Bangladesh
Court sends Kushtia municipality's executive engineer to jail in money laundering case
A court here on Thursday sent Kushtia municipality's Executive Engineer Robiul Islam to jail after he surrendered over a money laundering case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Kushtia special judge Ashraful Islam passed the order rejecting the bail plea submitted by the accused during a hearing today, said ACC lawyer advocate Al Muizahid Hossain Mithu.
Earlier on September 28, deputy director of ACC’s coordinated district office in Kushtia Neel Komol Paul filed the case against Robiul and his wife Mst Kamrunnahar, a lecturer of Kushtia Islamia Colellege under ACC act, 2004 and Money Laundering Prevention act, 2012.
According to the case complaint, Robiul and his wife had Tk 39. 34 lakh worth wealth inconsistent with their known source of income which they have laundered.
Both the accused were out on anticipatory bail until the hearing on Thursday.
Meanwhile, ACC filed another case against them on Thursday for earning illegal wealth and Robiul was made associate accused in this case.
Diabetes patients to get free insulin in future: Health Minister
Steps are underway to provide free insulin to diabetic patients in government hospitals in the future, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said on Thursday.
The minister said, "Diabetes patients are already being provided free medical treatment at government hospitals."
The minister was addressing a roundtable discussion on "Diabetes Treatment: Present and Future Thoughts" organized by the Non-Communicable Disease Control Program (NCDC) of the Health Department and Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS) on the occasion of World Diabetes Day.
He said, "At least 61 per cent of the people in the country suffer from different health problems due to non-communicable diseases. Diabetes is one of the non-communicable diseases that affect the human body silently.”
Referring to a survey, he also said that only 12 percent of the people in the country now have diabetes
Meanwhile, about covid vaccine procurement, the minister said so far 21 crore doses of vaccine have been purchased. Of this, about 11 crore doses have arrived in the country. About four crore more doses will arrive by November.
Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BADAS) president Prof AK Azad Khan, Vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Prof Sharfuddin Ahmed, Secretary General of Bangladesh Diabetes Association Sayef Uddin and former Director General of the Health Department Prof Fayez Uddin were present at the meeting.
Tourist police ensure safe tourism: IGP
Tourism industry has greart potentials to develop in Bangladesh, Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed said on Thursday.
He was addressing as the chief guest at a seminar held at a local hotel in Cox's Bazar. The seminar was organised on the last day of the four-day colorful program to mark the 8th founding anniversary of the tourist police.
Chairman of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management of Kushtia Islamic University Prof Dr Md Mahbubul Arefin presented the keynote address at the seminar. Director General of Bangla Academy Mohammad Nurul Huda, Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Tourism Board Jabed Ahmed and Vice Chancellor of Cox's Bazar International University Prof Dr Golam Kibria Bhuiyan were present as special guests in the seminar chaired by DIG of the Tourist Police Murshedul Anwar Khan. Among others, senior police officers, tour operators and city dignitaries also attended the programme.
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In his speech, the IGP said Bangladesh has beautiful natural environment, natural diversity and natural resources. Saint Martin's Island is such a beautiful place to visit. But tourists are discouraged from going there. “We think that we need to make sure that the natural environment of Saint Martin, the natural resources are not harmed by tourists. This is not to discourage tourists,” he added.
The top official of the Police force said that since the formation of Tourist Police, it has been working tirelessly for the last eight years to provide international standard security to tourists and to develop the tourism sector. Besides, tourists have been able to travel to different tourist spots of the country safely after its inception.
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It is to be mentioned that on the occasion of the 8th founding anniversary of the Tourist Police, a colorful program had been organized in Cox's Bazar from November 8.
Hasina urges UNESCO to declare online and remote learning as public good
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked UNESCO to declare remote learning and online education as a global public good as these are creating a new divide.
“I also call upon UNESCO to work as a matter of priority with Governments, private sectors and other stakeholders to rally partnership and resources to make this happen,” she said while delivering her speech at the 41st General Conference of UNESCO held at its Headquarters here.
The Prime Minister said the pandemic has undermined the hard-earned achievements while it has revealed a major fault line in the education system.
According to UNESCO, close to half of the world's students are affected by partial or full school closures, she said.
