NEWS ON DATE - 19-03-2024
Professor Dr Abu Taher made new Chittagong University VC
University Grants Commission (UGC) member and Professor of management department of Chittagong University (CU) Dr Md Abu Taher has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of the university.
The Education Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Tuesday.
With the approval of the President and Chancellor of the university and as per Section 12 (2) of the Chittagong University Act, 1973, Dr. Taher has been temporarily appointed as the Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University.
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The notification also states that the President, also the Chancellor of the university, can cancel the appointment at any time if deemed necessary.
Prof. Abu Taher, hailing from of Kanchana in Satkania upazila, completed higher education and research from Chittagong University, Inha University of South Korea and A & M University of Texas, USA.
After passing the BCS examination in 1985, Abu Taher started teaching at Government Commerce College. In 1995, he joined Chittagong University as a teacher in the Department of Management.
Later, he became a professor of the department in 2004.
Locals block Sylhet-Tamabil highway protesting rising road accidents
Traffic on Sylhet-Tamabil-Jaflong highway remained suspended since Tuesday morning as local people put up barricade at Jaintia Gate protesting frequent road accidents on the highway.
Local people under the banner of residents of Chiknagul Union, took to the road around 11 am and blocked the highway.
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The protesters demanded punishment of those involved in different road accidents in the past six months after arrest, driving of vehicles by unlicensed driver and under-age driver, conducting mobile court drive on the highway twice in a month, stopping transportation of cattle, buffalo and smuggled goods by pick-up vans, taking steps to stop movement of unauthorised CNG-run auto-rickshaw and movement of human haulers on highways.
Jaintapur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sajedul Islam, Assistant superintendent of Gowainghat-Companiganj circle Shahidur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Jaintapur Model Policed Station Tajul Islam, Traffic Inspector of District Police Rafique Ahmed and Chiknagul union unit Awami League President Abul Hasan Chowdhury rushed to the spot and tried to settle the issue.
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Earlier on Monday, six people including three members of a family were killed and five others injured in a head-on collision between a pick-up van and hauman hauler on Sylhet-Tamabil highway at Darbast.
Incoming Palestinian prime minister lays out plans for reform but faces major obstacles
The incoming Palestinian prime minister said on Tuesday that he will appoint a technocratic government and establish an independent trust fund to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction.
In a mission statement acquired by The Associated Press, Mohammad Mustafa laid out wide-ranging plans for the kind of revitalized Palestinian Authority called for by the United States as part of its postwar vision for resolving the conflict.
But the PA has no power in Gaza, from which Hamas drove its forces in 2007, and only limited authority in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out any return of the PA to Gaza and his government is staunchly opposed to Palestinian statehood.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas designated Mustafa as prime minister last week. The U.S.-educated economist and longtime adviser to Abbas is an independent with no political base.
In the mission statement, Mustafa said he would appoint a “non-partisan, technocratic government that can gain both the trust of our people and the support of the international community.” He promised wide-ranging reforms of PA institutions and a “zero tolerance” policy toward corruption.
He said he would seek to reunify the territories and create an “independent, competent and transparent agency for Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction and an internationally managed trust fund to raise, manage and disburse the required funds."
The vision statement made no mention of Hamas, which won a landslide victory the last time Palestinians held national elections, in 2006, and which polls indicate still has significant support.
The 88-year-old Abbas, who is in overall control of the PA, has remained in power since his own mandate expired in 2009 and has refused to hold elections, citing Israeli restrictions. Polls consistently find that a large majority of Palestinians want him to resign.
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Mustafa said the PA aims to hold presidential and parliamentary elections, but he did not give a timetable and said it would depend on “realities on the ground” in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war that the Palestinians want for their future state.
In 2021, Abbas blamed Israeli restrictions in annexed east Jerusalem for his decision to indefinitely delay elections in which his secular Fatah party was expected to suffer major losses.
UNDP Goodwill Ambassador inaugurates smart post center in Khulna
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, inaugurated a Smart Service Point of Post Office in Koyra, Khulna on Tuesday to strengthen digital inclusion and facilitate access to public services leaving no one behind.
The Smart Service Point (SSP) initiative, a collaborative effort integrating digital solutions with traditional postal services, represents a significant stride towards realizing the vision of a Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
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Offering a spectrum of amenities such as parcel tracking, bill payment, and e-commerce facilitation, SSPs are revolutionizing accessibility and efficiency in rural areas of Bangladesh.
Chinese Company to invest US$ 27.8 million in Mirsharai economic zone
Chinese company Dongfang Knitting (BD) Co. Ltd. will invest US$ 27.8 million to set up a sock manufacturing industry in BEPZA Economic Zone (BEPZA EZ) located at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN), Mirsharai, Chattogram.
In presence of the Executive Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Mohammad Ziaur Rahman, Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) signed an agreement with the company on Tuesday.
Ali Reza Mazid, Member (Investment Promotion) of BEPZA and Fang Zhendong, ManagingDirector of Dongfang Knitting (BD) Co. Ltd. signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations at BEPZA Complex, Dhaka.
HC orders MP Salam Murshedy to hand over Gulshan house to govt
This foreign owned company will produce annually 216 million pairs of socks for men, women and kids and it will create employment opportunity for 5192 Bangladeshi nationals, said a press release.
BEPZA Executive Chairman welcomed Dongfang Knitting (BD) Co. Ltd. as the new member of BEPZA and thanked for choosing BEPZA EZ as their investment destination.
Among others, Member (Engineering) Mohammad Faruque Alam, Member (Finance) Md. Ashraful Kabir, Executive Director (Admin) A N M Foyzul Haque, Executive Director (Investment Promotion)Md. Tanvir Hossain, Project Director of BEPZA EZ Mohammad Anamul Haque and Executive Director (Public Relations) A.S.M Anwar Parvez along with representatives of the enterprise were presentduring the signing ceremony.
HC orders MP Salam Murshedy to hand over Gulshan house to govt
The High Court on Tuesday ordered Khulna-4 MP and vice president of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) Abdus Salam Murshedy to hand over his residence in Gulshan to the Housing and Public Works Ministry.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Ebadoth Hossain passed the order and asked Murshedy to complete the process within three months after receiving the copy of the verdict.
The court also said that the residence in Gulshan where Salam Murshedy is living is an abandoned property of the government.
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Senior Advocate Mohammad Syed Ahmed stood for Murshedy, Senior Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan for Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) while deputy attorney general Saifuddin Khaled represented the state and Advocate Anik R Haque stood for the petitioner.
Advocate Syed said they will file an appeal petition challenging the verdict.
On October 30, 2022, Barrister Sayedul Haque Sumon filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking an inquiry into the allegations of corruption against the BFF official.
According to the writ petition, the house located in Gulshan-2 was listed as the abandoned house under the gazette in 1986. But Murshedy is living there after occupying it.
Three letters of the Housing and Public Works Ministry to the chairman of Rajuk issued on April 13, 2015, January 20, 2016 and July 4, 2022 were attached to the writ petition.
The Housing and Public Works Ministry sought explanation from Rajuk Chairman over the occupation of the house by Murshedy .
On November 1, 2022, the HC issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the inaction of the authorities concerned in taking legal steps against the AL lawmaker for occupying the house illegally, should not be declared beyond legal authority.
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It also asked the authorities concerned to submit all documents regarding the house to the court.
On February 8 this year, the ACC in its investigation found the allegations of forgery and fraud over the house true and on the basis of information of witnesses and documents, the ACC filed a case against five people including Murshedy.
Abontika’s death: Teacher Din Islam sent to jail after remand
A court here on Tuesday sent Jagannath University teacher Din Islam, who was relieved from assist proctor post of the university,to jail after completion of his one-day remand in a case over the death of Law Department student Fairuz Abontika by suicide.
Judge of Cumilla Chief Judicial Magistrate Court Abu Bakar Siddique passed the order when he was produced before the court after remand.
A Cumilla court on Monday placed Jagannath University’s suspended student Raihan Siddique Amman and teacher Din Islam on a two and one-day remand respectively in the case.
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The court also ordered the investigation officer of the case filed to submit a report within seven days.
Abontika, a student of the 2017-18 academic year of the JnU Law Department, hanged herself at her Cumilla residence after accusing her classmate Amman and relieved assistant proctor Din Islam in a Facebook post around 10 pm on Friday.
In the Facebook post before committing suicide, Abantika said that Amman Siddique and Din Islam would be responsible for her suicide.
Hours after death of Abontika by suicide, massive protest broke out and continued till Saturday morning, demanding justice for the student.
In the face of student movement, the university authorities were compelled to relieve the assistant proctor and suspend the student to assuage the movement.
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Besides, the university administration formed a four-member probe committee.
Members of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested the teacher and student from Dhaka on Saturday night.
Dhaka court sentences 9 including Hallmark MD Tanvir, wife to life imprisonment
A Dhaka court on Tuesday sentenced nine people including Hallmark Group Managing Director (MD) Md Tanvir Mahmud and its Chairman and Tanvir’s wife Jesmin Islam to life imprisonment in a case filed over the misappropriation of over Tk 525.62 crore from the state-owned Sonali Bank.
Judge Md Abul Kashem of Dhaka Special Judge Court-1 also sentenced eight more accused including a senior officer of Sonali Bank to 10 years’ jail in the same case.
Others receiving life sentence include Hallmark Group General Manager Tushar Ahmed, T and Brothers Director Taslim Hasan, Max Spinning Mills owner Mir Zakaria, Paragon Group Managing Director Saiful Islam Raja, Nakshi Knit Managing Director Md. Abdul Malek, Abul Matin and Taslim Hasan.
