Day: May 21, 2024

Kathmandu: Light rainfall along with thunder and lightning has been predicted in some parts of Koshi, Madhes and Lumbini provinces today. It is caused by the local and westerly winds coupled with low pressure system developed in the vicinity of Bihar, India. Information to this was shared by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. The hilly regions of the country will remain partly cloudy. The hilly regions of Khoshi and Lumbini provinces are forecast to have a light to moderate rainfall along with storm and lightning today, the Department added. Source: National News Agency RSS

DHAKA, The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has urged all concerned to properly clean waste of sacrificial animals and dispose of those in designated places during upcoming Eid-ul-Azha aiming to protect environment and public health. Also, all have been requested not to slaughter animals indiscriminately and ensure proper personal protection during the entire process of sacrifice during the Eid. The ministry made call at an inter-ministerial meeting held at Bangladesh Secretariat, a ministry press release said. The meeting was held on the proper management and disposal of waste of sacrificed animals on the occasion of the holy Eid-ul-Azha celebration. People have also been requested to bury the abandoned parts of the sacrificial animals in pits and use eco-friendly bags or containers for the disposal of sacrificial waste or distribution of sacrificial animal meat. Various government initiatives have been taken to create public awareness about environment-friendly disposal of sacrifici al animal waste. For this purpose, leaflets are being distributed nationwide. The Department of Mass Communication is creating public awareness in haat-bazars. Imams have been requested by the Islamic Foundation to focus on this issue in Juma prayers and Eid prayers sermons before the Eid. Chaired by Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, the meeting was attended, among others, by Additional Secretary (Development) of the ministry Md Mosharraf Hossain, Additional Secretary (Environment) Dr Fahmida Khanam and Director General of the Department of Environment (DoE) Abdul Hamid. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

LAKSHMIPUR, Two minor siblings drowned in a pond at Kamalpur village of Bhabaniganj union under Sadar upazila of the district today. The deceased were identified as Nafiza Mubarak Madiha, 8, and her brother Md Omar, 5, children of businessman Raju Ahmed of Kamalpur village of the upazila. Nafiza was the class one grade student of a local school and Omar was the student of play group student. Locals said when they were playing near a pond of their house at around 12:30pm this afternoon. At point, Omar fell in the pond and Nafiza tried to save her brother Omar. As a result, both of them drowned into the pond. Later, they were rescued from the pond and taken to Sadar Hospital where the on-duty doctor declared them dead. Bhabaniganj Union Parishad (UP) Chairman Saiful Hasan Roni confirmed matter. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

GAIBANDHA, The polling in three upazilas of the district began today as a part of the 2nd phase of 6th upazila parishad elections across the country. The voting started at 8 am in Gaibandha Sadar, Palashbari and Gobindaganj upazilas and will continue till 4 pm without any break. A public holiday has been announced in those areas today to enable the voters to exercise their rights to franchise, sources said. As many as 10, 55, 613 voters including 5, 35, 875 female ones would cast their votes in 418 centres with 2883 booths in the upazilas, said District Election Officer Abdul Mottalib. Some 15 candidates are contesting the polls for the posts of chairmen. Of them, 7 candidates are in Sadar upazila, 6 in Palashbari upazila and 2 in Gobindaganj upazila. For the posts of vice-chairmen, 8 candidates are vying in Sadar upazila, 6 in Palashbari upazila and 5 in Gobindaganj upazila and for the posts of female vice chairmen, 6 in Sadar upazila, 4 in Palashbari and 7 in Gobindaganj upazila. All concerned includ ing the law enforcement agencies and other officials have been asked to discharge duties neutrally, said Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kazi Nahid Rasul. RAB, BGB and police personnel have been deployed so that the voters could cast their votes without any difficulties, said Police Super Md. Kamal Hossain. Mobile teams and striking forces are patrolling to ensure the free atmosphere of voting, he added. Mobile and summary courts in the polling centres would instantly try the law violators during the polling as a magistrate leads each team, he also said. Movement of vehicles like motor-cycle, baby taxi, microbus, jeep, pickup van, car, bus and trucks has been banned from today midnight to tomorrow midnight to ensure peaceful elections. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

DHAKA, Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said the second phase of the 6th upazila polls was held in peaceful manner too likewise 1st phase and the voter's turnout was also quite satisfactory. He said this in a press conference at AL President Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi political office here. Noting no polls were held without bloodshed during BNP's tenure, Quader said BNP, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and some anti-state intellectuals are making falsehood to discourage the people in casting their votes. Mentioning that BNP is making falsehood over Ziaur Rahman's joining in BAKSAL, he said Ziaur Rahman became a member of BAKSAL through application and there are evidences of the incident. Zia's name was in 71 number in the committee of the BAKSAL, he added. The AL general secretary said BAKSAL was not a unilateral authoritarian party rather it was a national party formed in the dire need of the nation considering the reality of that pe riod. There was system of election in the national party, he said. AL Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Organizing Secretaries BM Mozammel Haque, SM Kamal Hossain, Mirza Azam and Sujit Roy Nandi and Deputy Office Secretary Sayem Khan were present in the press conference, among others. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security is set to organize the 'Shramadhan employment fair' to address multi-dimensional needs of the work and employment of Nepali nationals through one door system. At a press conference organized here today, the Ministry said that it is hosting the fair with the target to ease the access of employment seeking people to employers. Minister Dol Prasad Aryal expressed his confidence that the province-level fair to be organized is just a start which he said would ease the access of the people searching employment to employers. Minister Aryal further said an arrangement has been made to provide information about people seeking employment, employers, training providing institution and foreign employment. The two-day fair will take place in all seven provinces on different dates between May 30 to June 12. Source: National News Agency RSS

DHAKA, Bangladesh will require $24 billion to generate 24000MW of electricity from renewable sources by 2041 to fulfill the government pledges for producing 40 percent of power. Speakers at a press conference said these at a 'meet the press' at Nasrul Hamid Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) ahead of two daylong 24th National Renewable Energy Conference and Green Expo 2024. The National Renewable Energy Conference and Green Expo 2024 will begin tomorrow with a theme 'Investing in Renewable: Fueling the Climate Revolution' at Nabab Nawab Ali Senate Bhaban, University of Dhaka. The Institute of Energy of the University of Dhaka and Green Tech Foundation Bangladesh jointly organised the conference and the green expo 2024. The theme "Investing in Renewable: Fueling the Climate Revolution" is particularly pertinent given the global urgency to transition to sustainable energy sources to mitigate climate change, said CEO and Executive Director of Green Tech Foundation Bangladesh Lutfor Rahman. He said t hen conference will delve into the opportunities presented by global climate investment and funding, emphasizing how these can be harnessed to boost the development of renewable energy in Bangladesh. This focus is vital as Bangladesh seeks to enhance its energy security, reduce carbon emissions, and foster economic growth through sustainable practices, he added. The key objectives of the conference are: highlight financial mechanisms, foster collaboration, showcase innovations and promote policy dialogue, according to him. Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud is expected to attend the conference at the inaugural session while state minister for finance Waseqa Ayesha Khan is expected to be present at the concluding day on May 23, 2024, according to him. Attended at the press conference, Engr Nurul Aktar, president of Bangladesh Solar and Renewable Energy Association said Bangladesh will require around $22 billion investment to achieve the target of 24000MW of renewable by 2040. He said the conference will dis cuss about the huge amount of funding to achieve the target. Institute of Energy Director Dr Nasif Shams also attended at the conference among others. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Chairman of Kantipur Publication, Kailash Sirohiya, was held on Tuesday by police deployed from the Valley Crime Investigation Office, Kathmandu. A team of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sanuram Bhattarai and Superintendent of Police (SP) Rabindra Regmi nabbed publisher Sirohiya from the latter's office based in Thapathali, Kathmandu. SP Regmi stated that Sirohiya was arrested for an investigation on the citizenship issue and added that preparations are on to take Sirohiya to Janakpur. After his arrest, Sirohiya expressed his serious objection to his arrest despite his pledge to cooperate with the government agencies for the probe. Earlier on Tuesday, a single bench of Judge Chitra Bahadur Gurung of the Dhanusha District Court had ordered to issue an arrest warrant against Sirohiya. Following the arrest warrant, Sirohiya has lodged a petition at the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday itself demanding to vacate the order of the Dhanusha District Court. Information Officer of SC Govinda Prasa d Ghimire said that the decision will be taken on Wednesday whether or not to register the writ petition. The District Police Office, Dhanusha, sought approval from the court to arrest Sirohiya after the citizenship number of Sirohiya and another person was found to be the same. Source: National News Agency RSS

DHAKA, Empowering Bangladesh with clean energy today means a brighter, sustainable future for generations to come, said U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas. He said this today while addressing the Indo-Pacific Business Forum (IPBF) at the EMK Center in Dhaka. The forum is the premier public-private U.S. government event to promote trade, investment, and economic cooperation between the United States and its partners throughout the Indo-Pacific region. This year's event will convene 500 leaders from across the region, including through a live stream for virtual participation and satellite events in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, according to a press release. The one-day event in Manila, Philippines, is co-hosted by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the government of the Republic of the Philippines, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State. IPBF connects CEOs, project developers, government officials, and sources of financing for priority infrastructure in emerging Indo-Pacific economies. T hrough speeches, breakout panels, and business matchmaking, participants will learn and share their insights on the latest trends, opportunities, and solutions to support infrastructure across all sectors. The key themes and topics for 2024 are: clean energy, digital transformation, supply chain resiliency, transportation infrastructure, and emerging technologies. Noting that the world's fossil fuel supply is finite, the US Ambassador said fossil fuels may be in short supply in the coming years. 'This underscores the urgency to advance a sustainable, equitable, and just energy transition to clean and renewable energy resources,' Citing that Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 shocked the energy market in Bangladesh, like in many parts of the world, he said countries became acutely aware of their dependencies on foreign sources of fuel. 'The impact of that act of aggression sheds light on the interconnectedness of the global energy supply.' He said all nations, therefore, must develop a plan to solidify t heir energy security based on a diversified portfolio of resources. Mentioning that Bangladesh is fortunate with its domestic supply of natural gas, Haas said, 'I'm proud to say that U.S. businesses have been instrumental in allowing Bangladesh to utilize those resources to drive its remarkable economic development over the last two decades. But, as I mentioned before, those supplies are not infinite. And while Bangladesh may soon find more gas in new locations, eventually those too will run out.' He said renewable and clean energy resources are the key to this energy transition for Bangladesh, for South Asia, and for the world. Finding ways to harness solar, wind, hydro, hydrogen, and other energy sources is the path to energy security and needed to support continued economic growth and sustainable development, he added. To help Bangladesh reach this goal, the US Ambassador said his government has been working with the Bangladeshi government, the private sector, international financial institutions, and like-minded governments to build the foundation for this country's clean energy transition. Haas also highlighted some challenges in the coming days that include: seamlessly integrating intermittent energy resources into national grids, which are already struggling to keep up with demand; Developing abundant supplies of cleaner fuel sources, such as green hydrogen; ensuring that countries have access to finance for clean and renewable energy technologies; and negotiating regional energy trading agreements where politics may trump economic advancement. For Bangladesh to achieve a just energy transition, Haas said it will take contributions from the government, private sector, and civil society. 'It will require good policies in place to incentivize smart investments and cross-border electricity trade, the privatization of underperforming state-owned assets, the adoption of new technologies, and the phasing out of the most damaging fossil fuel power generation facilities,' he added. The US Ambassador also s aid, 'This will not happen overnight. It will take years to accomplish. But we can accomplish it faster if we work together and share our collective knowledge.' Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha