United News of Bangladesh

The High Court has withdrawn all previous directives and orders related to the ban on broadcasting and publishing statements by BNP's Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in all forms of media.A High Court bench comprising Justice Md. Khasruzzaman and Justice Md. Khairul Alam dismissed the rule and issued this order in response to the petitioner's appeal on Thursday.On January 6, 2015, Supreme Court lawyer Nasrin Siddiqua Lina, associated with the Awami League’s Legal Affairs Sub-committee, filed a petition seeking to prevent the media from airing or publishing any statements by Tarique Rahman. The petition argued that as a fugitive accused, Tarique’s statements were being made unlawfully and in violation of the Constitution, and therefore, should not be broadcast.In response to the petition, a High Court bench comprising Justice Kazi Reza-ul Haque and Justice Abu Taher Md. Saifur Rahman issued a rule banning the broadcasting and publication of Tarique’s statements. The rule was supported by several advocates representing the petition, including the late Advocate Sahara Khatun.However, in a recent development, petitioner Nasrin Siddiqua informed the court on Thursday that she no longer wished to pursue the petition and requested its removal from the list. Consequently, the High Court dismissed the rule, effectively lifting the ban.During the hearing, Tarique Rahman’s legal team, including Barristers Kaiser Kamal, Badruddoza Badal, Ruhul Quddus Kajol, and Advocate Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, were present. Barrister Kaiser Kamal emphasized that the ban on broadcasting Tarique’s statements had been removed, meaning there was no longer any legal restriction on airing or publishing his statements. He also criticized the previous order as unconstitutional and issued under what he described as a fascist regime led by Sheikh Hasina.Media outlets are now free to broadcast and publish statements by Tarique Rahman without any legal barriers.

Under the supervision of the Bangladesh Army, a relief distribution and financial aid initiative has been launched to support flood victims across the country, according to an ISPR press release on Thursday. Individuals and institutions interested in contributing financially to this noble cause can donate to the "Logistics Area Relief Fund" at The Trust Bank Limited, Radisson Water Garden Hotel Branch. The account number for donations is 0018-0210010110. Additionally, donations can be made through bKash to the number 01769013858. For further information, the public can contact the relief management team at 01769-013604 or 01769-013530, it said. For those wishing to provide relief materials in Dhaka, Bangladesh Army's Relief Distribution Management Centre is operational at the Central Ordnance Depot (COD), Military Wing, located near the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dhaka Cantonment. Contact numbers for this centre are 01769-051819, 01769-013832, 01769-013530, and 01769-013604. In addition, individuals or organizations interested in directly providing relief assistance in flood-affected areas can contact the following numbers: Feni: 01769-332032, 01769-332178. Chattogram Metropolitan: 01769-244012. Sitakunda-Mirsarai: 01728-202677, 01769-242132, 01769-242128. Khagrachari: 01769-302342, 01769-302336. Fatikchhari: 01769-272342, 01769-272336. Moulvibazar and Habiganj: 01769170006. Bangladesh Army has emphasized the importance of prioritizing essential food items such as biscuits, flattened rice (chira), molasses (gur), dates, buns and bread, noodles, oral saline, powdered milk, sugar, and drinking water. Essential non-food items, including matchboxes and candles, are also requested to be prioritized during relief efforts, added the release. Bangladesh Army is committed to ensuring that relief reaches that in need efficiently and encourages all citizens to contribute in any way they can.

The Dhaka CNG-run Auto-rickshaw Workers Coordinating Council on Thursday called on vehicle owners to adhere to the government-set daily charge of Tk 900. In a joint statement on Thursday Convener Md Zakir Hossain and Member Secretary Mohammad Hanif Khokon said that the government initially fixed the daily deposit at Tk 900 on November 1, 2015. While the owners complied for around seven to eight months, they eventually started raising the charges on various pretexts. Despite repeated appeals, the government has not revised the metered fare for CNG-run autorickshaws over the past 11 years, the statement said. As a result, drivers are often forced to demand higher fares from passengers to meet the owners' increasing demands. Consequently, BRTA's mobile courts and traffic sergeants have penalized drivers with fines and jail sentences. Tensions escalated after the current interim government assumed power, with drivers blocking roads in several areas of the capital, including Khilgaon, Rampura, Badda, and Sayedabad, to press their demands. The BRTA chairman has since intervened, urging both parties to remain patient and assured that efforts will be made to resolve the deposit issue. He also requested that owners show leniency towards drivers due to the current shortage of passengers. In light of this, the council urged CNG drivers to remain calm and called on the authorities to refrain from imposing fines, jail sentences, or filing cases against drivers until the metered fares are re-evaluated.

The government on Thursday issued a policy guideline on revoking and surrendering diplomatic passports and issuance of regular ones. A circular issued by the Security Services Division of the Home Affairs Ministry said, “Diplomatic passports received by former prime minister, her advisors, ex-cabinet members and all members of the recently dissolved Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) and their spouses would be revoked immediately,” Diplomatic passports of the officials would also be revoked immediately upon termination of their tenure or appointment, it said. The release said ordinary passports may be issued in their favour based on the reports of at least two investigating agencies. The government came up with this decision to revoke the diplomatic passports (“red passports”) on Wednesday.

In response to the recent severe flooding triggered by heavy rainfall and hill torrents, the Local Government Division has implemented comprehensive emergency measures to address the crisis. The Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives has issued directives for local government officials, elected representatives, and administrative staff to provide continuous support to the flood-affected and distressed populations. Devastating flood impacts 36 lakh people across 10 districts; 2 lives lost Operational procedures have been established for various agencies, including the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), the Public Health Engineering Department, WASA, City Corporations, and Union Parishads. These procedures ensure that field-level officers and employees remain stationed at their workplaces and coordinate closely with local authorities to prepare and respond effectively. No decision yet on releasing water from Kaptai Hydropower Plant Key measures include the preparation of shelters by the LGED, maintenance of uninterrupted road communication across the country, and expedited repairs to damaged roads. Besides, The Public Health Engineering Department is working to ensure safe water supply and sanitation in flood-affected areas. District Commissioners have been instructed to oversee and support flood relief efforts in their areas. In districts heavily impacted by the floods, such as Feni, Noakhali, Comilla, Brahmanbaria, Rangpur, and Moulvibazar, a 3-member monitoring committee has been formed. This committee, led by the Deputy Director of the District Commissioner’s Office, will coordinate with district administrations to open control rooms and manage flood response efforts. Daily updates on road conditions, water supply, sanitation, and damage to local government buildings are to be reported via email. How to Help Flood-affected People in Bangladesh Additionally, 11 officials have been designated to collect and report information from the 11 most affected districts by 5pm each day, ensuring timely and effective communication of the situation. The Local Government Department’s swift and coordinated response aims to mitigate the impact of the flooding and provide essential support to those affected.

The Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has directed six of its officials from various departments, organisations, and companies to refrain from performing their duties amid ongoing investigations into several allegations against them. The directive was communicated through a letter signed by Deputy Secretary Mohammad Zillur Rahman of the ICT Department on Thursday. The officials are: Mohammad Saiful Alam Khan, Data Center In-Charge and Manager (Testing) at the Bangladesh Computer Council; Rajon Das, Administrator (Firewall and IPS); AKM Latiful Kabir, Manager (Generation System) at Bangladesh Data Center Company Limited; Mohammad Ikramul Haque, Manager (Logistics); Ranjit Kumar, Manager (Branding and Marketing); and Rustam Ali, Security Officer. The letter instructs the relevant authorities to ensure that these officials are relieved of their responsibilities until further notice.

The interim government has sought budgetary support of the Asian Development Bank to pay outstanding dues to foreign energy companies and make more imports of power and energy. The request was made by Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan when a delegation of the multilateral donor agency, led by its country director Edimon Ginting, met him at the ministry’s conference room on Thursday.   Welcoming the ADB delegation, he informed them that he had made several decisions very quickly soon after taking charge. He said the interim government will take decisions based on facts rather than just relying on statistics. He also informed the delegation that from now on, to ensure transparency, he has also given instructions to the ministry officials to go through tender process to make any kind of procurement. “The provisions of Public Procurement Act, 2006 and Public Procurement Rules, 2008 shall be used in all procurement processes”, he told the delegation. He also noted he has suspended the ongoing operations under the Speedy Power and Energy Supply (Special) Act, 2010 and suspended the concerned provision of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Amendment) Act, 2023 that allows the government to raise power and gas tariff by executive order. Fouzul Kabir, who is also advisor of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges and the Ministry of Railway, said that the current government has undertaken plans to increase the use of renewable energy. Congratulating the adviser on his new role, the ADB Country Director in Bangladesh said that they are the biggest partner of the government in the power and energy sector. He expressed interest in working wholeheartedly with the present government. They will seriously consider the current government's request for budgetary assistance in the power and energy sector. Senior Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Division Md. Ehsanul Haque, Senior Secretary of the Power Division Md. Habibur Rahman, Senior Secretary of Bridges Division Md. Manjur Hossain, Railway Ministry Secretary Mr. Abdul Baki and Energy and Mineral Resources Division Secretary Md. Nurul Alam were present on the occasion.

