Day: June 24, 2024

Kathmandu: England has defeated the United States to enter the semi-final of ICC T20 World Cup-2024. England has become the first team to reach the semi-final thrashing the US by 10 wickets in the match played at Bridgetown Barbados last night. Chasing the target of 116 runs presented by the US, England met it in 9.4 overs and secured their position in semi-final. Captain Jos Jos Buttler contributed highest 83 runs, including six fours and seven sixes to ensure England team's win. Likewise, opener Phil Salt remained unbeaten with 25 runs off 21 balls. Put to bat first after losing the toss, the US had made 115 runs in 18.5 overs. Nitish Kumar had gathered the highest 30 runs and Kori Anderson 29 runs for the US. With this win, England has reached the semi-final with four score from three matches in the Group 'B' and the US. Source: National News Agency RSS

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to pay her bilateral visit to Beijing any day in between July 8 and July 11. "We expect that the upcoming Prime Minister's visit to Beijing will significantly advance the development cooperation between Bangladesh and China," he told reporters after a meeting with the visiting Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Liu Jianchao at a hotel in the city. "His (Liu) visit (in Dhaka) before our Prime Minister's visit (to Beijing) is significant ... we are also looking forward to the (PM's) visit," said the foreign minister. Dr Hasan said issues related to trade and security would be given priority during the prime minister's visit to China. During the today's meeting, the foreign minister sought China's cooperation in the inclusion of Bangladesh in the BRICS in either form of membership or partnership. Mentioning that China is Bangladesh's largest development and major trade partner, Hasan said, they also discussed in reducing the trade gap between Bangladesh and China. "We discussed the trade deficit. We import about $13 billion from China, whereas our exports are just under $1 billion," the foreign minister said. Hasan urged China to import world-standard Bangladesh-made pharmaceuticals, leather, and ceramic products to reduce the trade gap. The foreign minister said he sought China's help in mounting pressure on Myanmar to commence repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingyas to their land of origin in Rakhine. He said Liu expressed Beijing's keen interest in increasing Chinese investment in Bangladesh. Hasan said the Gaza situation has also come up in the discussion while he said Dhaka expects to see more Chinese role in the Gaza issue. Replying to a query, the foreign minister said there was no discussion on the Teesta mega plan during today's meeting. Hasan said a delegation of Awami League senior members will visit China soon to increase political party-le vel cooperation with the Communist Party of China (CPC). Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address a press conference tomorrow to apprise the media of the outcome of her recent state visit to India. The press conference will be held at her official Ganabhaban residence at 11am, according to the Prime Minister's Press Wing. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to New Delhi on June 21 on a two-day state visit to India at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. This was the first bilateral visit by any head of government to India after the BJP-led alliance formed its government for the third consecutive time following the Lok Sabha elections. Besides, this visit was Sheikh Hasina's second trip to the Indian capital in less than 15 days, as she was among the dignitaries invited to Modi's swearing-in ceremony on June 9. During this Prime Minister's visit, Dhaka and New Delhi signed 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) including seven new and three renewed to further consolidate the ever-growing relationship between the two neighbouring countries. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Khulna City Corporation (KCC) has taken initiative to build a high-power pump house with a cost of Taka 68 crore under the "Water logging removal project" on the bank of Rupsa River with a view to remove water logging from the city streets during the rainy season, said KCC officials. "This is the first time for the KCC to implement a new mega project in order to remove the problem permanently," the officials said, adding that an international tender has already been called to implement the project. "It is mainly being built with a view to drain rainwater smoothly during the tidal period in the rainy season. The pump will be built on the city's Shahebkali canal near the Rupsha fish market," the sources said. According to the sources, the powerhouse will be built with three pumps and three switch gates which will remove 3.30 lakh liters of water per minute. Talking to BSS, Moshiuzzaman Khan, chief engineer of the KCC, said: "The rainwater falls into the river Rupsha through the drains and canals of the city. But the river bed of the Rupsha has been filled with silt. That's why when it rains heavily during the tidal period, the water doesn't get drained properly. Resulting water logging is being created on the city streets." Shaikh Mohammad Masud Karim, executive engineer of the KCC, said Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) and Development Design Consultant (DDC) Limited, a project consultancy farms, ensured that a total of around 10 lakh litres water can be possible to remove as according to the data of previous projects of removing water logging. During heavy rainfall in the rainy season, there is no alternative but to get the water out through irrigation, KCC Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque told BSS. "Firstly, we will install a pump station by the river Rupsha. After successful completion, KCC will build another one at Alutola 10 Gate and the German Development Bank will finance," the mayor said, adding that water logging in Khulna will be solved permanently. Shaik h Ashrafuzzaman, secretary general of the Greater Khulna Development Action Coordination Committee (GKDACC), said Khulna City Corporation (KCC) left no stone unturned in trying to solve the water logging problem permanently in the last 10 years and implemented various projects to solve water logging but the problem arises in the rainy season. In 2013, KCC took the initiative of drezzing river sand canals under a Taka 65 crore project titled "Urban Development Project". Later in 2018, the city corporation took another initiative under the project of removing the water logging problem which was not fruitful enough to solve the problem permanently, Ashrafuzzaman said. So, it will be better to make cooperation with other government departments including the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), he added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Kathmandu Municipal Corporation has unveiled a budget of Rs. 25.70 billion. Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol presented the annual budget for the upcoming year 2024/25 in the 15th Municipal Council meeting held on Monday. The metropolis has allocated the highest budget of Rs 14.81 billion for infrastructure development while Rs 3.49 billion has been proposed for office operations and administrative sector. Another Rs 3.81 billion has been earmarked for the social development sector. Likewise, 1.89 billion rupees have been proposed for good governance and inter-related sectors and 190.9 million rupees have been proposed for programs under the economic development sector. Deputy Mayor Dangol said that a budget of Rs. 3.80 billion has been allocated for the continuation of the previous programs and for 11 additional projects of pride. Similarly, 30 golden schemes have been proposed in addition to clothes bank, pond maintenance and compost fertilizer and Homestay, with a budget of two billion rupees. So urce: National News Agency RSS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today inaugurated the stipend and tuition fee distribution among insolvent and meritorious students from secondary to graduate (pass) and its equivalent level. She opened the disbursement among the insolvent and meritorious students under the Prime Minister's Education Assistance Trust (PMEAT) at a programme held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here. The prime minister said the money of the stipends and tuition fees will go directly to the beneficiaries through digital system. "I am very happy to disburse the money of stipends and tuition fees among the meritorious students through digital platform," she said. A total of Tk 2,208 crore would be dispensed among more than 6,470,000 (64.70 lakh) students from the secondary, higher secondary, graduation and equivalent level. The premier also conferred the Bangabandhu Creative Talent Search award-2024 on 15 students and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Scholar Award, 2023 on 21 students. The Bangabandhu Creative Talent Search awardee 15 s tudents received a certificate and Tk 2 lakh each while the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Scholar awardee 21 students each received a certificate and Tk 3 lakh. Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, PM's Education and Cultural Affairs Adviser Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, State Minister for Education Begum Shamsun Naher and Education Secretary Suleman Khan, spoke at the function. Nusrat Jahan Maliha, a class-VIII student of Hazaribagh Girls' School and College; Atifa Rahman, a class-X student of Amena-Baki Residential Model School and College in Dinajpur and Pinak Mugdha Das, a Class-XI student of Government Majid Memorial City College in Khulna on behalf of the awardees under Bangabandhu Creative Talent Search-2024; and two students of Dhaka University (DU) Zarin Tasneem Raisa and Al Foysal Bin Kashem Kanon on behalf of the awardees under Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Scholar Award-2023, also shared their feelings at the function. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: A five-point agreement has been reached between a talk team formed by Ministry of Home Affairs and protesting Ruby Khan. Khan, along with other women from Banke district, had been staging hunger strike in Banke district, demanding justice for Nirmala Kurmi and Sumadrani Tharu, who died in Banke district. The agreement was signed after the talk held at the Ministry of Home Affairs after the instruction of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Rabi Lamichhane on Monday. With the agreement, the hunger strike has been ended effective from today while the government side has agreed to write to the District Police Office in Banke through Nepal Police Headquarters to prioritize investigation of abduction, hostage and murder of Nirmala Kurmi by studying reports of various investigation committees for the prompt resolution of the issue in accordance with the laws. Similarly government has agreed to write to the District Police Office, Banke through the Nepal Police Headquarters to update t he family of Sumadrani Tharu about the progress report that can be given to them in accordance with the law. Furthermore, letter will be sent to the police to expedite the process of bringing alleged perpetrators to the justice. Arrangement would be made for ensuring adequate and effective security provision for the protesting people and victims' family, the five-point agreement stated. Deputy Prime Minister Lamichhane had broken off Khan's hunger strike by offering her a glass of juice, according to the Secretariat of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Source: National News Agency RSS

President Mohammed Shahabuddin has directed BCPS to play an effective role in producing international-standard specialized physicians. He came with the directive as a seven-member delegation of the Executive Committee of Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) paid a courtesy call on the President at Bangabhaban here today. Later, President's Press Secretary Md. Joynal Abedin told BSS about the outcome of the meeting. The President said medical treatment is one of the basic rights of people and due to the new innovations in information technology (IT) and science, the medical science is also undergoing rapid changes. The Head of the State put emphasis on formal education as well as proper training in producing expert doctors. President Shahabuddin said if international quality specialist doctors are produced in the country, the trend of going abroad for treatment will decrease. "Besides, valuable foreign currency will be saved. . . And people will also get better treatment at lower cost in the country," he added. The press secretary said the President expressed his satisfaction with the overall activities of the BCPS. Professor Mohammod Shahidullah led the delegation during the meeting. The President was apprised by Professor Sahidullah of the academic activities of BCPS and the overall process in obtaining degrees. A total 8815 doctors have already got fellowship (FCPS) while some 3791 others have received membership (MCPS) from the BCPS, he informed. The delegation said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman established BCPS in line with the model of the Royal Colleges of the United Kingdom (UK) on the President's order on June 6, 1972. Since then, this college has been playing a significant role in the overall development of the country's health system. Secretaries concerned to the President's office were present on the occasion. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The District Court Sarlahi has convicted Ram Bahadur Bomjon on the charge of child sexual abuse. A bench of District Judge Jiban Kumar Bhandari handed down the verdict against Bomjon on Monday convicting him of the crime, the court's registrar Sadan Adhikari confirmed. The court will finalize the punishment on Bamjon through a bench to sit on July 1, Adhikari added. Source: National News Agency RSS

Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and his wife and two daughters did not appear before the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as they were scheduled to face interrogation today over graft allegations. Talking to reporters at the ACC headquarters here today, ACC Secretary Khorsheda Yasmin said former IGP Benazir Ahmed, his wife and two daughters were scheduled to be interrogated at the ACC headquarters on June 24 (today) but they did not appear before the commission. 'Also, they did not send any application to the ACC seeking time extension for their questioning but they submitted a written statement with the application of Benazir Ahmed on Thursday last where their stance was explained,' she said. The ACC secretary said an ACC team is taking necessary actions to this end in line with the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004 and the Anti-Corruption Commission Rules 2007. 'We (the Commission) hope that the ACC team will be able to submit its probe report within the stipulated timeframe,' she added. On May 28, 2024, the national anti-graft watchdog summoned Benazir Ahmed, his wife and daughters to face interrogation over graft allegations. Benazir Ahmed was asked to appear before the ACC headquarters on June 6, while his wife and daughters on June 9 to face questioning. But, they sent a letter to the ACC seeking more time to face questioning. Later, on June 9, the ACC issued a fresh notice asking them to appear before the Commission on June 24. On May 23, a Dhaka court ordered the authorities concerned to confiscate properties under 83 deeds of 114 acres of land, and freeze 33 bank accounts under the name of Benazir and his family members. Three days later, the same court asked the authorities concerned to confiscate assets under 119 more deeds of Benazir and his family members in connection with alleged graft. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghuvir Mahaseth has said that all the projects as request could not be covered due to low budget allocation. Responding to the questions raised by the MPs in today's meeting of the House of Representatives, he said that the government is sensitive to the development of Karnali, and that necessary budget for the construction of the Mahakali Corridor has been allocated. He said that due to the low budget allocation the prioritization was challenging. Though the limited financial resources obtained were mobilized as per the plan. The discussion on various topics of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, the National Planning Commission, the Office of the Vice President and the Office of the President will continue in tomorrow's meeting. The House of Representatives will meet at 11 am tomorrow. Source: National News Agency RSS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said her government has made country's education system multi-dimensional and creative prioritising science and technology to maintain global standard in the ever-changing world. "We have made arrangement of multifaceted education system as employment can be generated both at home and abroad," she said. The premier said this while inaugurating stipend and tuition fee distribution among insolvent meritorious students from secondary to graduate (pass) and its equivalent level under the Prime Minister's Education Assistance Trust (PMEAT) at a programme at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here. She said her government has so far established 23 public universities and 54 private universities across the country since 2009. Sensing the global demand, she said they have built multi-dimensional universities that include agriculture, veterinary, animal science, science and technology, medical, digital Islamic, Arabic, textile, maritime, aviation, aerospace and fashion and technology. The prime minister said her government has given topmost priority on the science, technology and researched based education. "Any country can't keep pace with the ever-changing world without knowledge of science, research and technology. So, we have taken measures aimed at competing with the world," she said. She added her government first allocated money for research in the budget after 1975. Her government has allocated Tk 100 crore in the budget for boosting up research and spreading science and technology education, she continued. The premier said they formed Prime Minister's Education Assistance Trust (PMEAT) to help meritorious insolvent students flourish their talents aimed at using their merit for the betterment of the country and the mankind. To this end, she recalled the remark of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that education life of any student can't be hampered for poverty. A total of Tk 2,208 crore would be dispensed among more than 6,470,000 (64.70 lakh) students fr om the secondary, higher secondary, graduation and equivalent level. After opening the money disbursement, the premier said the money of the stipends and tuition fees will go directly to the beneficiaries through digital system. "I am very happy to disburse the money of stipends and tuition fees among the meritorious students through digital platform," she said. Sheikh Hasina also conferred the Bangabandhu Creative Talent Search award-2024 on 15 students and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Scholar Award, 2023 on 21 students. The Bangabandhu Creative Talent Search awardee 15 students received a certificate and Tk 2 lakh each while the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Scholar awardee 21 students each received a certificate and Tk 3 lakh. Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, PM's Education and Cultural Affairs Adviser Dr. Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, State Minister for Education Begum Shamsun Naher and Education Secretary Suleman Khan, spoke at the function. Nusrat Jahan Maliha, a class-VIII student of Hazaribag h Girls' School and College; Atifa Rahman, a class-X student of Amena-Baki Residential Model School and College in Dinajpur and Pinak Mugdha Das, a Class-XI student of Government Majid Memorial City College in Khulna on behalf of the awardees under Bangabandhu Creative Talent Search-2024; and two students of Dhaka University (DU) Zarin Tasneem Raisa and Al Foysal Bin Kashem Kanon on behalf of the awardees under Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Scholar Award-2023, also shared their feelings at the function. Sheikh Hasina said her government is mulling distributing all the scholarships and stipends under PMEAT after giving it a permanent shape. Various ministries are now providing financial assistance under the different projects, she said, adding but once the project tenure is completed, the assistance programme is hampered. If the financial assistances can be bestowed through the trust, none can stop the programme, she continued. The prime minister said her government has established the trust by providing Tk 100 0 crore as seed money. She also pledged to give Tk 2 crore to the trust from the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust. "We have to find out the diamonds (meritorious students) from across the country and use their talents for the country's development," she said. Sheikh Hasina said she has no tension as there are a lot of meritorious students who will take the country towards smart Bangladesh by exploiting their talents. "I have no tension with Bangladesh as the little kids will take the country ahead and lead the country in future after making it a smart Bangladesh," she said. She also said her government is updating the old fashioned curriculum, introducing grading system in result and bringing other required changes to match with the global standard alongside trying to develop a system as student can pursue their lesson with joy. "There should be an education system so that students can pursue study with interest, they won't need to be asked repeatedly to study rather they would do it on their own and they wil l have such desire. We want to develop this system," she said. The prime minister said they have given topmost priority on education for which they kept highest allocation of Taka 94,710 crore in the social sector for development of education in the national budget for 2024-25 fiscal year (FY). She said the allocation was Taka 88,162 crore in the revised budget of FY 2023-24. "The increased allocation for education in the budget will positively impact the society," she added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha