bangladesh
Bangladesh considering ‘pros and cons’ of Indo-Pacific Economic Framework: Momen
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said Bangladesh is looking into the “pros and cons” of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) to determine if Bangladesh will benefit from joining it.
“Recently, there has been debate about the Quad and Indo-Pacific Economic (Framework). To understand the issue, we have requested BIISS to look into it. I am thankful to them. They have submitted one report on it,” Momen said.
Read more: ‘No reason to worry’ about new US sanctions: Momen
Momen was speaking as the chief guest at a programme titled “BIISS Research Colloquium 2022” in Dhaka. The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized the event at the BIISS auditorium.
The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as the “Quad”, is a strategic security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States.
In June this year, the United States briefed Bangladesh on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and Bangladesh welcomed additional information on the supply chain resilience and decarbonization pillars of the IPEF.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas recently said the United States and 13 partner countries launched negotiations for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which he described as a “novel economic arrangement” that reflects their collective desire to address 21st century challenges that go beyond trade and investment.
Read more: Repatriation of Rohingyas delayed due to lack of sincerity: Momen
The membership of IPEF reflects the economic diversity of the region as well as the interconnectivity among partner countries that drives economic growth, job creation, and innovation, he said.
IPEF is intended to be open and inclusive to others who wish to join in the future if they share the goals of IPEF and work to achieve those goals.
“We will continue to work on these issues and grow our economic partnership bilaterally with all nations, including Bangladesh,” said the US ambassador.
BIISS Chairman Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain and its Director General Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin spoke at the event on Tuesday.
The event was divided into three sessions. In each session, three speakers presented their recent research that concerns Bangladesh's national interest.
The session one was on Bangladesh’s regional and global outreach which was chaired by BIISS Chairman.
Session two was on security and strategic affairs chaired by former Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh, General (retd) Md Abdul Mubeen.
The third session highlighted “Diplomacy and Negotiations” which was chaired by Professor Dr Imtiaz Ahmed.
Bangladesh logs 19 more Covid cases
Bangladesh reported 19 more Covid cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total caseload rose to 2,036,967, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Read more: Govt starts administering 2nd booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine in Bangladesh
However, the official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,438 as no new fatalities were reported.
The daily case test positivity dropped to 0.75 percent from Monday’s 0.85 percent percent as 2,354 samples were tested during the period.
The mortality rate and the recovery rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent and at 97.54 percent, respectively.
Read more: Bangladesh built fast response capabilities for influenza, other respiratory infection using lessons learned from Covid-19: WHO
In November, the country reported 10 Covid-linked deaths and 1,345 cases.
Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.
Food Minister for increasing zinc-enriched paddy cultivation
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder on Tuesday urged the farmers to increase the cultivation of zinc-enriched paddy for eliminating malnutrition in the country.
It is possible to meet the zinc deficiency of people in the country through cultivating biofortified zinc rice, the minister said at the "Biofortified Zinc Rice Award Ceremony 2022" arranged by the Food Ministry in the capital’s Agargaon.
Read more: Boost food production to avert any crisis: PM Hasina
Most of the people in the country are not aware at all about the biofortified zinc rice or its quality, he said.
“We are consuming zinc in chemical form but do not know that we can get this naturally through rice,” he added.
So he urged the media to come forward to attract consumers to biofortified zinc rice.
He also said that the mill owners of the country produce polished rice as per the demand of the consumers and supply those to market. “Because consumers are not keen to eat zinc rice as it is a bit coarse. Customers or consumers prefer polished rice.”
Read more: 27 lakh farmers to get Tk 170 crore as incentives to boost Boro production
And so farmers are also not interested in cultivating biofortified zinc rice, said the minister.
“Normal rice also contains nutrients, but the nutrients are being reduced after being polished,” he added.
He said about 16 lakh tonnes of rice are wasted annually during the polishing process. “There would have been no need to import rice if those had not been polished.”
At the event, 11 farmers, three rice millers and 10 food department officials were awarded in recognition to their special contribution in the production, processing and marketing of biofortified zinc rice.
Meanwhile, regarding food crisis and possible famine, the minister urged all not to panic and said, “We are aware that there are sufficient paddy and rice in stock.”
Strict action will be taken against those who will stockpile rice, Sadhan Chandra warned.
New curriculum to be introduced in 2023: Education Minister
New curriculum will be introduced for primary, secondary and higher secondary level students from next year, said Education Minister Dipu Moni on Tuesday.
“The government formulated the new curriculum keeping in mind the labour market at home and abroad. Education from primary to higher secondary level will see a major transformation. As per the plan, the new curriculum will be introduced next year,” she said.
Read more: ADB to invest $2 billion over next 3 years in Bangladesh’s education sector
The education minister revealed these information while speaking at a discussion marking the Victory Day at Anima Chowdhury Auditorium in Natore district town.
Textbooks will be handed over to the students in the new year amid all obstacles, she said.
Terming the opposition political parties including BNP, who have started the anti-government movement, as evil force, Dipu said a vested quarter is involved in destabilising the country ahead of the national election and there is no scope to spare them.
Read more: Girls’ education among 5 core issues in Bangladesh development: Study
‘No reason to worry’ about new US sanctions: Momen
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said there is “no reason to worry” about new US sanctions, and described Bangladesh, US ties as “very good”.
“The US puts sanctions in thousands. These (sanctions) come one way and go another way. There is nothing to worry or panic about,” he told reporters when asked whether the government is concerned about new sanctions from the US.
Read more: We don't expect US to impose more sanctions: Shahriar
Momen also said the US puts sanctions when they want to put pressure, and that there are examples of sanctions withdrawing those sanctions.
Citing multifaceted engagements between the two countries, the foreign minister said the US comes up with suggestions at times as there is cordial relationship between the two countries.
The US embassy said they raised the December 14 incident in Dhaka’s Shaheenbagh area at the “highest levels” of Bangladesh government, as well as with the Bangladesh embassy in Washington DC.
Read more: US envoy meets Momen, shares displeasure over embarrassment
“The US ambassador (Peter Haas) is a bit panicked about his security. Our ambassador said there is no reason to get panicked,” Momen had said on Monday.
Earlier today, the foreign minister spoke as the chief guest at the BIISS Research Colloquium 2022.
The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized the event at the BIISS auditorium. BIISS Chairman Ambassador Kazi Imtiaz Hossain and its Director General Major General Sheikh Pasha Habib Uddin also spoke at the event.
The event was divided into three sessions. In each session, three speakers presented their recent research that concerns Bangladesh's national interest.
The session one was on Bangladesh’s regional and global outreach which was chaired by BIISS Chairman.
Session two was on security and strategic affairs chaired by former Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh, General (retd) Md Abdul Mubeen.
The third session highlighted “Diplomacy and Negotiations” which was chaired by Professor Dr Imtiaz Ahmed.
27 lakh farmers to get Tk 170 crore as incentives to boost Boro production
The government has started disbursing TK 170 crore as incentives to boost Boro paddy production across the country.
A total of 27 lakh farmers will get seeds and fertilisers under the programme, said a press release of the Agriculture Ministry on Tuesday.
The incentives are being disbursed in three categories. For boosting hybrid Boro production, 15 lakh farmers will get two kg seeds each spending Tk 82 crore of the incentives.
Besides, 12 lakh more farmers will be beneficiary under the incentive of about Tk 73 crore for increasing the production of high-yielding varieties. Under it, a farmer will get 5 kg of seeds, 10 kg of DAP and 10 kg of MOP fertiliser required for cultivating one bigha land.
Read more: Undisbursed portion of agriculture and rural loans will be disbursed to farmers by Bangladesh Bank body
Apart from that, an incentive of Tk 15 crore will be given for simultaneous planting and harvesting of paddy in a field to facilitate the use of agricultural machinery.
Under this, 110 blocks or exhibitions will be set up in 61 districts. Each exhibition will be held on 50 acres of land costing Tk 13.70 lakh.
Read more: Floating vegetable farmers in Pirojpur devastated by low prices
This incentives are being provided from the agriculture rehabilitation support sector under the regular budget of the Ministry of Agriculture.
These incentives distribution programmes are ongoing at the field level and already about 50 percent of incentives have been disbursed.
Unconscious man rescued from city’s Hatirjheel dies at DMCH
A 30-year old unidentified man who was found unconscious beside a footpath in Hatirjheel area in the capital on Tuesday died at a hospital in the city.
The man was rescued around 10 am and was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said Rahmat Ullah Rony, Officer-in-Chareg of Hatirjheel police station.
A doctor at the hospital announced him dead around 11 am, he said.
The man was wearing a black jacket and brown pant, said the OC.
Crime scene members of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) are trying to know his identity and the body was sent for an autopsy, he said.
Ensure security to lives and property of people living in bordering areas: PM to BGB
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today asked BGB personnel to continue performing their responsibilities with utmost sincerity, including protecting the borders; combating smuggling, drug trade, human trafficking, inter-border crimes; and providing security to the lives and property of the people living in the bordering areas.
She also extended her thanks to the BGB members as they have been fulfilling their responsibilities with competence.
The premier was addressing the parade of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Day-2022 at its headquarters in Dhaka.
Read more: Nation never wants a repeat of Feb 2009 tragedy: PM to BGB personnel
The PM said the border guards played a responsible role during the peaceful exchange of enclaves between Bangladesh and India. “We set an example for the world by exchanging enclaves amid a festive atmosphere,” she said.
During the Rohingya influx into Bangladesh, BGB also carried out their responsibilities with efficiency, including the registration of the displaced people, she added.
Focusing on the modernisation of BGB during her regime, Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League government has carried out massive development works and enacted a new law in order to enhance the capacity of the force under the BGB reform initiative.
“BGB got the organizational shape of an efficient, strong, modern three-dimensional force,” she said, adding that now BGB is capable of performing its duty on land, water and air.
The PM said her government has adopted the 'Border Guard Bangladesh Vision-2041' in a bid to develop the BGB as a world-class border guard force.
Read more: Boost food production to avert any crisis: PM Hasina
The 'Smart Digital Surveillance and Tactical Border Response System' has been installed at vulnerable border areas for seamless surveillance and countering trans-border terrorism, she said.
Thanks to addition of the advanced and up-to-date weapons and equipment to the BGB, its operational capacity and competence has been enhanced, she noted.
The PM said the present government has taken a plan to construct a total of 1,036 km of border roads with an aim of increasing the security of the hilly border areas and uplifting the socio-economic condition of the people living in the remote areas.
The construction of 317 km border road in the first phase is in progress, she informed.
The premier thanked the BGB for removing the words “Pak” or “Pakistan” from 14,005 border pillars on Bangladesh-India border and writing “Bangladesh” or “BD” in their places.
Govt starts administering 2nd booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine in Bangladesh
The government started administering the fourth dose (second booster) of Covid-19 vaccine today.
Professor Dr Ahmedul Kabir, additional director general (ADG) of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), inaugurated the campaign at 9:30 am at Kurmitola General Hospital in Dhaka.
The government has taken the initiative to administer a fourth dose against Covid-19 as the antibody from the vaccine doesn't last long, said Ahmedul Kabir.
“Our aim is to vaccinate 80 lakh people in five categories at the moment though four crore people are eligible to receive the fourth dose in the country. Already 460 people have received the fourth dose on a trial basis,” he said.
Read More: 4th dose of Covid vaccine to be administered from Dec 20
The priority will be given to frontline workers and pregnant women, he added.
Dr Shamshul Haque, DGHS director of the vaccine campaign, said 15 crore people got the first dose, 12 crore the second dose, and 6.5 crore the third dose of vaccine against Covid-19.
“Still there are 1.33 lakh doses of vaccine in stock and will bring more after administering those. There are 11.5 crore people aged above 18 years and all will get vaccinated with the second booster dose in phases,” he added.
According to an earlier announcement, the fourth dose will be given at seven centers in the beginning. One hundred people will be vaccinated at each designated centre and they will be kept under observation for two weeks, said the ADG. All citizens having health risks will be vaccinated with the second booster dose from January 1 next year.
Read More: Citizens aged above 60 to get 4th dose of Covid vaccine: Health Minister.
BGB to be turned into world-class border guard force: PM Hasina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday said the government has adopted a plan to develop the Border Guard Bangladesh as a world-class border security force.
“The government has adopted the 'Border Guard Bangladesh Vision-2041' in a bid to develop the BGB as a world-class border guard force,” she said while addressing the parade of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Day-2022 at its headquarters in the capital.
Hasina asked the BGB members to continue performing their responsibilities always, including protecting borders, combating smuggling, drug, women-children trafficking, inter-border crimes, and providing security to the lives and property of the people living in the bordering areas.
She also extended her sincere thanks to the BGB members as they have been performing their responsibilities with competence.
The PM said the border guards played a responsible role during the peaceful exchange of enclaves between Bangladesh and India. “We set an example for the world by exchanging enclaves amid a festive atmosphere,” she said.
During the Rohingya influx into Bangladesh, BGB also carried out their responsibilities with efficiency, including the registration of the displaced people, she added.
Focusing on the modernisation of BGB during her regime, Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League government has carried out massive development works and enacted a new law in order to enhance the capacity of the force under the BGB reform initiative.
“BGB got the organizational shape of an efficient, strong, modern three-dimensional force,” she said, adding that now BGB is capable of performing its duty on land, water and air.
The PM said her government has adopted the 'Border Guard Bangladesh Vision-2041' in a bid to develop the BGB as a world-class border guard force.
The 'Smart Digital Surveillance and Tactical Border Response System' has been installed at vulnerable border areas for seamless surveillance and countering trans-border terrorism, she said.
Read more: Boost food production to avert any crisis: PM Hasina
Thanks to addition of the advanced and up-to-date weapons and equipment to the BGB, its operational capacity and competence has been enhanced, she noted.
The PM said the present government has taken a plan to construct a total of 1,036 km of border roads with an aim of increasing the security of the hilly border areas and uplifting the socio-economic condition of the people living in the remote areas.
The construction of 317 km border road in the first phase is in progress, she informed.
The premier thanked the BGB for removing the words “Pak” or “Pakistan” from 14,005 border pillars on Bangladesh-India border and writing “Bangladesh” or “BD” in their places.
She called upon members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to carry out their assigned responsibilities with utmost sincerity and not to break discipline under any circumstance.
“Discipline and chain of command are the most important driving forces of any disciplined force. Never break discipline. Carry out the assigned responsibility and follow the chain of command,” she said.
The premier was addressing the parade of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Day-2022 at its headquarters in Dhaka.
Read more: Bangladesh must not return to lawlessness again: PM Hasina
Sheikh Hasina said an unthinkable tragedy occurred only 52 days after the formation of her government in 2009. “The whole nation expects that such an incident won’t occur anymore,” she said.
The PM prayed for the salvation of the departed souls who were martyred during the tragedy and expressed sympathy for the bereaved families.
On her arrival at the venue, the PM was received by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Senior Secretary of Public Security Division Aminul Islam Khan and BGB Director General Major General Shakil Ahmed.
The premier inspected the parade at Bir Uttam Anwar Hossain Parade Ground of BGB headquarters in Peelkhana.
The PM handed over the BGB Medal, President BGB Medal, BGB Medal-Service and President BGB Medal-Service to a selected BGB members in recognition of their courageous and outstanding contribution to different activities of the force.