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Bangladesh mobile industry spearheading women's empowerment initiatives
The telecom industry is leaning towards women's empowerment in the digital realm, the leaders of the industry said at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
The four-day MWC began on February 26, with the participation of top technology manufacturers, providers, leaders, and policymakers from around the globe, said a press release.
Officials from the Bangladesh telecom industry, regulatory bodies and other key stakeholders also took part in the mega event. Bangladesh mobile industry leaders discussed some of their initiatives regarding women’s empowerment through messages.
Yasir Azman, AMTOB President-Elect and CEO of Grameenphone said, “In Bangladesh, where currently 29 percent of mobile internet users are women, we aim to increase this figure to 32 percent by 2026. To achieve this goal, we have initiated two key efforts. One involves educating and enhancing the skills of 2 million vulnerable individuals in Bangladesh, with 60 percent of this target being women.”
The second initiative entails educating 10 million teachers and children on online safety, with 58 percent of this demographic being women and girls. These are the two commitments of Grameenphone aimed at increasing female internet users, he said.
Shihab Ahmad, chief commercial officer, Robi Axiata Limited said, “Robi has been part of this initiative with GSMA since 2016. Our commitment to bringing women into the digital world remains a key focus for us at Robi.”
“We have initiated Project Khadiza, aimed at fostering female developers to create solutions catering specifically to female customers within our national app store. Additionally, we have launched nationwide programs, targeting households, particularly in rural areas where access to women can be challenging. These initiatives are envisioned to elevate us to a national and industry-wide level, facilitating increased women's participation in the digital sphere. This reflects Robi's commitment to the cause,” he added.
Taimur Rahman, chief corporate & regulatory affairs officer, Banglalink said, “We currently have approximately 26 percent of women as mobile internet users, and our commitment is to raise this number to nearly 30 percent within the next two years. We strongly believe that without empowering women, the country's development cannot progress. To facilitate this, we have taken initiatives such as developing the "My BL App," where ChatGPT also plays a role, ensuring that women can easily utilize these applications. We have utilized our entire network to support this endeavor.”
UNB journalist’s book "Dhaka: A City Plagued by Problems" hits Amar Ekushey book fair
UNB Special Correspondent Muhammed Abdur Rahman Jahangir’s book styled “Dhaka: A City Plagued by Problems’ hit the Amar Ekushey book fair on Thursday.
The book published by IJC Publications is available at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) stall (stall no-773). After the fair, the book will be available in Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Kazi Nazrul Islam Library and the libraries of various journalist associations.
The book sheds light on Dhaka's transport, communication, civic issues and environmental concerns, drawing insights from leading urban and transport experts in Bangladesh.
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This book serves not only as a documentation of Dhaka's distressing problems but also as a resource for urban researchers seeking to understand their root causes and explore potential solutions.
Despite infrastructural developments like flyovers and metro rail, the book explained why achieving sustainable growth remains still a formidable task for the Dhaka city authorities.
It, however, anticipated that Dhaka can aspire to a more promising future with better governance, higher public awareness, strategic urban planning and proper enforcement of laws and regulations.
The author expressed tribute to the late Mayor Annisul Huq of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), acknowledging his visionary leadership and efforts to Dhaka into a beautiful, planned, and modern city.
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“I hope that policymakers and city authorities will find insights from the book to devise well-thought-out plans and take effective steps to deal with Dhaka's mounting challenges,” said author Rahman Jahangir.
He said the success of publishing the book will be judged by its ability to grab the attention of policymakers and make a little contribution to addressing the enduring problems of our beloved city.
“I believe that this book holds significant value for journalism students and promising journalists as it can be an invaluable resource for learning the art of writing special stories on urban issues, social problems and developmental challenges,” the author added.
Bangladesh has one hospital bed for 990 patients: Health Minister
There is one hospital bed against every 990 patients in the country, Health and Family Welfare Minister Samanta Lal Sen told parliament on Thursday.
He said that the total number of beds in all the government and private hospitals is 1,71,635.
The minister said that the number of beds for every 50 people in the public hospital is 0.0211 and the government has a plan to increase the number of beds in each government hospital in phases.
The health minister said this in reply to a query from an independent MP elected from Mymensingh ABM Anisuzzaman.
“According to the information of the Health Bulletin of 2022, there are a total of 1,71,675 beds in the country with the number of government beds being 71,660 and the number of private beds being 99,975,” Sen said.
In reply to a query of independent MP Md. Nasser Shahrear Zahedee, the minister informed the House that there are only five graduate pharmacists in all government hospitals.
In response to a supplementary question of Opposition Chief Whip and Jatiya Party MP Mujibul Haque Chunnu, the health minister said that if MPs remain with him, he can certainly close the illegal clinics and diagnostic centres.
He urged MPs to monitor whether the clinics or diagnostic centres in their respective areas have all the facilities and licenses.
The minister said that he is not in favor of closing all hospitals. Hospitals that have the necessary equipment should run.
In response to a supplementary question by AL MP HM Badiuzzaman, the health minister said that he will go to all the departments and identify the problems in the hospitals and arrange for quick solutions.
“If the treatment of marginalised population is ensured, there will be no crowd of patients in cities like Dhaka and Chattogram and they will not have to lie on the floor,” he also said.
In response to the question of AL MP Mahbub ur Rahman, the health minister said that 383 of the 429 functional upazila hospitals in the country have x-ray machines. Out of which 53 are inactive, said the minister.
While replying to a query of Muhibur Rahman Manik, Awami League MP elected from Sunamganj, the health minister informed the House that the new Corona variant—SARS-CoV2 variant JN.1 has entered Bangladesh through international visitors.
He also said that the government has taken various measures to contain spread of the new variant of Corona as this variant has already spread to 71 countries of the world including India, Singapore, Indonesia and China.
In reply to a query of AL MP elected from Chattogram M Abdul Latif, the health minister said the government has taken various measures to ensure universal health coverage under the health and family welfare ministry by 2030.
“Initiatives have been taken to introduce social health insurance for formal sector government employees and garment workers. Necessary preparations are being made for this. In the future, the informal sector will also be covered under this insurance,” he added.
Steps taken to develop, preserve 10,000 km waterways: State Minister
The government has taken initiatives to develop and preserve 10,000 kilometers waterways of the country.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury said this in parliament on Thursday in reply to a query of independent MP elected from Dhaka Muhammad Saiful Islam.
In reply to a query of ruling Awami League MP elected from Lxmipur Nur Uddin Chowdhury Nayan, Khalid Mahmud said the total number of rescue ships of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) is now four-Nirvhik, Pratya, Hamza and Rustom.
He also informed the House that process is underway to collect salvage ships having the capacity of lifting 1500 to 2000 tonnes in future.
Besides, the state minister also said measures were taken to collect respective machineries including four winch barge for increasing the rescue capacity of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).
Meanwhile, Religious Affairs Minister Faridul Haque Khan informed the House that the ministry has no statistics about the total number of mosques in the country at present.
However, during the period of Covid pandemic, the information of the mosques was collected through the divisional and district offices of the Islamic Foundation by the Prime Minister for financial donations to the mosques.
Accordingly to the estimate, the number of mosques is 3,31,125, the minister in reply to a query of AL MP Nurunnabi Chowdhury.
Public engagement can ensure functional community clinics: Prof. Modasser Ali
The engagement of common people is crucial to ensure the functionality of community clinics as it is a public-private partnership, according to Professor Syed Modasser Ali, chairman of the Community Clinic Health Service Trust (CCHST).
“Where the Community Group (CG) is active, there the community clinic is effective and functional. Strengthening CG is a must to activate and functionalize the community clinics,” he added.
He was speaking at a workshop titled “Role of Community Clinics and Local Government Institutions to Sustain Primary Health Care and Nutrition Services” organized by World Vision Bangladesh (WVB) under USAID’s Nobo Jatra Project II (NJP II) at a hotel in Dhaka on Thursday.
Line Director of Community Based Health Care (CBHC) Dr. Md. Quiume Talukder presided over the workshop while Suresh Bartlett, National Director of WVB, inaugurated the workshop with his opening remarks while Lima Hanna Daring, Chief of Party (CoP), Nobo Jatra Project II, shared the overview of the project.
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Dr. Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Director General (Acting), Bangladesh Nutrition Council (BNNC); Dr. Mahbub Arefin Rezanur, Divisional Chief (Field), Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN); and Mustapha EL Hamzaoui, Director- Humanitarian Assistance Office, USAID Bangladesh, and Prof. Dr. Nahid Ferdausi, Director, Sheikh Fazilatunnessa Mujib Eye Hospital & Training Institute, Gopalganj, were present as special guests.
Upazila and Union Parishad Chairman, Civil Surgeons of Khulna and Satkhira Districts, Khulna Divisional Health Department head, health officials, representatives of NGOs, journalists, among others, were also present.
Suresh Bartlett thanked USAID and the people of the United States of America for funding for sustainability in Bangladesh through Nobo Jatra Project through an effective partnership and collaboration with WVB.
In her overview, Lima Hanna Daring informed that minimum dietary diversity of women has increased from 49.0% to 53.6% in the NJP II area in four Upazilas under Satkhira and Khulna Districts. 40.9% mothers received at least four Antenatal Care (ANC) in the NJP area which was 24.1% in the baseline of the project in 2017. Due to the project intervention, exclusive breastfeeding has increased to 57.5% from 29.2%, she added.
Bhashan Char gas cylinder blast: Death toll rises to 5 as another child dies
A child who suffered burn injuries in a gas cylinder blast at Bhashan Char Rohingya camp on Saturday died at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) on Wednesday night, taking the death toll from the incident to five.
The deceased was identified as Rosmina, 5, daughter of Abdus Shukkor.
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Rosmina succumbed to her injuries while undergoing treatment at CMCH around 11:30 pm on Wednesday, said Assistant Sub-Inspector Nurul Alam Ashique, in-charge of Chattogram Medical College and Hospital police outpost.
The child suffered 50 percent burn injuries and her trachea was also severely affected.
On Saturday, nine people including five children were injured when a gas cylinder exploded at the Rohingya camp.
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Of them, seven were taken to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital for treatment where Russel, 3, succumbed to his injuries on that day. Three other injured children died later.
Besides, Jobaida, 22, and Amena Khatun, 24 are undergoing treatment at the hospital, said Director of Chattogram Medical College and Hospital, Brigadier Shamim Ahsan.
Of them, Amena suffered 8 percent burn injuries and Jobaida 25 percent.
Father, son found dead in Dhaka’s Badda
Police recovered the hanging bodies of a man and his son in the capital’s Badda area on Wednesday.
The deceased were identified as Gias Uddin, 70, a retired school teacher aad his son Rakib Hossain, 30, an electrician, hailing from Narayanganj’s Araihajar upazila. They used to live in a house near Beraid Jele Para of Badda Police Station.
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Badda Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Yasin Gazi on Thursday said Rakib was supposed to go to a wedding ceremony yesterday, but he did not go and his classmate one Harun went to his house at 8:15 pm.
Seeing the door of the house closed, Harun and his other classmates broke open the door only to find them hanging from the ceiling, said the OC quoting relatives.
On information, police recovered the bodies and sent those to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy, he said.
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Initially, it was known from the locals that both father and son often got involved in disputes over small issues, the OC added.
Legal action will be taken in this regard, OC Yasin said.
Power tariff hike from February 1, not March 1
Power tariff will be increased from February 1 instead of March 1, said State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid on Thursday (February 29, 2024).
Gazette notification will be issued today in regard to the power tariff adjustment, he said while briefing reporters at his ministry.
Earlier he said the new tariff will come into effect from March 1.
He said the power tariff will be hiked between Tk 0.34 and Tk 0.70 per unit for all kinds of consumers depending on their volume of consumption while gas price will go up by Tk 0.75 per unit only for power plants.
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He also said that a dynamic fuel pricing will be introduced for the consumers from March 1 under which price of petroleum fuel will go up and down in line with international market price.
“Each month fuel price will be declared for the consumers”, he said adding neighbouring India do this every day.
He noted that the steps have been taken to minimise the government losses caused by the increase in dollar rate. “This year the government will incur loss of Tk 43,000 crore due to sale of electricity at lower price,” he said.
This step has been taken as part of the government move to come out of the subsidy now being given to the power sector, said the minister.
According to the BPDB’s Annual Report 2022-23, the fiscal year saw the production of 87,024 million kilowatt hours of electricity at a total cost of TK 98,646 crore.
Its per unit production cost was Tk 11.33, while it was selling electricity at Tk 6.7 per unit — incurring a loss of about Tk 4.63 per unit.
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This imbalance has led to a staggering loss of Tk 47,788 crore for the fiscal year, as the government grapples with purchasing power from private and international sources at significantly higher rates.
With this huge loss, the government has been facing great trouble as it has to purchase electricity worth Tk 82,778 crore from private sector power producers, while it generates electricity worth Tk 13,307 crore from its own generation plants.
The annual report also shows that the BPDB’s average per unit production cost from its own plants is Tk 7.63, while it is Tk 14.62 at the independent power producers or IPPs (private sector), at rental plants Tk 12.53, at public plants Tk 6.85, and imported power from India at Tk 8.77.
The government purchases electricity from the private sector and India in dollars.
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TCB to procure 1.10 crore litres of soybean oil, 10,000 MT lentil for OMS
Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) will procure 1.10 crore litres of edible oil and 10,000 metric tons of lentil to sell through its open market sale (OMS) programme.
Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP) approved two separate proposals in this regard in a meeting on Thursday, presided over by Finance Minister Abul Hasan Mahmood Ali.
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The Commerce Ministry placed the proposals on behalf of the TCB.
According to proposals, the TCB will import 1.10 crore litres of Soybean oil through open tender from City Edible Oil Ltd. at a total cost of Tk 174.66 crore with each litre at Tk 165.25.
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The TCB will procure 10,000 metric tons of lentil at a cost of Tk 83.12 crore from Nabi Naba Food Limited with each kg at Tk 103.09.
Women’s Heads of Mission in Bangladesh celebrate International Women’s Day
A roundtable workshop on ‘Valuing Women in the Financial Markets in Bangladesh’ was held in Dhaka on Thursday highlighting the importance of investing in women.
In celebration of the International Women’s Day, the High Commission of Canada in Bangladesh joined hands with the Embassy of France, the Embassy of Sweden, the High Commission of the United Kingdom, the High Commission of Australia, the Embassy of the Netherlands and the United Nations Resident Coordinator to jointly host the event at the official residence of the High Commissioner of Canada.
The objectives of the event were to highlight the benefits of Gender Lens investing (GLI) in Bangladesh; and introduce the Orange Movement creating a world where gender equality is the norm and paving the way for a sustainable future in alignment with the Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041.
The presenter Prof. Durreen Shahnaz is the founder and CEO of Impact Investment Exchange (IIX), a social stock exchange supporting businesses providing development solutions.
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IIX, is a pioneer and global leader in impact investing and sustainability, transforming the financial system so that women and underserved communities are finally given value and a voice in the global market.
Bangladesh is Asia-Pacific’s fastest-growing economy with an average annual GDP growth of ~6.5%.
The Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041 aims for a Smart Society and Smart Economy.
This workshop introducing the Orange Movement campaign and raising awareness of the benefits of GLI may help Bangladesh close the gender gap in labour force participation, elevating GDP per capita by 0.5-0.7% on average, said the Canadian High Commission in Dhaka.
A 10% rise in female employment could boost GDP by 3.1%.