Bangladesh
IGP Abdullah Al-Mamun gets extension
The government on Monday extended the appointment of Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, Inspector General of Police (IGP), for one and a half years.
The Public Administration Ministry issued a notification in this regard on Monday.
Abdullah’s new tenure will begin on January 12, 2023 and will expire on July 11, 2024, or from his date of joining in continuation of his current contract, according to the notification.
Al-Mamun took over as IGP on September 30, 2022 by replacing Benazir Ahmed.
New law in the offing to appoint HC judges: Law Minister
The government is working on enacting a law for appointment of high court judges and it will be landed in Parliament within a few days.
Law Minister Anisul Huq made the announcement while replying to opposition Jatiya Party and Gonoforum MPs during discussion on the passage of the 'Bangladesh Supreme Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Privileges) Bill-2023.”
During participation on the passage of the Bill, JP and Gonoforum MPs demanded that the government enacts a much-desired law on the appointment of judges at the higher court.
Gonoforum MP elected from Sylhet, Mokabbir Khan, said according to the Constitution, the president now appoints judges to the High Court.
“In the case of appointment of judges, disqualification is mentioned, but eligibility criteria are not mentioned. In this case, if a specific law is made for the appointment of judges, there will be no opportunity to question the appointment,” he said.
JP MP elected from Sunamganj, Pir Fazlur Rahman, said that there was no law on the appointment of an Election Commissioner.
“Last year this law was passed, and a new Election Commission was formed based on the law.”
Similarly, he said, the appointment of the High Court Judges was also supposed to be enacted. But it hasn't happened yet.
“In many cases, appointments are made on political consideration,” he added.
Fakhrul Imam, another JP MP elected from Mymensingh, also made the same demand.
Later, Law Minister Anisul Haq said he can assure that the government is working to enact a law on the appointment of judges.
“I will be able to place the Bill in this regard within a few days,” he also said.
The HC judges are now being appointed as per article 95(2) of the Constitution.
The Article says the candidate must be a citizen of Bangladesh and have the experience of practising as a Supreme Court advocate for at least 10 years; or have held judicial office in Bangladesh for at least 10 years; or have such qualifications as may be prescribed by law for appointment as a judge of the High Court.
Different quarters have long been demanding a guideline to bring transparency and competitiveness in the recruitment process.
Bangabandhu’s ‘Homecoming Day’ to be observed Tuesday
Bangladesh Awami League will observe the historic ‘Homecoming Day’ of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Tuesday.
The programmes will begin with hoisting of the national and party flags at the AL central office, Bangabandhu Bhaban, and its party offices across the country at 6:30 am on Tuesday, said a party press release.
The Awami League leaders will pay the homage by placing wreaths at the portrait of the Father of the Nation in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi in Dhaka on Tueaday morning.
At 11 am, an AL delegation will pay respect to the undisputed leader of the nation by placing wreaths at his grave in Tungipara.
The AL delegation will include its presidium member Lt Col Muhammad Faruk Khan, central committee members - Awowar Hossain, Shabuddin Farazi Iqbal Hossain Apu, Marufa Akter Popy, Gloria Sarkar Jharana.
On the occasion, a discussion will be held on a limited scale at the party's central office in the city's Bangabandhu Avenue at 3.30 pm, maintaining the health safety guidelines while Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina will preside over the event.
Read more: AL chalks out programmes to observe Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day
Besides, all district, city, upazila, thana, union and ward level units of the AL, its associate and likeminded bodies will organise similar programmes to observe the day in a befitting manner.
In a statement, AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader urged all party leaders and workers and its associate and likeminded bodies to observe all the programmes, marking the Bangabandhu's Homecoming Day in a befitting manner.
Bangabandhu, the undisputed leader of the nation and supreme commander of the country's Liberation War, returned to the sacred soil of independent Bangladesh via London and New Delhi on January 10 in 1972, after 290 days of confinement in Pakistan jail.
Read more: Bangabandhu's Homecoming Day observed
Many jetties vacant at Ctg seaport; may cause revenue loss
At least seven of the 18 jetties remained vacant in the Chittagong Seaport at the start of the new year due to a decline in container throughput.
Port officials said on Monday vessels can currently enter the jetty without waiting at the outer anchorage. Earlier, vessels had to wait for several days.
They say it could cause revenue losses for the port authorities and the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
The decline is due to a decrease in import cargo flow. Although port users are reaping some short-term benefits because vessel congestion used to be a major impediment to container unloading.
As the jetties have remained nearly empty, the average waiting time and cost of transportation of export goods have decreased.
However, shipping agents are worried that this can eventually lead to a crisis in the long run. Port users are also worried about an impending problem.
Also Read: Master operator of Ctg Port in ACC's scanner
Port officials said that a decrease in vessel arrivals over the last few days was mostly caused by the use of new machinery.
Chattogram Port Director (Transport) Enamul Karim said, the main reason for the decreased waiting time is the port's increased efficiency.
“Container handling has sped up. So, we have to wait at least a month to determine if vessel unloading has decreased.” he said.
Captain Tanveer Hossain, Chief Operating Officer of Saif Powertec, the terminal operator of Chittagong Seaport, told UNB that container handling has sped up due to the addition of modern machinery.
“Even a year ago, vessels had to wait for days. Now, vessels can depart faster.”
He did, however, also point out a decline in vessel arrivals as a result of the ongoing world economic crisis.
Syed Mohammad Arif, Chairman of Bangladesh Shipping Agents Association, told UNB that port users' hassle has lessened due to the addition of modern machinery.
“However, if the current situation continues, there is a high risk of future decline.” he concluded.
The port faced negative growth in container throughput in 2022 due to the decline in container handling. Some 31.42 lakh TEUs of containers were unloaded at the port last year, which was over 72,000 TEUs less in 2021. A dramatic fall in imports due to the global economic crisis caused the decrease.
Dengue: 1 dies, 20 more patients hospitalised in 24 hrs
One person died and twenty people were hospitalized with dengue in the 24 hours till Monday morning.
Of the new patients, nine were admitted to the hospitals in Dhaka and 11 outside it, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
A total of 170 dengue patients, including 57 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country
So far, DGHS recorded 289 dengue cases and 118 recoveries this year with one death.
Also Read: Dengue: 27 more patients hospitalised in 24 hrs
The country reported 281 deaths from the mosquito-borne disease last year, the highest ever dengue fatalities recorded in a single year in Bangladesh. The previous record of 179 deaths was reported in 2019.
The DGHS has recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries in the past year.
Cabinet clears policy to fix minimum and maximum prices of agricultural goods
The Cabinet on Monday cleared the draft of the National Agricultural Marketing Policy, 2023 in order to modernise the marketing system and ensure the highest benefits for the farmers through different measures including fixation of minimum and maximum rational prices for the agricultural goods.
The approval came from the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office.
“The policy has been designed incorporating some goals and targets in a bid to modernise the marketing system of agricultural goods,” said cabinet secretary Mahbub Hossain while briefing reporters at Bangladesh Secretariat after the meeting.
He said the policy focuses on how the market of agricultural goods can be monitored and the farmers can be given the highest benefits.
“Steps will be taken to fix and implement the minimum and maximum rational prices of agricultural goods,” he said.
Also Read: Undisbursed portion of agriculture and rural loans will be disbursed to farmers by Bangladesh Bank body
Other steps which will be taken as per the policy include enhancing links between the farmers and markets, strengthening information management, improving marketing infrastructures, promoting digital markets, strengthening community-based, group-based and contract-based marketing, promoting e-agricultural marketing system and digital markets, and developing the overall supply chain, he said.
During the approval of the policy, the Prime Minister directed to design an agricultural goods-processing policy with a view to modernising the sector, maintaining international standards of products and thus promoting the export of processed goods, said the cabinet secretary.
He said the directive came as the markets for Bangladeshi processed agricultural goods have created worldwide as Bangladeshi diaspora communities use the goods and foreign people are also showing interest to the commodities.
The PM also directed to consider jute goods as agricultural ones saying that the jute sector should get all sorts of facilities entitled for the agricultural sector.
Jute goods have been treated as industrial products. But now the use of jute fiber has enhanced massively and created a huge prospect for the goods locally and internationally. So, now jute goods need to be considered as agricultural ones to unlock this huge prospect, said Mahbub Hossain.
The Cabinet also approved in principle the draft of the Sheikh Hasina Agricultural University Act, 2023 to establish the country’s 9th agricultural university in Shariatpur. “It will be an institute like the existing agricultural universities,” said Mahbub Hossain.
Besides, the Cabinet cleared the draft of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Amendment) Act, 2023 in a bid to replace an existing ordinance that paved the way for the government to adjust the prices of gas and electricity without public hearings.
On December 1, 2022, the “Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (amendment) Ordinance, 2022” was promulgated amending the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Act-2003. The new ordinance was placed in Parliament on January 5.
“This ordinance is now being turned into an act. No change was made here. It is the same as the ordinance,” said the top bureaucrat.
Bangladesh registers 17 more Covid-19 cases
Bangladesh registered 17 more Covid cases in 24 hours till Monday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,037,284, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,440 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity dropped to 0.72 per cent from Sunday's 0.84 per cent as 2,370 samples were tested during the period.
REad: Children aged 5-11 get Covid jabs on trial basis
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent while recovery rate slightly increased to 97.62 per cent, it added.
In December last year, the country reported seven Covid-linked deaths and 540 cases.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 in 2021 and daily fatalities of 264 on August 5 the same year.
JS passes Bill replacing 1982 Ordinance for SC judges
The ‘Bangladesh Supreme Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Privileges) Bill, 2023’ was placed in Parliament on Monday with a provision of a monthly special allowance of Tk 70,000 for a retired chief justice.
Law minister Anisul Huq moved the Bill and it was passed by voice vote.
As per the Bill, a “Chief Justice” means the Chief Justice of Bangladesh while “Judge” means a Judge of Appellate Division and High Court Division of the Supreme Court and includes the Chief Justice and Additional Judges.
The special allowance will be given to meet expenses such as paying for domestic help, car driver, house guard and maintenance of office-cum-residence.
The draft law was brought to formulate a law repealing an ordinance of the military regime as per a judgment of the High Court.
The proposed law will replace the Supreme Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Privileges) Ordinance, 1982.
It says the leave granted to a judge may, at his option, be either- leave on full salary; or leave on half salary; or leave partly on full salary and partly on half salary.
For the purpose of this part, any period of leave on full salary shall be reckoned as double the period of leave on half salary.
The aggregate amount of leave granted to a judge during the whole period of service as such shall not exceed, in terms of leave on half salary, 36 months.
Read more: JS passes Bangladesh Oil, Gas and Mineral Corporation Bill, 2022
The period of leave granted at any one time shall not exceed, in the case of leave on full salary.
The monthly rate of leave salary payable to a judge while on leave on full salary shall be equal to the monthly rate of his salary.
The monthly rate of leave salary payable to a Judge while on leave on half salary shall be equal to half the monthly rate of his salary.
A judge shall be entitled to draw his leave salary in Bangladeshi currency only.
A judge shall, on his retirement, resignation or removal, be paid a pension in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance if he or she has- completed not less than five years of service for pension and attained the retiring age; or completed not less than ten years of service for pension and, before attaining the retiring age, resigned; or completed not less than five years of service for pension and, before attaining the retiring age, either resigned, his resignation having been medically certified to be necessitated by ill health, or been removed for physical or mental incapacity.
The chief justice will get Tk 4.50 lakh as injury gratuity and Tk 1.50 lakh for annual pension while the amount for both is Tk 4.50 and Tk 1.40 lakh respectively for justice or additional justice.
Read more: 21st Parliament session to continue till Feb 9
The chief justice will get Tk 5 lakh as family gratuity and Tk 1.40 lakh for annual pension while the amount for both is Tk 4 lakh and Tk 1.20 lakh respectively for justice or additional justice.
The children of justices will get Tk 20,000 if the mother is not alive while Tk 12,000 if the mother is alive.
We support calls for “thorough, transparent investigation” over Bangladeshi-American student's death: US Embassy
The US Embassy in Dhaka has extended its condolences to the family and loved ones of Bangladeshi-American student of University of Massachusetts, Sayed Faisal.
US Embassy Spokesperson Jeff Ridenour released a statement in this regard today.
He said they support “calls for a thorough and transparent investigation” by the District Attorney’s Office.
Earlier, a human chain was formed in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, demanding justice for the "killing" of Sayed Faisal.
Also Read: Killing of Bangladeshi-American in US: Human chain in front of MoFA demands justice
The protest took place when US National Security Council’s Senior Director for South Asia Rear Admiral Eileen Laubacher is visiting Bangladesh. She had a scheduled meeting with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen at state guesthouse Padma this afternoon.
The protestors at the human chain shouted: “We want justice.
A Cambridge Police officer shot and killed an allegedly armed Faisal on Wednesday, prompting dozens to protest police brutality and call for transparency at Cambridge City Hall on Thursday.
Journalist and columnist Ajoy Dasgupta described the incident as “very unfortunate” and said that the US police shot dead the Bangladeshi who was not found guilty of any crime.
“We want justice for him,” he said.
No age limit: 1.27 lakh Bangladeshis can perform Hajj this year, deal signed with Saudi
The government has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia over Hajj, and it hopes that over 1.27 lakh Bangladeshis will be able to perform Hajj this year.
The age limit for Hajj pilgrims has been lifted by the Saudi government – paving the way for people over 65 to go for the significant pilgrimage.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Faridul Haque Khan and Saudi Hajj and Umrah Affairs Minister Dr Tawfiq Bin Al Rabiah signed the agreement at 10 am today in Saudi Arabia, on behalf of their respective countries, Abul Kashem Muhammad Shaheen, deputy secretary of the Religious Affairs Ministry, told UNB.
Read: Hajj management for pilgrims from Bangladesh will be better: State Minister
According to the agreement, 15,000 people will be able to go to Hajj under government management while 1,12,198 can go under private management. The remaining 1,270 pilgrims can go to Saudi Arabia as members of the Hajj team (administrative and medical).
Earlier on January 7, a three-member team led by state minister Faridul Haque Khan left for Saudi Arabia.
On November 13, 2022, Bangladesh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a bilateral document on ‘Route to Mecca’ which will ease the visit of Bangladeshi Hajj pilgrims to the kingdom.
Under the 'Route to Mecca' service agreement, pilgrims would be able to complete their immigration in Dhaka prior to their departure to Saudi Arabia.
Seventy percent of pilgrims will travel through Jeddah while 30 percent through Madinah, it said, adding that Hajj pilgrims must receive Covid-19 vaccine before departure.
Read: Online Hajj Registration from Bangladesh: Procedure and Costs
According to the ministry, 1, 27,000 people from Bangladesh performed Hajj in 2019 while the Saudi government increased the quota for Bangladeshi pilgrims by 10,000 in 2020. But Hajj was not held in the year for Covid-19 pandemic.
Only 60,000 people from Bangladesh were allowed to perform Hajj in 2022 as the Saudi government halved the quotas for pilgrims in different countries.