Introduction of 'Payment and Settlement Bill-2024' in Jatiya Sangsad



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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In order to protect the interests of the customers, the 'Payment and Settlement System Bill-2024' has been introduced in the JS to bring the non-bank payment service providers as well as the banks under the legal framework.

On Monday (06 May), the bill was sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance for further scrutiny after it was introduced by Minister of State for Finance Waseka Ayesha Khan. The committee has been asked to submit a report in this regard to JS within 15 days.

The Statement of Purpose and Reasons of the Bill states that there is no existing law in the country regarding Payment and Settlement system. Currently, all payment and settlement systems are being operated under Bangladesh Bank Order-1972, Bangladesh Payment and Settlement Systems Regulations-2014 and Regulations on Electronic Fund Transfer-2014. As there is no separate law in this regard, the banks are conducting activities under contract with Bangladesh Bank to comply with the regulations described for participating in various electronic transaction systems. Besides, there is currently no law regulating the payment activities of non-bank financial institutions. Therefore, in order to protect the interests of customers, an initiative has been taken to enact 'Payment and Settlement System Act-2024' under the legal framework of banks as well as non-bank payment service providers.

The bill states that the offenses committed under this Act are cognizable, non-bailable and non-committable. It has been said that no bank-company can participate in any payment system, manage payment system or provide payment service in electronic currency without the approval of Bangladesh Bank. Similarly, no individual organization or company can operate any payment system or provide payment services without obtaining a license from Bangladesh Bank. Violation of this provision shall be punishable with imprisonment for a maximum of 5 years or with a fine of up to Tk. 50 lakh or with both.

The bill also states that no person, organization or company can issue, buy and sell advance payment documents without the approval of Bangladesh Bank. Without the approval of Bangladesh Bank, no online or offline platform can operate any kind of investment, loan, money storage or financial transactions from the public. Violation of these provisions will be punishable with a maximum imprisonment of 5 years or a maximum fine of Tk. 50 lakh or both. 

   

RAB to investigate death of woman in Kishoreganj: Spokesperson



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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After the arrest of a woman in a case in Bhairab of Kishoreganj, an investigation will be conducted into the death in RAB custody, said Commander Arafat Islam, Director of Law and Media Wing of RAB.

He said RAB will go through legal process. Besides, the actual cause of death will be known through medical examination.

Commander Arafat said this in response to a question from journalists at a press conference held at RAB's media center in the capital's Karwan Bazar on Saturday (May 18) evening.

When asked about the complaint of detention of the woman who died in RAB custody from the police station, he said that a case was filed under the Women and Child Repression Prevention Act in Mymensingh on May 13. As a result, two accused in the case were arrested. After arrest, she was taken to a camp to be brought under the law. If a person feels ill there, they are taken to the local health complex. There the doctor declared her dead.

It is known that about a year and a half ago, Azizul Islam's son Taijul Islam got married to Hasim Uddin's daughter Rekha of Bheramari village in Bhairab. After the marriage, there was a family dispute between them. Rekha died on April 26. It is alleged that he died due to torture by his in-laws. On May 2, Rekha's mother filed a case against Azizul Islam along with her son and wife in Mymensingh's Women and Child Repression Prevention Special Tribunal. After hearing the case, the judge directed Sub- Inspector Nazmul Islam of Nandail Police Station to register the case and investigate. Then the case was registered in Nandaile police station on May 13.

Bhairab RAB camp members went to Nandaile police station around 9 pm on Thursday and summoned Suraiya Khatun, Azizul Islam and Taijul Islam through the police. After that Azizul Islam was released and the other two were arrested and brought to Bhairav camp late at night. RAB members took Suraiya dead to Bhairab Upazila Health Complex on Friday morning.

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Female under trial prisoner died in Kashimpur Central Jail



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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A female inmate of Kashimpur Women's Central Jail in Gazipur died while undergoing treatment. The deceased is Amina Begum (40), daughter of Rumel Hossain of Matukpur village of Domar police station in Nilphamari. Her Jail No. 394/24.

She died on Saturday (May 18) around 2.30 pm while undergoing treatment at the hospital.

According to prison sources, Amina Begum, a prisoner in the women's prison, suddenly had chest pain. Later she was immediately sent to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital in Gazipur from the jail. When she was taken to the hospital, the doctor on duty declared her dead around 2.30 pm after the examination.

Jail Superintendent Shahjahan Mia of Kashimpur Women's Central Jail said that Amina was sent to the hospital when she developed chest pain. After being taken to the hospital, doctors declared her dead. Her family has been informed. The body will be handed over to the family as per jail rules

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7 people died in three districts due to lightning



News Desk, Barta24.com
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Seven people died due to lightning in three districts. Four people died in Narsingdi, two in Tangail and one in Gazipur due to rain and lightning from morning to noon on Saturday (May 18). The news were sent by the district correspondents of Barta24.Com...

Narsingdi

Four people, including a mother and son, died in a separate incident of lightning in Narsingdi.

This incident took place in the Char area of Alokbali Uttarpara and Hajipur suburb of Sadar Upazila around 10 am on Saturday (April 18).

The deceased are Sharifa Begum (50), wife of Kamal Mia of Alokbali Uttarpara, her son Iqbal Hossain (12) and Qayyum Mia (22), son of Karam Ali. A person named Kamal Mia was seriously injured in this incident. All of them are residents of Alokbali Uttarpara.

Besides, a person named Moslehuddin (50) died in Chakpara of Hajipur Union of Sadar Upazila.

Gazipur

A housewife named Fatema Akhter (45) died due to lightning while she was drying paddy in Gazipur's Sreepur.

The incident took place on Saturday (May 18) around 11 am in the Galdapara area of Kawraid Union of the upazila. The deceased housewife is the wife of Md. Noor Hossain, a resident of that area.

Tangail

Two brothers were killed by lightning while cutting paddy in Tangail's Kalihati.

The incident took place on Saturday (18 May) at around 9 am in Nowabari village of Bir Bashayan Union of the upazila.

The deceased are Afzal Hossain and Amir Hossain. They are residents of Chakradharpur village of Pirganj upazila of Dinajpur district. The deceased was his cousin.

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No registered Hajj pilgrim will miss Hajj



Mufti Anayetullah, Assistant Editor, Barta24.com
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Director of Bangladesh Hajj Office Muhammad Kamruzzaman is hopeful that no registered pilgrim will be deprived of Hajj.

Hajj pilgrims without visas are in a state of uncertainty. However, Director of Bangladesh Hajj Office Muhammad Kamruzzaman told Barta24.com, "I am hopeful that everyone registered in the current Hajj season will get a visa." A few agencies are having complications with Hajj pilgrims, half of which have already been resolved. The rest of the work is in the process of being solved.

The Holy Hajj can be performed on June 16 subject to sighting of the moon in the month of Zilhaj. The Hajj flight which started from Bangladesh on May 9 will end on June 10. During this period, 85 thousand 117 people will go to Saudi Arabia for Hajj with guides under government and private management. So far 28 thousand 4 pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia. 82 thousand 100 visas have been issued. Still 3 thousand 336 people registered privately have not got their visas.

It is reported that Worldlink Tours and Travels (license 570, number of passengers 286), Ansari Overseas (license 601, number of passengers 260), Al Risan Travel Agency (license 672, number of passengers 444), Miqat Tour and Travels (License 1025, number of passengers 375), North Bengal Hajj Travels and Tours (License 1086, number of passengers 260), Holy Darun Najat Haj Overseas (license 1462, number of passengers 250) was mourned by the Ministry of Religious Affairs. 1 thousand 875 people are expected to go for Hajj this year through these agencies.

And Al Risan Travels Agency's registered Hajj pilgrims have not been issued a visa on Thursday (May 16), Ministry of Religious Affairs has written to the Home Ministry to bar the agency's managing director Md. Abdus Salam Mia going outside the country and legal action will be taken against him.

M Shahadat Hossain Taslim, president of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB), an organization of Hajj agency owners, told Barta24.com, "We sat down with the owners of the accused agencies, including Al Risan Travels Agency, and discussed the problem point by point and tried to solve it." Already the visa process for Haj pilgrims of Holi Darun Najat Haj Overseas, Worldlink Tours and Travels and Miqat Tours and Travels has started. It will happen to others. He also expressed hope that no registered pilgrim would be deprived of performing Hajj.

When asked the reason for being so optimistic, the HAAb President said that the agencies have sent the amount of money needed to be sent to Saudi Arabia for Hajj management. And as many problems as there are, hopefully they can be solved.

If you want to know about this, the managing director of Al Risan Travels Agency Limited Abdus Salam Miah told Barta24.com, "I have not sent anyone for Hajj this time. Mufti Lutfar Rahman Farooqui of Akbar Hajj Group is sending 448 Hajj pilgrims using my license due to problems with his license. Mufti Lutfar Rahman spoke on the phone from Saudi in a meeting with the HAAb President about the current problem, he assured; Nowadays 20 to 30 people will get visas. And by tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, everyone's visa will be done. He has rented a house in Madinah, a house in Makkah is also about to be rented.

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