bangladesh
CSC countries explore opportunities for joint collaboration in areas of desalination, sustainable coastal management, ocean observations, capacity building
Representatives from the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) countries have explored opportunities for joint collaboration in areas of desalination, sustainable coastal management, ocean observations and capacity building.
They presented their experiences and challenges in Oceanography and Hydrography.
The second edition of the Oceanographers and Hydrographers Conference under the umbrella of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) began at the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai on January 29.
The conference was held at Chennai and Hyderabad from Hanuary 29-31.
The inaugural session was hosted by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) and National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) at Chennai.
On the second day of the conference, the delegation visited High Frequency (HF) radar site at Kalpakkam, according to the Press Information Bureau of India.
The final leg of the conference concluded at Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad.
The conference was attended by Heads of Oceanography and Hydrography Institutions of member and observer nations of CSC.
During the conference, the participants reviewed the cooperation activities in the fields of Oceanography and Hydrography undertaken so far and chalk out a concrete plan of action for strengthening collaborative partners.
The participants discussed on the theme of 'Our Ocean is Our Future' which emerged during the previous edition of Oceanographers and Hydrographers Conference held in November 2022 at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) and National Institute of Hydrography (NIH) at Goa and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad.
The CSC nations have made considerable progress since the first conference which includes maiden Joint Expeditions in the Indian Ocean Region, maiden Antarctic expedition which is underway and the ongoing dedicated training programmes for CSC nations at CSIR-NIO.
The second edition of the Oceanographers and Hydrographers conference was flagged by Dr. G. A. Ramadass, Director NIOT. Delegates from Bangladesh, Mauritius, Seychelles and Sri Lanka participated in the conference.
Dr. G.A. Ramadass, Director NIOT showcased the on-going projects in the field of Energy & Desalination, Coastal Engineering, Deep Sea Technologies, Marine Bio Technology, Ocean Observation and Ocean Acoustics.
Dr. M.V. Ramana Murthy, Director NCCR showcased various projects carried out in the field of Coastal Vulnerability, Coastal Management, Marine Pollution, Microplastics etc.
Bangladeshi students explore Australian higher education opportunities at Dhaka Expo
Dhaka hosted the Australian Education Expo, offering Bangladeshi students insights into higher education prospects in Australia.
Australian institutions unveiled exclusive scholarships, some covering up to a hundred percent of tuition fees, specifically designed for Bangladeshi students.
The expo, held at the Westin Hotel in the capital on Wednesday, showcased Australia's growing appeal as a preferred destination for higher education among Bangladeshi learners.
The event, organized by Executive Study Abroad, featured representatives from prestigious institutions such as the University of Adelaide, Monash University, and Macquarie University.
Farhana Nazrin, General Manager of Executive Study Abroad, along with Mohammed Rabbani Hossain, Chief Executive Officer, and Sajjadur Rahman, Director, highlighted the comprehensive services provided by the institution. These services include admission assistance and visa processing for various universities, all offered free of charge.
The expo proved valuable for participants, providing instant evaluations for potential admissions and direct engagement with university representatives.
Australia's reputation for offering quality education and pathways to esteemed global universities was reinforced through this event.
The organizers reiterated their commitment to supporting students by continuing to provide free visa assistance and admission services from the institution’s Banani and Dhanmondi offices, extending this assistance beyond the conclusion of the education fair.
Bangladesh participating in UN FAO Asia, Pacific Regional Conf to shape future of food security, reform regional food systems
Bangladesh is virtually participating at the senior level officers meeting (SOM) in a major international conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The SOM is the forum of the senior officers from the 46 member states in the Asia and the Pacific to discuss multilateral effort to reform agrifood systems across the Asia-Pacific region, after years of pandemic, climate emergencies, volatile markets and economies that have affected millions of producers and consumers.
The Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (#APRC37) is convened by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka.
The delegation from Bangladesh is headed by the secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The FAO Representation in Bangladesh is providing technical support to the delegation.
“FAO in Bangladesh is working hand in hand with its counterparts to support reform in agrifood systems,” said Jiaoqun Shi, FAO Representative in Bangladesh.
“This country’s high-level participation in this important conference will help guide FAO’s work here in Bangladesh and right across the Asia and Pacific region, as all FAO Member Nations share a common goal of achieving the SDGs by 2030, particularly those goals relating to hunger, poverty and inequality,” he added.
There are 46 FAO member nations in Asia and the Pacific.
Hundreds of high-level participants registered for the senior official’s meeting (31 January to 2 February 2024 - virtually), and a Ministerial Session from 19 to 22 February 2024 (in-person).
The FAO Director-General, Dr Qu Dongyu, is expected to travel from FAO headquarters in Rome to participate in the Ministerial Session.
Significant meeting brings countries from Asia and Pacific
Most of the issues to be discussed are of vital interest to Bangladesh. Ministerial roundtable discussions such as securing future food and nutrition, following lessons learned from the above convergent crises; investment and financing for poverty reduction and modernization, and lessons learned in saving water and food and reducing loss and waste – all have a common interest across the region. Building resilience will be a key topic.
A special Ministerial event will focus on a number of thematic areas, such as championing modernization and digitalization for smallholders in aquaculture and livestock along with an overall transformation of agrifood systems in countries across the vast region.
For Bangladesh, key priority areas include economic transformation -pursuing an accelerated shift towards more sustainable and inclusive economic growth, with increased and equitable opportunities for decent jobs and livelihoods through the food systems approach in the agriculture sector.
Healthy, safe and nutritious food focuses on encompassing human capabilities and social development, addressing hunger and gaps in health, nutrition, food security, water, sanitation, and hygiene, education and learning, child and youth protection, migration services, and social protection.
Climate resilience and nature-based, low-carbon sustainable development is another key area that is prioritized -focusing on accelerating actions on climate change resilience and adaptation; conserving biodiversity and ecosystem services for food and agriculture; natural resources and water management; renewable energy and a transition to environmental sustainability, disaster risk reduction along with reducing vulnerabilities to natural hazards.
Gender equality and youth development are a cross-cutting pillar that addresses structural and intersectoral inequalities to foster an environment in which women, girls, sexual minorities and youth live free from discrimination.Prior to the 37th APRC, a Country Consultation was held in December 2023, where the participants discussed APRC agenda and prepared a few recommendations.
Bangladesh has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world over the last decade and offers positive investment opportunities for private investors within the food system.
Massive investments have been channeled in support to food systems transformation by the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) and Development Partners (DPs).
As per the “Bangladesh Third Country Investment Plan – Sustainable Nutrition Sensitive and Resilient Food Systems” (CIP3, 2021-25), investments are ongoing on “efficient and nutrition sensitive post-harvest transformation and value addition. Identified priority investment areas for Bangladesh are mapped as agro-processing, marketing, and commercialization; specialized, multipurpose cold storage, post-harvest management, supply chain management; climate smart agriculture; and irrigation and water management.
3-hr delay in Mahanagar Express' departure for Dhaka after 14 bogies get detached
Fourteen bogies of the Dhaka-bound Mahanagar Express train were detached from the engine after the buffer (clip) broke at Sitakunda of Chattogram on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident happened at North Yakub Nagar area of the upazila around 2pm on Wednesday. After repairing for about three hours, the train left for Dhaka at around 5pm with passengers.
Mozammel Hossain, station master of Sitakunda Railway Station, said the train left for Dhaka after pulling the detached bogies with the help of an engine. The train was stuck for about three hours till the rescue work was done. However, train movement was normal on the alternative route.
Passengers of the train said after leaving Chattogram Railway Station, suddenly the bogies got detached from the engine at Sitakunda. The driver did not realise it and drove the train about 400 to 500 yards from the incident spot. Then he stopped after sensing the separation of the compartments.
Rear Admiral Mir Ershad Ali takes over as the new Coast Guard DG
Rear Admiral Mir Ershad Ali has taken charge as the 14th Director General (DG) of the Bangladesh Coast Guard on Wednesday.
Earlier on January 14 this year, the Public Administration Ministry had issued a notification appointing Rear Admiral Mir Ershad Ali as the new DG of the Bangladesh Coast Guard.
Before being appointed as the DG, he performed as the Chairman of Mongla Port Authority, said a press release of the BCG headquarters.
Ali was commissioned in the Executive Branch of the Bangladesh Navy on 1st July 1989. Later his working life was enriched by maritime experience and various trainings held at home and abroad.
Ali in his long career of 34 years, he has left a mark of extraordinary professionalism and military capability.
3 awarded life terms for 2015 murder in Cumilla
A Cumilla court on Wednesday sentenced three people to life terms in prison, in a case filed for killing a man in Burichang upazila of the district in June 2015.
Sujan Mia, son of Malek Habilder, Mamun, son of Abul Kashem and Zakir Hossain, son of late Rustam Ali, were convicted for killing contractor Md Sher Ali.
Farida Yasmin, Judge of Additional District and Sessions Judge Court-5, handed down the judgement this afternoon.
