Day: June 24, 2024

The Biratnagar Metropolitan City (BMC) has presented the annual income and expenditure estimates (budget) for the upcoming fiscal year 2024/25 here on Monday. Metropolitan Deputy Mayor Shilpa Nirala Karki read out the budget worth Rs 3.49 billion amid the 14th Town Assembly. For the income, Rs 320 is estimated from the federal government under the financial equalization grant while Rs 20 million is expected from province government, said Deputy Mayor Karki. Others sources for income are revenue collection from VAT, excise duty, royalties from forest produces, taxes from registration of house and land, vehicle taxes and others, according to Karki. Notably, the Metropolis has designated Rs 590 million for office operations and administrative activities while the sum of Rs 430 million has been allocated for various projects to be implemented in its local levels, it was shared. The Metropolis has dedicated Rs 56 million for development of human settlements and for Tarai-Madhesh Prosperity Programme. Under the social development sector, education development programme will receive Rs 780 million, health sector Rs 200 million while Rs 9.9 million will be invested for women empowerment programmes. The children sector will receive Rs 7 million while youth development sector will get Rs 9.5 million and sports sector Rs over 10 million, informed Karki. Similarly, Rs 45 million has been earmarked for maintenance of roads, canals, sewages while Rs 100 million has been designated for other maintenance. Over Rs 20 million is estimated to be spent in purchase of heavy-duty vehicles. The Metropolis has prioritized disaster management and conservation of forest environment and has allocated over Rs 10 million for the same. Over Rs 10 million has been allocated for sanitation programme. Traffic management sector has received Rs 4 million, urban development Rs 9 million and Rs 6 million for development of information technology. Over Rs 10 million has been allocated for programmes aimed at good-governance and smooth and swift public service delivery while the Metropolis has designated over Rs 20 million for purification of waste water and same amount for electrification programme. Source: National News Agency RSS

Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman today paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum here. Later, he signed the visitor's book kept there, said an ISPR release. Earlier, the army chief paid tributes to martyred army members who laid down their lives during the great Liberation War by placing wreaths at Shikha Anirban here. Besides, he signed the visitor's book kept there. Later, a smartly turned-out contingent of Bangladesh Army gave a guard of honour to the army chief at Senakunja and he planted a tree sapling there. After placing wreaths at the portrait of Father of the Nation, the army chief paid tributes to valiant martyrs of the great Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Martyrs' Memorial at Savar and he gave salute in honour of valiant martyrs. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: The government has decided to approve grants and soft loans from the World Bank and other donor agencies. A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Monday decided to accept 80 million US Dollars in loan to be received from the World Bank, the government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma said. Likewise, the government approved the additional grant assistance of 8.1 million Pounds Sterling to be received from the British Government for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the earthquake damages caused in the Karnali Province. According to Minister Sharma, the cabinet meeting approved the visit of Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun for his participation in a high-level conference to be held in Beijing of China from July 11 to 13. Likewise, the cabinet meeting has decided to hand over the remaining amount of the fiscal equalization grants to the concerned local levels of the fiscal year 2080/081. The cabinet meeting has transferred the suspen ded Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal to the National Planning Commission by creating a post equivalent to the Chief Secretary at the Commission, Minister Sharma said. After the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) filed a case of corruption at the Special Court, Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal is automatically suspended from the post. The cabinet meeting also appointed Dr Ram Prasad Dhital as the Chair of the Electricity Regulations Commission and Dr Madhu Sudan Adhikari and Jhamak Prasad Sharma as the members. Likewise, Dr Rajendra Prasad Yadav was appointed the Executive Director of the National Dairy Development Board. Furthermore, the cabinet meeting has approved the visit of the Minister for Youths and Sports to South Korea to attend a programme there from June 28 to July 4, Minister Sharma informed the journalists. Source: National News Agency RSS

Two people were killed and three others injured in a road accident around 6.45 am today at Mathbaria road of Ikri village in Pirojpur. The deceased were Jhumia Akhter, 22, of south Ikri village of Bhandaria Upazila and a child Hawa, 9, daughter of Mahadi Hasan of Morichbunia village of Kathalia Upazila. The injured were Hossain Saheb, 25, son of Sohag Saheb of Morichbunia village, Maya Akhter, 32, of Ikri village and Misty Akhter, 35. Officer-in-Charge of Bhandaria Police Station Mohammad Abir Hossain confirmed it. He said the accident occurred when a Mathbaria-bound speedy pick-up van ran over Jhumia Akhter and Hawa as they were standing there, leaving them dead on the spot. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued a mandamus order to determine the salary scale of government employees based on the order of precedence. The joint bench of Justices Manoj Kumar Sharma and Sunil Kumar Pokharel today issued the order to the government to determine the salary scale of government employees based on the order of precedence, Supreme Court deputy spokeperson Govinda Ghimire said. Supreme Court Deputy Registrars Nirajan Sharma and Nirajan Pandey, Supreme Court Bench Officers Bheshraj Koirala and Gyanendra Dahal, Home Ministry Officer (law) Rishi Paudel, Auditor General Office Director Mukund Ghimire, Supreme Court Officer Basant Mainali, Attorney General Office Assistant Attorney Baburam Bhattarai, Accounts Officer Krishna Prasad Panth of Supreme Accounts Officer Tamlal Adhikari along with 33 other employees working in various offices had filed a writ petition. In the writ petition, the petitioners have argued that through on the government determined the order of precedence on 16th Ba isakh 2076 and they were not getting salary accordingly. Source: National News Agency RSS

The 75th founding anniversary of Awami League was celebrated through different programmes in Vienna, Austria on Sunday. A discussion was held in a convention hall in Vienna marking the anniversary. Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali joined the programme as the chief guest while State Minister for Finance Waseqa Ayesha Khan, All European AL President and Austria expatriate human rights activist and writer M Nazrul Islam also attended it as special guests. Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Offices and Other International Organizations in Vienna Asad Alam Siam, Pabna Zila Parishad chairman Abdur Rahim Pakon, Austria Bangabandhu Parishad President Rabin Mohammad Ali, Austria Awami League Vice-President Ruhi Das Saha and its Organizing Secretary Nayon Hossain also spoke. Later, a cultural function was held. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: The Supreme Court has ordered not to implement the decision and notice to suspend the Member of Gandaki Province Assembly Phanindra Devkota. A single bench of Justice Prakashman Singh Raut issued an interim order not to implement the decision and notice of the Speaker of Gandaki Province until the dispute is settled. "There is no dispute that the petitioner was elected as a member of the Gandaki Provincial Assembly, the fact that the petitioner is affiliated with the Nepal Samajbadi Party is evident from the official documents including the notice published in the Nepal Gazette", the order said. The petitioner is affiliated with the Nepal Samajbadi Party and it does not appear that the petitioner has renounced the party, nor the party has taken any action or expelled him. The court said that the right to expel the Gandaki Provincial Assembly member from CPN (Maoist Centre), a political party to which MP Devkota is not affiliated, has not been guaranteed in accordance with the constitutional and l egal provisions, reads the order. "If the decision and notice of the Speaker of the Gandaki Provincial Assembly is implemented, the petitioner will not be able to perform his role as a representative of the people and will suffer irreparable damage until the decision of the writ petition is decided. The Maoist Centre took action against Devkota as he cast his vote for Surendraraj Pandey, candidate of Chief Minister from the Nepali Congress, against the whip of the party. Source: National News Agency RSS

