04-09-2020

Friday, Dhaka, September 4, 2020, Bhadra 20, 1427 BS, Muharram 15, 1442 hijri
China committed to peace, friendship,
cooperation : Envoy
DHAKA : Chinese Ambassador to
BangladeshLi Jiming has saidChina is
willing to join hands with countries
around the world, including
Bangladesh, through bilateral, multilateral
and international engagement to
build a world that is more stable, prosperous
and harmonious, reports UNB.
"Going forward, China is committed
to peace, stability, friendship and cooperation,"
he said.
The Chinese Ambassador mentioned
it in an article titled, "World Anti-
Fascist War: A Historic StruggleFor
New International Order And Long
Lasting Peace".
Today is China's Victory Day, a day
that will forever be etched in the memory
of the Chinese people and the world
people as well, he said.
For peace, Ambassador Jiming said,
they need to foster a strong sense of
community of shared future for
Motiar rahMan, Satkhira CorrESponDEnt
About 10 lakh people in Satkhira district
are suffering this season due to climate
change caused by global warming,
reduced navigability of the river, useless
sluice gates and corruption in the name
of excavation. Disappearance threatens
429 canals of the district. These canals
have now increased the grief of the people
of the district.
Most of the 216 sluice gates built on
these canals are useless. Thirteen sediments
of 27 rivers have been filled. As a
result, more than four hundred canals
flowing from these rivers are in verge of
losing its existence.
Most of the canals are occupied by influential
people. Fish farming is being done
by raising salt water through dams in
these canals. Only a few canals are under
the control of the WDB and the District
Council. The Water Development Board
says 14 rivers in the district are surviving
somehow.
There are 429 canals flowing in the tributaries
of these rivers. Most of the canals
have now ceased to exist due to the impact
of environmental disasters. In many
places, people have started settling on the
banks of rivers and canals. The 216 sluice
gates built on these canals are almost out
of date. According to sources, Satkhira
Water Development Board has 2186sluice
gates in two divisions. Of these, there are
123 sluice gates under Satkhira Water
Development Board-1. Of which 80 are
functional and the remaining 34 are
completely useless. Besides, 28 out of 93
sluice gates under Satkhira Water
Development Board-1 are completely
useless. According to BWDB-1, out of
123 sluice gates, 35 were built between
1961 and 1965, 5 were built between
1968 and 1971, 30 were built between
1963 and 1967, 48 were built between
1963 and 1976and 5 were built between
mankind. "Prejudice, discrimination,
hatred and war can only cause disaster
and suffering, while mutual respect,
equality, peaceful development and
common prosperity represent the right
path to follow," he said.
The Chinese envoy said all countries
should jointly uphold the international
order and system underpinned by the
purposes and principles of the UN
Charter, build a new type of international
relations featuring win-win cooperation
and advance the noble cause of
global peace and development.
For peace, he said, China will remain
committed to peaceful development.
"The Chinese people love peace. No
matter how much stronger it may
become, China will never seek hegemony
or expansion. It will never inflict its
past sufferings on any other nation. The
Chinese people are determined to pursue
friendly relations with all other
Disappearance threatens 429
canals in Satkhira
1989 and 1993. Most of which have
expired sluice gates. Under the climate
project, the expenditure incurred for
digging 25 km of river from Murarikati
in Kalaroar to Sadar Suparighata in 2013
through seven packages at a cost of Taka
24.95 crore was of no use.
In 2011, a project worth Tk 262 crore for
a period of 4 years was undertaken for the
excavation of Kopotakkho river. Most of
the money for that project has been looted.
According to the design of the
Kopotakkho river excavation, the width of
the bottom was to be 103 feet to 130 feet.
The space was supposed to be 148 feet
to 203 feet wide and the depth would be
10 feet to 14 feet. But many complained
that the bottom is only 33 feet wide, the
head is only 49 feet wide and the depth is
6 and a half feet excavated. At present
there is a limited amount of water in the
river if there is no tidal flow.
The excavation was supposed to be 10
to 18 feet along the middle of the Betna
river. But in reality no work was done.
Only two to three feet deep has been dug
near the Binerpota bridge. The government
undertook a project worth Tk 25
crore to dredge and embank the Betna
river in Satkhira for the development of
the coastal region.
A senior official of the Ministry of
Water Resources said that there are allegations
against the contractors for raising
money by doing nominal work on
the project worth Tk 25 crore.
According to the Water Development
Board, a project has been approved by
the ECNEC at a cost of Tk 531.07 crore to
remove the waterlogging of the
Kopotakkho river (second phase). Work
on the project will began in 2020 and
will end in 2024.
Satkhira-1 (Tala-Kalaroa) constituency
MP Adv Mostafa Lutfullah said if the
project is implemented properly.
countries," said the Ambassador.
Ambassador Jiming said for peace,
they need to foster a strong sense of a
community of shared future for
mankind.
The Chinese envoy said all countries
should jointly uphold the international
order and system underpinned
by the purposes and principles
of the UN Charter, build a new
type of international relations featuring
win-win cooperation and
advance the noble cause of global
peace and development.
As President Xi Jinping pointed out,
the Ambassador said, the experience of
war makes people value peace all the
more.
"The purpose of commemorating the
Victory Day is to bear history in mind,
honor all those who laid down their
lives, cherish peace and open up the
future," he said.
Nayeemul Abrar's death
anisul hoque,
4 others get bail
DHAKA : A Dhaka court on
Thursday granted bail to five people,
including Anisul Hoque, associate
editor of Prothom Alo, in a
case filed over the death of
Nayeemul Abrar Rahat, a student
of Dhaka Residential Model
College, from electrocution,
reports UNB.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate
Mohammad Jashim passed the
order after hearing a bail petition
filed by their lawyer.
Earlier, the five accused surrendered
before the court on
Thursday, said their lawyer
Ehsanul Haque Somaji.
The four other accused are Kabir
Bakul, head of event and activation
of Prothom ALo, Mahitul
Alam Pavel, senior sub-editor of
Kishore Alo and two executives
Shah Paran Tushar and
Shuvashish Pramanik.
The court on Wednesday
ordered the authorities concerned
to confiscate the property of the
five people.
Nayeemul Abrar, a ninth grader,
died after being electrocuted
behind the stage at an event
organised by Kishor Alo, a publication
of Prothom Alo, at Dhaka
Residential Model College on
November 1 last.
Victim's father, Mujibur
Rahman, filed the case against 10
people, including Prothom Alo
editor Matiur Rahman, with the
Dhakacourton November 6 last.
On January 16, thecourtissued a
warrant for the arrest of Prothom
Alo editor Matiur Rahman, Anisul
Hoque and seven other people in
connection with the case. Matiur
Rahman and four others secured
bail in the case.
Disappearance threatens 429 canals of Satkhira due to useless sluice gates and corruption in the name
of excavation.
photo: Motiar rahman
Extortion, kidnapping and supremacy establishment are rampant in two rohingya camps in Cox's
Bazar's Ukhia upazila. in the last few days, there have been several incidents of clashes and shootings
involving various crimes.
photo : Star Mail
Myanmar urged to ensure all
rohingya can vote in nov polls
DHAKA : Fortify Rights on Thursday
said the government of Myanmar
should ensure all voting-age Rohingyaincluding
refugees in Bangladesh-have
the right and opportunity to vote in the
upcoming November elections, reports
UNB.
"Rohingya globally should have the
right to vote and participate in their
home country's political life," said Ismail
Wolff, Regional Director of Fortify
Rights.
The international community should
reignite their moral imagination and call
for refugees' right to vote-it is possible,
he said.
On Thursday, 14 Rohingya-led refugee
organizations in Cox's Bazar District,
Bangladesh published an open letter to
the Union Election Commission (UEC)
in Myanmar, urging it to "uphold the
right of Rohingya refugees to vote and
participate in the 2020 general election."
"All Rohingya should have the right to
vote. We had the right to vote in all the
elections held in Myanmar since 2010,"
said Shomima Bibi, Founder and
Director of the Rohingya Women
Education Initiative-a camp-based
refugee organization supporting
Rohingya women.
"Like before, we should have freedom
and enjoy nationality and citizenship in
Myanmar."
In the open letter, the Rohingya
Women Empowerment and Advocacy
Network, Rohingya Student Network,
Rohingya Youth for Legal Action, Voice
of Rohingya, and others, urged the UEC
Covid-9 in Bangladesh
Chair Hla Thein and the Myanmar
Government to "reverse these decisions"
to reject Rohingya candidates running
for office.
"I should have a right to participate in
the elections of Myanmar," said another
Rohingya, Sawyedollah from the
Rohingya Student Network in
Bangladesh. "I want to see my country
without discrimination."
The Government of Myanmar currently
has access to multiple forms of
documentation of Rohingya, including
household lists dating back to the 1990s,
National Verification Cards (NVCs),
National Registration Cards, White
Cards, White Card receipts, and other
previous government-issued and U.N.-
issued identity documents.
In collaboration with international
humanitarian organizations, the
Government of Myanmar and the
Embassy of Myanmar in Bangladesh
could use these forms of documentation
as well as alternative forms of evidence,
such as testimonial evidence, to determine
eligibility to vote in November's
election and as evidence to restore
Rohingya citizenship, Fortify Rights
said. On July 2, the UEC announced that
Myanmar nationals living abroad could
cast advanced ballots in this year's general
election.
The government also provided absentee
voting in the 2010 and 2015 elections.
Refugees elsewhere in the world
have voted in home-country elections
through voting stations in refugee
camps and absentee ballots.
32 more die in 24 hrs,
total cases hit 3,19,686
DHAKA : Health authorities of the country
detected 2,158 new cases of Covid-19
on Thursday after testing 14,422 samples
in the last 24 hours, reports UNB.
Another 32 patients have died from the
deadly disease during the period raising
the death tally to 4,383. The fatality rate in
Bangladesh is still 1.37 percent.
The daily infection rate stands at 14.96
percent during the period.
So far, 3,19,686 patients have been
identified in the country since March 8
after testing 15,92,038 samples and a
reduced 20.06 percent have turned out
Covid-19 positive. The country saw the
recovery of new 2,964 Covid-19 patients
in the last 24 hours until Thursday which
boosted the number of total recoveries
across the country to 2,13,980.
A press release sent by Directorate
General of Health Services (DGHS) provided
the latest information and also confirmed
that the recovery rate has climbed
further to 66.9 percent in Bangladesh.
Among the 32 people who lost their
lives during the period, 30 are above 50
years and two more are between 41 and
50 years. 1,201 people who died since
March 18 are between 51 and 60 years.
So far, 2,120 have died in Dhaka division,
950 in Chattoram, 291 in Rajshahi,
363 in Khulna, 169 in Barishal, 197 in
Sylhet, 200 in Rangpur and 93 have died
in Mymensingh division.
Across the country, 19,869 people are in
isolation and 52,183 people are quarantined
at present. In Bangladesh, the first
three cases of coronavirus infection were
detected on March 8 and on Wednesday
it crossed 3,00,000. On July 2, 4,019
Covid-19 patients were identified in the
country, the highest in a single day.
Quader calls Bnp
a representative of
anti-country force
DHAKA : Road Transport and Bridges
Minister and Awami League General
Secretary Obaidul Quader on thursday
said BNP was like a representative of an
anti-Bangladesh foreign force when it was
in power.
"People were not the source of power for
BNP as its politics came through the barrel
of gun. Talks of public interests do not
suit this party. When BNP was in power, it
was like a representative of an anti-country
foreign force," he said.
He was addressing a review-meeting on
work progress of different projects under
the ministry at Setu Bhaban at Banani
joining it through a videoconferencing
from his official residence here. Bridges
Division Secretary Mohammed Belayet
Hossain was present at the Setu Bhaban,
among others.
About BNP secretary general's remarks
that serving public interest is not the purpose
of the AL government, Quader said
since its inception, AL has been giving
highest priority to public interest so that it
becomes the symbol of trust to people.
He said AL, which is the oldest and
biggest political party in the country,
remains in the hearts of the people, while
BNP does not believe in protecting public
interests. The minister said interest of the
country and its people is the top priority to
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The demand of democracy does not suit
those who do politics of killings and terrorism,
sell out the country's interest and
destroy the spirit of independence, he
added.
Quader said the country became champions
in corruption for five times during
BNP's tenure due to 'charisma' of BNP
chairperson while they staged 'Joj Mia'
drama after perpetrating the gruesome
grenade attacks on August 21, 2004.
two more pWs testify
in arms case against
papia, husband
DHAKA : Two more prosecution witnesses
on Thursday testified in an arms case
against expelled Jubo Mohila League
leader Shamima Nur Papia and her husband
Mofizur Rahman Sumon.
The witnesses are police assistant subinspector
(ASI) Jamal and one Habibur
Rahman. Both of them are seizure list witnesses.
After examining both the witnesses,
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge
KM Imrul Qayes adjourned the hearing
till September 6.
The court on August 23 framed charges
in the case.
Investigation officer (IO) and RAB Sub-
Inspector Arifuzzaman filed charge-sheet
against the couple in the case on June 29,
making 12 people witnesses.
Earlier on February 22, the Rapid
Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Papia and
her husband, along with two of their
accomplices, from Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport with counterfeit
banknotes, foreign currencies and cash.
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