Month: March 2022

A first year student of higher secondary level of Phultala M.M. College in Khulna was stabbed dead by some unknown assailants on the college premises Thursday noon.

The deceased was identified as Alif Hossain, son of Taher Tutl of Kasba village in Phultala upazila.

“Some five or six miscreants swooped on Alif with sharp weapon and stabbed him indiscriminately. Later locals rescued him with severe injuries and took him to upazila health complex,” said Ilias Talukder, Officer-in-Charge of Phultala police station.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam has called upon civil society, think tanks, researchers, academicians of Bangladesh and India to play a constructive role in promoting bilateral ties.

He urged the civil society of both countries to play its due part in projecting achievements of the relations and showcase it as a “role model” for neighbourhood diplomacy.

As Bangladesh and India are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, the relationship has showcased its breadth and depth which has not only been forged in blood but has also been tested at times in the last 50 years, the state minister said.

Over the years, the mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and strong political goodwill of both countries contributed substantially to the blossoming of this friendship, he added.

Shahriar was addressing the seminar “Bangladesh-India relations: Confluence of Ideologies and Evolving Perspectives” organised by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) Wednesday.

BIISS Chairman Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain chaired the session, its Director General Major General Mohammad Maksudur Rahman, Research Director Dr Mahfuz Kabir; Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF) Director Arvind Gupta, Senior Fellow Sreeradha Datta; Bangladesh Foundation for Regional Studies Chairman ASM Shamsul Arefin spoke at the seminar.

The book “India-Bangladesh Bonhomie at 50: 1971 and the present” edited by Sreeradha was launched by Shahriar and other speakers.

Earlier, at the state guesthouse Padma in the afternoon, the state minister met a high-level delegation of the reputed New Delhi-based institution VIF which is famous for quality research and in-depth studies.

While expressing satisfaction with the excellent bilateral relations and exchange of high-level visits, he emphasised the exchange of thoughts, joint publications among the reputed think tanks of the two countries.

Arvind, Sreeradha, and Arefin were present at the meeting.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday filed a new case against former chief justice SK Sinha and his brother Ananta Kumar Sinha on charge of laundering around Tk 2.40 crore.

ACC secretary Md Mahbub Hossain confirmed this at a press briefing at its headquarters at Segunbagicha.

ACC Deputy Director Gulshan Anwar filed the case against them for what he said committing a punishable offense.

According to the case the former chief justice, already sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment in absentia in another graft case, laundered the amount equivalent to USD2,80000 through his brother who lives in the US.

The money was laundered to several banks of the United States through accounts of Ananta Kumar, said the case.

The anti-graft body will now investigate the case, said the ACC official.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The apparel industry of Bangladesh is also committed to sustaining the progress made in workplace safety while developing its capacities to retain competitiveness in the changing business landscape, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) says.

“Learning lessons from the past, the garment industry of Bangladesh has made unprecedented progress, particularly in workplace safety. We have also made an exemplary stride in environmental sustainability,” BGMEA President Faruque Hassan said.

He was addressing a seminar organised by Particip GmbH on behalf of GIZ at a Dhaka hotel Wednesday.

Owners and senior management representatives of the BGMEA and the Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association participating member factories in the Communication Component of the STILE project were present at the event.

The Communication Component of STILE intends to contribute to improved compliance with its awareness-raising, information and education campaigns.

The project developed a pool of trainers from the three industry associations – the BGMEA, BKMEA and Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh – to build the capacity of factory committees in their member factories and will continue the intervention until November 2023.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is implementing the programme “Sustainability in the Textile and Leather Sector in Bangladesh (STILE).”

Anneke Magendans, team leader of the Particip GmbH-led tripartite consortium, said: “Our approach does not stop with solely conducting training.”

“The association trainers follow up by guiding the factory committees and supporting them to bring into practice what they have learnt. Also, the approach is fully transparent. Producers have access, via a QR code, to a website where they can find all related campaign and training materials.”

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Another batch of 1,535 Rohingya refugees reached Bhasan Char in the 13th phase on Thursday.

This took the total population of Rohingya refugees at Ashrayan Kendra in Bhasan Char to 29,116.

The Rohingya men, women and children reached Bhasan Char by five naval ships in the noon, said Md Rafiqul Islam, Officer-in-Charge of Bhasan Char police station.

The Rohingyas were taken to their respective clusters on arrival, he said.

Earlier on Wednesday the 27 buses left Ukhia Degree College campus with the Rohingya citizens and reached Patenga in Chattogram around 10 pm.

Bangladesh is currently hosting over 1.1 million Rohingyas in camps in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasan Char. Most of them fled to this country since August 25, 2017, when the Myanmar military launched a brutal offensive targeting the Muslim ethnic minorities.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Describing the current government as a “regime of robbers”, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said no credible election can be held under it.

“It would be wrong to call this government a thief. It’s a regime of robbers. Wherever you look, you will only find plundering. They did the same thing in the past,” he said.

Fakhrul was addressing a biennial council of BNP’s Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila unit on Public Library premises in the district town.

He said fair and acceptable elections were never held under the Awami League government since the birth of the country.

“The same thing happened during the election under the Awami League government in 1973. “So, there can never be a fair election under an Awami League government,” the BNP leader said.

He claimed that nine people were shot dead while 7,500 people were implicated in over 700 cases centering the 2014 election.

“They themselves burnt vehicles and election offices during the last general election, but cases were filed against our leaders and workers. Their houses were raided, forcing them to leave their areas,” Fakhrul alleged.

He said the government could not suppress BNP leaders and activists by filing ‘false’ cases against them.

The BNP leader said the country’s people are going through a very tough time due to the misrule of the current regime.

“We used to call Thakurgaon a place of peace. People here love to be at peace. Before 2014, the people of this area did not see (political) cases. But BNP leaders and activists have endured huge pains and sufferings facing false cases,” Fakhrul said.

He also said many BNP leaders and activists had to hide in paddy fields at night amid bitter cold in fear of getting arrested. “They had to spend nights on trees. They did not forget that sufferings and pangs. Each such incident will be accounted (at a suitable time).”

The BNP leader called upon his party colleagues to drum up public support to create a mass upsurge to oust the AL government.

“We’ve been on a struggle for a long time and we’ve suffered a lot. But we did not give up. We will not give up. We’ll free our leader Khaleda Zia…movement is the only way left for us,” he said.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Globally renowned German rock band Scorpions and popular Bangladeshi band Chirkutt are set to perform at a historic concert to celebrate Bangladesh’s 50 years of Independence at the world-famous Madison Square Garden in New York City, US on May 6.

Scorpions announced this on their official social media handles and website on Wednesday, breaking the news that Chirkutt will accompany them on this historic musical celebration titled The Golden Jubilee Bangladesh Concert.

“The Bangladesh Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division is organizing the event with the support of the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, the United Nations Development Programme, the U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh, and local sponsors with the intent of gaining a global audience and celebrating Bangladesh’s golden anniversary through a live, one-night-only musical performance in the World’s Most Famous Arena,” Scorpions announced on their website.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the United Nations Development Programme’s global awareness campaign on cyber security programs for the youth and children, especially in underdeveloped countries, the band added.

This upcoming event will also mark the 50 years anniversary of the historic ‘Concert for Bangladesh’, the charity concert organized for the aid of Bangladesh during the 1971 Liberation War by English singer, songwriter, and the former lead guitarist of cult popular band The Beatles George Harrison and world-famous Indian sitar maestro Pandit Sri Ravi Shankar at the same venue.

Initiated with a mission to draw international attention to the war genocide and fund relief for refugees from then East Pakistan, the pair of concerts was organized on August 1st, 1971 featuring legendary names in world music including Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell and more.

With over 110 million records sold around the world, the band will play fan favourites from their incredible catalogue including “Wind of Change,” “Still Loving You,” “Rock You Like a Hurricane,” “Send Me an Angel,” and many more.

Founded in Hannover, West Germany in 1965, Scorpions were part of the first wave of metal in the 1970’s with their debut album, Lonesome Crow, released in 1972. The band rose to arena status with seminal releases Lovedrive, Virgin Killer and Animal Magnetism. In the ’80s, Scorpions amassed a string of Billboard chart-toppers from Love at First Sting and Blackout, including multiple Top 10 singles “Rock You Like a Hurricane” and “No One Like You,” as well a string of successful singles such as “Send Me an Angel,” “Still Loving You,” and “Wind of Change,” according to its official website.

The band was also ranked #46 on VH1’s Greatest Artists of Hard Rock and their hit “Rock You Like a Hurricane” also landed #18 on VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs.

Celebrated across the globe, the iconic rock act has sold more than 110 million albums worldwide and has received multiple honours including World Music Award winners, a postage stamp in Brazil, a Star on Hollywood Rock Walk, and Echo honours. Most recently, they were honoured with the Lower Saxon State Award.

The current line-up of the band features its founding member Rudolf Schenker (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Klaus Meine (lead vocals), Matthias Jabs (lead guitar, backing vocals), Paweł Mąciwoda (bass, backing vocals) and Mikkey Dee (drums).

Tickets for this special concert will go on sale on Monday, April 4 via Ticketmaster. Further information is available on the band’s official website https://www.the-scorpions.com/.

Source: United News of Bangladesh