Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) last night arrested Faridpur’s Saltha upazila unit president of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) for “attacking” family members of a girl who had earlier protested him harassing her. The arrestee is Roy Mohan Kumar Roy, 28. KM Sheikh Akhter, commander of Rab-8, confirmed the news of arrest this morning. The RAB officer said that Mohan was arrested from a bus terminal in Bhanga upazila of the district and handed over to Saltha Police Station later. Sheikh Md Sadik, officer-in-charge of Saltha Police Station, said the local BCL leader had been making advances to the girl, a student of a government college in the district, over the last four years, and she had been rejecting him. Following the rejection, Mohan and his associates allegedly attacked family members of the girl on March 10, he said, adding that the victim threatened that she would “commit suicide” unless she gets justice within the next 24 hours after the incident. The girl’s family filed a case accusing Mohan and others in this connection later, he said. On March 13, the victim’s family held a press conference at the upazila, demanding immediate arrest of the local BCL leader and justice for her. Meanwhile, the district unit of BCL has formed a six-member committee to investigate the allegations of attacks and harassment.    

A 25-year-old man was hacked to death at Gangni village in Sadar upazila of Magura district in the area on Monday night. The deceased was identified as Shahidul Islam, son of Badsha Mollah of the village. Officer-in-charge of Magura Police Station Jobbarul Islam said local AL leader  Abdur Rahman and Biplob Hossain, son of former UP chairman Nazrul Islam Montu, had a longstanding dispute over establishing supremacy in the area. Sahhidul Islam and Manik Mollah, supporters of Abdur Rahman, came under attack allegedly by the rival group around 8:30pm on Monday. The attackers hacked them with sharp weapons indiscriminately, leaving Sahhidul dead on the spot and Manik critically injured. Injured Manik was taken to Magura 250-bed Sadar Hospital. A clash broke out between the two groups following the death. Read more: Mirsharai Jubo League man hacked to death On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Three people including 2 policemen were injured during the calsh A case was filed at Magura Police Station in this regard, said the OC, adding that they have detained eight people from the spot.

Two people were dead and three were injured when a pickup van rammed into a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Pabna's Santhia upazila this morning. The deceased were identified as Motahar Hossain, 30, son of Abdur Razzak of Vitepara village under Nagdemra union of the upazila and Faruk Hossain, 32, son of Abdul Barik of the same area. The injured were admitted to Pabna General Hospital. Identities of the injured could not be known immediately. Nabir Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Madhupur Highway Police Station, said a speeding pickup van hit the CNG-run auto-rickshaw in front of Samasnari Madrasa on the Dhaka-Pabna highway around 8:30 am, leaving Motahar and Faruk dead on the spot. Police recovered the bodies and sent them to the hospital morgue for autopsies, added the OC.  