Jalal Ahmed, former chairman of Petrobangla, has been appointed as the new chairman of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC). The government has appointed him to lead the energy regulatory body for the next three years. Jalal’s appointment follows the resignation of the previous chairman, Nurul Amin, who stepped down amidst protests from officials and employees. Nurul Amin had assumed the position on March 22, 2023. On Tuesday, he submitted his resignation to the President's Office, citing personal reasons.

Bangladeshi Journalists in International Media-BJIM has called on authorities to protect journalists Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa, ensuring their right to a fair trial and safeguarding them against any form of judicial or police harassment as a result of their reporting. "We urge the interim government to affirm its commitment to press freedom, ensuring that all journalists and media outlets can operate without fear of retribution or targeted campaigns stemming from their journalistic pursuits," they said in a statement on Thursday. The organisation said it is imperative that no journalist faces persecution for fulfilling their past or present professional duties.

Every year, floods in Bangladesh unleash devastating impacts, displacing thousands and creating acute shortage of essentials. This recurring crisis underscores the urgent need for increased support. Effective assistance can significantly alleviate immediate suffering and aid in recovery. Active participation from individuals, organizations, and the global community is crucial to address these challenges and help communities rebuild their lives. Let's explore how to take meaningful action to support flood victims. Critical Approaches to Help Flood Victims in Bangladesh Conducting Immediate Rescue Operations Rescuing individuals often involves deploying boats to navigate through floodwaters and reach stranded persons. These boats can navigate through submerged streets and areas, allowing rescuers to reach those cut off from dry land. Speedboats can be utilized for faster response and to cover larger areas efficiently. In severe cases, helicopters are essential for reaching inaccessible or heavily flooded regions. They can airlift individuals from isolated locations, bypassing obstructed or hazardous terrain. Volunteering When it comes to vital hands-on support, volunteers can make a tangible difference in flood-affected areas. This turbulent period raises great demands on various aspects of disaster response, including distributing aid, setting up temporary shelters, and assisting with medical care. By organizing and distributing food, water, and other essential supplies, volunteers ensure that resources reach those who need them the most. In addition, volunteers can support clean-up and rebuilding work, which are vital for restoring communities and infrastructure. Providing emotional support and reassurance to flood survivors is also an important aspect of volunteering, helping to boost morale and strengthen community resilience. Read more: Landslide Safety, Preparedness Tips: Dos and Don'ts Provide Emergency Supplies Distributing non-perishable food items and clean drinking water helps prevent water-borne diseases, malnutrition, and dehydration, which are prevalent in flood-affected areas. Providing warm clothing, blankets, and sleeping mats can also help people fight colds.  Additionally, essential medical supplies such as first aid kits, medications, and hygiene products are vital for treating injuries and deterring disease outbreaks. Besides delivering emergency supplies to the government flood shelters and local people’s houses, temporary shelters, such as colleges, schools, or local multi-storied buildings, where local people take shelter, should also be covered.  Collaborating with local organizations or community groups can enhance the effectiveness of relief distribution, ensuring that aids reach those in greatest need promptly and efficiently. Read more: How to be Safe During and After Heavy Rains Raise Awareness Utilizing social media platforms, local media, and community outreach effectively informs a wider audience about the damage and urgent needs of those affected. Highlighting specific aspects, such as the shortage of clean water, medical supplies, or temporary shelters, can mobilize resources and prompt action from individuals and organizations. Awareness campaigns can also encourage donations and volunteer work, fostering a sense of global solidarity and prompting government and international responses. It facilitates keeping the issue visible and ensures it remains a priority for donors and policymakers. Fund Health and Sanitation Initiatives Flooding can lead to contamination of water sources, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. Funding projects that provide access to clean water and sanitation facilities, such as portable toilets and water purification systems, can significantly improve public health.  Moreover, initiatives like mobile health clinics can be helpful for flood-affected people to provide medical care, vaccinations, and treatment for diseases to address immediate health concerns.  Read more: What can COP27 do for climate vulnerable countries? When the flood water recedes, conducting health education programs can teach proper hygiene practices is an effective approach. It also ensures that communities remain resilient in the face of inundation challenges.