Friday April 12, 2024

There has been a lot of progress in a short time in rescuing the sailors and the ship from the pirates. Hopefully, we will be able to free them soon. However, it is difficult to say the date of rescue, he said.

The sailors of MV Abdullah are doing fine, and are in regular contact with their families through video calls, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said today (10 April).

“We hope to be able to free them soon,” he told the journalists at YNT centre in Chattogram’s Dewanji Pukur Lane this afternoon.

“We want to assure the families of the sailors that the government is trying its best. Talks are ongoing with the abductors through various channels,” the foreign minister said.

“There has been a lot of progress in a short time in rescuing the sailors and the ship from the pirates. Hopefully, we will be able to free them soon. However, it is difficult to say the date of rescue,” he added.

‘Strict action against those behind the teenage gangs’

When journalists drew the attention of the foreign minister to the activities of teenage gangs in Chattogram and the death of a person in their attack, he said, “There was an informal discussion about teenage gangs in the last cabinet meeting.

“It is very sad that these teenage gangs are being formed in different districts. The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed the law enforcers to take appropriate steps in this regard.”

He said the government is working to remove it and strict action will be taken against those behind the teenage gangs, whoever they are, whatever party they belong to.

‘Rogues supplant justice’

Replying to recent statements of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul and another leader Abdul Moyeen Khan, Hasan Mahmud, also Awami League joint general secretary, said, “It is unfortunate that BNP, which was born undemocratic, is now talking about democracy. It is like the rogues supplanting justice.”

“They (BNP) have always been trying to destroy democracy in the country and are still trying. They were behind the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) mutiny after the 2008 elections. It was done to overthrow the elected government and destroy democracy. You know what kind of terrorist and heinous acts they committed in 2013 before the 2014 elections,” Hasan Mahmud alleged.

“There was the same effort in the 2018 elections. Finally, an attempt was made to destroy democracy by boycotting the last 2024 elections,” he also alleged.

Foreign minister’s Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to the nation

Meanwhile, Hasan Mahmud conveyed his Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to the nation on the day.

“Despite the attempts of the unscrupulous circle, hoarders, BNP’s call to boycott Indian goods to increase the prices of essential commodities during Ramadan.

“The market situation was stable this time due to the various measures taken by the government and the prices of many commodities have decreased” he said.

Mentioning that Eid-ul-Fitr will be celebrated in the country on Thursday, he said “Crores of people are going to their respective destinations. Taking this opportunity, some people involved in transportation are trying to charge extra fare. The government is keeping an eye on the matter. Such extra fare is illogical and not justified in any way.

Friday April 12, 2024

Capital Karts has been fined nearly £120,000 after 15-year-old Ruwaida Adan was fatally injured when her hijab became entangled in a go-kart’s mechanical parts. The incident occurred at the company’s Barking site in East London on August 6, 2021, during an outing with a Newham youth group. Romford Magistrates’ Court imposed the fine on April 3, citing breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The penalty includes a £90,000 fine, additional costs of £29,021.18, and a £190 victim surcharge.

Barking and Dagenham Council’s investigation found that the kart Ruwaida was driving lacked a critical safety guard over its rotating axle gear and drive belt, a fault that had gone unnoticed for possibly over a month. This oversight was part of broader safety failures at the venue, including inadequate communication of safety protocols such as removing loose clothing and securing long hair.

Capital Karts admitted to the safety breaches and has undertaken a thorough review and overhaul of its safety procedures. “We are deeply shocked and saddened by Ruwaida’s death and have cooperated fully with the authorities,” a company spokesperson stated. “Following the incident, we have revised all our safety procedures to ensure such a tragedy does not occur again.”

The company also closed its Barking site in June 2022 and opened a new facility at Cabot Square in Canary Wharf under a different entity within the same group.

The court’s decision brought some relief to Ruwaida’s family. Her mother, Amina Mohamed, expressed both sorrow and relief at the accountability. “Ruwaida was a beacon of kindness, humour, and support, with a beautiful smile and her whole life ahead of her,” Mohamed said. : “In the wake of the tragic loss of our beloved Ruwaida, we are relieved to finally see Capital Karts held accountable for what happened on August 6, 2021.

Gary Jones, operational director for enforcement, regulatory, and community safety at the council, highlighted the importance of strict safety enforcement. “It’s clear that not enough was done to prevent this tragic accident, and I welcome the result of this case,” he said. “I hope this sends a strong message to similar businesses on how important it is that they implement measures to ensure that something like this never happens again.”

Friday April 12, 2024

Kenya has proposed a regional maritime treaty to defuse tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia over a deal allowing Ethiopia to set up a naval base and giving it port access in Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland, a top Kenyan official said on Thursday.

Landlocked Ethiopia agreed on Jan. 1 to lease 20 km (12 miles) of coastline in Somaliland, a part of Somalia which claims independence and has had effective autonomy since 1991, offering possible recognition of Somaliland in exchange.

That prompted a defiant response from Somalia and fueled concern the deal could further destabilize the Horn of Africa region.

The treaty Kenya is proposing in consultation with Djibouti and regional bloc IGAD would govern how landlocked states in the region can access ports on commercial terms, Korir Sing’oei, Kenya’s principal secretary for foreign affairs, told Reuters.

“IGAD can be able to formulate a treaty for sharing maritime resources,” he said, referring to the bloc which brings together countries in the region.

On Thursday Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held a meeting with his Kenyan counterpart William Ruto in the Kenyan capital as part of efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the dispute.

“We continue to engage with all the parties with a view to ensuring that at the end of the day the region is left all stable,” Sing’oei said.

If accepted, Nairobi’s solution would offer Ethiopia “stable and predictable access to maritime resources” so it can carry out its business unhindered, while also respecting Somalia’s territorial integrity, he added.

Somalia and Ethiopia are considering the proposal, he said, and their leaders have been asked to consider meeting to take the process forward.

Sing’oei said time was of the essence since Al-Shabab militants in Somalia were using the dispute to portray the government in Mogadishu as being unable to protect Somalia’s sovereignty.

Friday April 12, 2024

ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said that the resurgence of Somali pirate activity is worrying, and now more than ever, it is crucial to protect trade, safeguard routes and ensure the safety of seafarers who keep commerce moving.

On Wednesday, a new report released by a global anti-maritime crime body stated that piracy attacks on the seas off the coast of Somalia remain a threat, with two hijackings reported in the first quarter of 2024.

The latest report by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB) called on shipping vessels to remain vigilant as they transit along the Somali coast and the Gulf of Aden, as piracy still remains a threat despite attacks having declined since 2017.

The IMB said one vessel was fired upon, boarded and reported an attempted approach.

“These incidents were attributed to Somali pirates who demonstrated mounting capabilities, targeting vessels at great distances from the Somali coast,” the IMB said.

ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said that the resurgence of Somali pirate activity is worrying, and now more than ever, it is crucial to protect trade, safeguard routes and ensure the safety of seafarers who keep commerce moving.

“All measures to ensure the uninterrupted free flow of goods throughout international supply chains must be taken,” he added.

The African maritime industry, along the Indian Ocean, had previously been greatly affected by piracy, which raised the costs of shipping as insurance companies and private ship security companies increased their premiums to mitigate the risks.

The IMB advised vessels to cooperate by maintaining strict anti-piracy and robbery watches and reporting all attacks and suspicious sightings to local authorities as well as the IMB piracy reporting center.

It said the center would also liaise with local and regional authorities to render necessary assistance.

According to the IMB, the Indian Navy launched an operation in the Indian Ocean on March 15, during which 35 Somali pirates were captured and a previously hijacked vessel and its 17 crew were released.

Kalkidan Yibeltal
Friday April 12, 2024

Police in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa have said three individuals have been killed after a shoot-out with members of the armed group Fano.

One of those killed was a civilian while the other two were members of the group, according a statement released by police. Two police officers were injured.

The incident took place on Friday morning in an affluent neighbourhood near the city’s airport.

The armed group Fano largely operates in the country’s restive Amhara region where it has been battling the army since August last year.

This is the first violent incident reported in Addis Ababa in connection with the Fano rebellion.