Rana Plaza Tragedy: Even after 11 years, the relatives could not forget grief



Raju Ahmed, Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
Photo: Barta24

Photo: Barta24

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Rahena Khatun of Jhikargacha area of Jashore district. Her daughter Mukta Akhtar took a job in 2010 at the 8th floor garments in Rana Plaza to support her parents' poor family. After joining the service, she took care of all the expenses of her mother's family. The family found some relief from the life of misery in the income of Mukta. But that happiness did not last. Mukta was killed in the Rana Plaza tragedy in 2013. Mukta's mother Rahena Khatun became destitute.

Even after 11 years of losing her daughter, this helpless mother did not mourn. Sixty-six-year-old Rahena Khatun came to Savar with a heart-filled cry. She was crying because of the pain of losing her daughter.

Mukta's mother Rahena Khatun was speaking on Wednesday (April 24) morning. Recalling the memory of her daughter, she said that she will take hold in the world of poverty. So came to Dhaka. Mukta was 18 years old. She used to send money to me. She used to send money by bKash or by any transport. When I wanted, she would pay Tk. 500, Tk. 800. That girl doesn't call me. She does not call the owner is killing my daughter by force. I can't open the girl's picture. The chest bursts. I come hoping to find a girl, but every year I don't get a girl.


Meanwhile, Khursida Begum of Shimal Tali area of Jamalpur Mesta Union lost her eldest son in a tragedy. After his father's death, Khurshad's eldest son Al Amin, unable to bear his mother's grief came to Dhaka for quiet work. Unable to find a job anywhere, Al Amin took a job at Rana Plaza Garments. However, the fortune of his son's income changed Khurshida's life. Affectionate son of mother has disappeared from the world when he came to erase his mother's pain.

Khursida Begum said, my son still floats in my eyes. Ponce walks in wearing sandals. Mom calls mom. My son used to call me and tell me to eat. I won't eat if you don't eat. You are my mother. You take care of yourself mom. Now my son does not call.

Khursida also said that my crazy son wanted to repay his mother's debt. He came to Dhaka to take good care of his mother. I also wanted to eat my son's earnings. He left on his own to do his duty to me.

1175 families have tragic stories like those of Khursida and Rahena Khatun who lost their children and loved ones in the Rana Plaza tragedy. On April 24, 2013, the multi-storied building called Rana Plaza, built next to Savar bus stand, collapsed. At that time, the building had a market on its own floor and a garment factory up to the 8th floor. About 5 thousand workers were working in the garment factory. Among them 1175 were killed. More than 2,000 people are still alive with fear after being injured in that terrible accident.


The complaints of the relatives of the deceased and the injured have not been fulfilled even after all these years of the Rana Plaza tragedy. Despite assurances, 11 years have passed but the culprits in the Rana Plaza tragedy have not been punished. In this world's third largest industrial accident, the fair demands of the workers were not met. As a result, the families are going through the pain of losing a relative for years with frustration and anger.

Meanwhile, the labor leaders said that due to the lack of goodwill of the government, the workers have not yet received their fair dues where the world is witness. There, the trial of the guilty is being carried out under the pretext of accepting the testimony of the workers. As a result, they demand to take quick initiatives to compensate the victims and reduce their suffering.

   

There are 45 more children in the Ashram, tell DB to take: Milton in the court



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Photo: Collected

Photo: Collected

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Milton Samaddar, chairman of the institution, told the court that there are 45 more children in the Child and Old Age Care Ashram, asking DB to take those children.

Milton said this at the remand hearing in the case of human trafficking in Mirpur Model Police Station in the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Begum Shanta Akhter on Sunday (May 5) afternoon.

Advocate Abdus Salam Sikder prayed for bail on behalf of Milton Samader seeking cancellation of remand. In the hearing, he said, Milton Samader sheltered the destitute, orphaned, half-limbed, starving humanity peddler. On September 6, 2020, a man named Rakib brought a child. Later Milton received him. DB was also in 2020, 21, 22, 23. There is a saying in the language of Barishal, if bitten by a curse, the poison of ants and ulla also accumulates. He alleged that Rakib was booked under the influence of DB.

He also said, I did not go to Rakib to bring the baby. Instead Rakib came to me with the child for feeding, reading, treatment, humanitarian aid. Where was he then? If there was another Mother Teresa in Bangladesh, she would be Milton Samader.

The lawyer said that the child with whom the case has been filed is growing up with the cook of the ashram. But after three years and 7 months, the case is in the limelight of the media. If the fault of the wife is found, it can be caught. Milton has now passed that stage.

Milton, who was in the court, said there are 45 more children. Ask DB to take it.

Dhaka Metropolitan Detective (DB) Police arrested Milton Samaddar in a raid in the capital's Mirpur area last May 1. After that, three cases were registered against him in Mirpur Model Police Station. 

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Sundarbans’ fire under control: Ministry of Environment



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
Photo: Barta24.com

Photo: Barta24.com

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The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change said that the Sundarbans fire which was burning for 28 hours has been brought under control. However, the ministry said that the fire fighting activities will be continued here for the next few days.

On Sunday (May 5) afternoon in the media, the senior Information officer of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dipankar Bor, said these things.

It is said that the fire in Amarbunia camp of Chandpai range under Sundarban-East forest division in Morelganj upazila of Bagerhat district is now under control. The fire did not spread to the top of the tree or branches, but only spread sporadically above the ground. Apart from the forest department, several units of the fire service, navy, police, district administration, upazila administration, public representatives, CPG, volunteers and local people are assisting in extinguishing the fire. Besides, an air force helicopter also helped in firefighting by sprinkling water from above.

Meanwhile, a three-member inquiry committee headed by Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) Rana Dev of East Sundarbans Chandpai range has been constituted. The other two members of the committee are Chandpai Range Jeudhar Station Officer. Obaidur Rahman and Dhansagar station officer. Rabiul Islam.

Chairman of Save the Sundarban Foundation. Sheikh Faridul Islam said that we do not have modern technology to save the Sundarbans from fire damage. The amount of damage would have been reduced if technology had been used. An investigation committee was formed when the Sundarban fire broke out, but the real cause remains unknown.

In this regard, Bagerhat district member of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (Bapa) MA Sabur Rana said that the incident of fire in Sundarban is worrying. The forest department has also identified the reasons for the repeated occurrence of such incidents in the past. This is happening because the forest department is not taking proper steps

East Sundarbans Divisional Forest Officer (DFO, Bagerhat) Kazi Nurul Karim said, due to various difficulties, the work of extinguishing the fire could not be started on Saturday. The work has been started from Sunday morning. It was joined by the fire service as well as a helicopter from the Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force. Local residents have also provided all kinds of support.

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Another 88 BGP members fled from Myanmar



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Cox’s Bazar
Another 88 BGP members fled from Myanmar

Another 88 BGP members fled from Myanmar

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Another 88 armed Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) personnel have taken refuge in Bangladesh through the Naf River at Shahpari Island in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar, amid ongoing clashes between Myanmar's junta forces and the rebel Arakan Army.

They entered Bangladesh through Kanchan Jetty of Sabrang Union of Upazila around 11 am on Sunday (May 5).

According to local sources, they entered Bangladesh through Kanchan Jetty of Sabrang Union of Upazila in the face of heavy attack by the Arakan Army around 11 am. Those BGP members surrendered to Bangladesh Coast Guard members stationed in three boats in Naf river. They disarmed the junta soldiers and supplied them with food and medicine and later handed them over to the Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB).

However, no official statement from BGB was found despite many efforts in this regard.

Earlier on Saturday, this incursion happened a day after 40 BGP members came through two points of Teknaf border in Cox's Bazar.

Among them, 14 people entered Bangladesh through Achar Bunia border of Sabrangrang Union of Teknaf and 22 people entered Bangladesh through Nazirpara border of the same upazila. Later, around 12 noon on Saturday, 4 more BGP members took shelter in Nazir Para, according to local sources and public representatives.

The Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) disarmed the BGP members and later transferred them by bus to Hnila High School. 

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Government agrees in principle to make entry age 35 years: Minister



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Photo: Collected

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Public Administration Minister Professor Farhad Hossain said that the recommendation sent by the Ministry of Education to increase the age limit for entering government jobs from 30 to 35 years is a policy decision of the government. He also said that measures will be taken after discussing it with the Prime Minister.

He said this in response to a question from journalists at the secretariat on Sunday (May 5).

The Minister of Public Administration said that the recommendation sent by the Ministry of Education regarding the age limit for employment is a policy decision of the government. I will discuss it with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Action will be taken as per the instructions given by her.

Farhad Hossain said that the Prime Minister spoke about the age limit of 35 years for entering the service. She discouraged this. The Prime Minister said that if the age limit is increased, there may be a problem with the retirement time.

Earlier, Education Minister Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury said in a letter sent to the Ministry of Public Administration that at present the age limit of 30 years is followed as a criterion for entering all types of jobs in government, semi-government, private and autonomous institutions. In this situation, students have been protesting on the streets for a long time to demand that the age limit for applying for jobs be 35 years according to international standards.

The government realized the issue in the election manifesto of Awami League in 2018 in page number 33 in the paragraph on increasing education, skills and employment, it was mentioned that 'reasonable measures will be taken in view of reality, taking into account merit and skills to increase the age limit for entering government jobs'.

For a long time, a section of job-seeking students have been agitating to make the maximum age limit for job application 35 years. They have been saying that the age limit for job application in different countries of the world is from 35 to 59 years. That is, eligibility is the only criterion for a candidate, not age. In light of that, they have been demanding to make the maximum age limit for employment in Bangladesh as 35 years.

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