News brief for the 11th of October 2018

 

The nation’s long wait for justice of the 21 August 2004 brutal grenade attack on a public rally attended by Awami League Chief Sheikh Hasina that killed 24 people and wounded nearly 500 has finally ended as a special court pronounced the verdict. The court yesterday sentenced to death to 19 people including former State Minister of Home Lutfuzzaman Babar and life imprisonment to another 19 including ex-Premier Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman on 21 August 2004 grenade attack charge.

 

Expressing satisfaction over the verdict of 21 August 2004 grenade attack case, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan has said, fugitive convicts would be brought back soon. The Minister said this to the media at his Secretariat office after the pronouncement of the verdict.

 

Expressing satisfaction over the verdict in the cases regarding 21 August 2004 grenade attack, Law Minister Anisul Huq has said, it is quite satisfactory as all of the accused of the cases had been sentenced in the verdict.

 

The verdict of the deadly grenade attack on the rally of Awami League on 21 August 2004 got wide coverage in different international media, including BBC, AP, Al Jazeera, Reuters, the Hindustan Times, The Times of India and the Anandabazar Patrika.

 

President Md. Abdul Hamid has asked the physicians to ensure optimum medical services to the patients with the utmost professional attitude. The President gave the directive while addressing the foundation-laying ceremony of a residential hall of President Abdul Hamid Medical College and Hospital on its campus yesterday. The President also urged the teachers to pay more attention to build skilled doctors for providing quality services.

 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the media to perform their social responsibilities alongside their business to help build a good society. The PM made the call in a meeting with the leaders of Association of Private Television Channel Owners at her office yesterday. The PM also sought a strong role of visual media for containing militancy and terrorism saying that the government is always careful so that the evil force cannot raise its head again.

 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has distributed cheques of donation to nine persons in response to their applications for financial assistance for treatment and subsistence. The PM handed over the cheques of donation for Taka 1.25 crore to the recipients at her office yesterday. The Premier also gave a donation for holding the fifth reunion of Rokeya Hall Alumni Association of Dhaka University.

 

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury has said, the government now aims at ensuring nutrition security for the people through a sustainable food production system. The Minister said this while unveiling a book at CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka yesterday.

 

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim has said, the next parliamentary election will be held under the current government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The Minister came up with the comment while addressing at a mass rally in Natore yesterday.

 

An agreement was signed between Bangladesh Computer Council under ICT Division and Microsoft to ensure cyber security in Dhaka yesterday. Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar and top officials of Microsoft were present at the function.

 

The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to keep hoisting local cautionary signal number four as the cyclonic storm, ‘Titli’, intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central bay and adjoining area.

 

Press Wing