bangladesh
136 Rohingyas held while escaping from Ukhia camp
Police have arrested 136 Rohingyas who were trying to escape from Ukhia’s refugee camps on Monday.
They were all prepared to escape from camps through the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf road, police said.
Ukhia Police officer-in-charge Ahmed Sanjur Morshed said the 136 Rohingyas were held during a search drive in Ukhia on the eve of their departure from the camp. They were later transferred to Kutupalong transit camp.
READ: 1,544 more Rohingyas leave for Bhasan Char
Palangkhali Union Parishad chairman M Gafur Uddin Chowdhury said as the army checkposts on the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf road were lifted thousands of Rohingyas were leaving the camps every day and spreading across the country.
According to sources, since August 2017, there used to be four army checkposts on the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf road. As the checkpoints were lifted recently, Rohingyas are leaving the camp fearlessly.
6 BCL activists expelled from DU hall for assaulting fellow students
Dhaka University's Bijoy Ekattor hall has expelled six students for life on charges of beating up two fellow students in the hall premises.
The expelled students are Masfi-Ur Rahman, a 2nd year student of Social Welfare and Research Institute, Shofiullah Sumon of Criminology department, Naimur Rashid, a 3rd year student of Mass Communication and Journalism department, Sabbir Al Hasan Qaium, 3rd year student of department of Management, Mohammad Firoz Alom Opi, 2nd year student of MIS department and Abdullah Al Maruf, a 2nd year student of Islamic History and Culture department.
READ: Two students beaten up at DU hall
A notice in this regard signed by the hall provost Prof. Dr Abdul Basir was issued on Monday afternoon.
All the expelled are activists Bangladesh Chhatra League and followers of Bijoy Ekattor hall BCL president Sajibur Rahman Sajib.
Earlier on March 26, two students were injured in a group attack in their room (Padma 2010).
It’s time to look beyond energy sector: Momen tells Blinken, seeking 'rock-solid' ties
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has sought diversified investment from the United States, noting that it is time to look beyond the energy sector while investing in Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh is doing pretty well. But most of the investment (from the US) has been in the energy sector. Maybe it is time to look beyond that,” he said, while noting that the US is Bangladesh's biggest trading partner with the largest accumulated investment in the country.
Before the formal beginning of the bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken at the US Department of State, Momen said he is looking forward to a more enhanced and "rock-solid" relationship with the United States of America.
Bangladesh again demanded the withdrawal of sanctions imposed on elite force Rab and some individuals during the bilateral meeting where they discussed bilateral, regional, and global issues.
The US side appreciated the progress made over the last four months and cited the time-consuming process that needs to be followed for the withdrawal of such restrictions.
Foreign Minister Momen also raised the issue of sheltering Rashed Chowdhury, a convicted killer of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and demanded of his handing him over to Bangladesh.
The two countries discussed what they can do together to strengthen the partnership as Bangladesh sought wider and diversified cooperation from the US.
Marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Bangladesh-US diplomatic ties (April 4, 1972), the meeting began at 1:30pm (Washington DC time) and lasted for around 45 minutes.
Lawmaker Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, Secretary (West) Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury, and Bangladesh Ambassador to the US M Shahidul Islam accompanied Momen at the meeting.
In his remarks before the meeting formally commenced, Secretary Blinken expressed happiness for being able to work together on strengthening the partnership between the United States and Bangladesh.
“We are in fact celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations. And even as we think back on those 50 years, we’re really looking ahead to the start of the next 50 and the work that we can do together, as I said, to strengthen our partnership,” he said.
The US Secretary of State said Bangladesh has been a leader in rallying other countries to deal with the climate crisis that the planet is facing.
“We deeply appreciate that, and we’re working closely together as well on COVID-19, and we’re proud to have been able to contribute through COVAX some 61 million vaccine doses to Bangladesh,” he said.
In turn, Secretary Blinken said, Bangladesh of course is showing extraordinary humanity and generosity in hosting nearly 1 million Rohingyas who have had to flee persecution in Myanmar.
“We’re grateful for that, and the work that you’ve done as one of the strongest supporters of UN peacekeeping around the world, and many other things as well. But we’ll have an opportunity today to discuss the work we’re doing together bilaterally in the region and indeed even globally,” he said.
In his opening remarks, Momen also thanked his US counterpart for committing 61 million of the vaccines - the highest among all the countries. “I think Bangladesh is the number one in terms of receiving the vaccine.”
In addition, he said, the 31 million for the recent economic assistance. “And I also thank you because you have declared the genocide in Myanmar, and we’re so happy you did. I hope there will be some repatriation of these persecuted people,” said the Foreign Minister.
Momen mentioned that they received a letter from President Biden and termed it an excellent letter. “It helps what we want to do. It talks about the last 50 years; we have done a remarkable achievement.”
The Foreign Minister said the U.S. has always been a friend of Bangladesh, during bad times and good times. “And we look forward to a bright future, and that’s why I’m here.”
Over the last 50 years, Momen said, Bangladesh really achieved many – a lot of achievements. "Now we have a vibrant economy, a land of opportunity. And the U.S. has been a great partner and friend."
Adding a personal note, he said he was thankful to the USA for providing him with a job and home when he was "homeless, jobless, and stateless."
Bangladeshi students caught up in Ukraine conflict offered opportunity to study in Russia
Bangladeshi students now caught in the middle of the conflict in Ukraine or forced to leave the country will have a chance to continue their higher education in Russia.
The Russian Embassy in Dhaka says students from Bangladesh who are no longer able to pursue higher education in Ukraine can complete their studies in respective universities in Russia.
Bangladeshi students willing to enrol in the proposed transfer scheme will have to provide relevant information to the embassy.
They will have to mention the desired Russian university and the area of study.
READ: Drug shortages persist in Russia after start of Ukraine war
Also, the student will have to provide copies of the document confirming the admission with the respective Ukrainian university, the student ID card and the record book confirming their progress.
To help students transfer to colleges in Russia, additional information on the transfer procedure is available through the hotline +7 (495) 122-22-68 (Monday – Saturday, 8am – 800pm Moscow time).
Many Bangladeshi students studying in Ukraine have had their education disrupted due to the ongoing conflict.
Pran Up launches iftar distribution programme for street children
Beverage brand Pran Up has launched a programme to distribute iftar meals to street children and helpless families during the holy month of Ramadan.
Eleash Mridha, managing director of Pran, inaugurated the programme in the capital Sunday.
READ: South Sudanese ministers visit Pran-RFL industrial park
Anisur Rahman, executive director at Pran Beverage, said: "We have involved the consumers with the campaign. We hope they will encourage us by returning the labels of Pran Up to some retail chain shops including Daily Shopping, Tasty Treat, Mithai and RFL Best Buy."
"Pran Up will allocate a specific amount of money from each label and distribute it in Dhaka and divisional cities."
Fire at Ukhia Rohingya camp guts BRAC training centre, 2 houses
A fire broke out at the Rohingya refugee camp in Ukhia upazila of Cox’s Bazar Monday, gutting a training centre of international development organization BRAC and two houses.
The fire started at around 2 pm at camp-17 and two units of Ukhia Fire Service managed to control the flames after three hours, said Naimul Haque, commander of Armed Police Battalion-14 (APBn).
Fortunately no casualties were reported but the origin of the fire is yet to be identified, he said.
A series of fires have broken out at the camps in recent years.
Earlier on January 9, as many as 600 homes were gutted in a fire that broke out at Rohingya camp-16 at Palangkhali Shafuillakata in Ukhia.
READ: Fire in Ukhiya Rohingya camp again; shanties, learning centre gutted
On January 2, another massive fire broke out at a Covid-19 isolation centre located at extension-20 of Ukhia Rohingya camp. Fortunately no casualties were reported in the fire but 70 beds of the hospitals were charred causing damage of at least Tk 8 lakh.
Before that on March 22, last year, 11 people were killed and more than two lakh Rohingya refugees were affected as a massive fire broke out at three Rohingya camps in Ukhia, burning around 10,000 houses.
99% of world's population breathes poor-quality air: WHO
The WHO says 99 percent of the global population breathes air that exceeds its air-quality limits and is often rife with particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs, enter the veins and arteries, and cause disease.
The UN health agency, about six months after tightening its guidelines on air quality, on Monday issued an update to its database on air quality that draws on information from cities, towns, and villages across the globe.
Air quality is poorest in WHO's eastern Mediterranean and southeast Asia regions, followed by Africa.
The database, which has traditionally considered two types of particulate matter known as PM2.5 and PM10, for the first time has included ground measurements of nitrogen dioxide.
Nitrogen dioxide originates mainly from human-generated burning of fuel, such as through automobile traffic, and is most common in urban areas.
Exposure can bring respiratory diseases like asthma and symptoms like coughing, wheezing and difficulty in breathing, and more hospital and emergency-room admissions, WHO said.
The highest concentrations were found in the eastern Mediterranean region.
Particulate matter has many sources, such as transportation, power plants, agriculture, the burning of waste and industry – as well as from natural sources like desert dust.
READ: Efforts being made to improve country’s air quality, says minister
The developing world is particularly hit hard – India had high levels of PM10, while China showed high levels of PM2.5, according to the database.
Particulate matter, especially PM2.5, is capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and entering the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular, cerebrovascular (stroke) and respiratory impacts, the UN health agency said.
There is emerging evidence that particulate matter impacts other organs and causes other diseases as well, it added.
KUET student commits suicide at home
Police recovered the hanging body of a student of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) from Dumuria upazila of Khulna on Monday morning.
The deceased was identified as Antu Roy, 21, a third-year student of Textile Engineering Department of KUET.
His body was recovered from his home in Gutudia union in Dumuria upazila.
It is known that Antu was a talented student. His family was going through financial crisis.
He had a lot of money in arrears at Dr. MA Rashid dorm in KUET where he stayed for his studies, but had returned home.
According to his family members, he committed suicide when no one was in the house. His younger sister came home from tuition at around 11 am and found Antu's body hanging in the room.
READ: 2 farmers’ suicide in Rajshahi: Krishak League leader held
Dumuria police officer-in-charge (OC) Obaidur Rahman said that in the morning his younger sister found Antur's hanging body. It is initially suspected that he committed suicide due to financial crisis.
His body was recovered and sent to Khulna Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, the OC said.
On November 17 last year, another KUET student, Subrata Kumar, a first-year student of Architecture Department committed suicide by throwing himself under a train in Khanjahan Ali area of the district.
Enough stock of edible oil to keep the price stable: Tipu
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on Monday said the government is monitoring the market price of edible oil as there is now a stock of 90,000 tonnes of the essential cooking ingredient..
“Those who will try to manipulate the price will be identified. Besides, the Home Ministry is taking steps to remove any transportation obstacles,” he said told reporters after a meeting of the taskforce on prices of essential items and market situation at the Secretariat.
Following the government’s move to reduce VAT on edible oil, the price of the commodity has come down with the National consumer Rights Association working to keep the supply chain straight, he said.
Replying to a question Tipu, said “The government has fixed the price of edible oil when the global price was $1400, which now sells at $1600. So, we will re-fix the price based on a month-long average.”
Meanwhile, the government has taken steps to unload and transport goods in a short time after completing all necessary processes, he said.
READ: Edible oil price cut by Tk 8 per litre
Besides, steps have also been taken to remove any obstacles in import, retail and dealership level.
The government has strengthened the market monitoring to keep the prices of cooking oil stable. There is no shortage of other commodities in the country, claimed the minister.
Bribery case: Ex-DIG Mizan appeals to HC seeking acquittal
Sentenced to three years in jail in a bribery case, suspended Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mizanur Rahman has appealed to the High Court seeking acquittal in the case.
“The copy of ex-DIG Mizan’s appeal has been received by the Anti-Corruption commission (ACC). The single bench of HC Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman is likely to hear the appeal,” said Md Khurshid Alam Khan, senior lawyer of ACC to UNB on Monday.
Earlier on February 23, Dhaka Special Court-4 judge Sheikh Najmul Alam pronounced the judgement in this case.
The court sentenced ACC director Khandaker Enamul Basir to eight years imprisonment with Tk 80 lakh fine and Mizan to three years.
Basir was sentenced three years jail term for bribery and five years jail term under money laundering act but he will have to spend five years in prison as the two punishments will be served simultaneously, said the court.
DIG Mizan was an additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). He was withdrawn on January 9, 2019 following the allegation of threatening a female news presenter of a private television channel.
READ: Bribery case: Judgment against ex-DIG Mizan, another on Feb 23
He had also reportedly married a woman forcibly and tortured her. Mizan allegedly picked the 25-year-old woman up in July, 2017 and then forcibly married her.
He had also implicated her in a false case whereby she was arrested and remained in jail for three weeks.
Earlier on June 24,2019 ACC director Monjur Morshed filed the case against DIG Mizan, his wife Sohelia Anar Ratna, nephew sub-inspector Mahmudul Hasan and younger brother Mahbubur Rahman.
According to the case statement, the ACC found that DIG Mizan concealed information of wealth worth Tk 3.7 crore in his wealth statement.
Then director of ACC Enamul Basir was made the investigation officer in the case.
During the investigation DIG Mizan accused Basir of claiming Tk 40 lakh as bribe for acquitting him from the charges.
Following the allegation, another ACC director Monjur Morshed was made the investigation officer in the case, withdrawing Basir.
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, Sheikh Mohammad Fanafillah filed the case over the bribery scandal against Mizan and Basir.
On April 16, 2020, a Dhaka court indicted the two and directed the official beginning of the trial in this case.