Day: April 4, 2024

A total of 101 small irrigation schemes run in different parts of Makawanpur for enhancing agro productivity have been completed. According to the Bagmati Province Water Resource and Irrigation Division Office, 101 small irrigation schemes were completed as of mid-February against the target to accomplish 191 schemes in the current fiscal year. As informed, expenditure of RS 178.9 million was made in the schemes. A total budget appropriated for 191 schemes was Rs 380.09 million. Among the schemes, four were related to the river control, 80 related to irrigation, one of medium irrigation, and 15 others have been completed. Office Chief Nirmal Dahal shared that 5,000 meters of wells, seven culverts, two concrete irrigation sources, three irrigation bridges, 124 meters of nets, 3,176 mesh dams, 2,380 meters of dams and irrigation canal through 6,450 meters of pipes have been constructed so far in the current fiscal year. Irrigation facility has been made available in 500 hectares of land by repairing the ol d canal structure and 200 hectares of land through additional new irrigation schemes. Though Makawanpur has 62,017 hectares of cultivable land but irrigation facility has reached only to 20,000 hectares. Additional 1,050 hectares of land will be irrigated if the old and new irrigation schemes are completed by the end of the current fiscal year. It may be noted that the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation Development of Bagmati Province had conducted a survey on cultivable land and irrigation facilities in 13 districts of the province two years ago Source: National News Agency Nepal

The holy Jumatul Wida, the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan, will be observed across the country tomorrow with due solemnity and religious fervour. The biggest Jumatul Wida congregation will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital. Besides, Muslim devotees across the country will join Juma prayers in congregations at different mosques on the day. Khateebs and Ulemas will deliver sermons highlighting significance of the Jumatul Wida before offering the prayers. Marking the day, special prayers will be offered at mosques seeking peace, progress and prosperity of the nation and the Muslim Ummah as a whole. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

A total of 96 aftershocks were recorded on Wednesday night and Thursday early morning following the 7.3-magnitude earthquake that jolted Taiwan, according to Taiwan's meteorological agency. The epicenters of all the aftershocks, which occurred from 11 p.m. Wednesday to 8:20 a.m. Thursday (Beijing Time), were located in Hualien County's coastal area and nearby waters. The maximum earthquake intensity reached 4 magnitude, the agency said. The 7.3-magnitude earthquake jolted the sea area near Hualien of China's Taiwan at 7:58 a.m. Wednesday, killing nine people and injuring more than 1,000 people. A total of 101 people are trapped and 34 were missing as of 12 a.m. Thursday, local authorities said. On Wednesday night, Xinhua correspondents stayed in Hualien at a homestay about 700 meters away from a building that collapsed after the earthquake. There were obvious tremors throughout the night. The aftershocks were particularly severe at around 2:30 and 3 a.m. Thursday, prompting the authorities to issue a mobi le phone earthquake warning to citizens. Xinhua correspondents reported seeing some houses with damaged walls, deformed pillars, and some wall collapses in Hualien City. On Wednesday evening, correspondents took a ride from Taitung north to Hualien and saw no obvious damage to the houses along the way. According to information released by the island's emergency disaster management agency and media reports, the earthquake caused relatively minor damage in areas other than Hualien, while the majority of the casualties and trapped people were in Hualien. According to statistics from Hualien County, there are 20 shelters established in the county. Early Thursday morning, an official of Hualien told reporters that the search and rescue efforts in Hualien were almost complete, with the exception of the Taroko Scenic Area, which was difficult to evacuate in time due to traffic disruptions. Search and rescue teams from all over Taiwan came to Hualien. Tents and daily necessities were provided to people who were temporarily staying in shelters due to damaged houses. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Forty hours into the kidnap of Sonali Bank's Ruma branch manager by armed group Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF), the law enforcement agencies comprising police, Army, BGB and other forces, are still continuing their search operations to rescue him. About the joint operation in the hills, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shah Mojahid Uddin said: "All law enforcement forces have started their operations. Patrols have been increased everywhere. The law enforcement forces are trying their best." Expressing his hope over finding a better solution, he said the law enforcers have enough capabilities to rescue the bank manager. Noting that the locals are very peace-loving, Lal Jar Lom Bom, president of Bom Social Council, said that all efforts are being made to rescue the bank manager alongside keeping contacts with KNF. A group of armed members of militant group KNF attacked the Upazila Parishad office, tried to rob Sonali Bank's Ruma Branch in Bandarban and abducted its Manager Nezam Uddin following his prayers around 8 .30pm on Tuesday. Later, members of KNF looted two branches of Krishi and Sonali banks located in Thanchi Bazar area around 1pm on Wednesday. Thanchi UNO Md Mamun confirmed the incident, saying, "About 15-20 people went inside the bank branches and took Taka 17.45 lakh apart from mobile phones." Speaking at a press conference at the Zila Parishad meeting room, Bandarban Hill District Council Chairman and convener of the Peace Establishment Committee Kya Shai Hla today said that the peace dialogue between KNF and the Peace Establishment Committee in Bandarban has been suspended. The dialogue is expected to take place on April 22 but due to the KNF's recent activities, it has been suspended, he added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Newly elected mayors of two city corporation --Tahsin Bahar Suchona of Cumilla and Ekramul Haque Titu of Mymensingh- as well as chairmen of five Zila Parishads took oath today. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina administered the oath at a ceremony held in Shapla Hall of her office this morning. The chairmen of five Zila Parishads are ANM Obaidur Rahman of Kurigram, Abdul Majid of Thakurgaon, Shamim Talukder of Sirajganj, Billal Miah of Brahmanbaria and Aleya Akhter of Habiganj. Later, some 44 newly elected councillors of general wards and female councillors of the reserved seats of Mymensingh City Corporation also took oath at the same venue. Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam administered the oath of the councillors. Local Government Division Secretary Muhammad Ibrahim conducted the oath-taking ceremony. Cumilla City Corporation has got the first female mayor as Tahsin Bahar Suchona, daughter of Cumilla-6 lawmaker AKM Bahauddin Bahar, won the by-election to the city corporation on March 9 last. Ekramul Haque Titu was elected the mayor in the Mymensingh city corporation election held on the same day. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

At least five people including one Anser and four security personnel received injuries as armed robbers attacked the Rampal Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant at Rampal area in Bagerhat last night. The injured were identified as Md Kamal Pasha, a Havildar of Khulna Anser Battalion, Akram, Sayedul Islam, Mintu Bairagi and Brozen Mondal, security personnel of Rampal Power Plant. Of the injured, Anser Habilder Kamal Pasha and Akram, a security guard was admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) while the remained security members have taken treatment from Rampal Upazila Health Complex. Police, so far, held 12 suspected robbers from the area for interrogation. The incident of attack occurred at yard number 5 near tower number 3 within the plant's premises at about 11:00 pm last night when a gang of robbers equipped with sharp weapons in order to steal valuable copper wires, according to Police, Anser and officials of the Plant. Talking to BSS, Deputy General Manager of the power plant Anwarul Azim said that approximately 50-60 armed individuals attempted to infiltrate into residential areas of the power plant around 11 pm. When the guards of the plant tried to prevent them from entering, the criminals attacked and injured them. Of the injured, two were immediately shifted to Khulna Medical College and Hospital, while the remaining three received primary treatment at the Rampal Upazila Health Complex, he said. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rampal Police Station Somen Das, said additional police forces have been deployed to secure the power plant and its surrounding areas, aiming to prevent further incidents and ensure the safety of the plant's personnel and its infrastructure. At least 12 suspected robbers including bullet injured Ashabul Gazi were held for interrogation, so far, he said, adding that processing to file a case was going on. Talking to BSS, Molla Abu Sayeed, Director of Anser Battalion-3 of Rupsha in Khulna today said a law enforcement team went to the spot and seized 26 rounds of empty cartridge s. Earlier, the Ansar team fired upon the robbers while they reiterated attacked by the robbers, he said, adding that one Ansar member was admitted to KMCH in critical condition. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun has said government is preparing to allocate the budget only to the projects having the capacity to spend it. The Finance Minister said so during a meeting with the secretaries of different ministries and security chiefs in the Finance Ministry on Thursday. On the occasion, Minister Pun stressed that the government agencies should up their capacity to spend the budget, adding that all the ministries except the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation had made less than 40 per cent in capital expenditure. He pointed out that a lack of competence in budget allocation is also responsible for limited capital expenditure besides poor spending capacity. "But, it will not repeat in the upcoming fiscal year. The Finance Ministry is in the mentality to allocate budget only to the projects where spending is likely. Finance Minister Pun also announced that unrealistic projects will not get budget in the upcoming fiscal year. Due to delay in budget implementation, there is adverse impact on employment creation and capital formation, the Finance Minister said, urging to end the trend of not spending budget in time. He argued that limited capital spending and a shrink in revenue collection have created issues in the country's economy though the external sector is improving gradually. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Emphasising the need for formulating the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq today said this act is essential for creating a smart generation. "AI is very important to implement the vision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of building smart Bangladesh and smart generation by 2041. AI has its good side and bad side as well. We don't need to worry about this. We have taken initiatives to control the bad sides of AI," he said. Anisul came up with the observations while addressing as chief guest a meeting of stakeholders for preparing draft of Artificial Intelligence Act, 2024, at BTRC Bhaban in capital's Agargaon. Organised by ICT Division, the meeting was attended by representatives from different ministries, divisions, departments of government and other stakeholders. "The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has a working method to formulate an act. It follows this method whenever it wants to formulate any act. So, it is needed to talk with stak eholders and take their opinions," the law minister added. Anisul Huq, an eminent jurist himself, said the government wants to prepare the draft with the opinions of the stakeholders, adding, "We have listened to their opinions today and would again sit with them. We would prepare the final draft of the act by September." State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, who presided over the meeting, said the AI Act is essential to tackle the risk of AI and utilise its promise. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: The Election Commission has made public the final voters' list for the by-election to be held coming April 27. The by-election is being held in Ilam and Bajhang districts. As per Commission's update, there will be a total of 1,80,88,983 voters. Among them, 88, 86,983 are female, 92,02,569 male and 188 'others'. According to the Commission Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel, Morang district records highest number of the voters- 739, 390 while Manang the lowest- 6,849 voters. Spokesperson further shared that 87,417 new voters were r5ecorded since the last by-election held on April 23 last year. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said as long as BNP will remain under the leadership of its acting chairman Tarique Rahman, it cannot come to right track. "Fugitive convict Tarique Rahman is the curse of BNP. As long as he will lead the BNP, the party cannot come to right path. It will remain stuck in the quicksand of errors," he told a view-exchange meeting at AL's Bangabandhu Avenue central office here. The meeting was held as part of taking preparation for observing Mujibnagar Day on April 17. Khulna divisional leaders of the party also joined it. Quader said it has become painful for BNP leaders to accept the "free style" leadership of Tarique Rahman who is giving order from London. The BNP leaders are now realising that as long as Tarique leads the party, it will stay stuck in the quicksand of mistakes. The AL general secretary asked Tarique Rahman to come to home if he has courage to do politics here. "If you have courage, come home a nd do politics. Keep courage to go to jail. The people will not respond to your call from London," he said. Even some BNP leaders also dub the party's call for movement as fake, he said. The minister said BNP has failed in movement and elections while their call for boycotting Indian products has also failed. "Indian products are in bedrooms and kitchens of BNP leaders. That is why BNP's so-called call for boycotting Indian products is hypocrisy," he said. Noting that Awami League is the only party which practices democracy inside the organization, Quader said BNP never practices democracy inside the party. Talks of democracy doesn't suit the party which itself never practices democracy, he said. The AL general secretary said they are the biggest killers of democracy as they perpetrated the brutal carnage of August 15, 1975. Now, the killers of democracy are shedding crocodile tears for democracy, he said adding it is farcical that BNP is now talks about democracy. Pro-BNP freedom fighters didn't utte r a single word on genocide in their freedom fighters' rally on the Genocide Day on March 25 last, he said adding they are fake freedom fighters. Today, they still continue debate over the proclaimer of independence, he said. "Only Bangabandhu got the mandate from the people to proclaim independence. So, nobody else has the right to do so," Quader said. The AL general secretary said the party will observe Mujibnagar Day on April 17 as it is the spirit of birth of Bangladesh. AL will bear the spirit of birth of Bangladesh, he said. AL Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah chaired the view-exchange meeting while party's joint general secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organizing secretaries BM Mozammel Haque and SM Kamal Hossain were present, among others. Earlier, Obaidul Quader joined a discussion marking the 104th birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. AL's sub-committee on health and population organized the discussion with its chairman Dr AFM Ruh al Haque in the chair. AL's Health and Population Affairs Secretary and State Minister for Health Dr Rokeya Sultana and sub-committee members were present. On behalf of the sub-committee, wheelchairs were distributed for five hospitals in the function later. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha has said Nepal's economic development needs quality strike. Inaugurating a five-day Lalitpur International Trade Expo organized by Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce at Jawalakhel on Thursday, DPM Shrestha said it is government's prime job to make socio-economic development at a time when the country already got a constitution. "Speedy economic progress can be realized with the collaboration among government and private sectors. Country's potential should be utilized and political goals achieved," he said, adding that government was forwarding economic diplomacy accordingly. Works are continued on how country's potentials could be identified and utilized for expanding economical cooperation, according to Foreign Minister Shrestha. The Foreign Minister further viewed such Expo bears historic significance and contributes to promotion and expansion of national industries. On the occasion, Bangladeshi Ambassador to Nepal, Ralauddhi Noman Chaudhari, v iewed the expo not only help boost industrial value in Lalitpur and Nepal but also in the participating countries. The expo has tremendous role on expanding small and mid-scale industries. Bagmati Province Assembly member Ram Krishna Chitrakar viewed the economic slump was fizzling out and the industries and enterprises were gradually reviving in the country. Officiating Chairman Kamalesh Agrawal expressed belief that economic activities in the country would expand international trade and unlock industrial potential. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Foreign Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud today hoped supply of weapons to Israel will be stopped as weapons are now being used to kill aid workers of the western world after killing of innocent women-children and general Palestinians. He said this while responding to journalists over the Wednesday's incident of killing of 7 aid workers including citizens of the UK, Canada, USA, Australia and Poland in the Israeli attack. Before talking to journalists, the foreign minister joined the memorial meeting on journalist and advocate Ataur Rahman Shamim at Jatiya Press Club on Topkhana Road in the capital this afternoon. Strongly condemning the Israeli attack in Gaza, Dr Hasan said crime against humanity has been committed with this attack. Israel's atrocity, brutality and killing mission on Palestinians are going unabated, he said, adding that aid workers have been killed there which is beyond imagination. Hasan said that Israel is also defying the ceasefire resolution passed in the UN Security Council, he said. He hoped after this incident, the western world will take action against Israel. The minister said that the Awami League government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is against any war. "We were beside the Palestinians, we are still now beside them and will always be," he said. "Of course we believe in the two-state policy. But peace lies in the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital based on the 1967 demarcation, otherwise there will never be peace in the region," he said. Earlier, in the memorial meeting, Dr Hasan recalled checkered career of founding editor of weekly Ganabangla and founding leader of Awami League's United States unit Advocate Ataur Rahman Shamim who was killed in a fire at Bailey Road in Dhaka recently. The minister also prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul. He emphasized on keeping adequate fire fighting system in buildings and highlighted the contribution of Sheikh Hasina Nati onal Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery to provide treatment to fire victims. Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, said those who launch arson attack in the name of politics, who burn people to death, cannot have the right to do politics. They are not politicians, they are miscreants, he said. BNP-Jamaat clique who carry out arson terrorism in this country is still active to do so, he said, adding those who provide money to them, they are the leaders of those miscreants. Bangladesh Mofswal Journalist Society and weekly newspaper Ganabangla jointly organized the memorial meeting. Former Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, MP, late Ataur Rahman's daughter Fardin Rahman, former acting secretary general of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad Central Command Council Safiqul Bahar Majumder Tipu, AL's industries and commerce affairs sub-committee member Lion Mashiur Ahmed, AL Youth and Sports Sub-Committee member Mahmud Al Prince, Bangladesh Mofswal Journalist Society Chairman Sumon Sardar also spoke on the occasion. AL leader MA Karim chaired the meeting which was conducted by MA Bashar. Bangabandhu Academy secretary general Humayun Kabir Miji, Bangladesh Swadhinata Parishad general secretary Shahadat Hossain Toel, Jubo League leader Manik Lal Ghosh, Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote joint general secretary Muhammad Rokan Uddin Pathan, Bangabandhu Dustha Kalyan Sangstha President Mahbub Hossain recalled the memories of Ataur Rahman. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha