Haque Specialized Group's News

Counter-terrorism police in Australia have stopped a suspected plot to bring down an aeroplane, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said. He was speaking after four people were arrested in raids across Sydney. Investigators said they had seized materials in the raids that could have been used to make an improvised explosive device. Mr Turnbull said the raids had been a "major joint counter-terrorism operation". He said extra security was in place at domestic and international airports. The raids took place in the Sydney suburbs of Surry Hills, Lakemba, Wiley Park and Punchbowl, Australian broadcaster ABC reported. Australia's national terror threat level remains at "probable". Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin said the four men arrested were allegedly linked to an "Islamic-inspired" plot. "In recent days, law enforcement has become aware of information that suggested some people in Sydney were planning to commit a terrorist attack using an IED (improvised explosive device)," he told a news conference. He said police did not yet have information on "the specific attack, the location, date or time", adding that he expected the investigation to be "long and protracted". ABC reported that a woman in the Surry Hills area, who said her son and husband had been arrested, denied that they had any links to terrorism.   ....

Published at: 2017-07-30 00:00:04

Monira Munni The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has initiated a move to form a separate platform to look into the post-2018 safety activities in the country's ready-made garment sector, industry insiders said.   The platform to be administered by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has been planned to take on charge and responsibility of the western retailers platforms-Accord and Alliance-whose tenure will expire in mid-2018, they added. The BGMEA has drafted a structure of the platform and has already informally discussed the issue with top government authorities while it also apprised some of the top global buyers including H&M of the matter, they said. Both the government and the buyers have in principle agreed with their proposal, they said, adding that the issue will also be discussed with the BGMEA's members in a meeting to be held today (Sunday). When asked, BGMEA vice president Mahmud Hasan Khan said, "Buyers want a transparent, credible and trusted body and we have drafted a structure for a separate platform taking their opinion into consideration." The BGMEA members in the meeting will want to know about the trade body's plan, he said, adding that the meeting has been convened to seek members' opinions about the Accord's extension and the next course of actions. According to the draft, the platform namely 'Shonman' would be constituted with representatives from commerce and labour ministries, Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE)/National Action Plan, International Labour Organization (ILO), trade unions, brands and buyers and BGMEA. All decisions would be taken unanimously, people involved with the process said, adding that the draft has proposed that the PMO choose an ombudsman to ensure transparency in the process and address any corruption, negligence or biasness, if any. The move came following a recent agreement between global trade unions and apparel brands and buyers, signatories of Accord, to extend the platform's activities in the country for three more years. Apparel makers opposed the extension move terming it 'unilateral decision' which is also planning to look into the labour rights issues especially promoting freedom of association. The BGMEA recently discussed its proposal with Alliance, another platform mainly based on North American apparel companies, sources said. Alliance officials said they have no plan to extend its activities rather it might take few months as transition period to end its existing activities. Alliance is ready to hand over its post-2018 safety monitoring and other required activities to a competent, credible and independent body, they added.    munni_fe@yahoo.com....

Published at: 2017-07-30 00:00:04

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested a Bangladeshi national and Myanmar citizen along with 14,000 pieces of Yaba tablets from a sweet shop at Ekram Market in Ukhia upazila of Cox's Bazar district on Saturday evening. Tipped off that a gang of drug pedlars were staying at the sweet shop, a team of RAB, led by Major Ruhul Amin, conducted a raid there, reports UNB. During the raid, the elite force members arrested M Nurul Bashar, 27, son of Gura Miah of Kutupalang village in Ukhia upazila, and M Mamunur Rashid, 32, son of late Aman Ullah, hailing from Mongdu district of Myanmar. RAB personnel also confiscated 14,000 pieces of Yaba pills worth approximately Tk 5.6 million from their possession. The arrestees were handed over to Ukhia Police Station.....

Published at: 2017-07-30 00:00:04

A tribal young man was trampled to death by a wild elephant at Chhoto Gazni in Jhenaigati upazila of Sherpur district on Saturday midnight. The deceased has been identified as Polodaf Sangma, 28, son of Ronen Kubi of the area. Locals said a herd of marauding elephants invaded Chhoto Gazni village in the upazila at about 12:00am. Villagers made an attempt to drive away the elephants by torching lamps. At one stage, a wild elephant pounced on Polodaf and crushed him to death by trampling. Later locals recovered the body. Jhenaigati Rangtia Range Officer M Kabir Hossain of the Forest Department confirmed the incident; according to UNB.....

Published at: 2017-07-30 00:00:04

US President Donald Trump says he is "very disappointed" with China for not doing enough to stop North Korea's weapons programme. Writing on Twitter, he said he would not allow China to "do nothing" about the reclusive state. His comments came a day after Pyongyang test-fired its second intercontinental ballistic missile in a month. It later claimed the test proved that the entire US was within striking range of its weaponry. On Saturday, two US B-1 bombers conducted exercises over the Korean peninsula with South Korean and Japanese planes, the US Pacific Command said, "as a part of the continuing demonstration of ironclad US commitment to our allies". On Saturday, China condemned the test launch and urged restraint on all sides. But Mr Trump voiced frustration at Beijing's response, linking the US trade deficit with China with policy on North Korea. "I am very disappointed in China. Our foolish past leaders have allowed them to make hundreds of billions of dollars a year in trade, yet they do NOTHING for us with North Korea, just talk," he wrote in two consecutive tweets. "We will no longer allow this to continue. China could easily solve this problem!" President Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping discussed North Korea during talks earlier this year, after which US officials said the two countries were working on "a range of options" to rein in Pyongyang. But since then the North has carried out two ICBM tests. After Saturday's launch, South Korea said it was concerned the North may have made "a significant advancement in technology", adding that the missile test was "unique in its time and place of launch". Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the threat to his country's security was "grave and real". The North has repeatedly tested missiles in breach of UN resolutions.   ....

Published at: 2017-07-30 00:00:04