A court here on Sunday granted bail to Nobel Laureate and Chairman of Grameen Communications Dr Muhammad Yunus and three others in a case filed for violating the labour law.

Dhaka Labour Court-3 judge Rahibul Islam granted the bail upon a bond of Tk 5,000 following a petition filed by them after appearing before the court.

The three other accused are Grameen Communications Managing Director Naznin Sultana, Director A Hai Khan and Deputy General Manager Gouri Shankar.

Earlier on January 5, Labour Inspector Tariqul Islam of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments filed the case with the court.

Later on January 13, the court summoned them.

According to the case statement, the plaintiff found violations of several labour rules when he visited the Grameen Communications office on October 10, 2019.

On April 30, the organisation was asked to fix their faults and on May 7, Grameen Communications submitted their written explanations that were not satisfactory.

 

The Appellate Division on Sunday fined three private universities Tk 10 lakh each for enrolling over 50 law students ignoring directives of the University Grants Commission and the Bar Council.

They are – Islamia University, Southeast University, and Eastern University.

A six-member Appellate bench, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, passed the order. 

The court directed two universities to give their fines to National Liver Foundation of Bangladesh. The other one was asked to give the money to Kidney Foundation.

Additional Attorney General Murad Reza stood for Bar Council while Advocate AM Amin Uddin and Shah Monjurul Hoque represented the students.

Several students of the universities filed separate writ petitions challenging the decision of Bar Council to not allow them take exams. The High Court issued a rule and an interim order allowing the students to take Bar Council exam.

Bar Council moved the Appellate Division against the order but the plea was initially scrapped, prompting the council to seek a review. The top court later resolved the review petition and fined the universities.

Additional Attorney General Murad Reza told journalists that after the universities donate the money, the students can take part in the Bar Council exam by showing the donation receipts.

Thirteen railway stations in Cumilla have been lying inactive for the last 12 years for the lack of manpower, causing sufferings to the commuters and forcing people to use alternative – and often costlier – modes of transportation.

The stations include – Doulatganj, Khila, Bipulasar, Nauti, Ali Shohor, Mainamati, Razapur, Shahtoli, Moishadi, Balakhal and Shahrasti. Railway sources say some more stations will soon follow suit.

Stations that have been closed down are now safe spots for drug addicts and destitute, locals said.

Many trains still make stopover at some of the closed stations and some passengers take advantage of the situation and travel without tickets.

Trains allowed people to commute faster and at cheaper rates.

Shah Mohammad Alamgir Khan, President of Sujon, Cumilla, said the closure of the stations pushed up expenditure of the people. “Now it takes more time and money to travel,” he said.

Nasir Uddin, an official of Chattogram Railways Divisional Transport, said the stations have been lying inoperative due to the lack of manpower.

“We’ve requested the authorities concerned to recruit more people. The stations will be opened in the next two to three months,” he said.

The Indian High Commission in Dhaka celebrated the 71st Republic Day of India on Sunday at Chancery premises of the High Commission.

High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das unfurled the national flag and read out the Indian President’s address to the Nation.

The Mahar regimental band of the Indian Army, which was specially flown in for the occasion, played the Indian National Anthem.

Members of the Indian community in Dhaka joined the Republic Day celebrations in large numbers and presented a cultural programme showcasing India’s unity in diversity.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday opened a number of development projects including two water treatment plants – Sheikh Russell Water Treatment Plant in Chattogram and Bangabandhu Water Treatment Plant in Khulna.

The Prime Minister inaugurated these development projects through videoconferencing from her official residence Ganobhaban in the city.

Sheikh Russell Water Treatment Plant.Photo:UNB

Also read: PM to open Sheikh Russel water treatment plant in Chattogram

Sheikh Russell Water Treatment Plant is capable of purifying 100 million litres of water every day. Bangabandhu Water Treatment Plant, constructed at Samantasena in Rupsha Upazila, is capable of purifying 110 million liters a day.
 
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus conducted the function, while Financial Institutions Division Senior Secretary Md Ashadul Islam, Local Government Division Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed, Information Secretary Kamrun Nahar and Railways Additional Secretary Md Mujibur Rahman made presentations over the projects implemented by their respective ministries.