Bangladesh
Shakrain: Sky over Old Dhaka alive with light shows, fireworks and kites
In the maze-like streets of Old Dhaka, the rooftops of high-rise buildings host a festival unlike any other. Starting with the iconic, highly competitive kite-flying in the afternoon, the revelry is just getting started as night descends.
Residents celebrate the southward journey of the sun from the tropic of Capricorn to the tropic of Cancer. The festival, which usually takes place from January 14 to 15, is also known as Makar (Capricorn) Shankranti. The annual celebration marks the end of the ninth month of the Bengali calendar – Poush.
Shakrain – a celebration of kites and lights – is one of the oldest festivals of Bangladesh, which dates back to the Mughal period.
New curriculum books may contain mistakes: Dipu Moni
Education Minister Dipu Moni has said that the new books provided this year under the new curriculum are on a trial basis, conceding they may contain mistakes.
She said this while addressing a discussion meeting on the distribution of educational gifts to students and the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution of the 21st century and building a Smart Bangladesh organized by the Bangladesh Chhatra League at Swoparjit Independence Square of Dhaka University, where she was the chief guest on Saturday evening.
The education minister said trial version books have been provided to 33000 institutions across the country this year, but the books under the new curriculum that have been handed over to the students of classes 1, 2, 6 and 7 may contain errors.
Constant feedback will be received from teachers, students, parents and educators and based on their feedback, amendments will be made throughout the year if any mistakes are found, she added.
Read: Paper, printing quality of free textbooks good: Education Minister
She urged all to cooperate to make the initiative a success, if any disagreement, discomfort or objections with the content are found.
“We have formulated a felicitous curriculum aiming to achieve 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) which is our international commitment. Education is at the center of the 17 goals of this sustainable development goal. If we can achieve quality and inclusive education, then we can easily achieve the remaining 16 goals," added the minister.
The education minister said that Bangladesh is going to become a developed and prosperous country by 2041 under the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina.
"Bangabandhu did what he said and his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also did what she said. She said she would build a digital and middle-income Bangladesh, and she did it. Today we have become a developing country under her leadership and by 2041 we will become a developed, prosperous and smart Bangladesh under her leadership," she promised.
Momen, Lu discuss key bilateral issues over dinner
Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu had a meeting over dinner with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at his residence on Saturday night.
Although it was seen as a dinner, the key issues of bilateral relations were discussed during Lu's over one-hour stay at the official residence of the foreign minister, a diplomatic source told UNB.
Lu, who arrived in Dhaka in the evening, directly went to the foreign minister's residence accompanied by US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas.
Read: US Assistant Secretary Donald Lu in town; Dhaka will discuss key issues “frankly”
Earlier, Momen said Bangladesh would request the US to reconsider the sanctions imposed on Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and withdraw them considering the force's positive role in the country.
"Rab is much more mature now. We will have a request that they (US) should reconsider the decision," he told reporters after attending a discussion at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban Auditorium of Dhaka University.
"We will raise our issues. They will raise their issues. But others don't need to teach us democracy. Democracy, human rights and justice are rooted in each of our hearts," the minister said.
The US senior official is visiting Bangladesh to discuss ways to strengthen the bilateral relationship, expand economic engagement and hear on labour and human rights.
During his brief stay in Dhaka, Lu will meet with senior Bangladesh officials and civil society leaders to discuss issues of mutual interest.
He is scheduled to have a breakfast meeting with Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman Sunday morning.
Read: Dhaka, Tokyo see opportunity to upgrade ties to closer, deeper ‘Strategic Partnership’
Lu will have bilateral talks with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen tomorrow where a range of priorities, including energy, trade, security cooperation, religious freedom, labour, and human rights, Indo-Pacific strategy and withdrawal of sanctions on Rab are likely to be discussed.
Upon his arrival from India, Director General (Americas) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nayem Uddin Ahmed received Lu at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
"Welcome to Bangladesh, Assistant Secretary Donald Lu. While in Dhaka, Assistant Secretary Lu will meet with senior Bangladeshi officials to discuss strengthening our bilateral relationship," US Embassy in Dhaka tweeted.
Lu travelled to India from January 12-14.
In India, the assistant secretary participated in the India-US Forum. He also met with senior Indian officials to discuss ways in which the US and India can further expand energy, trade, security, and human rights cooperation.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Masud said he sees the visit of Lu as part of regular engagements between the two sides.
"We will discuss a whole range of issues, not that only election and human rights issues will be discussed," the foreign secretary said.
He added: "There are many areas where Bangladesh has some expectations while the US side might have some expectations from us. We will discuss it frankly."
After 5 clueless weeks, DB cracks case of CNG driver's murder
Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) believe they have cracked a hitherto clueless murder in the city's Dakkhin Khan, arresting six gangsters from Dhaka and Moulvibazar.
The arrestees were identified as Md. Khaled Khan Shubo, Md. Tipu, Md. Hasanul Islam alias Hasan, Md. Jahangir Hossain, Abdul Majid and Md. Sumon.
The detectives also recovered a Swiss gear, an autorickshaw used by the victim and a mobile phone from their custody.
Based on secret information, the Airport Zonal team of DB (Uttara division) carried out simultaneous drives in a number of places in Dhaka city and Rajanagar thana areas of Moulvibazar district on Friday and early Saturday and arrested the six gangsters.
Briefing reporters at DMP's media center on Saturday, Additional Commissioner (Detective) of DMP Mohammad Haroon-ur-Rasheed said at around 9pm on December 7 last year, victim Md. Mustafa came out from his Dakkhin Khan residence to drive his battery-powered autorickshaw. As he did not return at night, his mother registered a general diary with Dakkhin Khan police station.
Later on December 17 at around 1.45 am, the victim's mother came to know through a local that an unidentified dead body was found on a vacant plot in Asian City under Dakkhin Khan police station. The victim's mother and father quickly went to the spot and identified their son Mustafa. In this incident, the victim's mother then filed a murder case at Dakkhin khan police station.
The DB chief said that the airport zonal team of DB (Uttara Division) started a shadow investigation of the case. During the investigation, the accused involved in the incident of the case were identified using information technology. After that raids were conducted in Rajnagar Thana area of Moulvibazar district along with various areas of the capital and arrests were made.
Bangladesh sees 10 more Covid cases, zero death
Bangladesh reported 10 more Covid cases in the 24 hours to Saturday morning.
With the new number, the country's total caseload rose to 2,037,356, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,441 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity dropped to 0.50 percent from Friday's 0.51 percent as 2,012 samples were tested.
The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent while the recovery rate rose to 97.65 percent.
Bangladesh reported its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 in 2021 and daily fatalities of 264 on August 5 of the same year.
Bangladesh reports seven more dengue cases
Seven more people were hospitalised with dengue in the 24 hours to Saturday morning.
Of the new patients, five were admitted to hospitals in Dhaka and two outside it, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
A total of 123 dengue patients, including 50 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
Read: 2022 becomes second-deadliest year for dengue on record; Oct second-deadliest month
So far, the DGHS has recorded 377 dengue cases, 252 recoveries, and two deaths this year.
The country recorded 281 dengue deaths in 2022 – the highest on record after 179 deaths recorded in 2019.
Also, the DGHS recorded 62,423 dengue cases and 61,971 recoveries in the last year.
US Assistant Secretary Donald Lu in town; Dhaka will discuss key issues “frankly”
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu arrived here on Saturday evening to discuss ways to strengthen the bilateral relationship, expanding economic engagement and to hear on labor and human rights.
During his brief stay in Dhaka, Assistant Secretary Lu will meet with senior Bangladeshi officials and civil society leaders to discuss the issues of mutual interest.
He is scheduled to have a breakfast meeting with PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman on Sunday morning.
Assistant Secretary Lu will have bilateral talks with Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Sunday where a range of priorities including energy, trade, security cooperation, religious freedom, labor, and human rights, Indo-Pacific Strategy and withdrawal of sanctions on Rab are likely to be discussed.
Upon arrival from India, Director General (Americas) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nayem Uddin Ahmed received Lu at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
“Welcome to Bangladesh, Assistant Secretary Donald Lu. While in Dhaka, Assistant Secretary Lu will meet with senior Bangladeshi officials to discuss strengthening our bilateral relationship,” US Embassy in Dhaka tweeted.
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu traveled to India from January 12-14.
In India, the Assistant Secretary participated in the India-U.S. Forum. Assistant Secretary Lu also met with senior Indian officials to discuss ways in which the United States and India can further expand energy, trade, security, and human rights cooperation.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Masud said he sees the visit of Assistant Secretary Lu as part of regular engagements between the two sides.
"We will discuss a whole range of issues, not that only election and human rights issues will be discussed," said the foreign secretary.
He said there are many areas where Bangladesh has some expectations while the US side might have some expectations from Bangladesh. "We will discuss frankly."
The FS said there are strategies on Indo-Pacific from the US, Canada, Japan and the European Union.
"It's not that we are joining in any particular group or not. We are preparing some elements on how we want to see the Bay of Bengal and beyond," Masud said.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said Bangladesh would request the United States to reconsider the sanctions imposed on elite force Rab and withdraw the sanctions considering its positive role in the country.
"Rab is now much more mature. We will have a request that they (US) should reconsider the decision," he told reporters after attending a discussion at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban Auditorium, University of Dhaka.
"We will raise our issues. They will raise their issues. But others don't need to teach us democracy. Democracy, human rights and justice are rooted in each of our hearts," said the foreign minister.
Sylhet fuel traders declare indefinite strike from Jan 18
In light of the current fuel crisis, Sylhet's fuel traders will go on an indefinite strike from Wednesday.
Sylhet Divisional Committee of Bangladesh Petroleum Dealers, Distributors, Agents, and Petroleum Owners Association has announced the indefinite strike after an emergency meeting on Saturday.
According to their decision, traders will cease purchasing from the depot beginning next Wednesday (January 18) and cease selling to consumers from the following Sunday (January 22) for an indefinite period.
“The supply of fuel has long fallen short of the demand. The Sylhet oil traders have no choice but to protest,” said the speakers in the meeting.
According to Sylhet fuel traders, the district's oil pumps have been running low on fuel for a long time due to the irregular movement of railway wagons from Chattagram to Sylhet.
Previously, condensate (a mixture of light liquid hydrocarbons) obtained from Sylhet's gas fields was converted to petrol in multiple Sylhet plants. Since these government-owned plants were shut down, the condensate is now converted to petrol in Chittagong by a private plant.
The district's fuel traders claimed that depot officials' inaction caused the crisis.
"Authorities have repeatedly failed to supply fuel oil. They're just making excuses, and traders are suffering severe losses as a result. That is why we called a strike," said Jubaer Ahmed Chowdhury, Central Secretary General and President of Sylhet Divisional Committee.
Jubaer along with Humayun Ahmed, General Secretary, made the announcement.
Accommodating bigger vessels at Ctg port: Trial run on Sunday
A large container vessel having a draught of 10 metres and length of 200 metres will anchor at the Chittagong Port for the first time on trial basis on Sunday, according to Chattogram port officials.
Enhancement of the port’s berthing capabilities will increase its container handling capacity, reduce transport costs and turnaround times- the time required for loading and unloading of goods at the port, they said.
The port authorities have completed all kinds of preparations including increasing the depth of the Karnaphuli River estuary and skills development training of the operators.
According to the port authorities, vessels having only 9.5 metres draught and 195 metres length have been anchored at the port jetty since 2015.
However, after receiving a positive response from the survey of UK-based consultancy firm 'HR Wallingford', the port took the initiative to handle larger vessels.
The 10-metre draught ships will be able to carry 3,500 TEUs containers to the port and bring down the overall cargo handling costs.
Chief Hydrographer of Chittagong port authority Commander Arifur Rahman, said in view of the report provided by the research institute, the large vessels' berthing trial run will begin on Sunday. "If it becomes successful in this trial operation, the port will soon notify local and global shipping companies to operate bigger vessels on this route. Later, we will allow berthing when big ships arrive, added the commander"
Also Read: Freight operation from Ctg suspended as lighter vessel workers on strike
With the development, Chattogram port will notify shipping companies for allowing ships with bigger draught on this route, said Khairul Alam Suzan, vice-president of the Bangladesh Freight Forwarders Association.
Bigger ships will reduce the cost of import-export significantly and huge money will be saved annually, he said.
Having the capacity to handle larger vessels is essential for expanding trade, he said adding people involved sector and export-import trade have long been demanding an increase in the berthing capacity of the Chattogram port but the port authorities did not do it without a proper survey, he added.
International community urged to address triple challenge of food, fuel, fertilizer shortages
Foreign Ministers in the just held Voice of Global South Summit have urged the international community to address the triple challenge of food, fuel and fertilizer shortages.
They also called for renewed and inclusive multilateralism that reflects contemporary realities.
The need to raise their collective voice against the scourge of terrorism was underlined, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, India.
In the Foreign Ministers’ session, the Ministers expressed concern over the increasing fragmentation of the international landscape, and exchanged perspectives on how to create a conducive environment for the development priorities of the Global South.
India hosted the two-day Summit on January 12-13. The Summit was held in virtual format, with 10 sessions in total.
It saw participation of leaders and ministers from 125 countries of the Global South including Bangladesh.
Read: Bangladesh would request US to reconsider sanctions on Rab: Momen says ahead of Donald Lu’s visit
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the inaugural leaders’ session on 12 January.
This was followed by eight Ministerial-level thematic segments dedicated to addressing the most pressing concerns of the developing world.
The Summit wrapped up on 13 January with a Concluding Leaders’ Session also hosted by the Indian Prime Minister.
The Energy Ministers’ session emphasized the criticality of energy security for global growth and human development.
Access to energy amidst increasing instability, ensuring energy affordability through diversification of energy sources, sharing best practices to develop renewables and alternate energy, and harnessing the potential of biofuels were the main themes of interaction.
In the Commerce/Trade Ministers’ session, Ministers shared strategies on improving the business and investment climate in developing countries; upgrading connectivity and commerce; ensuring access to critical technologies and resources; fostering grass-roots innovation and sharing of best practices; and diversification of supply chains.
The Ministers agreed that a sustainable post pandemic recovery would be contingent on simplifying procedures, implementing technology based solutions, investing in infrastructure and ensuring equitable access to global markets.
In the Health Ministers’ session, participants emphasized the need to adopt an inclusive approach to global health security.
Read: Dhaka studying US Indo-Pacific Strategy: Momen
Ways and means to develop digital public goods in healthcare, promote traditional medicine, build public capacities and develop regional networks, and knowledge sharing were discussed.
The Ministers were particularly appreciative of India’s Vaccine Maitri initiative during the Covid pandemic, as a substantive reflection of South-South cooperation.
In the Education Ministers’ session, ideas to transform developing countries into knowledge based societies that can create future ready workforces were shared.
The Ministers spoke about the need to share best practices in vocational training, capacity building and use of technology to provide equity and quality in education.
India shared its National Education Policy built on the foundational pillars of access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability.
In the session dedicated to sharing ideas for India’s G20 Presidency, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar shared India’s key priorities for its G20 presidency and also assured that India would work to ensure that the valuable inputs generated from partner countries in the Voice of Global South Summit receive due cognizance globally, including in G20 deliberations.
Participating countries recognized with appreciation that the Summit produced fruitful conversations and charted a new path through an action oriented agenda that strives to address their priorities and challenges. They underscored the agenda and quest for solutions to global challenges must include the voices of its biggest stakeholders, the Global South.
In the Finance Ministers’ session, Ministers exchanged views on financing the development needs of the Global South, achieving financial inclusion, implementation of digital public goods in the financial sector, and development partnerships that are outcome-oriented and financially sustainable.
The Environment Ministers’ session focused attention on balancing growth with sustainability, sharing of best practices in ecological conservation, and the importance of LiFE, or lifestyle for the environment launched by the Prime Minister in October 2022.
Ministers also called for accelerated climate action and delivery of climate finance and loss and damage funding to deal with growing climate impacts, in accordance with the principles of Equity and Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC).