Day: March 6, 2022

The historic March 7, a memorable day in the nation’s long arduous freedom struggle, will be observed on Monday in a befitting manner.

The day is observed to draw renewed inspiration from the timeless speech Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered before of a sea of people in Dhaka galvanising the Bangalees to take up arms for the 1971 War of Liberation.

In 2017, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) recognised the historic March 7 Speech of the Father of the Nation as a world documentary heritage.

On October 7 of 2020, the Cabinet declared March 7 as ‘Historic Day’ instead of the ‘National Historic Day’ so day is observed at nationally and internationally.

On this day in 1971, Bangabandhu, the undisputed leader of Bangalees, had delivered his epoch-making speech of independence at the then-Racecourse Maidan, now Suhrawardy Udyan, in Dhaka city.

In his 19-minute extempore speech before a million freedom-loving people, Bangabandhu had made a clarion call for a non-cooperation movement asking the nation to prepare for the war of independence to liberate the country from the exploitative Pakistan regime.

“The struggle this time is for our freedom, the struggle this time is for independence, Joy Bangla,” Bangabandhu declared from the massive rally.

In his speech, often compared to US President Abraham Lincoln’s historic Gettysburg speech, Bangabandhu said: “Since we have learnt to give blood, we’ll give more blood. Insha Allah, the people of this country must be liberated…turn every house into a fort. Face (the enemy) with whatever you have.”

His speech worked like a magic spell inspiring the entire nation to join the struggle for independence from the autocratic and repressive rule of the then Pakistani military junta.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday will join a programme on “Historic March 7, 2022” at Bangabandhu International Conference Center virtually.

Awami League and different socio-political and cultural organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes on the occasion.

Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as well as private television channels and radio stations will air special programmes while national dailies will publish supplements marking the day.

Meanwhile, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages recalling with gratitude the courageous and farsighted leadership of Bangabandhu in materialising the nation’s journey to freedom through his March 7 Speech.

In a message, the President said: “The historic address of Bangabandhu on March 7 will be an eternal source of inspiration not only for us but also for freedom-loving people around the world.”

President Hamid said, Bangabandhu’s lifetime dream was to turn the independent-sovereign Bangladesh into a happy and prosperous ‘Golden Bangla’. “We must continue our efforts to fulfil that dream of our great leader.”

He also urged all regardless of their political view to contribute to the implementation of the ‘Vision 2041’, to make Bangladesh a developed and rich country by 2041, adopted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

In her message, the prime minister said: “The worldwide recognition of the historic March 7 speech of the Father of the Nation is a rare honour and pride for the Bengali nation today.”

Hasina said, “Last year, we celebrated the golden jubilee of this great speech of March 7 and our independence. This year we are celebrating 70 years of language movement and the Mujib Barsha.”

The PM said, “Bangladesh has gained recognition in the world today as a role model of development as a result of the initiatives taken by our government.”

She also urged all to follow the great ideal of the Father of the Nation and pledge to build his dream ‘Sonar Bangladesh’.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Ukrainian authorities prepared Sunday for a second attempt to evacuate civilians from a southern city pounded by a week-long Russian attack as economic pressure on Moscow intensified and diplomats shuttled around Europe to try to end the war.

Evacuations from the port city of Mariupol were scheduled to begin at noon local time (10 a.m. GMT) during a 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. local ceasefire, Ukrainian military authorities said. A similar cease-fire planned there and in the nearby city of Volnovakha collapsed Saturday, trapping women, children and older under more shelling and aerial bombardment by Russian forces.

The revived announcement came after Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and a Russian-speaking member of his Cabinet traveled to Moscow and spoke with Ukraine’s president in hopes of brokering a broader deal to stop the fighting, now in its 11 day.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spent the weekend visiting NATO member nations in Eastern Europe that have seen 1.5 million refugees stream across their borders since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. The head of the U.N. refugee agency called the exodus “the fastest-growing refugee crisis since World War II.”

Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy reiterated a request for foreign protectors to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Saturday that Moscow would consider a third-party declaration to close Ukrainian airspace to be a hostile act, and the West so far has rebuffed Zelenskyy’s pleas, fearing a confrontation with Russia.

“The world is strong enough to close our skies,” Zelenskyy said in a video address on Sunday.

As Russian forces surrounded several Ukrainian cities and maintained a convoy outside the capital, Kyiv, Zelenskyy appeared on television Saturday night wearing what has become a habitual military green T-shirt and rallied his people to remain defiant.

“Ukrainians in all of our cities that the enemy has entered — go on the offensive!’’ Zelenskyy said. “You should take to the streets! You should fight! … It is necessary to go out and drive this evil out of our cities, from our land.”

After the cease-fire in Mariupol failed to hold, Russian forces intensified their shelling of the city and dropped massive bombs on residential areas of Chernihiv, a city north of Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said.

In Mariupol, bereft mothers mourned slain children, wounded soldiers were fitted with tourniquets and doctors worked by the light of their cellphones as bleakness and desperation pervaded.

“The city is in a very, very difficult state of siege,” Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boychenko told Ukrainian TV. “Relentless shelling of residential blocks is ongoing, airplanes have been dropping bombs on residential areas. The Russian occupants are using heavy artillery, including Grad multiple rocket launchers.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin continued to pin the blame for the war on the Ukrainian leadership, slamming their resistance to Russian forces.

“If they continue to do what they are doing, they are calling into question the future of Ukrainian statehood,” Putin said Saturday. “And if this happens, it will be entirely on their conscience.”

He also hit out at Western sanctions that have crippled Russia’s economy and sent the value of its currency tumbling. Meanwhile, more companies are suspending operations in Russia, including Mastercard and Visa.

“These sanctions that are being imposed, they are akin to declaring war,” he said during a televised meeting with flight attendants from Russian airline Aeroflot, which on Saturday suspended all international flights except to Belarus. “But thank God, we haven’t got there yet.”

The World Health Organization on Sunday condemned attacks on healthcare workers in Ukraine, saying it verified at least six such attacks that have killed six people and injured 11 others.

Attacks on healthcare workers are a violation of international humanitarian law, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Twitter.

British military officials on Sunday compared Russia’s tactics in Ukraine to those used in Chechnya and Syria, where surrounded cities were pummeled with airstrikes and artillery after Russian forces faced unexpected resistance.

The strength of Ukrainian resistance continues to surprise Russian forces, and they have responded by targeting populated areas, including the cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv and Mariupol, the U.K. Ministry of Defense said in its daily intelligence briefing.

“This is likely to represent an effort to break Ukrainian morale,” the ministry said. “Russia has used similar tactics in Chechnya in 1999 and Syria in 2016, employing both air and ground-based munitions.”

The death toll of the conflict is difficult to measure. The U.N. human rights office said at least 351 civilians have been confirmed killed, but the true number is probably much higher. Russian and Ukrainian defense officials have not provided information on their military causalities.

Ukraine’s military is vastly outmatched by Russia’s, but its professional and volunteer forces have fought back with fierce tenacity. In Kyiv, volunteers lined up Saturday to join the military.

Even in cities that have fallen, there were signs of the resistance Zelenskyy requested.

Onlookers in Chernihiv cheered as they watched a Russian military plane fall from the sky and crash, according to video released by the Ukrainian government. In Kherson, hundreds of protesters waved blue and yellow Ukrainian flags and shouted, “Go home.”

But the struggle to enforce temporary ceasefires in Mariupol and Volnovakha on Saturday showed the fragility of efforts to stop the fighting across Ukraine.

A third round of talks between Russia and Ukraine will take place Monday, according to Davyd Arakhamia, a member of the Ukrainian delegation. He gave no additional details, including where they would take place.

Previous meetings were held in Belarus. Those talks led to the ceasefire agreement that failed Saturday and was revived Sunday.

Russia has made significant advances in southern Ukraine as it seeks to block access to the Sea of Avrov. Capturing Mariupol could allow Moscow to establish a land corridor to Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014 in a move that most other countries considered illegal.

Meanwhile, the head of the Chernihiv region said Russia has dropped powerful bombs on residential areas of the city of the same name, which has a population of 290,000. Vyacheslav Chaus posted a photo online of what he said was an undetonated FAB-500, a 1,100-pound (500-kilogram) bomb.

“Usually this weapon is used against military-industrial facilities and fortified structures,” Chaus said.

The West has broadly backed Ukraine, offering aid and weapon shipments and slapping Russia with vast sanctions. But no NATO troops have been sent to Ukraine, leaving Ukrainians to fight Russian troops.

“Ukraine is bleeding, but Ukraine has not fallen,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a video released Saturday.

Zelensky sought to rally support from U.S. lawmakers on Saturday, speaking to more than 300 members of Congress via a video link. He pleaded for additional help, specifically fighter planes to help secure the skies over Ukraine, even as he insisted Russia was being defeated.

Russian troops were advancing on a third nuclear power plant, Zelenskyy said. They have already taken control of the Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine, as well as Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster.

U.S. President Joe Biden called Zelenskyy early Sunday, Kyiv time, to discuss Russia sanctions and speeding U.S. assistance to Ukraine. The White House said the conversation also covered talks between Russia and Ukraine but did not give details.

Blinken on Sunday was in Moldova, where he pledged support for the western-leaning former Soviet republic that is coping with an influx of refugees and warily watching Russia’s moves in Ukraine.

Moldovan officials are appealing for international assistance on the refugee crisis while also seeking security assurances in the event of any Russian aggression. More than 230,000 people have fled into Moldova from Ukraine since the fighting began.

The U.N. said it would increase its humanitarian operations both inside and outside Ukraine, and the Security Council scheduled a meeting for Monday on the worsening situation.

The U.N. World Food Program has warned of an impending hunger crisis in Ukraine, a major global wheat supplier, saying millions will need food aid “immediately.”

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Mastercard and Visa are suspending their operations in Russia, the companies said Saturday, in the latest blow to the country’s financial system after its invasion of Ukraine.

Mastercard said cards issued by Russian banks will no longer be supported by its network and any Mastercard issued outside the country will not work at Russian stores or ATMs.

“We don’t take this decision lightly,” Mastercard said in a statement, adding that it made the move after discussions with customers, partners and governments.

Visa said it’s working with clients and partners in Russia to cease all Visa transactions over the coming days.

“We are compelled to act following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and the unacceptable events that we have witnessed,” Visa Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Al Kelly said in a statement.

The twin suspensions were announced within 16 minutes of each other, and they followed a private video call earlier in the day between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and U.S. lawmakers. During that conversation, Zelenskyy “asked us to turn off MasterCard and Visa for Russia,” Rep. Brad Sherman, a Democrat from California, tweeted. “I agree,” he added, before Mastercard and Visa made their announcements.

Earlier in the week, Visa and Mastercard had announced more limited moves to block financial institutions from the networks that serve as arteries for the payments system. Russian people have already been hit hard by heavy sanctions and financial penalties imposed by the U.S. government and others.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, the value of the Russian currency, the ruble, has plunged by more than a third to a record low. That’s pushing up inflation for Russian households, and all the fear has helped cause long lines at ATMs.

Many other companies around the world have also made moves to increase the financial pressure on Russia and its people because of its attack on Ukraine. Some are selling their stakes in Russian companies, such as energy giant BP, while others like Harley-Davidson halted product shipments to the country.

“This war and the ongoing threat to peace and stability demand we respond in line with our values,” Visa’s Kelly said.

The moves by Mastercard and Visa could make real differences to their bottom lines. Russia accounted for 4% of all of Visa’s net revenue in its last fiscal year, including money made from domestic and cross-border activities. Ukraine accounted for about 1%, Visa said in a filing with U.S. securities regulators this week.

Mastercard said in its own filing that about 4% of its net revenues during 2021 came from business conducted within, into and out of Russia. Another roughly 2% was related to Ukraine.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

President M Abdul Hamid on Sunday asked the authorities concerned to ensure transparency in government expenditures for the sake of public interest.

The president made the call when Auditor General and Comptroller Muslim Chowudhury presented the annual audit to him at Bangabhaban in the evening.

During the meeting, the CAG briefed the president on various aspects of the report.

“Audit is very important to ensure transparency and accountability in government expenditures,”President Hamid said.

The president also directed the CAG to intensify the audit activities to settle the unresolved audit objections on time.

Later, a delegation led by the Chairman of the Bangladesh Accreditation Council Prof. Dr. Mezbah Uddin Ahmed presented the first annual report of the Council to President Hamid.

The chairman of the Accreditation Council briefed the president on various aspects of the report and its overall functions.

Hamid directed the Accreditation Council to play its role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the overall activities including education and research in the universities.

The president also suggested bringing the activities of the university under monitoring to ensure the quality of higher education.

Secretary to the President’s Office Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, and Press Secretary Joynal Abedin were present on the occasion.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem said compliance of corporations is essential for better operations of businesses and VAT collection.

He also called for widening tax net for easing burden on a limited number of tax payers.

The government has taken initiative to bring the entire VAT system under automation to prevent VAT evasion and ensure greater transparency and accountability, he said.

He was addressing the closing ceremony of a two-day workshop on VAT Compliances: Role of CMAs’ held at ICMAB Ruhul Quddus Auditorium last (Saturday) night.

FBCCI president Md Jashim Uddin said at the event the government pay attention to businesses so that they can cooperate with the tax collectors.

The workshop was organized by Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB), a concern, ministry of commerce.

Speakers in the workshop said an effective VAT audit system based on integrated audited accounts can play a vital role as a catalyst to the taxman.

A comprehensive reform of the value-added tax (VAT) regime and automation can facilitate it for both taxpayers and businesses, they said.

ICMAB president Md Mamunur Rashid, and seminar and conference committee chairman AKM Delwer Hussain, among others, spoke there.

ICMAB council member and past president Abu Sayed Md Shaykhul Islam presented a theme paper of the event.

ICMAB President said that CMA professionals can create a great impact by putting their expertise to ensure clarity in various economic aspects.

He requested to create more scope for the CMA professionals in relevant fields so that they can give their effort for the development of this country.

He emphasized adding the Cost of Goods Sold statement with company return after getting certification from Cost and Management Accountants. As a result the revenue of the NBR will be increased.

He mentioned that Bangladesh is now an emerging country to invest in South Asia. In that case, the VAT law and regulations should be business friendly.

Three technical papers were presented at the workshop. ICMAB treasurer Md Ali Haider Chowdhury and Mallik Intaqab Ahsan presented a paper on ‘VAT and VAT Accounting’ in the first technical session. Faruque Sikder presented a paper on ‘VAT and Accounts Automation’ while customs additional commissioner Kazi Muhammad Ziauddin on ‘VAT Reforms’ in the second and third technical sessions respectively.

Dr. Md. Hamid Ullah Bhuiyan, Chairman, Financial Reporting Council (FRC); Syed Musfequr Rahman, Commissioner, Customs, Excise and VAT, NBR; Dr. Md. Abdur Rouf, DG, Customs Intelligence and Investigation, National Board of Revenue chaired different sessions.

Md. Mashiur Rahaman ACMA, Joint Commissioner, NBR; Mr. Fahmid Wasik Ali FCMA, Md. Shafiqul Alam FCMA attended the technical sessions.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said the important role of cadets from Marine Fisheries Academy will help the government achieve the SDG-14 by tapping marine resources for sustainable development.

“The government has taken a number of steps to achieve the SDG-14 by using marine resources for sustainable development. I hope your role will be inevitable in achieving this goal of our government,” she said.

Hasina said this while addressing the ‘Mujib Barsho Passing-out Parade’ of the 41th Batch of Marine Fisheries Academy.

The programme was held at Marine Fisheries Academy and the Prime Minister joined it from her official residence Ganobhaban.

The Prime Minister said the cadets, being trained from the academy, are going to become fearless sailors in the deep sea. “I firmly believe this knowledge gained through the hard work, perseverance and intensive training will be helpful in your future work.”

Hasina mentioned that the cadets who passed out from the Academy today are about to leave the small circle of campus and enter the larger field of professional life. “In order to survive in this ever-changing and competitive modern world, you’ve already prepared yourself with the knowledge you’ve acquired.”

She said the key to improvement in working life is hard work, punctuality, honesty, efficiency, values and devotion to the country and the nation. “I think, you’ll brighten the image of the country by acquiring these qualities and performing the respective responsibilities in future workplaces.”

Referring to recovering vast sea areas from India and Myanmar, Hasina said the Awami League government has laid special emphasis on the “Blue Economy” and extraction of resources from the sea has opened up a new door for the socio-economic development of Bangladesh’s growing population.

“With your active participation, I hope, the extraction of marine resources will be further enhanced, which will enrich our economy alongside helping achieve the goal of the government’s blue economy,” she said.

The PM said the Bay of Bengal, a reservoir of natural resources, is constantly supplying a huge amount of fishery resources to meet the demand for protein of the people of Bangladesh. “So, you people have to always play a leading role in the extraction, preservation and marketing of fisheries from the Bay of Bengal alongside conservation of its biodiversity and prevention of environmental pollution.”

Although the task is difficult, Hasina hoped that the knowledge of the cadets will be helpful in this regard.

The PM said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had concentrated on agricultural and industrial revolution as well as the maritime sector to strengthen the economic base of post-independence war-torn Bangladesh.

She said the Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act, 1974 was enacted by Bangabandhu for Bangladesh in 1974, at a time when there was no specific standard for framing the maritime law in the world.

Hasina mentioned that the United Nations later enacted the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982 as an international maritime law.

She said the Marine Fisheries Academy, the first maritime educational institution in independent Bangladesh, was established in 1973 on the south bank of the river Karnafuli in Chittagong under the far-reaching plan and direction of the Father of the Nation.

The PM said the academy was established to generate trained manpower in the fisheries sector for the efficient extraction of fishery resources in the country’s vast seas, meeting the demand for protein of the largest population and earning foreign currency.

But she regretted that the progress of the Marine Fisheries Academy was hampered after the assassination of Father of the Nation in 1975 and there had been no progress at that time as expected.

Since the Awami League government assumed power, she said, it is transforming this institution into an international standard maritime educational institution.

During this time, Hasina said, the expansion of academic buildings, expansion of facilities in various labs, expanded library facilities, collection of modern training equipment, construction of male and female cadet hostels were done.

At the same time, facilities have also been created for the physical and mental development of the cadets alongside the setting up of a modern standard swimming pool, auditorium and gymnasium, she added.

According to the election manifesto of Awami League government, Hasina said, female cadets are being admitted to this academy for the development of women’s education and empowerment of women.

She mentioned that the recruitment of female cadets started from the 32nd batch in 2010.

Hasina said that from 2018 Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC) is being issued by the Department of Shipping in favour of the cadets of this institution who have completed pre-C training of the Department of Nautical and Marine Engineering to provide scope for getting job opportunities in the maritime sector abroad. “As a result, the cadets of this academy have got the opportunity to get employment in the sea-going merchant ships and their field of work has expanded all over the world.”

Mentioning that Marine Fisheries Academy has been affiliated to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Maritime University since 2018, she said that four-year BSc (Hons) in Nautical Studies, BSc (Hons) in Engineering and BSc (Hons) in Marine Fisheries degrees are being offered from it.

“As a result, after completing their education from this academy, the path of higher education of the cadets has become easier,” she added.

Hasina said initiatives have been taken to install modern simulators (artificial sea training system) for the academy and it will be done quickly. When it is attached to the academy, soon it will be upgraded to an international standard maritime educational institution, she added.

The Pm said 1,914 cadets, including 58 female cadets who have successfully passed out from the academy, have been working hard in various maritime sectors at home and abroad to strengthen the foundation of the country’s economy.

This year, a total of 84 female and male cadets, including 33 cadets in the nautical department, 31 cadets in the marine engineering department and 20 cadets in the marine fisheries department, are passing out in the 41st batch of the academy.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim, Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Dr Mohammad Yamin Chowdhury also spoke at the programme.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim, on behalf of the Prime Minister, distributed awards among Cadet HM Benazir Ahmed, Cadet Rupaida Rahman, Cadet Abdur Rahman Al Wadud, Cadet Mohammad Ariful Islam and Cadet Asif Alam Darpan for their outstanding performances in different subjects.

A video documentary on the Marine Fisheries Academy was also screened at the programme.

The Prime Minister also witnessed the passing out parade and took the salute.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

The High Court has fixed Monday to hear a writ petition seeking directions to control the price of loose and bottled soybean oil in the market.

A division bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and SM Moniruzzaman passed the order following the writ’s presentation at the court by petitioner’s lawyer advocate Syed Mohidul Kabir.

The petition also challenged the government’s inactivity to control the price hike of soybean oil.

The directions sought include forming a monitoring cell and proper guidelines for keeping the edible oil prices under control was sought in the petition.

Three Supreme Court lawyers, advocate Monir Hossain, advocate Syed Mohidul Kabir and advocate Mohammad Ullah were the petitioners of the writ.

Commerce secretary, Consumer Rights Protection authority and other concerned were made respondents in the writ petition.

On March 3, the three lawyers brought the court’s attention to the matter by presenting a news report on a dishonest group of traders hiking edible oil prices in Bangladesh taking the opportunity of the Russia-Ukraine war.

They said, on March 2, consumers had to buy loose soybean oil at Tk 175 per litre while the government has fixed the price at Tk 143.

On the court’s suggestion, the lawyers submitted a petition following the proper procedures in this regard.

Source: United News of Bangladesh

Police on Saturday night recovered the body of a local Jatiya Party (JP) leader from his house at Ghatiarpara village in Panchagarh sadar upazila.

The deceased was Golam Azam, 52, general secretary of Panchagarh unit JP and also a businessman.

Golam Azam’s daughter Pinky found his body lying in a pool of blood in the bedroom with severe wounds in the head.

The family members immediately informed the matter to police.

Police recovered the body and sent it to Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Police said it might be a preplanned murder.

Panchagarh Additional Superintendent of Police SM Shafiqul Islam said after seeing the wound marks it is being suspected that Azam was killed long before his body was found.

Special teams from PBI and CID have arrived.

They are examining the crime scene and questioning the family members and neighbours, he said.

Source: United News of Bangladesh