An online platform of veterinary service ‘Pranisheba Vet’ was launched in the city on Sunday.

Adarsha Pranisheba Limited launched the platform which was inaugurated by the Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim.

After the inauguration, the minister said, “It’s a new chapter of digital Bangladesh announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.”

The government has approved the online service for animals as they also need medical care in difficult times, he said.

“The extreme necessity of technology and digital system expansion was evident during the coronavirus pandemic, which proved that the visions of the Prime Minister were accurate and practical,” he added.

Online vet service should be spread across the country and the government is ready to provide all kinds of support to the private sector, he said.

Also read:Mobile veterinary clinic launched by HSTU

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has decided to include 43 new essential products under the mandatory quality certificate considering their growing demand among the people.

The products include - low-fat milk, flavoured milk, ice lolly, natural mehdi, dishwashing liquid, liquid toilet cleaner, nail polish, gold, cotton sari made in power loom, passenger car tires and rims, and power transformer.

The decision was approved at the 34th Council Meeting of BSTI on Sunday, according to a press release.

Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun presided over the meeting while first vice-president of the council and State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Mojumder, second vice-president and Industries Secretary KM Ali Azam and member secretary and Director General of BSTI Md Nazrul Anwar were present on the occasion.

Humayun highlighted the huge potential for the export of halal products and said that BSTI should take initiative to determine the quality of halal products and issue quality certificates to harness this potential.

He said the facilities would be enhanced along with improved training as well as financial incentives to encourage the officers and employees of the company to competently perform their duties.

Kamal directed BSTI to ensure maximum vigilance, collection of fines and conducting special operations against misdeeds.

Also read: BSTI bans 43 more products

The meeting discussed the ongoing trend of quality industrialisation, expansion of BSTI’s quality control activities at the district level, expansion of state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, increase in institutional manpower, skill development training, accommodation for bosses, travel and incentives and export of halal food.

The meeting also approved the proposal to expand the BSTI’s office activities in 64 districts by setting up 13 more regional offices in addition to the existing 8 divisional offices.

Also read: BSTI revokes licenses against 8 products

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Sunday forecast rain and thundershowers at a few places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattrogram and Sylhet divisions in the next 24 hours starting 6pm.

One or two places over Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions might see some rain during this period, the Met Office said.

About the synoptic situation, the BMD said the well-marked low over Gazipur and adjoining area weakened further into a low pressure area and then became unimportant.

The monsoon has withdrawn from the north-western part of Bangladesh and conditions are favourable for further withdrawal from the remaining part of the country, the BMD said.

Monsoon is less active over the remaining part of Bangladesh and weak to moderate over the North Bay, it said.

Day and night temperatures may rise slightly over the country.

The sun rises at 6:01am in the capital on Monday.

Also read: Rain, thundershowers likely

The Chief of Army Staff General Aziz Ahmed has no personal account on Facebook and other social media, the Inter-Services Public Relation (ISPR) Directorate has said.

“Several persons and groups have opened fake Facebook accounts using the name and picture of Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed and they are uploading different information and sending friend requests [to other users] with an ill motive,” the ISPR said Sunday.

The ISPR Directorate requested all to remain aware in this regard.

Article 19, an international human rights organisation with a particular focus on freedom of expression, has called for digital literacy to be taught in the country's schools through inclusion of relevant modules in the national curriculum.

That was one of the suggestions to come up Sunday during the inaugural lecture of a series on media laws, media ethics, and digital rights and safety, arranged by Article 19   in collaboration with DW Akademie, the international media development arm of German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Najmul Islam of the Cyber Crime Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Dhaka was the inaugural keynote speaker of the lecture series.

“With much of our daily activities being switched online due to the pandemic, it has now increasingly important to be digitally literate and be vigilant in understanding digital security measures with the increase of cybercrimes,” said Najmul Islam in the lecture held as a webinar.

The ADC's presentation  covered three important issues: the importance of Cybersecurity, awareness of extremism and the Dark Web, and lastly the role of the Cyber Crime Investigation Division of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. 

According to Islam, the country has 100 million internet users, of whom 40 million are also Facebook users.

He emphasized the importance of cybersecurity education for young people and to include digital literacy programmes in the school curriculum. These protection measures should start from homes at the individual and household levels, he said.

Additionally, digital media and technologies are now being increasingly used by extremists and terrorists to spread propaganda and attract recruits, he stated.

He requested parents to monitor their children’s online activity.  

ARTICLE 19 as a part of its work on protection of freedom of information and online safety is working with the Cyber Crime Unit of the Police. It looks forward to continuing the collaboration in the future.

He informed that by calling 999/01769691522/01769691508 or using ‘Hello CT’ apps, people can more-and-more easily  report cybercrimes.

Other details about ARTICLE 19’s online curriculum can be found  through their Facebook page.

Also read: Orientation on IT dependent media exercise held in city