Report says Xiangguo Qiu secretly worked with Wuhan Institute for Virology and posed a ‘threat to Canada’s economic security’ A leading research scientist at Canada’s highest-security laboratory provided confidential scientific information to Chinese institutions, met secretly with officials and posed “a realistic and credible threat to Canada’s economic security” according to newly released intelligence reports. The dismissal of Xiangguo Qiu and her husband, Keding Cheng, has been shrouded in mystery ever since the couple were escorted from Winnipeg’s National Microbiology Laboratory in 2019 and formally fired two years later. Intelligence assessments released late on Wednesday afternoon alleged that Qiu’s “close and clandestine relationships” with Chinese institutions which showed a “reckless judgment” could have harmed Canada’s national security. The assessments were among more than 600 documents released after a long fight with opposition legislators who had demanded information behind the sackings. CSIS, Canada’s intelligence agency, concluded that in security-screening interviews, Qiu repeatedly lied about about her relationship with research institutions linked to the Chinese government. Even when confronted with contradictory evidence, “Ms Qiu continued to make blanket denials, feign ignorance or tell outright lies.” In one instance, Qiu told investigators a 2018 trip to China was a personal vacation. But she eventually admitted the trip was paid for by Wuhan Institute for Virology and that she met the a senior member of the organization during the trip. Investigators also found evidence of application from Qiu agreeing to work for the Wuhan Virology Institute for at least two months each year, with the aim of augmenting China’s “biosecurity platform for new and potent infectious disease research”, according to the CSIS report. Qiu admitted she sent an Ebola sample to China’s national institute for food and drug control, which was attempting to develop an inhibitor to the virus. But she did so without a material transfer agreement or collaboration agreement. Qiu also allowed two employees of a Chinese institution, “whose work is not aligned with Canadian interests” access to the lab. Both Qiu and Cheng filed grievances for their dismissal but have not commented on the allegations in the documents. Their current whereabouts are unknown. In a letter to Cheng, the public health agency said there were “serious concerns” over his “close personal and professional relationship with Xiangguo Qiu” and his “awareness and lack of candour regarding your own activities and those of Xiangguo Qiu with individuals and entities of a foreign government”. Qiu was told by the health agency that “during the entire [investigative] process, you did not express remorse or regret” and at times tried to deflect blame onto the public health agency. “You cannot be relied upon not to abuse the trust accorded to you and to perform your assigned duties in a manner that will reflect positively on PHAC and not pose a security risk to the government of Canada and PHAC,” the agency said. Canada’s Liberal government has fought the release of the documents for years. The government initially released heavily redacted documents, which left opposition parties frustrated with what they felt was a lack of candour by Justin Trudeau’s government. A recent unified motion by opposition parties finally compelled the release of the investigation. The Health minister, Mark Holland, acknowledged “a lax adherence to the securities and protocols” at the lab, which is overseen by the public health agency of Canada. But Holland said “at no time” were there breaches of national secrets or information from the lab. The Conservative party, which is currently polling far ahead of the Liberals, accused the Trudeau’s government of permitting the Chinese government to infiltrate Canada’s highest-security lab. “This is a massive national security failure by Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government, which he fought tooth and nail to cover up,” said the Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre.   Source: The Guardian

On January 21st, 2024, H.E. Mr. Yao Wen, Ambassador of China to Bangladesh, called on H.E. Mr. Mohammad Ali Arafat, Honorable Member of Parliament and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting. The two sides had in-depth discussion on people-to-people exchanges, communication, and media cooperation. Mr. Zhang Jing, Political Director of the Embassy, was present at the meeting. Ambassador Yao congratulated H.E. Mr. Mohammad Ali Arafat for his assumption to office, and reiterated China’s consistent and unswerving support for Bangladesh in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, unity and stability, and in opposing external interference. Under the joint guidance by the two leaderships, the China-Bangladesh Strategic Partnership of Cooperation has kept advancing. Over the past years, personnel and cultural exchanges have become a promising growth point for bilateral relations. China stands ready to work with Bangladesh to further enhance such exchanges, promote mutual learning on media and communication, thereby strengthen the bonds between the two peoples. H.E. Mr. Mohammad Ali Arafat appreciated China for its everlasting and firm support for Bangladesh’s national development and construction. He noted that the Chinese side has made significant contribution to the promotion of the Bangladeshi people’s wellbeing. The Bangladeshi side is ready to further deepen bilateral practical cooperation with China in various fields. Personnel and cultural exchanges are fundamental for promoting people-to-people contact. He is willing to make his own contribution to the friendly cooperation between the two countries on cultural exchanges, communication and media cooperation during his tenure in the present office.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said, I have no information regarding the money launderers. If somebody has the names then deliver it to us ‍and that will make our task easier. His comments came in following remarks of the opposition lawmakers who alleged that country’s money is being laundered while participating the discussion on supplementary budget on Monday. Upholding government’s active role to prevent money laundering the finance minister said, still a number of money launderers are in jail. Their trials are going on. Earlier huge money were laundered but at the moment that kind tendency is not prevailing. Mustafa Kamal said, to stop this 15 laws will come into light within six to twelve months. I personally do not know how it happens. Even do not know who does this. This happens due to unskilled and ineffective management. We will do our work for reformation. Earlier, BNP lawmaker Rumeen Farhana and JP lawmaker Kazi Feroz Rashid spoke about money laundering taking floor in the parliament. JP parliament member Kazi Feroz Rashid said, finance minister’s leadership in finance sector is appropriate. But dominance is weak. There is no dominance in banking sector. It will happen openly in absence of dominance. Director of one bank is taking away money from another bank. Then they are laundering money by ‘hundi’. Member of Parliament Rumeen Farhana said, when Awami League comes to power, the share market of the country goes down. It lied down in 1996 and in 2009. The then finance minister said that he did not understand share market. Share market is a market of speculations. The then finance minister spoke clearly even against the party. AH      

Information Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud has been infected with coronavirus. Public Relations Officer of the information ministry confirmed the information on Friday night. He said, Information Minister has been infected with coronavirus. He was admitted at a private hospital in the capital. He is doing well at the moment and has no major physical complexity. He has sought doa from the countrymen for his recovery. AH

BNP on Saturday alleged the government has been providing wrong information about coronavirus cases and fatalities. “How many people are dying of coronavirus and what information is being given about it? Many people are dying after getting infected with the virus. As per a report, about 82,000 people have been left out in government data on corona infected patients,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. He said, "This means the government is unable to take proper decisions to contain the virus. It also has failed to ensure necessary medicine and other facilities at hospitals for treatment, and work out health safety rules to control the virus. So, people are dying on the streets, on the verandahs of hospitals or in ambulances without any treatment.” The BNP leader made the remarks while distributing relief materials among the victims of riverbank erosion in Dohar-Nawabganj arranged by the party’s Dhaka district unit. He also distributed relief materials among the flood victims of Ekuria and Sholla areas. Rizvi alleged that people infected with coronavirus in rural and remote areas are facing difficulties in receiving treatment for lack of proper arrangement in this regard. “Had there been a pro-people government, it would have forced to ensure treatment for people thinking about people’s voting power. But they (current govt) don't need votes and elections as they don't care about people," he observed. The BNP leader alleged that the government has resorted to ‘extrajudicial killings’, ‘enforced disappearances’ and other ‘repressive and suppressive’ acts to retain power and perpetuate it by ‘eliminating’ its political opponents and dissidents. “Retired Army Major Sinha was killed by a police station OC, but there’s no justice and the rule of law…a UNO was hacked in the head, leaving her in a critical condition. The incidents of murder and enforced disappearance are now all around since it is a government program,” Rizvi added. Source: UNB AH

Information Secretary of the government Kamrun Nahar has been infected with coronavirus. Her Personal Secretary Mohammad Enamul Ahsan delivered the information. Enamul said, her samples were collected on Sunday and the coronavirus positive report came on Tuesday. It is known that after detection of the virus Information Secretary is under isolation at her house. Kamrun Nahar was the earlier secretary of women and children affairs ministry, apart from the charge of Principal Information Officer she performed her responsibilities as the Director General of Mass Communication Directorate, Bangladesh Film Archive and Directorate of Film and Publishing. See The News In Bangla AH  

BNP standing committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed said, wealth information of former and current ministers and MPs of the incumbent government has to be published. We have to see how much wealth they had before being minister or MP and how much wealth they have at present. Because, people have no confidence over this government. He said these at a human chain formed in front of National Press Club in the capital demanding release of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. Moudud Ahmed said, corruption has entered into every part of this government. The government has lost the ability to counter the corruption. Because, corruption has entered into every organ of the government. The government has drowned in corruption. They should resign immediately and arrange election under non partisan neutral government. About the current cleansing drive of the government he said, the drive will not succeed, in which way they would say that it will continue. To make the drive into a success the ministers and MPs who are behind Shovon-Rabbani of Chhatra League and Shamim-Samrat of Jubo League, have to be identified. AH  

Information Minister and Publication and Publicity secretary of Bangladesh Awami League (AL) Dr Hasan Mahmud said BNP is playing game with Rohingya issue and genuine repatriation is not their main objective. “Their main objective is to muddle the water”, he said urging BNP not to do ill politics over this issue. The Minister came up with the observation at a discussion in observance of the National Mourning Day at Dampara Police lines ground in Chattogram on Friday afternoon. Reports BSS. He said the government is moving on the right direction with its all-out diplomatic endeavors on Rohingya repatriation issue and it has involved the international community for an amicable settlement. The information minister commented that Rohingya problems will not be resolved through war and battle, it must have conclusive and by diplomatic efforts. The programmed jointly organized by Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) and CMP School & College. The minister said Bangabandhu was a visionary and far sighted statesman as soon after his release from Pakistani Jail he approached Indian premier Indira Gandhi asking her to take back Indian army from Bangladesh and Mrs Gandhi was convinced by Bangabandhu’s request, took her army back to India within three months. “Those who do not want Bangladesh independence, they not only killed Bangabandhu and his family members on August 15, 1975 but also tried to erase his image from Bangladesh and World map” he said adding that the dreadful incident of August 15, 1975 was an integral part of international ploy. Dr Hasan said the killers of Bangabandhu also tried to change the national flag shortly after his assassination but all their efforts went in vain after a strong resistance from pro-liberation forces. Pointing out mammoth development activities of the present government, the minister said there is hardly any hut or a people clad in torn cloth in the country in reality. Bangladesh once used to import old clothes but now it exports new clothes to the foreign countries, everything has now become possible under the dynamic leadership of our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Appreciating the police activities, Information Minister said Bangladesh police plays a strong role for the safeguard and security of Bangladesh. The supreme sacrifice of police forces in containing terrorism, militancy, arson attack, stopping hurling of petrol bombs are one of the major reason behind the development of Bangladesh. CMP commissioner and President of the Managing committee of School and College Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman presided over the function while Additional Commissioner of CMP (Crime and Drive) Amena Begum, Deputy Police Commissioner (Sadar) Shyamol Kumar Nath delivered address of welcome. Among others, DCP (North) Bijoy Boshak, Principal Shibli Sadique, senior Assistant Commissioner Ashiqur Rahman, spoke on the occasion. The minister,later, handed over the prizes among the students who won different competitions. AH

Claiming that traders are now running their businesses more comfortably than in the past, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Tuesday urged them to provide information if anyone extorts money from them. He made the remarks while addressing a programme titled ‘Reasonable Purchase Campaign 2019’ jointly organized by Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association and Dhaka Metropolitan Shop Owners’ Association at Karwan Bazar in the city. Reports UNB. “If you go 11 years back, you would see how many types of extortion had been there. There was hardly any month when killing did not take place in Karwan Bazar area,” the Home Minister recalled. He claimed that shopkeepers and businessmen are now doing a lot of business peacefully. “But there’s no extortion now. Where is extortion? Provide us information if there’s any.” Addressing the programme, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam urged traders to sell products at the lowest possible prices and fair weight. “In other countries of the world, the prices of commodities decrease during festivals. But there’s a tendency among dishonest traders in Bangladesh to hike the prices without any reason, which is not expected.” Describing Ramadan as the month of sacrifice, the DNCC mayor called upon the businesspeople to awaken their conscience. Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) President Ghulam Rahman, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) Director General Benazir Ahmed, FBCCI President Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin) and Bangladesh Shop Owners’ Association President Helal Uddin, among others,  addressed the programme. AH

All the information regarding cyclone ‘Fani’ can be got from shipping ministry control room. Shipping ministry has opened a temporary control room. The control room phone number is: 02-9546072. The information came through an office order on Thursday signed by Senior Assistant Secretary (Admin) of shipping ministry Nahid ul Mostak. The office order said, according to the latest forecast of Bangladesh Meteorological Department very severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ is situated on south-west Bay of Bengal and adjoining area. Mongla and Payra sea ports have been advised to hoist signal number seven, Chattogram sea port has been advised to signal number six and Cox’s Bazar sea port has been advised to hoist local cautionary signal number four. On pretext of that a temporary control room has been set up in the shipping ministry to face the disaster and to maintain overall communication. The phone number of the control room is: 02-9546072. Meanwhile, leave of the officers and employees of shipping ministry and its concerned departments has been cancelled and order has been issued to remain the offices open on Friday and Saturday. The ministry has taken the decision due to cyclonic storm ‘Fani’. AH