Bangladesh
2 prisoners die at Chattogram jail
Two prisoners died at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital on Sunday.
The deceased were identified as Abdus Shukkur, 60 and Rafiqul Islam, 73.
Jailer Md Emran Hossain Mia of Chattogram Central Jail, said Abdus Shukkur, a resident of Chandgaon Police Station, fell sick around 12:55 am at the central jail.
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Later, he was taken to the hospital where he died around 1:30 am.
Abdus Shukkur was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in a narcotics case on October 17, 2021.
Meanwhile, Rafiqul Islam, an under-trial prisoner and resident of Halisohor area, fell sick on Sunday night. He was also sent to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital where he died in the night.
Rafiqul was arrested in a case filed over a clash between two groups.
Industries can now use LPG as a reliable energy solution: Speakers
Speakers at a seminar have said that many industries can now use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as a reliable energy solution to meet their needs in the nagging gas crisis.
“The price of LPG is flexible and reasonable. If there is some policy support, operators are ready to take the challenge in this regard,” said Azam J Chowdhury, president of LPG Operators Association of Bangladesh (Loab).
The Hydrocarbon Unit, a subordinate body of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division organized the virtual seminar on Monday titled: LPG: An Alternate Energy Solution for Industrial Segment in Bangladesh.
The Loab president said that if the country wants to keep the persistent 7 percent GDP growth, it must promote the LPG to grow its use in industrial and other sectors too as the natural gas alone cannot meet the growing demand.
“We’ve been providing LPG to different industries which have been suffering for the gas crisis. Now, the demand for LPG is growing at 30-40 percent” he added.He said the LPG sector needs some policy support to overcome its challenges.
Read more: 12kg LPG cylinder to cost Tk 46 more
A huge quantity of LPG is transported through river routes where navigation is essential while there must be some cut in taxes and stop allowing industries to collect gas from CNG stations in a risky way, he said.
He said setting up a dedicated deep sea port for LPG import should be top of the agenda to ensure a consistent supply of this petroleum fuel at a reduced cost as the current transport cost is so high.
“The operator cannot import LPG through large vessels over a capacity of 5000 metric tons due to the absence of a dedicated deep sea port,” he said.
Secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division Mahbub Hossain, additional secretary Humayun Kabir, head of marketing of Bashundhara LPG, and CEO of Omera Petroleum Tamzeem Chowdhury spoke on the occasion while Director General of Hydrocarbon Unit Abul Khayer Md. Aminur Rahman moderated the event.
Jakaria Jalal said LPG can be suited for some specific industries depending on the design and its energy consumption.
He said there should be a unified pricing formula for all the available primary options including LPG, LNG and other liquid petroleum.
If the prices of all energy options are variable, then LPG will be much more sustainable, he added.
23,968 people held in special drive across the country
Police in special drives arrested 23,968 people including 72 militants and listed criminals across the country.
Police conducted 33429 special drives from December 1 to December 15, said an official wishing anonymity at police headquarters.
Among the arrestees, 15,968 people have been wanted in several criminal cases while 8000 were held in 5132 cases filed during the drives.
Read more: 11 female Jamaat activists arrested in Chandpur; Court sent all to jail
During the drive police also seized arms and drugs.
Police carried out the operation after the escape of the two militants from the premises of Dhaka court.
Read more: 31 members of mugging gang arrested in capital: Rab
Two members of the banned militant outfit Ansar al-Islam, who were sentenced to death in Jagriti Publications publisher Faisal Arefin Dipan murder case, escaped from the premises of Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate Court (Dhaka CMM Court) on November 21.
The escapees are Md Abu Siddique Sohel alias Sakib alias Sajid alias Shahab and Moinul Hasan Shamim alias Samir alias Sifat alias Imran.
No concert on roads, bars to remain closed for 24 hrs from Dec 31
To prevent misuse of narcotics, bars across the country will remain closed for 24 hours from December 31, 6 pm and no concerts will be allowed on roads and flyovers on that night.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said this on Monday to the media after a meeting on law and order for Christmas Day and 31st night celebrations at the ministry.
This year Christmas Day will be celebrated in 5,682 churches across the country and security measures will be taken for all, said the minister.
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“In large churches we have requested to provide volunteers from the Christian community along with our security forces. Special security and intelligence forces will be deployed in diplomatic zones as most diplomats are Christian. CCTV cameras will be installed and important churches will be swept as done during the VIP movement and dog squads will also be deployed,” added the minister.
He said a special anti-narcotic drive will also be conducted from December 28 to 31.
The minister urged people to not use fireworks, crackers and vuvuzela during the celebrations of 31st night creating panic among people.
When asked whether concerts can be arranged in the field he said it can be done on permission of metropolitan police but on condition of creating no traffic jam.
The minister said there is no threat regarding the celebration. "Militancy was rising but it had been identified beforehand," he said.
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When asked about BNP promising justice for all enforced disappearance, murder, torture for last half decade in their outline of structural reforms of the state, he said they are taking a step in this regard too as it has become people’s demand now.
He said a list of disappeared people during the BNP regime from 2001 to 2006 is being made.
“Freedom fighters, Awami League leaders, activists were killed and fell victim of disappearance during that time. A report has been made in this regard. We also want everything to be investigated,” said Asaduzzaman Khan.
Modern warfare goes beyond guns into digital sphere: Security Experts
Speakers at a discussion have said the concept of warfare is no longer contained between traditional military confrontations; rather it has stretched far beyond the domains of bombs and guns, and expanded into domains such as media, economy and, most prominently, the digital sphere.
Such an important phenomenon, they said, needs to be brought to the limelight to not only get a better understanding of the phenomenon, but also to avert any dangers that may occur due to this.
Major General ANM Muniruzzaman, President of Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) harboured and Zafar Sobhan, Editor of Dhaka Tribune came up with similar sentiments in their opening remarks at the BIPSS-Dhaka Tribune Roundtable titled, “Changing Nature of Conflict: Fighting Hybrid War in the 21st Century” which was held on Sunday at a Dhaka hotel.
The roundtable was attended by diplomats, scholars, security experts, and youth representatives from various disciplines.
Gen Munir said the hybrid war denotes a new time of direct and indirect conflict, with consequences spanning from short term, medium term to long term, often times impossible to comprehend.
Historically, he said, hybrid war has existed for centuries, what has changed is the articulation and sophisticated nature of application of hybrid techniques.
The expert talked about the inception of hybrid warfare, with the proponents of the concept being General James N. Mattis and Frank Hoffman.
Quoting Frank Hoffman, he further elaborated that, hybrid war encompasses a number of factors, including conventional capabilities, irregular tactics, terrorist tactics, coercions etc.
Hybrid warfare is a combination of a multiple activities, notably disinformation, economic manipulation, use of insurgents towards implementing pressure, military actions, and legal actions. It may also include non-state actors with advanced military capabilities.
He cited various recent instances as examples, citing the Israel-Lebanon conflict as one in which Hezbollah acted as a non-state actor. He went on to say that warfare was becoming too smart and complex, but that there was a good combination of political and military strength.
It is non-kinetic warfare, and only the military can now use it.
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The first keynote speaker, Lt Gen Zahirul Alam (retd), said the continuing violence in Syria and the war in Russia and Ukraine as examples.
He added that there were no indication of a resolution to the issues in Palestine, Syria, Libra, or Ukraine.
"In fact, we have not given much thought to how to get out of hybrid warfare. The United Nations has proven to be ineffective in combatting hybrid war. This is a weakness in the global community. UN is helpless when the big powers are involved. The big powers are either creating hybrid warfare or can be blamed for fanning the flames in their own interests."
The second key note speaker of the session, Shafqat Munir, head of Bangladesh Centre for Terrorism Research and Senior Research Fellow at BIPSS, talked about the overall vagueness of hybrid warfare.
He went on to explain that economic coercion can be used as a tactic through media campaigns, social media campaigns, and loans to make a nation weak.
Hybrid warfare also uses disinformation and misinformation as effective weapons, Shafqat said, adding that the public is exposed to an alternate reality, and they begin to take fake news seriously. “The necessity to be vigilant of fake news is therefore obvious.”
He further continued by saying that hybrid warfare also makes use of deception. When hybrid warfare assumes political overtones, it can provide funding to covert subversive organizations, use a number of schisms, sway electoral processes, and other things.
He went on to assert that hybrid threats in the economic realm comprised protracted insurgencies, cyber-warfare, and other expressions.
Former dean of the faculty of science, social science, and liberal arts at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University, Group Captain Zahidul Islam Khan (retd.), discussed how non-rational and irrational forces had previously prevailed over rational ones, but that things had changed in the 20th century.
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Group Captain Zahidul Islam (retd) explained that the integration of all national power forces was necessary to effectively wage a hybrid war.
Hybrid wars frequently lasted a long time, so developing a strategy to combat them required a doctrine, he said, adding that “We need to develop our own doctrine to tackle hybrid war; we must have a systemic and well integrated strategy to counter hybrid warfare.”
Zafar Sobhan said they have always experienced hybrid conflict to some extent.
He said hybrid warfare is more destructive than ever thanks to cyber warfare and technological breakthroughs.
“We still have a ways to go. Bangladesh must be aware of these weaknesses. The vulnerabilities are only likely to increase as we transition to a more cyber connected world,” he said.
Zafar also said, “Technology alone won't render us vulnerable; our society's divisions and profound schisms also play a role. To the extent that we are together, we can overcome the threats we face, thus we need to develop a mindset that emphasizes what keeps us together.”
Dengue: 113 new patients hospitalised in 24 hrs
Another 113 people were hospitalised with dengue in 24 hours till Monday morning.
The total fatalities remained unchanged at 271 as no death was reported during this period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Of the new patients, 66 were admitted to the hospitals of Dhaka and 47 outside it, said DGHS.
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A total of 645 dengue patients, including 350 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
The DGHS has recorded 61,521 dengue cases and 60,605 recoveries so far this year.
Boost food production to avert any crisis: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday reiterated her call to increase food production to save the country from any possible trouble amid the global economic recession due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war.
“We have to increase our production and preserve those so that our country must not plunge into any danger,” she said.
The premier was speaking at the programme marking the 25th founding anniversary of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU) and inauguration of a Technology Exhibition.
The programme was held at the Begum Sufia Kamal Auditorium while the PM joined it virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.
Hasina said that the world is witnessing an economic recession as an impact of coronavirus and war-related sanctions and counter-sanctions by the US-led Western block and Russia.
Read: PM Hasina wonders how leftists could join hands with BNP and Jamaat
“As a result the prices of food items have soared beyond the purchasing capacity of all. Besides, prices of everything including power, fuel and transportation have been increased,” she said.
Talking about the preservation capacity, she said that the government has set up a number of modern silos to stock rice.
“Such godowns are urgently needed for food items being produced here,” she said.
She also said that the government is focusing on the food processing industries in the 100 economic zones that are being set up in different parts of the country by the government.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, Education Minister Dipu Moni, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Giashuddin Miah also spoke.
A documentary on the university was also screened at the programme.
Located at Salna, Gazipur, BSMRAU was established in 1998 as the country’s 13th state-run public university by an ordinance promulgated by the government of Bangladesh.
The prime minister also put emphasis on research on food products to ensure food security in the country.
She asked the authorities concerned along with involved persons to concentrate on producing more oil seeds in the country to reduce the dependency on others.
She said that Bangladesh imports 98 percent of the edible oil it consumes.
“But the mustard oil is the best for health. It can be upgraded through refining. We can do that,” she said.
In this connection she said that there were various types of edible oil seeds in the country.
“We must not be dependent on others. Why will we import from outside. We have to put more attention and do more research on edible oil production from various types of seeds. We have to take initiatives for that,” she said.
The PM said that to save the arable lands of the country the government is setting up 100 economic zones across the country.
She criticised those who during their regimes did not think about saving the arable lands.
She said many arable lands were destroyed through indiscriminate urbanisation, establishment of mills and factories alongside construction of houses.
“We do not want to lose our arable lands anymore. We have taken stern action regarding this,” she said.
She said that the government has put emphasis on research on jute and jute made items to make it more diversified to earn foreign exchange.
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“Jute can be a very important addition to our export basket, we have to put more attention to this item,” she said.
The PM briefly described various steps of the government to improve the agricultural production and thanked the researchers for their utmost sincerity for inventing new varieties.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Huq, Education Minister Dipu Moni, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Md. Giashuddin Miah also spoke.
A documentary on the university was also screened at the programme.
Located at Salna, Gazipur, BSMRAU was established in 1998 as the country’s 13th state-run public university by an ordinance promulgated by the government of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh logs 20 more Covid cases
Bangladesh reported 20 more Covid cases in 24 hours till Monday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,036,948, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,437 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity rose to 0.85 percent from Monday’s 0.65 percent percent as 2,354 samples were tested during the period.
Read more: Bangladesh logs 17 more Covid cases
The mortality rate and the recovery rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent and at 97.54 percent, respectively.
In November, the country reported 10 Covid-linked deaths and 1,345 cases.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.
Process underway to sign deals with Croatia, Serbia over manpower export: Minister
Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad on Monday said a process continues to sign memorandum of understanding (MoUs) with several European countries including Croatia and Serbia in order to export manpower from Bangladesh.
He said this while addressing a function in the conference room of his ministry here in the city, which was arranged to mark the farewell of 30 workers out of 102 intended for going to Romania through Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Ltd (BOESL).
The Minister said the Europe is a potential labuor market for Bangladesh and the rate of labour migration to Europe is constantly increasing.
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He said the process of sending workers to Romania and other European countries will continue through BOESL.
The Minister urged the workers who are willing to go abroad to enhance the reputation of the country by being responsible towards the country and paying attention to responsible behaviour and works.
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Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Dr. Ahmed Munirus Saleheen and other high officials from the ministry, BOESL and the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board were present, said a press release.
11 female Jamaat activists arrested in Chandpur; Court sent all to jail
Police arrested 11 female members of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami from Hajiganj upazila of Chandpur on Sunday night during a secret meeting.
They were arrested from 11th floor of a multistoried building at Paschim Bazar, said Md Nazrul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Hajiganj police station.
A Chandpur court on Monday sent all the arrestees to jail said the OC.
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OC Nazrul said the house owned by a retired deputy assistant agriculture officer was under surveillance on suspicion and the Jamaat members were arrested on allegation of planning anti-state activities.
The owner however remained absconding, he said.
Police seized some materials like books, leaflets, and invitation cards for spreading Jamaat’s ideology during the arrest.
Read more: Arrest warrants issued against Jamaat chief, 11 others in sabotage case
Chandpur town unit Ameer(chief) of Jamaat Shahjahan Mia said the arrestees were all Jamaat members but they were not planning any anti-state activities rather they went to attend a family programme.