Day: October 25, 2023

SANGSAD BHABAN, -Bangladesh Dairy Development Board Bill,

2023 was passed in the parliament to ensure quality production of milk and

milk products.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim moved the bill in the House

and it was passed by voice votes with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in

the chair.

"the enactment of the law will help to increase the production of milk and

milk products by developing the dairy management at institution and

individual level and ensure supply of the milk and milk products as a safe

food for the people", according to the act.

The Bill stipulates setting up of a 19-member Dairy Board headed by the

Fisheries and Livestock Minister as its chairman, said the minister.

The board's main functions will include, providing suggestions and technical

support for rearing of domestic animals using scientific methods, medical

services as well as for the production and marketing of quality milk, he

said.

Earlier, the cabinet approved the daft of 'Bangladesh Dairy Board Bill,

2023'.

In the draft of 'Bangladesh Dairy Board Act, 2023' proposed to constitute a

new body named "Bangladesh Dairy Development Board" to oversee the dairy

related matters.

All those who are producing milk commercially or producing dairy food should

come under the purview of this board, both government and private.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA, - Recounting a largest programme against minorities sponsored by the state when BNP-Jamaat clique helmed the country, Sajeeb Wazed, ICT Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reiterated Bangladesh Awami League's staunch commitment to ensure peace and harmony for the people of every religion.

Extending greetings of Bijoya Dashami marking the adieu of Durga immersion, Sajeeb Wazed, in a Facebook post, said this year the puja has been celebrated amid festivity, a marker that Awami League upholds.

In reference to at least 28,000 incidents of attacks including rape, killing, looting and burning down of worship places and houses on minorities as documented by several rights bodies back then, he wrote under BNP Jamaat rule the life of minorities has been turned upside down.

A number of minority leaders reportedly expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for smooth celebration of Puja across the country as number of pandals has also raised this year.

Leaders of minority communities recently have blasted the attempts of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami to project "minorities are not secure" under the Awami League government "hypocritical," referring to their "reluctance to acknowledge rampant communal attacks on minorities during the last BNP-Jamaat government."

Sajeeb Wazed also called BNP Jamaat's denial of perpetuating such crimes as a "futile image building exercise" and likened the nefarious plot as Pakistan Army's plot to mislead the world on one of the worst genocides unleashed in 1971.

Reminding that with the return of AL the communal harmony has been restored, he wrote, "it is our pledge to ensure people of every religion live in harmony, a dream envisaged by Bangladesh's founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Also his post contained a short documentary that compiled a series of media reports and offers a flashback to a number of gruelling violence inflicted on Hindus when BNP Jamaat backed government came to power between 2001 and 2006.

Soon after BNP Jamaat assumed power in 2001, one of the largest pogrom against minorities had been set in motion including killing rape looting and burning down of worship places and houses, reads the video.

In reference to reported incidents on rape of around 200 Hindu women on November 16, 2001 at a remote upazila in Bhola, the video cited media reports that claimed direct involvement of BNP Jamaat cadres.

A four year minor or a 70 year old was not spared by these cadres, the video recalled.

"Community leaders revealed atrocities like rape was employed to terrorise the minorities, forcing them to flee the country", added the video.

A litany of media reports reveals those took part in the savagery had direct backing from BNP Jamaat leaders.

Faced with such sheer scale of atrocities, hundreds of Hindu community fled the country and while community leaders reveal "the biggest fault for minorities was to lend lending support for Awami League", the video reads.

The video also reminded another plot by BNP Jamaat men as they forced devotees to stop attending prayers at temples on March 5, 2003, at a remote union in Nilphamari.

Outraged at support of local residents for Awami League, cadres of BNP Jamaat laid a siege at a temple to ensure no one can perform religious rituals.

Another infamous BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, a convicted war criminal also, unleashed his stooges on minorities in his constituency.

Setting fire on worship places and houses of Hindus coupled with looting valuable emerged trademark for SQ Chy's men.

In Bogura, vandalism of idols was reported while a fresh spell of horror inflicted on Hindus in different places also including Sitakundo.

In fear of being identified, Hindu women even refrained from putting vermilion on forehead or wearing bangles, a pointer of ordeals they underwent.

Community leaders went on hunger strike in protest of such atrocities that aimed to turn the country into a communal one.

To cut it short, elimination of minorities with systemic state sponsored persecution became hallmark of the last rule of BNP Jamaat.

The video also laid bare a botched up drama by BNP Jamaat high ups to cover up such mind boggling violence before the globe.

On BNP Jamaat's denial of such attacks the video reads "this evokes a similar tactic orchestrated by Pakistan Army back in 1971 to whitewash their crimes against humanity, in the face of mounted criticism for perpetuating genocide on people of now defunct East Pakistan".

"Even BNP leadership took some foreigners in some state managed visits to some temples and claimed reports of attacks on minorities are fake but to no avail."

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA, - Two Namaz-e-Janaza of valiant Freedom Fighter Syed Abul Hossain, former lawmaker and communications minister, will be held in the city tomorrow.

The first Namaz-e-Janaza will be held at Gulshan Azad Mosque after Zohr prayers in the city, said family sources of Abul Hossain.

Then his body will be taken to Awami League (AL) central office in the city's 23 Bangabandhu Avenue where his second Namaz-e-Janaza to be held after 3pm on the day.

AL leaders and activists as well as other political party leaders are expected to join the funeral prayers and pay their last tribute to valiant freedom fighter Abul Hossain.

He will be laid to eternal rest on Friday, the sources said, adding that the burial place is yet to be selected.

Abul Hossain breathed his last around 2:05am today while undergoing treatment at a city hospital at the age of 72.

Born in Madaripur district in 1951, Abul Hossain was elected lawmaker from Madaripur-3 constituency for four times.

He served as communications minister of the government led by the Awami League from 2009 to 2012.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Inaruwa: A police constable shot himself dead last night at Koshi Katan, Koshi Rural Municipality-4 of Sunsari district. The deceased is police constable Amitesh Mandal of Rupani Municipality-2, Saptari district currently posted at Koshi Katan, said the District Police Office, Sunsari.

Police said Mandal shot himself in the head from his pistol when he was alone in the bedroom at night. It is said Mandal committed suicide due to domestic tension. Further investigation is on in this connection, police said. Mandal's body is kept at the District Hospital, Sunsari for an autopsy examination.

Source: National News Agency RSS

Chitwan: 'Dreamy Eyes', a collection of short stories in English by journalist Basanta Parajuli, has been launched and the book has hit the bookstores. This is Parajuli's third literary creation.

Before this, he has published 'Kumata' and 'Momcho', both the collection of short stories. Parajuli's stories revolve around social subject matter and depict the existing social milieu.

The author said the English translations of some of the stories in 'Kumata' and 'Momcho' are included in 'Dreamy Eyes'. The stories are translated into English by Bharat Bhattarai and Mili Joshi.

All three books penned by Parajuli are published by Bhundipuran Publication. 'Dreamy Eyes' incorporates 17 stories. Parajuli lives in Chitwan and is active in journalism for long.

Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: As the existing parliament approaches its one-year anniversary since its establishment, Ganga Karki, representing the CPN (Maoist Centre) in the House of Representatives (HoR), reflects on the crucial legislative responsibilities of a lawmaker: the enactment of laws.

However, his evaluation is that the much-needed laws mandated by the Constitution of the federal democratic republic of Nepal are still awaited, impeding the effective implementation of the country's main law.

Likewise, the lawmaker from Dolakha believes that that political parties' focus on serving the partisan and individual interests has its implications on the operation of the House. "But again, the latest development is not disappointing. Parliamentary procedures are well-defined, and the passage of any law follows a set process. Although the House has fallen short of meeting the people's expectations for legislation, recent times have seen the presentations of various bills in parliament, and they should be expedited for resolution."

He is dissatisfied with the 'mindset' to establish a notion that the federal democratic system is merely the continuity of the previous parliamentary system. As he said, such mindset is an obstruction to serve the interest of the federal democratic republic system.

The 58-year-old lawmaker had joined the leftist movement when he was still a minor. He has also the experiences of taking charge of a brigadier commissar during the 'people's war'.

The lawmaker evaluates that an absence of a single majority in the House has hindered the implementation of party election manifestos. The coalition government, led by the third-largest party in parliament, has had to consider the sentiments of coalition partners in every parliamentary move. However, the recent pace of bill presentations in the House is deemed satisfactory, according to him.

As he said, several bills, including those aimed at preventing loan sharking, relating to citizenship, land, education, anti-money laundering, and energy, have been introduced in parliament. This progress could not go unnoticed amidst the presence of a coalition government, even though expectations have not been fully met.

According to him, frequent house obstructions over different matters have impacted the preparations of bills. He said those who are against a federal democratic republic system are unnecessarily protesting both in the House and on the streets.

"The mindset to reverse the achievements is concerning. Some faces are publicly correct and support a progressive system in the nation, but in reality, they oppose the concepts of a republic, secularism, proportional inclusion, hindering the nation's path to progress," the lawmaker adds.

Source: National News Agency RSS

Bhadgaon: The customary Seto Ghoda Jatra or the White Horse Festival was observed here on Tuesday, the day of the Bijaya Dashami, the last day of the Bada Dashain, the biggest festival of Nepalis. The white horse is the vehicle of Goddess Taleju Bhawani.

There is the practice of organizing this historic and traditional White Horse festival during the night on the occasion of the Bijaya Dashami and the day after.

Before the start of the jatra or the religious and cultural procession, the four main naikes, achajus, joshis and rajopadhyayas solemnize the kalaratri, tika sait and the bisharjan puja rituals to the Goddess Taleju as per the tantric tradition. The naikes, achajus, joshis and rajopadhyayas are the chief priests, priests, assistants and the attendants who are responsible for performing the customary rituals and associated activities at the Goddess Taleju Temple.

After performing these rituals, the white horse is offered worships and a ram is sacrificed. Then the horse is taken around the ancient Bhaktapur town in a procession, said Siddhibir Karmacharya, the priest at Taleju Temple.

The specially-annointed white horse is taken out from the main square in front of the local Taleju Temple on completion of all rituals and is driven through Khauma, Itanchhe, Bharwacho, Banshagopal, Bhujikokha, Narayanchok in the lower part of the Durbar area and also through Khichhen, Chichhen, Bholachhen, Thalachhen, Dattatraya, Golmadhi, Sukuldhoka, Tamari and Narayanchok in the upper area of the Durbar area in Bhaktapur's the ancient town.

Similarly, the Payahdyo (Khadga Dev) traditional festival observed in Taleju of Bhaktapur was marked yesterday. This ritual is marked at midnight on the occasion of Bada Dashain and the next day.

As part of this time-honoured ritual, the Payahdyo, considered as the true form of Goddess Taleju, is wrapped with a red cloth and made to put on the battle shield.

After performing the due tantric rituals and anoinment, the Rajopadhyaya priests of the Taleju Temple carries the Payahdyo on his shoulder from the Taleju main square and carries the deity-incarnate from the Taleju Mulchok (Main Square) up to Bekochok. Upon reaching Bekochok, the public are allowed to offer worship and have a glimpse of the deity.

After reaching the Swarna Dwar or the Golden Gate at the Durbar square, the Payahdyo carries out the ritual of whispering the 'divine hymn' into the ear of the Devagana who are waiting for him in a formation turn by turn. Upon completion of this ritual, the Payahdyo, the living deity, march ahead along with the Nawadurga Devaganas, accompanied by a procession.

Source: National News Agency RSS