US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas today (March 21, 2023) said his country is committed to working with Bangladesh to eliminate corruption – enabling Bangladeshis to enjoy lives of dignity and drawing more international trade and foreign investment. “If Bangladesh can assure citizens and investors that corruption is less prevalent here than in other markets, it will attract more investment and help the country continue on the path of economic growth,” he said.     Ambassador Haas made the remarks at an event, titled “Call to Action Against Corruption Summit”, at a Dhaka hotel, organized by Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) and Center for International Private Enterprises. The US ambassador said corruption exists, to one degree or another, in every corner of the globe, and they are all too familiar with what it looks like.  Read More: Excited to see more Bangladeshi students are choosing US: Peter Haas “It’s trying to get a driver’s license and having to pay ‘speed money’.  It’s knowing that if you want a passport appointment, it’s going to cost you extra.  It’s needing to bribe the right official to register a plot of land you just purchased,” Haas said. Corruption is a parasite that feeds on the resources of a society and drains it of its strength and can devastate every level of business and government, he said.   “Sadly, some notorious scandals have occurred in my own country,” said the US ambassador. Yet, he said, exposing corruption and holding perpetrators accountable have catalyzed economic growth in the United States and elsewhere.   Read More: New US Ambassador Peter Haas arrives in Dhaka “When societies exert such efforts, they prosper. I am confident this can be the case here in Bangladesh, as well, and the United States is eager to help,” he said.    Under President Biden, the US government has established the fight against corruption as a core national security interest, he added.   “We support initiatives that help Bangladeshi businesses meet international standards and regulations, making them more competitive in the global market,” said the envoy.   “By promoting ethical business practices, we can create a more level playing field for businesses of all sizes and encourage more foreign investment,” he added. Read More: Peter Haas nominated next US Ambassador to Bangladesh The US Agency for International Development, USAID, has partnered with Bangladesh’s Registrar of Joint Stock Companies to launch an online registration process for new businesses.   This makes registering new businesses more transparent, faster, and more affordable, Ambassador Haas said. USAID has also worked with the Bangladesh National Board of Revenue to establish authorized economic operators. This endeavour empowers the private sector, instead of the government, to release shipments at ports, he said.   As a result, Haas said, the process has become more transparent and raised the level of trust between the private sector and the government. Read More: Prevent corruption in every sector: President to ACC The US Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) works with the Private Public Partnership Authority Bangladesh to conduct workshops to improve the legal and business environment of Bangladesh.   CLDP also works with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to improve municipal governance by improving fiscal transparency. Under this program, CLDP invited over a DNCC delegation, including the mayor, to Miami in January.   The US Department of Justice trains investigators and attorneys in the Anti-Corruption Commission on topics such as how to investigate and prosecute money laundering, how to use electronic evidence, and how to investigate financial crimes.   “It has also fostered a relationship between Bangladesh’s Financial Intelligence Unit and the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre,” Haas said.   Read More: All-pervasive corruption by AL destroys economy: Fakhrul “The United States is committed to holding corrupt officials accountable for their actions. This can take various forms,” said the ambassador.   Just as US laws hold American citizens and businesses accountable for corrupt practices, there are US laws and penalties that apply to non-citizens who use corrupt practices in violation of the laws. “What can the Bangladeshi government do to reduce corruption?  It could think about ways to empower institutions to tackle corruption and promote transparency and accountability in governance and business,” he said.   One idea is to reduce the amount of cash that officials handle by replacing cash-based financial transactions with the government with online transactions, Haas said.   Read More: Power tariff being raised frequently to manage corruption: Fakhrul “Citizens could pay bills, fines, and taxes electronically. Such a process would minimize the opportunity for bureaucrats to overcharge or misplace public funds into their own pockets,” he said.   Haas recognized the important role a vibrant civil society and free media play in investigating and exposing instances of corruption. Bangladesh has many advantages that potential investors would find attractive, he said. “But as American business leaders tell me: multi-national firms have options on where they invest.”   They will choose whichever country has the lowest levels of corruption, the fewest bureaucratic obstacles, the greatest respect for rule of law, and the best logistics infrastructure for their business, he added.   Read More: BNP's complaints about corruption 'laughable': Hasan Mahmud

The publication ceremony of a book on the country’s Bauls was held at a city hotel on Sunday. The book, “The Bauls of Bangladesh and the Untold Stories” was based on a research work by Professor Dr Anwarul Karim, an author, and researcher.  The Minister, LGRD&C Tajul Islam, MP was present at the ceremony as Chief Guest. Minister Tajul Islam paid glowing tributes to Professor Dr Anwarul Karim for his massive contribution to the Bangladesh culture by producing around 40 books both in English and Bengali. The Book, the Bauls of Bangladesh and the untold stories, had in it the songs of Lalon and the other Bauls. The minister said: “Lalon is now a world poet as his songs together with the other Bauls had left their mark on Tagore and our national poet Nazrul. Tagore’s Gitanjali which earned Nobel Prize has enough of Lalon and Baul influence in it. Lalon equals Socrates in his search for the ‘self’ through his songs. He also supersedes Homer as a folk poet regarding the theme and message as delineated in his songs.” Meher Afroz Chumki, the former Minister of Women and children affairs and President of Awami Mahila League in her speech also thanked Professor Karim for his contribution to the culture of Bangladesh through his research on the Bauls. She added that the government had also contributed to the development of Lalon academy which dr. Karim was founded in 1963 with the help of the local people.  Fariza Amena Karim, the young granddaughter of Professor Karim in her maiden speech praised her grandfather for his research on the Bauls. Presided over by Sultana Afroz the former Secretary and the Vice Chair of Bangladesh Institute of Folklore and Community Development the program was attended among others by the former Women and Child Affairs State Minister, Meher Afroz Chumki as the Special Guest, Professor Dr Tone Bleie of Norway, Director General (RO) Foreign Ministry, the Ambassadors of KSA and Norway and the High Commissioners of Australia, Members of the Diplomatic Corps. Professor Abdullah Abu Sayeed of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro and Professor Dr Abu Yousuf Md. Abdulla of Northern University Bangladesh was also present at the unveiling ceremony.    

The 15th convocation of Brac University was held Monday at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in the capital. A total of 4,889 students received degrees while 31 gold medals were awarded in various categories. Education Minister Dipu Moni presented the chancellor's gold medals. Professor Syed Mahfuzul Aziz, pro-vice-chancellor and acting vice-chancellor of Brac University, presented the vice-chancellor's gold medals. Omar Ishrak, former chairman and CEO of Medtronics, was the convocation speaker. Dipu Moni said: "We want our students to take the lead in knowledge creation, be progressive in thinking, inspired by honesty, humanity and patriotism, healthy in body and mind and energetic in action." "Since its establishment in 2001, Brac University has been producing competent graduates by imparting quality education," she added. Tamara Hasan Abed, chair of Brac University's board of trustees, said: "By exercising Brac University's teachings on empathy, graduates can switch on the light of hope for others." She also added that the graduates will take many journeys and reach many destinations over the next 50 years taking Bangladesh to the forefront. Mahfuzul, acting vice-chancellor of Brac University, said: "As a forward-looking institution, Brac University aims to help students develop empathy, creativity and entrepreneurship so that they can thrive despite significant social changes and grow as future leaders." "This will go a long way to help fulfil the mission of the present and future governments, businesses and social enterprises." Omar urged the graduates to develop a sense of purpose and a vision of how they all could make a difference. "This is the right time to think about it and drive priorities. Having long-term goals makes a difference and graduates should achieve purpose in life, remain committed to lifelong learning, stay informed and adapt to challenges," he added.  

Walton has celebrated Walton Day, the founding anniversary of the Bangladeshi global electronics and tech giant across the country on Monday. On this occasion, various programs were held at Walton Headquarters, Corporate Office, Walton Mirpur Complex, Tangail Gosai Joair and all the sales and service outlets across the country.  The programs included hoisting of the national flag and Walton flag, balloon flying, cake cutting, joyous rally and procession and cultural programs etc. Walton was established on March 20, 1999. However, the journey of Walton started in 1977 with the sole efforts of late SM Nazrul Islam, founding chairman of Walton and an industrialist from Tangail. On Monday (March 20, 2023) morning Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC.'s Director S M Mahbubul Alam hoisted the national flag and Walton flag at Walton Corporate Office in the country. Then, he inaugurated the nationwide celebration festival by flying balloons with 'Walton Day' logo.   On the occasion of 'Walton Day', rallies and processions were simultaneously brought out across the country. More than 20 thousand sales and service outlets celebrated the day with customers and well-wishers through various day-long events. Along with announcing the inauguration of 'Walton Day' celebration, S M Mahbubul Alam greeted and congratulated all the members of the Walton family, buyers, local and foreign distributors and well-wishers. Walton Hi-Tech's Managing Director and CEO Golam Murshed said: “Walton Day is a day of great joy for us. Walton was established in the fiery month of independence. Congratulations and best wishes to the members of the board of directors, stakeholders, customers-well-wishers and members of the Walton family for bringing the company to where it is today.”  

The recently established NIHR Global Health Research Centre for Non-Communicable Diseases and Environmental Change started its operations in the capital Monday. The centre was launched at a seminar organised by the Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC) Programme of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and icddr,b, in partnership with Imperial College London, The George Institute for Global Health, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, and the University of Brawijaya.  The centre is developing a programme of policy-relevant research, research capacity strengthening, and community engagement to tackle the dual challenges of a rapidly growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the threat of global environmental change in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and improve the delivery of high-quality, equitable services for this dual threat, especially for the marginalised population most impacted by environmental change. In Bangladesh, storm surges caused by tropical cyclones have led to an increase in water salinity across the coastal belt. This has harmful health effects on local populations, including increased blood pressure, progressive kidney disease and gestational hypertension in pregnant women. Using the existing government primary healthcare systems, the centre will work to identify and test cost-effective, sustainable solutions to reduce salinity, with a focus on hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic kidney diseases in Koyra upazila of Khulna and Ashasuni upazila of Satkhira. It will also work towards strengthening primary health care in Bangladesh and develop multisectoral interventions through active engagement with communities that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of environmental change and NCDs. During the launch event, Dr Tahmeed Ahmed, executive director of icddr,b, hoped the centre would be able to develop low-cost sustainable solutions and advocate for them to prevent and address non-communicable diseases through undertaking implementation research. Health Minister Zahid Maleque highlighted various government initiatives to combat NCDs, including the eight state-of-the-art hospitals under construction in each division. He said:  "I hope that the research and evidence generated by the NIHR Global Health Research Centre will be instrumental in policy making and strategic decisions to combat NCDs in Bangladesh. The centre and icddr,b will receive all the necessary assistance from my ministry to implement this initiative." The Bangladesh centre will be directed by Dr Aliya Naheed, scientist (non-communicable diseases) of icddr,b, in collaboration with the NCDC, Department of Public Health Engineering (DPHE), Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), and technical support provided by the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Imperial College of London, and the University of Portsmouth.  

