United News of Bangladesh

The European Union agreed Saturday to impose new sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine targeting more officials and organizations accused of supporting the war, spreading propaganda or supplying drones, as well as restricting trade on products that could be used by the armed forces. The EU’s Swedish presidency said the sanctions "are directed at military and political decision-makers, companies supporting or working within the Russian military industry, and commanders in the Wagner Group. Transactions with some of Russia’s largest banks are also prohibited.” Asset freezes were slapped on three more Russian banks and seven Iranian “entities” — companies, agencies, political parties or other organizations — that manufacture military drones, which the EU suspects have been used by Russia during the war. The new measures, proposed by the EU’s executive branch three weeks ago, were only adopted after much internal wrangling over their exact make-up, and made public one day after the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — the intended target date. The delay, which was minor but symbolically important, is yet more evidence of how difficult it has become for the 27-nation bloc to identify new targets for restrictive measures that are acceptable to all member nations. Read More: Nearly 1 million asylum requests in the EU in 2022 The sanctions are meant to undermine Russia’s economy and drain funds for its war effort, but they are also increasingly inflicting pain on European economies already hit by high inflation and energy prices and still suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before this latest round of measures, the EU had already targeted almost 1,400 Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, government ministers, lawmakers and oligarchs believed loyal to the Kremlin, but also officers believed responsible for war crimes or targeting civilian infrastructure. The bloc had also frozen the assets of more than 170 organizations, ranging from political parties and paramilitary groups to banks, private companies and media outlets accused of spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda. Russia’s energy sector was hit, too — notably oil and coal — and the bloc, through its own measures and political decisions combined with retaliation from Moscow, was rapidly weaned off its dependence on Russian natural gas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the new package in his nightly address on Saturday. “Sanctions will continue to be introduced so that nothing remains of the potential of Russian aggression,” he said. “There are new sanctions steps in the 10th package, powerful ones, against the defense industry and the financial sector of the terrorist state and against the propagandists who drowned Russian society in lies and are trying to spread their lies onto the whole world,” Zelenskyy said.

India’s tax officials searched BBC offices in India for a second straight day on Wednesday questioning staff about the organization's business operations in the country, some staff members said. BBC management told editorial and other staff members to work from home after they were able to leave the office on Tuesday night, said staff who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to talk to media. The searches came weeks after the BBC aired a documentary critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the U.K. There was no overnight break in the search and investigators scanned the desktops of some employees who were earlier told not to use their phones and keep them aside, the staff members said. Indian income tax officials have not made any statements since the searches were launched in the BBC’s New Delhi and Mumbai offices on Tuesday morning. The Press Trust of India news agency said the officials were making copies of electronic and paper-based financial data from the organization. Rights groups and opposition politicians denounced the move by India's Income Tax Department as an attempt to intimidate the media. Britain's publicly funded national broadcaster said it was cooperating fully with authorities and hoped "to have this situation resolved as soon as possible.” Late in the evening, the BBC said officials were still at the two offices. “Many staff have now left the building but some have been asked to remain and are continuing to cooperate with the ongoing inquiries,” it said, adding: “Our output and journalism continue as normal.” While there has been no British government statement so far, U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said on Tuesday: “We are aware of the search of the BBC offices in Delhi by Indian tax authorities." “We support the importance of a free press around the world. We continue to highlight the importance of freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief as human rights that contribute to strengthening democracies around the world. It has strengthened this democracy here in this country. It has strengthened India’s democracy,” Price told reporters in Washington. India's News Broadcasters and Digital Association criticized the income tax "surveys" at the BBC offices. While the association "maintains that no institution is above the law, it condemns any attempt to muzzle and intimidate the media and interfere with the free functioning of journalists and media organizations,'' it said in a statement. Read more: ‘…As long as you don't spew venom’: BJP spokesperson on BBC Gaurav Bhatia, a spokesperson for Modi's governing Bharatiya Janata Party, said the BBC should have nothing to fear if it follows Indian laws. But he added that the broadcaster's history is “tainted” and “full of hatred” for India and called it corrupt, without offering any specifics. The documentary, “India: The Modi Question,” was broadcast in the U.K. last month, examining the prime minister's role in 2002 anti-Muslim riots in the western state of Gujarat, where he was chief minister at the time. More than 1,000 people were killed in the violence. Modi has denied allegations that authorities under his watch allowed and even encouraged the bloodshed, and the Supreme Court said it found no evidence to prosecute him. Last year, the court dismissed a petition filed by a Muslim victim questioning Modi’s exoneration. The second portion of the two-part documentary examined “the track record of Narendra Modi’s government following his re-election in 2019,” according to the BBC website. The program drew an immediate backlash from India's government, which invoked emergency powers under its information technology laws to block it from being shown in the country. Local authorities scrambled to stop screenings organized at Indian universities, and social media platforms including Twitter and YouTube complied with government requests to remove links to the documentary. The BBC said at the time that the documentary was “rigorously researched” and involved a wide range of voices and opinions. “We offered the Indian Government a right to reply to the matters raised in the series — it declined to respond,” its statement said. India’s Foreign Ministry called the documentary a “propaganda piece designed to push a particularly discredited narrative” that lacked objectivity. Press freedom in India has been on a steady decline in recent years. The country fell eight places, to 150 out of 180 countries, in the 2022 Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders. Media watchdog groups accuse the Modi government of silencing criticism on social media under a sweeping internet law that puts digital platforms including Twitter and Facebook under direct government oversight. Some media outlets critical of the government have been subjected to tax searches. Authorities searched the offices of the left-leaning website NewsClick and independent media portal Newslaundry on the same day in 2021. Tax officials also accused the Dainik Bhaskar newspaper of tax evasion in 2021 after it published reports of mass funeral pyres and floating corpses that challenged the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2017, the government's investigation bureau said it was probing cases of loan defaults when it raided the offices of New Delhi Television, known for its liberal slant.

Anti-Corruption Commission ( ACC) on Tuesday filed a case against 21 officials of Sonali Bank and One Spinning Mills Ltd for embezzling TK32.37 lakh from the bank. The case was filed with Dhaka ACC coordinated office by Assistant Director Mohammad Ibrahim. The owners of One Spinning Mills Ltd. and the officials of the head office and local office of Sonali Bank, in collusion with each other issued bonds without collateral, and created LTR on condition that the terms of the bonds were not complied with.  Even though the company did not pay the money as per the rules after importing machinery, it received the machinery from the port through import documents.  Approval was given by the Commission to file a case under section 409/109 against 21 persons for committing a punishable offense under section. READ: ACC raids Cox's Bazar District Jail  The accused are- Chairman of One Spinning Mills Ltd Harun Aur Rashid, managing director Gias Uddin Al Mamun, Director (nominated on behalf of Orion Mushroom Limited) Golam Rabbani Chowdhury, Director Abu Hassan Mohammad Jahangir, Director of Sonali Bank Ltd Nasir Uddin Mia, former managing director of Head Office, Dhaka Muhammad Tahmilur Rahman, former deputy managing director of head office of the bank Amanullah,  former general managers Mizanur Rahman,  Shafiqur Rahman, former deputy general managers of Industrial Credit Department of Local Office Khandaker Mosharraf Ali,  Kamrul Islam, and Abu Jafar Md. Saleh, , former assistant general manager Ali Arshad, Abu Musa and Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan, former senior principal officer of Foreign Exchange Department Atiqur Rahman, S, M, M, Awlad Hossain, Md. Abdur Razzak, Wahid Uddin Ahmed and Shah Alam.

Five officials of Khulna Railways have been shunted out over allegations of selling train tickets in black. Khulna railway station Train Examiner (TXR) Baitul Islam, Md Zafar Mia and Tota Mia of the Inspector of Works (IW) office, and assistant station masters -- Md Asheque Ahmed and Md Zakir Hossain -- were transferred to different parts of the country. Also read: TTE suspension: Railway minister embarrassed by his wife’s involvement Divisional railway manager of Pakshi, Md Shahedul Islam, issued the transfer orders on Thursday afternoon. Besides, he also slapped a show-cause notice on station master Manik Chandra Sarker for lodging a police complaint against the five officials without informing the higher authorities. Manik Chandra has been asked to respond to the notice within seven working days. “We are investigating the allegations made by him. I have also ordered the transfers of those, against whom allegations were made, to different stations,” said divisional railway manager Md Shahedul. Also read:Probe body finds TTE Shafiqul innocent Earlier on Monday, Manik Chandra lodged a complaint at the Khulna railway police station alleging blackmarketing of tickets. According to the complaint, around four or five unknown people, along with the five accused officials, were directly involved in the act.  The matter was reported to the higher authorities and this complaint was made to maintain law and order in the station, as per the complaint.

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has directed the Titas Gas authorities to take punitive action against officials responsible for a failure to increase customer services. He gave the directive on Monday while visiting the headquarters of the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, the largest state-owned utility responsible for gas supply in Dhaka and adjoining districts.   He said he has been receiving constant complaints from the Titas Gas customers. “These complaints need to be settled quickly. The Titas Gas officials have to be held accountable to their customers for their services," he added. The state minister advised the Titas Gas authorities to keep their customers informed about its activities to increase their confidence in the company. READ: N’ganj mosque blast: 8 suspended Titas officials get bail He also directed the Titas Gas officials to step up the drives against the illegal gas connections. He mentioned that due to technical reasons and also for the increase in the global price of LNG, the pressure of gas is slightly lower in the Titas Gas area. While discussing the implementation progress of the existing projects of Titas Gas, the state minister said that schemes have to be taken up keeping in mind the next generation’s better services. The Titas gas officials informed him that 25 km of illegal gas connections have been removed in November-2021, 24.1 km in December-2021 and 16 km in January-2022 during drives against illegal gas connections. Titas officials also said that different government entities’ unpaid bills to Titas now stand at Tk 745.22 crore while private consumers’ unpaid bills are Tk 5620.25 crore. READ: Narayanganj mosque blast: Titas probe body files report Nasrul Hamid requested the customers to pay the arrears, saying it was not possible to take up many service-oriented projects if the arrears bills are not realised. He also instructed the Titas Gas officials to strengthen the drive for installing smart meters to enhance customer service.

The Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating allegations of acquiring illegal assets against 30 officials and employees of Titas Gas Distribution Limited, an ACC official said on Monday. The Commission's Deputy Director Muhammad Arif Sadeq told UNB that it already questioned 10 officers and employees of the company to verify their statements and financial records.  Also read: ACC investigates SBAC bank chairman for graft The officials are - Manager(Planning and Development) of Titas Abdul Wahab and Manager ( General Services Division) Moinul Islam,  CBA President of Titas and Weilder ( retired) Kojimuddin, CBA General Secretary and Assistant Sales Manager Syed Waezuddin Ahmed, Senior Office Assistant Zakir Hossain, Devoloper of Narayanganj SDO of Titas Yusuf Ali Miazi, senior developer Khandakar Yusuf Ali, office clerk of ESS,Savar, Golam Mawla Sardar, office assistant of DGM office Jakir Hossain, and Senior Sales Assistant Saidur Rahman. A notice has also been issued to the remaining 20 to appear at the ACC office on September 5 and 6 to record their statements, he said. Also read: ACC interrogates alleged accomplices of PK Halder at FFIL

Two secretary-level officials and an additional secretary have been transferred to new postings, according to a notification of the public administration ministry  on Monday. According to the notification, Mohammad Mashiur Rahman, ndc, chairman of Land Appeal Board has been appointed as the secretary of Rural Development and Cooperatives ministry while Ehsan E Elahi, chairman of Land Reform Board has been made the secretary of Labour and Employment ministry. Dr. Nahid Rashid, additional secretary of Economic Relation Division has been made the Director General of Bangladesh Employees Welfare Board.

Anti-Corruption Commision (ACC) on Tuesday filed a case against a total of 17 people, including 16 officials of AB Bank, on corruption charges and embezzlement of money. Deputy Director ( Public Relation) of ACC Muhammad Arif Sadeq told UNB that from 2014 to 2017, these officials worked together to prepare work orders by abusing their power for fraudulent purposes. Also read: ACC seeks wealth information of Rajuk engineer, 4 others They withdrew TK176 crore using these fake documents and by giving seven illegal bank guarantees without the approval of the office was embezzled too. A case has been registered against 17 people, including 16 officials of AB Bank for committing a punishable offense under Section 47 (48/47/471/09/109) and Section 5 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1948 by embezzling. Also read: ACC sues Rajuk employee The accused in the case are-  proprietor of Ershad Brothers  Corporation Ershad Ali,  former Exrcutive Vice- President (EVP) and branch manager (now retired) of AB Bank A. B. M Abdus Sattar,  former AVP and Relationship Manager Abdur Rahim, SVP and former Relationship Manager Anisur Rahman,   AVP Ruhul Amin and Shahidul Islam, EVP and Head of CRM at head office Wasika Afrazi , former VP Mufti Mustafizur Rahman, former SE VP and head of CRM (now retired) Salma Akhter   AVP OCRM Member of  Head Office Mohammad Emarat Hassan Fakir,  former Principal Officer, AB Bank (currently  Principal Officer of Mutual Trust Bank)  Touhidul Islam , member of SVP  and CRM of AB Bank Shamim-e-Mershed, member of VP  and CRM of the same bank at head Office Khandaker Rashed Anowar,   member of AVP and CRM Sirajul Islam,  VP and Member of Credit Committee of AB Bank  Mohammad Mahfuz-ul-Islam, , former DMD and MD (now retired) and Head of Credit Committee of AB Bank Ltd ( Head Office)  Moshiur Rahman Chowdhury,  former MD (now retired) AB Bank  Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday filed a case against three officials of Dhaka Mercantile Co-operative Bank Ltd for embezzling Tk 9.25 crore.