Barisal-Patuakhali 3 killed road crash,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

BARISAL: Three people were killed and 30 others injured in a road accident in Kornakathi area on Barisal-Patuakhali road Saturday morning.

The deceased was identified as Suman, 22, Farruque, 35 and Liton, 10.

Witnesses said a Dhaka-bound bus of Sakura Paribahan plunged into a roadside ditch after hit a by-cycle as the driver lost control over the steering at about 10:30am, leaving two cyclists dead on the spot and 31 others injured.

The bus driver succumbed to his injuries after admitted to a local hospital.

Of the injured, three were admitted to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital while others were taken first aid in local clinics.

Deputy police commissioner (Barisal south) Mujaheed told that on information, police rushed to the spot.

Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina meets Presidium Council Member Sayeda Johra Tajuddin,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met the party's Presidium Council Member Sayeda Johra Tajuddin at her residence in the city on Saturday evening, two days after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the by-polls to the Gazipur-4 (Kapasia) constituency.

Earlier, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told that the ruling party chief would meet Johra Tajuddin at her DOHS (Defence Officers Housing Society) residence in Banani.

He, however, did not elaborate on the reasons for the meeting.

The by-election is scheduled to be held on Sep 30. The main opposition BNP has announced to boycott the polls.

Later, an Awami League Parliamentary Party meeting nominated Sayeda Johra Tajuddin's daughter Simeen Hussain Rimi for the by-polls.
The Gazipur-4 constituency fell vacant following the resignation of ruling Rimi's brother Awami League lawmaker Tanjim Ahmad Sohel Taj on July 7.

Sohel, the only son of the country's first Prime Minister Tajuddin Ahmed and Sayeda Johra Tajuddin, had resigned as the State Minister for Home on May 31, 2009.

According to media reports, Sohel Taj's uncle Afsar Uddin Ahmad Khan, who was State Minister for Public Works in Hasina's previous cabinet (1996-2001), has already started lobbying with the party high command to get ticket for the by-polls.

General Secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed Mehdi also tried to secure nomination from the Awami League.

As per the schedule, the last date for submission of nomination papers is Sep 3, scrutiny on Sep 5 and the deadline for withdrawal of nominations is Sep 13. 

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) reopens, no classes held

BANGLADESH NEWS

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) reopened after a 44-day closure on Saturday, but no classes were held.

The teachers did not attend any class considering the thin attendance of the students, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Habibur Rahman told.

The Buet authorities on July 10 announced a 44-day closure in advance for Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr when the demonstrating teachers declared to resign en masse on July 22 if Vice Chancellor Prof Nazrul Islam and his deputy would not resign by that time.

But the teachers later postponed their en masse resignation after a meeting with Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid.

Asked about their movement against the VC and Pro-VC, Prof Ashraful Islam, general secretary of Buet Teachers Association, refused to make any comment on the issue on Saturday as the High Court on July 31 imposed an injunction order on the strike by teachers and students.

About the admission, the Pro-VC said the authorities will soon sit and take decision on it.

The teachers' association has been agitating for several months demanding removal of the VC and Pro-VC for their alleged involvement in irregularities.

Dr Muhammad Yunus criticised for putting int'l pressure on country,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Expressing concern over the statement of Dr Muhammad Yunus, eminent citizens of the country said after losing in the legal battle, Dr Muhammad Yunus has been creating pressure on the country through 'super power' and donor agencies exploiting his personal relations with them.

"Such an unexpected pressure is tantamount to interference in the country's internal affairs which is not acceptable to the citizens of an independent state," they said in a joint statement on Saturday.

In their reaction, the distinguished personalities said there is a difference of opinion between the government and Dr Muhammad Yunus over the appointment process of managing director of Grameen Bank (GB).

Bangladesh Bank removed Dr Yunus from the post of managing director of the GB because of expiry of his service age as per the government's service rule, they said and added he (Yunus) lodged a case and the highest court of the country delivered a judgment in favour of the government's decision.

The matter was settled legally through it, they added.

The eminent citizens said anyone could have different opinion about the recent amendment the government has brought to the GB Ordinance for the third time.

"But we're observing that Dr Yunus was putting pressure on the country through 'super power' and different donor agencies," they added.

"We're also observing that Dr Yunus in a statement has been tried to misguide the countrymen, especially the young generation, saying that new government after coming to power would change this ordinance to reinstate Grameen Bank in its previous position," they said.

"But he did not make clear what he wanted to say about the new government, when an elected government is in power," they added.

"We know, Dr Yunus formed a new political party when conspiracy was going on to implement 'Minus Two Formula' after arresting two leaders during the emergency of the last caretaker government," they said in the statement.

They urged the countrymen to remain alert against any sorts of conspiracy that can hinder the country's democracy through undemocratic means.

Signatories to the statement included Prof Zillur Rahman Siddique, Artist Quayum Chowdhury, Sayed Shamsul Haq, Artist Hashem Khan, Shamsuzzaman Khan, Kamal Lohani, Justice (retd) Mejbah Uddin Ahmed, Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Prof Anwar Hossain, Prof Nazrul Islam, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Vice- Chancellor Prof Prangopal Dutta, Economist Abul Barakat, Prof Abdul Khalek, Prof Nazrul Islam, Poet Belal Chowdhury, Ramedu Majumder, Mamunur Rashid, Selina Hossain and Poet Nirmalendu Gun.

Detective Branch of police (DB) arrested 5 Dr Nitai murder suspects held,Bangladesh

BANGLADESH NEWS

Law enforcers on Saturday arrested five persons suspected of killing Dr Narayan Chandra Dutta Nitai in the capital.

Detective Branch of police picked up four of them -- Peda Mashud, 25, Saidul, 37, Pichhi Kalam, 26, and Faisal, 30, -- from Mohakhali Shaat Tola Slum and Kamrangir Char areas.

Meanwhile, a team of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested the fifth suspect -- Kamal -- in the capital, said Commander M Sohail, Legal and Media Wing director of the elite force.

A team of detectives rounded up the four in separate drives between Friday night and Saturday, Monirul Islam, deputy commissioner of DB, said at a press briefing on Saturday afternoon at the DB headquarters.

The detectives also seized two knives, two iron rods, one machete allegedly used in the murder and also recovered four pairs of gold bangles stolen from the residence of Dr Nitai, the official said.

At the briefing, the arrestees also said that on that fateful night seven of them went to the residence of Dr Nitai -- four of them went in and three waited outside. The rest three -- Mintu, Masud and unnamed one -- were still at large, they added.

The suspects also stated that Mintu and Masud masterminded the stealing that ultimately led to the killing of Dr Nitai.

Nitai, an assistant professor of the National Institute of Diseases of the Chest and Hospital (NIDCH), was stabbed to death by unknown criminals at his quarters in the NIDCH compound at Mohakhali in the capital early Thursday.

The 47-year-old physician was also an executive councillor of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) and a central committee member of Swadhinata Chikitshak Parishad.

A day after the killing, the case was handed over to the Detective Branch of police for investigation Friday.

Police said the dead, Dr Nitai might have been a victim of robbery, but relatives suspect it was a planned murder.

Bangladesh Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid urges all to resist stalking

BANGLADESH NEWS

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Saturday urged people of all walks of life -- teachers, students, guardians, political leaders and people’s representatives -- to play firm roles from their respective position to eradicate stalking, a persisting social menace.

Nahid expressed deep shock as Sangita Mondal, a meritorious student of class X at Sundali ST School and College in Abhoynagar upazila of Jessore district, committed suicide after falling victim of sexual harassment by some wayward boys of the locality.

He talked to the deputy commissioner of Jessore over phone this (Saturday) morning and asked him to take immediate legal steps against the stalkers.

The education minister also gave directives to the district education officer of Jessore to take appropriate measures after making a thorough probe in the matter.

He said: “Female students are our daughters, sisters and relatives, and they are the future educated mothers, skilled administrators and social reformers. It’s our responsibility to ensure they grow up in safety.”

Nahid mentioned that the government has taken up various programmes such as holding meetings with various professional people, bringing out processions, distribution of leaflets across the country and formation of defence committees at schools and colleges since 2010.

“Counselling teachers have been selected at schools and colleges and mobile courts have been operating across the country,” he said, adding that although sexual harassment of student’s had seemed on a downtrend due to creating awareness, but such incidents are found on the increase recently.

The minister said creating awareness and strict enforcement of laws are urgently needed to eradicate this social menace.