Standard Chartered Bangladesh and Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS) are partnering to empower 11,000 farmers from Bogura, Joypurhat, Sirajganj, Natore, Pabna and Rajshahi to adopt the eco-friendly agricultural practice of polyhouse farming. Polyhouse farming is a modern farming method that enables year-round cultivation, despite external conditions. By providing beneficiaries with polyhouse development resources and the necessary training, the Bank is optimising crop yield and quality while simultaneously catalysing income generation opportunities for thousands, said a press release. As part of this initiative, Standard Chartered is supplying watermelon seeds and other vegetable seeds to beneficiaries to improve homestead gardening efforts. The Bank will also help to set up vermicompost production centres, so that farmers can reduce their dependency on chemical fertiliser. In total, the Bank will contribute over Taka 27 million to implement this project. Lack of access to high quality seed inputs, w ater scarcity, and overuse of fertiliser and pesticides heavily impact Bangladesh's agricultural sector. To build a more sustainable and productive system, Standard Chartered and TMSS will establish polyhouse farming structures, which will empower farmers to grow high value vegetables like broccoli, capsicum, cabbage, and lettuce, as well as other fruit and flowers together. Standard Chartered is proud to work with TMSS to support 11,000 farmers in northern Bangladesh and to aid them in combating climate challenges and economic uncertainty. Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said, "For every USD 1 spent on adaptation in Bangladesh, an economic benefit of USD 10 can be generated - indicating a dire need to invest in adaptation projects." According to Standard Chartered's The Adaptation Economy report, focus areas for adaptation in Bangladesh include the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices and improved water resource infrastructure. "This transformative appr oach not only ensures consistent yields but also fosters resilience against the escalating threats of climate change, water scarcity, crop vulnerability, and pest infections," added Bijoy. Professor Dr. Hosne-Ara Begum, Founder, Thengamara Mohila Sabuj Sangha (TMSS), said, "TMSS has been working for the development of farmers since the beginning. The main purpose is to boost high-value crop farming in the drought-prone area through modern polyhouse farming methods." She also hoped that this project would help a lot of farmers to produce many varieties of crops during the off season, which will improve their economic condition. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
District Hospital, Humla faces shortage of medicines
The District Hospital in Humla has been facing a shortage of medicines for over a month. The 15-bed health facility in this mountainous district of Karnali Province has been grappling with the situation amidst a surge in patients seeking treatment for seasonal health issues. With this, patients have been compelled to seek out private medical stores to purchase medicines that are supposed to be available free of charge at the government health facility. This has increased an additional and unexpected financial burden on the patients. Dhan Bahadur Tamata, a visitor from Raya of Kharpunath rural municipality-3, was disappointed to know that he should visit a nearby private medical store to manage drugs prescribed for the treatment of his younger sister who is presently admitted to the hospital. As he said, he has already spent over four thousand rupees on medicines from private stores. According to him, the hospital pharmacy does not even have a stock of vitamin supplements. Jhapri Sunar of Thehe of Simkot r ural municipality-2 said people like her are finding it very hard to manage their budget for purchasing medicines from the private store. According to the hospital's medical officer Dr Surjan Kumar Singh, the influx of patients suffering from seasonal health issues has significantly increased in the hospital as the district has been waiting for rainfall for a long. On Sunday, around 80 patients visited the hospital while on usual days, this number would be less than 50. People walk up to one to two days to catch vehicles to reach the hospital. It does not even have anti-vomiting drugs. Chief of Health Service Office, Prem Bahadur Singh, admits the shortage of medicines in the hospital pharmacy. The purchased medicines have been stuck in Nepalgunj in suspension of air flights. In case of the resumption of flights, the transport of medicines from Nepalgunj is expected in a couple of days, he said. Source: National News Agency RSS
Jaleshwar prison house dilapidated, overcrowded
Mahottari prison building in Jaleshwar has become dilapidated due to lack of timely maintenance. This prison, which was established back in 1853, is currently 171 years old. The inmates have complained that the old building is facing risk as the roof is peeling off, the bricks of the wall are disintegrating and the wood beams on the ceiling have started hollowing eaten up by insects and the falling dust is covering the rooms. Although only 135 jailbirds could be accommodated in the prison, currently more than 500 prisoners are kept there. Chief at the prison (jailer) Ramchandra Sah said that there are more prisoners than the capacity therefore they were failing to manage basic needs to the jail birds. According to him, there are 24 rooms, 15 toilets, seven hand pumps (water taps) for the 594 prisoners in the prison. There is a problem to sleep, sit and do daily activities in the lack of space. 'Managing a large number of prisoners in a room that is about one and a half feet wide is really a problematic matter over here." Jailer Sah complained that they were frequently reporting the precarious situation of the prison house and the problem of overcrowding to concerned authorities, but no solution is made so far. Source: National News Agency RSS
Rain with winds begins in Kathmandu
Kathmandu: Rain and thundershowers have started in Kathmandu. Rain with gusty winds has been reported in most parts of Kathmandu since this morning. Meteorologist Min Kumar Aryal informed that rainfall is taking place at many places of Kathmandu. "At present, it is raining in Budhanilkantha, Sundarijal, Dhapdam and Shivpuri of Kathmandu Valley and the highest rainfall is taking place in Sundarijal. According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, rainfall is taking place at most places in the northern part of the Valley and the weather will remain cloudy with rain for about two hours. Likewise, heavy rainfall is likely to occur at one or two places of Bagmati, Koshi and Madhes provinces tonight, said Meteorologist Aryal. According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, light to moderate rain is likely to occur in Kathmandu today due to the influence of the local wind. Source: National News Agency RSS
Nepal expresses grief over passing of Iranian President, Foreign Minister
Kathmandu: The Government of Nepal has expressed sorrow over the passing of President of Iran, Dr Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash on Sunday. "We are deeply saddened to know about the passing away of His Excellency Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, President, and His Excellency Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs, of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the helicopter crash yesterday," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on the social platform, X, today. The Ministry also extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members, and the government and people of Iran. Source: National News Agency RSS
NA Chair stresses on developing Upper House as venue for resolving political issues
Kathmandu: Chairperson of the National Assembly (NA), Narayan Prasad Dahal, has said the upper house shall be developed as a forum for finding solutions to political issues. He is of the view of seeking a guardianship of the upper house in finding a way out to the ongoing parliament impasse. For this, the support of the opposition is needed. The major opposition NC obstructed the NA session today, too, demanding the formation of a parliamentary committee to probe the alleged misappropriation of cooperative funds. He urged the opposition for cooperation to regularise the parliamentary proceedings as it is mandated to proceed ahead with important bills, discuss the government policies and programmes, and present the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. As the lawmakers from the major opposition continued to stand from their respective seats as a gesture of protest, the NA Chair postponed the meeting for 1:15 on May 21, Tuesday. Source: National News Agency RSS
Nepal Day Parade observed in New York
Nepal Day Parade was organised in New York in the United States of America on Sunday. The event aimed to promote Nepal's art and culture internationally. The event organised by the Non-Resident Nepali Association, New York chapter featured presentation of artistic expressions and cultural traditions from all seven provinces of Nepal, along with highlights of Nepal's diverse tourist destinations. Various conventional Nepali musical instruments, a cultural procession, and the Deuba programme caught the attention of visitors. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who attended the celebration, emphasized that visiting Nepal is a must-do experience in one's lifetime. Stating that he was familiar with Nepal's art and culture, the mayor acknowledged the contribution of the Nepali community in New York to promote the cultural values of the city. Addressing the function, Chuck Schumer, the majority leader of the US Senate, said he was influenced by the cultural presentation during the event. As he said, one should vis it Nepal to experience its aesthetic art and culture lively. Nepali Consular General Bishnu Adhikari, Nepal Government's tourism promoter Gokul Shrestha, NRNA, US President Dr Arjun Banjade were among those present on the occasion. There was a significant presence of Nepali New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut states in the celebrations. Source: National News Agency RSS
PM secures vote of confidence amidst opposition parties’ protest
Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has obtained a vote of confidence from the parliament. This is the fourth time he sought the vote of confidence in the House of Representatives since he assumed the office in December, 2022. In the second meeting of the lower house today, the Prime Minister presented the proposal seeking the vote of trust amidst the protest and slogans from the major opposition Nepali Congress. Lawmakers representing other opposition parties also expressed their dissent by standing from their seats during the proceedings. The proposal put forth by Speaker Devraj Ghimire before the meeting for a decision received 157 votes in favour and none against the proposal while one chose to remain neutral. According to Speaker Ghimire, a total of 158 lawmakers took part in the vote of confidence procedures. The NC lawmakers picketed the well, chanting slogans against the procedures to present the Prime Minister's proposal to obtain the vote of confidence. The Speaker granted pe rmission to the Prime Minister to table the motion seeking confidence. The major opposition has been persistently obstructing parliamentary proceedings, demanding the establishment of a parliamentary committee to impartially investigate the alleged involvement of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs in the misappropriation of cooperative funds. Source: National News Agency RSS
Integrity management vital to ensure good governance in water supply
Integrity management has become crucial to ensure good governance in the water and sanitation sector for ensuring sound public health everywhere in the city. Besides, utmost emphasis should be given on ensuring transparency, accountability and participation of all stakeholders in the service delivery activities for betterment of the consumers in general. Experts and development activists came up with the observation while addressing an advocacy meeting at the conference hall of Rajshahi Water and Sewerage Authority (RWASA) here today. On behalf of its 'Support for Enhancing Accountability in Water and Sanitation Sector to address risks of WASH' Project, Wave Foundation: Together for Better Life, and Water Integrity Network (WIN): Fighting corruption in water worldwide, organized the meeting. Managing Director of RWASA Zakir Hossain addressed the meeting as focal person, while Deputy Director of Wave Foundation Kanij Fatema illustrated her organizational activities and Project Coordinator Lipi Amena gave an overview of the project along with its aims and objectives and implementation strategy. Lipi Amena also presented findings of a research conducted on the city's water supply along with the extent of consumers' satisfaction. Ward Councilors of Rajshahi City Corporation Sultana Ahmed Sagorika and Rabiul Islam and Deputy Chief Conservation Officer Selim Raza, Editor of Daily Sonar Desh Akbarul Hassan Millat, Director of Barendra Unnayan Prochesta Foyzullah Chowdhury and Regional Manager of NGO Forum for Public Health Rabiul Alam also spoke on the occasion. Zakir Hossain told the meeting that the Government of Bangladesh has been implementing the National Integrity Strategy (NIS) to establish integrity in all sectors to achieve the sustainable development goals and targets. So there is an opportunity to move forward by establishing integrity through increasing the capacity of utilities through the introduction of integrity management training. Arranging such types of advocacy meetings with all stakeholder s will make sure that the utilities are more accountable together with strengthening institutional governance. Sharing and disseminating their respective expertise the open discussants unanimously mentioned that appropriate integrity consideration can be the crucial means of proper valuation of water. Value of water is much more than its economic value because water has enormous value in terms of households, food, culture, health, education, economics and the integrity of the natural environment. So, proper valuation of water along with its enhanced protection depends on the practice of integrity at all levels. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
Nepali Congress should review its role: UML leader Poudel
Kathmandu: CPN (UML) Vice Chair Bishnu Prasad Poudel has requested the main opposition party Nepali Congress to follow the democratic practice and end the deadlock in the Parliament. In today's meeting of the House of Representatives, Poudel supported the proposal the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' presented in the House seeking a vote of confidence in accordance with Article 100, Sub-article 2 of the Constitution of Nepal and hoped for end to the deadlock in the Parliament for political stability in the country. "I request all the parties to support the government to speed up development in the country while maintaining political stability. I call upon the Nepali Congress to reconsider its role and follow democratic practices in the parliament," Poudel said. Vice Chair Poudel claimed that the current government has given a message of guaranteeing good governance, disillusionment surfaced at the civil level has been eradicated and hope is being communicated through recent efforts made by the government. The main opposition party Nepali Congress is protesting in the Parliament demanding the formation of a parliamentary probe committee regarding the misappropriation of funds of the cooperatives. Today, the process of taking the vote of confidence has progressed amid the commotion. Source: National News Agency RSS
IIUC delegation calls on President
President Mohammed Shahabuddin today asked the authorities concerned to ensure quality education along with other educational programmes as a delegation of International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC) called on him at Bangabhaban here. Chairman of the IIUC Trustee Board Professor Dr Abu Reza Mohammad Nezamuddin Nadwi led the delegation. "During the meeting, the President was apprised of the overall activities of the university by the delegation", President's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin told BSS later. The President, also the Chancellor of the University, directed the university authorities to make all-out efforts so that the students, after attaining the higher degree, can make themselves qualified and well-fitted at the national and international levels. President Shahabuddin suggested the university authority to increase research activities to improve the quality of the higher education. Secretaries concerned of the President Office were also present. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha
NC’s parliament obstruction is unparliamentary: Prime Minister Dahal
Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has said that the main opposition Nepali Congress has demonstrated unparliamentary behaviour by not creating a comfortable environment for the Prime Minister to take a vote of confidence as per the constitution. Responding to the queries raised on the discussions on the vote of confidence motion in the House of Representatives today, he expressed concerns that the main opposition party obstructed the Prime Minister's efforts to take the vote of confidence, which is unparliamentary. "The Prime Minister to whom you supported in the past and your step today of house obstruction while receiving the vote of confidence, this incident will be established as a stigma in the parliamentary history," said Prime Minister Dahal. He thanked the CPN (UML) and other parties and parliamentarians who supported him in the vote of confidence motion. Source: National News Agency RSS