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UN fully supports efforts of Yunus-led Government
Rtv news
20 Aug 2024, 12:56
Photo: File Picture
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has written a letter supporting the Chief Advisor of the Interim Government of Bangladesh Dr Muhammad Yunus. He said the United Nations fully supports his government's efforts towards an 'inclusive and prosperous democracy.'
The Chief Advisor's press wing shared the letter on Monday (August 19) night. In the letter, the United Nations congratulated Dr Yunus on taking charge as Chief Advisor to the interim government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh.
Guterres said, 'Bangladesh is standing at an important juncture in its history. In this transitional period, the end of violence will ensure accountability and set the path for democratic elections, and Yunus' leadership will be crucial. I welcome his government's efforts to restore peace to Bangladesh and hold parliamentary elections.'
He also said, 'The United Nations is Committed to working with the Yunus-led interim government and providing any kind of support when requested. This request can be made through the Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team in the interest of Bangladeshi people.'
In the letter addressed to Dr Yunus, Guterres also said, 'I trust the interim government of Bangladesh to ensure full protection of all citizens and especially minorities.' I hope your government will take an inclusive approach, taking into account the voices of the youth and women as well as the minority and indigenous communities.'
UN Secretary-General said about the Rohingya issue to Dr Yunus, 'Given the deteriorating situation in Myanmar, I strongly urge you to ensure the welfare of Rohingya refugees.'
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Superfluous of Hajj Expenses, Air fare / Jubo League leader Taslim Behind the Scene!
M Shahadat Hossain Taslim, an influential leader of Awami Jubo League has formed an unprecedented 'commercial syndicate' with the Holy Hajj. He is the presidium member of Jubo League, the youth organization of Bangladesh Awami League, and the president of the Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB). At his behest, air fares for hajj pilgrims were increased unusually. This is because he is the General Sales Agent (GSA) of Bangladesh for the Flynas Airlines, a budget Saudi Arabian air carrier.
Three airlines carry hajj pilgrims. These include Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Saudia Airlines and Flynas Airlines. Around 90 percent of Hajj passengers are expected to travel on Bangladesh Biman and Saudi Airlines flights. And Flynas Airlines is supposed to carry 10 to 15 percent passengers.
However, breaking the rules, Taslim carried more than half of the passengers of Bangladesh Biman in Flynas flight. Thus, Taslim and the members of his syndicate took hundreds of crores of Takas from the pockets of pilgrims.
After the recent fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, the Hajj agency owners have spoken out against the arbitrariness of Taslim. They demanded to save the hub and the pilgrims from the `Taslim Syndicate’.
The agency owners said that, in 2023, Hub President Taslim became the General Sales Agent (GSA) of Flynas Airlines in Bangladesh. That year, the air fare of pilgrims increased from Tk 58,000 to Tk 1,98,000. Taslim worked behind this rent upsurge. And he took the extra fare in his pocket through Flynas Airlines.
In the year of 2023 Taslim reduced the number of flights of Bangladesh Biman and carried 20,000 passengers on Flynas. The same number of Hajj passengers carried this year as well. The extra rent went into the pockets of him and his syndicate. Taslim Syndicate is the `real villain’ of airfare hike.
HAAB members complain that Taslim has held the HAAB hostage by using the influence of Jubo League's presidium membership. Therefore, people of other political ideologies cannot come to the leadership of the Hub. In this regard, Taslim was very welcomed by former finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, former Prime Minister's adviser on industry and private investment Salman F Rahman and former Feni MP Nizam Hazari.
Under their umbrella, Taslim monopolizes and continues the Hajj trade. Hub members believe that Taslim also fled the country after the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government recently.
Hajj agency owners said Taslim and Awami Ulama League along with some opportunistic license owners took over the hub office in 2019. Later he declared himself as the the president of HAAB. He was assisted by the then State Minister for Religion Sheikh Abdullah(late) and Jubo League President Omar Farooq Chowdhury and Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat.
The victims said that the air fare for Haj in 2019 was Tk. 1 lakh 28000 . That rent increased to Tk.1 lakh 40,000 in 2022. In the next year, the air fare increased to Tk. 1 lakh 98,000. Despite widespread criticism, the rent was not reduced. Shahadat Hossain Taslim, the leader of the Haj Syndicate, acted as the mastermind behind the fare hike.
HAAB leaders said Taslim Syndicate members have been collecting additional air ticket fare and 1 percent house rent for the last 6 years. During this time, they embezzled Tk. 7000 crore. Not only that, he made the hub office a hangout for Jubo League and Ulama League.
HAAB leaders also said that almost every evening, the Taslim Syndicate conducts alcohol-gambling in the HUB office. Currently the hub office is occupied by his committee of Ulama League and his fellow Hajj license holders. The Taslim Syndicate has smuggled Tk. thousands of crores abroad by creating a syndicate in Malaysia.
Nazim Uddin, the owner of Al Nafi Hajj Travel Agency, told a media that this syndicate must be shattered and HAAB needs to be unblemished. He also advised that Airfare should be reduced and Hajj should be made within the reach of common people.
Meanwhile, Taslim could not be contacted as he was in hiding after the recent fall of Hasina's government.
New Routine Revealed of Postponed HSC Exam
The new routine for the HSC and equivalent examinations, which were postponed due to the situation surrounding the quota reform movement in government jobs and the change in government, has been revealed. The rest of the exams will start from September 11.
The schedule was published on the Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board website on Thursday (August 15).
Click here to see the HSC exam schedule: https://www.dhakaeducationboard.gov.bd/data/20240815145651126185.pdf
The postponed HSC exam is scheduled to be held from 11 September 2024.
Earlier, HSC and equivalent exams were postponed several times. First, the last July 18 exam was postponed. Then the HSC and equivalent examinations of all education boards on July 21, 23, and 25 were simultaneously postponed.
After this, another phase of the examination was postponed from July 28 to August 1. The next exam was scheduled to start on August 4, but it was postponed. Finally, on August 11, the remaining exams were scheduled to be conducted in the new schedule, but the HSC and equivalent exams were postponed indefinitely due to the burning of question papers.
Five more advisors to join interim government
The advisory scope of the interim government is getting bigger. 5 more advisors are being added.
On Thursday (August 15), this information was revealed by the Cabinet Department.
The new advisers will be administered the oath at Bangabhaban on Friday (August 16) at 4 pm.
However, their identity has not yet been confirmed.
Poison in students' food who is in charge of traffic control
Allegations of poisoning were received by students food who were in charge of traffic.
The incident took place in the Manda area of the capital on Thursday (August 15).
The video that went viral on social media that day shows that the student is foaming at the mouth. Another young man is taking him in a rickshaw.
In reply, the young man said, 'He was performing traffic duties on the road. A stranger gave him biryani. There was poison in that biryani.
Then the young man showed Biryani's packet, too. At that time, passers-by asked to take him to the hospital quickly.
The same video has been shared on various Facebook groups and pages. In those posts, netizens were advised not to eat food offered by strangers.
However, it is not known who gave the poisoned food to the student. At the same time, it was not possible to verify the truth of the incident.
Ziaul Ahsan in 8 days remand
The court granted an 8-day remand of recently dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan, who was arrested in the murder case.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Arafatul Rakib gave the order on Friday (August 16) afternoon.
Earlier, the police brought Ziaul Ahsan to the court from the DB office in the afternoon and applied for a 10-day remand. After the hearing, the court granted his eight-day remand.
Ziaul Ahsan was arrested from the Khilkhet area of the capital on Thursday night (August 15) in the murder case of shopkeeper Shahjahan Ali (24) on July 16 during the quota reform movement.
Ziaul Ahsan was appointed Director General (DG) of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Center (NTMC) on 5 September 2022. Since then, there have been direct allegations against him of helping Sheikh Hasina in phone hacking and assassination. Later on August 5, the day after Sheikh Hasina left the country, he was dismissed from the job.
Warning issued at Shahjalal Airport about Monkeypox
Despite the end of the Corona epidemic, many countries have not yet overcome its shock. Meanwhile, outbreaks of new viruses have been seen in various African countries. The virus called Monkeypox or Mpox is spreading rapidly in the world. Following this, the Health Department has issued a warning at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport about Monkeypox.
This warning has been issued as a precautionary measure as Monkeypox patients have been detected in different countries of the world.
This information was informed in a press release sent by the Department of Health on Saturday (August 17).
In the notice, airlines have been asked to be vigilant and immediately notify the health department if there are any symptomatic passengers.
Bangladesh receives 13 thousand crore remittance in 17 days
Sheikh Hasina left the country after resigning from the post of Prime Minister on August 5 in the face of student uprising. Since then, the amount of remittances coming through legal channels has increased.
In continuation of this, 13 thousand 374 crores came in the first 17 days of August.
The updated information of Bangladesh Bank says that the remittance received till the first 3 days of this month is 9 crore 56 lakh 50 thousand dollars. And remittance received from August 4 to 10 is 38 crore 71 lakh 20 thousand dollars.
Bangladesh Bank also says that in the first 17 days of August, remittances have arrived through legal means of 114 crore 42 lakh 20 thousand dollars. In Bangladeshi currency (as per dollar 118 taka) which amounts to more than 13 thousand 374 crore taka.
At this time, 15 crore 29 lakh dollars came through the state-owned banks, about 3 crore 77 lakh dollars came through one of the 2 specialized banks (Krishi Bank). More than 94 crore 14 lakh dollars came through private banks and 2.15 million dollars came through foreign banks.
The total number of banks which did not receive any remittance during the discussed period is 10. These include Bangladesh Development Bank or BDBL, the specialized Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB). Private Sector Community Bank, Citizen Bank, ICB Islami Bank, Padma Bank, Shimanto Bank. Foreign sector banks include Habib Bank, National Bank of Pakistan, State Bank of India and Woori Bank.
Incidentally, expatriates had announced to send money in hundi expressing no confidence in the recently departed Sheikh Hasina government. This suddenly reduces the speed of remittance. But after the fall of the government, that picture changed. Remittances are coming in a legitimate way.
