Law-&-Order
Climate change costs poor women in Bangladesh up to 30pc of their outgoings
Women heading poor, rural households in Bangladesh are spending up to 30 per cent of their total expenditure on measures to protect themselves from the impacts of climate change including flooding and storms, according to axnew research.
The study was done by International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), Kingston University, the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) and UN Development Programme (UNDP).
Also read:President Hamid urges global efforts to combat climate change
The study, Still bearing the burden: how poor rural women in Bangladesh are paying most for climate risks, surveyed 3094 households from the rural areas of ten selected districts in Bangladesh to assess their exposure to climate change and their spending patterns on reducing the risks of climate-related disasters.
On average, 15 per cent of households’ expenditure is going on measures to protect against flooding and storms, like raising floors or building shelters for their livestock. But for households headed by women, that percentage doubles.
Across the districts, 83 per cent of households are affected by climate-related disasters and are spending about US$93 (BDTk 7493) a year privately on measures to reduce their risks.
This adds up to about US$1.8 billion. This study updates a 2019 review by IIED which used secondary data, and found similar estimates of total rural household level expenditure.
Sudipto Mukerjee, UNDP’s Resident Representative in Bangladesh said: “As in other climate vulnerable countries, it is the poorest in Bangladesh, with negligible carbon footprints and who can least afford it, who are bearing the bulk of the climate losses and adaptation costs. This amounts to gross climate injustice and hits at the heart of the fundamental rights of the poorest and weakest inhabitants of this ailing planet. “
Paul Steele, IIED’s Chief Economist said: “Our estimate of what people living in rural Bangladesh are spending on climate change is conservative - the true cost is likely to be even higher as this survey didn’t look at the costs of clean up and repair in the aftermath of cyclones, storms and floods.
“This just goes to show how the burden of paying for climate change is falling on the shoulders of those who have done least to cause it but are most vulnerable to it, and women are paying the highest price.”
Also read: Bangladesh needs to boost climate diplomacy: Experts
Different households’ exposure to catastrophic events varies both by region and by gender.
Households from the northern districts of Gaibandha, Jamalpur and Kurigram report high exposure to floods.
Storm exposure is mostly found in the southern coastal districts of Bagerhat, Barguna and Satkhira.
While households headed both by women and men experience a similar exposure to things like drought and excessive heat, those headed by women have a greater percentage exposure to floods, and a lower percentage exposure to storms. This is because the most flood-affected districts are in northern areas, such as the Greater Rangpur region, where due to seasonal migration men are often living away from the household.
The survey shows women tend to care more about reducing damage from climate-related disasters but in almost all cases, households headed by women are poorer and cannot spend at the same level as those headed by men.
They, therefore, spend a greater share of their income on climate adaptation.
Moulvibazar: Three to hang for war crimes
The International Crimes Tribunal in Moulvibazar on Thursday sentenced three men to death for their involvement in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.
The three-member Tribunal, led by Justice Md Shahinur Islam, handed down the punishment to Abdul Aziz alias Habul, Abdul Mannan alias Monai and Abdul Matin, after holding them guilty of murder, rape, looting, arson, torture and kidnapping. Of them, Matin was tried in absentia.
Also read: Dhaka urges London to repatriate convicted war criminals
Lawyers M Sarwar Hossain and Abdus Sattar Paloyan appeared for the convicts, all residents of the district, while prosecutors Muklesur Rahman Badal and Sabina Yasmin Khan Munni represented the state.
According to the prosecution, the investigation agency of the tribunal started a probe against the three convicts on October 16 in 2014.
On November 14 in 2016, the investigation was completed. On February 29 of that year, the tribunal issued arrest warrants against the three.
Also read: 6 war crimes suspects held in Jashore
Police arrested Abdul Mannan and Abdul Aziz on March 1 of the same year. On the following day, the two were produced before the Tribunal and sent to judicial custody.
In November 2016, the tribunal's investigating agency submitted the chargesheet against the three accused. On May 15 of the year, the tribunal framed charges against them and started the trial.
