A leader of ruling Awami League's Lalmohon upazila unit has been sued for smuggling government rice meant as relief in Bhola. Lalmohon upazila food officer filed a case against AL's upazila unit forest and environment secretary Jashim Uddin for keeping 22 sacks of government rice at his warehouse after changing the sacks, said Meer Khairul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Lalmohon Police Station.

Police sources said they recovered 25 empty sacks with government seal for Vulnerable Group Development (VGD) while some were filling sacks tagged as Noorjahan Rice. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Habibul Hasan Rumi said Jashim was fined Tk 20,500 for keeping government rice and blank sacks tagged with VGD seal at his warehouse. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned that the government will not tolerate the misuse of relief materials saying that those who are involved in irregularities must face action irrespective of their political affiliation.

Newly-appointed Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed took charge as the 30th IGP on April 15. He replaces Mohammad Jabed Patwary, who will take up an assignment as ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Prior to joining as IGP, Benazir was the Director General of the elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) of Bangladesh Police. Upon his arrival at the police Headquarters, he was given a guard of honour and a floral greeting.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Senior Secretary of the Public Security Division under the Ministry of Home Mustafa Kamal Uddin adorned the Rank Badge to new IGP in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganobhaban. The government on April 7 appointed Benazir Ahmed as IGP.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Rubana Huq on Tuesday said they are working to ensure that maximum workers' payments for March are cleared within April 16. She mentioned that the general holiday has been extended till April 25, saying that all of their workers will be paid as quickly as possible. "BGMEA strongly wants to assure all that workers will be paid for March. So, BGMEA requests all its workers to have faith and rest assured that March salary will be paid," she said in a statement.

The coronavirus situation has created an unprecedented crisis. Readymade garment manufacturing units are also facing an existential challenge, she mentioned. At the outbreak of COVID 19 crisis, BGMEA requested all members to clear March salary on time, and till today, 78 percent of workers have received March salary. Cancellations or postponement of orders, WIP and future placement already exceeded $3.15 billion, she said.

Any bank employee who will be infected with Covid-19 while continuing to work in the bank will get Tk 5-10 lakh as insurance coverage and in case of death, the victim's family will get five times the amount as special grant, said a Bangladesh Bank circular. The circular, issued by the Banking Regulation and Policy Department (BRPD), said bankers will be paid the amount within 15 days of getting infected and provided full medical treatment expense by the concerned bank.

It said the amount of insurance and special grant will be provided to the victim's family in accordance with the position of the bankers. BB said the amount of insurance and special grant will not be adjusted with any other dues of the bankers and other remunerations and facilities will be provided to bankers as per the existing rules and regulations of the bank.