Day: October 3, 2023

Expressing disappointment at the recent statement of the United States (US) Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas, journalist leaders today said that his comments about country's independent media are tantamount to 'unnecessary intervention'.

They said Bangladesh needs friends rather than masters and Bangladesh will not grovel to any foreign masters as it is humiliating for all.

'Justice for Journalists' organized the discussion at the Jatiya Press Club with its senior vice-president Obaidul Haque Khan in the chair.

Editor of 'The Daily Observer' as well as DBC News Television (TV) Chairman Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury attended it as the chief guest. He said that the US Ambassador's statement is tantamount to interference in Bangladesh's independent media.

Bangladesh's successful Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the worthy daughter of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is showing courage against the US visa policy, he added.

"As long as she shows this bravery, we are with her, we stand by her" he added.

He also said that the election of Bangladesh will be held in line with the country's constitution.

Unwanted intervention of any foreign state will not be tolerated, he said, adding that the US opposed the War of Liberation of Bangladesh and the Americans have been conspiring against Bangladesh since the birth of Bangladesh.

Currently, America has engaged in a deep conspiracy with anti-liberation forces in the name of visa policy and imposition of sanction, he added.

Internationally renowned journalist Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Former Secretary General of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Abdul Jalil Bhuiyan, former President of Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) Quddus Afrad, DUJ acting President Manik Lal Ghosh and DUJ Joint General Secretary Khairul Alam, among others, spoke on the occasion.

"Though the United States is a country of free media, the US journalists are also being tortured there," Bulbul said.

US Ambassador Peter Haas' statement contradicts his country's policy of freedom of press, he said, adding that Peter Haas's statement has indirectly put pressure on the media.

Pointing to the US ambassador Peter Haas, he said: "Your statement is a violation of the principle of freedom press of the United States."

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Awami League (AL) Presidium Member Abdur Rahman today said the countrymen don't want to see terrorists and corrupt persons in the state power.

He said Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the inspiration of Bangladesh and the countrymen will cast their votes in favour of AL's symbol boat in the upcoming general election.

He told a discussion on 'The role of scientists in building smart Bangladesh' and Dr. M.A. Wazed Miah International Gold Medal Award giving ceremony organised by Dr. M.A. Wazed Miah Memorial Foundation at Jatiya Press Club here.

Founder and central president of Dr. M.A. Wazed Miah Memorial Foundation A.K.M. Farhadul Kabir presided over the meeting.

Kazi Monirul Islam Monu, MP, valiant freedom fighter Advocate Md Abdus Salam, Director General of National Consumers Right Protection A.H.M. Shafiquzzaman, General Secretary of Dr. M.A. Wazed Miah Memorial Foundation Md Mashiur Rahman, Awami Swechchhasebak League organizing secretary Md Nurul Islam Raza, Dhaka City South Unit General Secretary of the organisation Anwar Hossain Anu and Advocate Khalifa Shamsun Nahar Bari, among others, spoke.

Nine people, including Dr. Mirza Naheeda Hossain Bonna, got the awards for their contribution to deferent sectors. Office Secretary of Organization Khairul Basar Razu conducted it.

Abdur Rahman said BNP-Jamaat and their followers' wants to destroy the spirit of liberation war and country's democracy, but AL leaders and activists won't let that happen.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working relentlessly to develop the country and its people and that's why the world leaders praised Sheikh Hasina, he added.

He also urged all to remain alert against BNP's any sort of conspiracy under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Officials and experts at a discussion today

stressed on planned urbanisation to build eco-friendly cities as drivers of

growth and recovery to attain resilient urban economies.

They expressed the view at the post-rally discussion arranged in observance

of the World Habitat Day-2023 with the theme of "Resilient Urban Economies:

Cities as Drivers of Growth and Recovery" at the Town Hall auditorium in the

city.

The Public Works Department (PWD) in association with the district

administration, Rangpur City Corporation (RpCC) and Brac Urban Development

Programme (UDP) organised the rally and discussion and distributed saplings

marking the day.

Deputy Director (Local Government) for Rangpur Most Zilufa Sultana

inaugurated observance of the day by leading the rally and also addressed the

discussion as the chief guest.

Sub-divisional Engineer of the PWD Md Khairul Basher, City Councilor Md

Shamsul Haque, Assistant Engineer of RpCC Md Abu Jafar and Brac Rangpur

District Coordinator KM Zahedul Islam spoke as special guests.

President of Rangpur City Development Workers' Cooperative Society Limited

Bikash Kanti Barman presided over the discussion.

The speakers said the World Habitat Day is being observed every year to

reflect the state of the world's towns and cities and emphasize the basic

rights of all citizens, including communities, to receive adequate, climate-

resilient and eco-friendly shelters.

They said the planet's future depends on national, regional and local

governments and organizations, communities, private sector and other

stakeholders who should work collectively to create sustainable, inclusive

and resilient cities and towns.

Engineer Abu Jafar said the quantity of waste produced by the individuals is

growing every day and often costs local authorities a large proportion of

their budget for removal of those making the solid waste management a burning

issue.

The chief guest stressed on facilitating policy dialogue to promote

innovative solutions for building resilient cities and urban economies to

sustainably address the challenges to make the cities better habitable and as

drivers of growth and recovery.

"The authorities concerned should adopt rational steps to ensure adoption of

the national building codes for building planned, safer and resilient cities

and save the citizens from the hazards of earthquakes, carbon dioxide

emission and poor waste management," she added.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader today reiterated that the next general elections would be held in a free and fair manner.

"There will be free and fair elections. The country's people don't care about sanction and visa policy," he told a rally here.

Dhaka District unit of the AL arranged the peace and development rally at Aminbazar.

Speaking as the chief guest, Quader said: "We are all right. We want peaceful elections....the days of intimidation are over now".

He said BNP Secretary General Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has already softened his voice. If BNP somehow assumes the state power, it will establish the reign of looting and graft again, he added.

The AL general secretary said BNP will destroy the country's democracy and power sector if it comes to power.

"They (BNP) will destroy the spirit of liberation war and will once again make Bangladesh the world champion in corruption if they come to power," he said.

Quader said BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman had given undertaking that he would not do politics.

Terming Tarique a coward, the AL general secretary asked him to come to Bangladesh if he has the courage.

AL presidium members Qamrul Islam and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, AL joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim and organising secretary Mirza Azam also spoke.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman, Dhaka District AL president Benazir Ahmed, MP, and its general secretary Paniruzzaman Tarun were, among others, present at the rally.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader today reiterated that the next general elections would be held in a free and fair manner.

"There will be free and fair elections. The country's people don't care about sanction and visa policy," he told a rally here.

Dhaka District unit of the AL arranged the peace and development rally at Aminbazar.

Speaking as the chief guest, Quader said: "We are all right. We want peaceful elections....the days of intimidation are over now".

He said BNP Secretary General Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has already softened his voice. If BNP somehow assumes the state power, it will establish the reign of looting and graft again, he added.

The AL general secretary said BNP will destroy the country's democracy and power sector if it comes to power.

"They (BNP) will destroy the spirit of liberation war and will once again make Bangladesh the world champion in corruption if they come to power," he said.

Quader said BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman had given undertaking that he would not do politics.

Terming Tarique a coward, the AL general secretary asked him to come to Bangladesh if he has the courage.

AL presidium members Qamrul Islam and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, AL joint general secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim and organising secretary Mirza Azam also spoke.

State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr Enamur Rahman, Dhaka District AL president Benazir Ahmed, MP, and its general secretary Paniruzzaman Tarun were, among others, present at the rally.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman and former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has called for promoting national capital since the country is need of additional investment for industrialization. "There is huge potentials for agriculture, tourism and energy sectors in Nepal. Economic prosperity should be achieved by promoting more investment in these sector," the former PM added.

At a news conference organized by Socialist Press Organization, Saptari, this morning, the CPN (US) Chairman asked the government to get focused on good-governance and economic progress.

He also shared that entrepreneurship development skills should be there for the assurance of the happy life of the citizens. "The media should extend support for the socialism since it assures equality, social justice, employment generation, education and health to all," according to the former PM.

Currently, Chairman Nepal is attending his party's 16 days long campaign from east to west for the party's awakening mission.

On the occasion, he also asked that the government should be sensitive to address the issues of people rendered homeless at the hands of the loan sharks.

Source: National News Agency - Nepal

Kathmandu, Oct 3: A three-day international conference on lightning and mitigating its impact in Nepal is taking place in Lalitpur from tomorrow.

The conference will bring together 100 participants including experts from various countries, Nepal included. Experts from India, America, Brazil, France, Sweden, Israel, Australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, among other countries will be attending the conference. Forty-four persons will be presenting their research papers in the international meet, said Prof Dr Shreeram Sharma, an expert on lightning.

The conference will discuss the status of lightning in the world, efforts made towards its prevention and the topics to be addressed by policy-makers. Dr Sharma said the conference will mainly chalk out strategy to support policy-making.

According to him, 28 out of the 44 research papers to be presented in the event are from Nepal. Nepal lacks lightning-related information system and no notable works have been undertaken for mitigating lightning. Nepal ranks in the fourth place in terms of lightning risk among the countries where research on lightning has been carried out.

Source: National News Agency - Nepal

Ghanashyam Khatiwada has been elected the chairman of CPN (UML) Koshi Province Committee from the first convention of the party's province committee.

As per the result announced this morning, Khatiwada got elected to the post by securing 512 votes while his rival Binod Dhakal got 430 votes.

Likewise, Raj Kumar Bhandari was elected the secretary of province committee while Jal Barsha Rajbansi and Dewan Rai were elected the under-secretaries.

The vote counting for other members of the province committee is ongoing, the election committee said.

Source: National News Agency - Nepal

Hunting season for the year 2023 has begun in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, the only hunting reserve in the country, to allow tourists to hunt animals, Information Officer of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve and Conservation Officer Abinash Thapamagar confirmed.

For this season, the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Department has allowed for the hunting of eight Himalayan blue sheep (Naur) and six Himalayan Tahr (Jharal). The first season of the hunting begins from Nepali month of Ashoj to Mangsir. The Reserve allows the hunters for two seasons in a year for hunting purpose.

Likewise, the Reserve has issued permission to hunt the wild boar as well.

The Department announces a bidding from amongst the affluent hunters in the global market to hunt animals after allocating the number of Naur and Jharal to be hunted.

The hunters are allowed to hunt Naur, Jharal and wild boar in the Reserve from October 4 to the third week of November.

According to Thapamagar, the hunters from the foreign countries are preparing to arrive the Reserve along with their Nepali assistants.

Tourists from as far as the United States of America, Russia, Germany and Bulgaria venture into Nepal for the hunting this year through eight different enlisted companies. It is said that five American hunters are coming for the hunting.

The Reserve will also deploy conservation officials along with the Nepali assistants for the hunters.

As mentioned in the bidding approved by the Department for this season, anything between Rs 1 million to Rs 2 million is charged to hunt a Himalayan blue sheep.

Established in 1987, the Reserve started attracting foreign hunters since. Tourists take the Reserve as the main hunting destination among many such hunting destinations in the world.

The hunters who are allowed permission to hunt are given a 15-day timeframe to hunt Naur and Jharal in the direct presence of employees of the Reserve. They are armed with necessary weapons, guns, bullets and cameras.

Hunters charter a helicopter to reach the Reserve as it is difficult to use road. In some cases, hunters return empty-handed as they fail to hunt an animal. Those who hunt a Naur or Jharal are allowed to take the hunted animal’s head with them to their home country.

Source: National News Agency - Nepal

Hunting season for the year 2023 has begun in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, the only hunting reserve in the country, to allow tourists to hunt animals, Information Officer of Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve and Conservation Officer Abinash Thapamagar confirmed.

For this season, the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Department has allowed for the hunting of eight Himalayan blue sheep (Naur) and six Himalayan Tahr (Jharal). The first season of the hunting begins from Nepali month of Ashoj to Mangsir. The Reserve allows the hunters for two seasons in a year for hunting purpose.

Likewise, the Reserve has issued permission to hunt the wild boar as well.

The Department announces a bidding from amongst the affluent hunters in the global market to hunt animals after allocating the number of Naur and Jharal to be hunted.

The hunters are allowed to hunt Naur, Jharal and wild boar in the Reserve from October 4 to the third week of November.

According to Thapamagar, the hunters from the foreign countries are preparing to arrive the Reserve along with their Nepali assistants.

Tourists from as far as the United States of America, Russia, Germany and Bulgaria venture into Nepal for the hunting this year through eight different enlisted companies. It is said that five American hunters are coming for the hunting.

The Reserve will also deploy conservation officials along with the Nepali assistants for the hunters.

As mentioned in the bidding approved by the Department for this season, anything between Rs 1 million to Rs 2 million is charged to hunt a Himalayan blue sheep.

Established in 1987, the Reserve started attracting foreign hunters since. Tourists take the Reserve as the main hunting destination among many such hunting destinations in the world.

The hunters who are allowed permission to hunt are given a 15-day timeframe to hunt Naur and Jharal in the direct presence of employees of the Reserve. They are armed with necessary weapons, guns, bullets and cameras.

Hunters charter a helicopter to reach the Reserve as it is difficult to use road. In some cases, hunters return empty-handed as they fail to hunt an animal. Those who hunt a Naur or Jharal are allowed to take the hunted animal’s head with them to their home country.

Source: National News Agency - Nepal