Day: May 2, 2024

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has pledged to provision the setup of innovation fund in the upcoming fiscal year's policy, programme and budget for the expansion of information technology sector. In his address to a programme organized on the occasion of the 7th National ICT Day here today, PM Dahal informed that groundwork was being done for the formulation of necessary laws for the establishment of the innovation fund. "The government believes that economic and social transformation can be achieved only through the development, expansion and use of communications and information technology," he said, adding, the young scientists will be encouraged to earn income through information technology at their own capacity and access. He made it clear that the government was seriously working to integrate and effectively implement the 'Startup Programme' focusing on the youth. Prosperity could be achieved through development, good governance and employment only by accepting information technology as the 'leading factor', the Prime Minister said while appealing to all concerned for rapid development in the field of communications and information technology for economic and social transformation of the common people through it. "The government is committed to make necessary policy and legal arrangements to ensure the development, expansion and safe use of information technology," he noted. PM Dahal said the incidents related to cybercrime, which ware on the rise lately would be controlled through legal and policy measures. Source: National News Agency Nepal

An elderly couple died in a fire broke out at their house in Thakre rural municipality-5, Purandanda, Ghattekhola of Dhading. Tej Bahadur Lama, 70, and his wife Thuli Lama were killed in a fire that broke out in the house last night, Dhading Police Chief Superintendent of Police Gautam KC told RSS. All the food and clothes in the house have been destroyed. "At around 11.30 pm, we got information about the fire in the house. A team from Hapsechaur temporary police post and Area Police Office, Khanikhola reached the spot where the elderly couple were already dead", SP KC informed. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: Sub-editor at the International Desk of the Rastriya Samachar Samiti, Dilip Sharma, has been bereaved of his mother. His mother Dil Kumari Sharma, 80, passed away this morning. Suffering from brain hemorrhage for the past six months, Dil Kumari died at Mulpani-based residence at 9:00 am. A resident of Baglung municipality-12, she was born in 2002 BS. Her last rites would be performed at Pashupati Aryaghat today itself. She is survived by seven sons including sub-editor Sharma. Source: National News Agency Nepal

The first international conference related to community mental health is to be organised at the Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (KAHS), Jumla. The two-day event is going to be organised from May 4 at the collaboration of Harvard University Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatric Department, America, and KAHS, Jumla. Harvard University's Faculty Dr Shreedhar Poudel said the conference of international standard is going to be organised with an objective of taking mental health services among the access of all citizens of remote areas. More than 90 psychiatrists, psychologists and psycho-social counsellors from Nepal and four from America would participate in the conference. Around 50 working papers related to mental illness would be presented in the conference, he added. Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population, Social Development Minister of Karnali Province, chiefs of local governments and representatives of non-government offices would participate in the conference. Vice-Chancellor of KA HS, Jumla, Dr Mangal Rawal, mentioned that the conference would help to improve mental health situation of Nepal including Karnali folks. He further added, "There will be collaboration and partnership between Harvard University and KAHS in health education, research and services." Similarly, Head of General Practice and Emergency Department of the KAHS, Dr Tula Gupta, shared that the conference is going to be organised keeping the mental health condition of citizens of remote areas in mind despite different challenges. The conference would also issue 'Jumla Declaration'. Centre for Mental Health and Counseling Nepal, Health Foundation, Integrated Mental Health Centre and Nepal Health Corps will work as partner agencies in the conference. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Kathmandu: The Pokhara Regional International Airport which was temporarily closed for the past few days due to a low visibility issue has resumed its services from this morning. According to Buddha Air's information office Dipendra Kumar Karna, the airport was reopened after the status of its visibility improved. In the past four days, flight operations were completely halted for two days while flights were operated partially in the remaining two days. Incidents of forest fires near the airport and the presence of haze contributed to the low visibility in the area. However, with improved weather conditions this morning, air services have been restored. Passengers who had flight tickets during this period opted to travel by road. Source: National News Agency Nepal

The met office forecasts rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind in parts of five divisions in the next 24 hours from 9am today "Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind may occur at a few places in Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at one or two places in Dhaka, Mymensingh and Barishal divisions with hails at isolated places in next 24 hours beginning from 9am today," it said. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) weather report also said very severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Jashore, Khulna, Chuadanga, Pabna and Rajshahi. Severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalgonj and rest parts of Khulna division as mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping elsewhere over the country, it added. The heat wave may abate from some places over eastern part of the country, it continued. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country. Day temperature may fall slightly over western part and it may fall by 1-2 degrees Celsius elsewhere over the country. Night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Country's maximum temperature on Wednesday was recorded 42.8 degrees Celsius jointly at Chuadanga and Jashore, and the minimum temperature today was 19.7 degrees Celsius at Tetulia. Rainfall for last 24 hours till 6 AM today was recorded 28mm at Kutubdia. The sun sets at 6:28 PM today and rises at 5:23 AM tomorrow in the capital. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has said the cooperation of former administrators and economic experts is needed to make the budget for an upcoming fiscal year objective and in compatible with time. According to the Finance Minister's Secretariat, the Minister sought submissions from former finance secretaries, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) former governor and former vice chairs of the National Planning Commission in a bid to secure their opinions and expertise in regard with the new budget. During the meeting, the participants advised the government to bear in mind the implementation aspect of the budget, making its realistic. The advised for increasing capital expenditures with the reduction in the general expenditures, adopting a policy for the promotion of export trade. The submissions from the related people were for not investing from the federal government in small projects remaining within the jurisdictions of the province and local government, for resolving the problems that plague the cooper ative sector and for carrying out a structural improvement of bodies responsible for implementing the budget. Similarly, they were of the views of enhancing cooperation among the federal, province and local levels for implementing federalism effectively, accelerating and concluding the current big projects, garnering more foreign investment and motivating the morale of bureaucracy. NPC former vice chairs Dr Pushpa Raj Kandel, Dr Dinesh Chandra Devkota and Deependra Bahadur Kshetry, NRB former governor Dipendra Purush Dhakal, former chief secretary Bimal Koirala, former finance secretaries Krishnhari Sharma, Suman Sharma, Shankar Adhikari, Rajan Adhikari and Ramsharan Pudasaini were among those present in the meeting. Following the meeting, the Minister said the government has realised that the government, political parties, private sector, bureaucrats and experts from the economic sector are worried about the economic slowdown and eager to explore ways for the economic revival in the country. He stressed the need of harmonization between the government's fiscal policy and the monetary policy issued by Nepal Rastra Bank. The Finance Minister suggested gradually loosening the strictures put in place when the economy was in crisis, saying discussions were on with the NRB to that connection. According to the Finance Minister, the government is moving ahead to lift up the weak confidence of the private sector and the bureaucracy. "The confidence level of the private sector and the administrative mechanism is weak. A situation has arisen in which the political leadership has to take risk to give impetus to the country's development," he reiterated. Expressing concern over the situation in which people who are performing well in their works are having to give answers all around and those who are not performing well are becoming popular, Minister Pun said a tendency is institutionalized in the society to look at the politicians, bureaucrats and businessmen from the negative perspective. "The country's development cannot pick up speed unless someone is courageous enough to take the risk to break this mentality in society and to remove such situation," he said and called on the political and bureaucratic leadership to muster courage for the same and on the rest of the society should support them. On a different note, the Finance Minister stressed on the need of taking into consideration the economy, agriculture and the market while building infrastructure development projects. "We constructed the Mid-hills highway, but did not make the market and economic policy. We did not develop the production area. We have the East-West Postal Highway, but the population with highest poverty resides in its periphery. Such is our situation. This situation has come because the development infrastructures were not backed by the economic programmes," he explained. Stating that the report of the high-level tax reform recommendation committee is under study, Finance Minister Pun said the reform programmes would be brought through the bu dget and based on the commission's recommendations. He expressed that the government has created an environment conducive for investment by amending the associated Acts through an Ordinance coinciding with the Third Investment Summit which concluded recently. He added that the government is making efforts to infuse confidence in the private sector which comprises 90 per cent of the nation's economy. "It is the responsibility of the private sector to put in investment and create the employment opportunities. It is the government's job to facilitate in that, carry out policy reforms and to provide the appropriate platform," Finance Minister Pun observed. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina today recalled the contribution of sitting member of parliament from Jhenaidah-1 constituency Abdul Hyee to the political arena. Taking part in the condolence motion at the death of Abdul Hyee at Jatiya Sangsad (JS), she described him as a brave soul. The premier said Hyee was a good organizer as he had made the strong position for Bangladesh Awami League in an adverse area like Jhenaidah. She said Abdul Hyee had been elected time and again from such an adverse place like Jhenaidah, which was once a stronghold for terrorists and outlawed parties. "He was not only a politician but also a dedicated soul for the development of that area," she said. "Hyee had established a women's college at his constituency, she said. Mentioning that Abdul Hyee was made as the state minister for fisheries and livestock for the 2012-2014 period, she said he served his responsibility with utmost sincerity. After holding discussion on the motion by a good numbers of lawmak ers, the parliament today unanimously adopted a condolence motion expressing profound grief at the death of Abdul Hyee and some noted personalities. Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion in the House at the first sitting of the 2nd session of the 12th parliament. As per the tradition, the day's business of Parliament was adjourned after the adaptation of the condolence over the death of sitting Awami League MP Abdul Hyee to pay respect to him. Abdul Hyee, the president of Jhenaidah district unit Awami League, died at the Bumrungrad Hospital in Thailand on March 16 at the age of 78. Besides, the House expressed deep shock at the death of five former MPs- Shamshul Haque Bhuiyan (Chandpur-4), Abul Hashem (Cumilla-5), Pinu Khan (Women Seat-23), Nazir Hossain (Sunamganj-1) and Mokhlesur Rahman (Rangpur-3). The parliament also mourned the death of some noted personalities including Ekushey award-winning personality, language veteran, freedom fighter and International Crimes Tribunal's (ICT) chief prosecutor Gholam Arif Tipu, and Ekushey award-winning veteran journalist and Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim and Ekushey award-winning educationist and AL Awami League advisory council member Pranab Kumar Barua and Freedom Fighter and one of designers of Bangladesh National Flag Shib Narayan Das. A one-minute silence was observed and a munajat offered seeking the eternal peace to the departed souls. Independent lawmaker Mohammad Husamuddin Chowdhury (Sylhet-5) conducted the munajat. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has called upon the UK government to collaborate with Bangladesh to establish a peaceful and conflict-free world and to put an end to the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine. He made the call while speaking as the guest of honour at a high-profile diplomatic reception hosted by Bangladesh High Commission, London to celebrate the 54th Independence and National Day of Bangladesh, said a press release received here today. Hasan emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in conflict zones worldwide, including Gaza and Ukraine. He stressed that stopping the killing of innocent people is crucial to restoring normalcy and establishing peace. Speaker of the UK's Parliament Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP was the Chief Guest at the event where Leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt MP, UK FCDO Minister for Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and United Nations Lord Tariq Ahmad, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed MP, and Chairman of Al l-party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh Rushanara Ali, MP, spoke as special guests. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's International Affairs Adviser Professor Dr. Gowher Rizvi, former Foreign Minister and Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs Dr AK Abdul Momen, MP, and State Minister for Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, MP, attended the reception. Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem gave welcome remarks at the reception held at the historic Churchill Room of Queen Elizabeth II sited in a magnificent setting centring the British Parliament. In his speech, Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud paid profound homage to Bangladesh's Founding Father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the 3 million martyrs, and the valiant freedom fighters of the 1971 War of Liberation. He expressed his gratitude to the UK Government, its citizens, and the British-Bangladeshi diaspora for their support during Bangladesh's War of Liberation, and pledged to ele vate Bangladesh-UK historical relations to new heights under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He paid tribute to British Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath, who warmly welcomed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib as the President of independent Bangladesh at No 10 Downing Street on 8 January 1972. The minister also paid tributes to the then opposition Leader and two-time British Prime Minister Sir Harold Wilson, who welcomed Bangabandhu in London and later mourned his brutal assassination on 15 August 1975. "Bangabandhu's shared values of democracy, secularism and progressive aspirations with these stalwart British leaders and his special love and affection for his British Bangladeshi compatriots set the foundation of today's Bangladesh-UK friendship", he said. Dr. Mahmud thanked Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for emphasizing his commitment to enhancing the economic and security partnership between Bangladesh and the UK in his congratulatory letter to Prime Minister Hasina after the national electi on on January 7th, 2024. He stated that Prime Minister Hasina remains dedicated to strengthening their robust trade, investment, aviation, climate, defence, security, and migration cooperation to the next level in her current term, as agreed upon by the two Prime Ministers in London last May. The minister termed the UK as a true friend of Bangladesh and hoped that Bangladesh-UK friendship would continue to thrive, as they are an important partner in ensuring peace, prosperity, and security in the Bay of Bengal and a free, open, peaceful, and secure Indo-Pacific region. He also emphasized the importance of the UK's support in the early repatriation of 1.2 million Rohingyas back to their ancestral home in Myanmar. He highlighted the sustained economic growth of Bangladesh over the past one and a half decades under the globally acclaimed dynamic Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who has leapfrogged Bangladesh from 41st to the world's 34th largest economy- just over the past decade. Today, the world has its eyes on Bangladesh, which is set to become the 9th largest consumer market by 2030, and a tech-based 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041. The minister commended the Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK for launching the 'Bangabandhu-Edward Heath Friendship Award' and the 'Bangabandhu-Harold Wilson Friendship Award.' Speaker of the UK's Parliament Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP in his speech paid tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and recalled the contribution of the British-Bangladeshis to the War of Liberation in 1971. He reaffirmed that the UK would remain a steadfast partner of Bangladesh efforts towards a developed country. Penny Mordaunt, MP, commended Bangladesh's recent progress and assured that the UK would collaborate with Bangladesh to build a better and prosperous future. He also praised the significant role of the British-Bangladeshi diaspora for their contribution to the UK's economy and society. Lord Tariq Ahmad lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for upholding the values and spirit of Bangabandhu in creating a self-sustaining, inclusive, and secular Bangladesh, which is now one of the world's most rapidly growing economies. He said that Sheikh Hasina is a leader who showed the world the magnanimity of humanity by hosting over a million of Rohingya displaced from the country Myanmar. Lord Tariq Ahmad also praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her efforts in upholding the values and ideals of Bangabandhu, which has resulted in a self-sustaining, inclusive, and secular Bangladesh. He also highlighted Bangladesh's rapid economic growth, which has made it one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Lord Ahmad further acknowledged Sheikh Hasina's compassionate leadership in providing refuge to over a million Rohingya people who were displaced from Myanmar. Paying deep homage to the Father of the Nation and 1971 martyrs, High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem in her welcome remarks said Bangabandhu founded Bangladesh on democratic, secular, and progressive values. Now, as Prime Minister Sheikh Has ina relentlessly strides to realise Bangabandhu's vision of a prosperous Bangladesh, the UK remains a crucial partner in achieving this goal, she said. The High Commissioner thanked Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for his congratulatory message to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following January election, and also recalled the bilateral meeting of the two Premiers where they agreed to take Bangladesh-UK relations to new heights towards a sustainable, greener and more prosperous future. High Commissioner also thanked the UK Government for its continued support to the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh, and urged the UK to take stronger diplomatic leadership for the return of the Rohingyas to their ancestral home in Myanmar. In her speech, the envoy thanking the Foreign Minister Lord David Cameron for his congratulatory message to Bangladesh Foreign Minister, also highlighted the significant collaborations between Bangladesh and the UK in various fields including in trade, investment, climate, aviation, and defence, and said that the first-ever home office dialogue between the two countries would be held later this month. The Foreign Minister along with the UK's Speaker, High Commissioner and distinguished guests unveiled the exclusive "Mujib and Britain' publication by Bangladesh High Commission, London and handed over the Bangabandhu-Edward Heath Friendship Award' and the 'Bangabandhu-Harold Wilson Award' to two great friends of Bangladesh Lord Marland and Lord Swaraj Paul respectively to honour their extraordinary contributions in promoting Bangladesh-UK Friendship. The event's highlights included an Exhibition on Bangabandhu, a colourful cultural performance by British-Bangladeshi prominent performers; and a traditional Bangladeshi Saree exhibition. It was well attended by the vibrant presence of a distinguished selection of guests including UK parliament members, UK government officials, eminent British Politicians, high commissioners and ambassadors, senior representatives from Commonwealth and International Maritim e Organisation (IMO), and representatives from the diplomatic missions in London, think tanks, members of the media, academia as well as members of the Bangladesh community in the UK. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The sitting of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) resumed at 5.04 pm today with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair. The day's proceedings began with recitation from the Holy Quran. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Rajshahi University (RU) has attained its place among 500 top universities in Asia. Times Higher Education (THE), a periodical related to education based in the United Kingdom (UK), has recently published a ranking list of 2024 showing RU's place among 401-500. In the list, 21 universities in Bangladesh including RU have come, said a press release issued by RU Public Relation Office here today. The ranking list has been made based on some indicators, including education standard, teachers-students ratio, research standard and citation rate and international students. Published in THE's website on April 30 the list showed RU, Dhaka University and Brac University grabbed the third position jointly among Bangladesh's universities. The release added that RU Vice-chancellor (VC) Professor Golam Sabbir Sattar has joined a conference on 'Going Global Asia Pacific' held in Singapore in November 2022 and talked with the THE education and research officials about planning towards taking the RU to world standard through development. Subsequently, the VC has adopted all sorts of time-fitting steps and implemented those efficiently. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Two people were killed in lightning strikes in Baghaichhari upazila and Sylheti Para area of the district town today. The deceased were identified as Baharjan, 60, a resident of Muslim block area of ??Baghaichhari upazila and Nazir Ahmed, 45, a resident of Sylheti Para of the district town. Baghaichhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shireen Akhter confirmed killing of Baharjan by lightning while bringing cattle from the field amid rain this morning. Meanwhile, Nazir Ahmed was injured by lightning when he was catching fish in Kaptai Lake in Sylheti Para area of the district town around 9am this morning. He was taken to Rangamati General Hospital where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha