United News of Bangladesh

Tension flared up near Jamuna, the official residence of the Chief Adviser, on Friday as protesters staged demonstrations, demanding the immediate implementation of the 9th national pay scale. Mohammad Moniruzzaman, officer-in-charge (OC) of Shahbagh Police Station, said a protest procession of government employees reached Shahbagh intersection around 11:00 am after starting from Shaheed Minar. “When the procession advanced towards Jamuna and reached Hotel InterContinental crossing, police attempted to stop it. As the protesters crossed the barricades and gathered near Jamuna, police used teargas  shells and water cannons around 12:00 noon to bring the situation under control,” he added. Meanwhile, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner SM Sajjat Ali visited the area to monitor the situation and ensure there were no untoward incidents. Protesters chanted slogans pressing their demands during the demonstration. One female protester said they had gathered solely to press for the pay scale revision and had no other intentions. Another protester, who was detained by police, said he was the only earning member of his family and could no longer support them on his current salary, which was why he had joined the protest. The protesting government employees said that despite repeated assurances, the government has yet to publish the gazette of the 9th pay scale.  They warned that if the gazette is not issued within the day, they will continue their movement and refuse to return home. Meanwhile, six platoons of BGB troops have been deployed near Kakrail Mosque, Hotel InterContinental areas to safeguard Jamuna.

All eyes are now on Jamuna, the official residence of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami prepare to meet the head of the interim government amid rising political tensions in the country. The Chief Adviser held a meeting with his colleagues at the Council of Advisers shortly after the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), his Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told UNB.  Dr Yunus urges UN to hire more Bangladeshi women peacekeepers He said the emerging issues were discussed at the unscheduled meeting of the Council of Advisers. The Chief Adviser will hold separate meetings with BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami in the evening (Saturday evening) amid growing political tensions and various speculations. Amid growing political tensions and various speculations, a BNP delegation will hold a meeting with Chief Adviser Prof Yunus on Saturday. The meeting is likely to take place at the Chief Adviser’s official residence Jamuna around 7pm, a BNP standing committee member told UNB on Friday night. “We have been invited by the Chief Adviser’s office to hold a meeting over the latest political situation,” he said. The BNP leader said they have also learnt that the Chief Adviser will hold a meeting with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami following their party’s meeting. He said they will attend the meeting as part of efforts to defuse political tensions and clear misunderstandings with the interim government. The BNP leader said their party does not want the Chief Adviser to step down at this stage, as it would trigger a fresh political crisis. Meanwhile, he said, they will share their observations with the Chief Adviser tomorrow and request him to promptly complete the reform process and come up with a clear roadmap for the election within this year.  Dr Yunus leaves for Qatar Monday to attend Earthna Summit Earlier in the day, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed told a private television channel, “We have been asking for time to meet with the Chief Adviser since Monday. But no time has been given yet.” He also said the BNP did not demand the Chief Adviser’s resignation as they sought only the resignation of some controversial advisers. “We asked for a roadmap for the national elections by December. If he chooses to resign instead of giving a roadmap, that can be his own decision. But we did not ask for his resignation.” Earlier on Thursday, the party issued a stern warning that it may be compelled to reconsider its cooperation with the interim government if a specific roadmap for holding the next general election by December is not announced immediately. Speaking at a press conference, BNP Standing Committee Member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain also urged the interim government to immediately relieve certain ‘controversial advisers’, including those allegedly affiliated with a newly formed political party and the National Security Adviser, for the sake of neutrality and the government’s credibility. According to media reports, Chief Adviser Prof Yunus was considering resignation, frustrated by various political parties’ demonstrations and comments made by the Army Chief during an officers’ address on Wednesday regarding the government and the election.

Leaders and activists from various political parties, including the NCP, began gathering at the Fountain Square of Mintu Road near the residence of the Chief Adviser following Jumma' prayers on Friday. Earlier, protesters performed Jumma' prayers behind the stage set-up near Jamuna,  the CA’s residence. Soon after the prayers, a rally began at the same location, with demonstrators chanting slogans and demanding a political ban on the Awami League. Participants arrived in small processions, gradually swelling the crowd. To ease the discomfort of the sweltering heat, the North City Corporation deployed a water sprinkler truck at the venue, reportedly under government sponsorship. Govt considers ban on Awami League citing dictatorship, terror links Hasnat Abdullah, chief organiser of the NCP’s southern zone, had called for mass participation earlier in the day, urging people from all walks of life to join the rally in front of the SAARC Fountain and Hotel Intercontinental. “There will be a sea of people,” said Hasnat, adding,  “People will see who truly wants to ban the AL.” Ilias Kanchan’s party expresses solidarity with NCP to ban AL Sarjis Alam, the NCP’s northern zone chief organiser, joined the demonstration in the morning after travelling from his hometown Panchagarh, where he had been on Thursday night when NCP-led students took position in front of Jamuna. Several other political groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Inquilab Mancha, Islamic Movement, and AB Party, have expressed solidarity with the protesters. The movement gained momentum after a group of students led by the NCP gathered in front of the CA’s residence on Wednesday night, pressing for a ban on the Awami League.  The sit-in formally began around 10 pm on Thursday under Hasnat’s leadership.

A protest march under the banner of ‘Bangladesh Against Rape and Oppression’ faced police obstruction near Hotel Intercontinental as demonstrators attempted to proceed towards Chief Adviser’s official residence Jamuna to submit a memorandum demanding justice for the victims of sexual violence. The demonstrators, who had gathered at the Raju Bhashkarjiya (Raju Memorial Sculpture) on the Dhaka University campus, began their march towards Jamuna in the early afternoon. Their demands included the resignation of the Home Affairs Adviser over the government’s failure to curb the ongoing incidents of murder, rape and sexual violence. They also called for the establishment of a fast-track tribunal to ensure justice for all victims, including eight-year-old Achia. Around 2:30 pm, as the march crossed Shahbagh and reached the Hotel Intercontinental intersection, police erected barricades to stop them from advancing further. Shahbagh erupts in protests as students demand justice for rape victims The protesters attempted to push past the barricades, leading to scuffles with the police. The altercations took place in multiple phases as law enforcers sought to prevent the demonstrators from moving forward. The protesters alleged that the police had resorted to aggressive tactics reminiscent of previous Awami League administrations to suppress their rightful demands. They claimed that instead of allowing them to submit a memorandum against rape, the authorities had confronted them with force. Crime surges in Bagerhat; 23 killed, 21 raped in seven months Later, the demonstrators moved back to the Raju Bhashkarjiya.

Ferry services on Aricha-Kazirhat and Paturia-Daulatdia river routes in Manikganj have been suspended since 1:30am on Friday due to dense fog. The suspension caused four ferries stuck in the middle of the Padma and Jamuna rivers and over 500 vehicles at the terminals. Nasir Chowdhury, deputy general manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) in Aricha sector, said that the fog intensified in the both rivers’ basins starting from midnight, forcing them to suspend the ferry services at 1:30am. Read: Fog fades in Meghna River, ferry services resume During this time, four ferries—Borkot, Kopoti, and Khan Jahan Ali, and Chitra got stuck in the middle of the Padma and Jamuna respectively, he shared. Moreover, six ferries remain stuck at the Paturia terminal, four at the Daulatdia, and three at the Aricha, all carrying passengers and vehicles, according to terminal authorities. Currently, over 500 vehicles are stuck at the four ferry terminals, with over 400 freight trucks, they said. Nasir said the fog is a natural phenomenon and ferry services cannot resume until it clears, adding that once the fog lifts, ferry operations will return to normal.

The Jamuna River devoured yet another chunk of the under-construction Siajganj Eco Park. Erosion started for the second time on Wednesday and until Friday evening cement concrete blocks on the south side of the park eroded into the river, said Shafiqul Islam, executive engineer of district Water Development Board (WDB). Earlier in May a block stretching 80 meters inland on the north side of the park eroded into the river. Read: Jamuna gulps 400 houses in Sirajganj “Now the water of the Jamuna River has reduced a lot so there should not be erosion. However, during the dry season, the locals extract sand from the river bank conservation project area and carry it in trucks daily over the CC blocks.  Besides, the main stream of the river is now directly hitting the right bank due to sand lifting. That may have caused the erosion,” said Haydar Ali, senior officer of Sirajganj WDB. To stop the erosion, sand filled geobags will be dumped in the area, said WDB executive engineer Shafiqul Islam.

Around 400 houses across four villages of Shahjadpur upazila in Sirajganj have been gulped by the Jamuna river in the past one week, officials said on Friday. “Some 400 houses, including 30 of the Ashryan project, have tumbled into the river. Pakurtala Primary School, a mosque and other buildings on the riverbank are now at risk,” said Nasir Uddin, sub-divisional engineer of Sirajganj Water Development Board (WDB). “The receding waters of the Jamuna river are causing erosion,” he said. Also read: Flood situation worsens in parts of Sylhet The WDB engineer said that Shahjadpur, Chauhali, Belkuchi, Kazipur, and Sirajganj Sadar upazila’s low-lying and char areas still remained flooded on Friday. "Many of the important roads also remained under water, disrupting vehicular movement. People are also facing drinking water crisis," he added. Similarly, around 9,106 hectares of Ropa Aman, jute, sesame and other crops have been damaged in the flooded region of the district, according to an officer of district agricultural extension department. Also read: Flood situation improves in Kurigram Shahjadpur upazila nirbahi officer Tariqul Islam said he has already informed the WDB about the extreme erosion and the need for taking adequate steps.

A survey is underway to assess the feasibility of building a tunnel alongside Bangabandhu Bridge as an alternative passage under the Jamuna River, said State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury. Talking to reporters at the secretariat on Wednesday during an event organized by Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF), he said an alternative passage along the Bangabandhu Bridge is needed. “A feasibility study is underway. If its results are found to be positive, then the country's second tunnel after the Karnaphuli one will be built there,” he said. Read Karnaphuli Tunnel Project makes "breakthrough" amid Covid-19 About the encroached lands along the river banks, he said, “We want to give some time to the industrial establishments on the river banks as they’ve made huge investments there. Government lands have been demarcated while notices have been issued to the encroachers in this regard.” To secure 10,000 kilometers of waterways, illegal establishments have been removed from nearby rivers, the state minister said, adding that 3,000 kilometers of waterways have already been secured.

The overall flood situation in parts of the country may worsen further as the water levels in the Jamuna and Brahmaputra Rivers keep rising, said the Flood Forecasting Warning Centre (FFWC) of Bangladesh Water Development Board. According to a FFWC bulletin released on Friday, the situation is likely to worsen further in Kurigram, Tangail, Sirajganj, Pabna, Manikganj, Rajbari, Faridpur, Shariatpur and Chandpur districts. READ: Flood in Kurigram getting worse Besides, the Jamuna River is expected to flow above its danger level at Bahadurabad, Phulchhari and Mathura points, the bulletin said.

Another 30- metre span of flood control dam in Dhunat upazila of Bogura collapsed into the Jamuna River due to strong currents Tuesday. No sooner had the Water Development Board (WDB) repaired a 20-metre area of the dam that collapsed on August 5, this incident happened at the same spot around 12 am Tuesday, said Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sanjay Kumar Mahanto. Also read: 100-metre stretch of Sirajganj town protection dam washed away From Tuesday morning the WDB officials were dumping sand filled geobags in the area as a temporary measure while concerned authorities had been contacted to permanently repair the span, said the UNO. In 2003, WDB established the 7 kilometers long dam and two spans to prevent Jamuna River erosion from Vandarbari union to Dhakuria union of Kazipur upazila. Vandarbari UP chairman Atikul Karim Apel said the locals' demand is to fix the span as soon as possible otherwise 15 villages of the union will be gulped away by River Jamuna. Also read: Padma river embankment risks catastrophic collapse Executive engineer of WDB Mahbubur Rahman said efforts are ongoing to prevent further collapse.