United News of Bangladesh

Police in a drive arrested chairman of Mawna union parishad Jahangir Alam from Sripur upazila of Gazipur district on Wednesday night in connection with a case filed over extortion and abduction. Police arrested Jahangir at 9 pm from the upazila. Gazipur college teacher beaten to death by brother and nephews, family says As soon the as the news spread, the supporters of Jahangir put-up barricade on Dhaka-Mymensingh highway protesting the arrest around 11 pm at Mawna intersection and burned tyres, halting vehicular movement on the highway, said Mahbub Morshed, officer-in-charge of Mawna Highway Police. The vehicular movement on the highway remained halted till 2 am. RMG workers in Gazipur demonstrate for wages set by govt, gridlock on Dhaka-Tangail highway On February 13, Zahirul Islam, manager of Fortune Cable Industries, filed a case against Jahangir and 12 others for abducting him and unleashing torture on him after failing to realise Tk 20 lakh as extortion.  

At least 50 shanties were gutted as a fire raged through Baganbari slum in Mirpur-14 of the capital early Thursday. Lima Khanom, duty officer, said the fire broke out in  the slum around 12:30 am and spread quickly. Read: Fire engulfs 12 shops in Gaibandha's Sadar upazila  On information, five firefighting units rushed to the spot and extinguished the blaze around 2:25 am. The fire burnt down 50 tin-shed houses and valuables, she said. However, the origin of the fire could not be known immediately.

A delegation from Myanmar, led by Ambassador Aung Kyaw Moe, arrived at the Naval jetty ghat in Inani, Cox’s Bazar district, on Thursday (February 15, 2024), aboard a speedboat at 9:50 am, to repatriate 330 members of the Myanmar security forces and others who had sought refuge in Bangladesh.  The group had crossed into Bangladesh, fleeing clashes between the Myanmar military and armed rebel groups. Read: 330 BGP members, others to be handed over to Myanmar authorities Thursday: BGB  The repatriation, supervised by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), involves individuals including members of the Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP). The process was earlier confirmed by BGB's public relations officer, Shariful Islam, who also noted that the transfer involved six buses transporting the individuals from Nhila and Ghumdum points to Inani earlier that day. Home Minister, Asaduzzaman Khan, had previously indicated that the repatriation of these individuals was imminent, amidst ongoing border tensions and skirmishes in the Bandarban's Naikhongchhari area. In light of the conflict, the BGB and Coast Guard have ramped up surveillance efforts to prevent further crossings. This border tension has led to casualties on the Bangladeshi side, including the deaths of a Bangladeshi woman and a Rohingya man due to mortar shell impacts from Myanmar. An unidentified body was also found on February 8 in the Rahmaterbil border area of Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar, as reported by Md Shamim Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Ukhiya Police Station. Read: DMP forms 'quick response team' to ease movements of SSC examinees   Additionally, on February 9, BGB personnel detained 23 Rohingyas with 12 firearms and 868 rounds of ammunition as they attempted to cross into Bangladesh. A case was subsequently filed under the Arms Act at Ukhiya police station, with a court ordering a 3-day remand for each individual involved.

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent examinations for 2024 started today, with over 2 million students from 29,735 educational institutions expected to participate. The Ministry of Education has announced that the exams will start at 10 am across 3,700 centers nationwide. To ensure the integrity of the examination process, no mobile phones or electronic devices will be permitted within the exam centers, except for a basic phone set without internet access to be used exclusively by the hall secretary. The question code will be disclosed 25 minutes prior to the start of each exam, streamlining the process for students and staff alike. DMP forms 'quick response team' to ease movements of SSC examinees  In a notable departure from tradition, Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel has decided not to visit any examination centers this year, aiming to reduce the stress levels among students. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s (DMP) Traffic Department is taking proactive measures to facilitate a smooth commute for examinees by forming a "quick response team." This initiative is designed to address any transportation issues students might face en route to their examination centers. Md Munibur Rahman, the Additional Commissioner (Traffic) of the DMP, emphasized the importance of students planning their travel to arrive at least 30 minutes before their exams begin. He also offered guidance for navigating traffic safely, advising students to use foot over bridges and zebra crossings where available and to seek assistance from traffic police in case of congestion or other issues. 2 SSC exam centres along BD-Myanmar border relocated

