Others
Bangladesh marks Independence Day with due respect to martyrs
Bangladesh on Tuesday observed the nation’s Independence Day and the National Day with due solemnity and enthusiasm.
On March 26, 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Bangladesh's independence following the crackdown on unarmed Bangalees on the midnight of March 25 by the Pakistani occupation forces.
After the nine-month War of Liberation with the supreme sacrifices of three million people and at the cost of sufferings like rape and torture of two lakh women, Bangladesh achieved its cherished independence on December 16, 1971.
Bhutanese King, Queen join Bangabhaban reception on Independence Day
The day (March 26) was a public holiday.
In the morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid tributes to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the occasion of the Independence Day-- also the National Day.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck also paid tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War at Savar.
They paid their homage by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum in Savar on Tuesday morning, marking the day.
On her return from the National Mausoleum in Savar, the Prime Minister paid homage to the Father of the Nation by placing a wreath at his portrait in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 in Dhaka.
After placing the wreath, she stood there in solemn silence for some time as a mark of profound respect to the memory of Bangabandhu, the architect of Bangladesh's independence.
Independence Day and National Day 2024 Celebrated in Tokyo
Sheikh Hasina stayed at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum for some time.
Flanked by central leaders of the Awami League, Sheikh Hasina, president of the party, laid another wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu on behalf of AL.
Later, the PM released a commemorative stamp on the Independence Day.
The PM unveiled the commemorative postage stamp of Tk 10, the first-day cover of Tk 10 and a data card of Tk 5 at a ceremony at her official residence--Ganabhaban.
The national flag was hoisted atop government and private buildings while the government and semi-government buildings and other public places were illuminated.
Different socio-cultural and political organisations celebrated the day with elaborate programmes.
PM greets freedom fighters on Independence Day
National dailies published special supplements while Bangladesh Betar, Bangladesh Television, and private radio and television channels aired special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
Special prayers were offered at all mosques, temples, churches and other places of worship across the country, seeking divine blessings for the eternal peace of the departed souls of the Father of the Nation, four national leaders, martyrs of Liberation War and all other patriotic sons of the soil.
Special food was distributed at institutions like hospitals, jails, child care and old age homes and day care centres.
Children’s parks, museums remained open for all throughout the day. Also vessels of the Bangladesh Navy and the Coast Guard were opened from 9 am till 2 pm for people to visit at Chattogram, Khulna, Mongla, Payra port, and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) terminals in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Barishal and Chandpur.
Similar programmes at district, upazila level, and Bangladesh embassies in different countries were arranged to highlight the significance of the Independence Day.
Businessmen must follow spirit of 1971 to do business: FBCCI President
President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Mahbubul Alam on Tuesday urged the country’s businessmen to do business ethically being motivated by the spirit of 1971 when Bangladesh became independent from Pakistan through a bloody war.
He said that after Bangladesh gained independence, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman started working hard for the people’s economic freedom—the biggest challenge of that time.
He made the statement after placing a wreath on the portrait of Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi Road-32 in the capital on the occasion of Independence Day on Tuesday. The Board of Directors of the FBCCI accompanied him there.
Bangladesh reiterates call for recognition of 1971 genocide
The FBCCI President said that the economic freedom of the people was the biggest hurdle after the nation gained independence and the new generation should know the history of how Bangabandhu had led the nation.
He also urged the businessmen to take the country forward following the spirit of the war of liberation. He said they should also bear the spirit of Bangabandhu and the martyrs of the 1971 war.
FBCCI Senior Vice President Md. Amin Helaly, Vice President Dr. Joshoda Jibon Deb Nath, Rashadul Hossain Chowdhury (Ronni), FBCCI directors, its secretary-general, and other leaders were also present.
DSE pays tribute to martyrs on Independence Day
Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) paid tribute to all the brave martyrs at the National Memorial on the occasion of ‘Independence and National Day on Tuesday.
Professor Dr Hafiz Muhammad Hasan Babu, Chairman of DSE along with member of the board directors and officials paid homage to the martyrs at Savar National Memorial, said a press release.
Anti-Tobacco Parliamentary Women's Forum announced
Members of the Board of Directors Md.Afzal Hossain, Md Shahidul Islam, Managing Director Dr ATM Tariquzzaman, Chief Regulatory Officer Khairul Basar Abu Taher Mohammad, and other employees of DSE were present.
Man dies in Gazipur road crash
An unidentified man was killed and another injured when a private car hit a van on Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in South Salna in Gazipur district on Tuesday.Rafiul Karim, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said the accident occurred in the morning when the Dhaka-bound private car hit the van of a bakery shop, leaving its driver killed on the spot and another injured.
Sajeeb Wazed honours the legacy of Bangabandhu and the courage of Liberation War heroesThe injured pedestrian was taken to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College and Hospital.Police recovered the body and sent it to the local hospital morgue for autopsy.Police also seized the private car but could not arrest its driver as he managed to flee the scene.
Islami Bank pays tribute on Independence Day
Dhaka, Mar 26 (UNB)-Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC paid tribute at the National Memorial on the occasion of ‘Independence and National Day’on Tuesday.
Freedom Fighter Md Joynal Abedin and Mohammed Nasir Uddin, FCMA, Directors of the bank placed a floral wreath on behalf of the Bank, said a press release.
Muhammad Qaisar Ali, Additional Managing Director, and Taher Ahmed Chowdhury, CAMLCO along with senior executives and officials of the Bank were present on the occasion.
Biman resumes Dhaka-Rome-Dhaka flight after 9 years
The Biman Bangladesh Airlines will resume direct flights to Italy’s Rome from Tuesday night.
“We are all set to resume the flight. As per our market analysis, the Dhaka-Rome-Dhaka route will be another popular one, like our London (UK), Toronto (Canada), and Narita (Japan) routes," said Biman MD and CEO Shafiul Azim.
The Dhaka-Rome-Dhaka direct flight is resuming after nine years, prompted by a large number of expatriate Bangladeshis residing in Italy.
Bangladesh reiterates call for recognition of 1971 genocide
Sazzadul Hassan MP, Chairman parliamentary committee on the affairs of ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism formally inaugurated the flight as the chief guest along with Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro at 9:30 pm at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA).
At that time, lawmakers Enamul Haque Shamim, Mahmudul Hasan, Biman Board Chairman Mostofa Kamal Uddin, Md. Mokammel Hossain secretary, Ministry civil aviation , Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, chairman of CAAB, were also present.
The inaugural flight is scheduled to depart Dhaka at 3:30am.
According to the booking information Tuesday, 23 people have purchased tickets for Business Class while 177 for Economy Class.
In the first return flight, seven people will travel in Business Class and 247 people will travel in Economy Class.
The capacity of the aircraft is 271 passengers, including 24 in business class and 247 in economy class.
The decision to resume the flight was thoroughly assessed from a commercial standpoint while Bangladeshi expatriates in Rome have increased sevenfold since 2009, said the Biman CEO.
"The planning of Biman's route expansion to different cities in Europe is a reflection of Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's commitment to the expatriate Bangladeshis," he said.
The Dhaka to Rome flight will be Biman's third European destination, as currently the national flag carrier is operating flights to London and Manchester.
After the announcement of the Rome flight the visa applications to Italy have increased three fold, the Biman CEO said referring to the Italian Embassy in Dhaka.
Russian PM greets PM Hasina on Independence Day
Azim said he is also planning to use Rome as a stopover for Biman's Dhaka-Toronto-Dhaka flight, as currently the state-owned carrier is using Istanbul for refuelling its Canada-bound flights.
Bangladesh Biman initially began operating flights to Rome on April 2, 1981 and stopped on April 6, 2015, facing financial losses due to massive fuel consumption by the then DC-10 carrier.
Between March 27 and March 31, flight BG-355 will depart Dhaka every Monday,Tuesday, and Thursday at 2:00 a.m. local time and reach Rome at 7:00 a.m. local time.
From April 1, the flight will take off from Dhaka every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 3:00am as per the summer schedule and arrive at the capital of Italy at 9:10am.
The flight will leave Rome at 10:45 a.m. and land in Dhaka at 11:45 p.m.
Bhutan King and WHO Regional Director Saima Wazed visit Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery
Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Regional Director for South-East Asia of the World Health Organization Saima Wazed visited the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery on Tuesday morning.
On arrival of the Bhutanese King at the hospital, Health Minister Dr. Samanta Lal Sen showcased the hospital's health services.
After the tour, the King of Bhutan held a special meeting with senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
During the meeting, the King of Bhutan praised Bangladesh's healthcare efforts, expressing interest in building a state-of-the-art hospital in Bangladesh.
He offered collaboration in constructing the modern hospital in Bangladesh.
The King also expressed interest in the health minister's proposal of providing regular training to Bhutanese healthcare professionals in Bangladesh.
Earlier, a delegation from the World Health Organization, led by Regional Director for South-East Asia, Saima Wazed, along with a representative team, met with Health Minister Dr. Samanta Lal Sen for a courtesy call.
During the meeting, she expressed interest on behalf of the World Health Organization in collaborating with Bangladesh to enhance the quality of healthcare services .
During the discussions, they talked about improving healthcare services in Bangladesh, enhancing the services of the Burn Institute, expanding services beyond Dhaka, and how Bangladesh's concept of burn treatment could be disseminated to other partner countries including Bhutan.
Bangabandhu envisioned environment-friendly development of Bangladesh: Saber Hossain
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the visionary of environment-friendly development in the country.
“Twenty years before the first Earth Summit held in Rio, Bangabandhu planned to protect the environment in newly independent Bangladesh. He promulgated ordinances to control water pollution. He also enacted laws to conserve wildlife and biodiversity in war-torn Bangladesh. We have to express our gratitude to Bangabandhu by building ‘Sonar Bangla’, the happy, prosperous and serene environment of his dreams,” the minister said on Tuesday.
The Minister of Environment was speaking at a discussion organised at the Department of Environment on "The historical leadership of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the development of the country" on the occasion of Independence and National Day 2024 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The Environment Minister said, Bangabandhu united all people irrespective of religion and background. He envisioned a democratic system as an alternative to the regime of Pakistan. The minister said that even though Bangladesh is politically independent, we must continue our struggle for economic, social and cultural liberation. There can be no division in the interest of the country. For the development of the country, all must work together regardless of party affiliation.
The discussion was held under the chairmanship of Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Additional Secretary (Administration) Iqbal Abdullah Harun, Additional Secretary (Environment) Dr. Fahmida Khanom, Chairman of Bangladesh Forest Industry Development Corporation Md. Nasir Uddin, Managing Director of Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Md. Zainal Abedin, Director General of Department of Environment Dr. Abdul Hamid and Chief Conservator of Forest Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury were present among others.
A film on the illustrious life and work of the Father of the Nation was screened on the occasion.
Sajeeb Wazed honours the legacy of Bangabandhu and the courage of Liberation War heroes
On Independence Day, Sajeeb Wazed, ICT Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister, paid homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation, and the gallant freedom fighters who played pivotal roles in Bangladesh's Liberation War.
In a heartfelt post on his verified Facebook page, Wazed recounted the historical night of March 26, over five decades ago, when Bangabandhu made the decisive declaration of independence moments before his arrest by the Pakistani military. “26 March, our Independence Day. On this day 53 years back, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared our independence just before he was arrested and taken away by the Pak Army in the middle of the night," Wazed wrote.
‘No election good enough unless US gets its puppet regime in Bangladesh,’ Sajeeb Wazed says
Echoing Bangabandhu's powerful wireless message from that fateful night, Wazed shared, “'This may be my last message: from today Bangladesh is independent. I call upon the people of Bangladesh, wherever you might be and with whatever you have, to resist the occupation army. Your fight must go on until the last soldier of the Pakistan occupation army is expelled from the soil of Bangladesh and final victory is achieved.’”
The resolve and bravery of Bangladesh's sons and daughters, who took Bangabandhu's call to heart, were highlighted by Wazed as he commemorated their triumph in the Liberation War, achieved in just nine months. “Then the bravest sons of this soil retaliated, fought and won the Liberation War in just 9 months. I remember Bangabandhu and our valiant freedom fighters on this day,” Wazed emphasized.
‘Sacrifice of language martyrs gives world an occasion to celebrate diversity’: Sajeeb Wazed pays tribute to language heroes
Concluding his tribute, Wazed extended a message of pride and remembrance to all, “Happy Independence Day to all!”
This Independence Day, the nation collectively reflects on the sacrifices and indomitable spirit of Bangabandhu and the freedom fighters, whose actions forever changed the course of Bangladesh's history.
From a national tragedy to technological triumph: Sajeeb Wazed’s journey in Bangladesh’s transformation
Anti-Tobacco Parliamentary Women's Forum announced
The establishment of the 'Anti-Tobacco Parliamentary Women's Forum' has been announced to combat tobacco usage and enhance tobacco control laws.
This forum, initiated with the vision of achieving a tobacco-free Bangladesh by 2040 as declared by the Prime Minister, marks a pivotal moment in the nation's public health agenda.
The inaugural session of the forum unfolded at the Sonargaon hotel under the leadership of Shaheen Aktar Dolly, Executive Director of Nari Maitree.
Hosted by Nari Maitree, the gathering was designed to unite female members of the parliament, galvanising their collective efforts towards advocating for robust tobacco control measures.
The Anti-Tobacco Parliamentary Women's Forum is a dynamic coalition of female MPs, united in their mission to combat tobacco use and promote public health in Bangladesh.
Through legislative advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and strategic partnerships, the forum endeavours to effect meaningful change and create a tobacco-free society for future generations.
At the meeting, Shabnam Jahan Shila, Member of Parliament for Women's Seat-24, was appointed as the convener of the forum, which consists of thirteen distinguished members representing various constituencies. Members include Mahfuza Sultana (Seat-6), Jara Jabin Mahbub (Seat-7), Parveen Jaman (Seat-9), Sheikh Anar Koli Putul (Seat-30), Sanjida Khanam (Seat-32), Masuda Siddiqi Rozi (Seat-34), Farida Yasmin (Seat-35), Nazma Aktar (Seat-37), Laila Parveen (Seat-13),Ashrafunnahar (Seat-44), Hasina Bari Chowdhury (Seat-31), and Anima Mukti Gomez (Seat-29).
Speakers at the meeting emphasised the urgent need for legislative amendments to the existing Tobacco Control Law, highlighting the grave health risks associated with both active and passive smoking.
Shaheen Akter Dolly, underscored the progress made by Members of the Parliament towards realising a tobacco-free Bangladesh. She reaffirmed their commitment to public health development and expressed optimism for future collaborative initiatives.
Mustafizur Rahman, former chairman of Bangladesh Chemical Industry Corporation and the Lead Policy Advisor for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids Bangladesh, echoed the urgency of addressing tobacco-related mortality and underscored the need for heightened awareness to protect vulnerable population, particularly women and children, from tobacco-related harm.
As the forum sets its sights on future endeavours, including awareness campaigns and policy advocacy for the tobacco control law amendment, all the forum members of parliament remain committed to advancing the cause of tobacco control in Bangladesh.