Bangladesh
Target set for Dhaka Airport Third Terminal's full functionality by December 2024: CAAB Chairman
The soft opening of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport’s third terminal is set for October 7 as decided earlier, Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman said.
He said this today during a press conference at the construction site of Dhaka airport’s third terminal.
According to him, the construction contract for the terminal was initiated in 2020, with a stipulated soft opening timeline of 1,471 days.
Govt will decide on ground handling at Dhaka airport’s third terminal and Biman is ready: CEO
“Presently, as per the contract, 1,241 days have passed, leading to the decision to have a soft opening in advance, on October 7. The soft opening ceremony, to be attended by the prime minister, would be held inside the newly built third terminal. This decision was made so that citizens from across the country can witness the inauguration through the media,” he said.
Regarding the progress of work, he said “Our target was to complete 90 percent of the work before the soft opening. Presently, it stands at over 88 percent. We are optimistic about completing 90 percent of the work before the soft opening of the third terminal.”
“We’ve set a goal for the terminal's full functionality by December 2024,” he said, adding, “We hope the terminal will be fully operational before the scheduled time.”
Responding to queries about manpower readiness for the new terminal, he mentioned an application was submitted to the ministry and training is ongoing for current staff members.
World-class third terminal of Dhaka Airport to be visible by Dec: CAAB
“A lot of the responsibilities of this project are not in our hands. A friendly country will assist in fulfilling the responsibilities, and preparations for immigration police and customs are underway,” the CAAB chairman added.
Addressing queries on service quality, he said that the third terminal of Dhaka airport aims to enhance passenger experience and establish itself as a regional aviation hub.
“The responsibility for passenger services will be entrusted to a foreign company; we have asked them to ensure standards comparable to globally renowned airports like Singapore's Changi,” he said.
Royal Thai renews contract with VFS Global for processing visa applications in Bangladesh
Continuing its partnership with the Thai government, VFS Global, an outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide, has re-won the contract to process visa applications for Thailand from Bangladesh.
The company will cater to travellers from Bangladesh across visa categories through its visa application centres (VACs) in Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet, said VFS Global.
VFS Global’s relationship with the government of Thailand dates to nearly two decades. The company has processed more than 1.14 million Thai visa applications since 2005.
“The renewal of the Thai visa contract attests to VFS Global's superior business performance, commitment to improving customer experience, and unshakable faith placed in us by the 70 sovereign governments we work with, including Thailand,’’ said Prabuddha Sen, Chief Operating Officer - South Asia, VFS Global.
Thailand has some of the most popular tourist destinations of choice for travelers from Bangladesh, according to VFS Global.
JCD leader dies, 3 hurt in Chandpur road crash
A local leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) was killed and three people were injured in a collision between a bus and an autorickshaw in Kachua upazila of Chandpur district on Monday.
The deceased, Omar Faruk, 35, was general secretary of a faction of Kachua upazila unit JCD and son of Habibur Rahman of Teguria village under the upazila.
The injured were Abu Taher, 60, his wife Jabin Khan, 50, of Ragdoul village and Nabin Hossain, 30, of Kalakopa village of the same upazila. All victims were passengers of the autorickshaw.
Read: Couple dies from electrocution in Chandpur
Police and locals said Dhaka-bound bus of ‘Al Arafa Paribahan’ collided with the autorickshaw on Kachua-Gouripur road in Ghagra Bazar Natunpara Jame Masjid area, leaving the four critically injured.
The injured were rushed to Upazila Health Complex where physicians declared the JCD leader dead upon arrival, said Kachua police station’s officer in-charge Ibrahim Khalil, adding that the injured were shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital from the health complex.
Read: Two cousins drown in Chandpur
He said they seized the bus and the autorickshaw but drivers of the vehicles managed to flee. A legal process is underway.
Read more: Man dies after being run over by train in Chandpur’s Hajiganj
EU's Global Gateway Strategy to support Bangladesh in meeting its green energy transition ambitions: Peteris Ustubs
European Union (EU) Director for Middle East, Asia, and Pacific at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA) Peteris Ustubs has said the Global Gateway Strategy will support Bangladesh in meeting its green energy transition ambitions in a sustainable and smart way .
"It is the European Union’s response to boost cooperation with partners worldwide. We believe it marks a new era of the longstanding EU-Bangladesh cooperation. This comes at a timely moment, as Bangladesh sets the ground for its LDC graduation in 2026,”he said.
Ustubs visited Bangladesh from September 30 to October 2 to discuss further strengthening EU-Bangladesh cooperation on the green energy transition.
In the context of the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, his visit focused on strengthening the partnership between the European Union and Bangladesh, particularly in the domains of climate change, energy efficiency, renewable energy, regional energy connectivity, and sustainable development.
Read: In Egypt, host of COP27, a small step toward green energy
BUP Photography Society holds exhibition
BUP Photography Society (BUPPS) hosted its groundbreaking national event ‘Sphuron 4.0', which witnessed enthusiastic participation from university students across Bangladesh.
Brig Gen Muhammad Ali Talukder, Dean, Faculty of Security & Strategic Studies (FSSS), graced the event with his enlightening speech recently, said a press releaes.
In the Camera Photography segment, Asraful Rafid from East West University claimed the first place, followed by Sharafat Jamil from Open University in second place and Jilkadus Samy from BUP in third.
Read: Six-week long ‘Bangladesh in Frames’ photography exhibition inaugurated in Mexico
The Mobile Photography segment witnessed Md. Samiur Rahman Shafin from East West University as the first-place winner, with MD. Meheraj Hossain Nahin from Head Start (ACCA learning partner) in second place, and Shreyas Podder from National University taking the third spot.
Lastly, in the Ail segment, Farhana Yasmin Taspria from BUP secured the top position, while Shihon Sultana and brat Jahan Rumki, both from BUP, secured the second and third positions, respectively.
Dean and Chairmen of Mass Communication and Journalism, Lt Col Mohammad Masudur Rahman Khan was present at the closing ceremony.
Read: BSA commemorates August 21 with photography and public art exhibition
The photography segment was judged by M. Aminur Fahman, the esteemed CEO of Checkmate Events, and Tanvir Murad Topu, the prominent Head of Photography Department of Fathshala South Asian Media Institute.
Meanwhile, the Art Segment had the privilege of being evaluated by Masuca Khan, more fondly known as Masu Ake. Initial selections of submissions were carried out by the alumni of BUPPS, while the main judges finalized the award positions, said the release.
The partners and co-sponsors of the event include the Daily Ittefaq and Ekattor TV as Newsmedia Partners, dessert partner "PERFE- Greek Yogurt," co-sponsor "Shuttergram," the ultimate destination for professional product, food, and interior photography, and ice cream partner, "Polar Ice Cream.
Read more: 6 photographers honored with Made in Bangladesh Photography Award
Guterres remembers Mahatma Gandhi; values of mutual respect, justice, power of peaceful action
Marking the International Day of Non-Violence, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday said they commemorate not only the birth of Mahatma Gandhi but also the timeless values he championed: mutual respect and understanding, justice, and the power of peaceful action.
"Let us heed his words today and re-commit ourselves to this essential purpose," he said in a message on the International Day of Non-Violence.
Guterres said the world confronts grave challenges: growing inequalities, rising tensions, proliferating conflicts, and worsening climate chaos.
"We also see divides deepening within countries – with democracy under threat and hate speech and intolerance on the march," he said.
Guterres said they can overcome these afflictions and chart a course towards a brighter, more peaceful future.
Read: Gandhi’s philosophy of truth, humanism, non-violence underscored
"If we understand – as Gandhi did – that the magnificent diversity of our human family is a treasure, not a threat.
If we invest in social cohesion, nurture the courage to compromise, and the determination to cooperate.
If we ensure that all of us – regardless of status, background, circumstance, or faith – can live lives of dignity, opportunity, and rights.
If we unite around our common humanity," said the UN chief.
He also said, "Let us remember Gandhi’s wise counsel: “Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.”
Read more: Gandhi’s ideals of peace, non-violence policy recalled
12-year-old crushed under truck wheels in Magura
A sixth grader was crushed to death under the wheels of a truck and another was injured at Vabanhati in Magura on Sunday.
The deceased, Shakib Hossain, 12, was a resident of Sadar upazila’s Kapashati village and son of Rokib Shikder.
Bodies of 2 workers recovered from septic tank in Feni
Shakib was declared dead upon arrival at a hospital. The injured victim was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition.
3 killed in Feni road crash
Sekandar Hossain, officer-in-charge of Magura Police Station, said the body was sent to the morgue for an autopsy.
A case has been filed in this connection, he said.
Man crushed under train in capital’s Moghbazar
No rally in Dhaka without permission, says new DMP chief
Permission must be taken to hold any rally in the capital, newly appointed Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Habibur Rahman, said today (October 02, 2023).
“No matter how big the political party is, no program will be held in the capital without permission,” the new DMP chief said during a ‘meet the press’ event at the Media and Public Relations Centre at DMP headquarters around 11 am.
“If any party tries to hold a procession, meeting or rally without permission and breaks the rules, then any unit of DMP can take legal action against the violators without any fear,” he added.
Additional IGP Habibur Rahman takes charge as 36th DMP Commissioner
The DMP commissioner also said that there is a rally of the opposition scheduled for today. “They have taken permission from us and are arranging a rally following the rules,” he said.
Replying to a question over the law and order situation ahead of the national election, the 36th DMP commissioner said that election is a democratic process of transferring power. DMP’s 34,000 forces will undoubtedly work to make the polling process smooth, he said.
When asked whether the US visa policy will have any effect on the DMP, the commissioner said, “I don't think this will be a problem for the police as a force. It is person-centered.”
‘How many in Bangladesh police want to go to America?’ DMP Deputy Commissioner asks
Saying that controlling the use of illegal arms in the upcoming national election is one of the major challenges for police, he added that instructions have been given to police officials to take strict action against illegal weapons.
The DMP has enough capacity to thwart the use of illegal arms. "We will do whatever is needed to keep Dhaka safe," added the new commissioner.
BNP postpones Aminbazar rally after denied permission
2 arrested for killing man in N'ganj
Two people were arrested in connection with the murder of a 35-year-old mason in Narayanganj's Rupganj upazila on Sunday.
The arrestees are Md. Arman, 35, son of Rangu Bepari and Setul, 29, son of Jalal Uddin. They are residents of Chhatirchar village of Kishoreganj's Nikli upazila.
Tipped off, a team of RAB-11 conducted a drive in Ashrafabad Road area of Madbar Bazar under Kamrangirchar police station of Dhaka on Sunday and arrested them, RAB said in a press release on Monday.
Two more accused in Hridoy murder case arrested
The arrestees were handed over to Rupganj police station for further action, added the release.
According to the preliminary investigation, the two accused called Sumon on the night of September 19, 2023 and took him behind Palash coil factory. They stabbed Sumon indiscriminately, leaving him dead on the spot.
9th grader ‘gang-raped’ in Bagerhat, 2 arrested
Later, a case was filed against unidentified people at Rupganj police station following a complaint lodged by the victim's mother Nargis Begum.
Man arrested for killing brother in Chapainawabganj
BMD forecasts light to moderate rain across country
Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has predicted light to moderate rain or thundershowers in eight divisions, including Dhaka, in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Monday.
“Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Rangpur, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Rajshahi, Dhaka and Mymensingh divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the country ,” it said.
People in northern districts suffer due to incessant rain
The country’s highest 95 mm rainfall was recorded in Sylhet in 24 hours till 6 am today.
Day and night temperatures may fall slightly over the country, reads the bulletin.
How to be Safe During and After Heavy Rains
The country’s highest temperature was recorded at 35.3 degree Celsius on Sunday in Sylhet.
Meanwhile, monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh and moderate over North Bay, BMD forecast.
Rain paralyses life in capital, causes fatalities