Bangladesh BD Internal Affairs

[Isa Khan]

The Bangladesh government placed a bill in the parliament on Thursday on enforcing sovereignty over the maritime boundary and relevant airspace as well as creating provisions and restrictions on the movement of local and foreign commercial and warships and vessels and extraction of marine resources in the Bay of Bengal and the adjacent deep sea.

Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen initiated the bill titled The Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones (Amendment) Act, 2021, seeking a major amendment to the existing law enacted in 1974.

While exercising the innocent rights of the sea passage and over-flight, a foreign warship, including a submarine and any other underwater warship, manned or remotely controlled, may enter or pass through the territorial sea after giving prior notice to the Bangladesh government, according to the bill.

No aircraft shall enjoy the rights of innocent passage without the prior expressed consent of the Bangladesh government.

The Bangladesh government will exercise authority, under the bill, to make rules and regulations relating to innocent passage through the territorial sea in relation to the safety of navigation, preservation of the environment and prevention of infringement of customs, fiscal, immigration and sanitary laws, among others.

The Economic Zone of the old law made in 1974 is replaced by the Exclusive Economic Zone in line with the definition of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to establish absolute sovereignty over the marine boundary and its assets granting Bangladesh freedom of navigation, over-flight, freedom to construct artificial islands and other installations permitted under international laws.

Under UNCLOS-1982, all coastal countries are granted the sovereign right to a stretch of the sea extending 200 nautical miles beyond their coast, which is known as an exclusive economic zone.

Bangladesh will also have the sovereign rights and jurisdiction in the continental shelf, which is beyond 200 nautical miles from the territorial sea baseline, for the exploration and exploitation of the natural resources, construction and operation and use of artificial islands and off-shore terminals, etc.

Bangladesh’s commercial and warships and military aircrafts will enjoy complete immunity while sailing in the high seas and flying in the relevant airspace from the jurisdiction of any other foreign state.

Bangladesh will have jurisdiction over a ship scheduled to navigate into, through or from waters beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea of Bangladesh and adjacent countries.

Bangladesh will have criminal jurisdiction over a foreign ship passing through the territorial sea in connection with any crime committed on board during its passage if the consequences of the crime extend to Bangladesh.

Other countries will, however, enjoy the freedom of navigation and over-flight and other internationally lawful uses of the sea related to those except military exercise in the EEZ.

The new draft also includes a provision for the punishment for offences, including piracy, armed robbery, maritime terrorism, pollution and violators of conditions of innocent passage, illegal collection of information, in Exclusive Economic Zone, Continental Shelf and Contiguous Zone.

The provisions of video, photo, electronic records have also been included as evidence in proving the offences and incidents at sea as the witness of most of the offences are not found in the alien nature of crimes.

The bill also included provisions to install a tribunal for holding trials of crimes committed under its jurisdiction.

The bill proposed a maximum of seven years imprisonment or a monetary fine of a maximum of 110 crore taka, depending on the magnitude of the crimes committed.

The parliament sent the bill to the parliamentary standing committee on the foreign ministry for deeper scrutiny. The committee was asked to submit its report within 45 days.

Bill placed in JS to enforce sovereignty

The Bangladesh government placed a bill in the parliament on Thursday on enforcing sovereignty over the maritime boundary and relevant airspace as well as creating...

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The Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was passed in Parliament on Sunday to make it a more time-befitting one so that the evolving issues can be dealt with properly.

The proposed law will establish Bangladesh's sovereignty over its maritime boundary which will facilitate search and extraction of marine resources.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen moved the Bill and it was passed by voice vote.

The Bill proposed maximum three-year imprisonment, or a monetary fine of minimum Tk 2 crore and maximum Tk5 crore or both for maritime pollution.

The punishment was one-year imprisonment and Tk 5,000 fine in the old law, enacted in 1974.

The new draft also includes a provision for the punishment for offences in any exclusive economic zone, continental shelf and contiguous zone.

The provisions of video, photo, electronic records have also been included as evidence in proving the offences and incidents in the sea as the witness to most offences are not found in the alien nature of crimes.

Thirty-five new sections have been incorporated in the proposed law, including the provision of criminal jurisdiction and civil jurisdiction in the entry of foreign vessels and submarines into Bangladesh maritime boundary.

It defines Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicle, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, and Unmanned Underwater Vehicle.

The Bill extended the boundary of the contiguous zone, which is a band of water extending farther from the outer edge of the territorial sea to up to 24 nautical miles from the baseline to 24 miles from 18 miles.

The 'Economic Zone' is replaced by the 'Exclusive Economic Zone'. This has been done in line with the definition of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to establish absolute sovereignty over the marine boundary and its assets.

Under the UNCLOS-1982, all coastal countries are granted the sovereign right to a stretch of the sea extending 200 nautical miles beyond their coast, which is known as an exclusive economic zone.

Bill on sovereignty over maritime boundary passed in parliament

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen moved the Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones (Amendment) Bill

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[Isa Khan]

Bangladesh defence sector is at high risk of corruption, according to a recent study of Berlin-based Transparency International.

The organisation released the 2020 Government Defence Integrity Index (GDI) on Tuesday. It said Bangladesh has weak or non-existent safeguards against defence sector corruption.

New Zealand has been found to be the least risky country, the organisation added. Out of the 86 countries featured in the GDI by Transparency International Defence and Security, 62 per cent of countries face a high to critical risk of corruption in their defence and security sectors. The TIB presented the research results in a media release.

Expressing his concerns about the scores of Bangladesh, TIB executive director Iftekharuzzaman said, “This index does not say that the corruption exists in the defence sector of Bangladesh. But it has identified the spheres that could see lack of integrity and high risk of corruption.”

The GDI has been published considering the risk of corruption in the armed forces and overall defence sector of a country, essential safeguards to prevent corruption, how far those safeguards are accountable and its practices.

The GDI 2020 has been prepared after assessing the existence, effectiveness, and enforcement of institutional controls across five key corruption risk areas, and provides data on the performance of governments on a range of corruption issues. The five areas are -- political, financial, personnel, operational and procurement. The scores given in a scale of 0 to 100 have been categorised from ‘A’ to ‘F’. ‘A’ is the least risky country while ‘F’ has been categorised as critically risky to fall prey to corruption.

Results say that New Zealand is least risky country of corruption in defence sector with a score of 85 out of 100 which is followed by the UK and Norway with a joint score of 76. Belgium and Netherlands are jointly in the third place with a score of 73. Sudan, which just last month saw the military seize power in a violent coup, performs the worst, with an overall score of just 5/100. Egypt with a score of 6, Myanmar and Algeria with a score of 8 and Iraq with 9 are countries fared better in the index.

The safeguards to prevent corruption in defence sector are either weak or non-existent in the countries that scored poorly in the index, said the TI. At the same time, those countries are unstable, conflictive or its people are subject to oppression.

The 2020 GDI is composed of 86 country assessments, all published between October 2019 and November 2021.

Bangladesh scores 25​

The defence sector of Bangladesh, with an overall score of 25, is in a very high risk of corruption. Out of the five key corruption risk areas, Bangladesh has scored 52, the highest, in Personnel risk area and scored least (0) in Operation risk. Bangladesh scored 26 in Political risk, 19 in Financial risk and 29 in Procurement risk.

Iftekharuzzaman said, “It is essential to reorganise our defence integrity and through this strengthen the institutional capability to prevent probable corruption by giving due importance to the results of the index. The first and most important step to this end would be composing a defence integrity strategy as a continuance to National Integrity Strategy, 2010 through an inclusive process and practice that. Including civil society and media personalities along with specialists and political leadership in composing the draft will make it more acceptable and create national ownership.”

According to the Government Defence Integrity Index, the custom of running the defence-related institutions secretly mentioning various security risks is not correct at all. Rather, secrecy is not a condition for strength in defence and security; this is a political decision. For example, Norway, New Zealand and the UK scored highly in the GDI. This proves that the more the government of a country runs defence sector in a participatory and transparent way, the more the sector is transparent and risk of corruption is low.

In the same way, the comparison of GDI score with World Justice Project Rule of Law Index says those who scored better in open government index also scored more in transparency in defence sector.

An analysis of GDI reveals that the increase in defence or military budget and weak management of the sector are connected. In this case, one per cent of increase in military budget in comparison with the GDP means decrease of GDI score by five points. This proves that maybe the increase in military budget plays as an important element in cases of weak governance, which creates opportunities or risks of corruption using weak governance.

TI said that this is unfortunate that the annual military budget of the US has reached US$ 2 billion, which has been increasing the magnitude of corruption.

According to GDI, the countries that belong to medium to high corruption risk in defence sector are the countries that are involved with 86 per cent of global arms trading between 2016 and 2020. The top five arms exporting countries are -- the US (scored 55 in GDI), Russia (26), France (50), Germany (70) and China (28). These five countries control 76 per cent of global arms business. At the same time, 49 per cent of the arms imported were by the countries that are ‘Very High’ risky from the ‘High’ risky countries.

Bangladesh defence sector at high risk of corruption: TI

The comparison of GDI score with World Justice Project Rule of Law Index says those who scored better in open government index also scored more in transparency in defence sector

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[Isa Khan]

The International Organization for Migration yesterday (December 1, 2021) launched its flagship World Migration Report 2022 which reveals a dramatic increase in internal displacement due to disaster, conflict, and violence at a time when global mobility ground to a halt due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.

The report focuses on developments in migration over the last two-year period, with an emphasis on providing analysis that takes into account historical and contemporary factors. According to the report, there were around 281 million international migrants in the world in 2020. Bangladesh is the 6th largest migrant sending country globally, and the 8th largest remittance receiving country, says a press release quoting the report.

"We are witnessing a paradox not seen before in human history," said IOM's Director General Antonio Vitorino. "While billions of people have been effectively grounded by Covid-19, tens of millions of displacement events have forced many others from their homes."

The number of air passengers globally dropped 60 percent in 2020 to 1.8 billion (down from 4.5 billion in 2019) while at the same time internal displacement due to disaster, conflict and violence rose to 40.5 million (up from 31.5 million in 2019).

The report, the 11th in IOM's World Migration Report series, draws upon the latest data from around the world to explain key migration trends as well as issues that are emerging on the migration policy horizon.

"This report is unlike any other edition of the World Migration Report," said the IOM report editor Dr Marie McAuliffe.

According to the report, the number of international migrants has grown from 84 million globally in 1970 to 281 million in 2020, although when global population growth is factored in, the proportion of international migrants has only inched up from 2.3 percent to 3.6 percent of the world's population. The vast majority of people globally (96.4 percent) reside in the country in which they were born. Due to Covid-19, the number of international migrants in 2020 was lower, by around 2 million, than it otherwise would have been.

The report highlights that in 2020, 7.40 million Bangladeshi migrants lived abroad. Despite living beyond the country's borders, the Bangladeshi diaspora has continued to play a key role in the country's development. The World Bank estimates that the Bangladeshi population abroad sent home over USD 18 billion in 2019, with 73 percent coming from those working in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. These remittances account for over 6 percent of GDP, representing the country's second largest source of foreign income.

The efforts by policymakers to encourage and facilitate the sending of remittances have greatly aided the remittance landscape in Bangladesh. The Central Bank of Bangladesh more than tripled the ceiling on its 2019 cash incentive scheme -- whereby remittance beneficiaries receive a 2 percent bonus on transfers made using formal systems -- up to USD 5,000. Additionally, some commercial banks are providing an additional one percent incentive to increase the attractiveness of sending remittances even more.

"In 2020, despite the impact of Covid-19 which slowed remittance flows globally, Bangladesh benefitted USD 21.76 billion injected into the economy through remittances. Overall, international migration has been a critical part of the development story of Bangladesh, with migrants moving to pursue opportunities for economic and social, and then helping raise the living standards in the home" said Fathima Nusrath Ghazzali, IOM Bangladesh's Officer In Charge.

Bangladesh 6th largest migrant sending country

The International Organization for Migration yesterday (December 1, 2021) launched its flagship World Migration Report 2022 which reveals a dramatic increase in internal displacement due to disaster, conflict, and violence at a time when global mobility ground to a halt due to Covid-19 travel...

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[Isa Khan]

Four mobile operators in Bangladesh have registered 10 lakh new mobile SIM cards and four lakh internet subscribers in October.

At the end of October, the total number of mobile subscribers reached 18.13 crore, while internet subscribers stood at 12.91 crore, according to data from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).

In September, the total number of mobile subscribers was 18.02 crore and internet subscribers was 12.87 crore.

The four lakh new internet subscribers have been registered through mobile operators.

Among all the operators, Robi Axiata Limited received the highest of five lakh new subscribers in October, bringing its total to 5.35 crore.

The country's largest mobile operator, Grameenphone, secured the second highest of three lakh new subscribers within the same time, bringing its total subscriber base to 8.41 crore.

Banglalink, the third largest mobile operator, received one lakh new subscribers, taking its total to 3.71 crore.

State-owned operator Teletalk secured 80,000 new subscribers in October, registering 64 lakh users in total.

Subscriber means the biometric verified subscribers/subscriptions who have any activity (voice, data, sms etc) at least once in the preceding 90 days, says BTRC.

10 lakh SIMs, 4 lakh internet users added in October

Among all the operators, Robi Axiata Limited received the highest of five lakh new subscribers in October, bringing its total to 5.35 crore

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[Isa Khan]

Scientists at the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (Bari) have developed a technology for making high quality, delicious and highly nutritious yoghurt, chocolate, ice cream and cheese with jackfruit pulp.

These technologies have recently been developed through the Post-Harvest Management Processing and Marketing of Jackfruit Project with the support of the Krishi Gobeshona Foundation and will help reduce jackfruit wastage and ensure fair prices of the fruit.

According to Bari, 43-45% of jackfruit produced in the country is rotten due to lack of processing and preservation opportunities each year and farmers do not have any choice but to sell the fruits at one-third the regular prices.

Under the supervision of Dr Md Golam Ferdous Chowdhury, Senior Scientific Officer, Department of Post-Harvest Technology, Bari and Chief Researcher of the project, four students of the Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Veterinary and Animal Science, Chattogram assisted him in inventing this technology.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, 2,47,000 tonnes of jackfruit was produced in the district from over 9,300 hectares of land last season.

"We have invented the technology of making yoghurt, nutritious ice cream, chocolate and cheese as a continuation of the innovative use of jackfruit. The most important thing is that only jackfruit pulp and milk are needed to make these products. After collecting jackfruit pulp, an entrepreneur can produce these products all year round," said Golam Ferdous.

Since jackfruit is rich in various nutrients, products made with its pulp will also be highly nutritious and healthier than other products currently available in the market. No extra or artificial colours or flavours are used here, he added.

He added that 3-5% pulp is used for making yoghurt, 5-8% for making ice cream and 50-60% for producing cheese. As a result, these products can be considered to be ideal products to satisfy hunger and meet nutritional needs.

Dr Chowdhury further said no big investment or large machinery is required for producing the products. An entrepreneur just needs a deep freezer, refrigerator and some small homemade appliances. One can produce products worth Tk1,500 from the raw material of Tk800.

He hopes the products will be well received in the local and foreign markets.

Md Hafizul Haque Khan, Chief Scientific Officer, Department of Post-Harvest Technology, Bari, said, "If we can develop trained manpower in this sector, it will create huge commercial potential which will go a long way in ensuring fair price of jackfruit and is expected to play an important role in nutrition security in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals."

Hafizul also said scientists from the Department of Post-Harvest Technology had invented technologies for about 20 products, including chips, pickles, cutlets, jams and jellies made from jackfruit, which caused a great deal of excitement and response among young entrepreneurs.

Yoghurt, chocolate, cheese to be produced from jackfruits

Experts hope the products will be well-received in local and foreign markets

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[Isa Khan]

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday reiterated her desire to upgrade Faridpur and Cumilla as two new divisions after the names of two major rivers – Padma and Meghna.

The premier made the remarks while virtually chairing the 7th Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting of the current fiscal year (FY22), Planning Minister MA Mannan told the press after Tuesday's meeting.

State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam informed that the prime minister suggested naming the greater Cumilla as Meghna Division and the greater Faridpur as Padma Division.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made the proposal for the first time while opening the newly-constructed office Bhaban for Awami League's Cumilla City unit virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban on 21 October.

She had said, "I've decided to form two new divisions after two rivers – one would be named after Padma and another after Meghna.

Two new divisions to be named after rivers Padma, Meghna: PM Hasina reiterates

The premier made the remarks while virtually chairing the 7th Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting of the current fiscal year (FY22)

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[Isa Khan]

The design of the "Mini Secretariat for Chattogram", an office complex to be built on a newly emerged char on the Karnaphuli River, is going to be changed, with expansion of the project area.

As such, the scheduled presentation of the project design has been deferred.

Chattogram Deputy Commissioner Md Mominur Rahman told The Business Standard, "The design of the project will be changed. A high level government delegation is scheduled to visit the project area on 23-24 December before changing the design. For this, the presentation of the design is being delayed."

Rahman said, "Many top government officials including the principal secretary to the prime minister have seen our proposed design and have made some suggestions. The design will be changed as per their suggestions, expanding the project area. The design was supposed to be presented earlier this month, but it was not possible."

"Being a big project, many things have to be considered seriously. We are expecting a good design and the changed design will be presented to the prime minister at the end of this month," he added.

According to the district administration, the project to accommodate 44 government offices at Hamid char on the Karnaphuli, will start within the next three months. The integrated office complex will be like Putrajaya, the administrative capital of Malaysia.

The office complex will be built on 110 acres of land on Hamid Char on the Karnaphuli under Chandgaon police station in the port city. The initiative has been taken to reduce pressure on the city and to provide all kinds of services to citizens from one place.

The Chattogram divisional commissioner's office, the deputy commissioner's office, the Circuit House, and various other government offices spread across different parts of the city will be shifted to Hamid char after completion of the project.

Various other facilities including a convention centre, shopping mall, movie theatre, a multi-storeyed car parking lot and transport pool, petrol pump, school, college, and mosque will also be made as part of the office complex.

Design of ‘Mini Secretariat for Chattogram’ being revamped

The changed design will be presented to the prime minister at the end of this month

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[Isa Khan]

Bangladesh government has declared about 1,743 square kilometres area of the Bay of Bengal adjacent to Saint Marin Island as ‘Saint Martin Marine Protected Area’ to conserve marine biodiversity.

In addition to the previously declared 590 hectares of ecologically critical area, the new 70 metre-deep marine protected area has been declared to prevent uncontrolled movement of water vessels, overfishing, dumping of waste and chemicals, and destruction of coral reefs and biodiversity, said a press release.

The ministry of environment, forest and climate change declared this area as the ‘Saint Martin Marine Protected Area’ under the Sections 13 (1) and 13 (2) of the Wildlife (Conservation and Protection) Act, 2012.

As a result, the newly declared protected area will help conserve the endangered pink dolphins, sharks, ray fish, sea turtles, seabirds, corals, marine grasses and marine biodiversity and their habitats.

It will also help improve the livelihoods of local people through sustainable extraction of marine resources, enrich the national blue economy, and achieve the international obligations and targets related to the special economic zone of Bangladesh.

The declaration of this marine protected area will facilitate the proper enforcement of the law and proper management of marine resources with the help of law enforcement agencies deployed in and around the island.

At the same time, the possibility of increasing the abundance of marine fish resources and aquatic life outside the protected area will be multiplied.

Saint Martin adjacent areas declared as marine protected area

Bangladesh government has declared about 1,743 square kilometres area of the Bay of Bengal adjacent to Saint Marin Island as ‘Saint Martin Marine Protected Area’ to conserve marine biodiversity....

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[Afif]

Could Bangladesh win back the religious space from fundamentalists through the model mosques?​

With religious intolerance and hatred causing violence in Bangladesh and around the world, the government has come up with yet another initiative to uphold religious harmony and peace by spreading the true essence of Islam and its spiritual practices.

New model mosque-cum Islamic cultural centres currently being set up at district and upazila level would, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says, show Islam as a religion of peace and tolerance while countering misinterpretations of Islam and incitements to violence.

“The model mosques and centers of excellence will create a friendly environment among Islamic scholars, imams, teachers, and guardians” at the local level, said Mizanur Rahman, a former member of parliament who is involved in the project in Khulna. “These people will be watchdogs against radicalism and terrorism.”

The government plans to build 560 such mosques and centres of excellence at the district and upazila level. Planners envision local hubs where residents can conduct research and gain religious education; where both men and women have places to pray; and where public awareness is raised against social ills like child marriage, dowry, violence against women, and drug abuse.

Bangladesh has suffered more than its share of senseless bloodshed thanks to the cynical twisting of religion.
In the most recent example, an April 9 attack carried out by self-proclaimed Hefazat-e-Islam activists at a mosque in Gaibandha’s Sundarganj left 12 men injured.

Over the years, Bangladesh has endured wanton attacks at mosques, shrines, and churches.

There was even a suicide bombing inside a mosque of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Baghmara of Rajshahi in 2015, possibly carried out by Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh or Islamic State militants, or by members of the Wahhabi-inspired Ahl al-Hadith Andolon Bangladesh, which runs a neighbouring mosque.

Perversely, ethnic and religious minorities have been targeted in many districts, including Rangpur, Sylhet, Chittagong, and Cox’s Bazar with a local mosque’s public address system serving as the attackers’ chief organizing tool.

A November 11, 2017, assault on the Hindu community in Rangpur’s Gangachara upazila was carried out after days of incitement over rented loudspeakers and from the muezzin’s microphone at local mosques. The attackers burned thirty Hindu families out of their homes and looted what they could carry.

All this violence is the outcome of religious ignorance, the misinterpretation of Islam, and hatred toward our fellow man. It is a global phenomenon, one that Bangladesh is working to reverse.

Against this backdrop, the government has taken several initiatives, among them updating the curriculum and training of imams. A national campaign has been launched to build awareness among people and to stop violence.

The Islamic Foundation regularly organizes discussions across the country to create awareness on social issues like, dowry, child marriage, drug abuse, militancy etc. It also organizes workshops for imams on these issues, so that they can bring up the issue within their community.

The model mosque program is the latest move to this end.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated 50 model mosques in as many upazilas, showing her strong support for the initiative.

But reaching the prime minister’s target of 560 local Islamic centres won’t be easy. Success or failure lies in the details: Of planning, personnel, and oversight.

The mosques will be operated by the government through the Islamic Foundation, which plans to recruit 7,000 people, including imams and muezzins. These staff will receive government salaries.

A committee led by a deputy commissioner at each district model mosque or an upazila nirbahi officer at each upazila model mosque will provide supervision.

Md. Shafiqur Rahman Talukder, deputy project director of the model mosque program said, “Officials including imams and muezzins of the mosques will have a work plan to arrange different activities like seminars against terrorism or drugs, [and] training programs to sensitize imams about radicalism and extremism.”

“Islamic scholars, imams, muezzins will have many opportunities to practice and bring out the real spirit of Islam,” he told Dhaka Tribune.

