Bangladesh
Want Tamim to continue playing T20Is: Jalal Yunus
Jalal Yunus, the chair of the cricket operations department of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), said they want Tamim Iqbal to continue playing for Bangladesh in T20Is.
Earlier, Nazmul Hasan, the president of BCB, had said the left-handed opener is not interested anymore to take part in T20Is for Bangladesh. However, Tamim himself did not say anything about it in the media.
“We had a long meeting with Tamim yesterday (Monday). And a meeting today along with the board president. Tamim has a plan which he may reveal soon,” Jalal said.
READ: Tamim not interested in playing T20Is: BCB president
“But we want Tamim to continue playing for Bangladesh. Not just Tamim, Shakib (Al Hasan), Riyad (Mahmudullah), and Mushfiqur (Rahim) are still so much important for Bangladesh cricket,” he added.
Jalal also said that they are not informed well about the personal career plan of Tamim, and he added he is not in a position to talk about Tamim’s personal plan.
“I told him to return to T20Is, but he is not interested to do so. He requested to not force him to make a comeback. He said he doesn’t want to play T20Is,” Nazmul had said on Saturday. “If he doesn’t want to play T20Is, we should not force him.”
Tamim made a good start to this edition of the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) scoring to fifties in the first two matches. But in the next two, he failed to impress with the bat.
The left-handed opener played a total of 78 T20Is and scored 1758 runs with seven fifties and one hundred at a strike rate of 117.2.
READ: Tamim, Mashrafe roped in by Dhaka for BPL 2022
The left-hander is the current captain of the Bangladesh ODI team. It is expected that Tamim would continue as the ODI captain till the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 which is scheduled to take place in India.
Remove haphazard overhead cables by June 30: DNCC mayor
Hanging overhead cables and wires of the city streets under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC)have to be removed by June 30 this year, otherwise the corporation will take action.
Besides, endless digging up of roads in the name of development projects will stop from tomorrow (Wednesday)till further notice to relieve the sufferings of the city dwellers.
The DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam came up with the directives on Tuesday while addressing a meeting on the transfer of overhead cables and repairings of excavated roads by various organizations in the hall room of Gulshan-2 Nagar Bhaban.
He said that city dwellers have been sufferings due to non-compliance of the road digging companies. The road can not be dug anywhere in the city from tomorrow till further order, he said.
Md. Atiqul Islam said that the overhead cables must be transferred underground in a planned manner and coordination must be strengthened among the companies involved in road excavation.
The meeting was chaired by DNCC Chief Executive Officer Md Selim Raza. Among others, Chief Engineer Brigadier General Muhammad Amirul Islam, Councilor of Ward No-19 Md Mofizur Rahman and heads or representatives of various government and non-government organizations were present.
Defying rejection, Petrobangla, 7 other distributors again push for gas price hike
For the second time in a week state-owned distributors on Tuesday reiterated their proposals to the energy regulator to push for a 117 per cent hike in gas price at retail level, officials said.
Separately, their principal gas supplier Petrobangla also placed its proposal to raise the price of the natural gas at bulk level.
Earlier on January 21, Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) rejected a similar proposal from the six state-owned distributors and one transmission company on grounds of technical errors.
But it was not immediately known how much the Petrobangla proposed to raise the gas price at the bulk level.
READ: Unacceptable': Opinion almost unanimous in rejecting proposed gas price hike
If the BERC accepts the distributors’ proposals the monthly gas price for a double burner will increase to Tk 2100 from existing Tk 975, while price for single burner will rise to Tk 2000 from current Tk 925.
“We’ve received proposals from all the eight entities including Petrobangla by Tuesday”, Abdul Jalil, chairman of BERC told UNB.
He, however, informed that the Petrobangla’s proposal still lacks some of the wanted documents which it will place in a day or two.
Of the 8 entities, Petrobangla is the bulk supplier to the six downstream distribution companies. They are Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd (Titas Gas), Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited (BGDCL), Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Ltd (JGTDSL), Paschimanchal Gas company Limited(PGCL), Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited (KGDCL) and Sundarban Gas Company Limited (SGCL) while the only transmission company is Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL). About the latest move by the gas companies, the BERC chairman said that after receiving the remaining documents from the Petrobangla the commission will sit in a meeting to scrutinize their documents and judge the primary merits of the proposals.
“If all required documents are found to be valid and acceptable, then the commission will form a technical committee to scrutinize in detail the proposals and finally their proposals, including the findings of the technical committee, will be placed for a public hearing”, he said.
Official sources said the Petrobangla and its 7 subsidiary bodies submitted the proposals to raise gas price at the bulk and retail levels following the directive of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division of the ministry of power, energy and mineral resources.
For last several months, the Energy Division has been under pressure from the finance ministry to collect more revenues by raising gas price to offset subsidies in the energy sector.
