Major General Shakil Ahmed, Director General of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), said on Monday that the border guards remained on high alert along the border with Myanmar over tensions that have plagued the region for the last two months. “The BGB has remained very watchful and has taken a firm stand (along the border),” the BGB chief told reporters as he visited Ghumdhum area in Naikkhongchhari uapzila in Bandarban. At least a dozen mortar shells have recently been fired by the Myanmar army on Bangladesh territory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh has warned Myanmar over it. Myanamr says its military is fighting against insurgent groups inside their territory. “Since it is an internal issue of Myanmar, on the other side of the border, that’s their concern to deal with. Bangladesh has strongly protested after patrols of the Myanmar military crossed the border line and fired mortar shells that fell inside Bangladesh. Bangladesh has sent a note of protests,” he said. In response, he said, Myanmar agreed to hold a flag meeting with the BGB. “The flag meeting is expected to be held very soon,” he said. Read: BSF kills Bangladeshi cattle trader in Chuadanga, says BGB Shakil reached Ghumdhum from Cox's Bazar at 11 am and visited Tambru, Baishfari, Tuingajhiri and Rejupara border outposts. On October 5, a Bangladeshi man lost a leg in a landmine explosion near the border, also Naikkhongchhari.   On September 16, a second Bangladeshi youth was seriously injured in a landmine explosion along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border at Naikkhongchhari.

Newly-appointed Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) M Khurshid Hossain said on Saturday that there was no question of reforming the anti-crime elite force, which has been credited in dealing with militancy and serious crimes in recent years. “Personally, I don’t see any question of any reforms. We are not doing anything for what it needs to be reformed. We are working according to rules defined for us. We do not do anything in violation of law. In that case, there is no question of reforms,” he told reporters while paying tribute to the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in Dhanmondi-32. “Sanctions have been imposed, and the government has replied to that through official channel. This is not a challenge (for us),” he said adding that the elite force would continue to play its role by maintaining law and order and tackling militancy, terrorism and drug. Read:Momen in NY: No specific info given by US on Rab sanctions The DG’s statement came in response to recent comment by US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas that there was no change in US policy on Rab and sanctions on the agency would continue until there has been accountability and reform after human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, accused the force of violating human rights. The elite anti-crime force has been blamed for a number of enforced disappearances and so-called cross-fire incidents, but the agency refuted all the allegations. The US envoy made the comment on Thursday  (September 29) in a discussion organised by “Centre for Governance Studies” and German think tank “Friedrich Ebert Stiftung” in Dhaka. Read “RAB freed Sundarbans from robbers and inspired a quality film” Haas had said the sanctions imposed by the US against RAB and seven of its former and current officials were not intended to punish them, but to change the behaviour and hold them accountable. “We are looking for accountability for past incidents,” said the US ambassador.

A Dhaka court on Sunday framed charges against six people including former director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Abul Kalam Azad, in a case over Regent Hospital’s fake Covid test report scam. Judge of Dhaka Special Judge Court-6 Asad Mohammad Asifuzzaman framed the charges and fixed July 4 recording testimonies of the witnesses. The trial in the case started formally with the framing of charges. On June 6, the court fixed June 12 for charge framing hearing. The five other accused are--- Regent chairman Md Shahed alias Shahed Karim, former DGHS director Aminul Hasan, deputy director Yunus Ali, assistant director Shafiur Rahman, and research officer Didarul Islam. Of them, five including former DGHS DG Azad secured bail while Regent Group chairman Shahed is in jail now. READ: Regent Hospital scam: Charge sheet hearing against ex-DGHS DG, 5 others on Feb 22 On September 30, 2021, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) submitted a charge sheet to the court against six people, including Abul Kalam, in the case. Azad was not initially named in the charge sheet but his name was added later following an investigation. On September 23 of 2020, Deputy Director of the anti-graft commission Farid Ahmed Patwary lodged the complaint against five people with Dhaka Coordinated Office-1 for embezzling Tk 1.37 crore by issuing fake Covid test certificates from Regent Hospital. On September 24, 2020, the court accepted the statement of case and directed ACC deputy director to investigate the case and submit a report. On February 22, a Dhaka court accepted the chargesheet and shifted the case to Dhaka Spcial Judge Court-6.

The Anti- Corruption Commission ( ACC) on Wednesday asked director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy to submit their expenditure records following allegations of embezzlement and abuse of power. The ACC decided to launch probe on the allegations on January 2,2021. A two member team led by ACC Deputy Director Mohammad Ibrahim is looking into the matter while other member is Afnan Jannat Keya.  READ: ACC case against policeman in Chattogram ACC sought the records of the expenditure of the budget alloted for the academy of the fiscal  2019-2020, 2020-2021,  extra TK 35 crore of the fiscal  2020-21, the records of the cost of organising virtual programme during corona period in 2020,  various vouchers and bank statement of BSA at Sonali Bank till Dec 31,2021 The Commission asked the Shilpakala Academy to submit the necessary records and documents within January 11.  In the last few months, there have been some allegations against DG of Shilpakala Academy, including abuse of power and bribery. There is also a specific allegation of withdrawing Tk 26 crore. READ: ACC snaps illegal gas link from Savar factory According to the complaint received by the ACC, the director general of the academy tactfully removed Tk 26 crore by appointing a contract officer as the secretary without following the rules and regulations.

Audrey Azoulay has been re-elected as the director-general (DG) of Unesco with the massive support of the organisation's 193 member states. Azoulay's re-election took place Tuesday in a spirit of consensus with the overwhelming backing of Unesco member states, obtaining 155 votes out of 169 ballots cast. Over the past four years, Unesco has undergone a significant modernisation process to improve the efficiency of its actions. "I see this result as a sign of regained unity within our organisation. Over the last four years, we have been able to restore confidence in Unesco. And in some respects, this has also been about restoring Unesco's confidence in itself," Azoulay said. "We regained serenity by reducing the political tensions that stood in our way and by looking for common positions on subjects that were divisive in the past."  "We were then able to develop a shared ambition, notably by reconnecting with the tradition of leading major operations in the field." The organisation notably embarked on the reconstruction of the old city of Mosul in Iraq – launched in 2018 and currently underway – Unesco said. Since the tragic double explosion in the port of Beirut in August 2020, Unesco has rebuilt close to 90 schools in the Lebanese capital where it is also pursuing activities in the fields of heritage and culture. During the Covid-19 pandemic, as hundreds of millions of children and adolescents were deprived of their right to learn, Unesco established the Global Education Coalition, which made it possible to ensure educational continuity in 112 countries. This new momentum has led to a consolidation of Unesco's budget. On the twin pillars of national and voluntary contributions, funding for 2020-21 totalled $1.4 billion. Voluntary contributions increased by 50 per cent over the 2017-2021 period, compared to the previous four years.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday approved a charge sheet against six people including former Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services(DGHS) Abul Kalam Azad in a case over Regent Hospital scam. Azad was not initially named in the case but the charge sheet added his name after an investigation, Deputy Director of ACC Public Relations office Muhammad Arif Sadeq told UNB.  Deputy Director of the anti-graft commission Farid Ahmed Patwary filed the case against five people with Dhaka Coordinated Office-1 on September 23 last year for embezzling Tk 1.37 crore by issuing fake Covid test certificates from Regent Hospital. READ: Quader says ACC is welcome to probe his ministry for corruption The five others accused in the case are - Regent Chairman Shaheduzzan, former DGHS Director Aminul Hasan, Deputy Director Yunus Ali, Assistant Director Shafiur Rahman, and Research Officer Didarul Islam. Last year, numerous incidents of mismanagement and irregularities in the health sector got exposed when physicians of some government hospitals, including Mugda General Hospital, complained of receiving low-quality masks and protective equipment. Then issuance of fake Covid-19 certificates by some hospitals triggered huge criticisms at home and abroad. The scandal came to light with a drive at Regent Hospitals on July 6  and the Regent Group head office along with its hospitals was subsequently sealed off. READ: Ward councillor asked to submit wealth statements: ACC Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested Regent Hospital chairman Mohammad Shahed from Komorpur border in Debhata upazila of Satkhira district early July 15 on charge of issuing fake Covid-19 certificates.

Rear Admiral Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury has been appointed as the 13th Bangladesh Coast Guard DG according to a notification of the Deputation-1 under Ministry of Public Administration. Lt. Commander Amirul Haque, media officer at the Bangladesh Coast Guard headquarters, briefed the reporters in this regard on Tuesday afternoon. READ: Bangladesh Coast Guard seizes 30,000 yaba pills in Teknaf Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury was commissioned on 1 January 1988 in the Executive Branch of the Bangladesh Navy. Later, he gathered vast experience while working at the sea and through various trainings held at home and abroad. Besides, Ashraful Hoq Chowdhury has successfully served in various important agencies of the Inter-Services. READ: Bangladesh Coast Guard to be made stronger: Minister He was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral on 8 February 2021 and before his appointment as the DG he was in-charge of the Khulna Naval Area.

The eligible age for receiving Covid-19 jabs in Bangladesh will be officially lowered to 35, from the current 40, said the Directorate General of Health services on Monday. DGHS DG Dr ABM Khurshid Alam revealed about the expanded age range during a conversation with the reporters today. A notification will be issued in this regard soon, he said. READ: 16 more hospitalised in 24 hrs as dengue cases soar: DGHS Farmers and workers are going to be included in the list for vaccine registration, said Khurshid Alam. A list of 1,45,000 students of public universities collected from the University Grants Commission (UGC) has been sent to the Information and Telecommunications Department and a letter will be sent in this regard, said DGHS DG. At first, only people above 55 years old were announced to be eligible for vaccine registration. Later the age limit was lowered twice by DGHS to bring more people under the vaccination drive. Currently Covid-19 vaccine registration is going on in three priority categories- front line law enforcement officers, medical students and residential students of universities. In these cases the age requirement is waived. READ: Nationwide lockdown not needed if transmission in Dhaka, nearby districts is controlled: DGHS

Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Ambassador Manuel Sager will visit Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar on Monday to observe the conditions of the Rohingyas and host communities.