United News of Bangladesh

 Leaders of rights-based civil society organizations, coordinated by the Equity and Justice Working Group (EquityBD), on Monday protested the stringent conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on its loan to Bangladesh.  They also urged resistance against IMF advice that undermines the financial interests of ordinary people. They raised the protest at a human chain programme in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka city on Monday. Bangladesh's economy had been relatively stable in recent years, and the government had not required IMF loans for development. However, the global economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine has caused significant economic stress. As a result, Bangladesh's economic reserves fell from $41 billion in 2021 to $19.5 billion in 2023, prompting the government to request a $4.7 billion loan from the IMF last year. The IMF is now in Bangladesh to negotiate the release of its third installment, but their stringent conditions are causing concern. One condition demands the discontinuation of subsidies on electricity, furnace oil, and gas to save dollars. However, the IMF mission is not addressing critical issues like capital flight and money laundering, nor suggesting ways to increase tax revenue. Instead, they recommend increasing indirect taxes, placing a heavier burden on ordinary citizens.  The speakers at the human chain programme highlighted the need to rationalize subsidies and crack down on financial crimes rather than imposing punitive measures on the public. Representatives from various organizations stood in solidarity with EquityBD, including Badrul Alam from Bangladesh Krishok Federation, Iqbal Faruk from Water Keepers, Ibnul Said Rana from NDF, Ziaul Haque Mukta from CSRL, Omour Faruk, and Ferdous Ara Rumee from COAST Foundation. The human chain was moderated by Mustafa Kamal Akanda from EquityBD , while Rezaul Karim Chowdhury from EquityBD presided over the event. In his speech, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury emphasized that subsidies for electricity, oil, and gas are crucial because they benefit the poor and ensure food security through agricultural support.  He criticized the IMF's recommendation to cut subsidies, suggesting instead that the government should focus on reducing capital flight.  Badrul Alam pointed out that the IMF's lack of concern for bankruptcy and capital flight raises questions about their intentions. He suggested that the stringent conditions might undermine food security by discouraging agricultural production. Other speakers also echoed these sentiments.  Iqbal Faruk said that Bangladesh should only accept loans that are free of stringent conditions.  Ibnul Sayed Rana highlighted that the rising costs of agricultural production are dissuading farmers from continuing their work, which could impact the country's food security.  Ziaul Haque Mukta noted that money laundering and capital flight contribute to the high inflation rate and that those responsible should face severe consequences. Omour Faruk explained that Bangladesh carries more than $100 billion in foreign loans, with a per capita loan of BDT $580. Furthermore, about BDT 12,000 crore leaves the country annually due to money laundering and offshore banking.  He also criticized the IMF's suggestion to increase VAT and indirect taxes, which primarily affect the general public.  Ferdous Ara Rumee pointed out that the IMF's proposal for a 15% VAT across all transactions is unfairly burdensome on consumers instead of traders.  She suggested that to generate revenue, the government should focus on taxing the wealthy directly.

In the wake of the fire in the Sundarbans, the Forest Department has formed a committee to assess the loss of biodiversity. Headed by Mihir Kumar Doe, Conservator of Forests of Khulna Region, Divisional Forest Officer of Khulna Management Planning Department was made the member-secretary of the committee, a release said. Other members of the committee are representatives of the Department of Environment; Divisional Forest Officer, Bagerhat, Sundarban East Forest Division; Dr. SM Feroz, Professor of Forestry and Wood Technology discipline of Khulna University; Dr. Swapan Kumar Sarker, Mangrove Ecologist of Aranyak Foundation and Professor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet and representative of Wildlife Conservation Society. Sundarbans fire under control: Home Minister informs Cabinet The committee has been asked to submit a detailed report within the next ten working days assessing the damage to forest resources and biodiversity and making recommendations about the next steps to be taken. Meanwhile, the forest workers put out the scattered small fire and smokes in all the places through team-based own firefighting equipment in Amurbunia patrol post under Chandpai range of Sundarban East Forest Division in Bagerhat district. Although the fire is completely under control, the Forest Department is now constantly monitoring it through drones. Sundarbans fire contained after nearly 30 hours Smoke from the fire was detected three times on Monday by drone monitoring and subsequently quickly extinguished. The area of the fire was 7.9 acres, out of which 5 acres were damaged. In the case of forest fires, the fire also remains deep in the soil in the roots of the trees, which can then re-ignite or smoke after a few hours. Therefore, to avoid any kind of accident, from today till the next three days, the patrol team of the forest department will be responsible for fire monitoring and extinguishing any new fire at any place. Currently, along with the Forest Department, Fire Service and police force members are on duty at the spot. The Fire Service team will also be present at the spot on Tuesday. Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force personnel left the scene as the fire was brought under control. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed and Chief Conservator of Forests Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury are supervising and coordinating the firefighting activities of Sundarbans round the clock.  

After nearly three months, turnover at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) crossed Tk 1,000 crore on Monday.Monday's transactions hit Tk 1,095 crore, up by 34 percent from the previous day. The turnover last crossed Tk 1,000 crore on February 15, when it was Tk 1,074.7 crore. Among the stocks, pharmaceuticals dominated the turnover chart covering 20.68 percent of the total market turnover.The DSEX, the benchmark index of the DSE, extended the winning streak for the fifth consecutive day as it increased 34.95 points, or 0.61 percent, to close the day at 5,727.02. DSE launches online platform for smart management of stocksThe DSES, the index that represents Shariah-compliant companies, rose 10.52 points, or 0.84 percent, to 1,261.50.Similarly, the DS30, which comprises a group of 30 best blue-chip stocks, surged 13.36 points, or 0.66 percent, to 2,046.81.Of the stocks that changed hands at the DSE, 252 went up, 86 declined and 58 did not see any price fluctuation.In its daily market update, UCB Stock Brokerage said non-bank financial institutions, services and real estate and textile sectors closed on positive note while food and allied, life insurance and bank sectors closed in negative territory.  

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Monday informed the Cabinet that the fire in the Sundarbans is under control and the situation will closely be monitored for next few days. He raised the latest update over the Sundarbans fire in the Cabinet meeting held with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at the latter’s office here. Cabinet Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain briefed reporters after the meeting. “The Home Minister informed the Cabinet that the fire in the Sundarbans is under control but he didn’t say that the fire was doused completely as the forest fire is not like normal one,” he said adding that it takes time to declare that the forest fire is extinguished. Turkish navy ship "TCG Kınalıada"to carry out port visit to Ctg on May 7-9 In case of forests, the fire may be seen again after it seems that the fire is extinguished, said the Cabinet Secretary. “So, the situation will closely be monitored for the next few days and then the declaration will be made,” he said. On Saturday afternoon, the fire originated in Latif's Chila area near Amurbunia forest in Chadpai range of eastern Sundarbans in Bagerhat. According to the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence, it is a bushfire. It has affected a two square-kilometre area, and spots of flames could be seen in different places. Dhaka calls for holding Israel accountable for war crimes, crimes against humanity Some 55 members of the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence and 250 volunteers were deployed to put out the fire. Besides, the navy, air force, coast guard, forest department, police and local administration joined the operation.

Narayanganj resident Mohammad Munna, has become the first winner of a trip to Makkah and Madinah by conducting a financial transaction through Nagad Islamic. He made an “Add Money” transaction to his Nagad Islamic account from his bank account and was rewarded with this trip, said a press release. Recently, Islamic Scholar Muhammad Badruzzaman, founder and CEO of Holy Tune, presented him with the trip documents in front of Munna’s house in Narayanganj’s Jalkuri neighborhood. Nagad partners with Pran-RFL Group to foster greater operational efficiency From the get-go, Nagad Islamic has launched various attractive campaigns for Islamic enthusiasts. In continuation, this time, it came up with a campaign during the holy month of Ramadan, offering a pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah. By using the Nagad Islamic app or dialing *167#, customers could qualify for this holy trip by making any transactions – be it mobile recharge or payments or add-money from banks or cards – with no minimum limit. The only eligibility requirement was to be a Nagad Islamic user and have an active account. Under this campaign, several Nagad Islamic users will get an opportunity to go on Makkah and Madinah tour, with Mohammad Munna being the first recipient. Munna, a resident of Jalkuri village in Siddhirganj Upazila of Narayanganj, has been involved in carpentry work since childhood. None of their family members engage in interest-based transactions, so they exclusively use Shariah-compliant mobile financial service Nagad Islamic. Nagad hands over promised Tk 20 lakh to BPL champions Barishal Munna expressed his excitement, saying, “We have been maintaining an Islamic lifestyle since childhood. That’s why I only use Nagad Islamic app and make all payments and purchases. By using this, I have been qualified for this gift.” “My childhood dream was to make a visit to Makkah and Madinah. Allah has given me this opportunity through Nagad. I am very grateful to Nagad for this. If Allah wills, I will send my parents for Umrah after this,” he added. Nagad, as the country’s first and only mobile financial service provider, has introduced Nagad Islamic separately. The company’s Islamic accounts are operated under the supervision of a Shariah Supervisory Committee. Through the Nagad Islamic accounts, customers can easily manage their own savings in a completely interest-free and Shariah-compliant manner, upholding their religious values and principles. The funds in this account are always kept in banks involved in Islamic banking, ensuring that customers do not engage in any interest-bearing transactions forbidden in Islam.

At least 15 people died from heatstroke in 14 days till Sunday (May 05, 2024).The Health Emergency Operation Center and Control Room (HEOC & CR) of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) confirmed the deaths. The DGHS reported the fatalities from the information it received at its control room till Sunday.Besides, one person died and three people suffered injuries due to heatstroke across the country in the past 24 hours till Monday morning. ‘Very severe heat wave’ grips 7 districts, says BMDThe DGHS started recording heatstroke related deaths from April 22.A mild to very severe heat wave swept through the country for about a month staring from first week of April. Later the temperature started to fall across the country after rains in the first week of the current month.The heat wave also forced the government to shut the primary and secondary schools, colleges and madrashas till May 2.Strategies for Cooling Your Roof During Intense Summer Heat

As student protests advocating for Palestinian statehood gain momentum worldwide, universities in Bangladesh today saw the largest solidarity rallies.  Organized by the Bangladesh Students’ League (BSL), the event marked a significant moment of support against the brutalities by Israeli forces. The rallies, simultaneously held on various campuses after 11 am, saw the national flags of Bangladesh and Palestine being raised in unity. The event attracted thousands of students, showcasing the overwhelming support for BSL's initiative. At Dhaka University, the solidarity event centered around the Raju Sculpture, where BSL central unit president and general secretary delivered speeches. Students across the campus carried placards and banners with messages such as "Free Palestine, stop the genocide," amplifying their call for action. PM administers oath to newly elected Lalmonirhat Zila Parishad chairman  The rally at Dhaka University commenced with the anthem of Palestine, leading into a series of songs symbolizing the Palestinian freedom struggle. BSL General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Inan conducted the event, which featured speeches from leaders of various BSL units and Palestinian students.

No one will be spared involved in the wrongdoing of Milton Samaddar, founder of charity organisation ‘Child and Old Age Care’, Harun-or-Rashid, Additional Commissioner and Chief of Detective Branch has said. "We are investigating all the allegations against Milton Samader and no one associated with him will be spared," he said. He said these in response to questions from reporters at a press conference at Minto Road in the capital on Monday afternoon. He also said that Milton used to earn money by making videos with those staying in his Old Age Care but he did not spend this money for them. Milton placed on 4-day remand in human trafficking case Milton had many associates across the country who brought sick children, and old and paralysed people to his Child and Old Age Care Centre. The relatives of those people abandoned them and taking this opportunity,  Milton did not inform the police station when someone died and did not take them to the hospital for treatment, the DB chief stated. "Hopefully, we will get more information from him," he said. DB police arrested Milton from Mirpur area of Dhaka on Wednesday. This followed a storm of criticism and discussion triggered by an investigative report published in a daily newspaper. Now Milton Samaddar’s wife called for interrogation to DB office The report claimed that Milton, who had been recognized for his public service through various awards, was allegedly involved in significant wrongdoing. While his social media profile publicized his work in building an old age home for the helpless and providing shelter to the homeless, more sinister allegations have surfaced. Allegations included the illegal trade of human organs, specifically pointing to the cutting and selling of kidneys.

At least two people died when a bus hit a pickup van in the capital's Jatrabari area in the small hours on Monday. The deceased were pickup van driver Babul Chishti, 45, son of Abdur Rashid Akand of Samant Saha village in Shariatpur and Kabir Hossain, 50, son of Abdur Rashid Bepari of Singhdhala village under Vedarganj police station in the same district. Probe committee formed over Sundarbans fire They used to live in a rented house in Mridhabari area of Matuail. The accident occurred when the pickup van tried to take a U-turn on Dhaka-Chattogram highway around 2:00am, leaving two people critically injured, Jatrabari police station Sub-Inspector (SI) Abu Sayem said. They were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where Babul was declared dead upon arrival. Later, Kabir Hossain succumbed to his injuries early morning while undergoing treatment there. 3 killed in truck, autorickshaw collision in Noakhali Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), said the bodies were kept in the morgue of the hospital's emergency department. The concerned police station was informed of the matter, he added.  

Newly elected chairman of Lalmonirhat Zila Parishad Abu Bakar Siddique Shymal took oath on Monday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina administered the oath at a ceremony held in her office. BMD forecasts rains across country At the oath-taking ceremony, the premier asked the public representatives to work for fulfilling the public expectations keeping the demands of the people in mind, said PM's Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon. She put emphasis on maintaining coordination at the local level to meet public expectations. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam and PM's Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah were present at the event conducted by Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim. Bangladesh Bank dissolves National Bank Board again On April 03, Abu Bakar Siddique Shymal was elcted the chairman of Lalmonirhat Zila Parishad by-elections.