Most house owners in Dhaka have connected their sewage discharge pipes to the surface drains of the City Corporation instead of sewage management networks. This results in severe pollution to the lakes in and around the capital. Campaigns will be conducted in every ward in Dhaka North City Corporation to block those illegal sewage lines, the city corporation mayor Atiqul Islam told UNB. Sewage networks should not be connected to the city corporation's surface drains in any way. The house owners should immediately disconnect those illegal lines. If not, it will be permanently disconnected by the city corporation authorities, the Mayor alerted the house owners. Also Read: Sewerage: Dhaka, Tokyo launch partnership for improved services “Campaign will continue in every ward of the city corporation in phases and no compromise will be made in this regard,” Atiq said. To make the campaign successful, Mayor Atiqul put emphasis on creating awareness among the house owners. Besides, ward councilors and city corporation officials will perform their respective duties to resolve the problem, added the Mayor. “We repeatedly asked the house owners not to connect their sewage lines to the surface drains but they did not pay any importance. We have even given public notification to be aware in this regard but we did not get any positive response from them. So we have been compelled to conduct a drive,” he said. “Strict action will be taken against those who are involved in these illegal activities." “We had a meeting with the representatives of Baridhara and Gulshan Society over the issue but no one is paying attention even after saying it again and again”, he said. Read More: WASA key reason behind pollution of Dhaka’s rivers, NRCC chairman says Mayor Atiqul Islam said, "Illegal sewage connections in elite areas is a matter of great regret. The wastes of these houses are supposed to flow through separate WASA lines. Where there are no water lines, ETP plants should be installed by the house owners to manage the wastes." He said, “We have conducted a ground survey in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketan areas of the city and the findings are appalling. According to the survey, about 85 percent of the houses have sewage lines in surface drains. It is verily alarming in such VIP areas. It is polluting the canal and lake water. To save the city, the authorities were forced to plug these connections.” At least 3,830 houses were surveyed in these four areas. Of these houses, 3,265 houses discharged sewage directly into surface drains and lakes. Only 41 houses have proper sewerage connection and 524 houses have partial sewage management. As a result, the natural beauty of the lake is being destroyed and mosquito infestation is increasing. Out of 550 houses in Baridhara, which is known as the most elite area of the country, 342 houses have connected their sewage lines to surface drains. The survey report found, only 5 houses in Baridhara have not been connected to surface drains out of eight level criteria laid down while 203 houses met few of the conditions. On the other hand, 342 houses did not fulfill a single condition, whose house sewage line is connected to the surface drain. Read More: Sylhet to get its own WASA: LGRD Minister  As part of the drive, the city corporation placed banana trees in the drains to stop the flow of waste coming from the sewerage lines of four houses in the Baridhara-11 area. According to the DNCC, the Sanitation Compliance Committee comprising the chief waste management officer of DNCC in Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and Niketan areas, former professor of BUET Md Mujibur Rahman, representatives of Dhaka Wasa, International Training Network Centre (ITN-BUET), housing society and UNICEF supervised the survey work. Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) started an operation this month to stop the connection of sewage to surface drains, canals or lakes. As part of the campaign, DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam took part in the campaign and stopped the sewage connection of two houses from the surface drain on Road No. 104 and 112 of Gulshan-2. Additionally, the lake's high water contamination makes it impossible to cultivate the fish. Therefore, natural repellents to kill mosquitoes are not possible due to the inability to farm fish, Mayor Atiq said. Read More: Monster made of plastic waste at Cox’s Bazar to spread awareness "As we do not have any scheduled campaign at this moment, we are creating awareness among the house owners, especially the owners of newly constructed buildings over the issue", Md Mizanur Rahman, CEO of Dhaka South City Corporation, told UNB. "Besides, we are giving time to disconnect all the old houses which are already connected to the sewerage line of the City Corporation and transfer them to WASA drainage," he added.

The High Court on Monday ordered the authorities concerned to demolish all illegal brick kilns in five districts including Dhaka within next two weeks to reduce air pollution. An HC bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Muhammad Ali passed the order after hearing a petition in this regard. The court ordered the Director General of Department of Environment (DoE) to submit a report after evicting all the illegal brick kilns in Dhaka, Munshiganj, Narayanganj, Manikganj and Gazipur within the timeframe. Expressing resentment to all government departments concerned over their failure to reduce the air pollution of the Dhaka, the court asked, “Why has the capital been ranking  in the top or near the top in the list of the most polluted cities of the world for the past few days if effective measures were taken as per our directives?”  “We are not satisfied with your steps taken abiding by our directives,” the HC said. The court said water is not sufficiently sprayed to reduce the air pollution along with the nuisance of the dengue mosquito. The HC also asked the city corporations to take care of the problems. Counsel Amatul Karim stood for the DoE; senior lawyer Manzil Morshed represented the writ petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Abdullah Al Mahmud Bashar stood for the state. Earlier in 2020, the HC gave a nine-point directive to address the air pollution. The directives are given below. 1.    The trucks carrying sand and earth operate by covering with protection in the capital. 2.    Contractors will have to cover the construction sites where works are on. 3.    Steps will have to be taken to spray water in the areas where water is not spayed properly. 4.    Apply the rules and regulations, terms and conditions in the areas where mega projects by             roads and carpeting works are going on. 5.    Seize the vehicles which emit black smoke. 6.    Fix the economic life of the vehicles plying on the roads and impose embargo on the obsoleted ones as per the Road Transport Act-2018. 7.    Submit report after demolishing the brick kilns which are running without licenses. 8.    Stop burning tyres and recycling batteries without permission from the DoE. 9.    The city corporations will have to remove the garbage from markets and shops after closing those. Read more: Around 60 percent brick kilns are operating illegally: Minister The lawyer Manzil Morshed filed a petition seeking directives to implement the nine-point order on January 30, this year. On January 31, the HC wanted to know about what measures taken by the authorities concerned to reduce the air pollution. Later, the DoE submitted its report on February 26 following the HC order. The court later gave two weeks to the DoE to execute the directives.

Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has found proof of irregular transactions from the bank account of e-commerce site e-orange by the company’s owner Sonia Mehjabin, her husband Masukur Rahman and her brother sub-inspector (suspended) Sheikh Sohel Rana. BFIU submitted a report to the High Court (HC) bench of Justices Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Khijir Hayat in this regard on Wednesday. According to the report, Sonia in association with her husband, brother and uncle transferred Tk 18.56 crore from the bank account of e-orange to their personal bank accounts to buy properties. “Instead of providing products to customers, Sonia and her associates took advance payments and embezzled the money, which is tantamount to fraudulence,” the report reads. The report says that the transactions were made by opening a total of 13 accounts with different banks and financial institutions. Between January 2019 and September 2021, Tk 1111.45 crore  had been deposited and Tk 1109.97 crore had been withdrawn from these accounts. Most of the transactions happened between January 2020 and July 2021, the report added. In the report, BFIU said that banks provided information of all the transactions made by e-orange to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police on June 23, 2021. On CID’s request, transactions in these bank accounts were suspended on August 25, 2021 following Section 23(1)(C) of Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012. Read more: Reported suspicious financial transactions up by 62.32% in FY22: BFIU The High Court on April 7, 2022 directed the Anti-Corruption Commission and Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit to investigate the allegation of money laundering and embezzling customers’ money against e-commerce platform E-orange and submit their report within four months. The HC also wanted to know about the steps taken for bringing back the fugitive accused of e-commerce platform. Read more: BFIU sought illegal money information from Swiss banks repeatedly: BB It also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why directives should not be given to the authorities concerned to take legal action against those involved in siphoning off money of the customers of e-commerce platform E-orange after investigation. The customers of E-orange ordered products from the e-commerce platform by collecting e-ticket after clearing payments. But the company did not provide the products to the respective customers. In this circumstances, on April 3, 2021, some 547 customers filed a writ petition seeking return of Tk 77.46 crore and directives for investigations into the allegation of money laundering against the company.    

Accusing a police officer of firing illegally at their party’s programme in Narayanganj on Thursday with a Chinese Rifle, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday demanded a probe into the matter to punish the offender.    “We would like to know why police fired at a peaceful programme in Narayanganj marking our party’s founding anniversary. Journalists have unveiled that a Narayanganj police officer opened fire on our rally, I thank journalists for that,” he said. Showing a photo published in a newspaper, the BNP leader said Kanak, a Sub-inspector of Detective Branch (DB) of police, opened fire with a Chinese Rifle though he did not have jurisdiction to use such a firearm. “So, where did this Chinese Rifle come from?  What order has prompted him to shoot my brother dead? From this meeting, we demand that an investigation be carried out into the firing with a Chinese Rifle at a political programme and the responsible person must be punished by bringing him to justice. If you don’t do this we won’t sit idle,” he said. Fakhrul made the remarks while speaking at a rally in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office protesting the killing of a Jubo Dal activist Shaon Pradhan at the Narayanganj rally on Thursday.   The BNP leader said Narayanganj police superintendent and ruling party leaders have been repeatedly saying slain Shaon was only a welding worker at a factory, not a Jubo Dal activist. Fakhrul posed the question: “Even if he was not a political element, who gave this government and police the authority to shoot someone dead for no reason?” Referring to his Friday visit to Shaon’s Narayanganj house, Fakhrul in an emotion-choked voice said, “His mother said my son told me that he would eat after returning from the programme. But he didn’t get to return and eat. Can you tell us how to answer her? What will Hasina answer? Hasina must answer who is responsible for the murder of this young man.” Stating that their party filed cases in Bhola for the murder of Abdur Rahim and Noor-e-Alam earlier in August, he said they will do the same in Narayanganj for the killing of Shaon.  “We’ll file cases whenever you violate the law, torture and attack my brothers illegally. You may think what will happen with the cases when this government is in power? Cases have consequences, as you see your police chief (IGP) went to the USA with conditions.” The BNP leader warned that those who are indulging in oppression and human rights violations in today’s world are not spared. Read: Jubo Dal activist killed in N’ganj; BNP activists-police clash in parts of country He said Awami League has destroyed all state institutions, including the judiciary, administration and parliament while they have established control on the media. “They’re doing all the misdeeds only to hang on to power. They destroyed our election system in a planned way by annulling the caretaker government system.” Fakhrul alleged that the ruling party has been making all sorts of efforts to retain power by holding another stage-managed election, as in  2014 and 2018. “They again resumed suppressive acts like firing bullets and attacking rallies so that opposition parties can’t exercise their rights as enshrined in the constitution, so that people get deprived of their justified rights,” the BNP leader said. Fakhrul said the government has killed three leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies and filed ‘false and fictitious’ cases against around 20,000 leaders and activists during their ongoing movement protesting price hikes of fuel and essentials.  “They want to hold election in an empty field by driving out opposition leaders and activists by tackling and maiming them and implicating them with false and fictitious cases like in the old days,” he alleged.

Titas Gas officials have admitted on Wednesday that despite their repeated efforts illegal connections of gas are still in the system as it is not physically possible to keep surveillance on its huge network in and outside Dhaka city.   “It’s really tough to guard the gas lines. On one side we disconnect the illegal lines, on the other side the thieves restore illegal connections and steal the gas. It’s like a cat and mouse game,” Titas Gas MD Harunur Rashid Mollah told the public hearing on gas price hike proposals on Wednesday in the city. Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) is holding the hearing at the city’s BIAM Auditorium to listen to the stakeholders’ arguments on the proposals. At the hearing, Harunur sought the consumers’ cooperation to stop illegal connections and stealing of gas through such lines. BERC Chairman Abdul Jalil, members Maqbul-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Bazlur Rahman, Mohammad Abu Farooq were present on the occasion. Most of the Titas employees and officials are honest while 10 percent might be dishonest, claims Harunur. READ: Titas Gas asked to act against officials who failed to increase customer services The Titas Gas top boss said 23,000 illegal connections were disconnected in December last, 18,000 in January, 33,000 in February and 25,000 in March. At the public hearing, Titas Gas proposed a 117 percent increase in household prices while the technical evaluation committee of the watchdog body recommended a 10.76 percent rise in the gas price. The evaluation committee has also recommended increasing the price of gas for two burner ovens to Tk 1,080 from Tk 975 while Tk 990 for single burner oven from the existing price of Tk  925. It also made identical recommendations for Titas Gas like other companies that gas price for per cubic meter might be raised to Tk5.34 from the existing Tk 4.44 for power sector, Tk 15.50 from Tk 13.85 for captive power, Tk 5.34 from Tk4.44 for fertiliser factories, Tk12.65 from 10.70 for tea industries, Tk27.60 from Tk23 for commercial consumers, Tk 49.50 from Tk43 while Tk 18 from 12.60 for metered gas oven at household consumers.

The family's ordeal began a couple of years ago when their son suddenly developed a nagging cough. Over the next few months after the clock struck 11am daily, Jamila Khatun and her husband knew what was coming -- so they would close her windows and wait for the inescapable. Soon, the family home in the Shinger Char area of Aichgati union in Khulna's Rupsha upazila would be filled with a pungent smell. And her son would start coughing.  It was only after she got in touch with a local doctor that she came to know about the source of her son's persistent cough -- exposure to smoke from several illegal coal furnaces in the area. "My son starts coughing soon after these illegal coal furnaces start emitting smoke from their chimneys. Every month, I spend Tk 1,000 on doctor visits and medicines," Jamila told UNB. Jamila's family is not alone. Several people in the upazila have similar tales to narrate. READ: Matarbari coal-fired power project gets costlier Despite regular government drives against illegal coal furnaces in the upazila, nothing concrete has materialised to date -- toxic fumes from these units continue to pollute the environment. "Apart from breathing difficulties, many children have developed skin problems," said another parent. "Local authorities should take some concrete steps to shut these illegal furnaces once and for all." "It's high time they took strict action against the polluters," said Anjira Khatun, another resident. The illegal coal furnace owners, on the other hand, say they are continuing with the family business to meet their both ends meet. "We know our business is not legal, but we are helpless. Moreover, there's a good demand for coal across Bangladesh," said Jamal Khan, one such owner. READ: Why quitting coal is so hard Khulna's district environment inspector Maruf Billah said that their drive against the illegal coal furnaces would continue. When contacted, Rupsha's acting upazila nirbahi officer Sajjad Hossain, said, "Immediate legal action will be taken against these illegal coal furnace owners."

The High Court on Tuesday ordered the authorities concerned to take steps to close down all unauthorised brick kilns in three hill districts (Khagrachhari, Bandarban and Rangamati) within seven days. The HC bench of Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Fatema Najib passed the order following a writ petition filed by Environment and Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, a human rights organization. The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the ineffectiveness of the respondents in shutting down the unauthorised brick kilns in the three hill districts should not be declared illegal. Apart from it, the HC issued another rule asking the authorities concerned why directives should not be given to take steps against owners of the unlicensed brick kilns under section 4,5,14 and 18 of Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kilns Establishment (Control) Act-2013. READ: HC orders to audit Evaly's assets by a reputed firm Twenty four people including the Secretary to the Environment and Forest Ministry, Director General of Department of Environment  (DoE), DCs of the three hill districts, police supers of the three districts have been made respondentsTwenty-four to the rule. Advocate Manzil Murshid stood for the writ petitioner while deputy attorney general Tushar Kanti Roy represented the state. According to the writ, many brick kilns are operating in the three hill districts without liscence and they use the mud of the hill as raw material. Besides, many trees are being used as firewood.  The report on brick kilns was carried out in the different daily newspapers, it said. READ: Stop taking extra fares on public transport, HC asks BRTA Manzil Murshid also said “No brick kilns are allowed to operate without liscence according to the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kilns Establishment (Control) Act-2013. There is a provision of two years jail for violating the law. Despite it, brick kilns are being established and the local administration is not taking any steps in this regard.”

Dhaka, Apr 24 (UNB) - The 8th anniversary of the Rana Plaza collapse, the worst-ever tragedy in the country’s multi-billion-dollar ready-made garment (RMG) industry, is being observed on Saturday amid the coronavirus pandemic. This year, there will be no outdoor programmes to recall the victims due to the outbreak of coronavirus. Read Why Rana Plaza owner’s bail shouldn’t be stayed, asks HC Different right bodies, worker organisations and left-leaning political parties, including Rana Plaza Survivors’ Association, usually arrange various programmes every year, remembering the tragedy. On April 24, 2013, Rana Plaza, an illegally-constructed building in Savar which housed five garment factories, came down crashing, killing 1,138 people and injuring over 2,000 others. According to the survey conducted by ActionAid Bangladesh, the physical health condition of 14 percent of survivors is getting worse. Also read: 57pc Rana Plaza survivors remain unemployed: Survey Among them, 58.5 percent are more or less stable, and 27.5 percent are completely stable. Most of the 14 percent survivors reported that they are still bearing a headache, pain in hand and leg and back pain. In terms of psychosocial health, 12.5 percent are still in trauma in comparison to 10.5 percent survivors last year. Currently, 62 percent reported that they are more or less stable, and 25.5 percent have recovered fully compared to 21 percent last year. A total of 4.5 percent more survivors have improved their mental health than last year. Also read: HC issues rule on why Rana Plaza owner should not get bail These findings were disclosed in a virtual dialogue titled ‘COVID-19: Challenges for the Rana Plaza Tragedy Survivors’ on April 22 organised by ActionAid Bangladesh in memory of the 8th year of Rana Plaza tragedy. The survey was conducted among 200 survivors of the Rana Plaza collapse.