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At a Glance:
Key Reforms and Changes in the First Month of the Interim Government
Rtv News
08 Sep 2024, 11:35
Photo: Collected
On August 5, Sheikh Hasina's government was overthrown following a student-led coup. Three days later, on August 8, an interim government was established, headed by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. This interim administration consists of 21 members, including the Chief Advisor. Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, key coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement, have been appointed to the advisory board. Additionally, the Chief Advisor is supported by two Special Assistants and a Special Envoy for International Affairs. The interim government has already initiated reforms in areas such as human rights, the economy, administration, law enforcement, and public safety.
Highlights in a month include:
Human Rights
- The government has decided to withdraw criminal cases filed against students during the protests from July 1 to August 5.
- Steps are being taken to fast-track the dismissal of false and harassment cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act and Cyber Security Act.
- The United Nations will investigate deaths related to the student movement, while a commission has been formed to investigate disappearances.
- Bangladesh signed the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.
- A foundation will be set up to support the families of those involved in the student uprising.
- The President of the Emirates pardoned 57 Bangladeshis imprisoned for their involvement in protests, following a request from the Chief Advisor.
Parliament, Judiciary, and Election Commission
- On August 6, President Sahabuddin dissolved the 12th National Parliament.
- Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury resigned on September 2.
- Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan and five Appellate Division judges resigned on August 10, replaced by Justice Syed Refat Ahmed as Chief Justice.
- Asaduzzaman was appointed Attorney General on August 8.
- The Election Commission led by Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal resigned on September 5.
Politics
- BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was released by executive order on August 6.
- On August 28, the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami was lifted.
- The government stated that fascist parties would remain barred from rehabilitation until their trials are completed.
Financial Sector and Anti-Corruption
- The boards of 10 banks and one financial institution have been reconstituted, including nine owned by S Alam Group.
- Bank accounts of former ministers, MPs, and pro-Awami businessmen, police, and military officers have been suspended.
- A market-based dollar rate has been introduced.
- Administrators were appointed to mobile financial services companies.
- A committee is investigating stock market irregularities and allegations of money laundering against Beximco, S Alam Group, and Chowdhury Nafiz Sarafat.
- The ACC is investigating influential figures from the former Awami government, and a white paper on the economy is in progress.
- A new governor has been appointed for Bangladesh Bank.
Administration and Local Government
- On August 19, all Upazila Parishad chairmen, Zilla Parishad chairmen, city corporation mayors, and municipal mayors were replaced by administrators.
- Contractual appointments across various administrative posts have been canceled.
- Government employees are now required to disclose their assets.
- Changes have been made in top public administration and police positions, with promotions to Deputy, Joint, and Additional Secretary levels.
Law and Order
- 24 individuals, including former ministers, MPs, and police officers, have been arrested in connection with the mass movement.
- A special operation to recover weapons began on September 4.
Energy
- Electricity and gas prices will now be set through public hearings, not by executive order.
- A review committee was formed for power and energy contracts, and no new contracts will be signed under the 2010 special provisions law.
Health
- A committee was formed to provide assistance to families affected by the movement.
- On September 3, a 12-member expert committee was established to reform the health system and improve medical services.
Education
- School programs resumed with the reintroduction of science, humanities, and business streams in secondary education from September 1.
- The government canceled the postponed HSC exams on August 20 following student protests.
- Leadership changes occurred at universities, including Dhaka University, with a call for teachers to resign and end harassment.
Sports
- On August 21, Nazmul Hasan resigned as BCB president, and former national cricket captain Farooq Ahmed took over.
- Presidents of other sports federations were also removed.
Executive Orders and Decisions
- On September 5, Ganabhaban was designated as a "July Uprising Memorial Museum."
- The Advisory Council approved the repeal of the "Protection of Family Members of the Father of the Nation Ordinance, 2024" on August 29, removing special security for Bangabandhu's family.
- The national holiday for the Day of Mourning on August 15 was cancelled.
- An advisory committee was formed to regulate the naming of state institutions.
- On September 4, Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus instructed government secretaries to implement reforms at all levels.
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Cyclone Dana Intensifies, Storm Alert in 8 Districts
The cyclone ‘Dana,’ located over the Bay of Bengal and adjacent west-central Bay, has intensified into a severe cyclone as it continues to move north-northwest. Currently, it is positioned 490 kilometers south-southwest of Payra seaport.
This update was provided in a special weather bulletin on Thursday morning.
According to the bulletin, between 1 PM today, heavy rain or thunderstorms with gusty winds blowing at 60 to 80 km/h from the south or southeast may temporarily affect areas in Jessore, Kushtia, Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Comilla, and Chattogram.
The ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla, and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary signal No. 3.
Fishing boats and trawlers in the northern Bay of Bengal and deep-sea areas have been instructed to seek safe shelter and remain there until further notice.
Weather experts predict that the cyclone's direct impact on Bangladesh will be limited. Instead, it is likely to make landfall along West Bengal or Odisha in India. However, districts in Khulna and Barishal regions may experience some effects, along with the possibility of rainfall across the entire country.
Dr Yunus Calls for International Conference to Solve Rohingya Crisis
Interim Government Chief Advisor Dr Muhammad Yunus urgently called for an international conference to ensure a durable solution to the Rohingya crisis and the 'safe and dignified' repatriation of the Rohingya population to Myanmar.
He made this call in a message given on the occasion of United Nations Day on Thursday (October 24).
Originally, UN Day was observed on 24 October to mark the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945.
The United Nations officially came into existence on this day with the ratification of this founding document by a majority of the signatories of the Charter, including the five permanent members of the Security Council.
In a message given on the occasion of the day, Dr Yunus drew the attention of the United Nations to give 'urgent attention' to the Rohingya crisis. He said, "We cannot ignore those in Rakhine State (Myanmar) or Gaza who continue to suffer oppression, overthrow, and grave human rights violations."
The Chief Adviser said that including 40 thousand newly arrived Rohingyas, more than 1.3 million Rohingyas have taken shelter in Bangladesh, and said that Bangladesh calls on the United Nations to take final steps to protect civilian children, women, and men. At the same time, it also called for dialogue to ensure peace in Gaza Lebanon, and the wider region.
He said, "On this day, Bangladesh reiterates its commitment to work with the international community to build a more just and peaceful world for its common interests. At the same time, the commitment to achieve dignity and rights for all must be implemented."
On the occasion of the United Nations Day, Dr Muhammad Yunus extended his heartiest congratulations to all the men and women of the UN family around the world and reiterated his (Bangladesh's) commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter on behalf of the people of Bangladesh.
He also called for reforming the United Nations to make it more inclusive, transparent, and responsive to meet the aspirations of all people in an increasingly global context.
Train Schedule Disruption Persists
Although the derailed Panchagarh Express coach has been recovered, the situation remains unmanageable due to damage to the signaling system. As a result, each train is departing three to three and a half hours late.
On Saturday (October 26), not only the journey was delayed, but the railway authorities also canceled the journey of the inter-city Jayantika Express on the Dhaka-Sylhet route and the Agnibina Express on the Dhaka-Tarakandi route.
Meanwhile, passengers returning to Dhaka after a long time are also expressing their anger, blaming the authorities for the prolonged situation.
Railway authorities said that efforts are underway to normalize the schedule. They say the train is still running with the manual signal. Work is underway to fix the signal issue.
Although the carriage of the derailed Panchagarh Express has been recovered, the situation is still beyond control due to the damage to the signal system.
Meanwhile, the railway authorities have formed an inquiry committee into the derailment of the coach. Action will be taken subject to the report of the committee.
It is to be noted that the Panchagarh Express train met with an accident at the Kamalapur railway station area on Thursday (October 24). In this, 3 coaches of the train fell off the line. However, no one was injured.
6 Killed as Truck, CNG Collide in Narsingdi
Six people were killed in a head-on collision between a truck and a CNG-run auto-rickshaw at Shibpur in Narsingdi this afternoon.
The accident took place on the Itakhola-Monohardi road in the Pacharbari area of Shibpur on Saturday (October 26) afternoon.
The victims were not immediately identified.
Shibpur Police Station's Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Afzal Hossain confirmed this.
According to the police, and locals, a CNG carrying passengers from Itakhola was going to Manohardi on Saturday afternoon. When the autorickshaw reached a place called Pacharbari, it collided with a truck going to Itakhola. The CNG was completely twisted. Six people, including the autorickshaw driver and passenger, died on the spot. After receiving the information, the fire service and the police are conducting a rescue operation.
He said that all the victims were passengers of the autorickshaw. Among them, there is a woman. We are currently working to recover the bodies and their identities.
Ex-DMP Commissioner Detained at Airport While Leaving Country
Retired Additional IGP and former Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandaker Golam Faruk was detained at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while leaving the country for Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed an application against him for corruption of Tk3,000cr.
A source in charge of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport confirmed that he was detained around 3 am on Sunday (October 27).
It is known that Golam Faruk was going to Bangkok on Thai Airways flight TG-340 for a personal visit. However, he was interrogated by immigration officials after going to the airport's exit immigration counter.
After that, he was not allowed to board the plane. Golam Faruk is currently with the Immigration Police. It has not yet been decided whether he will be handed over to the police or he will return home.
Golam Faruk joined Bangladesh Police as Assistant Superintendent of Police in the 12th BCS (Police) cadre in 1991. On October 29, 2022, he assumed responsibility as the 35th Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
After a long career of 32 years and 8 months, he retired on September 30, 2023. This retired police officer is reported to have a US green card.
Ex-Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain Arrested
Former Minister of Housing and Public Works and former Member of Parliament of Chattogram-1 Constituency Engineer Mosharraf Hossain has been arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.
He was arrested from the capital's Bashundhara residential area on Sunday (October 27)
Muhammad Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (media and public relations) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), and DB Additional Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) Rezaul Karim Mallik confirmed the matter.
Talebur Rahman said that Mosharraf, the former Awami League lawmaker from Chattogram-1, was accused in a murder case filed at Paltan Police Station.
Engineer Mosharraf Hossain won the 1st, 3rd, 7th, 9th, 10th, and 11th parliamentary elections as an Awami League candidate from Chattogram-1 Constituency.
He was also the Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism in the period from 1997 to 2001, before taking charge of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works in the 10th National Parliament.
HSC, Equivalent 2024 Re-evaluation Result Date
The results of HSC and equivalent re-scrutiny 2024 will be published on November 14, said Inter-Education Board Coordination Committee Chairman Professor Tapan Kumar Sarkar.
He revealed this information to the media on Sunday (October 27).
Professor Tapan Kumar Sarkar said that the results of the re-evaluation are usually published within one month of the publication of the main results of HSC and equivalent examinations. As a result, on November 14, all the education boards will publish the results of the re-scrutiny of the HSC and equivalent examination.
Officials related to the examination of the Dhaka Board said that the board has not yet received the information about how many students have applied for re-revision of the HSC and equivalent examination results from all over the country.
They also said that the exam papers of students are not re-evaluated. Only the marks given by the examiners are checked whether they are added correctly or not.
Earlier, the HSC and equivalent exam results were released on October 15. The average pass rate in 11 education boards is 77.78 percent. Application for re-evaluation of results was taken from October 16 to 22.
The HSC and equivalent exams started on June 30. There were 14 lakh 50 thousand 790 candidates. As per the first published routine, after 8 days of examinations, all examinations on 18th July were postponed due to the situation surrounding the quota reform movement. After that, the government suspended the examination in three stages.
Based on the marks obtained by the student in the SSC examination, the education board has prepared the result with the same marks in the HSC. Moreover, if there is no match between the department and the subject, the subject mapping methods have been followed.
