Month: May 2022

Members of the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) on Sunday detained seven members of two families who took shelter in Lambashia refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar’s Ukhiya who illegally entered from India.

The detainees were identified as Shajan,22, his wife Hamida Begum, 20, their son Ibrahim,3, Mohammad Tahir,33, his daughters Saima,5, and Ramina, 2, and Anwar Kalim,25.

They were held from block F-14 of Lambashia Rohingya Camp-1 East on Saturday evening, said Naimul Haque, commander of APBn-14.

He said in primary questioning the detainees have accepted entering from India.

All the seven detainees have been transferred to the transit camp with the help of the Camp-In-Charge(CIC), said APBn commander Mainul Haque.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Expect a brief reprieve from the sweltering summer heat, as the weather department has predicted rain or thunder showers in parts of Bangladesh in the next 24 hours.

“Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at most places over Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions; at many places over Dhaka and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Rangpur, Rajshahi and Mymensingh divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country” the Bangladesh Meteorology Department said in a weather bulletin on Monday.

“Day temperature may fall slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country,” the department said.

The maximum rainfall for the last 24 hours till 9 am was recorded at 89 mm in Chandpur of Chattogram division.

Meanwhile, the trough of low extended from Bihar to North Bay across West Bengal and sourthern part of Bangladesh persists.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Five decades after the world’s first conference to make the environment a major issue, UN human rights experts have called on States to redouble efforts to protect the imperilled planet for current and future generations amid unprecedented challenges.

“Some communities suffer from environmental injustices where the exposure to pollution and toxic substances is so extreme that they are described as ‘sacrifice zones’,” they said.

“Given humanity’s trajectory on toxics, climate change, and biodiversity loss, the planet is at risk of becoming a human sacrifice zone.”

David Boyd, the Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, urged States to put the right to a healthy environment at the centre of all discussions and outcomes at the Stockholm+50 conference on 2 and 3 June, and to implement constitutional changes and stronger environmental laws, stemming from the recognition of the right to a healthy environment.

Marcos Orellana, UN Special Rapporteur on toxics and human rights, urged Stockholm+50 not to forget how human rights inspired key elements of the 1972 Stockholm Declaration.

“This is a key moment for international environmental law to change direction and embrace a human rights-based approach to environmental protection,” he said.

The concept of the right to a healthy environment is rooted in the 1972 Stockholm Declaration, according to a message received from Geneva.

“Today, 50 years later, the Stockholm+50 conference represents the ideal forum to enthusiastically welcome the recent UN recognition of this right whilst also identifying urgent actions necessary for its implementation,” the experts said.

“Putting human rights at the centre of environmental action will have positive implications for air quality, clean water, healthy soil, sustainably produced food, green energy, climate change, biodiversity and the elimination of toxic substances and protection of indigenous people’s rights. Doing so has the potential to spark transformative changes and save millions of lives every year.

“We live in a time of unprecedented environmental challenges. The multiple crises relating to climate disruption, biodiversity loss and pervasive pollution are impacting the enjoyment of human rights and jeopardizing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.”

In October 2021, in a landmark resolution, the Human Rights Council recognised for the first time the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. The resolution marked the culmination of decades of efforts by a diverse array of civil society organisations, including youth groups, national human rights institutions and indigenous peoples.

The Special Rapporteurs encouraged States to act upon Council’s invitation that ‘the General Assembly […] consider the matter’ of the recognition of the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment at its earliest convenience. A General Assembly resolution on the right to a healthy environment would reinforce the urgency of actions to implement the right.

“We are all extraordinarily fortunate to live on this miraculous planet, and we must use the right to a healthy environment to ensure governments, businesses and people do a better job of taking care of the home that we all share.”

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said her government’s move to construct Padma Bridge with the country’s own money has brightened Bangladesh’s international image as a bold nation.

“Such a bold decision has also strengthened self-confidence and mental strength of the nation,” she said while addressing the Army Selection Board 2022 held at Multipurpose Complex at Army Headquarters in Dhaka Cantonment.

PM’s press secretary Ihsanul Karim brief the media after the programme.

The premier said that the World Bank abruptly stopped financing the Padma Bridge construction without holding the board meeting and just on false accusations of corruption, which later proved baseless.

She said Bangladesh must go ahead and keep the momentum of economic development achieved over the last decade.

She lauded the significant role the Army members are playing in building infrastructures of the country.

The PM said the leadership of Bangladesh Army has been given to capable, skilled, fit and patriotic officers so the force can contribute significantly in building a modern, developed and prosperous Bangladesh.

She asked the selectors to remember that selection of skilled leadership is possible through impartial evaluation.

In this connection, she recalled the speech of the father of the Nation Bangabandhu ikh Mujibur Rahman in the first President Parade in Bangladesh Military Academy where he had directed the army officers to be honest, courageous and disciplined.

“So you must always make sure that the ideology of the Father of the Nation is reflected among the promoted officers and the leadership of the army must be placed in the hands of the patriots who believe in the spirit of the Great Liberation War,” she said.

She mentioned that honest and loyal officers with strong moral courage and other qualities of leadership are the claimants of the promotions.

“So, the officers who have succeeded in various activities in their army career have to be considered while giving promotions,” she advised.

The PM said that Army is involved not only in defending the country, it is also indissoluble stakeholder of country’s socioeconomic development activities.

She recalled the role of the armed forces, police and BGB alongside the administration and others in facing the Covid-19 pandemic situation and said, they all stood beside the people together.

In her speech, she pointed out deprivation of the Bangalees in the Armed forces during Pakistani regime and said, only one Bangalee colonel was in the Pakistan military service.

“But, now many Generals are working in the Bangladesh Army and it was possible because of Bangladesh’s independence under the leadership of the great leader Bangabandhu,” she said.

Referred to the climate migrants and other poor homeless people and the PM said her government has taken initiative to provide them with houses.

She reiterated her resolve that none will remain homeless in Bangladesh as the government is providing houses to all homeless people under Asrayan project.

Hasina said modern arms and war equipment are essential for making the Army stronger, time befitting and a capable force.

Keeping this in mind, Bangabandhu undertook various initiatives soon after the independence to make Bangladesh Army as the force of the people.

In continuation of this, the premier said, the government of Awami League has been working to develop the Army as the most modern force implementing Forces Goal-2030 in light of the policy of Bangabandhu.

She mentioned that her government has given highest importance to safeguard country’s sovereignty and has included state-of-the art modern and time-befitting war equipment in the Army to keep pace with the developed world.

As part of the efforts for continuous development of the Army, she said, the government has formed three brigades at different formations, and 58 units have been established, while nine organisations have been reorganised, she said.

Hasina said, Sheikh Russel Cantonment has been constructed at Mawa-Jajira ends of the Padma Bridge, while works of constructing new Cantonments at Mithamoin, Rajbari and Trishal are progressing.

She also mentioned the mega projects including Padma Bridge, Karnaphuli Tunnel and Metro Rail.

She said the Padma Bridge will be opened to traffic on June 25 which is expected to contribute 1.2 per cent to the GDP.

PM’s Security Adviser Major General (rtd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Chief of Army Staff General S M Shafiuddin Ahmed, PMO Senior Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Senior Secretary of the Defence Ministry Golam Md Hashibul Alam, were present, among others.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

BNP on Monday vowed to move ahead braving what it said the government’s intensified repression to subdue its opponents ahead of the next election.

Talking to reporters beside the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman,BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged that the ‘unelected’ Awami League government has long been resorting to repression, killing, enforced disappearance and unleashing terror to hang onto power.

“We’ve been observing for some days that they’re again establishing a reign of terror in the old style as the election is approaching. They have attacked our Chhatra Dal and our leaders and activists and their houses in different districts. We have taken a vow today that no fear and repressive acts can suppress us,” the BNP leader said.

He said they will overcome all the barriers and repressions together with the people and remove the current ‘terrible’ regime from power in a democratic manner.

“We’ll establish a government and parliament of people through a credible and impartial election under a neutral government,” he said.

Earlier, Fakhrul together with party leaders and activists paid homage to Zia by placing a wreath at his grave, marking his 41st death anniversary.

Zia, who founded Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in 1978, was assassinated by a group of disgruntled army officers at the erstwhile Chittagong circuit house on May 30, 1981.

Fakhrul trashed the ruling party leaders’ allegation that BNP is trying to create anarchy in the country ahead of the inauguration of Padma Bridge.

“They (AL leaders) are now making such comments to confuse people and divert their attention to a different direction,” he said.

He said the country’s people have started taking to the streets and sacrificing their blood on the streets for the restoration of democracy. “We hope people will get back democracy through this struggle.”

The BNP leader recalled that Ziaur Rahman “restored the lost democracy by removing one-party rule and gifted Bangladesh a multi-party democracy through the civil-military uprising” on November 7, 1975’.

He said Zia laid the foundation for turning Bangladesh into a prosperous country from a “bottomless basket’’.

Fakhrul bemoaned that the democracy that was restored by Zia, is now completely missing in Bangladesh.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said the repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homes in Myanmar’s Rakhine state should be the priority of the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.

They should work there to create an environment conducive to the sustainable repatriation of the persecuted people, he added.

“Our priority is the return of Rohingyas (to Myanmar). Your (UNHCR) priority should be the return of Rohingyas, too,” Momen said, adding that Bangladesh does not endorse any remarks that might encourage the Rohingyas to stay back here.

He made the remarks while responding to a question at his office Monday.

According to the foreign minister, there has been “no conflict” in Rakhine in the last five years, and it is “the right time” for the Rohingyas to go back.

Momen said he also raised the issue Wednesday when United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi met him.

Proactive engagement of the international community in confidence-building among the Rohingya people is crucial for a sustainable repatriation, he added.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh and Portugal are working to connect the two countries through direct shipping links to create new prospects for fast, cost-effective and reliable shipping for the Bangladeshi exporters while sending regular consignments to Europe by sea.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam has expressed his satisfaction on the progress achieved towards signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Chattogram Port Authority and Leixoes Port Authority for the establishment of direct shipping link.

He also expressed satisfaction over the progress towards formation of a working group for the timely implementation of the MoU and assured his full support in this regard.

The State Minister received the Leixoes Port Authority delegation, led by the President of its Board of Directors Eng. Nuno Araújo at the Embassy during his current visit to Portugal.

He apprised the delegation on Bangladesh’s existing port infrastructure and its further development opportunities to meet the regional and international requirements.

The representatives of the Leixoes Port Authority explored technical issues related to establishing direct links between the ports and discussed the feasibility of the said freight route.

Later that day, the State Minister met a business delegation from the “Business Association of the Lisbon Region” led by its Executive President Rui Jorge Rego.

He underscored the need for enhanced interaction between both business communities to tap the full potential of future trade and investment.

He suggested establishing a Joint Business Council to further the cooperation. Highlighting the investment friendly policies and incentives of the government, the State Minister invited the Portuguese Investors to make full use of the offered opportunity and invest in Bangladesh.

The business delegation commended the steady and continuing economic growth of Bangladesh and anticipated full support from the government for enhancing economic relations between the countries.

A video featuring Bangladesh’s economic progress and potential was screened for the delegation also.

The State Minister also interacted with the members of the expatriate community in Portugal the day before.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Lisbon and other officials were present at both meetings.

Source: United News of Bangladesh