bangladesh
E-passport service at Toronto mission soon: Shahriar
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has expressed optimism that Bangladesh Consulate General in Toronto will be able to start e-passport service from mid-November this year.
He was interacting with the officials of the Bangladesh Consulate General during his visit to Toronto, Canada, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.
The State Minister said the Department of Immigration and Passports (DIP) is working on it and necessary set-ups for e-passport could be installed earliest by mid-November in the Consulate General, while currently the Consulate is issuing machine readable passports (MRPs).
He said the year 2021 is a significant year for Bangladesh as they are celebrating two historic events of birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangladesh’s Golden Jubilee of the Independence.
In this spirit, he urged the Consulate to keep the momentum in terms of consular service delivery, meeting the expectations of the diaspora and ensuring proper representation of the Consulate General in Toronto.
Consul General Nayem Uddin Ahmed briefed the State Minister about the digitized consular service system currently operationalized in the mission for rendering fastest and modern-day consular services.
READ: e-Passport to brighten Bangladesh image: PM Hasina
The State Minister mentioned that Bangladesh and Canada enjoy excellent bilateral and business relations.
Remittance inflow to become normal in 2-3 months: Finance Minister
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has said he is expecting the country’s remittance inflow to become normal within two to three months.
“Hope, we’ll see an uptrend within two-three months as many of the expatriates who got stuck at home are going back to work following the improvement in the Covid-19 situation,” he told reporters on Wednesday after a meeting of the cabinet committee on public purchase.
Read: Remittances hit record high in April ahead of Eid
The finance minister’s remarks came against the backdrop of the consecutive fall in inward remittances of the country.
As per the Bangladesh Bank’s statistics, the country received $1871.49 million in July, $1810.10 million in August and $1726.29 in million in September this year.
After the fall in remittance earnings, many analysts apprehend if the downward trend continues, the country’s foreign exchange reserve may witness a decline.
Read: Remittance, investment promotion campaign held in US
Mustafa Kamal said Bangladesh has been witnessing continuous rise in remittance inflow as a result of the various measures, including 2 percent incentives given by the government to wage earners.
He said the slight fall in remittance inflow is temporary and it will return to normalcy within two months as Bangladesh has long been receiving remittances of $22-23 billion annually.
Indigenous man burnt to death in Khagrachhari, one held
An indigenous man was burnt to death in Ramgarh upazila of Khagrachhari district on Tuesday evening.
The deceased is Chaithoai Marma, 60, a resident of Masterpara area of the upazila.
Police arrested Arefin Sharif Patwary, 26, son of Abu Ahmed and an employee of Ramgarh Rest House, in this connection.
Read:College girl suffers burns as stalker sets her on fire in Manikganj
Witnesses said Sharif hit Chaithoai with a brick first and then set fire to his body by pouring petrol in Masterpara area around 7pm.
Later, burn injured Chaithoai was rushed to Ramgarh Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Ramgarh Circle Additional Superintendent of Police Md Raihan Uddin Kazemi said Arefin primarily confessed to his involvement in the killing but did not disclose the reason behind the murder.
Ansheu Marma, the son of the deceased, said Sharif had also set fire to their house a few days ago and then he lodged a complaint with Ramgarh police station and this might angered Sharif.
Meanwhile, Sharif's father Abu Ahmed said his son had been suffering from mental illness for the past few years and was given treatment in different places.
Read:Fire breaks out at Banani building; 2 girls dead
However, local councilor Ahsan Ullah said Sharif is drug-addict and local people has many complaints against him.
A case was filed in this regard, said the ASP.
Bangladeshi’s conviction: FM says evidence to be shared with Saudi govt
The government will share the evidence, if any, with the Saudi government in favour of Bangladeshi worker Abul Bashar who was sentenced to 20 years by a Saudi court, said Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday.
“If there’s any new evidence those could be put up and to be shared with the Saudi government after verification,” he told reports at his office.
The Foreign Minister made the remarks as his comment was sought regarding media reports that indicate Bashar was not carrying Yaba but a person at the airport in Dhaka put it into his bag saying it was pickle.
