Haque Specialized Group's News

A group of young men, reportedly activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of Rokeya University unit, on Saturday vandalised a shop in Rangpur for extortion money, leading to hours-long clash with locals. At least five people were injured in the clash during which the locals blocked the Rangpur-Kurigrgam highways creating a huge tailback on the both sides of the road.    The BCL central committee has, meanwhile, suspended the committee of its Begum Rokeya University unit after the incident, according to a private TV channel. It said the BCL central committee has also formed a three-strong probe bodies to investigate the incident.  ....

Published at: 2017-03-05 00:00:04

The United States has claimed that the government of Bangladesh used counterterrorism efforts to justify restrictions of civil and political rights. The government responded with a strong anti-militancy drive, which human rights groups claim has resulted in increased extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions for the purpose of extortion, enforced disappearances, torture, and other abuses of human rights, the US said in a report released on Friday. The most significant human rights problems were extrajudicial killings, arbitrary or unlawful detentions, and forced disappearances by government security forces; the killing of members of marginalised groups and others by groups espousing extremist views; early and forced marriage; gender-based violence, especially against women and children; and poor working conditions and labour rights abuses, according to the executive summary of the 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Other human rights problems included torture and abuse by security forces; arbitrary arrests; weak judicial capacity and independence; lengthy pretrial detentions; politically motivated violence; official corruption; and restrictions on online speech and the press. Authorities infringed on citizens’ privacy rights, said the report released by the US Department of State. – source UNB  ....

Published at: 2017-03-05 00:00:04

Good governance and effective institutional structure can play important role in attaining an inclusive growth, speakers said at a discussion on ‘The New Global Development Agenda: Peace and Security and Human Rights and Governance,’ in Madaripur on Saturday. Madaripur Legal Aid Association (MLAA) and Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB)’s Sachetan Nagarik Committee (SANAC) organised the discussion in partnership with the Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh. Convener of the Platform and eminent economist Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya made the keynote presentation at the discussion. TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman and Honorary Executive Director of BLAST Barrister Sara Hossain were present as guest speakers. Vice-President of the MLAA and former mayor of Madaripur municipality Nurul Alam Babu Chowdhury chaired the meeting where incumbent Mayor Md Khalid Hossain Yead and MLAA Secretary Advocate Fazlul Huq also spoke. Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, also Chairman of the MLAA, said that good governance and effective institutional structure can play important role in attaining an inclusive growth. “Peace and security are two other development criteria, as we see conflict-affected regions all over the world face severe constraints in their development path,” he noted, asserting peace, security, human rights and good governance will be the key priority areas in achieving the new global development agenda. He reiterated that there is a significant deficit of required data that could ensure accountability in the process of establishing rule of law, peace and human rights. The government, as well as non-government organisations, need to increase their spending in this area and be more innovative to attain more positive outcomes, added the public policy analyst. In his address, Dr Iftekharuzzaman said that aligning with the international commitments, the government has formulated some important legal, institutional and policy framework that would be helpful in establishing good governance and control corruption. These include National Righteous Strategy and Right to Information Act, he stated. Now these need ‘actual implementation’, he viewed. Transparency and accountability of the political parties are essential elements of the democratic system that impact other institutions of democracy, the TIB executive director said, adding attaining the mandate of ‘no one will be left behind’ will be impossible if the fundamental rights of citizens, freedom of speech in particular, is denied. In her speech, Barrister Sara Hossain emphsised on rule of law, ensuring accountability of the security forces and child protection for attaining the SDG 16 of the new global agenda. Child Marriage Restraint Act 2017 will be an important step in this regard, she observed. However, she went on, concerns remain as regards its special provision, which has been voiced by almost all women’s and children rights forums. She also criticised some aspects of the proposed Citizenship Act. MLAA Secretary Advocate Fazlul Huq said: “Rewards of development will remain aloof if we cannot reduce the level of corruption.” He called upon everyone to take step against corruption from their respective positions. – FE Online Desk (source press release)  ....

Published at: 2017-03-05 00:00:04

Two people were killed and another was injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a human-hauler at Bondabil in Alamdanga upazila of Chuadanga on Sunday morning. Mizanur Rahman, sub-inspector of Alamdanga Police Station, said the accident took place when the Chuadanga-bound bus coming from Kushtia collided with the human-hauler around 7:10am, leaving one human hauler passenger dead on the spot and two others injured. The deceased could not be identified yet, the SI said. The injured were taken to Chuadanga Sadar Hospital where another succumbed to his injures, he added.  ....

Published at: 2017-03-05 00:00:04

At least 20 people were injured in a clash between two groups of villagers over a trifling matter at Gazukata village in Beanibazar upazila under Sylhet on Saturday. The villagers, equipped with sharp weapons, fought the pitched battle during an arbitration over the stealing of arecas, leaving at least 20 people injured, said officer-in-charge (Investigation) of Beanibazar Police Station Abul Bashar Mohammad Badruzzaman, reports UNB. On information, police rushed in and brought the situation under control. Two of the injured were sent to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital while the rest to Beanibazar Upazila Health Complex.  ....

Published at: 2017-03-05 00:00:04