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Mir Abu Taher’s 10th death anniversary Tuesday
The 10th death anniversary of Master Mir Abu Taher, father of BNP Chairperson's Media Wing member Shamsuddin Didar, will be observed on Tuesday.
Doa mahfils, milad and recitation of the holy Quran will also be held in different parts of Cumilla including Abu Taher's ancestral village Daudpur under Nangolkot upazila marking the death anniversary of Master Mir Abu Taher.
Besides, a milad and doa mahfil was organised at the village home of Mir Abu Taher, confirmed Shamsuddin Didar.
Abu Taher died of old age complications at his Daudpur residence in 2013.
He served as a teacher at different schools in Cumilla.
He also served as chairman of Nangolkot union for a long time.
Chevron starts drilling in Bibiyana gas field’s expanded area
US oil major Chevron, operator of the country's largest gas field in Bibiyana, has started drilling in the field's expanded area.
According to Chevron Bangladesh, the subsidiary of the US company, it commenced drilling at well No-27 on August 23 and it will take about 2.5-3 months to complete.
Chevron Bangladesh signed several agreements in October 2022 with the Energy and Mineral Resources Division and also with state-owned Petrobangla to drill more wells at the expanded Bibiyana gas field.
Also read: Search for gas: Chevron plans drilling in Bibiyana’s flanked area in April
The deals were Supplemental Agreements to the Block 12 Production Sharing Contract for Bibiyana Flank Area Extension, amendment of Jalalabad Gas and Condensate Purchase and Sales Agreement and Amendment of Moulvibazar Condensate Purchase and Sales Agreement for Block 13 and 14.
Petrobangla officials had said during the contract signing that the main objective of Chevron's Bibiyana Flank Area Extension is to drill new wells there.
So far Chevron has dug 26 wells at the Bibiyana gas field. It will begin drilling the BY-27 development well in 2023 in the extended area.
“The multinational energy corporation also plans to drill the BY-28 infield well later,” said a top official of Petrobangla, adding that a significant amount of gas is expected to flow from the field.
Also read: Chevron receives nod for extension to Bibiyana
About the new drilling plan, Chevron Bangladesh said it partners with Petrobangla and the government to provide safe, reliable, low cost and ever cleaner energy to the country and seek the opportunities of tomorrow. Chevron produces over 50% of Bangladesh’s total energy demand from domestic natural gas.
“As the largest producing field in Bangladesh, Bibiyana gas field is a great success story for the nation. BY-27 drilling program is a crucial project for Bangladesh’s long-term energy security, that could result in an overall increase in natural gas production for Bangladesh,” said the US company.
Meanwhile, a session titled “Geology for Non-Geologists” was organized by Chevron Bangladesh at their Dhaka office for energy reporters on Monday.
Also read: Chevron to up gas production by 100 MMCFD from Bibiyana from early April
Opening the session Eric M. Walker, President, and Managing Director of Chevron Bangladesh, said “Chevron Bangladesh is entering in a new era in Bangladesh as we look to build upon our current partnership with the government and Petrobangla to unlock further gas supply from existing facilities using Chevron’s world class technological capabilities.”
He mentioned that Chevron Bangladesh values its long-standing relationship with Petrobangla and the government.
“We are committed to working with the government to help achieve the nation’s energy goals and ensure that Chevron Bangladesh is the partner of choice,” he added.
He said Chevron plays a key role in Bangladesh’s energy security, and is a reliable partner and trusted investor in Bangladesh for over 28 years.
Members of the Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) attended the session, which focused on the basics of geology.
The keynote speaker of the session was Patrick Condon, Assets Development Director at Chevron Bangladesh.
He provided an in-depth understanding of geology in the oil and gas industry and detailed the tools, techniques, and studies used by geologists in the exploration for oil and gas.
Other notable attendees in the session included Muhammad Imrul Kabir, Corporate Affairs Director, Chevron Bangladesh, and Shaikh Jahidur Rahman, Communications Manager, Chevron Bangladesh.
Islamic University officials continue work abstention for 2nd day
The officers of Islamic University observed work abstention for the second consecutive day on Monday on the university campus in Kushtia to press home their 16-point charter of demands, including increase in retirement age and make policy to enroll their children under ward quota.
About a hundred officers under Islamic University Officers’ Association observed the abstention programme from 9:00am to 4:00pm, halting the administrative activities.
Their 16-point charter of demands include extending the retirement age from 60 to 62 years and taking an immediate initiative to enroll students of teachers, officials and staff of the university under ward quota.
Also read: IU students, teachers stage demonstration demanding investigation into Nowrin’s death
The students of the university suffered a lot due to the work abstention. They could not receive their certificates and other necessary documents from the university’s controller of examinations office for this.
Many students said that they were the worst sufferers due to the work abstention of the officers’ association. They suffered one after another but no remedy was found to resolve the issues, they said.
Tanjila Akter, a former student of the university, said that she had been waiting for the last two days to take her certificates and other documents from the controller of examinations office of the university. She, at a point, lost her hope to receive the certificates due to the indefinite work abstention programme called by the university’s officers’ association, she added.
Also read: BCL's Islamic University unit suspends 8 activists for violating organisation rules
On Saturday, the officials of the university arranged a meeting at IU’s Birshreshtha Hamidur Rahman auditorium on the same ground. Later, they announced an indefinite work abstention programme on the campus.
They observed the work abstention as part of the announcement, Islamic University Officers’ Association general secretary Walid Hasan Mukut said.
The association president ATM Emdadul Alam told UNB that the university administration assured them of looking into the demands one after another but they did not take any effective measures regarding the issues.
Also read: Another first-year student at Islamic University alleges torture by BCL activists
‘We will continue our demonstration on the campus until our demands are met,’ he added.
IU vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam said that they were trying to resolve the issues after discussing the matter with the officials soon.
Meanwhile, the 261st syndicate meeting was on the campus in Kushtia on Sunday night without IU acting registrar HM Ali Hasan, who was a member secretary of the syndicate, as the officers confined him at his office.
Death penalty as max punishment for mutiny: Cabinet approves draft Ansar Battalion Act
The Cabinet on Monday gave the final approval to the draft of Ansar Battalion Act, 2023, keeping death penalty as the maximum punishment for different crimes including mutiny and provocation for rebellion.
The approval came from the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office in the city.
According to the proposed law, there will be two courts to try the internal crimes of Ansar battalion members. One is ‘Summery Ansar Battalion Court’ to be headed by an additional director and another is ‘Special Ansar Battalion Court’ to be headed by the director general, said Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain while briefing reporters at Bangladesh Secretariat.
Read: Cabinet approves Cyber Security Act to replace controversial DSA
“Serious crimes like committing mutiny, instigating for revolt, creating ground for rebellion, engaging in conspiracy will be tried in the Special Ansar Battalion Court. The maximum punishment for such crimes is the death penalty,” he said.
Besides, other serious crimes related to the punitive provisions ranging from life imprisonment to minimum five years of imprisonment will be tried in special courts, he added.
Earlier, the cabinet approved in principle the draft law in March this year.
Read more: Chinese firm gets cabinet body’s nod to set up Chinese economic zone in Ctg
16 Chhatra League men suspended for grieving Sayeedi's death on Facebook in Cumilla
Sixteen leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chharta League’s Cumilla unit have been suspended for grieving death of Jamaat leader and war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayeedi.
Read more: BCL takes oath to be uncompromising about Sheikh Hasina
A press release signed by Cumilla North District Chharta League president Md Mohiuddin and General Secretary Saiful Islam confirmed the matter on Monday.
Read more: BCL leaders allegedly oust student from his room at RU hall
“They (BCL men) have been suspended by the order of BCL central committee on charges of engaging in activities that go against the organization's policies and ideals,” said the note/
Read more: BCL's Islamic University unit suspends 8 activists for violating organisation rules
Sayeedi was sentenced to life imprisonment in a case filed over crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971.
Saima Wazed nominated for WHO Regional Director
Saima Wazed has been nominated by the Government of Bangladesh for the post of Regional Director of World Health Organization’s (WHO) South-East Asia Region (SEARO).
WHO SEARO is one of the six regional offices of the WHO, composed of representatives of the member states.
Read more: UNICEF , WHO for greater breastfeeding support across all workplaces
“I am deeply honoured to be nominated by the Government of Bangladesh for WHO SEARO Regional Director,” Saima Wazed said.
“If elected, I plan on working in close collaboration with the Member States to realise my vision for the public health policies and practices of our region. I believe in working in partnerships, and hearing from communities themselves to create lasting solutions that work from the ground up. This has characterised my work till date, and this is what I hope to bring to this role.”
Saima Wazed’s significant achievements include drafting three international resolutions that were subsequently adopted by member countries of the UN and WHO:
— In 2014 at WHO 67.8
Comprehensive and Coordinated Efforts for the Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
— In 2012 WHO-RC: SEA/RC65/ R8
Comprehensive and Coordinated Efforts for the Management of Autism Spectrum Disorders and Developmental Disabilities.
— In 2012 UNGA: 67/82
Addressing the Socioeconomic Needs of Individuals, Families and Societies Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders, Developmental Disorders and Associated Disabilities.
Read more: WHO endorses landmark public health decisions on Essential Medicines for Multiple Sclerosis
Saima Wazed is currently completing her doctoral studies at Barry University (USA) in Organisational Leadership. She has been an Advisor to the Director General of WHO on Mental Health and Autism since 2019, and is a member of WHO’s Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health since 2014.
In August 2023 she was appointed as an Associate Fellow at the Global Health Program at Chatham House, where she has also been serving since 2022 as a Commissioner at the Commission for Universal Health.
Since 2020, she has served as Thematic Ambassador for Vulnerability for the Climate Vulnerable Forum, and from 2017 to 2019 was appointed as WHO SEARO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Autism.
In Bangladesh, she is the Chief Advisor for the National Mental Health Strategic Plan 2020-2025, and since 2012 has been Chairperson of the National Advisory Committee on Autism and NDDs.
Her current academic and training work includes being Adjunct Faculty at Barry University in the USA, Visiting Faculty at Dhaka University, Visiting Specialist at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital, and Visiting Faculty at the National Institute of Mental Health in Dhaka.
She has been invited to speak at several high-level conferences and events around the world, including side events at the UN General Assembly in the USA, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda, the World Assembly of Women in Japan, COP26 and 27 in Scotland and Egypt respectively, UNESCO’s High Level Roundtable in Sri Lanka, the Global Child Nutrition Forum in Cambodia, the World Economic Forum in India, the World Congress of Psychiatry in Portugal, and others.
Read more: Cheerful PM’s photo with Joy, Putul from Padma Bridge takes netizens by storm
She is a licensed school psychologist, having worked in the public school system of Orange County and Duval County, in Florida (USA) for over three years.
Over her years of service, she has received a number of international awards, including a citation for Excellence in Public Health by WHO SEARO, the Distinguished Alumni Award by Barry University in the USA, International Champion Award by Shema Kolainu in the USA, and was listed by Columbia University as an Innovative (Women) Leader in Global Mental Health.
The Government of Nepal has nominated its candidate alongside Bangladesh for the post.
The Regional Director will be voted on by the eleven WHO SEARO member states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
More on Saima Wazed:
https://saimawazed.info/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/saimawazed/
https://twitter.com/drSaimaWazed/
Khaleda's condition not good enough to be discharged from hospital: Doctor
Though BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been receiving treatment in a cabin at Evercare Hospital for the last 26 days, her condition has not improved enough to be discharged from there, her personal physician Professor AZM Zahid Hossain said on Monday.
“Madam has been provided with treatment under close observation of the doctors and her medical board members. They’re visiting her two or three times a day, conducting necessary tests and taking necessary measures accordingly,” he said.
Read more: Khaleda Zia's illness is part of BNP's politics: Hasan Mahmud
Zahid said that Khaleda’s medical board members are treating her in consultation with local and foreign doctors.
He said that the doctors feel that it is necessary to keep Khaleda Zia under more close observation. “That's why she has to stay in the hospital for a few more days.”
Asked when the BNP chief may get released from hospital, he said Khaleda’s physical condition has not yet improved enough to take her home from the hospital. “So, the medical board still can’t say specifically how many more days she will have to stay in the hospital.”
Read more: ‘Tarique called Khaleda Zia 45 times the night before BDR mutiny,’ video posted by Sajeeb Wazed says
Zahid said the BNP chairperson has to stay in the hospital for a few more days to continue her treatment under the supervision of the doctors.
Talking to UNB, a member of her medical board, wishing anonymity, said the improvement in physical condition of Khaleda is very slow.
“She has been suffering from some very critical diseases and no hospital in Bangladesh has the capacity to give her the exact treatment that she needs now,” the medical board member said.
He said it is essential to send Khaleda to any sophisticated medical centre abroad with liver transplant facilities to save her life. “But we’re trying our best to ensure her condition doesn’t deteriorate as a complete cure is not possible here.”
