United News of Bangladesh

Three people were killed and two more injured after being struck by lightning in Shahjadpur and Chauhali upazilas of Sirajganj on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Abdus Salam, 37, a farmer from Porzona village in Shahjadpur, Al-Amin Hossain, 28, a resident of Betil Char in Chauhali and Maruf Hossain, 14, of the same area. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Aslam Ali of Shahjadpur Police Station confirmed the incident, saying that the farmer Salam was struck by lightning and killed on the spot while returning home from a paddy field on Tuesday afternoon. Farmer killed in lightning strike while fishing in Sylhet OC Abdur Razzak of Enayetpur Police Station under Chauhali upazila said residents including children and adults were playing football in a field in Betil Char when lightning struck amidst the rain. Four individuals, including two children were severely burned. Locals rushed the victims to Khwaja Yunus Ali Medical College Hospital where Al-Amin and Maruf succumbed to their injuries, he said. 3 die in lightning strikes in two districts The injured children Siam and Mehedi Hasan have been undergoing treatment at the hospital, he added.

A police constable lodged a dowry case against her husband and also Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) alleging abuse with a Chattogram court on Tuesday. The accused Md. Abu Naim, 39, is the son of Md. Nurul Islam from Joynagar in Akhaura of Brahmanbaria and is currently posted at Patenga police station of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP). Victim Shirin Akhtar, 34, filed the case in the court of Chattogram's 3rd Metropolitan Magistrate Rumana Akhter. Shirin is currently serving as a constable under the Assistant Police Commissioner (Bayezid Zone) in the CMP. Taking the allegation into cognisance, the court issued a summons against the accused. According to the case statement, the couple has a six-year-old disabled child. From 2011 to 2017, Naim allegedly extorted Tk 3 lakh in dowry in several installments. Later, without Shirin's knowledge, Naim secretly married another woman. Initially, due to their positions within the police force, Shirin filed a written complaint with the police department. A compromise was made through the intervention of locals of their villages and subsequently Shirin withdrew her complaint from the police department. However, after the withdrawal, Naim's behavior allegedly became more reckless and he squandered money on women, alcohol, and gambling, accumulating a debt of Tk 3 lakh from gambling. The ASI again demanded another Tk 3 lakh as dowry to pay off his debt. When Shirin refused, he allegedly assaulted her. Confirming the case, the plaintiff's lawyer, Advocate Ajay Dhar, said a female police constable filed a dowry case against her police officer husband. The court took cognisance of the case and issued a summons against the accused. Regarding the allegations, ASI Naim said they resolved the matter within the family. It was just a minor altercation. Kazi Md. Tarek Aziz, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Public Relations) of the city police, said as per the rule in CR cases, investigation reports are usually submitted to the court. However, if an arrest warrant is issued by the court before or after the investigation report, the accused may be arrested or surrender to the court, leading to suspension by the higher authorities and potential departmental proceedings.

More than fifty foreign journalists from Asia- Pacific and Africa region on Tuesday experienced the thrill of the China Oriental Performing Arts Group Co., Ltd. (COPAG) which was developed mainly out of China Song and Dance Troupe. The arts group was established in December 1952 while Oriental Song and Dance Troupe was established in January 1962.  The group shared the details of their activity with at China International Press Communication Centre Exchange programme at its compound after short visit of the area. It is the most prestigious national art troupe in China and represents the highest achievements of China's music and dance, nurturing numerous world renown artists, created and performed countless fine art works which were presented to Chinese and foreign audience.  The journalist delegation also visited the Musical Instrument Museum and watched the rehearsal in the Group rehearsal hall.   

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the government will not allow new structure in the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar that ultimately caused ecological imbalance. “It would not be wise (decision) to allow new structure in Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar as environmental and ecological imbalanced has already poised there due to massive deforestation,” she said. The prime minister said this while Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa called on her at her official residence Ganabhaban. Prime Minister’s Speech Writer Md Nazrul Islam briefed the reporters after the call on. Hasina said that Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar are very much congested and the Rohingyas are living their in unhealthy condition. “If they are taken to the Bhashanchar, their living standard will be improved and they will stay better in terms of hearth aspects,” she said. She sought the support of Yohei Sasakawa for the repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their motherland, Myanmar as they are stranded in Bangladesh over six years. Rohingyas: Dhaka seeks Beijing’s engagement with Myanmar for early repatriation Besides, the premier also sought more support from the Nippon Foundation to shift more Rohingyas to Bhashanchar from Cox’s Bazar for interim period. Currently, Nippon Foundation is providing different types of assistances for the Rohingyas. Yohei Sasakawa appreciated and lauded the accommodation facilities of Rohingyas in Bhashanchar, and said that Nippon Foundation is keen to providing training to the Rohingyas to boost their income generation as well as education to the new Rohingya children. To this end, he placed a proposal to the prime minister. The prime minister said that Bangladesh has given shelter to the Rohingyas in humanitarian ground as over 40,000 women were pregnant at that time, and that is why the government provided food, medical facilities by installing field hospitals. Rohingya Repatriation: Hasan Mahmud urges UN, other partners to take coordinated steps Non-government organisations and international agencies joined the government later fort the support of Rohingyas, she added. She said that number of Rohingyas are increasing rapidly day by day due to the conservative mentality of Rohingya women as they are not interested in family planning. Yohei Sasakawa Said that Nippon Foundation is also willing to work in this regard. Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin and PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were among others present at the meeting. Hasan Mahmud discusses Rohingya issue with Canadian envoy

Erosion-affected people of Rajarajeshwar Char area formed a human chain demanding to stop illegal extraction of sand from Padma-Meghna river in Chandpur. The human chain was held on the bank of the river in Rajrajeshwar Union of Sadar Upazila on Tuesday afternoon. All classes of people including local chairman, members, Awami League leaders and local residents of the area participated willingly in the human chain. Human chain demands Indian visa centre in Faridpur The victims said that Lakshmipur UP Chairman of Chandpur Sadar Upazila had been extracting sand illegally for a long time. As the administration and the court took action against him, the sand extraction was stopped for the last two years. But for the past few days he has again started extracting sand illegally. Local political leaders and activists said to stop illegal sand extraction, the local parliamentarian, social welfare minister Dr. Dipu Moni, district administration, district Awami League and all concerned are seeking cooperation. Human chain demands capital punishment for teacher Utpal’s killer Meanwhile, Hazrat Ali Bepari, Chairman of Rajrajeshwar Union of Chandpur Sadar Upazila, who took part in the human chain, told UNB that due to illegal extraction of sand, houses are being destroyed due to river erosion. Yesterday, when they came to know about their sand extraction, they beat some of them badly. They informed the local administration in writing, he added. Former Chairman Razzak Chokdar, member of Chandpur District Jubo League was present in the human chain. Sukkur Dhali, UP Member Shafiq, Rajrajeshwar Union Jubo League Acting President Sharbat Ali Gazi and many others were also present. Farmers’ suicide ‘for irrigation water’: Human chain demands justice

The 42nd national convention of Bangladesh Students' Union (BSU) is scheduled to begin on June 6 near the historical Oporajeyo Bangla monument of the Dhaka University. Mahir Shariar Reza, general secretary of BSU of central panel, announced this program in a press conference held at the Dhaka University Journalists Association (DUJA) seminar room around 5.45 pm on Tuesday. Following this convention, the BSU has noted a-thirteen point demand to ensure quality of education, democracy and life under the theme 'Amader Sopother Prodipto Sakkhore Nuton Surza Sikha Jolbei'.

A trawler carrying dry food for Rohingyas capsized in Swandip Channel of the Bay of Bengal on its way to Bhasanchar in Noakhali on Tuesday. However, the sailors and others of the trawler were rescued safely. The vessel loaded with dry foods worth Tk 40 lakh sank in the Swandip Channel due to adverse weather and mechanical faults after it had left for Bhasanchar from Fishery Ghat of Chattogram around 10:30am, said Md Akramul Huq, Officer-in-Charge of Sadarghat River Police Station in Chattogram. Though some trawlers tried to pull it to the coast , finally the trawler sank due to adverse weather and others, he said. No casualties from the incident were reported, the OC added.

Two farmers were killed in a lightning strike while cultivating land in Mirashi of Chunarughat, Habiganj on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased were identified as Abdus Salam, 40, son of the late Abdur Rashid from Bhularjum village of Mirashi Union and Prasu Debnath, 40, son of Satish Debnath from Rupsapur. According to Ayub Ali Talukdar, former chairman of Mirashi Union Parishad, Salam and Prasu were cultivating the same land using a power tiller. When lightning struck during rainfall, Prasu Debnath died on the spot and salam was fatally injured. Locals rushed Salam to the Upazila Health Complex, where a duty doctor declared him dead. Hillol Roy, Officer-in-Charge of Chunarughat Police Station, confirmed the incident of two deaths due to the lightning strike.

Chairman of Bangladesh Human Rights Commission  Kamal Uddin Ahmed on Tuesday urged garment factory owners to take necessary measures to pay the workers before Eid as no vested interest group can use the workers to worsen the law and order situation. He made the call in a press release from public relations department of the commission. He said various organizations held  a protest rally and march on behalf of the garment workers on behalf of the May, 2024 salary and bonus payment for Eid-ul-Azha-2024 on June 1 in front of the National Press Club. Garments workers' salary, festival bonus demanded before Eid "The commission is monitoring  the situation. Every year, there are demonstrations and marches to demand salary and bonus for garment workers especially before Eid," he also said. In this context, the National Human Rights Commission has called for ensuring fair wages to the workers on time and maintaining a peaceful environment. The chairman said the relationship between human rights and labor rights is very close. Article 23 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, promulgated in 1948, mentions the right to just and favorable remuneration. Garments workers burn 3 police bikes at protest demanding pay rise "We have constitutional commitments and legal obligations in this regard. It is the responsibility of every organization to ensure timely fixed wages," he added. Saying that there is no alternative to protect labor rights and maintain a peaceful environment, he said earned wages are their only source of livelihood. In this case, not getting the due wages on time is very unfortunate. Mentioning that the National Human Rights Commission attaches utmost importance to the protection of labor rights in Bangladesh, he said it regularly visits factories to ensure workplace safety, dignified and favorable wages and protection of overall labor rights.

The teachers of the public universities of the country have given an ultimatum to abstain from services from July 1 if the government does not exclude teachers from the Prottoy scheme of universal pension scheme. The Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association (FBUTA) announced this ultimatum from a press conference held in front of Dhaka University (DU)’s Arts Building at 11.30 am. Terming the pension scheme as ‘discriminatory’, the teachers association also demanded the removal of the notification of Finance Ministry regarding universal pension for teachers and including them in ‘super grade’ and a separate pay scale. The teachers said that if their demands are not met, they will observe a half day lay-up from work from June 25. If the demands are still not met, the teachers will stop working from the 1st July and continue until their demand meets. The teachers observed a half day rest from work yesterday and later they organized a press briefing at DU’s Arts Building where FBUTA President Prof Dr Md Akhtarul Islam, Secretary General Prof Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan, Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) General Secretary Zeenat Huda along with other teachers leaders, were present. The protest was held simultaneously at the public universities of the country including Jahangirnagar University, Rajshahi University and Chittagong University to press their demands. “It is not the sole interest of teachers. Rather, the teachers are protesting for the sake of the country and the nation. All University teachers are standing with this movement, ” FBUTA President Prof. Dr Md Akhtarul Islam stated. Expressing regrets and frustration, Prof Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan added that “We have been going through a series of peaceful protest programs but no effective action has been taken by the government so far. And it is very frustrating that even any responsible person or authority could not contact the teachers.” Mentioned, the finance ministry, in a notification on March 13, announced that all officers and employees, joining the service of autonomous, self-governing, nationalized, statutory, or similar organizations and their subordinate institutions on or after July 1, 2024, would be included in the universal pension scheme.