Bangladesh
Taradevi Foundation distributes wheelchairs, winter clothes, IPS in Chuadanga
Taradevi Foundation has distributed 20 wheelchairs and thousands of blankets to people with disabilities and cold-stricken people in Chuadanga.
Besides, the foundation has distributed three IPS to Chuadanga Govt Orphanage Home.
Dilip Kumar Agarwala, founder chairman of Taradevi Foundation and MD of Diamond World, distributed these materials on the office premises of Taradevi Foundation at 4:30 pm on Friday.
Dilip Kumar, also the General Secretary of Bangladesh Jewelers Association (BAJUS) and Director of FBCCI said, Taradevi Foundation always stands beside people.
If someone needs a wheelchair, Taradevi Foundation will provide, he said, adding that it has also introduced scholarships.
"We are working for people through Taradevi Foundation and the humanitarian activities of this foundation will continue, " he hoped.
BAJUS assistant secretary and vice-chairman of Standing Committee on Law and Membership Masudur Rahman and BAJUS executive member and member of Standing Committee on Law and Membership Pabitra Chandra Ghosh, Executive Member Jaydev Saha were present as special guests.
Spain’s support sought to expedite release of 5 detained Bangladeshi nationals
Bangladesh has urged Spain to expedite the efforts for releasing five Bangladeshi nationals detained in a prison in Galicia province.
At a bilateral meeting with Director General for Consular Affairs Xavier Martí Martí of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain held in Madrid recently, Bangladesh Ambassador to Spain Mohammad Sarwar Mahmood solicited support from the Spanish Foreign Ministry in expediting the release of five Bangladeshi nationals.
The Spanish Director General for Consular Affairs assured the Ambassador that he would take up the issues with the concerned authorities and necessary steps would be taken, said a media release.
Bangladesh Ambassador Mahmood also sought simplification of visa procedures for Bangladeshi nationals seeking to travel to Spain.
The Ambassador said Spain is Bangladesh's second largest export destination in the EU while Bangladesh is Spain’s fourth largest trade partner in Asia.
Read More: It's not necessary to use visa broker to apply for US visa: Embassy
Bilateral relations in trade, investment and other prospective areas are expanding day by day, he said.
Simplification and easing of visa process would contribute to the expansion of the relations further and reap benefits for the two peoples, particularly for private sector entrepreneurs and businessmen, said the Ambassador.
For Spanish residence, Bangladeshi expatriates are required to produce a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs of Bangladesh, rather than by the Department of Police.
The Ambassador said more than 50,000 Bangladeshis staying in Spain constitute the second largest expatriates' community in the EU.
“They make significant contributions to both the economies. Digitalized PCC issued by the Department of Police of Bangladesh is acceptable to and recognized by all countries of the world, except Spain,: he said.
Obtaining a PCC from the Ministry of Home affairs is a very tedious, time-consuming and burdensome process.
Since all Bangladeshi passports are now either Machine Readable Passports (MRPs) or E-Passports, if Spain accepts PCC issued by the Department of Police and subsequently legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh that will alleviate people's sufferings a lot, said the Ambassador.
The Ambassador also requested Spain to consider expatriates' Marriage Certificates issued and legalized by the competent authorities in Bangladesh acceptable.
He said the Spanish economy could be benefitted by recruiting skilled workforce and professionals from Bangladesh, particularly in the agriculture and ICT sectors.
Mild to moderate cold wave sweeps parts of country
A mild to moderate cold wave is sweeping over parts of the country, and it may continue, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said this evening.
Rangpur division and the districts of Faridpur, Madaripur, Gopalgonj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Naogaon, Sirajgonj, Moulvibazar, Rangamati, Cumilla, Feni, Jashore, Chuadanga, Kushtia, Barishal and Bhola are feeling the bite of low temperatures.
Temperature between 8 to 10 degrees Celsius is considered a mild cold wave, 6 to 8 degrees Celsius a moderate cold wave, and less than 6 degrees Celsius a severe cold wave.
The lowest temperature in the country was recorded at 5.6 degrees Celsius in Sylhet's Srimangal in 24 hours till 6pm today (Friday). The highest temperature was recorded at 29 degrees Celsius in Teknaf during this time.
Besides, moderate to thick fog may occur at places over the river basins and light to moderate fog may occur at places elsewhere over the country from midnight till morning.
"The weather may remain dry with the temporary partly cloudy sky over the country. Night temperature may remain nearly unchanged and day temperature may rise slightly over the country," the BMD said.
UN Special Rapporteur to assess migration policies in Bangladesh
The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, Felipe González Morales, began his official visit here on Friday to assess migration policies in Bangladesh.
The Special Rapporteur, during his visit from January 20 to 31, will assess migration governance-related policies and their implementation, including in the area of international labour migration, with a particular focus on pathways for regular and decent labour migration, ethical recruitment, efforts made to facilitate safe and dignified return, measures to ensure protection of migrant workers, and legal access to the labour market for migrants and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
In Dhaka, González Morales will meet with relevant government authorities, UN agencies, members of civil society organisations, recruitment agencies and migrants.
He will also travel to the Cox’s Bazaar district to meet with Rohingya refugees, according to a message received from Geneva.
At the end of his visit, the Special Rapporteur will share his preliminary observations and recommendations at a press conference on January 31.
He will present a full report on his visit, including findings and recommendations, to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2023.
Body of missing Kurigram boat capsize victim recovered
The body of a woman who went missing after an overloaded good-laden boat capsized in the Dudhkumar River in Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram on 16 January has been recovered.
Locals spotted the body floating in the river near the Adarsha Bazar area on Friday noon.
The deceased, Nalo Begum, 49, was wife of Nur Mohammad of Telianikuti village of Bamondanga union.
Abed Ali, Bamondanga union Ward no.8 member, said Nalo Begum was returning home from the eastern side of Murea Ghar that day. The overloaded boat capsized a few minutes after it started its journey. Except for Nalo Begum, all of the passengers managed to swim ashore.
Firefighters continued their search until Tuesday noon.
Tambirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Nageshwari Police Station, said the body was handed over to her family.
2 dead, four wounded in Sylhet road crash
Two people were killed and other four injured as a speeding truck crashed into a CNG-run autorickshaw in Dakshin Surma upazila of the district Friday afternoon, police said.
The deceased—autorickshaw driver Babul Miah, 65, and passenger Anhar Miah, 45, were from Charlapur area of Balaganj upazila in the district.
On the other hand, the injured passengers are Rezaul, Sona Miah, Rozina and Alamin. Details about them could not be known immediately.
Rezaul Karim, officer-in-charge of Moglabazar police station under the Dakshin Surma upazila, said the accident happened around 4.30pm when the speeding truck hit the autorickshaw from the opposite direction on Sultanpur-Gaharpur Road in the Battala area, leaving the duo dead on the spot and others injured.
The injured were rushed to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital where they are undergoing treatment, he said.
Of them, the condition of Rozina was stated to be critical, the OC said quoting physicians.
PM postpones Scouts event for Bishwa Ijtema
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has postponed her pre-scheduled programme of Bangladesh Scouts, slated for Saturday in Gazipur, to allow smooth movement of devotees in Bishwa Ijtema.
“The Prime Minister’s pre-scheduled programme of Bangladesh Scouts in Gazipur has been postponed to ensure smooth movement of devotees in Bishwa Ijtema,” said Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Jahid Tusher.
The premier was scheduled to attend the 32nd Asia-Pacific and 11th National Scout Jamboree on Saturday at the National Scout Training Centre, Mouchak, Gazipur.
But the second phase of Bishwa Ijtema, one of the largest Muslim congregations of the world, began on early Friday on the bank of the Turag River in Tongi, on the outskirts of the capital.
Also read: 2nd phase Biswa Ijtema begins Friday
This phase of the 56th edition of Bishwa Ijtema will continue till Sunday.
The first phase of the Ijtema took place at the same venue on January 13-15 last.
HSC results likely between Feb 7-9
The results of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations of 2022 are likely to be published between February 7-9.
Convenor of the inter-education board coordination committee, Tapan Kumar Sarkar told UNB that a proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Education to publish the results between these days.
Tapan, also the chairman of the Dhaka Education Board, said that as soon as the prime minister gives her approval, they will be able to announce the date for publishing the results.
The HSC and equivalent examinations were held between November 6 to December 13 last year.
Also Read: SSC Results 2022: 2,975 institutions achieve 100% pass rate, none passed from 50
A total of 1,203,407 examinees completed their registration to sit for the exams. Of them, 6,22,769 were boys and 5,80,611 were girls.
Polytechnic student commits suicide in Dhaka
A 22-year-old polytechnic student committed suicide by hanging himself in his house in Purbo Bhatara area of the capital on Thursday night, police said.
Hasibul Hasan Shanto, was son of Abul Khayer and student of Civil Engineering discipline of a private polytechnic college in the capital.
Mohammad Golam Mostafa, a sub-inspector of Bhatara Police Station, said on information they recovered the body hanging from the ceiling with a bed sheet in his room in the morning.
Read more: Housewife 'commits suicide' in Kamrangirchar
Later, the body was sent Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, he said adding that Shanto committed the suicide in between 9pm to 12am on Thursday night.
The reason behind the apparent suicide could not be known, the SI said, suspecting that the student might have faced problems from his family.
Production stops at Joypurhat Sugar Mills for want of sugarcane
The Joypurhat Sugar Mill suspended operations on Thursday night due to a shortage of sugarcane, according to officials.
The mill started operating on December 30 last year to produce 1,866 metric tonnes of sugar by crushing 30,100 metric tonnes of sugarcane during its 25-day operational period.
But it produced 1,193 metric tonnes of sugar by crushing 23,169.16 metric tonnes of sugarcane in the last 19 days, the officials said.
Md Akhlasur Rahman, managing director (MD) of Joypurhat Sugar Mills, said the supply of sugarcane was not enough to continue the production for the remaining six days.
He said, "We got assurance that we will get sugarcane from Mahimaganj and Shyampur sugar mill areas outside the area under the control of this mill (sugar mill) for crushing, but in the end, we did not get sugarcane from those areas."
Therefore, the authorities suspended operation before the scheduled time due to the shortage of sugarcane, he added.
According to the mill sources, the largest state-owned sugar mill had suffered a loss of Tk 66.17 crore in the previous season.
Sugarcane production in the district is on the decline as growers are switching to other crops or are interested in producing molasses, sources said.