Day: June 24, 2024

Kathmandu: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Hit Bahadur Tamang has said that tourism sector will be promoted by exploring new tourist destinations. Responding to the quires raised during the discussion on Appropriation Bill 2081 BS in today's meeting of the House of Representatives, Minister Tamang said tourist infrastructure development programmes including tourist destinations, hill stations, and the Great Himalayan Trail have been decided by identifying and developing new tourist destinations. He shared that there is a plan to run the 'Trail Based Tourism Programme' from the coming year with the participation of the Swiss government, Ministry of Tourism and 29 local levels of Koshi Province. Minister Tamang also informed that there is another programme to regulate and improve the service facilities such as hotels, homestays, casinos, and tourist transportation. He said that the goal of bringing in one million tourists in 2023 was easily achieved, so the target is set to bring in 1.6 milli on tourists in the coming year. Minister Tamang said that in order to significantly attract tourists from the neighboring countries China and India, the Nepal Tourism Board will conduct a tourist promotion programme by targeting places and focusing on culture in the language based on the needs of tourists from those countries. He said, "Nepal Tourism Board is planning to conduct the programme in cooperation and partnership with the Greater Janakpur Area Development Council by making necessary preparations to run the wedding destination hub." Declaring the Lumbini Development Trust as a scheme of national pride, Minister Tamang said that work is being done in accordance with the master plan and said that efforts have been made to address it with high interest to prevent the lack of budget as in the past. He said that a task force has been formed by the ministry to bring Gautam Buddhaa International Airport and Pokhara Regional International Airport into operation at full capacity and further work will be don e according to the suggestions received from the report. Source: National News Agency RSS

The Eid reunion of Debiganj Press Club was held at its hall room under Debiganj upazila of Panchagarh district here today. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Debiganj Md Sariful Alam was present at the function as chief guest. Project Implemented Officer (PIO) of Debiganj upazila Md Momin, Sub-Inspector of Debiganj thana Sushanto Pal was present as special guests respectively. President of Debiganj Press Club Md Mostafizur Rahman was in the chair. General Secretary of Debiganj Press Club Md Zakir Hossain , pressclub member and Multimedia Reporter Association President Jakaria Ibne Yousuf spoke on the function. All others reporters of the press club were present at the function. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet has said the government has targeted to produce 28,000 megawatts of electricity in coming 12 years considering the projection of demand for power, energy security and other issues. The Energy Development Framework and Action Plan has been implemented to ensure capacity building for transmission and distribution line for this matter, Minister Basnet said responding to the lawmakers' questions in today's House of Representatives (HoR) meeting. On the occasion, Minister Basnet said 463 megawatts of power was added to the national system so far in the current fiscal year and some 98 per cent people in the country have access to the power supply. He added that some 900 megawatts of electricity is expected to be added to the national system in the upcoming fiscal year. He shared that Rasuwagadhi project, Upper Shenzen project, Mid Bhotekoshi project and other projects are expected to begin power production in the coming fiscal y ear. The power produced within the country will be sufficient to meet the domestic demand even in the dry season after the next year and the surplus power will be exported, which will serve to reduce the country's trade deficit, according to the Energy Minister. Furthermore, Minister Basnet said the government's programmes are oriented to replace fossil-fuelled vehicles with EVs. In his speech, Minister Basnet reiterated that final preparations are ongoing for the export of 40 megawatt of electricity to Bangladesh. Likewise, he said that internal and cross-border transmission lines are being constructed to ensure a reliable power supply. The development of the reservoir-based hydropower projects has been advanced adding that West Seti, Seti River-6, Lower Arun and other projects have advanced as per the project development agreements. Minister Basnet also assured the lawmakers to advance the development of Marsyangdi Hydropower Project adding that the budget and its modality have been confirmed for the p roject. Source: National News Agency RSS

The second wave of devastating flood battered wide swaths of two north-eastern districts Sylhet and Sunamganj lingering sufferings of thousands of people as flood waters are receding slowly. Officials and residents told BSS that two spells of flood, in less than one month, have created huge havoc for people as pre-monsoon rainfalls are prolonging the flood situation leaving nearly 15 lakh people stranded. Echoing the observation made by officials concerned and local people, Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) predicted that overall improvement of the flood situation in various low-lying areas of the North-eastern part of the country may continue in the next 72 hours. According to the local administration, nearly 15 lakh people have been marooned in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts as flood water submerged much of the two districts. Among the total people, who are marooned by flood water, 6 lakh people are in Sunamganj and 9,64,000 people are in Sylhet, they added. Rezaun Rahman, Director General o f Department of Disaster Management, told BSS that, "We are overseeing the flood situation in Sylhet and Sunamganj round-the-clock . . . initially, we are working with local administration and other relevant agencies to provide emergency assistances for minimizing sufferings of the flood-hit people." As part of emergency assistances, the department of disaster-management is distributing cash, dry food and pure drinking water among the flood-affected people in the north-eastern districts, he added. Aftermath of the prolonged flooding, relevant ministries including agriculture and the road transport and bridges ministry will submit a complete report on damages caused by the flood, the DG added. Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Sheikh Reshel Hasan said the first spell of flood affected thousands of people in 13 upazilas and municipalities of Sylhet district in late May and the flash flood prolonged in the first week of the current month, leaving a large number of people marooned. The authorities have set up 6,3 92 shelter centres after the second round of flood hit Sylhet and Sunamganj districts. As flood water started receding, people are going to home from shelter centres. The Sunamganj district administration sources said flood water submerged 11 upazilas and Sunamganj municipality. Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Anwaruzzaman Choudhury said, "Volunteer teams of city corporation are working to extend assistances for flood-hit people. We have arranged adequate amount of food at shelter centres." A devastating flood, triggered by heavy rainfall and onrush water from hilly regions, have affected 20 lakh people in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, according to a statement of UNICEF issued recently. The statement, signed by Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh, read among 20 lakh flood affected people in two northeastern regions - Sylhet and Sunamganj - 7.72 lakh are children. The UNICEF called for emergency assistances for flood-hit children as they (children) are the venerable segment of the popul ation in case of any natural disaster. The UNICEF in cooperation with Bangladesh government and other organization working at field level have distributed safe drinking water among one lakh flood-hit people in Sylhet and Sunamganj to reduce their sufferings. Water levels at 39 river stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) have marked rise while 69 stations recorded fall. The Surma river is flowing at 19cm above danger level at Kanaighat station while the Kushiyara at Amalsad, at Sherpur-Sylhet and at Markuli, the Old Surma at Derai and the Someshwari at Kalmakanda are flowing 33cm, 06cm, 30cm, 05cm and 17cm are flowing respectively. The Brahmaputra-Jamuna river is in falling trend, which may continue in next 24 hours, the FFWC bulletin said adding the Ganges river is in rising trend while the Padma river is in falling trend, which may continue in next 48 hours. The major rivers in the North-eastern region of the country are in falling trend which may continue in the next 24 hour s. Overall improvement of the flood situation in various low-lying areas of the north-eastern part of the country may continue in the next 72 hours. According to the information from meteorological organizations, medium to heavy rainfall in next 24 hours and heavy to very heavy rainfall in next 48 hours is expected in the Northern and adjoining upstream parts of the country. As a result, the water level of the Teesta river in that region may rise in particular time in the next 48 hours. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: On June 12, Deputy General Secretary of CPN UML, Prithvi Subba Gurung, proposed the reduction in number of federal ministries from the existing 25 to 12. During deliberations on the Appropriation Bill underway in the House of Representatives, the ruling party leader demanded downsizing the number of federal ministries in line with the recommendation of a report furnished by the Administrative Reform Commission. The leader also wanted to have a cut in numerous departments, and district coordination committees to suit the federal context. Earlier, in an interview to a national daily, the Kathmandu Post, leader Gurung had vocally criticized the political leaders' attitude, claiming it hostile to federal spirit and provisions. He blamed the centralist mindset of the political parties behind a sluggish enforcement of federalism which we adopted long back, 16 years over. Similarly, Nepali Congress General Secretary and seminal leader Gagan Thapa expressed a similar view of giving a severe cut in the outsize centralized governance by reducing ministry numbers and other institutions. As the leaders have expressed, the enormous government in the central level has not only drained state coffers but also dented badly federal pursuit. In the wake of a low capital formation in the country, constant proposals for foreign aids with development partners, compulsory inflow of remittance by the Nepalis engaged in backbreaking jobs abroad, declining agricultural products and skyrocketing trade loss and public debt, thereby pushing the national economy to a fragile state, keeping a humongous administrative structure in the centre and usurping treasury continuously must have been taken seriously. But it vanished in the thin air. In order for the federalism to sustain effectively and deliver to the people's needs and aspirations along with intensification of development activities and governance reform together, the local and provincial levels are expected to build themselves as ones' own economic identities. But, the dearth of identification of available resources and capital formation is so poor that they largely depend on what the central government coughs up. They prepare their budgets after the presentation of federal budget. Worryingly, even in the federal context, the budget-making still adopts a top-down approach, which we decried for a long in the unitary system. It is the mighty remnant of the previous system. If we do not prepare the budget adopting the bottom-up approach where the issues and concerns of the local and provincial levels become frontiers, it is nothing but the hangout of the previous system. It is interesting and contradictory as well that politicos criticize the previous centralized system while hailing the achievements of the present system, but remain almost mum to shun the same centralized attitude that ignored people's aspiration with real devolution of power for centuries. So, reflecting federalism in practice is the utmost need of h/ours. Capacitate sub-national governments In addition t o the economy that needs to take care of the sub-national governments first, other areas also need for building capacity at lower levels. Several researches have shown how pathetic the sub-national governments are in terms of their capacity to exercise their rights. Many people's representatives at local levels are almost unaware of their rights. At a time when it is urgency to create jobs at local levels through skilled-based training to retain youths, best utilize available resources, identify needs and harness indigenous knowledge and skills from the senior citizens and utilize them for the broader welfare of the concerned levels, the dearth of knowledge among peoples' representatives about the constitutionally guaranteed rights is a severe setback to local governments. An equally important need is to equip the local levels with skilled workforces. Several local levels are bound to deliver with minimum employees. Both the people's representatives and employees' sufficient knowledge of constitutional provi sions would help them cater public services and advance development works accordingly. Banish corruption The slogan of 'Gaugauma Singha Durbar' to mention local governments full of rights is further marred by corruption. The governance experts have often warned of federalism turning into the ground of decentralized corruption. As they have argued the corruption, nowadays, is flared as a wildfire in cahoots with people, political leaders and bureaucrats, which is difficult to rupture. Time has come to hone the watchdog role of the public institutions, CSOs and media to keep tabs on the public agencies and politicos. Federalism is a hard-fought governance shakeup that warrants contributions from various sides with utmost honesty and integrity. But if the same unitary ills are perpetuated in this new system, how can a just and equal society and economic progress be realized in h/ours' time? Empowering sub-national governments is at the heart of effective enforcement of federalism. For it to happen, the centra lized attitude must be ditched. Source: National News Agency RSS

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought Chinese support to solve the Rohingya crisis quickly. 'Bangladesh is now very much worried about Rohingya crisis due to uncertainty of solution as it has already been six years of influx of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals to Bangladesh,' she said. The Premier sought this support as Liu Jianchao, Minister of International Department of the Communist Party of China, called on her at her Jatiyo Sangsad Bhaban Office. While briefing reporters after the call on, Prime Minister's Press Secretary Md Nayeemul Islam Khan quoted Sheikh Hasina as saying, 'It (Rohingya crisis) is very much frustrating and worrying for us.' He said that the premier told the Chinese minister that 'It's a special message (from myself) to convey to the Chinese President (for a amicable solution of Rohingya crisis).' She also requested the minister to do something with own and extra interest for it, he added. Liu Jianchao said china is committed and working with Myanmar to figure out h ow to improve the situation regarding Rohingya issue. "China is committed and they are working with them how to improve the situation," he added. The Chinese Minister mentioned that the Rohingya issue is complicated and it continues there internally, saying: "Even the Myanmar government doesn't have that position to implement any plan (regarding this issue). The civil war situation has been turned into a complex issue due to the conflicting situation (there)." He also said that China realised that Bangladesh is affected due to the Rohingya issue and his country highly appreciate Bangladesh for supporting the Rohingyas in the humanitarian way. Referring to the foreign policy of Bangladesh "friendship to all, malice to none", the Prime Minister said that her country is firmly committed to this foreign policy introduced by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. She said the main motto of their politics is development and up-gradation of the country's mass people as well as ensure their food security, houses, education and increase of purchasing power. Talking to the next visit of Sheikh Hasina in China in the next month, the visiting Minister of International Department of the Communist Party of China Liu Jianchao said that it would further strengthen the extraordinary friendship between the two countries. "This visit will further cementing our relationship." He was overwhelmed with the unprecedented development of Bangladesh. The Chinese Minister said that his country is interested to enhance between the two countries in science, technology, innovation and Artificial Intelligence. Regarding the economic situation of the world, he said that even the economic situation of China is also sluggish. He mentioned that last year the growth was 5.2 percent and the first quarter of the running fiscal is maintained at 5.3 percent. "We have to work more and so do Bangladesh," he added. Liu Jianchao said that China in a stage of development witnessed a sluggish economy, but technology and science was n ot that much advanced to tackle that situation at that time. "So, we have suffered little bit more, and it was tough for us to tackle that situation, but fortunately Bangladesh could be able to tackle that situation with smart technology, AI and innovation," he said. Laying emphasis on enhancing party to party (Chinese Communist Party and Awami League) cooperation, he also said that peace and stability of the region is important for them. The Chinese Minister of International Department of the Communist Party put importance on cooperation of economy, investment and party to party. Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin and Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah, among others, were present. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Visiting Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Sun Weidong called on Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' at the latter's office in Singhadurbar on Monday. Matters related to bilateral issues, mutual interests and cooperation were discussed during the meeting. On the occasion, PM Dahal expressed gratitude for China's continued support to Nepal's socioeconomic development endeavours. PM's Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Rupak Sapkota said that PM Dahal said Chinese assistance to Nepal was needed to get success on Nepal's LDC graduation in 2026. During the meeting, Vice Minister Sun shared that China has decided to mark Visit Nepal-2025 to encourage Chinese nationals to visit Nepal and promote Nepal's tourism on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Nepal and China. He also pledged to continue China's support to Nepal for the latter's socio-economic development. On the occasion, PM's Foreign Affairs Advisor Dr Sapkota, officials of the Ministry of Foreign A ffairs and Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song and others were present. The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Sun is on a three-day official visit to Nepal from today to attend the Sixteenth Meeting of the Nepal-China Diplomatic Consultation Mechanism to be held in the Capital City on Tuesday. Source: National News Agency RSS

A Dhaka court here today framed charges against chief of the military wing of the militant organization Ansar Al Islam, sacked army major Syed Ziaul Haque Zia and four others on charges of killing of blogger Nazim Uddin Samad in 2016. Dhaka Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal Judge of Dhaka M Mojibur Rahman framed the charges against the accused and fixed August 6 for testimony of the accused persons. The other three accused are- Rashidun Nabi Bhuiya Raihan, Md Sheikh Abdullah and Akram Hossain. In addition, the court also discharged other 5 accused from the case. They are- Mozammel Hussain Simon, Md Arafat Rahman, Waliullah Oli alias Taher alias Tahsin, Sabbirul Haque Chowdhury alias Akash alias Konik and Maulana Junaid Ahmed Sabbir. Zia and Akram are absconding since the murder while Raihan and Abdullah are behind the bars. Nazim Uddin Samad, a student of the Law Department of Jagannath University, was hacked and shot dead by some militants on April 6, 2016 near Laxmibazar area in the old city. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: A five-member team including Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Eknarayan Aryal, has left for the USA to participate in the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS). The Summit is being held on June 26-27 in the UN Headquarters in New York. The team members attending the event representing Nepal include Home Secretary Aryal, Inspector General of Nepal Police, Basanta Bahadur Kunwar, Armed Police Force's Inspector General of Police Raju Aryal among others, according to Narayan Prasad Bhattarai , Joint-Secretary and Spokesperson at the Ministry of Home Affairs. Source: National News Agency RSS

Water levels at 39 river stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) have marked rise while 69 stations recorded fall. Among the 110 monitored river stations, water level at one station has remained steady while rivers at six stations are flowing above the danger level, a bulletin issued by the FFWC said here today. The Surma river is flowing at 19cm above danger level at Kanaighat station while the Kushiyara at Amalsad, at Sherpur-Sylhet and at Markuli, the Old Surma at Derai and the Someshwari at Kalmakanda are flowing 33cm, 06cm, 30cm, 05cm and 17cm are flowing respectively. The Brahmaputra-Jamuna river is in falling trend, which may continue in next 24 hours, the FFWC bulletin said adding the Ganges river is in rising trend while the Padma river is in falling trend, which may continue in next 48 hours. The major rivers in the North-eastern region of the country are in falling trend which may continue in the next 24 hours. Overall improvement of the flood situation in various lo w-lying areas of the north-eastern part of the country may continue in the next 72 hours. According to the information from meteorological organizations, medium to heavy rainfall in next 24 hours and heavy to very heavy rainfall in next 48 hours is expected in the Northern and adjoining upstream parts of the country. As a result, the water level of the Teesta river in that region may rise in particular time in the next 48 hours. Significant rainfall was recorded at some stations in different districts of Bangladesh during the last 24 hours ending at 9 am today. A total of 80 mm rainfalls were recorded in Panchagarh, 50mm at Lalakhal (Sylhet), 73mm at Zakiganj (Sylhet) and 50 mm at Teknaf (Cox's Bazar). During the past 24 hours, significant rainfalls (mm) were recorded in some states like Tripura and Arunachal of India, the bulletin added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Kathmandu: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Rabi Lamichhane has shared that a person involved in the incident related to Chhaupadi has been arrested. The suspect has been remanded to custody and investigation is underway. In today's meeting of the National Assembly, while replying to the queries raised by the MPs regarding the incident that took place at a Chhaupadi hut in Achham, he said that according to the statements of both the victim and the perpetrator, only one person was involved in the incident. Based on information that a 16-year-old girl of Panchdewal Binayak Municipality-2 in Achham was found unconscious near the Chhaugoth at 9:00 am on 18th of June, a team of the district police office immediately rescued her and brought her to District Hospital Mangalsen, Achham for treatment and proceeded with the investigation process. "A police team has been mobilized to assist in the investigation under the command of the Superintendent of Police from the Sudurpaschim Province Police O ffice", he said. Deputy Prime Minister Lamichhane said that the ministry has clearly instructed the local administration to implement a policy of zero tolerance for any violence or crime against women and children and that the Ministry of Home Affairs and subordinate bodies are more sensitive to the protection and implementation of the constitutional right of victims to get justice. Keeping in mind the sensitivity of this incident, the Ministry is taking daily reports of the activities carried by the local administration and conducting regular supervision, Lamichhane said. Source: National News Agency RSS

A total of 50 more fish sanctuaries were established in Rajshahi division with the main thrust of boosting the stock of endangered indigenous fish species besides protecting the fish biodiversity through creating awareness among the public in general. Apart from this, 150 existing fish sanctuaries were renovated in the division for ensuring a sustainable water ecosystem coupled with developing fish habitat for improving productivity. The developments were promoted with the intervention of a four-year project titled "Fisheries Development Project in Rajshahi Division", said Kamrul Hassan, director of the project. The four-year project has been implemented in 65 upazilas in all eight districts of the division involving around Taka 47.47-crore since January 2019 to boost fish production along with enhancing its productivity and habitat development. Being implemented by the Department of Fisheries (DoF), the project is intended to boost production of fish along with enhancing its productivity and habitat development through establishing 1,860 demonstration farms and 80 beel nurseries after re-excavation. Kamrul Hassan said generating more scopes of improving living and livelihood conditions and poverty reduction of the marginalized people, employment generation for the youths and transferring modern technologies among the fishermen are the ultimate goals of the project. Around 2,000 distressed fishermen were engaged in various alternative income generation activities in phases for reducing overfishing in the natural water bodies. Training, seminars and workshops were arranged for the beneficiary farmers and the promotional activities progressed through various interventions. A total of 240 Kuchia demonstration farms have also been established for making the ethnic minority people self-reliant through boosting its production. A total of 480 farms for demonstration of various small fish species including Shing, Magur, Gulsha and Pabda while another 480 farms for demonstrating Koi, Tilapi a and Pungus were set up for production expansion of the tasty and high market valued fish species. The project includes 180 cage and pen fish farming demonstrations for the best uses of the open water bodies through promoting cage fish culture coupled with capacity development of the people living alongside the river banks. As a result of establishing new sanctuaries and renovation of the existing ones, production of the native fish species were enhanced side by side with revitalizing the endangered ones, sources said. Requisite numbers of beel nurseries were established for boosting fish production to meet the gradually mounting protein demands. Fish production was enhanced to five to six tonnes per hectare through infrastructure development in natural water bodies together with transferring of modern technologies among the farmers. In phases, 62,000 beneficiary fishermen were imparted training on modern fish farming technologies aimed at building their capacities. Project Director Kamrul Ha ssan mentioned that climate change, employment generation, biodiversity conservation and sustainable uses of updated technologies are the main challenges towards implementation of the project. The project has started protecting the endangered fish species through installation of fish sanctuaries and habitats, he added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha