Day: April 21, 2024

One person had died in a fire that took place in Bamfikot Rural Municipality-3 of Rukum Pachim. The deceased has been identified as 70-year-old Budi Kami. She died when the fire spread from the nearby Dharpakha community forest to the Neupane village, burning three houses into ashes. The houses of Yubaraj BK, Annate Sarki and Bhudi Kami of Nepal Tole was destroyed in the fire that took place around 2:30 pm today. Ward Chair Tilvir KC said 70-year-old Kami was burnt to death while trying to removing goods to protect it from the fire that was about to engulf her house. The food stock, clothes and utensils inside the houses were destroyed in the fire. The fire that started from Dharpakha Community Forest has now spread to Bhirikhola Community Forest, Saikumari Community Forest. The local forest users group, local police office Bamfikot and local people are trying to bring the forest fire under control, said ward chair KC. Source: National News Agency RSS

Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani will arrive here tomorrow evening on a two-day official visit. "A special aircraft, carrying the Amir of Qatar and his entourage members, is scheduled to land at Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) International Airport (HISA) at 5 pm tomorrow," President's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin told BSS today. At the invitation of Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Amir of Qatar will visit Bangladesh from April 22 to 23. President Shahabuddin will welcome the Amir through a state ceremony. This is the first high-level state visit of a leader of any Middle East country after the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina assumed office on January, 2024. After the ceremony at the airport, the Amir of Qatar will go to the Le Méridien Hotel along with his entourages. Later in the morning of April 23, Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud will pay a courtesy call on the Amir of Qatar. Then the Amir of Qatar will have a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Shimul room of the prime minister's office. They will have tete-a-tete (one-to-one) meeting too. Six agreements and five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) are likely to be signed between the two countries during the Dhaka visit. The agreements are: avoidance of double taxation and tax evasion, cooperation in legal matters, maritime transport, mutual investment development and protection, transfer of convicted persons and establishment of a joint business council. Apart from these, five memorandums of understanding (MoUs), including those on labor force, higher education and scientific research, and cooperation in diplomatic training are likely to be signed during the visit. President Shahabuddin will host a lunch in honor of the Amir of Qatar at Durbar Hall of the Bangabhaban. The Amir is scheduled to fly for Qatar by a special aircraft in the evening. Bangladesh Foreign Minister will see him off at the HISA. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

As many as 200 patients visit Bharatpur Hospital on a daily basis for anti-rabies vaccine. However, due to acute shortage of the vaccine, they return home disappointed bearing the risk of viral disease transmitted through bite of rabid animal. Binod Lama of Bharatpur Metropolitan City (BMC)-12, rushed his 11-year-old daughter, who was bitten by a rabid dog, to the Hospital for vaccination. Much to his dismay, the staffers at the Hospital mentioned about shortage of vaccines in the Hospital and he was left with no choice but to go out of the hospital to get the vaccine. "Isn't it strange that the Hospital is running short of vaccine! Where do we avail the vaccine then?"fumed Gurung, adding, "They suggested us to procure it from outside which is so expensive and we are not aware where do we get it in the first place." Sanjay Gurung of Bharatpur was bitten by a rabid dog while going to his relative's house in Dhading. He immediately got the first dose of the vaccine administered there. When he reached the Bh aratpur Hospital to get the second dose, he could not get one. Gurung shared that at first he did not believe that there was shortage of the vaccine in the Hospital. He was only convinced about it when other patients visiting the Hospital along with him reaffirmed it. "What kind of vaccine is this that is not available in the public healthcare facility? Where shall we get the vaccine now?", he ranted. Similarly, Bharat Gurung of Bharatpur-6 had to purchase the vaccine from elsewhere when it was not available in the Hospital. It cost him Rs 625 for a vial which has two doses of vaccine while for the three doses of anti-rabies vaccine, the Hospital would charge them only Rs 300, according to him. He shared that two patients buy a single vial on cost-sharing basis and get it inoculated. Dr Ram Prasad Sapkota, Spokesperson of the Hospital, admitted that the Hospital has been reeling under acute shortage of anti-rabies vaccine. "The shortage began since April 2. We have no stock of the vaccine at present," he confessed. Sapkota informed that they had been repeatedly notifying the concerned authorities in the provincial and federal ministries about the shortage but to no avail. Earlier, the Hospital used to receive 60 to 70 vials of vaccines daily which sufficed to inoculate the patients. With the surge in the number of patients of dog bite started and with no stock of vaccine in the Hospital, the shortage grew more severe. Apart from home district, patients outside of Chitwan district such as Nawalpur, Dhading, Gorkha among others also visit the Hospital for vaccine and return empty-handed. According to Spokesperson Sapkota, they have been told that it would take two weeks for them to get vaccine restocked. "We have no convincing answer for the patients," he said. Pradeep Adhikari, Chief of Store Department in the Hospital, added they procured less than the quantity of the vaccines they had requested. As the demand for the vaccine went up with the surge in the number of patients, the store ran short of it and now they had to suggest the patients to get the vaccine from elsewhere. He explained, "When we demanded 1000 vials of vaccines with the provincial authority, we only got 80 vials. We only received 250 vials from the federal authority which was not sufficient to go by more than two days." Source: National News Agency RSS

Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said BNP is in a politically tumultuous situation as the party has failed to involve the people in their movement. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has urged the people to give a shake to the state machinery, but the party itself is in hot water politically, he said in a statement sent to mass media protesting and condemning the comments of Fakhrul. Quader said BNP leaders have lost their commonsense as they have fallen into deep distress. They are becoming enemies of the country, the state and the people day by day, he added. The AL leader said the countrymen have no interest in the negative politics of BNP. For this, the people have rejected BNP repeatedly, he said, adding BNP wants to bring back their misrule and those miserable days. He said the country and its people are marching ahead through unprecedented development, progress and positive changes under the Awami League government. But , BNP and their accomplices are trying to become desperate as their all anti-state conspiracies were foiled, he said. He said BNP and their collaborators are trying to spread confusions among the countrymen. 'Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has claimed that the present government has destroyed their (BNP) all achievements. What was their (BNP) role in country's progress and development of people's fate? BNP's founder Ziaur Rahman had introduced the politics of conspiracy, abduction and killing through killing democracy,' said Quader. He said military dictator Ziaur Rahman had set a cruel example of curbing the opponent parties and their opinions. Bangladesh became champion in corruption for five consecutive times during BNP-Jamaat tenure, he added. The AL leader said BNP had used all institutes of the state as per their wish by using their power. They gave corruption an institutional shape, he said, adding those were BNP's achievements. He said BNP could never achieve any positive thing. Quader said the pre sent AL government under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is working relentlessly for the welfare of the people. Awami League has got the responsibility to run the government for four consecutive terms as per the wish of the countrymen, he said. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Dol Prasad Aryal, said government would end Nepali's compulsion to leave country for foreign jobs in one and half decade. Speaking at a discussion organized by the ministry on Sunday, Minister Aryal viewed, "If we are given chance to work for the employment sector, the trend of going abroad for jobs will end." He also informed that a mega employment fair was being organized to establish coordination among job aspiring youths, employers, and training centres. The ministry conducted a discussion to garner suggestions on how the fair could be made effective. According to the Minister, the youths aspiring jobs would be provided information about the skills needed for various jobs. The representatives of training centres who attend the fair will impart necessary information and help find jobs. Similarly, the institutes providing training would also receive feedback and make strategies accordingly. Ministry Secretary Ghanashyam Upadhyay said the me ga fair also aims at promoting domestic job markets. Other sectors are also sought suggestions and cooperation to this regard, he added. Similarly, Joint Secretary and ministry spokesperson Govinda Prasad Rijal shared that the fair was envisioned to reduce the dependency on foreign jobs by creating jobs and make job market dynamic within country. The discussion was attended by various sectors, including Hotel Entrepreneurs Association, Municipality Association, FNCCI, Nepal Trade Union Congress, and foreign employment experts. Source: National News Agency RSS

Two people, including a woman, were killed in two separate road accidents in the city's Zero Point and Malibagh Railgate areas this morning. A female garment worker was killed in a collision between a cement-laden cargo truck and a passenger bus in Zero Point area of the capital around 6:15 am. The deceased was identified as Ayesha Akhter, 20, daughter of Mosharraf Mia of Charbunia village in Patuakhali Sadar upazila. Her husband Khairul Islam, 25, was injured in this incident. Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMHC) Police Camp Officer-in-charge (OC) Md. Bachchu Mia confirmed the incident to BSS saying that, "The victim was rescued and taken to the emergency ward of DMCH, where the doctor on duty declared her dead." In another incident, a man was killed after being hit by a speeding train while crossing the railway line in Malibagh Railgate area of the capital around 7:30 am. According to the police, the deceased Abdul Wadud, 58, is a resident of Burichang Thana area of Cumilla district. "On his way ba ck home after work, he was hit by a train while crossing the line, and suffered serious injuries in various parts of his body, including head. Locals rushed him to DMCH emergency ward where the on-duty doctors declared him dead," Bacchu Mia said. "The incidents have been reported to Shahbagh and Dhaka Railway Police Stations. The bodies of the deceased have been kept at the mortuary of the emergency department of DMCH for autopsy," he added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: The police have arrested 16 persons for demonstrating at a prohibited area, the southern gate of Singha Durbar, on Sunday. They were protesting at Singha Durbar gate, putting forth various demands. Superintendent of Police at District Police Premises, Kathmandu, Nabaraj Adhikari, informed the Ratriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) that they were held for demonstration against the rule. The protestors were among the student leaders including Abinash Kunwar, Milan Rai and Harikrishna Gajurel. They are kept at Singha Durbar Police Circle. Source: National News Agency RSS

The authorities of Dhaka University (DU) and Jagannath University (JnU) have decided to hold classes online amid the ongoing severe heat wave. DU classes will be held online until further notice to avoid health risks due to the severe heat wave sweeping over the country but examinations will be held as usual, said a DU press release here today. The university usually conducts 10 percent of its classes online but now all classes will be held virtually. However, the JnU classes and other activities of the university will be held online from April 22 to April 27 and examinations will not be held in person during that period, said a notice of the university. On Saturday, the government decided to keep all schools, colleges, madrasas, and technical education institutions across the country closed from April 21 to April 27 as the entire country is reeling under a severe heat wave. On the same day, the National University (NU) authorities also suspended classes of all colleges under the university due to the o ngoing heat wave in the country. The authorities of the university will announce resumption of classes considering overall weather condition. A met office forecast today said very severe heat wave is sweeping over north, north-east and north-west districts of the country and severe heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka and Khulna divisions and the district of Rajshahi. The country's highest temperature on Saturday was recorded 42.6 degrees Celsius at Jashore and minimum temperature today was 20.5 degree Celsius at Tetulia. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: The Nepal Police has urged journalists to be restraint in reporting on the cases that are under investigation. In an interaction with journalists organized by the Nepal Police's Department of Crime Investigation here today, the Nepal Police sought journalists' caution while making news about cases which are being investigated. Chief of the Department and Additional Inspector General (AIG) of Police Tek Bahadur Tamang viewed it would create illusion and confusion among readers if the news stories were made about someone's involvement based on mere hint and suspicion. Hence, he urged the media persons to pay special attention while disseminating of such news. According to him, Nepal Police had been providing information and issues of public concerns. Similarly, monitoring chief at Press Council Nepal, Mahendra Raj Singh, informed that the NPC had been devising code of conduct in accordance with the Press Council Act-2048 BS and monitoring whether media and journalists were complying with the code of conduct. "The Council has been taking action against the media violating the code of conduct," he added. Officer at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Sharada Chalise, said the Ministry was working towards ensuring dissemination of factual and credible news. According to her, the Ministry had been routinely organizing press meet to educate general public about the decisions of Cabinet meetings. The journalists participating in the interaction, however, viewed there should not be a tendency of hiding information in the public offices because it would violate the general public's right to information. Source: National News Agency RSS

Severe floods "seen around once a century" are expected to hit parts of southern China, state media said Sunday, as heavy rains prompted authorities to step up disaster precautions. Torrential downpours have struck swathes of Guangdong province since Thursday, swelling waterways in the Pearl River Delta, China's manufacturing heartland. Weather alerts are in place across large parts of central Guangdong, with the national weather office warning of major storms in coastal areas through Sunday evening and into Monday. Aerial footage by state broadcaster CCTV on Sunday showed murky flood waters lapping close to street level in some towns, leaving low-lying buildings inundated and a towering pagoda protruding from the deluge. Citing the provincial hydrology bureau, CCTV said three locations in the Bei River basin would "experience flooding seen around once a century... due to the impact of heavy precipitation". Floods of up to 5.8 metres (19 feet) above the warning limit would strike the areas starting earl y Monday morning, according to CCTV. Several other places would endure the kind of floods seen once every 50 years, it said. The Pearl River Delta is one of the most densely populated parts of China, with Guangdong alone home to around 127 million people. There were no immediate reports of casualties or mass evacuations. Authorities have launched a level-three emergency response in Guangdong, the second lowest in a four-tier system, according to CCTV. Parts of the adjacent provinces of Jiangxi and Fujian were also forecast to see severe rainstorms on Sunday evening. China is no stranger to extreme weather but recent years have seen the country whiplashed by severe floods, grinding droughts and record heat. Climate change driven by human-emitted greenhouse gases makes extreme weather events more frequent and intense and China is the world's biggest emitter. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

CPN UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has been taken ill. Due to health problems, Chairman Oli is taking rest at home, according to Rajendra Gautam, chief of UML publicity department. He has been suffering from common cold and headache. Owing to Oli's health problems, Senior Vice Chairman of the party, Ishwor Pokhrel, presided over the National General Convention Representatives' Council Meeting going on at Godawari, Lalitpur, today. Source: National News Agency RSS

Bangladesh has urged the United States to provide duty free and quota free access on Bangladeshi RMG items made from US cotton. Bangladesh also demanded of the US government for creating export opportunities for Bangladeshi products like pharmaceuticals, ceramics apart from RMG as well as simplifying further the registration process of pharmaceuticals. The demands were placed at a US-Bangladesh TICFA Intercessional Meeting held at the Ministry of Commerce conference room at Bangladesh Secretariat here today. Briefing reporters after the meeting, the head of Bangladesh delegation and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Tapan Kanti Ghosh said that the RMG industry of Bangladesh is now more compliant than the past. "The workers in the RMG industry represent the poor community. If the USA wants to contribute towards improving the living standards of this section of people, then the USA can provide duty free access," he added. Citing that the USA has kept intact the duty free and quota free access o f the products of LDCs of Africa, Tapan said such countries in Asia can also avail such facility. The Commerce Secretary said that the government has already improved the labour condition and brought necessary legal reforms. "We've raised our arguments in the meeting that the Bangladeshi RMG items are worthy of getting duty free access in US market in overall consideration," he added. Tapan said the government has also sought technological support from the US in boosting farm production alongside improving the preservation system. Besides, he said the government has also sought support in standard certification in exporting agricultural items and ensuring necessary accreditation. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha