Dhaka University has conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, as a token of respect, in a special convocation today.  Prime minister Sheikh Hasina joined the convocation as the convocation speaker and Education Minister Dr. Dipu Moni joined as the special guest. DU VC Prof Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman presided over the special convocation program. Reports UNB The DU VC started the program at 11 am. The chancellor of the university, President Mohammed Shahabuddin, could not attend the program due to health issues. The convocation started with the national anthem; recitation from the holy religious scriptures followed. A cultural programme and a documentary reflected Bangabandhu’s contributions in leading the nation to freedom and rebuilding a war-torn country. At 11:57 am, DU Vice Chancellor Prof Akhtaruzzaman adorned Bangabandhu with the Doctor of Laws degree. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received the degree and memorandum, and signed the acknowledgement paper on behalf of Bangabandhu.  

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva tightened restrictions on firearms access by decree Friday. The executive order reverses his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro's regulations that expanded gun ownership in the country. Lula's decree reduces the number of guns civilians can possess for personal safety from four to two, and reduces the allowed ammunition for each gun from 200 rounds to 50. It asks civilians for documentation to prove their need for guns and bars them from owning 9 mm pistols, restricting them to members of the police and military. 'We will continue to fight for fewer weapons,' says Lula "It's one thing for the regular citizen to have a gun at home for his protection, as a guarantee, because some people think this is safety. Let them have it," Lula said Friday. "But we cannot allow gun arsenals to be in people's hands," Lula said. "We will continue to fight for fewer weapons in our country. Only the police and the army must be well-armed," he added. The right to bear arms is not a constitutional guarantee in Brazil as it is in the United States, though Bolsonaro, a far right politician, greatly loosed restrictions during his time in office between 2019 and 2022. Tens of thousands applied for gun permits during Bolsonaro years The number of gun permits issued during Bolsonaro's presidency sharply increased to 2.9 million in a country of 214 million, according to Instituto Sou da Paz, a non-profit that monitors public security. The high numbers of new guns did not lead to a feared rise in violent crime, as the country has one of the world's highest homicide rates. The number of homicides during Bolsonaro's last year in office, in 2022, was at about 47,500 and roughly even with the 2019 rate, a report released by the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety (FBSP) on Thursday said. Lula's government is encouraging citizens to sell firearms not allowed under new rules before the end of the year. If people don't, their guns will be confiscated by police.

US President Joe Biden has called for a ban on assault weapons as the US marked a year since the Uvalde massacre where 21 lives were lost. A commemoration event was later held in the city where hundreds had gathered. The US on Wednesday marked one year since the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, where 21 lives were lost.  President Joe Biden used the occasion to reiterate his call for a ban on AR-15 assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, emphasizing that too many schools and public spaces have become sites of senseless violence. "I realize this is a really tough day for all the families. Remembering is important, but it's also painful," said Biden. "We know one year later, this is still so raw for you. You'll miss birthdays and holidays, school plays, soccer games. Just that smile. A year of everyday joy, just gone forever," he said addressing a gathering with First Lady Jill Biden. He delivered the remarks in front of a display with 21 candles, one for each victim, with a white rose and satin ribbons in school colors that displayed each victim's name and age. Memories honored A larger commemoration event took place at an outdoor amphitheater near Robb Elementary School, where the devastating shooting occurred on May 24, 2022. Hundreds honored the memory of the 19 school children and two teachers who tragically lost their lives in the deadliest shooting in nearly a decade. The Texas legislature paused for a few moments of silence at 11:30 a.m. CDT, the time the shooter entered the school. Law enforcement officials had been criticized for their delayed response, as they waited for over an hour before entering the classroom where the gunman had opened fire. During this period, the children inside repeatedly called emergency services for assistance. Eventually, the police charged into the classroom and fatally shot the suspect, bringing an end to the assault. On Wednesday evening, hundreds gathered at Uvalde Memorial Park for prayers and songs to mark one year since the tragedy. The event commenced with attendees releasing butterflies into the air from white envelopes, symbolizing hope and renewal. As the sun began to set, young survivors of the shooting led the gathering in lighting candles, creating a solemn and contemplative atmosphere. The vigil was organized by Lives Robbed, a group established to provide support to the families of the Uvalde victims and advocate for enhanced firearms safety measures. Renewed call for gun control President Biden stressed the urgency of enacting common-sense gun safety laws at both the federal and state levels. He emphasized the need to keep weapons of war out of the hands of dangerous individuals, urging Congress and state legislatures to take action. The killings, along with another mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, initiated a bipartisan legislation. The law toughened background checks for the youngest gun buyers, and sought to keep firearms from domestic violence offenders and to help states put in place red flag laws that make it easier for authorities to take weapons away from people adjudged to be dangerous. In 2020, more children and teenagers in the United States lost their lives to firearms than any other cause, as reported by researchers from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, analyzing US government mortality data.

Politicians have questioned why the gunman's weapon wasn't confiscated after concerns were raised about his psychological health. The shooting at a Jehovah's Witness hall left eight people dead. A debate has erupted in Germany over the effectiveness of the country's gun control laws after this week's mass shooting at the Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall in the northern city of Hamburg. On Thursday evening, Philipp F., a 35-year-old German citizen and a former member of the congregation, went on a shooting spree and killed eight people, including himself. The police said the motive for the crime remains unknown. Authorities had received an anonymous tipoff that the perpetrator might have psychological issues but the police gave him the all-clear during a surprise visit to his property. What are politicians saying? On Saturday, several German politicians demanded urgent reviews of restrictions on weapons ownership, including Marcel Emmerich, the interior affairs expert of the Greens Party in parliament. "This terrible act has shown that legal gun owners can use their guns to do bad things in this society," Emmerich told public broadcaster NDR Info. "Fewer guns in private hands ensure more public safety." At present, Germany requires only those under 25 to undergo medical or psychological assessments before being granted a gun license, which another Greens Party lawmaker, Irene Mihalic, told the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland (RND) was "more than questionable." "As firearms are dangerous to life in the wrong hands, all applicants should be required to provide such reports, regardless of age. Appropriate aptitude tests should also actually have to be repeated at regular intervals," she added. Sebastian Hartmann, the interior spokesperson for the Social Democrats (SPD) in parliament, told the RND that any reform of gun-control legislation must strengthen the authority to confiscate weapons as well as improve the exchange of data about owners. Other politicians were keen to avoid a knee-jerk reaction, saying that current legislation is already strong enough. "Mentally ill persons are not allowed to possess firearms. It is good and right that the weapons law already unambiguously regulates this today," Konstantin Kuhle, deputy chair of the business-friendly FDP parliamentary group, told the German news agency DPA. Therefore, "hasty demands for legislative consequences" are "not necessary," he added. In a separate interview with the Funke media group, Kuhle questioned why police refrained from revoking the weapons permit from the Hamburg shooter. Jochen Kopelke, chairman of the GdP police union, said that the "perceived increasing number of [shooting] incidents" in Germany made it imperative to tighten laws speedily rather than conduct a systematic review that could take too long. "Medical establishments must prioritize and quickly process documents related to weapons controls. Nowhere should there be delays due to staff shortages or long data protection processes," Kopelke added. Draft law devised after Halle and Hanau shootings Interior Minister Nancy Faeser had already presented a draft of new gun control legislation in January, prompted by recent deadly shooting incidents in Germany. The perpetrator of the 2020 Hanau shooting was a schizophrenic far-right extremist who was found to have legally owned several pistols. Eleven people were killed and five others were wounded in the rampage at a shisha bar, another bar and a kiosk. The gunman behind the Halle shooting in October 2019 built his own firearms, some with plastic parts from a 3D printer. Two people were killed and two others injured near a synagogue. The proposed reforms include a ban for private citizens on semi-automatic weapons, similar to military weapons or the AR-15 and its replicas. The term "semi-automatic" refers to the loading process in which a bullet is fired when the trigger is pulled and the weapon is then automatically reloaded. Such weapons are regularly used in mass shootings in the United States, while in Germany the number is still limited. Faeser promises to fill 'gaps' in gun laws Faeser told ARD's Tagesthemen (Daily Topics) program on Friday night that she wanted to revisit the proposals for possible "gaps." In the future, when an application is made for a weapon possession card, it should be checked "whether someone is psychologically suitable," she said, adding that better coordination between authorities was necessary. The proposed reforms would also abolish the age limit for medical or psychological tests, meaning all applicants for gun licenses would be required to undergo them at their own expense. However, the murder weapon used in Hamburg, a semi-automatic pistol, would not fall under the ban. The alleged perpetrator was registered as a sports shooter and legally owned the weapon.

Law Minister Anisul Huq has said that there are effective laws to prevent Jefajat-e-Islam. He said this to the newsmen after taking the corona vaccine shot at Armed Forces Medical College at Kurmitola in the capital on Saturday afternoon. The law minister said, the government will take strict action if they (Hefajate Islam) try to create any harm to people’s properties or lives. He said, I want to make it clear that if anybody tries to create any type of anarchy in the country then this government will take stern action against them. People voted us-Sheikh Hasina to serve them. If anybody tries to create obstacle then legal action will be taken. About his reaction after taking the Covid-19 vaccine shot he said, I see no difference between first and second dose. I express my thanks to them who have vaccinated me. I felt no pain. I have taken the injection with comfort and for that I thank the authority. The law minister said, coronavirus is spreading in the world in a devastating look. Second dose can help us to get rid of infection, I think. We all have the ability to take the second dose. I would also request all to take the second dose. AH  

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the Election Commission (EC) has proposed the enactment of ‘Local Government Institutions Election Act-2020’ to give the ruling party an "absolute" power. “We know this Election Commission doesn't pay heed to our any statement as their responsibility is to implement the government agenda. They proposed formulating Local Government Institutions Election Act-2020 with an ulterior motive,” he said. The BNP leader said “The only purpose of the act is to give the ruling party absolute power, and turn the Election Commission into a more subservient institution.” Fakhrul made the remarks at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office. He said the current EC is formulating various laws to strengthen the hands of the government which ‘lacks’ public mandate. Speaking at the press conference, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said the EC has changed many basic rules in the proposed law. “A large part of the proposed law--from section 66 to 84--doesn’t match the existing laws of local government.” He also said if a single law is enacted by unifying different laws, it will be complicated and difficult to understand the relevant rules and regulations for separate local government bodies from that unified law. So, we think the Commission’s this move is inconsistent and not acceptable.” The BNP leader said it is unnecessary to enact the act amid a pandemic situation without taking the opinions of relevant stakeholders, including voters and candidates. He said the EC should now concentrate on working out effective measures to check vote rigging, ballot stuffing, ensuring election atmosphere, preventing terrorism and violence instead of making such an act for which no party has so far made any demand. "We urge the Commission to refrain from this unnecessary and unjustified initiative of enacting the proposed Local Government Institutions Election Act-2020 amid the ongoing corona crisis,” the BNP leader said. He also warned that the country’s people will not accept if the EC unilaterally enacts the act ignoring BNP’s demands and proposals.  About the by-polls to Dhaka-18 and Sirajganj-1, Fakhrul said the ruling party candidates and their supporters are indulging in serious irregularities since the media is not giving attention to the by-elections. “Elections have now turned into a farce as the Election Commission has become a subservient institution. I urge the media to cover the by-polls,” he added. Source: UNB AH

Information Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, two bills will be placed in the following session after the next session of parliament to provide protection for the mass media activists. He said these to the newsmen while participating a discussion with the leaders of Broadcast Journalists’ Association at the secretariat on Tuesday. Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, a session will begin on Wednesday. But we will not be able to place the ‘Media employees act’ and ‘Broadcast act’ in this session of parliament. But we hope that we can place the bills in the following session after the next session. He said, the information ministry has finalized the drafts of two laws to protect the mass media workers. It was sent to the law ministry for vetting. The Information Minister said, we hope that the law ministry will give vetting in a short span of time. Then we will place the bills to the national parliament. But it will not be possible to place those in the next session of parliament that will begin tomorrow. AH     

Telecasting of all the channels of Zee network are suspended. According to that telecasting of Zee tv network’s channels like Zee Bangla, Zee Bangla Cinema, Zee Cinema and Zee tv are suspended throughout the country. Distributors’ organization of Bangladesh has kept the telecast of these channels suspended. But Information Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, the government did not suspend telecasting of any channel. Only laws are applied. He said, due to not abiding by the law the advertisement market of Bangladesh in television sector has gone outside. The Information Minister said, the decision was taken after conversation that the downlinked foreign channels will be telecasted in the country without advertisement. The concerned channels can telecast clean feed (without advertisement) programs. According to the subsection 19(13) of the Cable Television Network Act 2006, showing advertisement in any foreign channel for the audience of Bangladesh is a punishable crime. But after that a vested quarter is telecasting advertisement in foreign channels by taking money illegally. In this circumstance the government has taken strict measures about applying law. On Monday the information ministry issued show cause notices to two distributor organizations named Nationwide Media Limited and Jadu Vision Limited. After getting the notice Jadu Vision suspended telecasting of all channels of Indian Zee Network. The Information Minister said, they were not directed to suspend the channel telecasting. They were served notices. On Tuesday at the secretariat when questions were asked in this regard Dr. Hasan Mahmud said, why Zee Bangla, Zee Cinema channels are not being showed in Bangladesh, that can say the distributors. We have told for showing the channels without advertisement but advertisements are being showed, laws are being violated. This type of law is available in India, UK, USA and Europe and other countries- informing that the minister said this type of law is followed in those countries. AH