Day: June 14, 2024

Prime Minister Sheikh Sheikh Hasina today visited Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Memorial KPJ Specialized Hospital at Tetuibari in Kashimpur, Gazipur and underwent routine health checkup there. "The Prime Minister visited the hospital and underwent routine health check up there this morning," PM's Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan told BSS. On her arrival at the hospital, the Prime Minister was received by Health Minister Dr. Samanta Lal Sen, former Health Minister AFM Ruhal Haque and Vice Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Professor Dr. Deen Mohd. Noorul Huq. The Premier herself went to the counter of the hospital for registration and paid the registration and checkup fees. Prime Minister's health checkup was done under supervision of her personal physician and country's renowned medicine specialist Professor Dr ABM Abdullah, who accompanied her. The Prime Minister later held a meeting with the members of the board of directors, physicians, officials and nurses of the hospital a nd inquired about the hospital's overall activities. She also gave the authorities concerned necessary instructions regarding rendering services treatment to the patients properly. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

A motorcyclist was killed as a truck hit his motorcycle at Kallyanpyr Fokland square in Chapainawabganj municipality today. The deceased was Jahid Hasan alias Shamsul, 45, son of Abdul Matin of Nejampur village under Nachole upazila in Chapainawabganj district. Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chapainawabganj Sadar Model Police Station Md Mehedi Hasan said, the accident took place at around 11.45 am. Members of Fire Service rushed him to Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital where the on-duty doctor declared him dead. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Bangladesh has signed separate Air Service Agreement (ASA) with Switzerland and European Union to establish direct air connectivity with more countries in Europe. Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Chairman Air Vice Marshal Mafidur Rahman and Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) Director General Christian Hegner signed the ASA on behalf of their respective sides in Bern, Switzerland on June 4, a CAAB press release said here today. This agreement opens the door for direct air travel between Bangladesh and another European country, said the CAAB. Under the agreement, designated airlines from both countries will be able to operate 7 passenger flights and 7 cargo flights per week. Additionally, the agreement allows the designated airlines from both countries to operate flights through code-sharing with their own and third-country airlines. Swiss International Air Lines and Edelweiss Air AG have been nominated from Switzerland's side, while Biman Bangladesh Airlines, US-Bangla Airlines, a nd Novoair have been nominated from Bangladesh's side to provide services between the two countries. On June 7, another bilateral air service agreement was signed between Bangladesh and the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium. The main objective of the agreement is to ensure the implementation of uniform regulations for air service operations with EU member countries. CAAB chairman and Director of the Directorate General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission Filip Cornelis inked the deal on behalf of their respective sides. Bangladesh Civil Aviation and Tourism secretary Mokammel Hossain were present at both the signing ceremonies in Switzerland and Belgium. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Bangladesh joined Global Coalition for Social Justice, which was established under the initiative of International Labour Organization (ILO), as the 73rd country on Thursday. The government decision of joining at the first forum of the Coalition in Geneva was reached the Coalition Secretariat from Bangladesh Permanent Mission on Thursday, said a press release received here today. The Coalition was established in November last year with the aim of contributing to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 declared by the United Nations by addressing gaps in global social justice and equity through strengthening multilateral cooperation and partnerships. A total of 72 countries, including the USA, India, China, the UK, Spain, Canada, Germany, Switzerland and Mexico, joined Global Coalition. Bangladesh as the 73rd country joined the important coalition on Thursday. Apart from governments, different labour organizations, owner organizations, private organizations, important international and regional organizations, universities and research institutions and some business intuitions are also partners of the coalition. The government's decision to join this coalition is a reflection of the current government's strong commitment to promoting fairness and social justice. In June 2023, at the invitation of ILO Director General Gilbert F. Houngbo, heads of states and governments of different countries including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina joined 'World of Work Summit-Social Justice for All' in Geneva. In the summit, world leaders presented their own opinions about the framework of the coalition. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presented her five-point recommendations on formation of the coalition. On the basis of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recommendations and opinions of other world leaders, initially six priorities have been set for the coalition. Of them, facing inequality and discrimination, ensuring workers' rights and dignity, sustainable business and decent employment are mentionable. Source: Ba ngladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun today said that plying of unfit vehicles will not be allowed on highways to maintain discipline and prevent accidents during Eid journey. The IGP was talking to journalists while visiting traffic management on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway. He said that law enforcement agencies including Rab, Highway Police, Industrial Police, Railway Police, River Police, APBN and District Police are working together to make the Eid journey of homebound people comfortable. Additional IGP (Crime and Operations) Md Atiqul Islam, Additional IG of Highway Police Shahabuddin Khan and DIG Md Mahfuzul Islam, Dhaka Range DIG Syed Nurul Islam, Gazipur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Mahbubul Alam, Superintendent of Police of Gazipur District Kazi Shafiqul Alam and Superintendent of Police of Dhaka District Asaduzzaman were present, among others, on the occasion. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) has intensified surveillance to prevent untoward incidents in the cattle markets ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest festival of the Muslim. 'The RAB is trying to prevent all sorts of unlawful activities . . . A number of illegal activities generally happen in the cattle markets, Eid congregation, and leather business,' said Commander Arafat Islam, director of the Legal and Media Wing of the RAB. He told the newsmen after inspecting the security measures at the capital's Gabtoli cattle market this afternoon. Mentioning that as a lot of monetary transactions take place in cattle markets, there is a chance of spreading counterfeit currencies through dishonest circles, Arafat said, 'Counterfeit currency detection machines have been installed in the RAB control room of cattle markets.' There is a prospect of increasing the activities of theft, robbery, fraud, brokers,'malam (ointment) parties', and agyan parties in the livestock market, but the members of th e RAB's stakeout and patrols remain active to prevent any type of unwanted incidents. RAB surveillance is continuing to identify sick cattle, as magistrates are taking legal action through mobile courts against the sellers after detecting these cattle with the help of veterinarians, he added. The RAB force, including its cyber monitoring cell, is also ready to prevent extortion in cattle markets, the transportation of sacrificial animals and ensure road safety, the RAB commander said. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

To ensure safe and smooth travel of passengers, police have advised homebound people not to embark on risky, unsafe journeys ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha festival. "Avoid long distance travelling in pickups, livestock trucks, open trucks, goods transports, and on the roofs of buses," Chief of Highway police Additional IGP Shahabuddin Khan said while speaking at a view-exchange meeting after visiting the Chandra-Trimoor area of Dhaka-Tangail highway. Strict action will be taken against those found involved in risky travel, he added. Additional IGP Shahabuddin urged the bus owners to employ only skilled and professional drivers and to avoid overloading buses beyond their capacity. Deputy Inspector General of Police Mahfuzur Rahman, Additional DIG Samsul Islam, Additional DIG Barkatullah Khan, Police Super Md Mostafizur Rahman and Additional DIG Shima Rani Sarker were present at the view exchange meeting. The Highway police chief said that the entire Dhaka-Chattogram Highway has been brought under CCTV to make the Eid journey safe. "We have also broadened our vigilance in the highways using drone cameras," he added. Highway police, BRTC officials and bus owners and transport workers/labours took part in the meeting. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Bangladesh has been elected Vice Chair of the 27th Council of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the second highest body of the Agency comprising 168 countries and the EU. The two-day council meeting commenced yesterday in Abu Dhabi, where representatives from more than 100 countries have gathered to discuss the current state of investments in renewable energy and partnerships and explore best practices in energy transition, said an official handout here today. Bangladesh, represented by Mohamed Abu Zafar, Permanent Representative to IRENA and Ambassador to the UAE, in his capacity as Vice Chair, chaired an important session of the council meeting titled 'De-risking investments towards realizing SDG7' today. A five-member Bangladesh delegation led by the Ambassador, representatives from the Power Division and the officials from the Bangladesh Embassy in Abu Dhabi are attending the Council. In the National Statement made in the Council, Bangladesh has set a bold and ambitious target to install about 30 GW of renewable energy capacities by 2041. This target, which requires at least 30 billion USD investment, is a clear demonstration of our country's commitment to a sustainable and green future. Bangladesh has urged IRENA and associated bodies to facilitate necessary funding, capacity building, and technology transfer to help to achieve this goal. On the sideline of the council meeting, the Bangladesh delegation also held a bilateral meeting with the Director (Country Engagement and Partnership), IRENA to discuss the progress of the Renewable Readiness Assessment currently underway by IRENA, Flexibility Analyses, Funding from ETAF (Energy Transition Accelerated Financing) and private sectors' engagement with IRENA to achieve the national targets in renewable energy. In recent years, Bangladesh has significantly increased its engagements with IRENA, a testament to our country's commitment to renewable energy. Bangladesh was elected as a Council member of IRENA for the year 2024 and a member of the Administrative and Financial Committee for the term 2024-2025. This year, in coordination with the Power Division, IRENA has initiated the Renewable Readiness Assessment for Bangladesh, a crucial step in understanding our country's potential for renewable resources. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Blacksmiths in the district are passing busy time making sharp tools used for slaughtering sacrificial animals and processing the meat, as the Eid-ul-Azha is only a few days away. Local people said many people are thronging the shops of blacksmiths for making different iron made tools including machetes, choppers, knives, spades, axes and scissors. Apart from this, people are also having their old equipment/tools repaired or sharpened by the blacksmiths. Blacksmiths are now selling a knife at taka 500 to 600, a chopper at taka 800 to 900, a machete at taka 700 t0 800 and a spade at taka 700 to 900. Talking to this BSS correspondent, over 50 blacksmiths of the district said that the demand of the animal slaughtering sharp equipment have increased ahead of the holy Eid-ul-Azha festival. "We can earn more profit by selling our products during the Eid-ul-Azha, but we pass idle times after the Eid festival", they said. Recalling their past golden days, some old-aged blacksmiths of the Satpai area in the dis trict town informed that their business was very profitable over three decades ago when there was huge demand for iron made tools and equipment including sharp ploughs, spades, knives, sickles and spikes on the wheels of cattle-driven cart and axes. Some blacksmiths said decrease in the demand of their products, lack of skilled craftsmen, high prices of raw materials including charcoal, files, cast-iron, steel and other inputs have hiked the production costs, making their profession a tough one. In the wake of the present situation, many blacksmiths, who used to earn their livelihood by manufacturing the iron-tools and agricultural equipment, are now changing their profession, they informed. . They underlined the need for drawing attention of the concerned authorities including commercial banks for giving them loan to expand their business with making modern equipment. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A) FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 14/06/2024 UNTIL 0600 15/06/2024 Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards. Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times. Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1008hPa (hectopascal) Warm air-mass is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine but tonight and early morning there is a risk of local mist, fog and increased low cloud. Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist and very poor in fog Sea surface temperature: 25°C Warnings: NIL Source: Cyprus News Agency

A new yellow warning was issued by the Meteorology Department for extreme high temperatures on Saturday, with maximum temperature inland expected to rise to 41 degrees Celsius. According to the Meteorology Department's forecast, the warning will come into force on Saturday at 01:00 local time until 17:00. The lowest temperature inland, and the coastal areas is not expected to fall below 26 degrees Celsius. Inland maximum temperature is expected to rise around 41 degrees Celsius, in south and eastern coastal area around 39 degrees Celsius and in higher mountainous area around 33 degrees Celsius. Source: Cyprus News Agency

Employment in the broad public sector exceeded 75 thousand persons in the first quarter of 2024, marking an increase of 4.1% year on year, mainly driven by the increase in employment in the Central Government and the hiring of personnel in the educational service. According to data released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat) total employment in the Broad Public Sector in the 1st quarter of 2024 reached 75,723 persons. The employment in General Government amounted to 69,929 and in the Publicly Owned Enterprises and Companies 5,794 persons. Furthermore, the General Government, consisted of the Government, Non-Profit Organisations and Local Authorities, total employment reached 54,698, 10,767 and 4,464 persons respectively. The employment in the Broad Public Sector increased by 2,993 persons or by 4.1% compared to the same quarter of 2023. According to CyStat, the employment in Central Government increased by 2,847 persons (4.5%) and in Local Authorities by 165 persons (3.8%), whereas in Publicl y Owned Enterprises and Companies it decreased by 19 persons (-0.3%). The increase in Central Government employment is mainly attributed to the increase of the Educational Service staff (Government), due to the abolition of the purchase of services regime in the supporting programs of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth as from the school year 2023-2024. Compared to the 4th quarter of 2023, the employment in the Broad Public Sector increased by 362 persons (0.5%). Employment increased in Central Government by 442 persons (0.7%). Employment in Local Authorities and in Publicly Owned Enterprises and Companies it decreased by 65 persons (-1.4%) and by 15 persons (-0.3%) respectively, Cystat added. Source: Cyprus News Agency