bangladesh
Chuadanga witnesses season’s highest temperature at 42.7°C
Amid the boiling heat in different parts of the country, Chuadanga recorded the highest temperature of this season at 42.7 degrees Celsius on Friday.
People are experiencing the blistering heat as a very severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Chuadanga and Jashore and severe heat wave is sweeping over rest part of the Khulna division and the districts of Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalgonj, Manikgonj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Dinajpur and Nilphamari.
Jaminur Rahman, in-charge of Chuadanga Weather Observatory Centre, said they recorded 42.7 Degrees Celsius this afternoon.
The situation may persist for a few more days, he added.
The people of the district, especially the low-income people are in dire straits due to the continuous intense heat.
Working people were seen resting under trees and in shady places hoping for some relief.
Imran Sheikh, a resident of Courtpayara in Chuadanga, said: “We can’t do anything due to the sweltering heat. In the afternoon, the sky turns gloomy and people expect rain but in the morning the extreme heat makes their life miserable.”
Shahjalal, a tea vendor said: “The selling is low due to the hot temperature. People are passing their time sitting and lying on the benches.”
Meanwhile, the number of patients suffering from various heat-related diseases is increasing at Chuadanga Sadar Hospital due to severe heat waves. More than 250 patients are admitted at different wards including diarrhea and children's ward of Sadar Hospital.
Dr Waliar Rahman, health and family planning officer for Chuadanga Sadar upazila, advised the residents to stay indoors because of the risk of heatstroke.
He emphasised the importance of staying hydrated and consuming fruits as much as possible.
According to BMD’s weather bulletin on Friday morning, a very Severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Chuadanga and Jashore and severe heat wave is sweeping over rest part of the Khulna division and the districts of Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalgonj, Manikgonj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Dinajpur and Nilphamari.
Besides, a mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Barishal division and the districts of Dhaka, Madaripur, Kishoreganj, Narsingdi, Bagura, Naogaon, Sirajgonj, Rangpur, Kurigram, Panchagarh, Mymensingh, Moulvibazar, Rangamati, Chandpur, Feni & Bandarban and it may continue.
Govt working to eliminate discrimination against women: State Minister Simeen
The government is constantly working to bring equality between men and women, establish women's rights and eliminate discrimination against women, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Simeen Hussain (Rimi) said on Friday.
The government is also working on including women's domestic work in the GDP as recognition of economic activities along with determining the specific value of it, she said.
She was speaking at the National Assembly Meeting-2024 organized by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad at Chittagong Hill Tracts Complex on Friday as the chief guest.
The state minister said, the position of women now we are currently seeing was not like this before.Women's empowerment in Bangladesh has been ensured through the adoption of women-friendly policies under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after 2008, she added.
"Women are working with reputation in home and abroad as per their qualifications. Women are playing an important role in all fields including information technology, research, sports, entertainment and bringing fame to the country."
The state minister said that the government has taken various steps for the development of women's society, including the Prevention of Women and Child Abuse Act 2020, Dowry Prevention Act 2018, Child Marriage Prevention Act 2017.
"Digital Security Act 2018 was enacted to protect women from cyber bullying on online platforms," she said.
Dhaka, Bangkok to work together to deal with Rohingya issue: FM
Bangladesh and Thailand have expressed willingness to work together to deal with the Rohingya issue as the two countries are sheltering the Rohingyas who fled from Myanmar.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said this after a bilateral meeting between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin at Government House (Thai Prime Minister’s Office) in Bangkok.
“To resolve this problem, the two countries have expressed willingness to work together,” he said, adding that both the countries are suffering due to the burden.
The foreign minister Bangladesh is sheltering 1.3 million Rohingyas and this created problems for Bangladesh.
He said the bilateral meeting was held in a very cordial manner and the two leaders expressed interest to deepen, broaden and strengthen the ties.
Bangladesh is ready to offer a dedicated economic zone for the Thai investors if they express willingness to have that.
Bangladesh and Thailand on Friday signed five bilateral documents on visa exemption, cooperation on energy, tourism and customs matters, and negotiation of free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
The documents -- an agreement, three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and a Letter of Intent (LoI) – were inked in presence of visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin in Bangkok following a bilateral meeting between the two leaders at Government House (Thai Prime Minister’s Office) here.
The documents are agreement on visa exemption for the official passport holders; MoU on Energy Cooperation; MoU on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters; MoU on Cooperation in the field of tourism; and LoI to commence negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by this year.
PM's Speech Writer Nazrul Islam was also present at the FM's briefing.
Brazil keen to strengthen ties with Bangladesh; PM Hasina likely to pay bilateral visit in July
Brazil, South America's most influential country, wants to strengthen its ties with Bangladesh on key fronts with a possible visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last week of July.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has invited the Prime Minister to pay the bilateral visit to Brazil on July 28.
“This is a bilateral visit. It's just her. The idea is that she can launch with President Lula the global programme against hunger and then she will go to Brasilia for all the ceremonies of a full opera visit. So that's the idea,” said Brazilian Ambassador Paulo Fernando Dias Feres while talking to diplomatic correspondents at “DCAB Talk” at Jatiya Press Club on Thursday.
This will be the first bilateral visit of the prime minister to any Latin American country which is seen as a rising economic power and one of the world's biggest democracies.
He said Brazil is planning to open a visa centre in Bangladesh to facilitate more people-to-people contact as the demand grows by the day.
“It's getting bigger and bigger. So it's something that worries us because we think that we should have a very expedited service here in Dhaka,” he said, adding that every month they are getting 250 to 300 visa requests.
“The decision has already been made and we are going to float a tender, but they are not going to do it (tender) here in Bangladesh. They're going to do it in a third country. Because the companies who provide this kind of service are international companies,” he said.
Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) hosted the event with DCAB President Nurul Islam Hasib in chair. DCAB General Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Apu also spoke.
Following the invitation letter, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka has forwarded to Brazil a proposal of an agreement to avoid double taxation which can be signed during the visit.
The Bangladesh side proposed an agreement to avoid double taxation on the salaries of people occasionally involved in technical cooperation.
Brazil Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira’s first-ever visit to Dhaka,on April 7-8 generated a lot of interest between the countries.
“We were able to sign only one document during the minister's visit, which was the framework agreement on technical cooperation. It's a very important document because in our structure, this kind of agreement allows you to do everything. Using the agreement, we will be able to go into other areas or every area. We can go into agriculture, chemical industry, we can go whatever,” the ambassador said.
He said they are also exploring options for signing MoU on defense cooperation.
He said Bangladesh is becoming some sort of focal point for the Brazilian investors, because as China grows more expensive, they are looking for other places.
“So they are moving to countries around China. They are in Vietnam and Cambodia now. They are in Bangladesh. But what I'm saying, because when they come here and they see things by them, so when they go back, they tell things to people in Brazil,” he said.
“One area where I think that we could have a very interesting cooperation is ethanol”, the envoy said.
And it can also be used to generate energy, he said. “It's much cheaper than oil. In Brazil, for instance, ethanol is the better option. So we have talks, ethanol talks with India, which is developing its own program. So we thought, why not do this with Bangladesh?”
The Brazilian ambassador said that it is possible to get live cattle from Brazil, but the process is "complicated". He offered meat and other support to develop the industry in Bangladesh.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, during Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira’s visit, said they have discussed the possible visit of the Prime Minister to Brazil. “There is an invitation by President Lula. There might be a visit by the Prime Minister to Brazil next July."
The Brazilian foreign minister brought a personal letter of the Brazilian president which he handed over to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during his meeting.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President Luda had a meeting on August 24 at Johannesburg on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit.
In the meeting, the two leaders renewed commitment to a shared vision and a common goal to forge a fairer world, free from hunger and poverty, where dignity, sustainable development, prosperity, and peace prevail in the societies.
While responding to a question, the Brazilian FM said over the past decade, Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has shown significant social and economic achievements.
Today, he said, Bangladesh and Brazil are key players from the Global South.
"Our governments' common goal is to reduce inequality, fight against hunger and poverty and to promote sustainable development of our societies," said the Brazilian Foreign Minister.
He said the bilateral trade is equally promising, reaching almost USD 2.5 billon in 2023 and laid emphasis on diversification of trade.
He said the business meeting, to be held on Monday, will be useful for their entrepreneurs to explore new investments and opportunities.
Dhaka, Bangkok ink five bilateral documents
Bangladesh and Thailand on Friday signed five bilateral documents on visa exemption, cooperation on energy, tourism and customs matters, and negotiation of free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
The documents -- an agreement, three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and a Letter of Intent (LOI) – were inked in presence of visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin in Bangkok following a bilateral meeting between the two leaders at Government House (Thai Prime Minister’s Office) here.
The documents are agreement on Visa Exemption for holders of official passports; MoU on Energy Cooperation; MoU on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters; MoU on Cooperation in the field of tourism; and LOI to commence negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the year 2024.
Two MoUs on energy cooperation and tourism cooperation were signed by Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud from the Bangladesh side, while agreement on Visa Exemption by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, LOI by State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu and and MoU on by National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem.
PM Hasina told a joint pressconference that the two sides agreed to commence negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the year 2024 and the two countries have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) on the issue.
She said the two countries signed the Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Official Passports to facilitate smooth contact between Thai and Bangladeshi officials.
The PM said MoU on energy cooperation was inked to explore the potential of energy cooperation.
She said MoUs on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters were signed to benefit from Thai knowledge, experiences and the final MoU in the field of tourism was signed to exchange the best tourism practices.
The Thai prime minister, at the joint press conference, said Thailand and Bangladesh are committed to working together towards a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), and expressed optimism that the Letter of Intent would help to expedite the negotiation process.
He said the agreement on visa exemption for holders of official passports will facilitate more travel between Thai and Bangladeshi officials; The MoU on Energy Cooperation will help materialise the two countries’ true potential from energy cooperation; the MoU on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters will lead to effective border control and anti-smuggling operations and; the MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism will allow the two countries to exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices in this area.
Earlier on her arrival at Government House, Hasina was received by Thavisin. She was accorded a warm welcome at the front lawn of Thai Kooh Fah building.
Hasina was accompanied by her younger sister Sheikh Rehana and Bangbandhu’s grandson Radwan Mujib Siddiq while visiting a Thai handicrafts exhibition at the Government House.
The Bangladesh PM arrived here on Wednesday on a six-day official visit to Thailand at the invitation of her Thai counterpart.
PM Hasina calls her Thai visit a milestone in bilateral relations
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said Bangladesh and Thailand have potential to strengthen cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, food security, tourism, public health, energy and ICT.
“I strongly feel that we have the opportunity to strengthen our cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, food security, tourism, public health, energy, ICT, people-to-people contacts and connectivity, and also under the BIMSTEC,” she said.
The premier was speaking at an official luncheon hosted by her Thai counterpart Srethha Thavisin at the latter’s office, Government House, here in Bangkok.
Earlier, the two leaders had a one on one meeting for 15 minutes before leading their respective sides to a bilateral meeting there.
Five bilateral documents – an agreement, three memorandum of understanding MoU) and a Letter of Intent (LOI) – were signed in presence of the two prime ministers.
In the luncheon, Hasina said Bangladesh attaches great importance to her relations with Thailand as an immediate neighbour.
“Our friendship is deeply rooted in historical, linguistic, and common cultural heritage. The warm and cordial relations between our two friendly countries are ever-growing in multi-faceted areas of cooperation, including trade and investment, sustainable development, people-to-people contacts, and connectivity,” she added.
The Bangladesh PM said Prime Minister Thavisin and she discussed at length the bilateral and regional issues of mutual interests.
“We agreed to make all efforts to enhance our bilateral trade and encourage more interactions between the public and private entities of the two countries. Likewise, we must make all efforts to promote and facilitate bilateral investments,” she said.
The Agreement and MoUs that Dhaka and Bangkok signed on Friday would provide a solid framework for enhancing our bilateral cooperation, she said .
She said the visit is part of broader focus on the ‘neighbourhood” policy, which has provided an excellent opportunity for the two countries to further renew the momentum in the bilateral relations.
“I am confident that this visit will go a long way in deepening the relations between our two countries,” she said.
The PM said she firmly believes this visit would provide the much-needed impetus to the bilateral relations to its full potential.
“This official visit will remain a milestone in our bilateral relations. It has ushered in a new era of fruitful partnership between our two countries. We need to sustain the renewed momentum in our relationship for the mutual benefit of our people and countries in the days ahead,” she said.
Bangabandhu's youngest daughter and Sheikh Hasina's sister Sheikh Rehana and Bangbandhu’s grandson Radwan Mujib Siddiq were present at the luncheon.
Schoolboy among 2 dead in Dhaka road accidents
Two people including a school student died in separate road accidents in Dhaka’s Mugda and Gendaria areas.
The accidents occurred on Thursday night and early Friday.
The schoolboy was identified as Md Mahin Ahmed, 13, son of Masum Ahmed of Kishoreganj’s Bajitpur upazila but he used to live with his family in Mugda area.
The victim’s elder brother Mahfuz Ahmed said Mahin, a class seven student of Motijheel Government Ideal School, went out of the house to meet a friend on Thursday night.
A vehicle of Dhaka South City Corporation crashed into him while walking on the Mugda road around 9:30pm, leaving him critically injured, he said.
He was first rushed to Mugda General Hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) where he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment, said the DMCH’s police outpost In-Charge Md Bachhu Mia.
In another incident an unidentified vehicle hit a woman while she was crossing the road in Padma Bridge Railing Project Ghonti Ghar area under Gendaria police station around 3am.
The impact of the accident left her critically injured, said pedestrians.
Later, she was taken to DMCH’s emergency department where she was declared dead, Bachhu Mia said.
The concerned police stations were informed about the road crashes, he added.
Bangladeshi youth shot dead by Indian border guards in Lalmonirhat
A 20-year-old Bangladeshi youth was gunned down allegedly by Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in bordering Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat early Friday, according to Border Guards Bangladesh.
The deceased was identified as Abul Kalam Daku, son of Apir Uddin of Dangapara area under Sreerampur union of the upazila.
According to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and police, a group of people including the youth went to Indian border to bring cattle around 11pm.
Sensing the presence of the suspected cattle smugglers, the BSF members fired, targeting them from the border, leaving Kalam critically injured, they said.
Later, his collaborators rushed him to Patgram Upazila Health Complex where physicians declared him dead upon arrival.
Nurul Amin, In-Charge of the BGB-61 Jhalangi Camp, said they held a commander-level meeting with the BSF in this regard in the morning.
Patgram police station’s Officer-in-Charge Abu Sayeed confirmed that matter saying that the body was sent to Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.
Rains likely to drench Ctg and Sylhet divisions next 24 hours
Bangladesh Metrological Department (BMD) forecast rain or thundershowers in Chattogram and Sylhet divisions country in 24 hours commencing 9:00 am on Friday.
“Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with hails at isolated places,” said a met office bulletin.
Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country.
Day and night temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. Due to the increase of moisture incursion, the discomfort may persist, it said.
However, a very severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Chuadanga and Jashore and severe heat wave is sweeping over rest part of the Khulna division and the districts of Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalgonj, Manikgonj, Rajshahi, Pabna, Dinajpur & Nilphamari. Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Barishal division and the districts of Dhaka, Madaripur, Kishoregonj, Narsingdi, Bagura, Naogaon, Sirajgonj, Rangpur, Kurigram, Panchagarh, Mymensingh, Maulovibazar, Rangamati, Chandpur, Feni and Bandarban and it may continue, read the bulletin.
