In a startling wake-up call on Saturday morning, a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck various regions of Bangladesh, causing panic among residents and leading to a brief exodus to the streets in the capital city of Dhaka.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake originated at 9:35 am local time, with its epicenter located 8 kilometers east-north-west of Ramganj in Lakshmipur. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) reported a slightly higher magnitude, measuring the tremor at 5.6 on the Richter scale, as confirmed by on-duty official Robiul Haque.

The effects of the earthquake were not confined to a specific region, as reports came in of tremors being felt in various parts of the country, including Rajshahi, Sylhet, Rangpur, Chuadanga, Noakhali, and Kushtia.

In the capital city, Dhaka, the seismic event prompted residents to evacuate buildings and gather on the streets, fearing the possibility of aftershocks. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of panic and confusion as people hurriedly left their homes and offices to seek open spaces.

As of now, no casualties have been reported, and authorities are working to assess the extent of the damage caused by the earthquake. Emergency response teams are on standby, ready to provide assistance if needed.

The occurrence of earthquakes is not uncommon in this region, given its location on the seismically active Ring of Fire. Bangladesh has experienced earthquakes in the past, and efforts are continually made to raise awareness about preparedness and safety measures.

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, the former Jamaat E Islami leader, popular religious preacher, and “convicted war criminal” by a controversial trial has died today.

Dhaka, August 14, 2023 – Delwar Hossain Sayeedi passed away at 8:40 pm today, as reported by medical professionals at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

The Vice-Chancellor of BSMMU, Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, stated that an official announcement of his demise will be forthcoming.

Sayeedi, a prominent leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami, had been undergoing medical treatment at the BSMMU due to a severe cardiac arrest. His health took a turn for the worse after complaining of chest pain around 2:00 pm on Sunday while incarcerated at the Kashimpur Central Jail. He was subsequently transferred to the Shahabuddin Medical College in Dhaka under the care of jail doctors and later referred to BSMMU for further treatment.

The late Sayeedi, who once held the position of Member of Parliament for Pirojpur-1, Barisal, from 1996 to 2006, faced legal troubles when he was arrested in 2010 on charges of inciting religious unrest. In a subsequent turn of events on August 2 of the same year, he was apprehended on allegations of committing crimes against humanity.

In a landmark ruling in February 2013, the International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh found Sayeedi guilty of eight out of twenty alleged charges relating to atrocities committed during the Liberation War. His offenses included aiding the Pakistani Army with classified information, as well as engaging in acts of rape, arson, and looting.

The verdict prompted a significant response, with the Jamaat party calling for a strike that spiraled into violence, leading to the tragic loss of over 50 lives. Subsequent legal proceedings saw his sentence initially reduced to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court in September 2014. However, on February 17, 2018, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty for his crimes against humanity during the Liberation War.

Delwar Hossain Sayeedi’s passing marks the end of a chapter in a tumultuous legal saga that spanned over a decade, leaving behind a legacy of controversy and division.

Bdtelegraph Report|

France has lifted her restrictions on Bangladesh and has decided to consider Bangladesh as a ‘Green’ listed country with regards to Covid-19 restrictions in France.

French Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Interior have said that the decision will be effective from March 3, 2022.

To note, France considers those countries as ‘green’ with a negligible or moderate circulation of the virus and absence of an emerging variant of concern, whereas the ‘orange’ listed countries are those, which are experiencing active circulation of the virus, in the absence of an emerging variant of concern and showing no vaccine or immune escape.

By dint of the latest decision by the French Government, travelers from Bangladesh who are vaccinated with vaccines of BioNTech-Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca (Vaxevria / Covishield), and Johnson & Johnson will no more be required to have tests to arrive in France and to depart from France.

A proof of a complete vaccination schedule will be sufficient to arrive in France from Bangladesh.

On the other hand, for unvaccinated travelers from Bangladesh, the obligation to present a negative test (RT-PCR) to travel to France will remain.

However, the measures on arrival in France (test, isolation) are lifted when they come from countries like Bangladesh which are on the “green” list.

Bangladesh Embassy in Paris had been pursuing with the concerned French authorities to de-list Bangladesh from the restricted countries in light of the satisfactory improvement of Covid-19 situation in Bangladesh.