Day: June 5, 2024

A Chapainawabganj court on Tuesday afternoon sentenced two persons to life-term imprisonment and fined each of them Tk 5,000, in default, they will have to suffer one month more in jail. The convicted persons were Abdus Salam, 35, son of late Felu Mondol of Chatrajitpur Jahangirpara under Shibganj upazila of the district and Rafiqul Islam, 30, son of late Bozlur Rahman of Chama Dukhurmore village under the same upazila. Six others were acquitted as the charges brought against them were not proven. Additional district and session judge-1 Md. Rabiul Islam announced the verdict in absence of the convicts. According to the prosecution story, members of the Narcotics Control Department arrested the aforesaid persons with 1,800 bottles of phensidyl from Mohananda Birshreshtha Shahid Captain Mohiuddin Jahangir Bridge area on September 28, 2016. Inspector of the department Md. Ilias Hossain Talukdar filed a case with Chapainawabganj sadar thana on the same day against them. Later, on December 26, 2016, investi gating officer of the case sub-inspector Md Fazlul Hoque of the Narcotics Control Department submitted charge sheet against them to the court. After a long hearing the court handed down the punishment, the court sources said. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has requested all three levels of government to bring those involved in environmental pollution before justice. Issuing a press release today on the occasion of World Environment Day NHRC spokesperson Dr Tikaram Pokhrel has urged the government to ensure the constitutional provision of compensation from the polluters to the sufferers for damages caused by environmental pollution or degradation. "In order to ensure the right to a clean environment, it is necessary to implement the recommendations made by the commission in the past, legal action should be taken against those involved in polluting the environment," it is stated in the release. The press release further says that it is necessary to emphasize on the development method, create an effective and meaningful programme to prevent uncontrolled and unscientific exploitation of nature that causes environmental pollution. According to the commission, environmental problems such as air pollution, noi se pollution, fires, forest destruction, landslides, temperature rise, effects of climate change, drying up of water sources, natural disasters, human losses and internal displacement are seen nationwide. Reducing and solving environmental problems and protecting the rights of citizens to live in a safe, healthy and clean environment is the responsibility of all three levels of government, the NHRC has said. Source: National News Agency RSS

The week-long flood that engulfed much of Sylhet causing huge sufferings of people as flood water is receding slowly from low-lying areas causing suffering of thousands of people. "Improvement pace of Sylhet flood is very slow as north-eastern districts of Bangladesh and upstream regions of India witnessed incessant rainfall in the past 24 hours," Sub-Divisional Engineer of Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) Sajal Kumar Roy told BSS today. Hilly regions of both Bangladesh and India is experiencing excessive rainfall impacted by tropical cyclone Remal that hit Bangladesh coastline on May 26, he said adding "Cyclone Remal took more time for making landfall, which caused a record-breaking rainfall across Bangladesh and some states of India that cause flash flood in Sylhet." Analyzing mathematical rainfall model, the hydrologist predicted hilly areas of north-eastern parts of the country may witness more rainfall as cyclone Remal carrying huge moisture while crossing Bangladesh. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely in the hilly regions of both Bangladesh and India as water vapour has converted into rainfall in Sylhet and its adjacent district Sajal said adding as monsoon is set early this year as under the influence cyclone Remel. Pre-monsoon rains, triggered by cyclone "Remal", flooded wide swaths of Sylhet since late May affecting over seven lakh people, officials and residents said. "Ten upazilas out of 13 under Sylhet district including city corporation areas were badly affected by flash flood due to onrush of water from upstream regions of Indian states - - Assam, Tripura and Meghalay," Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet district Sheikh Rasel Hasan said. He said, "As many as 7,39,362 people under 10 upazilas of Sylhet have been severely affected by this year's first flash flood forcing local administration to take urgent measures to deal with the overall flood situation." As part of the all-out efforts, Sylhet district administration has set up 571 shelter centres for flood-hit people, Hasan said flash flood damaged some infrastructures including roads, bridges and houses under five upazilas close to Indian borders. Standing crops under 10 upazilas of Sylhet were also damaged by flood as low-lying areas in the district are still under flood water, residents and official concerned said. Flood water submerged 24 wards of Sylhet City Corporation, they said adding overall flood situation is improving very slowly as most areas of Sylhet regions witnessed heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours. Sajal acknowledged that rainfall across Sylhet region also contributed to the flash flood as almost the entire country experienced incessant rainfall due to the influence of cyclone Remal. Water levels at 72 river stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) have marked rise while 36 stations recorded fall. Among the 110 monitored river stations, eight have been registered steady and water level at two river stations is flowing above the danger level, a bulletin issued by the FFWC said here tod ay. The Surma is flowing above 56 cm at Kanaighat station while the Kushiyara is flowing above at 21cm at Amalshid station. According to information from meteorological organizations, medium rainfall is expected over the Northern, North-eastern and adjoining upstream parts of the country in next 48 hours, it added. The water level of the main rivers in North-eastern region of the country may decrease slowly in this period. Flood situation in the low-lying areas of Sylhet district may improve at a slow rate in the next 24 to 48 hours, the FFWC forecasted. In next 24 to 72 hours, the flood situation in the low-lying areas of Sylhet district of the North-eastern part of the country may improve slowly. Significant rainfall was recorded at some stations in different districts of Bangladesh during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am today. A total of 206 mm rainfalls were recorded at Kamalganj (Moulvibazar), 110mm at Sylhet, 84mm at Zakiganj (Sylhet), 67mm at Moheshkhola (Sunamganj), 51mm at Sunamganj, 138mm at Sreemongal, 85mm at Sherpur-Sylhet, 82mm at Manu Rly Bridge (Moulivibazar) and 46mm at Lorergarh (Sunamganj". During the past 24 hours, significant rainfalls (mm) were recorded at some states of India - West Bengal and Tripura, the bulletin added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Hearing on the writ petition filed against the formation of the Koshi province government is scheduled to take place before a full bench of the Supreme Court. A joint bench of Justices Til Prasad Shrestha and Bal Krishna Dhakal today issued an order to send the case to the full bench. Mentioning that constitutional interpretation is necessary in the dispute, the bench will hear the matter in the bench of three or more justices from June 9 onwards. Hikmat Kumar Karki, the leader of the parliamentary party of CPN (UML), was appointed as the Chief Minister on May 9 after garnering the support of the majority members of the Provincial Assembly. The outgoing Chief Minister Kedar Karki filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court against the formation of the new government. The writ petition demands cancellation of the call made by the Chief of province on May 8 for the formation of the new government and other decisions taken since then. Source: National News Agency RSS

