Day: January 23, 2024

DHAKA, Civil aviation and tourism minister Muhammad Faruk Khan today said measures will be taken to attract more foreign tourists. "The number of local tourists has increased because of improved living-standard of people of the country and now we have to try to attract more foreign tourists," he said. The minister was addressing the high officials of Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) and Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) at a meeting at the Parjatan Bhaban here. This was his maiden visit to the country's top two tourism related statutory bodies after assuming office for the second term, a press release said. Emphasizing on implementing special airport service and creating specialist tour guides for foreign travelers, Khan said, "Easy and prompt visa processing, expanding the on arrival visa criteria for foreign tourists will be fixed soon after consulting with the Home ministry." Moreover, the minister called for applying innovative promotional techniques to inform foreign visitors about Bangladesh's t ourism and leisure spots. Every official who is working in the leisure and tourism sector has to be a smart one in work and ideas to make Sonar Bangla as dreamt by the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as well as implementing the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's vision -Smart Bangladesh, he said. Terming the country's private tourism industries as an important stakeholder of the sector, the minister ensures providing all types of assistance they require. The minister also stressed for generating more revenue from all the BPC's establishments across the country. Besides, he put emphasis on eco-tourism, adventure-tourism and Culinary-tourism. Civil aviation and tourism secretary Md. Mokammel Hossain was also present, among others. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has sought more investments from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in Bangladesh to march ahead the measures taken by her government for socio-economic advancement of the countrymen. "Make more investment in Bangladesh to take forward the initiatives taken by us for socio-economic advancement of the people," the Prime Minister's speech writer M Nazrul Islam quoted her as telling the KSA Ambassador to Bangladesh, Essa Yousef Essa Alduhailan when he paid a courtesy call on her at the PM's official Ganabhaban residence here. Mentioning that Saudi Arabia and its people are very close to the heart of Bangladesh and she said, "Saudi Arabia always stands beside Bangladesh." The Saudi envoy pledged to extend cooperation for continuation of Bangladesh's development journey. The Prime Minister said they wish welfare of Saudi Arabia and its people as they are the Custodian of the Two Holy mosques in Mecca and Madinah. He handed over a congratulatory message of the Saudi Crown Pr ince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud to Prime Minister on her reelection as head of the government. In the message, the Crown Prince wished Bangladesh's further progress and prosperity. The Saudi envoy expressed his country's desire to establish eight mosques and Islamic language institutes in eight divisions in Bangladesh. The Prime Minister asked the authorities concerned to take measures to find out a suitable place for setting up an institute in Dhaka. The Saudi envoy said they are taking measures to make the process of Hajj and Omra Hajj easier in the days to come. He said Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh can enhance cooperation in sports and culture. The envoy expressed his country's eagerness to take medical staff from Bangladesh alongside other professionals. PM's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman, Ambassador-at-Large M Ziauddin and Principal Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain, were present. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA, Standard Chartered Bangladesh and BRAC University have launched the "FCC Certification Program," which aims to build knowledge, enhance professional development, and raise awareness on various aspects of Financial Crime and Compliance (FCC). The six-week course will be open to both graduate students and working professionals, said a press release. Jointly developed by BRAC Business School (BBS) and Standard Chartered Bangladesh, the carefully curated course will provide participants with a competitive edge -for both their current and future career endeavours. Students will develop a strong understanding of the fundamentals along with becoming adept at grasping the complex nexus of fraudulent financial activities. Course participants will be equipped with the essential skills and abilities to identify said activities; deal with the risks faced by financial institutions and other organisations; and ensure due compliance in a variety of scenarios. Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said, "I am proud to inaugurate the Financial Crime and Compliance Certification Program in partnership with BRAC University. This strategic partnership addresses a critical skill gap and aims to equip future talents with the expertise needed to succeed in the financial sector. This is a critical milestone, where, for the first time in Bangladesh, a programme has been launched that brings banking and academia together. Standard Chartered is thrilled to be able to co-create with BRAC University - a future where young graduates enter the corporate sector with an ethical mindset and a readiness to embrace the idea that compliance is integral to building a sustainable corporate culture, to build a better Bangladesh for generations to come." Md Masud Biswas, Head of Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), said, "This initiative is designed to fortify participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to attain AML/CFT compliance. The certification programme ai ms to empower individuals by equipping them with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills, enabling them to identify, investigate, and prevent illicit financial activities. This effort is crucial in safeguarding the financial system of the institution and the nation as a whole. In an ever-evolving world, where financial crime is dynamic, we need the right skills to be future ready in the ongoing fight against financial crime." Professor Mahboob Rahman, Treasurer, BRAC University, said, "I am extremely pleased to know about the partnership between BRAC Business School and Standard Chartered Bangladesh to address the need of Financial Crime and Compliance related knowledge in Bangladesh that is increasingly becoming vital for the financial industry. The FCC Certificate Program will surely provide a competitive edge to those who are willing to pursue a career in banking and finance. This industry-academia collaboration forms a strong foundation of many more such endeavours to develop talent need ed in critical areas of the country in future." The launching ceremony for the certification programme took place at the BRAC University Campus. Md Masud Biswas, Head, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU); Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bangladesh; Professor Mahboob Rahman, Treasurer, BRAC University; and other representatives were present at the event. As the nation's long-term partner in progress, Standard Chartered has consistently been linked to Bangladesh's inspiring story of resilience. For more than 119 years, the Bank has been dedicated to driving commerce and growth without leaving people behind, negatively impacting the planet, or creating divisions that diminish our sense of community. As an engine of development, the Bank is committed to building and maintaining defences against financial crime. Established in 2001, BRAC University follows a liberal arts approach to education. As an educational institution, BRAC University is dedicated to ens uring a high quality of education for students while aiming to meet the demands of contemporary times. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

RAJSHAHI, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), in an anti-crime drive, recovered four one-shooter guns in an abandoned condition in Chapainawabganj district last night, said RAB sources here early this morning. On a tip-off, a team of the elite force conducted a drive in Chandana village adjacent to the road from Nachole to Gomostapur under Nachole upazila around 10.30 pm and recovered the firearms, they said. A case was filed with Nachole Police Station in this connection and the seized firearms were handed over to the police. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA, The existing mild to moderate cold wave that is sweeping over Dhaka, Rangpur, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions and the districts of Moulavibazar, Barishal, Bhola and Cumilla may continue as mild cold wave and abate from some places, said a Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) bulletin issued for 24 hours commencing 9 am today. "Light rain or drizzle is likely to occur at one or two places over Khulna division and weather may remain dry with partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country. Moderate to thick fog may occur over the country during midnight to morning and it may continue till noon at places," it added. Night and day temperature may rise slightly over the country. Country's maximum temperature on Monday was recorded 27.5 degrees Celsius at Teknaf while today's minimum temperature 6.6 degrees Celsius was recorded at Chuadanga. The sun sets at 5:38 pm today and rises at 6:42 am tomorrow in the capital. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

KHULNA, Authorities in five districts of Khulna division closed all primary and secondary-level education institutions from today as the temperature dipped below 10 degree Celsius. The order will remain in force until further notice, according to the Department of Primary and Secondary Education in the division. The five districts are Khulna, Jashore, Meherpur, Chuadanga and Kushtia. The government recently ordered primary and secondary schools to suspend classes in any district where the maximum temperature drops below 10 degree Celsius during the winter season. In light of the government's decision, the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education in the five districts announced the suspension of classes. "As per the direction of the government, we asked the education officers to suspend all classes of Primary and Secondary-level schools under the five districts due to the cold wave," Deputy Director of Primary Education in Khulna Division Dr Moslem Uddin told BSS today. Khulna District Edu cation Officer Farhana Naz, in a notification, said all educational institutions of the five districts under Khulna Division have been ordered to close as the temperature dropped below 10 degree Celsius. The educational institutions will remain shut until the maximum temperature rises to 10oC or above, the notification added. Amirul Azad, an official of Bangladesh Meteorological Department's Khulna office, informed that the temperature in Khulna was recorded as 9.5 Degree Celsius at 6:00am in the morning. All the heads of concerned institutions are asked to follow the notification imposed by the government. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury today said the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will increase its activities in Bangladesh for the development of the country's overall environment and forests and to combat climate change. He said the current government will work closely with UNDP to implement the National Adaptation Plan and the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan in this regard. The minister made the remarks at a meeting with a delegation, led by UNDP Resident Representative Stephan Liler, at the Bangladesh Secretariat here. The Environment Minister said the government is keen to work with UNDP to implement waste-free schools and villages programme. He said the two sides will also work together on biodiversity conservation, innovation and research, renewable energy, technology transfer and capacity building. Stephan Liler said UNDP will work together in achieving Bangladesh's sustainable development goals, sensor-based monitoring, wetland conservation and waste management. Additional Secretary (Development) of the ministry Dr. Fahmida Khanam, UNDP Assistant Resident Representative Prasenjit Chakma, Strategic Communication and Outreach Specialist Kirtijai Pahari, Climate Change Specialist Maliha Muzammil and Program Specialist Arif M Faisal, among others, were present. Earlier, a delegation of Dhaka Ahsania Mission, led by Mostafizur Rahman, Lead Policy Advisor of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, paid a courtesy call on the minister. At this time, they discussed ways to reduce tobacco consumption in Bangladesh. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

MYMENSINGH, Three people were killed in a head-on collision between a truck and a pickup-van on the Mymensingh-Sherpur road in Tarakanda Upazila Health Complex area under Tarakanda upazila of the district today. The deceased were identified as pickup-van driver Kamrul Islam, 22, son of late Abdul Latif of Ghoshab village of Haluaghat upazila, Abdul Kadir, 45, son of late Usan Ali of Sandhyakara village of the same upazila and Mizanur Rahman, 48, son of late Ramjan Ramzan Ali of Akonpara village. The accident occurred in the area when a Dhaka-bound sugar-laden pick up van from Sherpur collided head-on with a Sherpur-bound potato-laden truck coming from the opposite direction around 7:30am this morning, leaving the driver of the pickup dead on the spot and two other passengers of the pickup seriously injured, officer-in-charge (OC) of Tarakanda Police Station Wazed Ali said. The injured were sent to Mymensingh Medical College and Hospital where the on-duty doctor declared them dead, he said. Source: Bang ladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA, Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said BNP has became insane as all global dignitaries have greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her victory and expressed keen interest to work with the new Bangladesh government. "Each and everyone has congratulated the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ... BNP has became insane after seeing these, they (BNP) started saying more nonsense" he told reporters at a briefing on outcomes of his Uganda post visit at the foreign ministry. Mahmud led the Bangladesh delegation to the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) from January 19-20 and the Third South Summit of the G77 and China from January 21-22. Apart from presenting the country statements at the two summits, Mahmud said, he held 17 bilateral meetings including with Secretary Generals of UN and Commonwealth in only two days. "I held 12 bilateral meetings in the very first day of my visit. I exchanged greeting with representatives of many countries and all welcomed the new Awami League governme nt," he said. On the sideline meetings, the foreign minister said, he put emphasis on a number of issues including economic diplomacy, trade expansion and Rohingya crisis. Thanking UN Secretary General Antony Guterres for his call to seize fire in Gaza, Mahmud urged UN to take further steps to resolve the ongoing wear in Palestine. The foreign minister also urged UN intervention in resolving the Rohingya crisis. The UN general secretary congratulated Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina for her reelection and lauded her leadership role in poverty reduction and women empowerment, Mahmud said. Recalling the meeting with his Indian counterpart Dr Jayshankar, Mahmud said, they discussed regarding his upcoming maiden bilateral visit to New Delhi to be held on February 7. Hasan said he also discussed the Rohingya issue with the Indian external affairs minister. Regarding his meeting with his Myanmar counterpart, Masud said, he urged the Myanmar foreign minister to commence the Rohingya repatriation. In reply, the Ma hmud said the Myanmar foreign minister gave positive response to starting Rohingya repatriation. Hasan said they also discussed to increase bilateral business between Bangladesh and Myanmar as the trade volume has been dropped since the latest influx of Rohingyas since 2017. They also talked about the ways to combat with drug traffickers, the minister said. Regarding other bilateral meetings with his counterparts, the foreign minister said he discussed cotton and palm oil farming opportunities with Uganda and trade expansion with Belarus, Brazil and Indonesia. The foreign minister also discussed on challenges and way forward on human resource export during his bilateral meetings with Singapore, Saudi Arabai and Qatar. Hasan also mentioned about his bilateral meeting with Palestine, Nepal, Benin, and Botswana on the sideline of the NAM summit. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

NAOGAON, A total of 700 warm clothes were distributed among the helpless, cold-hit people living in Sadar upazila of the district today. The warm clothes were distributed from the relief and welfare fund of Naogaon District Fertilizer Association unit. Barrister Nizam Uddin Jalil John, MP of Naogaon-5 (Sadar) constituency, handed over the warm clothes as the chief guest at a function with president of Naogaon District Fertilizer Association unit Rezaul Karim in the chair this afternoon. The warm clothes distribution function was held at Sarishahati junction area of the town. Naogaon Chamber of Commerce and Industry President and FBCCI Director Iqbal Shahriar Russell, District Awami League Senior Vice President Abdul Khalek, District Fertilizer Association Naogaon District unit Vice President Wasef Ali Mollah and its General Secretary Deepak Kumar Sarkar, among others, were present. The MP urged the rich people to stand by the cold affected poor people to mitigate their sufferings. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA, Ex-US security official Alexander B. Gray in a write-up said U.S. should remain engaged in Bangladesh and beyond simply one election, it must not lose sight of Bangladesh's strategic importance while also encouraging its democratic evolution. Published in The National Interest, an American bimonthly international relations magazine, Gray in the article said that Beijing's interest in Bangladesh is a direct threat to America's Quad partner India, which is fending off China's attempts at similar arrangements in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. He said the United States has a vested strategic interest in ensuring the security of India's flanks and the ability of U.S. naval and international commercial traffic to safely traverse the Indian Ocean without potential interference from China's burgeoning undersea capabilities. Gray, who as a nongovernmental observer witnessed the elections at the invitation of the Bangladesh Election Commission, said Bangladesh's recent parliamentary elections have received a cool r eception in the United States and Europe. Gray, a Senior Fellow in National Security Affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council, served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff of the White House National Security Council (NSC) (2019-21) and as NSC Director for Oceania and Indo-Pacific Security (2018-19). He served as a nongovernmental election observer for Bangladesh's parliamentary elections in January 2024. Following is the full article: The U.S. Should Remain Engaged in Bangladesh Bangladesh's recent parliamentary elections, which cemented the control of the ruling Awami League (AL) of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, have received a cool reception in the United States and Europe. The U.S. State Department, in its post-election statement, declined to call the elections "free and fair" and lamented the failure of Bangladesh's main opposition party (the Bangladesh National Party or BNP) to participate. As a nongovernmental observer who witnessed the elections at the invitation of the B angladesh Election Commission, I came to an opposite conclusion from the State Department based on the over fifty polling sites our multinational team of independent observers visited and the hundreds of voters we spoke with. As our team stated following the election in Dhaka, based solely on our personal observations and referring only to the processes and procedures surrounding the voting itself, we judged the election to be largely free and fair and absent the widespread violence that has accompanied previous elections in Bangladesh." Importantly, this conclusion was made irrespective of the decision of the principal opposition party, the BNP, to boycott the election. The participation of the BNP would have provided considerable legitimacy for Bangladesh's democratic process. However, the BNP's decision to boycott is an internal political matter that should not detract from the general success of the Election Commission, which acted as a quasi-caretaker government in advance of the election. Notably, rur al turnout and the participation of female voters appeared strong. As in all democracies, developing and developed alike, Bangladesh's election procedures have room for improvement. Relatively limited voting hours artificially deflate turnout. The decision to declare a public holiday on Election Day, creating a three-day weekend, encouraged many voters in Dhaka to make plans that did not include voting. Infrastructure constraints and economic disparities remain a challenge. And limited instances of violence, although much reduced from past elections, were reported outside of Dhaka. Bangladesh's young democracy continues to evolve, both in how it conducts elections and its broader democratic institutions. Those institutions continue to struggle under the perception of the Awami League's indifference to the rule of law. While outside the remit of the international observers charged with examining the election's processes and procedures, AL's jailing of political opponents prior to the election furthered the appearance of democratic backsliding. For the strong electoral institutions established under the current government to have legitimacy, the broader set of democratic norms and practices befitting a healthy democracy must be nurtured and grown. Finally, beyond simply one election, the United States must not lose sight of Bangladesh's strategic importance while also encouraging its democratic evolution. China has shown considerable interest in economic and military investments in Bangladesh, including helping construct a submarine base, which could resupply its own submarines. Beijing's interest in Bangladesh is a direct threat to America's Quad partner India, which is fending off China's attempts at similar arrangements in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The United States has a vested strategic interest in ensuring the security of India's flanks and the ability of U.S. naval and international commercial traffic to safely traverse the Indian Ocean without potential interference from China's burgeoning undersea capab ilities. Too often, the U.S. has allowed its strategic interests to be subsumed by concerns, even if understandable, about internal governance. Whether in Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Fiji, or now Bangladesh, the United States cannot simply walk away from key strategic relationships in response to governance problems. History shows that not only do such American abdications rarely improve the domestic politics of the country in question, but they also always allow America's geopolitical competitors greater space to operate, harming U.S. strategic interests while exerting far less influence on positive governance reforms than an engaged America could. As the dust settles on Bangladesh's elections, Washington must maintain active engagement with a key South Asian partner that matters immensely to the United States' long-term interests in the Indo-Pacific. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA, The incumbent Awami league government under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has rehabilitated 52,385 homeless families by providing land and houses through Ashrayan Project among eight districts of Rangpur division in the past 15 years. Sources said the government provided a house including two decimal of land to every homeless family. Panchagarh, Dinajpur and Thakurgaon have become homeless-free-district now in the division. The government started work of the Ashrayan Project in 1997 through Prime Minister Office. The project provided houses to 8 lakh 47,020 families from 1997 to 2023. A total of 32 districts and 394 upazilas have freed of landless and homeless at present, said a press release. The landless and homeless people in the country have decreased. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha