Bail, remand prayers for Ruhul Kabir Rizvi rejected

A court in Dhaka on June 10, 2015 rejected both the bail and remand prayers for BNP’s detained Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in an arson attack case filed with Paltan Police Station.

Dhaka’s Metropolitan Magistrate Maruf Hossain passed the order upon two separate petitions, one for demanding 10 days remand and another for bail filed by the prosecution and defence respectively.

The court, however, allowed the investigation officer of the case to interrogate Rizvi at jail gate within three working days.

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested the BNP leader from Baridhara residential area in the capital city on January 3. He was later taken on remand several times for the sake of investigation into different cases filed against him. (Source: BSS)

Bangladesh Railway recruitment exam rescheduled

Bangladesh Railway has rescheduled its recruitment examinations for Guard and Parcel Assistant posts, said a press release on June 10, 2015.

The written exam for guard grade - 2 will be held at 5 pm instead of 10 am on June 12, 2015.

The exam for parcel assistant grade - 2 will be held on June 26 at 10 am instead of June 12, 2015. (Source: BSS)

ICT-2 punishes Zafrullah for contempt of court

The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT)-2 on June 10, 2015 sentenced Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury, founder of Gonoswasthya Kendra, to one hour simple imprisonment for committing contempt of court.

The tribunal also fined him Taka five thousand and one month of imprisonment in default.

Shireen Huq, wife of Zafrullah, and 21 others were exonerated from the charge with serious caution.

The 21 are - Ali Ahmed Ziauddin, Dr CR Abrar, Farida Akhter, Dr Bina D’Costa, Afsan Chowdhury, Rahnuma Ahmed, Dr Shahidul Alam, Leesa Gazi, Anu Mohammad, Lubna Marium, Dr Zarina Nahar Kabir, Shabnam Nadia, Mahmud Rahman, Nasreen Siraj Annie, Anusheh Anadil, Tibra Ali, Delwar Hossain, Masud Khan, Ziaur Rahman, Hana Shams Ahmed and Muktashree Chakma Sathi.

As tribunal delivered the order and the Judge’s were leaving the courtroom, Zafrullah, who was found guilty for committing contempt of court for the second time, tried to draw their attention.

Earlier, on January 14, the ICT-2 issued contempt notice against 49, who had expressed concern through a statement published on daily Prothom Alo after British journalist and blogger David Bergman’s punishment by the tribunal, asking them to explain their statement and conduct.

Based on their explanations, the tribunal on three different dates exonerated 26 from the allegation of committing contempt of court. (Source: BSS)

Prof Monirul wins Bangabandhu Award for wildlife preservation

Prof Dr. Monirul Hasan Khan of Department of Zoology, Jahangirnagar University (JU), won Bangabandhu Award for his contribution in preserving wildlife.

A gazette notification to this end was issued on June 1 last, said an official release of the university.

JU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Farzana Islam congratulated Prof Monirul for winning the award.

Ministry of Environment and Forest will soon hand over the award prize to the winner through a function.

Prof Monirul, a former student of the JU, joined its Zoology Department as lecturer in 2005. He obtained PhD from Cambridge University, UK with Commonwealth Scholarship in 2004. He was promoted as professor in 2014.

He got Forktail-Leica Award, UK in 2007, Zoological Society of London Award in 2008, Future Conservationist Award of the USA and UK in 2014 for his remarkable contribution to wildlife preservation. (Source: BSS)

Bangladesh commerce minister urges female entrepreneurs to be IT friendly

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on June 10, 2015 called upon the female entrepreneurs to be more information technology (IT)-friendly to build a digital Bangladesh.

“Now the pledge to build a digital Bangladesh is not a dream, it is a reality. Women would have to be more IT friendly for their further empowerment,” he said speaking as chief guest at a function in the city to award successful female entrepreneurs.

The BWCCI-Grameen Phone Progressive Award -2015 giving ceremony and inauguration of a web portal took place at KIB Auditorium at Krishibid Institute at Farmgate.

Presided over by Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI) President Selima Ahmed, the function was also addressed by Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Abdul Matlub Ahmed, Grameen Phone Chief Corporate Officer Mahmud Hossain and BWCCI Vice-President Hasina Newaj.

The commerce minister said Prime minister sheikh Hasina earned global acclaim for empowering women in the country.

Representation of women in parliament would increase to 33 percent by 2021, Tofail Ahmed said, adding that the participation of women in all important positions in society is increasing.

He said social and economic empowerment of women is higher in Bangladesh than in India and other developing countries.

Seven successful female entrepreneurs and two media personnel were awarded with crests and citations at the function. (Source: BSS)

Jagangirnagar University gives PhD to 19 researchers, MPhil to 4

Nineteen researchers obtained PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) and four others MPhil (Masters of Philosophy) degrees from Jagangirnagar University (JU).

The decision was taken at a meeting of the university syndicate on May 24 last with JU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Farzana Islam presiding, said an official release of the university.

Those who got PhD are, Mohammad Nure Alam Siddique and Muhammad Nazrul Islam of Mathematics Department, Shamsun Nahar of Pharmacy Department, Morium Akhter of Computer Science and Engineering Department, Fouzia Huq of Botany Department, Md Mehedi Mahbub Khan and Md Arshad Hossain Chowdhury of Chemistry Department, Md Zahangir Alam, Md Abdul Jalil and Bibhutibhushon Mitra of Zoology Department, Md Alamgir Hossain of Environment Science Department, Mohammad Mehedi Hasan Khan and Sikander Ali Bhuiyan of Archeology Department, Md Forkan Mia, Md Rezaul Karim, Nazmun Nahar, Mohammad Altaf Hossain of Government and Politics Department, Kamrun Nahar of Bangla Department, and Sharmila Majumder Mitra of History Department.

The MPhil obtainers are, Zannatul Ferdous and Md Alamgir Hossain of Bangla Department, Mohammad Ashraful Habib of Drama and Dramatics and Graner Marak of government and Politics Department. (Source: BSS)