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Eminent citizens ask countrymen to remain aware of anti-Bangladesh lobbying, propaganda
A group of eminent citizens on Thursday issued a joint statement, asking the people of the country to remain alert about any kind of lobbying and propaganda against Bangladesh.
Referring to the Al Jazeera report on British lawyer Toby Cadman who has admitted that he tried to persuade the US and the UK governments to impose sanctions on Bangladesh earlier this month, the joint statement said that conspiracy is going on against the country.
The statement said that such lobbying started a long time ago and not only Toby, but a US firm was also involved in persuading the US government to impose sanctions on Bangladesh.
Read: Toby Cadman, who was Jamaat's legal advisor, tells Al Jazeera he was part of team asking US, UK govts for Rab sanction
“Toby Cadman has been working as a lawyer for Jamaat-e-Islami since 2011. Besides, Jamaat had also hired a US-based lobbyist firm named Cassidy and Associates in exchange for $25 million during the war crimes trial in Bangladesh,” the statement reads.
“By doing these things, Jamaat has been trying to malign the image of Bangladesh in front of the international community, especially the US. We ask everyone to remain alert against these plots,” the statement reads.
Among the 21 signatories to the statement are dramatist Ramendu Majumder, former advisor to the caretaker government Rasheda K Chowdhury, human rights worker Khushi Kabir and Dhaka University teachers MM Akash and Robayet Ferdous.
Cadman admitted to Al Jazeera that his efforts to get the UK to impose sanctions against Bangladesh’s law enforcement officials and expressed disappointment that it did not work out.
“I filed the request for sanctions and whilst I am not in a position to discuss the substance, I can confirm that I discussed the request with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO),” Cadman was quoted as saying, referring to the UK Foreign Office.
Read: BNP spent a lot on lobbying by US firm: Shahriar
Jamaat-e-Islami engaged Toby Cadman as its legal advisor in London in 2011, after the trials of several top Jamaat leaders started – over war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War.
PM to open 1st phase of metro rail on December 28: Quader
Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the first phase of metro rail – spanning from Uttara to Agargaon – on December 28.
The minister said this at a preparatory meeting of a sub-committee, formed on the occasion of the 22nd national council of Awami League (AL), in the capital's Dhanmondi Thursday.
"The first phase of metro rail from Diabari to Agargaon will be opened to the public on December 28," Quader, also the general secretary of AL, said.
"Let them (BNP) criticise us. We will respond to their criticisms with our work," he added.
Read: Dhaka Metro Rail fare set at Tk 5/km
Thwart conspiracies to sustain national dev: PM asks the nation
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked the nation to tear the web of local and international conspiracies to continue the progress of Bangladesh further.
“On this Victory Day, being energized by the spirit of the Liberation War, let’s take a vow collectively that we will take the development journey of Bangladesh forward by breaking the web of all conspiracies,” she said.
The premier made the call in an address to the nation through Bangladesh Television and Bangladesh Betar at 7:30 pm on the eve of the Victory Day.
The V-Day, marking the victory in Bangladesh's nine-month War of Liberation against Pakistani occupation forces in 1971, will be celebrated on Friday.
She also called on the nation to fulfill the dream of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by establishing a happy, prosperous non-communal Bangladesh.
Hasina said when the country is moving forward overcoming various adversities, a quarter that is against independence and development is trying to create anarchy. “See their past history. A part of them not only opposed the independence of Bangladesh, they killed people, being collaborators of the Pakistani occupation forces. After independence, Bangabandhu banned their politics and brought war criminals to justice,” she said.
Read more: We uphold human rights in Bangladesh: PM Hasina
But BNP founder Ziaur Rahman rehabilitated them (anti-liberation elements) in politics after seizing the power illegally following the assassination of the Father of the Nation with his family on 15th August 1975. “Being rehabilitated, they again started the politics of killing and terrorism,” she added.
Pointing at BNP, the PM said another group born and bred from the cantonment in the pocket of a general and there are only blood stains on the hands of this party. Its founder Ziaur Rahman was directly involved in the assassination plot of the Father of the Nation.
Hasina warned that the descendants of the vultures of 1971 and the hyenas of 1975 are still active in this country.
“They hurt the country with teeth and claws whenever they get a chance,” she said, adding that they can’t accept that the common people remain in a good condition and the local and foreign conspirators become active.
“But, the people of Bangladesh have identified them. They (the people) can no longer be misled by conspiracies,” said the PM.
Had BNP-Jamaat been in power, such development won’t be possible:
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, said the anti-liberation forces were in power for 29 years after 1975 and they plundered the resources of the country.
She said the democratic trend has been continuing from 2009 to 2022 and the voting rights of people remain ensured. That is why today Bangladesh has got the status of a developing country.
“Had BNP-Jamaat alliance been in power (2009-2022), Bangladesh would never have made such progress. Could not be a developing country. Now, it is up to you, the people of the country, to choose what you want - a continuation of a dignified life or a life with the hardships to be inflicted by the mischief of BNP-Jamaat alliance?” she said.
The premier said the BNP top leader is convicted in orphanage money embezzlement case and another top leader is a fugitive and convicted in money laundering, 10-truck arms smuggling and the August 21 grenade attack cases. “Why would the general people go to vote for them?” she said.
“Losing faith in the people of the country, BNP-Jamaat has now hired some mercenaries to malign the country to foreigners. They are using smuggled money and defaming the country,” she said.
Focusing on the misrules of the BNP-Jamaat regime and the 2013-15 arson violence unleashed by them, Hasina said the people of Bangladesh rejected them in the 2008 election and the people did not vote for the BNP-Jamaat alliance in 2014 and 2018 elections as well. “Being rejected by the people, they are now engaged in conspiracies to come to power through an undemocratic way,” she said.
Read more: PM thanks JaPa for playing positive role in parliamentary democracy
Prices of daily essentials become normal:
Describing the government of Bangladesh Awami League as a people's government, Hasina said her government’s main aim is to work for the welfare of people and they never want people to suffer.
Due to economic reasons, the prices of daily necessities have increased. Now it largely started becoming normal. Inflation is also declining. “I want to assure you that we will adjust the price as soon as that of any commodity- including fuel-- drops in the world market,” she said.
She said the import-dependent countries fell in troubles with the rise of transport cost and the prices of commodities in the international markets, induced by the Ukraine-Russia war, economic sanctions and counter-sanctions.
“Considering the interests of the common people, we are collecting and supplying the products we need – no matter wherever these are available in the world and whatever prices are,” she said.
The PM stressed the need for boosting agricultural production and renewed her call not to leave a single inch of arable land uncultivated in order to fight the ongoing crisis.
Citing that it is normal that a crisis may come, she said, “Do not be afraid of the crisis. With the help of people, we have successfully tackled the coronavirus pandemic. We will also deal with the current global recession, Inshallah. I want your cooperation for this.”
Reserve is sufficient for five-month import
Talking about the reserves of foreign currencies, the PM said now the country has a sufficient reserve of foreign currencies to meet the five-month import expenditures.
“Many people are making various fabricated comments about our foreign exchange reserves. It is enough if there is a reserve to cover only three-month import expenditure. But now we’ve a reserve that is sufficient to meet five-month import expenditure,” she said.
She also explained the reasons as to why the reserve has declined from US$ 48 billion after the Covid-19 period.
Don’t pay heed to rumours over bank money:
Sheikh Hasina said panic is being created by spreading rumours that there is no money in the banks.
“Don't pay heed to rumours unnecessarily. There is no shortage of money in banks. Don't invite your own danger by keeping your hard earned money at home. Everything of us --investment, remittance inflow and import-export situation-- remains normal,” she said.
Highlighting her government’s successes, Hasina said, “The country has reached a new height of socio-economic development in our last 14 years. Bangladesh has now graduated to the list of developing countries. The country now is self-sufficient in production of food grains.”
She said the poverty rate declined from 40 percent to 20 percent, and the per capita income increased from US$ 543 to US$ 2,824 and the literacy rate from 45 percent to 75 percent.
She said the government has recruited some 22,000 doctors and 40,000 nurses and other health workers since 2009.
The PM also focused on the development of other sectors including energy and connectivity, infrastructure, social safety net particularly food programmes for poor people, and agriculture.
On the occasion of Great Victory Day 2022, the prime minister extended her sincere greetings to all the citizens of Bangladesh living at home and abroad.
Fardin didn’t commit suicide, he was murdered, claims father
Fardin Noor Parash did not kill himself, he was murdered, claimed his father on Kazi Nuruddin.
“After the planned murder, now the drama of suicide is being staged,” he told reporters at the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's (DMP) media center on Minto Road of the capital.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the investigation, Nuruddin said, “I will file no-confidence petition.”
“My son had the capability of coping with all kinds of situation. My son can't commit suicide.”
Read more: 'Jumped from bridge': RAB spins completely new narrative on Fardin's death
Showing two photographs of Fardin's body, Kazi Nuruddin said, “I saw Fardin's body, there were injury marks on his head.”
Various false information have been spread since the beginning to divert this planned murder, he claimed.
Expressing anger at the Buet administration, Fardin's father questioned whether the Buet VC and administration knew that Fardin had committed suicide. “They did not even console my family.”
“This would not have happened if my son had not been admitted to Buet,” he said.
Meanwhile, 40 students of Buet came to the DB office today (Thursday) to see the progress of DB's investigation.
After talking with the investigating officers for about three hours, the students said they are satisfied with the DB's investigation, said DB chief Harun Or Rashid.
On Wednesday, Additional Commissioner (Detective Branch) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Mohammad Harunur Rashid claimed that Fardin died by suicide after scrutinizing the footages regarding Fardin’s movement before his death.
Read more: It’s disappointing, no headway in probe in a month, says Fardin’s father
Then he went to Sultana Kamal Bridge around 2:34 am on November 4. He was alone on the bridge till 2:37am, he said.
“He didn’t know swimming and we believe that Fardin committed suicide by jumping off Sultana Kamal Bridge,” he said.
Fardin was a 3rd year student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology’s civil engineering department and a resident of Qutubpur area in Narayanganj's Fatullah.
Police recovered Fardin’s body from the Shitalakhkhya River, behind a cotton mill at Siddhirganj, on November 7, three days after he went missing.
Sheikh Farhad, a physician at Narayanganj General Hospital where the autopsy was done, said there were several injury marks on Fardin’s head and body.
Kazi Nuruddin Rana, Fardin’s father, filed a case in connection with his son’s killing with Rampura Police Station on the same day and the case was later transferred to Detective Branch (DB) Police.
Bangladesh set to celebrate Victory Day Friday
The nation is set to celebrate the Victory Day, 2022 on Friday, the most joyous day when the country was born at the cost of the supreme sacrifice of three million martyrs and the honour of nearly half a million mothers and sisters, with elaborate programmes.
On this glorious day in 1971, Bangladesh was liberated as an independent country after the Pakistani occupation forces surrendered following a bloody nine-month-long war.
Various programmes will be held on Friday to pay deep homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the country during the Liberation War in 1971.
Along with the government, different socio-political, educational and cultural institutions and organisations have chalked out a series of programmes to celebrate the day. Bangladeshis will celebrate the day at home and abroad.
The day’s programme will begin with a 31-gun salute.
Read more: Indian war veterans to join Bangladesh’s Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will pay tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum in Savar with the rising of sun.
They will be followed by the freedom fighters and their family members, foreign diplomats, leaders of Awami League and different political and social organisations and people from all walks of life.
As part of the day’s programmes, a colourful parade will be held at the National Parade Square in Tejgaon around 10:30 am.
Freedom fighters, members of the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies will take part in the parade.
President Abdul Hamid will take salutes and inspect the parade as the chief guest while Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also be present at the parade.
Discussion meetings will be held at the national level on the theme of 'Empowering the spirit of the liberation war and the best use of digital technology in building Sonar Bangla as dreamt by the Father of the Nation.’
Apart from this, reception of brave freedom fighters and martyr family members will be held in the metropolis, districts and upazilas.
The national flag will be hoisted atop government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices across the country.
All children's parks and museums will be open to the public without tickets and cinema halls will screen films based on the Liberation War for free.
On this day, an exhibition of documentary films and posters based on the history and tradition of the Liberation War will be organized at the ‘Swadhinota Stombha’ and the Museum of Suhrawardy Udyan.
Bangladesh embassies abroad will also undertake similar programs highlighting the significance of the day.
The day is a public holiday. National dailies will bring out special supplements on the occasion.
State-owned and private television channels and radios will broadcast month- long special programmes highlighting the significance of the Liberation War.
Receptions will be accorded to the freedom fighters and family members of martyrs at city, district and upazila levels.
Destitute children will be allowed to visit the children park in the capital on the day free of cost. Improved diets will be served in jails, hospitals, orphanages across the country.
Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion.
In his message, the President has greeted the country’s people living at home and abroad on the occasion of the Victory Day.
Read more: Roads to avoid on Victory Day
He recalled with profound respect the greatest Bangalee of all time Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
“I remember with gratitude the four national leaders and the people of all walks of life, including the heroic freedom fighters, the organisers and supporters of the Liberation War, foreign friends, war-wounded individuals and members of the martyrs' families, who directly and indirectly contributed to our victory.”
Stating that the aims of the independence were to attain political sovereignty as well as people’s economic emancipation, the President said, “We shall have to give institutional shape to democracy in order to deliver the benefits of independence at people's doorstep.”
He said the political parties will have to nurture the culture of mutual respect and tolerance of others’ opinions. “Let us contribute more from our respective position in implementing the spirit and values of War of Liberation and take the nation towards the path of development and prosperity.”
In her message, the Prime Minister said the establishment of the nation-state 'Bangladesh' through the victory of the War of Liberation on 16 December 1971 was the greatest achievement of the Bangalee nation.
Responding to the clarion call of the Greatest Bangalee of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Bangalee nation achieved the ultimate victory on this day in 1971 after 23 years of intense political struggle and nine months of blood-shedding War of Liberation, said the PM.
She said, “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib elevated Bangladesh to a 'least developed' country, and we took the motherland to the row of a 'developing' state on the auspicious occasion of 'Mujib Year' and the Golden Jubilee of our victory. Everything we have achieved in the last 51 years since our Independence has been attained by the Father of the Nation and the Awami League.”
She also hoped that this trend of development will continue, Bangladesh will be established as a hunger-poverty-free and developed- prosperous country by 2041 as dreamt by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
She urged all to spread the spirit of the great Liberation War from generation to generation- “let this be our pledge on this victory.”
Aminbazar-Gopalganj 400 KV power transmission line came into operation crossing Padma River
After a delay of more than two years, finally the Aminbazar-Gopalganj 400 KV power transmission line came into operation crossing the Padma River.
“The line was commissioned successfully at 1:40 pm on December 15 (Thursday) from Gopalganj grid substation with 400 KV voltage”, the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) said in a Facebook post.
However, PGCB managing director Golam Kibria said that although the line was commissioned, electricity flow will not be given through this line.
"We've planned to flow electricity from next Saturday on test basis and then step by step it will be fully commissioned by gradually synchronising with all the systems”, he told UNB.
Read more: If BERC delays decision on retail power hike proposals, govt to decide: Nasrul Hamid
PGCB officials said that the full commissioning of the newly constructed line will facilitate electricity transmission from the two large power plants—1320 MW Payra and 1320 MW Rampal power plants—in the country’s southern region to Dhaka city.
Of these, the Payra power plant having two units, each 620 MW capacity, set up in joint venture with Chinese company, have already been commissioned. The first unit (620 MW capacity) of Rampal power plant is also being built in joint venture with an Indian company and it is expected to be commercially commissioned in March next year.
“If the electricity from these two plants can come to the capital city, it will play an important role to improve the power supply situation”, said a top official of the Power Division.
Read more: Mitsubishi Power to continue support Bangladesh power industry amid growing energy need
The government had undertaken the implementation of the Aminbazar-Gopalganj transmission line in 2016.
But due to construction of the Padma Bridge, works of tower installation in Padma River remained suspended until completion of the bridge construction. As a result, the project experienced a huge delay to complete.
The PGCB in the Facebook post mentioned that the newly constructed Aminbazar-Gopalganj 400 KV power transmission line has been successfully commissioned with charging power by the PGCB.
The length of the line from Gopalganj to Aminbazar grid substation is 82.5 km. Of which there is a 7.5 km river crossing on Padma River.
The Gopalganj to Aminbazar line has a total of 226 towers. A total of 11 tall towers have been constructed in the Padma River and also on both sides for facilitating the river crossing.
As the line has been successfully charged at 400 KV voltage, soon after all technical preparations and evaluations, power transmission (load flow) will be started on this line.
With the commissioning of the newly constructed line, the previously constructed Payra-Gopalganj 400 KV line and Gopalganj-Mongla 400 KV line have been connected to the Aminbazar grid substation on the outskirts of Dhaka.
This has made the connection to the national grid stronger and more reliable with the greater Khulna and Barishal regions, the PGCB mentioned.
US envoy’s visit to Mayer Dak coordinator’s house won’t hurt ties: Info Minister
The controversy over the visit of US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas to the residence of ‘Mayer Dak’ coordinator will not harm the relationship between Bangladesh and the United States, said Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday.
“Of course, the United States is our development partner. They also have a great role in our development journey,” said the minister while talking to reporters at the secretariat.
“I would urge the US Ambassador to stay alert about any wrong advice or attempt to make him biased like this,” he said.
Those who advised Haas to visit the residence of the coordinator of Mayer Dak made him controversial, he said.
Read more: Families of armed forces officers executed during Zia regime seek US ambassador’s intervention for justice
“I don't know who advised him to go to the residence yesterday. Whoever gave him the advice did not give the right advice,” the minister added.
“But I think the decision was up to the envoy and he also needed to focus on our special days”, he said.
The minister said it would have been great if Haas had visited Martyred Intellectuals’ Memorial, marking the Martyred Intellectuals Day on Wednesday.
Ambassador Haas visited the residence of Sanjida Islam, coordinator of Mayer Dak, a platform of the relatives of the victims of enforced disappearance, at Shaheenbagh in the city on Wednesday morning. Sanjida is the sister of BNP leader Sajedul Islam Sumon, reportedly a victim of enforced disappearance that took place in 2013.
The minister said the Foreign Affairs Ministry was not aware of the matter and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has already said so.
“Mayer Dak was formed by those who are reported to have been made victims of enforced disappearance. Many of them are being found again. Many are accused involving murder cases, many are accused of drug cases and many are fugitive convicts,” he said.
BNP keeps telling them that their leaders and activists have been victims of enforced disappearance, he added.
Read more: US envoy meets Momen, shares displeasure over embarrassment
Following the envoy’s visit to Mayer Dak coordinator’s residence, around 50 people from another organisation ‘Mayer Kanna’ a platform of family members of the victims of enforced disappearance during Gen Ziaur Rahman’s regime, went there to give a memorandum to the US Ambassador, said the minister.
But those who were in charge of security of the US envoy did not let ‘Mayer Kanna’ to do that due to his security concern.
“I think if the US Ambassador received their memorandum and had a talk with them, then he will not face the bitter criticism now," said the information minister said.
Dengue: 163 cases, two more deaths reported in 24 hrs
With two more deaths from dengue recorded in 24 hours till Thursday morning, the official death toll from the mosquito-borne disease rose to 269 this year.
During this period, 163 more patients, including 95 in Dhaka city, were hospitalised, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read more: Dengue: 184 more patients hospitalised in 24 hrs, zero death
A total of 803 dengue patients, including 477 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
The DGHS has recorded 61,089 dengue cases and 60,017 recoveries so far this year.
Bangladesh logs 15 more Covid cases
Bangladesh reported 15 more Covid cases in 24 hours till Thursday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,036,881, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,437 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity dropped to 0.44 percent from Wednesday’s 0.78 percent percent as 3,376 samples were tested during the period.
Read more: Bangladesh registers 21 more Covid cases, zero death
The mortality and recovery rates remained unchanged at 1.45 percent and 97.53 percent, respectively.
In November, the country reported 10 Covid-linked deaths and 1,345 cases.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.
Govt prepares list of illegal river occupiers: State Minister
The government has prepared a list of river encroachers across the country, said State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday.
“A list of illegal river occupiers has been prepared and the River Protection Commission is also working in this regard and we are also working to improve navigability of rivers, he said while talking to reporters after attending a a meeting of taskforce on rivers at the secretariat.
Read more: Sand lifting from Boro Feni River: 20 sued over shooting Baraiyahat municipality mayor, 2 others
“We are working to protect rivers surrounding Dhaka and construction work walkways and eco parks is underway,” he said.
The government has formed a taskforce and it will work to free the rivers surrounding Dhaka and the Karnaphuli River from illegal occupation, he said.
“We have been able to make people aware about river protection, which is our success and now people are keeping river water clean,” he added.
Read more: WASA key reason behind pollution of Dhaka’s rivers, NRCC chairman says
Already the government has collected 50 dredging machines to ensure navigability of the rivers and many channels have been recovered across the country for the movement of vessels, said Khalid.