bangladesh
No legal scope for Khaleda to go abroad: Law Minister
Law Minister Anisul Huq on Thursday said there is no legal scope in the present situation to allow ailing BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment.
“There’s no scope in the law. They can rebuke me as much as they wish but it doesn’t matter to me… I’ll follow the law,” he said.
The law minister made the remark as a demand was placed by BNP MP Gulam Mohammad Siraj (Bogura-6) in Parliament on point-of-order for allowing Khaleda Zia to go abroad for medical treatment.
Read: Khaleda fighting for life: Fakhrul
Pointing at Khaleda Zia, Anisul Huq said a convicted person was released suspending her sentence as per section 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedure (CrPC) but there is no provision to reconsider an already disposed appeal in the section.
The minister said Khaleda Zia is getting treatment properly as per their statements. “It is up to them whether they’re happy or not with the treatment,” he added.
He said the BNP leaders argued that Khaleda Zia can be released for receiving treatment abroad on humanitarian grounds and raised some previous instances in this regard saying that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was allowed to go abroad in 2007-2008 despite having lawsuits against her. “But it’s not true as the Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) has never been convicted in any case,” he added.
Khaleda fighting for life: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia is fighting for life with critical ailments.
"Our leader Begum Khaleda Zia is in a fight between life and death. Physicians at Evercare Hospital are making their best efforts to treat her. She has been suffering from multiple diseases,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion meeting, Fakhrul also said the BNP chief’s ailment has reached such a stage that it is extremely essential for her to receive treatment abroad immediately. “Doctors are saying she’ll recover if she is sent abroad.”
Read:Done enough for Khaleda Zia, says Hasina
BNP arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club marking the 45th death anniversary of great national leader Moulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani.
Even though Evercare is the country’s best hospital, Fakhrul said the physicians are saying it is not fully equipped to treat all the critical diseases of Khaleda. “So, her treatment at an advanced centre abroad is now very essential.”
Jatrabari gas cylinder blast: Another victim dies, death toll now five
A man, who sustained burn injuries in a gas cylinder blast in the city’s Jatrabari area, died at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital on Tuesday night, raising the death toll from the incident to five.
The deceased was identified as Kabir Dewan, 38.
Read: Jatrabari gas cylinder blast: Death toll rises to 3
Kabir, who was undergoing treatment at the hospital with 85 percent burn injuries, breathed his last around 10:30 pm, said Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police outpost.
On Saturday afternoon, six people received burn injuries when a gas cylinder exploded in a shop in Sayedabad area of Jatrabari in the capital. They were all rushed to DMCH.
Read: 6 suffer burns in Jatrabari gas cylinder explosion
Of the victims, Robin was given first aid while the five others were undergoing treatment at the hospital as they received serious bun injuries.
Bishwanath Dutta, 48, died at the hospital on Sunday while Md Ripon, Shafiqul and Abdul Kalam succumbed to their injuries on Tuesday.
ADB approves $150 million loan to Bangladesh to help recovery of Covid-hit enterprises
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday approved a $150 million loan to Bangladesh to provide financing for cottage, micro, and small-sized enterprises (CMSEs) operated by youth.
The fund will be used for assistance to returning migrant workers, and rural entrepreneurs, particularly women, who have been hit hard by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, according to a press release.
The loan to Bangladesh Bank will be on-lent to participating financial institutions (PFIs), which in turn will help 30,000 CMSEs operated by the beneficiaries, said the release.
Read: ADB, multilateral banks commit to mainstreaming nature at COP26
The project aims to facilitate employment creation and help these vulnerable groups recover from the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Youth unemployment remains at a high level in the country, and they are more severely affected as they concentrate in sectors such as retail trade, accommodation, and food services, which were worst hit by the pandemic.
As per the press release, about 400,000 overseas migrant workers have returned since the start of the pandemic, and many remain unemployed.
Rural incomes have stayed depressed and nonfarm employment opportunities remain limited. Rural enterprises were severely affected, putting further pressure on rural employment.
“ADB supports the Bangladesh government’s long-term strategy to tackle the country’s employment challenges, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic,” ADB Principal Financial Sector Specialist for South Asia Dongdong Zhang said.
He said that promoting access to finance will help address a critical challenge of helping vulnerable groups in the immediate term and developing CMSEs in the long term.
Given the limited access of women to finance and their high concentration in retail, travel, and hospitality sectors, they have borne brunt of the impact of the pandemic.
Read: ADB raises climate financing target to $100 bln by 2030
The project has targeted to disburse 20 per cent of the funds to microbusiness led by women to support their recovery.
ADB will provide an additional $900,000 technical assistance grant from its Technical Assistance Special Fund for Bangladesh Bank and PFIs to help them strengthen their risk management capacities, business process, and information systems.
The assistance will also boost their support of CMSEs by incorporating mobile finance, value chain financing, and sustainable financing tackling climate change.
This project builds on the $250 million policy-based Strengthening Social Resilience Program, approved by ADB in June 2021, to strengthen Bangladesh’s social protection programs and resilience of vulnerable groups.
It also complements the $50 million additional financing to the ongoing Microenterprise Development Project, approved in December 2020, to help restore economic activities of microenterprises affected by COVID-19 in the country.
Bangladesh, Somalia to establish cooperation on contract farming
Somalia has agreed to a Bangladesh proposal on joint contract farming in the African country for better use of its huge unutilized cultivable land.
Visiting State Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia Balal Mohamed Cusman agreed to the proposal made by Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen when the two met on Wednesday.
Read:South Africa looks for greater collaboration with Bangladesh
Balal Mohamed met Momen on the sidelines of IORA 21st meeting of Council of Ministers and discussed bilateral issues.
Both sides agreed to establish cooperation in education, IT and agriculture sectors as well as develop the existing trade and commerce.
Dr Momen proposed that the agreement on cooperation on avoidance of double taxation may be signed between two countries.
He also sought the support of Somalia on the issue of safe and dignified return of the displaced Rohingya people to their homeland.
The Balal Mohamed sought support of Bangladesh for Somalia contesting for UN Security Council Election in 2025-2026 turn.
He expressed his heartfelt thanks for the warm welcome extended by Bangladesh side to the Somalian delegation during IORA conference.
Read:BGMEA for branding 'Made in Bangladesh'
Foreign Minister Momen informed that Bangladesh is observing the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who dreamt for emancipation of the people across the globe.
He apprised the Somalian State Minister about the extensive vaccination programme of the Bangladesh Government as well as Government plan for coproduction of Covid vaccine to immunize the people.
Momen also apprised him about the development march of Bangladesh and said that Bangladesh is maintaining robust economic growth despite the effect of Covid Pandemic.
He underlined that both countries may cooperate in various areas including agriculture, education and IT &ICT.
The Foreign Minister suggested that Somalian students may choose to study in Bangladesh private Universities as education is being offered in various disciplines.
He also mentioned that Bangladesh has made lot of progress in agricultural research areas as well as agricultural production.
Bangladesh is exporting pharmaceuticals to a large number of countries.
Bangladesh also has acquired expertise in ship building and it is producing ship, burges and boats.
Momen mentioned that Bangladesh has earned expertise in sectors like IT and ICT, agriculture including fisheries and livestock.
He said Bangladesh and Somalia maintain friendly cooperation.
Somalia has been supporting international candidature of Bangladesh.
He sought support of Somalia at the next IMO and Human Rights Councils.
Parliament passes legislation to regulate country’s tour industry
The Parliament on Thursday unanimously passed ‘The Bangladesh Tour Operators and Tour Guides (Registration and Operation) Bill, 2021’ to make it mandatory for tour operators and guides to get registered.
It aims to bring the tour operators under the legal framework for ensuring the best services and thus give a boost to the tourism sector.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Mahbub Ali moved the Bill and it was passed by voice vote.
Read: JS passes Bill to enhance HBFC’s capitals and services
As per the proposed law, a touring company will have to collect a license. No company will be allowed to operate tours without registration. If anyone does, it would be tried under the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The proposed law also has a provision of handing over the registration to another tour operator in case of death, physical and financial incapability.
It suggested that criminal acts of the tour operators be tried under the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 aimed at protecting the interest of the tourists.
The activities of tour operators, tour guides, general tour guides, cultural guides, nature guides and trekking guides will now be regulated, according to the legislation.
Read: Bill placed in JS to set up another science and technology university
Now, there’s no guideline and rule for tour operators in the country.
The conditions for getting registration, period of registration and provisions for cancellation of registration have been mentioned in the Bill.
In the Bill, it has precisely been defined who can be tour operators and tour guides.
Dhaka College students demand half-fare bus ride in the city
Hundreds of students from Dhaka College demonstrated outside their college on Thursday demanding half-the-fare bus ride in the city for students.
The demonstration halted traffic on New Market-Mirpur Road for one and a half hours causing sufferings to peak-hour commuters.
Tamim, a Masters student of Dhaka College complained that buses charge fare more than the government-fixed rates. The fare collectors and drivers misbehave with passengers for refusing to pay the extra money, he said.
Read: Truck and freight transport leaders also withdraw strike
Traffic on the busy road returned to normal around 11 am after police intervention.
The students also threatened to go for movement on next Saturday and Sunday if their demand goes unheeded.
On November 15, a college student was pushed off by a bus driver following an altercation over bus fare in the city's Rampura area. Protesting the incident, some students halted movement of 50 buses of ‘Raida Paribahan’ that day.
The government increased the prices of diesel and kerosene by Tk 15 per liter on the night of November 3.
Read: Soaring gas prices: Demand and supply management ‘getting tough’
On November 7, the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) increased the fares for intra-city and inter-district buses by 26.5% and 27% respectively following the demand of the bus owners.
Female drug peddler held in Chuadanga
Police have arrested a 60-year-old woman in Chuadanga on charges of peddling drugs. She was wanted in as many as 50 cases, cops said.
The arrestee has been identified as Shipra Begum,60, wife of late Babul Rahman, a resident of the district's Bujrukgorgori area. She was nabbed from the Buddhiman area on Wednesday.
Police said that Shipra used to smuggle various goods initially. Later she got into smuggling of drugs.
Read: Youth arrested for raping former lover in Sylhet
The first case for narcotics peddling was filed against her in 1991. As of today, 51 drug cases are lodged against her. She was also arrested a number of times earlier.
Officer-in-charge of Chuadanga Police Station, Mohammad Mohsin said that Shipra's arrest "is a big catch for us."
"In four of the 51 cases, she was sentenced to different jail terms. Her family members were also drug dealers," the OC said.
JS passes Bill to enhance HBFC’s capitals and services
The House Building Finance Corporation Bill (Amendment) 2021 was passed in Parliament on Thursday aiming to increase the authorised and paid-up capitals so it can expand its services.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal moved the Bill in the House and it was passed by voice vote.
The original law was promulgated in 1973, during Bangabandhu’s rule, through issuing an order.
With the amendment, the authorised capital of the Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation (BHBFC) will be Tk 1,000 crore while the paid-up capital Tk 500 crore.
Read: Consumers have to bear some of the burden of increased fuel price: Finance Minister
The BHBFC, with the enhancement of capitals, will be able to provide more services, according to the objective of the Bill.
The proposed Bill is making punishment for providing false statements harsher while taking loans from the corporation.
The punishment for providing false statements deliberately to take loan from the corporation has been proposed at a five-year jail term or Tk 500,000 fine or both raising that from a two-year jail term or Tk 2,000 fine or both.
If anyone uses the name of the corporation in any advertisement or prospectus without any written permission, he or she will be sentenced to six months' jail or be fined with Tk 50,000 or both.
Read: Remittance inflow to become normal in 2-3 months: Finance Minister
The punishment was six months' jail or only Tk 1,000 fine in the existing Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation Order 1973.
In the proposed Bill, some words, including 'loan default', 'chairman of the corporation', and 'director' have been incorporated.
A superseding clause has been inserted in the bill to give it priority over other laws.
There will be a seven-member Board of Directors for three years while the Chairman and the Managing Director will be appointed by the government.
Govt mulls law for private physicians, says health minister
The government will enact a law regarding the private practice of doctors, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque told Parliament on Thursday.
“Yes, the government has taken an initiative to enact a private practice act for the physicians,” he said, replying to a tabled question from Awami League MP Nurunnabi Chowdhury (Bhola-3).
In the question, the lawmaker asked whether the government has any plan to formulate a law to fix fees as many of the private doctors charge “unethical fees as per their whims”.
Read: Covid jabs for city’s slum dwellers start on Tuesday: Health Minister
In reply to another written question from BNP MP Gulam Mohammad Siraj (Bogura-6), the health minister said a separate unit in every district hospital will be opened for drug addicts in the country.
“The government has taken an initiative to set up a separate unit in every district sadar hospital to ensure healthcare services of drug addicted patients,” he said.
Answering a separate question from Awami League MP Kazim Uddin Ahmed (Mymensingh-11), the minister said the government has taken a tough stance to check the sale of fake and adulterated drugs in the country.
He said a total of 1715 cases were lodged and Tk 7.58 crore was collected as fine through mobile courts, conducting drives against fake and adulterated drugs in one year from July 2020 to June 2021.
Read: Make country’s health sector more vibrant to tackle Covid-like crisis: President
In the current year (till November), the production licenses of 46 drug firms were suspended besides banning 14 drug firms from the production and marketing of all their products.
Responding to a question from Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque (Kishoreganj-3), the minister said burn units will be set up in district-level hospitals.
“The government has a plan to set up the burn units at hospitals in district towns gradually to ensure the treatment services for the burnt patients on humanitarian ground,” said Zahid.
In reply to a question from Jatiya Party MP Mashiur Rahman Ranga (Rangpur-1), he said there is no paying-bed system for patients in the Upazila health complexes. But there are free-beds for patients there, he said.
He said the government has no plan right now to introduce any paying-bed system. “But the matter will be considered in the future,” he added.