United News of Bangladesh

A court here on Thursday granted bail to Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus in a case over embezzling Tk 25.22 crore of the Grameen Telecom Workers' welfare fund. The hearing date for forming charges against Dr. Yunus and 13 other accused in the case has been postponed to June 2. Dr. Yunus's lawyer Abdullah Al Mamun confirmed the development. Today was the date for the hearing, but the court granted more time after Yunus’s lawyer appealed for time. The 13 other  accused in the case are Grameen Telecom MD Nazmul Islam, Director Ashraful Hasan, former MD Parveen Mahmood, Director, Najnin Sultana, Shahjahan, Noorjahan Begum, and S. M. Hazzatul Islam Latifi, all serving as directors, along with Advocate Yusuf Ali, Advocate Zaforul Hasan Sharif, Mo. Kamruzzaman, President of the Union of Gramin Telecom Employees, Firoz Mahmud Hasan, General Secretary Kamrul Hasan, office secretary of the Employees' Union office, and representative Mainul Islam. Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Parvin Mahmud are currently on bail, while arrest warrants have been issued against the remaining 12 individuals. Gulshan Anwar, the Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), filed the case as the primary complainant on May 30, 2023.  

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital, was shifted to a cabin from the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) on Thursday. "Madam was previously in the CCU. The medical board has now shifted her to the cabin. She is receiving treatment under the close supervision of doctors in the cabin," Khaleda's personal physician Prof AZM Zahid Hossain told UNB. In response to a question, Zahid said the BNP chief underwent several urgent tests on Wednesday night. “Based on the test reports, the medical board is now giving her medical treatment.” Khaleda Zia hospitalised again Earlier on Wednesday night, Khaleda was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital and placed in the CCU following the advice of the medical board. Since her conditional release from prison in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving medical care at the hospital under the supervision of a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder. The 78-year-old former prime minister has long been battling various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and issues related to the kidney, lung, heart, and eyes. Khaleda's physicians have been advocating for her treatment abroad since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November 2021. Khaleda Zia taken to Evercare Hospital for check-up On October 26 last year, three US specialist doctors performed the hepatic procedure known as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS procedure) to alleviate fluid accumulation in Khaleda Zia’s abdomen and chest, as well as to address bleeding in her liver.    

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked the country’s leftist parties who they want to bring to power by ousting her. “The leftists have turned by 90 degrees. Well, they want to oust me. But could they determine who would come next? It is my question. Who would come to power and who would work for the country? But it is not clear who they want to bring,” she said. The premier said this while addressing a press conference arranged at her official residence Ganabhaban on the outcome of her recent six-day visit to Thailand. Replying to a question, she said since it is not clear whom the leftists want to bring in power next, none of them don’t get response from the people. She said yes, movement is being carried out. Staying in a foreign land as a fugitive, someone is doing movement as well as giving orders online everyday thanks to Digital Bangladesh made by her government, she added. “Let those who are waging a movement do it. We at least are not hindering it,” she said. PM Hasina blasts US for police action against students protesting Israeli genocide in Palestine Criticising the US style to curb ongoing demonstrations against Israeli aggression on Palestine, the PM said Bangladesh may now stop the movement here following the American style. “I think our police now can follow the American police. We asked them (Bangladesh Police) to show patience,” she said, adding that their member was beaten to death in October 2023. “So, our police can take measures to curb movement in American style,” she went on. Citing different incidents of human rights violation in the USA, Hasina said the USA should pay attention to it as the human rights are being breached regularly in their country and the common people are getting killed. “They should tackle their internal issue first,” she said pointing at the US. Replying to another question, the prime minister said her government’s goal is to make the ongoing upazila election a meaningful one. In this context, she said a good number of political parties boycott elections as they have no capacity to run in the polls. “Why do they boycott elections? The reason is that they actually don’t have capacity to compete in the elections,” said Hasina, also the President of ruling Bangladesh Awami League. In case of the parliamentary election, a political party needs to inform the people about who would be their leader or the prime minister, if it is elected, she said. “If you don’t have a proper leader, then you look for excuse for boycotting the election,” she said adding that the boycotting election sounds a big matter to them. “If you present a convicted and fugitive accused (as the leader) before the people, the people won’t accept it. If anyone does politics, the person needs to take risk,” she said, not mentioning the name of BNP leader Tarique Rahman, now living in London. Noting that some political parties asked the people not to go to polling stations, she said media should talk against the interference in exercising voting rights. Not naming any political party, but obviously referring to BNP, she said those who are now crying for democracy and the voting rights of the people have forgotten that once they had stolen the voting rights of the people. AL ensured a smooth graduation of Bangladesh to a developing country: PM Hasina tells ALCWC In reply to another question, the PM said the 12th parliamentary election was held on January 7, 2024 in the most free, impartial, fair manners, ensuring the voting rights of people for the first time since 1975. Responding to a question over the AL-led 14 party alliance, she said still the alliance is surely there. The alliance will remain in future and she would meet the leaders of the 14-party combine soon, she said. Hasina said Awami League has a plan to celebrate its 75th founding anniversary in a massive scale this year. PM’s Speechwriter Md Nazrul Islam conducted the press conference. The prime minister returned to Bangladesh on April 29 after concluding her visit, which began on April 24 at the invitation of her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin.  

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said that old age allowance is not adequately meeting the needs of the poorest of the poor in Bangladesh, and more resource allocation is required.  “We did a survey in Bangladesh quite recently. One key critical issue that Bangladesh has to address is that the old age allowance is not meeting the [needs of] poorest of the poor. The coverage is still below 50 percent,” Senior ADB Economist Aiko Kikkawa told UNB while responding to a question during a media briefing on Thursday.  Acknowledging that Bangladesh is in the right direction to address the issue, the author of the report “Aging Well in Asia: Asian Development Policy Report,” released on Thursday by the ADB at its 57th annual meeting, said the government of Bangladesh can do a bit more to improve that. “That is exactly what they are doing, I think.” The Bangladesh government, the ADB economist said, probably has to find better ways to target and identify the poor, so that they will be able to distribute those funds.  “Currently we have also identified that resources are not enough to meet the demand for the older people. So resource allocation has to be done well,” she said.  The economist noted that different governments have different programs. ADB's Chief Economist Albert Park said, “We need good data to analyze all of these questions to understand different circumstances.” Developing Asia is aging rapidly, reflecting its success, but the region remains unprepared to secure old-age well-being, ADB said. Challenges for older Asians include a growing burden of lifestyle diseases, a lack of decent jobs, limited access to essential services such as health and long-term care, low pension coverage, and increasing isolation and loneliness. The gender dimension of aging needs greater attention. Policies must address the increased vulnerability of older women while meeting the unmet needs of all women to age well. Comprehensive aging policies can foster lifetime investment in one's own health, education, skills, financial preparedness for retirement, and family and social ties will foster healthy and productive cohorts of older people and maximize their contribution to economy and society, ADB said. Early investment is key for Asia to harness its silver dividend, said the ADB economists. The number of people aged 60 and older in developing Asia and the Pacific is set to nearly double by 2050 to 1.2 billion—or about a quarter of the total population—significantly increasing the need for pension and welfare programs as well as health care services, said the new report. At the same time, economies have an opportunity to reap a “silver dividend” in the form of additional productivity from older people, which could boost gross domestic product in the region by 0.9% on average, said the Asian Development Bank (ADB). “Asia and the Pacific’s rapid development is a success story, but it’s also fueling a huge demographic shift, and the pressure is rising,” said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park.  “Governments need to prepare now if they’re going to be able to help hundreds of millions of people in the region age well. Policies should support lifetime investment in health, education, skills, and financial preparedness for retirement,” he said, adding that family and social ties are also important to foster healthy and productive populations of older people and maximize their contribution to society.” Developing Asia and the Pacific is unprepared to secure the well-being of its rapidly aging population as the growing share of older people in the region faces challenges from low pension coverage to health problems, social isolation, and limited access to essential services, according to the multilateral development bank. While longer lifespans reflect the region’s development success, comprehensive policy reforms are urgently needed to support the welfare of older people, according to "Aging Well in Asia: Asian Development Policy Report." According to the report, 40% of people over age 60 in Asia and the Pacific lack access to any form of pension—with women disproportionately affected, as they are more likely to do unpaid domestic work.  As a result, many older people in the region have no choice but to work well beyond retirement age to survive.  Among those still working at age 65 or older, 94% work in the informal sector, which typically doesn’t provide basic labor protections or pension benefits. Physical and mental health challenges also increase with age.  Around 60% of older people in Asia and the Pacific do not attend or receive regular health checks, while 31% report depressive symptoms owing to illness, social isolation, and economic insecurity.  Older women in the region are also more likely than older men to suffer from ill health, from depression to diabetes and hypertension.  The report recommended a wide range of policy measures to support healthy and economically secure aging.  Among these are government-assisted health insurance and pension plans, improved health infrastructure, and free annual check-ups and lifestyle evaluations.  Policy makers should aim for universal health care coverage, while basic labor protections should be extended to older informal workers, according to the report. By making mandatory retirement ages more flexible, helping older people stay healthy, and providing them with suitable work opportunities as well as lifelong learning and skills development, economies in the region can help older people stay productive longer.  

