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[ "The Editors’ Council has strongly condemned and protested the cancellation of journalists’ access to the secretariat, terming the move as a threat to independent journalism. ", "In a statement issued on Sunday, signed by Mahfuz Anam, Editor of The Daily Star and President of the Editors’ Council, and Dewan Hanif Mahmud, Editor of Banik Barta and General Secretary of the Council, the organisation expressed its deep concerns over the decision. ", "The Ministry of Home Affairs issued the order via a press release on Friday, citing security concerns following a recent fire incident at the secretariat. The order suspended journalists’ access through their accreditation cards until further notice. The Editors’ Council denounced the move, viewing it as a significant obstacle to press freedom. ", "The statement also highlighted a subsequent clarification from the press wing of the Chief Advisor’s Office on 28 December, which expressed regret over the issue. ", "It stated that due to heightened security concerns at the secretariat—the central hub of administration—the entry of journalists holding existing accreditation cards had been restricted, along with all other private pass holders. The government announced plans to review the current press accreditation system. ", "On Sunday, the Department of Information and Technology clarified that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is reassessing accreditation cards. New permanent or temporary cards will be issued soon, with temporary passes for journalists becoming available starting Monday.", "While the Editors’ Council welcomed the review process, it emphasised the importance of distinguishing amateur journalists from professionals during this evaluation. However, the Council criticised the blanket restriction on journalists’ access, calling it a global attack on independent journalism.", "The statement also linked this action to past instances of similar restrictions during the tenure of the Awami League government. Journalists then faced barriers in reporting on irregularities in the financial sector, particularly at Bangladesh Bank. The journalists maintained a firm stance against such obstructions, even before the mass uprising.", "The Editors’ Council further said, after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on 5 August, the interim government had announced its intention to repeal the contentious Cyber Security Act.", "However, it approved Cyber Security Ordinance 2024 on 24 December which retained police powers previously criticised as prone to abuse. Sections 35 and 36 of the new ordinance mirrored provisions from the earlier law, which the Council had strongly opposed.", "The Editors’ Council expressed its disappointment over the matter of not consulting with relevant stakeholders in drafting the ordinance, calling it an authoritarian move. ", "The Council urged the interim government to address concerns regarding the ordinance and take immediate steps to restore journalists’ access to the Secretariat, ensuring transparency and protecting press freedom." ]

[ "Freedom of press", "Editors' Council", "Bangladesh Secretariat" ]

[ "The Ministry of Home Affairs has suspended former Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Sanjida Afrin. The suspension was announced in a notification issued by the Ministry on Sunday. Sanjida, who is currently serving in the Armed Police Battalion (APBN), has been accused of misconduct.", "According to the notification, Sanjida was suspended under the Government Service Rules Act.", "During this period, she will be attached to the Barishal Range and will receive subsistence allowance in accordance to government regulations.", "The issue stems from a controversial report prepared by Detective Branch (DB) inspector Jahangir Arif. The report exonerated former Law Minister Anisul Huq, former Private Sector and Investment Advisor to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Salman F Rahman, and former Director General of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), Major General (retd) Ziaul Ahsan, in connection with two murder cases during the July-August student uprising. The report, however, became public before being submitted to the court.", "Inspector Jahangir Arif has since been temporarily suspended. During internal inquiries, Arif reportedly claimed that he acted on the instructions of ADC Sanjida Afrin.", "When questioned, ADC Sanjida denied these allegations, stating that she did not issue any such directive. She further emphasised that she did not have the authority to decide on such a sensitive and high-profile case.", "ADC Sanjida previously came to discussion in September 2023, following an incident where two central leaders of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and a Dhaka University leader were forcibly taken from BIRDEM Hospital and detained at Shahbagh Police Station. They were subjected to brutal physical assault by police during their detention." ]

[ "Salman F Rahman", "ADC Sanjida", "Anisul Huq" ]

[ "As many as 708 people died and 2,426 were injured in 683 road accidents across the country in the month of April, said a report of Bangladesh Jatri Kalyan Samity.", "Besides, 47 people were killed and 36 were injured in 44 railway accidents while eight people were killed, 10 injured, and one is still missing in six waterway accidents, it said.", "The report was published on Wednesday analysing accident reports published in the country's national and regional dailies and online media during the period and a press release in this regard signed by its secretary general was also issued.", "A total of 763 people were killed and 2, 472 were injured in 733 accidents on roads, waterways and railways across the country.", "Besides, 274 people died and 328 others were injured in some 305 motorbike accidents across the country last month which is 44.65 percent of the total accidents and 38.70 percent of the total fatalities.", "Dhaka division witnessed highest 155 road accidents with 179 fatalities and 305 injuries while Barishal witnessed the lowest 35 road accidents with as many deaths.", "Among those killed in road accidents in April, 10 were members of law enforcement agencies,169 were drivers, 63 pedestrians, 58 transport workers, 46 students, six teachers, 119 women, 67 children, three journalists, two physicians, one lawyer, three engineers and eight activists of different political parties.", "Among the vehicles involved in the accidents were 34.71 percent motorbikes, 15.48 percent buses, 17.61 percent pick-up vans, covered vans and lorries, 6.27 percent private cars, SUVs and microbuses, 5.97 percent CNG-run auto-rickshaws, 13.15 percent battery-run human haulers and 6.78 percent three-wheeler vehicles, said the report.", "Of the accidents, 35.28 percent occurred on national highways, 14.78 on regional roads and 42.45 percent on roads. Besides, 6.58 percent accidents occurred in Dhaka city, 0.43 percent in Chattogram city and 0.43 percent on rail tracks, it added.", "The association blamed reckless driving, motorbikes and three-wheelers on highways, lack of street lights, road marking or road sign, development of cracks and holes on highways during rainy season, movement of unfit vehicles, violation of traffic rules, unskilled drivers and helpers, collecting tolls and poor traffic management for the accidents and deaths." ]

[ "Road accident", "Jatri Kalyan Samity", "Road Safety" ]

[ "Members from the same families are contesting in the 12th parliamentary polls as candidates of different parties in at least 46 constituencies. Of them, members of the same 17 families are running for the polls in at least 35 constituencies.", "In some of these families, spouses, siblings or close relatives are contesting against each other as candidates of different parties. And in some 11 constituencies, offspring of Awami League leaders have got the symbol of boat for the first time.", "In all, 23 incumbent MPs are from these families. Families of the leaders from three parties, including the Jatiya Party (JaPa), have become candidates in eight electoral seats.", "According to political analysts, dynastic politics has gradually grown big at the grassroots as well. This is the result of lack of democratic practices within the political parties, person-centred politics, and lack of trust, they say.", "Speaking to Prothom Alo, writer and researcher Mohiuddin Ahmad said family supremacy is everywhere in the politics of Bangladesh. The ruling party is not alone, even the politics of opposition parties circle around a single family. Due to this family centric politics, the practice of free competition is absent in the politics of Bangladesh.", "Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury, chief whip of the parliament, is running from the Madaripur-1 constituency as an Awami League candidate. His brother Mojibur Rahman Nixon is contesting the polls from the Faridpur-4 constituency independently. Their father Ilias Ahmed Chowdhury was an MP and president of Madaripur district Awami League.", "Barishal district Awami League president Abul Hasanat Abdullah is the Awami League nominated candidate in the Barishal-1 constituency. He was elected MP four times. His son Sadiq Abdullah, Barishal city Awami League general secretary and former mayor failed to secure the nomination of the ruling party from the Barishal-5 constituency. Now he is running for the polls as an independent candidate. However, his candidacy has been challenged and a hearing over this issue is scheduled to be heard in a full High Court bench on 2 January.", "Two brothers – Sheikh Helal Uddin and Sheikh Salauddin will take part in the polls with nomination from the ruling from the Bagerhat-1 and Khulna-2 constituencies respectively. They both are members of district Awami League unit. Sheikh Sharhan Naser Tonmoy, son of Sheikh Helal is also running for the polls as a ruling party candidate from the Bagerhat-2 constituency. He is the incumbent MP of this constituency.", "Tanvir Hasan, an incumbent MP from the Tangail-2 constituency has secured the nomination of the ruling party again from that constituency. He is the son-in-law of Awami League presidium member and former minister Shahjahan Khan.", "The Awami League has nominated Sultanan Nadira from the Barguna-2 constituency. He is a cousin of veteran ruling party leader Amir Hossain Amu, who is a member of the party’s advisory council and is contesting the polls from the Jhalokathi-2 constituency.", "Another member of the advisory council of the ruling party, Tofael Ahmed has been nominated once again by the Awami League in the Bhola-1 constituency. His son-in-law Md Touhiduzzaman is an Awami League candidate from the Jashore-2 constituency. He is a physician by profession. The Awami League candidate from the Bhola-2 constituency, Ali Azam is the nephew of Tofael Ahmed.", "Awami League candidate from the Kishoreganj-1 constituency is contesting with his brother Major General (rtd) Syed Safayetul Islam, who is taking part in the port as an independent candidate. The both are the children of the first interim president of the country, late Syed Nazrul Islam. Former Awami League leader Syed Ashraful Islam was their elder brother. The main contest will between these two siblings.", "In Narayanganj, two brothers will take part in the polls as candidates of two different parties. Selim Osman is running for the polls as a JaPa candidate. He is the incumbent MP in that constituency. His brother Shamim Osman is contesting the polls from the Fatullah-4 constituency with Awami League’s nomination again.", "Awami League presidium member Mosharraf Hossain is the incumbent MP of the Chattogram-1 constituency. He is not running for the polls this time due to age-old complications. His son has secured the AL nomination this time in place of replacing him. He is involved in film businesses.", "Son of another veteran Awami League leader and treasurer of the party HN Ashikur Rahman Rashek Rahman has become the ruling party candidate in the Rangpur-5 constituency. He is a member of Awami League’s promotion and publication sub-committee. He is also a member of Rangpur district Awami League.", "Khadizatul Anwar, daughter of former MP late Rafiqul Anwar has secured the ruling party nomination from the Chattogra-2 constituency. She is a MP from the reserved seats in the current parliament.", "In the Dhaka-7 constituency, Haji Selim’s eldest son Sulaiman Selim will take part in the elections as the Awami League nominated candidate. Apart from handling family business, he was also involved in his father’s political activities.", "Awami League candidate from the Faridpur-2 constituency, Shahdab Akbar Chowdhury is the son of former deputy leaders of the parliament, late Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury. He was also the ruling party candidate from this constituency in the by-polls held on 5 November.", "Awami League candidate in Mymensingh Sadar Mohit Ur Rahman’s father Matiur Rahman served as both general secretary and president of Mymensingh city Awami League for a long time.", "Ruling party candidate in the Habiganj-2 constituency, Moyez Uddin Sharif is the law affairs secretary of Habiganj district Awami League. This is the first time he is running for the polls. His father, late Md Sharif Uddin was the MP from this constituency and also the president of district Awami League.", "Incumbent parliament MP Dabirul Islam’s son Mazharul Islam is the AL candidate from the Thakurgaon-2 constituency this time. He is the organising secretary of Thakurgaon district Awami League. His cousin Ali Aslam is contesting the polls in this constituency independently. Ali Aslam is the general secretary of Baliadangi upazila Jubo League. He resigned from the post of upazila parishad chairman to take part in the 12th national polls. Nurunnahar Begum, cousin of Mazharul and Ali Aslam, is the JaPa nominated candidate in this constituency.", "Speaking to Prothom Alo, Ali Reaz, distinguished professor of the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University, says family members of the leaders are being given space by dint of power due to the lack of democratic practices in the political parties.", "He told Prothom Alo that as the bureaucrats and businesspersons are attached to power in the existing political system, they are getting nominations too. A few consecutive free and fair elections and institutional practices within parties would stop this propensity of dynastic politics.", "JaPa chairman GM Quader is taking part in the election from the Rangpur-3 constituency. His wife Sherifa Quader is an incumbent MP from the reserved seats. She will be contesting the polls as a JaPa candidate from the Dhaka-18 constituency.", "In the Rangpur-1 constituency, JaPa candidate and former MP Hossain Mokbul Shahriar is the nephew of GM Quader. The JaPa candidate in the Nilphamari-4 constituency Adelur Rahman is the son of GM Quader’s sister. Adelur is also the president of the district JaPa unit.", "JaPa co-chairman and former secretary general Ruhul Amin Howlader and his wife Nasrin Jahan are running for the polls from the Patuakhali-1 and Barishal-6 constituencies respectively as JaPa candidates. The 26 constituencies compromised by the ruling party include these two seats.", "Krishak Sramik Janata League president Abdul Kader Siddique has become a candidate from the Tangail-8 constituency. His brother and former Awami League minister Abdul Latif Siddique is contesting the polls from Tangail-4 as an independent candidate. Their brother Murad Siddique is an independent candidate from Tangail-5.", "Bangladesh Tarikat Federation president Syed Nazibul Bashar Maizbhandari was elected MP from the Chattogram-2 constituency for three consecutive terms as a candidate of the alliance led by the Awami League. Failing to secure the nomination from the alliance, he is contesting from his own party this time. However, his nephew Syed Saifuddin Ahmad Maizbhandari is his biggest challenge in the polls. Saifuddin is the president of newly formed Bangladesh Supreme Party.", "Gaibandha district Awami League organising secretary Shah Sarwar Kabir and his wife are taking part in the polls from the Gaibandha-2 constituency as independent candidates. Former MP Abdur Rahman Bodi’s wife has secured the nomination from the ruling party from Cox’s Bazar-4. Abdur Rahman Bodi was convicted in a corruption case. Later, he appealed to the High Court against the verdict, which is still under trial.", "Former election commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain told Prothom Alo, “It seems as if the electoral process has turned into a dynastic system where the sons or daughters or the daughters-in-law are taking the position of the father.”" ]

[ "Independent Candidate", "Awami League", "Jatiya Party", "12th Parliament Elections" ]

[ "The election commission (EC) wanted to hold a meeting with experts, civil society and media representatives on 20 July to dispel the “ambiguity” over the recently amended Representation of the People Order (RPO).", "The invitation letter signed by EC Secretary Jahangir Alam was sent to the concerned persons on 13 July. But just before two days of the scheduled date the commission has suddenly postponed the meeting, reports news agency UNB.", "Director of public relations of the election commission, Shariful Alam, told the media that the meeting slated for 20 July to get a well-thought-out opinion and suggestion on the RPO, has been postponed due to unavoidable reasons.", "The commission informed all the invitees about the postponement of the meeting by writing and over phone. On 4 July, parliament passed the Representation of the People Order (RPO) Amendment Bill, 2023." ]

[ "Election", "Vote", "Election commission" ]

[ "The court has sent Prothom Alo journalist Samsuzzaman to jail, rejecting his bail plea in a case filed with Ramna police station under the Digital Security Act.", "Prothom Alo editor Matiur Rahman is also made the main accused in the case.", "Meanwhile, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan said he heard that more cases are going to be filed against Prothom Alo journalist Samsuzzaman.", "He said this while asked about detention and the case filed against Samsuzzaman under the Digital Security Act.", "When journalists asked the minister about the DSA case against Prothom Alo, he said if anyone commits a mistake he would be brought under the law.", "\"I know about two-three cases so far. I heard more cases are being filed,\" he added.", "About arrest of Samsuzzaman, the home minister said CID initially detained him for interrogating over the news of Prothom Alo and Ekattor Television. He was released after interrogation but rearrested over other cases.    ", "Journalists then asked how many cases were filed against him. The minister replied, “I know about two-three (cases) so far. We heard more cases are being filed. We have not received it yet.”", "A journalist then asked the home minister if there is a fear factor for the other journalists given the way journalist Samsuzzaman was picked up.", "“Why should you be intimidated? You did not give any false information; you did not publish any misleading or motivated news. So why should you fear.”", "Samsuzzaman was produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court in Dhaka around 10:30 am on Thursday, 30 hours after he was picked up from his residence near Jahangirnagar University.", "A team of 15-16 plainclothesmen, who identified themselves as members of police’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) picked up the Prothom Alo staff correspondent at around 4:00 am on Wednesday.", "Earlier, a 'picture card' was prepared to post on Facebook, attaching the comment of day labourer Zakir Hossain on Sunday. But the card incorporated the photograph of a child, Sabuj, mistakenly. Later, Prothom Alo authorities withdrew the card as soon as they noticed the inconsistency.", "In the report, it was clearly said that the comment was taken from Zakir Hossain, not from the child.", "Prothom Alo's staff correspondent in Savar, Samsuzzaman, carried out the report for which he was picked up early on Wednesday from his residence." ]

[ "Digital Security Act", "Samsuzzaman", "Arrest", "Home Minister", "Asaduzzaman " ]

[ "Six, including five women, were killed and at least 14 were injured as two trucks collided head-on at Komlabazar Khara hill area of Ruma-Boga Lake road in Bandarban.", "The accident took place around 1:30pm on Monday.", "Locals at the scene said a truck carrying 20 passengers was heading towards Ruma upazila sadar from Boga Lake. Another was coming from the opposite direction, from Ruma to Boga Lake. The two trucks collided head-on at Komlabazar Khara area around 1:30pm.", "Boga Lake Para resident Lalkim Bawm said four women were killed on the spot. Two, including a woman, succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. Five women belong to the Bawm community and are residents of Thaikkongpara of Remakripransha.", "Ruma health and family planning officer Bamongpra Marma said 16 injured were admitted to the hospital for treatment. Of them, a Bawm woman and a man belonging to Keyang community died while the 10 injured are being sent to Bandarban sadar hospital. The remaining four who received minor injuries are undergoing treatment at Ruma.", "Ruma upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Mamun Shibli confirmed the casualties in this accident.   " ]

[ "Bandarban", "Killed" ]

[ "The election commission (EC) is to send a letter to the finance ministry to know whether the budget they sought to repair the electronic voting machines (EVM) will be allocated.", "Amid the controversy, the EC led by Kazi Habibul Awal sent a proposal of Tk 87.11 billion to the planning commission to purchase EVMs afresh in a bid to hold elections at 150 centres with EVM.  ", "However, the government decided to postpone the proposal for the time being considering the existing economic crisis. The election commission purchased 150,000 EVM in 2018. Of them, 40,000 are irreparable while the remaining 110,000 are needed to be fixed which will cost at Tk 12.60 billion.", "The election commissioner Anisur Rahman on Monday told the newsmen that Tk 12.60 billion is required to fix a total of 110,000 EVMs. The EC is preparing a letter to send to the ministry to ascertain if the fund will be available. The letter might be issued on Tuesday.", "The EC informed the matter of expenditure to the finance ministry at a budget-related meeting on 20 February. However, the ministry hasn’t replied to their request as of now.          ", "Anisur Rahman, \"If the financial division allocates budget, then the decision over using EVM in the elections would be finalised.\"", "When asked, the election commissioner said, \"We couldn't wait for an indefinite period. Bangladesh Machine Tools Factory (BMTF) needs six months to repair the EVMs. So we think it is high time to get the funds.\"", "Hoping the government will allocate a budget, he said the EC will get six months if they receive the decision over finance by next few weeks. If 110,000 EVMs are operational, then they would be able to hold elections at 70-80 constituencies with EVMs.         " ]

[ "Election commission", "EVM" ]

[ "Dhaka city has half the greenery a capital city requires and the people are deprived of whatever little green there is because of boundary walls.", "This was revealed in study run by the department of urban and regional planning of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). The study was carried out with the funding from the US Forest Service International Programme.", "The findings of the research were released at the BUET council building on Monday morning.", "The study, 'Dhaka city green areas and the political economy' was conducted between July and October in 2022.", "According to the findings, 20 per cent of Dhaka city should be green, but it is less than 8 per cent. Commercial activities also hamper green or open space.", "The research finds RAJUK, Dhaka north and south city corporations, public works department, national housing authority and BFD are involved in the management of green spaces.", "There is a dispute between RAJUK and city corporations over handing over green areas. Again the city corporations start commercial activities for making profit.", "BUET professor Afsana Haque said as per existing law RAJUK can create green space inside the city. It hands over to the city corporations. There are some procedural problems.", "RAJUK alleges government agencies don't take its permission while changing green spaces. RAJUK can take back green spaces in case of violation of the rules.", "Member of the research team, Professor Asif-uz-Jaman, said if the green spaces are surrounded by boundary walls, those who are outside think they have no right there. This is an obstacle to ensure open space for all. Moreover, the parks are being made in such a way or such structures are being built, the poorer people think these are not for them.", "Speaking as the chief guest at the event, local government, rural development and cooperatives minister Md Tajul Islam said an effort is being made to include green areas in DAP.", "He said, \"We should not compare with other countries as many people live in small areas in Bangladesh.\"", "BUET VC Shatya Proshad Majumder said a platform is needed so that the research, which is carried out, is used for the country.", "BUET pro-VC Abdul Jabbar said walls are not built around the park or green spaces anywhere in the world, only in Bangladesh. Walls in the green spaces in BUET are being demolished so that the spaces are visible." ]

[ "City", "Space", "Go Green", "BUET", "Dhaka" ]

[ "Zahid Hasan (40) joined transport company Emad Paribahan as a driver about seven months ago. Buses of this company travel from Khulna, Pirojpur and Satkhira to capital Dhaka.", "Drivers of this transport company have to drive almost non-stop. Zahid Hasan too had to drive in a tired and sleep-deprived condition. He seldom had time to rest. And the result of that was seen Sunday morning.", "Driver Zahid Hasan left for Dhaka with the Emad Paribahan bus from Khulna early Sunday. His bus hurtled off the Padma Bridge expressway in Kutubpur under Shibpur upazila of Madaripur, killing 19 people including himself.", "The death count was so high because the driver was speeding and exhausted, said the highway police. Zahid Hasan’s son also confirmed that his father was tired after nonstop driving.", "Local administration has handed over bodies of those 19 people, killed in the accident, to their families.", "At 6:30 in the evening, the body of the driver’s assistant Yusuf was handed over last from Shibchar Upazila Health Complex. The district administration and highway police have formed two separate probe committees to investigate the accident.", "Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) sources report, the bus didn’t have a route permit and the fitness certificate had also expired.", "According to highway police, fire service and local sources, the bus of Emad Paribahan left for Dhaka from Khulna’s Fultala at 4:00am on Sunday. At 5:05 am it picked up passengers from Khulna’s Shonadanga and left. ", "The driver lost control of the bus at Kutubpur area on the expressway right before driving onto the Padma Bridge around 7:30am.", "The bus veered off of the expressway breaking the railings. Then it crashed violently into the wall of the expressway’s underpass after at least a 100-feet-fall and was crushed.", "This killed 17 people including driver Zahid Hasan and his assistant Yusuf on the spot. After 12 people were taken to Dhaka Medical College for treatment, two of them including the bus supervisor Minhaz died there.", "Emad Paribahan’s driver Zahid Hasan left home in Dolairpar, Dhaka on Thursday. He drove to Pirojpur with the bus on the same night. The next morning on Friday he returned back to Dhaka with passengers from Pirojpur.", "He then drove to Pirojpur again on Friday afternoon. After reaching Pirojpur that night, he drove to Dhaka again on Saturday, the very next morning. He then again drove from Dhaka to Khulna on Saturday afternoon.", "Resting for three to four hours inside the bus that night, he started for Dhaka at 4:00am on Sunday from Khulna’s Fultala with the bus. This way, he became exhausted driving the bus over 30 hours in a span of 48 hours.", "Zahid Hasan’s son Ratul Hasan had come to Shibchar upazila health complex on Sunday afternoon to identify his father’s body. He told Prothom Alo, “My father would have time to visit home only once every week. He used to be always tired after driving.”", "“After leaving the house on Thursday, he drove the bus straight for five trips on Dhaka-Pirojpur and Dhaka-Khulna route. Saturday night, my father told us on the phone that he was extremely tired. He had talked of talking rest for a day at home upon returning Dhaka on Sunday. But, now he has left us for eternal rest,” he added.", "When his attention was drawn to drivers’ busy schedule and lack of rest, Emad Paribahan’s manager (operation) Wahidul Islam said over the phone, “We have arranged rooms at every bus counter for drivers of our company to take rest. Zahid Hasan, driver of the bus that was involved in the accident, didn’t inform any of us that he was tired.”", "Highway police’s officer in-charge in Shibchar Abu Naeem Md Mofazzel Haque also talked about the driver being tired. He told Prothom Alo, “We have initially learnt that the driver of the Emad Paribahan bus was driving without taking rest. He was tired because of driving for long. He lost control for diving with sleepy eyes early in the morning.”", "The expressway starts from Dhaka’s Jatrabari in Dhaka and the 75 km road including the Padma Bridge ends in Faridpur’s Bhanga. Once the expressway ends, vehicles take separate roads leading to different districts in the south-western region of the country.", "The government has fixed a speed limit of 80 kilometer per hour (kph) for vehicles moving on the expressway. But drivers drive at a speed of 100 to 120kph.", "Earlier on 17 January an ambulance rammed into the back of a truck while driving at high-speed. Six people were killed in this. The incident took place on the expressway at Zajira’s Naodoba area.", "The Emad Paribahan bus was running at an excessive speed Sunday. Saiful Islam, a member of Ward No. 2 of Damudar union under Fultala Upazila of Khulna was a passenger on that bus and was sitting in the back. He was injured and received treatment at Shibchar Upazila Health Complex.", "He told Prothom Alo, “Once the bus entered the highway, leaving Khulna’s Shonadanga behind, it started running at a reckless speed. We passengers asked the driver to stop speeding several times but, he didn’t listen. The brakes of the bus weren’t working properly. The driver and his assistant were discussing it between themselves.”", "Shibchar highway police station sub-inspector Abdullahel Baki prepared the inquest report of the recovered dead bodies. He said passengers sitting in the front rows of the bus died of severe blows to the head.", "Out of the 19 people, who died in the accident, eight are from Gopalganj. There are four from Khulna, two from Bagerhat with one each from Faridpur, Narail, Satkhira, Brahmanbaria and Pabna among the remaining 11.", "Mostak Ahmed (42), son of Shamsul Haque from Bangram area of ​​Gopalganj, returned from Singapore and started a business here three years back. He was travelling to Dhaka for a visa to go to Singapore again. Mostak died in the accident on the expressway.", "Mostak’s wife Jonaki Begum told Prothom Alo, “I have lost everything. I have two young sons and nowhere to go with them. There’s no one to look after us except my husband. Why didn’t I die instead of my husband?”", "Superintendent of highway police in Faridpur Zone Mahabubul Hasan told Prothom Alo, “The bus was unfit and had mechanical flaws. We have formed an inquiry committee. Once the investigation has been completed, legal action will be taken against the bus owner.”", "He said that their team’s working to ensure that no vehicles can run at excessive speed on the expressway. They file cases against vehicles for speeding.", "Road accidents have killed at least five people, including two motorcyclists in four districts of the country- Pirojpur, Bogura, Chuadanga and Kurigram. The accidents occurred from morning till noon on Sunday." ]

[ "Madaripur", "Expressway", "Driver", "Road crash", "Accident" ]

[ "What happened with film actress Mahiya Mahi proves the dangers of the Digital Security Act and the reasons for which the act has to be annulled.", "Questions have been raised over the alacrity with which the police in Gazipur filed a case against actress Mahiya Mahi under the Digital Security Act over a live Facebook post and arrested her from the Dhaka airport immediately after she returned from Saudi Arabia.", "Rights activists and noted people have termed this incident as the latest example of abuse of the law.", "They said police are employees of the republic. Any aggrieved citizen can express and can bring about allegations against them. There could be investigation if there wais any allegation against police. The concerned police official could file defamation suit too if the allegations are found to be false. But without following any of this, a case was filed against Mahiya Mahi under the Digital Security Act.", "Speaking to Prothom Alo, lawyer and rights activist Sara Hossain said, “There should not even be a criminal case against Mahiya Mahi. A civil suit could have been filed against her if she had defamed any person. None can behave with her this way even if she was not pregnant. She was not fleeing the country.”", "She further said, “Mahi’s allegation was against a police official. Following this the speed at which everything happened, it seems the law is not being implemented against all equally.”", "Sara Hossain also remarked that the case against Mahi should be withdrawn and an investigation into what happened with her is necessary.", "Actress Mahiya Mahi in a Facebook Live on Friday alleged that her husband Rakib Sarker’s car showroom in Gazipur was vandalised over a land dispute. She also brought an allegation against the commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP).", "On the next day, police filed a case against Mahiya Mahi and her husband under the Digital Security Act. The case statement said that Mahi and her husband defamed the law enforcement by spreading false, concocted, aggressive, and defaming information and tried to deteriorate the law and order situation.", "Gazipur Metropolitan Police arrested Mahiya Mahi, who is nine months pregnant, as soon as she returned home performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia on Saturday morning. Police also asked for her remand producing her before the court. But the court denied the plea and sent her to jail. Later, the court granted her bail. Though Mahi’s husband Rakib Sarker also is an accused in the case, police did not arrest him when he returned to the country on Sunday.", "Upon getting bail on Saturday night, Mahi in a press conference said, the way police took steps to arrest her, it seemed she was a “war criminal”, or a guilty of sedition.", "In the press conference, Mahi further said, “I spoke against only one person, whose name is Molla Nazrul. I did not go against the entire police administration.”", "Netizens have been saying over social media that a case was filed against Mahiya Mahi under Digital Security Act and she was arrested from the airport immediately after returning home from Saudi Arabia as she raised bribery allegations against a police official. Yet in another incident, Rabiul Islam alias Arav Khan, accused in the murder of a police inspector, could not be arrested even though he came to Bangladesh twice from Dubai.", "Speaking to Prothom Alo, Asif Nazrul, professor of law department at Dhaka University, said this arrest of a pregnant woman transpires the message that law is not being implemented fairly in the country, though women, ailing and children get priority in getting bail even in non-bailable cases.", "He further said the what happened with Mahiya Mahi clarifies the reasons why this Digital Security Act has to be repealed and how dangerous this law can be." ]

[ "Gazipur", "Digital Security Act", "Police", "Rights", "Mahiya Mahi" ]

[ "Speakers at an event on Monday said inclusive development initiatives are essential to address the challenges that persons with disabilities face to maintain dignified livelihoods, access education, and participate in community activities.", "They made the remarks while addressing a daylong training programme on “Disability and Digital Inclusion” for journalists at Dhaka Reporters Unity. Social purpose organisation Friendship organised the event in collaboration with Aspire to Innovate (a2i) of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division.", "Ayesha Taasin Khan, Senior Director & Head of Inclusive Citizenship, Friendship, was the chief guest of event while Morsalin Nomani, president of Dhaka Reporter’s Unity, and Ahmed Toufiqur Rahman, assistant director of Friendship, also spoke. The event was interpreted in sign language by Arafat Sultana Lata. ", "There were eleven sessions at the training. National Consultant of a2i Vashkar Bhattacharjee was the resource person of the training while the director of Friendship Netherlands Betteke de Gaay Fortman, assistant general manager of Friendship Nusrat Zerin, team leader Abu Mohammad Shihab and technical lead Nusrat Zerin conducted the sessions.", "Speaking about the goal of training, Ahmed Toufiqur Rahman, assistant director of Friendship, said the event aimed to improve the capacities and skills on reporting disability issues in Bangladesh as well as equip the newspersons with basic knowledge of disability issues, needs and rights of persons with disabilities and the importance of their inclusion in all sectors for ensuring sustainability.", "Morsalin Nomani, president of Dhaka Reporter’s Unity, said, “Nowadays, we see persons with disability becoming very successful and inspiring to us. We must work for the development of the persons with disabilities and bring them under the inclusion of technology to make their life easier.” Morsalin Nomani thanked Friendship and a2i for organising this training for journalists. ", "Chief guest Ayesha Taasin Khan discussed about the activities of Friendship’s disability project in northern chars of Gaibandha and Kurigram districts in Bangladesh including the global practices and prevalence in the session.", "Persons with disabilities living in the northern hard-to-reach, climate-impacted chars of Bangladesh regularly face multiple challenges, including stigma, discrimination and lack of access to basic need-based services, she added. ", "Ayesha Taasin Khan further said due to cultural and social norms, persons with disabilities are often ostracized and seen as a burden on their families and communities, As a result, persons with disabilities in the northern chars of Bangladesh find it challenging to maintain dignified livelihoods, access education, and participate in community activities. To address these challenges, inclusive development initiatives are essential.", "The disability project of Friendship is supported by the donor agency Ineke Feitz-Stichting and Friendship Netherlands is working to improve the living conditions and situation among families of persons with disabilities and change the behaviour of community people towards them.", "Asked about how this training would help in their profession, one of the participants Shahnaj Pervin Alice, special correspondent at Daily Sangbad Sarabela, told Prothom Alo, “This training opened an opportunity to learn on how much we know and how much we don’t know about disability issue, and what issues. We, the journalists, should address on disability as well.”", "“We must highlight how persons with disability are shining in various sectors of the society and the state and they are not burdens. We must work more,” she said adding, it will not be possible to fulfill the goal of building a 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041 unless people from all strata, in particular, persons with disability, are brought under the digital inclusion.", "Speaking to Prothom Alo, another participant Habib Rahman, senior reporter at Ekattor TV, said, “We, the journalists, hardly know the fact that persons with disability can easily start a new life using technologies. If technology can be made accessible to these people, they will surely make a significant contribution to the society and will no longer become a burden.” ", "“Yet there are some lackings like when any disaster hits an area it will be the persons with disability who will often be left behind. If a disaster announcement is made, for example, how the persons with hearing impairment will be informed. All technological advantages must be accessible to all persons with disability to help them become self-reliant,” he said adding, if these persons with disability remain left behind from availing any service, how Bangladesh would fulfil the goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aims the inclusion of people of all strata.", "A political will is necessary to make it happen and authorities and stakeholders concerned must step forward, Habib Rahman recommended.", "The event concluded with distributing certificates among the participants." ]

[ "Smart Bangladesh", "Development", "Digital Bangladesh", "Technology", "Information Technology", "Gaibandha", "Kurigram" ]

[ "The government is set to declare three districts -- Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Joypurhat -- and 32 upazilas as free of landless and homeless people in Rajshahi division, reports news agency BSS.", "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 22 March is likely to make the declaration virtually at the fourth phase of Ashrayan Project-2 to mark the Mujib Centenary.", "Commissioner of Rajshahi division GSM Zafarullah revealed this while addressing a press conference at his office conference hall on Monday.", "He said there were 31,930 homeless and landless families in 'KA' class in eight districts under the division. Already, 21,762 of those were rehabilitated in the first, second and third phases.", "In the fourth phase, houses were allocated to 8,314 families. Of them, 1,451 in Rajshahi, 230 in Chapainawabganj, 1,492 in Naogaon, 1,289 in Natore, 1,518 in Pabna, 783 in Sirajganj, 1,412 in Bogura and 139 in Joypurhat districts.", "Commissioner Zafarullah further said 10 upazilas were declared as freed from landless and homeless people in the earlier three phases while in the fourth phase, 32 more upazilas will be declared as free from homeless and landless people.", "The total number of declared upazilas of homeless and landless people now stands at 42, out of 67, he added." ]

[ "Joypurhat", "Rajshahi", "Ashrayan Project", "Chapainawabganj" ]

[ "President M Abdul Hamid on Monday asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to ensure required efforts to prevent corruption in all development sectors to build Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country.", "“Corruption is the main barrier to development and progress . . . Build a social movement against corrupt practices,” the president told the ACC delegation as it submitted the ‘ACC’s Annual Report -2022’ to him at Bangabhaban, his official residence, in the capital in the evening.", "Abdul Hamid also directed the ACC, country’s anti-graft commission, to ensure that no officer-employee of it is involved in corrupt practices, president’s press secretary Md. Joynal Abedin briefed the newspersons later.", "ACC chairman Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah led the delegation. ACC commissioners Md. Mozammel Haque Khan and Md. Zahurul Haque and ACC secretary Mohammad Mahbub Hossain were present.", "During the meeting, the ACC chairman informed the president about various aspects of the report and the overall activities of the commission.", "The Law Commission of Bangladesh also submitted its ‘Annual Report-2022’ to the president at his official residence in the evening.", "Commission chairman justice ABM Khairul Haque led the delegation while its members - justice Md. Abu Bakar Siddiquee and justice ATM Fazle Kabir - accompanied the chairman, president’s press secretary Md Joynal Abedin told BSS.", "During the meeting, the chairman informed the President about various aspects of the report and the overall activities of the law commission.", "The head of state said enacting a law is not enough to establish the rule of law in the country but proper enforcement of laws is a must.", "“Therefore, if there is any barrier to implementing the law, it should be removed,” President Hamid added.", "He urged the Law Commission to take initiatives to make country’s existing laws up-to-date and beneficial to the people.", "Secretaries concerned to the Bangabhaban were present at this time." ]

[ "Law", "Corruption", "President", "ACC", "M Abdul Hamid" ]

[ "Three people were killed and eight others were injured after a pickup van crashed into a bus of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) in Dinajpur’s Doshmile area, reports UNB.", "The accident occurred Monday at around 6.00pm in front of the Darbarpur Jame Masjid on the Dinajpur-Rangpur highway, police said.", "The deceased were identified as Mostakim Ahmed, 27, Sohanur Rahman Sohan, 26, and pickup driver Foyzar Uddin, 40, of Dinajpur’s Chirirbandar upazila. All of the deceased were the passengers of the van.", "The injured were rescued by the locals and sent to Dinajpur’s M Abdur Rahim Medical College and other hospitals. Most of them were sent home after primary treatment. The pickup fell on the side of the road after the crash.", "Contacted, Golam Maola, inspector of Dinajpur Kotwali police station, said the Thakurgaon-bound BRTC bus crashed with the speeding pickup van coming from the opposite side of the highway." ]

[ "Death", "Dinajpur", "Killed", "Accident" ]

[ "Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Monday said Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is now doing politics over road accidents after their failure in movement.", "“After practicing negative politics constantly and spreading lies, BNP came to a point where they put the blame on the government even if a person dies in a lightning strike,” he said in a statement.", "Condemning a statement of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir over a road accident that took place on Sunday, he said Fakhrul’s remarks over the road accident was politically motivated and fabricated one. ", "“Country’s road communication sector was the most neglected sector during the BNP regime,” Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, said.", "He said after assuming power, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave the most priority to the road communication sector and now a revolutionary change is now visible in this sector under her skilled leadership. ", "“BNP is ashamed of acknowledging this truth,” he added.", "Seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of those who killed in the road accident occurred yesterday and expressing sympathy to the bereaved families, the road transport and bridges minister said: “Every death is painful. We do not want any death on roads. Road condition was not responsible for the accident took place at Kutubpur under Shibganj upazila in Madaripur.”", "He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is relentlessly working to bring discipline back on the road and transport sector.", "Meanwhile, Quader said, the long-cherished rules were formulated under the Road Transport Act-2018 and the works continue to gradually upgrade the country’s national highways into six lanes.", "“The accident-prone zones have been made risk-free under a project and initiatives have been taken to make other spots free from risk. Necessary signs and signals are being installed,” he said.    ", "Four rest corners were built in Sirajganj, Cumilla, Habiganj and Magura for transport drivers carrying goods, the road transport minister said.", "He said mandatory refreshment training on skill and awareness are being imparted to drivers before reissuing licenses. ", "During the 2021-2022, training was given to 62,900 professional drivers and this programme continues, Quader added.", "As per the instruction of the prime minister, dupe test reports have been taken while issuing and reissuing licenses to the professional drivers." ]

[ "Road accident", "BNP", "Obaidul Quader", "Road crash" ]

[ "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday said her government is building the armed forces in such a way as it can defend the country’s independence and sovereignty if Bangladesh is attacked.", "“We don’t want war with anyone. But, we have to attain enough efficiency to protect our independence and sovereignty if Bangladesh falls into such situation and we’re preparing our forces keeping that in mind,” she said.", "The PM said this while commissioning the newly constructed naval submarine base “BNS Sheikh Hasina” by unveiling its nameplate, joining virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban in the capital.", "The inaugural function was held at Pekua in Cox’s Bazar.", "The prime minister said the government is maintaining the foreign policy adopted by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, “Friendship to all, malice to none.”", "She asked the armed forces personnel to continue efforts to materialise Father of the Nation’s dream of building developed, prosperous and Smart Bangladesh by 2041 free from hunger and poverty alongside discharging professional duties.", "“We have established the Bangladesh Navy as a smart force. We will build every organisation as modern with up-to-date and technological knowledge,” she said.", "The premier said they have adopted a “Blue Economy” policy and are working to use the vast marine resources in flourishing country’s national economy and thus to contribute to ensuring overall development of Bangladesh.", "She said the newly commissioned submarine base would help navy increase its operational capacity to secure the vast marine resources while the ships passing through the Bay of Bengal also can take help from the base.", "“A proud chapter is added to the history of Bangladesh Navy with commissioning the complete and ultra-modern submarine base,” she said.", "The premier also witnessed the first flag hoisting ceremony in the submarine base of the navy.", "Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal made the welcome speech at the venue in Pekua.", "A brief audio-visual documentary of the submarine base was screened at the function.", "Sheikh Hasina said Bangabandhu had enacted the Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act, 1974 to establish Bangladesh’s rights on its maritime boundaries.", "But, the United Nations adopted the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982 as an international maritime law, she said.", "After 21 years , when AL government assumed   power in 1996, Sheikh Hasina  said her government had taken some measures and signed the UN unclose to this end, adding that the Ziaur Rahman, HM Ershad and Khaleda Zia’s governments did not take any measures.", "After coming to power for the second time in 2009, the prime minister said they have been able to establish Bangladesh’s rights on the vast marine areas and its resources from neighbouring India and Myanmar with maintaining the friendly relations.", "Sheikh Hasina said her government formulated “Forces Goal 2030” in line with Bangabandhu’s Defence Policy-1974 after assuming power in 2009 and is now implementing the goal aimed at transforming all the military forces as modern and time-worthy organisations.", "In last 14 years, a total of 31 warships, including four frigates, six corvettes, four large patrol crafts, five patrol crafts and two training ships were added to the fleet of Bangladesh Navy, she said.", "“We added two submarines on 12 March in 2017. As a result, today our Navy was established as a three-dimensional naval force,” she added.", "The premier said Bangladesh is currently building ships in local shipyards for its own uses and for others.", "Bangladesh Navy has completed the construction of five patrol craft including large ones in Khulna shipyard, she said." ]

[ "Bangladesh Navy", "Prime Minister", "Sheikh Hasina" ]

[ "A Gazipur court on Monday granted bail to Rakib Sarker, husband of actress Mahiya Mahi, in a case filed under the Digital Security Act, reports news agency UNB.", "Gazipur metropolitan magistrate Niaz Makhdum passed the order after hearing the bail petition filed by Rakib Sarker’ lawyer on Monday. Actress Mahiya Mahi was with her husband during the hearing in the court.", "Rakib Sarker returned home from Saudi Arabia on Sunday morning. Later, he appeared before the Gazipur court on Monday and filed a petition seeking bail in two cases.", "The bail will remain in force until the police submit a report in this regard before the court. The court also fixed 24 April as the date for next hearing in the case filed under DSA.", "Earlier, on Saturday, a Gazipur court granted bail to actress Mahiya Mahi, hours after she was arrested from Dhaka airport in a case filed under the Digital Security Act (DSA).", "Rokon Mia, sub-inspector of Bason police station, filed the case under the Digital Security Act against Mahiya Mahi and her husband Rakib Sarker on Friday night on charge of “defaming police” after going live on Facebook.", "The actress was arrested from the airport upon her arrival from Saudi Arabia. However, her husband Rakib Sarker, also an accused in the case, did not return with her. Later, a Gazipur court sent her to jail.", "Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, a businessman, filed another case with Bason Police Station against 28 people including the couple on charges of assault, vandalism and land grabbing.", "According to the case statement, Mahiya Mahi, from her Facebook page, went live early Friday — making allegations against police.", "During the live session, she said Ismail Hossain and Mamun Sarkar, through their people, carried out an attack on a car showroom owned by Mahiya Mahi, on Dhaka-Tangail highway near Bhawal Badre Alam Government College.", "The actress and her husband also alleged that the Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) commissioner “supported the attackers” after taking bribes.", "She also said she feared getting arrested after returning to the country from Mecca. During the Facebook live, Mahiya Mahi’s husband Rakib alleged that police arrested security guards of the car showroom.", "Meanwhile, Ismail Hossain, owner of Rod Binding Factory in Itahata area of Gazipur city and plaintiff of a case, in his complaint said he has been running a factory in the area for the past 10 years after purchasing land there.", "On Friday, some people on behalf of Rakib and Mahiya attacked and vandalised the factory, he said. They also beat up five people at the factory, leaving them injured, while trying to occupy the land, according to the complaint." ]

[ "Gazipur", "Court", "Actress", "Bail", "Digital Security Act", "Mahiya Mahi" ]

[ "A police officer in Munshiganj was ‘closed’ and attached to the district police line for allegedly trying to extort money from a trader by giving him threats of killing in crossfire, reports UNB.", "Accused Mohammed Suman was an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) at the Gazaria police station.", "Mahfuzur Rahman Al Mamun, superintendent of police (SP) of Munshiganj, said the officer was closed and attached to the district police line Monday.", "Victim Shakil Farazi, said the police officer told him on Sunday that a narcotic case was filed against him at Narayanganj port police station.", "The ASI picked him up on a white microbus on Monday morning, he said. The microbus went to a remote area of Char Baushia area.", "Shakil further said there were three other persons in the microbus- constable Rafiqul, unidentified man who claimed to be an ASI, and the driver.", "“They held me at gunpoint and demanded Tk 200, 000,” he said.", "They snatched away his mobile phone, and money, beat him, and tried to handcuff him, he said. Meanwhile, some locals gathered on the spot and rescued him.", "Accused ASI, Mohammed Suman, told the news agency that one of his friends, a police officer at Narayanganj port police station, informed him about a case filed against Shakil Farazi.", "“My friend came to Gazaria, and we took Shakil there to talk in ‘private’.”" ]

[ "Crossfire", "Extortion", "Bangladesh Police", "Corruption", "Munshiganj", "Cops" ]

[ "Terming India an “indispensable partner”, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Monday said that Japan will expand cooperation for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, adding that it is important to lead the international community in the direction of cooperation rather than confrontation and division.", "“India is an indispensable partner and I believe India and Japan are in an extremely unique position in the current International relations and further in the history of the world. India is the largest democracy in the world. I have always viewed with great respect the way such a huge and diverse country as India has developed a democracy,” he said while delivering the 41st Sapru House Lecture.", "He recalled that former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe in 2016 delivered a vision called Free and Open Pacific (FOIP).", "“Japan will expand cooperation for FOIP. Russia’s aggression against Ukraine obliges us to face the most fundamental challenge defending peace,” Fumio Kishida said.", "Kishida stressed that the vision will be nurtured by the voices of different nations can be characterised as a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. He called it important to lead the international community in the direction of cooperation rather than confrontation and division.", "“I believe that this vision nurtured by the voices of different countries which can be characterised as our Free and Open Indo-Pacific. It’s becoming more important than ever towards the goal of leading the International community in the direction of cooperation rather than division and confrontation,” Kishida said.", "Fumio Kishida said that Japan will collaborate closely with India in contributing to stability in the South Asian region.", "He emphasised that Japan will promote the Bay of Bengal - North East India industrial value concept in cooperation with India and Bangladesh. He stated that Japan is looking at economic partnership with Bangladesh.", "“Japan will collaborate closely with India in contributing to stability in the South Asian region ... Northeast India which is surrounded by land still has unexploited economic potential. We will promote Bay of Bengal- North East India Industrial value chain concept in cooperation with India and Bangladesh to foster the growth of the entire region,” Kishida said.", "“India’s neighbour Bangladesh will soon graduate from being classified as a least developed country. We have already launched the joint study group on the possibility of an economic partnership agreement with Bangladesh,” he added.", "Japanese PM Fumio Kishida said that the international community has entered an era in which cooperation and division are “intricately intertwined.”", "He condemned the Russian offensive against Ukraine. He said that PM Narendra Modi also told Russian President Putin that “today’s era is not of war.”", "“In the International community, a big balance of power change is occurring, shifting dramatically. The International community has entered an era in which cooperation and division are intricately intertwined,” Kishida said.", "He further said, “I reiterate that Japan strongly condemns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and will never recognise it. PM Modi too expressed to President Putin that today’s era is not of war. Japan opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo by force anywhere in the world.”", "In his remarks, he also talked about Japan hosting the G7 Presidency and India holding the G20 Presidency.", "He said, “This year as Japan hosts the G7 presidency and India hosts the G20 presidency, it’s my hope that by working together with ASEAN and many other countries, we will bring peace and prosperity to the international community which faces a time of challenges and the vision for achieving it is FOIP which is based on rule of law.”", "Earlier in the day, Fumio Kishida, who arrived Monday in India for a two-day visit, held talks with PM Modi. Japanese PM extended a formal invitation to PM Modi to attend the G7 Hiroshima Summit, scheduled to take place in May this year.", "The two leaders also took up the issue of challenges faced by the international community and decided to have close cooperation between G7 and G20 as the two countries are holding the presidencies of the summits, respectively." ]

[ "Japan", "Economy", "LDC", "India", "Diplomacy" ]

[ "Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said intensified global steps were needed to stop war in Ukraine as it continued to cause common peoples miseries across the world, as she gave an exclusive interview to the CNN TV.", "“I feel that the world should come forward to stop the war as the common people are suffering,\" she said while the US-based Cable News Network (CNN) broadcast her interview’s first episode this morning.", "Asked for comments on Bangladesh stance on the war, Sheikh Hasina said \"we believe in a peaceful solution”.", "“If there is any conflict, through dialogue it can be solved. We (Bangladesh) never support any kind of invasion or any conflict,\" she said.", "Numerous questions regarding the Ukraine crisis, Bangladesh relations with China including its loan issues and Rohingya crisis largely featured the first episode of the interview. ", "CNN is set to air the second episode of the interaction with the Bangladesh premier later this evening while the network’s famed journalist Richard Quest interviewed her.", "Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh's foreign policy is very clear, \"Friendship to all, malice to none\" and “and we're following that, so, when we see any human rights violation or invasion, we definitely oppose it”.", "She, however, said no war could be one-sided alone as it needs involvement of both sides “(but) I believe each country has its own rights to live in their own territory (with freedom) and protect their own territory.\"" ]

[ "Russia", "Prime Minister", "Ukraine", "Sheikh Hasina", "Russia Ukraine War" ]

[ "The 11th parliamentary election, held in December 2018, was not considered free and fair by observers due to reported irregularities, including ballot box stuffing and intimidation of opposition polling agents and voters, said in the Bangladesh section in 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.", "The US state department published the report, based on human rights information from 198 countries and regions, in its website on Monday.", "The ‘2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Bangladesh’ section said, “Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings; forced disappearance; torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrests or detentions; political prisoners or detainees; transnational repression against individuals in another country; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; punishment of family members for offenses allegedly committed by a relative; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including violence or threats of violence against journalists, unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists, censorship, and enforcement of or threat to enforce criminal libel laws to limit expression.\"", "It also said there are: \"Serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, including overly restrictive laws on the organisation, funding, or operation of nongovernmental organisations and civil society organisations; restrictions on refugees’ freedom of movement; serious and unreasonable restrictions on political participation; serious government corruption; serious government restrictions on or harassment of domestic and international human rights organisations.”", "The report mentioned “lack of investigation of and accountability for gender-based violence, including domestic and intimate partner violence, sexual violence, workplace violence, child, early, and forced marriage, and other forms of such violence; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting members of ethnic minority groups; significant restrictions on independent trade unions and workers’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining; and existence of the worst forms of child labour.”", "Speaking about the US state department report, opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury told Prothom Alo, “No one inside or outside of the country has any doubt that the last (parliamentary) election was not free and fair. In this context, the US state department report reflects the truth about the election in Bangladesh.”", "Criticising the report, ruling Awami League (AL) joint general secretary Mahbub ul Alam Hanif on Monday night told Prothom Alo, “If the US has taken allegations of any political party of Bangladesh into consideration to prepare this report, then its credibility is questionable.”", "The US report said, “There were numerous reports of widespread impunity for security force abuses and corruption. The government took few measures to identify, investigate, prosecute, and punish officials or security force members who committed human rights abuses or engaged in corruption.”", "“According to international and local civil society, activists, and media, impunity was a pervasive problem in the security forces, including within but not limited to the RAB, Border Guards Bangladesh, Detective Branch of Police, and other units.", "“Politicisation of crimes, corruption, and lack of independent accountability mechanisms were significant factors contributing to impunity, including for custodial torture.", "“While police are required to conduct internal investigations of all significant abuses, civil society organisations alleged investigative mechanisms were not independent and did not lead to justice for victims,” it added." ]

[ "Human rights", "RAB", "USA", "Rights", "Enforced Disappearance" ]

[ "US ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas today said his country is committed to working with Bangladesh to eliminate corruption - enabling Bangladeshis to enjoy lives of dignity and drawing more international trade and foreign investment, reports UNB.", "\"If Bangladesh can assure citizens and investors that corruption is less prevalent here than in other markets, it will attract more investment and help the country continue on the path of economic growth,\" he said.", "Ambassador Haas made the remarks at an event, titled \"Call to Action Against Corruption Summit\", at a Dhaka hotel, organised by Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) and Center for International Private Enterprises.", "The US ambassador said corruption exists, to one degree or another, in every corner of the globe, and they are all too familiar with what it looks like.", "\"It's trying to get a driver's license and having to pay 'speed money'. It's knowing that if you want a passport appointment, it's going to cost you extra. It's needing to bribe the right official to register a plot of land you just purchased,\" Haas said.", "Corruption is a parasite that feeds on the resources of a society and drains it of its strength and can devastate every level of business and government, he said.", "\"Sadly, some notorious scandals have occurred in my own country,\" said the US ambassador. ", "Yet, he said, exposing corruption and holding perpetrators accountable have catalyzed economic growth in the United States and elsewhere.", "\"When societies exert such efforts, they prosper. I am confident this can be the case here in Bangladesh, as well, and the United States is eager to help,\" he said.", "Under president Biden, the US government has established the fight against corruption as a core national security interest, he added.", "\"We support initiatives that help Bangladeshi businesses meet international standards and regulations, making them more competitive in the global market,\" said the envoy.", "\"By promoting ethical business practices, we can create a more level playing field for businesses of all sizes and encourage more foreign investment,\" he added.", "The US Agency for International Development, USAID, has partnered with Bangladesh's Registrar of Joint Stock Companies to launch an online registration process for new businesses.", "This makes registering new businesses more transparent, faster, and more affordable, ambassador Haas said.", "USAID has also worked with the Bangladesh National Board of Revenue to establish authorized economic operators. This endeavour empowers the private sector, instead of the government, to release shipments at ports, he said.", "As a result, Haas said, the process has become more transparent and raised the level of trust between the private sector and the government.", "The US Department of Commerce's Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) works with the Private Public Partnership Authority Bangladesh to conduct workshops to improve the legal and business environment of Bangladesh.", "CLDP also works with Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) to improve municipal governance by improving fiscal transparency. Under this program, CLDP invited over a DNCC delegation, including the mayor, to Miami in January. ", "The US department of justice trains investigators and attorneys in the Anti-Corruption Commission on topics such as how to investigate and prosecute money laundering, how to use electronic evidence, and how to investigate financial crimes.", "\"It has also fostered a relationship between Bangladesh's Financial Intelligence Unit and the International Anti-Corruption Coordination Centre,\" Haas said.", "\"The United States is committed to holding corrupt officials accountable for their actions. This can take various forms,\" said the ambassador.", "Just as US laws hold American citizens and businesses accountable for corrupt practices, there are US laws and penalties that apply to non-citizens who use corrupt practices in violation of the laws.", "\"What can the Bangladeshi government do to reduce corruption? It could think about ways to empower institutions to tackle corruption and promote transparency and accountability in governance and business,\" he said.", "One idea is to reduce the amount of cash that officials handle by replacing cash-based financial transactions with the government with online transactions, Haas said.", "\"Citizens could pay bills, fines, and taxes electronically. Such a process would minimize the opportunity for bureaucrats to overcharge or misplace public funds into their own pockets,\" he said.", "Haas recognised the important role a vibrant civil society and free media play in investigating and exposing instances of corruption.", "Bangladesh has many advantages that potential investors would find attractive, he said. \"But as American business leaders tell me: multi-national firms have options on where they invest.\"", "They will choose whichever country has the lowest levels of corruption, the fewest bureaucratic obstacles, the greatest respect for rule of law, and the best logistics infrastructure for their business, he added.", "END/UNB/MK/KW" ]

[ "Peter Haas", "Investment", "Corruption", "SME" ]

[ "The Emad Paribahan bus which met with an accident resulting in 19 deaths on the Padma Bridge Expressway did not have any route permit or fitness certificate. Yet the bus would regularly ply the Dhaka-Khulna route. Hundreds of such buses are operating illegally in several south and south-western districts of the country via Padma Bridge. Among them are the buses of big companies including Green Line, Hanif, Sohag, Ena, Unique, Golden Line and so on.", "According to various transport companies, the rush of passengers from southern region increased after the Padma Bridge was opened. The companies have also applied for route permits with the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) to run more buses. But BRTA is not issuing the permits due to objections from Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC). As a result, the owners are operating buses on the roads without permission, simply 'appeasing' the police. In the process, unfit buses are also plying freely through this expressway. Besides, reckless speed increases road accidents.", "Despite the anarchy, no effective steps are being taken to bring order to traffic on the expressway. While route permits were stopped due to the decision of the city corporation authorities, they say that this is the responsibility of the the police and BRTA. On the other hand, a BRTA official told Prothom Alo that BRTA does not have the manpower or the facilities to check whether the buses on the roads have route permits or whether their permits have been suspened. The police can take action at any time. It is difficult to enforce punishment if the police turn a blind eye.", "According to BRTA sources, the Emad Paribahan bus met with another accident in Gopalganj in November as well, that leading to the death of three people at the time. Its route permit was suspended. After Sunday's crash that killed 19 people, its registration was canceled and legal action is underway against the owner.", "Sources related to the transport sector said people with political or business influence are operating more buses on this route. Other companies cannot operate without permission which is why there are less options left for passengers. In many cases, passengers have been charged extra fare. The government too is being deprived of the revenue it receives from the bus route permit.", "Almost nine months have passed since the government inaugurated the Padma Bridge. It was hoped that the south and south-western parts of the country would benefit immediately from the bridge as there would be no hassle of using ferries. But DSCC wrote a letter to block the approval of buses passing through the Padma Bridge on the pretext that permitting more buses would create traffic congestion on the Mayor Hanif flyover. Following this, BRTA has stopped granting route permits. Letters were exchanged between the City Corporation and BRTA for nearly seven months without any resolution. Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr are around the corner when the pressure will increase on the route. People fear there may be a bus crisis due to the situation.", "Before the opening of Padma Bridge, buses were plying on 12 routes from Dhaka's Sayedabad via Mawa to the south and south-west through ferry crossings. There were more than 30 routes from Gabtali to the southern region. After the opening of the bridge, most of the bus routes from Gabtali in 21 districts of the South and South-Western region have changed and buses are plying through the Padma Bridge. Among them most of the buses for Shariatpur, Madaripur, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Barishal division, Khulna, Satkhira and Jashore are moving through Padma Bridge. Those buses include many dilapidated buses.", "Transport companies said that most of the companies are unable to operate buses as per demand due to lack of route permits. The owners of the companies that used to ply on the 12 routes earlier are not able to get permission for additional buses.", "Chief Executive Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation is the chairman of the committee responsible for development and controlling traffic under Mayor Hanif flyover. As many as 15 decisions were made in the meeting of this committee on 5 September last year. One of the decisions was to write to the chairman of BRTA requesting not to give any new route permit on the Jatrabari-Postogola route via Mayor Hanif flyover. The chief engineer of the DSCC wrote to the chairman of BRTA on 8 September.", "The BRTA chairman later sought the opinion of the secretary of the road transport and highways division. The secretary's office advised BRTA to approach the city corporation for permission to ply buses under the flyover. BRTA wrote to the executive director of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) on 2 November last year and requested to raise the matter in the meeting of the committee responsible for rationalisation of bus routes in urban transport. DSCC mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Tapas is the president of this committee. Seven months have passed, but the matter is yet to be settled. Therefore, permission to operate buses under the flyover remained stalled as well.", "BRTA chairman Nur Mohammad Mazumder told Prothom Alo that discussions are underway with the DSCC regarding route permits. In the meantime, the law enforcement forces will look into the matter if anybody operates the bus illegally. Meanwhile BRTA will carry out drives through mobile courts.", "BRTA sources say that after Padma Bridge was opened, they received around 500 applications for bus route permits. But after receiving the letter from the city corporation, they stopped issuing route permits to these buses. In the past 7 months, about 500 more applications have been submitted. These buses are plying illegally even though BRTA withholds permission.", "Managing director of Ena Paribahan and Secretary General of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, Khondkar Enayet Ullah told Prothom Alo that thousands of illegal rickshaws are causing traffic jams in the city. Instead of stopping those rickshaws DSCC has decided to stop the bus permits because of which the passengers are suffering. He claimed they are being harassed because of some buses running illegally. He said, if the city corporation builds a terminal outside the city, their buses will no longer enter the city.", " DSCC chief engineer Saleh Ahmed told Prothom Alo, after the Padma Bridge was opened, vehicles from all over the country started taking this route, which became hard to manage. Police department also urged to reduce the pressure which is why it was decided to stop gicing new permission.", "He said, the development works under Mayor Hanif flyover will be finished within two months. Some preparatory work is underway. Permission for plying buses under the flyover may be approved then. Asked about operating unfit buses, he said, it is the police and BRTA who should see to it.", "Additional Inspector General of Highway Police Shahabuddin Khan told Prothom Alo that reckless speeding is the main reason for road accidents. Police filed around 14,000 cases last year for reckless speed. Police will take stricter actions against those flouting traffic rules including vehicle fitness, speeding, route permit.", "The governmentconstructed the Padma Bridge at a cost of about Tk 328.75 billion. One of the objectives was to make the communication faster with the south through this bridge. Mayor Hanif flyover has been constructed at a cost of Tk 21.08 billion for quick exit and entry from the capital Dhaka. A 55 km wide expressway has been constructed from Dhaka to Faridpur's Bhanga to take advantage of the Padma Bridge at the cost of about Tk 110.44 billion. But now Mayor Hanif flyover is struggling to take the pressure of traffic from Padma Bridge.", "There was an initial projection of 23,954 vehicles plying daily on Padma Bridge when it was inaugurated in June 2022. The traffic is expected to increase to 36,785 by 2030. The four-lane bridge has a maximum capacity of 75,000 vehicles per day. At present, an average of 15,000 vehicles are crossing through the bridge daily. The daily toll collection is about Tk 2 billion.", "The authorities made an assumption in advance that opening Padma Bridge would create additional traffic pressure in Dhaka. For this, some projects were recommended in Dhaka's 20-year transport plan. Most of these have not been implemented.", "Sources in the ministry of road transport say that the alternative roads that are supposed to be built around Dhaka to reap the maximum benefit of the Padma Bridge are unlikely to be operational within the next five years.", "Transport expert and director of BUET's Accident Research Institute professor Shamsul Hoque told Prothom Alo that the Padma Bridge was not built in a day. It was necessary to take the matter of congestion in the city caused by traffic from Padma Bridge into account. Bus owners are running buses illegally for public demand. Now nobody is taking the responsibility to look into whether the vehicles have the necessary permits and thus ensure that passengers are not cheated. This lack of coordination is largely responsible for the chaos in the transport sector." ]

[ "Bangladesh Road Transport Owner Association", "Road Transport and Bridges Ministry", "Road accident", "padma bridge", "Road crash" ]

[ "Four more patients were hospitalised with dengue in the 24 hours till Tuesday morning, UNB reports.", "Of the new patients, one was admitted to a hospital in Dhaka and the rest outside it, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).", "Eighteen dengue patients, including 10 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.", "So far, the DGHS has recorded 813 dengue cases, 786 recoveries, and nine deaths this year.", "The country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year." ]

[ "Aedes Mosquito", "Dengue" ]

[ "The leaders and activists of Madar Bux hall unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in Rajshahi University have allegedly issued ultimatum to a residential student to leave the hall within seven days.", "The leaders and activists of ruling Awami League’s student organisation also have forcefully secured a seat for a non-residential student. All the incidents took place at room no. 431 of the Madar Bux Hall of the university at around 10:30 pm on Monday.", "Victim Mehedi Hasan is a Masters student of genetic engineering and biotechnology department. And the accused are Madar Bux Hall BCL unit organising secretary Jayanta Roy and activist Arif.", "The victim and witnesses say some five to six BCL activists led by Arif came to the Room 431 of the hall at around 10:30 pm on Monday. All of them are followers of Jayanta Roy. They asked when Mehedi Hasan will leave the hall. The BCL men kept the beddings of Nazmul, a non-residential student, in the room. They also issued an ultimatum to Mehedi Hasan to leave the hall within seven days saying that Nazmul will stay in the room.", "The BCL men, who were seen with a list, left the room along with Nazmul quickly as they sensed presence of a journalist there. They were enquiring about which seat is empty in the hall. Later, Nazmul came to the room at around 12:30 am and stayed the night there.", "Nazmul Hasan said he is a student of the university’s institute of education and research under the session 2020-21. He was given the seat on condition of joining politics. “I follow the politics of Jayanta bhai. He managed the seat for me as I don’t have accommodation facilities yet.”", "Victim Mehedi Hasan said, “Jayanta left a bag in the room 20 days ago. I said I’ll leave the hall when my results are published. He did not say anything then. Just a few days after that, three or four young persons came and asked me to leave the hall within seven days.”", "“I could not imagine I’ll would be insulted by a junior student at the end of my university days. Some five or six youths led by Arif came and made place for a student,” he added.", "Speaking to Prothom Alo, Arif said, “Nazmul was given a seat through Runu bhai. Runu bhai forwarded the matter to Jayanta bhai since he is in charge of this hall and takes care of things here. That’s why he (Nazmul) was given a seat through Jayanta bhai.”", "Madar Bux Hall unit BCL organising secretary Jayanta Roy said, “Nazmul is involved with BCL’s politics for long. We came to know that the seat will be empty in a few days. As Nazmul has a crisis, we managed the seat for him, consulting with Runu bhai.”", "He, however, denied issuing a seven-day ultimatum to Mehedi to leave the hall.", "When this correspondent phoned Rajshahi University BCL unit secretary Foysal Ahmed Runu, he said, “Many come to us with request to manage a seat at the halls. If any BCL activist comes to us with such request, we send them to the leaders of concerned hall. But I do not know who managed seat for whom at which hall. I’ll enquire about it and try to resolve the matter.”", "Foysal Ahmed Runu phoned this correspondent after half an hour and said Nazmul will not be kept at that room. However, Nazmul stayed in that room at night.", "Speaking about this, Madar Bux Hall provost Shamim Hossain said, “One of my relatives passed away on Sunday. That’s why I’m upset. That student phoned me Sunday. I said whoever has residential facility will stay in the room. I’ll look into the matter today (Tuesday).”" ]

[ "Rajshahi", "Rajshahi University", "Student politics", "Bangladesh Chhatra League", "BCL" ]

[ "Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) urged the road transport and bridges minister to step down taking all responsibilities of tragic accident in Madaripur that claimed 21 lives. ", "BNP made this demand at a meeting of the standing committee, the party’s highest decision making forum, held on Monday night.", "The party thinks the road transport and highways division is solely to be blamed for the accident as the bus that lost control and fell off the Padma bridge expressway did not have fitness certificate and route permit.", "BNP expressed deep shock to the bereaved family members and prayed for the departed souls.", "The standing committee meeting also discussed the attack on pro-BNP lawyers and journalists by ruling party lawyers and police during Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) polls.", "The unruly behavior of ruling party men in SCBA polls proved that no free and fair election can be held at any level with Awami League government in power, said the BNP standing committee.", "BNP said Awami League has violated the sanctity of the highest court by using police force illegally there over SCBA polls.", "The meeting also expressed resentment over the exorbitant price of Hajj package. Pilgrims from neighbouring India and Pakistan have to pay almost half the money to perform the Hajj, said the meeting urging the government to decrease the Hajj package to half so that people can afford it.", "BNP standing committee also expressed deep resentment over arrest and subsequent remand of 51 BNP men from the city’s Banani Club on Sunday night.", "BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman presided over the meeting virtually while the standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Jamir Uddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas,  Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud took part in the meeting." ]

[ "Road Transport and Bridges Minister", "Road accident", "BNP" ]

[ "The BNP vice-president Shawkat Mahmud has been expelled from the party. ", "He has been removed from all posts, including primary membership, for violating the party’s discipline, says a BNP press release signed by its assistant office secretary, Taiful Islam.", "While talking to Prothom Alo, Shawkat Mahmud termed the expulsion regrettable.  ", "Earlier in April last year, BNP issued a show-cause notice to Shawkat Mahmud on charges of his involvement in anti-party activities.", "He called a strike to oust the government under the banner of the National Committee for Civil Rights. Poet and essayist Farhad Mazhar is the convener of the committee and Shawkat Mahmud member secretary. At that time, the BNP claimed they had no connection with the movement.", "Apart from this, two massive gatherings were held in Dhaka in December of 2019 and 2020, led bv Shawkat Mahmud, under the banners of Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal and Peshajibi Parishad (professional bodies). He was then served legal notice too.  " ]

[ "Political Leader", "BNP" ]

[ "The 11th Jatiya Sangsad will go into 22nd session on 6 April.", "This will also be a special session of the JS to mark Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad’s 50th anniversary.", "President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday convened the session exercising the power bestowed upon him by Article 72 (1) of the constitution, said a press release of the parliament secretariat.", "The session, the second session of this year, will begin at 11am on 6 April.", "President Abdul Hamid is scheduled to deliver a speech at the special session, parliament secretariat sources told BSS.", "According to the constitution, the president must convene a session within 60 days of the last sitting of the previous session.", "The last session of parliament was prorogued on 9 February." ]

[ "Parliament" ]

[ "The Appellate Division on Tuesday dismissed the writs challenging the process of electing Mohammad Shahabuddin as president, and the validity of the Election Commission’s gazette in this regard, reports UNB.", "Appellate Division Chamber Judge Jahangir Hossain Selim passed the order. ", "Earlier on 15 March, the High Court bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir dismissed the writs. Supreme Court lawyer MA Aziz Khan filed the writ petition with the concerned branch of the High Court on 7 March.", "The Election Commission and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) had been made respondents in the writ petition. On 12 March, a High Court bench said it felt “embarrassed” to hear the writ petition.", "The bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Ahmed Sohel was set to hear the petition. But it forwarded the petition to the chief justice for a decision, saying one of the bench members felt embarrassed to hear the writ petition.", "Justice Ahmed Sohel recused himself, saying he was a lawyer at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for five years, and the president-elect was a commissioner at ACC. ", "On 13 February, a gazette was issued declaring Mohammad Shahabuddin elected as President of Bangladesh under Section 7 of the Presidential Election Act, 1991. ", "Mohammad Shahabuddin will succeed current President M. Abdul Hamid after his term expires on 23 April. " ]

[ "Election", "Hearing", "President", "High Court" ]

[ "State minister for religious affairs Faridul Haq Khan said on Tuesday that the cost of Hajj package will be reduced a bit, reports UNB. ", "\"We requested the Saudi government to lessen the cost of hajj packages and an announcement will come from the government on Wednesday in this regard,\" he said while addressing an 'intra- religious dialogue' at the collectorate conference room of the district.", "The Saudi government increased the cost by around Tk 100,000 for each pilgrim as they added some new facilities for hajj pilgrims, he said. On 1 February, the government fixed at Tk 683,018 as hajj cost for each pilgrim which was around Tk 161,000 more than the past year.", "Of them, an amount of Tk 197,797 was fixed as airfare for each passenger. The increased hajj cost drew huge criticism as it is higher than that of the neighbouring countries.", "The High Court on 14 March questioned how common people will perform hajj at the cost of the package set by the government. It questioned, \"Why doesn't the government allocate budgets for the hajj like other countries in the world?\"", "The High Court bench of Justice KM Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali came up with this observation while hearing a writ petition over revising the hajj package offered by the government this year. The HC asked the authorities concerned to take initiative to cut the hajj cost following a hearing on the writ petition on 15 March.", "On 17 March, the ministry of religious affairs gave directives to the authorities concerned to rationally reduce the airfare of Biman. On 19 March, Biman Bangladesh Airlines managing director Shafiul Azim said there is no scope to reduce the fare of hajj flights this year. " ]

[ "Government", "Hajj" ]

[ "Inspector Mamun Imran Khan of Special Branch (SB) of police was killed four years and eight months ago but there is very little headway in the trial of the murder.", "Deposition of only one witness was taken so far. After so many days police have issued ‘red notice’ by Interpol against Rabiul Islam alias Arav Khan, one of the accused absconding since filing of a case.", "The name of Arav Khan, who has now become a jeweler in Dubai, came to the headline only after he opened a jewelry shop in Dubai last week that was attended by sport and film celebrities.", "Inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun told journalists after inaugurating a police outpost in Chattogram on Monday afternoon that the Interpol has issued a red notice against Arav Khan.", "“I’ve just got the news that Interpol has issued it (red notice). They will do the rest,” the IGP said.", "Police officer Mamun was killed in Dhaka on 8 July 2018. His half-charred body was recovered from a jungle in Gazipur the following day. ", "Mamun’s elder brother Jahangir Alam Khan filed a murder case with Banani police station. Upon investigation, Detective Brach of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on 31 March 2019 submitted a charge sheet against 10 people including absconding Rabiul.", "According to the case statements, the accused persons called a producer of a television to a house in Banani to entrap. That Banani house was Rabiul’s office. Police officer Mamun was close to the producer and went to the spot at the producer’s call. Later Mamun was killed. The body was taken to Gazipur jungle in a sack. The body was burnt there so as to conceal his identity.", "Of the 10 accused in the murder case, two are teenage girls. Rabiul and his wife Suraiya Akter would allegedly entrap wealth people and cheat money from them. Rabiul directly abetted in hiding the body of the slain police officer and the persons directly involved with the murder were his associates.", "Rabiul’s wife Suraiya is absconding after securing bail in the case. Of the other accused, Rahmat Ullah, 35, Swapan Sarker, 39, Didar Pathan, 21, Mizan Sheikh, 21, Atik Hasan, 21 and Sarowar Hossain, 23, are incarcerated.", "The court framed charges in the case on 25 November 2021. The prosecution produced one witness to the court on 28 July 2022. The High Court on 20 December last year asked the authorities to dispose of the case within six months. The case is now under trial in Dhaka’s first additional sessions judge court.", "Asked about the progress of the case, additional public prosecutor Abdul Sattar Dulal told Prothom Alo that an effort to present the witnesses to the court is going on.", "DB said Rabiul first went to India after the murder of Mamun. He took Indian passport in the name Arav Khan and moved to Dubai. There is a rumour that he is well connected with a former top police official in Bangladesh.", "Later in a Facebook post, former IGP Benazir Ahmed explained that he does not know Rabiul and  did not have any primary acquaintance with him.", "Replying to a question on Monday, IGP Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamu said the reported link between the controversial gold businessman in Dubai and any former senior police official is being probed. He said the authorities will expose the matter when the time is right." ]

[ "Police", "Benazir Ahmed", "Murder", "Case", "Arav Khan" ]

[ "State minister for foreign minister Md Shahriar Alam has said absconding Rabiul Islam alias Arav Khan has not yet been detained in Dubai.  ", "He said this while replying to queries of newsmen at his office on Tuesday evening.", "Rabiul Islam fled the country after being accused in a case filed over a police officer murder in Dhaka. He fled to India first and with an Indian passport as Arav Khan he moved to Dubai. This absconding accused has become a big gold businessman.", "When asked whether they are trying to bring back Rabiul, Shahriar Alam said, \"We have already contacted the authorities of that country about him.\"", "Arav Khan inaugurated the Arav Jewellers outlet in Dubai on 15 March in an extravagant event. He made several Facebook posts, inviting stars of Bangladesh's sports and entertainment world to the event.", "Later it was found he was known as Bangladeshi among the expats although he was staying in Dubai with an Indian passport. In the meantime, he visited Bangladesh with an Indian passport.", "Rabiul is a resident of Kotalipara of Gopalganj. His father is a scrap trader. Locals have been astonished as he has become a millionaire within a couple of years.", "Bangladesh Police has sought support from Interpol to arrest Rabiul Islam alias Arav Khan. Interpol has issued a 'red notice' in his name. Under such a context, different media outlets report Rabiul is detained in Dubai." ]

[ "Murder", "Arav Khan" ]

[ "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today emphasised again on boosting of agricultural production in the country alongside ensuring proper preservation, processing and exporting of those abroad, reports BSS. ", "The premier also urged all concerned to give proper attention in cultivation, preservation and processing of pulse, onion and mustard oil side by side ensuring that no land remains idle and thus comes under cultivation.", "The Prime Minister gave the directives while chairing a meeting on the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) held at the NEC Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area here today.", "State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam, Planning Commission members and secretaries concerned were present at the briefing.", "Briefing the reporters after the meeting, Planning Minister MA Mannan said that the Prime Minister stressed again on not keeping any land idle and thus bringing those under cultivation. In this connection, Mannan said the Prime Minister noted that Sylhet region still has much land remaining idle or without cultivation and suggested to bring those land under cultivation.", "She asked the concerned authorities to provide necessary support including technical support and expertise to those Shrimp Gher owners in the coastal region so that they could clear sand, owing to cyclones, storms and tidal surge, from their ghers.", "The premier emphasised on putting more attention on cultivating local variety of fishes instead of promoting foreign varieties. She also expressed her reservation on using the word “poverty alleviation” in any project side by side to use more the words human resource development.", "Sheikh Hasina said it is not always wise to build only structures under any project, but there is also a need for grooming necessary manpower and imparting them proper training to run the machineries and equipments under the structures and building to render services to the people.", "The Planning Minister said that the Prime Minister also underscored the need for using locally assembled vehicles preferably from Pragati in the government projects instead of the imported vehicles.", "Besides, she reiterated that the project directors should work in their respected projects and sites instead of discharging their responsibilities as in additional charge.", "Mannan said that the Premier also directed the concerned authorities to follow respective rules and regulations in the project management as well as trying to reduce the tendency of engaging foreign consultants in the development projects.", "Touching upon the current macroeconomic situation of the country, he said that the general point to point inflation has increased slightly in February while it could be increased further in March.", "“If there is a bumper Boro harvest, then inflation may come down from Baishakh, but there should not be excessive rainfall during this period,” he added.", "The Planning Minister said that the overall economy is now in a much better state compared to the past adding, “If the inward remittance, export earnings and crops yield go in the same direction, then there is nothing to worry,”", "He said that for a developing country like Bangladesh, the supply side is very important.", "Mannan noted that in economies like Bangladesh, the flow of goods is not smooth while there are also some unseen and unknown difficulties.", "“Inherent difficulties are there and we’re trying to minimize those to tame inflation, but we can’t just eliminate those,” he added.", "He said in growing economies like Bangladesh, it is not possible to tame fully the inflation, rather it can be reduced.", "When asked about any specific directive from the Prime Minister to rein in inflation during the ensuing Holy Month of Ramadan, Mannan said that there is a tendency among the people to resort to “panic buying” ahead and during the Ramadan which gives the “Smart Businessmen” to capitalize on the situation.", "He said that the Prime Minister has asked all concerned to remain cautious in this regard. The Planning Minister said that the government is stressing more on the supply side to keep the market stable.", "He also said that the ECNEC also thanked the Prime Minister as the newly built Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline has been inaugurated recently. The two neighbours built a 131.57-km cross-border pipeline through which Bangladesh will import petroleum, especially diesel from India.", "Planning Division Secretary Satyajit Karmakar said that the Prime Minister asked all concerned to remain cautious before the project formulation.", "He said that the trend of revisioning of projects would come down in the future ECNEC meetings. Echoing with the Planning Secretary, the Planning Minister said that they are trying desperately in this regard. " ]

[ "Prime Minister", "Sheikh Hasina" ]

[ "Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges minister Obaidul Quader today said the country's people will not vote for BNP responding to the urge of foreigners, reports BSS. ", " \"No matter how much the BNP complains, the people of Bangladesh will not vote for the party responding to the call of foreigners,\" he told triennial conference of Awami Jubo League's ward-5 units of Banshal and Kotwali in Dhaka city.", "Responding to the statements of foreigners over Bangladesh's democracy, Quader said democracy is not flawless in any country of the world and it is not flawless even in the countries of those who talk about Bangladesh's democracy.", "US President Donald Trump raised allegation over vote-stealing in the US presidential polls while the incidents of gun fire take place in the United States in each month, which is a blow to democracy.", "The AL general secretary said before criticising others, one should look at the picture of his or her own country.", "The government of Prime minister Sheikh Hasina is working to make the country's democracy error-free and as per the constitutional procedures, the Election Commission (EC) was constituted to institutionalise democracy and electoral system, he said.", "After failing in movement, he said, the BNP is lodging allegations with foreigners and hiring lobbyists. \"The BNP has turned into a fake and isolated party. Sheikh Hasina will assume power again if a fair election is held,\" Quader said.", "Claiming that there is no public involvement in BNP's movement, he said their movement is limited within the BNP men only and that is why the party resorts to conspiring and anarchy.", "The AL general secretary said no leader could carry out so much development activities in the country like Sheikh Hasina.", "Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash, General Secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil and Dhaka South City Jubo League Acting General Secretary Rezaul Karim Reza, among others, spoke at the conference with Dhaka South City Jubo League Acting President Main Uddin Rana in the chair. " ]

[ "Awami League", "Obaidul Quader", "BNP" ]

[ "A court in Madaripur has sentenced 23 people to death and six others to life-term imprisonment for their involvement in a brutal murder in the district. ", "They all have also been fined with Tk 50,000 each. ", "Begum Lailatul Ferdous, additional district and sessions judge, handed down the verdict around 5:00pm on Tuesday, said public prosecutor (PP) Siddiqur Rahman Singh. ", "Talking to Prothom Alo, the public prosecutor termed the judgment a rare case. ", "He said the victim – Rajib Sardar, 25 – was chopped to death in an organised way in the Harikumaria area of Madaripur municipality on 1 September 2012, following his feud with maternal uncles. ", "He sustained 52 wound marks and succumbed to injuries on the following day. “If the motive and plan (of all accused) remain the same, the court may award them with the same sentence,” he added. ", "According to the case statement, it was a morning when Rajib Sardar returned home from his nursery and the convicts chopped him mercilessly with local weapons. ", "After rescue, the locals took Rajib to Madaripur sadar hospital, but physicians referred him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He, however, died while being taken to Dhaka. ", "Later, his uncle Ali Hawladar filed a case with sadar police station, accusing 47 people, including Jamal Hawladar, Rahim Hawladar, and Asad Hawladar. After 11 years, the court handed down the verdict.", "The death-row convicts are Abdul Hai Howladar, Abdul Haque Howladar, Zahirul Howladar, Russell Howladar, Raja Howladar, Kalu Howladar, Sobhan Howladar, Tushar Sharif, Yusuf Howladar, Azizul Howladar, Rahim Howladar, Rezaul Howladar, Shamim Howladar, Ahad Howladar, Daliluddin Howladar, Alil Uddin Howladar, Jasim Howladar, Monir Howladar, Suman Sharif, Sagar Sharif, Hafizul Kazi, Kalu Kazi and Alauddin Kazi." ]

[ "Sentenced", "Murder" ]

[ "Renowned sculptor Shamim Sikder passed away at a city hospital on Tuesday at the age of around 70.", "She breathed her last around 4.30 pm while undergoing treatment at United Hospital, family members said.", "Shamim Sikder had long been suffering from various health complications, including heart and kidney diseases. ", "Born on 22 October in 1952, the sculptor was awarded Ekushey Padak in 2000 by the government of Bangladesh.", "In 1974, Shamim built a sculpture in Dhaka Central Jail to commemorate Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.", "Her other notable works are: Shoparjito Shadhinota (1990) and Swadhinata Sangram (1999).", "Shamim enrolled at Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts at the age of 15. In 1976, she moved to Sir John Cass School of Art in London.", "She served as a faculty member at Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka during 1980-2001." ]

[ "Sculpture", "Obituary" ]

[ "The Rohingya refugee situation has been steadily deteriorating, seemingly with no end in sight. Concern mounts as other crises grip different parts of the world, diverting international attention away from these displaced persons. ‘What next?’ is the question that looms large.", "It is with this predicament in focus, that the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies selected ‘Rohingya Refugee Crisis: Restrategising the Future’ as the topic for this month’s BIPSS Lecture Club. The event took place on Tuesday evening at a hotel in the capital city. And speaking on the issue was Barrister Manzoor Hasan OBE, executive director, Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University.", "Introducing the topic, Maj Gen ANM Muniruzzaman (retd), president of BIPSS, said that the Rohingya crisis is a crisis that Bangladesh has faced for decades. In the latest influx, around 800,000 Rohingyas fled from Myanmar into Bangladesh in 2017, with another 250,000 Rohingya children being born over the past five years.", "International support is dwindling, he said, and this was adding an additional burden to the Bangladesh government. ”We need to think out of the box for pragmatic solutions,” the BIPSS president said.", "“Bangladesh’s experience and hospitality regarding the Rohingyas has been outstanding,” said lawyer Manzoor Hasan, “but the time has come to restrategise and come up with new ideas, to look ahead.”", "He pointed out that there were 103 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide and this number was growing. Interestingly, 74 per cent of these people were being hosted by low and middle-income countries. And there were more than one million presently living in refugee camps in Bangladesh.", "“There are competing issues out there,” he said, pointing to the Ukraine crisis, natural calamities and more. “This crisis is becoming a forgotten crisis,” he cautioned, also adding that the violence in the camps was growing, the youth were frustrated, women and girls were being trafficked, and many Rohingyas died in risky attempts to go to other countries by boat.", "Bangladesh would not send the refugees back while the conditions in Rakhine remained as they are now, Manzoor Hasan said.", "“ASEAN is playing an ineffective role,” he said, “and the UN seems to be hiding behind the ASEAN position. In fact, some say that the UN is being taken for a ride by the military junta.”", "It is time to take a step back and look at the bigger picture, he said. Reality in Myanmar is changing. The coup two years ago has complicated matters further.", "Manzoor Hasan referred to the Kofi Annan recommendations, saying that these could be taken up in the present context. Among other points, the recommendations suggested investing heavily in infrastructure, ensuring the local community’s participation in development decisions, resolving the Rohingya citizenship issue and ensuring the free movement of Rohingyas in Rakhine. The recommendations are still very valid, he said, adding that there was a high level of consensus on these recommendations.", "Having spoken on the issue in the global context, the speaker went on to the regional context. “What we see in Rakhine, and in Myanmar as a whole, is not static. The geopolitical landscape is fluid, and changing. Emphasis should be on diplomacy, dialogue,” he said, highlighting the importance of Myanmar to both China and India. Referring to BIMSTEC and ASEAN, he said, \"We should explore more forums.\"", "Coming down to Rakhine specifically, he said there were a lot of changes in Rakhine compared to two years ago. Arakan Army has become a critical actor now, he also pointed out.", "As for the role of Bangladesh, it had played a critical role and had been generous. “But it has reached a point when we need to look at our own legal policy framework. This means not just the legal status of the refugees, but addressing the issues of their education, skills, livelihood development in a sustainable manner.”", "He talked about giving the Rohingya refugees the right to work, conditional to a large injection of funds from the donors to give the initiative a jumpstart. He also added that it was imperative to take the wishes of the host community into consideration too. Unless the Rohingyas were given this chance at education, skill, and livelihood development, there would be a lost generation, two lost generations, in fact.", "He said the role of the media was imperative too. While there was constructive and realistic coverage of the crisis by the mainstream media, there was also toxic, dehumanising treatment by certain sections of the media.", "“There is no single bullet to solve the Rohingya crisis,” concluded Barrister Manzoor Hasan, “the matter must be faced from global, regional and national perspectives.”", "The lecture was followed by a lively and interactive question-and-answer session. The event was attended by foreign diplomats, retired civil and military officials, retired diplomats, academics, journalists and more." ]

[ "Rohingya crisis", "Arakan Army", "Myanmar military", "Rohingya repatriation", "Diplomacy", "Refugee", "Bangladesh", "Repatriation", "Rohingya", "Myanmar" ]

[ "The Border Security Force (BSF) has established 15 Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) on the Bangladesh-India border for curbing and controlling infiltration, human trafficking and smuggling of any contraband, Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.", "Responding to a query in a written reply, the minister also said that the BSF has taken several steps for strengthening the safety of the border area on the Bangladesh-India International Border.", "Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has also provided grant-in-aid to the BSF for establishing AHTUs in the international border area, said Mishra.", "The BSF has also undertaken various steps for curbing and controlling infiltration, human trafficking and smuggling of any contraband lime.", "A detailed vulnerability mapping carried out along the Bangladesh-India border to strengthen surveillance.", "BSF also uses advanced surveillance equipment to strengthen the surveillance mechanism besides the erection of border fences on the international border.", "Installation of Border Flood Lights to light up the area during hours of darkness, use of watercraft and boats as well as floating Border Outposts for domination of riverine area of International Border are among other steps taken by the BSF.", "Strengthening of intelligence network and coordination with sister agencies as well as simultaneous coordinated patrolling is also conducted jointly between BSF and Border Guard Bangladesh on the Bangladesh-India border, said Ajay Mishra.", "However, he said, the MHA has been supplementing the efforts of the states and Union Territories (UTs) for preventing and countering the crime of human trafficking by undertaking various initiatives.", "MHA has provided financial assistance to the tune of Rs 988.6 million under the “Nirbhaya Fund” to all States and Union Territories (UTs), including the North-Eastern States and Assam, during the financial years 2019-20 and 2020-21 for strengthening the existing AHTUs and for establishing new AHTUs covering all districts of the states and UTs.", "The MHA provides financial assistance to states and UTs for holding ‘Judicial Colloquiums’ and ‘State level conferences’ on a periodic basis for sensitising judicial and police officials and to make available to them updated information on the latest provisions of law relating to human trafficking, said the minister.", "The MHA has also been issuing advisories and guidelines to the states and UTs on preventing and combating the crime of human trafficking on a regular basis, said Mishra, adding “these advisories are available on MHA’s website at: https://www.mha.gov.in/.”", "The National Investigation Agency Act, 2008 was amended in the year 2019 to authorise the National Investigation Agency to investigate cases of human trafficking under Sections 370 and 370A of the Indian Penal Code, he said.", "For addressing cross-border and transnational issues of human trafficking, bilateral Memorandums of Understanding have also been signed with Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, Cambodia and Myanmar; and multilateral instruments on human trafficking have also been signed by India, added Ajay Mishra." ]

[ "Crime", "Smuggling", "bangladesh-India Border", "BSF", "India" ]

[ "Information and broadcasting minister Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said BNP leaders don’t want that the party chief Begum Khaleda Zia gets release from jail.", "“If they wanted her release, they must have faced the cases in court with eminent lawyers. But they didn’t do that,” he said.", "Hasan added: “If Begum Khaleda Zia gets release, Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and other BNP leaders will lose their supremacy. That is why, they don’t want her release.”", "The minister was addressing as the chief guest a discussion marking 103", " birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children’s Day at Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium at Khamarbari here.", "Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said: “A few days ago, BNP leaders said that Khaleda Zia is so ill that she will die unless she is not taken abroad. Hearing their comments, it seemed that they wanted Khaleda’s death. But she has become well getting treatment from Bangladeshi physicians.”", "He said if anyone hears BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s comments, he or she will think that there has been no development in the country in the last 14 years.", "“They (BNP leaders) held public rallies after crossing Padma Bridge by driving vehicle and then they said no development took place in the country. After crossing flyovers, they said no progress took place,” he mentioned.", "Urging Fakhrul and other BNP leaders to look back in the past, he said: “What did you gift the country? You made the country champions in corruption for five consecutive times”.", "During the BNP period, series bombings were carried out at 500 locations across the country and the country saw the emergence of terrorists like ‘Shaykh Abdur Rahman’ and ‘Bangla Bhai’, he recalled.", "“You had run an alternate government by building Hawa Bhaban. You had also built ‘Khwab Bhaban’ for recreation. You had installed electric poles but could not provide electricity. Today Sheikh Hasina reached electricity every house,” he said.", "Hasan came down heavily on Mirza Fakhrul for issuing statement on Monday demanding resignation of the road transport and bridges minister.", "The minister said the country has witnessed a remarkable a progress in roads and highways under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.", "Road Transport and Bridges Ministry did the task and Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader is the minister of the ministry, he said.", "“Today’s Padma Bridge has been implemented under the ministry. Karnaphuli Tunnel, Metro-Rail are also being implemented under the ministry. He (Obaidul Quader) is a successful minister. BNP is now demanding his resignation. Actually Mirza Fakhrul Islam should resign,” he said.", "“Now there is no issue. BNP didn’t get any benefit by making issue over Khaleda Zia’s illness. December 10 programme has also failed. Their leaders and workers didn’t respond to their programme. Now there is no issue. Now they are talking about road accidents,” he said.", "About the country’s development and progress, he said today Pakistan wants to be country like Bangladesh.", "“These are successes of establishing the country by Bangabandhu and running the country by Jananetri Sheikh Hasina. Today the entire world is lauding the leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter prime minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said.", "Prime minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, Awami League Organizing Secretary Mirza Azam, MP, Office Secretary Barrister Biplab Barua, Central Working Committee Member Anwar Hossain, AL National Committee Member Abdul Baten Mia and Dhaka district AL General Secretary Paniruzzaman Tarun addressed the discussion, among others.", "Dhaka district AL president Benjir Ahmed, MP, chaired it." ]

[ "Information Ministry", "BNP", "Hasan Mahmud" ]

[ "State minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam on Tuesday said the US’s 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in Bangladesh contains some “fundamental shortcomings and mistakes” and Dhaka will raise those to Washington.", "“We will raise these shortcomings with the US side so that such things do not exist in the next year’s report,” he told reporters at the foreign ministry here.", "The state minister said there will be high-level bilateral meetings at various levels between Bangladesh and US where Dhaka will discuss the issue.", "Alam said the report use open sources like “controversial” rights group Odhikar which operation has been suspended in Bangladesh.", "He said such report’s credibility gets lost if there are continuous shortcomings. “We will look into it further whether there is any issue that we need to take into consideration at all.”", "The state minister said Dhaka expects that all countries also will maintain distance from those organisations, which are not registered in Bangladesh." ]

[ "Bangladesh", "USA", "Human rights" ]

[ "A 17-year-old boy died this evening after falling from the 12th floor of a multi-storey building in the capital’s Kamalapur, reports UNB.", "The deceased was identified as Shafayet Ahmed. He was taken to the emergency ward of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where the on-duty physician declared him dead at 7:30 pm.", "DMCH Police outpost in-charge inspector Bachchu Miah confirmed about his death.", "Shafayet’s father Shah Alam said he was suffering from mental problems. Shafayet lived with his family on the 12th floor of the 17-storey building.", "While running to enter the lift, Shafayet slipped and fell from the balcony, said Alam.", "Shafayet was an HSC examinee at Sher-e-Bangla Railway School and College. He was the eldest of two brothers." ]

[ "Building", "Dhaka", "Death", "Accident" ]

[ "Two Rohingyas were killed and another was injured Tuesday afternoon after miscreants opened fire at them in the Ukhiya Balukhali camp-13 in Cox’s Bazar.", "Another person was injured in the firing which took place around 1:00 pm. Officer-in-charge (OC) of Ukhiya police station, Sheikh Mohammad Ali confirmed about the killing.", "Both the deceased were named Md Rafiq. They were residents of Camp no. 13, OC Sheikh Mohammed Ali said.", "The injured person in the incident is not out of danger either. He is undergoing treatment at Cox's Bazar Sadar Hospital, said the OC.", "Legal action in this regard is under process. Police and APBN are working to keep the situation normal in the camp, the police official added." ]

[ "Death", "Rohingya", "Rohingya crisis", "Murder", "Cox's Bazar", "Killed" ]

[ "Referring to prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s leadership, ambassador of Finland to Bangladesh with residence in New Delhi Ritva Koukku-Ronde termed Bangladesh a global role model in many aspects, including women’s empowerment and gender equality.", "She also lauded the socio-economic advancements taking place in Bangladesh.", "The ambassador had a farewell meeting with state minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam at the latter’s office on Tuesday and discussed issues of mutual interest.", "The state minister thanked the Finnish ambassador for her efforts and contributions in further strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Finland.", "He briefed the Finnish ambassador on the steady socio-economic development of Bangladesh over the last 14 years under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.", "The state minister also touched upon Bangladesh’s achievements in green RMG factories, solar home systems and women’s increased participation in the workforce, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.", "The two sides also discussed various other bilateral and international issues of mutual interest and concern, including renewable energy and waste to energy, digital technology and cybersecurity, shipbuilding and ship-recycling, bio-based material development, climate change, food and energy security, Rohingya crisis, war in Ukraine and cooperation in international fora." ]

[ "Women empowerment", "Finland", "Gender Equality", "Ambassador" ]

[ "Gas supply will remain suspended for 8 hours — from 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm — on Wednesday in several areas in Dhaka due to emergency work of pipelines, reports UNB.", "The areas include Minto Road, Eskaton, Pirbagh, Habibullah Road, Karwan Bazar, Old Elephant Road and areas adjacent to PG Hospital, Paribagh BPDB quarters, Birdem Hospital, Dhaka Club, Holy Family Hospital, Dhaka University and areas near the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology,  Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited (TGTDCL) said in a statement.", "In another notice, Titas said that gas supply will remain off on both sides of the Saoghat- Araihazar road in Narayanganj from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm for emergency pipe tie-in work on Wednesday.", "Regretting for the temporary inconveniences, Titas Gas authorities said the consumers in adjacent areas may experience low pressure in gas supply." ]

[ "Dhaka", "Titas Gas", "Gas" ]

[ "A 32-year-old man was shot to death at Hazratpur in Sadar upazila of Natore district early Wednesday, reports UNB. The deceased was identified as Farhad Khandaker, reports UNB.", "Abul Kalam, officer-in-charge of Sadar police station, said a group of miscreants swooped on Farhad when he was returning home around 1:00 am and opened fire on him, leaving him dead on the spot.", "Meanwhile, Farhad’s wife started searching for him as he did not return home as of 1:00 am and later found the body, completely drenched in blood, in the premises Hazratpur Government Primary School.", "Hearing her screams, locals rushed in and informed the police. A team of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) from Rajshahi is on the way to the spot.", "Local people claimed that the area is a safe haven for drug abusers." ]

[ "Murder", "Death", "Natore", "Killed" ]

[ "There are 62 Bangladeshis in the list of Interpol’s ‘red notice’. However, there is no mention of Rabiul Islam alias Arav Khan, who is accused in a case filed over the killing of a police inspector, in the list.", "The police said they succeeded in issuing a red notice against Arav Khan through Interpol. Now the police will try to bring Rabiul back to the country with the help of the Interpol. The police also said that Rabiul alias Arab is staying in Dubai at the moment.", "However, it was not possible to get any confirmation from the Interpol regarding the issuance of red notice against Arav Khan.", "Prothom Alo contacted the Interpol through its website on Tuesday at noon. However, there is no response from the international agency as yet. They had not published any information on issuing a red alert against Arav Khan on their website either.", "Interpol is the abbreviation of International Criminal Police Organization. It helps detaining criminals who fled to another country after committing any crime. It is a global platform where the member states work together against the criminals.", "Red notices can be issued through Interpol with details of suspected criminals who are absconding to another country. The red notice helps inform all the countries about the suspected criminals. It makes it possible to bring a criminal back to the country even if he or she is hiding in another country.", "Speaking to Prothom Alo about this, former inspector general of police (IGP) Nur Mohammad said, “A country seeks help from the Interpol if a criminal flees to another country after committing any crime. The Interpol doesn’t arrest anyone. They only request the police of concerned countries to arrest the absconding criminal. Following that, the police of the concerned country act as per their law. The process is easier if there is an extradition treaty between the two concerned countries.", "The police officials believe it will not be easy to extradite Arav Khan from Dubai of the UAE even if a red notice is issued against him.", "A source at the police headquarters told Prothom Alo that there are two ways to bring back a criminal to the country from abroad. The first one is diplomatic efforts. And the second one is push back where a country sends an absconding back to his or her country on its own initiatives.", "The person further said the diplomatic process involves the mutual understanding between the two countries. In this case, the criminal can be brought back even if there is no extradition treaty between the two countries.", "However, a certain kind of compulsion exists between the two countries if there is an extradition treaty. It makes the extradition process much easier. Again, the extradition solely depends on the diplomatic relations between the countries involved in case there is no such treaty, the source added.", "The source further said, “For instance Suman Sikder alias Musa, who was the prime accused in the case filed over the killing of ruling Awami League leaders Zahidul Islam, was extradited from Oman on the basis of a consensus between the two countries.”", "After being confirmed about Musa’s stay in Oman, the National Central Bureau (NCB) of Bangladesh requested the NCB of Oman to arrest Musa. Following that, Musa was arrested by Oman police on 17 May. Later, a nine-member delegation of Bangladesh Police brought Musa back to the country on 9 June last year.", "According to the source in the police headquarters, a red notice creates a kind of obligation in sharing information about the absconding criminals among the member states. However, a diplomatic consensus between the two concerned countries is still needed even after the issuance of red notice by the Interpol; otherwise it is impossible to extradite a criminal.", "For instance, Bangladeshi top terrorist Jisan Ahmed was arrested by the Dubai police in 2019. However, he could not be extradited despite the diplomatic efforts. Later, he got released and went into hiding.", "Bangladesh has a convicted prisoner exchange agreement with the UAE. Therefore, the UAE has an obligation to return a convicted criminal living in the country. However, it is possible to bring anybody back by providing the details of the person even if he is not convicted in any case.", "The source in the police headquarters says Arav Khan used a fake Indian passport to go to the UAE. However, he did it by illegal means. He is not an Indian. Bangladesh will try to establish this fact to prove that Arav went to the UAE by illegal means.", "If anyone travels to a country by forging a fake passport of another country, then there is a possibility of that person being involved in big crimes there.", "Bangladesh will try to convey this message to the UAE through diplomatic channels. And then Bangladesh will try to bring Rabiul back to the country on the basis of a consensus with the UAE." ]

[ "Dubai", "Gold Business", "Murder", "Arav Jewelers", "Arav Khan", "Interpol" ]

[ "The selling of advanced train ticket for Eid-ul-Fitr will begin on 7 April, said the railways minister on Wednesday.", "Considering that the Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated in Bangladesh on 22 April, the railway authorities have decided to begin selling advanced ticket from 7 April, said Nurul Islam Sujon at a press conference at Rail Bhaban in the capital city in the afternoon.", "The tickets of 17 April will be sold on 7 April, of 18 April on 8 April, of 19 April on 9 April, of 20 April on 10 April and the tickets of 21 April will be sold on 11 April, he added.", "The railways minister also said the tickets of 22-24 April will be sold depending the sighting of the moon.", "Nurul Islam Sujon said all the train tickets will be sold online in this Eid so that the passengers can buy tickets without facing any hassle at Kamalapur railway station. If any mistake is identified in this Eid, that will be rectified in the Eid-ul-Azha.", "The minister said the number of seats in the trains that will leave Dhaka in this Eid will be 25,778. Besides, the advanced tickets of another 3000 seats of three special trains that will start journey from Dhaka and Joydebpur will also be sold online." ]

[ "Railway", "Train", "Eid ul-Fitr", "Train Ticket" ]

[ "Rabiul Islam alias Arav Khan, who is a charge-sheeted accused in police inspector Mamun Imran Khan murder case, was involved in the sex trade.", "His wife Suraiya alias Keya would assist him. Rabiul along with his accomplices operated a sex trade at the Banani flat in the capital where Mamun was killed.", "Such information has been found in the confessional statements given by seven accused to the court under section 164 in the Mamun murder case.", "Rabiul's wife Suraiya is among the seven accused. He is absconding from the beginning. After securing bail recently, Suraiya has gone into hiding.", "Mamun was killed on 8 July 2018. ", "On the following day his half-burnt body was recovered from a jungle in Gazipur. In connection with the incident, Mamun's elder brother Jahangir Alam Khan filed a murder case with Banani police station. The detective branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) investigated the case and submitted a charge sheet against 10 people, including Rabiul and Suraiya on 31 March 2019.", "Of the ten accused, two were girls who are on bail. Of the eight, six are in jail. They are: Rahmatullah (35), Sawapan Sarker (39), Didar Pathan (21), Mizan Sheikh (21), Atik Hasan (21) and Sarwar Hossain (23).", "The case is now under trial at the first additional metropolitan sessions judge court of Dhaka. ", "Police officials said Rabiul fled to India after Mamun was killed and got married there. He made an Indian passport with fake names and addresses. ", "Arav Khan was written in passport. With this passport, he moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Now, he is a big gold trader in Dubai.", "'Arav Jewelers' owned by him was inaugurated in Dubai last week. A number of stars, including cricketer Shakib Al Hasan joined the event. He came to limelight following the event. ", "Suraiya in her confessional statement said she got acquainted with Rabiul through Facebook and later tied knot. After marriage, she came to know that Rabiul engaged in sex trade and would blackmail people after capturing their indecent pictures. At a stage, she also engaged in sex trade.", "Suraiya in her deposition said a flat was rented in Banani for sex trade. Sawapan, Didar, Mizan and Sarwar were assigned in various activities, including surveillance. She would go the flat every one or two days apart to collect money of sex trade. ", "Police officer Mamun was invited to a birthday party in the flat on the evening of 8 July in 2018. Later he was killed. Confessing to the killing of Mamum, six other accused in their deposition said Rabiul engaged in sex trade. ", "In his deposition, Didar, in charge of the Banani flat, said he was introduced to Rabiul one and a half years before the incident. ", "He, Atik, Sawapan, Mizan and Sarwar would live in the flat. At the instruction of Rabiul, they would blackmail people, taking indecent pictures of them.", "Later seven accused including Suraiya filed a petition with a court to withdraw the deposition. In the petition, they said they were compelled to give the confessional statement out of fear. They are not involved in the killing of Mamun." ]

[ "Exclusive", "Sex scandal", "Arav Jewelers", "Arav Khan" ]

[ "The government reduced the hajj package cost by Tk 11,725 and extended the deadline for hajj registration by six more days to 27 March.", "The ministry of religious affairs issued an urgent circular to this end on Wednesday.", "It said the Saudi Arabian government has reduced the cost of four hajj packages under the government and the private management for Bangladesh and other countries and the registered pilgrims will receive the reduced money.", "Pilgrims registered under the government management will receive a total of Tk 46,725 (Tk 35,000 for food cost and Tk 11,725 for reduced cost)– from the hajj office in Dhaka, it added.", "Meanwhile, a religious affairs ministry official told Prtothom Alo a hajj package under the government management includes food cost and this money was returned to pilgrims before boarding the hajj flight and food cost was fixed at Tk 35,000 this year.", "Pilgrims registered under the government management will be returned the food cost while hajj agencies manage food issues for pilgrims registered under the private management.", "The government extended the deadline for hajj registration by six more days to 27 March from 21 March, according to this official. With the latest development, deadline for registration was extended for the fifth time." ]

[ "Dhaka", "Saudi Arabia", "Government", "Hajj" ]

[ "Although the studentship of Rezaul Haque, Chittagong University unit BCL president, expired nearly a decade ago, he is still staying at the dormitory illegally.", "He enrolled in the university in 2007. ", "Rezaul Haque came to the limelight last Monday when a photograph of him went viral in the social media. In the photograph, it was seen that Rezaul was watching TikTok videos, lying on the bed, while two of the university unit Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders -- Shamim Azad and Shafiul Islam -- rubbing his legs.", "The image uploaded on Facebook sparked a huge criticism over the students' politics from all quarters across the nation. Even BCL leaders and activists vented their anger over the issue.     ", "According to the university, he enrolled in the Statistics department of the university under 2006-07 academic session and completed bachelor and master’s in 2010 and 2013 respectively. ", "Then he became the president of CU unit BCL on 14 July 2019, six years after his studentship expired, and still holding the post. As per the BCL constitution, the tenure of the president and general secretary posts is one year.   ", "The campus source said Rezaul has been staying at a three-seat room (311 No.) in Shah Amanat hall illegally since 2017.   ", "According to the university ordinance, a student will have to complete the bachelor by six academic seasons while the master’s by two. But Rezaul has been on the CU campus for around 17 years. ", "The university authority issued a notice on 27 February, asking the students whose studentships expired to leave the hall and the campus by 15 March.", "In the notice, the authorities threatened to take legal action against the illegal students if they stay at the hall after 15 March. But Rezaul didn’t pay any heed to the notice.       ", "When asked, the university proctor Nurul Azim Sikder told Prothom Alo that they are working to recover the occupied seats by the illegal students. “We have already talked to the police to take legal action against those who are staying at the hall illegally,” the proctor added.     ", "When asked how Rezaul was made president of BCL even after not having studentship, BCL president Saddam Hossain told Prothom Alo that the problem has arisen as there is a large gap in holding council. ", "“We are trying to bring the regular students in leadership through a fresh council,” he said, terming the matter of rubbing the legs of Rezaul embarrassing and derogatory.", "There are two groups and 11 sub-groups in BCL politics in CU. Rezaul is a leader of ‘Choose Friend with Care’ sub-group and known as the follower of Muhibul Hasan Chowdhury, deputy minister for education.  " ]

[ "Chittagong University", "Student", "BCL" ]

[ "Information and broadcasting minister Hasan Mahmud has said the US human rights report has been prepared after collecting information from biased sources and it is one-sided.", "He said this while replying to journalists after exchanging views with leaders of Bangladesh federal union of newspaper press workers and Bangladesh newspaper workers' federation at the ministry conference room at secretariat on Wednesday.", "\"They collected data from not a single source rather from different anti-government and biased sources. So, the report is one-sided. Definitely, we are not rejecting the entire report as some good issues are there,\" he said.", "But the issues, relating to Bangladesh's human rights situation, elections and democracy, which were mentioned in the report are biased, he added.", "Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said there are many questions over the US elections too. Donald Trump hasn't accepted his defeat in the elections so far, he said.", "\"Heinous incidents like the attack in the US Capitol Hill under the leadership of Donald Trump never took place in our country. I think, before raising questions over our elections, the US should look at the questions raised about their own election system and the issues like Capitol Hill attack,\" he said.", "\"Now it is a matter to observe whether any other large country would publish report over the US Human Rights situation or election system in future,\" he said.", "Noting that the US sometimes talks about extra-judicial killings in Bangladesh, the minister said if anyone notices the extra-judicial killings in the US, it will be found that 7,666 people were killed in police firing between 2013 and 2019, 996 people in 2020 and on an average 1000 people in 2021-2022 period.", "\"Now it is a question whether the country, where on an average 1000 people are killed in police firing every year, has moral right to raise questions over other countries,\" he said.", "\"I am not saying that such incidents never take place in our country. But investigations are carried out into the incidents and punishments are also given after investigations,\" he said.", "Earlier, during the view-exchange meeting, Newspaper Workers' Federation President Matiur Rahman Talukder and Federal Union of Newspaper Press Workers President Md Alamgir Hossain Khan highlighted diffident issues of their workplaces.", "They also handed over to the minister a memorandum containing an 11-point demand, including Covid-19 period assistance for the members of the two organizations, imparting training to their members at Press Institute Bangladesh and establishing welfare fund.", "The minister assured them of considering the demands after examining those." ]

[ "Information Minister", "Human rights" ]

[ "There are complications in the process of bringing back Arav Khan, a fugitive accused in a police officer murder case in Dhaka, to Bangladesh as he is now residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with an Indian passport, home ministry officials have said.", "Arav Khan is a Bangladeshi citizen by birth and his national identity card here identifies him as Rabiul Islam. On the flip side, the Indian passport identifies him as Arav Khan. If the UAE authorities detain him on some allegations, there would be complications in extraditing to Bangladesh. ", "Against such a backdrop, reliable police officials said they are communicating with India and the UAE through diplomatic channels. Bangladesh has an extradition treaty with the Middle Eastern nation.  ", "Multiple sources at the home ministry said bringing Arav Khan back to Bangladesh would not have been easy under the prisoner extradition treaty even if he had been convicted of a criminal offence and sentenced there. As he holds an Indian passport, it requires to engage India in the diplomatic effort to bring him back to Bangladesh. The authorities here have decided to seek help from India in this regard. ", "Home minister Asaduzzaman Khan told Prothom Alo on Tuesday afternoon, “As per the formal agreement with Dubai (UAE), the process would have been easier if he (Arav Khan) had been a convicted prisoner. But there are complications as he is not a prisoner.”     ", "The minister also said, “A letter has been issued to the Interpol to issue a red notice against Arav Khan and they accepted it. Let’s see what happens. He did not go there with our (Bangladesh) passport, complications prevail here too. Now we have to request India in this regard. We will send a letter to them.”  ", "According to the home ministry sources, an Interpol red notice does not mean that the accused nabbed in other countries will simply be extradited to the home country. The notice is only used to collect as well as publish information about a criminal. It is not an international arrest warrant.   ", "Rabiul Islam alias Arav Khan is a gold trader in Dubai. He came to the limelight after he had invited some sports and film celebrities to the inaugural event of his gold shop in Dubai on 15 March. ", "Later, it was learnt that Rabiul is accused in a police officer murder case. Mamun, inspector of the police’s special branch (SB), was killed on 8 July in 2018 and his burnt body was recovered from a forest in Gazipur on the following day. The victim’s brother, Jahangir Alam Khan, filed a case with Banani police station. The police’s detective branch (DB) investigated the case and pressed charges against 10, including Rabiul, on 31 March 2019. ", "There was a rumour that the Dubai authorities detained Rabiul on Tuesday. State minister for foreign affairs, Shariar Alam, spurned the rumour and said he is yet to be detained there. He also noted that they contacted the UAE authorities about bringing back Rabiul. ", "According to diplomatic sources, Rabiul is now under the surveillance of the law enforcement agencies in Dubai. ", "A home ministry source said the national central bureau (NCB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) issued a letter to Interpol for taking extradition measures in the case of Rabiul. The Interpol would initiate the process of red notice as per the letter. ", "Harun-or-Rashid, additional commissioner (DB) of DMP, declined to make any comment over the letter. He, however, said they have been in touch with the UAE envoy since the very beginning of the issue. They also contacted the Indian officials in this regard and urged the US embassy and Canadian high commission to revoke their visas to Arav Khan.  ", "Rabiul alias Arav Khan was not on the list of criminals with Interpol red notice until Tuesday night. ", "Earlier, Suman Sikdar alias Musa, an accused in the murder case of Awami League leader Jahidul Islam, was brought back home from Oman in May 2022 through diplomatic communications, despite no bilateral prisoner extradition treaty. Musa was flown to Bangladesh after the Oman police detained him.", "In a separate case, Kamrul Islam, the prime accused of a child murder case in 2015, was brought back home from Saudi Arabia with the help of Interpol in absence of a prisoner exchange agreement. ", "Sometimes, it is too tough to bring back a criminal despite having Interpol red notice. Listed top terror Zeesan Ahmed was held in Dubai in October 2019. Bangladesh initiated a process of bringing him back, but he secured bail there and moved to the United Kingdom later. He had an Indian passport, just like Arav Khan. ", "The inspector general of police, Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun, said, “We first need to understand the attitude of the Dubai (UAE) government. He can be repatriated through negotiations. Talks are in progress, let's see what happens.”" ]

[ "Exclusive", "Police", "Murder", "Arav Jewelers", "Arav Khan" ]

[ "The month of holy Ramadan begins on Friday as the moon was not sighed in the sky across the country on Wednesday.", "Islamic Foundation said this in a press release on Wednesday evening.", "Prior to this, a meeting of the National Moon Sighting Committee was held at conference room of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka at 6:00pm.", "After the meeting, Islamic Foundation assistant public relation officer Shaila Sharmin told Prthom Alo the moon was not sighted anywhere in the sky of the country. So, the month of Ramadan will begin on Friday and the holy Shab-E-Qadr will be observed on night of April 18, she added.", "State minister for religious affairs Md Faridul Haque Khan presided over the meeting while members of the committee and Islamic Foundation officials were present." ]

[ "Ramadan" ]

[ "While the price of milk, egg and meat are surging in the country’s market, the livestock services department has taken an initiative to sell them during the holy Ramadan month in a bid to bring them under purchasing capacity of the lower and middle income people.", "However, the prices they have fixed this year for these nutritious foods are higher than that of last year by minimum Tk 10 to highest Tk 140. Fisheries and livestock minister SM Rezaul Karim will inaugurate the sale activities -- from first Ramadan to 28 Ramadan-- on Thursday. ", "A press release from the ministry says they will sell beef at Tk 640 per kg, mutton at Tk 940, broiler (eviscerated) at Tk 340 per kg, milk Tk 80 per litre and egg Tk 10 per piece. Compared to the last year, the price of beef per kg was hiked by Tk 90, mutton by Tk 140, broiler by Tk 140, milk by Tk 20 and egg by Tk 10 per hali (four pieces).", "Requesting to be unnamed, a senior official of the department told Prothom Alo that they purchase milk, egg and meat from the farmers and some organisations and try to sell the products at lower price than that of the market. This year the production costs increased. So, the price was raised at the farmers’ level.    ", "The department will sell products at 20 places in Dhaka city. ", "These are: Abdul Gani Road in Khamarbari, Japan Garden City in Mohammadpur, Mirpur 60 feet Road, Azimpur Matrisadan, Nayabazar in Old Dhaka, Arambagh, Notun Bazar, Kalshi in Mirpur, Khilgaon rail gate, Lucas intersection in Nakhalpara, Kitchen market in Segunbagicha, Bachila in Mohammadpur, Diabari in Uttara, Jatrabari, Gabtali, Hazaribagh, Karail slum in Banani, Kamrangirchar and Rampura." ]

[ "Market", "Ramadan", "Fisheries and Livestock Ministry" ]

[ "Prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said Bangladesh should formulate a roadmap considering its geo-strategic advantage to make the country an aviation hub.", "\"Reaping on the dividend of our geo-strategic advantage, we should create a roadmap as to how we can make our country as an Aviation Hub,\" she said in a video statement aired in the inaugural session of the first edition of Aviation Summit in Dhaka.", "The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, in collaboration with the UK and France, organised the \"Bangladesh Aviation Summit-2023\" at a city hotel.", "The prime minister described the summit as very significant for Bangladesh as it has aspiration to become an aviation hub in the region.", "She said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman undertook measures to turn the country into an 'Aviation Hub' to connect the East and the West capitalizing the advantage of Bangladesh's geographical location, just after achieving the membership of ICAO in 1973.", "The premier said the move was halted immediately after the assassination of the Father of the Nation in 1975.", "\"We have undertaken several measures to support the development of an aviation hub. During the last one decade, we implemented a host of projects to upgrade our airports, airport security and ground handling,\" she said.", "As part of the move to make Bangladesh as an aviation hub, Sheikh Hasina asked the concerned government organisations, the airlines and other stakeholders to carry out their responsibility to create conducive environment for the development and sustaining market both for passengers and cargo.", "\"The government is going to introduce e-visa system which will also facilitate and expedite the flow of passengers visiting Bangladesh for business or tourism,\" she said.", "Promising aviation industry requires skilled manpower, she said, adding, \"Our youth must have the opportunities to be trained to become pilots, aeronautics engineers, mechanics, crew members and much more.\"", "The premier hoped that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University, established by her government, would be able to cater the demand of skilled manpower in the country's aviation and aerospace industry.", "She said the aviation industry has to lead by example in tackling climate change and strive to meet SDGs. ", "De-carbonation and sustainable aviation fuel are topics which will require investments, concrete actions and the support from developed aviation nations, she also said.", "\"The aviation partnership proposed by the UK and France, through Airbus, to support us in our journey is very crucial,\" she opined. ", "Besides, a number of projects are running which include HSIA Expansion Project (Phase-I), Construction of General Aviation Hangar, Hangar Apron and Apron at North side of Fire Station at HSIA; Strengthening of Existing Runway and Taxiway at Shah Amanat International Airport, Chattogram; Development of Cox's Bazar Airport (Phase-I), Cox's Bazar Airport Runway Extension Project; Strengthening of Existing Runway and Taxiway at Osmani International Airport, Sylhet; and Enhancement of Capacity of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh on Public Security at HSIA, she added.", "The third terminal being constructed under HSIA Expansion Project (Phase-I), will create handling capacity of additional 12 million passengers and 4 million ton cargos, she said.", "Sheikh Hasina said, \"The transformation of our economy helped boost the travel opportunities for our people and open up new routes and markets for our airlines\". ", "When Bangladesh will turn into an Upper Middle Income Country by 2031 and a developed country by 2041, the aviation market will be further expanded, she said.", "The premier said as the economy of Bangladesh has grown, so has the importance of air cargo.", "\"The air cargo market of Bangladesh is rapidly growing at 8 percent per year - three times the world average. This underlines the strong demand for a dedicated national cargo operation in our country. With all of this in mind, there are areas where aviation actors need to do more,\" she said.", "PM's private industry and investment affairs adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, state minister for civil aviation and tourism M Mahbub Ali and British lawmaker Rushanara Ali, among others, spoke at the summit." ]

[ "Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh ", "Bangladesh Air Force", "Sheikh Hasina" ]

[ "Awami-League (AL) general secretary Obaidul Quader said they told the US ambassador it is not possible to bring back the caretaker government while meeting him at the US embassy in Dhaka. ", "The leaders of the ruling party called on Peter Haas on Wednesday afternoon.  ", "Quader, also road transport and bridges minister, came up with this disclosure on Wednesday while addressing an event at TSC auditorium on Dhaka University campus. ", "He called upon the BNP leaders to stop thinking about the restoration of the caretaker government.  ", "The AL leader said, \"Today went to the American embassy and told them that it is not possible to return to the so-called caretaker government again.\"  ", "The 15th amendment repealed the caretaker government system. Then the national elections were held under the government of Sheikh Hasina in 2014 and 2018. ", "BNP didn’t participate in the 2014 national election while the party won only in seven constituencies in the 2018 election in which BNP claimed votes were rigged.     " ]

[ "Awami League", "Caretaker government", "United States", "Ambassador" ]

[ "Speakers at a roundtable has laid emphasis on technology education for women aimed at increasing the participation of women in technology.", "Women are discouraged from learning technology education because of an old age perception that science and technology are difficult. ", "Women were given the burden of many social responsibilities and prevented from joining technology jobs by family, that is why social perception towards women must change to achieve equality in technology, the discussants said.", "The discussants made these recommendations at an roundtable on “Women in STEM Education: Breaking Barriers and Achieving Gender Parity in Technology and Innovation” at Prothom Alo office in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka on Tuesday.", "GIZ Bangladesh and Prothom Alo organised the event in association with European Union (EU) and UN Women and Devtale Partners.", "Addressing the event, ambassador and head of delegation of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh, Charles Whiteley, said women still lag behind in obtaining graduation in technology and engineering across the world and the participation of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education is 8 per cent only. ", "Since Bangladesh gives priority on gender equality in taking economic decision, it is necessary to increase the involvement of women in green energy sector, and in this case, responsibility on women to take care of children, socio-cultural perception and women owning no money are the big barriers, Charles Whiteley noted suggesting increase of women entrepreneurship through involving girls in technology education, raising awareness and providing loan assistance.", "Former caretaker government advisor Rasheda K Chowdhury said an emphasis should be given on the increase of participation of women in STEM education. It is necessary to collect scientific data to understand the state of women in STEM education and what plans need to be formulated to solve these problems, she added.", "Asian University for Women (AUW) vice-chancellor Rubana Huq said a radical reform is essential in education to bring equality in technology and education activities should be run in accordance with the demand of employment.", "STEM education should be emphasised at the primary level, she said adding, no one will fix the place for women as long as women will not be vocal for women and women will stand beside women.", "GIZ Bangladesh coordinator (energy programme) Frank Fecher mentioned the low participation of women in the power and energy sector, and highlighted the need for understanding the challenges they face in order to eliminate the disparity.", "Tahmina Yeasmin, joint secretary of ministry of power, energy and mineral resources, said the government emphasises on gender equality in its budget plan and women must bargain to achieve their rights and they must achieve this capacity.", "Professor of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering department, University of Dhaka, Lafifa Jamal emphasised on the change of social perception. There is a social perception that anything that is difficult is not for women. Besides, many families only allow boys to study science to reduce expenses and girls must be encouraged to study STEM education from childhood, she added.", "UN Women programme specialist Dilruba Haider said people concerned must strike on the social barriers over participation of women in technology. Many girls still don’t own a mobile phone as a gender gap of 29 per cent exists in this case.", "Startup Bangladesh managing director Sami Ahmed observed there is no option for women to lag behind in the age of artificial intelligence and participation of women cannot be increased without creating family and social awareness.", "Bangladesh Women in Technology (BWIT) director Kaniz Fatema said there are lots of opportunities for freelancing in the post-Covid-19 period and if a woman learns technological skills she can earn at home from freelancing.", "Aspire to Innovate (a2i) programme gender Specialist Nahid Sharmin said 80 per cent of jobs will depend on digital technology by 2030 and that is why women must be included in technology to build the Smart Bangladesh.", "Prothom Alo associate editor Sumona Sharmin said, “There is a written women policy at Prothom Alo and we follow it.”", "Prothom Alo associated editor Abdul Quayum delivered the welcome address at the event. He said development of the country will be much easier as many as people will participate in science and technology.", "World Bank Bangladesh office’s energy specialist Tanuja Bhattacharjee, Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) executive vice president Farzana Rahman, Devtale Partners chief impact officer Arif Raihan and GIZ Bangladesh advisor Ananya Rubayat also spoke at the event while Prothom Alo assistant editor Firoz Choudhury moderated it." ]

[ "Women", "Science and Technology", "Women empowerment", "Information", "Technology", "Information Technology" ]

[ "Two SSC examinees have been stabbed to death by members of a teen gang in Bauphal upazila of Patuakhali.", "Another teen boy sustained injuries in the incident on Wednesday afternoon, reports UNB. ", "There was a farewell ceremony for the SSC students at Indrakul Secondary School. On the way home after the programme, the class-IX students attacked the three students on a bridge located on the south side of the school around 4:00 pm over a trivial matter, police said. ", "The deceased are Nafees, 16, and Maruf, 15. They both succumbed to injuries while being taken to a hospital. Later, physicians declared them dead at the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital.", "Baupal police station officer-in-charge Al Mamun said police were sent to the hospital after receiving information. “Several policemen, including myself, are stationed at the spot. Efforts are on to arrest the attackers.”", "Local union parishad chairman Anwar Hossain Bachchu said he heard the news. Two students, Nafees and Maruf, died while being taken to a hospital in Barishal. The injured student Siam, 15, is undergoing treatment at Bauphal Hospital." ]

[ "Patuakhali", "Stabbing" ]

[ "Panchgar-bound Drutojan Express on Wednesday hit a Shohagh Paribahan bus at Malibagh Rail crossing causing it to suspend Dhaka’s rail connection with the rest of the country.", "According to witnesses, the gatemen forgot to close the boom gate at Malibagh rail crossing,", "Meanwhile, the bus got on the rail. Later the train which was pacing slowly hit the bus on the back.", "No one was injured in the collision as there were no passengers on the bus at the time, Syedpur, railway police assistant sub-inspector and in charge of Drutojaan's security Aminul Islam said.", "A Kamalapur-bound commuter train from Gazipur got stuck at the opposite line due to the incident as a result, train services between Dhaka and the rest of the country have been suspended." ]

[ "Transport", "Accident", "Train" ]

[ "The Climate Change Programme of BRAC celebrated World Water Day 2023 on Wednesday at Mongla upazila, which is a highly vulnerable coastal community to climate change and affected by salinity intrusion in Bagerhat district, said a press release.", "The theme for this year's World Water Day is 'Accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crises' with an emphasis on the necessity of taking stern action to address the global water crises.", "The event aimed to raise awareness among the community about safe drinking water access and maintaining water safety protocols in households and institutions.", "To mark the occasion of World Water Day, BRAC has organized various events, including awareness-raising campaigns, community dialogues, and interactive sessions on water security and the importance of safe drinking water. These events aimed to sensitize the local communities and promote behavioural change toward water usage and management. ", "A ten-day-long drama was organised in various locations across Mongla to raise awareness among the community people about climate change and its related challenges. These challenges include rising sea levels, and salinity intrusion, which leads to a shortage of safe drinking water, and ultimately puts the lives of thousands of people at risk.", "Md Liakath Ali, director of Climate Change Programme (CCP) of BRAC said, “Climate change is exacerbating the water crisis, and improving access to safe drinking water is urgently needed in coastal communities in Bangladesh. As we strive towards SDG 6, prioritizing water security and inclusive action is crucial for a sustainable future. Through innovation and appropriate collective effort, we can address the impact of climate change and ensure safe drinking water for all.\"", "BRAC’s Climate Change Programme with the support from Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark has addressed access to safe water crisis in Mongla which is a pressing issue that affects many coastal communities. Thus, this crisis requires immediate action to ensure the availability of clean and safe water for the community for inclusive development. " ]

[ "BRAC", "Water", "Mongla Port", "Bagerhat" ]

[ "Rohingya refugees said Wednesday they doubted Myanmar was offering a genuine return to their homeland, as a spokesman for the country's military junta said it would begin welcoming back members of the persecuted minority as soon as next month.", "A delegation of 17 officials from Myanmar's junta was in Bangladesh this week to interview potential candidates for return, more than five years after a brutal military crackdown drove immense numbers of Rohingya out of their homes.", "The visit, brokered by China and partly facilitated by the United Nations, jumpstarted a repatriation agreement between the two countries that has languished for years, partly over fears that the refugees would not be safe on their return.", "But Rohingya interviewed by the delegation told AFP that none of their queries about security or recognition of their right to citizenship in Myanmar had been answered.", "\"They used to treat us badly there. I asked whether we would be able to live a normal life there, but then they stopped me,\" Shamsun Nahar, a 40-year-old Rohingya woman, told AFP.", "\"They did not want any more questions,\" she added. \"I don't think they will take us to Myanmar. If they do, they won't give us any rights.\"", "The Myanmar delegation left Wednesday after a week in the sprawling refugee camps home to around a million Rohingya.", "Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told AFP after their departure that Myanmar would likely begin the repatriation process by mid-April and would welcome around 1,000 refugees at first.", "Myanmar's representatives were officially there to assess refugees for potential return, based partly on whether they could prove their residence in the country before the 2017 crackdown.", "But another refugee interviewed by the delegation said documentation proving his residency was treated with scepticism.", "\"I provided all the documents, they said 'hmm',\" Soyod Hossain, 50, told AFP. \"I don't think they believe that our documents were genuine.\"", "'Token' return", "The Rohingya are widely viewed in Myanmar as interlopers from Bangladesh, despite roots in the country stretching back centuries, and are stateless after Myanmar ceased recognising their citizenship in 2015.", "Junta chief Min Aung Hlaing, who has dismissed the Rohingya identity as \"imaginary\", was head of the armed forces during the 2017 crackdown.", "That year's violence is now subject to a genocide investigation, with the International Court of Justice probing allegations of rape, murder and arson against entire Rohingya villages by Myanmar's security forces.", "The Arakan Rohingya National Alliance, a prominent Rohingya diaspora group, accused Myanmar last week of planning to orchestrate a \"token\" return of refugees to avoid the court's censure.", "The UN refugee agency said once again Sunday that conditions in Myanmar remained unsuitable for the \"sustainable return\" of Rohingya refugees.", "But civil society groups have criticised the agency for facilitating the transport of Myanmar officials into Bangladesh last week as part of the return scheme.", "A repatriation plan was first agreed upon soon after the 2017 crackdown but failed to make any significant headway.", "Rights groups said Myanmar had no interest in facilitating the return of refugees, while the UN and humanitarian agencies said the Rohingya would not be safe if they went back.", "Bangladesh's refugee commissioner Mizanur Rahman said his country was hopeful refugee returns would start soon, with more clarity on timing to come next week.", "\"We don't have any option other than repatriation. But the whole process is complex,\" Rahman told AFP.", "China is mediating between both countries on the renewed repatriation push and Beijing's ambassador to Dhaka, Yao Wen, also told reporters last week that repatriation would start \"very soon\".", "Myanmar's state media has so far not reported on the delegation's visit to Bangladesh." ]

[]

[ "Three students of Rajshahi University (RU) -- who sustained critical eye injuries in police firing while clashes with locals on the campus -- have been advised to go aboard for better treatment. ", "They were taken to National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in Dhaka on 14 March from Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). ", "Having failed to receive treatment there, the three, suffering from 'Vitriol Retinal Injury', are returning to Rajshahi today, Wednesday.", "They are: Alimul Islam, a third year student of marketing department, Md Al Amin and Misbah Ul Islam, final year students of law and Persian departments respectively. ", "Abdus Selim from Satkhira, father of Al Amin, has been accompanying his son since 15 March. Prothom Alo contacted him today to learn the condition of his son. He said no decision was made for the treatment of his son for the last few days. The university authorities asked them to return to Rajshahi.", "Like Al Amin, Misbah also is leaving Dhaka for Rajshahi. He told Prothom Alo that the physicians asked them to go a foreign country as soon as possible for the treatment. They contacted the student advisor today who asked them to leave Dhaka for Rajshahi.", "Of the three, Alimul is not leaving Dhaka as his father has already taken step to make a passport for him. He will be taken to India for treatment. That is the reason why Alimul will stay in Dhaka for the time being, Misbah said.", "Earlier on 11 March, at least 200 students were wounded in the clashes with the locals living nearby campus.", "Majority of the injured, however, have come round and left the hospital. Six students who received eye injuries in police firing were admitted to the Ophthalmology department of RMCH on that night and underwent surgery there.", "Of them, three were referred to National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in Dhaka as their eye conditions were critical. " ]

[ "Rajshahi University", "Injury", "Student" ]

[ "Rail communications between Dhaka and the rest of the country resumed at 11:00 pm on Wednesday, reports UNB.", "Ferdous Ahmed, officer-in-charge (OC) of Dhaka Railway police station, confirmed the collision between a train and a bus at Malibagh level crossing.", "Earlier in the evening, Panchgar-bound Drutojan Express hit a coach of Shohagh Paribahan at Malibagh rail-crossing, snapping the rail communication between Dhaka and the rest of the country.", "According to witnesses, the gatemen forgot to close the boom gate at Malibagh rail crossing, meanwhile, the bus got on the rail. Later, the train hit from behind. However, the speed was running at a slow pace during the collision.", "No one was injured in the collision as there were no passengers on the bus at the time, Syedpur railway police’s assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Aminul Islam said." ]

[ "Collision", "Railway", "Moghbazar", "Train accident", "Dhaka" ]

[ "Information and broadcasting minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said the US Human Rights report has been made based on information from biased sources and it is one-sided.", "He said this while replying to journalists after a meeting with the leaders of Bangladesh Federal Union of Newspaper Press Workers and Bangladesh Newspaper Workers’ Federation at the ministry conference room at Secretariat in the capital.", "“They collected data from not a single source rather from several anti-government and biased sources. So, the report is one-sided. Definitely, we are not rejecting the entire report as some good points are there,” he said.", "But the issues, relating to Bangladesh’s human rights situation, elections and democracy, which were mentioned in the report are biased, he added.", "Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said there are many questions over the US elections too. Donald Trump hasn’t accepted his defeat in the elections so far, he said.", "“Terrible incident like the attack in the US Capitol Hill by the supporters of Donald Trump never took place in our country. I think, before raising questions over our elections, the US should look into the questions raised about their own election system and the issues like Capitol Hill attack,” he said.", "“Now it is a matter to observe whether any other large country would publish report over the US Human Rights situation or election system in future,” he said.", "He further said, the US sometimes talks about extra-judicial killings in Bangladesh, whereas in the US 7,666 people were killed in police firing between 2013 and 2019, 996 people in 2020 and on an average 1000 people from 2021 to 2022.", "“Now it is a question whether the country, where on an average 1000 people are killed in police firing every year, has moral right to raise questions over other countries,” he said.", "“I am not saying that such incidents never take place in our country. But investigations are carried out into the incidents and punishments are also given after investigations,” he said.", "Earlier, during the view-exchange meeting, Newspaper Workers’ Federation President Matiur Rahman Talukder and Federal Union of Newspaper Press Workers President Md Alamgir Hossain Khan highlighted different issues of their workplaces.", "They also handed over to the minister a memorandum containing an 11-point demand, including Covid-19 period assistance for the members of the two organizations, imparting training to their members at Press Institute Bangladesh and establishing welfare fund.", "The minister assured them of considering the demands after examining those.", "Information and Broadcasting Ministry’s Joint Secretary Md Kawser Ahammed, Newspaper Workers’ Federation Vice-President Md Bazlur Rahman Milon, Secretary General Md Khairul Islam, Members Md Tanvir Hossain, Md Aminul Islam, Md Abdul Gafur, Md Rafiqul Islam, Habibullah, Md Shahadat Hossain, Abdul Kadir, Md Hamidur Rashid Khan, Abida Sultana and Federal Union of Newspaper Press Workers Vice-President Shamim Chowdhury, Secretary General Md Kamal Uddin, Members Md Razzaq Patwari, AHM Najmul Ahsan, Md Mostaq Ahmed, Tajammel Haque, Md Yusuf Ali, Md Abdul Mannan, Md Atiur Rahman, Md Liakat Ali and Selina Akhter Iti took part in the meeting." ]

[ "Information Minister", "USA", "Hasan Mahmud", "Human rights" ]

[ "Two people were killed and three were injured when a truck hit a CNG-run auto-rickshaw on Mymensingh-Netrokona road in Gouripur upazila in Mymensingh district on Wednesday night, reports news agency UNB.", "The deceased were identified as Humayun Kabir, 20, driver of the auto-rickshaw from Beltoli Dakkhinpara area, and Rubel Mia, 32, from Beltoli Maddhyapara area of the upazila.", "The accident occurred at around 10:30 pm in Charpara Madrasah area when a sand-laden truck hit the Shyamganj-bound auto-rickshaw, leaving one person dead on the spot and four others injured, said officer-in-charge of Gouripur police station Mahmudul Islam.", "The injured were taken to Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital where physicians declared Rubel dead.", "Police seized the truck and recovered the bodies. The truck driver managed to flee the scene." ]

[ "Road accident", "Mymensingh", "Road crash" ]

[ "The political leaders in Bangladesh have recently become highly proactive in the diplomatic districts ahead of the upcoming (12th) national elections. In continuation of this, a delegation of ruling Awami League, led by the party's general secretary Obaidul Quader, went to the residence of the US ambassador in Dhaka, Peter Haas at his invitation for lunch on Wednesday afternoon.", "The delegation included AL presidium member Faruk Khan, office secretary Biplab Barua, international affairs secretary Shammi Ahmed, information and research affairs secretary Selim Mahmud and central executive member Mohammed A Arafat.", "According to the sources in the AL delegation, the two sides discussed contemporary political issues, including the upcoming general election, in the meeting.", "Referring to his recent meetings with the leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at different times, US ambassador Peter Haas said that the opposition wants the national polls to be held under a neutral government. The ambassador asked about Awami League’s stance over this issue.", "In response, the delegation told him that the system of caretaker government was the outcome of Awami League’s movement. However, BNP misused the system during the polls in 2001 and 2006. The unelected government of ‘1/11’ came as a result of this, the AL leaders added.", "Besides, the system of caretaker government does not exist in any country in the world except Pakistan. In this context, it is clear that the AL will not go beyond the constitution, they said.", "The delegation also assured the US ambassador of a free and fair election.", "Sources present in the meeting also said the AL delegation further told the ambassador that the election commission (EC) is completely independent both legally and financially. The EC has grown into a powerful institution of the state under the incumbent government. The government will provide all kinds of assistance the EC needs to hold a free and fair election, they said.", "The delegation highlighted the irregularities in the polls held during the BNP-Jamaat regime in comparison to the polls held in recent times under the AL government during the meeting.", "According to the sources in the AL delegation, the US ambassador was more interested in hearing from the AL delegates rather than suggesting this time. Ambassador Peter Haas told the AL leaders that the US expects a participatory election in Bangladesh.", "Earlier, on 16 February, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader held a meeting with the diplomats from seven European Union (EU) countries. Speaking to the newspersons after the meeting that day, Obaidul Quader said, “All parties, including the BNP will take part in the upcoming national polls.”", "Apart from that, several diplomats met with the AL general secretary in person. The ruling party is also holding meetings in participation of party delegation. The ruling party leaders are expecting more meetings like these in future as well. However, none of the AL leaders wanted to disclose their identities while talking on this.", "The BNP also has met diplomats from the US, EU and different other countries, including India, several times. Criticising these meetings, the ministers and leaders of the ruling party often term the opposition's diplomatic efforts as ‘BNP taking resort to foreign intervention’." ]

[ "12th Parliament Elections", "Awami League", "BNP", "Peter Haas", "Election commission", "Diplomacy" ]