The Saudi court sentenced Bashar to 20 years’ imprisonment on charge of carrying Yaba as he was detained with the drug when he landed at the Saudi airport.
Also read: Dhaka urges Riyadh to increase flights to carry expats
“Saudi judges are very independent and they never get influenced. They work on the basis of evidence. If there’s any new evidence, those could be put up,” Dr Momen said.
Asked whether the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Jeddah will look into it, he responded positively.
Also read: Bangladeshi expats to begin returning to KSA; both sides to operate flights: FM
Bashar reportedly came to Bangladesh in December last year and left Bangladesh for Saudi Arabia in March this year.
Want killing nowhere: Momen about Mohib Ullah murder
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday said they do not want a single killing anywhere mentioning that Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah’s killing is regrettable.
“We don’t want any such incident anywhere. We’ve taken action instantly,” he told reporters at his ministry.
Man to die for killing wife in Khulna
A Khulna court sentenced a man to death for killing his wife in 2019.
The condemned convict is Mahmud Alam, a police constable of Khulna Shiromoni Armed Police Battalion and son of Jabed Ali of Jamalnagar village in Ashashuni upazila in Satkhira district.
Read: 2 get death penalty for killing college student in Barishal
Public Safety Disturbance Crime Prevention Tribunal of Khulna Judge Md Saifuzzaman handed down the verdict.
According to the prosecution, Zohana Akter Usha, wife of Mahmud in Khan Jahan area of Khulna, was strangulated to death by her husband over family feud on April 6, 2019.
Sohel Islam, victim’s brother, lodged a complaint with Khan Zahan Ali Police Station.
Read: HC upholds death penalty in mother-daughter murder in Ctg
On August 15, 2019, police submitted a chagesheet against Mahmud in the case.
After examining the records and witnesses, the tribunal handed down the verdict.
Bangladesh calls for fair, balanced IP regime system to fight COVID
Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in Geneva Ambassador Md. Mustafizur Rahman has said Intellectual Property Regime (IPR) system should not become a hindrance to respond effectively to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He made the remarks while speaking at the 62nd series of the General Assemblies of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
Read:Bangladesh reiterates firm stance against terrorism
The General Assemblies kicked off on October 4 at the WIPO Headquarters in Geneva and will be concluded at the end of the week, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday.
In his capacity as the Coordinator of the Asia and the Pacific Group (APG) in WIPO, Ambassador Rahman also highlighted that a balanced IPR system is required to encourage and ensure the development of and equitable access to the medical tools – such as diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines – to fight this global health crisis.
Read:US ambassador hands over 2.5 million Pfizer vaccine doses to Bangladesh
Underscoring the region’s great attachment to the intellectual property as an important contributor to socio-economic growth and technological development, he stressed the need for a fair and balanced IP system to foster economic development in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.
Bangladesh, in its national capacity, also urged for WIPO’s specific attention to help it identify its challenges and needs in terms of IP as well as prepare for the special situation after graduation from the LDC category in 2026.
Bangladesh reiterates firm stance against terrorism
Bangladesh has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, mentioning that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, race, faith, culture, ethnicity or society.
"Bangladesh strongly condemns and rejects any attempt to associate terrorism with any particular religion or nationality," said Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima.
The Ambassador made the remarks while speaking in a High-Level UN Meeting on International Terrorism at the United Nations held on Tuesday.
Read:Hasina’s climate leadership lauded at CVF-COP26 dialogue
She highlighted the various national legislative and policy actions of the current government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in curbing terrorism, violent extremism, terrorist financing and related menaces.
The envoy also mentioned about Bangladesh’s close partnership with the UN entities, bilateral partners, civil society organizations in strengthening country’s response to the threats of terrorism and violent extremism.
Referring to the impact of Covid-19 on global terrorism, Ambassador Fatima said the pandemic has disrupted national and global efforts to prevent and counter terrorism.
She called for inclusive and resilient recovery and also increased investment in capacity building, intelligence sharing, raising awareness against hate speech, xenophobia, and infodemics and abuse of online platforms.
She added that through education and dialogue a culture of peace can be inculcated within societies to combat the menace of terrorism.
Read:US ambassador hands over 2.5 million Pfizer vaccine doses to Bangladesh
Highlighting the gender aspects of terrorism and violent extremism, Ambassador Fatima drew attention to the disproportionate impacts of terrorism on women.
She called for promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women as well as full and effective implementation of women, peace and security agenda.
Ambassador Fatima concluded her remarks by reiterating Bangladesh’s abiding commitment to remain a strong and reliable partner of all international efforts to counter terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
Devote yourselves to serving people: Hasina to public servants
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday stressed the importance of good governance and asked the government officials to devote themselves to serving people to make this society a better place.
“I hope you’ll devote yourselves to serving people remaining faithful to the constitutional responsibilities,” she said.
The Prime Minister was addressing the certificate-giving and closing ceremony of the 119th and 120th Law and Administration Training Courses at Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy in the capital through a videoconference from her official residence Ganobhaban.
As per the 7th article of the Constitution, Hasina mentioned, people are the owners of the country while the 21(2) article of the constitution stated that government employees are bound to serve people round the clock.
Read: Slow progress in Kushtia medical college project: PM orders action
She directed the public servants to take innovative initiatives to serve people as the government has prepared a Perspective Plan and is implementing it. “We’ve already attained the status of a developing nation and we’ve to maintain that so that we do not fall behind.”
Hasina said it is the desire of all that there will be a service-oriented administration in the country which will innovate new services to serve people.
“Stay involved in establishing good governance through proper enforcement of laws, stay beside people, and make sure people get justice and not a single person suffers from starvation, remains homeless, is deprived of treatment and education. Discharge your responsibilities keeping eyes on these issues, we want that,” she said.
Talking about the food scarcity in the Covid-19 pandemic across the globe, the Prime Minister said the food scarcity has increased around the world and many countries are suffering from this. “Not a single inch of arable land be left behind from cultivation.”
Read: EC to be constituted through search committee: PM
Hasina said every piece of land in every area of the country must be put under cultivation to increase production and mentioned that many developed countries are in deplorable condition regarding food production. “We may have to provide food assistance to many developed countries, maybe. Keeping this view in mind, we’ve to make sure there’s no scarcity of food and protein in the country.”
Hasina asked all concerned to add more food and processed food items to the country’s export basket.
She said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman devoted his entire life towards changing the fate of people as they were poor and destitute. “So, you’ll have to think about them (people) and work to change their fortune.”
The government wants to build Bangladesh as a hunger- and poverty-free non-communal country where everyone will live with dignity, she added.
Hasina said the government wants to develop government employees suitable for keeping the pace of the world to develop the country further.
She asked the trained officers to utilise their knowledge acquired in the training course for the development of the country.
Read: PM greets Chinese leaders on founding anniversary, hopes stronger cooperation
Presided over by State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain, the function was addressed, among others, by Public Administration senior Secretary KM Ali Azam and Rector of the BCS Administration Mominur Rashid Amin.
On behalf of the Prime Minister, Farhad Hossain handed over the awards to the best performers of the 119th and 120th training courses respectively.
Two fresh officers and rector award winners -- Swikriti Pramanik of the 119th course and Umme Salma Naznin Tosha of the 120th course -- spoke at the function on behalf of the participants of the training course.
A video documentary on Bangladesh Civil Service Administration Academy was played at the programme.
Two die as van hits three-wheeler in Cumilla
Two persons were killed when a speeding van crashed into a three-wheeler on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway near Suagazi in Cumilla Sadar South upazila early on Wednesday morning.
The deceased were identified as three-wheeler driver Jamil Mia, 32, son of Hanif Mia of Vatpara village of the upazila, and pedestrian Fazal Mia, 30, son of Lal Mia of Dhonpur village of the same upazila.
Read: 3 killed in Habiganj road crash
Police said the Chattogram-bound van crashed into the three-wheeler after its driver lost control of the vehicle on the high-speed corridor near Suagazi in the morning, leaving both the victims dead on the spot.
Md Anisur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Mainamati Highway Police, said they had seized the vehicle though its driver fled. "The bodies have been brought to the police station," the OC said.