The bodies of eight Bangladeshi nationals who died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe and subsequently drowned near the coast of Tunisia arrived in the country on Thursday noon.A flight carrying the carcasses landed the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 12:30 pm.On February 14, a boat, carrying 52 passengers and a sailor from the coast of Zuwarah on its way to Europe, sank off the Tunisian coast, leaving nine people dead. Bodies of 8 Bangladeshis who died in Tunisia boat capsize to arrive todayForty-four people were rescued alive after the boat capsized.Among the 44 survivors, 27 are Bangladeshis, eight from Pakistan, five from Syria, three from Egypt and the boat man.Among the nine fatalities, eight were identified as Bangladeshis and one as a Pakistani national.The deceased were identified as Sajal Boiragi, Noyon Biswas, Mamun Sheikh, Sajib Kazi, Rifat Sheikh, Imrul Kayes, Md Kaiser, Apon and Russel Sheikh from Madaripur and Gopalganj districts.Meanwhile, a case was filed with the Airport Police Station.Police arrested two people in this connection.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) forecast rain or thundershowers in parts of the country inclduing Dhaka in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Thursday. “Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely at a few places over Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places over Dhaka, Mymensingh and Barishal divisions with hails at isolated places,” said a Met office bulletin. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country. Meanwhile, a very severe heat wave is sweeping Jashore, Khulna, Chuadanga, Pabna and Rajshahi districts and severe heat wave is scorching  Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalgonj and parts of Khulna division, it said. The heat wave may abate from some places over the eastern part of the country. Day temperature may fall slightly over western part and it may fall by 1-2 °C elsewhere over the country. Night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.    

River ports Noakhali and Chattogram have been asked to hoist cautionary signal No 1 due to possible inclement weather. According to the bulletin of Bangladesh Metrological Department, in association with rain or thundershowers temporary west or north westerly gusty or squally wind speed 45-60 kph is likely in the regions of Noakhali and Chattogram. Rain brings relief in Port City

The number of people aged 60 and above in developing Asia and the Pacific is set to nearly double by 2050 to 1.2 billion—or about a quarter of the total population—significantly increasing the need for pension and welfare programs as well as healthcare services, said a new report on Thursday (May 02, 2024). At the same time, economies have an opportunity to reap a “silver dividend” in the form of additional productivity from older people, which could boost gross domestic product in the region by 0.9% on average, said the Asian Development Bank (ADB). “Asia and the Pacific’s rapid development is a success story, but it’s also fueling a huge demographic shift, and the pressure is rising,” said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park.  “Governments need to prepare now if they’re going to be able to help hundreds of millions of people in the region age well. Policies should support lifetime investment in health, education, skills, and financial preparedness for retirement. Family and social ties are also important to foster healthy and productive populations of older people and maximize their contribution to society.” Developing Asia and the Pacific is unprepared to secure the well-being of its rapidly aging population as the growing share of older people in the region face challenges from low pension coverage to health problems, social isolation, and limited access to essential services, according to the multilateral development bank. ADB, WTO strengthen collaboration for sustainable economic growth in Asia-Pacific region While longer lifespans reflect the region’s development success, comprehensive policy reforms are urgently needed to support the welfare of older people, according to “Aging Well in Asia: Asian Development Policy Report,” released on Thursday by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at its 57th Annual Meeting. According to the report, 40% of people over age 60 in Asia and the Pacific lack access to any form of pension—with women disproportionately affected, as they are more likely to do unpaid domestic work.  As a result, many older people in the region have no choice but to work well beyond retirement age to survive.  Among those still working at age 65 or older, 94% work in the informal sector, which typically doesn’t provide basic labor protections or pension benefits. Physical and mental health challenges also increase with age.  FBCCI urges govt policy to facilitate backward linkage industries Around 60% of older people in Asia and the Pacific do not attend or receive regular health checks, while 31% report depressive symptoms owing to illness, social isolation, and economic insecurity.  Older women in the region are also more likely than older men to suffer from ill health, from depression to diabetes and hypertension.  The report recommended a wide range of policy measures to support healthy and economically secure aging.  Among these are government-assisted health insurance and pension plans, improved health infrastructure, and free annual check-ups and lifestyle evaluations.  Policy makers should aim for universal healthcare coverage, while basic labor protections should be extended to older informal workers, according to the report. By making mandatory retirement ages more flexible, helping older people stay healthy, and providing them with suitable work opportunities as well as lifelong learning and skills development, economies in the region can help older people stay productive longer. Read more: Developing Asian economies’ growth expected to be sustained at 4.9% this year and the next, ADB President says ahead of Annual Meeting

The bodies of eight Bangladeshi nationals who died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe and subsequently drowned near the coast of Tunisia will arrive in the country this afternoon. According to a Facebook post by the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the coffins, transported via Saudia Airlines, are scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 12:15 pm on May 2. On Tuesday, in the presence of Bangladesh's Ambassador to Libya and non-resident envoy to Tunisia, Major General (Retd.) Abul Hasnat Mohammad Khairul Bashar, embassy officials transferred the bodies to the authorities at Tunis International Airport. Hasan Mahmud to attend OIC Summit in Gambia Following the tragic incident on the night of February 14, officials at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli worked closely with Tunisia's Foreign Ministry and local authorities to manage the forensic identification, confirmation of identities through domestic agencies, issuance of death and medical certificates, and coordination of the repatriation process. The Foreign Ministry's Africa Wing coordinated inter-ministerial efforts to facilitate the repatriation of the bodies, with assistance from the ministries of home, law, and funds from the Expatriates Welfare Ministry. Among the deceased are Sajal, Noyon Biswas, Mamun Sheikh, Kazi Sajib, and Kaiser Khalifa from Madaripur district, and Rifat, Russel, and Imrul Kayes from Gopalganj district. A boat, carrying 52 passengers and a sailor from the coast of Zuwarah on its way to Europe, sank off the Tunisian coast. Out of the 44 survivors, 27 are Bangladeshis, with others from Pakistan (8), Syria (5), and Egypt (4). Among the nine fatalities, eight were identified as Bangladeshis and one as a Pakistani national. Read more: Bangladesh, Austria agree to conclude MoU on migration, mobility

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital on Wednesday night. “Madam (Khaleda) has been brought to the hospital for some urgent tests. He has been admitted to the Critical Care Unit (CCU) as per the advice of the medical board,” her personal physician Prof AZM Zahid Hossain told reporters around 9:30 pm. Khaleda Zia taken to Evercare Hospital for check-up “The medical board will meet at night and decide the next course of action for her treatment,” he added. Khaleda Zia was taken to Evercare Hospital in the evening for health check-up. Khaleda will have health check-up at Evercare Hospital this evening    Earlier on March 31, the BNP chairpersons was admitted to the hospital and stayed there for two days for some pathological tests and regular examinations. Since her conditional release from jail in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder. Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with the condition that she stay in her Gulshan house and not leave the country. That has since been extended multiple times to keep her out of jail. Khaleda’s doctors have been recommending sending her abroad since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November 2021. On October 26 last year, three US specialist doctors completed the hepatic procedure known as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS procedure) to stop water accretion in Khaleda Zia’s stomach and chest, and bleeding in her liver.