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Digital connectivity is the base of Smart Bangladesh: Mustafa Jabbar
Digital connectivity is the base of a Smart Bangladesh, said Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar on Saturday.
Smart Bangladesh will be built through the combination of digital connectivity and digital skills, the minister said while addressing at the closing ceremony of the three-day road to smart Bangladesh 2041 planning workshop organized at the Bangladesh Water Development Board auditorium in Dhaka, as the chief guest.
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Chaired by Kabir Bin Anwar, former Cabinet Secretary and convenor of the workshop committee, the President of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Waseqa Ayesha Khan, former Director General of the Health Services and Dr. Professor Kamruzzaman, Vice-Chancellor of Haji Danesh University of Science and Technology also spoke at the event.
The Minister highlighted the need for digital transformation of education to build smart public resources for Smart Bangladesh and said that the implementation of Smart Bangladesh should not be disrupted due to inefficiency in the use of technology.
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Digitization should be done on a massive scale in every field including education, agriculture and health. The Minister noted that the use of IoT in the agriculture sector can be tremendous for the advancement of this sector.
Jababr expressed hope that this workshop will contribute fruitfully in creating a detailed roadmap for Smart Bangladesh.
Stating that digital connectivity has been brought to the doorstep of almost every person in the country, including remote areas, the minister said that sitting in the remote upazila of Haor, ordinary people can get specialist eye treatment online, which is unimaginable.
He said, as a result of high-speed internet connection, the National Institute of Ophthalmology is providing specialized treatment in 200 upazilas of the country. It is possible to provide advanced medical services to the helpless people of the village by utilizing the opportunity of high-speed digital connectivity in every community clinic of the country, he added.
Also read: Internet penetration in Bangladesh sees unprecedented success: Mustafa Jabbar
Kabir bin Anwar said that the opinions and recommendations of experts from the three-day workshop will play a role in the implementation of the Smart Bangladesh program in creating an effective roadmap for the successful implementation of the Smart Bangladesh program.
Visa system should be simplified for foreign tourists in Bangladesh: Mahbub Ali
The visa system should be simplified for foreign tourists in Bangladesh, said State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali.
Today, Saudi Arabia is giving visas easily. They are discussing how to entertain tourists without a visa, he said.
"They (Saudi Arabia) are much more conservative than us," he said. We have come a long way since independence. So we have to come forward in this regard.
Mahbub was speaking at a seminar organised by Aviation and Tourism Journalists Forum of Bangladesh at Bangabandhu International Conference Center in the Capital on Saturday.
ATJFB General Secretary Ziaul Haque Green moderated the program.
“We have enthusiasm. Now we need to attract tourists from abroad. We have new hotels. For this, tax exemption facility is needed for investment. We need to be generous when it comes to visas,” he said.
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The junior minister said, “There is no shortage of tourists in the country. More than capacity. Now we need to attract foreign tourists."
Citing the example of different countries of the world, the minister said, "We also feel that we need foreign tourists. The motels of our tourism corporation that were built 50 years ago, you think about how tasteful they are in this time. But we have also managed and paid crores of taka in taxes to the government.”
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Speakers at the programme suggested an action plan considering the media as a stakeholder in the promotion and development of tourism in Bangladesh. The media workers have also been advised to make a specific action plan for policy makers and businessmen in this sector to establish proper partnership in tourism development.
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On the other hand, the state minister urged the media workers to play a positive role.
ATJFB President Tanzim Anwar, Civil Aviation and Tourism secretary Mokammel Hossain, spoke at the programme, among others.
Online national inventory of intangible cultural heritage inaugurated
An online national inventory of the intangible cultural heritage of Bangladesh was launched on Saturday.
State minister for cultural affairs minister KM Khalid announced the inauguration in the inaugural ceremony programme held in Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum in the city.
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After announcing, the minister opened the website heritagehub.gov.bd in the programme.
Cultural affairs secretary Khalil Ahmed, Officer in Charge of UNESCO in Dhaka office Dr. Susan Vize, artistic director and ICH expert Shadhona. Lubna Marium, director of Banglanatok.com of India Dr Madhura Dutta also spoke in the programme.
Director general of Bangladesh National Museum Md. Kamruzzaman presided over the programme.
Already 109 (one hundred and nine) intangible cultural heritages have been listed in the Web Application.
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A total of 129 people including culture journalists, community members, officials of government and private institutions have been trained and made skilled. At the same time, a Mobile App is connected with this Web Interface/Application and the online national inventory is opened to the public.
Alongside, a four day exhibition titled 'Sampad' showcasing crafting and performing arts of Bangladesh was also opened.
It was opened as part of the inauguration of national inventory and twentieth anniversary of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Accountability of public representatives will secure people's access to services: LGRD Minister
LGRD Minister Md Tazul Islam has said there are various types of services available to the people at different levels of the local government system. It is the right of the people to receive these services.
“Sometimes people suffer in terms of accessing services. We hear about empowering public representatives from time to time, but if the people's representatives are held accountable, it is easier and hassle-free for the citizens to get services,” he said.
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The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a shadow parliament on local government empowerment at Bangladesh Film Development Corporation in Dhaka as part of the National Local Government Day celebrations.
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Debate for Democracy organised the debate.
Debaters from PrimeAsia University and Asian University of Bangladesh participated in the shadow parliament titled "Empowerment of Local Government Ensures Civil Rights".
“There were once many types of regimes in the world. Sometimes the world has been ruled by the royal system, sometimes by the zamindar system or by force,” said the minister.
“However, most of the people of the world have voted in favour of the democratic system in the modern world because the development of any country and nation is accelerated by a strong democratic system,” he said.
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Asked by reporters whether there is a possibility of any political dialogue behind the scenes in view of the political uncertainty surrounding the upcoming parliamentary elections, Tazul said, "In any discussion, a topic or a topic of reference has to be specified. The people of Bangladesh have not forgotten the bitter experience of the caretaker government system. If the correct content can be fixed, it can be discussed, but there is no scope to go beyond the constitution on the election process.”
Bangladesh elected to IAEA board
Bangladesh has been elected as a member of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the third time since it joined the 177-nation global organization in 1972.
The election was held in the 67th General Conference of the IAEA in Vienna from September 25 to 29.
Science & Technology Minister Architect Yafes Osman led the Bangladesh delegation to this conference.
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Bangladesh will be representing the geographic region of Middle East and South Asia, comprising 15 countries, in the 35 members Board of Governors.
The Board is one of the two governance organs of the IAEA which oversees the organization routinely and reports to the General Conference.
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IAEA is helping Bangladesh to ensure safety, security and the safeguard issues related to the Ruppoor Nuclear Power Plant besides knowledge and technology transfer in other areas of peaceful uses of the nuclear energy including food security, health & Nutrition, and pollution reduction.
In his statement in the General Conference, the Minister reiterated Bangladesh’s deep commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy for the development and welfare of her people.
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He also reflected that as a member of the Board, Bangladesh would promote the realization of the full potential of nuclear energy for its usages of green growth and global poverty reduction including attaining the SDGs.
There are legal complications regarding allowing Khaleda to be taken abroad: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Saturday said there are legal complications regarding allowing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to be taken abroad for treatment.
The home minister came up with the remark in response to reporters’ queries after the opening session of the two-day representatives’ conference of the district and service association leaders of IDEB held at the Institute of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh (IDEB) building in Dhaka.
The home minister said that Khaleda Zia was convicted in several cases and she had been in jail. But following the appeal of her relatives, the prime minister suspended her sentence and arranged treatment at home. Arrangements have been made for her to receive the best treatment possible, he said.
He said that Khaleda Zia’s brother made an appeal to take her abroad, but there are some legal complications.
“From our side, we have sent the application to the law ministry. After that, if we want to do something, we have to take the next steps following the law,” the home minister added.
Regarding security at the US Embassy, he said, “We were providing special security to four countries’ missions on the streets. There is adequate security at their (US) embassy. Maximum police force is deployed at the US embassy,” he said.
The home minister said, “When ambassadors of the four countries mentioned went out, we used to provide police protection in front and behind their vehicles, similar to some ministers.”
“We employed the Ansar guard regiment instead of the police for the protection service. They (Ansar) are capable of handling any situation and are highly trained,” the home minister said.
Khaleda has to return to jail first before taking treatment abroad, PM Hasina tells VoA
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s jail term suspension will have to be revoked first and she needs to go to jail again if she wants to go abroad for treatment.
She said this during an interview with the Bangla service of Voice of America (VoA) aired on Saturday (September 30, 2023).
The prime minister, now on a visit to the US, responded to a number of questions on US Visa sanction, human rights, Khaleda’s treatment abroad, caretaker government, the constitution and other issues.
Khaleda Zia has been kept captive to remain in power: Fakhrul
When asked about the possibility of reconsidering the decision to send Khaleda abroad for improved medical care, she said, “My question is, which country in the world can send a convicted criminal abroad for better treatment? Will any country allow it?”
“If they want to apply, they have to go to the court and take court permission. We have no authority over work of the judiciary," she stated.
Khaleda Zia again moved to CCU from cabin at Evercare Hospital
“But yes, we have suspended her jail term, given permission to stay at home. And she is taking treatment now in the most expensive hospital in Bangladesh. If they need to go abroad, the permission to stay at home would first need to be revoked, she will need to return to prison again, and court. Only after obtaining court permission could she travel abroad,” she said.
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Women's participation in the tourism industry should be increased: Speakers
Mentioning that women's participation in Bangladesh’s tourism is only 14.06 percent, speakers said that the government as well as private entrepreneurs should come forward to increase this number.
The speakers came up with the remarks at a seminar titled 'Women's Participation in Tourism Industry: Prospects and Challenges' organized on the third day of Bangladesh Fest at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).
Vice President of Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh-Atab and Managing Director of Simon Group Afsia Jannat Saleh moderated the program.
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Former Chairman of National Human Rights Commission Nasima Begum, Chief Executive Officer of Dan Zara Jabin Mahbub, Head of Share Trip Sadia Haque, among others, spoke at the seminar.
“More women leaders are needed to move the industry forward. The more women's involvement in tourism increases, the more foreign tourists will come. Women's participation as guides should also be increased,” they said.
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Elderly woman killed after being hit by bus in Gulshan Norda
A 65-year-old woman was killed after being hit by a bus while crossing the road at Norda area of Gulshan in the city on Friday afternoon.
The deceased was identified as Jahanara Khatun Tahera, 65, wife of late Jasim Uddin, a resident of Bhatara Narda Saudi Mosque area.
Read: 3 killed in Feni road crash
Gulshan Police Station Sub-Inspector Md Alamgir Hossain said that a Rajdhani paribahan bus hit a woman while she was crossing the road at Norda bus stand area around 4:45 pm on Friday, leaving her critically injured.
Read: Local journalist killed in Lalmonirhat road crash
Later, pedestrians took her to the Dhaka Medical College where she succumbed to her injuries.
“The bus of Rajdhani Paribahan was seized and the driver was also arrested. The body was sent to DMCH morgue for autopsy,” the officer added.
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AL-BNP clash in Mirsharai leaves 1 killed, 20 injured
A 16-year-old teenager was killed and 20 leaders and activists of both sides were injured in a clash between BNP and Awami League at Azampur Bazar area of Mirsharai upazila in Chattogram district on Friday afternoon.
The deceased was identified as Zahid Hossain Ruman, 16, son of late Nurer Zaman of Osmanpur area of the upazila.
Read: 3 killed in Feni road crash
Both Awami League and BNP have claimed that the deceased was an activist of their organization's student wing.
Masud Karim Rana, convener of Upazila Chhatra League, said BNP men attacked BCL leaders and activists at Azampur bazar in Osmanpur union around 4:30pm on Friday. Five BCL leaders and activists were injured and one of them, Zahid Hossain, died.
Nurul Amin, joint convener of Chattogram North district BNP, claimed that local Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League members attacked them while preparing for a scheduled meeting. One of them was killed and 15 activists were injured.
Jorargonj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Zahid Hossain said, “We have heard that one person was killed in a clash between two groups. Police have been sent to the spot.”