Day: March 24, 2023

A trader was killed in an accident in the Bangla bridge area here today.

The deceased was identified as Jasim Fakir, 65, a resident of Poyla union under Ghior upazila.

Local said a hydraulic trolly loaded with construction materials knocked down him, leaving him critically wounded.

He was admitted to Ghior Upazila Health Complex but he was referred to Manikganj 250 bed general hospital where the duty doctor declared him dead.

SOURCE: BANGLADESH SANGBAD SANGSTHA

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has presided over the plenary session of the UN 2023 Water Conference.

He chaired the third plenary session of the Conference on Thursday, according a message received here today.

The Foreign Minister also delivered the closing remarks at the high-level event entitled "Water for Peace: From Source to Sea" at the UN Headquarters organized jointly by Bangladesh, Global Center on Adaptation and Deltares.

In his remarks, focusing on the 'Source to Sea' approach on water cooperation, Momen stressed the need for sustainable water management for promoting global peace and stability.

The Permanent Representative of Bangladesh, Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith, delivered welcome remarks while State Minister for Water Resources Zaheed Farooque, MP delivered the opening remarks.

In the evening, Momen attended the launching event of the International Panel on Deltas and Coastal Areas (IPDC) at the invitation of the Government of Netherlands.

SOURCE: BANGLADESH SANGBAD SANGSTHA

As part of the anti-drug drives in the capital, the members of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has arrested a total of 74 people on charges of selling and consuming drugs during last 24 hours ending 6am today.

According to a release issued by the DMP, police conducted the operations against the drug sellers and consumers in different areas under various police stations of the metropolis. They also detained a total of 74 drug traffickers and recovered a huge amount of drugs from their possessions from 6am of March 23 to 6 am today.

Police filed separate cases in this regard under the Narcotics Control Act.

Besides, Kotowali Police arrested a drug trader along with cannabis and phensidyl from thana area, another DMP release said.

It said the arrestee was identified as Md Faizur Rahman alias Nipu.

During the anti-drug drive, police seized 3.200 kilograms of cannabis(ganja) and 48 bottles of pehnsidyl syrup from his possessions, the release added.

A case was filed with Kotowali Police Station under the Narcotics Control Act

SOURCE: BANGLADESH SANGBAD SANGSTHA

Bangladesh managed a hard-fought solitary goal victory over India in their third match of the SAFF U-17 Women's Championship held today (Friday) at Birshreshtha Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in the city's Kamalapur.

With the day's victory, Bangladesh stay on course of the championship with six points from three matches while India remained at their previous collection of three points, but played less than one match to Bangladesh. Table topper Russia are in a comfortable position at the moment with six points from two outings.

Bangladesh will now play their last match of the championship against Nepal scheduled to be held on March 28 at the same venue.

On the other hand, it was not all over yet for India because they have still two matches to play in the championship. India will play their third match against Bhutan on Sunday (March 26) and meet Russia in their last match on March 28.

In the first half, both the teams launched some attacks and counter attacks, but failed to convert any of those into a goal.

After the resumption, both the teams were desperately trying to break the deadlock and Bangladesh's best moment came in the 74th minute through a suicidal goal. Ahila Rajan made the hara-kiri as she wanted to foil an attempt of Bangladesh with a header from the goal-mouth melee, but the ball mistakenly went to their own net.

India however tried heart and soul to stage a fight back creating some scoring chances, but failed to convert any of those into a goal in the remaining proceeding and they had to leave the field with empty hand.

Bangladesh, ranked 140 in FIFA ranking, earlier thrashed lowly Bhutan by 8-1 goals in their tournament opening match. The host side however slipped as they suffered a 0-3 goal defeat to Russia in their second match.

India, the strongest team in the region ranked 61st in FIFA ranking also a favorite side of the tournament, earlier defeated defending champions Nepal by 4-1 goals in their tournament's opening match, rode on a brilliant hat-trick by forward Shilji Shaji.

SOURCE: BANGLADESH SANGBAD SANGSTHA

A mobile court of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has fined seven institutions Taka 11.5 lakh for producing, storing and selling adulterated food and unauthorized medicines and fake electric fans.

RAB Headquarters Executive Magistrate Md Mazharul Islam led the drive in city's Kadamtali, Demra, Keraniganj Model and South Keraniganj areas on Thursday. RAB-10 officers and BSTI representatives took part in the drive.

RAB-10 Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Enayet Kabir Shoaib confirmed it to BSS.

During the drive, Hamja Food Products was fined Taka two lakh cash, Care Laboratories Tk three lakh, Cosmo Plastic Tk 50,000, Santo Food Products Tk 50,000, Mimi Agro Food Products Taka three lakh, Janata Corporation Tk 1.5 lakh and SK Noor Food Products Tk one lakh.

SOURCE: BANGLADESH SANGBAD SANGSTHA

Bangladesh Meteorological Department today predicted light rain or thundershowers at one or two places over Sylhet division in the next 24 hours ending 9:00am tomorrow.

"Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country, having chances of light rain or thundershowers at one or two places over Sylhet division,' said a Met office bulletin issued this morning.

Day and night temperature may rise slightly over the country.

The highest temperature on Thursday was recorded 33.5 degree Celsius in Chuadanga, while today's minimum temperature was 17.2 degree Celsius in Srimangal.

The sun sets at 6.11pm today and rises at 5.58am tomorrow in the capital.

SOURCE: BANGLADESH SANGBAD SANGSTHA

Farming of onion seed has become a boon for many farmers as many of them have built their fortunes through the venture commercially in the region, including its vast Barind tract, for the last couple of years.

It has also been contributing a lot towards vibrating the agro-based economy besides bringing diversification in the farming system.

