Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has sent a legal notice to The Daily Star, seeking Tk 100 crore, for publishing a “defamatory” article about cutting down trees in the Dhanmondi area of the capital. The mayor’s lawyer Barrister Mejbahur Rahman briefed reporters on Wednesday (June 7, 2023). The legal notice was sent to The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, Executive Editor Syed Ashfaqul Haque, and writer Naziba Basher on June 5. Also read: DSCC mayor Taposh sued for remark on ex-chief justice   They have been asked to remove the relevant content online within 24 hours of receiving the notice and take necessary action within seven days. Lawyer Mejbahur Rahman said that a “column” titled “Cutting trees to make way for air” was published in The Daily Star newspaper on May 13. “In the column, the name of Dhaka South City Corporation was distorted to make Dhoka South Town Corporation,” he said while speaking to reporters at the Supreme Court premises. Also read: June 14 set for hearing on contempt of court case against DSCC Mayor Taposh Besides, the name of Mayor Taposh has also been distorted, he said. Lawyer Mejbahur Rahman said the DSCC Mayor has directed him to take legal action after seeing the report.  “In the notice, we asked for two things – one is to remove the text in the online version and they must apologise unconditionally and will have to pay Tk 100 crore as compensation,” he said. “Seven days have been given to them. If they do not take any action by this time, the next decision will be taken at the behest of Mayor Taposh.” Also read: Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman gets bail in DSA case In the legal notice, The Daily Star was asked to pay the money within seven days of the date of receipt of the legal notice served “for creating and publishing defamatory imputation in your national daily, in online publication and on social media and network with criminal intention to insult, humiliate and persecute our client, thus intentionally harming hard earned reputation of my client, his family and his institution.” In a statement, published on The Daily Star’s website, the editor and publisher wrote: “We want to state that we have indeed received the said legal notice dated June 5, 2023, from the Lex Counsel late in the afternoon of June 6, 2023, and it allows us only 2 days to respond. We will publish our response within that time.” Also read: Prothom Alo reporter Shams gets bail in another DSA case “We, however, want to point out that our piece was termed a ‘report’ or a ‘column’ at the press briefing. This is factually incorrect. It was a satirical piece, which is a globally accepted and common practice in journalism, on an issue of urgent public concern, and that too was published in our designated weekly satirical page titled ‘Satireday,’' the statement added.

Parking of inter-district buses outside the terminals will not be allowed in Dhaka city from April 1, said Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Tuesday. “Except Syedabad, Mohakhali and Gabtoli bus terminals, no counters of inter-district buses will be allowed in Dhaka city from April 1. Already the renovation work of Syedabad Bus Terminal is underway while initiatives will be taken to renovate the two other terminals in the capital,” he said. The DSCC mayor said these while talking to reporters after attending the 25th meeting of Bus Route Rationalization Committee at Nagar Bhaban. Read: Gymnasium to be built in every ward: DSCC Mayor Taposh “We often see that there are many bus counters at Zigatola, Kalabagan, Khilgaon and others part of the city which create traffic congestion and other problems. Now we are getting strict and that’s why we have taken the decision. I hope the public transport management will be more disciplined through the activities,” he said.  All buses will have to use terminals from April, he added. He also urged the bus owners to park their buses inside terminals and no one will be allowed to keep their buses on roads. Meanwhile, Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam, who was present at the meeting, said “We are working to bring discipline on the roads of Dhaka through Bus Route Rationalisation. We often see that buses are kept on roads outside the terminals which create chaos on road.” The DNCC mayor also said that only buses of ‘Nagar Paribahan’ will be allowed on No 21, 22 and 26 routes and a drive will be conducted from December 20 to January 5 to ensure it. Read: DSCC to launch special five-day anti-dengue drive Sunday in five wards The human haulers like four wheeled leguna will also not be allowed on the three routes, said Atiqul. Meanwhile, bus service on new No 23 route will be launched on January 31. Buses from Ghatarchar-Washpur-Basila-Mohammadpur-Japan Garden City-Shyamoli-College Gate- Asad Gate-Kalabagan- Science Lab-Shahbag-Matshya Bhaban-Press Club-Gulistan (zero point-Dainik Bangla- Rajarbagh- Kamalapur- Dhalpur- Jatrabari-Shanir Akhra-Rayerbagh Matuile-Sighboard-Chittagong road. Two others new routes- No 24 and 25- will be launched in the April next. Buses of No 24 route will ply on Ghatarchar-Basila-Mohammadpur Bus Stand-Shishumela-Agargaon-Mirpur-10-Kalsi flyover via Airport-Jashimuddin Abdullahpur while no 25 route will marked from Ghatarchar-Basila-Mohammadpur Bus Stand-Asadgate-Manik Mia Avenue via Khamarbari-Bijoy Sarani via Jahangir Gate-Shahin School-Mohakhali-Kakoli-Banani Flyover via Regency-Airport-Jashimuddin-Abdullahpur.  

The order to shutter hospital pharmacies by 2am may be reviewed and reconsidered following the requirements of the hospital authorities, said Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Wednesday. DSCC authorities earlier ordered the hospital pharmacies to shut by 2 am considering the emergencies at the hospitals, which is rational, he told the reporters after inaugurating the city's Azimpur Foot over Bridge. The move came as part of government’s austerity measures that include rationing of electricity amid fuel crisis. However, the DSCC will consider extending the closing time of the hospital pharmacies or keeping those open for 24 hours a day following a written request from the busiest hospitals including Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), said the mayor. “This will be fixed as per the necessities of those hospitals and the areas,” he added. “But no one can proceed (conduct activities) beyond the schedule in any manner. Everyone has to follow the schedule." Read: Pharmacies in Dhaka to remain open all day: Health Minister Regarding the monitoring of the shops’ scheduled closure, Taposh said no law or policy can be strictly implemented or enforced without public involvement. So this schedule will not be difficult to implement as the public accepted this spontaneously, he added. On August 22, DSCC issued a notice allowing standalone pharmacies to remain open till 12am and those at hospitals till 2am to ration electricity. Besides, the corporation asked malls, shops, kitchen markets and other business outlets in its areas to remain open till 8pm and restaurants and hotels till 10 pm. This order will be effective September 1. On August 25, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said that the pharmacies in Dhaka will remain open 24 hours a day. “We do not give any instructions regarding the closure of the pharmacies by midnight. We are in talks with the city corporations on this. Anyway, pharmacies can remain open for 24 hours,” he added.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Fazle Noor Taposh has said bus service on three more routes under the bus route rationalization programme will be launched on September 1. Taposh said this after visiting the renovation and development works of Sayedabad Bus Terminal Wednesday morning. “We’ve taken up a Tk 30 crore project to develop the Sayedabad Bus Terminal so that the bus route rationalization programme can gain pace. The bus terminal’s infrastructures were in a dilapidated condition as no renovation work was done since the terminal’s construction. We hope that the modernization programme of the terminal will be completed within March next year,” said Taposh. The Mayor added that the Sayedabad Bus Terminal is being transformed into an efficient, modern, and automated terminal to speed up the bus route rationalization programme and bring the city’s public transport sector under discipline. “We’re building bus parking space, rest house for transport workers and washrooms inside the terminal compound. We’re developing the terminal in a way so that people can avail services from inside the terminal,” added the Mayor. Read: DSCC working to improve Dhaka’s place in liveability index: Taposh Replying to a question, Taposh said that two new inter-district bus terminals will be built in Kachpur and Keraniganj. “Land acquisition for building the two bus terminals is ongoing. It’ll take three to four years to build the terminals. We’re renovating the existing bus terminals so that buses can operate in a systematic way,” said Taposh. Later, Taposh released 300kg spawns of various fish in the Dhanmondi Lake commemorating National Fisheries Week-2022.   Farid Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DSCC, Kh Mahbubul Haque, Director General (DG) of Fisheries Department, Saleh Ahmed, Chief Engineer of DSCC and Moshiur Rahman, Additional Secretary of Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, among others, were present at the programme. 

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh have been given the status of minister. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the new status of the two mayors of Dhaka, said a handout on Monday. Besides, the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy and Chattogram City Corporation Mayor (CCC) Rezaul Karim Chowdhury were given the status of state minister. Also read: Ex-Barishal Mayor Kamal dies The authorities concerned have been asked to issue a gazette notification in this regard. Also read: DNCC Mayor wants to get rid of electric rickshaws

Deputy Speaker Md Fazle Rabbi Miah was the people’s advocate, said Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Monday. He was the pioneer of the country’s law field, Taposh said after attending Fazle Rabbi’s Namaz-e-Janaza at the National Eidgah premises this morning, according to a DSCC press release. “It is difficult to find people-friendly lawyers and politicians like Fazle Rabbi. No one uttered a single word against him during his long career as lawyer.” “And so he became a seven times lawmaker from Gaibandha-5,” he added. Expressing sorrow at the death of Fazle Rabbi, the mayor also prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family. The mortal remains of Deputy Speaker Md Fazle Rabbi Miah arrived in Dhaka on Monday. Read: Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi laid to rest in Gaibandha The Deputy Speaker will be buried beside his two sons’ graves at the family graveyard in his village following a guard of honour by the government around 5pm, according to the Parliament Secretariat. Advocate Fazle Rabbi breathed his last on July 22 at 3.55pm (NY Time) at Mt Sinai Hospital in New York. He was 76.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Fazle Nur Taposh has directed the officials concerned to evict illegal establishments from Buriganga Old Channel in the capital. He gave the instruction during a visit to Kalunagar Sluicegate and adjoining areas of Buriganga Old Channel in the city Wednesday noon. During the inspection, he asked the officials concerned to evict parts of a 10-storey building and other multi-storey buildings, walls and installations on the canal. Read: Re-excavation work of old Buriganga channel likely to start this month: Taposh Regarding the shear wall of a newly constructed 10-storey building in the canal, Taposh said, "Shear wall has been built in the canal. There will be no shear wall in the canal.” He also ordered them to demolish the wall immediately. Taposh paid a surprise visit to witness the demarcation activities conducted by DSCC, Water Development Board and Dhaka District Administration to restore the Buriganga Old Channel.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has called upon the capital's residents to get their sacrificial slaughters done by the second day of Eid ul Azha, set to be observed from Sunday. He made the call while talking to journalists after observing the last-minute preparations for the Eid jamaat (congregation) at National Eidgah Maidan on Saturday. “I urge the city dwellers to complete their qurbani (sacrificial slaughter) by the second day of Eid (Monday), not to wait for the third day as workers of the corporation will be removing animal waste from different spots for 72 hours continuously, and they too should get some rest and some time off to celebrate Eid themselves," Taposh said. Elaborating on the massive clean up operation that will be taken up to allow people to enjoy one of the two biggest festivals in the Muslim faith, the Dhaka South mayor informed that the corporation’s workers would start cleaning up around the makeshift cattle markets (haats) from 11: 00pm tonight, and the first slaughter sites from 2pm on the day of Eid (tomorrow). He hoped that the city corporation would be able to remove all wastes within 24 hours as earlier.    Taposh informed that all kinds of preparations have already been completed to hold the Eid jamaat at the National Eidgah Maidan where some 35,000 people will be able to pray together. Also read: DSCC Control Room to oversee waste disposal on Qurbani Eid Dhaka district Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Shahidul Islam, DNCC Chief Executive Officer Farid Ahamad, Secretary Akramuzzaman, Chief Engineer Saleh Ahmed and among others were present during the visit of the mayor.

LGRD Minister Md Tazul Islam said on Wednesday that the government doesn’t want to cause personal damage to anyone while recovering canals and river channels from illegal occupation. Tazul was speaking at the inauguration of Dhaka South City Corporation’s (DSCC) re-excavation works on parts of Old Buriganga the capital’s Shahidnagar. “Those who are enjoying benefits by illegally occupying the city’s rivers and canals may get disheartened after seeing our development works. But we have nothing to say to them except showing sympathy. We are doing these works because we think that the people will be benefitted through these measures,” said Tazul.  Emphasizing on the importance of freeing Dhaka’s waterbodies from illegal occupants, Tazul added that the government must recover the lost canals and rivers to turn Dhaka into a beautiful and liveable city. Read: Drive to be launched soon to free rivers surrounding Dhaka: LGRD Minister DSCC mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh said that the re-excavation works of the old channel of the Buriganga River will be conducted following the RS map. “Primarily, we’ll excavate 2.7km areas of the old Buriganga channel. We’ll also demarcate the area during this time. We’ll gradually excavate the entire channel following this process,” Taposh said.   Taposh also inaugurated a Garbage Transfer Center at the 62nd ward of the capital today. Kazi Monirul Islam Monu, Lawmaker from Dhaka-5 seat, Farid Ahammad, Chief Executive Officer of DSCC, Saleh Ahmed, Chief Engineer of DSCC and Councillors of respected wards, among others, were present at the event.

A case has been filed against two Facebook users under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for allegedly spreading misinformation about Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Nur Taposh regarding the clashes at Dhaka's New Market. Monirul Islam, personal assistant of Mayor Taposh filed the case with Shahbagh police on Thursday. Read: Info minister considers legal action against TIB for lies Earlier on April 18 at midnight and the following, students of Dhaka College clashed with New Market traders in New Market areas, leaving a delivery man and a trader dead and dozens, including journalists, injured. More than 1,300 people have been booked in connection with the clashes.