United News of Bangladesh

The crescent moon, which marks the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan, was sighted on Sunday evening in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, today, March 10, is the last day of the month of Sha'ban, and the holy month will begin on Monday, March 11, reports Khaleej Times. Earlier, Saudi Arabia had called on Muslims to sight the crescent of the holy month of Ramadan. The Supreme Court called on whoever sights the crescent - either by the naked eye or through binoculars - to report to the nearest court and register their observation. Several other countries have already announced March 12 as the beginning of Ramadan, including Australia, Malaysia, Philippines and Brunei. Oman, too, has announced that it will observe the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan on March 12, Tuesday, as there was no sighting of the crescent moon on Sunday evening.   END/UNB/SIS/ssk

A man was murdered over a trifling matter in the capital's Mirpur area on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Al Amin, 30, a day labourer by profession. The incident took place in front of Mukt Bangla Market of Shah Ali police station in Mirpur on Sunday morning, Mirpur Division Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Masuk Mia confirmed. 2 to die for killing septuagenarian woman in Chattogram He said Al Amin went to Shah Ali area looking for work early Sunday. There was a conversation between a contractor and a worker named Roni about hiring a man but Al Amin interfered with the conversation and got the job. When Al Amin was leaving with the hirer, agitated Roni hit him on his head from behind with a spade, leaving him seriously injured on the spot. Later, his co-workers rescued him and brought him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where the doctor declared him dead at around 10am. Efforts are on to arrest Roni, said Maudud Howladar,officer-in-charge (OC) of Shah Ali Police Station. Motorcycle rider dies in Dinajpur road crash The body has been kept in the morgue of the emergency department for post-mortem, said Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police outpost.

Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun on Sunday announced that Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) would carry out a special drive to control the prices and standard of goods during Ramadan. The BSTI will take punitive actions against the unscrupulous persons who are engaged in adulteration, counterfeiting of goods, tampering in measurement, and selling products at prices higher than the government fixed prices, he said. “None will be spared no matter how big or small they are. Zero tolerance will be shown against all counterfeiters,” he said. Take steps against commodity price hike, hoarding during Ramadan: PMO The Industries Minister came up with this announcement at a press briefing at the BSTI head office in the city’s Tejgaon area to raise the special measures taken to control the quality of the daily essentials in the holy month of Ramadan. He said the operation of mobile courts is being strengthened during Ramadan to control the standard of products and to prevent tampering in weight and measurement of goods. Three special mobile courts will be conducted every day in Dhaka city. Besides, BSTI will conduct the mobile courts in cooperation with the local administration at the district and upazila levels in the month, he said. Keep vigil against dishonest business people during Ramadan: PM asks RAB Nurul Majid said during the operation, special attention will be paid to the food and drinks that are usually consumed by the fasting people. The quality and price of fruits, drinks, fruit syrup, puffed rice, dates, soft drink powder, carbonated beverages, edible oil, mustard oil, ghee, pasteurized milk, noodles, semai, water, dextrose monohydrate and iftar items will be controlled, he said. Senior Secretary of the Industries Ministry Zakia Sultana and BSTI Director General SM Ferdous Alam, among others, were present, said a BSTI press release.    

A Dhaka court on Sunday placed Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol on a four-day remand in a case filed over the violence centering the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) election. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nurul Huda Chowdhury passed the order when Abul Kalam Azad, inspector of DB police and also the investigating officer of the case produced him before the court with seven-day remand prayer. Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukdar, Mahsin Mia, Mosleh Uddin Jashim and Omar Faruk Faruki stood for Barrister Kajol. Case filed against 24 pro-BNP lawyers over scuffle at SCBA iftar party The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) arrested Barrister Kajol from his Paltan chamber on Saturday. Assistant Attorney General Md Saifur Rahman Siddique filed a case against 20 named lawyers including BNP backed Kajol and Independent candidate Nahid Sultana Juthi and 30-40 unnamed lawyers in connection with assault and vandalism during the SCBA election on March 8. 5 lawyers arrested over clash during SCBA polls vote counting, DB says Five lawyers including Kazi Bashir Ahmed, Tushar, Tariqul, Enamul Haque Sumon and Barrister Osman Chowdhury were placed on 3-day remand in the case on Saturday.  

Democracy International on Sunday organized a national conference entitled 'Economic Empowerment for the Advancement of Women's Political Leadership,' emphasizing the pivotal role of women's economic empowerment in Bangladesh's political advancement. Over 100 women leaders from the three main political parties - Awami League, BNP, and Jatiya Party - participated in this conference held at a hotel in Dhaka on Sunday in the occasion of International Women's Day. One of the primary objectives of this conference, held in commemoration of Women's Day 2024 and its theme “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress,” was to explore the significant correlation between women's economic empowerment and the development of political leadership in Bangladesh. At the outset of the conference, Dr Abdul Alim, Democracy International Principle Director drew upon global analyses to demonstrate how financial independence fosters women's political participation and strengthens political parties. Int'l Women’s Day: Biman operates flights with all-woman staff for the first time Analyzing the wealth disclosures of female candidates in the twelfth national election of Bangladesh, Dr. Alim noted that candidates with relatively higher incomes and wealth were better equipped to surmount the barriers to political participation and secure more opportunities within their parties. U.S. Chargé d’Affaires stresses women’s empowerment in Bangladesh’s  pvt sectorThe keynote address outlined recommendations for political parties, election commissions, and government initiatives to enhance women's participation. Additionally, it highlighted the crucial role of private and international organizations in these endeavours.   Democracy International, with the support of UK International Development (FCDO), is implementing the Bangladesh Strengthening Political Accountability for Citizen Empowerment (B-SPACE) project to bolster internal democracy within political parties in Bangladesh and foster inter-party tolerance and cooperation. Panel discussions involving participants from political parties, civil society, and the media yielded proposals for strategic plans to promote gender equality and increase women's involvement in politics. Participants in the panel discussions included Salim Mahmud MP, Research and Information Affairs Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Bangladesh Awami League; Advocate Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Joint Secretary General of the National Executive Committee of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party; Ahsan Adelur Rahman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer of Jatiya Party; Aroma Dutta MP, Executive Director of PRIPTrust; and Sharmin Murshid, Executive Director of Broti Samaj Kalyan Sanstha. Dr. Salim Mahmud MP said, investment for women is a comprehensive issue, not only women should be given money, but there should be management of spending that money. Advocate Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal supported the proposal to cancel the provision of deposit confiscation of women candidates that appeared in the conference and said that the media should be involved in this matter. Jatiya Party Vice Chairman and Treasurer Ahsan Adelur Rahman said that the Election Commission must confirm the obligation to give 33% women in party nominations. Preptrust Executive Director Aroma Dutta MP said that women's empowerment is a place to see how far women's economic activities have progressed. Highlighting the historical perspective of men and women, Executive Director of Brati Samaj Kalyan Sansthan, Sharmin Murshid said, women have to struggle more to move forward. Aminul Ehsan, Deputy Chief of Party (Program) at Democracy International, delivered the opening speech of the National Conference, while Lipika Biswas, Senior Director, and Anindya Rahman, Deputy Director, conducted the program. Dana L. Olds, Chief of Party of Democracy International, delivered the closing speech.For over a decade, Democracy International has spearheaded the 'Narir Jaye, Sobar Jay' campaign on women's political empowerment in Bangladesh. The campaign has cultivated a diverse multi-party network of over 20,000 women leaders nationwide, facilitating the involvement of 6,829 women in grassroots committees to date.  

A mobile court on Sunday fined Tk 11.24 lakh to an owner of an under-construction building for violating the building code. Being informed, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and local Member of Parliament Saber Hossain Chowdhury visited the spot after hearing that a house was under construction in violation of government regulations on Titas Road in South Banasree under Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). During his inspection, he found that the construction of houses continued without leaving any space on the side of the road, leaving construction materials indiscriminately, and without covering the under-construction houses for safety. Budget not just about allocation, expenditure, but how money makes an impact: Environment Minister He then instructed DSCC officials and Executive Magistrate Jahangir Alam to take action as per the rules. DSCC fined the house owner Tk 11.24 lakh for continuing to build a house violating the existing laws and regulations of the country. A fine of Tk 10 lakh and twenty four thousand was imposed for damaging the road owned by DSCC during the construction of the retaining wall of the building under construction and Tk one lakh for keeping the construction materials on the road during the construction of the house. In violation of Rajuk's laws, the required space between the building and the road was not kept during the construction of the houses. Buildings under construction are not covered for safety.  As these matters are under the purview of Rajuk, the attention of Rajuk will be drawn to take necessary measures. China pledges more serious efforts to keep its environment, ecology clean Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that legal measures will continue to be taken against those who violate government regulations or pollute the environment.  He urged everyone to follow the law to improve the quality of the environment.  

