the work of river management was 90.50% done. In addition, the carpeting work of the main bridge was 66% complete.