United News of Bangladesh

Daily commuters including service holders and traders have expressed joy as the Metro Rail authorities are operating trains every 8 minutes during peak hours from Saturday (February 17, 2024). The number of metro rail trips increased to 26 and as a result a total of 178 trains will run each day instead of 152, said MN Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL). About the new timings, Siddque said, three trains will run from Uttara between 7:10 am to 7:30 am and  train will run from 7:31am to 11:48 am every 8 minutes during peak hours. After that, train will run from 11:49am to 3:12pm (off peak hours)  every12 minutes as before and  every 8 minutes from 3:13pm to 8:00 pm (peak hours), he added. Read: Crane collapse on rail tracks from Elevated Expressway disrupts train movement  Nazrul Isalm, a regular commuter of the Metro Rail at Mirpur-11 Rail Station, said the pressure of commuters is comparatively less due to the new schedule and it’s a relief for people. Hossain, another commuter at the same station, said “It will be better if the timing can be reduced to 3.5 minutes.” Except Friday, now Metro Rail will run from Uttara-Motijheel from 7:10 am to 8:40 pm while the MRT and Rapid Pass users can travel by metro rail that leaves Motijheel  station at 8 pm. At present, the trains run every 10 minutes during peak hours and every 12 minutes during off-peak hours. The new timings are applicable for peak hours only, said MN Siddique. He said that earlier the number of trains' trips were 152 every day, now it has been increased to 178. Siddique said that currently metro trains carry about 2.70 lakh passengers on an average every day. Read: Metro Rail to run after every 8 minutes during peak hours from Saturday  Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the first metro rail in Dhaka on December 28, 2022. At that time the metro train was running from Uttara to Agargaon. Later the prime minister inaugurated the Agargaon to Motijheel section of the Metro Rail on November 4 last year. The next day, on November 5, metro rail service started from Uttara to Motijheel.

Train communication from Dhaka with other parts of the country remained suspended for half an hour as a crane fell on a rail track from Dhaka Elevated Expressway at Tejgaon in the capital on Saturday. However, no casualty was reported. Sub-inspector Sunil, in-charge of Airport Railway Police outpost, said the crane, used for work on Dhaka Elevated Expressway project, fell on a rail track on Moghbazar-Tejgaon up line rail route around 7 pm, halting train movement of Dhaka with other parts of the country. However, the train movement resumed after half an hour after the removal of the crane from the rail track, he said.  

Dhaka ranked fourth on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality, with an AQI score of 196 at 9:08 am on Saturday. Dhaka’s air was classified as 'unhealthy', according to the air quality index. India’s Delhi and Mumbai and Pakistan’s Karachi occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 218, 199 and 198 respectively. Dhaka’s air quality ‘unhealthy’, 5th worst in the world this morning When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. Dhaka’s air quality 4th worst in the world this morning As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.    

Customs officials recovered 64 gold bars, weighing 7.5 kg, from Shah Amanat International Airport in Chattogram.  The gold was recovered from Oman Air's WY 311 around 9:45 pm on Friday. Shah Amanat International Airport's Director Group Captain Taslim Ahmed confirmed the matter. Legal action is being taken regarding the matter, he said.

The Bangladesh Navy on Thursday returned four fishermen who were rescued on Wednesday to their families.  They are Md Yunus, 40, Mohammad Hossain, 37, Md Abu Bakar Siddique, 40, and Nur Mohammad, 33. They all are residents of Cox's Bazar. Earlier on February 14, the Singapore-bound commercial vessel 'MV RAFFLES PROGRESS ' rescued 4 fishermen who were adrift in the accident and informed the authorities. On information, the Bangladesh Navy Ship 'Samudra Joy' patrolling in the Bay of Bengal received 4 fishermen from the deep sea about 132 nautical miles away from the south coast and handed them over to the local administration. They also provided them with necessary treatment, food and other assistance, ISPR said in a press release on Friday. On February 05, 2024, the fishing vessel 'Ma' went to sea for fishing from Cox's Bazar No. 6 ghat and on the night of February 09, 2024, the boat fell into an accident. Eleven of the 16 fishermen on board managed to get on a nearby fishing boat. "One of the fishermen still remains missing."

Multidimensional efforts are underway to strengthen the local government system, Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam said on Friday. "To achieve Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's vision of 2041, a strong local government is a must," he said. The minister was speaking at a public parliamentary debate competition titled "Building a Smart Bangladesh through Strengthening Local Government" organized by Debate for Democracy at Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) in Tejgaon as the chief guest. Tajul emphasized strengthening of local government as well as accountability of local public representatives and evaluation of their work. He said that people's representatives should not be blamed generously, as many representatives are doing various good work. Commenting on the need for educated young people to come into politics, he said, otherwise incompetent people will lead the society. Pointing out that there are various types of corruption in our social system, he said, usually we understand financial corruption as corruption, but not fulfilling the responsibility assigned to oneself properly is also a big corruption. Smart representatives and smart people will be needed to create a smart Bangladesh. It is possible to create a corruption-free Smart Bangladesh only if the public representatives and the people fulfil their responsibilities properly, he added. Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) as the government party and debaters from East West University as the opposition party participated in this shadow parliament to strengthen the local government.

No fresh death due to dengue was reported in Bangladesh in the 24 hours till Friday morning, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, three more patients were hospitalised with viral fever during this period, according to the DGHS. Of them, two were admitted in Dhaka hospitals, while the rest was outside the capital. A total of 33 patients are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. So far, 1,260 dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024. Last year, a total of 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record. The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3,18,749 recoveries last year. Last year’s September was the deadliest month for the dengue outbreak, with 396 fatalities and 79,598 cases, according to DGHS data.

Bangladesh reported one more COVID-19-linked death and 43 fresh cases in 24 hours till Friday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total fatalities rose to 29,485 and caseload to 2,04,7796, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The daily case test positivity rate stood at 9.03 per cent as 476 samples were tested, said the DGHS. The recovery and death rates remained unchanged at 98.40 per cent and 1.44 per cent, respectively.

At a meeting in Dhaka recently over 60 minority community leaders from different parts of the country have welcomed the absence of Jamaat e Islami from last month's parliamentary election and from the newly formed parliament as well. The meeting attended by central committee members of the country’s largest minority platform, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, was called to assess the 12th parliamentary polls and its outcome, said one leader who attended it. Drawing on from past experiences when Jamaat leaders became lawmakers, in league with BNP, and used their parliamentary speeches for running communal campaign, they described the outfit staying out of parliament as a renewed cause for “igniting hopes and raising optimism” for a future anchored on “communal harmony." This has been gathered from several leaders who attended the closed door meeting where the media was not invited. Jamaat is disqualified from taking part in any election in Bangladesh after it lost its registration with the Election Commission. BNP, the outfit's key ally, boycotted the vote after the government rejected its demand for holding the polls under a neutral caretaker administration. In the run up to the polls, Jamaat waged a simultaneous movement with BNP aiming to grab power without polls, including enforcing blockade and running hate campaigns against different communities including Ahmediyyas, the meeting observed. The meeting also noted with dismay that the combine is still clinging onto similar demands. After Jamaat announced to introduce Saariah law if it comes to power, Tarique Rahman, the acting chief, made reported reach out attempts to it for courting support in the movement for power, the meeting observed. Several speakers at the meeting expressed concern over a renewed push to solidify the alliance, putting an end to much hyped claim that BNP has distanced from Jamaat. The leaders also found the conduct of polls an essential marker for the continuation of democratic process and the outcome lived up to the aspirations of minority voters, with large scale voters participation reported in a free and fair manner. Ranjan Karmaker, a rights activist who also attended the meeting, told their assessment has been based on objective analysis on five decades of communal card played by Jamaat and BNP to solidify their grip on power. He said the call by Tarique to decide the fate of the country on the streets instead of facing ballots was denounced by many of the speakers at the meeting. They also referred to his historic patronage for rabidly religious militants and bigots like Bangla Bhai and defence to ensure impunity for those communal forces who carried out the largest pogrom against minorities. It was observed that renewed denial of such crimes are adequate pointers what make the acting BNP chief a threat for secular credentials, added Karmaker, a presidium member of the platform. Another issue he found alarming was the "extensive use of social media to stoke communal shrills, slurs, hatred." The downloading of such propaganda from certain accounts on YouTube and Facebook, including by ZulkernainSaer among others featured prominently, he said. In reference to an earlier BNP effort to project the condition of minorities as appalling through a letter by six US congressmen, they also commented that “similar efforts to spread false projection against minorities are set in motion after the polls by the combine to mislead the global community”. Responding to the claim, D’Rozario said, “From my experience, I can say this statement belies reality. The real situation on the ground is completely different from what has been stated in the letter.” “Under the current government, Christians have received support; it is safe to say that they have stood by us,” said D’Rozario, who, in 2016, became the first Bangladeshi to be formally inducted into the Roman Catholic Church’s College of Cardinals, an elite body which advises and elects popes. On polls induced violence, the meeting pointed out that the 2001 post polls violence after BNP came to power had by far been the largest violence faced the country. In 2001, after assuming power, Zia’s widow Begum Khaleda Zia, made war criminals as ministers and even that tenure (BNP Jamaat combine ) witnessed one of the largest state sponsored pogrom against minorities and progressive forces as around 28000 incidents of communal attacks were recorded by minority groups across the country, observed the meeting. However BNP and Jamaat members were reportedly found involved in burning down of monastery, assault on Hindu voters and intimidation of women voters in northern villages. Both BNP and Jamaat have rejected the allegations as propaganda against them.

The first-ever ‘Smart Bangladesh Run 2024’ race competition was held in Dhaka amid a festive atmosphere. It was organised by Aspire to Innovate-a2i and ICT Divison with the theme ‘Step into the Future: Run for Mission 2041’ to promote a healthy lifestyle for citizens, build a Smart nation, and raise awareness and enthusiasm for the Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041 among the citizens. The ceremony was graced by State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak as the chief guest, said a media release on Friday. The race began at 6 am in front of Hatirjheel's amphitheater and ended there after covering a distance of 7.5 km around the entire Hatirjheel area. A total of 2041 amateur runners participated in the event in four categories: women, men, people over-50s, and people with disabilities. The 7.5 km category had separate events for women, men, and runners over 50 years old. On the other hand, the 1 km category was for runners with disabilities while the winners of the event were determined by a chip timing system. After the race, lawmaker Zunaid Ahmed Palak and other guests handed over the awards to the winners. Addressing the event, the state minister announced to organize this kind of race regularly in the future. A total of 19 winners in four categories were awarded cash prizes, certificates and medals. Md Imran Hasan became the champion in the men's category while Hamida Akhter Jeba clinched the champion title in the women's category Moreover, Md. Wahab Khan secured the first position in the over-50 category, Abu Rayhan, Shihab Biswas and Jannatul Naeem were champions respectively in three categories (wheel chair, visually impaired and hearing and speech impaired). All the runners were gifted race jerseys and medals. State Minister Palak participated in the 7.5 km catagory to motivate the runners participating in the Smart Bangladesh Run event and took 68 minutes to end the race. He expressed hope that this 'Smart Bangladesh Run 2024' will play a role in fulfilling the 2041 goals. “We are an invincible nation. We proved it in the language movement of 1952, we proved it in the great liberation war of 1971. Under the leadership of the father of the nation, Bangabandhu, we protected the dignity of the mother tongue, we achieved independent sovereign Bangladesh through the nine-month liberation war. To fulfill the vision of building a Smart Bangladesh by 2041, which has been given by our Honorable Prime Minister, we have to be prepared with a healthy, progressive and non-communal mindset.” The state minister also said, “Smart Bangladesh will be for everyone. We envision a future country for all healthy, normal, especially abled, male and female, third gender. This Smart Bangladesh Run has been organized to encourage everyone. Just as the target was 75 minutes to cover 7.5 km today, similarly we have 17 years to achieve Smart Bangladesh target of People's Leader Sheikh Hasina. Apart from contributing as an innovative, problem-solving citizen as a patriot from every place, we will make ourselves smart citizens. We will build a smart Bangladesh with healthy and merit-based Smart citizens.”   The platinum sponsor of the event is Mutual Trust Bank PLC (MTB) and the gold sponsors are SSL Wireless, Sublime Limited, Lead Academy, and Amiprobashi. In addition, the venue and media partner is RTV; media partners are T-Sports, The Business Standard, and Dhaka Post; award partners are ekPay and Tour Group BD; food and beverage partners are Cornflakes, Meena Bazar, Digibox, Skill Finance, and Gold Kinen; electrolyte partner is SMC Plus; event partner is Run Bangladesh and safety partners are Civil Surgeon Office, Dhaka and Bloodman. Besides, a2i's Project Director (Joint Secretary) Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Joint Project Director (Joint Secretary) Mollah Mizanur Rahman, Policy Advisor Anir Chowdhury, Project Manager Mazedul Islam, Head of Culture and Communications Purabi Matin, among others, distinguished persons, public representatives, citizens of various classes and occupations including teachers-students, representatives of sports organizations, voluntary organizations, cultural workers were present.