As part of the government campaign for building a smart Bangladesh, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) jointly set up and launched a 'Smart Traffic Police Box' at Palashi intersection aimed at smooth traffic operation in the capital. Vice-Chancellor of BUET Professor Dr Satya Prasad Majumder, Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Abdul Jabbar Khan and DMP Additional Commissioner Md Munibur Rahman jointly inaugurated the smart traffic police box. The smart traffic police box having modern facilities including CCTV control room, high speed internet connection, flower garden and parking for policemen was inaugurated at Palashi intersection. Professor Dr Satya Prasad Majumdar said that Bangladesh Police is constantly providing services to the people. 'We also have a duty to those who serve us. A police box has been constructed here by BUET with the approval of Dhaka City Corporation considering the traffic members on duty at this Palashi intersection,' he added. In terms of smart Bangladesh, every service should be a smart service, the Vice Chancellor said that this beautiful smart police box will help the traffic police. Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Abdul Jabbar Khan said, 'This traffic box has been constructed by the BUET with the aim of creating a cordial relationship between BUET and the DMP. With this initiative, I think the relationship between the BUET and the DMP will strengthen further. Although it is a small initiative, if the DMP thinks to build traffic boxes in other parts of the Dhaka city or convert existing traffic boxes into smart boxes, then BUET will sincerely provide all kinds of technical support.' Additional Commissioner Md Munibur Rahman said that Palashi intersection is a very important point of traffic, adding, 'That's why the smart police box has been set up which will help traffic police on duty for refreshment.' Deans and teachers of various departments of the BUET and police officers of various ranks including Traffic Lalbagh Di vision officers were present at the function. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Finance Minister Barshman Pun has said that the total amount allocated to the Ministry of Finance is only Rs 48.61 billion. The rest of the budget comprises fiscal transfers including 148 billion for financial equalization grants, Rs.13.20 billion for supplementary grants and Rs.12.90 billion for special grants to be spent through provincial and local levels. Responding to questions raised by parliamentarians in the House of Representatives related to the Ministry of Finance under the Appropriation Bill 2081 today, he said compared to the current financial year, current expenditure has been reduced for the coming financial year and the budget has been increased towards capital expenditure. Minister Pun mentioned that the government is committed to the proportional and balanced development of all geographical regions, classes and communities. "There may not be equal allocation in all the constituencies when it is proposed," he said, "but it is not true that the government has allocated more budget for the constituencies of a party or leader or minister, we are committed to balanced and proportional development." Regarding the use of the climate fund and the use of green 'financing', Minister Pun assured that aid will be mobilized based on the climate fund and facilities and in a rights-oriented concept in accordance with the principles of environmental justice. Regarding the burden of public debt, he mentioned that since the ratio of total public debt to gross domestic product is below 40 percent, arrangements have been made to use public debt in the productive sector. He clarified that the budget has given high importance to the sports sector as the budget for the Ministry of Youth and Sports has been increased by almost 22 percent for the coming year The Finance Minister said that he is confident that the goal of revenue collection could be achieved if it is carried out in a coordinated manner. During the discussion, the parliamentarians said that a large amount of money had been kept under the Ministry of Finance under the title of undivided, capital expenditure is low and spending capacity is weak, public debt, current expenditure and expenditure towards financial system are increasing, current expenditure cannot be covered by revenue, the concept of project bank has not been implemented, influential leaders and ministers have received more funds for their districts and constituencies. Source: National News Agency RSS

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury today called on Bhutanese Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay at his office, Gyalyong Tshokhang, in Thimphu. The Bhutanese premier Tobgay thanked the Bangladesh environment minister for visiting Bhutan and commended Bangladesh's proactive approach, according to a message received here. During the meeting, Tobgay reiterated Bhutan's support for joint initiatives aiming to promote sustainability and resilience in the region. Minister Saber Chowdhury congratulated the Bhutan prime minister on his party's landslide victory in elections and for being elected as the prime minister for second time. He also invited the Bhutanese premier, on behalf of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, to visit Bangladesh. Saber highlighted Bangladesh's ongoing efforts in combating climate change and protecting biodiversity. They expressed their commitment to enhancing potential collaboration between Bangladesh and Bhutan in regional connectivity, climate chang e, ecotourism, hydropower, investment, health and infrastructure. The meeting marked a significant step towards fostering stronger ties between Bangladesh and Bhutan and underscored the shared vision of both nations for a sustainable and environmentally resilient future. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration Bhanubhakta Joshi spoke of the need to maintain uniformity in understanding federalism among all political parties and general public. Responding to the queries raised by lawmakers on the Appropriation Bill-2081 BS in today's House of Representatives (HoR) meeting, Minister Joshi called for ensuring that the managerial aspect of federalism be balanced, frugal, transparent, accountable, people-oriented and accountable. Furthermore, Joshi saw the need for correctly analyzing enthusiasm of people's representatives, political awareness, perspective towards development, civil services and bureaucracy and determine the framework for reforms and thereby implementing them. He emphasized introducing soon the Federal Civil Service Act, the main pillar for implementing administrative federalism, through political consensus and collaboration. Joshi opined that the Act should be able to encourage the civil employees to be more motivated, hardworking and more dedicated towards public service delivery. Stating that that first few years of implementing the new constitutional provisions would be challenging for any countries adopting and implementing new governance system like Nepal, he mentioned that many works were carried out in the last seven years of implementing federalism. According to him, 165 new legislations were framed during these seven years while the draft of amendment of unbundling report that clearly explains the works of three-tier government has been prepared. He explained that the political federalism was being institutionalized and two periodic elections were held in all three-tiers thereafter the governments being formed through democratic practices. The Minister assured that the government of Nepal would make arrangements to deploy civil employees in the provincial and local level in the provinces and local levels where the Province Service Commission were active and not active at the request of the concerned agencies in the province an d local level. Regarding stability of the Chief Administrative Officer at the local level, the Minister said that his Ministry had prepared criteria for deputation. He admitted that all local levels did not have Chief Administrative Officer as the employees recruited in limited vacancies would remain vacant owing to various reasons such as study leave, suspension, extraordinary leave and deputation in other agencies. According to him, in such situations, the senior most employees in the local level who are civil service employees are assigned responsibilities to ensure smooth public service delivery. Source: National News Agency RSS

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent visit to New Delhi was very excellent, fruitful, and friendly. "The visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India was cordial, fantastic, and fruitful. The progress and achievements of the two countries were evidently reflected during the visit. A total of 10 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed, and 13 specific declarations have come out from the tour," he said. The AL general secretary made the remarks in a statement sent to the media here, protesting statements made by BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. Quader said successful statesman Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina always runs the government, giving priority to the dignity and interests of the country and its people. "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina prioritizes the security and interests of her countrymen in all of her internal and foreign policies. Her recent India visit was not an exception," he added. The minister said the BNP and its leaders don't notice the success of the incumbent government. Mentioning that India is the largest neighbouring country of Bangladesh, Quader said strategic relations with India should be strengthened for the interest of Bangladesh, adding, "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sincerely tried to follow the strategy during her recent India visit." Stating that mistrust and disbelief were created between Bangladesh and India during the BNP's regime, Quader said, "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been able to entirely bring back the trust and belief between the two neighboring countries.". The sufferings of Bangladeshi patients will be lessened to a great extent as Dhaka and New Delhi have agreed to begin e-medical visas for Bangladeshi patients, the AL general secretary said. "Teesta water sharing was an important issue during the visit. There are differences of opinion between the central government and the state government of India over the wate r sharing of the river," Quader said. "Despite having the internal issue, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already declared to send a technical team to Bangladesh over the Teesta water sharing project." Talking about the well-being of the country does not suit BNP leaders, as their leader, Begum Khaleda Zia, had forgotten to raise the Teesta water sharing issue when she was Prime Minister and visited India, he said. On the other hand, Quader said, the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has completed the 30-year-long Ganges Water Sharing Agreement just after assuming office. The issue of renewing the agreement was also discussed during the visit, he said. He said territory and enclave agreements with India were completed under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Quader hoped that bilateral issues with other countries, including India, would be solved in a peaceful manner soon. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha