Haque Specialized Group's News

A suspected robber was killed in a reported gunfight with police at Hazipur village in Kashba upazila of Brahmabaria district on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Zahirul Islam alias Kala Zahir Mohiuddin Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Kashba Police Station, said police arrested Zahirul from Kamalpur village and then conducted a drive there with him to capture his cohorts as well. As the police were raiding the village, his cohorts opened fire on them, prompting them to fire back that triggered the 'gunfight', leaving Zahir dead on the spot. The body of Zahir, an accused in six cases, was sent to Sadar Hospital for autopsy. Police also claimed that they recovered a pipegun (local made pistol) from the spot.....

Published at: 2017-03-18 00:00:06

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in a raid nabbed a college student along with seven crude bombs from Porakhali village in Abhaynagar upazila of Jessore district on Friday night. The arrestee was identified as Mintu Mollah, a 3rd-year student of Noapara College, according to UNB report. Lt AMM Jahidul kabir of RAB-6 said acting on secret information, a team of the elite force conducted the raid around 10:30pm and arrested Mintu along with the crude bombs. A case was filed in this connection.....

Published at: 2017-03-18 00:00:06

Malaysia Financial Intelligence Unit (MFIU) has sent the Cash Transaction Report (CTR) on 14 Bangladeshis out of total 50 who have invested in 'Malaysia My Second Home' project through money laundering. MFIU has recently sent the report to the finance ministry of Bangladesh and suggested Mutual Legal Assistance procedure to collect the deeds and documents on investment in My Second Home project and other purchase related documents including flat/land/car. MFIU has also informed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) about it. The MoF informed the parliamentary standing committee on finance ministry about the Malaysian report. The CTR has also been sent to the anti-graft watchdog. MFIU has claimed that they don't have any information about 36 other Bangladeshis. As many as 32 cases related to flat/car or money laundering through any other way in Singapore, the UK, the USA, Hong Kong, and Canada are under investigation by the ACC. Some 189 Bangladeshis availed of the benefit of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme during the period between January and November in 2016 while the figure was 215 in 2015. At the end of November 2016, the total number of Bangladeshis who made investments to avail of the benefit since 2003, stood at 3,399 which is 10.7 per cent. Bangladesh ranks 3rd in investment in Malaysia second home project. In a rough estimation, every applicant has to transfer at least $ 82,000 or around Tk 6.4 million to avail of the second home benefit. Thus, at least $ 278 million has illicitly been transferred to Malaysia under the programme. According to Global Financial Integrity (GFI) estimate, illicit financial flow (IFF) or outflow from Bangladesh stood at $ 9.66 billion (Tk 740 billion) in 2013 which was $ 7.22 billion (Tk 553.13 billion) in 2012. No update for 2014 or later years are available. Besides, National Board of Revenue (NBR) has engaged a lawyer in Los Angeles in the USA to bring back the money to the tune of US$ 0.639 million siphoned off by a taxpayer of tax zone-2 of Chittagong in 2012. The revenue board has also sent a letter to Justice Department of the USA through the office of the attorney general, seeking Mutual Legal Assistance, 2012. The NBR will primarily get US$ 0.150 million through settlement as Justice Department delivered verdict to freeze the amount. Central Intelligence Cell of NBR filed a case against the said taxpayer with Ramna Model Police Station on October 02, 2016 under Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012. Besides, another case has been filed with the senior metropolitan special judge of Chittagong on charge of tax evasion and concealment of investment information. Charge has been framed against the accused. msshova@gmail.com....

Published at: 2017-03-17 00:00:06

A report on Colombia by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights says dozens of rights activists have been killed last year. It says most victims were human rights leaders or members of leftist political organisations and calls on the government to provide protection. Areas with illegal drug crops were the most dangerous, it said on Thursday. The UN warned that armed groups were moving into territories previously occupied by FARC rebels. Under a peace deal signed in November, the FARC rebels have moved to transition zones where they will remain until they fully demobilise. The UN said the illegal armed groups were fighting for territory and resources. The UN representative in Colombia, Todd Howland, said the groups were often involved in drug trafficking and illegal gold mining and see activists as a threat. Howland called on the government to recognise that the deaths formed a pattern and to provide protection to those in danger. Colombia's Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo, said violence against rights defenders could undermine the peace deal. "We're all interested in facing these threats and these murders because we know that it seriously affects the chances of consolidating peace in Colombia," he said.....

Published at: 2017-03-17 00:00:06

Toyota is to invest £240 million in upgrading its UK factory that makes the Auris and Avensis models, reports BBC. The Japanese carmaker's investment in the Burnaston plant near Derby will allow production of vehicles using its new global manufacturing system. The factory employs about 2,500 people, while another 590 work at Toyota's engine plant at Deeside, North Wales. Burnaston made about 180,000 vehicles last year, most of which are exported to Europe and other markets. Johan van Zyl, chief executive of Toyota Motor Europe, said the investment showed that the company was doing all it could to make Burnaston more competitive. However, he warned: "Continued tariff-and-barrier free market access between the UK and Europe that is predictable and uncomplicated will be vital for future success." Industry trade body the SMMT said in January that uncertainty around Brexit and the UK's future trading arrangements had hit investment in the car sector. Investment commitments in the UK automotive sector last year totalled £1.66bn, down from £2.5 billion in 2015. Business Secretary Greg Clark said Toyota's investment "underlines the company's faith in its employees and will help ensure the plant is well positioned for future Toyota models to be made in the UK". The government is providing £21.3 million in funding for training, research and development, and improving the Burnaston plant's environmental performance. Last year, rival carmaker Nissan said it would build both the new Qashqai and the X-Trail SUV at its Sunderland plant following government "support and assurances".....

Published at: 2017-03-17 00:00:06