Bangladesh
Rail communication resumes between Dhaka and Mymensingh
Rail communication has resumed between Dhaka and Mymensingh after three hours of suspension in Gazipur.
Eyewitnesses said a few steel "angle irons" fell on three rail tracks from a speedy truck at Sripur-Gosinga road level crossing around 8pm on Monday.
Fortunately, no casualty was reported in the incident.
Also Read: Dhaka’s rail links with Ctg, Sylhet restored after 10 hrs
The rail communication between the capital and Mymensingh remained suspended for three hours as Brahmaputra Express and Mahua Express remained struck on the two sides of the rail line due to the incident.
Shamima Akter, station master of Sripur Railway Station, said rail communication has resumed after three hours of pause.
No impact on shipments of wheat already contracted for export: India
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka has said while restrictions have been placed on commercial exports of wheat from India, the instructions will not have any impact on shipments of wheat already contracted for export.
The restrictions will not prevent the export of wheat to India's neighbours and other countries that might wish to procure Indian wheat to supplement their domestic food security policies, said the high commission.
These measures have been taken to safeguard domestic food availability, mitigate food price linked inflation and support the genuine needs of India's neighbours and other countries with food security concerns, it added.
Global wheat prices soared a record 6 percent Monday following India's decision to ban exports of the commodity.
Friday, India said it was banning private exports to manage its food security in the face of lower production and sharply higher global prices.
Also Read: India bans wheat exports
The world's second-largest wheat producer Sunday said it would keep a window open to export wheat to food-deficit countries at the government level despite restrictions announced two days earlier.
India's Commerce Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam told reporters the government would also allow private companies to meet previous commitments to export nearly 4.3 million tonnes of wheat until July. The country exported 1 million tonnes of wheat in April.
India mainly exports wheat to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
India deserves thanks for arresting PK Halder: HC
The High Court (HC) has observed that Bangladesh should extend thanks to the Indian government for arresting fugitive businessman PK Halder.
An HC bench comprising Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md. Ejarul Haque Akondo made the observation when Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik brought the issue before the court on Monday.
The court also said, “Our message is clear. We have taken a zero-tolerance policy against corruption and money laundering. None will be spared whoever they are. We are very serious about this matter.”
On May 13, India's federal economic offences police arrested PK Halder and his two associates in the eastern state of West Bengal.
Halder, the former MD of NRB Global Bank, had been on the run since being charged by the Anti-Corruption Commission in Bangladesh for money laundering and amassing ill-gotten wealth.
READ: We will do everything regarding PK Halder, says Momen after fugitive businessman's arrest in India
The disgraced director of International Leasing and Finance Service Ltd (ILFSL), has been posing as an Indian citizen by the name of Shibshankar Halder after having managed to fraudulently obtain various government identities.
In cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), PK Halder is accused of embezzling and swindling multiple non-banking financial institutions out of more than Tk 10,000 crore.
DU entry test: admit card download starts
Admit cards for the candidates sitting for the admission exam of Dhaka University for academic session 2021-22 started from Monday evening.
Students can download admit cards from https://admission.eis.du.ac.bd upto one hour before entering exam hall," Prof. Mostafizur Rahman, convener of DU online admission committee said.
Admit card for Kha unit and Ga unit are available for students to be downloaded from 7 pm today while admit cards for other units will be available from 8.30 pm.
This time, a total of 2 lakh 90 thousand 480 applications have been submitted online against a total of 8,035 seats.
According to the latest information obtained from the central admission office of the university, 1 lakh 15 thousand 726 students have applied against 1,651 seats in 'Ka' unit. A total of 58,565 students applied against 1,788 seats in 'kha' unit and a total of 30,704 students applied against 930 seats of 'Ga' unit.
For Gha unit, a total of 6,045 students have applied against 1,337 seats while a total of 7440 students applied against 130 seats of 'Cha' unit.
READ: Torture at DU dorm: 3 students expelled
This year's admission test will begin from June 3 through the admission test of the 'C' unit under business studies faculty while Kha unit Admission test has been scheduled to be held on 4th June,
The admission test of Ka unit will be held on june 10 and Gha unit exam will be held on june 11 while Cha unit exam has been scheduled to be held on june 17.
Samsung offers cashback, discount on Galaxy A72, Galaxy A03 Core
Samsung Mobile Bangladesh recently introduced cashback and discount on its smartphones Galaxy A72 and Galaxy A03 Core.
Galaxy A72 can now be purchased at Tk40,499 after a cashback of Tk7,000.
Galaxy A03 Core is now up for sale at Tk8,999 after a discount of Tk700.
Android 11 (Go edition)-powered Galaxy A03 Core comes with a strong battery, powerful processor, and many more.
READ: Samsung extends 'Dubike' offer
Galaxy A72 is a culmination of good attributes and lustrous design.
Md Muyeedur Rahman, head of Samsung Mobile, said: "Our goal is simple – make advanced technologies available to the smartphone users. That is exactly what we are trying to achieve through this cashback and discount offer."
"We hope that more consumers will now be able to use Samsung devices without worrying about the price point."
Man gets death sentence for killing wife over dowry in Tangail
A Tangail court on Monday has sentenced a man to death for killing his wife, demanding dowry.
Judge Khaleda Yasmin of the Tangail Women and Child Abuse Suppression Tribunal passed the order.
Special Public Prosecutor (PP) Ali Ahmed of Women and Child Abuse Suppression Tribunal, said that Riaz Uddin, 35, resident of Garobazar area of Tangail’s Ghatail upazila, brutally tortured his wife Liza Akter, 20, demanding a dowry of Tk 10,000, on August 10, 2009.
She was later admitted to a local hospital where she died on August 26 while undergoing treatment.
READ: 2 workers killed in Tangail mini landslide
Meanwhile on August 19 that year, Liza's brother Azahar Ali filed a case against Riaz.
On November 20, the police submitted a charge sheet to the court but Riaz was out on bail and has been on the run ever since.
BNP leader Shahadat gets bail in two sabotage cases
A Chattogram court on Monday granted bail to BNP Chattogram city unit convener Dr. Shahadat Hossain in two sabotage cases filed by the police.
The court of the 5th additional session judge Nargis Akter passed the bail order as Shahadat appealed after appearing before the court.
Shahadat’s lawyer advocate ASM Badrul Anwar said, on March 13, the court had issued an arrest warrant against Shahadat as he didn’t present before the court and submitted a time petition through his counsel.
Also read: BNP leader Ishraque freed on bail
Police filed two separate sabotage cases against the BNP leader at Chakbazar police station on November 21, 2018, on a charge of blasting cocktails at Mehedibag in the port city.
Meanwhile,district session judge Abdul Aziz Bhuiyan on Monday granted the time petition of Dr. Shahadat till May 26 in another case filed with Kotwali police station on charge of the attack on police.
Also read: BNP leader Moyeen Khan hospitalised
Python found at 12 BGB HQ handed over to Forest Dept
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) handed over a python snake, which was rescued on Sunday, over to the local Barkal Forest Department Officer of Rangamati district through necessary coordination on Monday.
Members of BGB's Chhotaharina Battalion (12 BGB) of Barkal upazila in Rangamati district rescued the about-five foot long python, an endangered species, from the battalion headquarter on Sunday.
READ: 10-feet long python rescued from Bagerhat village
This endangered animal was then safely protected by providing necessary care at the battalion headquarters. Later on today (Monday), the snake was handed over to the Barkal Forest Department Officer, said commanding officer of the 12 BGB battalion Lt Col SM Shafiqur Rahman on Monday.
The Forest Department's official thanked the BGB for rescuing the endangered python. It may be mentioned that the rescued Python snake will be released in Kaptai Sanctuary.
Traditionally, the BGB has always played a leading role in conserving nature and wildlife. The BGB has a unique precedent of conserving and releasing the rescued wildlife in the border areas through proper care and proper process.
We will do everything regarding PK Halder, says Momen after fugitive businessman's arrest in India
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Monday said the government would do everything necessary as per the “set procedures” regarding fugitive PK Halder who has been arrested in West Bengal.
"We have set procedures. We will work accordingly. We will do everything whatever is necessary,” he told reporters, noting that his ministry is yet to receive any information officially from the Indian government regarding Halder’s arrest.
Momen said India will first let them (Bangladesh) know that he is arrested in India and he may be punished there.
Responding to a question, he said top Ulfa leader Anup Chetia was handed over to India after trial and punishment in Bangladesh. “Same procedures are likely to be followed but I don’t know. Probably, the Ministry of Law knows better.”
Also read: Yet to receive any formal info about PK Halder: Asaduzzaman
In November 2005, Bangladesh handed over Chetia to India 18 years after his arrest in Dhaka for trespassing.
Chetia, a founding member of one of India's top insurgent groups United Liberation Front of Asom (Ulfa), had been in prison since his arrest in Mohammadpur on December 21, 1997 and he was released after completion of his jail term.
"We have a good intention (to get PK Halder back),” Momen said, hoping that India will listen to Bangladesh's request on a priority basis as the two countries are passing a golden era in their relations.
PK Halder, who was on the run facing charges of money laundering since 2019, was arrested by the Indian Directorate of Enforcement.
Also read: Fugitive businessman PK Halder held in India
Earlier, Foreign Minister Momen spoke as the chief guest at a session of the second National Conference on SDGs Implementation Review 2022 at Bangabandhu International Conference Center.
Nearly 1 billion people in need of assistive technology denied access: Report
More than 2.5 billion people need one or more assistive products, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, or apps that support communication and cognition, according to a new report published by WHO and UNICEF on Monday.
Yet nearly one billion of them are denied access, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where access can be as low as 3% of the need for these life-changing products, it said.
The Global Report on Assistive Technology presents evidence for the first time on the global need for and access to assistive products and provides a series of recommendations to expand availability and access, raise awareness of the need, and implement inclusion policies to improve the lives of millions of people.
The report made recommendations for concrete action to improve access, including to improve access within education, health and social care systems; ensure availability, safety, effectiveness and affordability of assistive products; enlarge, diversify and improve workforce capacity; actively involve users of assistive technology and their families; increase public awareness and combat stigma; invest in data and evidence-based policy; invest in research, innovation, and an enabling ecosystem; develop and invest in enabling environments; include assistive technology in humanitarian responses and provide technical and economic assistance through international cooperation to support national efforts.
“Assistive technology is a life changer – it opens the door to education for children with impairments, employment and social interaction for adults living with disabilities, and an independent life of dignity for older persons,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Denying people access to these life-changing tools is not only an infringement of human rights, it is economically shortsighted, he said.
“We call on all countries to fund and prioritize access to assistive technology and give everyone a chance to live up to their potential.”
“Nearly 240 million children have disabilities. Denying children the right to the products they need to thrive doesn’t only harm individual children, it deprives families and their communities of everything they could contribute if their needs were met,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
Without access to assistive technology, children with disabilities will continue to miss out on their education, continue to be at a greater risk of child labor and continue to be subjected to stigma and discrimination, undermining their confidence and wellbeing, Russell said.
The report notes that the number of people in need of one or more assistive products is likely to rise to 3.5 billion by 2050, due to populations ageing and the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases rising across the world.
READ: Harnessing assistive technology for Persons with Disabilities in South Asia
The report also highlights the vast gap in access between low- and high-income countries. An analysis of 35 countries reveals that access varies from 3% in poorer nations to 90% in wealthy countries.
Affordability is a major barrier to access, the report notes. Around two thirds of people with assistive products reported out-of-pocket payments for them. Others reported relying on family and friends to financially support their needs.
A survey of 70 countries featured in the report found large gaps in service provision and trained workforce for assistive technology, especially in the domains of cognition, communication and self-care.
Previous surveys published by WHO note a lack of awareness and unaffordable prices, lack of services, inadequate product quality, range and quantity, and procurement and supply chain challenges as key barriers.
Assistive products are generally considered a means to participate in community life and in wider society on an equal footing with others; without them, people suffer exclusion, are at risk of isolation, live in poverty, may face hunger, and be forced to depend more on family, community and government support.
The positive impact of assistive products goes beyond improving the health, well-being, participation and inclusion of individual users – families and societies also benefit. For example, enlarging access to quality-assured, safe and affordable assistive products leads to reduced health and welfare costs, such as recurrent hospital admissions or state benefits, and promotes a more productive labour force, indirectly stimulating economic growth.
Access to assistive technology for children with disabilities is often the first step for childhood development, access to education, participation in sports and civic life, and getting ready for employment like their peers.
Children with disabilities have additional challenges due to their growth, which requires frequent adjustments or replacements of their assistive products.