MUJIB YEAR

Prime Minister declares 2020-2021 as Mujib Year



Staff Correspondent
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Photo: Collected

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Photo: Collected

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Dhaka,(Barta24): Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared 2020-2021 year as Mujib Year on the centenary of the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

On Monday(March 18) she told this in a discussion meeting organized by Bangladesh Awami League in connection with the observance of 99th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu and National children day held at Bangabandhu International Center. As president of the party Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.

The Prime Minister told, ‘On the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation we have declared 202-2021 as Mujib Year. We have formed a committee for this purpose. I want that the preparation should begin right now from the union level across the country. The celebration will start from the date of birth next year. Because Bangabandhu gave us independence. To make the independence meaningful Bangabandhu dreamt of a hunger free , poverty free developed and prosperous Bangladesh which we shall have to be translated into reality.’

The head of the government called upon the people to take vow so that the anti-liberation forces, grenade attackers of August 21, arms smuggler, money grabber of the orphans cannot come to power. We must be cautious so that none can play with the fortunes of the people. This Bangladesh is the country of Mujib so the rights of people must be kept on high.’

Bangabandhu not only played heroic role in country’s liberation but contributed enormously in the great language movement since its beginning but unfortunately that has been ignored by the writers and others, she said. Bangabndhu embraced imprisonment in 1948 for demanding Bangla as the state language when the Pakistani rulers wanted to impose Urdu on us. But our history writers did not mention it rather highlighted the roles of other few people, she said.

In the discussion the Prime Minister said, the contributions of Bangabandhu were erased by the then government. It was revealed from Pakistani secret reports filed by the Pakistan intelligence department. In 1996 I collected those reports. I found the role of Bangabandhu in those reports. When at that time I disclosed the role of Bnagbandhu some accused me and wrote in the news papers that I ‘invented’ those facts.

Sheikh Hasina said that truth has come out when the Bangabandhu’s unfinished autobiography, diary of the prison and the secret intelligence reports were published. The secret reports have been published in two volumes. In the second volume the role of Bangabnadhu in 1952 language movement has been surfaced. How he contacted and inspired the language movement being imprisoned will be published soon.

The daughter of Bangabandhu said that the language movement was the inception of independence. After getting release from jail on February 27, 1952 he again started movement for making Bangla as state language. He then understood the West Pakistanis would not allow us to speak in Bangla. He realized more that these people(West Pakistanis)would snatch our everything and was not possible to live with them. Bangabandhu decided at that time we need a separate homeland for our survival. In 1958 after the promulgation of Martial Law by Ayub Khan, Bangabnadhu was arrested and put into jail for an indefinite period.

Regarding immediate past election Sheikh Hasina told that from 2001-2008 we had passed a black chapter but in 2008 people gave vote to Awami League but none raised any question. About 84% vote were cast. BNP got only 28 seats. Awami League got clear two third majority. Next they(BNP-Jamaat) tried to foil the election of 2014 but the people resisted their ill attempt. Awami League retained in power. Regarding election of 2018, she said that all the international survey reports have clearly pointed out that during Awami League government’s rule Bangladesh has advanced tremendously. They further mentioned in their reports that during this time we have reduced the rate of poverty, country is heading towards economic self reliance, per head income increased, militancy have been suppressed, people got back peace so they voted us, she categorically said.

But another group taking BNP, war criminal Jamaat in their fold jumped into election and faced a limbo. Even they were indecisive who would be their Prime Minister. They went to election when their leaders were in jail on charge corruption or fled abroad as a criminal. So this unprepared election mongers naturally were rejected by the people. Jamaat did not get a single seat. To make it worse they nominated 700 candidates for 300 seats. So how they will get vote, she questioned.

The meeting was jointly conducted by Awami League Publicity secretary and Information Minister Dr. Hassan Mahmud and deputy Publicity secretary Aminul Islam. While the meeting was addressed by presidium members Amir Hossain Amu MP, Begum Motia Chowdhury, Tofael Ahmed, Dhaka University History department teacher Prof Dr. Anowar Hossain, Awami League central Committee joint secretary Mahbubul Alam Hanif MP, Organizing secretary Ahmed Hossain, former Food Minister Qamrul Islam, Women affairs secretary Fazilatunnessa Indira, member Azmatullah Khan, central relief & rehabilitation secretary Sujit Roy Nandi, Dhaka City North Awami League secretary Sadeq Khan, Dhaka City South Awami League general secretary Shahe Alom Murud and others.

   

Case filed for trafficking Chakma girl to China



District Correspondent, Barta24.com, Rangamati
Photo: Collected

Photo: Collected

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The victim's sister approached the police stating that Pahari Chakma picked up the girl and detained her in the capital and tried to smuggle her to China. On Wednesday (May 1) afternoon, a case was filed under the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act at Naniarchar police station in Rangamati with a request to rescue the girl.

In this case, four women traffickers and four male traffickers have been named as a total of eight people and 4/5 others have been named as accused. Nanyarchar police confirmed the case to the reporter. The police said that they are unable to give the details of the accused for the sake of investigation.

In the statement of the case, the victim's sister mentioned that her younger sister, 21-year-old Beauty Chakma (pseudonym), was taken to Dhaka on April 1 in the name of admitting her to nursing. First, she was taken out of her home in Garjantali village of Burighat union under Naniarchar police station of Rangamati and taken to Jurachari Benuban area of Ghilachari union of Naniarchar. Later, she was taken from there to Dhaka in a microbus.

In the statement of the case, the plaintiff mentioned that beauty Chakma, who is studying nursing, realized that she was in the clutches of women traffickers from the conversation of the accused while going to the microbus.

Proposing the case, the girl's elder sister said that a group of women traffickers led by one Rika Chakma forced Beauty into marriage with a Chinese national and also took offensive pictures with her. She can be smuggled to China at any time from her detention in an undisclosed location in the capital.

On April 7, Beauty told her elder sister this information on the phone and told her to rescue her. The elder sister of the victim filed a case of human trafficking after informing the Naniarchar Police Station in written form.

Azamuddin Mahmud, officer-in-charge of Naniarchar police station confirmed the fact of filing the case and told the reporter that based on the written complaint of the victim's sister, a case has been registered under section 6/7/8 of Human Trafficking and Prevention Act 2018. Case No-1 Date: 01/05/2024 Eng. Necessary action will be taken after investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, Rangamati Additional Superintendent of Police Maruf Ahmed said that the local administration was shaken by the news of the trafficking of mountain women from Chattogram Hill Tracts to China. Rangamati police have already started to catch the members of the trafficking ring.

In response to the reporter's question, he said that the matter of trafficking of women from the mountains to China has come to the attention of Rangamati police in the media recently. The Additional Superintendent of Police also said that the matter is very sensitive and the police is diligently investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, according to the source of the case, it is known that the mastermind behind the trafficking of the mountain Chakma girl to China is a Chakma woman named Rika Chakma living in sector 14 of Dhaka Uttara. Her house is in Rangapani Harma village under Dighinala upazila of Khagrachari district. In this case, one man and one woman from Kamarpara of Sapchari Union under Rangamati Sadar Upazila, two women from Udal Bagan area of Khagrachari, and two men of unknown address have been mentioned in the case statement.

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Woman worker killed by her husband on Labor Day



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Savar(Dhaka)
Photo: Collected

Photo: Collected

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The police have arrested the husband of a garment worker in connection with the death of his wife due to a family dispute in Savar's Ashulia on May Day. The police recovered the body of the deceased and sent it for post-mortem.

On Wednesday (May 1) evening, the police recovered the body of the victim from Ashulia Women and Children's Hospital.

Deceased Maina Begum (60) lived in a rented house with her family in North Ghazirachat area of Ashulia. She worked as a cleaner in a local Grameen knitwear garment factory.

Arrested husband Taimur Rahman (65) is a day laborer by profession. Their village home is in Nirapara village of Niamatpur police station in Naogoan district.

Citing the victim's family, the police said that in the afternoon, due to a family quarrel, Maina Begum was beaten up by her husband. Later, when she was taken to the hospital with injuries, the doctor on duty declared her dead. The police also said that the body of the deceased had the marks of punch injuries.

Sub- Inspector (SI) of Ashulia police station Badiuzzaman told Barta 24.com that the dead body has been recovered and sent for autopsy. There was a quarrel between them due to the financial crisis in the family. The process of filing a case is ongoing with the victim's family as the plaintiff.

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The coolies rush to the platform as the train's whistle sounds



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

Photo: Barta24.com

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Rajshahi Railway Station. which has become the heart of daily life for many. Here Ghulam Mustafa, Afzal, Sharif, Kamal and about 40 coolies run with different trains every day. Their job is to carry passengers' heavy luggage. At the sound of the train's whistle, they ran to the platform, in one breath.

Their competition begins to see who can get into the train compartment first. Who can lift the goods in his troly first. They stand in front of the train and ask the passengers to carry the goods. Their lives have been going on like this for ages, months after months.

Not only at Rajshahi railway station; This image is seen in medium to large railway stations almost all over the country.

This daily rush is not only a part of their professional life, but it is an essential part of their family life.

The workers said that with the increase in the price of goods, their income is not increasing. The income is three to four hundred takas a day. But; It costs 500 to 600 taka. It is running out of water to bring salt. But they are happy to earn in halal way even with low income.

Golam Mostafa, who has been involved in this profession for the past 45 years, said that our daily run is actually a struggle for bread and sustenance for our family. A train is a symbol of our hope.

These porters not only carry the luggage but also provide a reliable support to the passengers. The scope of work of these employees of Rajshahi station is wide ranging from arrival to departure of trains. Another worker (coolie) named Afzal said, We develop a bond with each passenger, which in some cases gets stronger with time.

Another worker Kamal said, the risk in this profession is not less; we carry heavy baggage every day, which puts a strain on our physical health. But this work for family is essential for us.

This daily scene at Rajshahi railway station is not just a picture of a platform; it is a familiar scene at many railway stations in Bangladesh, where coolies like Golam Mostafa go out of their way to serve passengers every day.

These regular scenes at Rajshahi railway station are similar to other railway stations in Bangladesh, where coolies are fighting for their families every day. Their life and professional responsibilities are like a mocking challenge, which they need not only for financial security, but also for their contribution as part of a society.

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"The poor have no hot or cold, what will they eat if they don't work"



Gulshan Jahan Sarika, Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
Photo: Barta24.com

Photo: Barta24.com

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People's life has been disturbed by the intense heat wave that is sweeping over the country. Everyone, young and old, is short of breath in the intense heat. Although no one goes out of the house except for urgent needs, the workers are working in such heat because of their stomachs. One of them is Anjura Begum, who is fifty years old.

Anjura Begum, who works as a mason in the scorching heat, told Barta24.com that her entire family is supported by her earnings alone. Even though she cannot work for a long time due to her age, she continues to work hard while looking after her family.

If you work in the hot sun for a long time, you will get sick. She said, the poor do not have hot and cold, what will they eat if they do not work? I have to run the family with the money that I earn from daily wages.

She also said, I don't have energy like before, but because of my stomach I have to go out every day in search of work. When there is work, food comes, if not, you have to starve.

She lamented that it is difficult to work due to age. People don't even want to employ her because of her age. Even if you go for old age pension, you will not get government pension because you are not yet old. If she does not come to work, the stove does not burn. It is very difficult to run a family with the money you get as a daily wage.

Anjura Begum, who lost everything and came from Shyamnagar in Satkhira, said that her husband used to work in fishing and collecting honey in the Sundarbans. They had their own houses and cultivated land. But in the happy life, sadness came in the flood of 2000. The river dam broke and the house was washed away in one night. Destitute, she took her husband's hand with her two little daughters and moved to Satkhira town. There, the two started working as day laborers to run the family from a rented house. After a few years, the husband fell ill. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Then pregnant Anjura Begum fell on the stone.

After selling everything that was in the village, she treated her husband with a sigh and said that her husband died in 2013 after a few months of the birth of her little girl in poverty. A well-to-do family offers accommodation in exchange for domestic work. She turned grief into strength to run the family in the pursuit of livelihood and started working as a laborer.

Anjura Begum said, we do not work less than men. Yet our women workers are being paid less than men. Why are we discriminated against?

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