bangladesh
Man goes missing as ball gate sinks in Pasur River in Khulna
A man went missing after a brick-laden ball gate sank in the Pasur River on the way from Khulna to Barishal during a storm on Wednesday.
The missing person is Moksed. Two others, Md Haseeb Bepari and Md Siddique, swam to the shore.
The ball gate named MV Mokamiya Darbar sank near the Mongla port in the area adjacent to Digraj Vidyarbahan Canal around 7:30 pm on Wednesday.
Ardesh Ali, fire service officer of Mongla EPZ, said a rescue operation has been underway since Thursday morning with the help of the Khulna diving team to recover the ball gate and rescue the missing person.
However, the operation is being hampered due to the heavy current in the river, he said.
Ecnec clears 11 projects involving Tk 8,425 crore
The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) on Thursday approved a total of 11 development projects including Tk 3,059-crore one to construct 674 Union Parishad complex bhabans in 322 upazilas.
The approval came from the Ecnec meeting presided over by Prime Minister and Ecnec chairperson Sheikh Hasina at the NEC conference room in the city’s Sher-e Bangla Nagar area.
Planning Minister Maj Gen (Retd) Abdus Salam briefed reporters after the meeting.
FM Hasan denounced Prof Yunus for receiving award from Israeli sculptor
The total estimated cost of 11 projects is Tk 8,425.52 crore (only additional cost of revised projects is incorporated here). Of the cost, Tk 7,939.87 crore will be drawn from the government’s fund, while Tk 485.65 crore from foreign sources.
Of the projects, seven are new while three are revised schemes. Besides, one project got the Ecnec’s nod to extend time, not cost.
According to the project factsheet, Union Parishad Complex Bhaban Construction (Phase-III) will be implemented at 674 unions of 322 upazilas in 62 districts by December, 2028.
Among the fresh projects, the rural infrastructure development in the districts of greater Rangpur region will be implemented at the cost of Tk 2,500 crore in 35 upazilas of five districts by June 2028.
The other new five projects include Bangladesh Chancellery Bhaban and Residential Bhaban Construction at Cairo in Egypt involving TK 165.97 crore, upgrading and widening Kashinathpur-Dashuria-Natore-Rajshahi-Nababganj-Kansat-Sonamajjid-Baliadighi Border (N-06) National Highways (Nababganj Part) with Tk 481.89 crore, development of Infrastructures to enhancing capacity and fish production in the existing government fish farms with Tk 371.32 crore, improvement of Fish Landing Centre of Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation in Cox’s Bazar with Tk 232.83 crore; and Establishment of Bangladesh Handloom Board Complex at Mirpur in Dhaka with Tk 115 crore.
Death toll of Bangladeshis along border comes down: FM
The three revised projects are Collection of 20 Meter Gauge Diesel Electric Locomotives and 150 Meter Gauge Passenger Carriages for Bangladesh Railways (1st revised) with additional cost of Tk 288.07 crore (now cost Tk 2,157.68 crore), Promoting Resilience for Vulnerable through Access to Infrastructure, Improved Skills and Information (Provati) (1st revised) with additional cost of Tk 166.83 crore (now cost Tk 924.51 crore); and establishment of full-fledged Cancer, Cardiac and Kidney Treatment Centres in 8 divisional cities (1st revised) with extra cost of Tk 1,044.61 crore (now cost Tk 3,433 crore).
Besides, the meeting cleared Relocation of Bangladesh Betar Shahbagh Complex to Agargaon in Dhaka, and its construction and modernization (3rd revised) project, just extending time not cost.
Seven sent to jail for bid to occupy Barguna Press Club
A court here on Thursday sent seven people to jail in a case filed with the Speedy Trial Court over an attempt to occupy the Barguna Press Club.
Barguna Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Md Harun or Rashid sent them to jail after rejecting their bail pleas on Thursday afternoon.
Advocate Golam Mostafa Quader stood for the plaintiff while Advocate AKM Shafiqul Islam Nesar stood for the defendants.
Agartala Press Club delegation meets FM Hasan Mahmud
According to court sources, while most of the members of Barguna Press Club were on an annual tour to India, on February 19, a group with vested interest led by a local UP member Masud Talukder and so-called journalist Mushfiq Arif attacked and tried to occupy Barguna Press Club.
