Minister-MPs instructed not to participate in campaigning in upazila elections



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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The Election Commission (EC) has directed ministers and members of parliament not to participate in the campaigns of candidates for the upcoming Sixth Upazila Parishad elections.

Deputy Secretary of EC election management Atiyar Rahman sent a letter to the returning officers on Sunday (May 5) to implement the directive.

It has been said that in the sixth upazila parishad election honorable members of parliament and government beneficiaries may send a letter to the returning officer to refrain from participating in the election campaign by going to the election area and referring to the provisions of the upazila parishad code of conduct. The commission gave its decision.

In this regard, Rule 22 of the Upazila Parishad (Election Conduct) Rules, 2016 states, (1) Government beneficiary very important persons and no government officer or employee shall participate in campaigning or election activities in the constituency during the pre-election period: Provided that, if such person is a voter of the concerned constituency, he can only go to the polling station to cast his vote.

During the pre-election period, no contesting candidate or any other person, or organization on his behalf can use government propaganda machine, government vehicles, use any other government facilities and government officials or employees for election purposes.

Election Commission is conducting polling in four phases in 476 upazilas out of 495 upazilas. Election time for 19 upazila parishads has not yet taken place, later voting will be held in all those parishads.

According to the schedule announced by the EC, polling will be held in the first phase in 150 upazilas on May 8, in the second phase in 160 upazilas on May 21, in the third phase in 112 upazilas on May 29 and in the fourth phase in 55 upazilas on June 5. In the first phase, 22, 24 in the second phase, 21 in the third phase and two upazilas in the fourth phase will be conducted in electronic voting machines (EVM).

   

No registered Hajj pilgrim will miss Hajj



Mufti Anayetullah, Assistant Editor, Barta24.com
Photo: Barta24.com

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Director of Bangladesh Hajj Office Muhammad Kamruzzaman is hopeful that no registered pilgrim will be deprived of Hajj.

Hajj pilgrims without visas are in a state of uncertainty. However, Director of Bangladesh Hajj Office Muhammad Kamruzzaman told Barta24.com, "I am hopeful that everyone registered in the current Hajj season will get a visa." A few agencies are having complications with Hajj pilgrims, half of which have already been resolved. The rest of the work is in the process of being solved.

The Holy Hajj can be performed on June 16 subject to sighting of the moon in the month of Zilhaj. The Hajj flight which started from Bangladesh on May 9 will end on June 10. During this period, 85 thousand 117 people will go to Saudi Arabia for Hajj with guides under government and private management. So far 28 thousand 4 pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia. 82 thousand 100 visas have been issued. Still 3 thousand 336 people registered privately have not got their visas.

It is reported that Worldlink Tours and Travels (license 570, number of passengers 286), Ansari Overseas (license 601, number of passengers 260), Al Risan Travel Agency (license 672, number of passengers 444), Miqat Tour and Travels (License 1025, number of passengers 375), North Bengal Hajj Travels and Tours (License 1086, number of passengers 260), Holy Darun Najat Haj Overseas (license 1462, number of passengers 250) was mourned by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. 1 thousand 875 people are expected to go for Hajj this year through these agencies.

And Al Risan Travels Agency's registered Hajj pilgrims have not been issued a visa on Thursday (May 16), Ministry of Religious Affairs has written to the Home Ministry to bar the agency's managing director Md. Abdus Salam Mia going outside the country and legal action will be taken against him.

M Shahadat Hossain Taslim, president of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), an organization of Hajj agency owners, told Barta24.com, "We sat down with the owners of the accused agencies, including Al Risan Travels Agency, and discussed the problem point by point and tried to solve it." Already the visa process for Haj pilgrims of Holi Darun Najat Haj Overseas, Worldlink Tours and Travels and Miqat Tours and Travels has started. It will happen to others. He also expressed hope that no registered pilgrim would be deprived of performing Hajj.

When asked the reason for being so optimistic, the HAAb President said that the agencies have sent the amount of money needed to be sent to Saudi Arabia for Hajj management. And as many problems as there are, hopefully they can be solved.

If you want to know about this, the managing director of Al Risan Travels Agency Limited Abdus Salam Miah told Barta24.com, "I have not sent anyone for Hajj this time. Mufti Lutfar Rahman Farooqui of Akbar Hajj Group is sending 448 Hajj pilgrims using my license due to problems with his license. Mufti Lutfar Rahman spoke on the phone from Saudi in a meeting with the HAAb President about the current problem, he assured; Nowadays 20 to 30 people will get visas. And by tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, everyone's visa will be done. He has rented a house in Madinah, a house in Makkah is also about to be rented.

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Newton used to rape women players with the allure to travel abroad



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Photo: Collected

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Martial Art Jujutsu Association general secretary Rafiqul Islam alias Newton used to rape young players by offering them good opportunities and tempting them to travel abroad.

Commander Arafat Islam, director of the agency's law and media wing, gave this information at a press conference at RAB Media Center in the capital's Karwan Bazaar on Saturday (May 18) evening.

He said that Rafiqul Islam alias Newton also did horrible things like aborting minor girl players when they got pregnant due to immoral activities. He even entered the girls' changing rooms before practice, forcibly raped them, videotaped them and took nude pictures. Rafiqul was assisted in these activities by another woman of the association.

Commander Arafat Islam said that in the initial interrogation, Newton admitted to being involved in the rape. Rafiqul Islam Newton is a jujutsu trainer. Most of the association's trainees are women where guardians were supposed to be responsible for taking these young girls forward. But that person takes advantage of the weakness of young girls and tries to portray his low character.

Arafat Islam said that when the victim filed a case, the accused changed their location and hid in different parts of the country to avoid the arrest by the law and order forces. The second accused female player named in the case statement has already been handed over to Sher-e- Bangla Nagar police station in the capital.

According to the statement of the case, the general secretary of the arrested Martial Art Jujutsu Association, Rafiqul Islam alias Newton, with the help of a female player used to sexually harass other female players by falsely seducing and intimidating them. The victim had been training in jujutsu under Rafiqul for the past two years. Rafiq used to physically harass the victim on various pretexts during training sessions. Later, while the victim was changing clothes in the changing room after the practice, the arrested woman locked the victim in the room and called Rafiqul Islam. Later, Rafiqul raped the victim. The arrested woman then entered the player's room and took nude photos of the victim on her mobile phone and threatened to spread the nude photos of the victim on social media if she told anyone. A few days later, Rafiqul Islam took the victim to a flat in the capital and raped her several times under the threat of spreading her nude photos on social media.

On Saturday, RAB arrested two people, including general secretary of Bangladesh Jujutsu Association Rafiqul Islam Newton, in Mirpur and Shah Ali areas of the capital.

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Invisible border in Karail slums, dangerous if you step!



Al Amin Raju, Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Md. Rifat Hossain (18) a student is a resident of the Karail slum area of the capital. On the morning of March 14, Rifat went out to buy milk from a nearby shop when his mother wanted milk and rice during Sehri. Rifat was attacked there. Rifat was taken away by the opponents. In the dark of the night, he was beaten and cut with sharp weapons on the chest, back and body in various places and made them bleed. Rifat was rescued and taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with serious injuries. Rifat survived this journey.

Although Rifat survived, Al-Amin from the same area did not. Al-Amin, the son of deceased Muslim Uddin, was a grocer by profession. That day was August 17, 2022. Al-Amin went to the local Noorani mosque with his two elder brothers to offer Isha prayers. He was attacked while praying.

Al-Amin did not perform the second prostration after finishing the first rakat while standing in prayer. He was suddenly attacked from behind. After injuring him inside the mosque, he was taken and the veins of his hands and legs were cut. The opponent ensured his death by draining out all the blood from the body. His brother Nasir Hossain was also injured in that attack. And being in the front row of the mosque, another elder brother of theirs, Jewel Sarkar, survived the attack. However, Nasir could not return to normal life even though he was seriously injured and survived. Now only the memory of the head injury. Nasir's life is completely dependent.

This Karail slum area has long been known as a town of terror inside the capital. On one side is the elite area of Banani, where the upper class and elite families live. Meanwhile, this Karail slum has been built around the T&T colony. Lakhs of underprivileged and low-income people live there. It's like darkness under the lamp. The attack on Rifat or the killing of Al-Amin is a fragment of the terrible situation of terror and violence behind the people who work in that darkness.

Here the black shadow of politics is mixed with terrorism. Not only influencing the area - there has been a bloody conflict here for a long time due to the politics and rank-and-file conflict of Jubo League, a branch organization of the ruling Awami League. Clatter of weapons and verbal assaults, killings, injuries are the daily picture here. The more terrifying information is that most of the information about these clashes, killings and attacks are not in the police records. But many involved in violence walk in public.

This reporter spoke to Rifat, the victim of the March 14 attack. Rifat said, "I came back from the face of death. I filed a case. The police have not arrested anyone so far. All the accused are roaming around openly. Rather, they are now threatening to kill me and my younger brother in various ways. I am passing my life in fear."

Asked what happened on the night of the attack, Rifat said, a boy named Maruf called me and took me to the field. Tanveer, Tuhin, Mahbub, Masud, Sumon and others attacked immediately after going to the field. Poached with sharp knives and hoofs. Besides, the attackers hit different parts of the body with hammers.

This reporter also spoke to Jewel Sarkar, the brother of the deceased Al Amin. According to sources, Jewel Sarkar himself is the head of a party here. He was the target of this opponent's attack. Which Jewel himself admits. He said, "The attack was carried out with the intention of killing me. As I was at the front of the prayer row, my two brothers who were behind faced the wrath of the attackers. That night, the floor of the holy mosque was red with the blood of my brothers."

"They grabbed my younger brother Al Amin while he was injured and severed his arm. We later rescued him dead," Jewel said.

Jewel said that he himself filed a case as a plaintiff in this incident. The main accused in the case was later arrested but got out on bail in just two and a half months. The accused is now threatening again in various ways, Jewell said.

This Karail slum is built on about 190 acres of government and privately owned land. At least four lakh people live in slums. Most of whom are day laborers. In Karail slums, political leaders are using slum dwellers to dominate. The youth and teenagers here are being trained for use in terrorism. Not only indigenous weapons, but often they are using firearms to show their power. Recently they are using social media in this terrorist act. There are also precedents of threatening opponents by posting pictures on Facebook with weapons.

Sources said at least five youth gang groups are active in Karail slums. Each group has hundreds of members. They are controlled by two local political leaders. Noor Alam Nuru, a resident of Karail slum and Joint General Secretary of Ward No. 19 of Banani Police Station. Another former president of Jubo League Karail No. 1 unit of Ward No. 19 (proposed) of Banani is Jewel Sarkar. Exercising weapons and attacking the enemy's people to spread their dominance is a daily occurrence. But after any attack, both sides blame each other.

The investigation revealed that the name of a terror in Karail slum area is Noor Alam Nuru. Nuru and his people regularly publish pictures of weapons on social media. He has under his control several teenage gang groups. He attacked the opponent while standing in the mosque. Al Amin was killed in the attack.

When a case was registered in that incident, Nuru was arrested. After serving only two and a half months in jail, he was released. On his way back to the area from the jail, he was seen doing a huge exercise. It is alleged that Nuru controls most of the drug spots in Karail Slum area. At least 25 members of his family are involved in drug trade. And this is about drugs the people of his forces are constantly monitoring the entrance of the Karail slum area to ensure safety.

Another part of Karail slum is led by Jubo League leader Jewel Sarkar. Jewel, who serves as the president of the local Noor Mosque, claims that his family has been repeatedly attacked by opponents due to political conflicts. So he did drills in the area for self-defense. Sources confirmed that he also has multiple youth gangs under his control.

When asked about the conflict with Nuru, Jewel Sarkar told Barta24.com that enmity is created while doing politics. At one time we did politics together. Nuru created enmity with us thinking himself a big leader. After that they attacked us on different occasions on different issues. On August 17, 2022, my two brothers were hacked to death inside the mosque by Nuru forces. Even if one returned alive, he could not return to normal life.

On May 11, going to the Karail slum area of Banani in the capital, an invisible border between the southern part of the slum and the Banani lakeside part was seen. Neither side forgets to kill across the border. Even in the area under their control, they are careful because the enemy can attack at any time in the darkness of the night.

Recently, members of the Nuru force tortured Asif, a member of the Jewel group, in the dark of night. Asif's cheek was cut with a sharp hoof. This Asif himself controls a teenage gang group.

Stating that he is unable to live a normal life due to the cut of his cheek, Asif told Barta24.com that members of Nuru forces killed Al Amin by attacking him in the mosque and then picking him up. Later, it was my turn to participate in the human chain demanding the trial of the Nuru forces. I can't leave the house. 15/16 attacks so far. Cheek cut. There is no account of the number of cuts on the head. I get regular death threats.

Asif claimed that he used to work as a cleaner in a private company in Mohakhali. But I can't go to office because of cut on cheek because office people are afraid to see him.

Meanwhile, Barta24.com received more than half a hundred photos and videos of the two groups from various sources. Analysis of the images revealed that members of the two groups regularly posted images of weapons on video-based social media platforms TikTok and Facebook. Apart from indigenous weapons, Nuru also has pictures with foreign weapons. In addition, the leaders of the group exercise regularly in the area which has pictures and videos. Even when the Banani Police arrested the members of the Nuru Force and kept them in the police station cell, they made pictures and Tik Tok videos to show their dominance there. Both the groups have filed several cases against each other in various incidents.

Banani Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kazi Sahan Haque said, "We have already taken the case," when asked about the weapons drill of two groups and the dominance of juvenile gangs in Karail slum. I have arrested the accused. We are taking legal action against those involved in such activities.

Nuru, who dominates the identity of the leader of the Swechchasebak League, regularly posts firearms on social media. When asked about the non-action against him, OC Sahan said, "I am not aware of posting pictures of weapons. If you have information, send it to me and I will look into it."

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"If you need information, you will go to the central bank hundred times, there is no obstacle"



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
Photo: Barta24.com

Photo: Barta24.com

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Central Bank Deputy Governor Khurshid Alam commented that there is no barrier to journalists' entry to Bangladesh Bank and said, "You need information, go  hundred times."

He said this at the inauguration of 'Customer Awareness Week' program in Panchagarh on Saturday (May 18) aimed at increasing the awareness of customers about banking.

Deputy Governor Khurshid Alam said that Bangladesh Bank has appointed three spokespersons to provide information. Not everyone needs to talk. There are three spokespersons. Go to them. There is seating. Tea is available. If they cannot satisfy you, we four deputy governors will answer you. Where is the problem? It is also said that journalists are prohibited from entering Bangladesh Bank.

In one question, he said, what to say freely? Will a private company of yours freely give anything to another company? How many friends will you give to the journalist? Then you say you want to go to Bangladesh Bank freely. We did not forbid going. You don't go my people are ready for you. If you want to go to an officer alone, go. If you want to come to me alone, come.

He said to the journalists, your aim is the welfare of the country, so is ours. The country belongs to everyone. This is what Bangabandhu said.  Look at the Prime Minister; I struggle to run 17 departments. And the Prime Minister is handling the country and abroad. She can imagine how hard she is working.

Deputy Governor Khurshid Alam also said that a budget of Tk. 8 lakh crore  will be announced this year. Don't be misled by those who are spreading misinformation. Bangladesh is now a role model for many countries. The country is moving forward. There is no time to look back. People's incomes have increased. Many are unknowingly spreading misleading information.

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