bangladesh
18 trawlers sink in Bay, 3 fishermen go missing
Eighteen trawlers sank in Dublarchar of the Sundarbans and in different parts of the Bay of Bengal during storm on Friday night.
More than 100 fishermen managed to swim ashore or were rescued by other fishermen but three remained missing.
The missing fishermen are Shahin ,40, and Mofizul ,30, of Rampal upazila of Bagerhat and Mizan ,34 of Chakla village of Koyra upazila of Khulna.
Pralad Chandra Roy, in-charge of Dublarchar Forest Camp in the eastern parts of the Sundarbans, said a sudden storm and rain hit the area around 10 pm on Friday.
Ten fishing trawlers sank within 8 kms of Dublar Char and 8 fishing trawlers capsized in different areas of the Bay of Bengal, 45 kms off Dublarchar.
READ: Trawler capsize in Dakatia River: Murder case filed against 6
He also said that a large quantity of dried fish worth Tk 2 crore were damaged during the storm.
Muhammad Belayet Hossain, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans East Division, said the Forest Department, Coast Guard and local fishermen are conducting search operations for the three missing fishermen.
READ: Trawler capsize in Dakatia River: 4 detained
No rains, cold wave likely in northern districts
Although there is no possibility of rain for now but cold wave is likely to return to northern part of the country, said Met office on Saturday.
“By today rainfall will stop in most parts of the country except in Sylhet,Rangpur and Chattogram divisions where it may continue till evening,” Md Shahinul Islam, Meteorologist of Bangladesh Meteorology Department told UNB.
Cold wave may return to northern part of the country while temperature across the country is likely to fall at night and rise at daytime, he said.
READ: People shiver as cold wave persists in Bangladesh
Meanwhile, the maximum rainfall in the country in 24 hours till 6am was recorded in Khulna at 69 millimeters.
The lowest temperature was recorded in Tetulia upazila at 11.1 degree Celsius and highest was in Rangamati at 30 degree Celsius according to BMD weather report.
“ Light to moderate rain/thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Rangpur, Chattogram & Sylhet divisions, “ said BMD in its forecast for next 24 hours commencing 9am on Saturday.
READ: Cold wave grips Bangladesh
Weather may remain mainly dry with partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, it said.
Moderate to thick fog may occur over north-western part and the river basins of the country and light to moderate fog may occur at places elsewhere over the country during mid-night to morning, said the forecast.
Night temperature may fall by (2-4)°C and day temperature may rise by (1-2)°C over the country.
Army drive at UPDF den: Barracks, training centre destroyed in Khagrachhari
Army personnel conducted a drive in a den of United People Democratic Front (UPDF) and demolished its four barracks, two duty posts and a training centre at Jarulchhari in Khagrachhari early Saturday.
Tipped off, some army members of Dighinala zone conducted the drive at 5am.
They destroyed four barracks, two duty posts and a training centre, said Md Zahid Hasan, staff officer of Khagrachhari region of Bangladesh Army.
READ: UPDF man held in Rangamati in Capt Gazi murder case
The UPDF members established a temporary base for training and were harassing locals extorting money and committing other crimes, he said.
Bullets were exchanged between the UPDF men and army men during the drive, he claimed.
Army personnel recovered their training materials and documents from the camp, said the army officer.
READ: 2 killed in JSS-UPDF gunfight in Rangamati
9-year-old boy found dead in Barishal
The throat-slit body of a nine-year-old boy was recovered from Rupatoli area in the city on Saturday.
The deceased was identified as Yasin, son of Sirajul Islam of the area.
READ: Hit by speeding bike, man killed while crossing road in Barishal
Kotwali Model Police Station inspector(investigation) Lokman Hossain said local people found the slaughtered body of the boy near an abandoned toilet in the area and police recovered it around 9am.
The boy might have been slaughtered sometime at night, he said adding that the motive will be known after investigation
READ: BNP forms committees for Barishal city, south district
Global Covid cases surpass 390 million amid Omicron spread
The overall number of Covid cases has surpassed 390 million as Omicron infections keep rising across the globe.
According to Johns Hopkins University (JHU), the total case count mounted to 390,541923 while the death toll from the virus reached 5,724,286 Saturday morning.
The US has recorded 76,344,963 cases so far and 901,288 people have died from the virus in the country, the university data shows.
Russia has confirmed another highest daily of 168,201 new Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 12,452,765, the official monitoring and response centre said on Friday
The nationwide death toll increased by 682 to 334,039, while the number of recoveries increased by 10,337,008 to 10,390,732
India's Covid-19 tally rose to 41,078,653 Friday, as 125,941 new cases were registered in 24 hours across the country, the federal health ministry's latest data showed.
Besides, 1,056 deaths from the pandemic since Thursday morning took the total death toll to 501,143
Situation in Bangladesh
Bangladesh reported 30 more Covid-linked deaths with 9,052 fresh cases in 24 hours till Friday morning.
The daily positivity rate further dropped to 22.95 percent from Thursday’s 25.86 per after testing 39,445 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
On Thursday, Bangladesh reported 33 Covid-linked deaths with 11,596 fresh cases.
The fresh numbers took the country’s total fatalities to 28,494 while the caseload mounted to 1,835,776.
Among the new deceased, 19 were men and 11 women.
Seventeen deaths were reported in Dhaka division while five in Chattogram, three in Sylhet, two in each Rajshahi and Khulna, and one in Barishal divisions.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained the same as 1.55 per cent.
However, the recovery rate also declined to 86.04 per cent with the recovery of 6,282 more patients during the 24-hour period.
In January, the country reported 322 Covid-linked deaths and 2,13,294 new cases while 19,112 recovered from the disease, according to the DGHS.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its earlier highest daily positivity rate at 33.37% reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths.
Bangladesh’s total tally of Omicron cases reached 69 with the detection of five more cases till January 23, according to GISAID, a global initiative on sharing all influenza data.
On December 9 last year, Bangladesh again logged zero Covid-related death after nearly three weeks as the pandemic was apparently showing signs of easing.
The country reported this year’s first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year along with 178 infections since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
READ: Global Covid cases surpass 390 million amid Omicron spread
Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.
Extension of restrictions
The government has extended the period of the existing restrictions on people’s movement and other activities until February 21 and imposed two new ones considering the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country.
These restrictions will remain in force from February 7 to 21, said a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Thursday.
The new restrictions are- gathering of more than 100 people in social, political, religious or state events will not be allowed in open places or indoors and those who will attend the events must bring Covid Vaccination Certificate or report of RT PCR test underwent within 24 hours.
READ: Global Covid cases top 387 million
Besides, in-person classes of schools, colleges and equivalent educational institutions will remain suspended during this period, said the notification.
Amid the growing concern over the Coronavirus’ new Omicron variant, the government on January 13 imposed 11-point restrictions.
Will strengthen cooperation with Bangladesh: Hungary
Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto has expressed his optimism to further strengthen its cooperation with Bangladesh in the years to come.
"I am confident that we will be able to further strengthen our mutually beneficial cooperation in the years to come," he said in a recent letter to Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen.
The 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries is an important milestone, said Hungarian Minister.
READ: Walton exports microwave oven to Romania, Hungary
"We can proudly declare that despite the geographical distance between our countries, during the past decades we built a strong friendship and cooperation based on mutual respect," Peter said.
The Hungarian Minister said they are proud to see that Hungary was one of the first countries to recognize the independent state of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, following which they soon established diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level on 26 March 1972, opening their Embassy in Dhaka in the following year.
"It is my utmost pleasure to note that we have recently re-established our diplomatic representation in Bangladesh," he said.
Minister Peter noted the advanced level of their political, economic and cultural relations during his official visit to Dhaka in September 2020.
READ: Bangladesh, Hungary plan to boost trade ties
He thanked his Bangladesh counterpart Dr Momen for his message and best wishes on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Hungary and the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Minister Peter wished Dr Momen good health and continued success in discharging his duties.
Korean President keen to take relations with Bangladesh 'to next level'
South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Friday expressed a “firm commitment” to work together with Bangladesh to take the relations to the next level.
He shared his country’s commitment when Bangladesh Ambassador to South Korea M. Delwar Hossain presented his credentials to the President of the Republic of Korea at the Blue House, presidential office-cum-residence complex, in Seoul.
Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and senior officials from the Korean President’s office and Foreign Ministry were present during the ceremony, according to the Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul.
Referring to the forthcoming 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2023, Ambassador Hossain accentuated the need for seizing this momentous occasion to take the relationship to a new height and make it more meaningful to the common people in both countries.
Read: Bangladesh an inspiration for world: Speakers
He conveyed firm commitment on the part of the Government of Bangladesh to work with the Government of the Republic of Korea in this direction.
During the conversation after the presentation of credentials, Ambassador Hossain conveyed warm greetings of the President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh to the President of the Republic of Korea.
The envoy referred to the existing excellent bilateral relationship between the two countries that witnessed tremendous growth in depth and dimension during the last 5 decades.
Ambassador Hossain said Korea has emerged as a key development partner of Bangladesh with persistent growth in bilateral trade and the growing presence of Korean companies in Bangladesh.
He also mentioned that with "robust economic growth" and remarkable progress in various sectors for more than a decade, Bangladesh is now well poised to forge a "deeper comprehensive partnership" with the Republic of Korea for mutual benefits.
Life sentence by proxy: Lawyer of real convict remanded
A Dhaka court on Friday placed Sharif Shahriar Siraj, the lawyer of a convicted criminal who arranged for a cousin to serve the life sentence awarded to him in a murder case, in remand for one day. He will be interrogated in relation to a case filed at the Kotwali Police Station after the elaborate ruse came to light.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arfatul Rakib issued the remand order turning down the lawyer's bail plea, said Sub-inspector (SI) Mahmudur Rahman, General Registration Branch Officer of Kotwali Police Station.
Investigating Officer Abu Saeed Chowdhury, sub-inspector (unarmed) of Kotwali police station, produced the lawyer in court and sought a seven-day remand.
On Thursday, police arrested Sharif Shahriar Siraj from Roy Saheb Bazar area of Old Dhaka.
On Wednesday, the court placed Md Hossain, the cousin who assumed convict Boro Sohag's identity and surrendered himself to serve the life sentence handed down to Sohag in absebntia, on five-day remand.
Sohag and Hossain were presented in Speedy Tribunal-4 and Judge Jasmine Ara Begum ordered the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) of Dhaka to take legal actions against convict Sohag, Hossain and his counsel Sharif Shahriar Siraji and Ibrahim Hossain for the forgery.
Later, a case was filed against them in Kotwali Police Station in this regard.
Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested the absconding convict Sohag alias Boro Sohag from the capital on January 30, who was sentenced to life imprisonment on December 28, 2017.
Read: PBI nabs fugitive accused in 7 cases
Sohag shot a man named Humayun Kabir alias Titu in the Kodomtoli area of the city in November 2010 and got arrested in December in the same year. Four people including Sohag were made accused in the murder case. He secured bail in 2014, and soon after he jumped bail and has evaded law enforcement ever since. Eventually a Dhaka court sentenced him to life imprisonment in absentia.
Sohag has now confessed that he allured his 'drug addict' cousin Md Hossain to assume his identity and surrender before the court saying he would provide Tk 5,000 every month for serving his sentence. And the court ordered to send Hossain to jail, turning down the bail plea in 2018.
However, the court came to know about the forgery in 2021 following the report of a journalist about a 'Fake Sohag' in jail which was confirmed in a police report. The court later issued a warrant against Sohag.
Bangladesh an inspiration for world: Speakers
Speakers at a virtual event of celebration on Friday night highly appreciated Bangladesh’s remarkable journey with its rapidly growing economy and described how Bangladesh becomes an inspiration for other countries around the world.
Terming Bangladesh a “huge development success story”, they highlighted the efforts that transformed people’s lives and recalled the role of Bangladesh on climate issues being at the forefront of innovation apart from Bangladesh’s greater contribution to global peace and stability.
The speakers depicted a brighter future of Bangladesh-UK relations and appreciated Bangladesh’s generosity in hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas despite its own socioeconomic challenges.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, MP, Minister for South Asia, the United Nations and the Commonwealth at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Lord Ahmad, Chair of the APPG on Bangladesh and UK’s Trade Envoy for Bangladesh Rushanara Ali MP and Development Director at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in Bangladesh Judith Herbertson, among others, spoke at the commemorative event titled “Bangladesh-UK at 50: A Friendship in Prosperity.”
Bangladesh High Commission in London hosted the event to mark the 50 years of establishment of Bangladesh-United Kingdom diplomatic relations with High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem in the chair.
Speaking at the function, State Minister Shahriar Alam, on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government, reiterated their abiding commitment to embolden the shared values with the UK, strengthen the fundamental pillars of the historic relations and carry forward the robust political, economic, security and climate partnerships into the next 50 years.
Fifty years ago, the UK's recognition of the new State of Bangladesh was geo-politically significant – a move that encouraged other Western countries to follow suit at the height of the Cold War, he said.
3 die in two separate road crashes in Cumilla
At least three people were killed in separate road accidents in Burichang and Debidwar upazilas on Friday, police said.In Burichang, two motorcyclists were killed in a road accident on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in Nazira Bazar area of the upazila on Friday.The deceased were identified as Morshed Alam, son of Khorshed Alam of Burichang upazila and Anand, son of Latif Miah of the same area.The accident occurred around 1.15 pm as their motorcycle collided with an unidentified long-haul vehicle heading towards Chattogram. Both of them fell off the bike and died on the spot, said police sources.Mainamati Highway Police have recovered the bodies and seized the motorcycle, said the sources.In Debidwar, an auto-rickshaw driver was killed after his vehicle collided with a truck at Kalikapur area of Jafarganj in Debidwar upazila on Friday afternoon.The deceased was identified as Alamgir, a resident of Koralpara in Fatehabad union of Debidwar upazila.
Read: Auto-rickshaw driver killed in Sylhet road crashThe accident occured place on Comilla-Sylhet regional highway when the truck collided with the auto-rickshaw around 4pm, leaving Alamgir dead on the spot, said Arifur Rahman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Debidwar Police Station.The OC said "during my patrolling, I found a Dhaka bound truck hit a tree and fell on the side of the road. The driver of the autorickshaw was stuck under the wheel of the truck. When I went the spot, the man was alive then. Despite many attempts, I could not get out from under the wheels. He died shortly afterwards. Later I called the fire service".However, the truck driver managed to flee the scene" he said.After completion of due legal process, the body will be handed over to the family, the OC added.