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President forms EC with ex-senior secretary Habibul Awal as CEC
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26 Feb 2022, 18:28
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President M Abdul Hamid today (Saturday) formed Election Commission (EC) with former Senior Secretary Kazi Habibul Awal as the new Chief Election Commissioner (CEC).
The president also appointed a former judge, two former civil servants and a retired military officer as election commissioners (ECs).
The four ECs are former District and Sessions Judge Begum Rashida Sultana, Brigadier General (Rted) Ahsan Habib Khan and former senior secretaries Md Alamgir and Anisur Rahman.
"The president today appointed the CEC and the four ECs as per the power bestowed upon him as per the Article 118(1) of the Constitution of Bangladesh," said two separate gazette notifications issued over the reconstitution of the EC.
President Hamid appointed the CEC and the ECs from the recommended list of 10 names submitted by the Search Committee, which was constituted on February 5 as per the newly enacted 'Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Appointment Act 2022'.
The tenure of the immediate past election commission led by CEC KM Nurul Huda expired on February 14.
Source: BSS
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UK Properties Worth Millions Linked to Hasina's Inner Circle
Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on August 5 amid a mass uprising of students and citizens, shocking revelations have been surfacing one after another. In this context, significant properties belonging to close associates of the deposed Prime Minister, including former ministers and MPs, have been discovered in the United Kingdom. Reports indicate that over £400 million (approximately BDT 6,000 crore) has been invested in the UK real estate sector, with all the money allegedly laundered from Bangladesh.
On Saturday (November 30), The Guardian, a prominent UK media outlet, published an investigative report revealing these findings.
Earlier, British media The Observer (a sister publication of The Guardian) and Berlin-based anti-corruption organization Transparency International conducted a joint investigation into the matter.
According to the report, nearly 350 properties associated with Sheikh Hasina’s close circle have been identified in the UK. These range from apartments to sprawling mansions. Most of these properties were purchased under the names of offshore companies based in the UK and abroad.
Notable owners include former Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F. Rahman and members of the family of Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, chairman of the Bashundhara Group. Additionally, former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, Chairman of NASSA Group Nazrul Islam Mazumder, and their families own a significant portion of these assets.
The report states that members of Salman F. Rahman’s family own seven luxury apartments in London’s Grosvenor Square, most of which were purchased through offshore companies. In March 2022, Salman’s son Ahmed Shayan F. Rahman reportedly purchased an apartment there for £26.75 million. He also owns a flat in the area valued at £35.5 million.
Additionally, another family member, Ahmed Shahriar Rahman, owns four properties in and around Grosvenor Square worth £23 million, also acquired through offshore companies.
Lawyers for Shayan Rahman and Shahriar Rahman have claimed that all the properties were purchased in full compliance with anti-money laundering laws and financial regulations.
Salman F. Rahman, Vice Chairman of Beximco Group, is currently in custody in Bangladesh, facing allegations of money laundering. Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is investigating the charges, and the Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) of the central bank has frozen his and his family’s bank accounts.
According to the report, citing the UK’s Land Registry, former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and his family own over 300 properties in the UK valued at at least £160 million.
In September, Al Jazeera published an investigative report titled "The Minister’s Millions," which revealed that Saifuzzaman Chowdhury’s overseas properties are valued at an estimated $500 million. The BFIU has since frozen his bank accounts in Bangladesh, and the court has ordered the confiscation of his family’s immovable assets. He is also under a government-imposed travel ban, with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) launching an investigation into his alleged acquisition of illicit wealth.
Beyond politicians, wealthy and influential Bangladeshi businesspeople also own properties in the UK. In Surrey, members of Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan’s family reportedly own two properties purchased for £13 million through offshore companies. During a site visit, The Observer discovered a mansion owned by one of Sobhan’s sons.
On October 21, the government imposed a travel ban on Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and six of his family members and froze their bank accounts.
NASSA Group Chairman Nazrul Islam Mazumder is also under investigation for money laundering. Authorities in Bangladesh are probing how he and his family purchased five properties worth £38 million in London’s Kensington area.
In the wake of the Awami League government’s fall, an interim government led by Nobel laureate economist Dr. Muhammad Yunus has undertaken various reforms. The interim government is also striving to recover funds lost to corruption during the previous administration. Media reports have already uncovered massive overseas properties linked to many former ministers, MPs, and even non-political figures. A significant portion of this laundered wealth appears to have ended up in the UK.
Tourist Ship Services Begin on Cox's Bazar-Saint Martin's Route
After a long closure of more than nine months, tourist ships have resumed their operations on the Cox's Bazar-Saint Martin route.
On Sunday (December 1), at around 10 am, a ship named "Bar Aulia" departed from the BIWTA terminal in Cox's Bazar, carrying 620 passengers to the island.
Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh, confirmed the resumption of ship operations.
He said that today the first day of the resumption of ship operations on the Cox's Bazar-Saint Martin route, the ship Bar Aulia left for Saint Martin with 620 passengers.
Nilufa Yasmin Chowdhury, the Saint Martin Tourism Management Committee convener and Cox's Bazar Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) said the first ship departed successfully, and authorities inspected all arrangements.
It is worth noting that due to the recent navigability crisis in the Naf River and the lack of security due to shelling on the Myanmar border, ships are not being allowed to sail from Teknaf for the time being. Currently, only Cox's Bazar is approved as a departure point.
The government permits ship operations on the Teknaf-Saint Martin and Cox's Bazar-Saint Martin routes from October to March each year. Ships are closed for the remaining six months due to rough seas.
On November 19, a separate office order signed by Sabrina Rahman, Senior Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, formed a committee to control tourism in Saint Martin and gave some guidelines on the movement of ships from Cox's Bazar to Saint Martin.
This year, to protect the island's environment, the government has introduced a cap on tourist numbers. Travelers must now register through an app provided by the Ministry of Tourism before visiting Saint Martin's Islam.
The hotels where tourists will stay after reaching St. Martin's Island will be recorded and stored in the register. Billboards will be installed at the ship's departure point and at the entry point of Saint Martin including the do's and don'ts for tourists.
The Cox's Bazar office of the Department of Environment will coordinate the overall issues and communication. The committee can increase its members if necessary to facilitate its work.
Gold Price Today (December 3)
Since gold is an imported material, its price tends to fluctuate almost daily in Bangladesh. The price is determined accurately by the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS). The latest prices of gold in Bangladesh as of December 3, 2024, are as follows:
The price of per bhori (11.66 grams) of 22-carat gold is 137,227 BDT.
The price of per bhori of 21-carat gold is 130,998 BDT.
The price of per bhori of 18-carat gold is 112,289 BDT.
The price of per bhori of traditional gold is 92,134 BDT.
These prices were last updated on Sunday, December 1, 2024, by Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS).
India Should Acknowledge Bangladesh's New Reality: Mahfuz Alam
Interim government adviser Mahfuz Alam has stated that India must recognize Bangladesh's new reality and unequivocally acknowledge the July uprising and the democratic struggle of students and citizens in Bangladesh. He emphasized that this recognition should be the starting point. Ignoring the July uprising while shaping the foundations of the new Bangladesh would harm relations between the two countries.
He expressed these views in a verified Facebook post on Wednesday, December 4, at around 6:00 AM.
In his post, Mahfuz Alam urged India to move beyond its post-1975 playbook and embrace the new reality in Bangladesh. He stressed that this is no longer the post-1975 scenario.
He described the July revolution as a democratic, generational, and responsible movement, which will persist for a long time.
"The people of Bangladesh are no longer the same; they are now united and dignified. They will fight for their honor until their last breath," he wrote.
Alam warned that some India-friendly factions within Bangladesh assume the situation will stabilize and believe that ignoring the July revolution and the atrocities of the fascists will have no repercussions. "This is a misconception," he said. "People are watching everything!"
He accused Indian agencies of attempting to portray the July revolution as a power grab by militants, anti-Hindu forces, and Islamists. However, he noted, such propaganda and provocation are failing.
The adviser further wrote that slogans like "Delhi or Dhaka? Dhaka, Dhaka!" and "Homeland or Martyrdom!" are echoing across every corner of the country, uniting Bangladesh as a singular entity.
He cautioned India against turning this unified, dignified, and democratic Bangladesh into an adversary.
Highlighting that Bangladeshis are enjoying democratic rights without obstruction for the first time in nearly two decades, he stated, "Truth has emerged... and falsehood will be destroyed. Forever!"
Expressing firm resolve, Mahfuz Alam declared, "After 1971, we failed as a state. But not this time! Trust in Allah!"
Take Trip Ltd Celebrates 1st Anniversary
Take Trip Limited, a concern of US Bangla Group, celebrated its first anniversary yesterday 05 December 2024.
Serving its over 4500+ B2B clients, Take Trip Limited, in its short journey has become a major OTA (Online Travel Agent) in the Bangladesh travel market. It is committed to providing its clients with the best service along with providing access to industry-leading technology, which includes NDC and direct API of airlines such as Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, US Bangla, Air Astra, Air Arabia, Fly Dubai, Salam Air and many more.
The Take Trip team celebrated the event yesterday with its airline partners and esteemed guests.
Trade Fair in January: How to Get Tickets
The 29th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) will commence on January 1, 2025, and run throughout the month. For the first time, tickets for the event will be available online.
The fair will be held at the Bangabandhu Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center (BBCFEC) in Purbachal, Dhaka.
Bibek Sarkar, Secretary of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Director of the Trade Fair, confirmed this information to the media.
Key Highlights of the Fair:
The fair will be inaugurated by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor of the interim government at 10 am on January 1.
This year's theme highlights the sacrifices made during the July-August mass uprising, with special memorial corners named after Shaheed Abu Sayeed and Shaheed Mir Mugdha.
A Youth Pavilion will focus on engaging the younger generation, and a dedicated area for senior citizens will ensure comfortable seating for elderly visitors.
Facilities for Women Entrepreneurs:
Stalls will be allocated to women entrepreneurs at a lower cost, enabling them to sell products at affordable prices.
Fair Design and Features:
The entrance will showcase a theme inspired by the July-August mass uprising, while the fairground will highlight the EPB’s activities and various financial sectors.
Online Ticketing System:
For the first time, visitors can purchase tickets online through an app, allowing entry by scanning a QR code on their phones.
Tickets will still be available at physical counters, including BRTC bus counters.
Ticket Pricing:
Entry fees remain unchanged
Adults: 50 BDT
Children: 25 BDT
Transportation and Parking:
A dedicated BRTC bus service will operate from Kuril Flyover to the fairground daily from 8 am to 10 pm.
Ample parking facilities will be available to minimize visitor inconvenience.
Security Measures:
The fair will be secured by members of the police, RAB, and the army, with mobile courts also in operation.
International Participation:
Companies from countries like India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Singapore are expected to participate, with a total of 350 stalls.
Preparations for the event are nearly complete, with about 80% of the work finished, according to Bibek Sarkar.
Notably, the 29th edition of the upcoming trade fair will include 350 stalls and participation from various organizations from India, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
For this year's event, members of the police, RAB, and armed forces will be engaged in ensuring overall security. Additionally, mobile courts will also be in operation.
Moreover, the fair center will feature extensive parking facilities to ensure visitors face no inconvenience.
The Touch of Winter, The Season of Peace
At the end of the year, when winter arrives, our hearts are immersed in a new feeling. The misty winter mornings, dewdrops on the grass, the cold breeze, and the gentle chill in the air seem to present the aesthetic beauty of nature. This season carries the unique message of gentleness and tranquility.
Winter gives nature a new form. When the first rays of the sun break through the mist and spread light around, nature becomes even more enchanting. The winter vegetables scattered in the fields, the yellow glow of mustard flowers, and the dew collected on the branches of trees add a new dimension of peace to our minds. The mild cold breeze of winter nights seems to freeze the world; everything slows down, and the birds slowly emerge from their nests.
Winter also means a feast of food. Hot pitha (traditional sweets), steamed pitha, date juice kheer, and chitoi pitha make this season even more memorable. The taste of pitha with hot tea in the winter morning creates a unique sense of unity with nature. The winter food festivals on the city streets, with a variety of pithas and sweets, double our joy.
However, alongside this gentleness of winter, the severity of the cold brings hardship to the poor. Without warm clothing, their lives become unbearable. Therefore, standing by the poor and helpless at this time is our social and humanitarian duty. Distributing warm clothes, and blankets, or organizing winter relief efforts not only alleviates their suffering but also serves as a shining example of human compassion.
Winter is also deeply connected with our culture and heritage. In rural Bengal, during this time, gatherings for Jari, Sari, Baul songs, and Marfati-Murshidi songs take place. In the past, this was also the season when theatrical performances and folk dramas would flourish. Although these traditions have faded somewhat, their bright presence in our memories remains unblemished.
A special feature of winter is the unique adornment of nature. The beauty of roses, jasmine, marigolds, chrysanthemums, and bakul flowers surpasses the harshness of the season, adding an extraordinary charm. Just as winter decorates our lives in a new form, it also reminds us of our sense of responsibility towards society.
Winter is the season of peace and joy. It brings with it the aesthetic beauty of nature and the message of humanity. We can all share this gift of nature, especially if we stand by those suffering in the cold. By enjoying winter and fulfilling our duties, winter will truly become a season of joy for everyone.
