Dhaka
Motorbike kills a woman returning home from afternoon walk
A woman was killed on Thursday when a motorcycle hit her in front of Ramna Park as she was returning home from afternoon walk, police said.
Police detained the motorcyclist after the incident at around 5 pm.
Read: Two killed in Cumilla road crash
The killed was identified as Trishna Saha (50), wife of Uttam Saha, a resident of Bijoynagar in the city.
The incident took place when Trishna was walking home by foot. Suddenly a motorcycle hit her injuring her severly.
Pedestrian rescued Trishna and rushed her to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where the on-duty doctor declared her dead at 5:36pm.
Kalpona Begum, a resident of Siddheswari area and also a friend of the victim said, said she along with Trisna used to walk in Ramna Park every afternoon.
"At the end of the walk, both of us were crossing the road in front of the park to return to our homes", she said.
Read: 8 of a family killed in Mymensingh road crash
"I was a little ahead and she was behind me. Suddenly, after a sound, I looked back and saw that Trishna was lying on the street as a motorcycle hit her. Later We rescued her and rushed to the DMCH", Kalpona added.
Inspector Md Bachchu Mia, in-charge of the DMCH police camp, confirmed the death. He said the body was kept at the hospital morgue for autopsy. The concerned police station was informed about the incident.
Katakhali mayor Abbas Ali detained in Dhaka
The mayor of Rajshahi's Katakhali Municipality, Abbas Ali, was detained by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) from a hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday morning.
The detention comes days after he was booked under the Digital Security Act (DSA) over his alleged derogatory remarks on Bangabandhu and announcement to stop the construction of a mural of the Father of the Nation in the city.
Read: ACC sues Barguna’s Amtoli municipality mayor, wife
A RAB team conducted a drive at Razmoni Ishakha hotel in Dhaka and detained Abbas in the morning, ASP Imran Khan, assistant director (legal and media wing) at RAB HQ told UNB.
UNB Rajshahi Correspondent reports:
Mayor Abbas, in his second term as mayor, came under fire after an audio clip of his remarks on Bangabandhu went viral on social media recently.
"The Katakhali city gate will be built soon but the private contractor has submitted a design of Bangabandhu's mural to be installed at the gate," Abbas was heard as saying in the clip.
"It will be a sin if I allow construction of Bangabandhu's mural... it is not right as per the Islamic Shariah laws."
Abdul Momin, councillor of ward no 13 of Katakhali Municipality, lodged a complaint against Abbas under the Digital Security Act (DSA) at the Boalia police station, following which an FIR (first information report) was filed on that day.
Read: Cyber tribunal orders probe against suspended Gazipur mayor under DSA
On Monday, police arrested Liton, the personal assistant of Abbas, and following his confessional statement, cops came to know about the whereabouts of Abbas.
Dhaka seeks enhanced trade with Malé through PTA, investment protection deal
Bangladesh has laid emphasis on enhancing trade with the Maldives through conclusion of bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and bilateral Investment Protection Agreement.
Bangladesh and the Maldives also discussed the possible ways for expansion of the scope for employment of Bangladeshi nationals in Maldives through skill development training and regularization of those who are already staying in Maldives.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Sunday met Vice President of the Maldives Faisal Naseem at the latter’s office in Malé.
Read:Hasina for strengthening connectivity with Maldives
He also met Minister of Economic Development of the Maldives Ismail Faiyyaz.
During the two meetings, they discussed the issues of mutual interest.
During the call on with the Vice President; the Foreign Secretary was accompanied by Ambassador Mashfee Binte Shams, Secretary (East) and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Vice President of the Maldives recalled his recent visit to Bangladesh and thanked Bangladesh Government for arranging a successful visit which has brought out tangible outcomes.
Foreign Secretary Masud briefed the Vice President about the Foreign Office Consultations successfully completed between him and his Maldivian counterpart.
Both sides underscored the necessity to collaborate with each other on the area of skill development, human resources development, trade, commerce, connectivity and cooperation in tourism.
26/11: Street drama staged in Dhaka protesting Mumbai terror attack
A group of theatre artists Friday staged the street drama "Militant Attack" at Bashundhara City Shopping Complex on the 13th anniversary of the terror attack in Mumbai.
They condemned the Pakistani authorities, as the Indian side claims the 26/11 terror attack was "planned, executed and launched" from Pakistani territory.
Organised by Open Dialogue Bangladesh and performed by Samad Bhuiyan and his team, the street drama highlighted the "horrific acts of Pakistani militants" that took place on November 26.
The famous Bollywood city Mumbai was bloodied on that day and 164 people were killed, and more than 300 people were injured in that attack.
Read: 13th anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks observed in Bangladesh
In the street drama, the artists exposed how 10 militants infiltrated Mumbai, crossing the Arabian Sea from Pakistan and attacked and fired indiscriminately at important places in the city, including 10 cafes, Taj Hotel, bus terminus, hotels and hospitals.
Umme Salma Shimu, Sadia Islam Anannya, Sumi Akhter, Lamia Akhter, Smriti Akhter, Nabil Mahmud Sabbir, Sajjad Masud Soumya, Ariful Islam, Shahriar Shuvo, Tahfimul Islam Apu and Yahya Bin Joy performed in the drama.
At the beginning of the street drama, music was performed to protest militant attacks in the subcontinent.
The drama was written and directed by Samad Bhuiyan.
He said the drama is not only for entertainment but also a tool of protest. "Today's drama proved it again."
On the 13th anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the government and people of India somberly remembered the victims and the valiant security personnel who laid down their lives to protect people.
The president, prime minister and external affairs minister of India in separate messages, expressed their firm solidarity with the families of the victims.
A solemn memorial event was organised by the State Government of Maharashtra at the Police Memorial in Mumbai.
A senior diplomat from the High Commission of Pakistan in India was summoned by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Friday.
A note verbale reiterating India's call for an expeditious trial in the Mumbai terror attacks case, and calling on the government of Pakistan to abide by its commitment to not allow territories under its control for terrorism against India, was handed over to him, according to the MEA.
Fourteen other countries lost their nationals in these attacks.
Even after 13 years of this heinous terror attack, the families of 166 victims from 15 countries across the globe still await closure, with Pakistan showing little sincerity in bringing the perpetrators to justice, said the MEA."The former prime minister of Pakistan had gone on record and admitted that the terrorists were sent from Pakistan's soil. We once again call on the government of Pakistan to give up double standards and to expeditiously bring the perpetrators of the horrific attack to justice," the MEA said."This is not just a matter of Pakistan's accountability to the families of the innocent victims who fell to terrorists, but also an international obligation. The government of India will continue to make every effort to seek justice for the families of the victims and the martyrs."
Dhaka's air quality still 'unhealthy'
The densely populated capital of Bangladesh continues to wait for cleaner air, despite slipping a couple of notches in the list of world cities with the worst air quality.
Dhaka has, in fact, been ranked the fourth-most polluted city in the world. The capital's air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 188 around 10.15am on Thursday. The air was classified as ‘unhealthy’.
Read:Dhaka breathes “unhealthy” air in the morning, says a global monitor
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
India’s Delhi, Mongolia’s Ulaanbaatar and Pakistan’s Lahore occupied the first three slots in the list of cities with the worst air quality with AQI scores of 376, 243 and 233, respectively.
AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, is used by government agencies to inform people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy during winter and improves during monsoon.
A report by the Department of Environment (DoE) and the World Bank in March 2019 pointed out that the three main sources of air pollution in Dhaka "are brick kilns, fumes from vehicles and dust from construction sites".
Read:Dhaka’s air quality still ‘unhealthy’
With the advent of winter, the city’s air quality starts deteriorating sharply due to the massive discharge of pollutant particles from construction works, rundown roads, brick kilns and other sources.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Notre Dame College student dies being hit by DSCC truck
A 17-year-student of Notre Dame College was killed when a garbage truck of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) hit him at Golchattar in the city’s Gulistan area on Wednesday.
The deceased was identified as Naim Hasan, son of Shah Alam Dewan of Laxmipur district and a 2nd year student of the college.
Read:Two Class X students die in Chandpur road crash
Quoting witnesses, Inspector Bachchu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) police outpost, said the garbage truck hit Naim while he was crossing a road in the area around 11:30 am, leaving him injured.
He was taken to DMCH where doctors declared him dead around 12:15 pm.
On information, police seized the vehicle and arrested the truck driver.
Korea Film, Tourism Festival begins in Dhaka Wednesday
The annual Korean Film and Tourism Festival 2021, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Bangladesh, will begin on Wednesday at the main auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum in the capital’s Shahbagh.
The 2021 film festival will begin with an opening ceremony followed by the premiere of the popular 2019 Korean film "Parasite," the first non-English language film to win the best picture award in the 92-year history of the Academy Awards in 2019.
State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid will join the inauguration ceremony as the chief guest. The ceremony will also feature K-pop performances by award-winning Bangladesh youngsters.
Total 5 in-person films will be screened over 3 days (November 24-26) at the main auditorium. From the world-famous movie “Parasite” to “Mal-mo-e: The Secret Mission,” a film based on a true story with depictions of the people who fought to defend their Korean mother tongue against foreign suppression.
Read:Korea Film and Tourism Festival 2021 starts in Dhaka on Nov 24
The other movies scheduled for this festival are - “Kim Ji-young, Born 1982,” #Alive,” and “Red Shoes and The Seven Dwarfs”
On the sideline of the film screening, the Korean Tourism Festival will be paralleled at the National Museum of Bangladesh, with an aim to showcase the picturesque scenery of Korea.
Visitors to the Tourism Festival will also enjoy various live activities including Virtual Tour, Korean folk game, Hanbok Wearing, Dalgona Candy making, instant photoshoot, and the Korea Corner at the Museum.
Despite the growing interest in this special annual festival and Korean pop culture among Bangladeshi audiences, the festival did not take place last year due to the Covid19 pandemic. “Now we are very pleased to resume the long waited event and ready to satiate the appetite for Korean films and beyond,” the organizers said regarding the festival.
Biman to resume Bangkok flights from Dec 2
Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to resume operations on its Dhaka-Bangkok-Dhaka route from December 2.The flight will leave Dhaka for Bangkok twice a week at 11:30am on Thursdays and Sundays.The return flight will depart Bangkok every Thursday and Sunday at 4:15 pm local time (6.15pm in Dhaka).Passengers can collect tickets from any sales office of Biman, sales center head office in Balakaand authorized sales centers.Passengers can travel to Bangkok at least 14 days after receiving the full dose of the Covid-19 vaccine recognized by the Thai authorities. Passengers must register for ‘Thailand Pass’ from the website: https://tp.consular.go.th/Passengers willing to travel to Thailand must have Covid test and a negative certificate within a maximum of 72 hours before departure. After reaching the country, they will have to be tested again.
READ: Biman increases number of fights to Delhi and Kolkata
Passengers will be able to visit the designated tourist destinations only if their Covid test reports are negative after their arrival in Thailand.Passengers are not required to stay in the hotel quarantine but they will be required to stay in the sandbox area (designated tourist centers) for 7 days under the 'sandbox program' by the Thai authorities.
READ: Biman resumes direct flights to Abu DhabiPassengers will need to make a 7-day reservation at an SHA + hotel recognized by Thailand's tourism authority in the sandbox area and they must have insurance coverage of USD 50,000. SHA is a certificate given by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to hotels and services that meet pandemic-level safety and health standards
4 of a family burnt in Mugda fire
Four members of a family, including a child, suffered burn injuries as a fire broke out in a flat at Mugda in Dhaka on Monday morning.
The injured are- Sudhangsu, 35, his wife Priyanka, 32, their son Arup, 5 and Priyanka’s mother Shefali, 55, residents of the area.
Read: SSC examinees, others suffer as transport strike begins in Sylhet
Priyanka's brother Palash said the fire broke out when Priyanka attempted to light the gas stove with a matchstick in the morning, leaving the four members of the family seriously injured.
The injured are undergoing treatment at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
Read: Journo among 20 hurt as BNP men, police clash in Natore
Ayub Hossain, a resident surgeon at the hospital, said Sudhangsu sustained 25 percent burn wounds while Priyanka 75 percent, Arup 67 percent and Shefali 35 percent.
The condition of three of the injured is critical, he added.
2 die from electrocution in the city
Two people died and another two were injured from electrocution in the city’s Satarkul area of North Badda area on Sunday afternoon, family said.
The deceased were identified as Ariful Islam Sohel, 32, a welding mechanic and Jahangir Alam, 32, his assistant.
Also read: 2 of a family among 3 die from electrocution in Bogura
Sohel, along with Jahangir, was workimg in his newly built enterprise Maa Engineering Workshop Grill and Welding in Satarkul area when the accident occurred, his family said.
Another two workers Ahad and Miraj were injured in the incident.
Also read: Youth dies from electrocution in Kushtia
Sohel and Alam were first taken to a nearby hospital and later to the emergency unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where the on-duty doctor declared both of them dead.
Bachchu Mia, police inspector at the DMCH police outpost said the bodies have been kept at the hospital morgue for autopsies.