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Bus falls into ditch in Madaripur: Death toll now 19
The death toll from a tragic road accident in Madaripur’s Shibchar upazila rose to 19 this noon (March 19, 2023), with three more succumbing to their injuries.
Two of the injured died on the way to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) from Madaripur, said Md Bachhu Miah, in-charge of the DMCH police outpost.
He said five more injured were admitted at the hospital and are undergoing treatment.
Another injured died while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Madaripur.
Read more: 4 killed, 15 injured in Tangail road crash
Earlier in the morning, a Dhaka-bound bus of Emad Paribahan from Khulna fell into a roadside ditch in Madaripur’s Shibchar upazila.
Abu Nayeem Md Mofazzal Huq, officer-in-charge of Shibchar Highway Police Station, said the incident occurred around 8 am when the bus fell into a roadside ditch after its driver lost control over the wheel on the approach road of Padma Bridge, in Simana area under Kathalbari union of Shibchar upazila, leaving 14 people including the bus driver dead on the spot.
Two people breathed their last on the way to the hospital, he said.
The OC informed that 20 injured people have so far been rescued from the wreckage.
Members of fire service and civil defence and police, accompanied by locals, have been conducting the rescue operation, he said.
The identities of the dead could not be known immediately, the OC said. Speeding might have caused the accident that led to the casualties, he added.
Read More: All 64 districts to celebrate Padma Bridge's inauguration
Ex-IGP Benzir denies knowing Arav Khan
Benzir Ahmed, former Inspector General of Police (IGP), has denied knowing Dubai-based gold dealer and fugitive Arav Khan alias Rabiul Islam. He shared a status in this regard on his verified Facebook account.
"I want to inform you all that I do not know anyone by the name of 'Aarav alias Rabiul alias Hridoy'. I do not even have a primary acquaintance with him," the former police chief wrote in his status.
"I have fought murderers, terrorists, drug traffickers, smugglers, forgers, and criminals in my entire career in law enforcement, never forming any kind of relationship with them," he said, dismissing rumours and allegations in some quarters that Rabiul, one of the accused in a police officer's murder case, managed to escape the law with his help.
"Thank you for your unending love, support, and cooperation," the post said.
Fair election needed to restore confidence in Constitution: Asif Nazrul
Prof Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University has said that a fair election to choose people's representatives is needed to restore people's confidence in the Constitution.
Speaking as the keynote speaker at a seminar at the National Press Club on Saturday, Asif Nazrul also said that the lived reality must reflect the basic principles of state policy for the constitution to be respected by all.
The seminar on restoring people's confidence in the Constitution was organised by the Centre for Peace and Development Studies (CPDS). Mostafa Kamal Majumder, chairman CPDS, presided over the seminar moderated by its Executive Chairman Jahangir Chowdhury.
Former Vice-Chancellor of Patuakhali University, Prof. Abdul Latif Masum, senior advocate of Supreme Court Iktidar Ahmed and former diplomat Saquib Ali also spoke at the function.
Prof. Asif Nazrul said we must understand that there can't be democracy through questionable elections. Socialism and social justice is impossible if criminals are not brought to justice and if corruption is rampant. Similarly to uphold the principle of secularism all religious communities should be treated on an equal footing.
Prof. Abdul Latif Masum said that there is a wide gap between what's written down in the Constitution and what's there in practice.
He called for associating the masses of the people with the movement for democracy.
Eminent lawyer of Supreme Court Iktidar Ahmed said, the rulers in our country always used the Constitution in their own interests.
Former diplomat Saquib Ali said that the people of this country are always distanced from the system of governance.
Introduce specific taxes, raise prices of tobacco products: Speakers
In the upcoming national budget of the fiscal year 2023-24, the government must introduce a tier-based specific supplementary duty to raise the prices of cigarettes, said research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA). The demands were made during a pre-budget press conference on tobacco taxation and prices, held today at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah Auditorium of the National Press Club in Dhaka, said a press release.
Nadira Kiron, co-convener of ATMA, hosted the event and Md Hasan Shahriar, head of Tobacco Control, PROGGA, presented the budget proposals. During the conference, speakers particularly urged the policymakers to hike the retail price of the low-tier cigarettes to BDT 55 from BDT 40 for 10 sticks, followed by BDT 35.75 as specific supplementary duty (65 percent of the final retail price). It was also informed that, compared to other cigarette tiers, hiking prices at the low tier encourages the low-income demographic (users of such brands) to quit smoking. Supporting the budget proposals raised during the event, economist and convener of the National Anti-Tobacco Platform, Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said, “As per the conditions set by the IMF for its loan package, Bangladesh needs to raise the revenue by at least an additional 0.5 percent of its GDP in the next FY.” “This means an additional BDT 65,000 crore in revenue needs to be earned in FY 2023-24. By hiking the prices of tobacco products, a considerable portion of the additional amount can be managed. The additional revenue earned from tobacco products can also help the government tackle the adverse impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war,” he said. Dr Mahfuz Kabir, research director of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), said, “Seventy-five percent of all cigarette users are the consumers of low-tier brands. Unfortunately, the supplementary duty (SD) imposed on this tier stands at a mere 57 percent. Raising the number to at least 65 percent would help reduce cigarette use and increase government revenue.” The implementation of the tax and pricing proposals of anti-tobacco activists would raise BDT 9,600 crores in additional revenues and prevent the premature deaths of 4.88 lakh adults and 4.92 lakh youth, said speakers at the conference. Mortuza Haider Liton, convener of ATMA and ABM Zubair, executive director of PROGGA were present at the time, among others.
Actress Mahiya Mahi has been arrested on specific allegations: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Saturday said actress Mahiya Mahi was arrested on the basis of specific allegations.
He also said that the allegation (of bribery) made by the actress against police will also be investigated, and it would come out whether it is right or not after the investigation.
The Home Minister came up with the remarks while talking to reporters in a food distribution programme at a orphanage at Tejgaon in the capital. The food distribution programme was organised on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The Home Minister said that a case was filed against her as she made some statements on Facebook live against Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam.
“I don't know everything, I heard. I have to know the matter well before I say something,” he said.
He also said that Mahi's complaint of vandalism and grabbing her husband's showroom against the police will also be investigated. 'When a complaint comes, an investigation has to be done. Everything will come out in the investigation."
Gazipur Metropolitan Police arrested Mahi from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka after her arrival from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah, but her husband Rakib Sarker, also an accused in the case, did not return home with her.
Rokon Mia, sub-inspector of Bason Police Station, filed a case under the Digital Security Act against Mahi and her husband Rakib on Friday night on charge of “defaming police” after going live on Facebook.
Meanwhile, in response to another question, the Home Minister said that efforts were underway to bring Arav Khan alias Rabiul Islam, the fugitive accused in the police officer murder case, to the country through the international police agency Interpol.
The minister said, "All efforts are being made to bring him back with the help of Interpol."
“Interpol's cooperation has already been sought to arrest him. We have heard many things. Action will be taken after scrutinising the information that we have already received,” he said.
DSA case: Actress Mahiya Mahi gets bail
A Gazipur court on Saturday granted bail to actress Mahiya Mahi, hours after she was arrested from Dhaka airport and sent to jail in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).
Anowar Hossain, superintendent of Gazipur district prison, said that Mahiya got bail in two cases.
Documents of the bail from Gazipur Metropolitan Court arrived at the prison, he said, adding that process is underway to release her.
Also Read: DSA case: Actress Mahiya Mahi sent to jail
Rokon Mia, sub-inspector of Bason Police Station, filed the case under the Digital Security Act against Mahi and her husband Rakib on Friday night on charge of “defaming police” after going live on Facebook.
Mahi was arrested from the airport after her arrival from Saudi Arabia but husband Rakib Sarker, also an accused in the case, did not return home with her. Later, a Gazipur court sent her to jail.
Briefing reporters, Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam said, “A case was filed against Mahi and her husband under the DSA Act on Friday night for ‘tarnishing the image of Police Commissioner and Police Department’. Police arrested her from Dhaka airport soon after she arrived at the airport from Saudi Arabia this noon.”
Mohammad Ibrahim, deputy commissioner of DB of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said a team of Gazipur police arrested Mahi and took her to Bason Police Station.
Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, a businessman, filed another case with Bason Police Station against 28 people including the couple on charges of assault, vandalism and land grabbing.
Abu Torab Mohammad Shamsuddin, deputy commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said police filed the case against the couple for “tarnishing the image of police, including Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Molla Nazrul Islam,” after going live on Facebook.
According to the case statement, Mahi, from her Facebook page, went live early Friday — making allegations against police.
During the live session, she said Ismail Hossain and Mamun Sarkar, through their people, carried out an attack on a car showroom, Sony Raj Car Palace, owned by Mahi, on Dhaka-Tangail highway near Bhawal Badre Alam Government College.
The actress and her husband also alleged that the Gazipur Metropolitan Police commissioner “supported the attackers” after taking bribe.
She also said she feared getting arrested after returning to the country from Mecca. During the Facebook live, Mahiya’s husband Rakib alleged that police arrested security guards of the car showroom.
Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, owner of Rod Binding Factory in Itahata area of Gazipur city and plaintiff of a case, in his complaint said, he has been running a factory in the area for the past 10 years after purchasing land there.
On Friday, some people on behalf of Rakib and Mahiya attacked and vandalized the factory, he said. They also beat up 5 people at the factory, leaving them injured, while trying to occupy the land, according to the complaint.
Contacted, Molla Nazrul, Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police, said, “Actress Mahiya brought allegations against police on Facebook and tried to draw sympathy through lies.”
So far, police arrested nine people in connection with the case filed by businessperson Ismail. Mahi and her husband were the principal accused (hukumer ashami) in the case, said commissioner Nazrul.
Hasina, Modi inaugurate ‘Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline’ to boost energy cooperation
A 131.57-kilometre cross-border 'Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline' was inaugurated on Saturday as part of cooperation in energy sector between the two neighbouring countries through which Bangladesh will import petroleum products, especially diesel from India.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally inaugurated the newly built pipeline.
Hasina was connected from her official residence Ganabhaban while Modi was connected from his office in New Delhi.
Of the pipeline, 126.57 kilometres are in Bangladesh while the remaining 5 kilometres have been installed in India.
The BPC, the state agency under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, has been implementing the project under a 15-year deal with India to annually import 250,000 tonnes to 400,000 tonnes of diesel from the neighbouring country through the cross-border pipeline.
The deal was signed in 2017 following the approval of the Cabinet Economic Affairs Committee on August 23.
Bangladesh annually needs to import 6.6 million tonnes to 7.7 million tonnes of diesel to meet its demand.
According to official documents, the whole consignment of petroleum will come through the cross-border pipeline from India's Numaligarh refinery, located in Golaghat in north-eastern Indian state of Assam, while Bangladesh will receive it at Parbatipur petroleum fuel depot in the north-western district of Dinajpur.
Read more: Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline to vastly improve transport of diesel: New Delhi
Official sources said though most part of the proposed pipeline is to be laid in the Bangladesh part, the Indian government has provided about Rs 303 crore as a loan under Indian line of credit (LOC) to build the Bangladesh portion.
Bangladesh will operate the pipeline in its part while India will operate the pipeline in its portion.
The documents also reveal that Bangladesh will annually import 250,000 tonnes in the first three years, 300,000 tonnes annually in the 4th to 6th years, 350,000 tonnes annually in the 7th to 10th years and 400,000 tonnes annually from the 11th to 15th year.
Currently, Bangladesh has been importing 22,000 tonnes of diesel per month using railway wagons.
The deal could be extended for a further period of time.
Such petroleum imports from India through cross-border pipelines will help create a stock of petroleum in the northern region to meet the growing demands in that part of the country.
Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said that the operation of the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline will put in place a sustainable, reliable, cost-effective and environment-friendly mode of transporting fuels from India to Bangladesh.
It will further enhance cooperation in energy security between the two countries.
This is the first cross-border energy pipeline between India and Bangladesh, built at an estimated cost of Rs 377 crore, of which the Bangladesh portion of the pipeline built at a cost of approximately Rs 285 crore, has been borne by the government of India under grant assistance.
The Pipeline has a capacity to transport 1 million tonnes per annum of High-Speed Diesel (HSD).
It will supply HSD initially to seven districts in northern Bangladesh.
11 Bangladeshi auto mechanics get jobs in Japan
Eleven auto mechanic students who graduated from Japan Automechanic School (JAS) in Dhaka, are all set to leave for Japan to start their professional career.
These students received two years of simultaneous training in automechanics and Japanese language by the school established by Japan Automechanic Ltd (JAL) – a Social Business joint venture created by SK Dream of Japan and Grameen Shikkha, an organization founded by Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, said a press release.The graduation ceremony of the students was held at the Telecom Bhaban on March 14 in Dhaka's Mirpur.
The ceremony was attended by Professor Yunus, chairman of JAL Tsuneaki Hirao, MD of Japan Automechanic Ltd, among others, said the release.At the ceremony, the students spoke in Japanese language and talked about their training, aspirations and future plans.All the students have already been chosen for the TITP (Technical Intern Training Program), an overseas workers employment opportunity in Japanese companies under the recently published Technical Intern Training Act of Japan Government, it said.
Currently two JAS graduates are working in a Mercedes Benz Dealership in Japan.
From now on, a group of 10-12 JAS graduates will go to Japan every year to work under TITP, said Tsuneaki Hirao.Already 46 auto mechanic students graduating from JAS in previous years are working in different auto mechanic workshops in Bangladesh including, Rangs Workshop Ltd, the release concluded.
Bangladesh reports 4 more dengue cases
Four more people were hospitalised with dengue in the 24 hours till Saturday morning.
All the four new patients were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Twenty-two dengue patients, including 15 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, the DGHS has recorded 800 dengue cases, 769 recoveries, and nine deaths this year.
The country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year.
N’ganj warehouse blast leaves one dead, 9 wounded
A 40-year old man was killed and 9 people were injured in an explosion that triggered a fire at a warehouse in Narayanganj’s Nitaiganj Saturday morning.
Awlad Hossain succumbed to his injuries at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in the capital, Anisur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Narayanganj Sadar police station, confirmed.
The rest burned injured are undergoing treatment there, he said.
Shahjahan Shikdar, deputy assistant director (media cell) of Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the fire broke out in the two-story building around 9 am following an explosion.
A portion of the building collapsed after the explosion, he said.
On information, six firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control around one and an half hours after the incident.
However, what caused the explosion and the subsequent fire could not be known immediately, he said.
Read more: 2 injured as fire breaks out in Narayanganj building following explosion
Fakhruddin, an assistant deputy director of Narayanganj fire service, said the building was declared risky as it may collapse any time.
Abdul Kadir, president of Nitaiganj Multilateral Cooperative Society, said former president of the district’s flour mills owners’ association Illias Dewan is the owner of the building which was used as warehouse of pulse, rice, salt and other products.
The first floor of around 100-year-old building was declared abandoned around 10 years back, he said.
Golam Mostafa Russell, superintendent of police in the district, said onlookers were removed from the spot after the building was declared risky.