Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today (Saturday) expressed his hope that Bangladesh would be able to fulfill its target of relocating one lakh Rohingyas to Bhasan Char from congested Cox’s Bazar camps by one year as UNHCR agreed to work on it.    “We have already relocated nearly 18,500 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char … we will resume relocating them (to the island) this month,” he told reporters at Tungipara in Gopalganj.    The foreign minister retreated that the relocation of Rohingyas to the island of Bhasan Char would be fully voluntary.          Dr Momen hoped that Myanmar will take back Rohingyas gradually as pressure on them would mount following the recent adoption of a resolution in the United Nations.   "I believe pressure will be mounted on Myanmar as the resolution has been passed by consensus," he added.    The foreign minister, accompanied by the Sylhet Awami League (AL) leaders, paid homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreath at his grave in Tungipara.   President and general secretary of Sylhet city unit AL and valiant freedom fighter Masuk Uddin Ahmed and Professor M Zakir Hossain, among others, also paid tribute to Bangabandhu. Source: BSS AH

Six passengers of an easy-bike were killed at Bokchar area in Gobindaganj under Gaibandha district when a passenger laden bus ran over it on Friday morning. The incident took place at around 7 am on Dhaka-Rangpur highway. Three people were also injured in the accident. Identities of the deceased were yet to confirm. After the accident Fire Service and Police members found three dead bodies on the spot. Fire Service members with help of local people brought the injured people to nearby Gobindaganj Upazila Health Complex where two people died. Later another person died while taking to Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital. Khairul Bashar, Officer in Charge of Gobundaganj Highway police station confirmed the information to Rtv news. Gobindaganj fire service staff Nure Alam said that the passenger laden night coach of Hanif Paribahan hit the battery-run autorickshaw at Bokchar area when it was coming from opposite direction. Gobindaganj highway police seized the bus but its driver and helper managed to escape. AH    

The United Nations (UN) has adopted a resolution on 'The situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar' by consensus for the first time.   "The adoption of the Rohingya resolution, for the first time by consensus, demonstrates the international community's strong resolve to end this crisis", said Bangladesh Permanent Representative at the UN Ambassador Rabab Fatima.    The Bangladesh envoy said this during the adoption of the resolution at the UN on Wednesday, according to a press release received in Dhaka today.   The resolution was jointly tabled by the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the European Union (EU).    A total of 107 countries co-sponsored the resolution, the highest since 2017.   Apart from the member states of EU and OIC, the resolution received significant cross-regional support, with co-sponsorship from USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Japan, Republic of Korea, among others.    "This resolution should now serve as an impetus for real actions in achieving a durable solution to the protracted Rohingya crisis through their safe and dignified return to their homeland in Myanmar", said Fatima.   The permanent representative said the adoption of the resolution with a strong mandate will bring hope to the Rohingyas that they have not been forgotten.    In the resolution, the member states commended Bangladesh for its generosity in hosting the Rohingyas, and for providing humanitarian assistance to them and also for including them in the national COVID-19 vaccination drive.    The resolution also recognized the Bangladesh government's efforts and investments in building the facilities in Bhashan char for relocation of a portion of the Rohingya from the congested camps, and in this regard, also welcomed the MoU signed by Bangladesh with UNHCR.    The primary focus of the resolution was the human rights situation of the Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar, including in the context of the declaration of state of emergency on February 1, 2021.    It called upon Myanmar to address the root causes of the Rohingya crisis, fulfill its obligations under the bilateral agreements with Bangladesh, and cooperate fully with the special envoy of the Secretary General on Myanmar and all the human rights mechanisms of the UN, among others.   The resolution also maintained its strong focus on the ongoing justice and accountability processes.    It also welcomed the appointment of the new special envoy of the Secretary General on Myanmar and requested for a work plan for her engagements in Myanmar.   It also called for renewal and effective implementation of the MoU between Myanmar and UNHCR and UNDP in an effort to create conducive environment in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.    "The Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina opened the borders in 2017 for the Rohingyas out of humanitarian consideration. Regrettably Myanmar's failure to create conditions conducive for the voluntary, safe and sustainable return of the Rohingyas, has created a protracted situation in Bangladesh," said Ambassador Fatima in her statement.    She highlighted the growing desperation of the Rohingyas with no progress in repatriation that led to several security concerns and cause of instability for the entire region. Source: BSS AH

The Environmental Protection Act is a comprehensive law that covers all aspects of environmental protection. In 2016, the environmental policy was renewed. Waste management is one of the five main aspects of that policy. Although the government attaches great importance to it in the environmental policy, it is not implemented. City corporations, the Ministry of Shipping, the Ministry of Commerce and all those who produce solid waste have to come up with an integrated policy. Engineer Md. Abdus Sobhan, former Additional Director General of the Department of Environment of the govt. and General Secretary of Paribesh Bachao Andolon (PABA) said. He said this in a virtual dialogue titled 'Solid Waste Management' on Monday. The talks were organized by BARCIK under the 'Dhaka Calling Consortium' Project, supported by USAID and FCDO and technically supported by Counterpart International. Writer and researcher Pavel Perth presented the concept paper in a discussion meeting and chaired by Md. Jahangir Alam, URP researcher and coordinator of Barsik and conducted by Ferdous Ahmed Uzzal. Lawyer Syed Mahbubul Alam and journalist Emran Hossain participated in the discussion as panellists. At the beginning of the program, the project manager of DSK Md. Rakibul Islam presented the details of the project. Khandaker Rebecca San Yat, Executive Director of the Cup, Sumon Ahsanul Islam, Technical Adviser, Dhaka Calling Project, Mesbah Uddin Sumon, Secretary of POBA also participated in the discussion. 

Foreign Minister Dr. A K Abdul Momen said that different occurrences are being staged in a planned way in the Rohingya camps to prevent Rohingya repatriation. He said this to the newsmen at a program in Sylhet on Friday. Meanwhile, six people were killed following infighting between the two rival groups at the Rohingya shelter camps at Ukhiya in Cox’s Bazar in the early hours of Friday. Seven more people were injured in the incident. One Mujibur Rahman was detained along with fire arms in this connection. Drives are also underway to detain other culprits. The Foreign Minister said, Rohingya repatriation process is going on. Those who do not want repatriation may stage the incident. He minister also informed that he was inquiring about the detail information in this regard. Abdul Momen said, a meeting was arranged with the home ministry yesterday to beef up law and order situation in the Rohingya camps and outside of the camps. In this situation this incident is nothing but being panicked. AH