Borhan Uddin Md Abu Ahsan, director of the Islamic Foundation’s Chittagong Division said “the model mosque will be a leading Islamic center of an area. The mosques would nurture all the prayer houses at those areas so that none can abuse” their authority, or promote “anti-development activities.”

Hopes are high, but tempered by experience.

Mufti Mohammad Mohiuddin, general secretary for Dhaka City at the Bangladesh Jatiya Imam Samity, said the ambitious project won’t succeed if the government fails to recruit competent and sincere imams and muezzins.

“We have frequently observed,” he said, “that the government recruited ineligible employees in the past for such sensitive tasks.”

Could Bangladesh win back the religious space from fundamentalists through the model mosques?

The model mosque program is a way to preach the true meaning of Islam, its values and stand against extremism and militancy, says the govt

www.dhakatribune.com

Some people from 'ulama' thought it was a good idea but other argued that these masjids may become tools of political manipulation by the current rulling party!

 

[Isa Khan]

Doctors in Bangladesh have successfully conducted the country's first-ever cadaveric kidney transplant (the process of transplanting kidneys from brain-dead medical patients).

A patient named Sarah, 20, was the organ donor. The recipients of the kidneys were two female patients in their 30s who are reportedly recovering well after the surgery.

Separate surgeries were conducted at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital (BSMMU) and the National Kidney Foundation to transplant the two kidneys.

Renal Transplantation Surgeon Professor Habibur Rahman Dulal of BSMMU's Urology department led the initiative.

The donor was suffering from a genetic disease and recently underwent surgery at BSMMU, Dr Habibur Rahman told The Business Standard.

"Sarah's condition worsened after the surgery. She was then admitted to ICU when her condition further deteriorated. We counseled her mother when we realised she was heading toward being in a brain-dead state. Her mother gave permission for transplanting Sarah's kidneys and cornea. Although we transplanted two kidneys, both corneas are still preserved," he added.

A press briefing in this regard will be held at BSMMU this afternoon.

Two get new life in country’s first kidney transplant from brain-dead

Doctors estimate the country requires at least 5,000 kidney transplants per year with nearly 2 crore people suffering from kidney diseases

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[Isa Khan]

A member of the armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) was shot to death in a reported gunfight with members of the Army in Ruma upazila of Bandarban district on Saturday.

The identity of the deceased could not be known immediately.

Tipped off, a team of Bangladesh Army conducted a drive at the middle point of Arthapara and Baslang Para in the evening, said Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Ruma Police Station.

Sensing danger, the KNF members opened fire at the Army, forcing them to fire back, according to the soldiers' account. One separatist was shot dead.

Later, police recovered the body of the KNF member from the spot in the morning.

One gun, ten bullets and different goods used by the criminal gang were seized from the spot.

Being panicked, the local people took shelter at Marma Welfare Centre in Ruma upazila Headquarters. Local administration with the help of the Army provided food and medical assistance to them.

A group of young men formed the banned armed separatist group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) in 2020, according to authorities.

Kuki-Chin separatist shot dead by Army in Bandarban

The identity of the deceased could not be known immediately

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[Isa Khan]

The army detained five terrorists and recovered a significant amount of arms and ammunition including improvised explosive devices (IED) from a terrorist hideout in an operation in the Sindukchaori union of Khagrachari's Mahalchhari upazila.

Getting secret information, a team of the army (Sindukchaori zone) conducted a raid at the terrorist den in the Battol, South Kanchannagar area of the union on Saturday, said an ISPR press release.

During the special drives, the army personnel seized one AK-47 rifle with seven rounds of ammunition and one magazine, one M-1 rifle with a magazine having 24 rounds of ammunition, one AK-22 rifle with 200 rounds of ammunition, four mortars, one 7.65 mm pistol, one LG long barrel rifle with 36 LG cartridges, one LG short barrel rifle and huge improvised explosive devices (IED) from the hideout.

Later, the army handed over the terrorists, firearms, and ammunition to the police.

The situation in the area has remained under the control of the security forces. The army will continue such operations to maintain peace and stability in the Chattogram Hill Tract area, the press release said.

Army detains 5 terrorists, seizes arms in Khagrachari

Later, the army handed over the terrorists, firearms, and ammunition to the police.

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[Isa Khan]

The Army has launched an operation to eradicate the Kuki-China National Front (KNF), a local separatist armed organization, from Bandarban.

Army members from the Bandarban region conducted the operation in the area around Baklai of Ruma upazila on Thanchi-Likri road from Monday (May 1) morning. According to the latest information, the KNF members retreated after being unable to withstand the army operation, and the army took control of a large area.

Local sources reported that the KNF had kidnapped about 10-12 people, including retired army officers, contractors, and laborers, from the road construction project by the army engineering department on the Ruma-Bagalek road and Thanchi-Likri road for the last two months after breaking the network with the militants. Later, the abductees were released in exchange for a large ransom. Additionally, five people, including army officers, were killed by KNF members. The Ruma-Bagalek and Thanchi-Likri road construction stopped due to KNF terrorist activities. After the road construction work was halted for several days, several teams of the army launched an operation to free these two roads from terrorism. Sensing the army’s presence during the operation, the KNF personnel opened fire on the army. The army retaliated by firing, and a fierce gun battle started between the two sides. Local residents confirmed that the firing continued until afternoon.

The KNF members were forced to retreat in the face of army firing. The army still surrounds the entire area, and the number of casualties can be confirmed after the search.

As a result of the army operation, 18 and a half kilometers of Thanchi-Likri road have been cleared of terrorists, as KNF members fled in the face of army operations. The army stated that the operation would continue until these two roads are free from terrorism.

The success of the army operation has created an opportunity to resume work on the border road under construction in the area. Additionally, closed tourist centers in the area can be reopened. Locals are of the opinion that employment of local residents dependent on tourism will resume.

However, according to locals, gunfire between the two sides started again when the rival UPDF (Democratic) attacked the KNF members who fled after the army operation. The number of casualties has not yet been confirmed. It is to be noted that within the last one month, it was a third round of conflict between the KNF and the UPDF (Democratic).

Army clears 18.5km road controlled by KNF in Bandarban operation

STAFF REPORTER The Army has launched an operation to eradicate the Kuki-China National Front (KNF), a local separatist armed organization, from Bandarban. Army members from the Bandarban region conducted the operation in the area around Baklai of Ruma upazila on Thanchi-Likri road from Monday

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[Isa Khan]

An army patrol team on Thursday occupied a secret training camp with the headquarters of armed terrorists of KNF (Kuki-Chin National Front) in Thepi para area of Ruma upazila of Bandarban.

Following complaints from local residents living around the KNF training camp area, a patrol team of Ruma Sena Zone left for the camp on the basis of intelligence inputs for their safety. As the team approached the training camp, the KNF armed terrorist group fled, according to a press release of the Inter Service Public Relation Directorate (ISPR).

However, at around 0920 hours, the army patrol team was hit by an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) planted by the terrorists. One of the soldiers injured in the blast was rushed to Chattogram Combined Military Hospital by helicopter in a critical condition. Later, soldier Tujam, 30, died while undergoing treatment at the hospital, it said.

Such potential IEDs are being identified and deactivated by the army's specialised team for the safety of the general public, it added.

Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed expressed shock at the death of the soldier and conveyed his condolences to his family, the release also said.

In recent times, KNF terrorists have been creating anarchy in the hilly townships of Ruma, Roanchhari and Thanchi upazilas of Bandarban through continuous killing, kidnapping, creating panic in the public mind. Bangladesh Army and other law enforcement agencies are working to prevent such human rights violations, the release further said.

1 soldier killed as Army captures KNF headquarters with training camp in Bandarban

An army patrol team on Thursday occupied a secret training camp with the headquarters of armed terrorists of KNF (Kuki-Chin National Front) in Thepi para area of Ruma upazila of Bandarban. Following complaints from local residents living around the KNF training camp area, a patrol team of Ruma...

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