Bangladesh
Jalalabad protesters demand reinstatement of their teachers
Students and alumni of Jalalabad Cantonment Public School and College staged a protest in front of the campus against the removal of two teachers for not abiding by a dress code that extends to regulating facial hair/beards.
The two teachers have been identified as Abdul Halim, of the physics department, and Mujahidul Islam, of the ICT Department.
They were allegedly suspended for keeping beards, and taking class in panjabis.
Also read: India hopes Dhaka will address Hefazat's anti-Modi protests
The protestors withdrew their program at 5 pm following a meeting with the college authorities, who denied suspending the lecturers. Rather, school authorities reminded them of the option to resign, in case of irreconcilable differences - in this case over abiding by the dress code. Ariful Islam Reza, vice-principal of the college, explained as much to the agitated students on Saturday afternoon.
He also mentioned that the news circulating in social media about their suspension was fake. Yet no-one was particularly bothered by the difference. Unsatisfied students continued their protest till evening. To them, the college has discriminated against the individuals on the basis of their religious adherence, and it being the overwhelming majority's faith, Islam, makes it even more unacceptable. To them, it signals a creeping Islamophobia.
Also read: Protest against Modi’s visit: 50 injured as Muslim devotees, cops clash in Dhaka
The demonstrations only ended on condition that the authorities reconsider the entire case, including the demands of protestors.
BGMEA elects new leadership Sunday
The biennial election of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is going to be held on Sunday at the Radisson Blu hotel in Dhaka.
Two panels are contesting the powerful trade body's election this year. Earlier, Shadhinata Parishad merged with the Sammilita Parishad led by Managing Director of Giant Group Faruque Hassan. On the other hand, Chairman of Hannan Group ABM Shamsuddin is leading the Forum panel as its candidate for president. Current BGMEA president Dr Rubana Huq is contesting as a panel member of Forum.
Also read: BGMEA election: Sammilita Parishad announces manifesto
Former Vice President of BGMEA Mohammad Nasir said a total of 14 polling booths have been set up to cast votes from 9am to 7pm - an extra 3 hours over the usual to allow COVID-19 health protocols to be maintained.
“A total of 1853 voters are in Dhaka and 461 in Chattogram. New board will take over on April 20. Five Vice Presidents in Dhaka and two in Chattogram will be elected in the election,” he also said.
Also read: BGMEA Election: Forum candidates pledge to work selflessly for industry
The candidates for each panel are numbered serially on each ballot: 1-35 are the Forum candidates and from 36-70 for Sammilita Parishid in the election.
Multinational military exercise "Shantir Ogroshena" to begin Sunday
Multinational military exercise "Shantir Ogroshena - 2021" (Front Runner of Peace) will begin here on Sunday to commemorate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and mark glorious 50 years of Bangladesh's Independence.
Indian Army contingent comprising of 30 personnel including Officers, JCOs and Jawans of a Battalion from The DOGRA Regiment will participate in the exercise along with contingent of Royal Bhutan Army, Sri Lankan Army and Bangladesh Army.
Also read: Multinational military exercise "Shantir Ogroshena" to begin Apr 4
The theme of the exercise (April 4-12) is - Robust Peace Keeping Operations, according to Indian Ministry of Defence.
Military observers from USA, UK, Turkey, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Singapore will also be in attendance throughout the exercise.
Also read: Bangladesh-India joint military exercise ends in Tangail
An Indian Air Force AN-32 airlifted a 30-member Contingent of the Dogra Regiment of the Indian Army to Dhaka on Saturday.
Hefazat activists' show of force frees leader Mamunul from police custody
Supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam’s Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque went on the rampage in Narayanganj and vandalised a resort in Sonargaon where he was detained with a woman he claimed as his second wife.
Mahanagar Hefazat’s secretary Ferdausur Rahman said Mamunul went to the resort with his second wife where the local Chatra League and Jubo League leaders confined and harassed him, before calling in the police on Saturday.
The woman detained with him is his second wife as claimed by Mamunul Haque, said Ferdausur Rahman.
Narayanganj’s Hefazat’s leaders are looking into the matter visiting the scene, he said.
Also read: Hefazat's Mamunul detained with woman from resort
Later, in the evening madrasa teachers and students gathered in front of the resort and started chanting slogans for freeing Mamunul Haque.
At one point they broke down the main gate of the resort and started a massive rampage entering the property.
As the situation was getting out of hand, police released Mamunul Haque to the demonstrating madrasa folks.
Yet they continued the vandalism at the resort until police released Mamunul Hauque’s wife too around 8 pm.
Also read: Hathazari Hefazat-police clash: 2,500 accused in 7 cases
The resort authority claimed they incurred a crore worth of losses in the destruction.
Mamunul Hauque calmed down the agitated demonstrators by declaring legal actions against the involved AL and Jubo League leaders and left the scene with his wife.
The saga of destruction continued yet after as the protestors blocked Dhaka-Chittagong highway vandalized and set fire to local AL office and Jubo League Leader’s vehicle.
Narayanganj Police Superintendent Md Jayedul Haque said, police reached the scene being informed of locals confining Maulana Mamunul Haque with a woman in the room of that resort.
Also read: Hefazat attack instigators won’t be spread: IGP
As Mamunul Haque claimed the woman was his wife, police safely evacuated him from the resort and kept them under custody.
Sonargaon police station’s inspector (Investigation), Tobidur Rahman at evening confirmed Mamunul Haque being safe in Police’s custody. .
Meanwhile Maulana Mamunul Haque threatened to file case against the journalists who were trying to take photograph and video footage of him.
Homebound people flock at launch and bus terminals dreading ‘lockdown’
Homebound people have started swarming into cities' launch and bus terminals as the announcement of countrywide lockdown came on Saturday.
On Saturday morning, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said the government is set to announce a seven-day lockdown from Monday to stem the spread of coronavirus.
Since the declaration, people are dreading the suspension of all public transportation across the country and crowding at the bus and launch terminals.
Railways Minister MD Nurul Islam Sujan said passenger train services will remain suspended across the country during the countrywide lockdown period.
Joynal Abedin, joint director for Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) told UNB no announcement of suspending launch services has been made.
Also read: Govt to enforce 7-day lockdown from Monday: Quader
Yet dreading the upcoming suspension number of homebound people at the terminals has increased from this afternoon, said BIWTA’s joint director.
Sales manager of Hanif Paribahan bus service’s Kallyanpur counter, Nahid Hasan said bus counters were already packed with passengers as the bus owners were carrying 50 percent less passengers according to the Government’s order from Wednesday.
As the declaration of lockdown came today the crowd of passengers increased more, he said.
Unique bus service’s Gabtali counter man Sulaiman said, passengers are frightened about being stuck hence they are flocking at the ticket counters to leave the city within a day or two.
Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh
Amid an alarming surge in Covid-19 cases, Bangladesh recorded 5,683 fresh cases and 58 deaths in the last 24 hours until Saturday.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh sees 5,638 cases, 58 more deaths
The infection rate slightly fell to 23.15 percent from 23.28 percent on Friday when the country recorded 6,830 cases, the highest since the beginning of the pandemic.
Bangladesh has so far recorded 630,277 coronavirus cases, according to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
During the 24-hour period until Saturday morning, 2,364 patients recovered, taking the number of recoveries to 549,775.
Meanwhile, the fatalities rose to 9,213 with the new deaths.
Spectre of panic buying returns to kitchen markets ahead of lockdown
Dhaka city dwellers were gathering at kitchen markets in a fit of panic buying after responsible ministers stated that the government will announce a countrywide ‘lockdown’ for seven days from April 5-11 to tackle the spread of the second wave of COVID-19.
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader first disclosed this on Saturday and added that industries will remain open on conditions.
According to the Directorate General of Health Service, the COVID-19 killed 58 more people while 5,683 more were detected with the coronavirus in the country in the past 24 hours ending at Saturday morning. With the new figures, Bangladesh so far counted 9,213 COVID-19 deaths and 6,30,277 cases,
Consumers said they were purchasing more ahead of lockdown and the month of Ramadan fearing a supply crunch in the market.
Also read: Prices in kitchen markets on the up ahead of Ramadan
“As the lockdown is going to begin again due to coronavirus so the prices of essential commodities can go up in the market so I purchased several items today,” Kabir Hossain, a resident of Banasree told UNB.
He said the prices of each kg vegetable increased Tk5-10, coarse rice and edible oil by Tk1-2 in one day.
Hefazat's Mamunul detained with woman from resort
Hefazat-e-Islam’s Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque, who has been the loudest voice in the organisation in a number of recent controversies, has been detained with a woman he claims as his second wife from a resort in Sonargaon.
Mahanagar Hefazat’s secretary said Mamunul went to the resort with his second wife where the locals confined and harassed him, before calling in the police on Saturday.
Maulana Ferdausur Rahman, the Mahanagar secretary, confirmed to UNB that Mamumunul Haque is in police custody as of Saturday evening.
Also read: Hathazari Hefazat-police clash: 2,500 accused in 7 cases
The woman detained with him is his second wife as claimed by Mamunul Haque, said Ferdausur Rahman.
Narayanganj’s Hefazat’s leaders are looking into the matter visiting the scene, he said.
Also read: Hefazat attack instigators won’t be spread: IGP
Sonargaon police station’s inspector (Investigation), Tobidur Rahman said, the situation is under control and Maulana Mamunul Haque along with the woman is under custody for now.
Officer-in-Charge of the police station, Rafikul Islam said investigation going on to confirm the identity of the woman detained with the Hafazat leader.
Also read: Hefazat Amir demands punishment of Hathazari OC
Police didn’t share any further detail as investigation was going on.
Meanwhile Maulana Mamunul Haque threatened to file case against the journalists who were trying take photograph and video footage of him.
No domestic flight operations during lockdown: CAAB
The flight operations on domestic routes will remain suspended immediately after enforcement of lockdown, said Air-Vice Marshal M Mofidur Rahman, chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) on Saturday.
However, flights on international routes will operate as usual until further notice, he told UNB.
He said a notice regarding suspension of domestic flights will be issued after the official announcement of lockdown.
Also read: Govt to enforce 7-day lockdown from Monday: Quader
Earlier today Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that the government is set to impose a seven-day lockdown from Monday to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Meanwhile State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain also stated that the announcement of a countrywide seven-day lockdown would come within two or three days.
However, industries or essential services will remain out of the purview of lockdown, said both the ministers.
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh sees 5,638 cases, 58 more deaths
Covid-19 in Bangladesh
The number of Covid-19 cases continues to rise as 5,683 people tested positive in the last 24 hours until Saturday morning.
Besides, the death toll from the novel coronavirus climbed to 9,213 in Bangladesh after 58 more deaths during the period.
DSE, CSE to follow banking sector's lead in operating during lockdown
The capital markets will follow the banking sector's lead in operation during the pandemic of Covid-19.
This was informed by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) against the backdrop of different rumors since news broke of the lockdown to be imposed by the government from Monday next.
A notice posted on the official website of the BSEC said: "Capital market will continue operation at the interest of investors in any situation during the pandemic of Covid-19 if the banking activities continue." It said all transactions in the capital market will continue in the interest of investors.
Also read: Govt to enforce 7-day lockdown from Monday: Quader
It urged the investors to pay no heed to any sort of rumors.
According to BSEC sources, if the bank is open in lockdown, the capital market will also be open. This instruction has been given to two stock exchanges (Dhaka and Chittagong).
Also read: Covid-19: Bangladesh sees 5,638 cases, 58 more deaths
They said, the commission has instructed DSE to keep the capital market open if banks are open. The capital market will operate utilising smaller shifts and work-from-home facilities.
Earlier, from March 26 to May 31 last year, transactions in the capital market were closed due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
BB signs PAs with 12 banks, 2 FIs to operate Tk1,000 crore TDF
The Bangladesh Bank has signed participation agreements (PAs) with 12 banks and two financial institutions (FIs) to operate its Technology Development Fund (TDF), a refinance scheme of Tk1,000 crore.
Earlier, the fund was launched in line with Export Policy 2018-21 to enhance competitiveness and sustainability of the export-oriented industries, said the central bank on Saturday.
Also read: Central bank to support SMEs build resilience
Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Abu Farah Md Nasser was present at the signing ceremony.
The central bank's Executive Director Nurun Nahar and General Manager of the Sustainable Finance (SDF) Department Khondkar Morshed Millat were also present at the event.
Also read: BB eases accessing foreign loans by foreign companies
The general manager of SFD and the chief executives of Agrani Bank, Bank Asia, Dhaka Bank, Modhumoti Bank, NCC Bank, One Bank, NRBC Bank, Standard Bank, Uttara Bank, Trust Bank, United Commercial Bank, Prime Bank, Lankabangla Finance and Lankan Alliance Finance signed the PAs on behalf of their organisations.