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Bangladesh logs 31 more Covid cases
Bangladesh registered 31 more Covid cases in the 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,037,187, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read more: Lack of info on China’s COVID-19 surge stirs global concern
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,440 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity fell to 0.74 per cent from Monday's 0.84 per cent as 4,189 samples were tested during the period.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent while recovery rate rose to 97.59 per cent, it added.
Read more: Cautionary measures taken at Sonamasjid land port to prevent new sub-variant of Covid-19
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.
Awami League pay tributes to Syed Ashraf on 4th death anniversary
Awami League on Tuesday paid tributes to its former general secretary and public administration minister Syed Ashraful Islam.
The party leaders and activists laid wreaths on his grave at Banani graveyard in the city.
Read more: Awami League united under Sheikh Hasina's leadership: Quader
Awami League joint general secretaries Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Mahbubul Alam Hanif MP, Syed Ashraf's sister Syed Zakia Noor Lipi and Syed Ashraful Islam's family members were present.
Syed Ashraf died at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, aged 68, on January 3 in 2019.
Read more: Awami League pays tribute at Bangabandhu‘s portrait on Martyred Intellectuals Day
His death came just four days after he was elected lawmaker from Kishoreganj-1. Before that, Ashraf was elected member of parliament from the same constituency in 1996, 2001, 2008 and 2014.
Nayapaltan clash: Fakhrul, Abbas get 6-month HC bail
The High Court on Tuesday (January 03, 2023) granted six months bail to BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas, in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan on December 7 last year.
The HC bench of Justice Md Selim and Justice Md Riaz Uddin granted the bail.
The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the two BNP leaders should not be granted permanent bail.
Advocate Joynul Abedin stood for the BNP leaders while Additional Attorney General SM Munir represented the state.
Also read: Nayapaltan clash: HC to hear Fakhrul, Abbas’s bail pleas on Tuesday
Earlier, on Monday, the High Court fixed Tuesday for hearing the bail petitions of the BNP leaders.
Lawyer Sagir Hossain Leone filed separate petitions seeking bail for them.
On December 21, Dhaka Metropolitan Session Judge Asaduzzaman rejected the BNP leaders’ bail petitions for the fourth time.
On December 9, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police picked up Fakhrul and Abbas from their homes in separate raids in the capital city.
Read More: BNP paying for "imprudent" decisions: Hasan Mahmud
Later, they were shown arrested in a case over the clash between police and the party activists in the capital’s Nayapaltan. A Dhaka court sent them to jail rejecting their bail pleas.
On December 12, a Dhaka court rejected the bail petitions of 224 leaders and activists of BNP, including Fakhrul and Abbas.
On December 15, the bail petitions of the two BNP leaders were rejected again.
A Dhaka court ordered to give division facility to them on December 9 and then they were given the division facility from December 13.
Read More: Now Ashuganj BNP declares Abdus Sattar persona non grata
They were accused of instigating, planning and directing an attack on police.
On December 7, a Swechchasebak Dal leader was killed and around 50 others were injured in a clash between police and the BNP activists in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, ahead of its December 10 rally.
Police filed four cases at Ramna, Shahjahanpur, Motijheel and Paltan police stations against 720 BNP activists and over 2400 unnamed people in connection with the clash with BNP.
Of the BNP men, 450 were accused in the case filed at Nayapaltan police station, 20 in Motijheel police station case and seven in Shahjahanpur police station case.
Read More: Implementing 10 points a key New Year’s challenge for BNP: Mosharraf
Keep serving the people to sustain public trust: PM Hasina urges police
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday asked the police personnel to continue their service towards the people to sustain the public trust they have earned.
“…serve the people keeping the humanitarian aspects in mind so that the trust and confidence among the mass people regarding the police force remain intact,” she said.
The prime minister said this while inaugurating the Police Week-2023 at the capital's Rajarbagh Police Lines.
She said that police are now serving the people as the force of the people while in the past they used to live in fear of police.
“Now they know that police serve them and stand beside them and gaining trust of people is very much important for any force. You (police force) are doing that,” she said.
Hasina said her government wanted to develop the country’s police force to the standard of the developed countries.
“In keeping compatibility with the developed countries we want to build our police force a skilled and smart police force and drive the country towards development,” she told the programme..
She urged all to ensure that no one can put any obstacle in the country’s march towards development and prosperity.
