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Naogaon-2 election: Voting underway amid tight security
Voting in the election to Naogaon-2 constituency (Patnitala and Dhamoirhat upazilas), which was postponed following the death of independent candidate Aminul Haque, began amid strict security measures on Monday (February 12, 2024) morning.
The balloting began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break.
The Election Commission suspended the election due to the death of the independent candidate on December 29, eight-day ahead the 12th national election held on January 7 this year.
Visiting several polling stations, the UNB correspondent found a huge presence of voters.
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Abdullah Al Mamun, presiding officer of Puiya Government Primary School centre, said that they have taken all preparations to hold the polls in a fair and peaceful environment.
With the cooperation of the members of the law enforcement agencies, they will be able to hold the polls in a fair and peaceful environment, he hoped.
Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Golam Mowla said all security measures have been taken so that election can be held in free, fair and neutral manner.
There are 16 police and Ansar members in important centers each and 15 members in other centers each, he said, adding that on an average there is one police mobile team for every four centers along with a striking team and reserve team.
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Executive Magistrates and Judicial Magistrates are performing duty along with patrolling by members of the Rapid Action Battalion and Border Guard Bangladesh, he said.
A total of four candidates including one from the ruling Awami League and one from Jatiya Party are contesting the polls.
'Unveil true circumstances of Preeti's death': Domestic Workers Rights Network
The Domestic Workers Rights Network has called for a thorough investigation and legal intervention into "the murder of an indigenous teenage domestic worker" at the residence of The Daily Star's Executive Editor, Syed Ashfaqul Haque.
In a press release, the organization expressed concern over the death of 15-year-old Preeti Urang and urged the government and administration to unveil the true circumstances of the incident. They emphasize the need for appropriate action to prosecute those responsible to prevent such occurrences in future.
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"In recent years, there has been a concerning rise in torture, killings, and violations of human rights against domestic workers. These workers are entitled to just treatment and respect as human beings. The absence of enforcement for the 'Domestic Workers Protection and Welfare Policy, 2015' and their exclusion from labor laws contribute to a pattern of abuse, with perpetrators emboldened by a lack of consequences. Imposing exemplary punishment for such incidents could deter future acts of violence against domestic workers," it said.
Earlier on Feb 6, police recovered the body of a teenage domestic help from in front of a multi-storey building at Shahjahan Road in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur.A case was filed following a complaint lodged by Preeti’s father Lokesh Urang the next day.
Ashfaqul Haque and his wife Tania Khondoker were denied bail and sent to jail, where investigators interrogated them on February 8-9 at the jailgate.
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Moulvibazar tea workers gather to demand justice for Priti Urang
Tea workers on Sunday demanded a fair investigation and justice in the death of Priti Urang, a tea worker’s daughter of Mirtinga tea garden in Kamalganj district, who fell to her death from the Mohammadpur flat of the executive editor of the Daily Star.
Puran Urang presided over the protest rally arraged jointly by the Urang Language and Culture Protection Committee and the Tea Workers' 10-point Settlement Struggle Committee. Jaharlal Dutta, district secretary of Bangladesh Communist Party, Basad district member and Central General Secretary of Tea Workers Federation Dipankar Ghosh, SM Shubo, Sitaram Bin, Biswajit Nandi, Preeti Urang's father Lokesh Urang and her mother Nomita Urang, spoke.
Priti's parents told the gathering that Priti went to work at the Daily Star executive editor Ashfaqul Haque's house through Moulvibazar district representative of the newspaper, Mintu Deshwara.
From the beginning, they lost touch with her. In two years, they could not meet her even once.
“On the day of Priti's death, Mintu Deshwara asked us to come to Srimangal," said Lokesh, the father. "When Srimangal came, he said Priti was seriously ill and was taken to Dhaka. After going there, we were directly taken to the police station and heard the news of the girl's death. I came home with the dead body of the girl from the police station.”
"We don't even know whether our case has been registered at the police station. We just want justice for our daughter's murder," he said.
Speakers said that instead of sending the child Priti to school, tea garden journalist Mintu Deshwara, who works for the Daily Star, sent her to work at the residence of Syed Ashfaqul Haque, executive editor of the same newspaper.
At the end of the protest rally, the memorandum was given to the Kamalganj upazila executive functionaries.
Islami Bank holds employee conference in Chattogram
Chattogram South Zone, North Zone and Agrabad Corporate Branch of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC organized employee conference at Navy Convention Center Chattogram on Saturday.
Mohammed Monirul Moula, Managing Director and CEO of the Bank addressed the conference as chief guest while Md Akiz Uddin and Miftah Uddin, Deputy Managing Directors and Md. Maksudur Rahman, Senior Executive Vice President addressed the conference as special guest, said a press release issued on Sunday.
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Meah Md. Barkat Ullah, Head of Chattogram South Zone presided over the function while Mohammad Nurul Hossain, Head of Chattogram North Zone addressed the welcome speech.
Abdul Naser, Head of Agrabad Corporate Branch thanked the audience.
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Executives from Head Office, Branch Incumbents, Sub-Branch Incharges and employees from all branches under two zones and Agrabad Corporate Branch of the Bank attended the conference.
5-yr-old boy burned to death in Savar
A five-year-old boy was burned to death in a fire which broke out at a house at Ashulia in Savar, on the outskirts of the capital on Sunday.
The deceased was identified as Sakib, son of Nizamuddin of Pandhoa area in Savar.
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Station Manager of Jirabo fire station Sayem said,a fire broke out at a house at noon and spread to the three other tin-shed rooms in the area.
On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze around 1 pm.
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Nur Alam Mia, sub-inspector of Ashulia Police Station, said the firefighters recovered the charred body of the child who was kept locked at his house as his parents went out for work leaving their child alone.
Primarily it is suspected that the fire might have originated from an electric short circuit, he said.
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Shab-e-Barat on February 25
Muslims in Bangladesh will observe the holy Shab-e-Barat on the night of February 25 as the Shaban moon has been sighted.
As the moon was sighted on Sunday, the month of Shaban will begin from February 12.
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The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee held at Islamic Foundation’s Baitul Mukarram office in the evening.
Additional Secretary of Ministry of Religious Affairs Md Awal Hawladar presided over the meeting.
The announcement was made after analysing data collected from the district admistrations, Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh Meteorological Department, and Space Research and Remote Sensing Institute.
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Shab-e-Barat is observed on the 15th night of the Arabic month of Shaban. Muslims offer special prayers, recite the Holy Quran, and take part in other religious rituals.
Army chief returns home from Qatar after completion of a 3-day official visit
Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed returned home on Sunday after a 3-day official visit to Qatar.
During the 3-day official visit, the Army Chief enjoyed the semi-final and final games of the '18th AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™' held in Qatar and observed various events of the 'World Aquatics Championships Doha 2024'.
Shab-e-Barat on February 25
Besides, the army chief also participated in bilateral meetings with representatives from different countries and discussed various issues of mutual cooperation, says an Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) Directorate media release.
Anita Ghazi Rahman joins Brac Bank as independent director
The Chief of Army Staff went to Qatar on February 7 at the invitation of Qatar Olympic Committee and President of Local Organizing Committee Joan Bin Hamad Al-Thani.
Anita Ghazi Rahman joins Brac Bank as independent director
Brac Bank PLC is pleased to announce the appointment of Anita Ghazi Rahman as an Independent Director to its Board of Directors, effective January 30, 2024.
Ms. Rahman brings to the board a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective that promises to steer Brac Bank towards new heights in its journey of growth and excellence.
According to Brac Bank, Anita Ghazi Rahman is a distinguished young law professional with over 19 years of post-qualification experience in the legal domain.
She is a qualified barrister and advocate of both the High Court Division and the Appellate Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, specializing in company law, general corporate law, and dispute resolution.
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Throughout her career, Ms. Rahman has actively contributed to the legal and corporate sectors by serving on the boards of several non-profits and professional associations.
She is a prominent figure in the Bangladeshi startup ecosystem, offering her expertise as a mentor in various national and international incubator and accelerator programs and serving on the Investment Committee in Startup Bangladesh under the ICT Ministry of the Bangladesh Government.
Previously, Ms. Rahman has lent her expertise as an Independent Director at the Chittagong Stock Exchange and holds a board position at bKash Limited, Bangladesh's leading mobile financial service company.
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She is the Founder & Managing Partner of The Legal Circle, a law firm, and the Founder Editor of Think Legal Bangladesh, an innovative web-based legal resource platform.
Ms. Rahman's academic credentials are equally impressive, with an LLB (Hons.) degree from the University College London, UK, and her being called to the Bar of England and Wales by Lincoln’s Inn, London.
Known for her commitment to pro bono work, Ms. Rahman dedicates a significant portion of her time to initiatives to create a positive impact in Bangladesh. Her passion for social work is evident from her engagements with the Sajida Foundation and Jaago Foundation.
On welcoming Anita Ghazi Rahman to the Board, Meheriar M. Hasan, Chairperson of Brac Bank, said, “As Brac Bank navigates through a critical phase in its growth trajectory, it is imperative to have innovative and dynamic leadership”.
Central bank issues advisory on formation of bank boards to ensure good governance
Bangladesh Bank (BB) has issued a notification regarding the formation of a bank's board of directors, as well as prescribing the responsibilities of the directors as per the ‘Bank Company Act’.
The Banking Regulations and Policy Department (BRPD) of Bangladesh Bank on Sunday issued the notification to ensure dynamism and good governance in the banking sector.
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The notification was sent to the managing directors and chief executive officers of all scheduled banks for immediate execution.
According to the notification, the number of directors of a bank will be a maximum of 20, and independent directors will be three.
However, if there are less than 20 directors, there cannot be more than two independent directors. At the same time not more than three members from a single family can be directors, the notification stated.
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To be a member of the board of directors, the minimum age of the concerned person must be 30 years. And should have 10 years of management business or professional experience.
According to the central bank, this policy has been formulated to ensure good governance in the banks. At the same time, the board of directors of the bank must be formed by suitable and professionally competent persons to carry out the business activities properly and smoothly.
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“The bank's activities are mainly conducted with the money of the depositors. In this case, it is essential to protect the interest of the depositors. For this reason, the responsibility of the board of directors of a bank company is more important than that of other companies,” the BB notification stated.
Amendments were brought in the Bank-Company Act in 2023 to ensure good governance in the banking sector.
14 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24hrs
No fresh death due to dengue was reported in Bangladesh in the 24 hours till Sunday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, fourteen more patients were hospitalised with viral fever during this period, according to the DGHS.
8 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24hrs
Of them, five were admitted in Dhaka hospitals, while the rest were outside the capital.
A total of 115 dengue patients, including 53 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
3 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24hrs
So far, 1,224 dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024.
Last year, a total of 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record.
20 more dengue patients hospitalised in 24hrs
The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3,18,749 recoveries last year.
Last year’s September was the deadliest month for the dengue outbreak, with 396 fatalities and 79,598 cases, according to DGHS data.