Month: July 2021

A new campaign has been launched to encourage people to condemn child marriage in Bangladesh that has thrived in the shadow of the pandemic.

The initiative — ‘Actions to Prevent Child Marriage in Bangladesh’ — is also designed to support every girl’s dream to achieve their aspirations and will help advance the objectives of Bangladesh’s 10-year National Plan of Action to End Child Marriage (2018-2030).

The campaign, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will seek to collect one million pledges from adolescents, parents, community leaders, policy makers, business leaders and civil society representatives to prevent child marriage.

This will remind people that everyone has a responsibility to protect girls from early marriage, create a safe and healthy environment for girls and boys in their communities to help them reach their full potential in life, which in turn, would benefit the society, said the US Embassy in Dhaka.

“Child marriage is a human rights violation. We all must take charge to end a complex issue like child marriage that requires efforts along many fronts,” said Xerses Sidhwa, Director of the Office of Population, Health, Nutrition, and Education of USAID.

USAID will continue to work to protect young Bangladeshis from this harmful practice, and work alongside the government of Bangladesh and other partners to eliminate child marriage, which undermines efforts to promote sustainable development, said Sidhwa.

Speaking at the launching event, Women and Children Affairs Secretary Md Sayedul Islam said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is committed to eliminate child marriage from Bangladesh by 2041.

“The government, development partners, non-government organisations, the private sector and relevant stakeholders must all work together to make it a reality.”

He thanked USAID for initiating this timely campaign to help reduce child marriage that has thrived in the shadow of the pandemic.

Amir Hossain, Director of Information, Education, Motivation unit of the Directorate General of Family Planning, officials from the US Embassy in Bangladesh, and representatives of other national and international organisations also attended the event.

Bangladesh has made notable progress in curbing child marriage, with several studies showing a decline in the same.

Proportion of girls who married before the age of 16 declined from 46 percent to 32 percent between 2007-2017, while those who married before age 18 (the legal age) fell from 66 percent to 59 percent, according to the studies.

However, Bangladesh is witnessing a sharp rise in child marriages during the Covid-19 pandemic, driven by multiple factors including reduced income, especially in lower-income families, and school closures, said the US Embassy.

USAID’s Ujjiban Social Behaviour Change Communication project, implemented by Johns Hopkins University, is leading the public awareness campaign highlighting the health risks of early pregnancy and the high returns of investing in girls’ education.

The campaign will also help generate awareness about the current law in Bangladesh that prohibits child marriage, instruct people how to use existing mechanisms to report incidents in their community, and help victims.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

England allrounder Ben Stokes announced an “indefinite break from all forms of cricket” with an immediate effect. It means that the allrounder will not be available for the home series against India starting next week.

England and Wales Cricket Board released a statement about the same on Friday. “Stokes wants to prioritize his mental wellbeing and to rest his left index finger, which has not fully healed since his return to competitive cricket earlier this month,” the statement reads. “The ECB fully supports Ben’s decision, and we will continue to help him during this period away from the game.”

Stokes broke the finger in the Indian Premier League in April and returned home for an operation. It also ruled him out of England’s test series against New Zealand in June and the following limited-overs series against Sri Lanka.

But when the England squad had to isolate because of a virus outbreak, Stokes accepted an emergency call to captain England in a one-day international series against Pakistan this month. After winning the series, he stepped back from England duty again.

But when the England squad had to isolate because of a virus outbreak, Stokes accepted an emergency call to captain England in a one-day international series against Pakistan this month. After winning the series, he stepped back from England duty again.

“Ben has shown tremendous courage to open up about his feelings and wellbeing,” ECB managing director of men’s cricket Ashley Giles said in a statement.

“Our primary focus has always been and will continue to be, the mental health and welfare of all of our people. The demands on our athletes to prepare and play elite sport are relentless in a typical environment, but the ongoing pandemic has acutely compounded this,” he added. He also said that Stokes can take as much time as he needs. Stokes will be replaced in the squad by Somerset’s Craig Overton.

