21-09-2022

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBEr 21, 2022
3
As part of empowering children, a complain box has been established at KAH Ideal School at Mugda
under Dhaka South City Corporation in the capital.
Photo : Courtesy
Complain box
established at city
school to facilitate
students to exercise
their rights
As part of empowering
children, a complain box
has been established at
KAH Ideal School at
Mugda under Dhaka
South City Corporation in
the capital.
Students of the school
from now on will get
chance to express their
constructive opinion
through the box, which has
been set up with the
support of INCIDIN
Bangladesh,
a
development organization
working for promoting the
rights of children, a press
release said.
Any student (male or
female) can submit their
opinion in writing
regarding the violation of
their rights. The school
authorities will take
necessary measures
following receiving their
opinion/complain.
The initiative is in line
with the compliance of the
verdict of the High Court,
which in a landmark ruling
in 2011 asked to take steps
for halting both physical
and mental torture to
children.
It may be mentioned that
a notice aimed at stopping
physical and mental
torture to children had
been unveiled at the same
school on October 26 last
year.
AKM Mustaque Ali,
Executive Director of
INCIDIN Bangladesh;
Naushad Mahboob Mirza,
Project Coordinator of
INCIDIN Bangladesh;
Khandaker
Moniruzzaman, Chairman
of the KAH Ideal School;
Israt Jahan Bristi,
Principal of the school;
among others, were
present on the occasion on
Monday.
Dhaka air quality
remains ‘moderate’
DHAKA : Dhaka's air quality continues to be in the 'moderate'
zone.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 68 at 9am on Tuesday,
the metropolis ranked 23rd in the list of world cities with the
worst air quality.
An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered 'moderate' with an
acceptable air quality. However, there may be a moderate health
concern for a very small number of people who are unusually
sensitive to air pollution.
Pakistan's Lahore, India's Delhi and Vietnam's Hanoi
occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 164,
162 and 146, respectively.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy',
particularly for sensitive groups.
Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor',
while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing
serious health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants-
Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and
Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air
quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during
the monsoon.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for
death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long
been recognised as increasing a person's chances of developing
a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and
cancer, according to several studies.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution
kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year,
largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart
disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and
acute respiratory infections.
DMP arrests 43 for
selling, consuming
drugs in city
DHAKA : The members of the Detective Branch (DB) of the
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in several anti-drug raids
arrested a total of 43 people on charges of selling and
consuming drugs during the last 24 hours till 6am yesterday.
The DB in association with local police carried out the
drives simultaneously at different parts of the metropolis
from 6am of September 19, according to a DMP release. In
separate anti-drug raids, police seized huge drugs from their
possessions.
During the anti-drug raids, police seized 1,618 pieces of
contraband yaba tablets, 4.946 kilograms of cannabis
(ganja), 107 grams of heroin, 20 bottles of phensidyle syrup,
21 liters of locally made liquor and five drug injections from
their possessions, the release added.
Police filed 36 separate cases against the arrestees in these
connections with respective police stations under the
Narcotics Control Act.
BCL activist
injured in Ctg
road crash
dies in Dhaka
CHATTOGRAM : An activist
of Bangladesh Chhatra
League (BCL) of Chattogram's
Sitakundu upazila unit, who
sustained injuries in a
collision between a
motorcycle and a lorry in
Sitakunda upazila six days
ago, died at a Dhaka hospital
on Tuesday.
The deceased was identified
as college student Mehraj
Bhuiyan, 22, a resident of the
upazila and an activist of
union unit BCL.
He succumbed to his
injuries at IBN Sina
Specialized Hospital in the
capital in the morning while
undergoing treatment, said
Barabkunda UP Chairman
Sadakat Ullah Miyaji.
On September 14, Mehraj
was injured as a lorry hit his
motorcycle at Faujdarhat of
the upazila.
He was taken to
Chattogram Medical College
and Hospital (CMCH) first
and then to the Dhaka
hospital, said the UP
chairman.
Ershad
Market fire
doused, no
casualties
DHAKA : A fire that broke out
at a commercial building in
the Wari area of the capital
early on Tuesday morning has
been doused, officials said.
Fortunately, no casualties
were reported.
The fire began around 6am
on the ground floor of a twostorey
building at
Kaptanbazar Ershad Market.
Four fire tenders were
pressed into service and it
took them half an hour to
douse the flames, Shahjahan
Shikder, deputy assistant
director (media cell) at Fire
Service and Civil Defence
headquarters, told UNB.
Dhaka Ahsania Mission organized a press conference titled "Demand for quick passing of the draft
amendments to the Tobacco Control Act made by the Ministry of Health" at National Press Club yesterday.
Photo : Courtesy
DU student
found dead
at Jagannath
Hall
DHAKA : A student of
Dhaka University (DU) was
found dead at Jagannath
Hall of the university on
Tuesday.
Amit Sarkar, 24, was a
post graduate student of
Dhaka University's Institute
of Leather Engineering and
Technology.
Amit, son of Chittaranjan
Sarkar of Baliaghat village of
Jessore, was found
unconscious in the
dormitory around 11:30 am
and taken to Dhaka Medical
College Hospital where
doctors declared him dead.
Amit's roommate Sajib
Mitra said, "We live in room
number 4011 of Jagannath
Hall. Last night Amit fell
asleep around 1.30 am.
When we tried to wake him
up around 10:30 am today,
he did not respond. Later,
with the help of other
roommates, he was taken to
DMCH."
DMCH police camp incharge
Inspector Md.
Bachchu Mia said the
student was brought dead to
the emergency unit of the
hospital and the body has
been kept at the morgue for
post-mortem.
BCL factions withdraw
blockade at CU
CHATTOGRAM : The protesting factions of
Bangladesh Chhatra League's (BCL)
Chittagong University unit withdrew their
indefinite blockade on Tuesday a day after
enforcing it demanding posts in the full
committee of the unit.
Upon assurance from Chittagong City
Awami League General Secretary AJM Nasir
Uddin, the six sub-groups of CU BCL
withdrew the blockade, said CU BCL vice
president Rakibul Hasan Dinar.
Another group, followers of Deputy
Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan
Chowdhoury Nowfel, also withdrew the
blockade, he added.
Meanwhile, CU acting registrar Professor
SM Monirul Hasan said the main gate of the
university and the transport office cannot be
put under lock and key from now on.
The university administration will issue a
notice in this regard. "The administration
will take action if anyone locks the main
gate," he added.
A group of BCL leaders and activists
started protest around 8 am on Monday and
locked the main gate of the university,
halting classes and exams of the university.
Teachers' buses could not leave the
campus for Chattogram in the morning,
university. Besides, the shuttle train service
also came to a halt, he added.
The agitated BCL activists placed a threepoint
demand including posts in the
committee.
Earlier on August 1, BCL activists, who
didn't get any posts in the new committee,
enforced a blockade programme halting
classes and exams of the university following
announcement of the full committee of the
unit.
After three years, the full committee of the
CU unit of BCL was announced on July 31.
Dengue numbers keep rising
1,560 patients undergoing
treatment at hospitals
DHAKA : Another 438 dengue patients were
hospitalised in 24 hours till Tuesday morning
as cases keep rising across the country.
Of the new patients, 315 were admitted to
different hospitals in Dhaka and 123 outside it,
according to the Directorate General of Health
Services (DGHS).
On Sunday, this year's death toll from the
mosquito-borne viral disease rose to 45 with
another death reported from Chattogram
division.
So far 21 deaths from dengue have been
recorded in Dhaka division, four in Barishal
division and 20 in Chattogram division.
A total of 1,560 dengue patients, including
1,191 in the capital, are now receiving treatment
at hospitals in the country.
On June 21, the DGHS reported the first
death of the season from the viral disease.
This year, the directorate has recorded
12,007 dengue cases and 10,402 recoveries so
far.
Farewell reception and debut of Bangladesh Technical Employee Association was held at TSC auditorium
yesterday. DU VC Prof. Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman was present as chief guest. Photo : Courtesy
Khaleda's
appearance
in 11 cases
on Jan 23
DHAKA : A court
yesterday set January 23
for the appearance of
BNP chairperson Begum
Khaleda Zia before it in
11 cases filed against her.
Wednesday was fixed
for the appearance of the
BNP chief before the
court but Dhaka
Metropolitan Sessions
Judge Asaduzzaman
reset the date as Khaleda
Zia failed to appear
because of her "poor
health".
Of the 11 cases, eight
were filed with Darus
Salam Police Station and
two others were filed
with Jatrabari Police
Station for her role in
BNP's vandalism during
its hartal in 2015. These
ten cases were filed by
police, while a sedition
case was filed against the
BNP chief by a person.
Later in 2016, police
submitted a charge sheet
against Khaleda and
others accused.
Along with Begum Zia,
the notable accused in
these cases are BNP
leaders Amanullah
Aman, Habib-un-Nabi
Khan Sohail and Sultan
Salauddin Tuku.
Irregularities in leasing
Egypt Air planes: ACC
questions 7 CAAB officials
DHAKA : Anti-Corruption
Commission (ACC) has
questioned seven officials of
Civil Aviation Authority of
Bangladesh (CAAB) over
two days as part of the
investigation against
allegation of irregularities
over Biman Bangladesh
Airlines processing two
Egypt Air planes in 2009-
14.
Deputy Director of ACC
Public Relations,
Muhammad Arif Sadeq,
told UNB that the CAAB
officials were questioned as
the irregularities cost the
national flag carrier a loss of
Tk1,100 crore.
The Commission quizzed
principal assistant director
of CAAB, Saiful Haque, air
worthness consultant
Golam Sarwar, BFCC
manager Sadequl Islam
Bhuiyan and Kamal Uddin
Ahmed yesterday while
chief
engineer
(maintenance) SM
Siddique, principal
engineer (I and QA) SM
Hanif and principal
engineer (MCC) Devesh
Choudhury were
interrogated yesterday.
However, director of flight
operation and team leader
of inspection team Israt
Ahmed did not face the
interrogation on the first
day of the interrogation.
A team led by ACC Deputy
Director Md Salahuddin
and Assistant Director
Jasmine Akhter is
investigating the allegation.
On April 24, the
Parliamentary Standing
Committee on the Ministry
of Civil Aviation and
Tourism recommended the
investigation.
According to the
Commission, Biman
Bangladesh lost Tk 1,100
crores for leasing aircraft
from Egypt Air in 2014.
The engines of one of the
aircraft were damaged after
operating a flight in
February 2015 while the
national flag carrier Biman
rented another engine from
Egypt Air.
The rented engine was
damaged a year and a half
later while another engine
was rented and the last
engine was sent to another
company in the United
States for servicing without
a timeline.
The Commission said it
will question more officials
if it found the information.
Court stays
Selim Khan's
bail, orders to
surrender
DHAKA : An apex court
yesterday stayed the fourweek
anticipatory bail
granted by High Court to
Laxmipur Model Union
Parishad's chairman Selim
Khan and ordered him to
surrender before it by
September 27.
Justice M Enayetur
Rahim of the Chamber
Court of the Appellate
Division of the Supreme
Court passed the order
yesterday morning.
Defence attorney
Advocate Momtaz Uddin
Fakir and Anti Corruption
Commission (ACC) lawyer
Advocate M Khurshid
Alam Khan were present at
the court.
The High Court on
September 14 granted the
four-week anticipatory bail
to Selim Khan in a case
lodged over amassing
illegal wealth.
The ACC pleaded to stay
the bail proceedings
arguing that the defendant
was not eligible to secure
the bail due to the gravity of
his offence.
On August 1, the ACC
filed the case against Selim
Khan for acquiring illegal
wealth of Taka 34.53 crore.
He is also accused of
concealing information of
the wealth of Taka around
67 lakh.