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today lauded UNICEF's support to Bangladesh towards achieving the child and maternal health related SDG targets. He made the remark while the outgoing UNICEF Country Representative Sheldon Yett called on him at foreign ministry here. During the meeting, the foreign minister reiterated interest in working together with relevant international partners, including UNICEF, in advancing child rights and protection in the country. He also reaffirmed the Bangladesh government's commitment to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030, with focus on both healthcare and nutrition. The UNICEF Representative briefed the Foreign Minister about the agency's work in support of the UN's Joint Rohingya Response Plan. He also thanked the foreign minister for his invitation to the UNICEF Executive Director to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time this year. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: The Nepal Army has collected 11 metric tons of garbage, four dead bodies and one human skeleton from different mountains. The cleaning up of the major mountains in the country is being carried out by the NA since 2019, under the title 'Clean Mountains Campaign. Assistant Director of National Parks and Wildlife Reserve Directorate, Sanjay Deuja, said that a total of 11,000 kilograms of garbage was collected from different places of Mount Everest, Lhotse and Nupse including 2,226 kilograms of biodegradable and 8,774 kilograms of non-biodegradable waste. The biodegradable waste has been handed over to the Everest Pollution Control Committee in Namche area while the non-degradable waste has been brought to Kathmandu and handed over to a recycling company. According to the NA, the human bodies and skeleton were handed over to the TU Teaching Hospital Maharajganj for disposal after necessary legal procedures. The cleaning campaign was carried out for 55 days starting April 1. The cleaning team also s uccessfully climbed Mount Everest. So far, 12 dead bodies and 180 metric tons of garbage have been collected from major mountains, including the highest peak Everest, during the five-year period of the 'Clean Mountains Campaign', said Deuja. Source: National News Agency RSS

A motorcycle rider was killed in a road accident in the city's Matuail area Last night. The identity of the deceased could not be known. Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) police outpost in-charge Md Bacchu Mia said the accident took place in the area when a covered van hit a motorcycle, leaving its rider injured. The injured bike rider was taken to a local hospital where on duty doctor declared him dead. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged all three tiers of government to book the environment polluters in line with legal provisions. NHRC Spokesperson Dr Tikaram Pokhrel issued a press note on the occasion of the World Environment Day on Wednesday and made aware the governments they that could take immediate measures to ensure 'polluters pay principle' which seeks action to the polluters and cater justice to the victims of environmental degradation and pollution. He also asked the governments to constitutionally guarantee the 'polluters pay principle'. "In order to guarantee citizens' right to clean environment, the governments need to enforce previous recommendations of NHRC, and adhere to the constitutional and legal provisions on it," Pokhrel made aware, adding that it is time to adopt human rights friendly developments. The governments should coordinate to check the unscientific exploitation of nature and rising environmental pollution, and launch meaningful programmes to mini mize adverse impacts. The NHRC further explained the rise of erratic weather events including increased temperature, drying up of water sources, loss of vegetation, and disaster causing human displacements. Even human deserves rights to live in a safe, healthy and clean environment, it underlined. Source: National News Agency RSS

Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury today gave the nomination at the outset of the third and 2024-25 fiscal's budget session of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad session. The panel members are- Captain (Retrd) A B Tajul Islam, Mohammad Shahab Uddin, Shahriar Alam, Salma Islam and Farida Yasmin. The panel members will chair the parliament session according to the seniority in absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: The 4th Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival (NIIFF) has started at the City Hall in Bhrikutimandap in the capital today. The festival started with a tableau performance and special cultural shows. Organized by the NIIFF, the film festival will be held for three days from June 5 to 7. Films made by filmmakers from different indigenous communities will be screened at the festival. Inaugurating the festival, Deputy Speaker Indira Rana emphasized that films should play an important role in bringing positive change in the general understanding of indigenous communities. Different aspects of the indigenous communities should be explored through films, documentary and other kinds of arts. Chair of the Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Film, Purkhajit Rai argued that films should have made in mother tongue to protect the identity of various communities, developing their customs, culture, language, traditional knowledge, tourism in natural areas. He said, "We believe that this festival wil l be important to bring those movies to the national and international level. For this reason, I am confident that there will be a special presence and a special performance of international films and filmmakers at the festival." Actor Dayahang Rai called upon all filmmakers to explore their community's stories with the world community. "There are many stories within us. Films have been made based on our values and beliefs, there is more to come. This film festival should be able to show us and our films to the world community", he said. Source: National News Agency RSS

Shimul Bhuiyan, an accused in the case lodged over the murder of Awami League lawmaker from Jenaidah-4 Anwarul Azim Anar in Kolkata, India, gave a confessional statement before a court here today. He is the third accused who have given confessional statement in the sensational case so far. Police produced the accused today before the court of Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain as he wanted to give a confessional statement. The court later recorded Shimul's statement under section 164 and sent him to jail. Earlier Tanvir Bhuiyan and Silisti Rahman gave their confessional statements before the same court on June 4 and June 3 respectively. A court here on May 31 had placed Tanvir, Silisti, and Shimul Bhuiyan on five days of fresh remand each in the case. Earlier on May 24, the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Dilruba Afroz Tithi had placed them on eight-day remand. A separate Dhaka court on May 23 set July 4 for submitting probe report in the case. Dhaka Metropolitan Mag istrate Mahbubul Haque passed the order, accepting the first information report (FIR) in the case. The victim's daughter Mumtarin Ferdous Dorin filed the case on May 22 with the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station. Anwarul, a three-time MP and also president of Kaliganj upazila unit Awami League, went to India on May 12 on a personal visit to receive treatment. He went missing on May 13 after going out of the flat he was residing in Kolkata's Borah Nagar area. According to the Kolkata police sources, Anwarul was taken to a flat in New Town in Kolkata, where he was believed to be strangled to death and his body was cut into pieces. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: A new state-of-the-art artificial intelligence system that can analyse the significant amount of data needed to identify when landslide is about to take place is being installed in the landslide-prone regions of the country. Scientists from the University of Melbourne, Australia, Tribhuvan University and the University of Florence, Italy have teamed up with the Government of Nepal and Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to deliver the forecasting system. The forecasting system, called SAFE-RISCCS, continuously analyses satellite images of Earth taken by NASA, the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Feeding SAFE-RISCCS forecasts' into Landslide Early Warning Systems will protect people living in the shadow of landslides, ensuring alerts will be far more accurate, either days or even weeks in advance, says a media release issued by the University of Melbourne. Scientist at the University Professor Antoinette Tordesillas, who is leading the project, wit h the monsoons due in June, we are helping policymakers and risk managers better prepare for future monsoons when increasingly frequent and heavy rains are expected to trigger more devastating landslides. 'Early warning systems are crucial because they give public officials more lead time to better plan, prepare and protect communities before the hazard strikes,'she said. Climate change and growing human activities pose a significant threat to communities in Nepal. Women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities are especially vulnerable during disasters. The SAFE-RISCCS platform uses images from space, combined with a new open-access artificial intelligence tool invented at the University of Melbourne, to combine rain measurements and ever-changing ground motion data to continuously monitor and forecast the risk of a landslide at any one time in any one place. SAFE-RISCCS will be rolled out in two high-risk regions in partnership with Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Auth ority (NDRRMA), as part of a new Landslide Early Warning System being developed in Nepal. Prof Basanta Adhikari from Tribhuvan University said continuous monitoring of deformations in the surface was vital in protecting the people of Nepal. 'The increasing occurrences of landslides in the Nepal Himalayas, driven by the coupling effect of seismotectonic activities and climate change alongside human-made factors such as haphazard road construction, highlight the vulnerability of mountain communities,' Adhikari said. Professor Emanuele Intrieri from Florence University said raising people's awareness about the risk affecting the area they are living in remains the most cost-effective solution to reduce the exposure. 'Nepal is only one of several regions in the Asia-Pacific at risk of worsening natural disasters associated with climate change. By improving early landslide prediction globally, we reduce the risk of catastrophic events and so protect human life, people's livelihoods, critical infrastructure and the environment,' Professor Tordesillas said. Source: National News Agency RSS