Day: April 27, 2024

Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh has declared to stand by the family of Mahin Ahmed, who was killed by a speeding city corporation garbage truck in city's Mugda area on Thursday, and said strict action will be taken against those who responsible for the accident. The DSCC Mayor told the journalists while visiting the victim's family at their house in Narshingdi's Monohardi upazila on Friday to condole them, said a release here today. A case has already been filed in this regard, he said, adding: "We want to ensure that Mahin's family will get justice through a complete fair trial." "We are deeply saddened by the incident. We are out of words to console the parents for their loss. DSCC and we all will stand by the family of the deceased till the culprits are behind the bars," the DSCC Mayor mentioned. DSCC Chief Executive Officer Md Mizanur Rahman, its Transport General Manager Md Haider Ali, Chief Waste Management Officer Md Nasim Ahmed, Executive En gineer of Region-2 Saiful Islam, Councilor of Local Ward No. 6 Md Sirajul Islam Bhatti, Councilor Maksuda Shamsher (from Reserved Constituency) and local Awami League leaders were present at the time. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

A month-long cottage industry fair began on the ground of government auditorium here. Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Panchagarh Md Johurul Islam and Police Super S.M. Sirajul Huda formally inaugurated the fair by cutting a ribbon and realizing balloons yesterday (Friday) evening. Panchagarh Press Club has arranged the fair. Sadar thana officer-in-charge Prodip Kumar Ray, Zila Awami League General secretary Anower Sadat Samrat, Panchagarh Press-club President and general secretary Sajjadur Rahman Sajjad and Jamil Chowdary Dolar , former Press Club President A Rahman Mukul and different print and electronic media journalists were present at the inaugural programme. At least 50 cottage industry shops have been set up in the fair. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Foreign minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has urged the Thai private sector to make investment in Bangladesh by taking full advantage of Dhaka's various incentives for foreign business and partnership. He also emphasized on the importance of early commencement of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Thailand for enhancing bilateral trade and balancing trade deficit. The foreign minister was speaking at a business meeting, organised by Bangladesh Embassy in Bangkok on Friday on the sidelines of the official visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Thailand, a foreign ministry's press release said here today. Earlier on the day, Bangladesh and Thailand have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to commence Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries. During the business meeting, Hasan underlined the potential for trade and investment between Bangladesh and Thailand and said it will ultimately contribute to the overall development and prosperity of both the countries. The foreign minist er highlighted Thailand's significance as a key trade partner for Bangladesh within the ASEAN region. He also described Bangladesh's remarkable progress in all indicators of socio-economic development over the last 15 years and Bangladesh's successful graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, attributing it to the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasan also stressed upon the importance of fostering increased people-to- people contact as a means to strengthen the bonds between Bangladesh and Thailand. By prioritizing such exchanges, both countries can deepen their understanding, collaboration, and partnership and benefit their people, he observed. Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood, Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Advisor Salman Fazlur Rahman, Home Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, State Minister of Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu, and Foreign Secretary Masud bin Momen attended the event. Salman Rahman elaborated on the incentives provided by th e Bangladesh government to foreign investors. He invited Thai investment in Bangladesh's Tourism sector and opined that Dhaka might be benefitted from Technology Transfer of the Thai government. Stating the recently enacted Offshore Banking Act 2024 by Bangladesh Government, State Minister of Commerce called upon Thai investors to consider investment in Bangladesh. As a bridge between South Asia and South East Asia, he said, Bangladesh could be considered for investment as a regional hub and for its reasonable size of market. He urged private sectors of Bangladesh and Thailand to explore all opportunities while assuring required facilitation from the Government. Senior Executive Vice-President of Sutec Co Ltd Charles Frederick, a prominent Thai global sugar engineering company, in his deliberations suggested that Bangladesh government may explore the potential for collaboration with local private investors to revitalize one or two existing sugar mills. He noted that if this initiative proves successful, it could pave the way for the government to develop a policy framework aimed at promoting private investment in the sugar cane industry. A representative of BIDA delivered a detailed presentation on the incentives provided by the Bangladesh government for foreign investors investing in Bangladesh. He highlighted Agro-business, Digital economy, Logistics and Light Manufacturing sectors which Thai investors may consider for investment. Ever since the establishment of Diplomatic relations, the bilateral relations between the countries have flourished to a comprehensive partnership comprising cooperation in trade and investment, culture, education, health, agriculture and connectivity. The event was attended by prominent Business personnel from the Thai business community. Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Abdul Hye thanked all the dignitaries and guests for their presence at the event. Ambassador of Thailand to Bangladesh Makawadi Sumitmor was also present. Source: Bangladesh Sangba d Sangstha

Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said BNP is working as a slave of its foreign lords for going to power. He said this while talking to journalists after paying tributes to Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq by placing wreath at his grave on the premises of Suhrawardy Udyan this morning marking the great leader's 62nd death anniversary. In response to BNP leaders' comment - "Awami League becomes slave of foreign lords to stay in power", Quader said this remark suits BNP as the party acts like a salve of foreign lords to assume power. BNP doesn't consider people's support as the main base to go to power, he said. The AL general secretary said now BNP is hatching conspiracy to go to power by acting as a slave of foreign lords. In the morning, on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader paid tributes to national leader Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq. Later, he placed another wreath at his grave on behalf of the Awami League. AL Presidium M embers Kazi Zafarullah and Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries BM Mozammel Haque, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan and Sujit Roy Nandi, Cultural Affairs Secretary Asim Kumar Ukil and Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan were present, among others. Quader said he doesn't consider BNP as a democratic party as there is no instance of establishing democracy in the party's history. BNP killed democracy and turned democracy into a farce and it never practices democratic rules inside the party, he mentioned. Recalling the role of Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq in the welfare of the commoners, the AL general secretary said Fazlul Huq was a perfect Bangalee. He said the farmers of rural Bengal can never forget the contribution of Fazlul Huq as he struggled throughout his life for the welfare of farmers and workers. The minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Mawlana Bhashani and Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq d reamt of building a non-communal country. "Today, we are making strides to build a non-communal Bangladesh under the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he said. Later, AL's Dhaka City South unit, Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, Tanti League, Dhaka University unit of Chhatra League and different associate bodies of AL also paid tributes to Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Two persons, including a woman, were killed and four others injured as a bus collided head-on with a CNG-run auto rickshaw in Alalpur area of Sadar upazila this morning. Police with the help of local people rescued the injured persons and sent them to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital (MMCH). However, the identities of the deceased could not be known immediately. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kotwali Model Police Station Main Uddin confirmed the incident to BSS saying that, "A Nalitabari-bound bus collided head-on with a Mymensingh-bound CNG-run auto rickshaw in Alalpur of Mymensingh Sadar upazila around 11 am. The victims died on the spot. The injured were taken to MMCH for treatment." "Police seized the vehicles. Necessary legal proceedings, regarding the incident, are underway," he added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat and Mauritius Information Technology, Communication and Innovation Minister Deepak Balgobin at a meeting have emphasized on strategic actions to combat the spread of misinformation through the social media. They underpinned the need for strategic actions against the spread of misinformation as Ali Arafat paid a courtesy call on Balgobin at a city in Mauritius on Friday, said an official release here today. They also talked about mutual cooperation between Bangladesh and Mauritius over the use of satellites, the use of technology by expatriate workers to send remittances to the country, investment opportunities in Bangladesh for Mauritian investors and Bangladeshi workers in Mauritius. On the same day, Arafat visited a spinning mill in Mauritius and inquired about the Bangladeshi workers working there and spoke to them. The state minister left Dhaka for Mauritius on April 22 to attend the First Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking a nd Substance Abuse in the Western Indian Ocean in Mauritius. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen today paid rich tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his mausoleum at Tungipara in Gopalganj. After laying the wreath, the minister stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of the Father of the Nation. Later, he offered prayer seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib and other martyrs who had to embrace martyrdom on the fateful August 15, 1975. A special prayer was offered seeking longevity of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members. The minister also signed the visitors' book at the Tungipara Mausoleum Complex. Officials of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry and officials and doctors of Gopalganj health department, among others, were present. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The met office today expressed fear that the country's highest temperature could break all time record next month after witnessing the longest duration of a heatwave covering all corners of Bangladesh. "Our mathematical model analysis suggests despite some expected rainfall in parts of the country in the first week of the coming month, the country may witness the all time record temperature in May," meteorologist Kazi Zebunnesa told BSS. She said the northeastern Sylhet region, parts of central Bangladesh and southeastern Chattogram region was likely to witness some welcome shower but it would unlikely reduce the much expected heatwave throughout the country. The country witnessed the longest duration of the heatwave for the past 25 days since April 1 and the met office warned the phenomenon would continue throughout the next month. "But unlike the previous heatwaves, this year it spread all over the country," commented meteorologist Abul Kalam Mollik, who was supported by Zebunnesa as well. Visibly for the first time the meteorologists acknowledged that the climate change phenomenon caused the erratic weather pattern with gradually expanding areas of heatwave, joining the voice with the climate experts and activists. They said the heatwave also affected most parts of South Asia and partly East Asia with countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Thailand the Philippines and Vietnam. According to the latest met office bulletin issued at 3 pm, the highest temperature was recorded at 42.6 degrees Celsius in Chuadanga, a day after Jashore recorded the year's highest temperature at 42.7 degrees Celsius. The temperature in Dhaka was recorded at 37.4 degrees Celsius but the high humidity has exposed the residents to massive discomfort. "A very severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Rajshahi, Chuadanga and Pabna and severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Tangail, Bogura, Bagerhat, Jashore and Kushtia," the bulletin read. It said mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping ove r rest parts of Dhaka, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions and the divisions of Rangpur, Mymensingh and Barishal and the districts of Moulvibazar, Rangamati, Chandpur, Noakhali, Feni and Bandarban and "it may continue". April is typically hot in Bangladesh as it is in other South and Southeast Asian countries, but according to meteorologists, temperatures this month have been unusually high which was highlighted by international media outlets as well. According to the New York Times, hundreds of millions of people in South and Southeast Asia were suffering from a grueling heatwave that has forced schools to close, disrupted agriculture, and raised the risk of heat strokes and other health complications. The recent report also specially acknowledged the Bangladesh scenario saying temperature in some areas soared above 42 degrees Celsius but the "numbers don't quite capture how extreme humidity makes the heat feel even worse". The schools across the country were closed due to the extreme weather but students are struggling to or doing anything at home as well. "I don't feel like studying or doing anything . . . Can't concentrate on my home study," a class 7 student, Ayazur Rahman, said. The situation exposed housewives and women to extreme miseries particularly in regard to cooking with one of them saying "my head starts spinning, I feel like I will fall to the ground whenever I go near the stove". The heatwave prompted thousands of people to gather in city mosques having air condition facilities and rural fields, praying for relief from the scorching heat. The heatwave has forced the healthcare facilities to take emergency measures to provide medical services with higher number of patients reporting to hospitals with heat-related ailments since the beginning of April while the children and elderly people appeared as the most vulnerable during this prolonged hot weather. "Large numbers of people are becoming ill with heatstroke, dehydration, exhaustion and breathing problems and they are suffering from other hea t-related diseases as well," Director of Mugda Medical College and Hospital Dr Md Niatuzzaman told BSS. The other hospitals and healthcare facilities including Shishu Hospital, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital and International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) reported identical scenarios. "Nearly, 500 diarrhoea patients have been admitted to the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B). A significant number of patients are getting admission to ICDDRB daily," ICDDR'B spokesman AKM Tariful Islam Khan told BSS two days ago. The health ministry issued a directive to take extra measures to face the crisis in hospitals across the country. Doctors suggested people to stay indoors as much as possible and wear weather-suitable clothes during exposure to sun to protect themselves from heatstroke and take rest after one or two hours during working period alongside consuming more liquid food beside water to avoid dehydration during the heatwave. " Our brains can tolerate certain level of temperature, if it exceeds people may faint, suffer heatstroke besides suffering from dehydration causing electrolyte imbalance and other complications including kidney dysfunction," former Suhrawardy Hospital director Professor Dr Khalilur Rahman said. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

National Legal Aid Services Day' will be observed across the country tomorrow with a view to ensuring the rule of law, fundamental human rights and justice for everyone. To mark the day, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliament and National Legal Aid Services Organisation have jointly taken various programmes. On the occasion, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages wishing success of the day. In his message, the President said that the greatest Bengali of all time, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had dreamt of building a democratic and prosperous country which would be free from all sorts of discrimination. Bangabandhu established a strong judiciary system by enacting the Constitution in 1972 to ensure justice for the people. "According to the Constitution, all are equal before the law and all are entitled to equal protection of the law. In order to make this right a reality, the government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ena cted the National Legal Aid Provision Act 2000 and established the National Legal Aid Services Organisation," said the President. He said the government under the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly to build a 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041. The judiciary will have to join this journey through establishing a modernized and smart judiciary, he added. Stating that the programme of providing legal aid to poor, financially insolvent, physically challenged people, acid victims and widows at government expense is a reflection of Bangabandhu's unique constitutional thoughts, the President hoped that the observance of National Legal Aid Services Day-2024 would be a success. The President urged judges-lawyers to take effective steps to settle quickly the cases under the programmes of the government's legal aid services. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said one of the main goals of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was to establish the rule of law, fundamental rights justice for all citizens. To do so, Bangabandhu included 18 fundamental rights in the Constitution in 1972, she added. "But after the assassination of Father of the Nation in 1975, the rules of law and basic human rights were destroyed. The occupation of power by military rulers, anti-people and anti-liberation forces had obstructed establishing the rights of the people," she said. She said the government has been working to build a Smart Bangladesh prosperous Bangladesh by 2041 and in the Smart Bangladesh, all government's activities and services will be cost-effective, sustainable, knowledge-based and innovative. "National Legal Aid Services Organisation' has been providing legal aid to people who are financially insolvent and are unable to get justice for socio-economic constraints to ensure access to justice in the journey of sustainable development," she added. She said the district legal aid offices are now not merely legal aid centers, as these centres have become Alternative Dispute Resolut ion Centers in order to reduce pending cases in courts across the country. "I believe, smart legal aid will help build a smart government, smart society and above all, Smart Bangladesh. With the combined efforts of all, we will be able to build 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by Bangabandhu, by ensuring good governance," she said. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The 'Greater Chattogram Public Transport Owners and Oikya Parishad (GCPTOP) called a 48-hour strike in five districts on four-point demand, including protesting the burning of vehicles at the Chattogram University of Engineering and Technology (CUET). The decision was made at a meeting of the Public Transport Owners-Workers Oikya Parisad on Saturday amid the ongoing student protests over the deaths of two CUET students in an accident, said Md Musa, member secretary of the organization. The strike will be enforced from 6 am on Sunday in the Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari districts, he added. "We want safety of our assets and transport workers," Musa told the meeting. Musa said all sorts of public transports including buses, minibuses, coaches, tempos and auto rickshaws will not run on the streets as part of the four-point demand. "We were forced to declare the programme as the administration and the concerned law enforcers failed to meet our demands in different times," he added. Two CUET students died in a road accident between a bus and a motorcycle near Selina Quader Chowdhury College on Apr 22. Aggrieved by the deaths, students began holding a protest at the CUET gate on Monday. They set a Shah Amanat Paribahan Group bus on fire that night and vandalized another of their buses. CUET closed sine die following the death of its two students on Friday. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

All the primary schools, high schools and colleges across the country will be reopened tomorrow after one week of extended closure due to the hot weather following the Eid holidays. The Ministry of Primary and Mass Education today took the decision of reopening the classes from tomorrow while Secondary and Higher Education Division on April 25 decided to resume the classes from April 28. In the primary schools, class hours will be limited to the cooler morning hours, from 8:00 am to 11:30 am. For schools operating in two shifts, the first shift will run from 8:00 am to 9:30 am and the second from 9:45 am to 11:30 am. Despite these changes, pre-primary level classes will remain closed until further notice, and daily school assemblies will be suspended to avoid prolonged exposure to the heat. Academic activities will be held on every Saturday until further notice to make up the loss of lessons caused by closure of the institutions due to heat wave and other reasons. Academic activities which are performed outside of classrooms will remain limited. Earlier, on April 20, due to the ongoing heatwave conditions, the authorities concerned extended the closure of schools, colleges, madrasas, and technical education institutions across the country until April 27. These institutions were initially scheduled to reopen after the Eid holidays on April 21. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The National Occupational Health and Safety Day-2024' will be observed in the country in a befitting manner tomorrow. President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted all the hard-working people of the world in separate messages on the eve of the 'National Occupational Health and Safety Day-2024'. The President, in his message, said this year's theme of the day "Sustha Sramik, Shovon Kormo Poribesh, Gore Tuli Smart Bangladesh (Healthy workers, decent workplaces, build a Smart Bangladesh)," is very time-befitting and appropriate one. He said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had struggled throughout his life for establishing the rights of exploited and deprived working-class people. Bangladesh under the leadership of Bangabandhu became member of International Labour Organization (ILO) in 1972 and in the same year, Bangabandhu declared country's labour policy, the President added. He said 'Bangladesh Labor Act 2006' and 'Bangladesh Labor Rules 2015' were formula ted to ensure safe and decent working environment. Mohammed Shahbuddin said following the principles and ideology of Bangabandhu, the present government is implementing various welfare programmes to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and build a prosperous Smart Bangladesh by 2041. He urged all concerned, including the government, owners and labour community to work together for making health safety practice in the workplace as a national culture in accordance with the national and international labor standards. In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted all working-class people of Bangladesh and all over the world on the occasion of the day. During the three and a half years rule, the greatest Bengali of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman laid emphasis on the welfare of the working-class people, she said, adding that Bangabandhu declared labour policy for the first time on September 27, 1972 and formed wage commission for industrial workers and fixed minimum wag es in different sectors. She said her government amended and updated the Bangladesh Labour Act putting much emphasis on ensuring health safety and proper and safe work environment for workers following the ideology of Bangabandhu. Awami League government has formulated 'National Occupational Health and Safety Policy 2013' and 'Bangladesh Labour Rules 2015', she said, adding that National Occupational Safety and Health Training and Research Institute (NOSHTRI) was established in Rajshahi for enhancing the skills of workers, owners and factory management authorities in line with the international standard and protocol. The Prime Minister said in line with the Awami League's election manifesto, the government's main priority is to flourish industrial sector and ensure workers' rights and decent working environment for building a developed-prosperous and Smart Bangladesh. Country's labour sector will have to be built as a smart one for improving the life standard of the working-class people and professional s afety and security, she added. Sheikh Hasina urged all concerned to work together to build a hungry-poverty free developed 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The President and the Prime Minister wished success of all programmes of the day. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha