Todays E-PAPER (121-12-12)

UNITING PEOPLE EVERYDAY
FRIDAY, DHAkA, SePTeMBeR 29, 2017, ASHwIN 14, 1424 BS, MuHARRAM 8, 1439 HIjRI
Dhaka Metropoliton Police head visited the Hoseni Dalan area of the capital city yesterday ahead of Asura.
IOM concerned over
increasing reports of sexual
assaults on Rohingyas
DHAKA : UN Migration Director General
William Lacy Swing has said they are seriously
concerned about increasing reports by vulnerable
Rohingya arriving from Myanmar into
Bangladesh of sexual and gender based violence,
reports UNB.
IOM is providing urgent medical and psychological
support to survivors.
"Sexual and gender-based violence is a
severe, life-threatening public health and
human rights abuse and I am deeply shocked
and concerned by reports we are receiving
from new arrivals in Cox's Bazar," said Director
General Swing from the Organization's
Headquarters in Geneva, when discussing
IOM's response.
Particularly women and girls, but also men
and boys, have been targeted for and are at risk
of further exploitation, violence and abuse simply
because of their gender, age and status in
society, the DG said.
Since 25 August, when violence broke out in
Rakhine State, Myanmar, an estimated
480,000 people have crossed into Cox's Bazar,
Bangladesh, according to a message UNB
received from IOM on Thursday.
Prior to this most recent influx, Rohingya
had been fleeing Rakhine State for years following
various waves of insecurity, including
Appian Way, The First
Roman Road
INTERESTING NEWS DESK
Of the many things the Romans were
famous for, roads rank pretty high in the
list by importance, along with bridges,
viaducts and canals. Together they
formed an outstanding transportation
network that played a crucial role in tightening
Rome’s grasp on the
Mediterranean Basin. It was roads that
held the Roman Empire together.
One of the first and the most important
long roads built by the Romans was the
Appian Way. The road was begun by
Appius Claudius Caecus, the Roman censor,
in 312 BC, and originally ran for about
212 km from Rome to the ancient city of
Capua, but by 244 BC, it was extended by
another 370 km to reach the port of
Brundisium (now Brindisi) by the
Adriatic Sea. The Appian Way was chiefly
a military road built to transport troops to
smaller regions outside of greater Rome.
The Appian Way averaged 20 feet in
approximately 74,000 people last October.
Gender-based violence has been recorded in
needs assessments, fact finding missions and
through the provision of life-saving services.
Rape, sexual assault, domestic violence and
child marriage, among other forms of genderbased
violence, have been identified and
require immediate, holistic responses from
humanitarian actors.
Although the known number most likely only
represents a small portion of actual cases, IOM
doctors have treated dozens of women since
August, who have experienced violent sexual
assault, and since October 2016, IOM has
treated or received reports from hundreds of
women and some men.
"IOM is supporting survivors but I cannot
emphasize enough that attempting to understand
the scale of gender-based violence
through known case numbers alone is impossible.
This type of egregious violence and abuse is
under-reported even in the best resourced and
most stable settings worldwide.
In crises like this, where usual social systems
and protections are no longer in place, so many
barriers stand in the way of survivors seeking
support. Our staff on the ground is working to
break down these barriers and get to those
most in need," said Swing.
width and was slightly convex in the middle
to allow water to runoff and collect in
the ditches that ran on either side of the
road. The road’s foundation was of heavy
stone blocks cemented together with lime
mortar. Over these were laid tight fitting,
interlocking stones to provide a flat surface.
These stones fitted so closely that the
historian Procopius said that the stones
appeared to have grown together rather
than to have been fitted together.
Flanking the road are several striking
monuments, tombs and milestones. The
most impressive is the well-preserved
tomb of Cecilia Metella, the wife of one of
Julius Caesar's generals. Other notable
tombs include the tomb of Marcus
Servilius, the Tomb of Cecilia Metella, and
the tomb of the Roman emperor
Gallienus. Other monuments that line the
Via Appia are the Temple of Hercules, the
church Quo Vadis, Villa dei Quintili, with
its ancient baths and beautiful friezes, and
the Circus of Maxentius.
Photo : TBT
DMP takes tight
security over
Holy Ashura
DHAKA : Adequate security
measures have been taken
around Imambara Husaini
Dalan to ensure smooth
observance of Holy Ashura,
said Dhaka Metropolitan
Police (DMP) Commissioner
Md Asaduzzaman Mia on
Thursday, reports UNB.
The DMP Commissioner
came up with the information
while talking to
reporters after inspecting the
security arrangements at
Imambara Husaini Dalan in
Old Dhaka.
The Tajia procession will
start from Imambara and the
procession will be surrounded
by police as none could
join the procession on the
way, said the DMP commissioner.
Besides, police will be
deployed on the rooftops on
some buildings in some
major points of Imambara
for security reasons, he said.
Security will be provided in
some major places in
Imambara where the Shia
community will gather to celebrate
the day. Police banned
carrying of lethal weapons like
metal weapons, knife, sword
and other sharp weapons during
Tajia procession.
The major rallies of
Imambara will come under
close circuit cameras as part
of security measures.
Asaduzzaman said everyone
will be allowed to enter
Hoseni Dalan area only after
security screening through
hand metal detectors and
archways on Ashura.
The DMP commissioner
also requested people to provide
help to the police and
volunteer groups to make the
procession a success.
700-tonne Indian
relief for Rohingyas
reaches Ctg port
CHITTAGONG : An Indian
Naval ship carrying the third
consignment of 700-tonne
relief supply for Rohingya
Muslims, who have fled persecution
by Myanmar security
forces and taken shelter in
Bangladesh, reached
Chittagong early Thursday,
reports UNB.
The relief materials, loaded
on Indian Naval Ship INS
Gharial arrived here at
Chittagong port early in the
morning. Zillur Rahman
Chowdhury, deputy commissioner
of Chittagong, said
the Indian High
Commissioner in Dhaka
Harsh Vardhan Shringla,
handed over the relief materials
to the local administration
officially at the jetty No-
1 of the port. The relief materials
include rice, pulses,
sugar, salt, cooking oil, ready
to eat noodles, tea, biscuits,
mosquito nets etc.
Noise pollution turns
acute in city
DHAKA : Noise pollution, also known
as sound pollution, has turned acute in
the capital city as it always goes far
beyond the permissible level, putting
the public health at risk, says a new survey
of the Department of Environment
(DoE), reports UNB.
The survey conducted at 70 points of
the city this year reveals that sound pollution
has reached the highest 120-130
decibel (dB) at many points, which is
almost double that permissible level.
According to the Noise Pollution
(Control) Rules 2006, the acceptable
sound condition for Bangladesh is 50
dB for daytime and 40 dB for the night
in silent areas, 50 dB for daytime and
45 dB for the night in residential areas,
60 dB for the daytime and 50 dB for
night in mixed areas (residential, commercial
and industrial localities), 70 dB
for daytime and 60 dB for the night in
commercial areas and 75 dB for daytime
and 70 dB for the night in industrial
areas.
The survey shows that noise pollution
has increased alarmingly at different
parts of the capital, indicating that the
highest noise level recorded at
Farmgate was 130.2 dB during daytime
and the lowest 65.7 dB at night.
The noise level was above 120 dB during
daytime at Paltan intersection,
Moghbazar intersection, Gabtoli,
Tannery Intersection of Hazaribagh,
Nikunja, Rampura (DIT Ulan Road),
Arambagh intersection, Dhanmondi
road-5, Gulshan-1 intersection,
Gulshan-2 intersection, Rayerbazar
(Mukti Cinema Hall), Tajmahal Road of
Mohammadpur, BGB Bazar of
Hazaribagh, Madrasah Road of Jurain,
Gulistan intersection, Mirpur 10 intersection,
Mollah Road of Ibrahimpur,
Mirpur-1 intersection, Ceramic intersection
of Pallabi, English Road,
Banglamotor, Shahjahanpur, Jatrabari
intersection, Bongshal, Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujib Medical University,
Dhanmondi Boys Govt School, New
Market, Shishu Hospital, Islampur,
25 bridges to be constructed
at Tk 431 crore
DHAKA : The government
is set to construct 25
bridges under the Western
Bridge Improvement
Project (WBIP) at a cost of
Taka 431 crore, Road
Transport and Bridges
Minister Obaidul Quader
said, reports UNB.
"Two separate contracts
were signed with the MON-
ICO Limited, DIENCO
Limited and Roads and
Highways Department
(RHD) in this regard," he
said this while witnessing
the agreement-signing ceremony
as the chief guest at
RHD head office, Tejgaon
in the city.
RHD Chief Engineer Ibne
Alam Hasan, Managing
Director of MONICO
Limited Shafiqul Alam
Bhuiyan and Managing
Director of DIENCO
Limited SM Khorshed
Alam signed the deal on
behalf of their respective
sides.
The minister said as per
the contract, MONICO
Limited would construct 16
bridges under package-3
and package-5 involving
Taka 278 crore, while nine
bridges would be constructed
by DIENCO Limited
under the package-4 at a
cost of Taka 153 crore.
"Nine bridges will be built
in Khulna zone and seven in
Gopalganj zone under the
package-3 and package-5
respectively while nine
bridges will constructed in
Barisal zone," Quader
added.
Elephant Road, Dholaipar of Jatrabari,
Panthapath signal of Green Road,
Saidabad, Shantinagar intersection,
Lalmatia, Shankar of Dhanmondi,
Kakrail Intersection, Mascot Plaza of
Uttara, Kazipara, Shahjalal Avenue of
Uttara, New Paltan of Azimpur,
Motijheel intersection, Tejgaon intersection
and Jagannath University.
Among the 70 points, the lowest
sound level was found 99.6 dB during
daytime and 43.7 dB at night at Road-
18 of Uttara-14.
Sound pollution is the disturbing
noise with harmful impact on the activity
of human or animal life. The source
of ambient sound worldwide is mainly
caused by machines and transportation
systems, motor-vehicles engines and
construction works as well.
According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), generally 60 dB
sound can make a man deaf temporarily
and 100 dB sound can cause complete
deafness.
The survey says sound pollution causes
mental and physical illness among
the people. It causes high blood pressure,
headache, indigestion, ulcer, and
also affects sleep. Anyone may become
deaf for the time being if 100 dB or
more noise pollution occurs for half an
hour or more in any place.
Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, a former WHO
consultant, said if one is affected from
sound pollution for a long time, his or
her hearing capacity will dwindle gradually,
and once he or she will be sound
impaired.
Noting that working in chaotic noise
for a long period can cause complete
deafness to people, he said children are
being adversely affected from sound
pollution since it stimulates their
brains.
Engr Abdus Sohban, a former DoE
additional director general, said a study
shows that about 10 percent of city
dwellers are now hearing impaired and
35 percent are suffering from low-hearing
here due to high noise pollution.
According to the deal,
three bridges in Kushtia,
two in Jhinaidah, two in
Bagerhat, one in Jessore
and one in Narail under
package -3 would be constructed.
Under package-4, seven
bridges in Barisal, one in
Jhalokathi and one in
Pirojpur while seven in
Gopalganj under the pckage-5
would be constructed.
Besides, the Western
Bridge Improvement
Project is being implemented
in the country involving
Taka 3,000 crore, of which
JICA provided Taka 2,000
crore as project assistance
and the rest of money, will
come from Bangladesh government,
officials of the
ministry said.
PM’s 71st birthday
celebrated
across country
DHAKA : The 71st birthday
of Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina, also the president of
Bangladesh Awami League,
was celebrated on Thursday
across the country with various
programmes, including
milad and doa mahfils seeking
divine blessings for her
good health and long life,
reports BSS.
On this day in 1947, Sheikh
Hasina, the eldest of the five
children of Father of the
Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman and
Begum Fazilatunnesa, was
born at Tungipara of
Gopalganj in Faridpur district.
In celebration of the birthday
of Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina, who is now in the
United States in connection
with the 72nd United
Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) session, central
leaders of Awami League
(AL) wished her long life and
success in politics. The prime
minister will return home on
October 5.
Prominent citizens including
educationalists, economists,
writers, physicians and cultural
personalities wished
good health and long life of
Sheikh Hasina, who is leading
the country as the prime
minister for the second consecutive
five-year term.
Youths to take
Bangladesh at top
of dev: Nasrul
dhaka : State Minister for
Power, Energy and Mineral
Resources Nasrul Hamid
today expressed his optimism
that technologyimbued
younger generation
would take Bangladesh at
the zenith of development,
reports UNB.
"We have to increase use of
technology. Efforts to enhance
awareness about the use of
power-saving equipment for
saving electricity and energy
should be continued", he said
this as the chief guest at the
inaugural ceremony of a twoday
Int’l Conference on "4th
Int’l Conference on Advances
in Electrical Engineering" at
the Independent University
in city.
Chaired by Vice-Chancellor
of the university Professor M
Omar Rahman, the programme
was also addressed,
among others, by chief of
International Electrical and
Engineering Association of
Bangladesh Dr Kazi Deen
Mohammad Khasru and president
of Engineers Institute of
Bangladesh Eng Kabir Ahmed
Bhuiyan.
Hamid said opportunities
should be created for the
youths to help them carry out
researches while universities
should give importance to
research-based education.
The dilapidated condition of this road at the Agrabad area of Chittagong city needs to be repaired
immediately as normal movement is being hampered severely.
Photo : Star Mail
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