With an air quality index (AQI) score of 266 at 9:01 am on Thursday, Dhaka ranked 2nd on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality. India’s Kolkata and Delhi and Pakistan’s Karachi and Lahore occupied the first, third, fourth and fifth spots, with AQI scores of 303, 222, 183 and 183, respectively. An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’ while between 201–300 is ‘’very unhealthy’, and 301–400 is 'hazardous', posing severe 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. 8 vehicles, 6 institutions, and 6 brick kilns fined Tk 20.57 lakh for air pollution in Dhaka 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. 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. Air pollution: 7 vehicles, 6 brick kilns fined over Tk 20 lakh

Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Kamal Uddin Ahmed on Wednesday said recent incidents of moral degradation in educational institutions are very unfortunate. "The occurrence of sexual harassment and other unpleasant incidents in some of the leading universities of the country is alarming. It is imperative for us to keep students away from morally corrupt teachers and to create social movements against them," he said. Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission spoke about these issues at the Annual Sports and Cultural Awards Ceremony and Cultural Event at Ahmed Bawani Academy School and College in Dhaka. He further emphasised the importance of creating a healthy and conducive educational environment and culture in educational institutions. Saying education as a human right, he said that every person has the right to education. Ensuring the right to education from primary to higher education can promote human rights. "The constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, enacted under the leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has ensured the educational rights. Education means not only academic education but also the development of morality, values, and skills are crucial," he said. Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed urged everyone to strengthen efforts to ensure education for disadvantaged children. He noted that individuals lacking awareness of human rights are not morally conscious. “The ruthless acts by Israel in Gaza have deeply shocked us. Countries supporting these ruthless atrocities and causing humanitarian crises need to be condemned strongly.” He strongly criticised those involved in unethical business practices for their role in increasing commodity prices. He said, "Unethical businesses are created when moral education is lacking in educational institutions. Businessmen and vested interest groups who manipulate the market to create artificial crisis must be condemned socially.” He also urged all to be vigilant against unethical businessmen. Emphasising the need to protect children from violence and all forms of abuse, Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed said educational institutions can play the most crucial role in safeguarding children's rights and empowering children and ensuring human rights. Due to various socio-economic and cultural reasons, children who are deprived of the right to education need special attention, he said.

The International Federation of Film Critics, known as FIPRESCI, has imposed a three-month ban on the International Film Critics Association of Bangladesh (IFCAB) for Violating rules at the 22nd Dhaka International Film Festival (DIFF). In a letter sent to the organizers of the film festival on February 10, FIPRESCI President Ahmed Shawky informed them about the punitive action. “The National Section of Bangladesh will be banned from participation in FIPRESCI juries for three months, starting with the date of this letter,” it reads. The letter said FIPRESCI launched an internal investigation regarding the complaints it received about the formation of the FIPRESCI jury in the International Dhaka Film Festival (held in January last) and the list of eligible films, including the films that won its awards. “While we are certain of best intentions and we respect Mr Mofidul Haque as a long-time colleague and respected film critic, we must note the following breaches of our statutes & regulations. (1) Selecting a film in a competitive section that is made by someone who works for the festival. Whilst the festival has the full right to select its line-up, this film should have been removed from the list of films competing for the FIPRESCI award and (2) having a jury member who is involved (in any capacity) with the festival organization,” the letter says. It said although FIPRESCI made sure the jury deliberations took place in a free and democratic manner, statutes have been violated. Therefore, the board kindly requests a written acknowledgement from both the National Section and the Festival to confirm that such violations will not happen in future, the letter said. “We are all in a continuous learning process, and mistakes can happen, but we must hold the festival responsible for the breach of statutes and ensure they are observed,” it reads. Since 1996, the International Film Critics Association of Bangladesh (FIPRESCI) has been operating as the Bangladesh chapter of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI). Like other festivals worldwide, the Dhaka International Film Festival also presents FIPRESCI awards. IFICAB was associated with it as the Bangladesh chapter. International Film Critics Association of Bangladesh (IFCAB) has been working as the Bangladesh chapter of FIPRESCI since 1996. Like other festivals in the world, the Dhaka International Film Festival also provides FIPRESCI Award through the involvement of IFCAB as the Bangladesh chapter of FIPRESCI. The Rainbow Film Society organised the DIFF from January 22 to 28, showcasing an array of international films at prominent venues across the capital.

State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu on Wednesday said that the government is working to find out the real facts of fluctuating commodity prices through market monitoring. He hoped to implement mandatory mentioning of prices, weight, production date, and species of rice variety in the sacks of rice from next month. Women now empowered in Bangladesh: PM “We want to organise the market management together. The country will see this change from March 1,” he said. “Comprehensive measures will be taken from the consumer to the producer level. There will be no harassment by the regulators or the consumer directorate, and supply will be kept adequate,” he said. Besides, the bags of rice will be labeled with production year, date, production price, wholesale price, and retail price. Nabi Overtakes Shakib as Top ODI All-Rounder He said that three ministries --Agriculture, Food and Commerce—are  taking joint actions. MCCI President Kamran T Rahman presided over the event. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pran Group Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Chairman of Meghna Group Mostafa Kamal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Transcom Group and MCCI Vice President Simin Rahman, former BASIS President Almas Kabir, among others, spoke on the occasion.

The new executive committee of Bangladesh Foreign Service Association (BFSA) paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreaths at the portrait of the great leader in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at the capital's Dhanmondi on Wednesday. The committee’s new President Dr Muhammad Nazrul Islam and General Secretary Nayem Uddin Ahmed prayed for the eternal peace for the departed souls of Bangabandhu and other martyrs of the August 15 carnage. The BFSA president signed the Visitors' Book kept at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.

There are more than 6,000 abandoned houses in Dhaka city, said Housing and Public Works Minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury in Parliament on Wednesday. “There are 6,372 abandoned houses in the capital city,” he said, replying to a question from independent lawmaker Muhammad Saiful Islam (Dhaka-19). According to data placed by the Minister in the House, the highest 3,582 abandoned houses are in Mirpur, while 1,542 ones in Mohammadpur. New executive committee of BSFA pays homage to Bangabandhu Other abandoned houses include 128 ones are in Gulshan, 9 in Banani, 62 in Moghbazar, 36 in Tejgaon, 19 in Nakhalpara, 26 in Cantonment, 38 in Basabo, 10 in Shahjahanpur, 12 in Khilgaon, 2 in Jurain, 72 in Motijheel, 158 in Ramna, 320 in Sutrapur, 174 in Lalbagh, 46 in Kotwali, 88 in Dhanmondi, 25 in Lalmatia, 4 in Jatrabari and 1 in Maniknagar. Among the abandoned houses, 20 ones are now being used as educational institutes and 4 ones as construction firms. Media houses can’t sack journalists with short notice: Arafat The Minister said the reserved abandoned houses are being used for the construction of residential flats for officers/employees and the flats are being allocated to the officers/employees on rental basis. The saleable abandoned houses are being sold to various individuals, institutions, the family of martyr freedom fighters, war wounded freedom fighters and allottees with the permission of the Prime Minister. All but AL want to end capacity payments in power sector: CPD In the last three financial years, some Tk 12.68 crore were reaslised as rents from the abandoned houses in Dhaka city, while some Tk 2.31 crore was collected as the sale values. At the beginning of the day’s business, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, who was chairing the House, tabled the question-answer session for Wednesday.