Others
MV Ikram to be converted into Liberation War museum: Minister
A testimony to the heroism of those who fought in the naval theatre during the Liberation War, the MV Ikram freedom fighters, the MV Ikram ship will be transformed into an international standard liberation war museum, said Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque.
The minister said this while visiting the possible site of MV Ikram ship preservation and museum in Narayanganj Wednesday afternoon.
He said that the government has taken initiative to preserve every memorial of the liberation war. MV Ikram bears the history of the freedom fighters during the war of liberation.
“This ship of the Pakistani army was destroyed by the naval-commando freedom fighters. This ship has a lot of historical significance.”
He further said that a film will be made about 'Operation Jackpot' which was carried out by the naval-commando freedom fighters.
The film will memorialise the supreme history of the Liberation War naval heroes from generation to generation.
Shahjahan Khan, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee for the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs; Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, State Minister for Shipping; Khwaja Mia, Secretary, Ministry of Liberation War Affairs; Commodore Golam Sadek, Chairman, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and other senior officials of the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs and Ministry of Shipping were present during the visit.
2 held as organised gang busted in Bashundhara
The Rapid Action Battalion arrested a ringleader of an organised gang and one of his accomplices with firearms and huge stash of contraband items from Bashundhara Residential Area on Tuesday night.
The arrestees were identified as Sharful Hasan alias Mishu Hasan (31) and his accomplice Md. Masudul Islam alias Jisan (39).
The elite force confirmed the information to UNB on Wednesday evening.
A firearm, 6 rounds of ammunition, 13,300 pieces of yaba, an expensive Ferrari car, 2 laptops, several mobile phones, chequebooks of various banks and ATM cards, passports of different countries and Indian counterfeit currency (Rs. 49,500) were seized during the raid.
The arrestees are members of an organized Dhaka gang. There are about 10/12 members in their group.
They carry out their activities in different aristocratic areas of the capital, targeting youths from affluent backgrounds, especially in different areas including Gulshan, Baridhara, Banani, selling drugs in the name of party or DJ party.
They even have 'branches' in Dubai, Europe and America for the upper-class expatriates.
The group often blackmailed their clients by recording pictures and videos of their private moments without the subjects' consent.
RAB sources told UNB that the group has also invested in several fake local businesses in order to whitewash their money.
Arrested Sharful Hasan alias Mishu Hasan trades luxury cars in Bangladesh. He said during interrogation that he used to resort to irregularities and fraud while importing luxury cars. He himself used expensive cars.
Mishu owns five cars, including two personalised Range Rovers, an Aqua, a Volkswagen and a Ferrari.
The RAB sources told UNB that Mishu is a mastermind of tax evasion.
Jisan, on the other hand, owns a cattle farm where the prohibited Brahma breed of cows were being reared.
Mishu had been arrested three times in different cases earlier. There are several ongoing cases in his name.
He reportedly keeps contact with many notorious criminal masterminds around the world.
AL rank and file directed to mount campaign in favour of vaccination drive
Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the party leaders and workers to launch a nationwide campaign to make the government's vaccination programme successful.
The party's general secretary and road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader conveyed this at a special meeting of the president-general secretaries of the party's Dhaka metropolitan allied organization with the Awami League's secretariat on Wednesday.
Obaidul Quader presided over the meeting held at the Awami League's central office at Bangabandhu Avenue.
Highlighting the directives of the Prime Minister, Obaidul Quader said, "From August 7 to August 14, mass vaccination activities will be carried out across the country against corona.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the leaders and workers of Awami League and its affiliated organizations to launch a nationwide campaign to make this mass campaign a success."
He added that these mass vaccination activities will be carried out at district, upazila, union and ward level. In this activity, the workers of Awami League and allied organizations have to get vaccinated themselves and run a campaign to motivate the people to get vaccinated.
"This is the direction of our team leader, since Corona infections are on the rise," he said.
Quader also urged everyone to abide by the rules and regulations announced by the government.
He dismissed op[osition BNP's frequent criticisms of the government's lives and livelihoods-focused handling of the Corona crisis as lies. In another shot at the BNP, Quader said they get agitated and start denying history as soon as the month of August arrives each year.
BYLC Leadership Summit 2021 starts focusing on inclusiveness, diversity
To harness inclusiveness in society and diversity in youth leadership, Bangladesh Youth Leadership Centre (BYLC) Youth Leadership Summit 2021 began online Wednesday.
The four-day virtual summit is bringing together 300 delegates from 149 educational institutions across 45 districts.
The ultimate goal of the summit is to guide delegates to work together to craft solutions that can help them achieve inclusivity in terms of opportunities to work, exercising equal rights, access to better health, livelihood, education, and skills development within the society.
The sessions will focus on listening to the concerns of marginalised youths – including young people with disabilities; youths from Dalit, madrassa, and low-income backgrounds.
The theme of this year's summit is "Journey towards an inclusive Bangladesh" and United News of Bangladesh is the official online news partner of the event.
Also read: BYLC Ventures holds virtual entrepreneurship bootcamp
A virtual inauguration ceremony titled "Why embracing diversity matters in leadership" was arranged on Tuesday afternoon.
"Throughout human history, it has been seen that without cultivating the virtues of diversity and inclusiveness sustainable peace cannot be pursued by any country or organisation," Dr AK Abdul Momen said while addressing the youth delegates at the programme.
"As the leaders of the future, you have to face many challenges regarding intolerance, climate change and more. It is time to create a global campaign against all existing challenges, and you have to take the leadership role on behalf of Bangladesh, for the sake of humanity," he added.
Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexandra Berg von Linde emphasised the need for inclusive and sustainable development by ensuring equal access to opportunities and resources. "Youths have a tremendous role to play in raising their voices, being agents of change and demanding accountability."
"Young people can capture the imagination of the world. You are not alone; you all are the strength of the world. You have the power to inspire, to make decision-makers around the world listen, and the power to change outcomes," Alexandra added.
Also read: BYLC hosts virtual run to observe Int’l Youth Day
Dr Gowher Rizvi, International Affairs advisor to the prime minister said, "The very presence of diversity around a table means that we will challenge each other's assumptions, and by doing that, we will be able to better understand each other."
BYLC President Ejaj Ahmad said, "Only through embracing diversity and inclusiveness, we can collectively solve our challenges and problems."
After the inaugural ceremony, a plenary session was held with industry experts titled "Bangladesh at 50: achievements and challenges for an inclusive society," followed by a team-building activity session titled "What is your vision for Bangladesh?" as part of the opening day of this virtual summit.
Misappropriation of Tk12 crore: 2 Bank Asia officials among 5 sued
The Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) Wednesday filed a case against five people, including two Bank Asia officials, for misappropriating around Tk12 crore.
ACC Assistant Director Fazlul Bari lodged the case at the anticorruption watchdog's Chattogram Coordinated Office.
Read: Evaly is under ACC probe for alleged misappropriation
The two bank officials are Senior Officer Ehtasham Uddin Jahan Ansari and First Assistant Vice-President Iftekhar Uddin of Bank Asia MCB Sheikh Mujib Road Branch in Chattagram's Double Mooring.
The other accused are PR and Traders proprietor Islah Uddin Jahan Ansari, Riz Marine Enterprise owner Emdadul Hasan and Seven Seas BD owner Tarekuzzaman, ACC Deputy Director (Public Relation) Muhammad Arif Sadeq told UNB.
Read: SK Sinha’s brother comes under ACC probe
According to the case statement, the accused embezzled Tk11,93,05,421 from June 2019 to January 2021 through 122 transactions, using forgeries.
Former finance minister Muhith doing better
The health condition of former finance minister AMA Muhith, now undergoing treatment at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in the capital, has improved.
"Muhith Bhai is better than Tuesday. He is doing fine. His saturation is now 96. He ate dinner comfortably and is now trying to sleep," said his brother and Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen Wednesday night.
Read: Ex-finance minister Muhith admitted to CMH with Covid
Muhith was admitted to CMH for better treatment after he had tested positive for Covid-19.
The 87-year-old took two doses of the Covid vaccine.
Dr Momen said his brother wathched Bangladesh-Australia T20 cricket match and requested all to avoid any false news about him.
Combing operation to help contain dengue: Taposh
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh on Wednesday hoped that the dengue situation in the capital will come under control with the ongoing combing operation to destroy Aedes mosquito larvae.
Talking to reporters while inspecting an anti-mosquito drive at Khilgaon PWD Colony, he urged the city dwellers to become alert and play a responsible role in containing the Aedes mosquito menace.
The mayor said they repeatedly sent letters to the authorities of government residential complexes in the DSCC areas alerting them about the Aedes mosquito breeding grounds. “We asked them to clean their areas but we found larvae here during our visit today (Wednesday). It’s really very sad.”
READ: DSCC drive: Aedes larvae found in 5 buildings including DOM-INNO’s
He said it will be very difficult to control the dengue situation if the city dwellers do not keep their own areas clean and remove the breeding grounds and sources of Aedes mosquitoes.
“We’re working (to eradicate dengue). We’re hopeful that we’ll be able to control the spread of dengue or Aedes mosquitoes through the ongoing combing operation. Though it’s a very difficult task, we’re making our efforts to do so,” the mayor said.
Taposh said it is regrettable that government residential complexes are dirty and grubby. “We’re getting tough against and imposing fines. Even then, we’re observing the irresponsibility and carelessness of people. This is not expected in any way.”
He said the spread of dengue can be controlled easily if only the city dwellers act responsibly. “But without people’s awareness and cooperation, it’s very difficult to carry out the Aedes mosquito control activities in the city of 12 million people.”
READ: Destroy aedes-breeding puddles or face penalty, warns LGRD minister
Earlier, Taposh planted saplings on the bank of Manda canal beside TT Para Pump Station.
The DSCC has been carrying out the combing operation to eradicate Aedes mosquitoes comprising executive magistrates and its other officials for a long time.
It also opened a control room on Monday and urged all to provide information about the breeding grounds of dengue mosquitoes by dialing its numbers, 01709900888 and 029556014.
PM congratulates Tigers on back-to-back win over Aussies
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday congratulated Bangladesh cricket team for its second consecutive win over touring Australia in the T20 match.
Tigers beat Aussies by five wickets in the second T20 match at Sher-E-Bangla Cricket Sradium.
Read: PM congratulates Tigers on historic win
Bangladesh is leading 2-0 in the five-match series.
Lockdown breaches in Dhaka: 425 more held; over Tk13 lakh fined
Police held 425 more people in Dhaka Wednesday for violating lockdown restrictions on the 13th day of the countrywide strict lockdown aimed at reducing the Covid-19 contagion risk.
The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for being out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Iftekharul Islam said.
Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk376,800 in fines from 179 people.
Also, the Traffic Division collected Tk971,000 as penalties from 407 vehicles for violating lockdown restrictions.
However, the law enforcers scrambled to impose Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in Dhaka on Wednesday, as the capital witnessed some rush-hour traffic in the morning.
Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka
Though public transports stayed off city streets, police and armed forces personnel were seen flagging down several private cars and people they thought had stepped out for frivolous reasons.
Police imposed fines on commuters who failed to produce proper documents in support of their "emergency travel," while those with valid papers were allowed to go. Many without supporting documents bridled at such restrictions, resulting in a heated exchange of words with the law enforcers.
Rapid Action Battalion and army personnel patrolling the streets of Dhaka, alongside the local police, have set up check-posts in different areas of the city.
At some places, traffic congestion was seen between 8.30am and 11.30am.
Traffic inspector Akther Hossain (Uttara Rajlaxmi), said: "The pressure of private vehicles is higher than that of Tuesday, but we are only allowing those with valid reasons to travel."
Read: Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues
"Cases are also being filed against violators. Mobile courts are also slapping fines on lockdown violators," he said.
People's movement has significantly risen as export-oriented industries have started operations, the inspector said.
"Ambulances and people going out for taking Covid jabs are being allowed to travel," Akther added.
The nationwide lockdown scheduled to end on Aug. 5, has now been extended for another five days until Aug. 10 amid the onslaught of the Delta variant of Covid-19 across Bangladesh.
Cabinet body approves proposal for 30 oxygen plants
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday in principle approved a proposal to set up 30 oxygen plants at different hospitals.
Health Services Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will procure and set up the oxygen plants with the financial support of the Asian Development Bank.
However, the cost and other details of the plan were not disclosed as the proposal needs to be approved further by the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase (CCPP).
Read: India's fourth Oxygen Express arrives with 200 MT of medical oxygen
“You will get detail on the proposal when it will come to CCPP for approval next week”, said Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal while briefing reporters on the outcomes of the committee meeting.
Meanwhile, the CCPOP at a meeting on Wednesday approved 10 procurement proposals including import of urea construction of housing apartments for the government employees.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the meetings of the two committees held consecutively.
Read: Liquid Medical Oxygen and Covid-19 Treatment: Things we need to know
Four separate tender proposals of the Public Works Department (PWD) received nod of the committee to award contracts for construction of multistoried apartment complex at Mirpur Pikepara for the government employees.