A trucker was shot and injured by miscreants at Amulia Baikdia in Khilgaon area of the capital on Sunday. The injured was identified as Alam, 48, a resident of Nandipara area in Khilgaon. Former president of Khulna Press Club AK Hiru no more Quoting victim, Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police outpost, said 8-10 young men hurled brick chips targeting Alam’s truck at Amulia Biakdia. At one stage, they broke down the window panes of the truck. When Alam stopped driving they beat him up and shot on his right leg, leaving the driver injured. Fire at scrap warehouse near Bangabandhu Tunnel under control He was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. However, the motive behind the attack could not be known immediately.

The operating hours of metro rail will be extended by one hour in both directions during the last 15 days of the month of Ramadan, said MN Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). According to the new schedule, the last train from Motijheel will leave the station around 9:40 pm while it will from Uttara station at 9:20 pm, he said while speaking at a press conference at Iskatan. However, the schedule of the metro rail will remain unchanged in the first 15 days of the month of Ramadan. As Dhaka embraces Metro Rail efficiency, bus services on Mirpur-Motijheel route suffer a blow Meanwhile, commuters can carry 250ml of water bottles before and after Iftar on metro rail but in that case, the water bottle should be dumped into designated bins, he said. The Iftar timing will be screened at the LED screen inside and outside the train. Metro rail increases trips, commuters elated Responding to a question about any decision to increase coaches for women, the managing director of DMTCL, said currently, six coaches are running every day and it is difficult to add another coach for women.

Fire that broke out in a scrap warehouse of Bangabandhu Tunnel in Anwara upazila end has been brought under control. The fire started in the scrap warehouse of the tunnel around 2:30 pm , said deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defense(designated for the tunnel) Abdur Razzak. ‘Harassment in the name of crackdown’: Restaurant owners allege disarray in fire incident response On information, six firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control. Abul Kalam, deputy project director of Bangabandhu tunnel, said the fire broke out in the scrap warehouse of the tunnel located outside the tunnel at Anwara end. Some abandoned construction materials were damaged in the fire, he said.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock will set up 30 sell points in Dhaka to sell milk, eggs, meat, and fish at affordable prices throughout the month of Ramadan. Under the programme, liquid milk will be sold at Tk 80 per litre, beef at Tk 600 per kg, mutton at Tk 900 per kg, dressed broiler at Tk 250 per kg, and eggs at Tk 9.17 per piece. Will enhance market surveillance from today: State Minister for Commerce Fisheries and Livestock Minister Md. Abdur Rahman said these at the conference room of the Department of Livestock Services on Sunday. The minister said the programme will be conducted from 25 places in the capital from the first to the 28th Ramadan. Besides, the products will be sold at five more points at several permanent markets in the city. The 25 sale centers are: Natun Bazar (Badda), Korail slum (Banani), Khamarbari (Farmgate), Azimpur Matrisadan (Azimpur), Gabtoli, Diabari (Uttara), Japan Garden City (Mohammadpur), Shatfoot Road (Mirpur), Khilgaon (south of the rail crossing), beside the Secretariat (Abdul Gani Road),  Segun Bagicha (kitchen market),  Arambagh (Motijheel), Rampura, Kalshi (Mirpur), Jatrabari (at the mouth of Maniknagar Goli),  Bosila (Mohammadpur),  Hazaribagh (Shikshan), Lukas (Nakhalpara), Arambagh (Motijheel), Kamrangirchar, Mirpur 10, Kalyanpur (Jhilpara), Tejgaon, Old Dhaka (Bangabazar), and Kakrail. The five selling points at permanent markets are Mirpur Shah Ali Bazar, Mohammadpur Krishi Market, Natun Bazar (100 feet), Kamala Bazar, and Kazi Alauddin Road (Anandbazar). Well-equipped pickup cool vans will be used to sell the products. The cooling vans will reach each sale center by 9 am with the products and selling will start from 10 am, the minister said. BGB-BSF border conference wraps up with pledge to bring down border killings to zero Additionally, the Department of Fisheries has taken initiatives to sell fish at four designated spots in Dhaka North City Corporation and four designated spots in Dhaka South City Corporation. The spots are Bangabandhu Square at Farmgate’s Khamarbari, Mirpur-1 (Eidgah Ground); Segun Bagicha Bazar; and Merul Badda Bazar under Dhaka North City Corporation; and Mughdapara (Madinabagh Bazar); Jatrabari (Dayal Bharosa Market); Motijheel (Southeast Corner of Bangladesh Bank) and Palashi intersection under Dhaka South City Corporation. The fish sale will continue from 10 am to 3 pm every day, starting from March 11, and will continue for 15 days, the minister said. Read more: As Ramadan is about to begin, prices of essentials high in Khulna kitchen markets