The Civic Headlines

Eleven Bangladeshis, including five children and five women, were abandoned by traffickers in the Indian Sundarbans after being promised safe passage to India for 45,000 taka. The group sought refuge with traffickers following the fall of the Awami League government and the flight of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. However, after reaching the jungle, the traffickers fled, leaving them stranded. Indian forest officials discovered the group and handed them over to police. The authorities are now investigating the incident.

Three BNP leaders from Chattogram South district units have been issued show-cause notices after a video surfaced showing them supervising the relocation of 14 luxury cars belonging to Saiful Alam Masud, chairman of S Alam Group. The BNP Central Assistant Organising Secretary (Chattogram) stated that the leaders, Abu Sufian, Enamul Hoque Enam, and SM Mamun Mian, were asked to respond within 24 hours. The video, which went viral, has sparked controversy, and the party awaits their explanations before taking further action.

Former Dhaka-7 MP Haji Mohammad Selim was detained by law enforcement in the capital’s Bangshal area on Sunday night. He had previously come under scrutiny during the quota reform movement and later sought refuge in a hospital. Haji Selim was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2008 for illegal wealth accumulation, which was later reduced to 10 years by the High Court in 2022. His arrest follows ongoing investigations related to these charges.

The government has announced a reduction in fuel prices for September, reflecting trends in the international market. Starting from midnight tomorrow, the price of diesel and kerosene will be reduced by Tk 1.25, bringing the new price to Tk 105.50 per litre. Meanwhile, petrol and octane prices will see a significant drop of Tk 6 per litre, with new prices set at Tk 121 and Tk 125 per litre, respectively. This adjustment aims to provide relief to consumers amid fluctuating global oil prices.

The interim government, led by Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, has announced the sale of 52 luxurious, duty-free cars imported for former MPs of the now-dissolved 12th Jatiya Sangsad. These vehicles, mostly from Toyota's Land Cruiser series, remain stuck at the port. The government aims to collect customs taxes by selling them at market prices rather than sending them back, which would result in a loss of revenue. The National Board of Revenue has been instructed to oversee the sale, ensuring an easy purchasing process.

A 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck parts of Pakistan on Thursday morning, with tremors felt in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including cities like Mardan, Malakand, and Shangla. The quake, which occurred around 6 a.m., originated in Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region at a depth of 215 kilometers. Tremors were also experienced in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. Although significant shaking was reported, no immediate information on casualties or damage was available. The Pakistan Meteorological Department is monitoring the situation.

Rashed Khan Menon, President of the Workers Party and former MP, revealed during police interrogation that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina harbored deep resentment towards the people of Bangladesh due to the 1975 assassination of her father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Menon stated that Hasina was driven by a desire for power and was indifferent to the well-being of the people. Despite advice to address the economic situation and heed the demands of the student-led movement, she relied heavily on security forces to maintain her position, leading to her downfall.

Former Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi has been arrested by RAB from his Gulshan residence. The arrest is linked to the fatal shooting of goldsmith Muslim Uddin during a confrontation between police, Awami League activists, and student protesters in Rangpur on July 19. The victim’s wife filed a case naming 17 individuals, including former Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury and several high-ranking officials. Tipu Munshi, elected as an MP from Rangpur-4, served in various ministerial roles during his political career with the Awami League.

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has proposed a significant reform, limiting the Prime Minister to two terms and ensuring that the same individual cannot simultaneously serve as both the head of government and the leader of a political party. This proposal aims to eliminate conflicts of interest and enhance democratic governance. Additionally, TIB emphasized the need for parliamentary reform to empower opposition members, ensure representation of marginalized groups, and prevent human rights abuses. These suggestions were part of a broader set of 55 recommendations for creating a "new Bangladesh."

The government has officially withdrawn its decision to ban Jamaat-e-Islami, its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir, and related organizations under the Anti-Terrorism Act. A notification issued today by the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that there was no concrete evidence linking these groups to terrorism or violence, leading to the reversal of the ban. This decision comes after the fall of the Awami League-led government and the formation of an interim administration, which included discussions with political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami. The reversal takes effect immediately.