Cox’s Bazar: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that after decades of discrimination and persecution, Rohingya refugees took refuge in Bangladesh after the genocide in Rakhine State eight years ago. Many have fled in recent times after being subjected to human rights violations. Currently, Bangladesh has sheltered more than 10 lakhs Rohingyas. However, they want to return to Myanmar, because that is their homeland. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres believes that safe and dignified repatriation is the main solution to this crisis.

He made these remarks while visiting the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox's Bazar on Friday (March 14).

The UN Secretary-General went directly to Ukhiya from the airport. There, he visited the Rohingya Learning Center, the Rohingya Cultural Center and the jute products production center. Earlier, he arrived in Cox's Bazar on a Bangladesh Biman flight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 1 pm. He was accompanied by the Interim Government's Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

After visiting the refugee camps, Guterres said, "I have met many Rohingya today and am inspired by their courage. I am deeply moved by their determination."

Guterres said, "All parties in Myanmar must exercise restraint. They must ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law. It is important that no sectarian tensions or violence escalate."

He added, "We must continue to support the Rohingya until the conflict and systemic oppression in Rakhine State end."

Guterres warned, "If the humanitarian budget is cut, it will be a terrible disaster. People will suffer, even die." He added, "The people of Bangladesh have provided enormous support to the Rohingya. They have shared their land, forests, water and limited resources. Now is the time for the international community to step up."

Guterres noted, "When I was in Cox's Bazar in 2018, I saw that the Rohingya camps were still facing a climate crisis. There was extreme heat in the summer, floods and landslides in the monsoon, destroying homes. People need not only food assistance, but also education and skills development."

The UN's humanitarian and development agencies are currently suffering from budget constraints, which are feared to have a direct impact on the lives of the Rohingya.

The UN Secretary-General said, "Solutions must be found in Myanmar. We will not give up until the conditions are suitable for the safe repatriation of refugees. Until then, I call on the international community to take urgent action."

The use of banned polythene bags in Jashore is increasing at an alarming rate. Despite the Environment Ministry's repeated instructions to take action against the use of polythene, nearly a hundred tons of polythene are being sold every day in the town. All these environmentally harmful polythene bags are being sold without any problems due to the silent role of the Department of Environment.

Although the office used to receive information through sources earlier, now it is not able to meet the demand of the sources. An official of the District Environment Department claimed that it is not possible for us to stand around day and night. We do not have much information about the dealers of polythene. But when we get specific information, we conduct a drive.

It is known that polythene bags are being sold wholesale in various shops on Gohata Road, Hatkhola Road, Hatchanni and Alupatti in the town's Barabazar area. Several companies in the Barabazar are supplying polythene to various shops and upazilas in the town. They are supplying about 100 to 150 maunds of this banned polythene every day. Some unscrupulous traders purchase this polythene from the district town and sell it in various upazila towns. Without taking any action, the use of this harmful polythene is increasing uncontrollably. It is also known that some traders in the Barabazar of Jashore town have been running the wholesale business of this banned polythene for a long time. Several establishments in the big market area, including Liton Store, Proprietor Liton Saha, Ma Shital Bhandar, Kamal Store and Bipul Store, are doing wholesale business of polythene.

The traders said that we are supplying polythene because there is demand. If everyone stops buying polythene, then we will also quit the business. We are not selling directly. The goods that are more profitable will have a little risk. However, consumers said that since there is no alternative system in the market, they have to take it in polythene bags after shopping. If the shopkeepers supply the products in something else instead of poly bags, then we will use that.

A businessman who does not want to be named said, the administration sometimes conducts raids. But the amount of money that is fined, the traders do not mind. It can be paid off within a few days. What else can they do with the fine? Shops do not keep much polythene. All the godowns are loaded with it.

Meanwhile, conscious circles say that the unbridled increase in the use of polythene is a threat to the environment. If the use of polythene cannot be stopped, there may be a heavy price to pay. They urged the district's Environment Department to eliminate the use of polythene and be strict against dishonest traders involved in polythene.

In this regard, Imdadul Haque, Deputy Director of Jashore District Environment Department, told Barta24, "We sometimes conduct raids to seize polythene. The raids to seize polythene will continue in the future."

A cry of pain spread throughout the body. At that moment, the younger brother came closer and gestured to be quiet and quiet. He was trying to tell her that nothing would happen? I am here. But did her heart listen to that? Meanwhile, younger sister Achiya was looking at him with a blank look. Hearing her brother's gesture, she put her hand to her mouth and caressed her little brother. The brother wearing a black mask was looking at his sister in his mind.

When Achiya could not speak due to the pain, her younger brother seemed to understand the language of her eyes in an instant. Understanding the language of her eyes, he moved her face and began to explain. Then Achiya used her hand to remove the mask from her brother's face and gave her one last caress. And she said something with her mouth. After a while, Achia fell to the ground as a flower. The little child's face, covered in tears, was instantly all over social media. Little Achia is lying down and suffering from pain. This 1 minute and 7 second video before the storm hit, created a big storm in everyone's lives. The shadow of grief that was shattered by the storm has erased the fragrance of her life in the eyes of everyone.

According to the laws of nature, before the flower blooms, the bud forms a small ‘guti’ on the tree. But that bud could not develop. Before the flower blooms, it fell to the ground in the storm. Life was destroyed in the bud due to the brutal torture of the beast. The bud was just waiting to bloom. A few hours before the storm, the smile and the scene of her brother's affection knock on the door of everyone's mind. No matter how old she was. Only 8 years old. She went to his sister's in-laws' house during the school holidays. The trip seemed to be the time of her life. There, even in the safe shelter of his sister, the little child was brutally tortured by the beast.

On the night of March 5, the beasts mauled her in the Nijnanduali area of Magura town. She was tortured so much that the child was on the verge of death. In such a serious condition, she was brought to the local hospital and then to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Later, she was taken to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH)Dhaka.

The child lost her battle with death for a week. As if the marigold (Achiya) fell without blooming. The sky and air were supposed to be filled with the fragrance of marigold. There, the sky and air became heavy after she fell in the storm. Instead, black darkness descended. People of all classes and professions mourned her loss. The entire nation of Sreepur Upazila in Magura is crying for this child. The entire human race is wailing. The entire nation is condemning the brutal torture on Achiya.

Former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University (DU) AAMS Arefin Siddique has passed away.

He breathed his last while undergoing treatment at the Neuroscience Unit of Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital on Thursday (March 13) night. His death has been confirmed by his family.

Earlier, Arefin Siddique suddenly collapsed while speaking at the Dhaka Club on March 6 afternoon. He was then taken to Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital. After starting treatment there, he was transferred to the Neuro ICU. There, he was undergoing treatment under the supervision of neurosurgeon Professor Nazrul Islam.

On January 15, 2009, the Chancellor of the university and the then President of Bangladesh, Professor Iazuddin Ahmed, appointed Professor Arefin Siddique as the 27th Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University. He was a teacher in the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of the same university.

On September 4, 2017, he completed his duties as Vice-Chancellor and rejoined the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism as a professor. He retired from teaching at the university in June 2020. On July 15, 2020, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.