Staff Correspondent, Dhaka The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) conducted mobile court drives in Old Dhaka’s Mitford and Babubazar areas on Sunday, targeting traffic law violations, illegal parking, and road obstructions caused by commercial encroachments. The operation, carried out by DMP’s Lalbagh Division, was led by Special Metropolitan Magistrate Arifur Rahman, in coordination with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police personnel from Kotwali and Bangshal police stations. According to a DMP press release, two individuals were jailed, two others fined, and four arrested for illegally occupying roads and disrupting traffic.

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka The interim government has extended the special executive magistracy powers of commissioned officers holding the rank of captain or above in the Bangladesh Armed Forces (including those on deputation to the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Border Guard Bangladesh) by an additional two months. The decision was announced in a gazette issued by the Ministry of Public Administration on Sunday. According to the new directive, the extension will remain effective for 60 days starting from Monday. Under this provision, officers empowered with special executive magistracy authority can take necessary legal actions for offences under sections 64, 65, 83, 84, 86, 95(2), 100, 105, 107, 109, 110, 126, 127, 128, 130, 133, and 142 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Following a student-led mass uprising, the Awami League government was ousted on August 5 last year. An interim government was formed on August 8. In response to the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, the armed forces (army, navy, and air force) were granted special executive magistracy powers on September 17. Since then, the tenure of these powers has been extended in two-month intervals.

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka The World Bank (WB) has assured Bangladesh of continuing its assistance in ongoing projects, along with the budgetary support, Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said on Sunday. “It (World Bank) has expressed its satisfaction over the overall economic situation of the country,” Salehuddin told reporters after a meeting with the World Bank’s new vice president for the South Asia Region, Johannes Zutt, at his secretariat office. He said that Zutt appreciated Bangladesh’s advancement, although it has been through a very tough situation in the past year. “We are very much happy to see the progress of the financial sector, balance of payment, foreign exchange sector, all is going well,” the finance adviser quoted the World Bank official as saying. He also mentioned that Zutt put emphasis on revamping the private sector, its development, and the enhancement of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. He said that Bangladesh is doing well overall compared to other countries in the world. The adviser said Zutt recalled his past role as country director of the World Bank here 15 years ago and pointed out that since then, Bangladesh has seen remarkable changes, especially in infrastructure such as metro rail. “The World Bank will provide all kinds of support needed for Bangladesh,” the adviser quoted the VP of the Washington-based lender as saying. Responding to a question, Salehuddin said that the World Bank is happy with the reforms that are going on in Bangladesh. Zutt, he said, appreciated the central bank’s initiative for restructuring the banking sector. “The macroeconomic situation of the country is on the right track,” he quoted the WB official as saying. Regarding the US tariff issue, the adviser said that the commerce adviser will hold a briefing about the outcome of the negotiations upon his return home from Washington. “He will inform us in which area we need to adjust our tariffs... There is a tax policy and other issues involved in this matter; we will look into the matter,” he said. The issues relating to the operations of the IFC were also discussed in the meeting. Answering a question, the finance adviser said that the interim government has availed of whatever support it has sought from the World Bank. He said that the next cycle of expected support will be raised in upcoming annual meetings of the World Bank-IMF group in October. Replying to another question, Salehuddin said the World Bank is happy with the reform initiatives in the financial sector, including in the NBR. There were also discussions about Chittagong port and the container terminal in Laldia, he said, adding that they will extend support in the infrastructural sector. The WB vice president arrived in Dhaka on Saturday.

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday commented on recent propaganda against the party, saying the smear campaign against it today is backed by a specific conspiracy. “This conspiracy aims to destroy Bangladesh`s nationalist forces and eliminate the promising leadership that Tarique Rahman represents,” he added, reports BSS. Fakhrul praised what he says is the unparalleled organizational capacity of the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, saying such skill can be seen very rarely in today’s politicians. Fakhrul made the remarks while unveiling the cover of the book “Tarique Rahman: Hope of Bangladesh” at a hotel in Gulshan. “Tarique Rahman possesses extraordinary organizational skills which are rarely seen in politicians,” he said. “As Madam Khaleda Zia was arrested, I am working with him for a long and I have witnessed his remarkable ability to connect with people in rural areas in a very short time,” he added. The BNP secretary general said: “Tarique Rahman is my leader, and it is difficult for me to comment on him.” He added: “People attain leadership in various ways -- some through family lineage, some through their inherent qualities, and sometimes people elevate someone to a leadership position. Tarique Rahman has gained leadership through multiple avenues. He possesses unique qualities that have brought him to this position today.” Mentioning the leading quality of Tarique Rahman, Fakhrul said: “Just as Khaleda Zia never bowed down to injustice or oppression, Tarique Rahman never surrendered to anyone either. For this reason, I want to emphasize that the BNP cannot be easily abolished.” “After the killing of Shaheed president Ziaur Rahman, many believed that the BNP would be abolished. But under Khaleda Zia`s leadership, the party bounced back,” he added. “Over 15 years, we faced immense oppression and torture. But none could suppress us. Instead, rising above all greed, BNP leaders and activists stood united,” he further added.

Staff Correspondent, Dhaka The government will refund over Tk8.28 crore to 4,978 Hajj pilgrims under the government management this year, said Religious Affairs Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain on Sunday. “This year, we were able to secure accommodation for pilgrims at slightly lower rates than what we initially fixed in the Hajj packages. In some cases, service charges were also reduced,” he said while speaking at a press briefing held at the Ministry of Religious Affairs at the Secretariat. “We have finalized a detailed calculation and will refund the surplus amount to each pilgrim under the government management,” he added. Pilgrims under General Hajj Package-1 were accommodated in houses no 4, 5 and 6. Those who were accommodated in house no 4 will receive a refund of Tk5,315 each while short package pilgrims will get back Tk23,027. Besides, those who were accommodated in house no 5 will be refunded Tk13,570 each under full package while those who were accommodated in house No. 6, will receive Tk5,315 each. Pilgrims under General Hajj Package-2 were accommodated in houses no 1, 2, and 3 and those who were accommodated in house No. 1, will be given back Tk19,192 each, and short package pilgrims will get Tk51,692. Besides, those who were accommodated in house no 2, will receive Tk21,142, while short package pilgrims will be refunded Tk53,642 and those who were accommodated in house no 3, will receive Tk24,262. The refund will be directly transferred to the pilgrims’ bank accounts as soon as possible, said the adviser. “All kinds of payments from the Ministry of Religious Affairs—including refunds to pilgrims, grants to religious institutions or financial aid to the underprivileged—are sent directly to the respective individuals’ or institutions’ bank accounts,” he said. “No one from the ministry will ever call asking for debit or credit card numbers, or PIN numbers for bKash, Nagad, or Rocket accounts. If anyone does so, it is definitely a fraudster,” he added. The adviser also urged all to stay alert about it. He said the return flights began on June 10 and concluded on Thursday, following the completion of the formal Hajj rituals on Tuesday. A total of 87,145 pilgrims have returned to the country, and nine pilgrims are currently undergoing treatment at various hospitals and a total of 45 pilgrims passed away during the Hajj season, he added.