Dhaka: Retired Major General KM Shafiullah, the first Army Chief of Bangladesh and a Sector Commander of the Liberation War, has passed away. He died at around 8:45 am on Sunday (January 26) while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka.

It is learnt that KM Shafiullah had been suffering from various physical complications including diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, fatty liver, dementia and others for a long time.

KM Shafiullah was born on September 2, 1934 in Rupganj Upazila of Narayanganj. He was the second in command of the 2nd East Bengal Regiment in Joydebpur in 1971. At the beginning of the Liberation War, Shafiullah was the commander of Sector No. 3. Later, when three regular army brigades (known as forces) were formed, he led the 'S' Force. He was also awarded the title 'Bir Uttam' for his special contribution to the Liberation War.

After the country gained independence, Shafiullah served as the army chief from 1972 to 1975. Later, he served as Bangladesh's ambassador to various countries including Malaysia, Canada, Sweden, and England. When he returned home in 1991, he was appointed OSD for a year. He voluntarily retired the following year.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has expressed his expectation that Bangladesh Customs will play a leading role in strengthening and strengthening the foundation of the country's economy and creating a rich revenue reserve.

He expressed this expectation in a message given on the occasion of 'International Customs Day' on Sunday (January 26).

The day is being celebrated under the theme "Commitment in Customs Service, Efficiency, Security, Progress".

The Chief Adviser said, 'In building a changed Bangladesh, I think Bangladesh Customs will restore the momentum of the country's economy by facilitating import and export and ensuring safe supply of goods.'

He also said, 'In the current global, political and economic context, I think that the skilled manpower of Bangladesh Customs will ensure rapid inspection, customs clearance and clearance of import and export goods in a technology-based manner. As a result, the supply chain of goods will be well-organized and the dynamism of the country's economy will be ensured.'

He welcomed the initiative of the National Board of Revenue to celebrate International Customs Day-2025 in Bangladesh, like other countries in the world.

Professor Muhammad Yunus, expressing his sincere greetings to all concerned, including the officers and employees, service recipients and partners of Bangladesh Customs, said that Bangladesh Customs has a unique role in continuing the country's economic activities, including expanding international trade, increasing foreign investment, protecting domestic industries and markets.

The names of 10 poets and writers were announced for the Bangla Academy Literary Award 2024 on Thursday (January 23). The list of names announced for that award has been postponed, said Cultural Adviser Mostafa Sarwar Farooqui.

He announced this in a post on his verified Facebook on Saturday (January 25) night.

In the post, he wrote, the list of names announced for the Bangla Academy Award has been postponed. It is also necessary to say that our first task is to quickly review the strange policies that allow such bizarre and quota awards. In addition, how will the Bangla Academy be run, what policies will it follow - all these have to be seen. We will now move towards radical reform of the academy. The country will be reformed, why not reform the Bangla Academy?

Earlier, on January 23, this award was announced in a notification signed by Director General Professor Mohammad Azam with the approval of the Bangla Academy Executive Council.

The awardees are - Masud Khan in poetry, Salim Morshed in fiction, Shubhashis Sinha in drama and dramatic literature, Salimullah Khan in essays/prose, Faruk Nawaz in children's literature, GH Habib in translation, Muhammad Shahjahan Mia in research, Rezaur Rahman in science, Mohammad Hannan in the Liberation War and Syed Jamil Ahmed in folklore. 

Addressing the student advisers, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, president of Nagorik Oikya, said, "You will change the country, make reforms, why would you cheat the people? You do not have neutrality in this. This is why Mirza Fakhrul Islam rightly said, if neutrality is violated like this, we may need a new neutral government."

He said this at a teachers' rally organized at the Engineer Institute Bangladesh premises in Ramna in the capital on Saturday (January 25) afternoon demanding the nationalization of teaching and staff jobs.

He said, for the past two days, there has been a debate in Bangladesh, which was not necessary. The question raised by your leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is reasonable. You will remain in the government, and you will also form a party, you will say men and women, it will not happen. It is not like three names will be associated with one of your names.

Students can definitely form a party, said Mahmudur Rahman Manna, commenting, "If you form a party, you can do it by announcing it, there is no prohibition in a democratic country. But you can form a party while in power or you are not forming a party right now, but when the party is formed, it will be seen that your name is included. Or if your name is added within 6 months of forming the party, then it will be understood that you have worked secretly from now until the new party is formed."

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman was virtually present at the teachers' rally as the chief guest. Also present were the party's standing committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moin Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Begum Selima Rahman, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu, former State Minister for Education and ERI Chairman Dr. ANM Ihsanul Haque Milon, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, among others.