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BCL attacks Progressive Students Union protest rally against Ctg depot fire
Some activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League attacked a protest rally of progressive students organisations in front of Shahbagh police station on Monday evening.
The incident occurred around at 6.45 pm when progressive student organizations went for a protest rally from in front of the national museum demanding proper investigation into the BM Container Depot fire, arrest of its owner and proper amends to the victims and their families.
"Anik Roy, vice-president of the student union, was badly injured in the attack and received eight stitches on his head at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Besides several more of our activists were injured ,” said Acting President of Bangladesh Socialist Student Front, Joydeep Vatyacharya .
"We were on our way to the Raju sculpture with the procession and as we reached in front of Shahbagh police station, BCL leaders and activists suddenly attacked us with bricks and stones", he added.
Also read: BCL factions clash at DU over ‘occupying hall seat’
According to another witness, some BCL leaders and activists were going toward Shahbag on motorcycles when they were blocked by the procession of leftist organizations.
They allowed an ambulance to pass but did not allow the BCL leaders and activists to do so which led to an altercation and soon it turned violent, he said.
Moudut Hawlader, Officer-in-Charge of Shahbagh police station said, "I was informed about the incident. The leaders and activists of the leftist organizations were attacked by BCL men due to a quarrel between them over not allowing them to cross the road but we did not get any complaint yet in this regard. "
Also read: BCL-JCD clashes at DU: HC grants 35 JCD men anticipatory bail
However, the victims of progressive students organizations were identifying the attackers as Masruk Hasan Sujon, follower of Siam-Master Da Surja Sen hall(DU) Chhatra League general secretary- Najmul Hasan Rupu, Dhaka University Chhatra League Human resources development deputy secretary.
Outgoing Brazilian envoy calls on President Hamid
Brazilian Ambassador to Bangladesh Joao Tabajara De Oliveira Junior on Monday paid a farewell call on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban in the evening.
During the meeting, the outgoing ambassador expressed his gratitude to the president for his support, Joynal Abedin, president’s press secretary told reporters.
President Hamid said that Bangladesh and Brazil can expand their bilateral trade relations.
He stressed the need for more bilateral visits, especially of trade delegations, between the two countries.
READ: Brazilian envoy praises art show on Hasina; finds her mother-like character in artworks
Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua and Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam were also present on the occasion.
RSF releases monthly accident statistics
Some 107 students of various educational institutions across the country were among 641 people killed and 1364 others injured due to 528 road accidents in May.
Among the dead were 84 women and 97 children. Some 269 people were killed in 248 motorcycle accidents, which is 46.78 percent of the total deaths and Motorcycle accident rate is 47.6 percent.
At least119 pedestrians were killed due to the road accident, which is 18.56 percent of the total deaths. Some 91 drivers and assistants of the vehicle were killed, which is 14.19 percent of the total death tolls.
Also read: Road accidents claim 7 lives in 3 districts
Road Safety Foundation (RSF), a nonprofit volunteer organization, revealed the information through a press release on Monday.
The RSF has compiled the report based on information from nine national dailies, seven online news portals and electronic mass media.
Besides, four people have been killed and two others remain missing in seven riverine accidents. At least 17 people were killed and three others injured in 13 railway accidents during the same period from May 1 to May 30 this year.
Also read: Road accidents leave 10 dead in 6 districts
According to the RSF's observation and analysis, the highest number 216 (41.09%) of the accidents occurred on national highways, 191 (36.17%) on regional roads, 74 (14%) on rural roads and 46 (8.71%) on urban roads.
On the other hand, the highest 214 (40.53%) among the total accidents occurred due to losing control over steering, 123 accident ( 23.29 percent) happened due to pushing or run over pedestrians, 111 (21.02%) were head-on collisions, 61 incidents (11.55 percent ) hit the rear side of vehicles and 19 (3. 59%) occurred due to other reasons.
The Dhaka division had the highest number of accidents and deaths, with 159 killed in 127 accidents. At least 23 people were killed in 22 accidents in Sylhet division. As a single district, Dhaka district has the highest number of accidents and deaths. 37 killed in 32 accidents. The lowest is in Jhalakati district. Two people were injured in three accidents and no casualties were reported.
PM to flag off nationwide population census June 14
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address the nation on June 14 on the eve of the start of countrywide population and household census, Planning Minister MA Mannan told parliament on Monday.
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) will conduct population and household census simultaneously for seven days from June 15 to 21 to collect socio-economic data of all the people of the country.
The minister sought the help of all members of parliament so that the people can take active participation in the population and household census.
The senior minister came up with the statement in the House while speaking under section 300 of the rules of procedure of parliament.
READ: BBS partners with Robi to deliver Bangladesh's 1st digital census data
He said that he personally sent an demi official (DO) letter to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chief Whip, whips, Opposition Chief Whip, ministers, state ministers, deputy ministers and opposition leader and MPs seeking their full support to encourage people to give accurate information apart from their active participation.
“I am reiterating my appeal again to the parliament,” he added.
Sitakunda fire: Authorities lower death toll to 41
The district administration on Monday revised the death toll from Sitakunda container depot fire to 41 down from the earlier confirmed figure of 50.
Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Mominur Rahman said the actual death toll from the BM container depot fire was 41 after a recount of the bodies kept at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital.
He said the earlier toll was an outcome of counting some of the bodies twice at different hospitals.
Brig. General Shamim Ahsan, director of Chattogram Medical College and Hospital said “We have got 41 bodies and the authorities concerned have conducted the autopsy of 18 on Sunday.”
The identities of 24 people were confirmed, he said adding nine of them were firefighters. So far, 21 bodies were handed over to the families.
The firefighters were still trying to completely extinguish the fire until 7:30 pm on Monday, 46 hours after the disaster.
READ: US, UK, Swiss envoys condole loss of lives in Sitakunda fire
A team of Bangladesh Army is still working to bring the fire under control and prevent the spread of chemical in the area.
According to fire service sources, the container depot contained a large quantity of chemicals called 'hydrogen peroxide'. Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound and it acts like explosives at high temperature.
The fire broke out at the BM Container Depot on Saturday at Sonachhari in Sitakunda upazila. Explosions were also occurred during the fire.
Over 200 people suffered injuries.
Around 130 people are undergoing treatment at the burn unit of CMCH, said Anisur Rahman, deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defense.
Cost of various projects to be revised, LGRD minister tells JS
LGRD minister Tajul Islam on Monday said the government will revise the cost of various projects considering the rising cost of construction materials including rod.He said this in parliament Monday, replying to a supplementary question from independent lawmaker Rezaul Karim.The minister informed the House that this will be done within the next one week to 10 days.“In that case the contractors will be interested to carry out works of different projects,” he said.In the supplementary question, Rezaul Karim said, MPs have received a special allocation of Tk 20 crore. But development works remained stalled due to increasing price of rod.
Also read: Cumilla city polls will be free, fair, and acceptable: LGRD Minister“The contractors are not working,” he added.He wants to know what alternative measures will be taken to break the stalemate.In response, the local government minister said prices of almost all commodities had risen worldwide due to two years of coronavirus infection and the ensuing Russia-Ukraine war.“Inflation in Bangladesh is much better than in the rest of the world. Even then the prices of construction materials including rods have gone up,” he said.The minister said he had raised the issue before the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a recent meeting.
Also read: LGRD Minister calls for differentiated pricing of water for rich and poor“The Prime Minister has given instructions. According to that instruction, local government engineers following discussion with the officials of the finance ministry have taken initiative to re-fix the cost of different projects,” he added.In this case, Tajul Islam said that the contractors will be interested in working following extension of the project estimate.
Gas price hike angers consumer rights groups
Consumer rights groups have expressed disappointments with the energy regulator's latest move to raise the average gas price by 22.78 per cent amid economic hardships.
"We have been frustrated with the BERC decision when the people are struggling to survive in high inflation of commodity price", said Prof M Shamsul Alam, advisor of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB).
"Rather, the energy regulator mostly considered the profits of the state-owned utility companies and their public shareholders", he told UNB.
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) on Sunday announced the gas price hike for retail consumers in the country with back effect from June 1.
As per the announcement, the average gas price was raised to Tk 11.91 per cubic metre from the existing Tk 9.70 per cubic metre (CM).
As per the new tariff, the household consumers using single burner will now pay Tk Tk 990 (7.03 per cent rise), up from Tk 925 a month, while the double-burner users need to pay Tk 1080 (10.77 per cent rise), up from Tk 975.
The household consumers will bear the brunt of the hike as they have to pay Tk 18 per Cubic metre (42.86 per cent rise), up from existing Tk 12.60 per cubic metre (CM).
The CAB earlier placed an alternative proposal to the government to keep the tariff unchanged and provide a subsidy of Tk 6489 crore to the energy and power sector.
It recommended major reforms in energy and power sector aimed at stopping pilferage, malpractice, irregularities, corruption and misuse of gas and electricity.
The CAB said that only a Tk 2,400 is required for energy sector while Tk 5089 crore is for power sector to keep the current price unchanged.
The CAB's alternative proposal also includes enhancing local gas production and shutting down costly rental, quick rental and inefficient power plants.
“Our alternative proposals were not taken into cognizance in making the decision", said the Cab advisor.
Shamsul Alam said the government normally withdraws taxes and duties on any product when its price goes up on international markets.
"But in case of petroleum or gas import, the government does not prefer such steps", he noted.
Mohiuddin Ahmed, convener of the Bangladesh Citizen Society, said that the gas price hike is completely illogical and made in a syndicated way.
During the public hearing the state-run companies failed to place any convincing evidence in support of raising gas prices, he said.
Despite that the energy regulator raised the gas price instead of taking action against corruption and pilferage in the energy sector, he regretted.
Parliamentary committee gets 2 more months to review media employees bill
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Broadcast on Monday got another 60 days to examine the much-talked-about Mass Media Employees (Services Conditions) Bill 2022.
Chairman of the Committee Hasanul Huq Inu sought the time in Parliament and the House approved.
On March 28 of this year, Information and Broadcast Minister Hasan Mahmud placed the Bill and it was sent to the parliamentary standing committee on the respective ministry for scrutiny of the proposed law.
According to the source, the Standing Committee did not sit for a meeting till now.
Various journalists organisations and owners associations have opposed many sections of the proposed law.
The wages and benefits of journalists, employees and press workers, artists of broadcast, online, and print media outlets would be fixed under the proposed law.
As per the Bill, journalists will be regarded as media professionals, not as workers.
The wage board will be applicable for journalists and employees of all the media outlets, including print and electronic, as per the Bill.
According to the Bill, the minimum working hours for media employees will be 48 hours in a week, while the casual leave will be 15 days instead of 10 days and the earned leave will be 100 days instead of 60 days annually.
If anybody works beyond the stipulated time, he or she will be entitled to overtime pay.
Besides, the festival leave will be 10 days in a year, recreation leave will be 15 days after every three years, and the maternity leave will be six months in place of the existing eight weeks.
READ: Parliamentary committee wants expert officials as project heads
If anyone or organisation violates the provisions of the Bill, s/he will be fined Tk 50,000-Tk 5 lakh.
The government will be able to cancel the license or registration of the media. The owners of media outlets will also face punishment for violation of the law.
If anyone or any organisation violates the provisions of the Bill, he/she will face monetary fine or imprisonment, the Cabinet secretary said.
Once the new law is passed in parliament, jobs of media employees will no longer be regulated under the labour law.
Currently, journalists and employees of media houses are regarded as “workers” under the labour law.
Once the law is passed, they will be regarded as media personnel, not workers.
According to the proposed law, a wage board will be formed for the media personnel.
The wage board will fix salaries and allowances of media personnel in line with the salary scale of the government employees and it will be applicable to the owners of all media outlets.
Every media house will have a provident fund which will be applicable to a new employee after one year in service instead of two years. An employee will contribute 8 to 10 percent of his basic salary, currently 7 percent, and an equal amount will be deposited in the fund by the owner of the media house, the proposed law states.
BAEC bill placed in parliament for amendment
A bill titled Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (amendment) Bill 2022 was placed in Parliament on Monday.
The Bill, which was placed by Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman, landed in the Parliament aiming to change names of two posts in the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.
The Bill was sent to the respective parliamentary standing committee. The committee was asked to submit its report within 30 days.
Also read: Bill to establish new hydrocarbons agency placed in JSAccording to the Bill, there are two posts in the Commission named Finance Advisor and Secretary where the Public Administration Ministry posted deputy secretary ranked employees.As per s Cabinet Division directive on October 23, 2019 if there is any post called assistant secretary, deputy secretary, additional secretary and secretary in any office under any ministry or division, the name of the post has to be changed.
Also read: Jatiya Muktijoddha Council Bill placed in parliamentThe bill states that the post of secretary will be named as working executive (admin) while finance advisor will be named as working executive (finance).
EC announces polls schedule for 3 municipalities
Election will be held in three municipalities –Panchbibi and Khetlal in Joypurhat, and Dohar in Dhaka—on July 27 with the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Also read: EC suspends Eochia UP election in Ctg
The Election Commission on Monday announced the polls schedule for the three local bodies by issuing a notification.
Also read: EC suspends Chambal UP election in Ctg
As per the schedule, the deadline for submission of nomination papers is June 28, while the date for scrutinizing nomination papers is June 30 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is July 7.