Day: May 20, 2024

An accused detained with gold worth around Taka 4.60 crore at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, today gave confessional statement in the case lodged over the incident. Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain recorded accused Shahid Miah's statement under section 164, as police produced him before the court after the end of two-day remand in the case. After recording his statement, the court sent him to jail. On May 18, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Ahammed Humayun Kabir placed Shahid Miah on two-day remand. A team of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate on May 17, stopped Shahid Mia, a passenger of the US-Bangla Airlines (BS 346) flight that landed at the Shahjalal Airport at 8:41 am on Friday, and found traces of gold inside his clothing. He was found to be wearing as many as nine short pants and six inner vests (sandro). As customs officials burned his clothes, they found gold dust weighing 4,462 grams from the ashes. Later, a case was filed with Airport P olice Station under special powers act. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at many places of four divisions and at a few places in other four divisions with hails at isolated places, a met release said. "Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at many places in Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions and at a few places in Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions with hails at isolated places", said the met forecast for the next 24 hours from 9am today. Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Khulna and Barishal divisions and the districts of Rajshahi, Pabna, Dinajpur and Nilphamari and it may abate from some places. Trough of low lies over West Bengal to North-west Bay. A low pressure area is likely to form over southwest Bay and adjoining area during next 48 hours. It is likely to intensify afterwards. Country's maximum temperature on Sunday was recorded 38.3 degrees Celsius at Mongla and minimum temperature today was 20.8 degrees Celsius at Sayedpur, the met release added. Country's maximum rainfall for the last 24 hours till 6am today was recorded 71 millimeters (mm) at Sandwip. Day and night temperature may fall by 1-2 degrees Celsius in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions. It may remain nearly unchanged elsewhere over the country. The sun sets at 06:37 PM today and rises at 05:13 AM tomorrow in the c apital. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), country's apex body of tour operators, is set to hosting TOAB International Tourism Award (TITA),celebrating outstanding contributions to the promotion and growth of both domestic and international tourism here. The award ceremony will take place on May 29 at 7:00 pm at the Hotel Sheraton in the capital's Banani area and will feature distinguished guests, industry leaders and key stakeholders from abroad. The new award was officially announced at a press conference held at Sheraton Dhaka this morning where FBCCI Senior Vice-president Md. Amin Helali was present as the chief guest while the Aviation and Tourism Journalists' Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) President Tanzim Anwar was present as special guest. TOAB president Shiblul Azam Qureshi presided over the event while its former president Md. Rafeuzzaman spoke, among others, in the briefing. The Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muhammad Faruk Khan will join the award ceremony as the chief guest. Awa rds will be presented in about 20 different categories in the first edition and each category includes different sectors of tourism services. The award aims to promote tourism in Bangladesh and showcasing the country's tourism products on the global stage. This award ceremony serves as a platform to honor individuals, organisations, and initiatives that have demonstrated excellence and innovation in enhancing the local and global tourism industry, especially in neighboring countries. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The High Court today issued an injunction against Manwar Hossain Dipjal, barring him from observing duty as general secretary of the Bangladesh Film Artists Association (BFAA). The court also ordered authorities concerned to probe allegations of irregularities in the recently-held BFAA polls for 2024-26 term. A High Court division bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque passed the order after holding hearing on a writ petition filed by former BFAA general secretary Nasreen Akhter Nipun. Senior advocate Shah Manjurul Haque, Barrister Harunur Rashid and Palash Chandra Roy moved the plea for Nipun, while Deputy Attorney General Amit Das Gupta stood for the state. "The High Court today issued the injunction against Manwar Hossain Dipjal, meaning he is not allowed to perform duty as the general secretary of BFAA," Shah Manjurul Haque told newsmen. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The third session of the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) will begin on June 5. "The third session will start at 5am at Sangsad Bhaban of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the city," said a press release today. President Mohammed Shahabuddin convened the session exercising the power bestowed upon him as per the Article 72 (1) of the Constitution, the release added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Iranian President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian and the entourage in an Iranian helicopter accident. "I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the sad demise of President Dr. Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and members of the entourage in the tragic accident of the helicopter carrying them," she said. Sheikh Hasina conveyed her condolence in a letter wrote to First Vice President of Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Mokhber. She said, "In this hour of grief, on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh and on my own behalf, I convey our deepest condolences to the Government and the brotherly people of Iran'. The premier mentioned that President Seyyed Raisi was a wise and selfless leader who served his country with deep commitment and worked for the well-being of the People of Iran. "He was a great leader of international stature and his exemplary leadership and accomplishments will remain as a lasting legacy for us," she added. The prime minister offered her prayers for seeking divine blessing for the departed souls and for bestowing courage and fortitude on the bereaved family members and brotherly people of Iran to overcome the irreparable loss. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Two motorcyclists were killed after being hit by a truck on the Chandina-Rammohan road in Udalia area under Chandina upazila of the district today. The deceased were identified as Md Jamsed Ahmed,36, son of late Abdur Rahim, resident of Chaikot village of the municipality and Md Shahjalal,32, son of Shahidul Islam, resident of the same area. According to the local sources said they went to Alikamora area from Chaikot in the morning on a motorcycle. When they were returning home, a truck hit their motorcycle coming from the opposite direction in the area around 12.20pm, leaving them dead on the spot, officer-in-charge (OC) of Chandina Police Station Ahmed Sanjur Morshed said. Police recovered the bodies from the spot and sent to Cumilla Medical College and Hospital morgue for post-mortem, the OC said. Following the accident, the driver fled with the truck, the OC added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership in Bangladesh's extraordinary education sector success was praised at the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers held in London on May 16-17, 2024. Bangladesh was particularly commended for its recent achievements and transformations in the education sector, in particular for a stronger emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) over the past decade, leading to higher employment of young people in the private industry; greater access to IT education and lifelong learning on digital platforms as well as ensuring gender parity in primary, secondary and tertiary education. Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury led the Bangladesh delegation at the 22nd CCEM and presented the country's statement, said a press release received here today. He recommended it is time for the global south to make greater financial investments in both hard and soft infrastructure in the education sector. The minister also emphasized the need to bui ld robust innovative partnerships with the private sector, international financial institutions, and global funds. In his country statement, the education minister also briefed the conference on the significant progress of Bangladesh in improving access to education, with efforts focused on enhancing quality and inclusivity across all levels of education. Mohibul Hassan said "SDG 4 on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for our 60 million girls and boys and skill-based higher education for another 30 million, has been at the heart of our Head of Government Sheikh Hasina's aspirations for an educated, healthy, inclusive and resilient Smart Bangladesh by 2041." Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi addressed the event as the keynote speaker while the Education Minister provided an update of the SDG 4 progress on behalf of the Asian Commonwealth. He also co-chaired the ministerial roundtable on "Rethinking Education for Skills, Youth Employability, and Decent Work" with Gambia's Higher Educat ion, Research, Science and Technology Minister Professor Pierre Gomez. He also met the Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland KC during the conference at the Commonwealth Secretariat. Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem accompanied education minister at the conference. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The government had decided to introduce peace medal after the name of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Peace Medal will be conferred to local and international individuals and institutions for contributions to establishing peace. The medal will be given in every two years. One individual or institution will get the medal each time. The cabinet today approved the draft of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Medal Policy, 2024 in this regard. As per the policy, the prize winner will receive one lakh US dollar, a certificate along with a medal made of 18-carat gold and weights approximately 50 grams. The draft policy was approved in a cabinet meeting held at Prime Minister's Office. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting. Later, Cabinet Secretary Md. Mahbub Hossain briefed a press conference at the Secretariat in the afternoon. He hoped that the activities to confer the medal will begin this year and it will be given from the next year. As per the policy, nominated person or institution's name for the prize will be announced on March 17 every year to mark the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation and National Children's Day. The prize will be given on May 23 or convenient time as Bangabandhu was awarded with the prestigious Joliot-Curie Medal of Peace by the World Peace Council on May 23, 1973. The cabinet secretary said works to award the prize will begin now with the policy but the cabinet gave directives to frame a law to this end later. The cabinet asked to keep a provision in the law for setting up a fund where the government or anybody else apart from the government can donate, he said. Later, cost of awarding the prize will be met from the donation money, he said. But the government will bear the cost until fund is raised, he added. In the meeting, the cabinet gave final nod to the draft of "Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Remuneration and Special Privileges) Act, 2024". Mahbub Hossain said draf t of act was approved by fixing the salaries of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other Election Commissioners. As per the proposed act, CEC's salary will be Taka 105000 and other commissioners' salary will be Taka 95,000, he said, adding apart from the salary, they will get 50 percent special allowance of basic salary and other allowances. The cabinet secretary said now the existing law regarding the issue is of 1983. But High Court has directives to change the acts which were framed during the military regime, he said, adding that in light with the court directive, the new proposed act is framed following the existing act. The cabinet secretary said as per the existing act, CEC gets salary equal to Appellate Division justice and other election commissioners get salary equal to High Court justice. In the proposed act, salary of the CEC and other commissioners has been fixed while they will get festival allowances, Bangla Nababarsho allowance, housing and transport allowances and other facilities. He said actually, the language of act has been changed. In the meeting, the cabinet secretary said, the prime minister asked the state minister for commerce to begin market monitoring strictly. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given strong directives that decision of stopping the plying of battery-run rickshaws cannot be taken ignoring the matter of livelihood of the drivers, said the cabinet secretary. She directed to regulate the plying of battery-run rickshaws through framing rules and asked to designate specific areas for plying of those rickshaws. On May 15, in the first meeting of the Road Transport Advisory Council, a decision was taken to stop plying of battery-run rickshaws in the capital city to bring discipline on streets. Later, police started drive to stop plying of batter-run rickshaws on streets. In protest of the decision, drivers of the battery-run rickshaws staged agitation blockading different key roads in the capital's Mirpur area on Sunday. The cabinet secretary said the incident cente ring the auto-rickshaw plying on streets drew attention of the prime minister. She gave strong directives that no decision can be taken ignoring the matter of livelihood of the drivers. The premier said livelihood of the drivers should be considered with utmost importance. The cabinet secretary said the prime minister also directed to impart training to the drivers through framing rules. The premier called for preparing appropriate model or structure for the machine of the battery-run rickshaws. The cabinet approved the draft "Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation" among BIMSTEC members. It approved the proposal for Bangladesh singing to "Protocol to the D-8 PTA on Dispute Settlement Mechanism". The cabinet gave nod to the matter of Bangladesh joining as a party of Apostille Convention, 1961. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury today said as part of tree plantation campaign, the government will strengthen research activities on conservation of trees endangered in the country. Co-management of forests and collaborative forest management are going on by involving local people, resulting in making the forests more sustainable, he said. "Forest coverage is being increased by carrying out extensive afforestation prograrmes in existing forests. Encroached forest lands are being recovered by identifying those and afforestation is underway there to prevent deforestation," the environment minister told a meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat here. The meeting was arranged to finalise the list of awardees for the 'Prime Minister's National Award for Plantation-2022 and 2023'. Speaking at the meeting, Saber Hossain said patrol activities have been strengthened to protect forests and forest lands, while initiatives have been taken for digital boundary mapping of forest and forest land as it will help identify encroachment of forest land. Greenery campaigns should be strengthened across the country to cope with the adverse impacts of climate change, he said, stressing the need for planting trees on rooftop of houses in cities. During the meeting, the names of individuals and institutions were finalised for the 'Prime Minister's National Award for Plantation-2022 and 2023' in different categories including educational institutions, local government institutions, individual, private nurseries, gardening of the forest department, rooftop gardening, and tree research and conservation, and innovation. Earlier, a draft list of nominees for the award was prepared after examining it by the upazila, district and department level committees. Each award winner will be conferred with a certificate in each category of the award introduced in 1993. Also, Taka one lakh will be given for the first prize, while Taka 75,000 for the second prize and Taka 50,000 for the third prize. Former Dep uty Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Habibun Nahar, National Committee member Aroma Dutta, MP, Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Agricultural University Professor Dr Emdadul Haque Chowdhury, Vice-Chancellor of Chittagong University Professor Dr Abu Taher, Dhaka University Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Dr Sitesh C Bachar, Dhaka University Emeritus Professor and former Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman, Additional Secretary (Development) of the ministry Md Mosharraf Hossain and Additional Secretary (Environment) Dr Fahmida Khanom were present at the meeting. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Bangladesh and Uzbekistan today underlined the need for establishing direct air connectivity to give a boost to increasing economical, cultural and tourism cooperation between the two countries. The observation was made in a meeting between Bangladesh Ambassador to Uzbekistan Dr. Mohammad Monirul Islam and Uzbekistan Airways Chairman Shukhrat Shavkatovich held in Tashkent today, according to a message received here. During the meeting, the chief of Uzbekistan flag carrier appraised the Bangladesh envoy about his planning to launch flight operations on Tashkent-Dhaka-Tashkent route. Shavkatovich sought the ambassador's cooperation in solving the existing challenges regarding the launch of the direct flight to Dhaka. Referring to the interest of Bangladeshi people in visiting the historical and religious important places of that central Asian nation, the ambassador said direct flight operation will expand the existing friendship between the people of the two countries. Both the sides, parties expressed th eir commitment to continue their ongoing efforts and communication regarding the direct flight operation. Uzbekistan Airways Deputy Chairman and senior officials were also present. Earlier, on February 27, 2024 Bangladesh Embassy in Tashkent and Foreign ministry of Uzbekistan signed a roadmap to increase trade and investment relations as well as to establish direct air connectivity between Dhaka and Tashkent. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha