Bangladesh
Polls violence: 12 injured in attack by AL in Cumilla
At least 12 persons were injured in an attack reportedly by supporters of ruling Awami League candidate for the upcoming union parishad election at Khoskandi area of Damoti union on Friday.
The injured are-Aiyub Ali, Sharif, Shafiqul Islam, Shanto, Zillur Rahman, Billal, Imran, Mehedi, Rahman, Tofazzol, Rakib Munshi and Khokon.
All the injured persons are now undergoing treatment at Upazila Health Complex, except critically injured Aiyub Ali, who was referred to Cumilla Medical College and Hospital for advanced treatment.
According to eye-witnesses, AL backed chairman candidate Jasim Uddin’s brother Shah Poran and his supporters carried out the attack on supporters of independent candidate Mohiuddin Mithu, when they were preparing for an election rally in the evening.
Read: Govt to widen social safety coverage to protect poor from pandemic loss
Jasim Uddin however denied the allegations, saying that he knew nothing about the attack.
Mithu told UNB that supporters of AL candidate Jasim Uddin were threatening his supporters after submission of nomination papers.
"They even threatened to kill my supporters if they voted for me and not the AL candidate," he added.
The OC of Debidar police station Arifur Rahman confirmed the incident of violence took place, but said legal action will only be taken upon receiving a written complaint.
Only VC's removal can solve this crisis, say SUST students
As some among them completed day three of a hunger strike, the protesting students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) on Friday remained resolute around their sole demand: nothing except the resignation, or otherwise removal of Vice Chancellor Farid Uddin Ahmed can lead to a resolution of the crisis.
It was a day when students got to speak with Education Minister Dipu Moni herself, as she reached out to the agitating students over phone at around 3 pm to try and end the impasse.
During the conversation, Dipu Moni said she wants a peaceful solution to the issue as soon as possible, and was willing to talk to the students 'directly' - i.e. in-person - over the matter, if they so wish.
The protesting students were indeed receptive to the idea of a meeting with the education minister, and were even willing to travel to Dhaka to meet her.
But in the evening they came away from that position, and said that if the minister wants to solve the problem, she had to visit the SUST premises, or hold the meeting virtually.
“We will not go to Dhaka - the discussion will be held in Sylhet, not in Dhaka," said Shahriar Abedin, a spokesperson for the protesters.
Read: Rally held at DU in solidarity with SUST students
Earlier, a group of Bangladesh Awami League leaders led by its central organizing secretary Shafiul Alam Chowdhury Nadel spoke separately with the students and then Vice-Chancellor Prof Farid Uddin regarding the issue.
So far, 13 of the 24 SUST students who commenced a hunger strike since Wednesday ohave been hospitalized.The protesting students have vowed not to break their fast until the VC steps down.
In the small hours of Friday, the protesting students also brought out a torch rally and burnt the effigy pf the VC on the campus.
Hours before, a delegation of teachers met the students and requested them to break their fast. But the students didn’t respond to their request.
On Monday, the protesting students wrote an open letter to President Abdul Hamid, demanding the immediate removal of VC Farid Uddin Ahmed. The president is the chancellor of the university.
The students also rejected the notice of shutting down the university for an indefinite period that came with a directive to leave the halls.
Read: RU suspends in-person classes, but students to remain on campus
That came following a clash on the campus between police and protesting students on Sunday (Jan 16). In the wake of the police action on its premises, students were asked to leave their halls of residence by 12pm the next day.
By then however, the situation had gone well beyond the control of the authorities. Students rejected the closure notice and not only stayed back on the campus - the next day they organised under a new demand that differentiates the movement since Monday from what happened previously.
This renewed movement was organised under one sole demand, that is the resignation of the VC, and nothing has yet worked to convince them to come off it.
Water a strategic asset; rivers influence geopolitics: Shahidul Haque
Former Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque on Friday said these days water is seen as a strategic asset, not only as a resource, and rivers influence geopolitics in South Asia.
"Geopolitics is a tool to analyse in the context of political views and national interest," he said while delivering his remarks as chair on the second day of the 7th International Water Conference 2022.
Haque also said geopolitics should not be seen as a zero-sum game. It should be a win-win situation looking through the geopolitical lens.
The conference titled "Teesta River Basin: Overcoming the Challenges" was organied by ActionAid Bangladesh.
The second day of the conference focused on the thematic issues- Structural Interventions and Regional Geo-politics around Teesta River Basin and Teesta River Basin and its Ecosystem and Gender Implications.
Urging for a basin-wise water management system, Hasanul Haq Inu, MP said barrages and dams are affecting the ecosystem.
At the conference, Jayanta Basu, Environment Documentation Expert, Director of Environment Governed Integrated Organisation (EnGIO), Faculty, Calcutta University, presented a paper titled ‘Geopolitics of River Teesta and need to pursue Nature based Negotiated Approach (NBNA)’.
According to his presentation, South Asian transboundary river issues are linked to regional geopolitics as all countries in the region strongly depend on rivers mainly for agriculture, hydroelectricity and other reasons.
Bangladesh-US relations to get stronger, says Miller wrapping up his tenure
Outgoing US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl R Miller has said the relationship between Bangladesh and the United States is "strong and will grow stronger".
"As Senator Edward Kennedy said at Dhaka University in 1972, the real foreign policy of America is citizen to citizen, friend to friend, people to people. I hope I contributed in some small way to strengthening our friend-to-friend bonds," he said in his pre-departure message on Friday evening.
Rally held at DU in solidarity with SUST students
Several leftist students’ organizations and teachers of Dhaka University staged a rally Friday in solidarity with the movement being waged by the students of Shahjalal University of Science & Technology in Sylhet.
The protesters demanded the removal of SUST Vice-Chancellor Professor Farid Uddin, trials of attacks on students and the withdrawal of cases filed against students.
Vice president of Gonotantrik Chhatra Council, Saidul Houqe Nishan, said, "Students just demanded their rights but SUST authority returned their demand by charging them and firing at them."
"Our government has the power to close all the educational institutions but it cannot remove a single VC who forced his students to be hospitalised by attacking them," he added.
Thanking all the participants, a former student of SUST said, "Police cannot enter an autonomous University without getting the permission of the Vice Chancellor and proctor. Then, how SUST students were attacked by police? The involvement of SUST authority is clear like daylights yet they are denying their involvement in the attack."
"Many students are falling sick as they go on hunger strike till the VC resigns and many students have already been hospitalized," he informed.
"This scenario is faced not in SUST only; every public university is in the same situation. University administrations become the spokesperson for the government," he regretted.
Pahari Chhatra Parishad central president Sunayan Chakma said, "A person who does not have self-respect, cannot be a teacher as well as a vice chancellor.
Referring to SUST VC, he asked, "If he had self-respect, he would have resigned from his post. How can he be a VC, who is unwanted by students?"
Fisher dies after being hit by brick in Sylhet, 8 held
A man was killed after in a brick attack allegedly by dredging workers in Beanibazar upazila of Sylhet early Friday, police said.
The deceased was identified as Abdul Hasib, 40, son of Ismail Ali of Khasir Konapara village in Kurar Bazar union of Beanibazar upazila.
Read: 6 robbers held in Cox’s Bazar
Police arrested six dredger workers from the spot on suspicion of being involved in the incident, said Mehedi Hasan, inspector (investigation) of Beanibazar police station.
The arrestees are: Rashid Mia, 24, son of Kadir Mia of Polishwar area of Brahmanbaria, Monir Hossain, 24, son of Nurul Haque of Faizulpur area of Sunamganj district, Sirajul Islam, 35, son of Nurul Haque, Alam Mia, 25, son of Akter Mia, Russell Gazi, 20, son of Gias Gazi of Mordapara area of Kishoreganj, Monir Mia, 22, son of Chattar Mia, Tanvirul Islam, 20, son of Qutub Uddin and Kamal Hossain, 36, son of Rafiqul Islam of Ayubpur area of Narsingdi district.
Read:BSF hands over to BGB 2 students held in Hili border
Locals said, fisherman Abdul Hasib had an argument with dredger workers while fishing in Kushiyara river around 1 am. At one stage, Abdul Hasib fell into the water after being hit by the bricks of the dredger workers.
His body was searched overnight. However, police recovered the body on Friday morning.
The body was sent to Sylhet MAG Osmani Hospital for autopsy, said the inspector.
RU suspends in-person classes, but students to remain on campus
In-person classes have been suspended at Rajshahi University till February 6, in light of the latest surge in Covid-19 cases across the country. The residential halls of the university will however remain open, so that physical attendance in classes can be resumed as soon as possible, once it is deemed safe again.
Read: Rajshahi University dormitories reopen after 18 months The decision came from an emergency meeting held at the administration building of the university Friday evening, following a Cabinet Division order in the wake of an alarming surge in Covid cases in the country, said Prof Pradip Kumar Pandey, administrator of the university's Public Relations Office. All offices of the university will remain open on a limited scale during the period from 9am to 2pm maintaining hygiene rules. All emergency services -- electricity, water, gas, internet, healthcare -- on the campus will also remain uninterrupted, according to a statement from Prof Pandey. At the same time, it has been left up to each individual department to decide whether to hold in-person examinations maintaining hygiene protocols.
Read:KU suspends in-person classes and decides to go online teaching RU authorities meanwhile advised the students to stay on in the campus, but in their respective dormitories adhering to all Covid-safety protocols and avoiding all public gatherings. The authorities also urged all concerned not to arrange meetings or seminars on the university campus. The students on Friday afternoon staged a demonstration and demanded to keep the campus and dormitories open.
Tiger range countries should work together to save the tigers: Minister
The 13 tiger range countries in the world should work together in their continued efforts to save the tigers and save nature, said the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin.
He said, “The government is working with the determination to conserve wild tigers by achieving zero poaching targets with the active participation of the local community.”
The minister hoped that implementation of the joint Kuala Lumpur statement will play a significant role in increasing and stabilizing the tiger population.
He said this joining virtually from his official residence in the 4th Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation held on Friday.
Read: Govt withdraws ban on tourist launch movement in Sundarbans
He also said Bangladesh has taken several initiatives for conserving the national animal including other wild species.
Adoption of a new clause in the national constitution to protect and improve biodiversity, wetlands, forests and wildlife; Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act, 2012 has the provision of 2-7 years imprisonment and Tk 1 million fine for tiger poachers, he added.
He said National Tiger Recovery Programme (2017-2022) and second-generation Bangladesh Tiger Action Plan (2018-2027) also implemented which include tiger survey; genetic study; SMART patrolling and monitoring by drone inside the Sundarbans; capacity building programs for Forest Department officials or staffs as well as local community to ensure protection & conservation of the Sundarbans and Bengal tiger.
The minister said, “To mitigate tiger-human conflicts, the administration has engaged the local community in tiger conservation activities by forming Village Tiger Response Team (VTRT), Co-management Committee (CMC) and Community Petrol Group (CPG).”
Besides, ‘Wildlife Victim Compensation Rules, 2021’ has the provision to provide up to Tk 3 lakh for a person killed by tiger as compensation.
Shahab Uddin said Wildlife Crime Control Unit has been established under the Forest Department to combat illegal wildlife trade. “To strengthen the capacity of wildlife education, research and training, Sheikh Kamal Wildlife Centre has been established which is working as a center of excellence. Bangladesh has a shared tiger habitat with India and we have strengthened our collaboration and signed a protocol for the ‘Conservation of Royal Bengal Tiger of the Sundarbans’ in 2011.”
This 4th Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation set the common goal of stabilizing wild tiger population and its prey, as well as strengthening the conservation efforts addressing new issues within Tiger Range Countries.
Read: Sundarbans tourism: Now focus on automation to improve services
The representatives of the Tiger Range Countries resolved to ensure protection and prevent the degradation of tiger habitat as well as their ecological linkages.
The conference also resolved to undertake regular country level monitoring and assessment of wild tiger, prey, and habitat, and to strengthen enforcement capacity using appropriate and standard technology for continuous and systematic patrolling to safeguard tiger, prey, and habitat.
They also decided to strengthen capacity development for all stakeholders, including the increased use of appropriate technology to improve management effectiveness, and create a platform for interactive knowledge exchange at all levels, and to enhance trans-boundary and bilateral cooperation for tiger conservation.
Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Bin Hassan, Minister for Water, Land and Natural Resources, Malaysia presided over the conference whereas ministers of Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nepal & Russia; Member of Parliaments; delegates from Tiger Range Countries were present in the occasion.
No move to hike gas tariffs to be accepted: BNP
BNP on Friday strongly opposed the government’s move to hike gas tariffs and warned that people will not accept it in any way.
“There's a proposal to raise the gas prices of double-burner stove connections to Tk 2,100 from Tk 975 and single-burner stove 2,000 from Tk 925 at the consumer level," said BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
Speaking at a discussion, he said a threefold increase in gas prices has been proposed unreasonably.
“We would like to clearly say that gas prices cannot be hiked. Any increase in the gas tariffs won’t be accepted. We strongly oppose such a move,” the BNP leader said.
BNP’s Dhaka south and north city units jointly arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking party founder Ziaur Rahman’s 86th birth anniversary.
Read: Govt has evidences on BNP’s hiring lobbyists abroad: Info Minister
Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the government raised the prices of fuel oil, diesel and electricity a few days back, causing serious public sufferings.
He said the government is implementing big projects taking money from people’s pockets and creating scopes for the ruling party to get big commissions.
The BNP leader alleged that the ruling party leaders are siphoning off huge money abroad through indulging in plundering and ‘corruption’.
He said the current government is least bothered about public sufferings since it is not elected by people.
“We’ll no longer tolerate the unfair activities of the government. We must ensure the fall of this regime to get rid of all these injustices. Let’s all work together to attain this goal,” Mosharraf said.
About 12 Human Rights (HR) organisations’ a letter to United Nations to ban Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from deploying the peacekeeping missions, he said Awami League thought that it would be able to overcome the consequences of oppression and suppression by keeping people’s mouths shut.
Read: Filing ‘fictitious’ cases now a regular matter: Fakhrul
“But the entire world now knows that there are no human rights in Bangladesh... The sanctions were also imposed by the US on an organisation in Bangladesh and its some high officials. It’s a matter of shame for us as a nation,” the BNP leader observed.
He said Bangladesh is being humiliated in this way only because of Awami League's lust for staying in power by force.
Mosharraf called upon the people of all walks of life and all democratic forces to get united to overcome the current situation of the country and restore its dignity by establishing a democratic and elected government.
“No autocratic regime will willingly quit power without a push...The people of Bangladesh could oust autocratic ruler Ershad. Of course, we're hopeful that the people of this country will overthrow the current despotic regime in the same way to restore democracy,” he said.
KU suspends in-person classes and decides to go online teaching
The Khulna University authorities on Friday announced suspension of in-person classes until February 6, due to the recent surge of Covid-19 cases across the country. However, online classes will be held and the dormitories will remain open during this period.
Read: DU suspends physical classes till Feb 6 The decision came from an emergency meeting held virtually at 4pm chaired by its Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mahmud Hossain, said the university’s PRO Md Atiar Rahman. The classes for the first year of the 2020-21 academic year which were scheduled to begin on January 30 has also been cancelled. At the same time, first year registration and admission to vacant seats will also remain postponed, he added. "The decision in this regard will be taken later". Besides, the offices of the university will be in service from 9 am to 1 pm following proper health guidelines.
Read: Classes to go online if Covid spreads to educational institutions: Minister Electricity, gas, water supply, internet services, treatment and cleanliness services will continue as before, he added. In addition, all concerned have been requested not to hold meetings, rallies and public gatherings on the campus until further notice due to coronavirus infection.