The 30-year old left-handed batsman and right-handed fast bowler represented England in 101 ODIs, 71 Tests and 34 T20Is. He was England’s main weapon to win the World Cup 2019 at home. Stokes has 13 centuries and 45 half-centuries in international cricket with 256 wickets.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh showcased the potential of its capital market and trade and investment opportunities in the country to the US investors.

Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) organized a ‘Stakeholders’ Meeting’ in the US capital, Washington, DC, recently to showcase opportunities to the US investors.

The meeting was part of BSEC’s ongoing Roadshow titled ‘The Rise of Bengal Tiger: Potentials of Trade and Investment in Bangladesh’ being held in Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, said the US Embassy in Dhaka on Friday.

A high-level delegation, led by PM’s Adviser for Private Industry and Investment to the Salman Fazlur Rahman, participated in discussion and exchanged views with the stakeholders in a lively interactive session.

Finance Division Senior Secretary Abdur Rouf Talukder, Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, ERD Secretary Fatima Yasmin, BIDA Executive Chairman Sirajul Islam, BSEC Chairman Prof Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam were, among others, in the discussion panel.

Adviser Rahman highlighted Bangladesh economy’s strong resilience even during the Covid-19 pandemic while the BSEC Chairman presented the recent developments in Bangladesh’s capital market and economy.

The discussants also showcased the robust economic growth and investment potentials in Bangladesh.

They also welcomed suggestions and recommendations from the participating stakeholders regarding promoting trade and investment in Bangladesh and its facilitation to foreign investors.

The stakeholders’ meeting was attended by the prominent members of non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs), foreign investors, representatives of development partners, and the US federal entities. Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC, provided necessary assistance to BSEC and the organizers for successful organization of the meeting.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The World Bank has acknowledged Bangladesh’s remarkable economic development and growth, and reassured the global lender’s continued support for this country’s prosperity.

Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister, Salman Fazlur Rahman, met with World Bank’s Managing Director (Operations) Axel van Trotsenburg and other high-ranking officials at its global headquarters in Washington DC recently.

Salman led the Bangladeshi delegation, which included Abdur Rouf Talukder, Senior Secretary, Finance Division, Ministry of Finance, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Secretary, Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance, and Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In addition to Trotsenburg, the World Bank Group was also represented by John F. Gandolfo, IFC’s Vice President, Economics and Private Sector Development (acting) and Treasurer, and Mohammad Shafiul Alam, Bangladesh’s Alternate Executive Director to the global financial institution.

In the meeting with the World Bank’s MD, Adviser Salman highlighted Bangladesh’s unprecedented economic development under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterating that the country’s economy was on a solid footing.

In particular, he underscored Bangladesh’s economic performance and the GDP growth of 5.24% despite the pandemic-induced economic downturn. Salman recalled the continued financial assistance provided by the World Bank to Bangladesh and thanked the global lending body for its contribution.

He also highlighted the need to reduce procedural delay — through bilateral discussions and close engagement — in the disbursement of the loans sanctioned by the World Bank for Bangladesh to purchase Covid-19 vaccines on an emergency basis.

At a separate meeting, the Bangladesh delegation led by Adviser Rahman met with IFC’s South Asia Vice President and the World Bank’s acting South Asia Vice President.

Both sides agreed to accelerate cooperation in crucial areas, including Bangladesh’s reform efforts regarding ease of doing business, BIDA’s institutional capacity enhancement, and skills and human resources development.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The academic calendar for the first term of all undergraduate and postgraduate courses at Khulna University has been rescheduled.

The decision was taken at a virtual meeting, chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mamud Hossain, on Thursday.

In view of the second wave of the Covid pandemic, the university authorities have also made changes to some decisions taken on June 29.

The new decisions include taking review classes, training on integrated online-offline exams and carrying out model tests on the same from August 1 to August 26.

According to the authorities, preparatory leave for examinations will be given from August 29 to September 11. The final exams of the first term will be taken online-offline from 12 September to 21 October.

The results are to be declared between October 23 and November 8.

Deans of all schools, acting registrar (Acting), heads of all disciplines, the director of the Institute of Education and Research, and the director of Student Affairs were present at the meeting.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Indian authorities on Thursday night sent back as many as 10 Bangladeshi nationals, who had illegally entered the neighbouring country because of economic opportunity.

The seven men and three women were handed over to the Benapole immigration police by India’s Petrapole immigration authorities at the Benapole land border.

The 10 people have been identified as Roksana, Mahmuda, Golap Mia, Sakib Hossain, Russel Mia, Ayesha, Nayeem, Khokon, Sagor and Saju, belonging to Khulna, Narail and Narsingdi districts.

Two NGOs — Rights Jashore and Justice and Care — later took the 10 men and women to their shelters.

“The victims went to India’s Bengaluru city illegally with the help of brokers in the hope of finding well-paid jobs. Later they all were arrested by police and sentenced to three years in jail by Indian courts,” said Towfiq, field officer of Rights Jashore.

“An Indian NGO later kept them in their shelters after bailing them out. The victims were issued travel permits, following exchange of letters at both the country’s Home Ministry level,” he said.

Officer-in-Charge of Benapole immigration check post, Ahsan Habib said that the 10 Bangladeshis would need to spend 14 days in institutional quarantine. “After the mandatory isolation period, they will be handed over to their families.”

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) on Thursday night held businessperson Helena Jahangir from her Gulshan residence, four days after she was removed from her post of a ruling party sub-committee.

The elite force members “seized foreign liquor, illegal walkie-talkie sets, casino equipment and deer skins” during a four-hour raid on her home that started at 8pm, Rab Executive Magistrate Palash Kumar Basu said.

“Following the raid, Rab detained Helena and took her out of the residence at 12:15am. Helena will be taken to the Rab Headquarters where she will be quizzed,” Palash added.

Helena, a director of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries, and chairperson of Joyjatra TV, recently lost membership of the Awami League’s sub-committee on women’s affairs for “breaching party disciplines.”

The sub-committee removed Helena for her “involvement with the Bangladesh Awami Chakrijibi League,” a group which has no official connection with the ruling party.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The body of a fisherman, who was swept away by the tide on Wednesday, has been found floating in the sea at Banshkhali in Chittagong on Friday morning.

The deceased was identified as Md Nezam Uddin, 21, son of Taher Miah of Sardar Para area of Chhonua Union in Banshkhali.

Locals said Nezam was swept away by low-tide while trying to save his boat from getting capsized on Wednesday noon.

Later, members of the Banshkhali Fire Service team tried to find the missing Nezam Uddin.

Banshkhali Fire Service team leader Abdur Rahman said, “Locals rescued a body after seeing it floating around 11 am today. Later we identified it as Nezam’s body.”

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The ongoing stringent lockdown has been recommended for extension after August 5, said the Director General of the Directorate General (DG) of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr ABM Khurshid Alam.

“We have recommended in the cabinet meeting ten days ago that the restrictions be increased, although no decision has been made yet,” he told reporters on Friday.

The DG also said that there is no doubt that the situation will be very bad if the coronavirus infection rate keeps rising and that is why the recommendation was made.

The ministry was planning to vaccinate one crore people or more every month as some of the vaccines have arrived and more were to arrive in phases.

“However, everything depends on the situation at the time,” Dr Alam said.

About union level vaccination programme he said that there might be some disruption if large-scale vaccinations were given. For this the Minister will hold a meeting with the local representatives including the Mayor and the Upazila Chairman.

“We can’t control such big programmes with law enforcers alone. Everyone’s cooperation is needed,” he said.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Enraged by his divorce, a man allegedly kidnapped and raped the underaged younger sister of his ex-wife in Kushtia. It is also alleged he captured the act on camera and posted the explicit video online.

The victim was rescued and the perpetrator arrested from Kumarkhali Upazila of the district on Friday by law enforcement agencies.

The man was named as Abdur Razzak, 38.

According to family and police sources, Razzak and his wife, the elder sister of the victim, were divorced on June 23.

Presumably unhappy with the annulment of his marriage, Razzak kidnapped his ex-sister in law, an 8th-grader, and went into hiding on July 8 for what he claimed to be revenge.

The mother of the victim filed a General Diary with Kumarkhali Police Station on July 12 over the matter.

A team of the police station rescued the girl from a residential house at Panti Union of Kumarkhali on Friday.

According to sources, Abdur raped the child several times and even uploaded an explicit video of her on his Facebook account during the period he kept her hostage.

Officer-In charge of Kumarkhali Police Station confirmed the news to UNB.

He also added that a case is being filed over the matter.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Speakers at a webinar have said it is critical to promote equal learning opportunities and gender-responsive environment for skill development and volunteer engagement to foster incredible youth contributions.

The webinar titled ‘Volunteerism and Reimagining Youth Skills Post-Pandemic’ was jointly arranged by UN Volunteers in Bangladesh and UN Women Bangladesh on Thursday.

Women and Children Affairs Secretary Md Sayedul Islam spoke as the chief guest at the event.

“We’ll look into ways to work on incorporating more young people, volunteers, especially female volunteers, to include them in different initiatives and design programmes around their overall development, promotion and recognition,” he said.

Subhra Bhattacharjee, Strategic Planner and Head, United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO) in Bangladesh, said the positive effects of volunteerism can be very empowering for youth and young women in particular, providing access to social networks, new skills, and an influential role in the community for individuals who may otherwise have few formal routes to education or influence.

“If we can properly utilize the huge young population and turn them into a skilled generation and inspire them to volunteer then we shall have the asset to leading towards a smoother path to achieving SDGs,” said Md Azharul Islam Khan, Director General of Department of Youth Development.

Md Aktar Uddin, Country Coordinator, UNV Bangladesh, pointed out that volunteering engagement can be an alternative tool for promoting skill development and civic responsibility among the youth.

Experts seek gender-responsive environment for volunteer engagement

He also stressed mainstreaming volunteerism and ensuring a gender responsive environment protecting the volunteers and youth.

Giulia Pelosi, Programme Specialist, Ending Violence against Women, UN Women said youths in Bangladesh have been hit the hardest by the pandemic, with a disproportionate impact on young and adolescent women and girls.

“Despite this, women have demonstrated strong and inspiring leadership skills and volunteered in different arenas — from being front-liners to digital warriors in combating Covid-19.”

Ligaya Laoeng Dumaoang, TVET Specialist, ILO Bangladesh said, “Young people face a growing mismatch in skills, those they’ve acquired and those’re now in demand. Keeping this in mind, we need to foster ways to reimagine youth skills and new possibilities.”

“The leadership and contribution of female volunteers created a great impact as front liners. While recognizing that, we also need to stress their skill development so that they can contribute more and work towards their protection,” said Alisha Pradhan, Founding CEO, HerNet TV.

The UNV Bangladesh and UN Women Bangladesh made the key presentation.

Volunteers from various organizations shared their inspiring contributions at the session.

Aired live from the UNV Bangladesh and UN Women Bangladesh’s FB pages, some 125 participants took part in the webinar from across the country.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Police arrested 381 people in Dhaka for violating lockdown restrictions on the 8th day of the 14-day (unless extended) countrywide lockdown on Friday.

It was the first time in a week that the number dropped below 500, as movement of vehicles and people was comparatively less, presumably for being a holiday.

The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam.

Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 6,7940 as fines from 108 people.

During this time, the Traffic Division collected Tk 817000 as penalties from 321 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Although people movements were less inside Dhaka, the scenario was different at the entry points as the UNB correspondents observed huge groups of people entering the capital, maintaining the trend of the last few days.

As the law enforcement agencies are arresting and collecting fimes from people for violating restrictions on one hand, the government has decided to reopen all export-oriented factories from 1 August on the other.

The cabinet division has issued a notification in this regard stating that all export-oriented factories will remain out of the purview of the ongoing lockdown restrictions which is expected to continue till Aug 5, unless extended further.

The decision came today after the business leaders on Thursday requested the government to reopen garment factories and other industries amid the lockdown.

The government reinforced 14-day strict lockdown restrictions following Eid vacation till August 5.

Unlike the all out restrictions before Eid, mills and factories were instructed to remain closed during this time.

There are speculations that the government might extend the lockdown as the Covid infections are at its peak shattering records of highest single day transmissions and deaths every other day.

Source: United News of Bangladesh