Day: March 3, 2022

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged the researchers to ensure that the practical use of their research knowledge is for the wellbeing of the country’s people.

“The practical application of your invented knowledge should be for the welfare of the people. So, I also want to see what would be the impact of the research you are doing now,” she said.

The prime minister this while conferring ‘Bangabandhu Science and Technology Fellowship,’ ‘NST Fellowship’ and special research donation among teachers, scientists, researchers and science students of different universities and research institutes.

The Science and Technology Ministry arranged the ceremony at Osmani Smriti Auditorium, while the PM joined the event virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.

On her behalf, Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman handed over the cheques of the fellowships and donations to them.

Sheikh Hasina said the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) is now knocking at the doors. “So, we’ll have to create skilled manpower for it (4IR). We’ve been assisting you (researchers and students) keeping it in mind. We want the people of the country to get assistance from you,” she added.

Noting that the fellowships and research donations are provided from the government’s revenue fund, she said, “You, those who are getting the fellowships will have to work hard for the national development with utmost responsibility.”

The prime minister said the world is marching forward with new inventions in technology. “We’ll have to cope with its pace (the pace of the rapidly changing world),” she added.

Senior Secretary of Science and Technology Ministry Ziaul Hasan delivered the welcome speech.

This year a total of 4,182 cheques of Bangabandhu Fellowship, NST Fellowship and special research donation have been disbursed.

Hasina said her government has been giving the utmost importance to application and expansion of locally-innovated technology.

“Since we’d given the most importance to agricultural research, our food production increased and Bangladesh attained the sufficiency in food production for the first time in 1998,” she said.

Noting that Bangladesh could not attain food-sufficiency without research, she put emphasis on the science research, particularly medical science research.

“Our research on medical science is fewer. So, I am giving importance here that we’ll have to conduct the research in a larger way here,” she said.

The PM said her government gave the utmost importance to research after assuming power in 1996 and established science and technology universities, agriculture university, medical university, marine science research institute, biotechnology institute and novotheatre (planetarium).

Back to power again in 2009, her government established a total of 23 public universities and 54 private universities, she said.

Having ‘Joy Bangla’ as the national slogan is a big achievement:

Sheikh Hasina said today ‘Joy Bangla’ got recognition as the national slogan as per the High Court’s order.

This ‘Joy Bangla’ slogan had been taken from the poem of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. It is Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Rahman who made it a slogan and he had directed the Chhatra League to popularize it.

“It has turned into our national slogan. It is a big achievement, which was obtained in the month of March.,” she said.

Talking about fellowships, the PM said a total of 596 persons were conferred Bangabandhu Science and Technology Fellowship and provided with an overall Tk 225.82 crore since 2010-11 fiscal year.

Since 2009-10 fiscal year, a total of 22,220 students and researchers were conferred with National Science and Technology (NST) Fellowship and provided with an overall 137.57 crore, she said.

Besides, Tk 178.98 crore was given as special research donations to different research institutes and organisations under 5020 projects, said the prime minister.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) members have detained two suspected members of banned militant outfit Ansar Al Islam from Betbaria area of Narail on Wednesday.

The arrestees were Md Abu Nayeem, 25, son of Moniruzzaman Khan of Mirzapur village of Narail Sadar and Shahriar Rana, 22, son of Abu Sayed Sheikh of Raghunathpur village.

A team of RAB-6 conducted a drive at Masud Miah’s house in the area and detained them.

Shahriar Rana was working as the treasurer of Khulna unit of Ansar-al-Islam, said a RAB press release.

The elite force members also seized books on extremism and laptops from their possessions.

Later, Rab members handed them over to Narail Sadar police on Wednesday night.

On Thursday, a case was filed in this regard.

Legal action will be taken in this regard, said Mahmudur Rahman, officer-in-charge (Investigation) of Narail Sadar Police Station.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Faced with threats of withdrawals and growing animosity in the Athletes Village, organizers of the Winter Paralympics on Thursday reversed course and expelled athletes from Russia and Belarus.

The about-face came less than 24 hours after the International Paralympic Committee announced it would allow Russians and Belarusians to compete when the Games open on Friday, but only as neutral athletes with colors, flags and other national symbols removed because of the invasion of Ukraine.

The Paralympics in Beijing, which follow the Winter Olympics, close on March 13.

“The war has now come to these Games and behind the scenes many governments are having an influence on our cherished event,” IPC President Andrew Parsons said Thursday after announcing the ban. “We were trying to protect the Games from war.”

Parsons said the IPC underestimated the negative reaction to letting Russians and Belarusians compete — even as neutral athletes. The Athletes Village, which Parsons hoped would be a place of harmony, he now depicted as a tinderbox.

And it was not only Ukrainians resenting the Russian and Belarusian participation, but across the board.

“We don’t have reports of any specific incidents of aggression or anything like that,” Parsons said. “But it was a very, very volatile environment in the (Athletes) Village.

“It was a very rapid escalation which we did not think was going to happen. We did not think that entire delegations, or even teams within delegations, will withdraw, will boycott, will not participate.”

The first instance came when Latvia said its curlers would refuse to play against the Russians in a scheduled group game.

IPC spokesman Craig Spence described a stark change in just over 12 hours from athletes, administrators and politicians. He said the talk was “now we’re thinking of going home. We’re not playing.”

“That threatens the viability of this event. So that’s a huge change,” Spence said. ”The atmosphere in the Village is not pleasant.”

Parsons said he expects legal action from the Russian and Belarusian Paralympic committees, which is what he said he feared on Wednesday when he ruled their athletes could compete. The likely place is the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“We do believe that the Russian Paralympic Committee and the Belarussian Paralympic Committee may take legal action,” Parsons said. “But the facts that we express here led us to understand that this was the right decision to be taking.”

The Russian Paralympic Committee called the decision to expel its athletes “baseless” and “illegal.”

“(Russian athletes) have not done anything which could be interpreted as being involved in the current political complications,” the RPC said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also decried the decision, calling it a “disgrace.”

“The situation is monstrous,” Peskov said. “Yesterday one decision was taken and today they took another.”

Parsons said he understands the disappointment of the 71 Russians and 12 Belarusians who will be sent home. He said he did not know how quickly that would happen, particularly with severe COVID-19 restrictions in place in China.

“No one is happy with the decision but certainly this is the best decision for the Paralympic Games to go ahead,” Parsons said.

The IPC now joins sports like soccer, track, basketball, hockey and others that have imposed blanket bans on Russians and Belarussians.

The International Olympic Committee on Monday pushed sports organizations to exclude Russian and Belarusian athletes from international events, but it left the final decision to individual governing bodies.

The IOC has been slow to crack down on Russia, allowing its athletes to compete in the last four Olympics following a state-sponsored doping scandal and coverup at the 2014 Sochi Games. The IOC also has not removed the membership or leadership positions from Russians in its own organization.

Parsons also addressed the Russian and Belarusian athletes directly, saying they are not at fault.

“To Para athletes from the impacted countries, we are very sorry that you are affected by the decisions your governments took last week in breaching the Olympic Truce,” Parsons said. “You are victims of your governments’ actions.”

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Left devastated by the death of a fellow sailor before their eyes, 28 surviving Bangladeshi crews of the ill-fated ship are making desperate calls for evacuation from the port of Olvia in war-torn Ukraine.

The video calls for help got louder on Thursday, a day after Md. Hadisur Rahman, third engineer of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) vessel Banglar Samriddhi, were killed in a rocket attack on Wednesday.

The stranded crew members have sent video messages through social media seeking help to their loved ones in Bangladesh from the war-torn region.

In a 27-second video, a sailor Rabiul Alam said, “I am the second engineer of Banglar Samriddhi. Our ship came under a rocket attack and we lost one of our crew members. We are now running on emergency power supply as there is no power in the ship. We are on the verge of death.”

“We have not been rescued yet. Please save us. We did not get help from anyone. Save us,” he cried.

Another crew Asiful Islam called for their immediate rescue through a video saying that the information that they were going to a safer place was incorrect.

Russia-Ukraine war: 28 crew of stranded Bangladeshi vessel call for help

Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) Executive Director Pijush Dutta told UNB on Thursday that 28 crew members, including two women, are currently on board the vessel stranded in the Ukrainian port after a rocket attack on Wednesday.

So far, no assistance has been received yet to rescue them safely. However, it is known that the other crew members on the ship are unhurt and doing well, he added.

Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday said the Russian side “bends every effort” to ensure safe departure of the Bangladeshi ship stranded in a Ukrainian port.

The Command of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, relying on the objective monitoring data, has repeatedly stated that, during the retreat, the Ukrainian nationalists open indiscriminate fire and deliberately capture hostages, use them as a “human shield”, resorting to the well-known terrorists’ tactic, said the embassy.

“The ship caught fire at 9.25pm (Bangladesh time, 5.25pm in Ukraine) as the rocket struck its bridge. The crew members were able to tame the flames immediately. But Hadisur,47, lost his life,” said Captain Md Anam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers’ Association.

Amid the worrying development in Ukraine, Banglar Samriddhi got stuck at the Port of Olvia, located in the Mykolaiv region on the left bank of the Dnipro-Bug estuary on the northern Black Sea coast.

Banglar Samriddhi had been anchored at the port before the Russian invasion began on February 24, Omar Faruque Tuhin, a crew member of the ship, told UNB over the phone on February 27.

Banglar Samriddhi, now caught in the fighting in Ukraine, reached Olvia on February 22 to load ball clay, according to the BSC.

As the conflict between Ukraine and Russia escalated, the BSC cancelled the plan and asked the master of the vessel to make his way towards international waters.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka North and Dhaka South Zone of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) organised the “Agent Banking Business Development Conference” and “Workshop on Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing” in the capital Wednesday.

Md Omar Faruk Khan, additional managing director of the bank, addressed the conference as chief guest.

JQM Habibullah, deputy managing director of IBBL, addressed it as a special guest.

Md Maksudur Rahman, senior executive vice-president, presided over the function. ASM Rezaul Karim, executive vice-president, delivered the welcome speech.

Taher Ahmed Chowdhury, chief anti-money laundering compliance officer; senior executive vice presidents Md Jamal Uddin Majumder and Md Mahboob Alam, Muhammad Saeed Ullah, head of Dhaka North Zone, Md Shamsuddoha, executive vice-president, and Mir Rahmat Ullah, head of Dhaka South Zone, also spoke.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Located in Eastern Europe, Ukraine is one of the largest countries in Europe that is bordered by Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to the west, Romania and Moldova to the southwest, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea to the south. The country is about the size of Texas. Despite its significant size, Ukraine is often overshadowed by its neighbors, Russia and Poland. However, Ukraine is a country with a rich history and culture that is worth exploring. Here are 14 interesting but less known facts about Ukraine.

Some Interesting Facts about Ukraine

1. Largest Country in Europe

Well, it is not the largest if you consider Russia, which lies both in Asia and Europe. Other than that, Ukraine is the largest, with 603,548 km². Although Ukraine is the largest country in Europe by area, it has a population of only about 43.13 million (2020) World Bank, which is smaller than Germany and France.

2. You can Speak both Russian and Ukrainian Language

Ukrainians are proficient in both Russian and Ukrainian, but if you want to be truly local, speaking Ukrainian (the official language) is necessary. Unfortunately, English is not widely spoken here. However, Russian is the second most spoken language in the country, and 29.6% of Ukraine’s population speak Russian as their native language. The Ukrainian language is a Slavic language that has many similarities with the Russian Language. Many Ukrainians also speak other languages, including Polish, Romanian and Hungarian.

3. Home to 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Ukraine boasts seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Related Monastic Buildings in Kyiv and Saint-Sophia Cathedral, the ancient city of Chersonesus, and the primeval beech forests of the Carpathians. These internationally significant destinations are a testament to the country’s rich history and natural beauty.

Unesco world heritage sites Ukraine

UNESCO world heritage sites in Ukraine

4. Deepest Metro Station in The World

Arsenalna metro station on Kyiv city’s Sviatoshynsko – Brovarska Line is currently the deepest in the world at 105 meters below ground level. Escalators descend deep below the surface in order to provide access to the train. Arsenalna station was built 105 meters below ground in order to avoid complications posed by the Dnieper River, which rises above Kyiv and surrounds the city. You will travel on an escalator for five minutes to reach a station that is 105.5 meters deep.

5. Unique National Costume

The traditional National Costume of Ukraine is called Vyshyvanka. It is characterized by its embroidery work, which typically features Ukrainian embroidery. Vyshyvanka is a traditional shirt made of linen and decorated with floral or ornamental hand-sewn embroidery. It is a popular costume worn by both men and women.

6. Home of many Ghost Towns

The Chernobyl Disaster, the deadliest nuclear disaster of all time, occurred in Ukraine on April 26, 1986. The plant suffered a catastrophic meltdown, resulting in the release of radioactive materials into the environment. The Chernobyl disaster occurred in northern Ukraine and is part of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, which was established by the USSR soon after the accident in 1986. In the exclusion zones around Chernobyl are a number of abandoned towns, most notably Pripyat, which draw interest from all over the world. Tours of the area, including the power plant, are available, though they pose a risk to the traveler.

7. Most Ukrainians Have Never Traveled Abroad

8. Third Most Visited Mcdonald’s Restaurants in The World is Located in Kyiv

McDonald’s on Vokzalna Square in Kyiv is claimed as the third most visited McDonald’s restaurant in the world. Located next to the train station makes it convenient for all. McDonald’s is the busiest place in Kyiv for good fast-food restaurants.

9. One of the Most Educated Nations in the World

Ukraine used to be ranked 4th in the world in terms of the highest-educated population, but now the ranking has fallen off. However, 99% of all Ukrainians aged 15 and over are literate. 70% of adults in this country have achieved secondary or higher education.

10. World’s Largest Sunflower Seed Producer

Ukraine ranks first among leading sunflower-seed producers, followed closely by Russia. According to an estimation, Ukraine’s sunflower farmlands are so large that they can cover the total Slovenia territory.

11. Famous ‘Tunnel of Love’ is located here

The Tunnel of Love is a stretch of the disused railway line on the Klaven in the state of North-Western Ukraine, noted for being one of the most romantic places in the world. It’s surrounded by green arches formed by trees on both sides of the single-track railway line in this attractive natural train tunnel. Couples come here specifically because of the peaceful environment.

ukraine tunnel of love

Tunnel of love in Ukraine

12. Least Expensive Travel City in Europe

Throughout entire Europe, Ukraine is the cheapest place to purchase products whose cost is the least. All the transportation modes, including buses, trains, and bicycles, are very cheap. Moreover, the food is also very good for the price.

13. The ‘Breadbasket Of Europe’

The land in Ukraine with the black soil of optimal fertility provided an excellent environment for generating hearty wheat and other food crops, leading to the country being known as the “Breadbasket of Europe.” Adding to these, Ukraine ranked top amongst the pioneer wheat producer countries in the world.

14. Ukraine Has a National Soup

The national dish of Ukraine is beet soup, commonly known as borscht. It is one of Ukraine’s greatest regional dishes. It’s traditionally made with beef, cabbage, as well as other root vegetables and is known for its unique red color.

Final Words

In conclusion, Ukraine is a fascinating country with a rich history and culture. While most people are familiar with the more well-known facts about Ukraine, there are many interesting but lesser-known facts that deserve to be explored. We hope that this article has provided you with some new information about this amazing country and has inspired you to learn more about it.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

As many as 114 Bangladeshi nationals returned home from Libya Thursday, thanks to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

A special flight of Buraq Air carrying the returnees arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 8.15am, said Zia, additional superintendent (media) of the Airport Armed Police Battalion (APBn).

Every returnee was provided food and a financial assistance of Tk 4,750 by IOM.

These Bangladeshis went to Dubai, Oman and Malaysia on ‘visit visas’ from Bangladesh last year. From there, they went to Libya by paying brokers up to Tk 11-15 lakh each.

But they were detained by Libyan law enforcers in Tripoli. And some of them even served up to nine months in jail. Later, the United Nations migration agency facilitated their return to Bangladesh.

IOM’s Voluntary Humanitarian Return Programme can be life-saving for migrants stranded or in detention, especially in conflict-ridden countries.

Since 2015, a total of 2,942 Bangladeshi migrants have returned from Libya through the programme, which is a part of the larger EU-IOM Joint Initiative for Migrant Protection and Reintegration.

The programme facilitates orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration management through the development of rights-based and development-focused policies and processes on protection and sustainable reintegration.

The necessity of the programme was magnified in 2020, when 30 migrants—including 26 Bangladeshis — were shot and killed at a smuggling warehouse in the Libyan town of Mizdah.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Thursday said 28 crew members stranded on a Bangladeshi ship in war-torn Ukraine have been shifted to a relatively safer place there.

He said the crew members have moved out from the ship, Banglar Samriddhi, which came under missile attack, he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The foreign secretary also said Bangladesh Ambassador to Poland Sultana Laila Hossain talked to the captain of the ship.

He said around 600 Bangladeshis are now in Poland and 100 of them are staying there under government arrangements.

Masud Momen also said Bangladesh Missions in neighbouring countries of Ukraine remain ready as they are exploring ways to find a convenient route for their safe exit from Ukraine.

The ship has already been abandoned considering volatile situation there.

Expressing deep condolences to the near and dear ones of deceased Hadisur Rahman, the Russian Embassy in Dhaka on Thursday said the Russian side “bends every effort” to ensure safe departure of the Bangladeshi ship from the port.

The Command of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, relying on the objective monitoring data, has repeatedly stated that, during the retreat, the Ukrainian nationalists open indiscriminate fire and deliberately capture hostages, use them as a “human shield”, resorting to the well-known terrorists’ tactic, said the Embassy.

Hadisur, 47, 3rd engineer of the BSC ship positioned in the inner anchorage of Olvia port (Ukraine), was killed as a result of a missile attack.

“The circumstances of the incident are being established,” said the embassy.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has said that Bangladesh will pursue alternative channels like currency swap to overcome any problem in trading with Russia, hit by US-led sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine.

“We don’t think, the war will be long. If so, we will then think of alternative arrangements”, he told reporters after the two consecutive meetings of cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA) and cabinet committee on public purchase (CCPP) on Thursday.

The CCPP approved a total of 12 procurement proposals including the import of 30,000 metric tons MOP fertiliser by Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) from Russia’s JSC Foreign Economic Corporation “Prodintorg” at Tk 150.21 crore.

The finance minister was asked about anti-Russia sanctions imposed by the European Union and some other Western countries and its backing payment through SWIFT system. So, whether Bangladesh will get its supply from Russia in time and what Bangladesh measures Dhaka will take if the payment system through SWIFT is obstructed under the current situation.

Replying to the question, Kamal said believed the war will stop soon.

“From that point of view, we are considering it. Side by side, we keep the safety net measures as well”.

He said the government is also considering the alternative sources.

“If we are not able to pay to Russia due to the SWIFT’s embargo, we have to take alternative measures through currency swap”.

He said many ways will come out. “But we want the war to stop for the sake of humanity.

Kamal said the good relation between Russia and Bangladesh is undeniable.

He noted that Bangladesh’s import of the fertiliser from Russia is not new.

“We have been importing this item for long. This time we’re also trying to continue the import the item. If they fail to send the item, we will definitely find out alternative sources”, he said adding,

“Until that we have continue with our current position.”

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has reiterated the government’s willingness to work closely with the US to find ways to waive sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and its officials on a priority basis and sought the US Congress’ support.

From February 23 to March 2, Dr Momen paid a visit to New York to attend official meetings at the United Nations.

During this visit, he held meetings with Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) on February 28 and with Congressman James P McGovern (D-MA), the co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, on March 1.

Due to Covid-related protocols, both meetings took place on a virtual platform.

Expressing concern about the recent US sanctions on RAB and its seven current and former senior officials, Dr Momen informed the US lawmakers that Bangladesh had always shown its readiness to deal with specific allegations against RAB members.

He mentioned that RAB has emerged as the most efficient law enforcement agency in Bangladesh over the years, and has been at the forefront of combating terrorism, violent extremism, drug and human trafficking, and other transnational crimes.

Dr Momen acknowledged the strong US humanitarian and political support to Bangladesh in dealing with the Rohingya crisis and sending Covid vaccines.

Also, he requested the US lawmakers to persuade Myanmar in all possible ways to create a safe and secure environment in Rakhine State and take back all the forcibly displaced Rohingya people, temporarily staying in Bangladesh, to their homeland in Myanmar.

The US lawmakers commended Bangladesh’s generosity in hosting this huge number of Rohingyas and said that they would continue their efforts in this regard.

Also, the foreign minister briefed the US lawmakers about the impressive socio-economic development that has taken place in Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The lawmakers highly appreciated Bangladesh’s tremendous development, said the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington.

Dr Momen underscored the importance of further expanding the trade and investment relations between Bangladesh and the US, and deepening the excellent partnership in the coming days.

He invited both lawmakers to visit Bangladesh, along with congressional delegations, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The government is giving utmost importance to ensure the safety of the stranded Bangladeshi crew members of Banglar Samriddhi in Ukraine, said State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Thursday.

“Extensive diplomatic level activities are going on to rescue them or shift them to a safer place,” he said while briefing reporters at the secretariat.

“After engineer Hadisur Rahman’s death 28 Bangladeshi crew remained stranded in the ship. His body has been preserved but bringing it back to Bangladesh will depend on the war situation in Ukraine,” the state minister added.

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said the government will support Hasidur’s family in every possible way.

He said, “I had discussions with the secretary of the ministry Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury, managing director of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation Commodore Sumon Mahmud Sabbir, officials of Bangladesh Embassy in Poland and the captain of MV Banglar Samriddhi. We have urged the crew members not to take any wrong step out of fear as their safety is our first priority.”

“Our merchant ship was not supposed to be attacked but it came under a missile attack anyway. When we will be confirmed which side launched the attack we will comment on it. Currently, we are making necessary diplomatic communications through the Ministry of ForeignAffairs,” said the state minister.

He said the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also worried after the incident and gave directives to ensure safety of the stranded crew members.

On Wednesday, Md Hadisur Rahman, 47, third engineer of Banglar Samriddhi was killed in a rocket attack on a BSC vessel stranded at Ukrainian Port of Olvia, located in the Mykolaiv region on the left bank of the Dnipro-Bug estuary on the northern Black Sea coast.

All 29 crew on-board were Bangladeshis. Banglar Samriddhi, now caught in the fighting in Ukraine, reached Olvia on February 22 to load ball clay, according to the BSC.

Source: United News of Bangladesh