Dhaka, Oct 17 (UNB) – Expressing satisfaction over Hajj management in the last season, State Minister for Religious Affairs Sheikh Md Abdullah on Thursday said the management would be better next year as the government is working in this regard.

He made the remarks while addressing the inaugural ceremony of Hajj Management Workshop-2019 at the Officers’ Club in the city. 

The minister stressed the need for cooperation from all concerned including the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, the Home Ministry and other agencies for successful management of hajj.

About Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh, he said there were many allegations against them earlier but the association is now doing well.

Members of the standing committee on religious affairs ministry Nojibul Bashar Maijvandarai, Mahmudus Samad,, M ShahadatHossainTaslim, Haab President, among others, were present at the programme while religious affairs secretary Anisur Rahman was in the chair.

Dhaka, Oct 17 (UNB) - President of the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) Gianni Infantino on Thursday said FIFA will continue its support to Bangladesh for the promotion of its football.

Gianni came up with the assurance at a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office.

PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

The FIFA president said he is happy seeing the performance and improvement of Bangladesh football.

He suggested the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) to maintain contact with FIFA regularly.

The Prime Minister said her government is constructing 492 mini-stadiums at sub-district levels across the country for the promotion of games and sports.

She said primary school-level sports competitions are arranged for both boys and girls in Bangladesh so that more and more children become interested in games and sports.

The Prime Minister said her family members were involved in sports and games and her brother Sheikh Kamal was the founder of sports club Abahani Krira Chakra.

PM's Private Industry and Investment Adviser and Chairman of Abahani Limited Salman F Rahman, State Minister for Youths and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russell, BFF President Kazi Md Salahuddin, BFF Senior Vice President Abdus Salam Murshedy MP and its Vice President Kazi Nabil Ahmed were present on the occasion.

Gianni Infantino, leading a five-member FIFA delegation, arrived in Dhaka in early hours of Thursday on a day-long visit responding to an invitation of the BFF.

Infantino is the third FIFA President to visit Bangladesh after Sepp Blatter and Joao Havelange.

Earlier, Italian Air Force chief Lieutenant General Alberto Rosso met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina her office.

During the meeting, Alberto Rosso offered training to Bangladesh Air Force personnel in Italy.

In reply, the Prime Minister urged the Italian Air chief to arrange training in Italy for Bangladesh’s Air Force personnel over fighter helicopters and transport planes.

PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman, Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division Lieutenant General Md Mahfuzur Rahman, PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan and Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Enrico Nunziata were present.

On Wednesday, the Chief of the Air staff of Italian Air Force along with three delegation members arrived here on a three-day official visit to Bangladesh.

Alberto Rosso called on Chief of Air Staff of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF), Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat at the Air Headquarters on the same day.

Dhaka, Oct 17 (UNB) – A man died in Barishal while a total of 248 dengue patients were hospitalised across the country in 24 hours till Thursday morning.

The deceased was identified as Babul Hawladar, 30, son of Abdur Rashid of Mithakhali village of Mathbaria upazila in Pirojpur.
 
Director of Sher e Bangla Medical College (SBMC) Dr Bakir Hossain said Babul was admitted to the hospital at 6 am and died later in the day.

So far 13 people have died after being infected with dengue in the hospital, he said. 

Of the 248 hospitalised, 72 were in Dhaka, the Directorate General of Health Services said in a regular update.

Currently, 1,101 patients, including 439 in Dhaka, are being treated at hospitals for dengue.

So far in 2019, the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research has reviewed 158 suspected deaths and confirmed 98 had died of dengue.

Dhaka, Oct 17 (UNB) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) not to go beyond the rules in case of overseeing both public and private universities.

“Don’t go beyond the rules. Follow them properly,” she said when an UGC delegation, led by its Chairman Professor Dr Kazi Shahidullah, met her at her office in the city.

PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

Sheikh Hasina said the UGC will be empowered by enacting law. She directed the UGC to strengthen the capacity of the commission and monitor the colleges affiliated with the public universities.

The UGC delegation informed the Prime Minister about the activities and development of the apex body entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the higher education in the country.

Prof Shahidullah said there are now 155 public and private universities in the country, but the manpower of UGC remain unchanged. So, the manpower of the UGC needs to be increased to deal with the large number of the institutes.

He also informed the PM that the UGC has prepared the research policy.

He said they want a training academy for the teachers like Public Administration Training Academy (PATC).

Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman and PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan were present at the time.

Dhaka, Oct 17 (UNB) - Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the special public prosecutor of Dhaka Anti-Terrorism Special Tribunal, has been removed from his post for negligence of duty.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry issued a gazette notification in this regard on Thursday.

The order will be effective from today.