Jatiya Press Club
Journo Muhiuddin Ahmed dies
Noted journalist Muhiuddin Ahmed died at his Dakkhin Banasree residence early on Wednesday morning. He was 79.
Muhiuddin, also a member of the Jatiya Press Club, had been suffering from Parkinson's disease since September last year.
Read: Thakurgaon journalist arrested under DSA gets bail
He breathed his last around 5am, said his eldest daughter Zannatul Ferdous.
Muhiuddin, a former News Editor of UNB, will be buried at Dakkhin Banasree graveyard after Zohr prayers, following a namaz-e-janaza.
Read: 3 journos sued under DSA in Thakurgaon, one held
He was born in Laxmipur on February 13 in 1944. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
JPC Vice-President Raza's father passes away
Tofazzal Haque, father of Jatiya Press Club President Rezwanul Haque Raza, passed away on Sunday. He was 86.
Raza, also Machranga TV’s Head of News, lost his mother a couple of days ago.
Tofazzal, suffering from various old-age complications, was undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
Read:JPC Vice-President Raza's mother no more
He breathed his last at 6:50am at the hospital.
Tofazzal left behind five sons, two daughters and a host of relatives to mourn his death.
His son Borhanul Haque Shamrat is working as a news editor of News24 TV.
Read: DCAB shocked at death of JPC ex-President Hassan Shahriar
Earlier, Sajeda Begum, mother of Raza, passed away on Thursday night.
Time not ripe yet to go for anti-govt movement: Fakhrul
Stating that the correct time has not come yet to go for an anti-government movement, BNP Secretary General on Monday said it will not be possible to stage a mass upsurge without the active participation of the young generation.
“Many of you ask why BNP is not calling for a movement? BNP will surely do it when the party thinks it is the right time for waging a movement,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, he said, “Students and workers must play a big role in the movement as they did in the past. A mass upsurge is necessary to defeat the current regime by organising the youth.”
Also read:Plot hatched to make Bangladesh 'subservient’ state: Fakhrul
Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 40th death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
Recalling the role of students and youths in ousting HM Ershad in the 90s, Fakhrul said people will get united if the young generation comes forward for bringing about a change in power.
He, however, said the reality in the 90s and that of in 2021 is not the same. “There’ve been lots of changes in the course of time. We’ve to move on with the trend of change. Or else, we’ll never be successful.”
The BNP leader said one thing is clear that no election can be held in a free and fair manner under the current government and the Election Commission. “So, they’ve to go…then there must come a change through an election under a neutral government and a neutral election commission. We the country’s people have to do this. Neither America nor China, nor India will bring this change for us.”
Fakhrul alleged that the ruling party leaders are indulging in widespread ‘plundering’ and they are buying houses and making shopping malls in different countries, including Canada, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. “No one keeps money in the country anymore as they know the time will come when everyone will be made accountable to people.”
Mentioning that the government has completely failed to deal with the coronavirus crisis, he said the government’s only goal is to plunder and steal public money through corruption.
He said Health Minister Zahid Maleque was present during the signing of a deal with Regent Hospital, but later only hospital chairman Shahed Karim was sent to jail for the Covid test scam. “When Shahed can be taken to jail, then why not the minister? He (minister) is equally responsible for it."
Journalists demand unconditional release of Rozina Islam
Journalists on Wednesday formed a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club demanding unconditional release of journalist Rozina Islam and punishment of those involved in harassing her at the Secretariat.
Dhaka Reporters Unity, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalist, Barishal Divisional Journalist Association, Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum, Bangladesh Photo Journalists Association and other organizations joined the human chain around 11 am.
Read:That's something concerning: UN on Rozina's arrest
They also demanded withdrawal of false case filed against Rozina.
Besides, Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) held a protest rally in front of its office demanding the same.
Rozina, senior journalist of Prothom Alo, was handed over to police on Monday night after being held at the Secretariat for over five hours.
Rozina was arrested for allegedly attempting to illegally “collect sensitive government documents and taking photos of them” from the Secretariat on Monday.
An FIR was filed against Rozina under the Official Secrets Act and sections 379 and 411 of The Penal Code on a complaint filed by the Health Services Division at Shahbagh police station.
Read: Journalist Rozina must get justice: Law Minister
Later, a Dhaka court on Tuesday sent Rozina, to jail after rejecting the police's demand for her five-day remand.
Rozina Islam was taken to Kashimpur Central Women's Jail on Tuesday afternoon after a Dhaka court rejected police’s remand plea.
Besides, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has formed a three-member probe committee to look into the confinement and later handover to police of journalist Rozina Islam at the Secretariat on Monday.
Senior journalist Feeuri Khondoker passes away
Senior Journalist Feeuri Khondoker died at the Combined Military Hosptal (CMH), Dhaka on Saturday afternoon. He was 70.
Feeuri Khondoker, who had been suffering from cancer, breathed his last at the hospital around 2:30 pm.
Also read: Journalist Ahmed Momtaz no more
Feeuri, joint news editor of Daily Observer, was also a member of the Jatiya Press Club.
The namaz-e-janaza of the journalist will be held at Kodimdhalya village in Mirzapur upazila of Tangail after Asar prayers today.
Also read: Senior journalist Hassan Shahriar passes away
Bidi workers appeal for help to preserve their livelihoods
The Bidi workers on Saturday (May 01, 2021) urged the government to take necessary measures to save the industry’s workers for ensuring the livelihood of millions of workers and their family members.
They made the call at a rally in front of Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka. The bidi is a smoked product made of unprocessed tobacco wrapped in leaves unique to South Asia.
Bidi Sramik Federation president M K Bangali said thousands of bidi workers staged a rally in the city alongside Kushtia, Pabna, Bogura Tangail, Barisal, Patuakhali, marking the international May Day.
Read Covid-19: Hasina for balancing livelihoods and public health
“We broke out processions with various placards and posters of our demands. We are going through a miserable time as factories are being closed day by day,” he also said.
Executive Member of the organization Anwar Hossain said they have to be united to press home their demand by taking the lesson of bloodshed history of the Labor Day. The historic May Day was observed today as the world battles the coronavirus pandemic which has rendered millions of workers jobless in recent months.
“The COVID-19 hit our income hard, so the government should pay attention to us,” he also said.
Read May Day: Workers trapped between hunger and fear
Some 10 workers were killed in Chicago on May 1 in 1886 when police opened fire on a demonstration demanding an eight-hour working day instead of a 12-hour shift.
The authorities were eventually forced to accept the workers’ demand which resulted in an eight-hour working day universally.
On July 14, 1889, an international workers' rally in Paris declared May 1 as the International Workers' Solidarity Day in recognition of the workers' sacrifice in Chicago.
Read PROGGA, ATMA for imposing specific taxes on tobacco products
Extreme poverty to fall to 3% by 2030: FM
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Monday said extreme poverty rate will come down to 3 percent by 2030 and that the country will be free of poverty after 2041.
"Once 80 percent people were poor in Bangladesh but now the poverty rate stands at 20 percent thanks to good initiatives. The Sheikh Hasina government laid emphasis on eliminating poverty from the country in 2009," he said at the unwrapping ceremony of the book titled "Sheikh Hasina Sarker" at Jatiya Press Club in the capital.
Momen said Bangladesh needs the incumbent government for its further development.
Also read: SANEM survey: Population below poverty line doubled, extreme poor trebled in 2020
"Once our annual average growth rate was 2.2 percent. Now it’s 6.9 percent. It's an unbelievable development. Bangabandhu brought freedom and his daughter fulfilled his dreams," he said.
Momen said Bangladesh once faced serious food crisis. The government announced to resolve the problem providing subsidy in agriculture sector. Now there is no food crisis.
"Earlier, power cuts were common [but now] the government has increased power production to 24,000MW from 2009-2020," the minister added.
The Foreign Minister said the government took lots of initiatives to make the population skilled to eliminate unemployment. Besides, the government took steps to tackle climate change impact.
He said that is why the Prime Minister won champion of the earth award and earned the respect of the global audience.
Also read: PM vows to wipe out poverty through united efforts
About Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka, Momen said we are honoured that he chose Bangladesh to be his first tour abroad since the coronavirus outbreak.
He added that 65 countries sent messages to appreciate Bangladesh. They also appreciated Sheikh Hasina for the Rohingya response.
Momen highlighted Bangladesh’s development and said the country currently has a forex reserve of $44 billion and is regarded as a leader in South Asia.
Also read: COVID-19 could push over 1 bln into extreme poverty: UNDP
The author of the book Razu Alim said he tried to include various information about the government of Sheikh Hasina in his book. Jatiya Press Club President Farida Yesmin and Awami League Office Secretary Biplob Barua were also present at the event.
Journalist Kayum Khan Milon passes away
Kayum Khan Milon, Senior Sub-editor of national daily The New Nation, died at a city hospital on Monday afternoon. He was 83.
Kayum Khan, also a standing member of Jatiya Press Club, breathed his last at Impulse Hospital at 3pm, said a press release.
Also read: Journalist AZM Anas passes away
He is survived by his wife and son. He also left behind a host of relatives and well-wishers to mourn his death.
His namaz-e-janaza will be held at Kalshi in Mirpur Journalist Colony after Isha prayers. He will be laid to rest at Kalshi graveyard.
Also read: Journalist Shaheen Reza Noor passes away
Press Club President Farida Yasmin and General Secretary Ilias Khan expressed shock at his death and prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul.
Janakantha Editor Atikullah Khan Masud passes away
Editor and publisher of the daily Janakantha Atikullah Khan Masud died of cardiac arrest at a hospital in the city early Monday. He was 71.
KM Obaidur Rahman’s 14th death anniversary on Sunday
The 14th death anniversary of former BNP secretary general KM Obaidur Rahman will be observed on Sunday.