Acreage of onion seed farming enhanced to some extent side by side with some other high-valued crops as a result of its lucrative market price.

Akbar Ali, 54, a farmer of Palpur village under Godagari upazila, had harvested around 250 kilograms of seed from three bighas of land last year. He sold the seed at Taka 3,000 to 4,500 per kilogram during the last sowing season.

Ali told BSS that he earned around Taka 1.2 million (12 lakh) after selling the crop last season. The lucrative earning has inspired him to cultivate the onion seed on five bighas of land this year. Production cost is around Taka 50,000 to 60,000 per bigha of land, he added.

Himel Hossain, 43, another farmer of the same village has cultivated the cash crop on four bighas of land this season. He earned around Taka one million (10 lakh) after selling around 300 kilograms of seed last year.

Interests among the farmers towards the seed farming have been enhanced to a greater extent in the region due to soaring onion prices for the last couple of years.

Harun Ahmed (48), a resident of Naohata village under Paba upazila, said he has cultivated onion on one bigha of land to produce seeds from the onion.

Last year, the price of onion-seed was exorbitant and he hoped he would get a satisfactory price of the seed this year as well.

He said commercial farming of onion- seed is gradually increasing in the wake of its increasing demand. Many of the farmers have become self-reliant through commercial farming for the last couple of years.

Ahmed is predicting that around one to two mounds of seed would be produced in one bigha of land during the forthcoming harvesting season. In the last sowing season, per kilogram of seed was sold at Taka 700 to Taka 950.

Price of onion-seed was Taka 5,000 to 6,000 per kilogramme and the saplings of onion were sold at 4,000 to 5,000 per maund. The onion grown from the saplings might be ready to harvest within the next couple of weeks.

Most of the farmers of our area have been cultivating onion seeds for generations," said Taleb Hossain, a farmer at Harishanker village in Godagari upazila of the district.

Godagari Upazila Agriculture Officer Moriam Ahmed said the farmers have cultivated the onion-seed on around 345 hectares of land in the upazila this year, while the previous year's figure was around 250 hectares.

More than 350 farmers have become self-reliant through commercial farming of the crop during the last couple of years, which attracted many to onion seed farming.

Nazmul Haque, 48, another farmer of Tarapur village under Puthiya Upazila, is now dreaming of harvesting onion seeds of Taka 1.6 million (16 lakh) during the current season.

He has cultivated onion seeds on four bighas of land. His eye-catching farming field predicts yielding more than 400 kilograms of seed in the upcoming harvesting season.

"My grandfather used to cultivate onion seeds, and I am doing this too.

Shamsul Wadud, Additional Director of DAE, said the onion-seed production in the division is nearly double this year compared to the previous year. The field condition is so far well and there was no report of any pest attack or damage of onion-seed in the field.

He said the seed onion is getting matured in the fields and farmers are hopeful of a bumper production of onion seed this year.

SOURCE: BANGLADESH SANGBAD SANGSTHA

The nation is set to observe the Genocide Day tomorrow in remembrance of the brutality carried out by Pakistani Army on the unarmed Bangalees on the black night of March 25 in 1971 under the infamous "Operation Searchlight".

The Ministry of Liberation War Affairs has taken various programmes to observe the Genocide Day on March 25 at state level with due respect.

As part of the programmes, one-minute symbolic 'blackout' will be observed from 10.30pm to 10.31pm on March 25 throughout the country, said a press release.

However, the key point installations (KPIs) and the essential establishments will remain out of the purview of the programme.

On the occasion, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages highlighting the importance of Genocide Day.

Newspapers will also publish special supplements on genocide committed by the occupation Pakistani forces on the night of March 25, 1971.

The liberation war ministry will organize cultural programmes, including ‘Geeti Natya’ (musical drama) based on genocide and Liberation War across the country.

Besides, discussions will be held at all the educational institutions, including madrasahs, where heroic freedom fighters and noted personalities will share their memories with students.

A discussion meeting will be held at the Liberation War Museum at 9.30am.

Rare photos and documentaries on mass killing will be exhibited on the premises of all the city corporations, including Dhaka.

Special munazat will be offered at mosques after Zohr prayers and other places of worships will hold separate programmes seeking eternal peace for martyrs who were killed on March 25, 1971.

Similar programmes will be organized at district-upazila level and Bangladesh missions abroad.

The Jatiya Sangsad (JS) unanimously adopted a resolution to observe the March 25 as the "Gonohotya Dibos" (Genocide Day) on March 11, 2017.

Subsequently, the cabinet division at a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair, unanimously endorsed the decision on March 20 in 2017.

SOURCE: BANGLADESH SANGBAD SANGSTHA

Interpol has issued a red notice against Rabiul Islam Rabiul, the owner of Dubai's Arav Jewellers and a fugitive suspect in the murder of a police officer, in line with Bangladesh's request.

Arav Khan was shown as Rabiul Islam Rabiul, 35, in the wanted list on Interpol's website today.

Earlier, while talking to journalists in Chattogram, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdullah Al Mamun on March 20 said Interpol already accepted Bangladesh's request on sending a red notice against Rabiul Islam Rabiul alias Arav Khan, the accused in the police murder case.

According to police, Arav's real name is Rabiul Islam. On July 7 in 2018, police inspector Mamun Emran Khan was murdered in Dhaka.

On April 11, 2019, Detective Branch of police pressed charges against Rabiul and nine others in the murder case of Mamun Emran Khan, the then inspector of the special branch (SB) of police. Then, Rabiul Islam Rabiul went into hiding.

Now, he is a billionaire gold trader in Dubai, police added.

A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action, according to the Interpol's website.

It is based on an arrest warrant or court order issued by the judicial authorities in the requesting country, it added.

Member countries apply their own laws in deciding whether to arrest a person.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha