24-08-2020

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2020
11
Free fertilizers, vegetable seeds and tree saplings among flood victims of Gaibandha at the initiative
of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina distributed in Fulchhari Upazila Parishad on Sunday. Parliament
member of Saghata-Fulchhari constituency and Deputy Speaker of Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Adv
Fazle Rabbi Mia MP was present as the chief guest at the occasion while Adv Umme Kulsum Smrity
MP was the keynote speaker at the occasion.
Photo: Rafiqul Islam
Turkey's maritime doctrine author
has dire warning for France
ISTANBUL : The father of Turkey's
controversial new maritime doctrine
told AFP that France's decision to send
warships to help Greece out in its
Mediterranean standoff with Ankara
was adding "fuel to the fire".
While he might be retired, the "Blue
Homeland" vision that Rear Admiral
Cem Gurdeniz helped craft over a
decade ago is being turned into reality
by Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan today.
A 62-year-old Francophone and
Francophile, Gurdeniz received AFP at
a gorgeous wooden summer house on
one of Istanbul's Prince's Islands in the
Marmara Sea. As warships from
France, Greece and Turkey converged
on a disputed patch of the eastern
Mediterranean Sea, Gurdeniz looked at
ease while criticising French President
Emmanuel Macron. "I'm fed up with
Macron's everyday verbal threats,"
Gurdeniz said in English, reports BSS.
"For many Turks now, France is
acting like an 'enfant terrible'. Can you
imagine, they are threatening Turkey?"
he asked. "If France continues such
provocative actions… that would not
serve regional peace and stability - that
Brazil reports 50,032
new COVID-19 cases,
892 more deaths
Brazil registered 50,032
new COVID-19 cases and
892 more deaths in the last
24 hours, bringing the
national caseload to
3,582,362 and the death toll
to 114,250, the Ministry of
Health reported on
Saturday, reports UNB.
Brazil is second only to the
United States in terms of
both cases and deaths from
COVID-19.
The state of Sao Paulo, the
most populous in the
country, has also been the
most affected, with 749,244
cases and 28,392 deaths,
followed by Rio de Janeiro
with 210,464 cases and
15,267 deaths, and Ceara
with 204,587 cases and
8,286 deaths.
New Zealand reports
3 new COVID-19
cases, 1,324 in total
Three new confirmed cases
of COVID-19 were reported
in New Zealand on Sunday,
said the Ministry of Health
in a statement, reports UNB.
According to the ministry,
one case was
epidemiologically linked to
an existent cluster in
Auckland as a household
contact of a previously
reported case. Two were
imported cases reported in
the Managed isolation and
quarantine facilities.
The total number of active
cases in New Zealand was
114, of which 18 were
imported cases from
managed isolation facilities,
it said.
would add fuel to the fire and France
should avoid that."
The discovery of major natural gas
deposits in waters surrounding Cyprus
and the Greek island of Crete have
triggered a scramble for energy riches
and revived old regional rivalries.
The biggest tensions are between
historically uneasy NATO allies Turkey
and Greece, which almost went to war
over some uninhabited islets in the
Aegean Sea in 1996.
These have been growing
progressively more serious as Erdogan
lays claim to waters designed to turn
Turkey into the maritime powerhouse
Gurdeniz envisioned from the start.
EU foreign ministers convened an
emergency video conference last week
after Greek and Turkish warships
collided in hotly disputed
circumstances. "If Greece pulls the
trigger, it will be the end of NATO,"
Gurdeniz said, implying that Turkey
would then withdraw from the Cold
War-era military alliance.
"European countries should put
pressure on Greece so that it abandons"
some of its maritime claims, he said.
Erdogan has tempered his heated
rhetoric with calls for talks, which have
been spearheaded with sporadic
success by German Chancellor Angela
Merkel. Gurdeniz agreed, saying: "We
should think with cold blood, soberly,
prudently." But he saw no need for
outside mediation, suggesting that
hostilities will only end when Greeks
and Turks sit down and frankly talk
their problems out.
Gurdeniz overwhelmingly approves
of Edrogan's tough line, but also regrets
Turkey's growing diplomatic isolation
in the increasingly volatile region. He
called Turkey's decision to rupture its
relations with Egypt following the
army's ouster of Islamist president
Mohamed Morsi in 2013 "a mistake".
"Turkey could have won over Egypt.
Also, starting with Egypt, we could have
made some gains with Israel too,"
Gurdeniz said. But his eyes lit up and
his easy smile broadened when talking
about the "growing interest of young
people" in Turkey's maritime claims.
"I do a lot of interviews with
YouTubers," said the retired admiral,
pointing out that the annual enrolment
of new cadets in navy schools is steadily
rising.
DU observes 'Black day'
DHAKA : The Dhaka University (DU)
authorities yesterday observed 'Black Day'
marking the attack on the institution's
teachers, students and employees on August
20 to 23, 2007, during the military-backed
caretaker government.
Teachers, students, officials and
employees of the university wore black
badges marking the day, said a DU press
release.
To mark the day, a discussion was held at
the Abdul Matin Virtual Classroom adjunct
to the VC's office through virtual platform
with DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Md
Akhtaruzzaman in the chair.
DU Pro-VC (Administration) Dr
Muhammad Samad, Pro-VC (Academic) Dr
ASM Maksud Kamal, General Secretary of
DU Teachers Association (DUTA) Dr
Nizamul Hoque Bhuiyan, among others,
were present on the occasion.
While addressing the DU VC said nonelected
and anti-democratic government is
responsible for such an inhuman attack on
the university's teachers, students and
officials on August 20 to 23, 2007.
The attack was against the spirit of
Liberation War as well as the value of
democracy, added the VC.
Akhtaruzzaman urged all to remain alert to
stop any conspiracy in the country.
On August 20 in 2007, some military
members severely beat up students and a
violent clash ensued between them centering
a football match at DU central playground.
Thousands of DU students took to the
streets protesting the incident and
demanded withdrawal of the army camp
from the campus and an apology from the
troops.
The protest afterwards spread to all the
educational institutions across the country.
Following the clash, the then army-backed
caretaker government imposed a curfew on
the divisional cities and later arrested four
DU teachers - Prof Dr Anwar Hossain, Prof
Dr Sadrul Amin, Prof Dr Harun-or-Rashid
and Prof Dr Neem Chandra Bhowmick and
several students on August 23 and tortured
them.
The university observes August 23 as the
Black Day every year.
On the occasion of 'Black Day' at Dhaka University, a virtual discussion
meeting was held under the chairmanship of Vice-Chancellor
Akhtaruzzaman at Prof. Abdul Matin Chowdhury Virtual Classroom of the
University on Sunday.
Photo: DU Public Relations
Mexican drug cartel leader
sentenced to 50 years in
prison for murder of
journalist
A federal judge in the
northern Mexican state of
Chihuahua has sentenced an
organized crime leader to 50
years in prison for the
murder of Mexican
journalist Miroslava Breach,
the Attorney General's
Office (FGR) said on
Saturday, reports UNB.
This is "the highest penalty
to date and represents a
precedent in investigations
of crimes committed against
freedom of expression," said
the FGR in a statement.
Juan Carlos Moreno,
nicknamed "El Larry," was
convicted in March for the
2017 murder of Breach, a
correspondent for the
Mexican newspaper La
Jornada, who had been
reporting on Moreno and his
alleged criminal activities.
His sentencing was delayed
several months due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. The
government of Chihuahua
has identified Moreno as the
head of Los Salazar, a drug
trafficking group that
operates along the border
with the United States.
U.S. House passes 25-bln-
USD bill to boost Postal
Service in defiance of
White House
The Democratic-led U.S.
House of Representatives on
Saturday passed a bill to
provide the cash-strapped
U.S. Postal Service (USPS)
with 25 billion U.S. dollars,
reports UNB.
The legislative move was
aimed at preventing the
agency from making any
reforms which could slow
delivery of mail-in ballots for
the presidential election in
November. The bill was
passed largely along party
lines and was not expected
to pass the Republican-led
Senate. The White House
had previously issued a veto
threat, claiming that the bill
would add to the challenges
currently facing the USPS. It
also accused Democrats of
trying to "exploit the
COVID-19 pandemic as a
pretext for placing
c o u n t e r p r o d u c t i v e
restrictions on USPS's
already limited operational
flexibilities."
Riot declared outside Portland
public safety building
Police forced protesters away from a law
enforcement building in Oregon's biggest
city early Sunday, as efforts to stop the
demonstrators from gathering at the
building seemingly fell apart.
The protesters apparently had plans
Saturday night to march from a park to the
Penumbra Kelly public safety building, news
outlets reported. But, a standoff between
marchers and officers took place on a bridge
along the way - and the demonstrators
retreated, reports UNB.
Protesters appear to have returned to the
park, and then taken cars to the building,
according to a reporter for The
Oregonian/Oregon Live.
Police initially declared an unlawful
assembly, saying items had been thrown at
officers, green lasers had been pointed at
them and paintball guns had been fired.
The gathering was later declared a riot.
Officers had been hit with rocks, bottles and
other objects, police said.
Images posted online showed officers
using smoke to clear the area. Several people
were seen being detained, but it's unclear
whether any arrests were made.
Similar protests have previously occurred
at the Penumbra Kelly building, including
last weekend.
The unrest followed rivaling protests
Saturday afternoon. Federal authorities
Mother, daughter harassed
(From Front page)
According to several eyewitnesses,
after the mother
and daughter were tortured
once, Harbang Union Awami
League president and UP
chairman Miranul Islam
sent village police to the
spot and tied them with a
rope and brought them to
his office and brutally tortured
them again.
After the torture, the
chairman's men called the
investigation center and
handed over the mother
and daughter to the the
police.
When contacted with Harbang
Union Parishad chairman
Miranul Islam, he said
the incident was true.
However, the incident
took place on Friday in
Paharchanda area. I have
no involvement in the incident.
He said the locals
grabbed them and handed
them over to the police.
According to eyewitnesses
while trying to sell a cow
of Mahabubul Haque,
some people led by his son
chased them. At one stage
they were found next to the
railway line under construction
at Paharchanda.
There was a scuffle
between the two sides. The
locals came forward after
the Friday prayers and
after learning about the
incident, beat them up and
took them to the chairman.
The chairman handed over
to the police.
When contacted with
Chakaria Police Station OC
Habibur Rahman he
refused to talk to the media
in this regard. However,
according police sources,
cow owner Mahabubul
Haque filed a case against 4
people of the same family
including mother and
daughter of Shantirhat area
and one person of Pekua
area.
The number of the case is
21/08/2020. The court
sent 5 people to jail in this
case. A stolen cow, a CNG, a
knife and a spray used to
make one unconscious
were recovered in the incident.
Chakaria Upazila Nirbahi
Officer (UNO) Syed Shamsul
Tabriz said, "I came to
know about the incident
through the local chairman."
I then ordered to
hand over the cattle thieves
to the police". He further
said that 'a three-member
investigation team has
been formed under the
direction of the deputy
commissioner.
Deputy Secretary Srabanti
Roy has been made the
chief of the team. The other
two members of the committee
are Chakaria AC
Land and a Harbang Union
tag officer. I am looking
into the matter myself. If
the accused think they have
been tortured or harassed,
their allegations will be taken
into account".
forced demonstrators away from a plaza
near a federal building as dueling
demonstrations by right-wing and left-wing
protesters turned violent.
The area includes county and federal
buildings and has been the site of numerous
recent protests. Department of Homeland
Security officers moved through the plaza
across from an 18-story federal building. A
federal courthouse is also near that area.
Violent demonstrations have gripped
Portland for months, following the police
killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police
custody.
The Saturday afternoon demonstration
involving hundreds of people began about
noon near the Multnomah County Justice
Center, news outlets reported.
Demonstrators hurled rocks and other items
at each other and got into fights. Streets were
blocked amid the mayhem.
Right-wing groups had announced a rally
near the Justice Center Saturday afternoon
that quickly drew counter demonstrators.
No arrests were reported.
In a statement, Portland Police said there
had been questions about why the afternoon
gathering wasn't declared a riot and why city
police officers didn't intervene. Incident
commanders have to determine whether
police action will make things more
dangerous, the statement said.
Free services requires payment
(From Front page)
Allegedly, a syndicate is taking advantage
on the pretext of not having supplies.
Although it was under the watchful
eye of the higher authorities, no action
was taken. The health department was
supposed to have stocks of medicines and
equipment but they disappeared after
being brought to the hospital, the victims
said.
According to the source, in the case of
normal delivery in Gynecology ward, a
patient has to spend 2 to 5 thousand taka.
The money is taken as tips by the nurses
and maids. Amid widespread criticism
about this issue in the area, the authorities
are in a silent role.
On the spot report described the picture
of the emergency department and
the OT room. Patients injured in accidents
or collisions from different parts of
the district and dying patients suffering
from various diseases come here for
treatment. After the initial checkup, the
on duty doctor handed over a prescription.
The relatives of the patient have to
collect various medicines including
gloves, yarn, bandages, pain killer, and
injections from outside.
The duty officers made an excuse that
there was no supply even though the hospital
was supposed to provide these
items. The relatively poor and lowincome
people have to face difficulties to
buy these expensive medicines. The condition
is the same for Operation Theater.
The relatives of the patient have to buy
the necessary medicines from outside for
all types of operations including minor
operations. The people concerned also
gives of excuse of supply shortages.
Patients have to manage bandages,
gloves, hand sanitizer, spirits, painkiller
injections from outside of the OT. In
addition, nurses take payment as bribes
to get dressing services. This has become
the rule. If bribe is discharged, the dressing
is quick, and if not, there will be some
lump sum work.
Recently, Helal Mia of Barabhula village
in Sadar upazila went to Gynecology
ward with his wife. The nurse and the
nanny demanded 2500 taka for normal
delivery. Helal Mia said that he had to
buy various items including stich yarn for
around Tk 1,500 from outside.
Habiganj Sadar Hospital Residential
Officer (RMO), Dr. Shamima said the
hospital should have adequate stocks of
all types of medicines and medical equipment.
She claimed that the authorities
are very sincere so that the patients are
not deprived of services.
Habiganj Adhunik Zila Sadar Hospital
is the main destination of medical services
for about 3 million people in the district.
However, the patients have been
complaining that even though there is a
namely 250-bed hospital, the services of
5 beds are not actually available.
GD- 1070/20 (7 x 2)