The next election is open to foreign observers



Special Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Bangladesh will be opened to foreign observers in the next parliamentary elections, said Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen.

Foreign Minister made the remarks during a farewell meeting with Earl R. Miller, the outgoing U.S. ambassador on Wednesday (January 19).

Calling on the United States to participate in major infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, the Foreign Minister said that infrastructure is a priority for the Government of Bangladesh. They discussed ways to further enhance the existing excellent bilateral relations between the two friendly countries.

AK Abdul Momen thanked the US Ambassador for his active work in Bangladesh during his tenure. He also mentioned the vaccine assistance that Bangladesh has received from the United States.

Bangladesh has so far received 28 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine from the United States under the Covax program and will receive more in the near future.

The Foreign Minister appreciated the close engagement of the two countries on the issue of climate change and recalled the visit of US Special Envoy John Kerry to Bangladesh in April 2021. Both sides expressed hope that there would be a series of talks and visits next month.

The Foreign Minister of Bangladesh thanked the US Ambassador for his warm welcome during his visit to Washington DC in February 2021, the first visit of a Foreign Minister to the US capital since the Biden administration took office.

Abdul Momen thanked the US government for responding to his request to assist Bangladesh in restoring coastal dams and further development in the south of the country.

Foreign Minister Momen sent a letter to USAID Administrator Professor Samantha Power, to which she responded positively. As a result, the Division of Economic Relations, the Ministry of Finance and other relevant ministries of the Government of Bangladesh are in the process of launching a joint feasibility study with USAID to identify potential projects for strengthening coastal embankments in southern Bangladesh.

The Foreign Minister briefed Ambassador Miller on the ongoing Union Parishad elections as well as the Narayanganj City Corporation elections.

They also discussed ways of cooperation between the two countries in the field of human rights, including the organization of training programs.

The Foreign Minister thanked the United States for being the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to the displaced Rohingyas in Bhasanchar as per the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the United Nations.

Mentioning that Bangladesh was the best time of his career due to the warm hospitality from the government and people, the US Ambassador thanked Foreign Minister Momen and the Foreign Ministry for all kinds of cooperation and support.

He reiterated the United States' strong support for a political settlement of the Rohingya issue, not only through humanitarian assistance but also through repatriation. He also expressed the hope that his successor, who has a strong economic background, would make a significant contribution to furthering economic cooperation between the two countries. He further said that the United States is willing to work closely with Bangladesh on human rights issues through regular dialogue.

   

Dhaka is the sixth most polluted city in the world, Seoul is on top



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Today, Dhaka is sixth in the list of the most polluted cities in the world. The air quality of the capital has become 'unhealthy' with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 172 at 6:50 am today.

South Korea's capital Seoul topped the air quality index with 343. South Korea's Incheon, Pakistan's Lahore, Vietnam's Chiang Mai and India's Delhi occupy the second, third, fourth and fifth places in the list with AQI scores of 217, 187, 179 and 177 respectively.

An AQI score between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy' for sensitive groups. An AQI score between 201 and 300 is considered 'very unhealthy'. And an AQI between 301 and 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing a serious health risk to residents.

AQI in Bangladesh is determined based on 5 parameters of pollution, namely - Particulate Matter (PM10 & PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone (O3).

Dhaka has been suffering from air pollution for a long time. Its air quality generally becomes unhealthy during winters and improves slightly during monsoons.

In March 2019, a report by the Department of Environment and the World Bank stated that the three main causes of Dhaka's air pollution are brick kilns, smoke from vehicles and dust from construction activities.

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Taka 400 crores laundered through digital Hundi, controlled by Dubai



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested 5 people for allegedly laundering around Tk. 400 crore abroad through Digital Hundi using Mobile Banking Service (MFS).

CID Chief Additional IGP Mohammad Ali Mia informed this in a press conference at CID headquarters on Thursday (March 28) afternoon.

The arrested are - Nasim Ahmed (62), the owner of Tasmia Associates, Fazle Rabbi Sumon (32), the territory sales manager of Agent SIM, Md. Kamruzzaman (33), Zahir Uddin (37), representative of Jet Robotics Apps Bangladesh and Khairul Islam alias Pius (34).

Additional IGP Mohammad Ali Mia said, a gang has smuggled around Tk. 400 crore abroad through digital Hundi using mobile banking services. Five members of this gang were arrested during the operation.

He said that Tk. 400 crores illegally came to Bangladesh through Jet Robotics app in the last few months. Police traced the app through intelligence.

He also said that the money of this gang was transacted from the Chattogram based distribution house. Five members of the gang were arrested in separate raids in Dhaka and Chattogram on Wednesday night.

He said that Tk. 28 lakh 51 thousand cash was seized from them at the time of arrest. He said that they used to rent development agent SIMS and deliver money through them to the grassroots level.

The head of CID said that Mamun, the master of this gang lives in Dubai. He is using agent SIM here. This app used for smuggling cannot work outside 48 SIM along the specific link sent from Dubai. Only seven people can enter this app.

Referring to this as a modern form of Hundi business, he said, money is being circulated in the country through this app by blocking remittances coming to Bangladesh. Already we got 5-7 more such organizations who are working like this.

He said, in the last three months, Tk. 400 crores have been hindered from coming to Bangladesh through Jet Robotic Apps. Five people using these apps have been arrested and their devices seized.

He said, Chattogram's development distribution house Tasmia Associates company has 1000 Bkash Agent SIMs. These agent SIMs who are not performing well, the agent SIMs provide DSOs to the users of Jet Robotic Apps.

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Demand for punishment for those responsible for electrocution death in Moulvibazar



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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The death of 6 members of the same family due to electrocution in Moulvibazar is very shocking and heartbreaking. The chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Dr. Kamaluddin Ahmed said that the main responsible person and institution should be brought under accountability.

He made this comment at a discussion on 'Role of Media in Protection of Human Rights and Consumer Rights' organized by 'Business Digest' at a hotel in the capital on Thursday (March 28).

The Chairman of the Human Rights Commission said, after investigating the incident of Moulvibazar, appropriate legal action should be taken against those responsible and necessary measures should be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. We could not do anything for one family, but we have to do for hundreds of such families.

He also said that the issue of rights is directly and indirectly the daily practice of the media. Media can question all the irregularities; make people aware of their rights and duties and play an important role in establishing rights. We can carry out reformative activities only in view of the news published in the media.

Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed called on the media workers to take all-out efforts to spread the necessary knowledge about the constitution, law and rights among the people.

At one stage of the discussion, he said about the recurrence of fires, we have not learned proper lessons from the big fires and explosions in Nimatli, Newmarket and Bangabazar in the past years. Had we taken effective measures, recurrence of fires could have been prevented.

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Suggestion to introduce Human Rights Wing in the Foreign Ministry



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recommended setting up a new wing on human rights to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The suggestion was made at the parliamentary committee meeting held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhavan on Thursday (March 28). After the meeting, this information was informed in a press release of the Parliament Secretariat.

The meeting recommended taking necessary steps to recognize March 25 as International Genocide Day. A proposal was made in the meeting to visit the Rohingya camps Kutupalong and Bhasanchar with the members of the Standing Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Chairman of the committee AK Abdul Momen chaired the meeting and members of the committee and Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, Shahriar Alam, Nahim Razzak, Nizam Uddin Jalil, Nurul Islam Nahid, Habibur Rahman, Saimum Sarwar, Zara Zabeen Mahbub took part in the meeting. #

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