813 workers killed in 630 workplaces in last two and half years

A large number of workers were killed in various workplace accidents for lack of proper safety measures during the work.

Various workers including construction worker, factory worker and workshop worker do not use safety measures like wearing helmet, gloves, shoes etc while working.

According to Safety and Rights Society, some 813 workers were killed in 630 workplaces across the country in last two and half years.

The NGO working for ensuring safety and rights of workers, revealed the report after monitoring 26 daily newspapers (15 national and 11 local newspapers) during the period.

Some 265 workers killed in 2009, 383 workers were killed in 2010 and 165 workers were killed in the last six months (January – June, 2011).

Sekender Ali Mina, programme director of Safety and Rights, said the number of deaths set out in the report is likely be a severe underestimation of the total number of deaths, since many deaths are not reported in the newspapers.

Though many of the injured workers succumb to their injuries later following the accidents, in many cases follow-up reports are not published in the newspapers, he added.

In last six months, the highest number of workers (97) was killed in construction sites, while 29 died in factories and other manufacturing entities and 19 died in service organisations like hotel, workshop, and power supply organisation.

Of the total workers who died in last six month, 57 were electrocuted, 27 died after falling from high places like scaffolds/roofs, 12 workers died from suffocation in septic tanks and eight were burnt to death.

61 other workers died in other situations including boiler, chemical or gas explosions; earth, roof or wall collapsed; hit or crushed by hard or heavy objects and entangled with machines.

While visited many under construction building site this correspondent found most of the workers are unaware about the safety measures and they do not like to use safety equipments.

It is also found that the main reasons of workers fell from high places because of poorly made scaffolds (macha) and they did not use safety belt or harness.

On the other hand, most of the electrocutions occurred when the construction workers work with iron rods nearby high voltage live electric lines passing near the under-construction buildings.

Yusuf Ali, a construction worker (painter), said he is involved with painting for the last ten years and most of the time he works without any safety measures.

He also said, “While some developing firm force us to use safety equipments then we use it otherwise not.”

Safety and Rights suggests proper implementation of Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC), 2006 through establishing the Code Enforcement Authority according to its Section 2.1 of Chapter-2.

It also suggests proper monitoring of regulatory bodies including RAJUK, factory inspectorate to enforce relevant laws, separate health and safety policy for respective organisation, safety plan before starting construction work, providing workers with proper PPE (personal protective equipment) free of cost, health and safety training and right technology for the right person.

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Motorcycle snatching in the city

Hijacking or stealing of motorbikes increased in the capital city triggering a grave concern among the motorcycle owners.

The use of motorcycle in the city increased many times higher then before for various reasons for the last few years.

Everyday on an average 8 to 10 motorbike was stolen or stanched from various parts in the city. Police could not stop the stealing any how.

The duty of police got finished by record a general diary (GD) after the stealing.

The aggrieved people alleged that police did not give importance to recover stealing motorcycle. However, if any motorcycle of police personnel stolen then they recovered it within two to three days.

The number of motorcycle snatching increased in the capital in an extreme rate which makes motorcycle owner worried. So they could not stay in relax after parking their motorcycle in front of the home. They became concerned everywhere.

Even criminals snatched motorcycle by breaking the lock of collapsible gate of the resident.

Victims of motorcycle stealing alleged that they informed to police soon after the stealing incident but from police said first file a case and then they will take action. But the motorcycle goes far away till filing the case and appointing an investigator of the case.

Police have records of various stealing vehicles including car but they do not have any records of motorcycle stealing.

In recent, Dhaka Metropolitan Police gave importance on car stealing but they did not give importance on motorcycle stealing.

A businessman of old town Rokib Hasan came to the emergency department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital few days ago. He came in a motorcycle while his relative came in an ambulance. He went into the medical with his relative but when he come back found his motorcycle is gone.

He said that he went inside the medical just for five minutes. Police told him to make complain regarding this matter.

But he said that another motorcycle of mine was stolen from Shahbagh area few months ago and he made complain with the Shahbagh police station but he did not get any result.

The result will be same this time, so no need to do complain with police, he said.

An employee of a private organization Zahir Raihan said that few months ago his new motorcycle of Bajaj Discovery was stolen from his garage while he brought it only few days ago.

He said in the morning he found the motorcycle was stolen and collapsible gate of his building was broken.

On august, a Yamaha fazer motorcycle of Mohamamd Shariatullah, reporter of Sheershanews was stolen from the Nagor Bhaban.

Shariatullah alleged that he informed the matter to police but they told his to go police station.

He went to the police station to file case but police said as he does not know the name of thieves so they could not file any case, he added.

He said that later police record a general diary regarding the matter.

Few months ago miscreants in a gunpoint snatched the Palsar motorcycle of Kamaluddin from in front of IDB Bhaban in Agargaon.

Many motorcycles of medical representative were stolen from in front of Dhaka Medical College Hospital and other medical.

On 3 July, a motorcycle of journalist Dr Awrongojeb was stolen from Badda area. He filed a case on the same night but police visited the spot after six days.

Detective Branch of police arrested some motorcycle thieves.

On DB police interrogation, they said that they do target to new motorcycle mainly those motorcycle was not register yet. They sent those stolen motorcycle outside the capital soon after the steal.

They stole motorcycle at night because the road became free on that time and it is easy for them to left the place quickly.

They made fake papers of those motorcycles and sold it to outside the capital.

Mir Shohidul Islam, joint commissioner of DMP said that the number of motorcycle stealing in the capital rises in an alarming rate.

So that a motorcycle Car theft prevention team was formed few months ago, he added.

He also said that this team recovered some motorcycle from various places.
A member of car theft prevention team said that by taking information about a stealing car we can managed to recover cars but it is tough to recovered motorcycle after stolen because most of the motorcycle was sent outside the capital soon after stealing.

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In guise of plainclothes police organized thugs committing crimes in city

In the guise of plainclothes police, an organized gang of thugs committing various crimes including murder in the city creating panic among the commn people.

These organised criminals are becoming very active gradually in capital Dhaka and its suburbs according police and elite force RAB officials.

The officials added miscreants usually introduce themselves as the members of plainclothes police and waylay their targeted persons for ransom. These groups are also involved in kidnapping, extortion, mugging and big crime like killing in the guise of Detective Branch of police, the officials mentioned.

These kinds of gangs are doing crime freely without any fear. While from the owner of various shopping malls to small businessmen everyone is the victim of these gangs. Mass people are also in fear of this kind of gang, which introducing themselves as Rab, DB and police also.

In last few months various people including businessmen, students and politician were picked up in the name of various law enforcers’ agencies in the capital.

Later some dead body were found in various places in the outskirt of the capital while some are still missing.

Detective Branch of police arrested around 30 fraud people in last one year while they arrested 15 people in last two months, who do crime in the name of fake police, in the city.

DB officials said that around 15 to 20 gangs are active in the city, which are doing various criminals activities introducing themselves as Detective Police. These gangs are developed in capital’s crowded and aristocrat area.

These gangs mainly doing abduction, snatching, murder and release ransom in the name of Detective police, they said.

These gangs stopped vehicle on the road in the name of search and introduce themselves as the members of Rab, DB or other detective organisation and snatched valuables. Sometimes they entered into house or business centre and do robbery in the name of DB police.

They also said on the other hand in the name of detective police few gangs are doing extortion in the various part of the city.

DB police became wonder after knowing that they are doing various crime missions in the name of DB police and sometime by using police dress.

Sources said around 10 cases were filed regarding fake detective police in various police stations in the city.

Mahbubur Rahman, deputy commissioner of DB north said that to change the attention of people they are using the name of DB police.
On Tuesday, DB Police arrested five people including a female from Mirpur on charge of cheating people introducing themselves as Detective Police (DB).

Acting on a tip-off, a team of DB police raided a house at Kalyanpur under Mirpur police station at about 10:30 pm and arrested five fake DB police.

Of the five, one introduces himself as senior assistant commissioner of DB police. His name is Tanvir Hasan Khan alias Kiron. The others are identified as Abul Kalam, Abdul Kader, Ripon and Jerin Sultana Kanta.

On interrogation, they said that they have a marriage media and they do marry in various places by introduce Kiron as a senior AC of db police. Kanta and other members help Kiron to do marry. Later they release huge money from the family.

On October 28, acting on a tip off, DB Police arrested 10 fake members of DB police and seized wireless sets, police uniform, handcuffs, crude bombs, bullets, sharp weapons and two cars from the city’s Shahbagh area.

DB police recovered three wireless sets, two handcuffs, police uniform, six rounds of bullet, two machetes, two knives and three crude bombs from their possession.
They also seized one micro bus and a private car.

On interrogation, they said they do car snatching in the name of DB police. They also do target various people who draw big amount of money from bank or financial organisation.

At first they picked up the man into their car and blind folded his eyes with a black cloth.

Later, they took money, mobile phone, gold ornament and other valuables from the man and left him in a silent place.

Monirul Islam, deputy commissioner of DB police on October 28 said that they have decided to change their dress. They will use this new dress in the time of their operation.
They use the new dress to save the people from these fraud people. He also said they will use the new dress within two weeks.

But the new dress is not in use till December 23, source said.

Masudur Rahman, additional deputy commission of Dhaka metropolitan police said the new dress of DB was not come yet.

While asked that when the new dress will come he replied that “I do not know the exact date.”

He also said that to catch this kind of fraud people our various team are active in the capital.

“So that we can manage to catch around 30 fake police in last one year,” he added.

He also said that this kind of people doing crime in the name of law enforcer to change the intention of the people so that no one can suspect them.

On October 2, around 4 to 5 fake db police came in a micro bus and snatched away tk 4 lakh from two officials of AN corporation.

Golam Rabbani, official of AN corporation said they withdraw the money from Brac Bank of Asad Gate branch and they are on way to Family World tower. While they reached near Shamoly bus counter some plain cloth people introduce themselves as DB police and picked up in the micro bus. Later they looted the money and left both of the officials in a silent road.

A case was filed regarding the matter but no one was arrested or no money was recovered yet.

On October 20, in the same way 7 to 8 people mugged Tk 5 lakh from SM Akram Hossain, an official of a private organisation.

On September 29, some people stopped a motorbike of a journalist introduce as DB police and snatched his motorcycle from in front of Public Service Commission at Tejgaon area.

On 4 May, miscreants identified them as police and snatched Tk 10 lakh from a money exchange trader at Pallabi area.
Mofazzal Hossain said that he was on way to his resident at around 8pm. Suddenly 6 people came in a micro bus and stopped him.

He also said they introduce them as police while three of them were wearing police dress and snatched money.

On November 28, Dhaka university student Samim Hasan, ward 50 Chhatra Dal president Ismail Hossain alias Al Amin and their froed Masum Hossain were picked up by plain cloth Rab from Hatirpol area.

Family members made two general diaries regarding the matter.

Few days ago bullet hit body of Ismail found in the river of Dhaleshwari River while Masum and Samim still missing.

On October 2, AL relief affair secretary of Pallabi thana Abdul Karim Hawladar was picked up from Mirpur 10 and still he is missing.

On November 17, seven people were picked up from Malibagh area in the city in the name of plain cloth police. Later two get release and filed an abduction case with Motijheel police station on November 20. On November 28, body of Jahim was found in Ashulia.

On October 20, AL 41 ward president Nur Haji was picked up by plain cloth law enforcer from his Savar residence. Later on December 3, two of his family members were picked up from their Shamoly resident. Still they are missing.

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Persona closed circuit camera scandal

Police Probe committee has yet to submit its report
Two and half month have passed


The probe committee report of Persona Beauty Parlour close circuit camera scandal was not submitted after two and a half months have elapsed.

The probe committee was given three days time at first to submit its report. But the probe committee extended their time several times and still they did not submit the report.

During the investigation they visited and quizzed the employees of the parlour where the incident took place.

On October 3, a three-member committee probe committee led by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Nizamul Haque Molla of Gulshan zone was formed by police department on October 3 to investigate the scandal.

The two other members are Assistant Commissioner (AC) Mizanur Rahman (admin) and Assistant Commissioner (AC) Nurul Alam (Petrol).

Sources said one of the important members of the probe committee AC Nurul Alam went for a 40 days leave, so the investigation process became slow. On the other hand another member of the committee AC Mizanur Rahman was transferred to CID department.

While contacted, ADC Nizamul Haque Molla, chief of the committee, said “we found noting new to say and soon we will submit the report.”

