Dhaka
BNP to intensify movement in Dhaka city with 16 rallies in September
As part of the party’s move to intensify its ongoing ant-government movement, BNP has drawn up a program of public rallies at 16 spots in Dhaka city till September 27, in protest against the increase in transport fares, and the prices of essentials and fuel oils.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the programme, to be organized jointly by the party’s Dhaka North and Dhaka South units, from a rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office.
The rallies are also meant for registering the party’s protest against the killings of Bhola Chhatra Dal leader Noor-e-Alam, Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim and Narayanganj Jubo Dal leader Shaon Prodhan.
Fakhrul said, “We’ve initiated a movement and it’ll continue. We would arrange protest rallies at 16 spots of the capital, including this one, until September 27.”
Once these programmes are observed, he said they will announce the next programmes of action across the country. “Join the movement,” Fakhrul urged.
As part of the programmes, a rally arranged by Dhaka south city unit’s Motijheel, Paltan and Shahjahanpur zone was arranged in front of the BNP central office today (on Saturday).
Read: Get ready for final push against AL govt: Fakhrul to BNP activist
The party’s Uttara east zone will arrange a rally on September 11 (tomorrow)while Shahbagh and Ramna on September 12 in front of Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, Uttara west zone on September 13, Pallabi zone on September 15, Sutrapur and Dholaikhal on September 16, Postagola on September 18, Gulshan on September 19, Basabo on September 20, Mirpur on September 21, Konapara on September 22, Mohammadpur on September 23, Kamrangirchar on September 24, Badda September 25, Kalabagan zone September 26 and finally Tejgaon zone on September 27.
Besides, he said Dhaka south and north city units will arrange a silent sit-in programme by holding candles on September 27.
Fakhrul said strong unity of people is now necessary for the restoration of democracy and getting rid of misrule through an effective movement.
The BNP has been organising demonstrations across the country since the government raised fuel prices and adopted the Loadshedding policy.
BNP has also been alleging that their three activists were killed while over 1,000 were injured as police and ruling party men worked together to attacked the party’s programmes in different parts of the country.
Parts of Dhaka to face 24-hour gas supply disruption Thursday
Gas supplies will remain suspended in different parts of the capital for 24 hours – from 8am to 8pm – Thursday due to an emergency shutdown of the system.
The areas that will see the 24-hour supply shutdown include Evercare Hospital, North South University and the US Embassy in the Bashundhara area, according to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company.
The consumers in Uttara residential area may experience low pressure in their gas supplies as well, the distribution company said.
Read: Gas supply to remain suspended in B'baria for 3 days
Dhaka, Delhi reiterate strong commitment to eliminate terrorism
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have reiterated their strong commitment to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
They decided to further strengthen their cooperation to counter and prevent the spread of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation in the region and beyond.
Noting with satisfaction that the number of deaths due to incidents along the border has significantly reduced, both sides agreed to work towards bringing the number down to zero, according to a joint statement issued on Wednesday.
Both sides noted with appreciation the stepped up efforts by the two border guarding forces against smuggling of arms, narcotics and fake currency and to prevent trafficking, particularly of women and children, it said.
Read:Indian investors can set up industries in Bangladesh through buy-back arrangement: PM
Both prime ministers held a restricted meeting and tête-à-tête followed by delegation level talks on Tuesday.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the excellent state of bilateral relations, based on deep historical and fraternal ties and shared values of democracy and pluralism, which is reflected in an all-encompassing bilateral partnership, based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that transcends even a strategic partnership.
PM Hasina is paying a state visit to India from September 5-8 at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Modi.
Read:Dhaka to list Indian Oil as G2G supplier of refined petroleum products
During the visit, she called on President of India Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Minister of Development of North Eastern Region G. Kishan Reddy called on her.
Hasina’s programme also includes launching of "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Student Scholarship” for 200 descendants of Indian Armed Forces personnel martyred and critically injured during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.
She also addressed a business event, jointly organized by Indian and Bangladesh business communities on Wednesday.
Dhaka, Delhi sign 7 MoUs; unveil projects
Bangladesh and India today (September 6, 2022) signed seven MoUs – demonstrating cooperation in a number of areas, including water sharing of the Kushiyara River.
One of the MoUs was signed between the Ministry of Water Resources, Bangladesh and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, India on withdrawal of water from the common river Kushiyara.
The MoU between the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), India and the Ministry of Railways, Bangladesh was signed on training of Bangladesh Railway personnel in India.
Another MoU between the two railway ministries was signed on collaboration in IT systems such as FOIS and other applications for Bangladesh Railway.
The National Judicial Academy, India and the Supreme Court of Bangladesh signed an MoU on training and capacity building programe for Bangladeshi judicial officers in India.
Also read: India always helps Bangladesh in times of need, says PM Hasina
An MoU on scientific and technological cooperation was signed between Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India.
The two sides signed the MoU on cooperation in the area of space technology.
India’s Prasar Bharti and Bangladesh Television (BTV) signed an MoU on cooperation in broadcasting.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi witnessed signing of the bilateral instruments after holding bilateral talks at Hyderabad House in India's capital city as the two countries seek enhanced cooperation.
Issues related to security cooperation, investment, enhanced trade relations, power and energy sector cooperation, water sharing of common rivers, water resources management, border management, combating drug smuggling and human trafficking will get priority during the talks between PM Hasina and her Indian counterpart Modi, officials said.
INAUGURATED, ANNOUNCED PROJECTS
The two leaders unveiled unit-I of the Maitree power plant. The 1320 (660x2) MW super critical coal-fired thermal power plant in Rampal is being set up at an estimated cost of approximately USD 2 billion with USD 1.6 billion as Indian Development Assistance under Concessional Financing Scheme.
They jointly inaugurated the Rupsha Bridge. The 5.13 km Rupsha rail bridge is a key part of the 64.7 km Khulna-Mongla Port single track broad gauge rail project, connecting for the first time Mongla Port with Khulna by rail, and thereafter to central and north Bangladesh and also to the India border at Petrapole and Gede in West Bengal.
Supply of road construction equipment and machinery: the project consists of supply of road maintenance and construction equipment and machinery in 25 packages to Bangladesh Road and Highways Department.
Also read: PM Hasina pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat
Khulna Darshana railway line link project: The project is an upgrade of existing (doubling of broad gauge) infrastructure linking the current cross border rail link at Gede-Darshana to Khulna thereby augmenting the rail connections between the two countries, especially to Dhaka, but also in future to Mongla Port. The project cost is estimated at USD 312.48 million.
Parbatipur -Kaunia railway line: The conversion of the existing metre gauge line to dual gauge line project is estimated at USD 120.41 million.
The project will connect to the existing cross border rail at Birol (Bangladesh)-Radhikapur (West Bengal) and will enhance bilateral rail connectivity.
Momen not accompanying PM in India: Dipu Moni questions media’s use of “dropped”
Education Minister Dipu Moni today (September 5, 2022) said that anyone can be dropped from PM’s entourage due to Covid-19 precautions.
Talking to reporters, she said that before meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina or attending Parliament sessions, they are always anxious over Covid-19 tests – wondering whether they will test positive.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen did not accompany Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her India visit citing “illness”.
“He (Momen) is feeling unwell. He didn’t go with the PM,” an official told UNB earlier today.
Read:Momen not in PM’s entourage in India, cited “illness” as reason: Official
When asked for comments over it, the education minister said, “Choice of words is a dangerous thing. You said (Momen has been) ‘dropped’. If you know the reason, you can say whether he was ‘dropped’ (from PM’s entourage) or he couldn’t go due to a certain reason.”
At the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bangladesh PM Hasina is on a state visit to New Delhi from today to September 8.
Foreign Minister Momen briefed the media yesterday afternoon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in detail about PM’s India visit and was scheduled to accompany her.
Hasina, now in New Delhi, is visiting India after three years.
Dhaka’s air quality remains 'moderate'
Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the 'moderate' zone on Sunday morning.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 78 at 9 am, the metropolis ranked 21st in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
United Arab Emirates’ Dubai, India’s Mumbai and Peru’s Lima occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 195, 154 and 154, respectively.
An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with an acceptable air quality. However, there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Read:Dhaka’s air quality turns ‘moderate’
On the other hand, an AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
Similarly, 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.
AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
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 during winter and improves during monsoon.
With the advent of winter, the city’s air quality starts deteriorating sharply due to the massive discharge of pollutant particles from construction works, rundown roads, brick kilns and other sources.
Read: Dhaka’s air quality remains 'good'
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 heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
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.
Father held over varsity student's suicide
Rab on Wednesday arrested a man for allegedly instigating the suicide of his 21-year-old daughter, who blamed her father of being ‘rapist’ in a suicide note, from Gafargaon upazila in Mymensingh.
The man was identified as Shaheen Islam, who had been absconding since the incident on Saturday, said Rab’s legal and media wing director Khandaker Al Moin.
Read: Sebayat of Mirpur temple was shamed into commiting suicide
On Saturday noon, Sanjana Mosaddika, a first year student of Brac University, allegedly killed herself after jumping off a 10-storey building in Mollartek of the city’s Dakkhinkhan area, said Md Azizul Haque Miah, officer-in-charge (OC) (investigation) of Dakkhinkhan police station.
She was rushed to National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) where she succumbed to her injuries.
Meanwhile, police recovered a suicide note from the woman's flat where she blamed her father for her death calling him ‘abusive and rapist’.
Dhaka's air quality remains 'good'
Dhaka's air quality continues to be in the 'good' zone.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 39 at 9.10am, the densely populated metropolis ranked 49th in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
Indonesia's Jakarta, Pakistan’s Lahore, Kuwait's Kuwait City and Israel's Jerusalem occupied the first fourth spots in the list, with AQI scores of 161, 160, 154 and 146, respectively.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
Read: Effects of Air Pollution on Unborn Children, Neonates, Infants
Similarly, 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.
AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
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.
With the advent of winter, the city’s air quality starts deteriorating sharply due to the massive discharge of pollutant particles from construction work, rundown roads, brick kilns and other sources.
Read: Global pollution kills 9 million people a year, study finds
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.
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.
Student killed in city road crash
A 22-year-old female student of Titumir College was killed when a bus hit a motorbike over Jatrabari Hanif Flyover in the capital on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Sadia Afrin Urmi, a 3rd year student of the Marketing Department of the college and daughter of Rashed Mia of Mohonpur upazila in Netrakona district. The accident occurred in the afternoon when the bus hit a motorbike carrying Sadia and one of her relatives, leaving Sadia injured.
Read:Cop killed in Bogura road crash Later, she was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where the doctors pronounced her dead around 4:20 pm, said inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Irene Sultana, elder sister of Sadia said she along with her husband, brother-in-law Nazmul and Sadia went out for a joy riding by two motorbikes to go to 300-feet of the capital after having lunch at their Dania residence. When they got on the Hanif Flyover a bus hit the motorbike carrying Sadia and Nazmul, she said. Nazmul was slightly injured in the accident.
Former cricketer Akram Khan's housemaid found dead in city
Police have recovered the body of a housemaid of former captain of Bangladesh national cricket team, Akram Khan, from the city’s Mohakhali DOHS area.
The deceased was identified as Sahida Akhter, 25.
Read: Gazipur teacher-couple found dead in car
On information from Akram, police found the body lying near his residence in DOHS around 11 pm on Sunday, Md Hasib, sub-inspector (SI) of Kafrul police station.
The body was later sent to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital morgue for an autopsy, he added.
“Details can be informed after the autopsy,” said the SI.