A member of the BERC said the Petrobangla currently imports only 5 per cent of its daily consumption from highly volatile international spot market where it has to buy gas at higher price.
READ: No move to hike gas tariffs to be accepted: BNP
It imports its 20 per cent gas from two international companies under long-term contracts where price is static.
“If the local production is raised by 5 per cent, then the country will not need to import the 5 per cent gas from volatile market at higher price and finally it would not have to raise the gas price at retail level”, he added.
Normally, the Petrobangla supplies 2,700-3,000, million cubic feet (mmcfd) gas per day of which 2,300 mmcfd is produced locally while 600 mmcfd is imported as liquefied natural gas LNG.
Of this imported 600 mmcfd, 150 mmcfd is imported from spot market at a variable price between $10 and $30 per unit.
Atiqul renews his vow: All canals under DNCC to be recovered
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md Atiqul Islam on Tuesday said every canal in the city will be recovered according to the GIS map with the help of the people no matter what the obstacles are.
The DNCC mayor came up with the remark after inspecting the illegal eviction and excavation work of the Lautola canal at Basila in the city's Mohammadpur in the afternoon.
He said that the non-existent Lautola canal is now visible as a result of 3 days of continuous drives, and he has given thanks and gratitude to the local people for their sincere cooperation in making this impossible task possible.
The DNCC Mayor said that in the interest of the inhabitants of Basila, the Lautola canal with a length of about two and a half kilometers will be connected with the river Buriganga and water flow will be created in it.
Mayor Atiqul Islam issued a stern warning again that no valid notice would be issued in the name of the illegal occupants and they would be evicted without notice.
"Therefore, those who have already illegally occupied the canal and built various structures have to give up the illegal occupation as soon as possible, otherwise the illegal structures will be demolished by conducting operations," he said.
He said that demarcation of canals under DNCC is underway with the help of Bangladesh Army. Boundary pillars will be installed in each canal, walkway will be constructed and proper maintenance will be done, he said and adding that "No installation shall be allowed on either side of all the canals up to at least 20 feet of the demarcated boundary."
The DNCC Mayor further said that bus and truck terminals would be removed from the busiest areas of the city and placed in convenient places as per the demand of the time.
In the presence of the DNCC mayor, illegal structures were removed by occupying the land of Lautola canal including the gate of Rajdhani Udyan.
2 held for raping schoolgirl in Lalmonirhat
Police on Tuesday arrested two persons for allegedly raping a girl in Kaliganj upazila of Lalmonirhat.
The arrestees are Ripon Mia, 28, son of Anju Mia of Harram village under Chandrapur union of Kaliganj upazila and Monir Uddin, 18, son of Ahmed Ali of the same area.
Mother of the victim, a 14-year-old, filed a case after the incident.
READ: Ekattor TV’s Shakil gets interim bail in rape, feticide case
According to the case statement, Ripon and Monir picked up the girl from her house at around 8.30 pm on Sunday (January 23) and raped her in an abandoned house in the area.
The next morning, they left her on the bank of Sati river and fled.
Locals took her to Kaliganj Upazila Health Complex from where she was taken to Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital for advanced treatment.
READ: Man to die for killing woman after rape in Ctg
Officer-in-charge (OC) of Kaliganj Police Station Golam Rasul said that the accused were arrested after the victim’s mother filed a rape case on Tuesday.
Magnito Digital partners with bKash
Magnito Digital Ltd, a digital marketing firm, has teamed up with bKash to handle the company's digital and social media communications.
Magnito Digital will create and execute their digital and social media communications as their official digital agency, said a media release on Tuesday.
Magnito Digital has made a reputation for itself in digital content creation, courtesy of a talented ideation team and a huge creative team that support them in producing high-quality content quickly and cost-effectively.
They have built leading brands in the digital space and are the go-to-agency for managing digital products and services.
Read:bKash brings exciting offers at Trade Fair
bKash Limited (bKash) is a Bank-led Mobile Financial Service Provider in Bangladesh operating.
bKash provides safe, convenient and easy ways to make payments and money transfer services via mobile phones.
At present, bKash is one of the leading Mobile Financial Services Providers in the world.
Magnito Digital Ltd also handles major brands like Grameenphone, Hero MotoCorp Bangladesh, Fresh, BATB, Easy Life Insurance, Syngenta, Sundora etc.
Shut all illegal brick kilns in 3 CHT districts by 7 days: HC
The High Court on Tuesday ordered the authorities concerned to take steps to close down all unauthorised brick kilns in three hill districts (Khagrachhari, Bandarban and Rangamati) within seven days.
The HC bench of Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Fatema Najib passed the order following a writ petition filed by Environment and Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, a human rights organization.
The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the ineffectiveness of the respondents in shutting down the unauthorised brick kilns in the three hill districts should not be declared illegal.
Apart from it, the HC issued another rule asking the authorities concerned why directives should not be given to take steps against owners of the unlicensed brick kilns under section 4,5,14 and 18 of Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kilns Establishment (Control) Act-2013.
READ: HC orders to audit Evaly's assets by a reputed firm
Twenty four people including the Secretary to the Environment and Forest Ministry, Director General of Department of Environment (DoE), DCs of the three hill districts, police supers of the three districts have been made respondentsTwenty-four to the rule.
Advocate Manzil Murshid stood for the writ petitioner while deputy attorney general Tushar Kanti Roy represented the state.
According to the writ, many brick kilns are operating in the three hill districts without liscence and they use the mud of the hill as raw material. Besides, many trees are being used as firewood.
The report on brick kilns was carried out in the different daily newspapers, it said.
READ: Stop taking extra fares on public transport, HC asks BRTA
Manzil Murshid also said “No brick kilns are allowed to operate without liscence according to the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kilns Establishment (Control) Act-2013. There is a provision of two years jail for violating the law. Despite it, brick kilns are being established and the local administration is not taking any steps in this regard.”
Mitu murder case: Babul Akter denied bail again
A Chattogram Court on Tuesday denied bail to former Chattogram Superintendent of Police (SP) Babul Akter, arrested in a case filed by him over the murder of his wife Mahmuda Khanam Mitu in 2016.
Chattogram Metropolitan Sessions Judge Sheikh Ashfaqur Rahman turned down the bail plea after hearing both sides, said Public Prosecutor (PP) of the court Md Fakhruddin Chowdhury.
Earlier on Monday, Babul Akter filed the bail petition.
On January 9, Babul Akter was shown arrested in this case.
On December 30 last year, the PBI inspector filed the petition seeking its permission to show Babul arrested in the case.
READ: Mitu murder case: Court rejects PBI’s final report
On May 12, 2021, the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) arrested Babul Akter in another case filed by Mitu’s father and since then he has been in prison.
PBI in an investigation found Babul’s involvement in his wife's murder.
The case was transferred to the Police Bureau Investigation in 2019 after Mitu's father, himself a retired police officer, filed a complaint against the CMP's mishandling of the case.
Mitu's father had, in fact, accused Babul of being directly involved in the murder case.
On June 5, 2016, unidentified assailants gunned down Babul's wife Mahmuda Khanam Mitu at the port city's GEC intersection while she was going to drop her son Mahir Akhter, 7, for a bus of Chittagong Cantonment Public School and College.
Soon after the crime, Babul filed a murder case at Panchlaish Police Station against three unidentified men.
Later, Chattogram Metropolitan Police arrested four men, including Abu Nasur Gunu, Shah Zaman alias Robin, Md Anwar and Md Motaleb Mia alias Wasim, from different places in connection with the murder.
Of them, Anwar and Wasim gave confessional statements before a magistrate, implicating seven people, including Musa who directly took part in the killing, Mohammad Rashed and Nabi.
During the course of the probe, police had also arrested "arms supplier" Ehteshamul Haque Bhola and his assistant Md Monir and seized a pistol from their possession.
READ: Mitu murder: accused Bhola confesses to supplying firearms
Cops had also arrested Musa's elder brother Saidul Shikder Shakur and Shahjahan for providing the motorbike that was used in the murder. But on July 4, 2016, Nabi and Rashed were killed in a gunfight with police in Rangunia.
Babul was called for questioning a number of times by the PBI since his transfer.
Long march from Dhaka to Sylhet Wednesday in support of SUST students
Bibekban Nagarik Samaj, a platform of civil society members, has announced a long march programme on Wednesday from Dhaka to Sylhet to support the students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) have been demanding it Vice-Chancellor’s resignation.
The civil society members came up with the announcement through a press release on Tuesday .
According to the press release, “Many students are on fast unto death demanding resignation of SUST VC and already many of them fell sick. They are now undergoing treatment at hospitals but none of them has broken their fast yet. Nobody on behalf of the government, Education Minister and the authorities concerned has come forward to break their fast and assure them of meeting their demand.”
READ: 2 ex-SUST students held in Dhaka as impasse continues
“In such a situation, the students are now in the juncture of life and death and it can’t continue. We should stand beside them to express solidarity with them. If the VC does not step down then a long march programme from Dhaka to Sylhet will be launched from 10:30 am on Wednesday from the National Press Club of Dhaka,” it said.
People from all walks of life including students, teachers, physicians, journalists, lawyers, businessmen, sportsmen and others were requested to join the long march to make the programme a success.
Prominent photographer Shahidul Alam, Eminent writer and columnist Prof Rahnuma Ahmed, Advocate Jyotirmoy Barua , writer Rakhal Raha and Journalist Ehsan Mahmud, among others, signed the press release.
Menahile, a team of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Tuesday arrested two former students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) on charge of sending money to the protesting students at the university.
Ashraf Ullah Taher, deputy commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP), said a CID team arrested two former students — Reza Nur Moin and Habibur Rahman — from the capital’s Uttara area early Tuesday for sending money to the SUST students now on hunger strike demanding their VC’s removal.
READ: RU teachers stage sit-in protesting ‘police action’ on SUST students
Earlier, the free medical support which was being provided by a team of Osmani Medical College Hospital unit Chhatra League for the protesting students of SUST has been withdrawn citing the Covid risk.
According to some students, the mobile phone numbers of some of the protesters -- those are on hunger strike -- have also been deactivated.
The students embarked on fast-unto-death on the university campus on January 19, demanding the resignation of SUST vice-chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed over police crackdown on the varsity students.
Most of the 27 students on hunger strike are suffering from low blood pressure, low blood sugar levels and convulsions, and the sudden withdrawal of the medical support could pose serious risks to their health, said some students quoting a senior hospital doctor.
However, a doctor arrived at the protest site on his own later in the morning to offer medical support to the students.
The students also expressed their displeasure over the suspension of mobile phone services of a few protesters.
“When we contacted the customer care centres of our mobile operators, we were told to get in touch with the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC),” said Ariful Islam, one of the protesting students.
Meanwhile, the protesting students restored the electricity connection to the V-C's official residence.
The students, however, denied the charges of disconnecting gas and water supplies to his residence and not allowing policemen, journalists and other people carrying food for the VC to go inside.
The students vowed to continue with their hunger strike till the VC "puts in his papers".
On Monday evening, Proctor Alamgir Kabir, an associate professor, first tried to persuade the protesting students to end their fast-unto-VC’s resignation protest. The student, however, refused to break the fast and instead locked into an argument with the team for not supporting their protest.
Later the team tried to get into the VC’s residence with food, beverages and medicines but it failed to go through the human chain surrounding the place.
The hunger strike was launched on January 19 by 24 students and later one of them had to leave due to family obligations. On January 22, three more students joined their fellows in the hunger strike.
The strike was launched after police swooped on the protesting students, charging batons and firing sound grenades and shotgun bullets.
The alleged attack was carried out to free the VC from confinement in the university’s IICT building, and it had left 40 people hurt, including teachers, students and cops.
Zafrin Ahmed, a provost of Begum Sirajunnesa Chowdhury Hall, a dorm for females, was at the centre of the initial unrest as she allegedly misbehaved with some students on January 13 when they met her with some complaints.
She later resigned from her post, citing health issues.
Provost Zafrin Ahmed’s removal was one of the initial demands of the students protesting on the campus. But it has now spread to the general students as well.
HC orders to audit Evaly's assets by a reputed firm
The High Court on Tuesday directed to audit the assets of the e-commerce company Evaly by a reputed audit firm in the country.
A single HC bench of Justice Muhamad Khurshid Alam Sarkar passed the order following the application submitted by the board of directors of Evaly that was formed on the direction of the court.
Earlier, a court ordered a company named KPMG to audit Evaly's assets on October 18 last year. But the company charged Evaly Tk 86 lakh to conduct the audit. And so, the board directors of Evaly appealed to the court to have company audited by another firm, said Barrister Syed Mahsib Hossain.
READ: Stop taking extra fares on public transport, HC asks BRTA
Barrister Morshed Ahmed Khan appeared for the board of directors of Evaly in the court while Barrister Syed Mahsib Hossain for the writ petition.
Another petition was also presented in court today. One of the customers appealed seeking to be included in a party in the case for non-receipt of payment for Evaly's product and the court registered his appeal.
On October 18 last year, the High Court formed a 5-member board, led by former justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, to manage, control and assess the liabilities of shuttered e-commerce platform Evaly.
Other members of the board are former secretary Mohammad Rezaul Ahsan and additional secretary Mahbub Kabir Milon, chartered accountant Fakhruddin Ahmed and lawyer Barrister Khan Mohammad Shamim Aziz.
Evaly CEO Mohammad Rassel and his wife Shamima Nasrin, the chairman of the platform were arrested on September 16, after a customer named Arif Baker filed a case at Gulshan Police Station alleging that e-commerce platform was not delivering products despite taking advanced payments.
Meanwhile customer Farhad Hossain submitted an application in the High Court seeking dissolution of the beleaguered company and direction on forming a board of directors for the company.
On September 22, the High Court ordered a ban on the sale and transfer of movable and immovable property during a hearing on the application and issued a notice questioning why Evaly will not be disbanded.
READ: Trial proceedings on FR Tower design forgery case to continue: HC
On September 30, during a hearing in this regard the HC directed the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC) to submit all the documents of Evaly within October 11.