United News of Bangladesh

A total of 2,170 operations were carried out against violations of the Consumer Rights Protection Act in Rangpur Division in 18 months. The Directorate of National Consumers Right Protection conducted the operations to 4,948 institutions in eight districts under Rangpur Division from July, 2022 to January 2024. The overall amount of fine slapped on different institutions during the operations is nearly Tk 2.37 crore, said a PID handout. Besides, 674 complaints were also disposed of there in the time and a total of Tk 3.40 lakh fined. Among the money, Tk 84,950 was provided to the complainants at the rate of 25 percent from the fine received.

Foreign Minister and Joint General Secretary of Awami League Hasan Mahmud on Friday expressed profound shock and sorrow at the death of Ghulam Arieff Tipoo, the chief prosecutor of International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). In a condolence message, the foreign minister said, the contribution of Ghulam Arieff Tipoo, the organizer of the great liberation war, the Ekushey medalist, the eminent lawyer, in the trial of war criminals and the establishment of the rule of law, will remain forever in the history of the country. In his message, he prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family. The noted lawyer breathed his last around 8am while undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital at the age of 93.

Ten individuals have been chosen for this year's Swadhinata Padak (Independence Medal), Bangladesh's highest civilian award, for their contributions to the country. Kazi Abdus Sattar, Freedom fighter flight sergeant Md Fazlul Haque (posthumous) and Freedom fighter Shaheed Abu Nayem Md Nazib Uddin Khan (Khurram) (posthumous) have been named for their contributions to Bangladesh's independence and the Liberation War. Dr Mobarak Ahmad Khan will receive the award for his contributions to science and technology, the Cabinet Division said in a notification Friday. 'Oppenheimer' wins best picture at Academy Awards, Emma Stone takes best actress Dr Harishankar Das will be honoured with the award for his contribution to medicine. Mohammad Rafikuzzaman and Firoza Khatun will receive the honour for their contribution to culture and sports, respectively. Aranya Chiran, Freedom fighter Prof Dr Mollah Obaidul Baki and SM Abraham Lincoln have been picked for the award in the public service category. 10 women awarded for outstanding contributions to aviation sector Last year, nine individuals and one institution were awarded the Swadhinata Padak (Independence Award), for their contributions to the country. Bangladesh has been honouring individuals and institutions with the award every year ahead of Independence Day on March 26 since 1977.

A 24-year-old youth died after being electrocuted while connecting a wifi router at his house in Dinajpur’s Nawabganj upazila on Friday morning. The deceased was identified as Rakibul Hasan Rabbi, son of Enamul Hoque of Malarpara of the upazila. Nawabganj Police Station Sub-inspector Nuruzzaman confirmed the matter. Rabbi came into contact with an electric wire while he was connecting the wifi router at his house around 10:30 am, leaving him dead on the spot, the SI said. An unnatural death case has been filed in this connection, he added.

In an effort to control the rising prices of food items, potato imports from India have begun through Benapole Port. On Thursday, 200 metric tonnes of potatoes arrived at Benapole Port from India via Petrapole Port in eight trucks. Potatoes already selling at Tk25 per kg in Dinajpur as import starts through Hili The port Director Rezaul Karim confirmed the import of potatoes. Previously, on December 2, 74 tonnes of potatoes were imported in three trucks. The importer of the potatoes is Integrated Food and Beverage, and the exporter is PepsiCo India Holdings, according to the port authorities. Transmarine C&F Agent, a company, has submitted the necessary documents to clear the consignment from the port. 34,000MT of potatoes to be imported from India, in move to lower price C&F Agent representative Masum Billah said the import cost of each metric tonne of potato is $194. He said the consignment will be cleared by next Sunday (March 17). Benapole Land Port Director Rezaul Karim said that this is the second consignment of potatoes imported through Benapole Port. Importers are being assisted in clearing the goods quickly. First consignment with 74 tonnes of Indian potatoes reaches Benapole port

A total of 48 young men and women from poor and middle-class families have received police jobs in Faridpur spending only Tk 120 each. These young people, known as the "Golden Deer", are overjoyed to have received the job without any harassment, recommendations, or bribes. Many parents were so happy with the transparent recruitment process that they hugged the police superintendent in tears. 6 policemen suspended over looting Tk 3.5cr from freelancer Faridpur Police Superintendent (SP) Mohammad Morshed Alam confirmed the matter on Friday morning that 48 young people had been given jobs. Earlier, on Wednesday evening, the police superintendent announced the results of the recruitment examination for the post of trainee police constable. In it, 41 boys and seven girls were initially selected for the post of trainee police constable. Later that night, Faridpur District Police welcomed 48 successful candidates to the post of constable at the drill shed of the police lines. New Market police arrest suspect for murder in Dhaka    The father of a young man who got a job as a police constable, wishing to be anonymous, said: "I was very worried about my son. I hear from people that it now takes money and influence to get a government job. But now I see that all those notions are wrong. I never thought that one could get a job in the police for only Tk 120. I would like to thank the Police Superintendent and the Honourable Prime Minister for making such a beautiful and transparent arrangement for the police recruitment examination." When contacted in this regard, Faridpur SP Mohammad Morshed Alam said: "We have selected the best candidates to form a smart police force. This programme started on February 16. All the members of the recruitment board were completely transparent. All those who got the chance are qualified candidates. They got the job for only Tk 120. There was no opportunity for any kind of recommendation or transaction." School teacher beaten and harassed by police in Natore He further said: "Initially, 2,162 candidates applied for the post of police constable. However, 1,728 of them took part in the recruitment examination. From there, 472 people were selected in the written examination. Based on the results of the written examination, 48 people were finally selected out of 189 people who appeared in the oral examination. Of these, 41 are male and 7 are female." SP Morshed added, "Those who have been initially selected are completely free from nepotism, influence, transparent, merit and qualified. Therefore, I believe that all the successful candidates will be inspired by the great vow of "service in the vow" in the coming days and will uphold the image of Bangladesh Police by performing their duties with honesty, patriotism and dedication."

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently called for a ban on cigarette filters and vapourisers, considering the devastating impact of these products on the environment. This time-fitting decision has come as a move towards strengthening the implementation of FCTC Article 18 during the WHO FCTC COP-10, held in Panama on 5-10 February this year. As a signatory party to FCTC, Bangladesh is legally obligated to implement the decision adopted during COP-10. To convey the message and share the views, a delegation from PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and ATMA (Anti-tobacco Media Alliance) on Thursday met Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury at Secretariat, said a press release. During the meeting, the minister expressed his firm commitment that Bangladesh is going to play an active role in banning cigarette filters and vapourisers, classifying cigarette filters as hazardous plastic waste, and curbing tobacco Industry's ill tactics regarding Extended Producer Responsibilities (EPR) during the upcoming 4th Conference of Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee (INC) scheduled on 23-29 April 2024 in Canada. It should be noted that WHO has recommended an immediate ban on cigarette filters and vapourisers as they are unnecessary, avoidable and problematic, single-use plastics that are widely spread in the environment, killing microorganisms and marine life, as well as polluting oceans. The delegation mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has set her goal to transform Bangladesh into a tobacco-free country by 2040. The environment minister hoped that coordinated efforts of the Health Ministry and the Environment Ministry will help in the realisation of this goal. Participants of the meeting included Mohammad Abdul Wadud Chowdhury, Joint Secretary and National Focal Person, Intergovernmental Negotiation Committee on Plastic Pollution, Sukanata Gupta Alak, Senior Journalist, Mortuza Haider Liton, Convener, ATMA, Nadira Kiron, Co-Convener, ATMA and ABM Zubair, Executive Director, PROGGA. Hasan Shahriar, Head of Programmes, PROGGA presented key talking points.

A fire that broke out in a six-storey building near Hatirpool kitchen market in Dhaka on Thursday evening was doused. The fire started at a carpet warehouse on the first floor of the building around 6:13 pm, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire Service and Civil Defence. On information, seven firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control at 8:35 pm. The fire was doused at 9:45pm, he added. Members of the Bangladesh Navy also joined the effort with the firefighters to douse the fire. Meanwhile, firefighters rescued four people from the rooftop of the multi-storey building. The reason and the extent of the damage from the fire are yet to be ascertained, said the officer.

Four people were rescued from the roof of a six-storey building that caught fire near Hatirpool kitchen market on Thursday evening. The fire started at a carpet warehouse on the first floor of the building around 6:13 pm, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire Service and Civil Defence. CID arrests alleged mastermind of fraudster gang in city On information, seven firefighting units rushed to the spot and are trying to bring the blaze under control. "As it has no windows, we are forced to break down walls," added the officer.

Demanding a higher tax rate to increase the prices of tobacco products exponentially, a human chain programme took place in Kaliganj upazila of Gazipur on Thursday in order to protect public health and to implement the pledge to make Bangladesh tobacco-free before 2040. They said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had earlier announced that Bangladesh would be tobacco-free by 2040. According to the World Health Organisation research on tobacco use in Bangladesh, if the Bangladesh government reforms the existing tax system on tobacco products in the fiscal year 2024-25, tobacco consumption will decrease from 15.1% to 13.80%.  About 15 lakh adults will be encouraged to quit smoking and about 10 lakh youth will be discouraged to start smoking and in the long run 5 lakh 37 thousand adults and 5 lakh 40 thousand youth will be prevented from premature death. Reforming the taxation system through the introduction of specific taxes recommended by the World Health Organization (which is common in most countries of the world) will strengthen the effectiveness of the cigarette taxation framework.