United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka, May 17 (UNB) - The government has earned over Tk 14 crore in revenue from the mobile banking service 'Nagad' without any investment in any form, according to Junaid Ahmed Palak. More than Tk 5 crore has been received in the current fiscal year alone. This information was revealed by State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak as the chief guest at an event organized to celebrate the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Friday. The State Minister stated that in the current fiscal year, the Postal Department has earned nearly Tk 5 crore from Nagad. He said, "We have been able to generate revenue only through infrastructure and policy support without any investment. So far, we have earned over Tk 14 crore from Nagad." On the occasion of World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2024, Minister Junaid Ahmed Palak unveiled new commemorative postage stamps, inauguration stamps, and seals featuring Dak, Telecommunications, and Information Technology. He also distributed awards to the winners of the debate competition and essay writing competition. Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, Secretary of the Postal and Telecommunication Department, chaired the event, which was attended by special guests including Secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Division, M. Shamsul Arefin. Abdul Bari, Policy Adviser and Component Leader of the EDGE project, presented the keynote paper. Also present were Engineer Mohammad Mohiuddin Ahmed, Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, and Dr. Shahjahan Mahmud, Chairman and CEO of Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited.  

Dhaka's air quality was marked as ‘moderate’ this morning. With an air quality index (AQI) score of 99 at 9:09 am, Dhaka ranked 14th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality. India’s Delhi, Iraq’s Baghdad and Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kinshasa occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 339, 241 and 203, respectively. After rain, Dhaka’s air quality ‘moderate’ this morning An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’, AQI between 101 and 150 is considered 'unhealthy', AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria 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. Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. Dhaka’s air quality ‘unhealthy’ this morning

A 40-year-old school teacher was beaten to death allegedly by his cousins over a land dispute in Mymensingh's Phulpur upazila on Friday. The victim was identified as Sajjat Hossain Kamal,  headmaster of Gowatla Raghurampur Government Primary School. The incident took place at Puran Nagar village of Baola Union of the upazila around 11am on Friday. Locals said Kamal had a long-standing dispute with his uncle Abul Khair and his cousin Zakaria Gong over a piece of land. On Friday morning, when  Kamal went to irrigate the disputed land, his cousins beat him mercilessly, leaving him seriously injured. He was rushed to Phulpur Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Phulpur Police Station Mahbubur Rahman said police visited the spot after receiving the information. The body was recovered and sent to Mymensingh Medical College morgue for an autopsy. Police have detained three people including the cousin and aunt of Kamal for questioning, added the officer.

Three construction workers died after falling off a 10-storey under-construction building in the capital’s Sabujbagh area on Friday. The deceased were identified as Mofizul Islam, 20, son of Md Rabbani of Charpara village of Jamalpur Sadar Upazila, Md Antor, 25, of Muktagacha upazila of Mymensingh district and  Altafur Rahman, 40, of Madarganj upazila of Jamalpur. The incident happened when they were working standing on a scaffolding at the under-construction building beside Mayakanon Jamiatul Masjid in the area around 10am, said Inspector (Investigation) of Sabujbagh police station Md Solaiman Gazi. Suddenly, they fell down breaking that makeshift shed and sustained serious injuries, he said. They were rushed to Mugda General Hospital with the help of the locals.

Dr. Abdul Hamid, director general of the Department of Environment, said young people can play a vital role in raising environmental awareness. The DG emphasized the role of young minds in fostering a sustainable future and encouraged the participants to continue their efforts in promoting environmental awareness through art. He was speaking at a drawing competition on the theme "Nature and Environment" at the National Chitrashala Plaza of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on the occasion of World Environment Day 2024. The event was organized by the Department of Environment under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. He said the artworks highlighted the importance of nature and the urgent need to protect our environment. The competition saw enthusiastic participation from young artists, showcasing their creativity and awareness about environmental conservation. The names of the winning contestants will be published on the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy notice board, Department of Environment website www.doe.gov.bd and telephonically on 21 May 2024. Md Siddikur Rahman, additional director general of Department of Environment, Syed Abul Barak Alvi, director of Bangladesh Art Academy and Khandkar Rezaul Hashem, deputy director of Art Academy, etc., evaluated the paintings drawn by children and teenagers in the painting competition. Director Razinara Begum along with senior officials of the Department were also present.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) have arrested three drug peddlers along with 216 kg of cannabis from Char Hamkuria area of Tarash Upazila of Sirajganj. The arrestees are Md Al Amin, 22, son of Nuru Mia of Rajakachar village of Cumilla’s Devidwar upazila and Md Ershad alias Hriday, 27, son of Md Ismat Ali alias Immat Ali of Raja Chabitla village of Bangora Bazar upazila of the same district. Md Maruf Hossain, captain of RAB-12 and additional DIG, revealed the information in a press release on Friday. Acting on a tip-off, a temporary check post was set up in Char Hamkuria area of Tarash Upazila of Sirajganj on Dhaka-Rajshahi highway on Friday morning and various vehicles were searched. At one stage, around 6:45 in the morning, they were arrested along with 216 kg of hemp while searching a covered van. During the drive, RAB members also seized the covered van, 2 mobile phones and Tk6,000 in cash from their possession, reads the release. Preliminary inquiries revealed that there are 2 drug cases against the arrestees. A case has been filed against them in the concerned police station, it added.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on Friday said Bangladesh Police has been providing security to the people with professionalism for a long time. "Police are capable of dealing with any situation related to law and order including election duty," he said. The IGP said this while talking to reporters after inaugurating the newly constructed four-storied dormitory building (studio apartment) of city police outpost (studio apartment) and pathological lab at Sunamganj police hospital and laying the foundation stone of police officers' mess building at Sunamganj on Friday morning. He said Bangladesh Police has enough manpower, equipment, logistics and training. So, they are capable of dealing with any situation to uphold law and order in the country. The IGP said police have been able to suppress militancy and terrorism in the country by working together with the zero-tolerance policy of the  Prime Minister. "Police feel proud to serve the people. So, they want to work more for the welfare of the people," he added. Sylhet Range DIG Shah Mizan Shafiur Rahman, Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Zakir Hossain Khan, Sunamganj District Superintendent of Police (promoted to the post of Additional DIG) Mohammad Ehsan Shah were also present.

RAB's intelligence-based drive against the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) is continuing and operations are being launched as soon as any information is received. Commander Arafat Islam, director (legal and media wing), said this in a press conference at Karwan Bazar Media Center on Friday. He said ARSA members are involved in various criminal activities including murder and kidnapping in Rohingya camps. "We conducted several operations and arrested 110 ARSA members and recovered a huge amount of explosives and weapons from their possessions," he informed. Besides on Thursday, RAB busted a ‘den of Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army’ near Ukhiya Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar district and arrested two suspected Rohingya criminals. They were identified as Master Salimullah, 38, chief coordinator and commander of ARSA, and his associate Md Riaz, 27. Both of them are Rohingya citizens. Arafat said they are in close contact with the local police station and related groups to thwart ARSA's activities. "We are tracking them and our intelligence activities against them are continuing," he added.

A seminar titled "Sheikh Hasina's Homecoming: Incredible Development of Communication System" was held today at the Abdus Salam Auditorium of the National Press Club. Organized by the Education, Research, and Development Forum of Bangladesh (ERDFB), the event celebrated the 43rd anniversary of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s return to Bangladesh, according to a press release. The seminar focused on the remarkable advancements in the country's communication infrastructure under Sheikh Hasina’s leadership. The chief guest, Professor Dr Syed Anwar Hossain of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), emphasised the transformative impact of Hasina's return on May 17, 1981. He noted that her leadership has been pivotal in Bangladesh's recognition as a development model globally. Keynote speaker, Professor Dr. Md. Hadiuzzaman from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), highlighted the extensive developments in the communication sector. Under Sheikh Hasina’s government, over 10,000 km of new highways and numerous railway expansions, including the construction of 1,131 new bridges and 14 flyovers, have been completed. These projects have enhanced connectivity and facilitated socio-economic development across the nation. The event was chaired by Professor Dr. Md. Sajjad Hossain, member of the Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) and president of ERDFB. He underscored Bangladesh's progress in the fourth industrial revolution under Sheikh Hasina's leadership, urging students to engage in scientific studies to further this development. Special guests included Professor Dr. Soumitra Shekhar Dey, Vice Chancellor of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Sitesh Chandra Bachar, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University, and Professor Dr. A. R. M. Solaiman, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Maulana Bhasani University of Science and Technology. The seminar underscored the critical role of Sheikh Hasina’s homecoming in propelling Bangladesh towards a future of prosperity and technological advancement.

The body of a 15-year-old boy, who went missing while bathing in the Padma River on Thursday, was recovered from it in Daulatpur upazila of Kushita on Friday morning. Deceased Aslam Hossain was son of Baru Malitha of Bhurka Madhypara Padmar Chara under Marich union of the upazila. Local UP member Monowara Khatun said some 10 to 12 boys including Aslam went to the river to bathe in Bhurka Madhypara Padmar Char area on Thursday afternoon. Accidently, he drowned and went missing, she said, adding that though all searched for him, he could not be found. Autorickshaw driver's body recovered in Mymensingh Divers from Khulna conducted a search operation on Friday morning and retrieved the body from the area where he went missing, the member said. Kushtia’s Bheramara Fire Station Officer Shariful Islam confirmed the matter saying that they will handover the body to police. Later, the body will also be handed over to the family upon completion of legal procedures, he added. Bodies of teenage couple recovered from Gazipur flat