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BAT Bangladesh holds 51st AGM
British American Tobacco Bangladesh Company Limited (BAT Bangladesh) has approved a 100 per cent cash dividend per share for the year 2023.
The approval was given at the 51st annual general meeting (AGM) of the company, which was held online and attended by a significant number of shareholders on Thursday (March 28, 2024).
The shareholders unanimously approved the company’s financial statement for 2023, 100 percent (Tk 10 per share) cash dividend for the year 2023, the election of its Board of Directors, the appointment of statutory auditors, and the appointment of corporate governance auditors.
BAT Bangladesh Chairman Mr. Golam Mainuddin presided over the meeting. Shareholders of the company from home and abroad joined the AGM virtually via BAT Bangladesh’s AGM portal.
In 2023, BAT Bangladesh contributed Tk 32,802 crore as value-added tax, supplementary duty, and other taxes to the national exchequer, making the company one of the highest taxpayers in the country.
The company’s Independent Directors Mr. AKM Aftab UL Islam, Mr. KH Masud Siddiqui and Dr. M Harunur Rashid; Non-Executive Directors Ms. Zakia Sultana, Mr. Shirajun Noor Chowdhury, Mr. Md. Abul Hossain, Ms. Monisha Abraham, Mr. Wael Sabra, Mr. Gary Tarrant, Mr. Stuart Kidd, and Mr. Francisco Toso Canepa; Managing Director Mr. Shehzad Munim, Finance Director Ms. Nirala Singh and Company Secretary Mr. Md. Azizur Rahman joined the AGM.
Bangladeshi teen shot dead by NYPD officers; brother contradicts law enforcers’ account
In a tragic incident in Queens, New York, 19-year-old Win Rozario, a Bangladeshi immigrant, lost his life at the hands of the police on Wednesday (local time).
The confrontation occurred in his family's apartment in Ozone Park, leaving the community shaken, reports The Now York Times.
According to police officials, officers responded to a 911 call reporting a person in mental distress. Upon arrival, they encountered Win, who allegedly brandished a pair of scissors. Despite attempts to subdue him with tasers, the situation escalated when his mother intervened inadvertently, leading to the fatal shooting, it said.
However, the deceased’s brother, Ushto Rozario, who witnessed the incident, disputed the police account, stating that their mother was holding Win when the officers opened fire. He insisted that lethal force was unnecessary, emphasising that Win posed no serious threat, especially considering the presence of two armed officers.
Francis Rozario, Ushto and Win’s father, said that the family had immigrated to New York from Bangladesh 10 years ago and that Win’s dream was to join the US military. His plans had been held up, however, by a delay in the family’s obtaining their green cards, which the elder Rozario said had been approved last year, according to media reports.
The tragedy underscores broader issues surrounding police responses to mental health crises. Critics argue that the current approach lacks sufficient sensitivity and often leads to deadly outcomes. In New York City, initiatives have been implemented to address this, including a pilot program where mental health professionals respond alongside law enforcement. However, these efforts have yet to be fully adopted citywide, leaving gaps in crisis intervention, as evidenced by Win’s death in a precinct without such services, said the NYT report.
Community members and officials have called for urgent action in response to this tragedy. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards stressed the importance of expanding mental health services, echoing broader calls for systemic change in how society addresses mental health crises, the report also 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.
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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.
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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.
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.
Nor’wester damages hundreds of houses in Faridpur
Around hundreds of houses were damaged while a number of trees were uprooted during a nor’wester in Faridpur district early Thursday (March 28, 2024).
Twenty villages under Pachuria and Bana unions in Alfadanga upazila of the district were battered by the storm.
Residents of the 20 villages – Sirgram, Garania, Pakuria, Taboni, Tonapara, Sialdi Charpara, Joydebpur, Aushir haat, Kutharakandi, Majpara, Arpara in Bana union; Jugibarat, Bhatpara, Chandra, Pachuria, Deuli, Charnarandia, Dhuljuri and Charbhatpara in Pachuria union – remained in darkness as many electric wires were also snapped during the storm.
A vast track of cropslands were also damaged while trees were uprooted, halting road communications in different parts of the upazila.
Read more: Rains likely in parts of Dhaka, 7 other divisions
AKM Zahidul Hasan Zahid, chairman of Alfadanga upazila, said the storm started sweeping through the upazila around 1 am.
Many people have taken shelter under the open sky as their thatched houses were blown away during the storm.
Additional General Manager of Alfadanga Sub-zonal officer of Palli Bidyut Samity, said some electric poles were uprooted while some wires got snapped, disrupting power connection.
Work is going on to resume power supply, he said.
Quamrul Ahsan Talukdar, deputy commissioner of Faridpur, said directives have been given to provide all-out support to those affected in the storm.
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Body of youth killed in 'BSF firing' returned in Lalmonirhat
Members of India's Border Security Force (BSF) handed over the body of a youth, who was reportedly killed in BSF firing along the Durgapur border in Hatibandha upazila of Lalmonirhat district on Tuesday, to the Bangladesh authorities on Wednesday night.
Liton Mia (19), of Hatibandha upazila, received bullet injuries as BSF personnel from Rarthar BoP camp opened fire on Tuesday when he along with others went to the border area.
Liton succumbed to his injuries under the custody of BSF, said Commanding Officer of Lalmonirhat-15 BGB, Lt Col Mofazzal Hossain Akanda.
Around 10:30 pm last night, the BSF members handed over the body of Liton through a flag meeting at Jawrani border.
Woman’s body recovered from under-construction house in Rajshahi
Police recovered the body of a woman from an under-construction house in Gogram area of Godagari upazila in Rajshahi yesterday.
On information from the locals, police recovered the body and sent it to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. Police arrested two people in this connection.
The name of the deceased is Sandhya Rani (20), daughter of Harilal Das of Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha.
The arrested are Phulbabu Ravi Das (25), step brother of the deceased, and Adil Ahmed Palak (19), son of Awal Hossain of Lalpukur village of Godagari upazila. Phulbabu's wife Manti Das (22) is absconding. Phulbabu, his wife and Sandhya Rani worked as laborers.
Abdul Matin, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Godagari Police Station, said that Sandhya Rani had an argument with her step brother and his wife. The arrested persons confessed that Sandhya Rani was stabbed after giving her sleeping pills.
Dhaka’s air 3rd most polluted in the world today
Dhaka ranked third on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality on Thursday morning.
Its air quality continued to be in the 'unhealthy' zone with an air quality index (AQI) score of 169 at 8:55 am.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
India’s Delhi and Thailand’s Chiang Mai occupied the first two spots on the list, with AQI scores of 179 and 170, respectively.
Dhaka’s air quality still ‘unhealthy’, 3rd worst in the world today
An AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor', while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
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As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
5 hurt in BCL infighting at Chittagong Government College
At least five students were injured in a clash between two factions of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of Chittagong Government College (CCC) unit.
The injured were identified as Wahidul Rahman Sujon, 24, Moinul Islam, 20, Touhidul Karim Emon, 21, Md Zahid, 20, and Amin Faisal Bidyut, 21.
Campus sources said two groups of the BCL locked into the clash over establishing supremacy on the campus.
On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control, said Chawkbazar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Wali Uddin Akbar.
The injured were admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, he added.
1 dead, 2 injured while making hand bombs in Madaripur
A man died and two other sustained injuries while making hand bombs in Kalkini upazila of Madaripur on Wednesday.
The deceased, Modasser Shikder, 50, was a resident of Barishal’s Muladi upazila.
The incident happened at Natun Chardaula Khan village of the upazila this afternoon.
The injured, Harun Dhali and Dadon Dhali, were admitted to a hospital in Barishal.
According to locals and police sources, three to four people, including Modasser, were making hand bombs at the house of a man named Yunus Sardar in the morning.
One of the bombs exploded at noon and three people were seriously injured. Later, Modasser died on the way to hospital.
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“Nothing can be said about the matter yet,” said Madaripur Additional Superintendent of Police Mohammad Kamrul Hasan.
2 cops among 3 hurt in crude bomb blast in Barishal
Police visited the spot after the incident.
Four crude bombs recovered from under Benapole’s culvert