Landslide death toll 86

Death toll in landslide and house collapse due to heavy downpour in Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Bandarban rose to 86 yesterday.
Of the victims, 36 died in Bandarban, 23 in Chittagong and 27 in Cox's Bazar, officials in the respective districts said.
At least a dozen others died in drowning and lightning in Cox's Bazar and Sylhet over the last two days.
The death toll yesterday jumped from 15 the day before and is feared to mount further, with scores remain missing following multiple landslides in those districts.
Rescue operation was intensified yesterday with army troops joining the salvage efforts by volunteers and fire brigade members.
Heavy monsoon rain battered the southeast region of the country causing several landslides and house collapse in the hill slopes over the last three days.
All domestic and international flight operations to and from Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport were declared suspended at 4:30pm on Tuesday as the runway, like much of the port city, went under rainwater.
Flight operations were supposed to resume at 5:00am today, according to civil aviation authorities.
Train services on the Dhaka-Chittagong route were also cut off as a railway bridge at Bhatiari collapsed around 8:00pm on Tuesday, presumably due to the downpour that began around 3:30am.
Atiqur Rahman, deputy secretary of food and disaster management ministry who is working at the ministry's National Disaster Response Coordination Centre, said information of death continued coming up to the centre.
The center will remain open from 6:00am to 12:00pm every day for the next few days, a press release of the ministry said.
The government on Tuesday allocated Tk 10 million and 1,450 tonnes of rice for the affected people in Chittagong, Bandarban, Cox's Bazaar, Feni, Sylhet, Habiganj and Moulvibazar, among other districts.
In addition, local administrations in Chittagong, Bandarban, Cox's Bazaar, Feni and Sylhet have distributed 172 tonnes of rice and Tk 7 lakh among the victims.
Our Chittagong bureau office reports 18 people, including women and children, died in the port city and three in Banshkhali upazila.
Five members of a family were buried alive after a huge chunk of earth fell on their hillside home at the city's Biswa Colony on Tuesday, said Abdul Latif, officer-in-charge of Khulshi Police Station.
In the city's Motka Ghona area two sisters aged seven and eight died in a landslide on Tuesday evening.
Five people, including two two-year-old girls, were killed at Yasin Colony under Khulshi Police Station.
Twenty four members of Bangladesh Army were conducting rescue operation in the area.
Captain Gazi Mohammad Maksud-ur-Rahim, who led the operation, told The Daily Star they recovered three bodies from 7 to 8 feet under earth.
Three young members of a family were buried under mad on Tuesday night at Banshkhali upazila in Chittagong. The victims are Shahidul Islam, 12, Khorsheda Begum, 8 and Fatema Begum, 4.
In a wall collapse, 15-year-old schoolgirl Kawser Ani died at Chikandandi union under Hathazari upazila.
The incident happened when a roadside demarcation wall fell on her amid ceaseless rain while she was passing through around 6.00pm, said Mohammad Idris, a member of the Chikandandi union.
Eight-year-old Abul Hossain of Ambagan area also died in a wall collapse on Tuesday night.
Four members of a family were buried alive at Andharmanik area under Khulshi in another incident of landslide on Tuesday night. The dead are Jahanara Begum, 40, and her three children Subarna Akter, 19, Rabeya Akter, 13, and Tanvir Ahmed, 9.
Meanwhile, city life started to return to normal yesterday as water receded in most of the city areas.
Power supply which was disrupted Tuesday was also restored in many areas yesterday.
However, loading and unloading of cargos at the outer anchorage of Chittagong Port still remained suspended due to bad weather, said Sayed Farhad Uddin, secretary of Chittagong Port Authority.
In Cox's Bazar, 10 bodies were recovered from Ukhiya, eight from Chakaria, seven from Ramu, five from Moheskhali, three each from Cox's Bazar sadar and Pekua and two from Kutubdia, said Abdul Mozid, district relief and rehabilitation officer.
He said 24 of them died in landslide, three in house collapse, and five in lightening while six people drowned, he added.