“Online education evolved as a “new normal” during the pandemic. Yet, it also exposed a new divide,” she added.
In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said the advanced countries could swiftly move to online platforms. But the developing countries and LDCs were pushed further behind due to lack of resources and technologies. “This has jeopardized our decades of gains in school enrollment, literacy rate and learning of youth and adults,” she observed.
While digitisation has enhanced better services and free flow of information, all are worried by the misuse of digital tools and platforms for spreading harmful contents and hate speech, she said.
“This has a significant negative impact on the peace and stability of the society. World bodies like UNESCO should work for addressing this issue,” said the PM.
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Talking about climate change, she said this is a life-threatening reality not only for Bangladesh but also for many other countries of the world.
Netherlands to send trade mission to Bangladesh next year
The Netherlands will send a trade mission to Bangladesh next year to extend support in the agriculture sector and strengthen trade relations between the two countries.
Foreign Trade and Development Minister of the Netherlands Tom De Brujin said this on Wednesday at a meeting with Agriculture Minister Md Abdur Razzaque at the Hague.
The Dutch minister said trade ties between the two countries will be strengthened involving private sector in food, water and energy issues and the embassies of the two countries will take necessary steps in this regard.
Abdur Razzque requested the Dutch minister to increase the number of scholarships for Bangladeshi students seeking higher studies in the Netherlands in agricultural.
Besides, the minister wanted Dutch assistance to retain the trade privileges for Bangladesh in exporting goods to the European Union countries even after its graduation to a middle-income country.
“Bangladesh needs Netherlands’ knowledge, technology, innovation and solution in agriculture and we want the support on win-win basis,” he said.
Both the ministers expressed hope over advancing the agricultural ties between the two countries to the next level within a year and a half at the meeting.
Later Abdur Razzaque met Vice Minister of Agricultural and Natural Resource Ministry of Netherlands Groet.
Abdur Razzaque sought Dutch support for establishing supply chain, agricultural mechanization and to build modern packaging houses in Bangladesh.
The minister also invited Dutch private sectors to build agro innovation labs and join in building high quality storage facilities in Bangladesh for speeding up the mechanization process.
AIBTRI holds development programme on Bangladesh's LDC graduation
Al-Arafah Islami Bank Training and Research Institute (AIBTRI) held a day-long development programme on "Bangladesh's LDC Graduation: Implications and Challenges" organised Wednesday.
Farman R Chowdhury, managing director and CEO of the bank, inaugurated the programme online as chief guest.
Professor Mostafizur Rahman, a distinguished fellow of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, was the keynote speaker at the programme.
Deputy managing directors of Al-Arafah Islami Bank S M Jaffar, Shabbir Ahmed, Md Shafiqur Rahman, Syed Masodul Bari, Md Mahmudur Rahman, Abed Ahmed Khan, Md Abdullah Al Mamun; AIBTRI Director-General Md Abdul Awwal Sarker and senior executives of the bank joined the programme, according to a media statement.
Nasrul Hamid visits Redbridge; highlights impacts of climate change on Bangladesh
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has visited the Redbridge Town Hall, a municipal building in London, and met Councillor Roy Emmett, the mayor of Redbridge.
He was accompanied by Nahim Razzak MP, a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs as a special guest, and two senior journalists Mahfuz Mishu and Ishrat Jahan Urmi from Bangladesh delegation at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.
The group was welcomed to the Town Hall by the mayor and Councillor Jas Athwal, leader of the Redbridge council, followed by a citizen engagement session at the council chambers.
Speaking about the impacts of climate change Nasrul Hamid said, "Bangladesh is one of the countries hit hardest by global warming" and called for the much-needed action from the responsible countries to tackle these damages as well as safeguard the environment.
He highlighted Bangladesh's journey towards a clean and green energy sector and the challenges of being a densely populated country.
Humayun Rasheed Choudhury’s role in protecting Bangabandhu’s daughters unforgettable: President
President Abdul Hamid on Thursday said the role of late Speaker Humayun Rasheed Choudhury in arranging political asylum for Bangabandhu’s two daughters after his assassination in 1975 will never be forgotten.
“Bangabandhu's two daughters were safe in his (Humayun’s) shelter for six days from August 15 to August 21 and he gave them mental strength and courage. He arranged political asylum for them in Delhi. This incomparable contribution of the late Speaker in time of their extreme danger can never be forgotten,” he said.
The President made the remarks while addressing a virtual discussion meeting on late Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Humayun Rasheed Choudhury.
Speaker Humayun Rasheed Choudhury Memorial Council (HRCMC) organised the event, marking the late Speaker’s 94th birth anniversary.
Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque and Labour and Employment Ministry Secretary Ehsan E Elahi also spoke at the programme with HRCMC president and former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Md Nojibur Rahman in the chair.
Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, a Singapore-based renowned scholar-diplomat and former Foreign Affairs Advisor of Bangladesh Caretaker Government, delivered the keynote speech titled “Humayun Rasheed Choudhury: My Memory of a Hero”.
President Abdul Hamid said Humayun Rasheed was the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Germany when Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family members was brutally assassinated on August 15, 1975.
At that time, he said, many politicians, bureaucrats, intellectuals and opportunists changed their stance overnight. “But Humayun Rasheed Choudhury was different. Neither greed nor the risk of life could deviate him from justice and ideals; he didn’t sell his conscience.”
The President said Bangabandhu’s daughters -- current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana -- fortunately escaped the bullets of the assassins as they were staying at the house of Sanaul Haque, a close associate of Bangabandhu and then Bangladesh Ambassador to Belgium.
Extensive research needed to unlock potentials of blue economy: Minister
Planning Minister MA Mannan has emphasised extensive research on blue economy to unlock its potentials and get maximum benefits from the Bay of Bengal.
“The government is interested to assist private sector and different organizations in carrying out research works on sea and coastal areas for the development of blue economy,” Mannan said.
The minister came with remarks at a discussion meeting on ‘Blue Economy Prospectus and Challenges’ on Thursday at the Jatiya Press Club, organized by Save Our Sea, a platform that works for clean sea.
He said environment and blue economy are getting priority in the global arena as both the sectors would play a vital role in the world economy in future.
Regarding the demand of including oceanography in the textbooks, the Planning Minister said that the Prime Minister always encourages children to know about the resources of the country.
Dr. Jasim Uddin, professor of Department of Botany of Dhaka Univeristy and Dr Sontosh Kumar, Chairman Hospitality and Tourism Department, attended the discussion as special guests.
Chairman of the department of Oceanography of Chinttagong University Dr. Muhammad Muslem Uddin Monna gave key note presentation in the discussion meeting.
Head of maritime development and strategic studiesof Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Maritime University Commodore Wahid Hasan Kutubuddin, assistant chief conservator of Forests, the Directorate of Forest, Dr. Maryam Akter, Deputy Director (operation) of Cost Guard Department M Nur-Uzzaman, among others, spoke at the function.
Anowarul Hoque, secretary of Save Our Sea, moderated the discussion.
Kamal urges contiued UN and EU support to Bangladesh
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal has voiced optimist that the United Nations would always support Bangladesh in achieving its development goals.
He said Bangladesh will be free from hunger and poverty by 2030.
The finance minister came up with remark while Mia Seppo, the outgoing UN Resident Coordinator in Bangladesh, called on him at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Thursday.
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During the meeting they discussed cooperation on economic progress, recovery of pandemic hit economy, employment, women's development and empowerment.
Mia Seppo praised Bangladesh's economic progress, women's employment and women's empowerment, and hoped that Bangladesh’s cooperation with the UN would be further strengthened in the future.
Referring to the continuation of the long standing relations between the UN and Bangladesh, she said the UN was working for the advancement of women, women's empowerment and socio-economic development in Bangladesh.
Mia Seppo said the UN will continue to support Bangladesh in achieving the Eighth Five-Year Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She said his four-year tenure in Bangladesh would be a bright memory in his life and thanked for the overall cooperation during her service tenure in Dhaka.
Earlier, the new European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley paid a courtesy call on the finance minister.
The minister called upon the EU to continue the priority given to Bangladesh in the field of trade despite its transition from a least developed country to a developing one.
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He said the EU is the largest destination for Bangladesh's export products and Bangladesh is one of the most attractive places for global investors.
Kamal hoped that existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and the EU will be continued to grow.