Seven journalists, including Barguna Press Club Acting President and NTV staff reporter Sohel Hafeez, Jamuna Television reporter Ferdous Khan Imon and Somoy Television reporter Saiful Islam Miraj were injured in the incident.
LDA rally in front of Press Club Monday to protest bank looting, money laundering
Barguna Press Club authorities filed the case naming 17 people and accusing 50 more unnamed people.
The accused who were denied bail are: Mushfiqur Islam (Mushfiq Arif), son of late Nazrul Sharif of Kazi Nazrul Islam Road, Barguna town Md. Harun or Rashid Rinku, son of Hamid Mollah of Banshtala Nasnapara village, Patharghata upazila Sagir Hossain, son of late Abdul Hossain Howlader of Khajurtala village, Barguna Sadar Shajnuz Sharif, son of Pintu Sharif of Pajrabhanga village, Barguna Sadar
Former president of Khulna Press Club AK Hiru no more
Al-Amin, son of late Alauddin of Abdul Kader Road, Barguna Municipality Jaforul Hasan Rahan (Rudra Rahan), son of late Ibrahim Khalil of Dakshin Rupdon village, Patharghata upazila Rakibul Hasan Rajan Khan, son of Mosharraf Khan of Thana Para, Barguna Municipality Advocate Golam Mostafa Kader appeared for the plaintiff in the case and Advocate AKM Shafikul Islam Nesar appeared for the accused.
Barguna Press Club General Secretary Jafor Hossain Howlader said 13 days after the attack on Barguna Press Club, the first accused in the case Masud Talukder died of heart attack.
Foreign Minister denounces Dr Yunus for receiving award from Israeli sculptor
Foreign Minister denounces Dr Yunus for receiving award from Israeli sculptor
"I am very surprised.....it's very unfortunate," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said there was no single word of protest from Prof Yunus when people including children and women are killed in Gaza and when there is crimes against humanity.
"In this situation in Gaza, Prof Yunus received an award from an Israeli. What is this? What does it mean? Is it not supporting Israeli killings in Gaza?" Hasan asked.
He said Prof Yunus was not awarded by the UNESCO but it was lies spread by Yunus Centre.
Hasan said it is not the first time Yunus Centre did it but they did spread same falsehoods in the past.
Donald Lu lauds Bangladeshi Americans for building foundation of ties between two countries
Earlier, Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury on Wednesday said the UNESCO did not confer “The Tree of Peace” award to Nobel laureate Professor Yunus.
Mohibul, who is also the Chairman of the Bangladesh UNESCO Commission, made the statement to reporters at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
He said "Dr Yunus was conferred the 'Tree of Peace' award by an Israeli sculptor, upon invitation from the Ganjavi Foundation in Azerbaijan."
The minister said that Dr Yunus’ claim that he received the award from UNESCO is untrue.
"The information propagated by the Yunus Centre regarding the UNESCO award is inaccurate and misleading," said the minister. "It is imperative that we set the record straight and ensure that such misinformation does not tarnish the reputation of our country. An explanation will be sent to the UNESCO headquarters regarding this matter as it is humiliating for Bangladesh."
Bangladesh’s Independence Day celebrated in Netherlands
The minister also warned of legal repercussions if the Yunus Centre persisted in spreading false claims about the UNESCO award. He emphasised the need for immediate cessation of such misleading information to prevent further damage to the reputation of both Dr Yunus and Bangladesh on the international stage.
However, comments from the Yunus Centre were not immediately available.
Bangladeshi injured in BSF firing along Chapainawabganj border
A Bangladeshi youth was injured in firing by the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) along Sonamasjid border in Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj district on Thursday.
The injured is Oliul Islam, son of Monirul Islam Moni of Baliadighi village of Shibganj upazila.
Lt. Colonel Golam Kibria, commander of 59 BGB battalion, said when 5-6 smugglers along with Oliul entered India around 3 am BSF personnel opened fire on them, leaving Oliul injured.
His associates rescued him and took him to Chapainawabganj district hospital. However, he did not receive treatment at the hospital and left it.
Commander of 59 BGB battalion said a letter will be sent to the BSF protesting the border firing incident.
Death toll of Bangladeshis along border comes down: FM
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said the use of non-lethal weapons has increased in recent days compared to the past, leading to a decrease in death toll along Bangladesh-India border.
"We have long been discussing with India. When I visited India recently, we discussed the issue with much importance so that non lethal weapons are used along the border. Now, compared to the past, use of non lethal weapons has increased," he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Minister sees progress in efforts to free hijacked ship, crew members
The Foreign Minister described the recent border killings in Lalmonirhat and Naogaon and mentioned that flag meeting was held between Border Guard Bangladesh and Border Security Force.
There was a protest from the BGB side, he added.
With call to boycott Indian products, BNP wants to destabilise the market and cause price hike: Foreign Minister
Hasan said they want to see no such incident in the border areas.
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) have agreed to bring down the border casualties of Bangladeshi nationals to zero by enhancing joint patrolling, vigilance, intensifying public awareness programme, preventing criminals or inhabitants from crossing border and sharing information.
Foreign Minister commends late President Zillur Rahman's political legacy
Since BGB and BSF are in engagement, he said, they think problems can be solved there.
Met office predicts rains in Dhaka, 6 other divisions
Met office forecast rains or thundershowers in Dhaka and six other divisions of the country in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Thursday.
“Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely at one or two places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions,” said a Met office bulletin.
Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country.
Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
Foreign Minister sees progress in efforts to free hijacked ship, crew members
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday (March 28, 2024) said that there has been progress in the government’s efforts to free the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah, which was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean along with 23 sailors on board.
“Our aim is to rescue the sailors unharmed and at the same time rescue the ship. I just want to say that we have advanced much,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.
Govt trying to free the hijacked ship and bring back crew members safely as soon as possible: Foreign Minister
Hasan Mahmud said they are in contact and are making multifaceted efforts to rescue the crew members.
Pirates make maiden contact with MV Abdullah’s owner
Regarding the reported food shortage on the ship, he said food shortage has never happened in the past when ships have been hijacked. “Hopefully it won’t happen in this case either.”
After 9 days of taking the Bangladeshi ship and holding 23 sailors hostage, Somali pirates contacted the owners.
Owner of hijacked vessel MV Abdullah doesn’t want armed operation
3 dead as bus hits auto-rickshaw in Mymensingh
Three passengers were killed and four others injured in a collision between a bus and a CNG auto-rickshaw on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway at Ujanpara in Trishal upazila on Thursday.
The deceased are Rubaiya Tasnim,2, daughter of Shamim Ahmed of Rudra village, CNG driver Shariful Islam,33, son of late Abdus Samad of Chikna Manhar village, and Salman Azadi,27, a student of music department of Jatiyo Kobi Kazi Nazrul Islam University.
The injured are Mani Akhter45, wife of Jalal Uddin of Rudra village and Sahida Akhtar,45, wife of Shamim Ahmed of the same village. The identities of two others could not be known.
The injured were admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.
Kamal Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Trishal Police Station, said a bus collided with the auto-rickshaw while taking U-turn, leaving Tasnim dead on the spot.
Two other victims died at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital.
10 kidnapped people freed on ransom in Cox’s Bazar
Ten people including four boys who were kidnapped while working on a hill at Hoaikong Roikhong in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar were freed after payment of Tk 4 lakh as ransom on Wednesday night.Those kidnapped were identified as Zunaid, 12, Mohammad Nur, 10, Shakil, 15, Farida lam, 35, Akter, 25, Ismail, 24, Babul 26, Fazal Kader, 40, Oli Ahmed, 32 and Nur Mohammad, 17 of Teknaf upazila.All of them are safe and sound now, said Osman Gony, officer-in-charge of Teknaf Model Police Station.
Elderly man crushed under wheels of train in Cox's BazarNur Mohammad Anwari, chairman of Hoaikhong Union, said some miscreants kidnapped them while they were working on the hill on Wednesday morning.However, the family members paid Tk 4 lakh as ransom for the release of the kidnapped people.The kidnappers freed them at Unsiprang around 12 am, he said.New 'Tourist Express' trains to Dhaka-Cox's Bazar route from Jan 10