Bangladesh
Bangabandhu's 103rd birth anniversary, National Children’s Day celebrated in New Delhi
The 103rd birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the National Children’s Day was celebrated with due solemnity and joyous atmosphere at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Friday.
Md. Mustafizur Rahman, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, started the daylong programme by hoisting the national flag at the High Commission premises and placing floral wreaths on the portrait of the Father of the Nation.
In the morning, a discussion programme was organized at the High Commission as part of the celebration.
The messages issued by the President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and State Minister for Foreign Affairs on the occasion of the day were read out by the Mission officials.
Also Read: Bangladesh remembers Bangabandhu on his 103rd birth anniversary
In his speech, High Commissioner Rahman recalled with veneration Bangabandhu’s charismatic leadership in various struggles that took place on the way to the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign state.
He said, “Bangabandhu became the undisputed leader of the Bangalee nation due to his profound political wisdom, visionary leadership, extraordinary self-sacrifice and boundless compassion for the people.”
The High Commissioner called upon everyone to continue their efforts in building ‘Smart Bangladesh’ under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, holding Bangabandhu’s ideals in their hearts.
Among others, Member of Parliament Arma Dutta, eminent journalist and columnist Abed Khan and Barrister Tania Amir took part in the discussion and highlighted the significance and importance of the day.
A documentary on Bangabandhu was also screened on the occasion.
After the discussion session, a special prayer was offered for the salvation of the souls of the Father of the Nation, his family members and all the martyrs who played a historical role in all stages of movements for freedom and Liberation War of Bangladesh as well as well as for the peace, progress and prosperity of the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Officials and employees from the Bangladesh High Commission and expatriate Bangladeshis were present at the event.
In the evening, a cultural programme was organized at Bangabandhu Hall of the High Commission with the participation of children.
On the occasion of Bangabandhu’s birthday, the event begins with the cutting of a special cake in the presence of children. In this event, the Father of the Nation will be remembered through his historic 7thMarch speech as well as poems and songs written on Bangabandhu.
A documentary on Bangabandhu’s life and work screened before the children.
On the occasion, essay writing, drawing and sports competitions were also organized by the High Commission for children. In the evening, the High Commissioner distributed the prizes among the winners of these competitions.
Bangladesh reports zero dengue cases, deaths
No fresh case or death due to dengue was reported in Bangladesh in the 24 hours to Friday morning.
Twenty-one dengue patients, including 14 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
So far, the DGHS has recorded 796 dengue cases, 766 recoveries, and nine deaths this year.
The country logged 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019. Also, it recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries last year.
Bangladesh registers 5 more Covid-19 cases in 24 hours
Bangladesh reported five more Covid-19 cases in 24 hours till Friday morning.
With the new number, the country's total caseload rose to 2,037,959, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,445 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity rate rose to 0.31 percent from Thursday’s 0.27 percent against the tests of 1986 samples.
The recovery and death rates remained unchanged at 98.47 percent and 1.44 percent, respectively.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and highest number of fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.
EPB, Portugal's AICEP sign MoU on trade, investment cooperation
The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of Bangladesh and the Agência para o Investimento e Comércio Externo of Portugal (AICEP) or the Trade and Investment Agency of Portugal have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on trade and investment cooperation online.
The MoU, signed Thursday, will focus on strengthening economic relations between the two countries by promoting trade and industry as well as by bringing together business leaders from all sectors of the economy.
At the ceremony held simultaneously at two institutions, EPB Vice-Chairman AHM Ahsan in Dhaka and AICEP Chairman and CEO Luís Castro Henriques in Lisbon signed the MoU.
Through this MoU, the AICEP and EPB aim to collaborate on developing direct business relations between their respective business communities of the two nations.
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It will also promote the exchange of economic, trade and business information and entrepreneurial experience between the two organisations and help them undertake actions to support each other in the development of fairs and symposiums, conferences and other events aimed at expanding the bilateral trade and economic cooperation, said the Bangladesh Embassy in Lisbon on Friday.
It is expected that both organisations will facilitate sending business missions between the two countries to examine the prospects for cooperation in industry and trade.
Also Read: Bangladesh seeks Portugal's investment, expertise in blue economy, wind power generation
Henriques hoped that both organisations of the two friendly countries would work closely for furthering business cooperation.
"This is only the beginning. My institution is ready to explore areas of cooperation under this framework. There is a huge untapped business potential between the two countries on which the two countries can work," he added.
Ahsan said this is the first cooperation MoU on business cooperation in the history of Bangladesh-Portugal bilateral relations.
Also Read: EU’s EBA Scheme for LDCs: Portugal terms Bangladesh best success story
He hoped that now business communities from both countries would get the opportunity to work closely which will "certainly in turn boost the bilateral trade and investment of the two nations."
Ambassador Tarik Ahsan congratulated both the Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh and Agência para o Investimento e Comércio Externo de Portugal on this momentous decision to tie up for a partnership.
Referring to the historic linkage between the countries, Bangladesh Ambassador to Portugal Tarik Ahsan said the people of Bangladesh and Portugal have been connected since the early 16 century.
On the Lisbon side of the ceremony, Manuel António Gaeiras, director of external relations and foreign markets, Maria José Alvarenga, deputy director of external relations and foreign markets, Daniel Pontes, market manager of external relations and foreign markets, of AICEP and First Secretary of Bangladesh Embassy Alamgeer Hossain were also present.
On the Dhaka side, EPB Director General Mahbubur Rahman, Director General of the West Europe and EU wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Kazi Russel Pervez, and others attended the signing ceremony.
EC sues Jubo League leader for snatching EVM ballot unit in Chattogram:Official
The Election Commission has filed a case against a Jubo League leader on charge of snatching an Electronic Voting Machine’s ballot unit panel from a polling centre during the Boalkhali Upazila Parishad election in Chattogram.
Presiding officer of the centre, Sajal Das, filed the case with Boalkhali Police Station last night against Nirmalendu Dey Sumon, the joint general secretary of Sreepur-Kharandwip Union Jubo League and son of late Gaurang Dey of ward-9.
Confirming the case, Boalkhali Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Abdur Razzaque said, an investigation is underway regarding the matter.
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Earlier yesterday, the Boalkhali Upazila Parishad by-election was held. However, there was no voter turnout throughout the day. Almost all the centres were empty.
In the meantime, around noon, Sumon entered room-5 of Jaistyapura Ramni Mohan High School centre in Sreepur-Kharandwip union and took away the EVM ballot unit panel from the polling room.
Assistant Presiding Officer Harunur Rashid protested, but the Jubo League leader did not pay heed to it.
Later, Union Awami League President Ratan Chowdhury recovered the EVM ballot unit panel and returned it to the centre.
Police detained Ratan for questioning in this connection and later released him.
8 arrested while trying to rob a RAB vehicle in Narayanganj: RAB
Eight members of a robbery gang have been arrested while trying to take over a Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) vehicle in Narayanganj.
RAB 11 Company Commander and Deputy Director Monirul Alam confirmed the information at a press conference at its local camp in Kalirbazar area of the city this afternoon.
“Two teams of RAB 11 were on patrol duty on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in plain clothes last night. At that time, one team got stuck in traffic in the Char Bausia area under Gazaria Police Station in Munshiganj,” he said.
Also Read: Tk 11 crore robbery: Mastermind among 3 held with Tk 58 lakh
“A group of armed robbers, thinking the Rab vehicle to be a normal passenger car, surrounded it. At one stage, the robbers attacked the car, in return, RAB men in plain clothes chased and arrested eight people, including the leader of the gang,” said the RAB deputy director.
“Several locally-made weapons were seized from the robbers at the time. Legal action, including a case, is under way against them,” he added.
During primary interrogation, the arrestees confessed to committing more than 50 robberies on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway in the last two years. There are also multiple cases against them at different police stations, said RAB.
Banganbandhu’s birth anniversary: 20 injured in Awami League’s infighting in Patuakhali
At least 20 people of the ruling Awami League (AL) were injured in a clash between two groups of ruling Awami League during celebration of the 103rd birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Children’s Day here on Friday.
The injured were admitted to local hospitals. But their identities could not be known immediately.
Of them, Bauphal upazila unit AL General Secretary and Upazila Parishad Chairman Abdul Motaleb Hawlader was hospitalised at Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital with serious injury, hospital doctors said.
On the occasion of the Bangabandhu’s birthday, local,AL lawmaker ASM Feroz, Motaleb and district unit AL Joint General Secretary and Bauphal municipal Mayor Ziaul Hoque Jewel announced separate programmes.
Also Read: Bangladesh remembers Bangabandhu on his 103rd birth anniversary
Of them, Feroz and Motaleb called the programme at the same place and time.
A tense situation had been prevailing in the area over the matter for the last few days.
Auribindu, an upazila unit Juba League leader, told UNB that Motaleb and his followers brought out a celebratory procession around 11:00am.
Police obstructed the procession in front of upazila parishad gate when it was marching towards the party office, he said.
Also Read: AL destroys electoral system by “so-called” SCBA polls, says BNP demanding fresh vote
Suddenly, several hundred supporters of Faisal Ahmed Monir, nephew of the lawmaker and upazila unit AL President Feroz, attacked Motaleb and his men with sharp weapons when an altercation broke out between police and him, Auribindu said.
Law enforcers fired at least 7-8 rounds of rubber bullets to bring the situation under control, causing a panic among locals.
As of filing this report around 3:00pm, a tense situation has been prevailing in the area.
Al Mamun, officer-in-charge of Bauphal police station, said an additional number of police personnel have been deployed to ward off any unexpected incident further.
He said they were forced to fire the rubber bullets to disperse the infighting groups.
Md Al Amin, Bauphal upazila nirbahi officer, said both groups promised to hold their events in a peaceful manner but no one kept their words despite his request.
Biker killed as truck runs over him in Dinajpur
A 50-year-old biker was killed after police said a speeding truck ran over him in the Dosh Mile area Friday.
The deceased was identified as Anwar Hossain from the Bangibechaghat area of Dinajpur Sadar upazila, Sub-Inspector Noni Gopal of Dinajpur Highway Police said.
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"The accident occurred around 12:30pm as Anwar was on his way to a wedding. He fell on the road after being hit by a battery-run easy bike, he added. "Anwar died at the scene when the truck ran over him."
Bangladesh remembers Bangabandhu on his 103rd birth anniversary
The nation on Friday fondly remembered Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the architect of independent Bangladesh, on his 103rd birth anniversary.
The day -- a public holiday -- is also being observed as National Children’s Day.
Read more: Birth Anniversary: President, PM pay homage to Bangabandhu
Marking the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to the Father of the Nation by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi-32 in Dhaka this morning.
After placing the wreath, she stood in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh's independence.
Later, President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to Tungipara, Gopalganj and paid tributes to the greatest Bangalee to be born in thousand years.
Flanked by senior leaders of her party, Hasina, also the Awami League President, placed another wreath at the Mazar of Bangabandhu on behalf of the party.
Later, First Lady Rashida Khanam along with her son Rejwan Ahammad Taufiq, MP, as well as the premier along with her family members paid tribute to Bangabandhu by placing floral wreaths separately.
Hamid and Hasina offered Fateha and joined a munajat seeking eternal peace of the departed souls of Bangabandhu as well as other martyrs of the August 15 carnage.
Cabinet members, PM's advisers, parliament members and senior AL leaders were present.
PM Hasina also attended a programme on National Children's Day.
Meanwhile, Television channels and radio stations are airing special programmes marking the day.
Read more: Children in Bangladesh to be groomed as smart citizens: PM Hasina
On this day in 1920, Bangabandhu was born in Tungipara village. While studying at Islamia College in Kolkata, he got involved in active politics.
Both while in and out of jail, Bangabandhu led the Language Movement in 1952. When on February 21, 1952, several language activists were killed during a protest in Dhaka, Bangabandhu was observing a hunger strike in jail.
In continuation of the Language Movement, all major movements of Bengalis, including the general elections in 1970 and the War of Liberation in 1971, were led by Bangabandhu.
Through his dynamic leadership, Bangabandhu had organised the Bengali nation to fight against exploitation and repression by then Pakistani rulers. The movement culminated in independent Bangladesh through the nine-month Liberation War in 1971.
When Bangabandhu was moving forward with an aim to build a 'Golden Bangladesh' overcoming all obstacles, the defeated and anti-liberation war clique assassinated him, along with most of his family members, on August 15, 1975.
Peace, tolerance keys to stability, security, Momen tells OIC CFM
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said peace and tolerance are the keys to stability and security.
Momen was speaking at the 49th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Mauritania's Nouakchott Thursday.
The foreign minister, who is leading the Bangladesh delegation to the CFM from March 16-17, also reiterated the country's continued engagements with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the world's largest body of Muslim-majority nations, "which has always been guided by the principles of peace, prosperity, and development."
Read more: Bangladesh elected OIC Human Rights Council member
This year, the CFM is being held with the theme "Moderation: Key to Security and Stability" where several political, economic, social, cultural and security issues were discussed.
Momen highlighted Bangladesh's prudent navigation of the economy during the Covid-19 period under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
However, he expressed his deep concern at the lack of tolerance and surge of terrorism in various parts of the world together with the rise of Islamophobia.
Read more: Momen to attend UN Water Conference in US
The foreign minister particularly stressed the proactive role of the 57-nation OIC members and international actors to address the Rohingya issue and urged them to remain involved to put continuous pressure on Myanmar authorities to ensure the safe and dignified return of the Rohingyas to their homeland.
During this CFM, Bangladesh was unanimously elected as the vice-chair of the Bureau of the 49th CFM.
Bangladesh's nominated candidate Sheepa Hafiza won the election of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission commissioner from Asia Group together with Iran and Turkiye.