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Fire at old town’s Suritola building brought under control
Fire fighters doused a fire that broke out in a four storied building at old Dhaka’s Suritola on Sunday afternoon, the fire service said.
The fire started in a shoe warehouse on the second floor of the building around 4 pm.
Seven firefighting units managed to douse the fire completely at 4:50 pm after 38 minutes, said Md Rayhan, station officer (media), Fire Service and Civil Defense Headquarters.
No casualties were reported and the amount of damage couldn’t be known yet, he said.
The origin of the fire can be found out after an investigation, he said.
US sanctions on Rab offficals politically motivated, will encourage militancy: Quader
The US sanctions on the IGP and six Rab officiala have been politically motivated, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Sunday adding that the decision will inspire terrorism and militancy.
At a briefing at his office in the Secretariat this morning Quader said Rab as an elite force has been professional in discharge of its work.
He recalled the contriversial US role during Bangladesh liberation war in 1971 and after assassinaton of Bangabandhu in 1975.
Yet Bangladesh did not allow these issues to stand on way of establishing friendly relations with Washington, he said.
Also read: Sanctions on Rab: Law Minister calls it ‘unfortunate’
He said the US move has hurt Bangladesh when it is celebrating 50 years of its indepence..
The two countries are working from their respective positions on multilateral issues including bilateral and common issues, he said.
Quader said that the Anti-Corruption Commission is playing an independent role in carrying out any investigation but it is unreasonable to impose sanctions on a force chief and former officers by making baseless allegations.
Speaking about human rights, the Awami League general secretary also said that such a decision is a kind of violation of human rights.
He urged them to first look into the human rights situation in their country first.
Obaidul Quader said that the death of George Floyd had shaken the whole world which raised the question about the human rights issue of the US administration.
Obaidul Quader said hat the UN itself had expressed concern over the issue of discrimination and oppression of blacks.
"Where millions of people die each year in gun attacks, the world has witnessed the tragic deaths of five people trying to seize Capital Hill after losing an election. The world has seen the face of American democracy and the face of their human rights," he also added.
Obaidul Quader said that Amnesty International had repeatedly pointed out the weakness of the United States in its indicators of internal democracy and protection of human rights.
Some of Bangabandhu's assassins are still hiding in America, war criminals have also fled there, said Awami League general secretary
Robert Reich, a former US senator of Labor said in a tweet that US law enforcement 984
there have been 8,800 extrajudicial killings by US law enforcement and about 1,000 people die without trial every year, according to various sources.
He said any comment on human rights is not acceptable where ordinary people take to the streets in different cities to protest against extrajudicial killings day after day.
Quader said, "We are sure that some anti-Bangladesh people and evil forces may have political motives behid the decision."
Obaidul Quader said that the people of the country think that their ban on a security force of Bangladesh is political and a despicable attempt to force Bangladesh to surrender to their state of slavery.
Also read: Sanctions on RAB: FM says impact on relations depends on US
Noting that no conspiracy against the people of Bangladesh created through the great liberation war has worked in the past, he added that Bangladesh has turned from a vacuum despite various international conspiracies.
In Palestine, when Israel indiscriminately destroys hundreds of homes, including helpless women and innocent children, by dropping missiles and violating human rights, US foreign policy is in favor of Israel, not even uttering a word.
He added that those responsible for the deaths and displacement of people in the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Yemen are giving the world a sense of human rights today.
Citing mutual trust and confidence as the basis of our friendly relations with the United States, Quader said Bangladesh hoped that the US administration would be more informed and careful in making decisions to advance the existing relationship between the people of the two countries.
He further added that there is an opportunity for any issue to be resolved through dialogue with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bangladesh has already summoned the US ambassador to express its anger and dissatisfaction, he hoped.
"We believe that the US administration will move away from this irrational and one-sided decision," he also hoped.
How life has changed for Murad in just one week
Barely a week back, Murad Hassan was a powerful State Minister for Information and Broadcasting. But today he finds nowhere to hide his face.
Murad has lost his cabinet portfolio, party post and political clouts by the time for his offensive remarks against women that came from his vanity as political analysts believe.
Though he has lost the cabinet portfolio and party post, Murad is still an MP.
Murad had left the country in his desperate bid to hide amid widespread criticism at home, but his attempt to stay abroad went in vain as he had to get back home on Sunday having failed to enter Canada and the UAE.
An official at Hazrat Shahajalal International Airport immigration police, wishing anonymity, told UNB that Murad returned home by an Emirates flight (EK 586) around 5pm and got out of the airport around 6 pm through the domestic terminal hiding his face with his jacket hoodie and mask to avoid the media.
As he had no valid visa to enter Dubai, he got back home, the airport official said, adding, “Murad was supposed to get back home in an Emirates flight at 8:20am today but he could not as he had to undergo Covid test in Dubai, delaying his departure schedule.”
Since he was deported, the Emirates authorities handed him over to the immigration at the airport in Dhaka as part of a procedure, he added.
The airport official said the airlines' authorities usually hand over ‘refused’ passengers to immigration along with their passports. “He (Murad) was handed over to us.”
According to him, Murad's mobile phone is found on since he arrived at the airport, but he is not receiving calls.
Murad Hassan had left the country for Canada in an Emirates flight around 1:20am on Thursday night.
According to Toronto-based Bangla news portal thebengalitimes.com, Murad reached Toronto Pearson International Airport at 1.31am (Canadian time) on Friday.
Canadian immigration officials questioned the former Bangladesh’s junior minister about various allegations, including harassing, humiliating and torturing women, against him in Bangladesh.
They also showed him various videos, photos and news released and published on him, and wanted to know his version, the news portal said.
Sanctions on Rab: Law Minister calls it ‘unfortunate’
Terming the imposition of human rights-related sanctions on Rab personnel unfortunate, Law Minister Anisul Huq on Sunday said the US authorities issued the sanctions without leaving any scope for self-defence.
“Those who believe in democracy and the rule of law have a responsibility and they should follow the due procedure and if any action is taken against any party then they must get the chance of self-defence. It’s truly unfortunate that the US imposed the sanctions without leaving any scope for self-defense,” he said.
The Law Minister came up with the remarks while talking to reporters after inaugurating the 26th Judicial Administration Training Course of Judges at Bangladesh Judicial Administration Training Institute in the city.
“The allegations which have been brought against RAB aren’t correct. Those’re imaginary and no extrajudicial killing has taken place in Bangladesh,” he said.
Read: 'Will prove Zia's involvement in Bangabandhu killing': Minister
The United States on Friday imposed human rights-related sanctions on Benzir Ahmed, current Inspector General of the Bangladesh Police and former Director-General of Bangladesh’s Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and six other individuals on the occasion of International Human Rights Day.
The US Department of State announced visa restrictions on Benazir Ahmed, which it says, due to his “involvement in gross violations of human rights” making him ineligible for entry into the United States.
Also read: US imposes sanctions on RAB, 7 individuals
RAB as an entity, Benzir Ahmed, and six other officials were designated by the Department of the Treasury under the Global Magnitsky sanctions programme in connection with serious human rights abuse, said the US Department of State.
Regarding Khaleda’s plea seeking permission to go abroad for treatment, the Minister said, “Please wait and you will soon get the answer.”
Global deal on plastic pollution is urgent: Speakers
Bangladesh is committed to supporting the Global Plastic Treaty in the upcoming United Nations Environment Assembly 5.2, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin has said.
The minister said this at a virtual policy dialogue organized by Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) on Saturday.
The dialogue discussed the issues regarding the Global Plastic Treaty approach in UNEA 5.2.
The minister said, “The Government of Bangladesh participated actively in the previous sessions. We will take part in the upcoming fifth UN Environment Assembly. It will take place in 2022 to discuss the possible head start of negotiations of a global agreement to curb plastic pollution. We are hoping that countries from all over the world will support the requirement for a global agreement, which will lead to the proposal requests an Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a new legally binding treaty on plastic pollution. It will be established at UNEA 5.2.”
According to panelists David Azoulay, Geneva Managing Attorney, Director of Environmental Health Program, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), “Bangladesh Govt. needs to focus particularly on waste fishing gear and the cheap plastic use in textile industries for the upcoming negotiation;”
“Solo initiatives cannot combat the global crisis. We must follow how other nations are intervening regarding this matter and work together to achieve a reduction in plastic pollution which will lead us to a global agreement”, said the ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, ITO Naoki.
ESDO chairperson, Syed Marghub Murshed said, “It is really concerning because Bangladesh is one of the most plastic-polluted countries in South Asia. Plastic has a significant environmental impact. All of these facts are well known, but the plastic pollution situation is worsening day by day in Bangladesh. Because it is a worldwide issue, the solution must be global as well.”
According to the United Nations, 127 countries have passed regulations on single-use plastic bags to incentivize consumers to use reusable bags when shopping due to a continuous significant contribution from several international organizations like EIA, CIEL, GAIA, ESDO, BFFP, IPEN, Earthworks, etc.
Moving Forward, an international legally binding agreement that addresses the entire life cycle of plastics, from the extraction of raw materials to legacy plastic pollution is highly required considering the current situation of global plastic pollution, discussants at the dialogue said.
Rohingya father ‘kills self’ after ‘poisoning’ 3 kids in Cox’s Bazar; 1 child dies
A man and his minor daughter died as he allegedly swallowed poison after feeding it to his three children at Shahparir Dwip in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar early Sunday.
The deceased were identified as Md Anwar, a Rohingya fisherman who came to Bangladesh from Myanmar 10 years ago and his daughter Sumayia,7.
Two other children- Mahiya,4, and Jabed, 2- were admitted to a hospital in a critical condition.
Quoting local people, Ward No. 9 member of Sabrang Union Abdus Salam said Anwar had a quarrel with his wife on Saturday afternoon and she went to her father’s home leaving Anwar and the children.
Also read: Another member candidate shot in Cox's Bazar ahead of UP polls
Anwar threatened her of committing suicide when she left.
Being informed by locals, police recovered the bodies of Anwar and Sumaiya on Sunday morning and took two other children to a hospital.
Also read: Couple arrested for allegedly killing domestic help in city’s Niketon
SI Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Shahpari Island Police outpost, said two bodies were recovered and sent to Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.
Soldiers ready to build prosperous Bangladesh: Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said soldiers have been prepared for making Bangladesh a developed country by 2041 as the young generation is availing of the opportunities to flourish their talents in this Digital Bangladesh.
“Now, I don’t have to worry any more. Of course, Bangladesh would be a developed Bangladesh in 1941. The biggest thing is that our soldiers for building Bangladesh as a developed country are ready,” she said.
The Prime Minister was addressing the celebration of Digital Bangladesh Day-2021 and Digital Bangladesh Award Distribution Ceremony at the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, joining it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.
A total of 24 individuals, teams and organisations -- 12 from the national level and 12 from the district level-- received the Digital Bangladesh Award-2021 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the digital sector.
On behalf of the Prime Minister, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak handed over the awards to the recipients.
Also read: Assess situation before reopening educational institutions: PM
Pointing at the award recipients, Hasina said she is no longer worried about the fulfilment of her Vision 2041 of turning Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country since many youths received the awards and now got the scope to flourish their talents.
“I can say from today I don’t have to worry anymore …we’ve already advanced far in the way to build a technology and knowledge-based society. Inshallah, Bangladesh will move forward,” she said.
The Prime Minister congratulated the youths and other award recipients.
The Digital Bangladesh is being observed with the theme of 'Digital Bangladesh-er Arjan, Upokrito Sokol Jonogon' (The Achievement of Digital Bangladesh: Beneficiaries are All People).
Digital device export
The Prime Minister said if digital devices can be produced and exported properly, it may exceed all other sectors, including RMG, in earning foreign currency.
Also read: PM puts emphasis on properly learning mother tongue
Noting that now the garment export is the biggest source of foreign currency, she said her government has a target to promote production and export of digital devices and create scope for the meritorious students to flourish their talents in this sector.
“I think if we can produce and export these digital devices, it’ll surpass all sectors,” she said, adding that the government has a target to increase the export earnings to US$ 5 billion in the digital device sector by 2025.
Talking about the Awami League’s electoral pledge to build Digital Bangladesh, Hasina said they had a goal to create jobs so that the youth, staying home, can flourish their talents, become solvent and develop them as well as simultaneously take Bangladesh forward.
“Soldiers are being created to take the country forward,” she said, extending her sincere thanks to her ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and all other concerned in this regard.
Hasina said the services that her government wanted to provide the people with the help of technology are rendered in Bangladesh. “It has been possible to reach this service from our city corporation to the very grassroots level of a village,” she said.
The PM said her government reduced the price of internet bandwidth to less than Tk 400, which was Tk 78,000 during the BNP government. “We’re going to introduce 5G,” she said.
Mentioning that some 18.13 crore mobile SIM are used in Bangladesh alongside 13 crore internet users, Hasina said internet services are available in almost every house.
Besides, the prizes were conferred among the winners of the online quiz and other competitions arranged on the occasion of the Digital Bangladesh-2021.
At the function, the Prime Minister also unveiled the cover of a book titled ‘Prodhanmontri Sheikh Hasinar Netritte Digital Bangladesh-er Swapna Purun’ (Fulfillment of Dream of Digital Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina), which is featured with achievements and successes in the country’s digital sector.
Hasina also virtually inaugurated some projects, including Freedom Fighter Lieutenant Sheikh Jamal Software Technology Park, Chattogram; Bangabandhu Smriti Ongan and IT Business Centre; Bangabandhu Hi-Tech Park, Sylhet; Sheikh Kamal IT Incubation and Training Centre, KUET, Khulna; and High Speed Internet Broadband Connectivity in 2,600 Union Parishads under the Info Sarkar Scheme (Phase-III).
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus spoke at the function, while ICT Senior Secretary NM Zeaul Alam delivered the welcome speech.
Petition filed seeking permission to sue Murad under DSA
A petition was filed with the Cyber Tribunal on Sunday seeking its permission to file a case against disgraced former State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Murad Hassan under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for his anti-women remarks.
Advocate Omar Faruk, secretary of Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, filed the petition with Dhaka Cyber Tribunal on Sunday.
Judge Ash-Shams Jaglul Hussein of Dhaka Cyber Tribunal is likely to hear the plea on Monday as he is on leave today.
The other accused in the case is Mohammad Mohiuddin Helal alias Nahid, a Facebook live show host.
READ: Denied entry to Canada, UAE, Murad finally “coming back home” Sunday
Meanwhile, three complaints were lodged against Murad in Chattogram, Rajshahi and Sylhet for his anti-women remarks.
UNB Rajshahi Correspondent reports: A complaint was lodged with Rajshahi Cyber Tribunal against Murad and Mohammad Mohiuddin Helal alias Nahid.
Former general secretary of Bogura Bar Association and senior joint convener of district unit BNP, Saiful Islam lodged the complaint with the court Sunday noon.
Rajshahi Cyber Tribunal Judge Ziaur Rahman took the complaint into cognisance but did not pass any order.
In Chattogram, a petition was filed with Chattogram Cyber Tribunal seeking permission to file a case against Murad and Nahid under the Digital Security Act.
Advocate ASM Badrul Anwar, president of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, Chattogram unit, filed the petition.
Judge SKM Tofail Hasan of Chattogram Cyber Tribunal will hear the petition later.
In Sylhet, advocate Tanvir Akter Khan, organizing secretary of Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum, Sylhet, lodged with Sylhet Cyber Tribunal under the same act.
During an interview on social media recently, Murad described BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman as a ‘whoreson’ and alleged that Zaima Rahman, Tarique’s daughter, cannot sleep without the company of a black man every night.
On Tuesday last, Murad Hassan quit the cabinet following the instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for his offensive and indecent remarks on women.
Murad had been under increasing criticism by various quarters for his disrespectful remarks on women in an interview on social media. Several audios and videos containing indecent remarks by Murad Hassan also went viral on social media.
READ: Former state minister Murad leaves country
Meanwhile, a two-year-old phone conversation of the junior minister with actor Mamnun Hasan Emon and actress Mahiya Mahi went viral on social media. In that audio clip, Murad made "derogatory comments" on the actress, threatened her and gave her an alleged indecent proposal.
On December 8, a writ was filed with the High Court challenging the legality of Murad Hassan’s MP post on the same ground.
Supreme Court Advocate Yunus Ali Akhand who filed the petition with the apex court also sought a judicial investigation into the activities of Murad, also an MP from Jamalpur-4 constituency.
The HC bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah is likely to hear the writ next week.
Murad was also stripped of the post of Health and Population Affairs Secretary of Jamalpur district unit Awami League for damaging the party’s image and his involvement in anti-disciplinary activities.
Father, son killed in Rajshahi road crash
A man and his son were killed when a truck hit a motorbike at Nimtala on Rajshahi-Chapainawabganj highway in Godagari upazila on Saturday night.
The deceased were identified as Abdus Salam, 60, and his son Ibrahim Hossain, 35, of Gulai village in the upazila.
READ: Father, daughter killed in Narayanganj road crash; 1 injured
The accident occurred around 10 pm when the truck hit the stationary motorbike carrying the duo, leaving Salam dead on the spot and Ibrahim injured, said officer-in-charge of Godagari Police Station Quamrul Islam.
READ: 35-yr-old biker killed in Sylhet road crash
Ibrahim was taken to a local hospital where doctors declared him dead around 2:45 am.
Bangladesh can protect itself from any external aggression: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said Bangladesh has attained all capabilities to protect its independence and sovereignty if it is attacked by any external aggressor and enemy. “We believe in peace, the Father of the Nation has given us the foreign policy ‘Friendship to all, malice to none’, we believe in that foreign policy, but if we’re attacked by enemies from outside, we’ve attained our capabilities to protect our independence and sovereignty,” she said. The Prime Minister was addressing the President Parade 2021 of the 81st BMA Long Course at Bangladesh Military Academy at Bhatiari in Chattogram, joining it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban. She asked the new cadets to devote themselves towards protecting the independence and sovereignty of the country as their prime task, if needed the highest sacrifice. Extending her best wishes and greetings to all the new officers on this auspicious occasion of passing out, she said by taking oath today they are entrusted with the sacred duty of defending the great independence and sovereignty of the motherland. "You’ve to remain alert and ready always to fulfil this responsibility. You’ll have to remain beside the people of the country… you’ll have to perform your duties to meet all the necessities of people and share happiness and sorrows equally,” she said. The Prime Minister asked them to uphold the spirit of the independence and put it above everything as this independence has come in lieu of the blood of millions of martyrs. “You’ve to inspire yourselves and instil the spirit of independence in you.”
READ: Bangladesh getting ready to tap 4IR opportunities: PM
Mentioning that ''Bangabandhu Complex'' has been constructed at the BMA with all kinds of sophisticated facilities for internal training of cadets, she said: "I hope that this modern training system will play a pivotal role in building a trained and modern army." Hasina also noted that today's BMA is a successful embodiment of the military academy that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had dreamt of providing advanced training and developing capable leadership. Describing various development programmes for Bangladesh Army, she said the government has established new infantry divisions, brigades, units and training institutes in the Bangladesh Army alongside taking necessary steps for its overall development. The Prime Minister said three new infantry divisions and the first para-commando brigade have been formed in the army while sophisticated armoured vehicles and other equipment, such as state-of-the-art engineering and signalling equipment, various weapons, helicopters, aircraft, modern infantry gazettes and various other weapons have been incorporated into the army.
READ: PM Hasina for forging strong worker-owner relations to boost productivity Hasina said the physical infrastructures required for the new weapons and equipment have been installed and built while work is underway to incorporate and expand a variety of weapons and equipment. At the function, Battalion Senior Under Officer of the 81st BMA Long Course Abdullah Al Islam received the “Sword of Honour” as the best all-around cadet and Company junior under officer Imrul Kayes got the “Army Chief Gold Medal” for his best performance in military subjects. On behalf of the Prime Minister, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed handed over both the “Sword of Honour” to Abdullah Al Islam and the “Army Chief Gold Medal” to Imrul Kayes. Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed Also spoke at the programme.