Electricity rates hikes

It is unfair, morally untenable and breach of public trust on the part of the government to repeatedly raise electricity charges without caring to curb the systems loss. Why is it that moves are not taken to plug the loopholes of wastes in terms of unpaid bills that various government ministries, corporations and other public bodies owe to PDB? How is it that year after year, bad debt is allowed to accrue in the public sector while it is the average consumer who must continue to bear the burden of ever-burgeoning electricity bill?
These are valid questions that must now be asked and answered by relevant authorities, for whilst it may make perfect sense to “balance the books” by adding a few zeros in the ledger of accounts, serious thought must go into the implications of a rise in production costs making our products uncompetitive in the world market and go beyond reach of local consumers.
Nothing is more music to ear for the Power Development Board (PDB) when it suggests nearly a 60 per cent hike in electricity bills which both industrial and retail consumers will have to endure from the beginning of the new fiscal year. It is ironic that the Chairman of PDB proposed in the third week of May that the price of electricity may be raised “a little bit” along with energy conservation measures to minimise the country's losses and reduce power outages. Little did we expect that “little bit” to represent a hike of 50 to 60 per cent from present tariff rates.
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission, a body that is supposed to hold public hearings representing various stakeholders including consumers has sadly not been upholding its end of the bargain of late. Although we are told that a hearing will take place in July to address concerns of the various interest groups, the body fails to inspire hope that the government will backtrack from its current position. The increased tariff that will affect both bulk and retail consumers will have a domino effect of raising costs of production, which will at the end of the day be borne by the average consumer. The rationale for such a significant increase in tariff falls flat in the face of falling crude prices in the international market with these down to around US$90 a barrel.

Rain plays havoc on Ctg people

The Chittagong Met office recorded 342.5 millimetre rain in the last 24 hours till 6:00pm yesterday, the highest rainfall this year. The Met office forecasts more shower in the next 24 hours.
PORT AUTHORITIES BLAMED
City dwellers hold the CCC responsible for their recurring sufferings.
“Two years have passed since the Mayor took office. But we do not see any significant initiative by the city authorities to address the water logging problem," said Masud Ahmed of Panchlaish.
Dozens other echoed his sentiment.
Asked, Bijoy Kumar Chowdhury, a councillor of the CCC, said the CCC alone could not solve the problem.
The job must be done in coordination with the Water and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) and the Chittagong Development Authority, added Bijoy, also chairman of CCC's standing committee on water logging.
Mahbub Alam, senior vice-president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also stressed the need for coordination between the CCC, Wasa and CDA to rid the city of the problem.
According to Zarina Hossain, a town planner, unplanned urbanisation is to blame for water stagnation.
Bijoy said the CCC had done a lot of work to address this problem but some major projects remain incomplete due to fund shortages.
“We have submitted a project proposal to dig a canal in the port city from Bahaddarhat to the Karnaphuli River,” he said, adding that the proposal was under consideration of the local government ministry.
The seven-km canal will go through Khawza Road before falling into the Karnaphuli.
Bijoy hoped that Chittagong's water logging problem will be solved to a great extent on completion of the Tk 297-crore project.

Probe outcome of RHD shootout Will the lessons be learnt?

After probing the shootout incident at the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), the three-member committee has confirmed that it was a turf war between two pro-Awami League groups over assuming full control of the lucrative tender business. The probe report says that the RHD workers' union leaders assailed and shot at some Swechchhasebak Lague men in what was a retaliatory act on the part of the former. This is outrageous, to say the least, and a clear demonstration of the extent to which a section of unscrupulous RHD officials and pro-AL political groups are involved in corruption and tender manipulations. Now that the culprits have been identified, we demand of the incumbent communications minister to take legal actions against them and give them exemplary punishment.
As we know it, the RHD is responsible for repairing and maintaining all the run-down roads and highways of the country and every year a huge amount of money is allocated to this department to accomplish its work. In the backdrop of frequent road accidents claiming hundreds of innocent lives due to faulty construction and dilapidated conditions of highways, this department's work in the form of timely repair and structural reinforcement has become all the more important.
In fact, the probe report has brought to glaring light why the seriously potholed, dilapidated roads still remain so to the peril of commuters even after hefty amount of allocated funds and even after repeated outcries from media and different public quarters. Most of the fund is misappropriated by the corrupt coteries leaving the roads either very poorly repaired or entirely unchanged.
Therefore, we think the communications minister's response to the report should not be confined to punishing the shootout culprits only; he should rather break the nexus between corrupt RHD officials, influential political quarters and greedy contractors. In addition to containing the corrupt elements in the RHD, he must cleanse this department of the influence of all ruling party elements and thereafter make sure that the contracts are awarded to reputed and eligible contractors.

Shakib Al Hasan, brand ambassador of Tiffin Biscuit

Shakib Al Hasan, currently the best all-rounder in cricket, is now the brand ambassador of Tiffin Biscuit, a product of Globe Biscuit and Dairy Milk Ltd. Shakib recently signed the agreement at a press conference. Chairman of Globe, Harun Ur Rashid; Director Khairul Anam; AGM Md. Saiful Islam and popular actor-director and executive director of Nakhshikantha Communication, Mahfuz Ahmed, were present at the signing in ceremony. Mahfuz said that to enlighten the students of the different localities and districts, Shakib would visit schools and colleges from time to time. Shakib said that he had agreed to take up the project on request of Mahfuz. Through the project he could lend a hand in developing awareness among the young

Malaysia detains 33 Bangladeshis

Malaysian authorities have detained 81 illegal immigrants, including 33 Bangladeshis, in the first joint enforcement drive by the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) and 11 other government agencies.
The illegal immigrants were held on June 21 from the construction sites in the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory, namely, Sri Hartamas, Cheras and Sentul, said Federal Territory Immigration Department (enforcement) Assistant Director James Musa Singa.
Of the other detainees, 41 were from Indonesia, three from Myanmar, two from Pakistan and one each from India and Sri Lanka, reports Malaysian official news agency Bernama.
"The number of illegal immigrants nabbed could have been higher if we had intelligence on the areas earlier," he told reporters.
Among the departments involved were the Malaysian Immigration Department, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Department of Environment.
Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory CIDB Assistant Director Nur Iskandar Zulkefli said four notices of notifications were issued to sub-contractors for not having certificates of registration.
A fine of RM 50,000 would be imposed and the construction works could be stopped, he said.

Govt of Bangladesh to award Indian former army officer for 1971 role

The government of Bangladesh will confer "Friends of Bangladesh Award" on a retired Indian army officer for his outstanding contributions to the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.
The decision was made at the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Ministers' Office yesterday.
The awardee is Col (retd) Ashok Tara who rescued Begum Fajilatunnesa Mujib, Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Sheikh Russel, who were confined by the Pakistani military to a house at Dhanmondi on December 17, a day after the liberation was won.
Begum Fajilatunnesa Mujib was the mother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana and Sheikh Russel.
Ashok Tara risked his life to save the family members of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters after the meeting.
Ashok, who was the commander of 14 Guard Regiment during the war, negotiated with the Pakistani army who had cordoned off the house of the family members of Bangabandhu and forced them to surrender, Musharraf said.
The Indian army officer also fought in the battlefield against the Pakistani occupation forces in Dhaloi, Gangasagar, Bhairob and Brahmanbaria areas of the then East Pakistan, he added.
On his return from Pakistan jail on January 10, 1972, Bangabandhu called the officer and thanked him for his bravery, said the cabinet secretary.
Asked when the award would be handed over, the secretary said it would be done at a convenient time in consultation with the awardee.
The cabinet also endorsed the draft of Disaster Management Act, 2012.
According to the draft, a disaster management council will be formed under the leadership of the prime minister whenever a disaster strikes, the cabinet secretary said, adding that a directorate would be formed to this end.
The proposed law specifies the responsibilities of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and other government organisations during a disaster.
The cabinet also approved Bangladesh Silk Development Board Act, 2012 for the overall development of the sector.

Jaya Ahsan touches new heights

Popular star Jaya Ahsan continues to make new strides in her career, capturing both media attention and praise from viewers for her performances. On June 14th, the leading actress of the country was present at the 'maharut' of a new commercial film, where she will star opposite the top favourite of the contemporary silver screen, Shakib Khan. Both the stars were present at the 'mahurat', which was held at Zahir Raihan Color Lab, BFDC.
The upcoming movie, to be directed by Shafiuddin Shafi and produced by Friends Film International, has been titled “Purno Doirgho Prem Kahini”. Jaya said that the project was finalised only 15 to 20 days prior to the event, and shooting is due in August. Shooting will take place in Dhaka and abroad.
Asked about her character in the film, Jaya said the details are still sketchy as work on the script is still on, but added that the movie will be a “sweet love story”. Explaining her decision to work in a commercial film, she said that the people behind the project seemed sincere about making a quality film. She added that she is against being stereotyped in her work and her latest film will give her the chance to play a radically different role. Even if the story requires her to dance, the actress will not step down; and if her efforts help bring positive changes to the Bangladeshi film arena, she will go full steam ahead, said Jaya. She however claimed not to differentiate between commercial and parallel films. Pointing out that she has worked in an array of TV plays and movies through the years, Jaya added that the challenges in acting will continue in all forms and she will focus on producing a high quality film.
The chance to work with the top movie star of the time feels great, says Jaya smilingly, adding that the script required her act opposite a mainstream hero.
Shakib Khan is optimistic about the success of the film and is confident that Joya's presence will add to the attraction of the celluloid work. The storyline is quite different from the run of the mill stories, says Sakib.
On a different note, the actress informed that this was her first time at BFDC and she had the chance to interact with several new actors. However, Jaya Ahsan asserted that her new endeavours do not mean that her talent is confined only to celluloid, she will stay active in TV dramas as well. She has also recently worked on a play called “Na Komola, Na Meherjan”.
Meanwhile, "Chorabali", another of Jaya's silver screen efforts, currently awaits release. Kolkata star Indranil worked opposite her in the film. Jaya has also finished shooting for a Kolkata movie "Aborto". Shooting for "Guerrilla" was a different experience, while viewers will get to see another side of her in "Aborto". In "Chorabali", Jaya will play a journalist, and it's a movie which she claims is completely fresh. None of her past performances will match her new ones, Jaya asserted and that she doesn't want to become 'typed' in the eyes of the audience.
On the other hand, people involved in the movie industry take a positive view of Jaya's decision to work in a commercial film. BFDC managing director Pijush Bandapaddhay, actress Afsana Mimi, Amjad Hossain, Film Directors Association president Mohammad Hannan were present at the ',mahurat' of the new film.
Jaya added that she had received much appreciation on that day, specially from Afsana Mimi.
Jaya is scheduled to visit USA later this month to take part in a Bangla Utshob in New York. Later she will head for London to visit her younger brother, before she returns home.

Violence, again In Bangladesh

After a quiet Friday, the garment factory zone of Ashulia yesterday erupted in violence again as thousands of workers demanding pay hike clashed sporadically with law enforcers.
The entire industrial area turned into a battlefield since 8:00am leaving around 100 people, including 10 policemen, injured during the four-hour-long clash. Police fired rubber bullets, used teargas, water cannons of riot trucks and charged truncheons to disperse the agitating workers.
Traffic movement on Dhaka-Tangail highway and Ashulia-Baipail road had been suspended during that time as the workers set up barricades. They also vandalised at least 25 vehicles and several factories.
Meanwhile, workers of Sinha Garments at Kanchpur of Narayanganj staged demonstrations demanding pay hike and clashed with police which left over 50 people, including seven policemen, wounded. Vehicular movement on Dhaka-Sylhet highway had to be suspended for about five hours.
Even though Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association on Thursday threatened to close all factories in Ashulia in the event of violence continuing, workers of several factories began to demonstrate at Zirabo of Ashulia around 8:00am yesterday. Their movement for pay hike had begun on Monday.
Workers of adjacent factories joined in and put barricades on Dhaka-Tangail highway and on Ashulia-Baipail road. The clashes began as police tried to remove the barricades.
The workers fought pitched battles with law-enforcers at Jamgora, Nishchintapur, Shimultola, Baipail, Zirabo, Narasinghapur, Ghoshbagh and nearby places.
Officer-in-Charge Badrul Alam Sheikh of Ashulia Police Station said they had to resort to firing 200 canisters of teargas and 300 non-lethal bullets and truncheon charge. They also used water cannons of riot trucks.
"The workers armed with sticks attacked law enforcers and also pelt us with brickbats leaving many of us injured," the OC said.
Sheikh Rafiqul Islam, additional superintendent of Dhaka District Police, said the owners closed all factories there to avert vandalism and protect their properties.
Sheikh Rafiqul Islam said, "The situation became normal and traffic movement was restored around 1:00pm when the workers left the area.”
Police sources said around 4,000 law enforcers from Industrial police, Dhaka District Police, Armed Police Battalion and Rapid Action Battalion had been deployed in the area.
Sarwar Alam, assistant deputy director (intelligence) of Industrial Police, said "Although many of the factories were opened in the morning, presence of the workers was small…"
Workers of some of the factories of Ha-Meem Group and Sharmin Group at Narasinghapur joined work in the morning as the factory authorities had assured them of meeting their demands. Several hundred police and Rab personnel stood guard so that agitating workers of other factories could not harm them.
Talking to The Daily Star many agitating workers said their demonstrations would continue until their demands were met.
Ashulia police on Friday filed a case against 10 local BNP leaders, including Dewan Moyeen Uddin Biplab, Yiarpur union parishad chairman and local BNP unit president, in connection with provoking the workers into violence.
Other nine are: Kamal Uddin Chowdhury, Sharif Chowdhury, Anwar Hossain Mridha, Mohammad Shafi, Ilias Shahi, Abdul Malek, Abdus Salam, Zillur Rahman Dewan and Anwar Hossain.
The Ashulia OC claimed, "Those people were accused in the case following information from our intelligence. We did not implicate them considering their political identities."
Meanwhile, our Narayanganj correspondent quoting workers of Sinha Garment in Kanchpur said the workers demonstrated to show solidarity with the workers of Ashulia.
However, Mohammad Mahbubul Alam, director of Industrial Police-4 (Adamjee zone) said the workers of Sinha were demanding pay hike for themselves for the last few days as well.
Officer-in-Charge Harun-or-Rashid of Sonargaon Police Station said they fired over 100 rubber bullets and teargas canisters to disperse the agitating workers when they tried to block the Dhaka-Sylhet highway around 10:00am.
Resisted, the workers clashed with the law enforcers but they later moved back into their factory and demonstrated there.