Visa Application Requirements and Formalities to visit Bangladesh

Visa requirements for Bangladesh

All foreigners would like to visit Bangladesh require a visa. Tourist visas are the easiest to obtain. Depending on the office you're dealing with, they can be issued for periods of up to two months (Australians can get six months), and whatever the length of your stay it is suggested that you apply for the maximum amount of time permitted, or at least specify a date. Most consular offices will request a letter of invitation along with the visa; this could be a letter from the Tour Operator or the contact that you may be visiting. Tourist visas can be extended for up to 30 days. Landing permits and transit visas are non-expendable.

Business visa can be issued for periods up to six months, and require a letter introducing your company along with a letter from your proposed business partner stating the purpose of your visit.

In case of long-term visa ISSUES Employment and NGO visas employer in Bangladesh should help you with obtaining the necessary paperwork.

Visa fees vary from nationality to nationality as Bangladesh practices a reciprocal fee system. Bangladesh visa fees are same for both the Bangladeshi and foreign nationals. You can check the ‘Visa Policy' described all the requirements for each visa.

If you obtain a visa that expires during your stay, you have to begin the process for visa extension as soon as you are settled in Bangladesh. Security clearances and work permits are required for most visa extensions. If your visa expires, you will have to pay a fine, a rate variable depending on your work and host organization. You will also require an exit visa to leave Bangladesh.

No visa Required in Bangladesh

Visas are required for nationals of all countries except- Bhutan, Barbados, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cyprus, Fiji, Western Samoa, Tonga, Sierra Leone, Lesotho, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Jamaica, Mauritius, Malawi, Maldives, Singapore, Switzerland, St. Kitts and Nevis, Ghana and Gabon.

'No visa required' means that no visa is required for stay in Bangladesh up to 90 days only. For further extension of stay permission is required. European, North American and Australian passport holders of Bangladesh origin do not required visa provided they pay US $ 50.00 or equivalent and have their passports stamped "No visa required for travel to Bangladesh" by Bangladesh Missions abroad.

Valid passport is required for nationals of all countries for a visit to Bangladesh. However, passports are not required for the holders of identity certificate, liaises passers issued by United Nations and its affiliated bodies and continuous Discharge certificate/Nollie's/ Seaman Book (Traveling on duty to join or repatriate from ship) issued by any country recognized by Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi nationals holding dual citizens need not have a visa provided their passport is stamped with "No Visa Required".

Visit visa information of Bangladesh

The Immigration Authority may issue landing Permit (LP) or Visa-on-Arrival (VOA) to the following category of visitors-

1. Tourist and business travellers who do not have a mission for Bangladesh in their country of origin can obtain a Visa-on-Arrival (VOA) valid for seven to 15 days on arrival. Business travellers require a letter of invitation from company based in Bangladesh, containing their Tax Identification Number and attestation from Chamber of Commerce or Bangladeshi government ministries with corresponding passport name and passport number and holding return air tickets and sufficient funds for stay and all documents for next destination. this however will not be applicable to residents and nationals of those countries against which the government has imposed sanction or embargo.

2. Foreign investors with proper documents or documents certified by the officials of the Board of Investments (BOI) or Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA) or Ministry of Industry presented at the Airport on the arrival.

3. Foreign delegates invited by Ministries or Division of the Government of Bangladesh to seminars, workshops, or International conventions for only the tenure of the stated event provided written request along with testifying documents satisfies the Immigration Authority.

4. Foreigners directly involve in export oriented establishments with documents & TIN (Tax Identification Number) of the concerned export oriented establishment certified by Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) or Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and Exporters Association (BGMEA) or other association of export oriented institutions of Bangladesh;

5. Foreign passport holders of Bangladeshi origin by birth, there children or spouse;

6. Foreign husband/wife of a Bangladesh national;

7. Foreigners with certified documents issued by Tablig Committee, Kakrail Mosque, Dhaka for the purpose of Tablig Jamat.

8. Doctors/Medical team with invitation letter issued by foreign embassies in Bangladesh, United Nations and/or its affiliate organizations for the purpose of emergency treatment and medical care of its officers or employees.

In all cases of LP or VOA the following procedures or conditions must be observed:

a. Arriving foreigners must have a return ticket and at least US $500.00 endorsed in their passport.

b. Entry-Exit of persons issued with LP/VOA must be through the same airport.

c. LP/VOA may be issued for a maximum period of 30 (thirty) days.

Unless otherwise stated and will not be extended under any circumstances (nor extend able).

Note: Since regulations may change at short notice, check details with the Embassy or High Commission.

Restricted entry: The government of Bangladesh refuses admission and transit to nationals of Israel.

How to apply for a visa to Bangladesh: 

Consular section at the- Bangladesh embassy/high commission

Time required for Bangladeshi Visa Processing: Visas are usually processed in 4 working days. At least seven days should be allowed for some postal applications - it can vary from country to country. Rush and Emergency service may be available for additional fees.

Flying to Bangladesh

Flights to Bangladesh are serviced by the national airline is Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG) Beside national airline a number of international airline operate flight in Bangladesh.

Departure tax: BDT 800-2,500 depending on destination, included in the price of the air ticket.

Travel by Rail or Bus

A direct, twice-weekly Kolkata to Dhaka service was reintroduced in 2008 – the distance covered is 538 km and the service is called Maitree (Friendship) Express, it is run by both the Indian and Bangladeshi railways. Besides, a number of Luxurious Bus runs between the countries.

For other non-direct rail connections, cycle-rickshaw, bus or porter services provide the cross-border connections.

Getting to Bangladesh by BoatThere are two seaports in Bangladesh named Chittagong sea port and Mongla sea port. Currently, there are no international passenger routes to and from Bangladesh.

International Airports in Bangladesh

Dhaka (Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport)Airport Code: DAC. Location: The airport is 20km north of the city (journey time - 45 minutes). Website: N/A. Public transport description: Biman Bangladesh coaches run regularly in both directions. Taxis and Parjatan coaches are also available. Contact number: The airport immigration telephone number is +880-2-8914226.

Chittagong (Shah Amanat International Airport)Airport Code: CGP. Location: Website: N/A. Public transport description: N/A

Syhlet (Osmani International Airport).Airport Code: ZYL. Location: Website: N/A. Public transport description: N/A

List of Taxable Baggage Items:

a) Imported goods, other than personal and household items are taxable.

b) Each person is allowed two suitcases not exceeding 65 kg total as personal and household luggage. However, if the 3rd suitcase is of Magazines which are used for education purpose are not taxable.

c) Imported items which are used for commercial purposes are taxable.

d) Bangladesh citizens are not allowed to import Alcohol/Alcoholic beverages.

Duty & Tax free goods:

1. Cassette Player/Two-in-one

2. Disk man/Walkman (Audio) 

3. Portable Audio CD player

4. Desktop / Laptop Computer (with Printer & UPS)

5. Video and Still Camera

6. Still Camera

7. General/Push button/Cordless telephone Set

8. General/Electric Oven

9. Rice Cooker /Pressure Cooker

10. Blender/Juicer/Coffee Maker

11. General and Electric Type writer

12. Sewing Machine (manual)

13. Table/Pedestal Fan

14. Sports materials (for personal use) 

15. 200 gms Gold/ silver ornaments (Maximum 12 pieces of each item)

16. One Cartoon Cigarette (200 sticks) etc.

Top Tourist Attraction in Bangladesh Cox’s Bazar Sea Beach and Sunset

Cox's Bazar Sea Beach, Bangladesh

Reporting From Dhaka

Cox’s Bazar is known for its wide long sandy beach which is claimed to be the world’s longest natural sea beach (120 km long) and the top tourist attraction in Bangladesh located in the eastern coastline of Bangladesh.(At 254km, Brazil's Casino Beach is longer, but according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is partly man made). Among the 120 km coastline, 96 km of the beach is covered by hill side. Cox's Bazar has yet to become a major tourist destination in Asia.

Cox's Bazar Sea Beach, Bangladesh

Cox's Bazar is also a town, a fishing port and district headquarters located at 21°35'N 92°01'E. It is 152 km south of Chittagong. The modern Cox's Bazar derives its name from Captain Hiram Cox; an officer serving in British East India Company defeated the Burmese king in 1799 and set up a Bazar (market) here which was named “Cox's Bazar” after him.

Lovely Wave in Cox's Bazar Beach

Over many years Cox's Bazar has been an attraction to both international and domestic tourists who come here to spend their leisure. Splashing on Golden Sandy Beach against a backdrop of beautiful and illusive chain of hills creates an unforgettable illusive view. Towering cliffs, surfing waves, delightful sea foods, colorful pagodas, Buddhist temples and tribes against the picturesque background of a chain of afforested hills with rich wildlife made this beach as one of the most attractive tourist spot in the world Where every emerge of the wave present something like starfish, jellyfish, rare kind of small stone, oyster, snail and so on. You can pick up this kind of presents from sea as a souvenir of Cox’s Bazar. You can see the huge beautiful greenery Jhau Garden (Locally called Jhau Bon) nearby the sandy beach. There is proper scope to rest inside the garden and you can easily verbalize your own thought to your soul mate/s. Opportunities of bathing and swimming in shark free warm water, lazy Sun bathing facilities makes Cox’s Bazar as a top tourist attraction. To sit down in the umbrella set on the beach, you may sometimes heed into the past to see the vastness of the sea. The wind come from the sea will soothe your tired soul. You may forget the robotic city life and your personal problem also.

Sunset in Cox's Bazar Beach

Here sky and sea meet together as if they embrace each other! The sun rise and sun set on the sandy beach is particularly a matter of specialty. When the sun rises from the eastern side of the sea it looks like a fiery round shape globe is coming from the sea. During evening Cox’s Bazar provides a unique opportunity to observe the beauty of sunset behind the waves. When the light of the sun fall down to the sand at sunset, it looks like the sand is not as if they were pearl! After that tourists can flock to the fashion markets located near the shore and in the town. These markets are a good place for shopping. Typical items include conch-shell show-pieces, local made cigars, hand woven clothes and beautiful handicrafts from the tribal Rakhaine families are good buys.

Dusk in Cox's Bazar Beach

How can I describe the moonlight night of Cox's Bazar? Adorable and soft light of moon will embrace you with its beauty and magnetizing power. The sky with full of stars of the night and the glittering light of the fishing boats produced an atmosphere of super-natural. It creates a dreamy impression upon the mind of the visitors.
If you are really adventurous and want to enjoy the wildness and madness of the illusive blue Sea you can come to Cox's Bazar round the year but it is better during November to April. Sea continues its wildness till August and it has even more exotic if you come to Cox's Bazar in the time of depression of the Sea. 

How to go Cox's Bazar

You can start heading towards the Cox’s Bazar by air or by bus. By air form Sahajalal International Airport, Dhaka or Shah Amanat International Airport, Chittagong, You can go directly to Cox’s Bazar Airport through several local airlines such as Biman Bangladesh Airlines, United Airways, Best Air, GMG Airlines etc. one way fair range will be approximately BDT 3500 - BDT 7500.

You can directly go to Cox’s Bazar by bus as well. There are many bus services from different location of Dhaka and Chittagong. Ticket price range will be BDT 900-BDT1500.

If you are thinking of an adventurous journey with comfort, Train service of Bangladesh Railway is the best option. But unfortunately Train service is available up to Chittagong. From Kamalapur Railway Station or Airport Railway Station, Dhaka you can get board on the train towards Chittagong. Train is available in different time but night journey is best, start at 10.30 pm (Turna Nishitha) from Kamalapur Railway Station, Dhaka. After arriving Chittagong Railway Station, you can go bodderhaat and find the bus services of various companies which can lead you to Cox’s Bazar sea beach, Kolatoli point directly. It is a wish decision for the tourists from abroad to take help of the local tour operators. 

Hotels in Cox's Bazar

Undoubtedly Cox’s Bazar is the most visited tourist spot in Bangladesh. The place is visited by a number of tourists from all over the world every year. To Support the tourists, there is a jungle of luxurious tourist hotels, Motel rest house etc. including few 5 star hotels replacing the natural mangrove jungle. 

Others tourist attractions in Cox’s Bazar:

There are many other tourist attractions around Cox’s Bazar, which are easily accessible. 
Himchari- Is famous for Himchari Waterfall and natural beauty beside the beach drive. It is located about 8 km south of Cox’s Bazar. You can go there by Jeep and it is really exotic experience to drive on the sea shore. 

Inani Beach

Inani Beach- A Pristine rocky beach with corals all around. The calmness and serenity of Inani Beach is mind blowing. It is bordered by hills and forests and is located only 32km south of Cox’s Bazar. It can also be accessed via Himchari. Don’t miss the chance to visit Inani Beach while going to Cox’s Bazar. You may take packet lunch with you.

Taknaf Marine Drive

Taknaf- is about 84km from Cox’s Bazar and it may be a memorable experience as the journey in marine drive through forested hilly roads. Taknaf is the border town in the southern tip of Bangladesh territory. The side of river Naf and the Bay of Bengal situate Teknaf Town. Wide sandy beach in the backdrop of high hills with green forests with rich flora & fauna and natural waterfalls enhance charms of the tourists and the scenery never to be forgotten. You can enjoy shopping in the local market called Burmese Market where you will find all the Burmese and tribal handmade materials. Do not forget to visit the Wall of Ma-Thin which tells a sad story of love. 

Ramu and Lamapara: A typical Buddhist village located 16 kilometers away from Cox's Bazar. It is accessible from the main highway leading to Chittagong. The village accommodates monasteries, khyangs and pagodas. The beautiful Burmese Bara Khyang at lamapara has the country's largest bronze statue and it has three wooden buildings house, a number of relics-precious Buddhist images of silver and gold set with gems and stones inside the pagoda. The temple lies in a quite palm shaded village about 5km from Ramu, on the bank of Baghkhali River. The village is famous for its handicrafts and homemade Cigars. Weavers trade there in open workshops and craftsman make handmade cigars in their pagoda like house. 
Moheskhali Island- It is another attraction for the tourists who come to Cox’s Bazar. The area of the island is about 268 square kilometers. The center of the island and the eastern coastline rises, a range of low hills, up to 300 feet high. But the coast to the west and north is a low-lying treat, covered by mangrove jungle. In the hills on the coast is built the shrine of Adinath and by its side on the same hill is Buddhist Pagoda. You can go to this Island by local motorboat called trawler or by speedboat from cox’s Bazar fisheries Ghat (Harbor). 
Dulahazra Safari Park: This Safari Park is an extension of an animal sanctuary located along the Chittagong –Cox’s Bazar highway about 50 Km from Cox’s Bazar Town. The sanctuary itself protects a large number of wild elephants, different type of birds, monkeys etc which are native to the area where domesticated elephants are available for ride. Other animal attractions are lions, Bengal tigers, Crocodiles, Bears, Coital etc. which is wonderful project to attract the tourists.
There are a number of other Islands too. Some names are Saint Martin Island, Chera Dip, Sonadia Island, Shah pori island etc have enough items to attract tourists.

 

Regards

FromDhaka

Bangladesh

Dhaka University and Halls Information

Doyel square near Curzon Hall

Monument in front of Teachers Student Centre


Fazlul Huq Hall

Salimullah Hall

Salimullah Hall- birds eye view (pic credit: unknown web site)

Academic bldg

Academic bldg- Arts faculty

Dhaka University: The annulment of the partition in 1912 had a negative effect on the Muslims of Bengal. To placate the sore feelings, the British Govt. made decision on 31 Jan 1912 to build a new University in Dhaka. The buildings constructed in 1904 for the Sectretariate for the ‘Province of East Bengal and Assam’ was transferred to the University in 1921.

Set up in the picturesque part of the city in Ramna, on 600 acres of land, the University was opened on 01 July 1921 with Sir P.J. Hartog as Vice Chancellor. Initially 3 faculties were started; Arts, Sciences, and Law with 12 departments and 3 residential halls. Number of students enrolled was 877 and teachers 60. The university worked hard to build up a high standard of education and soon gained recognition and reputation as the 'Oxford of the East'. Many distinguished scholars were associated with teaching such as F.H. Turner, Haraprasad Sastri, Dr. Mohammad Shahidullah, G.H. Langley, Ramesh Chandra Majumder, A.F Rahman, Prof. Satyandranath Bose (Bose-Einstein Quantum Statistics fame), Dr. Quazi Motahar Hossain and Dr. Innas Ali. Since then the university had made substantial progress and expanded rapidly after partition in 1947. With 47 departments, 8 institutes, 20 centers for advanced research, 16 residential halls, 1 hall for international students, library, approximately 30,000 students and almost 1300 teachers, the University is one of the 100 leading institutions of higher education in Asia.

The University played a central role in all the national movements for democracy and autonomy in East Pakistan, including the language movement of 1952. In the War of Liberation, 14 teachers, 27 employees, and a few hundred students of the University lost their lives. The university contributed to the emergence of a generation of leaders who distinguished themselves in different occupations in Bangladesh.

Read more on Here

Chest Workout Exercises

Chest Anatomy
The chest or pectoralis muscle is a large flat, fan shaped muscle that covers the entire upper rib cage. It originates from attachments along our breast bone, collarbones, ribs, and it inserts on each side of your body via a large tendon through your shoulder joint to your upper arm bone.







Chest Exercises
It is essential that when you do any exercise that you perform the movements correctly, if you don't you will receive less then optimum benefit from the exercise. It is very difficult to unlearn bad exercise habits, so it is best to learn the right exercise technique from the very start.
For each chest workout pick 3 of these exercises and do 4-5 sets (including warm up sets) for each exercise. You can vary the exercises you do for each chest workout.




Bench Press
This is a great upper body exercise. It works the entire pectoral area, deltoids, and triceps. Secondary stress is applied to the latissimus dorsi muscles, biceps, and forearms to help stabilize and balance the barbell.






Place a barbell on the rack of a bench pressing bench. Lie back on the bench. Place your feet flat on the floor on each side of the bench. Grab the bar just a bit wider then shoulder width. Straighten your arms to lift the barbell off the rack. Position the bar so it is at arms length over your chest.
Lower the barbell until it touches your chest. As you lower the bar keep your elbows tucked so that your upper arms are at a 45-degree angles to the sides of your body. Do not let your upper arms go straight out to the sides because it will place too much strain on your shoulder joints. With out bouncing the bar off your chest push the bar up until it is back to the starting position. Repeat.
Tips - you should always have a training partner spot you when doing the bench press, just in case you need help lifting the barbell off your chest. For variety you can do this exercise with dumbbells instead of a barbell.








Incline Bench Press
This is very similar to the bench press, it works the same muscle groups (i.e. pectorals, deltoids, and triceps). Except the incline bench press works more of the upper chest.






Lie back on an incline bench pressing bench. Place your feet flat on the floor on each side of the bench. Grab the bar just a bit wider then shoulder width. Straighten your arms to lift the barbell off the rack. Position the bar so it is at arms length over you upper chest.
Lower the barbell until it touches your upper chest. As you lower the bar keep your elbows tucked so that your upper arms are at a 45-degree angles to the sides of your body. Do not let your upper arms go straight out to the sides because it will place too much strain on your shoulder joints. With out bouncing the bar off your chest push the bar up until it is back to the starting position. Repeat.
Tips - you should always have a training partner spot you when doing the incline bench press, just in case you need help lifting the barbell off your chest. For variety you can do this exercise with dumbbells instead of a barbell.








Decline Bench Press
This is very similar to the bench press, it works the same muscle groups (i.e. pectorals, deltoids, and triceps). Except the decline bench press works more of the lower chest.






Lie back on a decline bench pressing bench. Hook your feet in the foot pads on the end of the bench. Grab the bar just a bit wider then shoulder width. Straighten your arms to lift the barbell off the rack. Position the bar so it is at arms length over you lower chest.
Lower the barbell until it touches your lower chest. As you lower the bar keep your elbows tucked so that your upper arms are at a 45-degree angles to the sides of your body. Do not let your upper arms go straight out to the sides because it will place too much strain on your shoulder joints. With out bouncing the bar off your chest push the bar up until it is back to the starting position. Repeat.
Tips - you should always have a training partner spot you when doing the decline bench press, just in case you need help lifting the barbell off your chest. For variety you can do this exercise with dumbbells instead of a barbell.






Dips
This exercise works the entire chest area, but it emphasizes the lower chest. It also works the deltoids and triceps.






Grab a pair of parallel bars so the palms of your hands are facing each other. Straighten your arms and bend your knees. Support yourself between the bars.
Lean your torso forward as you do the exercise. Slowly bend your arms and lower your body between the bars until your elbows are at 90-degree angles. Hold this stretched position for a second. Steadily push yourself back up to the starting position. Repeat.
Note: this is an advanced exercise because you have to be able to lift your entire bodyweight. As you get stronger you can add extra weight to the exercise by hanging weights from your waist using a weight belt.






Dumbbell Flyes
This exercise works the entire chest area, but you can target specific areas of your chest depending on the angle of the bench. For example, a flat bench will target the entire chest, an incline bench will target the upper chest, and a decline bench will target the lower chest.






Grab 2 dumbbells and lie back on a bench. You may want to have a training partner hand the dumbbells to you to make it easier to get into position. Extend your arms straight above chest with the palms of your hands facing each other. Keep a slight bend in your elbows.
Without bending your arms, slowly lower the dumbbells in semicircular arcs until they are level with your shoulders. Do not overemphasize the stretch at the bottom of the rep because you could injure your shoulder joints. Using your chest strength bring your arms back together in semicircular arcs. Repeat.






Pec Deck Flyes
This exercise isolates the entire pectoral complex.






Adjust the seat to a height that places your upper arms parallel with the floor when you are seated. Sit down and grab the handles of the machine, keep a slight bend in the elbows. Allow the weight of the machine to pull your arms back to stretch your chest.
Using your chest strength bring your arms together in an arc motion until your hands touch in front of your chest. Hold this position for a couple of seconds to maximize the peak contraction in the chest. Slowly move your elbows back to the starting position. Repeat.






Push Ups
This is a basic exercise that works the entire chest area. Secondary stress is placed on the shoulders and triceps.






Lie face down on the floor. Place your hands palms down on each side of your body. Keeping your legs and torso in a straight line push yourself up and support your upper body on your arms.
Slowly lower yourself until your chest is about an inch from the floor. Hold this stretched position for a second. Push yourself back up to the starting position. Repeat.
This is a good exercise to use either as a warm up to your chest exercises or as a finishing exercise to really pump up your chest.

1,100 cyclone-shelters ready in Cox’s Bazar

Some 1,100 cyclone-shelter centres have been kept ready in the coastal district of Cox’s Bazar as the cyclonic storm “Mahasen” continues to move towards the country’s coastal belt.

This was revealed at a meeting of the District Disaster Management Committee held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Monday afternoon.

Leave of government employees in the district has also been cancelled so that the officials could take part in emergency rescue mission in the event of cyclone causing any havoc.

District Primary Education Officer Liton Barua told the meeting that the district’s 537 cyclone-shelter centres and 534 more new cyclone shelters- cum-schools were kept ready. The centres will be opened immediately in case of any emergency.

Red Crescent Society official Sirajul Mostafa said that a three-phase preparation – before, during and after the disaster – was taken to tackle the potential disaster that is likely to lash the coastal areas on Tuesday.

The volunteers were ready to provide help, he said.

Deputy Commissioner Md. Ruhul Amin after Sunday’s meeting said as many as 113 emergency medical teams were kept ready while a district control room was opened.

The people of the district’s coastal areas were alerted about the disaster through loudspeakers to ensure that they can make the necessary preparations to shift to safe shelters before the cyclone hits.

The Monday’s meeting also took stock of the availability of food and other essential items in the district. There are adequate stock, the meeting observed.

Cyclone 'Mahasen' to hit Bangla coast

The depression in the Bay of Bengal has turned into a cyclone that is likely to hit Bangladesh’s southern coast by Tuesday.

Cautionary signal “3” has been sounded for all ports by the Met department and fishermen have been asked to stay away from the sea.
Met’s weather expert Hafizur Rehman told bdnews24.com on Saturday that cyclone has been christened “Mahasen”.
All cyclones are named from a list drawn up and periodically updated.
‘Mahasen’ is a Sri Lankan expression.
Hafizur Rehman said the depression in south-east Bay of Bengal has moved northwest as it intensified into cyclone ’Mahasen’.
He said it is expected to move further north and northwest.
Met department says the depression, at 6pm Saturday, was centred about 1600 kms South-Southwest of Chittagong Port, 1510 kms South-Southwest of Cox’s Bazar Port and 1590 kms South-Southeast of Mongla Port.
The wind speeds have gone up from 62 to 88 kms per hour.
Fishing trawlers and boats have been asked to stay close to the coast and avoid deep sea.
Cautionary danger signal “3” has been sounded at Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar and Mongla as the sea was getting turbulent.
The US military had already warned of a 'severe cyclonic storm' likely to hit coastal regions of Myanmar's Rakhine state and adjoining areas of Bangladesh.
A “severe cyclonic storm” is expected to make landfall on Tuesday night, the US Navy and Air Force’s Joint Typhoon Warning Centre forecasts.
Based on the forecast, an alert has been put out by the Tropical Storm Risk, a UK-based storm forecaster.
The wind force could reach 166 km/per hour for a while during the cyclone, while wind gusts may be even stronger, the alert said.

 

Bomb goes off at Shahbagh

A homemade bomb exploded at the capital’s Shahbagh intersection during Jamaat-e-Islami's Tuesday strike, while another live one was found there.

from dhaka news, correspondent Fahim Ahsan reported from Shahbagh that the bomb was lobbed around 11:30am minutes before the Ganajagaran Mancha activists were to take out an anti-strike procession.

Rickshaw puller Md Bashir, a witness, told bdnews24.com a youth clad in a Panjabi hurled two crude bombs and jumped on a bus to flee.

The unexploded bomb, wrapped in black adhesive tape, was seen to be lying on the street after the first one went off.

Later police took it away.

The Jamaat is trying to enforce a countrywide shutdown to protest the arrest of its leader AKM Yusuf.

He was arrested on Sunday on charges of crimes committed against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.

The prosecution at the International Crimes Tribunal-1 has accused him of involvement in crimes against humanity during the war on 15 counts including mass murder, rape, arson and loot. 

 

What kind of issue in bangladesh is arising? no matter how much you can do

Demand for victims' right to appeal

The capital's Shahbagh took a different look yesterday. The surrounding buildings, billboards, lampposts, trees on central reservations and even the tarmac became the means of expressing people's demands.
“Rights to appeal. Why victim's rights to be denied?” a group of youths wrote on the street in white paint and flowers. The simple two sentences were enough to share their agony with the mass.
Banners, placards, graffiti and paintings demonstrated other popular demands that were also chanted by tens of thousands of protesters at the square for the last four days.

Their grievances were against the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, which kept very little right for the victims to appeal against a verdict of the tribunal as well as against the government. It was not amended to ensure this right for the war crime victims of 1971.
As per section 21 (1) of the act, “A person convicted of any crime specified in section 3 and sentenced by a tribunal shall have the right of appeal to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh against such conviction and sentence.”

But section 21 (2) of the act says, “The government [which represents the victims in the war crimes trial] shall have the right of appeal to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh against an order of acquittal.”
Hasib Nomanee, an independent filmmaker and a member of the group, said, “It's unfair and injustice.”
The victim should have equal rights to appeal against any verdict of the tribunal, said Nomanee and demanded that the government amends the act to give equal rights by incorporating the words “or inadequacy of sentence” in section 21 (2) in the ongoing session.
"We were the victims in 1971 as our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters were killed. Now we are again becoming the victim… of inadequate laws," he said.
A festoon hanging from a tree on the central reservation was demanding the legal rights to try Jamaat-e-Islami at the tribunal as a party as the party as whole was involved in crimes against humanity and genocide.

“Trial of Jamaat to be held as a war criminal organisation -- Jamaat is Nazi of Bangla,” a poster read.
Currently, there is no provision under the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973, to try any organisation or party at the tribunal.
The tribunal in its recently delivered verdict against Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Mollah said, "The act of 1973 remains silent as regards responsibility of any 'organisation' for the atrocities committed in the territory of Bangladesh in 1971 war of liberation.”
Hafiz Asad Ankon, a freelance photographer, said Jamaat must be tried as a war criminal organisation for committing crimes during the Liberation War.

“The government should amend the law, if necessary, to bring Jamaat under trail as a party,” he added.
According to documents, at the historic Nuremberg Tribunal in Germany, which was formed for trying Nazi war criminals of World War II, trials of seven Nazi organisations were held alongside 21 individuals.
A festoon at the rally demanded ban on Jamaat-e-Islami after trying the party at the tribunal.
A six-year-old girl had a placard hung from her neck which read, “I don't want to grow up in a society with Razakars.”
A group of youths were carrying a coffin and chanting, “The coffin is ready… [we] want the body. Hang the Razakars.”
Vice-Chancellor Prof Anwar Hossain of Jahangirnagar University at the rally said the parliament needs to pass a law that ensures the right of the victims of atrocities committed in 1971 to appeal. He said it seemed to him that the suspects were enjoying the right which the victims did not have.
A festoon at the rally read, “We don't want tax-payers' money spent on keeping razakars in jail.”

Youths rekindle spirit of '71

Tens of thousands of people raise voice against religion-based politics, demand capital punishment to war criminals, vow to boycott Jamaat-Shibir 

Shahbagh intersection made history yesterday where the nation witnessed its recent memory's biggest crowd that gathered to demand capital punishment to all the war criminals, including Quader Mollah.
There were men and women, boys and girls, young and old -- tens of thousands of them -- from all walks of life who turned the few square kilometres area into a human sea.
Since early morning, people started flocking the intersection first in their hundreds then in thousands, carrying national flags, banners and placards for the 3:00pm mass rally. By then, the crowd stretched as far as the eye can see.
From Matsya Bhaban in the south to Kataban intersection in the north and from Hotel Ruposhi Bangla intersection in the east to TSC in the west, the crowd spilled everywhere. The participation of young generation was overwhelming.
Through various slogans, they made their demand for death sentence to all the war criminals loud and clear registered their determination to resist Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir.
It was the fourth day of the non-stop protest, which began just hours after a war crimes tribunal on Tuesday sentenced Jamaat leader Quader Mollah to life term in prison for his crimes against humanity during the country's 1971 Liberation War.
The movement was launched by Bloggers and Online Activist Network, but it soon transformed into a mass movement.
Demonstrators have been saying a life term for Mollah was too lenient; they demand death sentence for him.
Protestors have kept the interaction under their occupation since Tuesday afternoon, with several hundreds of them staying overnights without sleep.
From yesterday's rally, people took an oath to continue the movement until their demand is met. In addition to capital punishment to all the war criminals, the demonstrators called for banning Jamaat and its student wing Shibir.
They also pledged to boycott all businesses, banks, media outlets and social and cultural organisations owned by Jamaat leaders.
“We pledge to keep on demanding trial under a special tribunal of those Razakars and Al-Badrs who were convicted and were under trial but freed after 1975," said Imran H Sarkar, administering the oath from a makeshift stage erected atop a truck at the intersection.
Imran, convenor of Bloggers and Online Activist Network, is one of the initiators of the movement.
"We pledge that we will continue our movement from Teknaf to Tetulia under the leadership of general people until highest punishment is given to Razakars-Al-Badrs who committed crimes against humanity like genocide and rape in 1971," protestors read after Imran.
The mass rally began with the recitation of a poem and rendering of the National Anthem.
"This is another 1971," said Mili Rahman, widow of Birshrestha Matiur Rahman.
"Today we are united in our single demand. We freed the country in 1971 and today you will free it once again from Razakars and Jamaat-Shibir…. None can hold us back," she said.
Noted writer Prof Muhammad Zafar Iqbal said, "I am here to offer my apology to you. I wrote in newspapers that the new generation only hits 'like' on Facebook and writes on blogs, but does not take to the streets. You have proved me wrong, and I thank you all for this."
"The year 2013 has turned into 1971 and those of you who did not see 1971 are now witnessing '71 in the year of 2013," he added.
"Study when it's time to study, write poems when it's time to write poems, listen to music when it's time to listen to music … and take to the streets when you need to. It is the happiest day of my life. All the martyrs and the country people are thankful to you," he said.
Journalist Kamal Lohani said the entire country heard the roars of the mass people. "The only punishment to the war criminals, not only Quader but to all, is capital punishment. Besides, their politics will also have to be banned."