bangladesh
New police recruitment policy focuses on merit and physique: IGP
Bangladesh police force will hire only qualified people with merit and good physique as constables under a new recruitment policy, the country’s police chief said on Tuesday.
The new policy has been formulated after reviewing the policies in the neighbouring countries and also of many developed nations, said Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed wrapping up a three-day crime review meeting at the Hall of Integrity at the Police Headquarters here.
Police constables are being appointed under the new policy, he said adding sub-inspectors and sergeants will soon be recruited under its provision, the IGP said.
He said that "Under the clear direction of the Hon'ble Prime Minister, we are committed to building a corruption-free police force for the welfare of the country and the people."
READ: IGP urges the rich to help the Covid-hit poor people
Sounding a warning against use of drugs Benazir said that strict action will be taken against any police member if found involved in drug consumption, drug traders or drug trading.
"As a member of the police, nothing can be done that harms the police force, harms the country, harms the people of the country," he said.
He asked the senior police officials not to compromise on maintaining the discipline of the forces. "If any police member breaks the discipline, exemplary strict action has to be taken against him/her. We are also trying our best to ensure their (police members) welfare.
He called for a change in the police behaviour with ordinary people and asked police members to refrain from inhumane treatment of people.
Mentioning the main responsibility of the police to investigate the case, the IGP said that the quality of case investigation has to be further enhanced.
READ: Strictly maintain health rules during shopping: IGP
He directed the field level officials to be very attentive to the investigation and increase supervision.
The IGP asked the police officers to bring pride in their service.
"For this we have to bring about mentality and psychological change. We have to have love for the job and then we will be able to move forward," he said.
Deep depression weakened into depression, Maritime ports asked to lower signal
Maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to lower signal as the deep depression over Odisha-Jarkhand and adjoining area moved west-northwestwards further, weakened into a depression.
It was centered at 3 pm on Tuesday over Chhattisgarh and adjoining area.
It is likely to move in a northwesterly direction further and weaken gradually, said a Met office bulletin.
Read: Signal 3 for maritime ports as depression intensifies into deep depression
Squally weather is unlikely over North Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh.
All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to proceed with caution till morning tomorrow.
Follow health guidelines, reiterates Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday urged all to follow the health guidelines to protect themselves from coronavirus and wear masks even after getting vaccinated.
“We should follow health protocols to keep ourselves safe from Coronavirus. All, including those vaccinated, should mask up to prevent the spread of the virus,” she said.
The Prime Minister came up with her renewed call while speaking at Parliament on a condolence motion.
Parliament unanimously adopted a condolence motion expressing profound grief at the demise of Jatiya Party MP for reserved women seat and a presidium member of Jatiya Party Prof Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury.
Speaking on the condolence motion, leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the demise of Prof Masuda caused a huge loss to society. “She was a very learned person…these days such a knowledgeable person is rarely seen,” she said.
Hasina said she was a teacher, politician, social worker, women entrepreneur, and engaged in children and women sports with versatile qualities.
Read: Take Covid-19 vaccine, follow health guidelines: PM Hasina
The Prime Minister said had Prof Masuda been lived longer she could have contributed more to society.
Hasina expressed her profound shock as the 11th Parliament is taking condolence motion one after another due to the deaths of its members.
Jatiya Party chairman and deputy leader of the opposition GM Quader, opposition chief whip Masiur Rahman Ranga, Anisul Islam Mahmud, BNP MP Harun Ur Rashid, Jatiya Party MP Nazma Akther, AL MP Moslem Uddin Ahmed, Jatiya Party MP Lazi Firoz Rashid, AL MP Abdus Sobhan Miah, Jatiya Party MP Shamim Haider Patwary, AL MPs Syeda Johra Alauddin, Simin Hossain Rimi and Washiqua Ayesha Khan also spoke on the condolence motion.
Prof Masuda M Rashid Chowdhury passed away on Monday at the age of 70. She was elected MP for the first time in 2019 from reserved seats for women in parliament.
Bangladesh to work for resolving dispute between Guyana and Venezuela: FM
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, Chair of Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana, on Tuesday reaffirms the proposal of the group for peaceful settlement of the dispute between Guyana and Venezuela through the intervention of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
''Bangladesh looks forward to steering the Commonwealth Ministerial Group on Guyana to reach a peaceful settlement of disputes through dialogue and international adjudication which also is in line with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's visionary foreign policy doctrine," Momen said.
The foreign minister attended the virtual meeting for the second time during his tenure as the chairman.
Bangladesh took over the chairmanship from South Africa for this Ministerial Group.
Read: Bangladesh to be voice of climate vulnerable countries: FM
The Group is currently overseeing the long-standing territorial dispute between the British Guyana and Venezuela over their maritime territory.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Patricia Scotland and Foreign Ministers of Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Guyana, Jamaica and the UK were present in the meeting.
Momen reiterated firm and unswerving support for the maintenance and preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana.
He assured that Bangladesh would steer the deliberations of this Ministerial Group's work towards a peaceful settlement of the territorial dispute between Guyana-Venezuela.
Hydropower projects in Nepal: Bangladesh’s investment decision after survey
Bangladesh will take its decision on the selection of hydropower projects for investment in Nepal on completion of the ongoing survey by the Himalayan nation.
There are five potential projects, identified by the Nepalese government for investment by Bangladesh where the survey is ongoing, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
The statement came following the third meeting of the Bangladesh-Nepal Joint Steering Committee on Cooperation in the Power Sector, held virtually on Tuesday.
Bangladesh power secretary Habibur Raman and his Nepalese counterpart Devendra Karki led the delegations of their respective sites at the meeting.
The last meeting of the joint steering committee was held in June 2019 in Cox’s Bazar while the next one will be held either in March or April in Nepal, it mentioned.
Both Bangladesh and Nepal have been exploring potential for investment by Bangladeshi companies’ in hydropower in Nepal and trying to cooperate with each other for the development of the power sector.
As part of the move, a joint steering committee and a joint working committee were formed by the two nations that hold meetings regularly.
The statement said the steering committee had a fruitful discussion on the huge potential for setting up hydropower plants in Nepal and utilizing that to meet the electricity requirement of both the countries.
Read: PM Hasina congratulates Nepalese PM Deuba, hopes to strengthen ties
The meeting seriously considered the issue of bilateral power trade between the two nations in line with their variable demands based on seasonal needs.
The meeting was informed that two joint technical teams comprising representatives of both the countries —one for generation and another for transmission—have been working to identify potential projects for financing and joint implementation of power plants in Nepal, determine the ways of import-export of electricity between the two countries and verify feasibility of power transmission through inter-country power connections.
As part of the plan, the transmission lines will be built through Indian territories. So, the issue will be settled through a tripartite agreement of Bangladesh-Nepal-India.
In this regard, Nepal proposed exporting 200 MW of electricity to Bangladesh through India using the existing transmission line.
The meeting discussed the progress of import of 500 MW power by Bangladesh from the 900 MW Upper Karnali Hydropower Plant in Nepal by Indian GMR Group.
Bangladesh informed that an agreement in this regard is at the final stage to be signed between Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), GMR and NVVN of India.
The meeting reviewed the issues of cooperation between the two countries in exchange of experience, knowledge and skills in the expansion of renewable energy in Bangladesh and Nepal.
It highlighted the experience of solar home system activities and net metering system in Bangladesh.
The issue of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SREDA of Bangladesh and Alternative Energy Promotion Center of Nepal for mutual cooperation was also discussed at the meeting.
ACC approves corruption charges against 7 doctors and 4 others
The Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday approved charge-sheets against 11 people, including seven doctors and three contractors for irregularities in procurement of drugs for Maternal and Child Health Training Institute.
Investigation Officer Deputy Director Mohammad Abu Bakr filed the case with Dhaka Coordinated Office -1 in 2019.
According to the case statement, the ACC investigated allegations of corruption in various purchases for the institute in Azimpur from 2014-15 to 2016-17.
In the financial year 2014-15, as per the work order, a bill of Tk 32 lakh 91 thousand 720 was paid to the contractor for the supply of medicines.
However, the maximum price of the same drug is TK16 lakh 45 thousand 298 according to the retail price and the price of the Department of Drug Administration. The rest of the money has been paid extra.
READ: Following complaints, ACC launches drive against Jibon Bima MD
Thus, money has been embezzled in the same process in four financial years, according to the charges.
The charge-sheeted people are - Proprietor of Monarch Establishment Fatenur Islam,
Owner of Nafisa Business Corner Sheikh Idris Uddin (Chanchal), Proprietor of Santana Traders Nizamur Rahman Chowdhury, former Supervisor of Maternal and Child Health Training Institute of Azimpur, Dhaka and President of Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Israt Jahan,former Principal of Family Welfare Inspector Training Institute and Member of Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Parveen Haque Chowdhury, former Junior Consultant (Os / Gynaecology) of the Training Institute and Member-Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Mahfuza Khatun, former Assistant Co-ordinator (Training and Research) and Member of Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Chinmoy Kanti Das, former Medical Officer of Dhaka District Civil Surgeon's Office and Member of Tender Evaluation Committee ( now Deputy Director of Department of Health) Dr. Saiful Islam, Medical Officer (Children) of the Training Institute, Member of Market Price Verification Committee and Member Secretary of Tender Evaluation Committee Dr. Begum Mahfuza Dilara Akhter, Medical Officer of the Institute and President of Market Price Verification Committee Dr. Nazrina Begum, and former Administrative Officer of the same Training Institute and Member of Market Price Verification Committee Zahirul Islam ( currently working as Assistant Upazila Family Planning Officer in Nayakhali Sadar).
READ: Tk 850-cr missing: ACC questions mid-level officers at Ctg Custom House
Entering govt jobs: Farhad says no chance to relax age limit
State Minister for Public Administration Farhad Hossain on Tuesday told Parliament that the government has no plan to raise the maximum age limit for taking up government jobs.
Defending the government’s stance, he said if the age limit is raised, the competition will intensify creating a frustration among the jobseekers aged below 30 amid the low vacant posts.
“Right now the government has no plan to raise the age limit for entering the government services,” said the state minister replying to a tabled question from BNP MP Mosharof Hosen (Bogura-4).
Also read: Rules don’t permit to address govt officials as sir or madam: Farhad
Farhad said now there is no serious session jams in different educational institutes, including universities, as in the past when a student normally completed SSC at the age of 16 years, HSC at 18 years and graduation at 23-24 years. The students get some 6-7 years in hand to apply for government jobs, he said.
Shut down unregistered online news portals within a week:HC
The High Court on Tuesday ordered the closure of all unregistered online news portals and asked the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and Bangladesh Press Council to take action in this regard within a week.
A HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order after hearing a supplementary petition that originated from the recent death of a 21-year-old woman by suicide followed by a wave of unacceptable news coverage in the media, especially in online news portals.
Advocate Rashida Chowdhury Nilu and Zarin Rahman stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Nauroz Mohammad RusselChowdhury represented the state.
Also read: Private school, college, madrasa teachers can’t be suspended for above 6 months: HC
After today’s order Advocate Rashida told reporters a legal notice was served to the authorities concerned on May 5 seeking steps to enact a code of ethics for the news media.
The notice was served to the secretary to the information and broadcasting ministry, BTRC chairman and Bangladesh Press Council chairman but no response was received as yet. Later Advocate Zarin Rahman and Rashida Chowdhury Nilu filed writ petition.
According to the writ a case has recently been filed under section 306 over instigation to suicide following the recovery of the body of a 21-year old woman. The way the country’s media, especially the online news portals covered the incident has been unacceptable. But the BTRC and Bangladesh Press Council did not take any step in this regard, said the petition.
Besides, the BTRC is unable to take any step about unauthorized news portals. So registration is needed for those news portals, the petitioner sought.
Also read: Medical equipment lying packed at 16 hospitals; HC orders probe
On August 16, the High Court issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain as to why directives should not be given to shut down the unauthorized news portals.
The HC also sought to know why the directives should not be given to take steps in forming a ‘Broadcasting Commission’ as per the National Broadcasting Policy-2014.
Gates Foundation's annual Goalkeepers report finds stark disparities in COVID-19 impacts
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Tuesday launched its fifth annual Goalkeepers Report, featuring an updated global dataset illustrating the pandemic’s adverse impact on progress toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (Global Goals).
This year’s report, co-authored by Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates, co-chairs of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, shows that disparities caused by COVID-19 remain stark, and those who have been hardest hit by the pandemic will be the slowest to recover. Because of COVID-19, an additional 31 million people were pushed into extreme poverty in 2020 compared to 2019.
And while 90% of advanced economies will regain pre-pandemic per capita income levels by next year, only a third of low- and middle-income economies are expected to do so.
Amidst this devastation, the world stepped up to avert some of the worst-case scenarios.
In last year’s Goalkeepers Report, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) predicted a drop of 14 percentage points in global vaccine coverage—effectively erasing 25 years of progress in 25 weeks.
New analysis from IHME demonstrates that the decline, while still unacceptable, was only half of what was anticipated.
Garment workers are concerned about their safety during Covid-19:Survey
Some 84 per cent of the country’s garment workers had worries about Covid-19 pandemic during the first week of last month when they were called back to work amid a strict nationwide lockdown with the virus still surging.This was revealed in a recent survey jointly conducted by South Asian Network on Economic Modelling (SANEM) and Microfinance Opportunities (MFO) under a project titled “Garment Worker Diaries” to collect data on the working conditions, income, expenditure, food security, wage digitization, and health of garment workers of Bangladesh.
The report mentioned that during the first week of August, garment workers were recalled to work amid the unexpected easing of the national lockdown.
Also read: Garment workers have little access to Covid-19 vaccine information, says a study
On August 6, garment workers were asked about how they felt about being recalled to work with the lockdown still in place.