Day: May 21, 2024

KHULNA, About 16.20 lakh sacrificial animals are available against the demand of 11.07 lakh animals for Eid-ul-Azha in the division. Department of Livestock Services (DoLS), Khulna, Director Dr Mohammad Lutfar Rahman told BSS that this year the demand for sacrificial animals is around 11.07 whereas last year it was around 8.29 lakh. But this year, there are 16.20 lakh animals ready to minimise the price of the sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Now 100 per cent of the demand can be met with local animals as the division will have a total of 5,12,885 surplus animals, a sharp rise of 46.35 percent than its demand, he said. As the supply is sufficient against the demand, the price will come down significantly, he added "Before Eid-ul-Azha, huge sacrificial animals will be brought to makeshift cattle markets of 10 districts and Khulna city. So, we don't have any need to import cattle from other countries to meet Khulna's demand," he said. According to the DoLS sources, a total of 16, 19,417 sacrific ial animals have been reared locally against the demand of 11, 06,532 which is surplused by 5, 12,885 in ten districts of the division. This year's sacrificial animals included cow 5,62,344, buffalo 6,654, goat 10,00,047, sheep 49,525, and others 847. A good number of the cattle have been reared in 1, 38,054 farms in ten districts and a lot of people also reared cattle in their homestead, he added. This year's animal price will be a bit higher due to feed prices, said MM Mizanur Rahman, owner of a farm in Shirgati village in Rupsha upazila. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Chairperson KP Sharma Oli has urged the major opposition Nepali Congress (NC) to put an end to the ongoing parliament impasse. Talking to the media at Biratnagar Airport today, the former Prime Minister and the Chair of the government coalition partner urged the major opposition to cease the party's obstructions in the House bearing in mind the necessity to proceed with the schedules of endorsing the government policies and programmes and announcing the budget for a new fiscal year. "The Nepali Congress should reconsider its stance." Underlining the need for political consensus, cooperation, and unity to achieve political stability, the leader said the present time requires political parties to address the citizen's concerns. The level of cooperation, unity, and consensus that political parties demonstrated during the promulgation of the Constitution is once again needed, according to him. Source: National News Agency RSS

KHULNA, The second phase election of three upazila in Khulna has been started at 8.00am very peacefully with tight security. Voters will cast their votes till 4.00pm today. The three upazila are Terokhada, Dighalia and Phultala in the district. Talking to BSS, Returning Officer A T M Shamim Mahmud today morning said, a total of 3,49,703 voters will cast votes at 138 polling centers in the three upazila. Of the centers, the EC has identified 95 centers are very important and 43 are less important, he said, adding that adequate law enforcement agencies have been deployed at the important centers. In Terokhada upazila, a total of two candidates are contesting for the chairman post, four are contesting for one vice chairman post and four are contesting for one woman vice-chairman post. In Dighalia, four are contesting for chairman, seven are vying for vice chairman and three for woman vice-chairman posts while four are contesting for chairman, three are vying for vice-chairman and two are contesting for wom an vice-chairman posts in Fultala upazila. Superintendent of Police in Khulna Sayedur Rahman said adequate police and anser were deployed in the polling centers. People are casting votes at their respective polling centers with fanfare and festivity. While visiting the Government Ekhori Katenga Fazlul Haque Model Secondary School under Terokhada upazila, Presiding Officer Kapildeb Basak told BSS, over 20 percent voters cast their votes till 12,pm. The total votes of the centers are 2,229. While visiting the Brommoxati Govt Primary school under Dighalia upazila around 10.00am, this reporter witnessed huge voters including women in long queue in front of the booths. Morsheda Akter, an elder voter told BSS, she became very happy to cast her own vote. She has come the polling center with her grand child by a rickshaw-van from her residence, an half kilometer away from the center. While visiting the Chandanimahal Shilpa Primary Government School under Senhati Union of Dighalia upazila at 11.30am this reporter found that some 19 percent voters exercise their franchise during the polls, Mongal Chandra Dhali, Presiding officer of the center confirm to BSS. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Thirteen persons have been injured when a microbus and a tipper collided with each other on the Prithvi highway at Kurintar, Icchakamana -4 this morning. Among the injured, two are in critical condition, it is said. The microbus (Ba 3 Kha 6610) was heading towards Kathmandu from Muglin while the tipper (Ba 4 Kha 6417) was coming from the opposite direction as they collided, the Area Police Office, Muglin said. Twelve of the injured have been taken to the New Medical College Bharatpur and one has been taken to Kathmandu for treatment, according to the police. The accident took place while the microbus was trying to overtake the tipper, it is said. Source: National News Agency RSS

DHAKA, The visiting Australian foreign minister Penny Wong today said Canberra will provide additional financial support to Bangladesh in its graduate from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status to the middle income country. "We will provide additional economic assistance to support your (Bangladesh) economic reforms to support you graduation from least developing country status," she told reporters after a bilateral meeting with foreign minister Dr Hasan Mahmud at the stare guest house Padma this afternoon. Her government, she said, would provide additional funding to AUS Trade and it would deliver deeper economic engagement. "We will provide additional funds to help Bangladesh align its labor laws with requirements and aspirations that graduation," she said. The Australian foreign minister said Canberra will also provide additional funding to technical education training colleges of Bangladesh. "We are very keen to deepen our cooperation, strengthen our cooperation with the Bangladesh government in this are particularly between our coast-guards," she said. The Australian foreign minister said her country is keen to work with Bangladesh and other friendly countries to ensure a peaceful, stable and prosperous indo-pacific region. "We share a region, we share an ocean and we share future and we are determined to do all that we can to work with you and other partners to ensure the region that is peaceful, stable and prosperous," she said. The Australian foreign minister said the region has shared challenges and it cannot be dealt with by a single country. "It requires partnership and collaboration," she added. Terming Rohingya crisis as the largest humanitarian crisis in our region, Wong said she discussed with Bangladesh foreign minister the regional challenges posed by the conflict in Myanmar. The Australian foreign minister also lauded Bangladesh's initiatives on the climate front and vowed to work together in that area. Foreign Minister Hasan said they talked about more Australian investment in Ba ngladesh, cooperation for skill development with more Australian assistance. "We have talked about human trafficking and we have agreed to work together. We have talked about climate challenges as Bangladesh is an innocent victim of climate change," he said. Noting that this is the first visit by any Australian foreign minister in the last 26 years, Hasan said Dhaka and Canberra have a very good relationship. He said the two-way trade now stands at around $4bn, reflecting Bangladesh's significant economic growth. "This is quite impressive. The trade volume was much smaller in size ten years ago," he said. Hasan said the Australian foreign minister assured him of continuing the duty-free and quota-free market access to Australia. Earlier, she had separate meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud at Gonobhaban and state guesthouse Padma respectively. The Australian FM, who arrived in Dhaka this morning on a two-day official visit, will travel to Cox's Bazar on Wednesday morning to see the situation at Rohingya camps. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

In the wake of rising incidents of fire coupled with heat waves, a campaign to renovate and conserve traditional wells has been launched in Banke district. Ward no 3 and 7 of Nepalgunj Sub-metropolis began conserving wells in a bid to ease the efforts to douse fires that on rise in the urban settlements. The urban settlements have narrow streets where entry of four-wheel vehicles is impossible. In case of fire in the dense housing, neither fire engines nor water tanks can enter. The campaign of well conservation has been supported by the urban disaster and quake preparedness project of the Nepal Red Cross Society. At least 4,000 litres of water will be collected in each water tank by renovating and conserving the wells at ward no 7, according to information management officer, Rupan Gyawali. The water could be used for emergency, he added. "Narrow streets in the city do not allow entry of vehicles, so ensuring availability of tanks full of water at wards help mitigate fire threats and subsequent loss," he added. Chairman of ward no 7, Prashant Shrestha, informed that a pipe emanating from the water tank was installed inside the settlement so that it could be used to eject water in case of blaze outbreak. In order to collect water from wells, a dry fire hydrant mechanism is put in place. For filling up water tanks, conservation with renovation of traditional wells began in the city, he added. Even the public awareness drive was launched at ward no 3 and 7 along with mobilization of 183 volunteers. The volunteers would also help in fire control, rescue and first aid. Chairman Shrestha further informed that they would renovate additional wells with the cooperation of locals. "Two silted up wells have already been revived and locals made aware of its value," he added. The local dwellers were made responsible for protecting the renovated wells so they could utilize it for daily works and in emergencies. Even the locals have become happy to see the rejuvenation of old time natural water tanks. A local Cha ndra Kala Gurung said the water from well is regarded holy for the use in marriage, tonsure, and puja ceremonies. Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said his government would assist Nepal in its efforts to cope with climate crises. The British PM said it while addressing a special function organized by the Nepali Embassy in UK on the occasion of the centenary of Nepal-UK Friendship Treaty on Monday. The event was held at PM Sunak's office. In the days to come, the UK will boost its cooperation with Nepal on economic issues like trade, investment, and climate change as well. He lauded the contribution made by the 'British Gorkha' to elevate the bilateral relations. PM Sunak also reminded the visit of King Charles in Nepal. He also appreciated the works and achievements of Nepali diaspora in the UK. On the occasion, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, shined light on UK-Nepal ties. Britain has been continuing assistance to Nepal in its development initiatives, which continues in the days ahead as well, she assured. Nepal could be assisted in making it capable to graduate to a middle-income country with the expansion of economic relations, according to her. Nepali Ambassador to Britain, Gyan Chandra Acharya, expressed best wishes on behalf of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to the UK Prime Minister Sunak. He spoke on different dimensions of 1923 Treaty between Nepal and Britain. The Treaty opened up an avenue for Nepal to the international world for expanding relations, he viewed. The event was also attended by British lawmakers, high level officials, Nepali diaspora and well wishers of Nepal in the UK. Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: A parliamentary probe committee formed to investigate the embezzlement of cooperatives' funds is going on in the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs now. The meeting is held to sort out the terms of reference to proceed with the actions. The meeting is attended by CPN UML Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula, Nepali Congress Joint General Secretary Jivan Pariyar and lawmaker Gyanendra Bahadur Karki and Rastriya Parajatantra Party lawmaker Sishir Khanal. The top political leaders representing in the parliament had agreed on form a parliamentary probe committee on embezzlement of cooperatives' fund. The committee is coordinated by Law Minister Padam Giri. Source: National News Agency RSS

Kathmandu: The Embassy of Nepal in Beijing, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board and Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) of Gandaki province hosted a tourism promotion event under the theme "Nepal Sales Mission 2024: Gandaki Province" at the Embassy on Monday. The event aimed to develop network among tour and travel operators of Nepal and China, the Embassy of Nepal in Beijing stated in a press release. In his welcome remarks on the occasion, Ambassador of Nepal to the People's Republic of China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, highlighted the major tourism attractions of Nepal and encouraged the participants to jointly cooperate to make the upcoming Visit Nepal Year 2025 a success, which was jointly declared by Nepal and China. He also urged the participants to build network as to enhance tourism cooperation between the two countries. During the event, NTB Senior Officer Kundan Sharma Mishra made a presentation promoting Nepal as an attractive tourism destination focusing on Pokhara which i s declared as the tourism capital of Nepal recently. On the occasion, NATTA president Hari Ram Adhikari and member Khim Bahadur Nepali delivered statements about Nepal's tourism potentials. The programme was followed by an interactive B2B session. The event was attended by approximately 150 participants including Nepali and Chinese tour and travel operators, business persons working in tourism sector as well as media representatives. Source: National News Agency RSS

The Chitwan National Park (CNP) has arrested six people on the charge of their involvement in trafficking in rhino horns. One of the accused is absconding. The CNP Office made them public organizing a news conference here today. They were arrested from Bharatpur Metropolitan City-6 on April 9. Those arrested in this connection are 29-year-old Kranti Khadka of Kawasoti municipality-16, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East), 38-year-old Lekhnath Sunar, 50-year-old Chhabilal Pariyar of Kawasoti municipality-15, 36-year-old Prakash Ghimire of the same place, 35-year-old Khim Bahadur Baral of Bulingtar rural municipality-4 and 27-year-old Prakash Raj Joshi of Chhabis Pathibhera rural municipality-1, Bajhang district. CNP Chief Conservation Officer Dil Bahadur Purja Pun said among the arrestees, a piece of the horn of the endangered one-horned rhino was found in Khadka's possession. This wildlife part was found inside the Gundredhakaha buffer zone community forest under Amaltari region of the CNP in April nine yea rs back. According to Chief Conservation Officer Pun, Pariyar and one Bhairav Thapa of Kawasoti municipality-15 had extracted the horn from the carcass of a one-horned rhino in the forest area when they had reportedly gone to the forest to collect animal fodder. Thapa has already died, police said. Another person involved in the trafficking of the rhino horn is absconding, Pun said. Source: National News Agency RSS