On August 9, Khaleda was admitted to Evercare Hospital for health checkups and treatment as she fell sick and she has been receiving treatment at the hospital since then under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.
Read more: Govt may resend Khaleda Zia to jail unless BNP stops daydreaming: Info Minister
Khaleda, a 79-year-old former prime minister, has been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, kidney, lung, heart, and eye problems.
Injured monkey goes to Sitakunda Health Complex, receives treatment
A monkey has become the talk of the locality after it went to Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex in Chattogram twice and received treatment for wounds.
Surprised locals said that the wild animal was first seen in the area around a month back and since then it is frequently seen here and there.
The monkey with wounds was spotted in front of the upazila health complex over the past couple of days.
Dr Nuruddin Rashed, a physician at the upazila health complex, said, “I found the monkey, with wounds, sitting on the balcony of the hospital when I was about to leave work on Saturday afternoon.”
Read: Endangered Lojjaboti monkey rescued in Rangamati, released in Kaptai National Park
Later, he dressed the wounds on the monkey, and it left the health complex, said the doctor.
The monkey again appeared at the hospital on Sunday, he said, adding that brandages were put on the monkey’s wounds. Later, it went away.
“The animal seemed to be in pain and some of the wounds in the back started to rot. This could have happened due to electric shock from sitting on power lines,” he said, adding, “I wanted to know the whereabouts of the monkey when I joined the office today. The monkey was seen sitting on a branch of a tree by the hospital.”
Read more: Endangered Lojjaboti monkey rescued in Bandarban
Petrol pump owners who called strike backtrack
A faction of the Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners Association (BPPOA) that called for a countrywide strike at filling stations has now called it off.
The leaders of the BPPOA faction, led by Syed Sazzadul Karim Kabul and Mizanur Rahman Ratan, president and secretary general respectively, announced the withdrawal of the strike following a meeting with the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) on Sunday evening, said Mir Md Aslam Uddin, deputy principal information officer (DPIO) of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
Also read: Those who called strike are “nobody of organization”: leaders of another faction of BPPOA claim
Earlier, this faction had announced the strike from a press conference at Dhaka Reporters Unity on August 27 placing 3-point demands.
They started an indefinite strike from this morning (September 03, 2023) to realise their three-point demands.
Also read: Strict action to be taken from Monday if filling station owners’ strike not withdrawn: BPC
Their demands include raising commission on fuel sales to at least 7.5 percent, setting the tank-lorry economic life to 50 years, and issuing a gazette notification mentioning fuel traders as commission agents as per previous pledges.
Also read: Khulna fuel traders start indefinite strike with 3-point demand
Prisons infrastructure creaking under weight of imprisoned population
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Sunday revealed the prison population in the country is nearly twice the capacity of prisons to house them.
The home minister said this while replying to a tabled question from ruling Awami League MP M Abdul Latif from Chattogram-11.
“The total capacity of 68 prisons in the country is 42,866 people. The capacity is for 40,937 men and 1,929 women prisoners. Against this capacity, the total number of prisoners staying at different jails is 77,203,” said Khan.
He said that all the jails in the country except for Jashore, Sylhet, Dinajpur, Feni, Pirojpur and Madaripur jails, have more prisoners than their capacity.
He said that increasing the capacity in prisons is an ongoing process.
Asaduzzaman Khan mentioned that the construction or expansion of Mymensingh, Cumilla, Khulna, Narsingdi and Jamalpur prisons is in progress.
He said that the capacity of the under-construction prisons will increase by 5,000 after the completion.
The home M=minister said that the country's lone women's central jail in Kashimpur has a total capacity of 200 prisoners, but now 634 prisoners are staying in that jail.
On the other hand, the total number of women prisoners in various jails of the country is 2,981.
The minister said, Keraniganj Central Jail in Kashimpur has a capacity of 4,590 but there are 9,765 prisoners staying in this jail.
In response to another question of M Abdul Latif, the Home Minister said that in 2022, 113.3 kg of Ice and 167 LSD strips were seized across the country.
In 2023, just from January to July, those numbers have been exceeded, with 114.5 kg of ice and 129 LSD strips were seized.
The home minister said that Yaba and Ice infiltrate into Bangladesh through the Naf River from neighboring Myanmar.
In reply to another question, the home minister said that anti-drug committees have been formed in 31,080 educational institutions across the country to protect students from the menace of drugs.
While replying to another query of M Abdul Latif, home minister said, the government is preserving database of human traffickers through crime data management system software.