Day: April 19, 2024

Chemical fertilizer imported from China is being transported to Kathmandu from Tatopani Customs Office. The fertilizer, which was stored in warehouse for the past 11 months, is being transported to Kathmandu after Trans Silk, the company getting contract to import fertilizer, completed necessary process. According to Tatopani Customs Office, total 3,500 tonnes of chemical fertilizer has been sent to Kathmandu after the agreement between Agriculture Materials Company and Trans Silk. Chief of Tatopani Customs Office, Dayanand KC, said out of 3,500 tonnes of chemical fertilizer, more than 1,200 tonnes of fertilizer has reached Kathmandu so far. The remaining amount of chemical fertilizer would reach Kathmandu soon as it is in customs clearance process. Source: National News Agency RSS

Bal Kumari Mahato of Kawasoti in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta Purba) district does not worry anymore how to run her household thanks to the income she makes from operating homestay. Earlier dependent on agriculture, Mahato has found better source of income from operation of homestay for nearly five years thereby gaining economic independence. Like Mahato, there are a handful of women in Chilaha village who are engaged in homestay. Resham Kumari Mahato of Kawasoti-10 for one shared, "Earlier we were involved in agriculture and earned scantly. After operating homestay, earning has increased." The entrepreneurial women admitted that they enjoy attending to the guests and regale them with their cultural performances and delicacies besides enjoying financial freedom. The enterprises have further empowered them by developing leadership qualities in them and further harnessing their management skills. "Earlier we were too shy to talk to strangers but since we forayed into homestay enterprises, we have learned h ow to talk shop and run our enterprises confidently," gushed Resham Kumari. The village where they operate homestay is predominantly a Tharu settlement and lies nearby a buffer zone. Most of the women running homestay at present were involved in agriculture in the past which did not yield them good returns due to menace of wild animals. Animal husbandry also failed them secure a good income for the wild animals would prey their domestic animals. In lack of good income, their living standard had gone down, admitted Mahato. "Following the homestay operation, our village is witnessing a socio-economic transformation and the living standards of fellow villagers have improved notably," she observed. These entrepreneurial women have adequately secured support from their spouses and family in running their business. Since the introduction of home stay, the village has welcomed around 11,000 guests, both domestic and external, informed Prem Bahadur Mukhiya, homestay manager. Jeep safari in another attraction for the homestay guests, added Mukhiya. Besides savoring the Tharu delicacies, nature enthusiasts could enthrall themselves watching wild animals such as rhino, antelope, wild boar, peacock, crocodiles and various species of birds roaming around in the buffer zone, he said. Ward chairperson of Kawasoti-10 Tek Narayan Mahato asserted that homestay had contributed in development and upliftment of the local community besides aiding in nature and culture conservation. Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: The price of gold has climbed in the domestic market today as well. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the price of hallmark gold has gone up by Rs 700 per tola (11.66 grams). Hallmark gold was traded at Rs 138 thousand and 600 per tola on Thursday and its price is fixed at Rs 139 thousand and 300 today. The price of worked gold has also increased by Rs 700 per tola. It was Rs 137 thousand and 950 per tola on Thursday and it is determined at Rs 138 thousand and 650 today. However, the price of silver has decreased nominally today. Silver was traded at Rs 1,725 on Thursday and it is being traded for Rs 1,720 per tola today. Source: National News Agency RSS

Communication services have been restored in Bhotkhola, the remote northern region of Sankhuwasabha district, after a week since they were disrupted. The telephone service in the remote northern region Bhotkhola rural municipality which was disrupted has been restored after a week, said Prem Kumar Rai, Chief of the Telecom Office Sankhuwasabha. The service had disrupted after lightning struck the telephone tower on Lachi hill on the border between Bhotkhola rural municipality's ward number 2 and 4 on April 9. The battery backup, equipment and associated tower machinery exploded due to the lightning strike, disrupting the service. People of a dozen villages including Hatiya, Chyamtang, Chepuwa, Lingagam, Chhumsur, Ridak Bhotkhola ward number 2 and 3 now have telephone services restored. The BTS towers in remote villages without power supply are still powered by solar batteries. It is said that it was difficult for the technical team dispatched from Khandbari for repairing the tower and equipment to reach Bhotkhola in time due to adverse weather and difficult geography. Source: National News Agency RSS

Three persons died on the spot and 52 others were injured after a bus carrying wedding attendants fell off at Dharawati village in Piskar, Sindhupalchowk, at 7:00 this morning. The bus (Ba 4 Kha 5616) was carrying wedding attendants from Dolakha district, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Niranjan Bhattarai said. DSP Bhattarai said a rescue operation is ongoing to rush the injured ones to the hospitals. As the bus plunged into the cliff, the security personnel are having difficulties in rescue jobs, Bhattarai added. Source: National News Agency RSS

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday urged voters to exercise their franchise in record numbers as the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls started with polling being held in 102 constituencies. He especially called upon the young and first-time voters to vote in large numbers. "The 2024 Lok Sabha elections commence today! As 102 seats across 21 States and UTs go to the polls, I urge all those voting in these seats to exercise their franchise in record numbers," he said in a post on X. He added, "I particularly call upon the young and first-time voters to vote in large numbers. After all, every vote counts and every voice matters!" Modi made the appeal in various Indian languages. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

President of Bangabandhu Parishad Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique today said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a messenger of freedom of Bangali nation as the country had achieved independence under his leadership. "We are living in a free homeland to the cause Bangabandhu, architect of the independence," he told a discussion of Bangabandhu Parishad on 'Mujibnagar government and our Liberation War' at Abdus Salam Hall of National Press Club here. Arefin Siddique said Bangabandhu had struggled in his whole life to free the Bangali nation from exploitation. Jatiya four leaders and Bangalis, led by Bangabandhu, fought for the country's independence and their sacrifice should be remembered, he said. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was recognized as undisputed leader in the 1970 elections, he added. Arefin urged all to be united under the dynamic leadership of Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to establish Bangabandhu's Sooner Bangla. He also said Bangabandhu Parish ad is working to raise public opinion in favour of the great liberation war and called upon all to remain alert about BNP-Jamaat alliance's and their cohort's any sort of conspiracy against the country. Prof Arefin, also former Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University (DU), said, BNP-Jamaat alliance and their cohorts are doing evil politics in the name of movement. Bangabandhu Parishad General Secretary Prof ABM Faroque moderated the event while Bangabandhu Parishad presidium member and Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) vice-chancellor Prof Deen Mohammad Nurul Haque, Prof. Dr. Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan, Prof Dr. Md. Bashidul Islam, Dr. Sakhawat Hossain, Advocate Didaral Ali, Dr. Afroza Parvin and Dhaka city leader of Bangabandhu Parishad Peer Ali, among other, spoke in the meeting. Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman called upon all to remain alert against the conspiracy of BNP-Jamaat led anti-liberation forces. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said that Dhaka had given clearance to Myanmar authority to return their security personnel who took shelter in Bangladesh on April 22. "We gave our clearance for April 22. We are not sure whether they could take back their citizens on that day ... it will depend on the weather condition and their internal situation," he told reporters after an event at the foreign ministry this afternoon. The foreign minister said it has been decided that the fled Myanmar security personnel will go back by ship to be sent by the Myanmar authority. Till today, Hasan said 285 Myanmar's border guards and army personnel have fled to Bangladesh amid the ongoing conflict inside Myanmar between the ruling authority and different armed groups. Rebel factions in Arakan state have engaged in clashes with Myanmar's military junta since February last primarily over the control of a border camp. Persistent gunfire, mortar shells, and rocket explosions have marked the ongoing conflict. Banglad esh played a critical role in sheltering over a million Rohingyas who fled their home in Rakhine and took refuge in Bangladesh to evade persecution, particularly after a 2017 army crackdown but the current crisis visibly has little to do with the Rohingyas. Earlier, the foreign minister unveiled covers of books - Bangabandhu's 'unfinished autobiography' and 'prison diary' translated into Asomiya language, 'Zero Hour' written by poet and researcher of Assam Rita Chowdhury based on Bangladesh Liberation War and 'Bhuban Jora Sheikh Hasina's Asankhani' written by Ekushey Padak winner journalist Zafar Wazed. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Abahani Limited Dhaka registered their sixth victory in the ABG Bangladesh Premier League Football when they came from behind beating Lieutenant Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club by 2-1 goals in a match held at Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani Stadium in Gopalganj on Friday. In the day's match, Brazilian midfielder Jonathan Fernandes and Saint Vincent forward Cornelius Stewart scored one goal each for Abahani Limited while midfielder Mohammad Abdullah netted a lone goal for Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club. Mohammad Abdullah gave Sheikh Jamal a deserving lead early in the 8th minute while Jonathan Fernandes restored the parity for Abahani Limited in the 28th minute of the match. Cornelius sealed the victory scoring the second goal for Abahani Limited in the 45+1st minute of the match. After the breather, Sheikh Jamal however tried their best to stage a fight back in the match but they could not score any in the remaining proceeding and eventually they had to leave the field with empty hand. The day's win saw the tradition al sky blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani Limited raise their tally to 22 points from 12 matches while Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club remained at their previous collection of 15 points playing the same number of matches. Earlier, in the first leg, Abahani edged past Sheikh Jamal by a solitary goal in a match held at the same venue. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Two youths were killed on the spot and three others sustained injuries when a motorbike collided head-on with a speeding truck in Miraripur area on Rajshahi-Chapainawabganj highway under Paba Upazila of the district this afternoon. Police said the deceased were identified as Zulhas Uddin, 32, son of Rabiul Islam of Aliganj village, and Rimon Hossain, 35, son of Manik Mian of Kasba village, both hailed from the same upazila. Ali Akbar, Officer-in-Charge of Damkura Police Station, said five youths on two motorbikes were heading towards Rajshahi city. A drum truck coming from the opposite direction dashed the motorbikes as it was trying to give side to an auto-rickshaw around 4.30 pm, leaving two youths dead on the spot and injuring three others. The injured persons were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Conditions of two of them were stated to be critical, the police officer added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) has launched smart banking with the digital services of online banking, internet banking and electronic fund transfer aimed at bringing dynamism into its banking services. It has launched the RAKUB service delivery and internet service activities in RAKUB Mobile App through the central e-payment system ekpay of the Aspire to Innovate (a2i) programme. With this breakthrough, clients of the bank will be able to open new accounts from home through e-KYC and submit income tax, VAT and passport fees, QR code based checkless transaction and the iOS version of RAKUB e-banking mobile app As the largest development partner in agriculture as well as the agro-based industrial sector of northwest Bangladesh, the bank authority launched the modern banking technology at a ceremony here today. Secretary to the Financial Institution Division of the Ministry of Finance Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah attended and addressed the ceremony as the chief guest at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-tec h Park. Chairman Roisul Alam Mondal, a2i Joint Project Director Mollah Mijanur Rahman and Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank Rup Ratan Pain also spoke with RAKUB Managing Director Niranjan Chandra Debnath in the chair. Deputy General Manager of ICT Division Abul Kalam gave an illustration of the new apps together with presenting a paper titled "RAKUB Smart Banking Joyjatra towards building Smart Bangladesh". Through 383 branches, RAKUB has been operating its commercial activities in all the 16 northwest districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions targeting the agricultural sector and all its sub-sectors, including agro-processing and industries. Earlier on August 4, 2023, the bank had launched the system of opening accounts from home through e-KYC, QR code based checkless transaction and the iOS version of RAKUB e-banking mobile app in building Smart Bangladesh. It had also entered into the era of mobile App and internet banking aimed at bringing dynamism into its banking services on March 23, 2022. Apart from this, the bank introduced various other modern banking services in all its branches in order to reach banking services to the doorsteps of the public in general. Around 40 lakh clients of the bank are being benefited in many ways, including banking transactions anytime and from anywhere, bill payment of utility services and opening of new bank accounts from home. Secretary Salim Ullah expected that the specialized bank will be successful soon through its delivering quality, potential and welfare-oriented services as the present government is committed to do welfare of the country's people through strengthening the financial institutions. There is no way but to perform duties with utmost sincerity, honesty and devotion to attain success in the banking sector, he added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The 52nd founding anniversary of Bangladesh Krishak League, an associate body of the ruling Awami League, was observed in the district today like elsewhere across the country. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had founded Bangladesh Krishak League on April 19 in 1972 to protect the rights of farmers and develop the country's agriculture sector. Marking the anniversary, Krishak League has taken various programmes. The programme includes hoisting of national flag and party flag of AL at party office in the district town this morning. Wreaths were placed on the portraits of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and four national leaders. On the occasion, a discussion meeting was held at the AL party office at the initiative of the district Krishak League where District Awami League general secretary Haji Md Musa Matubar addressed the function as the chief guest with District Krishak League president Zahid Akhtar in the chair. District Awami League Joint Secretary Mamta zul Haque, Health and Population Affairs Secretary Jhinuk Tripura, Member Ashish Das, Upazila Vice-Chairman Nasreen Islam and leaders of district, municipal and sadar upazila Krishak League, among others, were present. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha