Bangladesh
Bangladeshi video conferencing app 'Boithok' launched
ICT Division officially handed over the credentials of Bangladeshi video conferencing app "Boithok" to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through a virtual ceremony held on Sunday.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen inaugurated the app. ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen also spoke at the event.
Read Top Job Searching apps in Bangladesh
Also read Top health apps for online doctor consultation services in Bangladesh
Zafrullah demands Tk 50 lakh compensation for families of each worker killed in Banshkhali
A demand of Tk 50 lakh in compensation for the families of each worker killed in police firing at S Alam Group's coal-based power plant in Banshkhali has been raised by Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, trustee of Gonoshasthaya Kendra.
Dr Zafarullah placed the demand in front of media while visiting the families of the killed workers on Sunday.
Along with the compensation, Dr Zafarullah demanded employment for the family members of the victims.
Also read: 2500 sued over Banshkhali incident
He also demanded judicial investigation of the police firing incident at the under-construction power plant, owned by S Alam Group and a Chinese company in a joint venture.
On April 17, five workers lost their lives and more 30 sustained injuries as police open fired on protesting workers. They were agitating for payment of dues as well as breaks for prayer/iftar during Ramadan.
Later on April 21, another worker injured in the incident breathed his last in hospital.
Also read: Banshkhali incident: SKOP demands judicial investigation
Police and District administration have formed two probe bodies on this matter.
Until now two cases have been filed in this connection, blaming the workers for the incident. Victims' families have not sought legal recourse
DNCC working with long-term vision to eliminate waterlogging: Mayor
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) is working with long term and short term plans to reduce the waterlogging problem of the city, said DSCC Mayor Atiqul Islam.
The mayor also said DNCC will take proper measures for beautification and maintenance of Hatirjheel if they are put in full charge of it fully. He was talking to journalists after concluding a meeting with authorities of Mohanagar Army camp, which is located in Hatirjheel.
Also read: Monsoons bring back the menace of waterlogging
Household waste water and rainwater of Moghbazar, Madhubag, Noyatola, Mohanagar Residential area, Niketan, Tejgaon industrial area, Kawran Bazar, Dhanmondi, Greenroad, Kathalbagan areas are drained through SSDS lines situated on both sides of Hatirjheel, the mayor said.
Authorities concerned have been asked to remove all accumulated hard waste from the SSDS lines before the upcoming monsoon, he added.
Also read: Overnight rains lead to waterlogging in Dhaka
Although hard waste cannot enter the Hatirhjeel lake, liquid waste still contaminates the lake, Atiqul said, adding that measures should be taken to prevent this.
He also asked for the water pumps in the area that went out of order in a short time to be fixed.
UP member arrested for setting rickshaw puller’s legs on fire
Police have arrested a Joypurhat UP member for allegedly setting fire to a rickshaw puller’s legs.
The arrestee is Rafikul Islam (52), UP member of ward 7 in Banbu union of the Sadar upazila.
Victim Tota Mia (33) is currently admitted to Joypurhat Modern Hospital with severe burn injuries.
The incident happened in Dharki village of Bambu union on Saturday night, when according to the victim’s family and police, some people called Tota Mia out of his house to a nearby field around 10 pm.
They accused him of stealing a cow that went missing on Friday. Without any corroborating proof, the perpetrators tied Tota to a tree, poured petrol on his legs and set him on fire.
He was taken to Joypurhat Modern Hospital’s emergency department as he lost consciousness at one point.
On Sunday, Tota’s wife Dolly Begum filed a case in Joypurhat police station accusing UP member Rafikul Islam and five others.
Officer-in-Charge of Joypurhat Sadar police station, AKM Alamgir Jahan said, "Following the case we have arrested Rafikul Islam on Sunday and sent him to jail, for being involved in the incident."
Efforts are ongoing to detain the other accused, the OC said.
1 dead, 2 ill after drinking spurious liquor in Bogura
One person died and two others fell severely ill after drinking toxic alcohol in Bogura’s Gabtali upazila.
The deceased was identified as Shahidul Islam (28), a fishmonger and son of late Sirajul Islam of Madhyapara village in West Mahishaban.
The incident occurred at Madhyapara village of the upazila at around 2am on Saturday.
Also read: Bangladesh sees rise in deaths from toxic liquor
Police recovered the body of Shahidul and sent it to Bogra Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.
The condition of the other two, now under treatment, is said to be severe.
Also read: Toxic liquor again: Youth dies in Khulna
Senior assistant superintendent of police (Gabtali Circle) Sabina Yasmin and officer-in-charge Zia Latiful Islam visited the spot.
The alcohol dealer Dr Bahanul Alam Badal, owner of Beauty Homoeo Hall in Golabari Port was arrested after the incident.
Also read: Death toll in Bogura liquor tragedy rises to 12
Gabtali Police Station OC Zia Latiful Islam said the allegations of death due to severe toxicity can be confirmed after the medical report comes.
However, the family of the deceased Shahidul Islam said on Saturday afternoon that he had died of a heart attack and not from drinking alcohol.
Bangladesh's growth, govt efforts during pandemic praised
Nikkei Asia, in its recent article, praised Bangladesh's growth describing how the economy has boomed and exports soared.
The article also described how Bangladesh's economy has even exhibited resilience during the coronavirus pandemic and appreciated the government's timely stimulus packages and decision to reopen factories as early as May 2020.
The article titled "Bangladesh at 50: how the country has fared since independence" mentioned that since 1971, it has outstripped Pakistan in generating growth, with apparel exports and a surge in remittances helping to drive the economy.
Bangladesh marked the 50th anniversary of its independence from Pakistan "buoyed by economic progress and a relatively successful response to the coronavirus pandemic."
Also read: UK PM hails Bangladesh’s growth
But, the article suggested that the progress still needed to lift more of its 163 million people, 2% of the global population, out of poverty and highlighted challenges and concerns.
Bangladesh's growth rate exceeded 8% in 2019, according to World Bank data.
When the country seceded from Pakistan, its gross domestic product per capita was about three-quarters of Pakistan's; by 2019, it was almost 45% more.
Mamunul controversy: Jharna's father now in police custody
Waliyar Rahman, father of Hefazat-e-Islam Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque's "second wife" Jannat e Jharna, has been taken into police custody for interrogation.
Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police left for Dhaka from Faridpur's Alfadanga Police Station with Waliyar on Sunday at around 11:30am.
Waliyar is a freedom fighter and was the president of ward 4 of Gopalpur Union Awami League in Alfadanga upazila. On 21 April, he was suspended from his post.
Also read: AL leaders receiving death threats for showcausing Mamunul's 'father in law'
Alfadanga Police Station Officer-in-Charge Wahiduzzaman said, "Waliyar was not detained or arrested, DB police will talk to him for the sake of an investigation."
Waliyar's wife Shirin Begum said the OC and other policemen came at night and took him away, but they did not say why.
Earlier, local Awami League leaders alleged that they had received death threats for issuing a showcause notice to Waliyar.
Also Read: Hefazat leader Mamunul's '2nd wife' goes missing; GD filed
Monayem Khan, Faridpur's Alfadanga upazila Gopalpur union Awami League president, filed a general diary (GD) with the police station in this regard.
According to the GD, Monayem received death threats from three different phone numbers on April 13 evening, for issuing the showcause notice.
Md Farid Uddin, general secretary of the same Awami League unit, also reportedly received death threats the same evening from a number where the caller identified himself as Mamunul.
On April 12, the local Awami League issued a showcause notice to freedom fighter Waliyar. The notice was sent to him through a letter signed by Monayem and Farid over his alleged link with Hefazat.
Also Read: Woman who was with Hefazat leader Mamunul is not his wife
Waliyar never informed the party leaders about his family's involvement with Hefazat; so, it is a risk that the organisational work plan of Awami League may be leaked through him, the letter said.
A satisfactory reply within the seven working days was also sought in the notice, but Waliyar did not respond to it.
On April 3, Mamunul Haque was found along with a woman, at a resort in Narayanganj's Sonargaon, whom he claimed to be his "second wife."
Red Crescent to help over 15000 families with Ramadan food packs
Bangladesh Red Crescent Society has started the distribution of Ramadan food packs among 15,300 poor families hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
With the support of Qatar Red Crescent Society, the food packages are being distributed among the poor depending on daily labour in the capital and several districts.
Of them, 500 families are getting the food support in Dhaka city, while 1,000 families in Rajshahi city, 1,000 others in Rajshahi district, 500 families each in Narsingdi, Munshiganj and Narayanganj districts, as well as 10,300 families from displaced Rohingya living in Ukhia Camp-11 and local community in Ukhia of Cox’s Bazar.
Also read: Local Red Crescent chapter receives 4 ambulances equipped against COVID-19
Besides, 1,000 other families are receiving food assistance through the headquarters of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.
The food packages are also being distributed maintaining the health hygiene rules amid the Covid-19 pandemic, said a press release on Sunday.
Ultra-poor, helpless, disability and low-income families are given priority in the selection of beneficiaries for the food assistance.
Also read: Covid-19: Red Crescent Society launches isolation, treatment centers in Cox's Bazar
Date, pulse, soybean oil, sugar, salt, puffed rice, chira, chickpea, and vermicelli are included in the food packs.
Director of Disaster Response Division of the Society Mizanur Rahman said the distribution of Ramadan food packages is a part of the humanitarian assistance of the Red Crescent Society.
“The Ramadan food packages will be distributed among total 15,300 families,” he said.
Also read: Red Crescent donates PPE to 4 Covid-19 dedicated hospitals
Besides, under the initiative of Red Crescent Society, the distribution of cooked healthy food among extreme poor and low-income floating people continue in Dhaka, Chattogram, Habiganj, Barguna, Munshiganj and Sunamganj amid the Covid-19 lockdown.
A total of 8,016 packets of cooked food were distributed among the poor from April 18 to April 22 last during the lockdown, said Mizanur Rahman.
Moreover, the disbursement of food packages among 4,000 extreme poor and low-income people in both Amphan and Covid-19-affected four districts – Khulna, Satkira, Bagerhat and Pirojpur – continues under the initiative of the society with the support from HSBC bank.
Read Covid-19 in Bangladesh: PM allocates Tk 10.50cr for affected poor
Dental colleges entry tests rescheduled for June 11
The admission tests to all dental colleges across the country for the academic year 2020-21 have been rescheduled for June 11.
The previous date of intake tests was on April 30.
Also read: Buet admission test: Application deadline extended to May 3
The admission test for all dental colleges and dental units has been rescheduled due to the surge of Covid-19 cases in the second wave of pandemic, said a notification signed by Dr AKM Ahsan Habib, director of Directorate General of Health Services (Medical Education).
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People involved with Hefazat violence to be punished: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Sunday said that despite talks with the leaders of Hefazat-e-Islam, people who were involved in violence will be brought to book.
He came up with the remarks at a function organised by Dhaka North City Awami League at Rajdhani School premises.
The Home Minister said that people are being arrested after analysing video footages of Hefazat's violence that spread across districts.
Also read: BNP-Jamaat behind recent Hefazat violence: Minister
Despite discussions with the group, those who participated in the violence will be punished, he added.
The minister said that those who are involved in arson, vandaliism, and caused lives to be lost must be punished.
Also read: BNP involved in Hefazat violence: Obaidul Quader
He said the law enforcement is not making any mass arrests or harassing anyone said.
The Home Minister said Hefazat is a non-political group and there is no provision of doing politics on its policies. Although many disagree with it, he said.