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Those sentenced to 10 years in prison are: Savar’s Tetuljhora Union Parishad Chairman Md Jamal Uddin Sarkar; the then Sonali Bank’s Dhanmondi Branch Senior Executive Officer Meherunnesa Merry; former GMs of the bank’s head office Noni Gopal Nath, Mir Mahidul Rahman, MD Humayun Kabir; Deputy GM Moinul Haque; DGM Safiz Uddin; and AGM Md Kamrul Hossain Khan.
Though the court set February 28 for delivering the judgment of the case, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) submitted an appeal to the court to produce two more witnesses.
Accepting the appeal, the court later took testimony from the witnesses and set March 19 for final delivery of the judgment.
ACC filed the case accusing Hallmark MD Tanvir and others bringing the allegations of embezzlement of Tk 525 crore, 62 lakh and 92,800 with Ramna Police Station on October 4, 2012.
After investigating, ACC submitted chargesheet accusing 26 people on October 7, 2013.
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A Dhaka court framed charges against the accused on February 17 and 27 in 2016.
A total of 11 cases were lodged in the Hallmark scam while the judgment of one of the cases was delivered on Tuesday.
Van driver Humayun from Cumilla becomes millionaire after buying Walton fridge
Humayun Sarker, a van driver from Debidwar upazila of Cumilla, has become a millionaire after purchasing a Walton refrigerator under the “Nonstop millionaire” offer, announced by the company as part of its ongoing nationwide ‘Digital Campaign Season-20.’
Earlier, a total of 31 customers became millionaires through the campaign, according to a media release. With the slogan “Best product, best offer”, the country’s electronics giant Walton has launched the campaign’s season-20 with the offer of “Nonstop Millionaire”.
In season-20, customers are offered “nonstop millionaire” on the purchase of Walton fridge, television, air conditioner, washing machine or fan from any Walton Plaza, distributor outlet or online sales platform ‘E-plaza’ across the country. In addition, crores worth of cashback are also available.
On Saturday, popular film actor Amin Khan handed over a cheque of Tk10 lakh to Humayun Sarker at a program held in front of the Chowdhury Electronics, one of the distributors’ showrooms of Walton, at the New Market area in Cumilla city.
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The function was also attended, among others, by Municipal Mayor Saiful Islam Shamim, local politician Mamunur Rashid Mamun, Upazila Awami League President Abul Kashem, Walton’s Executive Director Monirul Haque Mona, Divisional Sales Manager Sohel Rana, Regional Sales Manager Rakibul Hasan, Chowdhury Electronics' Proprietor Saiful Islam Chowdhury.
Hailing from Gunaighor village of the upazila, Humayun Sarker bought a fridge worth Tk 45,200 from Chowdhury Electronics on March 9, 2024. His name, mobile number and the model number of the purchased fridge are digitally registered. Later, he received a message from Walton on his mobile with the notification that he was awarded Tk 10 lakh.
Thanking Walton authorities, Humayun Sarker said: “I never imagined that I would get Tk 10 lakh just for buying a fridge. This has changed my life. Walton proves that it keeps the promises given to customers.”
Calling upon all to purchase and use local products, film actor Amin Khan said, “We should buy local products to strengthen the country’s economy and create employment.”
Following the upcoming Eid festivals, Walton has targeted to meet about 80 percent of the total demands of refrigerators in the local market. To achieve the target, Walton released more than 300 models and designs of refrigerators, freezers and beverage coolers in the market. The price of these refrigerators is set between Tk 14,990 taka and Tk 2 lakh.
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Using AIOT based smart technology, intelligent inverter, Nano health care and anti-fungal door gasket technology in Walton refrigerators, along with easy installment facility for maximum 36 months, 12-year warranty on compressor with 1-year replacement facility, 5-year free after-sales service, and swift after-sales service from the nationwide ISO certified service centers are resulted in turning into the most loved brand in the local refrigerator market.
Cumilla train derailment: 4 bogies removed
Four of the nine bogies of derailed Bijoy Express train were removed from Tejer Bazar in Nangalkot of Cumilla on Tuesday morning.
Saiful Islam, divisional manager of Chattogram Eastern Railway said so far four bogies have been removed and it will take two more days to remove five other bogies and repair the damaged rail tracks.
Train operation resumes 14 hours after Bijoy Express derailed in Cumilla
Due to rescue and repair work, the movement of trains on the down line remains suspended for several hours that disrupts the regular schedule of the train movement, he said.
Several people were injured as nine bogies of Jamalpur-bound Bijoy Express train from Chattogram veered off the tracks at Tejer Bazar in Nangalkot, Cumilla Sunday.
Train movement between Dhaka and north resumes four hours after derailment in Tangail
Train operation on the down line resumed 14 hours after the derailment early Monday.