United News of Bangladesh

Detectives have arrested nine leaders of Awami League and its associate bodies including a former Member of Parliament (MP) from Bagerhat-4 constituency in a drive in the capital. The arrestees are Amirul Alam Milon,70, Central Committee Member of Awami League and former MP of Bagerhat-4,  Kazi Md. Sarowar Jahan Mithu , Vice-President of Pallabi Thana Jubo League,  Md. Shafiqul Islam Dilu , Former Ward Commissioner of Ward-63, Jatrabari, Mohammad Taj Uddin 35, Vice-President of Shah Ali Thana Awami League,  Ismail Hossain Pradhania  and General Secretary of Ramna Thana Swechchhasebak League, Md. Mokhlesur Rahman (72), Chairman of Chapainawabganj Municipality and Vice-President of the district’s Awami League. Chinmoy Das shown arrested in 4 more cases in Ctg Md. Emran Goldar, Publicity Secretary of Bangshal Thana Awami League, Mohammad Tanvir Ahmed Ontu, Former President of banned Chhatra League’s Ward-62 unit,  and Aritra Nandi, Joint General Secretary of the banned Chhatra League’s Jagannath Hall unit at Dhaka University. Based on secret information, severel DB teams conducted drives in the capital from 6:00am on Monday to 6:00am on  Tuesday and arrested the nine people, said DC (media) of DMP Talebur Rahman.  According to DB sources, Amirul Alam Milon was arrested at 11:45 pm on Monday  from the Indira Road area and others from separate places. DB officials said the arrestees attempted to destabilise the country. Legal proceedings against the arrestees are underway.

Police in a drive arrested former MP of Kishoreganj-5 constituency (Bajitpur) Afzal Hossain from Meherpur district town on Monday. Tipped off, a team of police conducted a drive in Clinicpara of the district town and arrested Afzal from the house of Mamun Hossain, a staff of Afzal Shoes, owned by Afzal, said Mezbah Uddin, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station. Sources said former MP Afzal was scheduled to go to India through Sonapur border in Mujibnagar upazila early Monday and for this, he had contracted a huge amount of money to a gang on the border.      

Chattogram Customs House has set January 21 to auction more than 100 vehicles, including 31 high-end cars imported by former members of parliament (MPs) from the ousted Awami League government, who had benefited from duty-free privileges. “These vehicles will be put up for auction on January 21 due to delays in having them released from the port,” Md Sakib Hossain, assistant commissioner at Chattogram Customs House, told UNB on Wednesday. Titas Gas disconnects illegal lines of Manikganj washing factory He said over 900 imported cars are currently being held at various locations, including the Chattogram Port car shed, and will be auctioned because of delays in clearance. “Legal complications had prevented earlier auctions, resulting in congestion at port facilities.” Despite notices being sent to the owners to settle their dues, there has been no response, particularly from former MPs whose cars were imported under the privileged scheme. Among the 100 vehicles to be auctioned are 31 Land Cruisers, which were imported under the MP quota over various periods. The reserve price for these luxury cars is set at Tk 9.5 crore each, representing 60% of their estimated value. With additional VAT and taxes, the expected total revenue from these 31 vehicles is estimated to be at least Tk 221 crore. Other vehicles to be auctioned include five Toyota Harriers, 13 Havals, and a range of Toyota Premio, Noah, and Rav-4, among others. The inventory for the auction has been finalised, and officials are targeting total revenue of Tk 400 crore from the sale. Following the initiation of the auction process, the owners of 31 cars have cleared their dues by paying fines. However, no former MP has yet responded to settle their vehicles. ACC sues Shamim Osman, wife, brother-in-law Md Saidul Islam, deputy commissioner of Chattogram Customs House, said that the inventory for the auction is complete, with at least 50 car values determined. However, around 300 cars left in open sheds at the port have deteriorated due to prolonged delays. Yakub Chowdhury, general secretary of the Chattogram Customs Bidders Association, mentioned that, in addition to the cars, the Customs House will also sell 30 cement mixer machines and 10 dump trucks that have been stored in the Chattogram Port car shed for a long time.

Police have arrested former Dhaka-10 Awami League MP Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin from his residence in Dhaka’s Uttara on Wednesday evening. A team of Uttara West Police Station raided his house in Sector-4 around 6:00 pm and arrested him, said Officer-in-charge (OC) of Uttara Police Station Hafizur Rahman. Shamsul Haque Tuku sent to jail in extortion case Mohiuddin was wanted in a case filed at the police station in connection with Anti-discrimination Student Movement. Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin was elected from Dhaka-10 constituency by-election in 2020. He was the former president of FBCCI and BGMEA.

The ruling Awami League announced the names of the nominated candidates for the reserved women's seats in the 12th Parliament. AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader announced the names of 48 candidates after the Parliamentary Nomination Board meeting held in Ganabhaban on Wednesday afternoon. BNP to remain dysfunctional without change in leadership: Hasan Mahmud The nominees are Rezia Islam-Panchgarh, Droupadi Devi Agarwar-Thakurgaon, Ashika Sultana-Nilphamari, Rokeya Sultana-Joypurhat, Kohli Quddus-Natore, Zebin Mahbub-Chapainawabganj, Runu Reza-Khulna, Farida Akhtar-Bagerhat, Farzana Sumi-Barguna, Khaleda Bahan-Bhola , Nazneen Nahar-Patuakhali, Farida Yasmin-Narsingdi, Umme Farzana-Mymensingh, Nadia Binte Amin-Netrokona, Mahfuza Sultana Molly-Joypurhat, Parveen Zaman Kalpana-Jhenaidah, Aroma Dutta- Cumilla, Laila Parveen-Satkhira,  Begum Mannizaman Sufian-Khulna, Badhura Ahmed Salam-Gopalganj, Shabnam Jahan-Dhaka, Parul Akhtar-Dhaka, Sabera Begum-Dhaka, Shammi Ahmed-Barishal, Nahid Izhar-Dhaka, Jharna Hassan-Faridpur, Fazilatunnessa-Munshiganj, Sahida Tarikh Dipti-Dhaka, Anima Mukti Gomez -Dhaka, Sheikh Anarkali-Dhaka, Masuda Siddique Rozi-Narsingdi, Tarana Halim-Tangail, Begum Shamsunnahar-Tangail, Meher Afroz Chumki-Gazipur, Aparajita-Tangail, Hasina Bari Chowdhury-Dhaka, Najma Akhtar-Gopalganj, Aruna Chakraborty-Sylhet, Faridur Nahar Laili-Laxmipur, Ashrafun Nessa-Laxmipur, Kanan Ara Begum-Noakhali, Shamima Haroon Lubna-Chattogram, Farida Khanam-Noakhali, Delara Yusuf-Chattogram, Wasika Ayesha-Chattogram, Darthi-Rangamati, Sanjida Khanam-Dhaka, Nasima Zaman- Rangpur. BNP's program is nothing but restarting an old car: Foreign Minister There are 50 reserved seats for women in Parliament, allocated in a manner where each political party receives one reserved seat for every six general seats won. According to the provision, the AL secured 48 seats based on its own and its independents' support. The sale of application forms for the reserved seats began on 6 February at the party's Bangabandhu Avenue central office. Quader anxious to restore party unity ahead of important AL meeting The AL sold 1,553 nomination forms for its 48 reserved women's seats. Obaidul Quader said that they will submit the nomination to the Returning Commissioner of the Election Commission on February 18.

Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Sumon, who has been elected as an independent candidate from Habiganj-4 constituency, said that he will protest corruption and speak up for the oppressed in the Parliament, the same way he has been doing so far. He said this after taking oath as an MP at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 11:30 am today (January 10, 2024). Also read: Barrister Sumon crushes incumbent state minister for civil aviation and tourism “My role will remain the same as before. Protesting against corruption, speaking up for oppressed people and realising Bangabandhu’s Sonar Bangla,” Barrister Sumon said. When asked what challenges he might face, he said, “Not one or two. No one wants to work in Bangladesh. Still, if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina considers me, I will be able to do a lot of work,” he said. Also read: Newly elected MPs are sworn in by Speaker “You’re only an MP for five years. If I perform poorly, people will throw me out,” he said. Barrister Sumon thinks that he has been given a responsibility by the people for five years.

Distinguished fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Professor Dr. Mustafizur Rahman has said that the government and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) should investigate how the assets of MPs have increased manifold. He said this at a view exchange meeting on the contemporary economic situation of Bangladesh organized by the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) at Paltan in the capital today (Tuesday). The CPD fellow said, “I was surprised to see the rate of increase in wealth in the affidavits of the candidates in the 12th parliament elections. Where a plot of land costs Tk 1.0 crore; shown taka one lakh.” Even then, wealth increases hundreds of times, then what is the real picture? “Seeing this, it is not clear how much wealth has actually increased,” Prof Mustafiz raised question. Hasan Mahmud tears into CPD: 'Not genuine research' He said that in the affidavit of the candidates, the properties of many have increased hundreds of times. It is interesting to see how such a huge amount of wealth has grown in such a short time. “Those properties have increased so much, the government and their party should ask to know the source of these properties. At the same time, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) should find the source of their assets,” said Prof Mustfiz. He said that mismanagement of the banking sector, corruption, money laundering, everything is created by a 'dishonest cycle’. He said that defaulted loans are increasing, and some banks have also fallen into disaster due to providing aggressive loans. “It is Bangladesh Bank’s main responsibility to control this. They should be allowed to work independently either state or anyone can't interfere here, this must be ensured by the state,” he said. Over Tk 92,000 crore siphoned from banking sector via scams since 2008: CPD “Now the issue of merger of financially weak banks has been mentioned many times before. For this, legal weaknesses and regulations need to be fixed. Because the banking sector is the blood of the economy. The problem of this sector falls on the whole economy,” he pointed out. He said that a large amount of money has to be provisioned by the bank against default. This means that the money is not able to participate in the economy, it is lying in the bank. “By this, the bank's ability to give loans is decreasing and the income is decreasing,” he added. Dr. Mustafiz said that suppose banks are paying interest against a deposit of Tk100, but the bank is able to give a loan of Tk80 out of Tk100. That means the loan interest rate has to increase, this again affects investment. Regarding US sanctions, he said, America imposes trade restrictions (sanctions) for their own benefit. “If necessary, contracts with countries like Venezuela. Therefore, it should be emphasized that they do not get the opportunity to sanction without paying attention to whether they will sanction or not. We must ensure the wages and rights of our workers,” he suggested. Govt acting against clean energy transition, increasing dependency on coal and LNG: CPD “The government has brought the garment industry to this level by providing various facilities. The world market of clothing is $700 billion. We have export potential. There is no other sector as big as this. Exports need to be diversified, go to new markets.” There is still an opportunity to occupy a large part of this market, for that Bangladesh needs to modernize more. He suggested emphasizing the export of the leather sector and pharmaceuticals. The global markets have a potential future for those products. ERF’s general secretary Abul Kashem moderated the program while President Mohammad Refayet Ullah Mirdha presided over it.

The incumbent Members of Parliament who want to run as independent candidates do not need to resign from their positions, the Election Commission (EC) said on Wednesday. Nomination submission deadline looms at EC The EC clarified the issue in a press release on Wednesday after Election Commissioner Rashida Sultana said current MPs who want to run as independent candidates must step down from their current positions - a statement that created confusion in political arena. Now CEC says election can be rescheduled if BNP decides to join Independent candidates must submit their nomination papers along with a list of signatures from 1% of the total voters in their constituencies, said the release. However, if they have been a Member of Parliament before, they do not need to submit this list, said the release. 7 inc. Law Minister seek AL nomination from Brahmanbaria-4 constituency

Shahjahan Mia, MP of Patuakhali-1 constituency and also president of Patuakhali district unit Awami League, passed away at hospital in the capital on Saturday. He was 85. Brahmanbaria-2 MP Ukil Abdus Sattar dies at 84 Shahjahan Mia, Shahjahan Mia, former state minister for religious affairs, had been undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and breathed his last at 6 am, said his son Advocate Tariquzzaman Mony. He left behind his wife, three sons, one daughter and a host of relatives to mourn his death. DL general secretary Saifuddin Ahmed Moni dies The first namaz-e-janaza of  the three-time MP will be held at Sangshad Bhaban at 3 pm. He will be buried at Patuakhali municipality graveyard following second-namaz-e-janaza at Russel Square Balur Math in Patuakhali on Sunday. Poet Asad Chowdhury no more

Sangsad Bhaban, Apr 9 (UNB) - Jatiya Party MP Kazi Firoz Rashid today said politics has now become “a profession”, which used to be about passion. “Earlier, politics was about passion, and now it has become a profession,” he said while participating in the discussion on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's proposal raised under Rule 147 on the occasion of the golden jubilee of Jatiya Sangsad. He said that if anyone learns that a groom belongs to the ruling party, “they say Alhamdulillah.” Firoz Rashid said that politics is the only way to change the lives of the countrymen. “Now it has become a profession. Earlier, politics was about passion and people put their lives at risk,” he added. Read More: No one is starving in Bangladesh, people don’t want panta rice any more: AL MP Chumki During the Pakistan era, he recalled, if a man was involved in politics, he did not get married as he would not get any job. Firoz Rashid claimed that the parliament has many achievements along with weaknesses.  “Till date, it is not able to form a commission (on Bangabandhu's murder)… Because there was a major conspiracy behind the assassination of Bangabandhu. Dalim, Farooq, Rashid went and did it… it did not happen just like that. There was a conspiracy behind it, you didn't figure it out.” Pointing to Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon and Jasad President Hasanul Haque Inu, the Jatiya Party lawmaker said that the names of extreme left and extreme right politicians cannot be uttered.  Read More: Inu proposes formation of parliamentary body to review constitution “Because all have boarded the boat. You (Awami League) will ride the boat. You are the captain of the boat. They are on the boat and asking ‘how far?’,” he said. Firoz Rashid said that the nation is now divided into two parts.  “There is no neutral person. Teachers, doctors, intellectuals, journalists are all divided. The entire country is now divided into two parts,” he said. He also claimed that businessmen belonging to BNP got the most business during this period. Read More: Bringing any party to election is not govt’s responsibility: Info Minister