He said the report is delaying because one of our committee members recently joined after completing hajj while another member of the committee transferred to the CID.

While this correspondent asked how many days do u need to complete the investigation he replied as soon as possible they will submit the report but do not want to mention the specific days they need.

On September 30, a female customer of Persona alleged that she was filmed on CCTV camera in the service room while changing dress before Spa at Persona’s Banani branch.

On October 3, Mehedi Masud, sub-inspector of Gulshan police was suspended for destroying evidence and neglecting duty.

On October 4, Persona head Kaniz Almas and the doctor’s husband Ishtiaq Ahmed had issued a joint statement saying the incident was a misunderstanding.

Elina Khan filed a writ petition after a furious protest on the issue.

On October 10, A High Court bench ordered the government to remove closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras from the service rooms of all beauty parlours in the country.

Elina Khan said both male and female clients are now fearful of visiting beauty parlour after the Persona incident, which is a violation of rights to live and personal liberty. So the writ petition was filed.

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City dwellers have no clear idea about beat policing

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has started beat policing programme to control the crime in the capital city but it is limited in the name, not in the work.

The programme was started around one year with a view to make police more people-oriented but till now it does not do any work for the people because city dwellers do not know clearly about beat policing.

However, many DMP officer-in-charges does not know how many beats are in his police station while many police personnel who are assigned in beat policing have no clear idea about their responsibilities.

Lack of training of the policemen regarding the beat policing programme is responsible for the matter (no clear idea), some police high officials claimed.

To start this kind of ambitious programme without increasing police members and their facilities, people will not get proper service from the programme, they said.

The beat policing programmes was started following the Koban method of Japan’s police. The preliminary intention of the programme is to solve four major problems in Dhaka city including control drug peddling, defence mugging, improve traffic system and illegal arms recover.

DMP sources said 41 police station jurisdiction was divided into 600 beat to control crime, to collect information and to ensure explanation of the police works. Every beat was led by a sub inspector and comprises with an assistant sub inspector and three to four constables.

Inspector (investigation) of the police station is the in charge of beat policing while officer in charges (OC) doing the coordination.

Some specific works was set by the DMP for the responsible SI of a beat. According to the rules, the beat chief will collect information about all kind of criminals including drug peddler in his beat area.

They will arrest the listed criminals, muggers, illegal arms traders and will take action against the eve teaser in his jurisdiction. They will also make list of all ready made garments, bank as well as financial organisations and contact with those people. They will organise discussion meeting in every week regarding the law and order situation with the important people of the area.

Beat members will make list of political and suspicious people of that area and will follow their movement.

They will collect information of all the floating people lived in the slum, mess of the area.

In this system police of every beat is bound to go on the doorstep of every people of the area and information of all the inhabitant will also be stored to police in this way.

While tried to contact with beat officer of various police stations over phone, many beat officer could not received the phone while some mobile number found switch off.

While talked with many beat officers, this correspondent found that beat officers have no clear idea about it.

Sub Inspector Halim, beat officer of Kalabagan police station said that “our duty is to maintain the law and order situation of my beat area.”

While asked that people do not have any idea about beat policing he agreed with me and told that it is true but he added “we delivered leaflet about beat policing in every house of my area.”

He also said that soon we will paste leaflet or wall writing in my beat area so that people know about it.

Every beat officer will arrange weekly meeting in his area, while asked him he replied that in his tenure he arranged only two meeting with the people of that area.

A former beat officer of Kalabagan police station, Sub-Inspector Shekh Taj Uddin Ahmed, alleged that people did not response us willingly.

He also said that, “I do meeting with the people of the area so that people may know about it.”

“I delivered a form in every house to collect the details of the domestic help, driver and other workers of those houses. If they (driver, domestic help) do any crime in future so we can catch them easily. But the reality is different only few people responses us.”

“I personally think, as it’s a new service for the city dwellers and they don’t know clearly about it so they are not interested to help us,” he added.

While visited Lalbagh area found beat police number in various wall was posted.

Engr. S.M. Anwar Hossain, Chairman & CEO Advanced Development Technologies, said that “I know about the beat police trough newspaper.”

While asked that any beat officer contacted with you he replied “no one contacted with me.”

Komol Gomez, a house owner of Kafrul area, said that he saw number of beat police in the wall of his area but he has no idea about their work.

While talked with a garments owner of Mirpur 13 he said that he have no idea about beat police.

Masudur Rahman, additional deputy commissioner of police, said the beat police programme is already running in developed countries and they got success.

“The beat policing programme is already started in our country and we also got success. We have some problem but it will be solved soon,” he added.

He also said that “we are trying to aware the people about beat police. I hope soon we may able to give idea about beat policing to all the city dwellers.”

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Children working as human hauler helper

A large number of children are working as human hauler helper as it is a hazardous work and it is the time for the children to go school to build their future but children are doing this work to live their lives.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, 2003 report, 3.2 million children are involved in labour and 1.29 million of them are involved in hazardous labour. The bureau considers work more than 43 hours a week as hazardous since it is detrimental to children’s physical and mental health.

Previously, boys and girls below 14 years were considered as children. Following UN standards, the government is set to redefine a child, especially its age.

According to the new definition, the upper limit of a child’s age will be raised from 14 to 18 years. Evidently, from now on working boys and girls up to 18 years will be categorised as child labourers.

Yunus, 12 year old helper of a human hauler said, “I am working as a helper for last two year. I stopped my study after class five as my farmer father has no ability to continue my study further.”

While asked about the risk of the work, he replied that “I have to take risk of my life as I have to live my life by doing this and I do not know any other work which I can do.”

“We recruit small children as helpers because they follow our command attentively and work well” said Sariful Alam, a driver of a human hauler and who employs Yunus.

He also said children work at least 12 hours a day for Tk 250 to 300.

While asked about the criteria to recruit a helper, he replied “who can calculate the fare and clever enough can join as helper.

Sajib, a 13 year old helper said, “I am working here for last one year as a helper.”

While asked that why do u work as a helper as there are many other works to do, he replied that “before I started this work I worked as a sewing operator in a tailor shop for one year but the salary is very low while as a helper my income better than my last work.”

This year, “World Day against Child Labour 2010” was observed with the theme “End Worst Forms of Child Labour by 2016.” The government of Bangladesh and non-government organisations expressed their honest desire to eliminate child labour at any cost.

Sharfuddin Khan, Programme Officer of Urban Informal Economy Project of ILO said, “according to the Labour Law doesn’t allow employers to hire workers under 14 years and from 14 to 18 children can do work but light work not the hazardous work but the reality is that many children are engaged in various hazardous jobs.”

So according to law it is totally illegal if any children working as a human haler helper as it is a hazardous work, he added.

The ILO’s official also said, “They are being denied their right to education and the conditions for normal growth while the owner group using them as cheap labour. In addition they in serious danger as it is a hazardous work and we are seen many incident where they are the victim.”

He also said, “There is no one to monitor this hazardous work as they are doing in front of traffic police and police sergeant, over all this is a serious violation of child rights.”

International Labour Organisation (ILO) held a convention in 1999 titled ‘ILO Convention No.182’ considering the need to adopt new instruments for the prohibition and elimination of the worst from of child labour. Bangladesh ratified the convention in March 2001.

But the government is yet to define the worst forms of child labour, which is considered as the first step of elimination of child labour.

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Police stations turned into a dumping ground

Police stations in the capital have almost turned into a dumping ground for the seized and unclaimed vehicles.

Every month Detective Branch (DB) of police, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), police and other law enforcement agencies seize a number of stolen vehicles, including car, microbus and motorcycles, and keep them on police station premises under the open sky.

As per the law, the police should auction off these seized and unclaimed vehicles after taking permission from the court when claimants are not found.

While visiting some police stations, it has been found that most of these vehicles got damaged because of lack of proper maintenance and for remaining unutilised for long.
The condition of about 70 percent vehicles has deteriorated to such an extent that they could only be sold as scrap.

Sources said the law enforcers usually try to find out the owner of a seized vehicle. But a vehicle has been dumped when the law enforcers cannot trace its owner or a trial involving the vehicles continues for long.

Mahbubur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Badda police station, said, “When we seize any stolen vehicle, at first we try to find out the owner of the vehicle. If we get the owner, then we hand the vehicle over to him/her through court order.”

“If we cannot find the owner of a vehicle, then we send the vehicle number to BRTA,” he added.

The OC also said that “after completing all the procedure when it has been confirmed that we do not get the owner of the vehicle, we send the vehicle for auction.”

“When any case involving a vehicle is pending with a court, the vehicle has been kept in the custody of police as evidence,” he added.

Talking about the deteriorating condition of the vehicles at the police stations, he said “We have nothing to do for the delay in disposal of cases.”

“No car has been auctioned in the last eight months after I joined the police station,” he said.

SM Ashrafuzzaman, an assistant commissioner of DB police, said, “We have recently sent a proposal to the government so that law enforcement agencies can use these seized vehicles.”

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Fake note production targeting EID

Production of fake notes happens round the year but before the two Eids it reaches the peak, because of people spend a lot of money on shopping during the time.

The forgers syndicate are making huge note targeting the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. They specially forged the notes of Tk 100, Tk 500 and Tk 1,000 denomination.

The counterfeiters have also released fake notes of Indian rupees and US dollars.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Molla Nazrul Islam of Detective Branch of Police said, “The forger’s syndicates produced fake round the year but now they are making note targeting the holy Eid as trading of money goes up higer then any time.”

“On Tuesday we have seized huge materials, around 100 crore fake notes can be made with this materials,” he added.

He informed that the forger made two types of fake notes, one is printed fake note and another one is washed fake note.

“Printed fake notes are made with new papers while the washed notes are made by washing original notes. A Tk 100 note (nearly equal in size of Tk 500) is rubbed off by chemicals, later they turn it into a Tk 500 note” he added.

He also said, “The counterfeiter are now making the new notes of Tk 500 and Tk 1,000 denomination as these notes recently came out in the marker and people have very little idea about these notes.”

“We have information that about 7 to 8 groups are making still making counterfeit money,” he added.

He also said, “I hope soon we can busted some others fake note making factory.”

The production of counterfeit are very easy as it requires small place and smaller investment so people involved in this illegal business, said a police official.

The police official also said, a laptop, a colour printer, some particular paper, chemicals and some other materials are enough to produce fake notes.

Polash, 27, arrested by DB police on Tuesday with links to note forgery, said he sell fake notes of Tk 100,000 for Tk 11,000 to other party while he brought it Tk 10,000.

Nowadays fake note are detected in various places including automated teller machine (ATM) booths, shops and banks.

“Everyday we get 8-10 fake notes at the counter and before the Eid we get 15-20 notes daily,” said Abdullah Al Mamun, an official of The City Bank, Kaligonj branch in Keranigonj.

Jahangir, working at Samsung care as logistics assistants, said “last month I withdraw Tk 10,000 from a booth of Duch Bangla Bank Ltd located in Kalyanpur area and found a fake note of Tk 1000.”

He alleged that as he found the fake note in ATM booth, he have nothing to do.

“If I complained to the bank they will said they didn’t give any fake note” he aded.

Like Jahangir many people alleged that they found fake notes several times while they withdraw money from the ATM booths.

Md Salahuddin, a maintenance operator of ATM booth said, that “before refilled the money into ATM booth we checked most of the notes and almost everyday we found 4-5 fake notes.”

According to a DB official, so far this year they have been arrested 30 people with links to note forgery.

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Children working in vulcanising shop

Children are widely being used as workers in the city’s scattered vulcanising shops that cater to services of motor vehicles but there is none to oversee the use of child labour even in hazardous jobs.

Allegations have it that a large number of children aged between 11 years and 18 years of age work in these shops and suffer from fatigue and some diseases due to pollution at the workplace.

According National Child Policy 2010, children under the age of 14 cannot be employed in any work. Where below 18 can do light work but cannot be employed in hazardous work.

The National Child Policy 2010 defines individuals under the age of 18 as children.

They have no fixed working hours and are constantly threatened with the fear of being fired, are depressed and deprived of education and entertainment.

Most of the children working in vulcanizing shops are paid TK 1200 to TK 2500 in a month, for more than twelve hours of labour each day.

Safiul Islam, a 13-year old worker of a vulcanizing shop said, “I am working her for the last 1 year. Actually I have learnt this work from this shop.”

While asked about the working hour, he replied that “I have to work here for 12 to 14 hour, most of the time I fell so tired after the evening but I have to stay for the 10pm. Sometime I got injured while working.”

“They pay me weekly and weekly I get 400 as my salary,” he added.

He said, “My father is a rickshaw puller and my mother is a domestic help as well as I have two sister and one brother. I am the big one of my family and I stopped my study when I was at class three.”

Dr Nazir Ahmed, a local physician, explains that the fumes emitted when vulcanizing tires contains components such as aromatic amines, aldehydes that can cause coughing.

Prolonged exposure can result to the loss of elastic tissue of the lungs. Possible consequences are chronic bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia, and pulmonary tuberculosis, he added.

Dr Nazir suggested, people working in vulcanizing shops should also try to work opposite the flow of the wind in order to avoid inhaling the fumes. They can also wear a mask and must make sure that they have the right diet and proper hygiene.

Mustafa Rahman, Programme manager of Aparajeyo Bangladesh (a non government organisation working with the disadvantaged children) said, the first thing is that they are working for a long time from morning to night.

“The second thing is that most of the time owners abuse them physically, like slap, beating etc,” he added.

He also said, “Socially they are not in the pay roll because the owner pay them as there wish. They (child) have noting to say about their salary or wage”

“They are depriving from education which is the most important thing for their future progress” he added.

According to 2003 study of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), 3.2 million children aging between 5-17 years are involved with child labour for wage. Of them, 1.29 million children are involved in hazardous work.

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Govt fails to ease traffic jam in city

Government’s initiatives to ease the city’s traffic congestion, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, went in vain rather the situation deteriorated further much to the sufferings of common people.

Indiscriminate car parking in front of shopping malls, violation of traffic rules, unauthorised U-turn, jaywalking and road digging by various utility service providers are mainly intensifying the traffic jam in the city.

Earlier, junior secondary and secondary schools and madrasas went on vacation from August 4 on education ministry’s order to improve the traffic condition in the city.

Other educational institutions including colleges and universities will follow suit from August 16. The situation, however, has not even improved a bit.

As the holy month Ramadan is passing by, low-income group specially day labourer and rickshaw puller from different places of the country are streaming to the capital to earn extra money to celebrate Eid rubbing salt into the wounds.

Illegal parking is another reason for traffic jam. Cars, motorcycle and other vehicles are parked almost everywhere. Eid shoppers often leave two to three rows of parked cars outside popular shopping centres contributing to the traffic tailback.

Illegal parking in front of Gausia and Newmarket occupies the road which caused serious traffic congestion in Nilkhet, Newmarket and Dhaka College area.

In Kakrail, Malibagh, Santinagar and Mouchak area huge traffic jam is very common during the month of Ramada as the places have lot of shopping centres including Polwel Super Market, City Heart, Karnaphuli Garden City, Twin Tower, Mouchak market and Hosaf Shopping Complex.

Between Panthapath and Sonargaon intersection traffic jam at anytime of the day is horrible because of the city’s biggest shopping mall Bashundhara.

Saiful Islam, a government official said, “I came to Newmarket for shopping. It took me two hours to reach the market from Mohammadpur.”

Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain has recently told parliament that the main streets of the capital are now overburdened with different modes of transport, as the thoroughfares can hardly contain 2.16 lakh vehicles as per international standard.

He said the capital Dhaka has only 88 kilometres of roads where approximately 5.5 lakh vehicles ply everyday. As per international standard it requires 204 kilometres roads.

In the rush hour, a distance of three to four kilometres can take about an hour to reach. Destinations like Gulisthan, Motijheel, Old Dhaka, Maghbazar, Malibagh, Gulshan, Banani and Dhanmondi are nightmares for commuters from any point in the city.

Especially frustrating points are Mohakhali, the road in front of the prime minister’s office, Hotel Sonargaon crossing, Elephant Road, Science Laboratory, Green Road, Maghbazar, Mouchak, Malibagh, Khilghaon, Rampura, Jatrabari, Sayedabad, and old parts of the city mainly Dholaikhal, Postagola, Bangshal, Chowkbazar and Imamganj.

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Road accident and safety

Road accidents are very common in our country, a huge number of people died in road accidents every year and the ratio of injury per accident is also very high.

Not a single day we have passed when we do not read a report of road accidents. Almost everyone was affected by such accidents, because a relative or friend is someway connected to such accidents.

On an average, per day road accidents kill 10-15 people, which make the streets and highways more vulnerable in our country.

At about 120 people were killed in road accident this month around the country.

Most of the road crashes occurred due to bus driver’s ignorance of traffic law, unskilled driving, defective roads and careless driving.

Experts said poorly trained drivers are mainly to blame for the high number of road deaths and injuries.

Many road accident victims said the drivers always go unpunished using the loopholes of the law. So thy demanded an effective law to punish the killer drivers to prevent road accidents.

Families United Against Road Accident (FUARA), an organization formed mostly by the families of the victims, demanded implementing motor vehicle laws properly, declaring the killing in road accidents as non-bailable offence, canceling fake driving licenses, removing all unfit vehicles from roads, ensuring punishment to the killer drivers, creating massive awareness, improving the skills of drivers and incorporating the road safety issue in school curriculum.

They blaming Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) officials for giving licenses to unfit vehicles and drive against such vehicles must be launched to reduce road accidents.

They also urged the people from all walks of life to put in concerted efforts to check road accidents.

Experts said awareness on preventing road accidents among drivers, vehicle owners, law enforcement agencies and pedestrians must also be raised.

A Bangladesh Roads Transport Authority (BRTA) official said everyday BRTA’s two offices in the capital alone get 400 new driving applications, but the officials can process only 250 licenses because of limited resources and testing infrastructure.

While contacted Prof. Dr. Hasib Mohammed Ahsan, Director of Accident Research Institute (ACR), said in the city most of the accident occurred for not obeying the traffic rules. On the other hand in highway most of the accident ensued because of overtaking, reckless driving and over speed.

He mentioned that in the city we have not enough footpaths for the pedestrian to walk so that they walk in the road and fell victim of road accident.

According to statistics 64% pedestrian were killed in road accident, he added.

So preventing road accident in the city, driver’s need to follow the traffic rules as well as the pedestrian need to be careful when they are walking in the road, he added.

The ACR director also said to prevent accident in the highway driver need to be more careful about their speed and while they are overtaking another car in the highway.

While asked for a driving license drivers need to face a five minute test drive to prove his/her driving ability. Is it correct?

He answered that a huge number of driver are untested in our country so we can say this is comparatively good then untested.

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Criminal activities by cops on rise in the city

Extortion and other criminal activities by a section of policemen have increased in the capital city due to lack of stringent measures of the authorities concerned in this regard.

Many policemen have long been engaged in doing various criminal activities including extortion and bribery as no stern action is taken against them, according to court records.

There are very few instances of awarding exemplary punishment to the policemen involved in criminal activities under the existing law, the court records say.

A number of police officials including officer-in-charges of different police stations have been sued on charge of extortion, bribery and other criminal activities in the last six months.

But all the cases have been filed with Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court as the police stations concerned declined to register them and even they did not take any steps to probe the allegations.

On April 5, a case was filed against officer-in-charge (OC) of Rampura Police Station along with its two sub-inspectors (SI) with a Dhaka court on charge of extortion.

On May 25, a Dhaka court issued warrant for arrest of two policemen of Mirpur Police Station on charge of extorting Tk 10,000 and snatching a mobile phone from a resident of Mirpur on March 20.

A case was filed against the two policemen with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka On March 27.

On May 30, a housewife filed a case with Dhaka court against six people including officer-in-charge of Motijheel Police Station and two of his colleagues for issuing threat to kill her husband in crossfire.

On June 27, a fraudulent and embezzlement case was filed against two policemen including Sutrapur office-in-charge Md Nazrul Islam.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) earlier filed a case against a sub-inspector (SI) of Mirpur Police Station on charge of taking bribe from the complainant of a case.

A section of policemen in the name of security search has long been engaged in collecting illegal toll from people in different areas of the capital city.

Some SIs with the help of constables frisk people — drivers and passengers of rickshaws, taxi-cabs and CNG-run auto-rickshaws — from early morning until midnight.

In most cases, they stop these vehicles on various pleas, search them and pick up the passengers with a threat to take them into custody.

Over 50,000 policemen faced departmental action for neglect of duty and involvement in criminal activities in the last few years, police headquarter sources said.

But the number of policemen sacked for their wrongdoings is very few, the sources said.

Police Internal Oversight (PIO), an intelligence wing of the police formed to oversee the activities of the cops, remain almost inactive as the government has recently denied giving approval to the proposed organogram of the wing.

The PIO started working with 286 policemen. Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) was given charge of the PFI in the proposed PFI organogram. As per the proposed organogram, SPs were given charge of the districts.

The initiative to form an intelligence body to oversee the activities of policemen was first taken in 1989.

“None would be spared from top to bottom in the police department if found indulging in corruption, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Hassan Mahmood Khandker said."

"We took some measures to stop corruption by policemen through motivation as well as punishment to those involved in criminal activities," the police chief said.

"We first tried to motivate the policemen not to involve themselves in corruption," the IGP said adding, "The corrupt policemen who could not correct themselves would face exemplary punishment".

Former IGP Mohammad Hadis Uddin stressed the need for appointing an ombudsman in the police department to investigate crimes committed by the policemen.

He also said, “there is a law in the police department has its but we need to properly apply those laws to stop crimes by cops.”

“If you look at the police department statistics, every year police department took action against around 5,000 cops,” he added.

The Ex IGP also said "We should first make sure that there is accountability and transparency in the police department by giving punishment to the cops involved in crimes."

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Lack of fire safety in city’s old shopping malls

Most of the old shopping malls in the capital are running without sufficient firefighting equipment, keeping life and property of owners, tenants and customers at a risk.

The Fire Protection Act, 2003 directs, all the buildings including the commercial establishments to have sufficient firefighting equipment and conform to measures of public security.

But, most of the old markets don’t have enough safety equipment, emergency exits and sufficient space between adjacent buildings.

Fire experts say according to the fire rules, every floor should have at least two fire extinguishers, hydrant point, water reservoir and a tank on top which will always contain a certain amount of water.

While visited Gausia Market, Chistia Market, Noor Mansion, New Chistia Market and Ismail Mansion (Gausia Markket in total), New Market and Yakub Super Market found no fire equipments (fire detector, alarm bell and fire extinguisher) in any floor of the market.

While asked about the fire safety, Joynul Abedin, joint secretary of Gausia Market shop owner association, he told that they have 20 fire extinguishers, 10 were brought on March 31 (While our correspondent visited the market office).

He also said “we have a big underground reserve tank which can contain 60 thousand liter water but we have no reserve tank on the top of the building.”

“If any fire incident will occur we can use this water” he added.

While asked that where those fire extinguishers were hanged or stored, “he told that the fire extinguishers were no hanged in market compound, it was stored at the guard room.”

He also said that security guards of the market will work as fire fighter if needed and every year Fire Service and Civil Defence arranged training for them.

“But we did not arrange any training for them” he said adding that “We have 484 shops in our Gausia Market (individual) and I think 20 fire extinguishers are enough for fire fighting”.

Shahidul Islam Liton, join secretary of New Chistia Market told that they also have 20 for extinguisher for 278 shops (Chistia Market).

He also said fire extinguishers were stored at guard room if needed we can use it.

While asked that the number of fire extinguisher is enough for your market, he said “I think its enough for our market and if I need more then we can use our neighbor markets fire equipments.”

Chan Mia, one of the shop owners of Gausia Market said the roads of the market are so small but the pressures of the consumer are high at this market.

The committee taking no measure for fire fighting and the fire extinguishers are stored at guard room, he added.

If any fire incidents occur how could we use those fire extinguishers? He posed a question to this correspondent.

Shihab, owner of Chistia market, said I do not know in there any equipment for fire fighting in our market.

I never seen any fire extinguisher in our Market, he added.

On February 20 in 2009, a devastating fire broke out on the ground floor of Madina Traders, a chemical shop at Yakub Super Market opposite to Gausia Market.

Before firefighters doused the flames, 56 shops were burned down, which is an example of neglect in taking fire safety measures.

While visiting Yakub Super Market on March 31 in 2011, found no fire equipments.

General Secretary of Yakub Supper Market shop owners association, Mahfuzur Rahman, said in our market portion we have no fire equipments but we in the upper portion (1st floor to 6th floor) where the garments are situated they have enough fire equipments.

“We are thinking to set up necessary equipment for fire in our market portion” he added.

Ratan Fakir, owner of MM collection of Yakub Super Market told that after the devastating fire the market committee did not take any measurement for fire.

Prof Dr Nizam Uddin Ahmed of Buet said most of the city markets especially old markets like Gausia don’t have fire safety measures, posing serious threat to the owners and customers.

Especially Gausia market is very dangerous while most of the customer is female and children on that market, he said adding that “While I visited the market last time I can’t see the road of the market for cloth, most of the shops keep their cloth outside the shop.”

While the garments owner seen that without satisfactory safety measurement on the factory buyer will not giving order. So that then they built an extra steel stair on the back portion, they did it because they don’t want to lose money, not for the workers interest, he said.

Prof Nizam also said Most of the commercial building built two stairs, but I must say two stairs is not the solution. Its needs to be defined on space, population and height and after that designer will design how many stairs will need for the building.

He said for commercial profit most of the building became danger, no one wanted to sacrifice a little space.

“If they build some extra stairs and open space by breaking some shop then the market can be impervious” he added.

He also said if any fire breaks out in such a building like Gausia, which have no alternative exits and are highly congested, 200 to 300 people may die.

Johurul Amin Mia, assistant director (wear house and prevention) of Fire Service and Civil Defence said “actually the market authorities have to take safety measurement by their own. We can help them by giving training and Mohora”.

“If any market authority applied for training, Mohora or any kind of help we instantly arrange it for them” he added.

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Suffering of Poor on the Day of Hartal

The poor people, who usually lead their life with hand to mouth, suffered most in the day of hartal (general strike) with their limited income.

On the hartal day on Monday, a few number of buses and CNG-run three wheelers were seen carrying passengers but the number of rickshaws were a plenty on the city streets.

When asked some lower income group people including rickshaw pullers, CNG drivers, bus drivers and others said they have to take risk of their lives in the day of hartal as they have no other alternative but to get outside of their houses in search of daily earning.

Abdul Majid, 35, a rickshaw puller, said, “I have to work on the day of hartal because without my daily income my whole family will have to starve”.

“My whole family is dependent on my daily income and they all are waiting in my rented house when I will bring them food,” he said.

Zaj Mia, 40, a CNG-run three wheeler driver, said, “I know that I have to take risk of my life in operating the little cab as without toiling at my job who will give me food.”

“Do the sponsors of the hartal will supply food for my family?” he posed a question to this correspondent.

“If I work then I can buy food, if I didn’t then I will have starve with my family for the day. None will give me food, so by knowing well that my life is at risk, I came out for driving CNG,” the poor driver added.

He also said, “I have one son and two daughters and two of them are reading in schools. So I have no option left but to get out for work even during the hartal hours risking my life.”

Shafiq, 37, a bus driver of Azimpur-Mirpur route, told that the hartal callers are enforcing hartal for their narrow individual interest, they did not feel it necessary to ask anybody before giving the call for hartal.

“They never think about us (poor people). If they think about the poor people they can not give the call for hartal,” he added.

Shafiq also said on the day of last hartal, pickets vandalise his bus which he was driving. “After that I feel scared in driving bus on the day of hartal. But, I have no other option left other than driving the bus on the day of hartal,” the bus driver said.

A Banani-bound bus passenger named Helal, 25, said he is working as a peon in an office at Banani and it is a must for everybody in the office to attend their work place even in a hartal day.

Helal also said, “If I do not go to office then the authority will cut my today’s (hartal day) salary. So, I must have to go to my office even on the day of Hartal taking risk of my life and for this I am travelling on a bus.”

He alleged that the rickshaw pullers were charging extra fare taking it an opportunity that a few number of buses were in operation on different city routes.

While visiting a private office at Banani this correspondent experienced that there were almost a 100 percent attendance in the office on Monday.

However, some of the officials at the office said that some foreign delegates came today (Monday) to visit their office so all the staff were present at office today (hartal Day).

“We had to pay two to three times higher fare to travel by auto-rickshaws, buses or rickshaws,” alleged Shafiqul Islam, a service holder.

City dwellers had to wait for hours at many city street intersections to get into public buses or CNG-run three-wheelers or other motorised and non-motorised transports. Many of them had to go to their destinations on foot.

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Court premises turn heaven for criminals

Premises of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court turn into a safe haven for criminals, drug traders and floating sex-workers after dusk everyday.

Law enforcers remain silent spectators allegedly giving opportunity to the anti-social elements in exchange of money, sources said.

The people passing the area often become the victims of muggers and other anti-social elements. The muggers stab the pedestrians and loot their valuables and later take shelter on the court premises under the very nose of police, many alleged.

The drug addicts frequent the court premises for drugs which are easily available there.

Floating prostitutes prowling in and around the CMM court building are another nuisance pestering the passers-by.

When asked about the matter, a deputy commissioner of DMP also spokesman of the commissioner Moniruzzaman said “I am not aware of it. Now I will ask the concerned police station to take legal action against criminal and anti-social activities.”

However, the deputy Commissioner said all concerned working on the court premises could take the initiative to free the place from the bad elements.

While visiting the place recently, this correspondent found drug traders selling heroin, phensidyl bottles, drugs for pushing into the body and cannabis in and around the court premises under the very nose of police.

A floating prostitute Sabina said, “I take from each customer Taka 500 of which I pay Tk 100 to police and Tk 100 to the local musclemen, for my business.”

“If I fail to catch any customer I am to satisfy police and the terrors with sex,” she said. Instantly, another sex-worker came to spot and asked this correspondent to leave the place at once.

A local said a large number of prostitutes are engaged in their work in and around the court building following their eviction from the brothels in Narayanganj and in the capital.

Another source said, the police are patronising the criminals in exchange for money on daily basis. The criminals and the police patronising them are very much known to every trader and businessman in the area.

Anybody willing to do business here will have to pay daily or monthly basis token money to the police and the terrorists, he added.

Sabbir, relative of a convict said few days ago “I went to the CMM court premises for my brother as my brother was a convicted for a criminal case.”

“I was looking for lawyer in the premises and asked a man for a lawyer. He said that he knows a lawyer. And I was following him” he added.

He also said “the man carry me in a restaurant into the court premises and met with a man and told me that he is a lawyer. Then I told the whole matter to the lawyer.

Sabbir said the lawyer demanded Tk 20,000 for the case as he will arrange bail for my brother.

After that I give him Tk 5,000 on the spot, he told me to come tomorrow on the court and give me a number for contact.

Next day I went to the court premises and looking for the lawyer and trying to call him but the number was closed. Whole day I was stayed at court but I could not manage to catch him. Then I realise that he was a tout.

Like Sabbir, almost regularly many people fall victim to tout and cheating, most of the incident remain unknown.

While visiting the court premises found thousands of people were roaming at the area including lawyer, police, convicts and the relatives of convicts.

There are no checkpoints in the entrances to the court area. Anyone with anything can get inside the court premises without the slightest interruption.

While asking about the security measure taken of the court premises, a police officer at the court premises said, “We do not have any checkposts to search the visitors. But when we find somebody suspicious, only then we search them manually to make sure that he is not a threat to the security of others.”

Dhaka Bar Association Assistant General Secretary Advocate Aminur Rahman Khan told to the daily sun that we have a committee to find out touts in the court premises.

“If anyone informed us about any matter of cheating or touting which related to the court, we scrutinise the matter and took action.” He added.

He also said few days ago we caught a tout, we scrutinise the incident and send the tout to police.

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Court House Street lack of Fire safety gadgets

The court house street is one of the oldest and busiest roads in the old part of the town, located in the rear side of Dhaka District Judge court, Dc office and Chief metropolitan magistrate court.

Everyday several thousand people pass with the road for various purposes. At office time (court running time) it is tough to move with the road by foot.

The street is so narrow and makeshift shop made it narrower, hardly two rickshaws can pass each other but at the office time a rickshaw can hardly pass with the road.

Most of the roads of that area are 10 to 12 feet, it is quite impossible to pass a big vehicle with this road. If any fire incident occurred in this road many people will die because fire vehicles could come to this road in time.

Makeshift shops blocked most of the space of the road. At the office time lots of people went to this road for various needs as various kind of shop was there.

While visited, our correspondent found the road full of people in office time. All kinds of shop were there. Some makeshift shop selling vegetable, some selling tea, cigarette, some were selling food. Lots of shop was there for photocopy, deed writing, stationary, hotel and many more. Even a sheel pata shop was found in the road.

Sahidul Islam, a businessman came to CMM court for his brother case, said, court house street is very busy during the court running time. People come to drink tea, for photocopy, for lunch and many more.

“I came here to make a photocopy of documents which I will submit to the court” he added.

Many high rise building was on the road. Most of the building was used for lawyer’s chamber. The entry gate or roads of those building are so slim. Lots of people everyday went to those chambers for various purposes.

Most of the lawyer’s have chamber is the area because from here it took only a minute to reached at court.

While visited, found no fire safety gadgets of those buildings. Only two high rise building found some fire extinguisher. If any fire incident occurred during court running time many people may die.

Gopal bhar, a shop owner of the court street, said I am doing business here for more then 20 years. My father started business here after his death I am doing this.”

“This road is always full of people. Most of the people came here for court purpose” he added.

Gopal said “what you are searching to? You will get everything in this street, from vegetable to stationary everything you will find here.”

While asked about fire safety, “he said as far I know no building of that area have fire safety.”

While asked Mamun, a hotel owner of that area, if any fire broke out of that area, is it possible for fire vehicle to come in this road during the court running time.

He replied it will be very tough for any big vehicles to come in this road. So it will be also tough for fire vehicles to enter of that area.

Mamun also said this is an unplanned area and oldest part of the city, so when the road and area were started no one think that after 10 or 20 years what will happen.

Jahurul Amin Mia, assistant director (warehouse and prevention) of FSCD said “if any fire incident occurred on this area it will be tough for us to reach on that area because the road is so narrow.”

He also said “FSCD water Carrying Vehicle hardly can reach near rear side of DC office.”

He also said “no reserve tank is here on that road, the only reserve tank of that area which is situated at Jagannath University.”

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Probe yet to complete in CPB bomb blast, 10th anniversary of the tragedy today

Ten years have elapsed since the bomb blast at a rally of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) in the city’s Paltan Maidan, but the investigation into the case filed in this connection is yet to be completed.

The CPB will observe the 10th anniversary of the tragic incident today (Thursday) with a renewed call to punish the culprits involved in the blast.

Five people were killed and 50 others injured in the blast on January 20, 2001. CPB President Manjural Ahsan Khan had filed a case with Motijheel Police Station in this connection after the incident.

The CID was entrusted with the task of investigating the blast following the case. Police had arrested 12 people suspecting their involvement in the incident. But the police found nothing from them during interrogation.

After two years of the incident, the CID had submitted a final report before the court on December 17, 2003. The 12 arrested people were released from the custody as the CID could not brought charges against any of them due to lack of evidence.

On January 27, 2005, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka asked the authorities to reinvestigate the matter following a petition for fresh probe into the case.

The CID was again given the charge to look into the incident. But, they are yet to complete the investigation and missed several deadlines for submission of the charge sheet.

“A significant progress has been made following the confessional statement by Harkatul Jihad leader Mufti Mainuddin Sheikh under section 164 before the court ,” Investigation Officer Mrinal Kanti Saha, an inspector of the CID, told daily sun on Sunday,

He said Mufti Mainuddin in his confessional statement confessed that Harkatu Jihad leaders Mufti Abdul Hannan, Ahsanullah Kazol, Arif Hasan Sumon alias Razzak,Maulana Sheikh Farid, Jahangir Badar, Maulana Sabbir Ahmed, Mufti Shafikur Rahman, Mufti Abdul Hai, Nurul Islam and two unidentified men carried out the bomb attack.

Five Harkatul Jihad men, including Arif Hasan Sumon now languishing in jail in connection with the August 21, 2004 grenade attack case, carried out the attack on the CPB rally at Paltan, he said quoting the statement.

The Harkatul Jihad men carried out the bomb attacks on CPB rally at the directives of Harkatul Jihad kingpin Mufti Abdul Hannan, he said.

Asked about the timeframe for submitting the charge-sheet, he said, “It will take two or three months more to complete the investigation. After completion of the investigation, we will submit the charge-sheet.”

The CPB has taken various programmes to mark the day.

They will hold a rally expressing solidarity with the victims’ family. Leaders and activists of the CPB will pay their tributes at the temporary memorial at Muktangan in the capital.

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