Day: August 19, 2023

Bangladesh has strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack on a Muslim shrine in Shiraz city, in southern Iran.

The attack killed two and injured seven others on Aug 13, when an armed assailant attempted to break into the Shah Cheragh shrine at a main gate, opening gunfire on several staff and worshippers.

“Bangladesh considers the attacks on innocent pilgrims and religious sites as senseless and cowardice acts, and expresses its solidarity with the people of Iran against such heinous attacks,” Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

“Bangladesh firmly rejects all forms of terrorism, and stands with the international community in opposing terrorism,” said the statement

Source: Nam News Network

Kaski, Aug 19: Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, has said action would be taken against the guilty after taking the investigation related into recent gold scam to its conclusion.

The Deputy Prime Minister mentioned that it was not necessary to form a high-level probe committee for the investigation on the recent gold scam as state's capable and responsible organisations and mechanisms were carrying out investigation on it.

At a press meet organised by Press Centre Nepal at Pokhara International Airport today, the Home Minister clarified that the Central Investigation Bureau had been carrying out investigation and it would identify those involved in the scam and bring them under the ambit of law. "Earlier, many high-level probe committees were formed on different scams. The committees submitted their reports but the reports became meaningless after committees' recommendations were not implemented. So it is appropriate to give responsibility to the capable organisation we established for the investigation", underscored the Home Minister.

He observed that parliament obstruction by the main opposition party was sad at a time when the government had been launching good governance and anti-corruption campaign. Shrestha sought cooperation from all sides in this campaign launched by the government.

DPM Shrestha further viewed continuity would be given to the incumbent government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' making it more systematic.

Also the Vice-Chairperson of the CPN (Maoist Centre), Shrestha shared that the party had been holding meetings across the country for the preparation of transformation campaign set by the party.

He arrived in Pokhara this morning to attend the seventh plenary meeting of CPN (Maoist Centre) Gandaki Province.

Source: National News Agency-Nepal

Lumbini, Aug 19: Chief Whip of the CPN (UML), Mahesh Bartaula, has said the government could not become irresponsible by ignoring the issues raised in the parliament.

Accusing the government as the main cause behind the parliament obstruction, he mentioned that it was responsibility and duty of the government to resume the parliament proceedings.

At a press meet organised by Press Chautari Nepal, Rupandehi, at Butwal today, Bartaula blamed the government and ruling coalition for spreading illusion, saying the main opposition party obstructed the parliament when the people's representatives put forth their demand.

The parliament was obstructed after the government moved ahead against constitution and parliamentary norms and values, added the Chief Whip.

He stressed, "The government should be responsible to end the parliament obstruction. The UML demands the government to open all files of financial irregularities and carryout imperative investigation."

The UML has been obstructing the parliament demanding formation of a high-level probe committee in the recent gold scam, mentioned Chief Whip Bartaula.

Source: National News Agency-Nepal

Bajura, Aug 19: Air flights disrupted for two weeks have been resumed at Kolti airport of Bajura district on Friday. The flights were halted owing to direction of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) to airlines companies to not conduct flights in mountainous districts after midday.

Chief of Kolti branch office of CAAN, Bir Bahadur Budha, informed the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) that the CAAN had argued that the hilly and mountainous districts of Sudurpaschim and Karnali Provinces had adverse weather in monsoon season, thereby posing risk to air flight. With this argument, CAAN had stopped flights since July 30.

However, following wider criticism and public complaint on flight disruption, CAAN lifted the direction.

Kolti airport, located in a remote area of Bajura district, sees at least two flights in a day.

Nepal Airlines, Sit Air, Tara Air and Summit Air have been conducting flights to and from Kolti-Nepalgunj, and Kolti-Dhangadhi.

Source: National News Agency-Nepal

The Nepal Police have arrested seven persons for allegedly forging educational certificates for studying MBBS.

Nepal Police Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) arrested seven persons on charge of possessing fake academic educational certificates for MBBS study. The CIB team also made them public on Friday itself.

The arrested were Manit Chaudhary, 24, of Morang, serving at Anu Pharmacy Biratnagar, Amit Chaudhary, 34, of Bara, working at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Erina Shah, 29, of Kathmandu who has been preparing for MD Studies and Shraddha Shilpakar, 33, of Lalitpur, currently working at Ishan Child Hospital, Basundhara.

Other arrested were Punam Thapa, 28, of Kathmandu, Rambabu Yadav, 32, of Siraha, working at Bagmati Hospital and Nasim Akhtar, 28, of Saptari, currently studying in Chitwan Medical College.

CIB Spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sanjaya Singh Thapa said the persons were arrested for allegedly forging their scores in academic certificates and showing them as testimonials for work and study.

The Nepal Police detained the persons after confirming the documents they possessed as 'fake' and initiated investigation into them based on the evidences.

As informed, the Nepal Police had gathered the evidences from the National Examination Board and Examinations Control Office, Sanothimi, Bhaktapur before arrest.

Spokesperson Thapa said the investigation into the incident was underway. --

Source: National News Agency-Nepal

The state of New York in the USA will observe 'Bangladeshi Immigrant Day' on September 25 next for the seventh consecutive times as the resolution regarding observance of the day was passed recently in the New York State Senate.

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced it for recognising the contributions of the Bangladesh-Americans to New York, said a press release here today.

Bangladesh's founding president Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, for the first time in its history, gave a speech in Bengali at the General Assembly of the United Nations on September 25, 1974.

In memory of his speech on the day, under the proposal of CEO and Founder of the Muktadhara Foundation Bishawjit Saha, New York state senator Stavisky initiated the resolution which was passed unanimously.

State Secretary Alejandra Paulino recently published a copy of the proclamation to this end.

Bishawjit Saha said the achievement added another feather to the activities of Muktadhara Foundation.

Muktadhara will arrange a colorful programme on September 25 to observe the day, he added.

In line with observance of the day, Saha informed, Muktdhara New York and USA-Bangladesh Business Links, in association with the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, are going to organise the 'Bangladeshi Immigrant Day and Trade Fair-2023' to be held on September 22-23 at the New York Hilton Midtown hotel in New York with the theme 'Exploring opportunities towards Smart Economy'.

Earlier, the then New York Governor Andrew M Cuomo passed a bill in 2016 for the first time to observe the 'Bangladeshi Immigrant Day'.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Chattogram district police in a drive arrested two drug traders with 9,000 pieces of contraband Yaba tablets from Prem Bazar of Puichori union on Banskhali-Cox's bazar road early today.

The arrested drug traders were identified as Nurul Alam, 55 and Md Ayub,25.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of Banskhali thana police detained them from the aforesaid area and recovered 9,000 pieces of Yaba tablets after searching their bodies at 6 am this morning, police said.

A case was filed with Banskhali thana and the detained persons were sent to jail through the court today, the sources added.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak today urged the leaders of G-20 member countries to march forward together with mutual cooperation instead of competing with each other to maintain the equal partnership of every member of the alliance.

He made the call while speaking as Bangladesh representative at a ministerial level meeting titled 'Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)' of the G-20 forum with the slogan 'One world, one family, one future' at a hotel in Bangalore, India, said a press release here.

Noting that India is well advanced in various areas of digital public infrastructure, the ICT state minister Bangladesh is interested to use the tools used by India to develop DPI.

Like other countries in the world, Bangladesh is using DPI as a key to build a digital economy and society, he said, adding that in the last 14 years, Bangladesh has achieved significant success under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the development of digital infrastructure.

In fact, affordable and accessible internet, digital verifiable payment platforms, smart verifiable IDs and Bangladesh National Digital Architecture have been ensured, he said.

About 1.3 million people of the country are now connected to the internet due to the creating citizen awareness regarding the internet use, the ICT state minister said, adding broadband internet connection has been provided to over one lakh educational institutions and 80,000 government offices.

At the same time, 52,000 websites have been developed while the services are available from only one mobile 'govt: app', he said, adding 12 crore smart ID card holders are getting 83 types of government services digitally.

About 71 million mobile financial wallets have been created in the country after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave the decision to set up the National Payment Switch in 2010, Palak noted.

Similarly, after setting up the inter-transaction platform 'Binimoy', now initiatives have been taken to develop inter-transaction system between all types of payment gateways and accounts, he said.

India's Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw presided over the meeting while ministers of participating countries, including Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, United Arab Emirates, as well as representatives from development organizations of different countries joined the event.

The G20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 developed and developing countries and the European Union (EU).

It holds discussion on various global issues such as global economy, climate change mitigation and sustainable development.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar today said that youths of new generation are the soldiers of building 'Smart Bangladesh'.

As youths of new generation are the soldiers of 'Smart Bangladesh', he said: "Institutional education is essential to make them skilled human resources. To this end, there is no alternative to introducing institutional education suitable for their professional careers adjusting the balance between academia and industry."

The minister was addressing the inauguration programme of the National Freelancer Conference at the Bashundhara International Convention Hall here, a press release said.

He termed the Internet as the world's largest knowledge-base and said that the Internet should be used to increase knowledge and skills.

"One of the most important skills needed to become a freelancer is communication skills," he added.

He said if the new generation is given suitable environment and opportunities, it is possible for them to make good results. Acquiring digital skills is essential to meet the challenges of tomorrow, he added.

Jabbar called upon the new generation to take up the responsibility of building a future world.

He said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave independent state and sowed the seeds of establishment of Digital Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, his worthy daughter, has established the nation by implementing Digital Bangladesh.

The minister said: "Our new goal is to build a smart Bangladesh. Smart Bangladesh is the final step to build Bangabandhu's happy-prosperous Golden Bangladesh".

Smart Bangladesh cannot be established without the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he continued.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque today said the friendship and harmony between Bangladesh and India had been written with the letters of blood and the friendship will remain inseparable.

"Bangladesh-India friendship is not just a common friendship rather it is a deep-rooted bond written in blood of about 2,700 Indian soldiers mixed with the soil of Bengal during the great Liberation War", said Mozammel Haque.

The minister was addressing a discussion today at the Kabi Sufia Kamal auditorium of National Museum marking National Mourning Day and 48th martyrdom anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma addressed the programme as special guest while organization's president and war-wounded freedom fighter Md Rashidul, Awami League Advisor council member Mozaffar Hossain Paltu, lawmaker Basanti Chakma, lawmaker Aroma Dutta and organization's general secretary Narayan Saha Moni also addressed, among others.

The vested quarters have been hatching conspiracies to destroy the friendship but no one will be able to materialize their evil plan successful as the bonding is based on blood, Mozammel told the discussion, organised by Bangladesh-India (Bharat) Maitri Samity (Friendship Association).

Regarding America's recent activities ahead of the next national parliament election, the minister said, "There are 21 countries in the world where election is scheduled for this year. But why they (USA) are paying maximum attention to Bangladesh overlooking Pakistan, Afghanistan and many more countries".

They are giving us advice and lessons about democracy whereas their former president Donald Trump during last election said, "If I lose the election, I am not going to accept the result", he said, adding, "How such a nation whose president can talk to teach us democracy, human rights or give advice".

"Why didn't you talk about human rights during the election of Ziaur Rahman and the killing of Bangabandhu on August 15, 1975?... rather the killers have been sheltered in your country... So what is your position? Is it in favor of the murders?" he added.

The minister said, "Self-confessed murderers can never get political asylum in any country. After offering them political shelter, if you talk about human rights in this country, then the people of the world understand how rational it is".

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma said, "Bangabandhu has espoused the ideas of democracy, human rights and social justice. His indomitable spirit, visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to the welfare of his people continue to inspire the generations not just within the border of Bangladesh but beyond it as well".

"We are also expecting reaffirmation and cooperation between India and Bangladesh", he said, adding, "Bangabandhu established relation between India and Bangladesh."

Pranay Verma said, "United by common goals as our shared struggles and sacrifices of our people during the liberation war of 1971 have forced unbreakable bond and mutual respect that will continue to live on".

Today Bangladesh is on the verge of progress and development and India stand with the people of Bangladesh as a steadfast partner and committed to stand together against extremism, intolerance and violence, he added.

"As we honour the memory of Bangabandhu and his sacrifices, we remain committed to working together with Bangladesh in preserving and promoting the legacy and spirit of 1971 that remains the foundation of India-Bangladesh friendship that will be the best tribute that we can ever pay to Bangabandhu and his legacy," he said.

Presidium member of the organization and the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs Benjir Ahmed and former ambassador Waliur Rahman also addressed the discussion, conducted by presidium member of the organization Bir Muktijodha Md Abdul Haque.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha