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Quota movement: PM witnesses damages at Setu Bhaban
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday morning visited Setu Bhaban to witness the extent of damage caused by attackers during the recent quota reform movement by students.
She went there at about 10am and inspected vandalised floors and premises of the building.
Minister of Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader and other senior officials of the Ministry were present at that time.
They briefed the prime minister about the vandalism and arson attacks during which many vehicles parked there were set on fire.
On July 18, nearly 250-300 unidentified people stormed the Setu Bhaban, vandalised many vehicles, motorbikes, and ransacked different sheds and rooms. They later set those on fire. They attacked and beat many employees there.
Around 50 vehicles were torched at Setu Bhaban.
Earlier in the morning, the prime minister visited Pongu Hospital (National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation) to see the injured people there.
PM Hasina visits NITOR to see the injured of quota violence
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday morning visited National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) to see the injured people who came under attacks during the recent countrywide violence.
She went to the NITOR, popularly known as Pongu Hospital, at about 9am and inquired about the condition of the patients who are now undergoing treatment there after being attacked during the student movement for reformation of quota in public service.
The premier gave the necessary instructions to the hospital authorities for proper treatment of the victims.
She also assured the injured people of extending all sorts of assistance to ensure their proper treatment.
Nitor Director Prof. Dr. Kazi Shamim Uzzaman apprised the prime minister of treatment of the victims.
The prime minister became emotional after seeing the condition of the injured people and was found trying her best to hold back tears.
Earlier, the prime minister visited the vandalised metro rail station at Mirpur 10 in the capital on Thursday morning and ransacked Bangladesh Television (BTV) Bhaban on Friday morning to see the extent of damages after these establishments came under attack during the violence.
She also visited Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Friday morning and inquired about those who were admitted there for treatment of injuries they suffered during the violence.
Health Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen and State Minister for Health Dr Rokeya Sultana accompanied the prime minister.
Environment Minister calls for accessible, transparent climate finance
Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury, called for the implementation of mechanisms that guarantee easy accessibility to climate finance for developing nations.
He highlighted the need for increased transparency in the allocation and distribution of these funds to ensure they effectively support the intended climate actions.
The minister said this while delivered a compelling speech at the opening day of the two-day Head of Delegation retreat program held in Shamakhi, Azerbijan on Friday.
The event, which brings together key international leaders, is focused on shaping the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance.
Furthermore, the minister underscored the importance of considering the unique needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the formulation of the New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG).
He stressed the necessity of finalizing a clear definition of climate finance, ensuring that it comprehensively covers adaptation, mitigation, and loss and damage.
The Head of Delegation program commenced with an in-depth discussion on setting the scene for the NCQG, which is poised to replace the current USD 100 billion climate finance goal set by developed countries for developing nations after 2025.
The discussions and insights from this retreat are expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of global climate finance, driving forward more equitable and effective support for vulnerable nations in their fight against climate change.
Dhaka's air quality remains 'moderate'
Dhaka has ranked 63rd on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 51 at 09:08 am this morning.
Today’s air was classified as 'moderate', and even Dhaka’s air quality remained in moderate zone for the past few days, indicating an improvement of the air quality.
Indonesia’s Medan, Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Kinshasa, Indonesia’s Jakarta and Pakistan’s Lahore occupied the first, second, third, fourth spots in the list, with AQI scores of 193, 171, 156 and 138, respectively.
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered ‘moderate’, between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five 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 in winter and improves during the monsoon.
As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
Rioters, saboteurs will not be spared: DB chief Harun
Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Chief Harun-or-Rashid has stated that those who have committed acts of sabotage and killed police officers in the name of the quota movement will not be spared, no matter where they are.
He made this remark at a press conference held at the DB office in the capital on Friday.
The DB chief said that those who have killed police officers, murdered civilians, and conducted sabotage at government installations, including the metro rail, will face legal action. Those who led these activities and financed them or facilitated financial transactions will not be spared, no matter where they are.
Harun mentioned 'those people' conducted house-to-house raids with the aim of demoralizing the police. He stated that many police officers have sacrificed their lives for the people at various times, which is very painful for them. He said the quota movement has cost them three police officers, but it has not broken the morale of the police.
He also commented that the attacks and destruction were carried out in a planned manner to weaken the police.
Describing the incidents as premeditated murders and destruction under the guise of the quota reform movement, he said that BNP-Jamaat has repeatedly tried to unlawfully overthrow democratic governments or render the country ineffective. However, due to the police, they have repeatedly failed, which is why this time they targeted the police, he added.
He stated that these evil forces, the Jamaat-BNP circle, launched attacks in the areas of Shoni Akhra and Rayerbagh during the quota reform movement. They attacked police officers wherever they found them.
Steps to be taken against attackers; genuine students won't be harassed: Hasan
Foreign Minister and Joint General Secretary of Awami League Hasan Mahmud on Friday said that every incident of recent attacks and sabotage will be investigated to deliver justice but the genuine students will not be harassed.
"Those who killed PS of Gazipur ex-mayor Jahangir and police in Dhaka, those who hanged their bodies, threw BCL activists from the six-storey building in Chattogram, burnt public and private properties will not be spared. I have seen the footage of vandalism and arson on BTV. Those who carried out these attacks will not be spared from legal actions," he said.
Speaking as the chief guest at a discussion against anti-state, anti-Liberation, terrorism and anarchy at Jatiya Press Club, Hasan also said that many people were prosecuted after the sabotage in 2013-14, some escaped through the loopholes of the law.
"That won't happen this time. Every attacker will be brought to justice," said the Awami League leader.
Hasan said attacks on the state was ordered by BNP's Tarique Rahman.
The foreign minister said Tarique Rahman's voice has come to the hands of the government.
"If you carry out a big attack, get a big post. Break the curfew, if not, leave the post," Hasan quoted Tarique Rahman as saying.
The foreign minister said another BNP leader urged his partymen to enter the movement and create anarchy.
They are the ones who have given the confessional statement that Tk 5,000 will be given if a BCL worker is killed, and Tk 10,000 if a policeman is killed, Hasan said, posing a question, "Is this any political party? It is an anti-state terrorists organization."
Highlighting the recent sabotage, the foreign minister said Bangladesh Television was established in 1964 but in the last 60 years, BTV has never been attacked.
"Some officials of BTV were killed during the War of Liberation. But there was never an attack on BTV," Hasan said.
He said they vandalised the Disaster Management Directorate where people go during a disaster.
"The pride of Dhaka residents and countrymen - Metro Rail - has been set on fire. Foreign ambassadors, high commissioners' IDs were hacked and false messages were posted," Hasan said.
Regarding the quota in government jobs, Hasan said they have said from the very beginning that it will be resolved through the court.
"Finally it happened. The students got more than what they asked for. If the students had a little patience, BNP-Jamaat would not have got this opportunity. And I firmly believe that no ordinary student can kill people or attack people and state property," Hasan said.
He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has assured that no student will be harassed.
"But you need to remain careful so that no one can use you for their ill motive and purposes," Hasan said.
State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Mohibbur Rahman said those who commit terrorism and anarchy are anti-state and anti-liberation.
"The time has come to build a united resistance against them," he said.
Awami League leader MA Karim presided over the discussion.
Former Dhaka University Vice Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Jatiya Press Club President Farida Yasmin, MP, Shahadat Hossain Toyel and Awlad Hossain also spoke.
Find the perpetrators of violence to ensure punishment, urges PM Hasina during visit to ransacked BTV
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday urged the citizens to cooperate with the government to make sure the perpetrators of the recent mayhem are nabbed from every nook and corner of the country to get punishment.
“I would like to call upon the people of the country that they should find out those who were involved in these destructions and cooperate for ensuring their punishment,” she said.
The premier made the call while visiting Bangladesh Television (BTV) Bhaban in the city’s Rampura area to see the extent of damage after it came under attack during the recent student violence.
She inspected different parts of the BTV Bhaban which was set on fire by a mob during the student movement for reformation of quota in public service.
Hasina said BNP and Jamaat terrorists particularly Shibir men, gathering from across the country, carried out these attacks in the capital.
“They carried out these things using the anti-quota movement,” she said.
About BTV, the prime minister said coming to power in 1996 she equipped the state-owned television with the then latest technologies including cameras. After returning to power for the second time in 2009, she modernised the television centre further, said the PM.
“But now the people of Bangla are witnessing the terrible scenes like the infernal devastations committed by Pakistani occupation forces in 1971,” she said.
She said even the Pakistani occupation forces didn’t attack the television. But the attackers torched this television and damaged it so badly that nothing was spared from destruction.
“Who are they? Are they the people of this country? Were they born in this country who carried out these attacks with an intention to destroy the country?” she said adding that they also destroyed metro-rail, which is a pride for every Bengali.
Noting that the mobs went to attack water treatment plants, sewerage treatment plants and the garbage trucks of the city corporation, she said they attacked on the installations which serve the people very much. “What mentality do they have?” she added.
Referring to the arson violence unleashed by BNP-Jamaat in 2013, 2014 and 2015, Hasina said some 3,800 transport vehicles were damaged setting fire on theses during the violence.
She said but this time the character of the arson violence is different. “This time they used gunpowder and so, these things were gutted to ashes in a while,” she said.
Citing that Bangladesh is now a role model for development in the world, Hasina said “When we’ve taken Bangladesh to a dignified position, is it (this mayhem) the reward for it (government’s success)? Didn’t they enjoy the benefits from the establishments they torched?”
Heavy rain in northern Japan triggers floods and landslides, forcing hundreds to take shelter
Heavy rain hit northern Japan Thursday, triggering floods and landslides, disrupting transportation systems and forcing hundreds of residents to take shelter at safer grounds.
The Japan Meteorological Agency issued emergency warnings of heavy rain for several municipalities in the Yamagata and Akita prefecture, where warm and humid air was flowing.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged the affected area’s residents to “put safety first” and pay close attention to the latest information from the authorities.
According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency, one person went missing in Yuzawa city — in the Akita prefecture — after being hit by a landslide at a road construction site.
Rescue workers in the city evacuated 11 people from the flooded area with the help of a boat.
In the neighboring Yamagata prefecture, more than 10 centimeters (4 inches) of rain fell in the hardest-hit Yuza and Sakata towns within an hour earlier Thursday.
Thousands of residents in the area were advised to take shelter at higher and safer grounds, but it was not immediately known how many people took that advice.
Yamagata Shinkansen bullet train services were partially suspended on Thursday, according to East Japan Railway Company.
The agency predicted up to 20 centimeters (8 inches) of more rainfall in the region through Friday evening, urging residents to remain cautious.
Those involved in arson, vandalism in Fisheries and Livestock Offices to be punished: Minister
Those carried out arson attacks and vandalism in Savar and Rangpur Fisheries and Livestock offices during quota reform protests will be identified and brought under justice, Minister of Fisheries and Livestock M Abdur Rahman said on Thursday.
“Exemplary punishment will also be ensured,” he said.
The minister was talking to journalists in his office at the secretariat on Thursday (July 25).
When asked about damages in the fisheries and livestock sector due to the violence of the last few days, he said that the office of the Ministry of Livestock in Savar was vandalized. Buildings and vehicles were set on fire, officials were beaten. “All in all, there has been a hell of a rampage,” he added.
Regarding the amount of damage, he said, so far we have not been able to estimate the amount of damage. “We will be able to ascertain the amount of losses soon. Besides, our Rangpur office was also burnt,” he stated.
“Strict action will be taken against the perpetrators so that no one dares to do such activities in the future,” said the minister.
Separate cases have already been filed in both places, he said.
LPG sales witnessing boom during unrest
Sales of LPG (liquified petroleum gas) witnessed a boom against the backdrop of the prolonged unrest affecting the country, taking advantage of the fact that prepaid and smart prepaid gas consumers are facing obstacles to recharging their balances.
According to sources in the LPG operators, following chaotic situation centering the student movement, initially the LPG sales were decreased as there was trouble in transportation of the gas.
But after the enforcement of curfew and blackout of the internet across the country, the gas consumers, who use prepaid and smart cards, failed to recharge their cards.
As a result, many gas consumers started using LPG on emergency basis as alternative arrangement to fuel their cooking ovens.
“This has pushed up the demands for LPG across the country and it witnessed huge sales,” said a top official of a leading LPG operating company.
The use of LPG for household cooking has been growing fast in the country.
Currently the country consumes around 1.50 million metric tons of LPG annually, in a leap from around 650,000 MT during 2017.
The LPG market in Bangladesh started growing significantly after a government decision to suspend piped-gas connections to household consumers in 2009.
More than 20 LPG companies are operating in the country and Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) sets the price of LPG for every month.