She recalled that the opposition BNP-Jamaat alliance unleashed arson attacks on the people in 2013, 2014 and 2015. She hoped that these kinds of heinous acts will not be repeated in the country.
“I thank all law enforcing agencies including the police force for their courageous role to stop those attacks,” she said.
Read more: Govt committed to expanding techno-based police services: PM
“That Bangladesh will be a Smart Bangladesh in knowledge, science and technology. The digital devices will be used in everything such as our business, trade, education, health and the government,’’ she said.
She also mentioned that Bangladesh Police would be built in a smarter way by giving them education on science and technology and proper training.
PM Hasina alerted the police about conspiracies being hatched against Bangladesh.
“Conspiracies are being hatched when Bangladesh is advancing towards prosperity,” she said.
She said that police had successfully broken the base of the militant organisations following the Holey Artisan which has brightened the country’s image globally.
“Police are also successfully checking the smuggling and human trafficking,” she said.
She also highly praised the police, particularly the women members of the force, as they have achieved global fame for their professional and sincere work in the UN peace missions.
She said Bangladesh must keep the pace of development despite the world is going through an economic recession.
Hasina reiterated her call to grow more food, bringing every inch of land under cultivation to keep Bangladesh safe from global recession and food crisis.
“You all have to grow something at your working places as Bangladesh never has to face global economic recession and food crisis,” she said.
Read more: Pay production cost to get smooth supply of gas, electricity: PM Hasina tells industries
Briefly describing her government's measures taken for ensuring the overall development of the Bangladesh Police, she said that they increased the allocation for police in the budget to Tk 800 crore from Tk 400 crore, after assuming office for the first time in 1996.
She said the government has ensured ration for all the police personnel including the retired ones and introduced risk allowances alongside promoting a female police personnel as the superintendent of police (SP) in 1998.
The Prime Minister said they have built a Police Welfare Trust by giving Tk 5 crore as seed money and established the Police Staff College in 2000.
She said they have built 25 police stations, 86 investigation centres, 58 highway police outposts, 150 police camps alongside appointing 803 sub inspectors, 507 sergeants, 14,680 constables during her first tenure 1996-2001 period.
Read More: Proposal sent for formation of specialised police unit for metro rail: DMP Commissioner
After assuming power for three consecutive terms since 2009, she said her government has taken various measures to turn Bangladesh into a self-dependent state and Bangladesh Police as modern, people friendly.
She said they have increased the posts for grade-1 and 2 to solve the problem over promotion.
Hasina said that the government has created Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Tourist Police, River Police, Special Security and Protection Battalion, Industrial Police, Anti-Terrorism Unit (ATU) and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit (CTTC) while two battalions of the armed police and one battalion of the RAB in Rohingya camps to ensure their security.
She said that DNA Lab, Automated Finger Print Identification System (AFIS) and modern forensic lab have been established in police, adding that such labs would be built in every division in future.
Mentioning that cyber crimes have appeared as a big problem across the globe, she said a complete cyber police unite will be formed soon.
The Prime Minister said they have taken measures to develop the Central Police Hospital and build divisional hospitals for police in each division, adding that a step has already taken to build a divisional hospital in Dhaka division.
BGB seizes drugs worth Tk5.6cr in Cox's Bazar
Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) said they seized banned drugs worth nearly Tk5.62 crore from Cox's Bazar's Teknaf upazila Sunday night.
Lieutenant Colonel Sheikh Khalid Mohammad Iftekhar, commanding officer of BGB-2 Battalion, today said they seized 1.65kg crystal methamphetamine and 10,000 yaba pills from the Kharangkhali area near the embankment along the River Naf.
Read more: Goods worth Tk107 crore seized in December: BGB
Tipped off, two patrol teams of BGB conducted a raid at Kharangkhali at midnight. At that time, a man who was trying to cross into Bangladesh from Myanmar took to his heels after seeing them.
Later the BGB teams found the crystal meth and yaba pills wrapped in a cloth at the spot.
Although the BGB men were hot on the trail of potential drug smugglers, they could not detain anyone in connection with the seizure of the illegal drugs, Iftekhar said.
Read More: Ensure security to lives and property of people living in bordering areas: PM to BGB
3 DSCC officials suspended over irregularities
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has terminated three of its officials on charges of corruption and irregularities.
The sacked officials are Md Rabiul Karim Khan, Customs, Excise and VAT officer of Zone-1 , Ruhul Alam, store keeper of Dhaka Metropolitan Shishu Hospital and Mohammad Ramzan Ali, rent assistant of Zone-4.
The city corporation, in an official order signed by its secretary Akramuzzaman, suspended three officials on Monday.
The action was taken against the officials following investigations that found evidence of their involvement with the corruption.
Recently the DSCC mayor has declared a "zero-tolerance policy" against all forms of corruption to ensure proper public services.
Read more: Gymnasium to be built in every ward: DSCC Mayor Taposh
Khurshed Alam gets 2-year extension as head of Maritime Affairs Unit
The government has extended the appointment of Secretary (Maritime Affairs Unit) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral Md Khurshed Alam (retired) for two more years.
The public administration ministry recently issued a notification regarding the extension of his contractual appointment.
Khurshed's fresh two-year tenure as head of the Maritime Affairs Unit will begin on January 20 or from his date of joining in continuation of his current contract.
Govt committed to expanding techno-based police services: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday (January 02, 2023) asked the police of Bangladesh to make it the “people’s police” by working tirelessly with integrity and humanity.
“I hope that every member of the Bangladesh Police will carry out their duties with the spirit and patriotism of the great Liberation War. I believe that you will work tirelessly to make Bangladesh Police as the 'people's police' as expected by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib by carrying out duties with honesty, devotion and humanity,” she said.
The PM said this in a message issued on the occasion of Police Week 2023, which is set to kick off on Tuesday (January 03, 2023).
Talking about the successes of Bangladesh Police, she said police have achieved successes in the campaign against militancy and terrorism. “They continue to play an effective role in ensuring safe roads and ensuring the protection of state assets, including eradication of drugs, cybercrime, rumours, money laundering and human trafficking,” she added.
Read: ‘Police now a symbol of dependability and confidence’
Hasina said Bangladesh has been able to maintain communal harmony thanks to the support of police, administration and other forces. “Our policemen have earned great respect and dignity in the United Nations peacekeeping missions by going beyond the country’s border,” she said.
She recalled the contribution of the police in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, saying that the policemen risked their lives to fight the coronavirus and have played an unprecedented role in the services towards the people.
Focusing on her government’s steps taken during 1996-2001 and 2009-till now for the wellbeing of the law enforcement agency, the PM said the Awami League government has done everything necessary for the welfare of the police.
“In Digital Bangladesh, we are committed to expanding technology-based policing services,” she said.
Read: Police kept the bombs in BNP office: Fakhrul
She said the AL government has recruited manpower, creating the necessary number of new posts in the police organogram in the last 14 years since the formation of the government in 2009.
Besides, her government also formed a good number of ranges including Industrial Police, Tourist Police, Naval Police, Police Bureau of Investigation and Anti-Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit, and Metropolitan Unit, Cyber Police Centre, Battalion, In-Service Training Centre, Police Station, Investigation Centre, Police Outpost and the 999 units to render the national emergency service, she added.
The Prime Minister said they have reintroduced the rank badge of the IGP and launched service desks for women, children, elderly and disabled people. “We’re providing the police services to the doorsteps of the people through beat policing,” she added.
On the occasion of the Police Week, she extended her sincere greetings and congratulation to all the members of Bangladesh Police.
Hasina wished all the programmes of 'Police Week 2023' a success.
Read More: Keep serving the people to sustain public trust: PM Hasina urges police
Zanendra Nath Sarker made Petrobangla chairman
Zanendra Nath Sarker, an additional secretary at the Ministry of Industries, was appointed as chairman of Petrobangla, the state-owned oil, gas and minerals corporation.
Zanendra, an admin cadre service officer, will replace Nazmul Ahsan who was recently made the secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources.
Read: Ex-secretary Kamal made new NHRC chairman
The Ministry of Public Administration issued an order in this regard on January 1, saying that the appointment will be effective immediately.
Workplace accidents: 1034 workers died in 2022
A total of 1034 workers died in workplace accidents while 1,037 others were injured across Bangladesh in 2022, a new report said on Monday.
The report by the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), however, said that the incidents of casualties decreased by 2 percent last year compared with 2021.
It said a total of 135 workers died due to ‘repression” at work, and 155 others were injured.
There were 196 incidents of workers’ unrest, and of them 115 were in the apparel sector, the report said.
Also Read: Workplace accidents killed 538 workers in 2021
The BILS has prepared the survey report based on reports published in different newspapers in 2022.
According to the report, 499 casualties or 48 percent of the deaths, happened in the transport sector, which is the highest in a single-sector count.