Country’s highest temperature was recorded in Jashore at 42.4 degree Celsius over the past 24 hours till 6 am today.
On the other hand, the lowest temperature was recorded in Panchagarh’s Tetulia at 20.6 degree Celsius.
Hizbut campaigns in BUET to shun western values: Campus sources
A new CCTV footage has emerged showing two youths disseminating what appeared leaflets on BUET campus containing messages of banned militant outfit Hizbut Taharir reportedly asking students to abandon all western values and join crusade against westerners, according to campus sources.
The footage came to light within weeks after a group of students held a press conference following repeated death threats online and over the phone because they became vocal over clandestine activities of these "extremist groups" focused on the campus.
These students held the press conference following an email campaign sent on behalf of Hizbut in several phases, throughout March, where they asked students to take part in the fight to run the country in light of Khilafat and described BCL as the biggest enemy.
Dated February 19, 2024, the nearly 3- minute footage shows both youths with one carrying a bag walked through a narrow alley between rows of classrooms housed in civil engineering building.
Moments later, the duo turned around, with one stayed ahead to keep a tight vigil and the other brought out leaflets from his bag and passed those beneath the classroom doors locked back then, leaving for students to read messages once they appear in classrooms.
These students also asked the respective authorities to investigate how such outfits got hold of email accounts of students.
In addition to email campaign and leaflet distribution video, several students acknowledged that in past they found posters of Hizbut plastered on walls surrounding BUET.
Several students confirmed receiving the email and presence of posters that featured a QR code with messages from Hizbut.
Facebook pages affiliated with lobbyists and lawyers hired by family of Jamaat-e-Islami backed notorious war criminals were found spreading disinformation against those vocal against student front of Jamaat: Islami Chhatra Shibir, according campus sources who wished anonymity.
Actively took part in carrying out genocide in 1971, Shibir, renamed from Chhatara Sangha and reborn in 1977, began acting with a long-term main objective to establish Islamic society countering secular spirit of the country.
Self-style killing mission and cutting tendons of students who they deem rival are reported trademark of Shibir.
The outfit ranked as the third most active no state armed group in the work according to a U.S. based defence think tank IHS Jane’s global Terrorism and Insurgency index.
Earlier, in last June, as many as 24 students of BUET, activists and leaders of shibir were caught while plotting conspiracy against state in a remote haor area.
Local Jamaat leaders back then reportedly confirmed media over allegiance of detainees with Shibir. Even a former central president of Shibir in an interview boasted of having a large network of students on BUET campus.
The active presence of Shibir and other extremists on BUET came to the fore during war crimes trial back in 2013 when two students in a span of five months were brutally attacked reportedly for their stance for war crimes trial and extremist politics.
One student Arif Raihan Dip, hacked on the dormitory by a fellow student who ascribed that vicious ideologue in broad daylight, died of his wounds and another Tonmoy Ahmed, left to die after stabbed brutally by Shibir activists but survived the battle for life, now living with scars of horrific machete attack.
However, on social media an orchestrated attempt was underway to undermine the gravity of the crime by raising some unnecessary questions like why channels that on air the entire video did not add voice over.
A reality check reveals all the six channels that posted the video clearly attributed to the simple fact: cctv footage captures moments of distribution of leaflets in a covert manner.
A senior journalist who worked with a foreign outlet said “attempt to raise question over why so many channels telecast the same footage by multiple channels clearly runs out of fact and a deliberate act that can only help the cause of these extremist groups and the building is located on BUET. Running the same cctv footage is not problematic”.
On a recent post, Tonmoy pointed out “discussion on the activities of these outfits on BUET campus long remained a taboo coupled with a denial mood from respective segments added as advantage to these outfits.
DMP Deputy Commissioner (media and public relations) Faruk Hossain told media “ it is important to get full cooperation from students and teachers over activities of such extremist groups on the campus to ensure no student fall prey to these vicious group’s brainwashing. Unless there is cooperation from all quarters, it is difficult to check such activities”.