The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Law,
Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has finalized the report of the 'Chief
Election Commissioner and Election Commissioner Appointment Bill 2022' raised
in Parliament with some amendments in the two sections of eligibility and
disqualification. The Election Commission may pass the law by presenting the
report of the committee in the 16th session of the parliament on Wednesday
(January 26).
Earlier, Law Minister Advocate Anisul Haque introduced the
bill in Parliament on Sunday (January 23rd). When BNP MP Harunur Rashid
objected to raising the bill but it was rejected by voice vote.
The parliamentary committee has recommended changes in the
eligibility clause of CEC and commissioners in the bill raised in the parliament.
Section 5 (c) states that in order to become a CEC and Commissioner, he must
have at least 20 years of working experience in any important government,
judicial, semi-government or private position.
This section will include government, judicial, semi-government
or private positions as well as 'autonomous and other occupations'.
And in case of disqualification, section 6 (d) is being
changed. Now it is said that a person cannot be a CEC or a commissioner if he
is convicted of a criminal offense of moral turpitude and sentenced to at least
two years’ imprisonment. Here, instead of two years any type of imprisonment
has been recommended. That is to say, any term of imprisonment for criminal
offense will be considered as disqualification in case of becoming CEC or
Commissioner.
After the meeting of the parliamentary committee, the
chairman of the committee Shahiduzzaman Sarkar informed the journalists about
these changes.
He said the parliamentary committee had finalized the report
after detailed discussions. We have made some changes in the place of
qualifications and disqualifications. That is how the report will be given in
the parliament.
He said the place of two years’ imprisonment has been
changed. Two years’ imprisonment has been changed to only imprisonment. In
addition to government, judicial, semi-government or private positions, I have
recommended the addition of 'autonomous and other professions'.
Comment
Last week, widespread
violence and destruction unfolded across Bangladesh, centered in Dhaka. This
has raised a pertinent question: Is Bangladesh witnessing the rise of extremism
akin to the Taliban? Is Bangladesh potentially becoming a second home for the
Taliban?
From July 17th to July
21st, incidents of unrest and violence have occurred across the country. Upon
analysis, it is evident that the main instigators behind all these events are
the anti-independence Jamaat, Shibir, and some militant organizations. Evidence
suggests that professional militants have attacked various important
establishments such as BTV, Metro Rail, and Elevated Expressway. Particularly
concerning is the incident where militants managed to escape from Narshingdi
jail, which raises several questions.
During this agitation
(quota reform movement), BNP and its student wing were certainly involved, but
they were supportive forces. Towards the end, with hopes of profiting and
causing the government's downfall, they appeared on the field as allies of
Jamaat-Shibir's B Team. However, the entire planning and execution of this
movement were orchestrated by Jamaat, Shibir, and professional militants. This
raises the question whether Bangladesh is witnessing a resurgence of terrorism.
Because all these incidents have been orchestrated in such a manner that they
couldn't have been carried out without the involvement of trained terrorists.
This incident has made it clear that in Bangladesh, extremist, blind
faith-driven, and reactionary groups remain active and have abundant weapons at
their disposal.
In Bangladesh, there have
been various instances of attempts to promote terrorism. Particularly in 2001,
after the BNP-Jamaat alliance came to power, terrorism was encouraged and
supported.
Research reveals that during that time, Bangla
Bhai, along with Sheikh Abdur Rahman, led all the terrorists, who were under
the parole of Jamaat and controlled by Jamaat. All these militant organizations
orchestrated bomb attacks nationwide at that time. They carried out bomb
attacks in court premises. Subsequently, various efforts were made gradually to
curb terrorism. Upon assuming power, the Awami League government took a stern
stance against terrorism. However, the Holy Artisan incident opened everyone's
eyes. It became evident that terrorism still maintains a strong presence in
Bangladesh.
After the Holy Artisan incident, the government adopted a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and granted special importance to counterterrorism efforts. However, this did not eradicate terrorism completely. Terrorists became active from various locations, especially in the hilly areas where there have been reports of terrorist training camps. Due to all these reasons, it is believed that terrorists have reorganized and are attempting to overthrow the government. Following the unrest in July, it seems terrorists are now more organized than ever before. Therefore, they must be thwarted immediately. Failure to do so may turn Bangladesh into another Afghanistan in the days to come.
Comment
Citing clashes and fatalities at
various universities across the country over the quota reform movement, Islamic
University (IU) has been closed indefinitely, prioritizing the safety of its
students.
This decision was made at the
264th emergency syndicate meeting held on Wednesday (July 17th) at 10:30 AM,
presided over by the Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Shaikh Abdus Salam.
A notice was issued, signed by IU
acting registrar HM Ali Hasan in this regard.
Registrar’s Office Sources
informed that considering the unforeseen circumstances arising at various
educational institutions across the country, all academic activities of Islamic
University will remain suspended until further notice, prioritizing the overall
safety of the students. Male students have been instructed to vacate their hall
by 1:00 PM on July 17 and female students by Thursday (18th July) 10:00 AM.
Comment
At least nine people were killed and several others injured as a microbus, carrying a bridal party, plunged into a river after a bridge collapse in Amtali upazila of the district today.
The deceased were identified as Rubia ,45, wife of Rakibul Howladar, Raiti Khan,22, wife of Sohail Khan, Fatema,35, wife of Babul Matbar, Shahnaz Akhtar, 37, wife of Abul Kalam, and her two daughters Tahiyat Mejbin, 7, and Tasfia Mubassera, 12, Farida Begum,48, wife of Fazlur Rahman Khan, residents of Kokararchar village of Shibchar upazila in Madaripur district, Zakia, 35 , wife of Zahirul Islam and her daughter Rukaid Islam, 5, resident of Taktabunia village of Amtali Upazila Haldia Union in Barguna district.
The accident occurred when they were going to attend a wedding ceremony in Amtali Municipal Town on a microbus while crossing the connecting bridge of Chawra Union and Haldia Union of the upazila around 2:30 pm this afternoon as the bridge collapsed into the Subandhi river, leaving at least 20 people injured, officer-in-charge (OC) of Amtali Police Station Kazi Tofazzal Hossain Tapu said.
Later, fire service and police personnel rescued the injured and took them to Amtali Upazila Health Complex where on-duty doctor declared nine of them dead, he said.
Golam Sarwar Tuku, MP of Barguna-1 constituency and Deputy Commissioner Rafiqul Islam visited the spot.
The bodies will be handed over to theirs family members after legal process, The OC added.
(Source: BSS)
Comment
The outgoing Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed received farewell ‘darbar’ here today.
He also exchanged views with the military officers, junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and other army personnel of different ranks, according to an ISPR press release.
Army personnel from all cantonments participated in the darbar through Video teleconferencing (VTC), the release added.
In his farewell address, the Army Chief expressed his special gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, saying that the Bangladesh Army has stood with its head high before the world today as a modern and smart force due to the sincere efforts of the premier.
He also expressed his sincere gratitude to all concerned for their full cooperation during discharging duties.
(Source: BSS)
Comment
A devastating floods in Sylhet and Sunamganj inundated much of two northeastern districts leaving over 17 lakh people stranded and damaging standing crops and infrastructures.
Residents and officials of local administrations told BSS that 17,57,222
people have been marooned in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts as this
year's second spell of flood submerged vast swaths of the two district
creating huge suffering of the people.
Among the total people, who are marooned by flood water, 7.92 lakh
people are in Sunamganj and 9.64 lakh people are in Sylhet, they added.
Officials of Sylhet district administration said the first spell of
flood affected thousands of people in 13 upazilas and municipalities of
Sytlhet district in late May and the flash flood prolonged first week of
the current months leaving a large number of people marooned.
The authorities have set up 6,392 shelter centres after the second round
of flood hit Sylhet and Sunamganj districts. As flood water started
receding, people are going to home from shelter centres.
The Sunamganj district administration sources said flood water submerged 11 upazilas and Sunamgaj municipality.
Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Anwaruzzaman Choudhury said, "Volunteer teams of city corporation are working to extend assistances for flood-hit people. We have arranged adequate amount of food at shelter centres."
A devastating flood, triggered by heavy rainfall and onrush water from hilly regions, have affected 20 lakh people in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, according to a statement of UNICEF issued today.
The statement, signed by Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to
Bangladesh, read among 20 lakh flood affected people in two northeastern
regions - Sylhet and Sunamganj - 7.72 lakh are children.
The UNICEF called for emergency assistances for flood-hit children as
they (children) are the venerable segment of the population in case of
any natural disaster.
Sheldon Yett said, "When flood waters are in rising trend, unsecured condition has created for children. They face different problems including drowning, malnutrition and various water-borne diseases."
The UNICEF in cooperation with of Bangladesh government and other organization working at field level have distributed safe drinking water among one lakh flood-hit people in Sylhet and Sunamganj to reduce their suffering.
Alongside distribution of drinking water, the UNICEF also distributed over 10 litre capacity 3000 water pots for the people in food-hit regions.
According to the UNICEF statement, 810 primary schools in Sylhet
Division have been submerged by flood water while 500 primary schools
are used as shelter centre for flood-affected people. As many as 140
community clinics have been damaged by flood waters in the Sylhet
region, it added.
Water levels at 59 river stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and
Warning Centre (FFWC) have marked rise while 48 stations recorded fall.
Among the 110 monitored river stations, two have been registered steady and water levels at seven river stations are flowing above the danger level, a bulletin issued by the FFWC said here today.
The Teesta River is flowing at 15cm above danger level at Kaunia station while the Surma at Kanaighat, the Kushiyara at Amalsad, at Sherpur-Sylhet and at Markuli, the Old Surma at Derai and the Someshwari at Kalmakanda are flowing 35cm, 15cm, 18cm, 39cm, 23cm and 34cm are flowing respectively.
The Ganges-Padma rivers are in rising trend, which may continue in the next 72 hours, the bulletin said, adding that the major rivers in the North-eastern region of the country are in falling trend which may continue in the next 72 hours.
Overall improvement of the flood situation in various low-lying areas under districts of the North-eastern part of the country may continue in the next 72 hours.
According to the information from meteorological organisations, low to medium rainfall in next 24 hours and medium to heavy rainfall in the next 48 to 72 hours is expected in the Northern and adjoining upstream parts of the country.
As a result, the water level of Dudhkumar, Teesta and Dharla rivers in those regions may fall in the next 24 hours which may rise in particular time in the next 48 to 72 hours.
Comment