Corruption in NSU’s land acquisition: Hearing on 4 trustees’ bail plea Thursday
The High Court on Wednesday fixed Thursday for the hearing of the bail petitions of four trustee board members of North South University (NSU) in a case over embezzling money in the name of buying land for the campus.
The four members of the board of trustees of the university who sought bail were MA Kashem, Benazir Ahmed, Rehana Rahman and Muhammad Shahjahan.
Also read:ACC sues NSU trustee board chairman, 5 others for stealing money
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo fixed the date after hearing of the case today.
Barrister Ajmalul Hossain QC, former Attorney General AF Hassan Ariff and former Attorney General Fida M Kamal and Barrister Mizan Sayeed appeared for the accused in the court while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin ,Additional Attorney General Sheikh Mohammad Morshed and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
On May 5, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) sued the chairman of the board of trustees of North South University (NSU) Azim Uddin Ahmed and five others for embezzling money in the name of buying land for the campus.
The other accused are: Managing director of Ashalaya Housing and Developers Limited Amin Mobammad Hilali and NSU Board of Trustee members MA Kashem, Benazir Ahmed, Rehana Rahman and Muhammad Shahjahan.
The investigating officer of the ACC's Deputy Director Farid Ahmed Patwar filed the case.
According to the Private University Act, 2010, the Board of Trustees is the highest governing body of a private university like North South University. According to the Memorandum of Association and Articles (Rules and Regulations) of the University, the University is a charitable, welfare oriented, non-commercial and non-profit educational institution.
The case states that over 9088 decimal land was bought in the name of campus development of NSU with the consent of some members of the Board of Trustees bypassing the approval of the University Syndicate, University Grants Commission and the Ministry of Education.
Also read:PMO document forgery: ACC approves chargesheet against 8 people including NSU treasurer Shahjahan
They later withdrew cash from the buyer through cash checks in their own names and kept FDR in their own names.
They unjustly benefited themselves by committing illegal activities through misuse of power and embezzling university and government funds, according to the case.
In carrying out such illegal activities, they have committed a punishable offense by resorting to fraud and forgery and exchanging commissions.
Those selling stolen mobile phone sets to be arrested: DMP
Not only mobile phone set thieves but also those selling stolen mobile phone sets will be arrested, said AKM Hafiz Akhtar, additional commissioner of police (Intelligence) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), on Wednesday.
“Those who trade stolen mobile phone sets will also be arrested under the existing law,” he said at a press briefing after the recovery of 158 stolen phone sets at the DMP Media Center.
Also read: Be vigilant against arson in the name of political programs: DMP commissioner
Referring to the process of selling stolen mobile phone sets, he said usually thieves sell the stolen phone sets to technician or a buyer at Tk 4000-6000.
The technician or the stolen phone buyer sells the display and casing at a higher price if the option is on the phone's password. Besides, if the ‘find your phone’ and this kind of options are not turned on, they changes IMEI and sells the iPhone at 60000-70000 and other phone sets at Tk 15000-20000.
Also read:DMP commissioner asks police to work with professionalism to curb crimes
On April 29, an iPhone worth more than Tk two lakh was stolen from the city’s Uttara area. A case was filed at the DMP's Uttara West police station on May 16 based on the victim’s allegations.
Later, a team led by Kazi Shafiqul Alam, deputy commissioner of Police, Detective Branch of Uttara Division, recovered 156 stolen mobile phones, a laptop and Tk1.18 lakh. Detectives arrested eight people, including a thief and a trader, in this connection.
Couple to die for selling Khulna teen to brothel in India
A Khulna tribunal on Wednesday sentenced a couple to death for selling a 17-year-old girl to a brothel in India.
Khulna Woman and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge A Salam Khan handed down the judgment.
Also read: Three to hang for killing minor in Ctg
The condemned convicts are—Shahin Sheikh and Asma Begum.
According to the prosecution, the convicts took the girl to India with promise of arranging a good job and sold her there to a brothel on October 19, 2009.
As her family failed to trace out the girl they logged a general diary against the couple with local police.
Also read: Woman, her lover to die for killing husband in Sirajganj
Later, the family members contacted Shahin who asked them to provide Tk 20,000 to get back the girl.
The girl’s mother lodged a complaint with Khanjahan Ali Police and on January 20, 2010, investigating officer of the case Ashim Kumar submitted a chargesheet against the couple.
Three to hang for killing minor in Ctg
A Chattogram court on Wednesday sentenced three people to death for killing a two-year-old boy in 2020.
Judge Mohammad Jashim Uddin of Chattogram Additional Metropolitan Session Judge Court-3 handed down the punishment to the three after holding them guilty of the crime.
Also read:Six to die for killing minor in Cox’s Bazar
The three are Nazma Begum, Md Farid and Hasan, a security guard and son of Nazma. Of them, Hasan was tried in absentia.
According to the prosecution, the convicts plotted to kill Abdur Rahman Araf to frame the owner of the building where the child lived with his parents as a tenant.
Also read: Woman, her lover to die for killing husband in Sirajganj
The convicts lured Araf to the roof of the building while he was playing in the parking area of the building on June 6, 2020, and threw him into the water tank on the terrace, where he drowned.
Police subsequently arrested Nazma Hasan and Farid in connection with the murder. On March 21, 2021, cops filed a chargesheet against the three people. During the trial, Nazma admitted to her crime.
HC cancels bail of expelled JL leader Samrat
The High Court on Wednesday cancelled the bail granted to expelled Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat in a graft case.
A two-judge bench of justices Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo passed the order in the wake of a petition by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) challenging the bail order of a lower court on May 11.
The court also asked Samrat to surrender before a lower court within seven days, said deputy attorney general AGM Amin Uddin.
Read: India's top court orders release of ex-PM Rajiv Gandhi's assassin
Earlier, on May 16, the ACC filed a petition before the High Court seeking cancellation of the bail of Samrat in the graft case.
On May 11, the Dhaka court granted bail to Samrat in the graft case, paving the way for his release from judicial custody.
Judge Al Asad Md Asifuzzaman of Dhaka Special Judge Court-6 passed the order but with riders — Samrat can't leave the country without the permission of the court, has to submit his passport and also his health reports on the designated date.
Earlier, the same court turned down his bail plea in the corruption case filed by the ACC twice -- on April 28 and April 13.
Samrat secured bail in a drugs case on April 11 and in an Arms Act case and a money laundering case on April 10.
The expelled Jubo League leader has been undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital since November 24 last year.
On October 6, 2019, Rab detained Samrat and his associate Enamul Haque Arman from Chauddagram in Cumilla.
Rab raided his Kakrail office later that day. Huge quantities of foreign liquor, pistols, and two hides of kangaroo were seized from his office.
He was later sentenced by a mobile court to six months in prison under the Wildlife Conservation Act.
Read: Global pollution kills 9 million people a year, study finds
On October 7, Abdul Khaleque, deputy assistant director of Rab-1 lodged two complaints against Samrat at Ramna police station under the Arms and the Narcotics Act. Arman was also made an accused in the narcotics case.
On November 4, Shekhar Chandra Mallik, a sub-inspector, submitted a chargesheet against Samrat in the Arms Act case.
On November 12, the ACC lodged a complaint against him for acquiring assets worth Tk 2.94 crore beyond his known sources of income.
On September 12, 2020, Rashedur Rahman, sub-inspector of CID, registered a case against him at the Ramna police station for laundering Tk 195 crore to Malaysia and Singapore.
Lastly, on November 26 last year, the investigating officer in the case, Jahangir Alam, submitted a chargesheet in the court.
HC asks for list of closed brick kilns around Dhaka
The High Court on Tuesday ordered the Directorate General of the Department of Environment and deputy commissioner of five districts adjacent to Dhaka to submit a list of the closed brick kilns, which were listed as illegal, within two weeks.
The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Mohi Uddin Shamim passed the order after hearing a petition.
Earlier, on April 20, the HC asked the deputy commissioners of five districts, Dhaka, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj and Gazipur district and Directorate General of DOE to appear before the court today (May 17) for not fully complying with its order to raze illegal brick kilns in Dhaka and its adjacent districts to check air pollution .
Advocate Manzill Murshid stood for the petitioner while Amatul Karim stood for the DOE. Deputy Attorney General Mainul Islam represented the state while Advocate Anik R Haque stood for the brick kiln owners.
“After appearing before the court, the five deputy commissioners said they were able to close 95 % brick kilns while DoE director General provide a list of 411 illegal brick kilns in the five district, of them 65% were closed. But actually it is seen that the unauthorised brick kilns are still operating,” said advocate Manzill Murshid.
READ: HC issues rule on extending former ACC director Enamul Basir's sentence
On January 21, 2019, Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, a human rights organisation filed a writ petition seeking steps to close the unauthorised brick kilns.
On January 13, 2020, the High Court issued nine directives and asked to implement them.
Manzill Murshid, said the authorities concerned started to take steps against illegal brick kilns from February last year and after going into operation, the air pollution started to decrease from the country.
But nowadays, Dhaka is again identified as the most polluted city, he said.
On January 30, a supplementary petition was submitted on behalf of the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh seeking order to close illegal brick kilns.
On February 1, the HC summoned the deputy commissioners of five districts and Directorate General of DOE as they failed to comply with the court order.
Recently, a journalist in an investigative report said many brick kilns in Savar are still continuing their operation but the DCs said they had taken steps to stop their operation, said Manzil.
HC issues rule on extending former ACC director Enamul Basir's sentence
The High Court on Tuesday issued a rule questioning why the sentence of suspended Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director Khandaker Enamul Basir in a bribery case should not be extended.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Kazi Md Ezarul Haque Akunnd issued the rule during a hearing on a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Also read: Former ACC director Basir gets 8 yrs in jail in bribery case
Senior advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission.
On February 23, Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 Sheikh Nazmul Alam sentenced suspended DIG Mizanur Rahman and suspended ACC director Basir to three and eight years (three years for passing information and five years for bribery) in jail, respectively in the case.
Later Mizan and Basir moved the High Court against the order.
The ACC appealed to the High Court on Monday for extending Basir’s jail term.
On April 13, HC granted two-month bail to Mizan against which ACC appealed to the Appellate Division.
The corruption case dates back to June 24, 2019, when ACC director Manjur Morshed lodged a complaint against the disgraced DIG, his wife Sohelia Anar Ratna, nephew sub-inspector Mahmudul Hasan and younger brother Mahbubur Rahman.
According to the case statement, Mizan accumulated wealth worth Tk 32.8 million beyond his known sources of income. On the other hand, he had declared wealth worth Tk 37 million in his tax statement.
Then director of ACC, Basir, was made the investigating officer in the case.
During the probe, Mizan had accused Basir of demanding Tk 4.0 million as bribe for setting the case, prompting the Commission to appoint director Monjur Morshed as the investigating officer in the case.
Also read:Suspended DIG Mizan, ACC director Enamul Basir indicted
At the same time, a three-member probe body was formed, led by ACC director Sheikh Mohammad Fanafillah, to look into the allegations of bribery.
On July 16, 2019, Fanafillah lodged a complaint against both Mizan and Basir. And on April 16, 2020, a Dhaka court indicted the two and directed the official beginning of the trial in the case.
Woman, her lover to die for killing husband in Sirajganj
A Sirajganj court on Tuesday sentenced a woman and her lover to death for killing her husband in 2019 following an extramarital relationship.
Sirajganj District and Sessions Judge Fazle Khoda Mohammad Nazir handed down the judgment.
Also read:Six to die for killing minor in Cox’s Bazar
The condemned convicts are --Mukti Khatun, 22, daughter of late Mukta Sheikh of Shaktipur village in Shahjadpur upazila and Saidul Islam Tushar alias Tuhin.
According to the prosecution, Mukti Khatun, wife of Monirul Haque Pramanik , had love affair with Tuhin before her marriage and it continued after the marriage.
Thinking Monirul an obstacle in the way of their relationship, Mukti along with Tuhin strangled him to death in her grandfather's house on June 3, 2019.
Also read: Man to die for killing wife over dowry in Pirojpur
Monirul’s son Jailhaq Pramanik filed a case in this regard.
After examining the records and witnesses, the judge pronounced the judgment in the presence of the accused.