Three people were killed and eight others were injured after a pickup van crashed into a BRTC bus in Dinajpur’s Doshmile area. The accident occurred today around 6 pm in front of the Darbarpur Jame Masjid on the Dinajpur-Rangpur highway, UNB’s Dinajpur correspondent reports. The deceased were identified as Mostakim Ahmed (27), Sohanur Rahman Sohan (26) and pickup driver Foyzar Uddin (40) of Dinajpur’s Chirirbandar upazila. They were all passengers of the van. The injured were rescued by the locals and sent to Dinajpur’s M Abdur Rahim Medical College and other hospitals. Most of them were sent home after primary treatment. The pickup fell on the side of the road after the crash. Contacted, Golam Maola, inspector of Dinajpur Kotwali Police Station, said the Thakurgaon-bound BRTC bus crashed with the speeding pickup van coming from the opposite side of the highway.  

Though Unique Meghnaghat Power Limited (UMPL) has completed 92 percent of the construction of its 585 MW gas-fired power plant and is getting ready to be addeds to the national grid by October, there is no certainty that it will get its requisite supply of gas to start operating. The state's hydrocarbons agency Petrobangla, which had signed a gas supply agreement for the plant in July 2019, said until adequate gas is available it has no obligation to supply gas to the plant. “We don’t have any obligation to ensure gas supply to the plant in this situation when adequate gas is not available,” said Petrobangla chairman Zanendra Nath. He also claimed that the agreement with UMPL has the same provision as others that Petrobangla will supply gas depending on availability. He said that only Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) can divert gas to this plant from any other plants from its total allocation. Recently the US Ambassador Peter Haas urged the government to consider its efficiency to supply gas to the UMPL project. During a visit to the plant on March 15, he said the power plant is highly efficient in terms of environment as it will generate electricity consuming half of the gas required for other power plants of similar capacity. "This power plant will serve 700,000 homes using half of the gas compared to other power plants," Haas said. Unique Meghnaghat Power Limited (UMPL), a consortium of Strategic Finance Limited, Unique Hotel & Resorts Limited and General Electric (GE) of USA, has been implementing the 584 MW Gas-based combined cycle power plant as independent power producer (IPP) at Meghnaghat in Narayanganj under a contract with the government. State-owned Power Development Board (BPDB) will purchase electricity from the plant over a period of 22  years  at a levelised tariff rate of around US cents 3.69 per unit (1 kilowatt-hour) if it is run by locally produced gas. Each unit is 1 kilowatt-hour. The tariff would be US cents 6.80 per unit, if it is run by imported LNG. State-run Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd (TGTDCL), a subsidiary of Petrobangla, will provide gas to the power plant, either local gas or LNG. According to officials, the plant will consume about 100 mmcf gas per day. Project officials said that about 92 percent of the total construction work has been completed and the plant will come into commercial operation in October 2023. Mohd. Noor Ali, Chairman of UMPL said that it is a symbol of the capabilities of the private sector of Bangladesh. This is a highly efficient power plant and it will surely take top position in the demand order or merit order from the off-taker (BPDB). UMPL Managing Director Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat acknowledged the contribution of US companies, including GE, in providing the latest technology gas turbines to Bangladesh's much-needed power infrastructure. Mentioning the project as a lower carbon emitter, he said the project will be a big contributor to the commitment of Bangladesh to achieve nationally determined contributions as per Paris Agreement. In this plant, GE’s latest 9HA.01 Gas Turbine has been used, which will operate at more than 62% efficiency whereas the traditional gas turbine efficiency is around 30-40 percent. Deepesh Nanda, CEO of GE Gas Power, South Asia said, “GE Gas Power is committed to bring affordable, reliable and sustainable power generation technology to Bangladesh and has been contributing to transform the power sector in the country by offering advanced powering technology and power services solutions." GE has been working as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the project.