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Private university student dies in Dhaka road crash
A private university student was killed as a covered van hit the motorbike carrying her on Gabtali-Sadarghat road in the capital’s Beribadh area on Friday night.
The deceased, Sanjida Akter Tamanna, 27, a honours final student of North South University, was a pillion rider of the motorbike. She hailed from Noakhali’s Sonaimuri upazila and used to live with her family in the capital’s Kamrangichar.
Akter Hossain, sub inspector of Lalbagh police station, said the accident occurred around 10:00 pm when the speeding covered van crashed into the motorbike in front of one Shamim Garment on the road, leaving her critically injured.
She was first taken to a local hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) around 1:00am when her condition deteriorated, he said.
The physicians at the emergency department of the hospital declared her dead upon arrival, the SI said, adding that the body was kept at the morgue for autopsy.
Information Minister questions countries’ lack of concern when BBC office in India was searched
Those who spread confusion and misinformation do not like that Bangladesh is prospering, according to Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud.
He made the remark during an exchange of views with journalists on current issues at his residence in Chattogram city on Friday (March 31, 2023) afternoon.
Hasan, also Joint General Secretary of Awami League, said that as the country continues to progress, the prosperity and wealth of every citizen also increases.
He alleged some newspapers intentionally publish negative news: “Many individuals do not like the economic prosperity of Bangladesh under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. Therefore, some newspapers intentionally publish negative reports, while identified foreign individuals spread misinformation against Bangladesh."
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Despite these efforts, Bangladesh remains indomitable, he said.
The information minister also criticized 12 countries, including the USA, that issued a statement on the arrest of Prothom Alo journalist Shamsuzzaman Shams, stating that it was tantamount to “interference in the country's internal affairs.”
He highlighted the contrast between the response to this incident in Bangladesh and the “lack of concern” expressed by countries when the BBC office in India was searched.
He reminded diplomats of the Vienna Convention that sets the rules and limits on their conduct while stationed abroad and asserted that the government would continue to ensure freedom of media.
Read More: Indian officials search BBC offices for second straight day
Mahmud also criticized the opposition party for going to foreign diplomats and requesting “intervention” instead of engaging with the people of the country. He stated that it was "anti-national and involved a conspiracy against the country" to meddle in internal affairs.
Hasan Mahmud referred to a recent report by Bloomberg, a renowned US media organization, that praised the economic prosperity achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the ability to maintain economic stability even during the COVID-19 pandemic and global recession.
According to the report, there is a possibility of Sheikh Hasina winning the next election and serving a fourth term as prime minister.
Mahmud also shared statistics demonstrating Bangladesh's economic growth and stability under the current government.
Read More: Indian officials probe BBC for 3rd day, alleging tax dodge
He stated that the percentage of people living below the poverty line stands at 16% despite the COVID-19 pandemic and global recession.
Additionally, Bangladesh's per capita income has surpassed that of India during the pandemic, and the country has risen from the 60th to the 35th largest economy in the world in terms of GDP, he added.
The Acting President of Chattogram Metropolitan Awami League, Mahatab Uddin Chowdhury, former Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, North District President MA Salam, South District Acting President Motaherul Islam, and other party leaders were present at the event.
read More: Tax officials search BBC's Delhi offices weeks after Modi documentary
ACC acquits 5, inc. recent minister's son in illegal gas connections case
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Thursday submitted a final report recommending the acquittal of 5 defendants, including a former minister's son, from the charges of giving illegal gas connections and transfer in Chattogram.
Abdul Latif, inspector of Chattogram court, said ACC Deputy Director Md Atiqul Haque, submitted the final report to the Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court on Thursday.
"The court also fixed April 9 for the hearing on this report," he added.
Those who have been recommended for acquittal are Mujibur Rahman, son of former expatriate welfare and foreign employment minister Nurul Islam, Md. Sarwar Hossain, former general manager (engineer and services) of Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company (KGDCL), former south zone technician (surveyor) Md. Didarul Alam, manager Mujibur Rahman, and former general manager (marketing) Mohammad Ali Chowdhury.
ACC noted in the final report that "as the illegal gas connection was disconnected, there was no complaint by MA Salam's wife, no financial loss to the government occurred and no evidence of bribery was found, the final report was submitted in this case."
Earlier on June 10, 2021, the sacked Deputy Assistant Director of ACC Sharifuddin filed the case as the plaintiff.
According to the case statement, there were 18 unused dual stove connections allotted in the name of (late) MA Salam, resident of Halishahar area of Chattogram city. Among them, 12 were transferred in the name of Mujibur Rahman of Sanowara residential area of Chandgaon police station in the city. A fake contract was also signed in the name of Salam's wife. Since Salam and Mujibur have different subscriber signals, the change of connection is not legal.
Besides, 10 new connections were given in Mujibur's name from March 2, 2017, to August 2, 2018, though the government stopped providing any new gas connections in the country on February 28, 2016.
However, KGDCL disconnected 22 illegally supplied gas connections the day after this case was filed.
Custodial deaths outpace EJK, mobs killed the most, DSA misused as ever, alarming spike in violence against women: March report by Sultana Kamal-led MSF
Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF), noted advocate and activist Sultana Kamal's new outfit to protect and promote human rights, on Friday expressed deep concern over a marked increase in human rights violations across the country in March.
The organisation also strongly demanded proper trials for human rights abusers and justice delivery for victims.
In its monthly report, the MSF said one man lost his life in an extrajudicial killing in March, 2023. Three people were abducted by law enforcers in plain clothes this month.
In addition to the unethical actions of some members of the police, allegations of their involvement in several crimes including indecent behavior, torture, extortion and harassment were published in the media, the report said.
At least two people, including a woman, died in the custody of law enforcement agencies and one man died while trying to escape arrest in March.
The MSF prepared the report based on information published in various media and also collected information through its own sources.
During the period between March 1 and 30, six people died in prison custody which was five in the previous month of February. All fell sick in prison and were taken to the Medical College Hospital outside the jail where they were declared dead.
Around 31 incidents of political violence occurred in March, during the programs of the opposition parties in different districts of the country, with 389 victims.
According to information in the media, political violence and post-UP election violence cost the lives of five people and injured around 385 people in March.
Violence against women and children such as; Rape, gang rape, sexual harassment, suicide and domestic violence especially physical violence have continued like in previous months which is very alarming.
Around 361 incidents of violence against women and children were reported in the month - 45 more than in February.
Among those incidents, 72 were rapes, 14 were organised or gang rapes, and six were incidents of murder after rape. Among the victims, four were disabled women.
On March 29, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) men in plainclothes picked up Shams from his residence in Ambagan area, adjacent to Jahangirnagar University, around 4:30 am.
At least 40 journalists faced different troubles during this period. Among them, one was picked up by plainclothesmen with CID identity and sued under Digital Security Act, three more journalists were sued under Digital Security Act, four received death threats, three were assaulted, 21 journalists were attacked and 5 were injured while doing their professional duties in March, 2023.
Despite being heavily criticised, harassment in the name of the law utilising the DSA has not decreased, rather its arbitrary abuse created a new level of concern this month. According to the MSF, a total of seven persons including a journalist, two political activists (1 BNP, 1 Awami League),an actress, two youths and a government employee were arrested under the Digital Security Act in March.
Six incidents of minority torture (4 religious and 2 ethnic) were reported during the period in March.
Explosions in three market buildings and Sitakunda oxygen plant cost at least 43 lives and left around 188 people injured in this month. MSF seeks a strong role and special importance from authorities concerned to prevent recurrence of these incidents.
According to MSF statistics, casualties from mob beatings increased abnormally this month. Seven people were killed and seven others were critically injured in nine incidents of mob beating in March.
Desh TV's Khulna div correspondent now faces two cases under DSA
Two separate cases under the Digital Security Act (DSA) were filed against Khulna divisional correspondent of private channel Desh TV following a report on a beauty parlour aired on March 18.
The news implicating the Khulna journalist surfaced on Friday when a widespread criticism has been going on over the DSA case against Prothom Alo reporter Shamsuzzaman Shams.
The two cases were lodged at the court of Khulna Cyber Tribunal Judge Kanika Biswas on March 21 and 28 respectively. The accused is Md Asim who works for the electronic media as the divisional correspondent.
According to the first case statement, the journalist prepared a report styled ‘Unethical deeds in guise of beauty parlour’ aired on the channel on March 18.
On March 21, beautician Tania Islam, owner of the beauty parlour, filed the case at the court accusing four people including the journalist as the fourth accused.
The other accused are Mahfuzur Rahman, a resident of the Khulna’s Khalishpur, Dhaka First News Editor and Publisher Md Sarwar Hossain Khan and its Managing Editor Md Alam Khan.
Taking the case into cognisance, the court ordered the Police Bureau of Investigation to look into the matter.
Moreover, Sumaiya Kabir, an employee of the beauty parlour, filed a second case against the journalist at the same court on March 28 bringing the same allegation.
The court asked the Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the allegation.
Accused Asim alleged that one after another case has been filed against him after revealing the unethical deeds carried out at the parlour in the name of business.
Expressing concern over his life, the journalist said he came to know about it on Friday and is being subjected to conspiracy.
Project govt's success before common people: Hasan
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Friday asked his party men to raise the development works of the current government before the common people everywhere.
He said today the country has changed under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The minister was addressing as the chief guest a meeting in Rangunia under Chattogram, said a PID handout.
Representatives of Awami League’s Rangunia municipality and six union units were present in the meeting.
Hasan said thousands of people in each union are beneficiaries of various social safety programmes of the government and every house in the village has electricity connection. Not only the main road, now the roads to personal houses have become paved.
“All these developments of the government will have to be raised before the common people in villages, towns, markets and fields,” he said.
He said the whole country including Rangunia has witnessed unprecedented development in the last 14 years.
The minister said when he was elected MP in 2009 (from Rangunia), his house was not connected with the electricity network. But now the electricity connection provided to every house in his constituency, he added.
Noting that the next general election is imminent, he said BNP was not seen standing beside the people with even a fist of rice in any disaster including corona and flood. But they will be seen again among the people during the election, he said.
Hasan said if the development works of the government and Awami League can be highlighted properly, the people will vote for none other than ‘boat’ symbol and Sheikh Hasina will become the prime minister again for the fourth consecutive time.
Local AL leaders also spoke at the meeting.
No dengue patient in 24hr
No new dengue case was reported in the last 24 hours until 8am on Friday, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Twenty-one dengue patients, including 12 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
So far, the DGHS has recorded 843 dengue cases, 810 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.
Child killed, 4 injured in wall collapse in Gazipur
A 4-year-old boy was killed and four others were seriously injured after a wall of a under-construction building collapsed over a nearby tin shade house in Gazipur on Friday.
The deceased has been identified as Mushfiq. The injured are Mst Mukta, 15, Rubel, 35, Md Jahidul Islam, 28, Shahidul Islam, 22.
According to police and locals of Konabari area, a local garments owner Md Faruk Ahmed’s under-construction five-storey building’s 15 feet wall collapsed on a the tin shade house during rain early hours of Friday, leaving five residents injured.
Locals rescued and rushed them to Konabari Popular Hospital. Mushfiq succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
Later, three of the injured were transferred to National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation due to critical condition.
At least 18 rooms of the house were also damaged.
Sakhawat Imtiaz, SI of Gazipur Metropolitan's Konabari police station, said legal proceeding is underway.
BJC protests arrest of Prothom Alo journalist in DSA case, stresses need for 'responsible journalism'
The Broadcast Journalist Center (BJC) has protested the Digital Security Act (DSA) case filed against Prothom Alo journalist Shamsuzzaman Shams and his arrest over a report published on March 26.
If someone is aggrieved by any report published in the newspaper, redress can be sought from Bangladesh Press Council, a press release from BJC said.
But going beyond that process, a case under the much contested DSA was filed against Shams despite the government making a clear commitment towards not misusing the law, the press release signed by BJC Chairman Rezwanul Haque and Member Secretary Shakil Ahmed said Thursday.
Demanding immediate release of the arrested journalist, BJC said it was not "lawful to pick Shams up from his residence in the dead of the night and later show him arrested."
However, BJC also pointed to the questions raised regarding the Prothom Alo report and stressed the need for "responsible journalism." On March 29, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) men picked up Shams from his residence in the Ambagan area, adjacent to Jahangirnagar University, around 4:30 am. The same day, a Jubo League leader filed a case under the DSA against Shams, accusing him of publishing a "false and fabricated report" in Prothom Alo.
A Dhaka court on Thursday sent the Prothom Alo reporter to jail in the case filed under Digital Security Act after rejecting his bail petition.
5 more Covid-19 cases reported in 24hrs: DGHS
Bangladesh reported five more Covid-19 cases in 24 hours till Friday morning.
With the new number, the country's total caseload rose to 2,038,028, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,446 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity rate rose to 0.69 percent from Thursday’s 0.40 percent against the tests of 720 samples.
The death and recovery rates remained unchanged at 1.44 percent and 98.41 percent, respectively.