Bangladesh
Woman, daughter-in-law found dead at home in Barishal
A 95-year-old woman and her daughter-in-law were found dead at home in Kedarpur under Barishal’s Babuganj upazila early Thursday.The deceased were identified as Lalmun Nesa, 95, and Ripa Akter, 23, of the village.Quoting local people, Mahbubur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Babuganj Police Station, said getting no response from the house of Delwar, neighbours entered the house around 11 pm last night and found three family members unconscious, on the bed.Later, Lalmun, Ripa and Minara, another daughter-in-law of Lalmun, were taken to a local hospital where the doctors declared the two women dead.
Also read: Sherpur: Farmer's body with injuries marks found in pile of logs
Police suspect that a group of thieves entered the house by digging a hole from outside. “Police are investigating the incident,” said Wahidul Islam, superintendent of Barishal Police.
Biker dead after motorcycle skids off road at Dhaka’s Hatirjheel
A 35-year-old man died when a motorbike skidded off the road at Hatirjheel intersection in Rampura area of Shaka early today.
The deceased has been identified as Md Ishak.
Quoting witnesses, Inspector Bachhu Mia, in-charge of Dhaka Medical College and Hospital police camp, said the accident occurred around 1:30 am when a motorbike skidded off the road as the biker lost control over the two-wheeler, leaving him injured.
Also read: Woman killed by husband in Dhaka
Later, he was taken to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries around 2:30 am.
Saraswati Puja being celebrated today
Saraswati Puja, a major religious festival of the Hindu community, is being celebrated across Bangladesh today with much enthusiasm, festivity and religious fervor.
Saraswati Puja is celebrated on the fifth day of the bright fortnight of the Bangla month of Magh.
The day is called 'Vasant Panchami'.
Hindu devotees, especially students, worship Goddess Saraswati and celebrate the puja at educational institutions and temples.
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday greeted the Hindu community on the occasion of Saraswati Puja.
Also read: Saraswati Puja being celebrated
Jagannath University central Puja Udjapan Committee is organizing Saraswati Puja on the campus.
Besides, in the capital, Saraswati Puja will also be arranged at different places.
Education Alliance Bangladesh: New name for 'Safe Back to School'
The "Safe Back to School" campaign alliance, which was formed following the Covid situation to bring back students to school, has started a new journey to ensure inclusive quality education for all in the country, under a new name: "Education Alliance Bangladesh – EAB."
The declaration of this new name came at the Education Summit 2023 Wednesday in Dhaka.
"Let's Work Together to Ensure Inclusive Quality Education in Bangladesh," is the new slogan of the alliance.
During the opening ceremony, Onno van Manen, Save the Children Country Director said: "This alliance aims to continue working together so that we can reach a larger number of children who require our assistance. We need to elevate the voices of the children through this platform."
The alliance will support the government to mitigate challenges related to quality and inclusive education. It will work with the government to strengthen the education system by taking initiatives to popularise technical/vocational education and fostering partnerships among education actors for accelerating a joyful learning environment.
The closure of educational institutions from March 17, 2020, to February 14, 2021, required the launch of mass awareness campaigns as it triggered children dropout rates from schools in both urban and rural areas, causing an increase in child labour and child marriage.
Against this backdrop, national and international NGOs working for the education sector in Bangladesh united themselves under the Safe Back to School.
Safe Back to School's awareness campaign, research study, and advocacy-related discussions with government officials and stakeholders underlined the need for long-term activities to ensure the scope for education for all children in Bangladesh.
The alliance members are Brac, British Council Bangladesh, CAMPE, Dhaka Ahsania Mission, Educo Bangladesh, FIVDB, Friendship, Habitat for Humanity Bangladesh, Humanity and Inclusion, Jagorani Chakra Foundation, Leonard Cheshire, Plan International Bangladesh, Room to Read, Save the Children, Sesame Workshop Bangladesh, Sight Savers Bangladesh, Stromme Foundation, Teach for Bangladesh, Voluntary Service Overseas, World Vision Bangladesh, and Young Power in Social Action.
Read more: 'Safe Back to School’ campaign pledges full support for reopening
'Water governance, youth engagement crucial for future existence'
Water governance and the engagement of youth are crucial for future existence, said the speakers at the 8th International Water Conference held during January 23-25, 2023 in Sylhet.
The conference, organised by ActionAid Bangladesh under the theme "Water and Rivers for Life and Living: The Role of Youth," brought the youth groups, policymakers, academicians, researchers, and practitioners, to a common platform to emphasise the importance of incorporating youth mobilisation on issues related to water and rivers.
The programme emphasised five thematic areas – watershed history, morphology and changes; rivers as a living entity and anthropogenic impacts on water and rivers; youth engagement in water and river rights; transboundary rivers and water politics, and innovation: water, ecosystem and sustainable livelihoods.
In the closing session of the conference, Saber Hossain Chowdhury MP, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, said the linkage between water and governance needs to be emphasised everywhere. "As we graduate from LDCs and more development takes place, water governance will continue to become a crucial component."
On the first day of the conference, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen inaugurated the event through a video message.
He said: "We believe sound water management can be an important factor for regional peace and solidarity."
Read more: Transnational policies for water governance in S Asia stressed
Imtiaz Ahmed, professor of the Department of International Relations, and director of the Centre for Genocide Studies, at the University of Dhaka said: "This year as we focus on the importance of engaging youth in ensuring river rights, policymakers should also think about how to mobilise student associations of the country to advocate for issues of rivers and environment besides their involvement in politics."
"In addition, this regional conference opened a doorway to investigate commonalities of water and rivers of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and China," he added.
ActionAid Country Director Farah Kabir said: "The multiple sessions of the conference created a space for sharing insights and best practices. This year we brought in the importance of youth participation while keeping the main focus on river and water as a part of our dreams, culture and lives and livelihoods."
Read more: Climate change threatens access to water, sanitation
Bangabandhu Foundation pays tribute to Father of the Nation marking its 21st anniversary
The Bangabandhu Foundation has paid tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, marking its 21st anniversary.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen, also president of the Bangabandhu Foundation, paid homage by placing a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Leaders and members of the foundation were also present at that time.
The foreign minister later celebrated the anniversary of the Bangabandhu Foundation by cutting a cake with the leaders and members.
Read more: Bangabandhu Foundation pays homage to ‘Father of Nation’ at Tungipara
Climate hotspots: 1m people to get safe water, sanitation services through Brac project
One million marginalised people will get safe water and sanitation services at 45 upazilas of 14 districts from four climate hotspots through a new project implemented by Brac.
The project "Equitable and Sustainable WASH Services in Bangladesh Delta Plan Hotspots 2022-2026" started its journey with an inception workshop Wednesday in the capital.
The Dutch Embassy will provide financial support to the project. IRC Netherlands will join Brac as the implementing partner, according to a media statement.
Md Khairul Islam, the Local Government Division's additional secretary for the water supply wing, said only 33 percent of households had hygienic latrines and 25 percent had unhygienic latrines in 2003. "Open defecation was very common."
"Now in 2023, almost every family has access to latrines. The present status and sanitation of Bangladesh in coping with the challenges of climate change and global warming and in protecting the environment have been highly acclaimed by the development partners," he added.
Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Anne van Leeuwen said her country and Bangladesh began a partnership with WASH in 2005.
"Our partnership with Brac began just next year in 2006. Some aspects of the Bangladesh Delta Plan are huge and expensive. But there are WASH solutions also that are not expensive, and they are innovative too, in terms of ensuring equitability and sustainability," he added.
Read more: Experts for increased allocation in water, sanitation, hygiene
Asif Saleh, executive director of Brac, said, "We have progressed a lot but there are still 20 million ultra-poor in this country. The conversation has started everywhere that water is going to be the next scarcity. There is going to be a severe water crisis if we don't act now, and if we don't have serious planning in place."
The Brac WASH programme implemented several projects with "innovative approaches and strategies" to achieve the goals of safe water and sanitation from MDGs to SDGs. In line with that, this new project is striving to improve the gap between access to and quality of services, especially for the marginalised communities in hard-to-reach areas.
Pro-Awami League panel sweeps JUTA election
Pro-Awami League (AL) Bangabandhu Panel teachers gained a landslide victory in the Jahangirnagar University Teachers' Association (DUTA) election Wednesday.
The voting was held at the university teachers' club from 9am to 1pm. The results were announced in the evening.
The pro-AL panel bagged 11 posts of the 15-member executive committee with Professor Farid of the physics department elected as president and Professor M Shamim Kaiser of the Institute of Information and Technology as general secretary.
Also, from the panel, Sabbir Alam of mathematics, Ahemd Reza of English, Nazmul Hasan of Bangla, Mohammad Tariqul Islam of government and politics, Mahfuza Khatun of finance and banking, Md Mizanur Rahman of geography and environment, Suborno Karmakar of chemistry, Mohammad Shafi-Ur-Rahman of urban and regional planning and Farha Matin Julia of biochemistry and molecular biology, departments were elected members.
Read more: Pro-AL Blue Panel sweeps DUTA polls
Monowar Hossain of the zoology department and Professor Mohammad Shafiqul of the economics department were elected as vice-president and treasurer, respectively, from the BNP-backed Sammilito Shikkhak Samaj.
Also, from the panel, Borhan Uddin of the biochemistry and molecular biology department and Mohammad Rezaul Rakib of the geography and environment department were elected joint secretary and executive committee member.
Govt bans suckermouth catfish in Bangladesh
Authorities on Wednesday said no one would be allowed to import, culture, transport, sell, supply or conserve suckermouth catfish anymore in Bangladesh.
In a gazette notification, the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry announced the decision signed by its Deputy Secretary Mrinal Kanti Dey, according to a press release.
The release said the decision to ban the two varieties of the fish was taken following the ‘Protection and Conservation of Fish Act-1950’.
Read more: Govt bans fishing in Bay of Bengal for 65 days
“No person shall import, breed, culture, carry, sell, receive or take, market, stock, expose and possess any species of fish of Sucker mouth catfish and Clarias gariepinus, locally known as African Magur,” it added.
DU punishes 114 students
The authorities of Dhaka University have suspended 113 students and expelled another on different charges including for breaching rules and regulations and using unfair means in examinations.
The decision to punish the students was taken at a meeting of the Disciplinary Committee of the university with Vice-chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman in the chair.
DU Proctor AKM Golam Rabbani confirmed the matter saying that the decision will come into force after being passed by the syndicate.
The expelled student is Jim Najmul of Masterda Surja Sen Hall of the university. He has been permanently expelled for eve-teasing as the allegation brought against him was proved, he said.
Besides, a total of 113 students were suspended for various periods on account of using unfair means in examinations, eve-teasing, behaviour contradictory to university rules, and for taking drugs.
Read more: Female student complains of harassment at DU dorm
The proctor said that the committee awarded the punishment to 113 of the university and its affiliated colleges for different periods.
Some 109 students from the affiliated colleges were suspended from two to four years for using unfair means in examinations and misconducting with teachers during discharging duties.
The other four students belonging to the DU were also suspended for violating discipline for a maximum two years.