Day: June 26, 2024

Kathmandu: Rainfall is currently taking place in some places of Bagmati, Koshi and Gandaki Provinces. This is due to partial effect of Monsoon winds that is active in the country. The weather is partial to generally cloudy across the country. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Weather Forecasting Division, in the last 24 hours, 47.2 mm of raninfall took place in Golbazaar of Sirha, 127.4 mm in Anarmani of Jhapa, 118.8 mm in Sundarpur of Udayapur, 96.8 mm in Dhunge of Sindhupalchok, 94.4 mm in Turkeghat of Sankhuwasabha, 94.4 mm in Bhotang of Sindhupalchok, 111 mm in Besi Sahar of Lamjung, 115.4 mm in Lampatan in Kaski and 80.6 mm in Sahukharka of Dadeldhura. This afternoon, the weather will be fully cloudy in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini regions and the rest of the land will be partial to normal cloudy. There is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning in some places of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces and few places of Lumbini, Kar nali and Sudurpaschim provinces. Likewise, later tonight, the weather will be completely cloudy in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini regions, and the rest of the region will be partial to normal cloudy. There is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning at many places in Koshi, Madhesh and Bagmati provinces and few places in Gandaki, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. Source: National News Agency Nepal

Inspector general of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun here on Wednesday said Police are following zero-tolerance policy against corruption, unethical and anti-social activities. "An investigation into the wealth of police officials is underway and authentic information expected to be found out," he told journalists at the Khulna Metropolitan Police (KMP) Lines this afternoon. The IGP mentioned that a meeting between the Bangladesh Police Services Association and journalists was held to discuss the recent media reports on the wealth of police officials and the police headquarters' response. "The issue will be resolved through discussions," he assured. He also lauded the role of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for making investment to the law enforcement agencies. "Cops are now capable to face any challenge for keeping country's law and order situation stable. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has increased logistic and necessary manpower support for Cops and arranged training facilities both at home and ab road", he added. He said earlier Khulna was a death valley, den of terrorists, banned outlawed parties and Sundarbans turned into heaven of forest robbers. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina restored law and order there after Awami League came to state power and announced robbers free Sundarbans. About Pori Moni issue, IGP Mamun said Golam Saklain, the former additional deputy commissioner of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), was sent on compulsory retirement after the allegations against him were confirmed. Bangladesh Police adheres to a zero-tolerance policy towards any immoral activity, he said. Earlier, the IGP laid the foundation stones for a four-story armory building, a six-story multipurpose building, and an electrical substation. He also inaugurated the Boro Boyra Police Outpost and a multipurpose shed. The IGP also planted an Amloki tree sapling at Boyra Police Line premises of KMP. Later, he attended a meeting with police officials at the police commissioner's office, KM P commissioner Md Mozammel Haque, DIG of Khulna (Commandant) Md Nisharul Arif, Khulna Range DIG Moinul Haque, additional police commissioners Sarder Rakibul Islam, Taslima Khatun and superintendent of police of Khulna Md Sayedur Rahman, among others, were present. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

District Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) in a drive held a man with 2,250 pieces of tapentadol tablets, 13 kgs of ganja and 167 bottles of phensidyl in the town last night, said a press release. The detainee was identified as Ramzan Ali, 61, hailed from Lalbag area in the town. The press release said on information a team of DNC conducted a raid at a house in Lalbag area at 11:30 pm and held Ramzan Ali with the contrabands. Ramzan Ali was handed over to Sadar Thana police with a case. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Speakers at a high-level dialogue today said that the LDC Graduation strategy of Bangladesh and the associated action plan should be very highly action oriented to ensure a smooth and sustainable graduation. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and the Chair of the National Committee on LDC Graduation M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah chaired the high level dialogue at the Prime Minister's Office. Secretaries of the concerned government ministries and divisions as well as high level representatives of various business chambers participated in the dialogue, said a press release. It is notable that Bangladesh met all the criteria for graduation from the LDC status in the consecutive 2018 and 2021 triennial reviews of the Committee for Development Policy (CDP) of the United Nations. Following a five years' preparatory period, Bangladesh will graduate from the LDC status in November 2026. It is recommended by the United Nations that a graduating LDC should prepare a national Smooth Transition Strategy (STS) duri ng the preparatory period in cooperation with its development and trading partners and with targeted assistance from the UN system. Accordingly, Bangladesh has recently started the process of STS formulation in collaboration with UN DESA. As part of this process, the high level dialogue was organized to share the draft STS as well as the associated action plan with the relevant stakeholders and to receive their feedback and recommendations. Speaking on the occasion, M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah said that the Smooth Transition Strategy can provide some effective recommendations for turning the challenges of Bangladesh's upcoming LDC graduation into opportunities. Participants of the dialogue observed that the draft STS has been quite comprehensive, qualitative and informative. However, they also opined that the action plan that would be formulated as part of the STS should be specific and action oriented. They also said that the draft STS should provide some specific recommendations on structural transformat ion, productivity enhancement, increasing domestic resource mobilization and tariff rationalization. Secretary of the Economic Relations Division Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority Lokman Hossain Miah, Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Md. Selim Uddin, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Industries Zakia Sultana, former ERD Secretary and the current Alternate Executive Director of the World Bank Group Sharifa Khan, former Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, Member of the National Board of Revenue Md. Masud Sadiq, President of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kamran T Rahman, President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industries Ashraf Ahmed and President of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries Abdul Muktadir, among others, spoke during the occasion. The national consultant on Bangladesh's STS Dr. M. A. Razzaque delivered a presentation highlighting the various aspects of the STS that is being formulated. Meanwhile , the international consultant on Bangladesh's STS Cuong Minh Nguyen delivered a presentation on the STS Action Plan. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

