26-11-2021

Friday, dhaka: november 26, 2021; Agrahyan 11, 1428 Bs; Rabius-sani 20, 1443 hijri
'We've a very transparent
democracy': FM Momen
DHAKA : Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul
Momen on Thursday said Bangladesh
maintains a "very stable and transparent"
democracy and the US might have
invited those countries with weak
democracies for its Democracy Summit,
reports UNB.
"We've had a stable democracy over the
last several years, a very clear and transparent
democracy. Free and fair voting is
happening," he told reporters while
responding to questions on Democracy
Summit. After attending a programme in
the city, the Foreign Minister voters can
cast their votes freely and anybody can
contest elections if they want.
In Myanmar, Afghanistan many cannot
vote, said the Foreign Minister. "In
our country, all people can vote. When
there's a will, there's a way. From that
perspective, we're much better."
Dr Momen said those who are weak
were convened and the US side said they
DSCC truck's proxy
driver remanded
over Notre Dame
student's death
DHAKA : A Dhaka court yesterday
placed the man that was driving a killer
garbage truck that ran over a student of
Notre Dame College, leaving him dead
on the spot, on three-day remand in the
case filed in this regard. Dhaka
Additional Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain
passed the order as police produced
Russel Khan before the court and pleaded
to place him on seven-day remand.
Father of victim Nayeem Hasan, a
second-year student of the college, filed
the case under Road and Transport Act
last night with capital's Paltan Police
Station. Russel, who was nabbed by the
people on the spot, was shown arrested
in the case. The Dhaka South City
Corporation garbage truck, being driven
by the proxy driver Russel, who is
not a regular staff of the DSCC but used
to work as a helper of the vehicle, hit
and ran over the Nayeem in Gulistan
area on November 24.
Rohingya relocation
will hold the Summit in two phases.
In the first phase, some countries that
are weak in democracy will join.
He said there is nothing to be worried
as the people of Bangladesh will work
for further strengthening the democracy,
if required. Dr Momen said the US
itself faced problems in the recent past
despite being an old democracy. Those
who are weak in democracy were possibly
called by the US. "I don't say they've
dropped us."
Since day one, the Biden-Harris
Administration has made it clear that
renewing democracy in the United
States and around the world is essential
to meet the unprecedented challenges of
time.
President Joe Biden stated on the
International Day of Democracy, "No
democracy is perfect, and no democracy
is ever final. Every gain made, every barrier
broken, is the result of determined,
Gender-based violence
Media must be more
responsible
DHAKA : Faruq Faisel, Regional Director
for ARTICLE 19 South Asia, has said
media must be more responsible in reporting
and broadcasting the incidents of gender-based
violence, reports UNB.
For this, he said, the journalists involved
in reporting also need training on the use
of gender sensitive language.
On the occasion of the 16 days of
activism and International Day for the
Elimination of Violence against Women
(VAW), ARTICLE 19 on Thursday hosted
an online discussion with experts and
activists on gender-based violence and the
systemic VAW issues in Bangladesh.
This year's United Nations theme is
"Orange the World: End Violence against
Women Now!".
Fawzia Khondker Eva, Core Group
Member of 'Sangat', a feminist network in
South Asia, Dr Snigdha Rezwana, faculty
at the Department of Anthropology at
Jahangirnagr University and Aparajita
unceasing work."
On December 9-10, President Biden
will host the first of two Summits for
Democracy, which will bring together
leaders from government, civil society,
and the private sector to set forth an
affirmative agenda for democratic
renewal and to tackle the greatest threats
faced by democracies today through collective
action.
The virtual summit will focus on challenges
and opportunities facing democracies
and will provide a platform for
leaders to announce both individual and
collective commitments, reforms, and
initiatives to defend democracy and
human rights at home and abroad.
For the United States, the summit will
offer an opportunity to listen, learn, and
engage with a diverse range of actors
whose support and commitment is critical
for global democratic renewal,
according to White House.
Sangita, a human rights activist and an
international award-winning independent
filmmaker, spoke at the event as discussants
with Faruq Faisel in the chair.
Eva said patriarchal mindset is the main
obstacle to women's development and
empowerment, not men. "Women and
girls are the first victims of poverty, violence
and even pandemics due to this
mindset. Everyone, especially the media,
must come forward to dispel this misconception."
Dr Rezwana called for practising sensitivity
and ethics in reporting the incidents
of gender-based violence in the media.
She said victims are emotionally and
socially devastated by the use of inappropriate
and sexiest language in describing
incidents of rape and violence against
women.
Aparajita Sangita said transgender characters
are portrayed in a very offensive and
negative way in dramas and movies.
379 refugees leave for Bhasan Char
MAnik BhuiyAn, noAkhAli CoRResPondenT
As many as 379 Rohingya refugees left
Chattogram port for Bhasan Char on a
naval ship Thursday morning. These
refugees are part of some 1,500
Rohingyas slated to be relocated to the
island in the seventh phase.
Shamsuddauja, additional refugee
relief and repatriation commissioner in
Cox's Bazar, said naval ship Penguin carrying
the forcibly displaced Myanmar
nationals left the port at 10am after an
overnight stay at a military transit camp
at Patenga in Chattogram.
According to Navy sources in
Chattogram, 257 Rohingyas in the first
group and 122 Rohingyas in the second
group were brought from Ukhia in seven
buses to the Navy's transit camp at
Patenga Wednesday, where initial health
check-ups were carried out and food was
provided to them.
The personal belongings of the 379
Rohingyas have already reached Bhasan
Char, the sources added.
About 1,500-2,000 Rohingya men,
women and children willing to go to
Bhasan Char in the seventh phase have
gathered at the temporary transit
point-Ukhiya Degree College-since
Tuesday noon.
Jamalida Begum, leader of the Arakan
Rohingya Society for Peace and Human
Rights (ARSPH) in Ukhia, said the residents
of the camp in Ukhia are terrified
after the killing of Rohingya leader
Mohib Ullah and the gun attack on a
As many as
379 Rohingya
refugees left
Chattogram
port for
Bhasan Char
on a naval
ship Thursday
morning.
These
refugees are
part of
some 1,500
Rohingyas
slated to be
relocated to
the island in
the seventh
phase.
Photo : TBT
madrasa in Rohingya camp. "So, most of
the Rohingyas are willing to move to
Bashan Char."
Meanwhile, Mohammad Rafiqul
Islam, officer-in-charge of Bhasan Char
Police, said about 1,500 Rohingya
refugees are expected to reach Bhasan
Char in the seventh phase. "All the
preparations have been completed to
receive them," he added.
In six phases, over 18,500 Rohingyas
have been shifted to Bhasan Char so far.
Bangladesh is currently hosting over
1.1 million Rohingyas in camps in Cox's
Bazar and Bhasan Char. Most of them
have come to this country since August
25, 2017, when the Myanmar military
launched a brutal offensive targeting the
Muslim ethnic minorities.
Arrest warrant
issued against
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi
DHAKA : A Dhaka court yesterday
issued arrest warrant against BNP senior
joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi
in a case lodged under Special Powers
Act with capital's Badda Police Station.
Dhaka Senior Special Judge KM Imrul
Qayesh passed the order, accepting the
charge-sheet filed in the case, public prosecutor
(PP) Tapos Kumar Paul told BSS.
"Thursday was fixed for passing order
on accepting the charge-sheet in the case
filed in January, 2015. But the accused
failed to appear before the court for the
proceedings. The court accepted the
charge-sheet and issued arrest warrant
against him," the PP said.
Dhaka for commencing
'Political Dialogue'
with EU next year
DHAKA : Dhaka is looking forward to
commencing the 'Political Dialogue'
with the European Union (EU) next
year, reports BSS.
This was revealed while EU
Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles
Whiteley met State Minister for Foreign
Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam at the latter's
office on Wednesday, a press release said
During the meeting Alam appreciated
the EU's role as a development and trading
partner amid the COVID-19 pandemic
and looked forward to commencing
the 'Political Dialogue' with the EU
next year.
The EU ambassador said that "certain
provision of concern for Bangladesh's
RMG industry is being looked into further
in Brussels".
The state minister underscored the
need for enhanced bilateral cooperation
in climate action.
Alam encouraged the European
Investment Bank to further support
regional hydropower projects, alongside
other solar regional connectivity projects.
He thanked the EU for its constructive
engagement with Bangladesh's
Universal Periodic Review (UPN) recommendations
implementation under the
UN Human Rights Council. They also
discussed some issues concerning labour
rights and migration. Ambassador
Whiteley briefed the state minister about
some of the upcoming bilateral engagements
in the coming year.
Ataullah Mandal
as Gazipur unit
acting general
secretary of AL
DHAKA : Awami League has named
Md Ataullah Mandal as the acting
general secretary of the party's
Gazipur metropolitan unit replacing
disgraced Zahangir Alam who has
recently been expelled from the party,
according a press release on
Thursday, reports UNB.
Ataullah was chosen by the Awami
League's Central Executive Committee,
said the release signed by the party's
Office Secretary Biplob Barua.
The post fell vacant on November 19
after Awami League expelled Zahangir,
also the mayor of Gazipur, for life over
allegations of making derogatory comments
on Bangabandhu and martyred
freedom fighters, He also lost primary
membership of the party.
Awami League has decided to take
legal action against Jahangir.
Winter actually
starts with
selling vapa
pitha in
different
corners of
Rajshahi city.
These popular
pithas are sold
from morning
till night. The
picture is taken
from Tultuli
Para, Rajshahi.
Photo :
star Mail
Hasina's strong solidarity
message to Erdogan
elevated ties : Envoy
DHAKA : Turkish Ambassador to
Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan
has listed two watershed moments of
solidarity that elevated the relations
between Bangladesh and Turkey to a
new height and could make it stronger
with the exchange of high-level visits
in the coming days, reports UNB.
He said there are some circles that
do not want to see Bangladesh and
Turkey stay so close but Turkey will
not fall into that trap if there is any
attempt to spoil the "long-standing
and deep-rooted" relations.
"There may be some disagreements,
which are sometimes unfortunately
misinterpreted, but we are too close,"
said the ambassador without naming
the circles. "You can interpret it as you
hear it. I am not here to name names."
Ambassador Turan made the
remarks while interacting with the
members of the Diplomatic
Correspondents Association,
Bangladesh (DCAB) at the embassy on
Wednesday.
DCAB Vice-President Md Mahfuzur
Rahman Mishu and General Secretary
AKM Moinuddin also spoke.
Referring to the two significant
moments of solidarity, he said Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina was one of the
first world leaders to send a strong
message of solidarity to President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the "very
unfortunate coup attempt" in Turkey
in 2016.
"No other countries, not even
Turkey's allies in Europe, sent a message
to the Turkish government but
Bangladesh did. That shows how close
the two countries are."
Referring to the second moment of
solidarity between the two countries,
the envoy said Turkey's First Lady
Emine Erdogan visited Bangladesh
immediately after the Rohingya crisis
had begun in 2017.
"Probably Turkey is the country
which understands Bangladesh the
best when it comes to hosting over a
million Rohingya refugees. We are
hosting more than 4 million refugees,"
he mentioned.
The ambassador said they are very
much present on the ground in Cox's
Bazar to support the Rohingyas and
the host communities. "However,
repatriation of the Rohingyas should
be the real solution to the crisis."
There was a strain on bilateral relations
as Turkey reacted following the
execution of war criminals and top
Jamaat leaders who had assisted the
Pakistan army and participated in
genocide during the nine-month
Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971
and committed crimes against
humanity.
About Turkey's current position on
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the
ambassador said they do not have a
position on political parties in
Bangladesh. "We have a position on
our bilateral relations."
Ambassador Turan said it is up to
Bangladesh and its people how they
will treat political parties and Turkey
respects Bangladesh's position as a
friendly country.
He said Turkey and Bangladesh
enjoy long-standing and deep-rooted
relations and nothing can change that.
Responding to a question on a highlevel
visit, the ambassador said
President Erdogan will visit
Bangladesh to take relations to the
next stage. "We are working on it and
trying to decide the best time to make
that happen."
Also, he said they see no obstacles to
further improving the relations
between the two countries. "We
should have some highest level bilateral
visits at the level of the president
and prime minister."
When such visits take place, the
ambassador said, the relations will
certainly become stronger with the
signing of many bilateral and business
deals. "Our relations are gradually
growing."
Steam generators installed
at Unit-1 of Rooppur NPP
DHAKA : All four steam generators
have been installed at the design position
at Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear
Power Project (RNPP), reports UNB.
Specialists of Energospecmontazh, a
subcontracting organization of the
Rosatom State Corporation
Engineering Division, have carried out
assembly operations to install the
steam generators at their regular position
in the reactor compartment in
accordance with the approved schedule,
said the Rosatom in a statement on
Thursday.
"Another important stage of the
installation works has been completed
at Power Unit- 1", said Aleksey Deriy,
Vice-President of ASE and Director of
the Rooppur NPP Construction
Project.
The steam generators being installed
in the permanent position allows starting
welding works on the main circulation
pipeline to connect the primary
circuit equipment, such as: a reactor,
steam generators, main circulation
pumps, he added. The steam generators
were manufactured for the
Rooppur NPP at the Atommash plant
(branch of AEM-Technologies) in
Volgodonsk of Russia. Each complete
steam generator is about 14-meterlong,
more than 4 meters in width and
weighs 350 tons.
The steam generators are the main
equipment of the reactor plant circulation
circuit and are designed to transfer
the heat produced in the reactor
core to the secondary circuit, where the
steam to rotate the turbine to generate
electricity.
The Rooppur NPP is designed and
constructed by the Rosatom State
Corporation Engineering Division as
the General Contractor.
The plant will consist of two
Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactor
power units with an expected life cycle
of 60 years and a provision extension
for another 20 years.