‘ICJ ruling will expedite Rohingya repatriation’- Law Minister



Special Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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The present government has been fighting against corruption. Giving shelters to more than 11 lakh Rohingyas Bangladesh has created bright examples of human rights. I hope the positive verdict of ICJ will accelerate Rohingya repatriation.

Law Minister Anisul Haque said this in a workshop on the implementation of the Third Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UN Human Rights Council.

He said after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975, the biggest incident of human rights violation occurred in Rohingya incident. The government is committed to protecting any human rights, as stated in the election manifesto. Bangladesh has been an example in the world for economic development in the last 11 years. There has been significant progress in alleviating poverty in the country. No one will be left behind is the core policy of the present government.

In the workshop, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh believes that religion is the festival of all despite respective different religious beliefs. Bangladesh is committed to protecting any human rights. Bangladesh has provided shelter to 11 lakhs Rohingyas. The ruling of ICJ on Rohingya issue is a victory for the human rights of all oppressed people.

Nasima Begum, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, said that human rights will be protected when all the instruments of the state work harmoniously. Not only government but non-governmental organizations need to take effective steps.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen said Bangladesh has finally accepted 178 recommendations out of 251 recommendations of the UPR forum. The Bangladesh government has given its own ‘note’ on the remaining 73 recommendations.

Of these recommendations adopted by Bangladesh, 25 recommendations relate to the protection of freedom of expression. Bangladesh has formally adopted these recommendations in the ongoing UN Human Rights Council session. International human rights organization Article 19 has welcomed Bangladesh's constructive involvement in the adoption of these recommendations and the third term of UPR.

European Union (EU) ambassador to Bangladesh Rensze Terringk said democracy and human rights are the most important issues related to Bangladesh and the European Union bilateral relation.

On the occasion, Mia Seppo, UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh and resident representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) was present.

It should be noted that 'Universal Periodic Review' (UPR) is a unique process of the United Nations Human Rights Council established to improve the human rights situation of the UN member states.

Under this process, after four years, UN member states now have the opportunity to review the human rights situation in their respective states and, in light of this, take steps to improve the human rights situation and fulfill the responsibility to the citizens.

UPR is playing a significant role in promoting the human rights situation as a relatively new and more effective UN human rights council. The human rights situation in Bangladesh was reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council under the UPR through universal reassessment mechanism in 2009, 2013 and 2018.

   

Dhaka is the sixth most polluted city in the world, Seoul is on top



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Today, Dhaka is sixth in the list of the most polluted cities in the world. The air quality of the capital has become 'unhealthy' with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 172 at 6:50 am today.

South Korea's capital Seoul topped the air quality index with 343. South Korea's Incheon, Pakistan's Lahore, Vietnam's Chiang Mai and India's Delhi occupy the second, third, fourth and fifth places in the list with AQI scores of 217, 187, 179 and 177 respectively.

An AQI score between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy' for sensitive groups. An AQI score between 201 and 300 is considered 'very unhealthy'. And an AQI between 301 and 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing a serious health risk to residents.

AQI in Bangladesh is determined based on 5 parameters of pollution, namely - Particulate Matter (PM10 & PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone (O3).

Dhaka has been suffering from air pollution for a long time. Its air quality generally becomes unhealthy during winters and improves slightly during monsoons.

In March 2019, a report by the Department of Environment and the World Bank stated that the three main causes of Dhaka's air pollution are brick kilns, smoke from vehicles and dust from construction activities.

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Taka 400 crores laundered through digital Hundi, controlled by Dubai



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested 5 people for allegedly laundering around Tk. 400 crore abroad through Digital Hundi using Mobile Banking Service (MFS).

CID Chief Additional IGP Mohammad Ali Mia informed this in a press conference at CID headquarters on Thursday (March 28) afternoon.

The arrested are - Nasim Ahmed (62), the owner of Tasmia Associates, Fazle Rabbi Sumon (32), the territory sales manager of Agent SIM, Md. Kamruzzaman (33), Zahir Uddin (37), representative of Jet Robotics Apps Bangladesh and Khairul Islam alias Pius (34).

Additional IGP Mohammad Ali Mia said, a gang has smuggled around Tk. 400 crore abroad through digital Hundi using mobile banking services. Five members of this gang were arrested during the operation.

He said that Tk. 400 crores illegally came to Bangladesh through Jet Robotics app in the last few months. Police traced the app through intelligence.

He also said that the money of this gang was transacted from the Chattogram based distribution house. Five members of the gang were arrested in separate raids in Dhaka and Chattogram on Wednesday night.

He said that Tk. 28 lakh 51 thousand cash was seized from them at the time of arrest. He said that they used to rent development agent SIMS and deliver money through them to the grassroots level.

The head of CID said that Mamun, the master of this gang lives in Dubai. He is using agent SIM here. This app used for smuggling cannot work outside 48 SIM along the specific link sent from Dubai. Only seven people can enter this app.

Referring to this as a modern form of Hundi business, he said, money is being circulated in the country through this app by blocking remittances coming to Bangladesh. Already we got 5-7 more such organizations who are working like this.

He said, in the last three months, Tk. 400 crores have been hindered from coming to Bangladesh through Jet Robotic Apps. Five people using these apps have been arrested and their devices seized.

He said, Chattogram's development distribution house Tasmia Associates company has 1000 Bkash Agent SIMs. These agent SIMs who are not performing well, the agent SIMs provide DSOs to the users of Jet Robotic Apps.

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Demand for punishment for those responsible for electrocution death in Moulvibazar



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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The death of 6 members of the same family due to electrocution in Moulvibazar is very shocking and heartbreaking. The chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Dr. Kamaluddin Ahmed said that the main responsible person and institution should be brought under accountability.

He made this comment at a discussion on 'Role of Media in Protection of Human Rights and Consumer Rights' organized by 'Business Digest' at a hotel in the capital on Thursday (March 28).

The Chairman of the Human Rights Commission said, after investigating the incident of Moulvibazar, appropriate legal action should be taken against those responsible and necessary measures should be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. We could not do anything for one family, but we have to do for hundreds of such families.

He also said that the issue of rights is directly and indirectly the daily practice of the media. Media can question all the irregularities; make people aware of their rights and duties and play an important role in establishing rights. We can carry out reformative activities only in view of the news published in the media.

Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed called on the media workers to take all-out efforts to spread the necessary knowledge about the constitution, law and rights among the people.

At one stage of the discussion, he said about the recurrence of fires, we have not learned proper lessons from the big fires and explosions in Nimatli, Newmarket and Bangabazar in the past years. Had we taken effective measures, recurrence of fires could have been prevented.

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Suggestion to introduce Human Rights Wing in the Foreign Ministry



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recommended setting up a new wing on human rights to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The suggestion was made at the parliamentary committee meeting held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhavan on Thursday (March 28). After the meeting, this information was informed in a press release of the Parliament Secretariat.

The meeting recommended taking necessary steps to recognize March 25 as International Genocide Day. A proposal was made in the meeting to visit the Rohingya camps Kutupalong and Bhasanchar with the members of the Standing Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Chairman of the committee AK Abdul Momen chaired the meeting and members of the committee and Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, Shahriar Alam, Nahim Razzak, Nizam Uddin Jalil, Nurul Islam Nahid, Habibur Rahman, Saimum Sarwar, Zara Zabeen Mahbub took part in the meeting. #

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