A court here on Tuesday afternoon sentenced one person to life-term imprisonment and also fined him of Taka 10,000 three months more to suffer in jail, in default. The convicted person was Ruhul Amin, 35, son of late Sadequl Islam of Sonamasjid Shialmara village under Shibganj upazila in the district. Additional District and Session Judge Md Rabiul Islam gave the verdict in presence of the convict. According to the prosecution story, a patrol team of 59 battalion of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) conducted a raid in Baliadighi area under Shahbajpur union in Shibganj upazila and arrested Ruhul Amin with 950 grams of heroin on September 21, 2021. Habildar Md Abdul Alim of BGB filed a case against Ruhul Amin with Shibganj police station on the same day. Investigating officer of the case sub-inspector Mohammad Rafiqul Islam submitted charge sheet to the court against Ruhul Amin on October 22, 2021. After hearing the witnesses the court handed down the punishment, the court sources said. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Deputy Speaker Shamsul Hoque Tuku adjourned the House at 9.31 pm today. The House proceedings will resume at 4.00 pm on June 27. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

The flood like situation in low-lying areas of the Brahmaputra river basins of four upazilas in the district has started improving because of falling the water level of the river. Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) Office sources said the river Brahmaputra registered further fall in last 24 hours ending today's 9 AM. Water level of the river decreased by 3 cm during the period and the river was flowing 147 cm below the danger level at Fulchharighat point of the district. Apart from it, water level of other major rivers except Teesta decreased during the period improving the flood like situation at river basin areas of the respective river. The river Ghagotregistered fall 3 cm during the period and it was flowing 177 cm below its danger mark at new bridge Road point. The karotoa experienced fall 114 cm in last 24 hours and it was flowing 287 cm below the danger level at Chalk Rahima point. Water level of Theteesta, one of the mighty rivers in the district rose by 32 cm during the period but it was flowing 5 cm below the danger mark at Kawnia point of Rangpur district. With the fall of water level in the rivers the river erosion has been intensified along the right and left banks of the district making the people living on the river bank more worried. Manju Miah, chairman of Kapasia union parishad under Sundarganj upazila said over 50 families of the union had shifted their houses to other places due to unabated river erosion in last few days. Not only that, the arable lands owned by the people living on the riverbank had also been devoured by the river creating food security crisis to the erosion victims. UNO Tariqul Islam said he had given the instructions to the concerned to prepare a list of the erosion victims of the upazila to help them provide help and assistance from the administration to mitigate their sufferings. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Chattogram Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (CEB) has completed all preparations to hold the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations beginning from June 30 in a free, fair and peaceful manner. A total of 106,034 students including 48,333 male and 57,698 female will sit for the examination under CEB at 115 centers from 287 colleges this year. A total of 23,532 students from Science group, 46,273 students from Humanities group and 36,225 from Business Administration group are scheduled to participate in the exams. CBE officials said they have completed almost all kinds of preparations to hold the public examinations in a free and fair manner. Over 65 vigilance team, consisting of teachers and magistrates, have been formed to check any sorts of unfair means or irregularities. Mujibur Rahman, Controller of Examinations, Chattogram Education Board, said all the preparations have been taken to hold the HSC examinations in a free and fair manner. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Family members of 31 government staff working in civil administration, who either died or become physically disabled, were given Taka 2.36 crore as grants aimed at mitigating their financial constraints. District administration distributed bank cheques of the grants among the family members at its conference hall today. Of them, family members of Montaz Ali of Government Teachers Training College, Shamsuddin of the department of public works and Abul Kalam of Ansar Battalion, get Taka eight lakh each. Apart from this, each of the other deceased family members was given Taka 8 lakh, while Taka four lakh for each of three family members who are physically impaired. Deputy Commissioner Shamim Ahmed accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioners Kolyan Chowdhury and Tuktuk Talukder and Executive Magistrate Fabliha Anbar handed over the cheques formally. Shamim Ahmed expected that the financial support will benefit the affected families in terms of mitigating their constraints. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sa ngstha

The National Primary Education Week-2024 begins tomorrow with a renewed pledge to ensure quality education for children. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to open the week as the chief guest at Osmani Memorial Auditorium here tomorrow morning. As part of the week, a total of 126 teachers will be honoured with 'Primary Education Medal-2023'. Of the 126 teachers, 54 will receive the medal directly from the Prime Minister while the remaining medals will be delivered to the recipients. The theme of the week is 'Shishu Bandhov Prathomik Shikkha, Smart Bangladesher Deekkha'. President Mohammed Shahabuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in separate messages today greeted the primary level students across the country. In his message, the President said considering the importance of primary education, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took a number measures, including making the education mandatory, distribution of free textbooks up to class-V and highest budget location for e ducation sector, for the development of the education. Following the footprints of Bangabandhu, President Mohammed Shahabuddin said the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been working relentlessly to ensure quality education for children. Mentioning that the dream of Bangabandhu was to build a 'Sonar Bangla' --a prosperous and happy Bangladesh, he urged all to come forward for building knowledge and science based educated nation to fulfill the dream of the Father of the Nation. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her message, said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman attached top priority to ensure quality education for all and as part of his plan, Bangabandhu nationalized 36,165 primary schools and jobs of 1, 57, 724 teachers side by side with taking steps to ensure modern education in independent Bangladesh. The government, he said, has formulated a time-befitting education policy which is now under implementation. The government has nationalized 26, 193 primary schools and jo bs of 1,05, 616 teachers, she said, adding that the post of head masters has been upgraded to 2nd class and pay-scale of assistant teachers has also been elevated. The Prime Minister said around one crore and forty lakh primary level students are now getting stipend and their mothers are receiving the stipend through mobile banking agents. School feeding, formation of Prime Minister's Education Assistance Trust Fund, introduction of multimedia class-rooms and training programmes for students at home and abroad are major initiatives of her government, she added. The government, she said, has been distributing free textbooks up to secondary level since 2010 and on January 1, 2024, a total of 30 crore, 70 lakh, 83 thousand and 517 free textbooks were distributed among students from pre-primary to secondary level. The government has also been distributing pre-primary level textbooks in five ethnic languages for children of minority groups -- Chakma, Marma, Garo, Tripura and Sadri, she added. The premier hope d that the government would be able to achieve its target of quality primary education for children with cooperation of all quarters, which ultimate will help the government build a prosperous smart Bangladesh by 2041. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

A woman and her father-in-law died after being electrocuted at Chhato Chougram village under Singra upazila of the district this morning. The deceased were identified as Lucky Begum, 35, and her father-in-law Akkas Ali Fakir, 60, residents of the village. Officer-in-Charge of Singra Police Station Abul Kalam said Lucky Begum came in contact with a live electric wire on the road of the village. Akkas Ali also electrocuted when he tried to save his daughter-in-law, he added. Both of them died on the spot. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha

Health Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen today laid emphasis on detection of breast cancer at an early stage to save lives as well as treatment costs. "We can save lives, if breast cancer is diagnosed at early stage . . . it is very crucial to create awareness among the womenfolk on the importance of early treatment of breast cancer for recovering from the killer disease," he told a function at Shamsunesa Arju Moni Ma and Shishu Kalyan Kendra in city's Hajaribag area. The 10-bed Shamsunesa Arju Moni Ma and Shishu Kalyan Kendra has been upgraded to 50-bed healthcare facility, an official release said. Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Rokeya Sultana and Lawmaker Ferdous Ahmed, among others, addressed the function with Medical Education Secretary Md Azizur Rahman in the chair. 'There is a common tendency among women for ignoring breast cancer disease,' the health minister said. He directed the female physicia ns to check for symptoms related to breast cancer with highest sincerity. He suggested female doctors to send the patients to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, if they detect any lumps in breast. Modern and updated version of technological facilities is available at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Samanta said. "The institute (Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery) will provide treatment free of cost to the patients with any possible symptom related to breast cancer," he added. Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha