Bangladesh
First-ever Ocean Collective Summit held in Singapore
The International SeaKeepers Society organised the first-ever edition of The Ocean Collective Summit (TOCS) at ONE° 15 Marina Sentosa Cove in Singapore recently. TOCS is part of Blue Water EduFest 2022 and the inaugural event saw Guest of Honour Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-Charge of Social Services Integration in attendance. He later delivered a speech reiterating the nation's commitment to coastal conservation as part of Singapore's sustainability endeavours.
While weather patterns of late give a grim indication of the impact of climate change, the resounding message from the Conference was one of hope, encouragement and more importantly, one of personal responsibility. Speakers ranging from keynote speaker; famed Aquanaut, Oceanographic Explorer and Environmental Advocate, Fabien Cousteau; Dr Karenne Tun, Director of the Coastal and Marine and Terrestrial Branches, National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board (NParks); and Dr Steven Fong, Programme Chair DMAC, Republic Polytechnic; stressed the importance of personal action. Enayetullah Khan, conservationist and founder of WildTeam, attended the summit on the first day, November 3.
Instead of waiting for work or action to be taken by the authorities or a collective group, individual action is just as important and should not be neglected, the conference conveyed. Speakers also urged attendees to look at making changes in their daily habits, a change of mindset, and even changing the language. For instance, instead of "seafood", the term can be replaced with "sealife" so that in time, sea creatures are seen as cohabitants of the planet and not just food for consumption. Dr Tun further shared the personal actions she's taking with her lifestyle as a demonstration of how everyone has a part to play to help achieve the targets set out in The Singapore Green Plan 2030.
Read more: UNCLOS can be a pathway to ocean of opportunity for LDCs: Bangladesh
The message of personal responsibility rings true for today's youth who formed a large part of the audience. The youth are identified as the group showing the most concern as well as the group most demanding for action to be taken. The message of personal responsibility and action resonated with the attendees and set the stage for the second day of the conference.
The second day of the conference (Nov. 4) also explored how corporate citizens maintain the balance between commercial requirements and responsibility to the environment. Speakers from some of the world's most established brands, such as Citi Private Bank, SDAX, Archwey and VE Capital and Company, shared how their organisations provide solutions towards achieving sustainability.
About The Ocean Collective Summit
The Ocean Collective Summit (TOCS) is a programme initiated by The SeaKeepers in cooperation with Fabien Cousteau; the Founder of The Fabien Cousteau Ocean Learning Centre and Proteus Ocean Group; and famed for his work as an Aquanaut, Oceanographic Explorer and Environmental Advocate.
TOCS aims to bring a focus on the ocean and its intricate connections to life and all the inhabitants of our planet, Earth. Through its annual conference, TOCS will gather thought leaders to educate, raise awareness and inspire action to be taken and work collectively towards a more sustainable future.
The International SeaKeepers Society
The International SeaKeepers Society was founded in 1998 by a small group of yacht owners who were alarmed by the deterioration of our natural environment. The organisation's initial focus was on the development and use of instrumentation on yachts to monitor marine conditions throughout the world's oceans. Today, The International SeaKeepers Society continues to work with yachts as a vital part of its programming.
The International SeaKeepers Society strives to increase current knowledge about the oceans, promote and facilitate scientific discovery and raise awareness about critical ocean issues. The International SeaKeepers Society works directly with the yachting community as an essential component and contributor to ocean research and conservation efforts. The organisation runs several yacht-involved programs to accomplish this mission.
Read more: UN Ocean Conf: Bangladesh reaffirms commitment to achieve SDG-14
The International SeaKeepers Society began expansion into Asia in 2016 with the SeaKeepers Asia chapter. Building upon established international programming, the focus in Asia is creating awareness of the current situation of our oceans in Asia in order to build a sense of appreciation and commitment to protect, conserve and restore when possible.
Young Bangla: Recognising, grooming, connecting young changemakers
Countdown for the biggest recognition for young Bangladeshi changemakers, Joy Bangla Youth Award, is about to be over with the event on Saturday.
Young Bangla, country’s biggest youth network, this year announced to hand over awards to ten outstanding organisations under five categories following a rigorous screening process for over 500 applications.
Sajeeb Wazed, chairperson of Center for Research and Information (CRI), will hand over the awards at the ceremony — to be attended by an esteemed jury panel and a stream of country’s top young achievers, former and current awardees.
As part of endeavours to revive his grandfather Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s vision of “Sonar Bangla”, Sajeeb Wazed has been credited for the country's digital transformation, making Awami League's 2008-electoral promise of Digital Bangladesh a reality.
As Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ICT adviser, Sajeeb Wazed has monitored and overseen the digitalisation of all spheres of life — from online schooling to financial transactions.
Read: 6th Joy Bangla Youth Award to be held on Nov 12
Bangladesh benefited from that digital transformation during the coronavirus catastrophe across the world. It managed to keep its economy going through a wide spectrum of digital activities, including e-commerce, telemedicine, virtual court, and delivering money to the poor through mobile platforms.
Bangladesh’s growth trajectory during the Covid-19 pandemic was much better compared to its bigger neighbours , owing to this all-encompassing digitalisation.
As the chairperson of Centre for Research and Information (CRI), Awami League’s think tank, Sajeeb Wazed is realising his vision of grooming the next generation of Bangladeshi super-achievers.
With the CRI team, he launched a series of interactive programs with young Bangladeshis. Joy Bangla Youth Award — the country's first initiative to recognise, award and create a network of young changemakers — is CRI's signature programme.
Joy Bangla Youth Award has helped showcase silent but transformational initiatives — from educating street children in Dhaka to helping the poor and vulnerable tea worker communities in Sylhet.
Read: ‘Sports for All’: Young Bangla holds “Let’s Talk” with policymakers, students in Ctg
Born amidst the turmoil of the 1971 Liberation War, Sajeeb Wazed, like his sister Saima Wazed, had to come to terms with the “Midnight Massacre” on the fateful night of August 15, 1975, when Bangabandhu was gunned down with much of his family. Only his mother Sheikh Hasina and aunt Sheikh Rehana survived the horrific carnage.
“Hasina: A Daughter's Tale”, the CRI-driven moving docu-feature showcases the horrors of that darkest chapter of the nation and the incredible transformation the country went through under Sheikh Hasina.
Since its inception in 2014, Young Bangla, the largest network of the country's youths, has become a hub of 12,500 volunteers, 2,00,000 members, and 300 youth organisations.
Read: ‘Joy Bangla’ made national slogan: Govt notification
The goal of this platform, CRI’s youth secretariat, is not just awarding or recognising the young changemakers but also helping them network, connect with policymakers, and receive proper grooming.
Owing to the support provided by Young Bangla, a couple of past awardees later earned international recognition including the prestigious Diana Award and International Children’s Peace Prize.
Go to village, help boost farm production: PM to Jubo League members
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday asked the leaders and activists of her party’s youth front Jubo League to go to their villages and work for boosting farm production to offset any impact of global food crisis.
“I would like to ask every activist and leader of Jubo League to go to your village and ensure that no land remains uncultivated,” she said.
The premier was addressing a grand youth rally arranged in the city’s historic Suhrawardy Udyan to mark the golden jubilee of Bangladesh Jubo League, the youth wing of Bangladesh Awami League.
On November 11, 1972, Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani had formed Bangladesh Awami Jubo League at the directive of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Hasina, also the AL president, said the price of every commodity has soared in the world market due to the Ukraine war, sanctions and counter sanctions.
Read: PM Hasina credits long stay in power for country’s development
“We should not remain dependent on others rather we should be self-reliant. So, I’ve been asking everyone not to leave even an inch of land uncultivated,” she said in her first physical appearance at a public rally since the outbreak Covid-19 pandemic two years ago.
She said leaders and activists of Jubo League and other associate organisations of Awami League helped the farmers in harvesting their crops during the Covid-19 pandemic responding to her call.
“Now we’ll have to stand beside the people as well,” she said asking Jubo League members to cultivate own lands and help others to produce food and other crops in their lands.
“You’ll have to serve the country and its people,” the prime minister told the huge rally, many of its attendants in colourful t-shirts and bandanas.
Hasina also asked the Jubo League activists to work for eradicating terrorism, militancy, drug and corruption and keep the youth away from such social diseases.
Read: People will talk but Bangladesh is benefitting from AL govt's dev work: PM
“Every leader and activist will have to promise and work accordingly as well as develop such spirit among other youths in this regard,” she said.
Our economy is still strong: PM
The PM criticised those who earlier thought that Bangladesh would face the fate of Sri Lanka.
“Our economy is still strong enough. Many individuals thought Bangladesh would be a Sri Lanka….. But ashes fell on their faces,” she said.
Coming down heavily on BNP, she said now many BNP leaders are talking about money laundering, plundering and corruption, though their leader Tarique Rahman was convicted in a money laundering case.
She said Tarique Zia was sentenced to seven-year jail term and fined Tk 20 crore in a money laundering case as well as awarded life-sentence in the August 21 grenade attack case.
“It is not decent for those, whose leader is accused in killing, money laundering, illegal arms smuggling cases, to criticize the Awami League.
In an oblique reference to BNP leader Khaleda Zia, the PM said if any country is run by a person who studied only up to Class-8, and failed to pass the matriculation exams, it makes no progress.
She said Bangladesh has witnessed massive development in the last 14 years. Now none can neglect Bangladesh in international arena.
Read: Forex reserves still enough to cover 5 months' imports: PM
The PM said today Bangladesh is marching forward overcoming many hurdles. “We’ve been able to raise the per capita income to 2,824 US dollar,” she said.
She said the size of the national budget was only Tk 64,000 crore during the BNP regime, which jumped to over Tk 678,000 crore in the 2022-23 fiscal. “How could we place such a big budget unless there was no progress achieved?” she added.
On PM’s arrival at the venue, Jubo League chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and its general secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil received her.
Sheikh Hasina opened the rally by releasing pigeons and balloons.
She uncovered a special publication and unveiled a logo on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebration, as well as opened the website of Jubo League.
The premier was given a golden jubilee crest and two separate paintings on Bangabandhu.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader, and former Jubo League chairmen Amir Hossain Amu, Fazlul Karim Selim and Jahangir Kabir Nanak also spoke on the occasion.
Sheikh Parash presided over the rally, moderated by Nikhil.
Sherpur female councillor attacked for calling out drug dealers
A female councillor of Sherpur municipality came under attack allegedly for protesting against the drugs business on Friday.
The injured Najma Begum,45, is a councillor of the reserved women's ward and daughter of former councillor Harunur Rashid.
The incident took place around 10am in the Digharpar area of the town.
Read: Ctg youth killed for ‘protesting’ Yaba trading
Harunur Rashid, the father of the victim, said that Shahid and Rafiqul, sons of Tepu Mia of Digharpar Mohalla of the town, have been selling drugs for a long time. "My daughter warned them several times about this," he said.
Md Hannan Mia, additional superintendent of police (Sadar Circle), said that Najma had an enmity with the alleged drug traders.
Read: 3 including female councillor sued for extorting hawkers
As a sequel to the enmity, Shaheed, Rafiqul and their relatives attacked Najma and beat her up, leaving her injured.
Later, locals rescued Najma and took her to Sherpur Sadar hospital.
"Legal procedures are underway, '' said the officer, adding that efforts are on to nab the culprits.
CU JCD committee annulled six years after formation
The central body of BNP’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chattra Dal (JCD) has annulled its Chittagong University unit - around six years after its formation.
A press release signed by the central committee’s office secretary Md Jahangir Alam said this on Friday.
“The date expired committee of the Chittagong University JCD unit was annulled to form a new committee as per the decision of the central committee,” the release said adding that central President and General Secretary Kazi Rawnakul Islam Sarbon and Saif Mahmud Jewel respectively approved the decision.
Necessary measures will be taken to reform the grainsizing committee, it read.
Read more: JCD have to repent for their statement to enter DU campus: Al Nahiyan Khan Joy
A 69-member committee with Khorshed Alam and Shahidul Islam as president and general secretary of the CU unit was formed in October, 2016.
Later, a full-fledged committee comprising 243 members was also announced on May 18, 2018 but its activities on the campus were not seen remarkably.
Adapting to climate change is the main focus of COP27: Info Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said that adaptation to and mitigation of the losses caused by climate change are being widely discussed at this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference of The Parties (COP27).
The minister shared this with UNB after attending COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh of Egypt on Friday.
“Climate vulnerable countries like Bangladesh are urging the developed nations for a long time to provide USD 100 billion per year to the Green Climate Fund. The issue is being discussed in details at COP27, which is making us hopeful,” Hasan said.
Read: COP27: Bangladesh wants developed countries to deliver on $100 billion promise
Bangladeshi climate specialists attending the conference said that the United Nations has marked November 11 as ‘De-carbonization Day’ and today’s discussion topics include reducing carbon emission in different sectors.
During the discussion, countries will talk about how to control carbon emission in sectors like oil, gas, steel and cement.
The steel industry is one of the top emitters of carbon in the world. Emphasis will be given on taking global measures to reduce carbon emission from the Steel industries worldwide.
Besides, countries will also discuss how to cut back the emission of human-generated methane gas from oil and gas industries through technology transfer, capacity building and financing.
Read: COP27: Bangladesh prioritises realisation of green climate fund, Environment Minister tells UNB
For the first time, children and young people have been included in activities related to dealing with climate change at this year’s climate conference.
“The world will move a step further in tackling climate change through the participation and activism of children and young people,” said Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN.
Strike halts bus services between Dhaka and 5 southern districts ahead of BNP's Faridpur rally
Bus services between the capital city and five southern districts including Barishal have halted due to a strike enforced by transport workers and owners ahead the BNP’s rally on Saturday in Faridpur.
Transport strike has hit the southern districts of Barishal, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Barguna and Jhalkati since 6am Friday.
This meant that no passenger bus is now running between Dhaka and the five districts.
Read: Commuters suffer as 38-hr transport strike begins in Faridpur ahead of BNP rally
The tourist spot Kuakata is also bearing the brunt of the strike amid peak tourist season.
Within a span of one week transportation between Barishal and Dhaka got disrupted centering the BNP rallies. The region was under a two-day strike centring the BNP’s divisional rally on November 5.
Commuters were suffering a lot as they had to go back from Barishl bus terminal due to the strike enforced without any previous announcement.
Golam Mashrek Bablu, president of Barishal Bus Owners Group, confirming the strike said that workers and owners of greater Faridpur bus association called for a 38-hour strike from Friday morning to Saturday night.
Read: Thousands throng Suhrawardy Udyan for Jubo League's golden jubilee rally
“Faridpur’s bus owners and workers will not allow operation of buses coming from the southern districts to cross Bhanga Intersection due to the strike”, he said adding that they were forced to take the decision to stop the bus service.
Md Firoz, bus driver of Hilsha Paribahan, said the bus communication between Barishal and Dhaka will remain suspended on Friday and Saturday.
Mentionable, Faridpur district bus workers and owners went on a 38-hour strike Friday morning amid BNP’s allegation that it was planned to thwart their rally, causing suffering to commuters.
Tanzim, Rajib, Sabuj elected President, VP, GS of ATJFB
Md Tanzim Anwar, Special Correspondent of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), has been elected President of the Aviation and Tourism Journalists Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) unopposed for a two-year tenure (2023-24).
Rajib Ghosh, Chief Reporter of DBC News, has been elected Vice President unopposed while Ziaul Hoque Sabuj, Special Correspondent of Bangla Vision, has been elected General Secretary with Abdul Baten Biplob (Asian TV) elected Joint General Secretary.
Chief Election Commissioner Mashiur Rahaman and two Election Commissioners Golam Mujtaba Dhruba and Sohel Hossain announced the election results after the vote casting on Friday.
Earlier, the Annual General Meeting of the Forum was held at the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) auditorium with outgoing President Nadira Kiron in the cheir.
Read more: ATJFB joins beach cleanup on World Tourism Day
Shafiullah Sumon (BTV) has been elected Treasurer unopposed while Emrul Kausar Emon (Daily Bhorer Dak) elected Organizing Secretary of the Forum.
Dengue death toll rises to 193 with another death
With another death reported in 24 hours till Friday morning, this year’s fatalities from Dengue climbed to 193.
During this period, 266 patients were hospitalised with the viral fever, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The latest death was reported from Chattogram, taking the death toll in the division to 49.
Read more: Dengue death toll rises to 192 with 5 more deaths
Of the new patients, 150 were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka and 116 outside it, according to the DGHS.
A total of 3,252 dengue patients, including 1,923 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
The directorate has recorded 46,752 dengue cases and 43,307 recoveries so far this year.
Read more: Dengue death toll in Bangladesh reaches 182, surpassing previous record
This year’s fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease reached 182 on Tuesday, exceeding all previous records in Bangladesh.
Earlier the country recorded the highest 179 deaths from Dengue in a year in 2019.
Patients suffer as power disruption cripples services at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital
Doctors and nurses at Barishal’s Sher-e-bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) are finding it hard to provide treatment to patients as electricity supply remained snapped in five units of the hospital for the last couple of days.
Surgery ward no 3 and 4 of G-block(male), surgery ward no 1 of A Block(male) and I block(Eye) have been without electricity for the last three days, while the radiology department has been facing power cuts for the last 18 days.
Naimul Islam, relative of a patient, said that they can’t even go to the washroom at night due to lack of electricity.
“We don’t get proper treatment at the hospital. Still, we’ve to come here as we don’t have any other place to go. The hospital doesn’t even have electricity. I don’t know how the hospital is running without monitoring,” said Arafat Hossain Shaon, relative of another patient.
Read: Nasrul Hamid under fire in Parliament for electricity crisis
Wishing to be anonymous, a nurse of the hospital said that they can’t provide injections to the patients properly due to darkness at night.
“We’re currently doing our work with the help of candles and charger lights. The hospital authority is building a gate spending crores of taka, which is unnecessary. The money should’ve been spent on fixing the electrical cables and ensuring constant supply of electricity through generators,” said the nurse.
The nurse added that instead of building a gate, emphasis should be given on how to provide treatment to the patients more effectively.
Dr HM Saiful Islam, director of the hospital, didn’t respond to the calls made by UNB to collect information about the electricity crisis.
Read: No govt decision to stop supply of daytime electricity: Hasan Mahmud
“The surgery wards and the radiology department don’t have electricity at this moment. Although founded in 1968, electricity lines of the hospital were never repaired. I think dilapidated electrical cables are the reason why power outage is happening at the hospital,” said Dr Moniruzzaman Shahin, assistant director (Administration) of SBMCH.