Day: May 17, 2024

Bangladesh Awami League (AL) and its front organisations today celebrated the 44th homecoming day of its President Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the city and district in a befitting manner. On the occasion of Sheikh Hasina's Homecoming Day, various social, cultural and political organisations, including the Awami League, have taken different programmes on the day. Special doa and prayers were offered at different mosques, temples, churches and pagodas in the city and district seeking the long and healthy life of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on this occasion. The programmes included placing of wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman followed by milad mahfil and discussion. Chattogram city, north and south district units of AL observed the day through elaborate programmes including placing of wreaths at Bangabandhu's portrait at the party office this morning and holding of discussions, milad and doa mahfil. Chattogram city unit of AL will organize a discussion a t city's Internation Convention hall around 11 am tomorrow with its President Mahtab Uddin Chowdhury in the chair. Meanwhile, Chattogram south and north district AL also organised same programme at their respective offices at Anderkilla and Dost Building offices in the morning. Chattogram south district AL president Motherul Islam Chowdhury presided over the south district function at its Andarkillah office at 3 pm today. Narrating the enormous importance of the day, Motherul Islam Chowdhury said Sheikh Hasina removed the darkness from the country which engulfed the entire nation after the assassination of Bangabandhu and most of his family members on August 15, 1975, after returning to the country. Motherul Islam said Bangladesh has now become a global role model of development under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina. North district AL President M A Salam in their respective function urged the leaders and activists of AL to work unitedly for speeding up the development to ensure welfare of mass people for making the hard-earned independence a success. On the other hand, different units of Bangladesh Chhatra League, Awami-Juba League and other associate bodies of AL brought out several processions in different areas of the city marking the day. On May 17 in 1981, Sheikh Hasina returned to the country after a long exile. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid today said Bengali culture will be enriched through the exchange of cultures and traditions among different countries. 'Our culture will be more elegant if we can practice it with Japanese art and education. Cultural relations will be strengthened if we establish cultural institutions, hold cultural programmes and ensure exhibitions,' he said while inaugurating Calligraphy Workshop at Hamidur Rahman Cultural Centre at Zinzira in Keraniganj, the outskirt of the capital. Hamidur Rahman Cultural Centre and the Japanese Embassy in Dhaka jointly organized the workshop dedicated to art enthusiasts and cultural connoisseurs alike. Japanese Ambassador in Dhaka IWAMA Kiminori spoke as the special guest. Among others, Chairman of Youth Global Foundation and Director of Hamid Sports Academy Dr Sheema Hamid and Principal of Hamidur Rahman Cultural Centre and renowned singer Fahmida Nabi were present on the occasion. The state minister said, 'Throug h the calligraphy programme, friendly relations between Japan and Bangladesh will be strengthened in the days to come.' 'Moreover, participants will get to know in detail about the rich tradition of Japanese calligraphy through this event. 'Calligraphy requires concentration and a steady mindset, and through this one can control himself or herself. This quality will also spread among the participants through the calligraphy workshop,' he added. Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh IWAMA Kiminori said, 'The existing bilateral relations with Bangladesh will be strengthened further through the exchange of cultural activities.' He said that the workshop will allow participants to enter the Japanese calligraphy sector. The workshop was divided into five groups. Each group will have 20 participants, while each session will last 30 minutes. Satoko Azuma, an acclaimed Japanese calligraphy expert, conducted the workshop, offering attendees to explore various arenas of Japanese calligraphy art among school-going stu dents. Around 200 students from class-VI-VII of Keraniganj High School took part in the inaugural ceremony. They thoroughly enjoyed the Japanese culture and traditions. Talking to BSS, Shirin Akter, a student of class-VI said she came to the Hamidur Rahman Cultural Centre to learn Japanese culture and got encouraged to practice Japanese calligraphy, as renowned calligraphers from Japan practically taught her. The workshop celebrated the elegance of Japanese calligraphy to strengthen cultural connections between Japan and Bangladesh through the art of calligraphy. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Bangladesh and the United Kingdom (UK) held their first ever Joint Working Group meeting on Home Affairs on Thursday in London at the British Home Office and signed the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on Returns. British Minister for Countering Illegal Migration James Tomlinson-Mynors KC, and Bangladesh High Commissioner in London Saida Muna Tasneem opened the JWG meeting and witnessed the signing of the SOPs between the two countries, according to a message received here today. The Bangladesh-UK SOPs on Returns is a successor to the earlier signed Bangladesh-EU SOPs of 2017, the procedure that used to be followed before UK's exit from the EU for returning Bangladeshi overstayers from the UK. Bangladesh envoy Tasneem in her opening statement recalled the genesis of the value-driven diplomatic relations between the two Commonwealth countries based on the historic friendship between Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and UK's Conservative Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath. R eaffirming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's zero tolerance stance against irregular migration, the High Commissioner said, "Bangladesh High Commission London in collaboration with UK Home Office has been returning certain numbers of undocumented Bangladeshis for more than a decade." She said the number of undocumented Bangladeshis in the UK is minimal at this moment, and the Bangladesh Home Office would work closely with the British Home Office with support from the High Commission. "The good news is that Bangladesh is not even within the top ten countries in terms of numbers of undocumented nationals in the UK, and yet we needed to formalize this MoU with the post-Brexit UK," the envoy said. Apart from signing of the SOPs, the Joint Working Group on Home Affairs discussed opportunities of orderly migration including skilled and high talent migration from Bangladesh to the UK, opened avenues for discussion on mutual legal assistance, extradition, transnational crimes and countering terrorism and e xtremism, as well as capacity building of Bangladesh's law enforcement agencies. Bangladesh home ministry's additional secretary Khairul Kabir Menon and Director General of the UK's Immigration Enforcement, Home office Bas Javid led their respective sides. Senior representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Bangladesh, Bangladesh Police and the Special Branch, as well as representatives from Bangladesh High Commission London participated at the meeting. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md Atiqul Islam has called upon the councilors to strengthen awareness campaigns in the surrounding areas over dengue disease. 'Awareness programs should be carried out in the surrounding areas of dengue-affected people including, their houses, after collecting lists. Inquiries should be made at houses of dengue-affected patients in their respective wards,' he said. He made the call while chairing the 27th corporation meeting of the 2nd Parishad in the hall of Nagar Bhaban in the city's Gulshan area on Thursday. The mayor also stressed the need for holding meetings and awareness rallies with the participation of local dignitaries, politicians, imams, teachers and students to control dengue. 'Each councilor is being given Taka 50,000 to conduct awareness campaign for dengue menace,' he added. He also advised all to keep their homes and surroundings clean so that stagnant water cannot confine in any place. With DNCC Secretary Mohammed Masud Alam Sidd ique in the chair, the meeting was attended, among others, by Chief Executive Officer of DNCC Mir Khairul Alam, Chief Engineer Brigadier General Md Moin Uddin, Chief Health Officer Brigadier General Imrul Kayes Chowdhury, Chief Waste Management Officer Captain Mohammad Fida Hasan and all departmental heads, councilors and senior officials of DNCC. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) today arrested Akim Bam, chief coordinator of Bandarban Sadar and Rowangchari Zone of the Kuki- Chin National Front's (KNF) women wing, from Laimi Para in Sadar upazila of Bandarban. Squadron leader of RAB-15 Touhidul Mubin Khan informed BSS through a short message. He, however, said that detailed information regarding the arrest will be provided later. He said Akim Bam has received military training at home and abroad. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Utmost importance should be given on generating mass-awareness about consumption of safe food as it can be the best way of freeing the public health from all sorts of risks. All concerned and other stakeholders who are involved in producing, manufacturing, processing, marketing and supplying of food should come forward and work together with utmost sincerity and honesty to reach safe food to the consumers in general. The observation came at a training workshop by academics and experts who unequivocally called for concerted efforts of all concerned to ensure food safety. The District office of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) and the Department of Tourism and Hospitality in Rajshahi University (RU) jointly hosted the workshop at RU's Deans' Complex.today. Around 50 persons, including hall provosts, chef, assistant chef and other supporting staff in dining halls of 17 RU dormitories, were present at the workshop. RU Pro-vice-chancellors Prof Sultan Ul Islam and Prof Humayun Kabir add ressed the workshop as guests of honour, while BFSA Secretary Akhter Mamun was in the chair. RU Treasurer Prof Obayedur Rahman Pramanik, Chairman of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Prof Mazedul Islam and BFSA Officer Chinmoy Pramanik also spoke. Prof Sultan Ul Islam said the country has almost attained food security amid the competent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at present and this is the high time of ensuring food safety to build sound public health everywhere in the society. He said the fight against food adulteration has intensified after the government established BFSA in 2015 stressing the need for creating mass awareness among all levels of people to check food waste and adulteration. Highlighting the success of the present government towards attaining food surplus he underscored the need for creating mass awareness to fight against the food waste and adulteration malpractices. Prof Sultan Ul Islam urged the participants to serve improved and hygienic food to th e students as they are the future of the nation and called for performing duties with utmost sincerity and honesty. In his remarks, Prof Humayun Kabir mentioned that adulterated and contaminated foods always pose a serious threat to the public health and called for taking punitive measures against the food adulteration and contamination so that no more dare to commit such types of crimes. The existing acts and the law enforcers alone would never be able to salvage the situation unless people from all walks of life became adequately aware about the harms of taking adulterated foods and took firm stand against such immoral mindset. 'We need the people to come forward to stop these harmful practices,' he said, adding that concerted efforts of all the government and non-government organizations concerned have become indispensable for protecting agriculture, livestock and fisheries from all sorts of pollution and contamination to ensure food safety. Besides, utmost emphasis should be given on freein g the markets and other outlets from all sorts of unhygienic and unsafe foods because those are injurious to public health. Time has come to bring all the street food selling shops and hotels under close monitoring and vigilance to prevent them from selling unhygienic and contaminated foods on an urgent basis, he added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The 44th homecoming day of Awami League (AL) President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was celebrated here today recalling her returning home on May 17 in 1981 from a long exile. Lalmonirhat district AL and its front organizations organized day-long programs marking the day. The programmes included placing floral wreaths at the portraits of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, hoisting the national and party flags, milad mahfil and discussion meeting. The main discussion was held at the district AL office this morning that was joined by the leaders and workers of AL and its affiliated organizations. Member of Parliament (MP) from Lalmonirhat-3 constituency and district Awami League General Secretary and Advocate Matiar Rahman addressed the function as the chief guest with Sadar Upazila Awami League Convener Nazrul Haque Raju in the chair. District Jubo League President Morol Humayun Kabir, District Chhatra League Vice-President Sheikh Tanveer Al Huda and members of affiliated organiz ations, among others, were present. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Agricultural experts and extension officials urged the farmers to produce export quality mango in the region including its vast Barind tract for earning more foreign currency. They mentioned need-based measures were taken to bring all the mango farmers under requisite training for promotion of modern technologies to make the mango harvesting and marketing process safe and hygienic for its boost export. They were addressing a daylong mango farmers training for exporting mango at Binodpur mango orchard in Bagha upazila of the district on Thursday. SMR Agro-tech Industry Limited organised the training titled "Mango Collection, Segregation, Packaging, Transportation and Orchard nursing" aimed at exporting mango through following best agricultural practices. Around 100 farmers, including 35 contract growers, joined the training. Chairman of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank Roisul Alam Mondal and Former Director General (DG) of Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) Nurul Islam addressed the trainin g as the chief and special guests respectively with Chairman of the agro-tech industry Azharul Islam in the chair. Managing Director of Agro-tech Industry Faisal Kabir, Upazila Agriculture Officer Shafiullah Sultan and Union Parishad Chairman Saiful Islam also spoke. Roisul Alam Mondal mentioned that modern technologies need to be promoted commercially in mango orchards in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts during the pre-harvest season to protect mango from pest attack besides facilitating the farmers to get quality and better yield. Mango is a leading seasonal cash crop of the country's northwest region and dominates the economy in the two districts famous for the delicious fruit. He said there are about 30 lakh mango trees of different ages and varieties on some 32,816 hectares in the region. If the fruit bagging method was used substantially and use of harmful chemical insecticides and pesticides could be reduced to a greater extent, the technology will open up a new door of exporting m ango of the two districts, to various foreign markets. In his remarks, Azharul Islam said there are bright prospects of exporting mangoes worth around Taka 200 crore from the region, including its vast Barind tract, during the current season as both acreage and yearly yield of the delicious fruit have been rising gradually for the last couple of years. Mangoes produced in Bagha and Charghat upazilas were exported to different countries, including Europe, Middle East and Asia, during the last couple of years. The delicious seasonal fruits will also be exported this year. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over eight divisions across the country, said met office forecast for the next 24 hours begins from 9am today. "Mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and it may continue," the forecast said. Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Sylhet division with hails at isolated places. Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, it added. Trough of westerly low lies over West Bengal to North-west Bay. Country's maximum temperature on Thursday was recorded 39.5 degree Celsius at Ishwardi and today's minimum temperature 24.0 degree Celsius was recorded at Tetulia. Maximum rainfall for the last twenty-four hours till 6am today was recorded 03 millimeters (mm) at Rajshahi. Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Due to increase of mois ture incursion, the discomfort may persist. The sun sets at 06.35 pm today and rises at 05.15 am tomorrow in the capital. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Prime Minister and Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina today vowed that her party will take the country towards prosperity overcoming all the conspiracies to give the people a beautiful and improved life. "Conspiracies are hatched every time and we overcome them. We have to keep it up," she said. She was addressing the leaders and activists of the AL, who came to her official Ganabhaban residence here, to greet her on her Homecoming Day in the morning. The Prime Minister said she never thinks what she gets or will get in future rather to build a beautiful future of the countrymen. "That is our target and we are working to implement it," she said. The Prime Minister recalled her homecoming on May 17 in 1981 when she was welcomed by hundreds of thousands of people defying the storm and rain. She continued that when she returned to Bangladesh in 1981, the country was then run by war criminals and the killers of Father of the Nation and most of his family members. The Prime Minister said she returne d to the country despite she knew she might have been killed so that she had believe in the countrymen and leaders and activists of the Awami League. "I return to the country as I have strong believed in the people of the country and the leaders and activists of the Awami League," she said. Sheikh Hasina said she had no experience in running such a big organisation when she took the charge of the AL as its president. "Now the Awami League has become the country's strongest, largest and most acceptable organisation among the people," she said. Sheikh Hasina said that the AL assumed power for fifth term, she said, adding that her party first came to power in 1996 and then in 2009 to till the date. "Today's Bangladesh is a changed Bangladesh," she said. The premier said her government has changed Bangladesh with massive development across Bangladesh in the last 15 years. But, the governments after assassination of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family mem bers on August 15, 1975, did nothing for the development of the country and its people. They rather killed hundreds of military officials and inhumanly tortured and killed Awami League leaders and activists to hang on to power, she said. Sheikh Hasina said if someone has no political will and patriotism alongside commitment to take the country forward he or she cannot march the country ahead. "They (governments after 1975 changeover) did nothing for the country's development," she said. The Prime Minister said her government has been able to brought changes to the country as they are committed to make fortunes of the countrymen. "No we can say, we have been able to change Bangladesh and we have to march ahead further," she said. The Prime Minister said they are ready to face disaster as she has an well-organised political party and hundreds of thousands of committed partymen. "We have been able to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic as we have a well-organised political party and its associate bodies. A polit ical will is also required in doing so and the Awami League had that," she said. No other political parties except the Awami League stood beside the people during the period of Covid-19 pandemic and many AL leaders and workers have sacrificed their life in doing so, she said. "No other organizations except Awami League do the sacrifice," she said. Sheikh Hasina, also President of the Awami League, said they have reestablished the rights which the people of the country had earlier achieved through blood. The history of the country was distorted and a ban was imposed on plying Bangabandhu's historic 7th March speech and Joy Bangla slogan, she said. The Joy Bangla slogan has returned while the 7th March speech in 1971 by Bangabandhu was now internationally recognized and the 21st February is currently recognized as internationally recognized. "We have been able to reestablish the rights which were achieved through the blood of the Bangladeshi people," she said. The Prime Minister also recalled the contrib ution of the AL leaders and workers to bring back the democratic trend in Bangladesh through long struggle defying the curfew culture at every night. She continued that her party had infused positivity among the people removing frustration due to the curfew culture and showing them hope of development and better future. "We are working to ensure a better future for the countrymen," she said. Earlier in the morning, the AL leaders and activists led by its General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader greeted their party chief Sheikh Hasina with flowers at Ganabhaban marking her 44th homecoming day. Leaders and activists of the associate and friendly bodies of the Awami League were also present at that time. Sheikh Hasina has been leading the Awami League formed by the Father of the Nation for over four decades since taking its charge after coming back to the country on May 17 in 1981 after six years of forced exile. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

State Minister for Cultural Affairs Nahid Izhar Khan 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 state 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 Bangabandhu 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 state minister signed the visitors' book at the Tungipara Mausoleum Complex. Chairman of Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) Freedom fighter Mohammad Yunus, senior officials of Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Gopalganj District Administration and Tungipara Upazila Administration, leaders of Awami League and allied organizations, among others, were present. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

A fire broke out at a plastic factory in Tongi last night while no casualties were reported, so far, due to the incident. The fire originated from a garaze adjacent to the factory around 10.45pm on Thursday night. Being informed, three fire fighting units of Tongi station rushed to the spot and brought the blaze under control after one-hour of hectic efforts, said Abu Mohammad Sajedul Kabir Joarder, senior officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Department. However, the cause of the fire and extent of damage could not be known immediately. The factory produced plastic sack and ball after melting plastic bottles, said the factory owner Abdul Hamid Lichu Mia. The fire has burnt machinery and other goods of the factory, he added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha