United News of Bangladesh

Administrator of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Abdus Salam on Wednesday said the existing household waste collection system may be abolished and replaced with a new mechanism next year if residents continue to be deprived of the expected level of service. "We have received various complaints regarding the ward-based tender system currently used for household waste collection. In some areas, waste is not being collected on time, while in others there are allegations of excessive charges. Whether the current system will continue next year is being seriously considered," he said. The DSCC administrator made the remarks while addressing a ceremony as chief guest at the Nagar Bhaban auditorium where special Eid grants from the Prime Minister were distributed among city corporation sanitation workers. A total of 4,950 sanitation workers each received Tk 5,000 as a special Eid assistance grant. In his speech, Salam described sanitation work as one of the most difficult and demanding services performed by city corporation employees. "If citizens remain conscious and sanitation workers continue their sincere efforts, it will be possible to transform the face of Dhaka within the next two years," he said, urging both sanitation workers and media professionals to play an active role in raising public awareness about cleanliness.  

A young man was killed in a road accident in the capital’s Jatrabari area on Monday night. The deceased was identified as Binod Biswas, 23, son of Narayan Biswas. Binod used to live with his family in Shantinagar area. He was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) in a critical condition around 10:45 pm, where the doctor on duty at the emergency department declared him dead, hospital sources said. Woman killed as truck hits her at Jatrabari His younger brother, Bidhan Biswas, said the accident occurred around 8:45 pm when Binod was riding a motorcycle in Shonir Akhra area of Jatrabari. Inspector Md Faruk, in-charge of the DMCH police camp, said the body has been kept at the hospital morgue .

A local leader of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal has died allegedly after consuming excessive liquor with friends in South Keraniganj. The deceased was identified as Asaduzzaman Roni, secretary of ward No. 6 unit of Jubo Dal under Suvadda union in South Keraniganj upazila. Police said Roni fell seriously ill after reportedly consuming excessive liquor with friends in the Khajurbagh Bastehara area in the early hours of Monday. He was taken to Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, where he died while undergoing treatment in the morning, said Officer-in-Charge of South Keraniganj Police Station Saiful Alam. Family members, however, claimed that Roni was called out by friends after midnight and forced to consume excessive liquor, leaving him seriously injured. They said he was rushed to hospital around 1:00am after his condition deteriorated, where he died in the morning. Following a complaint lodged by the family in the afternoon, police recovered the body and sent it to hospital morgue for autopsy.

A writ petition was filed with the High Court on Monday challenging the revocation of the licence of Ad-Din Hospital over the deaths of six newborns allegedly due to negligence. Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond filed the writ with the HC bench concerned. Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir, a lawyer of the hospital, said the hospital authorities have no involvement in the filing of the writ petition. On June 11, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) revoked the licence of Ad-Din Hospital over the deaths of the six newborns. However, it had said the hospital could appeal to the government within 30 days for reconsidering the decision as per the law. On May 27, six newborns died in the postnatal ward of Ad-Din Hospital at Moghbazar within a span of three hours. Habibur Rahman, father of one of the deceased, filed a case at Ramna Police Station alleging negligence on the part of the hospital authorities. The government formed a three-member committee to look into the allegation. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain disclosed the findings of the committee at a press conference at the Secretariat on June 4, saying the committee found that negligence led to the deaths of the six newborns. On the same day, the DGHS issued a show-cause notice to the hospital asking it to explain why its licence should not be revoked over the deaths of the newborns. The hospital authorities had submitted a reply to the notice. However, the government did not find the response satisfactory and hence revoked the licence. The hospital authorities later appealed against the cancellation of the licence.

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Md Shafiqul Islam Khan on Saturday said his administration has maintained a zero-tolerance stance against tender-related irregularities and other illegal activities since he assumed office. His remarks came while handing over two individuals, allegedly involved in fraudulent tender-related activities, to Rupnagar Police Station after they were detained in the Rupnagar area under DNCC's Zone-5. The administrator said evidence emerged that a group had long been engaged in illegal financial transactions by using his name and promising to secure tenders from the city corporation. “Neither my relatives nor any of my associates are involved in such activities,” he said. He urged the public not to be misled by anyone claiming influence over DNCC tenders in his name. “If anyone is found carrying out tender-related irregularities or other illegal activities using my name, they should be caught and handed over to the law,” he said. He also called on city residents to remain vigilant against such fraud. According to DNCC officials, allegations surfaced that a group of fraudsters was involved in illegal transactions by promising work orders through tender notices published on the corporation’s website. Following an investigation into the allegations, police allegedly caught the two suspects red-handed on Saturday and handed them over to Rupnagar Police Station for legal action.

Police recovered the bodies of two women from separate locations in the capital - Dhanmondi and Badda - on Saturday. The deceased were identified as Asma Akhter, 30, and Monika Akhter, 27. Despite sharing their surnames, they are not believed to be related. Their autopsies were conducted at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue on Saturday. Police said Asma Akhter fell from the balcony of Cabin No. 813 on the eighth floor of Bangladesh Medical College Hospital in Dhanmondi at around 3pm on Friday. After receiving information through the national emergency service 999, police recovered her body from the spot. Sub-Inspector (SI) Tuli Mandal of Dhanmondi Police Station said the family of the deceased alleged that Asma's death was not accidental and claimed that her husband pushed her from the balcony. A case has been filed with Dhanmondi Police Station in connection with the incident, and the husband has been arrested, the SI said. "The exact cause of death will be known after receiving the autopsy report," she added. Asma's brother, Mozammel Haque, said she married Md Shafiullah about three years ago following a relationship. He alleged that Asma had been subjected to mental harassment after learning that her husband had a previous wife and children. He said Asma had been admitted to the hospital three days earlier with stomach-related complications and was scheduled to be discharged on Friday. He alleged that an argument broke out between the couple in the hospital cabin shortly before the incident. In a separate incident, Monika Akhter, a housewife, died after falling from a building in the Aftabnagar area under Badda Police Station. Police recovered her body from in front of a building on Road No. 1, Sector No. 2, E-Block of Aftabnagar on Friday afternoon. Fatema Siddika Soma, Sub-Inspector of Badda Police Station, said police were informed that Monika had fallen from the eight-storey building. After completing legal formalities, the body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy. According to preliminary information gathered by police, Monika may have died by suicide after jumping from the building while suffering from mental distress. However,  as in the previous case, the exact cause and circumstances of her death will be confirmed after the autopsy report is received, the SI said.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Planning Ministry was formed, while the Parliamentary Business Advisory Committee was reconstituted on Wednesday. Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni moved two separate proposals for formation of a body and reconstitution of another one in line with the Rules of Procedure, which were passed in the House. Parliament adopts condolence motion on deaths of 16 ex-ministers, MPs Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan (Narsingdi-2) is the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Planning Ministry. The other members of the body are State Minister for Planning Zonayed Abdur Rahim Saki (Brahmanbaria-6), M Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu (Natore-2), Kazi Rafiqul Islam (Bogura-1), Moinul Islam Khan (Manikganj-2), Muhammad Fakrul Islam (Noakhali-5), Md Showkatul Islam (Moulvibazar-2), Farida Yeasmin (Women Seat-6), MD Saiful Alam (Dhaka-12), Md Rashedul Islam Rashed (Sherpur-1). Besides, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad is the chairman of the reconstituted Business Advisory Committee. Other members of this important committee are Prime Minister and Leader of the House Tarique Rahman, Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman (Dhaka-15), Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain (Cumilla-1), Gayeshwar Chandra Roy (Dhaka-3), Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir (Thakurgaon-1), Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury (Chattogram-11), Salahuddin Ahmed (Cox’s Bazar-1), Kayser Kamal (Netrakona-1), Nurul Islam Moni (Barguna-2), Md Asaduzzaman (Jhenaidah-1), Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher (Cumilla-11), ATM Azharul Islam (Rangpur-2), Nahid Islam (Dhaka-11) and Muhammad Nawshad Zamir (Panchagarh-1). With the reconstitution of the parliamentary body, Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed has been dropped from the Business Advisory Committee, while Kayser Kamal has been included.

A Walton showroom in the capital’s Dhanmondi area caught fire on Wednesday evening. The fire erupted at the showroom on the first floor of a six-storey building on Road No. 27 of the posh area around 6:00pm, according to Rakibul Hasan, duty officer at the control room of the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters. On receiving the information, two firefighting units rushed to the scene and doused the blaze at 6:42pm, he said, adding that no casualties were reported in the incident. Rakibul Hasan said the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction.

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has launched a new initiative titled ‘City Inspector’ to encourage responsible civic behavior, improve cleanliness, and strengthen dengue prevention efforts. The six-month pilot project was inaugurated on Wednesday in Ward No. 9 of Motijheel with financial support from ACHI Bangladesh (American Affordable Community Healthcare Initiative). 63 DSCC wards at dengue risk, 27 in critical zone: Pre-Monsoon Survey Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at Nagar Bhaban, DSCC Administrator Md Abdus Salam said maintaining a clean city is not the sole responsibility of the city corporation, but requires active participation and awareness from citizens. “A city becomes truly livable when every household, shop and institution keeps its premises clean. The initiative launched in Ward No. 9 can serve as a model for the entire city,” he said. According to DSCC, 20 City Inspectors will be deployed in the field until December 9 under the pilot project. Motijheel area has been divided into 10 zones, with inspectors visiting homes, businesses and institutions to raise awareness, distribute informational leaflets and identify potential breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes. The administrator said the primary role of the City Inspectors will be to educate residents and help establish a culture of cleanliness and public responsibility. He also highlighted the close link between public health and environmental cleanliness, noting that greater public awareness could significantly reduce the risks of dengue outbreaks, air pollution, dust pollution and waterlogging. Under the programme, inspectors will also monitor whether residents are disposing of waste properly and fulfilling their civic responsibilities. Surveys will be conducted to assess public compliance, and responsible as well as irresponsible practices may be highlighted through social awareness campaigns. Abdus Salam said the initiative would be expanded to other wards of DSCC if the pilot project succeeds in transforming Motijheel’s Ward No. 9 into a model ward. Representatives of Achi Bangladesh, senior DSCC officials and local community leaders attended the event.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a former bank official for allegedly embezzling around Tk 5 lakh by using a customer’s credit card. The arrested person has been identified as Sarwar Hossain, 40, son of Golam Mawla.   A team of CID’s Dhaka Metropolitan, West, unit arrested him on Monday afternoon from Gulshan. According to the case statement, Sarwar Hossain was working as a Senior Relationship Officer  at a reputed bank in 2017 when a customer applied for a credit card in his name. Although the customer later returned the card to the bank but the accused  did not submit it to the bank and instead kept it in his possession. He allegedly used fake mobile numbers and addresses to maintain control of the card, ensuring that all OTPs were sent to him, and subsequently carried out fraudulent transactions using the credit card. Recently, the victim came to know from a Credit Information Bureau (CIB) report that a loan had been issued against his name in 2017, which he was completely unaware of and had never applied for. The victim later lodged a written complaint with Bangladesh Bank, bringing the matter to the attention of the bank authorities. Following an internal investigation, the fraud was detected, and a case was filed with Tejgaon Industrial Area Police Station. Investigation revealed that a total of Tk 17,70,213 was transacted using the credit card between late 2017 and mid-2022. Of the total amount, Tk 14,13,500 was later repaid, while Tk 5,56,995, including outstanding liabilities, was allegedly embezzled. CID officials said Sarwar Hossain abused the trust placed in him while working at the bank to commit the fraud. He left the job in 2019 but allegedly continued transactions using the credit card. CID’s Dhaka Metropolitan ,West, unit is currently investigating the case, and operations are ongoing to identify and arrest others involved.