Day: April 9, 2024

DHAKA, Textiles and Jute Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak today said the government wants to take the privilege of more exports of Bangladeshi readymade garments (RMG) and jute-made goods to Russia. 'Russia can be a big export market for Bangladeshi jute and jute-made goods,' he said while talking to journalists after a meeting with Russian Ambassador in Bangladesh Alexander V Mantytskiy at his secretariat office here this morning. Terming Russia a 'tested friend' of Bangladesh, the textile minister said 'Russia played a major role in the Liberation War of Bangladesh. 'Russia helped during our Liberation War and later extended cooperation for the reformation of the country,' he said, adding that since then Russia has been helping Bangladesh in various sectors. Nanak said Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for taking office as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh for four consecutive terms after the 12th parliamentary elections. Citing Russian's assistance, the j ute minister recalled that the Ruppur Nuclear Power plant is being constructed with the assistance of Russia. Mentioning that the textile and jute ministry is putting emphasis on the export of jute and jute- made goods, he said, 'So, discussion happened on how to arrange a 'trade fair' between the two countries.' Russia also assured of continuously providing the overall assistance to the economic development of Bangladesh, said the minister. Responding to a query about whether Russian investment would come to the jute sector of Bangladesh, Nanak said the discussion is underway as their [Russian] trading representatives are arriving. 'We are hopeful that Russian investors would invest in the jute sector', he told the newsmen. After the meeting, the Russian envoy said, 'Many big companies have left Russia and Bangladesh can seize that opportunity, adding 'Particularly, we want to import RMG, tobacco, agro and leather products from Bangladesh.' Russia is also interested in importing jute and jute-m ade goods from Bangladesh, said Alexander. Textiles and Jute secretary M Abdur Rauf, Additional Secretary Taslima Kaniz Nahida, Joint Secretary Gopal Chandra Das and third secretary of the Russian Embassy Oleg Cozin, among others, were present. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Speaker Devraj Ghimire has called a meeting of the Chief Whips after a meeting held this morning among political parties at the official residence of the Prime Minister at Baluwatar to remove parliament obstruction did not yield any result. The meeting was called at the initiative of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' at Baluwatar. Speaker Ghimire convened the meeting of chief whips after the meeting held in Baluwatar failed to forge consensus, said Ghimire's Press Expert, Shekhar Adhikary. Speaker Ghimire, Chairperson of the CPN (UML), KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress General-Secretary Gagan Thapa, leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Chairperson of the CPN (Unified Socialist), Madhav Kumar Nepal, Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane were present in the meeting held at Baluwatar. The NC has been saying that it would continuously obstruct the Parliament, alleging the involvement of DPM and Home Minister Lamichhane into cooperative fraud scam. Speaker Ghimire had also held discussion with leaders of major political parties on Monday on this issue, but was in vain. Source: National News Agency Nepal

RAJSHAHI, The government has given Taka 9.12 crore as compensation to 16 more people for acquiring their lands for various development projects in the city. The government has acquired their lands for implementation of Rajshahi Medical University (RMU) project. The cheques for compensated money were distributed at a function at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner (DC) here today (Tuesday). DC Shamim Ahmed accompanied by Additional DCs Kolyan Chowdhury and Sarker Asim Kumar and Land Acquisition Officer Shammi Akter distributed the bank cheques. Earlier, 319 other affected landowners were given Taka 98.26 crore as compensation for the same purposes in nine phases. DC Shamim Ahmed said 67.68 acres of land in Borobangram, Shilinda and Baroipara areas were acquired under the RMU project and 563 affected landowners will be given compensation worth around Taka 758.81 crore. The RMU campus will house a 1,200-bed hospital to facilitate healthcare services for the people along with expanding medical educat ion and research in the northwest and southern parts of the country. Around 21 big and small buildings, including academic, administrative, 1,200-bed hospital, mosque, school, daycare centre, central library, VC's Lounge, dormitory and medical gas plant, will be built, he said. A nursing institute will also be established on the campus for creating skilled nurses. The medical university has been playing a vital role in expanding medical education in the region by arranging competent and devoted workforces as it has already achieved academic excellence to a great extent. Upon successful implementation of the project, around 780 graduate and post-graduate level students of 68 departments under 10 faculties will get scopes of medical study and research. Apart from this, around 5,000 people in the medical and nursing professions will get employment opportunities. Besides, two crore people in the country's northwest region will get improved medical and healthcare facilities. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangs tha

Kathmandu: The CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress have separately filed their nomination to the post of Vice-Chair of the National Assembly. Bimala Ghimire from the CPN (UML) registered her nomination at the Federal Parliament Building, New Baneshwor. Ghimire's nomination was proposed by lawmaker Bhagawati Neupane and seconded by lawmaker Gopi Bahadur Sarki Achhami. Similarly, Bishnu Devi Pudasaini from the Nepali Congress registered her candidacy. Pudasaini's nomination was proposed by lawmaker Durga Gurung and seconded by lawmaker Narayan Dutta Bhatta. The election to the post of NA vice-chair is taking place on Wednesday after the then vice-chair Urmila Aryal resigned from the post. Talking to media persons after filing candidacy, Ghimire urged all NA members to cast vote in her favour and make her victorious. She expressed commitment of playing supportive role in all manners to make the NA more dignified and pass the bills in an easy and smooth manner consulting with the NA chair if she wins the election. Likewise, Pudasaini said she would play a role to enhance the NA's prestige and thanked the party for making the decision of fielding her for the NA vice-chair post. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Dhaka, The Eid Jamaat (congregation) of the holy Eid-ul-Fitr will be held at 8:30 am at the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad (JS). Chief Whip of the National Assembly, Whips', Cabinet and JS members, JS Secretariat employees will participate in this Jamaat, said a press release. The congregation will remain open for all. The Parliament Secretariat authority has requested the interested Muslim devotees to participate in the congregation. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Nearly 800 households in the district have been forced to live in darkness owing to electricity disruption for two days. The Dillichaur hydropower project failed to generate power owing to cut off in water supply. The canal supplying water to the hydropower was damaged by a landslide. The canal collapsed, disrupting water supply. It is damaged in 25-meter stretch. "Although locals had noticed cracks on canal wall, it lacked timely repair, resulting into power disruption since Sunday," said Chairman of Vidyut Cooperatives, Krishna Bahadur Budha, expressing regret. Budha informed that it costs Rs 600 thousand as per technicians to reconstruct the channel. Nearly 800 households from ward no 4, 5 and 6 of Patarasi rural municipality have been deprived of electricity after the damage in water supply. It also caused difficulty in the daily works of government offices, and banks and financial institutions. Meanwhile, Rs 300 thousand has been allocated from the rural municipality for the reconstruction of hydrop ower canal. Rural municipality Chair Purna Singh Bohara informed that they were at work to resume power supply at the earliest. Source: National News Agency Nepal

A 39-bed Chautara Hospital has been reconstructed in Sindhupalchowk with the Chinese assistance. It has ended district people's compulsion to visit neighbouring districts and federal capital for treatment. The hospital building was destroyed by Gorkha Earthquake in 2015. It has been reconstructed at the cost of 61 million Chinese Yuan, according to project chief Guo Waochang. The health facility was rebuilt with the management of Huwae Construction Supervision Company and China Sichuan Engineer Corporation. The hospital has various sections, including OPD, laboratory, emergency, nursing station, x-ray, video x-ray, vaccination centre, and tuberculosis and AIDS treatment units. Other facilities are police office, fire control, children section, physiotherapy, counseling, reception and dispensary. A 450-KV generator is placed in the first floor to ensure smooth power supply to the hospital. Even a medical waste water processing equipment is installed in the hospital premises. Source: National News Agency Nepal

The Mahakumbha Mela, a grand religious fair, is beginning at Chatara of Barahachhetra municipality-1 in Sunsari today. President Ram Chandra Paudel is scheduled to inaugurate the fair, according to Ramesh Karki, Mayor of Barahachhetra municipality, and Co-Chair of Mela main organizing committee. The grand fair to run for a month is expected to draw some 3 million visitors. Arrangement has been made accordingly, the organizing committee shared. Total 2,000 security persons including the Nepali Army, the Armed Police Force and Nepal Police, have been mobilized on the inaugural day. The number of visitors will be estimated with the help of CCTV footage. There are 26 sub-committees under main organizing committee for the effective management of the grand fair. Similarly, the fair will have 480 trade stalls. The organizing committee has banned the sales and distribution of alcohol in the area for 40 days. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress, has again demanded formation of parliamentary committee to investigate into cooperative fraud scam. Today's meeting of the NC Parliamentary Party demanded this, alleging the involvement of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Rabi Lamichhane, in embezzling the cooperative amount, said NC Chief Whip, Ramesh Lekhak. The meeting held under chairmanship of party President Sher Bahadur Deuba called for constituting a parliamentary committee for fair, independent and credible investigation into the scam as Home Minister Lamichhane is found involved in embezzling the cooperative amount. The NC stated that it has been repeatedly demanding the formation of parliamentary committee for the investigation and today's parliamentary party meeting also took the decision calling for the same determining that the demand was appropriate. The NC said the government itself should take the responsibility of obstruction in the parliament which would be continued until t he government becomes irresponsible towards NC's demand for formation of parliamentary committee. Lekhak mentioned that the meeting was univocal on the issue of pointing out the government's weakness strongly in a constructive way, from the position of main opposition party. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: The Nepali Congress has decided to field Bishnu Devi Pudasaini as a candidate for the election of Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly. The election is taking place on Wednesday. A meeting of the NC Parliamentary Party Working Committee held today took the decision in this regard. Similarly, the meeting also discussed party's preparation for a meeting of the House of Representatives scheduled for today. Today is the deadline for the nomination for the election to the vice-chairperson of the National Assembly. Source: National News Agency Nepal

DHAKA, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md Atiqul Islam today sought cooperation of the city-dwellers in ensuring fire safety, keeping the city clean and facing dengue situation. The DNCC mayor sought the cooperation while distributing sarees and lungis among the caretakers of different societies under DNCC area at DNCC Nagar Bhaban. About 800 caretakers received one saree and one lungi each from the mayor. Atiqul said, "I want to work for the city-dwellers along with different societies and associations in the DNCC area. The committee members of those societies and associations are providing services along with the councilors. I want to create bond with the societies." He urged the society and association leaders to take part in the rallies which will be brought to create awareness over dengue situation. "I want that we would work together in creating awareness to keep the city clean and kill aedes mosquito. The city is not mine, it is our city. I urge all of you to think about the city," he sa id. The DNCC mayor said mass awareness campaign against aedes mosquito at 54 wards will begin on April 22. He hoped that all committee members of societies and associations would take part in the campaign. DNCC chief engineer Brigadier General Md Moin Uddin, chief health officer Brigadier General Imrul Kayes Chowdhury and chief waste management officer Captain Mohammad Fida Hossain, among others, were present while DNCC secretary Mohammad Masud Alam Siddique conducted it. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

President Ramchandra Paudel paid homage to goddess at the Chhinnamasta Temple here this morning. The Chhinnamasta Temple is a famous religious and tourism site at Chhinnamasta Rural Municipality-3 in Saptari district. The Head of State offered special worship and received tika, flowers and prasad on the occasion. Lawmakers, local security persons and office-bearers of the Temple Management Committee welcomed the President at the Temple premises. On the occasion, the Rural Municipality Chair Bidhananda Chaudhary presented a souvenir to the President. Addressing a programme after paying obeisance at the temple, President said Chhinnamasta is the ancient and historic shrine in the Tarai-Madhes and expressed his happiness to pay a visit to such a holy place as the Head of State. He stressed on the need of bringing about an agricultural revolution in the district by completing the Koshi-Kamala Diversion Irrigation Project. "Saptari is in my heart. I support all positive initiatives of this district," he added. The Chhinnamasta Temple is taken as the 52nd largest goddess shrine among the various goddess shrines around the world. Peethadhish (main priest) Mahakanta Thakur said the Jagatguru Balsanta had declared Chhinnamasta as one of the major goddess shrines in the presence of the first President of Nepal, Dr Ram Baran Yadav, in 2065 BS. Shedding light on the origin of this shrine, the main priest Thakur said a certain king named Shakra Singh, while on one of his hunting trips around a thousand years back, found the idol of the goddess Chhinnamasta from the Pokhare cave and set up an ordinary temple. After that, the then Railways Minister of India Lalit Narayan Mishra in 2039 BS commissioned the construction of a bigger temple dedicated to the goddess at the same site in his gratitude to surviving in a plane crash. The Chhinnamasta Temple complex spreads on a total 14 bighas land and is dotted with ponds and temples of various other gods and goddesses. It is believed that one's wishes are fulfilled when offeri ng worship to the goddess Chhinnamasta. Thousands of devotees from Nepal and India visit the Temple for worshipping and performing religious rituals. Male goats and pigeons are sacrificed here daily. A big religious fair takes place during Dashain festival every year. Source: National News Agency Nepal