Day: May 28, 2024

Kathmandu: The 17th Republic Day is observing celebrated across the country today. A Republic Day main celebration committee is holding a special function at Army Pavilion, Tundikhel. The Day is associated with people's movement and aspiration for change. All three tiers of government are conducting the programmes to commemorate the historic day. It is the day the country was declared a Republic. The government has decided to observe the day for three days- from May 27 to 29. The government offices in the country and diplomatic missions abroad would conduct programmes along with illumination. After then CPN Maoist's armed conflict and seven parties' peaceful movement, then King Gyanendra Shah had restored the House of Representatives (HoR) on April 24, 2006, thereby returning the rule to the people's representatives. Two years later, the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly on May 28, 2008, declared the country a Republic. The Republic Day main celebration committee has been formed under the chairm anship of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to celebrate the Republic Day, 2081 in a grand manner this year. Source: National News Agency Nepal

DHAKA, A Dhaka court has awarded death penalty to Botswana national Lesedi Molapisi in a narcotics case filled over drug smuggling. Additional Metropolitan Session Judge, Court Number-8, Dhaka Md Aminul Islam passed the order on Monday. Assistant bench officer of the concerned court Milon confirmed it today. On January 23 in 2022, Lesedi Molapisi, 30, was arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport along with over 3.145kg of heroin. She arrived at the airport on a flight of Qatar Airways from South Africa via Doha. On the next day, a case was lodged against her with Airport Police Station. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: President Ramchandra Paudel has extended best wishes on the occasion of 6th National Women's Rights Day. In a message today, President Paudel has stressed for equal, meaningful and respectful participation of women in political, social and judicial sector. "It is necessary for everyone to make a collective effort for the meaningful participation of women in every field." "I wish everyone to be inspired to build a civilized society with gender equality by ensuring the safety, respect and rights of Nepali women through positive changes in social thought, conduct, customs and trends," reads the message. The 6th National Women's Rights Day is going to be celebrated with the slogan 'Our Campaign: Respect for Self dependent Daughters'. On this occasion, President Paudel also thanked all the elders who contributed to ensure women's rights in the country. "Despite various policy and operational efforts, women are left behind socially, culturally, educationally, politically and economically, which shou ld be corrected", the President has said in his message. He also stressed for complete safety of women in the workplace, educational institutes, public places and at home. Source: National News Agency Nepal

DHAKA, Awami League (AL) Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, MP, today said domestic and foreign conspirators are hatching conspiracies to turn Bangladesh into a militant state as they doesn't want development of the country. "The conspirators are hatching conspiracy against the country," he told a triennial council of Narail District unit of Jubo League at Victoria College in Narail. Nasim urged all to remain alert against conspirators and to remain united under the dynamic leadership Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash inaugurated of the council. Joint convener of Narail District unit of Jubo League Farhad Hossain presided over the council while AL organizing secretary BM Muzammel Haque, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza,MP, Jubo League general secretary Md. Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil,MP, BM Kabirul Haque Mukti,MP, Narail District AL president Suvas Bosh and general secretary Md. Nizamuddin Khan Nilu, among others, spoke at the meeting. Parash said the committee of Jubo League will be formed with honest, meritorious and dedicated leaders. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: The government has imposed a green tax on petroleum products, coal and other related goods. The Economic Bill-2081 presented in the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament today by Finance Minister Barshaman Pun states that green tax will be levied at the rate of Rs.1 per liter on petrol and diesel. The tax has been proposed with the aim of reducing the use of fossil fuel. Similarly, green tax equal to 0.5 percent will be levied on furnace oil, base oil and one percent on lubricant oil. Petroleum oil and oil obtained from bituminous minerals, 70 percent or more of petroleum oil will also be taxed by one percent. Source: National News Agency Nepal

DHAKA, Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Secretariat Commission today approved an estimated Taka 347.13 crore as budget for its development and non-development expenditures for the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25). The approval came from the 35th meeting of the Parliament Secretariat Commission at the cabinet room of the Jatiya Sangsad this afternoon. Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina was present at the meeting with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair. The amount in the revised budget for the current fiscal year was Taka 324.67crore. The meeting also discussed about implementation of the decisions taken in the last meeting and expressed satisfaction over its progress. Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and Leader of the Opposition GM Quader were also present at the meeting while Chief Whip Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury attended the meeting on special invitation. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) has said that the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2024/025 has incorporated the concerns of the private sector. FNCCI President Chandra Dhakal said the budget has incorporated the private sector in each aspect. "Programmes for economic reforms of new phases have been included. We can say institutionally after the release of the Economic Bill. Agriculture, tourism, energy, startup, IT sectors have been prioritized. This move can be taken positively," Dhakal added. President of Confederation of Nepalese Industries Rajesh Kumar Agrawal termed the budget as being 'balanced' and has not imposed any pressure on the private sector. However, former President of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla said further study was needed on the budget adding that some of the issues have been presented in a confusing manner. Likewise, Vice-President of the Federation of Nepal Cottage and Small Industries Mohan Katuwal said the budget should be taken positively adding that implementation is more important. The size of the budget is a bit large because more than half of the businesses at present are not in operation, he added. Industrialist Rita Awal praised the budget saying that it has given priority to women's entrepreneurship and argued that its implementation should be ensured. Also talking to the RSS businessman Dipak Malhotra said the budget should not be commented on a negative note. Source: National News Agency Nepal

DHAKA, A six-member delegation of Belarus, led by First Deputy Chairman of Belarus Central Bank Sergei Kalechits, today called on Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdus Shahid here. The delegation included Alexei Lesnoy, Director of International Branch of the Central Bank of Belarus; Vitaly Mirutko, Senior Consul of Belarus Embassy to India; Aniruddha Kumar Roy, Consul of Belarus Embassy in Dhaka; Trade Coordinator Abdus Salam Xitu; and Chairman of BTA Bank Sultan Marenov. Md Mansur Rahman, Joint Director of Bangladesh Bank; and GM Iftekher, Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; among others, were present at the meeting on behalf of Bangladesh side, a ministry press release said. During the meeting, they discussed payment of crude fertilizer due to restrictions and exchanged views on enhancing bilateral trade between Belarus and Bangladesh. They also stressed strengthening further the friendly-relations between the two countries. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: The government has allocated special budget for the Dalit community, a first of its kind. Finance Minister Barshaman while presenting the budget statement in the joint session of the Federal Parliament today said that Rs. 200 million has been allocated for the establishment of 'Dalit Development Authority'. Meanwhile, Dalit rights activists have welcomed the allocation of budget for the Dalit community. Rights activist Ganesh BK said that Dalit-specific budget is positive, though it was not enough. Presenting the budget, Finance Minister Pun said that the institutional arrangement of the Dalit Development Authority will be made to help realize the constitutional rights of the Dalit community. The budget of Rs 200 million will be invested for job creation and livelihood development programs by modernizing the indigenous skills, knowledge and profession of the Dalit community. Rights activist Dhankumari Sunar said that the budget can be useful if the initiative is not politicized. However, wr iter and activist Sushil BK was of the view that the budget did not address the issue of landless Dalits. Source: National News Agency Nepal

DHAKA, Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud will visit New York to attend the UN programme marking the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on May 30. After attending the 4th International Conference on 'Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Charting the Course towards Resilient Prosperity' in Antigua and Barbuda, he will be paying a three-day visit to the United States of America (USA), a foreign ministry's press release said here today. During his US visit, the foreign minister will also join a function to be jointly hosted by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations and Austria. Hasan will also have meetings with the UN Secretary General, the Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations, the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations in Myanmar, and the President of the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations. The Bangladesh foreign minister will also address the ambassadors of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries on the Rohingya situation in New York. SIDS Conference The foreign minister, as the Bangladesh delegation leader, joined the opening session of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) conference in Antigua and Barbuda on Monday. During this three-day conference, alongside presenting Bangladesh's perspective as an integral stakeholder in combating the impacts of climate change, Hasan is scheduled to hold discussions with the foreign ministers of the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, as well as the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Government is set to launch the President Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Programme. In the budget statement presented by Finance Minister Barshaman Pun at the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament today, it is mentioned that the programme will be implemented in an integrated manner. "In addition to conducting the programme, disaster management and climate adaptation programme will be implemented in an integrated manner," the budget reads. According to the statement, the campaign 'Save the mountains: save humanity' has been continued by holding dialogues in national and international platforms about the impact of climate change on the Himalayan and mountainous regions. Likewise, government is building climate change-adapted infrastructure while constructing physical infrastructure. The goal is to improve climate adaptation and energy efficiency in building construction by the federal, provincial and local levels, it is said in the budget. The budget statement also states that approp riate technology will be used to minimize and adapt the impact of climate change on the agricultural sector as well. Source: National News Agency Nepal

JASHORE, Like many parts of the country, people of the Jashore saw the havoc of cyclone Remal as crops on a vast tract of land, hundreds of tress and dwelling houses have been damaged by the super storm. Apart from these, most parts of the district remain without power. Met office sources said a total of 53 mm rains have been recorded in the district till yesterday evening since Sunday afternoon. Crops, including vegetables and fruits, on 3,074 hectors of land have been damaged by the cyclone. General Manager of Jashore Palli Bidyut Samity Ishac Ali said as many as 60 t0 70 utility poles was collapsed by the cyclone Remal. District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer Rajibul Islam said cash seven lakh and 500 MT food-grains were allocated for the cyclone-affected people in the district. Deputy Commissioner of Jashore Mohammad Abraul Hasan Mojumder said Fire Service, Health Department and Roads and Highways Department were advised to remain alert. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha