Country News

Man to walk gallows for killing siblings

A Rajshahi court on Tuesday convicted and sentenced a man to death on the charge of killing his brother and sister over a land dispute. The incident happened in the Kadirganj area of Rajshahi city around ten years back. The convict was identified as Tariqul Islam, 52, the court sources said. Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Abul Kalam Azad pronounced the verdict in presence of the convict in the court. According to the case documents, on April 6, 2015, Tariqul Islam hacked his brother Sadequl Islam and sister Aktara Jahan Kolpona to death following a previous enmity over a piece of their ancestral land. Local people caught Tariqul Islam and handed him over to the police. After the incident, Yousuf Ali Sijar, son of the deceased Sadequl Islam, lodged a case with Boalia Police Station. Additional Public Prosecutor Shamim Ahmed represented the state, while Advocate Mahmudur Rahman defended the accused.

Info offices must work to combat rumors, disinformation locally: Mahfuj

Information and Broadcasting Adviser Md Mahfuj Alam has urged officials and employees of district information offices to actively counter rumours and disinformation at the local level. "Officials and employees of district information offices should work to combat rumours and disinformation locally along with playing an effective role in promoting important local public issues," he said at a focus group discussion organized by the Mass Communication Department at the meeting room of the ministry today. Highlighting the potential of district information offices in raising public awareness, Mahfuj Alam stated that these offices should carry out publicity campaigns in coordination with the district administration, local journalists, and community leaders. Stressing on expediting the construction of the district information complex across the country, he said that these complexes will play effective role in preserving and disseminating information to a great extent. Mentioning that information officers have an important role in ensuring free flow of information, he urged the authorities concerned to provide befitting training to the local information officers. Information and Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Mahbuba Farjana said that the communication between district information officers and local journalists should be enhanced to check rumour and disinformation. She urged the district information officers to play a responsible role in preventing rumors and disinformation. Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) Managing Director and Chief Editor Mahbub Morshed, Mass Communication Department (MCD) DG Faizul Haque, Principal Information Officer Md Nizmul Kabir, Department of Films and Publications DG Khaleda Begum, Bangladesh Journalists Welfare Trust Managing Director Muhammad Abdullah, Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education Director Md Abed Nomani, former secretary Syed Suja Uddin Ahmed and MCD former DG Md Abdul Mannan, among others, were present at the event.

Feasibility study initiated for permanent solution to waterlogging in Bhabodah: Rizwana

Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Water Resources Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today said a feasibility study has been launched to find a permanent solution to the waterlogging issue in the Bhabodah area of Jashore. She made the remark during a press briefing, held at the Bhabodah College ground, following an inspection to the water drainage system at the Bhabodah 21-Vent Sluice Gate. Rizwana said the government is committed to implementing a sustainable and lasting resolution to the waterlogging crisis in Bhabodah. The area encompasses 20,000 hectares of cultivable land, and this year, 17,000 hectares have been brought under paddy cultivation, she said. Mentioning that the current interim government is engaging all local stakeholders to find a long-term solution to the issue, she said based on public input and expert recommendations, efforts will be made to initiate steps toward a permanent resolution. The adviser stated that interim measures have been undertaken to prevent a repeat of last years monsoon misery during the upcoming monsoon season, referring to the instance of excavation work of Amdanga canal which has already began. She added that the dredging of the Hari, Bhadra, and Aparbhadra rivers will commence soon, and the Bangladesh Army will carry out this work to prevent water accumulation as experienced last monsoon. Rizwana continued, “Everyone is now on high alert. While certain natural factors remain beyond human control, every effort will be made to alleviate the suffering of the people.” She went on, saying the Ministry of Power introduced a scheme to exempt them from commercial electricity rates for irrigation to support farmers and this initiative greatly benefited those who had been marooned in water for five months. The adviser described the waterlogging crisis as a national disaster, stressing the need for a collective approach to address it. She underscored the importance of engaging with the local communities to find solutions that serve the broader population. “We will go towards a solution that will solve the issue for the larger community. It is not possible to talk about any single solution now,” she added. Replying to queries, the adviser also mentioned that investigations into irregularities and corruption have already begun. A committee has been formed under the Water Development Board, which includes representatives from the district administration, local residents, students, and external experts, she said, adding, these representatives are submitting reports highlighting areas where work is progressing slowly or the quality is subpar, and necessary actions are being taken accordingly. Home Affairs and Agriculture Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Disaster Management and Relief Adviser Faruk E Azam, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Abdul Hafiz, Water Resources Secretary Nazmul Ahsan, Agriculture Secretary Dr Emdad Ullah Mian, BGB Director General Major Gen Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, among others, were present. Earlier, the advisers were present at a briefing organized by the army at the conference room of Nawapara Government College on the Bhabodah waterlogging problem and possible solutions of it.

Labor Reform Commission for strengthening labor rights

Labor Reform Commission head Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed has said the commission believes that it is possible to present Bangladesh as a dignified and powerful country in the world by strengthening the labor rights. He came up with the comments while briefing reporters at Labour Bhaban in citys Bijoy Nagar on Monday. Earlier, the Labor Reform Commission handed over its report to Chief Advisor Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna. On November 17 in 2024, the interim government formed the 10-member Labour Reform Commission with Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, executive director of the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), as its chief. Sultan Ahmed said, "The Labor Reform Commission believes that labor sector reforms are an essential element in building a society free from discrimination. A fair transformation of the living standards of eight crore working people will be achieved only through the implementation of the outlines presented in this report. We strongly hope that it is possible to present Bangladesh as a dignified and powerful country in the world by strengthening labor rights." Overall aspects of the labor reform have been reflected in the 25 main recommendations of the commission. Ahmed said, "The main aspiration of our great Liberation War and the student-led mass uprising in July-August, 2024 was to establish a dignified society without discrimination and based on justice. Taking this popular aspiration into consideration, the interim government formed the Labor Reform Commission to provide necessary reform recommendations to ensure workers rights and welfare." He said the commission, formed for the first time in history of the 54 years of independence, believes that it is important to give utmost importance to labor, workers, and their rights to address the existing inequality in the labor sector of Bangladesh.

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