The court also fined them Tk 50,000 each, in default, they will have to suffer six months more in jail.
According to the case statement, the now convicted Sujan Mia and victim Sher Ali jointly ran a business. On June 23, 2015, they locked into a quarrel over an amount of Tk 5 lakh.
Following the altercation, Sher Ali was beaten to death by Sujan Mia together with Mamun and Zakir.
A case was filed against three people at Burichang police station following a complaint lodged by the victim's brother Babul Mia.
A committee will be formed at the ministry level for expanding energy business with Nepal: Nasrul Hamid
State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said that a committee will be formed at the ministry level to work for expanding energy business with Nepal.
He conveyed this to Nepalese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandar when he called on the state minister at his ministry office on Wednesday.
The state minister also informed the Nepalese envoy that all the processes have been almost completed to import 40 MW of hydropower from Nepal while import of another 500 MW hydropower from the Himalayan nation is visible.
Both the state minister and the Nepalese envoy discussed various issues related to mutual interest.
The ambassador congratulated Hamid for his reappointment and said that Nepal's energy cooperation with Bangladesh will be increasing.
Emphasising on power business, transmission lines and investment in Nepal, he said that working together will benefit both countries. Joint venture agreements may be signed for joint investment.
Woman's dismembered body recovered in Brahmanbaria
Police have discovered the dismembered body of an unidentified woman, missing her head and legs, inside a suitcase in Brahmanbaria.
The suitcase with the woman’s body was recovered from a pond in Ramrail union of Sadar upazila on Wednesday.
Md Aslam Hossain, officer-in-charge of Brahmanbaria Sadar Model Police Station, confirmed the matter.
The victim was about 25 or 26 years old. Police recovered the body and sent it to the Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy, said the OC.
Citing locals, the police official said a youth was seen standing beside the village road with the suitcase in the afternoon.
The Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) is working to identify the deceased, he also said.
Media needs to be more professional and transparent: Mohammad Arafat
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad A Arafat said on Wednesday that there is a need to bring more professionalism and transparency in media.
“These issues should be addressed immediately. Any misuse of media is not acceptable. In this regard, the cooperation of all the owners and journalists is needed,” he said.
Arafat appreciates Chinese support for Bangladesh’s development
He said this while exchanging views with the leaders of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
He also said initiatives will be taken so that the institution through which the media is run survives, as well as those who work in the organisation survive.
TIB’s report on polls meet no international standards: State Minister for Info Arafat
Then there will be some kind of balance, he said adding that it is also important that the employees of the media outlets can live a good life.
“This must be confirmed within the realm of reality,” he said.
Will set up framework to tackle propaganda, rumours: State minister Arafat
At the time, the state minister also said professionalism and transparency will be brought in the works done under his ministry. Efforts will be made to get effective results from the departments under the ministry, he said.
President of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Omar Faruque; Secretary General Dip Azad, Former BFUJ president Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, were present at the time, among others.
Mongolia keen to recruit skilled manpower from Bangladesh: State Minister for Commerce
State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu said on Wednesday that Mongolia has expressed its interest to recruit skilled manpower from Bangladesh in different sectors, including doctors, nurses and engineers.
Non-resident ambassdor of Mongolia to Bangladesh Ganbold Dambajav expressed this interest when he came to pay a courtesy call on the state minister at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
“Many skilled workers from Bangladesh are working with reputation in many countries of the world. There is a huge demand for Bangladeshi workers in the foreign labour market.
BGMEA for steeping up business collaboration to boost Bangladesh-Singapore trade
“The Mongolian ambassador expressed interest to recruit doctors, nurses, engineers and manpower in various sectors including construction, agriculture and said that they will take immediate steps in this regard,” said Titu.
The ambassador said there is a huge demand for skilled manpower with English language skill as Mongolia has declared English as the country's second language.
Committed to continued partnership in Bangladesh’s journey towards sustainability: UNOPS
Titu also said there are numerous graduates in English in Bangladesh who have made themselves skilled by following international standards such as IELTS, TOEFL and GRE.
The Mongolian government is taking necessary measures to appoint skilled students from Bangladesh as teachers in schools, colleges and universities of that country, he said.
At the time, the junior minister also urged the Mongolian government to import pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh.
North Macedonia keen to recruit Bangladeshi workers
During the meeting, Ambassador Dambajav informed that Mongolia is a GSP Plus beneficiary country of the European Union and has an agreement on economic partnership with Japan. There are also favourable economic and trade relations with China and Russia. Therefore, Bangladesh can strengthen trade and economic relations with Mongolia, including investment.