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Management of water development activities essential in riverine Bangladesh: LGRD Minister
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam said on Thursday that management of water development activities is essential in riverine Bangladesh
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has prepared a roadmap for the future course of delta Bangladesh through formulation of the Delta Plan-2100, he said.
“As Bangladesh is a downstream country, numerous rivers flowing from different sources of the Himalayas flow through our country into the Bay of Bengal,” he said.
“We have to plan various development activities by ensuring coexistence with water bodies in riverine Bangladesh. That's why it is essential to have proper management of water development activities,” he said while presiding over a workshop.
Dhaka WASA and the Water Development Board organised the workshop.
Environment Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Water Resources Minister Zahid Faruk were present as special guests while UNDP Chief of Development Research Dr Nazrul Islam presented the keynote address.
The LGRD minister emphasised the importance of restoring and cleaning various canals during his time, and due to various initiatives taken by the ministry in the past, it has been possible to restore the canals around Dhaka, he claimed.
He mentioned that various bridges are being studied through feasibility studies by the local government engineering department built over the country's rivers.
Besides while constructing village roads, it is being constructed without obstructing the flow of water, Tazul said.
The drainage system beside the road has also improved a lot than before, he said.
New ambassadors-designate from 7 countries present credentials to Bangladesh President
New ambassadors-designate from seven countries to Bangladesh on Thursday presented their credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin at Bangabhaban.
The president's Press Secretary Md Joynal Abedin briefed the reporters after the meeting.
Welcoming the new envoys to Bangladesh, the president urged them to enhance the bilateral trade and investment ties with Bangladesh.
Calling Bangladesh as a role model for development in the world and highlighting the bright potentials of investment here, President Shahabuddin called upon the ambassadors to work on increasing investment in various sectors, including infrastructure, energy and information and communication technology (ICT).
Noting that Bangladesh produces world-class products, including ready-made garments, medicines and ceramics, the president sought more support from the ambassadors to enhance the import of these products from Bangladesh.During the meeting, the new envoys praised the socio-economic development of Bangladesh and expressed their determination to work with Bangladesh to increase the mutual cooperation of their respective countries.
The ambassadors sought allout cooperation of the president in carrying out their respective assignments.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and secretaries concerned to the president were also present on the occasion.
Earlier, on their arrival at Bangabhaban, they were accorded a 'guard of honour' by a horse-mounted troop of Presidential Guard Regiment (PGR).
All out measures taken for fire safety for devotees in Biswa Ijtema: FSCD
Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) Headquarters have taken sufficient measures to ensure fire safety for the Muslim devotees of the three-day Biswa Ijtema starting on Friday on the banks of the Turag River.
The first phase of the congregation is set to begin on Friday morning while 357 firefighters will be on duty at the venue.
Two firefighters with fire extinguishers, fire hooks and fire beaters will be on duty in each Khitta, a group where several people stay together, to deal with immediate fire accidents, said a media release signed by Talha Bin Zasim, station officer of the FSCD headquarters.
Three fire control rooms have been set up to monitor fire safety at different places and Ijtema ground. The devotees have been asked to call on 01901020866 round-the-clock.
It said portable pumps have been kept ready for rapid fire extinguishing.
Three water carriers, four ambulances for transporting patients, two wheelers, and rescue command vehicles have been arranged on the ground.
Rescue speedboats and divers have been kept in the Turag River to prevent river accidents.
Also, Tongi, Uttara and Joydebpur fire stations will remain on standby during the event.
Go for digital book publication to globally promote Bengali literature:PM Hasina tells publishers at Ekushey Book Fair
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday stressed the need for digital publication of books and their translations to promote Bengali language, literature and culture throughout the world.
“If we want to spread our language, literature and culture massively, we should keep pace with time. So, I would like to request the publishers to publish not only printed books but also digital books,” she said.
The premier made this call while opening the Amar Ekushey Book Fair-2024 at the Bangla Academy premises here this afternoon.
The Bangla Academy is organising the country's largest annual book fair on its premises and adjoining Suhrawardy Udyan.
Pointing at the publishers, Hasina said if they become digital publishers, their books can be reached to all the people in the foreign lands. “People speaking the other languages would be able read the books,” she said.
In this context, she directed the Bangla Academy to open a web portal with the digital versions of its published books for online readers.
Alongside the print books, it is essential to make audio version books available in the libraries, she added.
The premier thanked the Bangla Academy for its contribution to translation literature saying that once many ones demanded not to translate foreign literatures.
“But I am in favour of translation. How can we know other nations, countries and cultures if the literatures of other languages are not translated?” she said.
At the same time, the people of different languages will get scope to read Bengali literature as much as Bengali literature can be translated into other languages, Hasina added.
“If we can translate our books into other languages, we will be able to raise our mother language Bangla, literature and culture throughout the world in a faster way. So, we need to make sure of it,” she said.
Referring to her government’s vision-2041, the PM said Bangladesh would be smart in future by making its population, government, economy and society smart.
“If we want to build a smart society, we’ll have to enrich everything like language, literature and culture,” she said.
Noting that now the book fairs are held in district-level, the prime minister said the government would take this book fair to upazila-level in phases.
Mentioning that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered his speech in Bengali in the United Nations General Assembly in 1974, Hasina said Bangabandhu had taken Bengali to the international stage.
As Rabindranath Tagore had brought international recognition for the Bengali language Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took Bengali language to the international stage through his speeches, works and political, social and economic struggles, she added.
Later, the Prime Minister visited different book stalls at the book fair.
Speedy Trial Act not to suppress any group or political party: Home Minister
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan on Thursday said move has been to make the Speedy Trial Act permanent but it is not to suppress any group or political party.
“ The enforcement of the Speedy Trial Act to maintain law and order has yielded results. The law will not be used to suppress the opposition, but against those who would enforce blockade and destabilize law and order,” he said.
The minister said these while replying to questions from reporters after inaugurating the online firearms license renewal programme at the conference room of the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Secretariat in the afternoon.
The law will be made permanent to expedite the trial of crimes, said the minister.
Replying to a question about the BNP's black-flag procession on the first day of parliament, he said, “It was not right for the BNP to destabilize the situation by bringing out black-flag procession on the first day of parliament. That's why the police obstructed. There is no restriction on political programmes. But such programmes that deteriorate law and order situation will not be allowed.” he said.
Palli Bidyut Samity officials injured as angry customers attack them in Savar
Five Palli Bidyut Samity officials were seriously injured in an attack by angry customers when they went to collect outstanding bills at the Jamsing area of Savar on Thursday morning.
According to witnesses, five officials of Shimultala Zonal Office Palli Bidyut Samity-3, including Engineer Ripon Ali, administrative officer Golam Hossain, linemen Sunny Hasan, Saikat Raihan, and Joy Sikder, went to collect six months' outstanding bill from a customer.
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At the time, a group of angry customers beat them indiscriminately and seriously injured them.
Later, locals informed the police.
Nayan Karkun, officer-in-charge (operation) of Savar Model Police Station, confirmed the matter.
A complaint will be filed at Savar Model Police Station in this connection, said the OC.
All the injured have been admitted to the hospital, he added.
Govt is not harassing Dr Yunus with false cases: Law Minister
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Thursday (February 01, 2024) said the government is not harassing Noble Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus by filing false cases.
“The government is not doing anything to harass Dr Muhammad Yunus. No false case is being filed against him. First a case was filed by workers and then the directorate responsible for protecting the rights of the workers filed a case.”
He said this at a press conference on contemporary issues at the secretariat today.
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“Despite undisputable evidence, it is being spread abroad that the allegations against him (Yunus) are false, and it is being said that we are doing this to harass him,” said the minister.
The minister said that the efforts being made at home and abroad to defame various institutions in Bangladesh centring on Yunus's case will be defeated.
"As you know, according to the provisions of the Bangladesh Labour Act, an inspector can inspect any company if it is found that they are violating the law. In this case, on February 2, 2020, the inspector of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) first inspected Grameen Telecom as per the provisions of the Labour Act,” said Anisul.
"He found out that some laws were being violated. Later, on March 1, he wrote a letter to Grameen Telecom seeking their explanation about these violations and asking them to correct those,” he said.
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“Grameen Telecom's response was not satisfactory, and they (DIFE) inspected Grameen Telecom again on August 17, 2021. After seeing violations of the same law there, a letter was sent on August 19 stating that the law was being violated.
In such a situation, a case was filed against Dr Yunus and Grameen Telecom on September 9,” added Anisul.
1st phase of Biswa Ijtema begins Friday
The first phase of three-day ‘Biswa Ijtema’, a large congregation of Muslims in the world, is set to begin on Friday morning on the bank of the Turag River in Gazipur's Tongi.
The authorities concerned have completed the necessary preparations to hold the religious gathering smoothly.
A good number of foreign devotees from different parts of the world along with local ones have already thronged the Ijtema venue and now staying at 91 designated khittas.
The first phase of Ijtema will start after fajr prayers through ‘Aam Bayan’ on Friday and will end on Sunday after Akheri Munajat.
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Devotees from different foreign countries including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Europe, America and Africa have reached the venue.
This year, facilities for foreign devotees including water supply, cooking management and security have been improved, said Religious Affairs Minister Faridul Haque Khan after inaugurating a free health camp at the Ijtema venue on Thursday.
“Those who are involved in violence can’t be the followers of Tablig Jamaat. As per the Prime Minister directives to ensure highest facilities to the devotees, all public representatives and government offices concerned have been asked to take steps to mitigate the sufferings of the devotees,” he said.
Besides, 50 free medical camps were installed and additional beds were arranged at Shahid Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital for providing medical treatment.
Ambulances will be kept ready for providing emergency services.
Read: Biswa Ijtema 2024: Preparation is going on in full swing
Meanwhile, 15,000 members of law enforcement agencies will be deployed to maintain law and order at the Ijtema venue and adjacent areas. Besides, plainclothes police and intelligence officers will remain deployed in the area.
RAB will perform duties alongside police and watchtowers will be set up to observe the overall situation.
The cyber team will strengthen their surveillance to prevent spread of rumours in the social networking sites.
Deputy Commissioner Abul Fate Mohammad Shafiqul Islam said five mobile teams will perform their duties round the clock to prevent the selling of adulterated food and ensure peaceful atmosphere.
Meanwhile, two devotees died after arriving at the Ijtema venue.
The deceased were identified as Yunus Mia, 60, of Brahmanbaria’s Sarail and Jamal Uddin, 40 of Sadar upazila in Chapainawabganj district.
Both of them died of cardiac arrest, said Farhana Tasnim, physician of Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital.
ADB commits record climate finance of almost $10 bln for Asia, the Pacific
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) committed a record amount of climate finance in 2023 to help its developing member countries (DMCs) in Asia and the Pacific cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of a warming planet.
ADB committed $9.8 billion in climate finance from its own resources last year—$5.5 billion for mitigation and $4.3 billion for adaptation—a more than 46% increase on its 2022 climate financing commitments.
The bank’s climate adaptation finance commitments in 2023 mean that ADB has provided more than $10.4 billion in cumulative adaptation financing from 2019 to 2023—surpassing its target of $9 billion in 2019–2024 a year early.
Adaptation financing is critical in Asia and the Pacific which is experiencing more extreme heat, droughts, and heavy rains, but where investments in adaptation remain a fraction of what is required, said the Manila-based lending agency.
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“Climate change threatens the future of all development. 2023 was the hottest year on record and saw a swath of extreme, deadly climate impacts in our region,” said ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa.
“This crisis threatens energy and food security and creates fiscal challenges. As the climate bank for Asia and the Pacific, ADB is deeply committed to helping our developing members de-fossilize their economies, progress along their climate transition pathways, and achieve their net-zero goals. We must act together, with urgency and at scale.”
Asia and the Pacific originates more than half of global carbon dioxide emissions while also being acutely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
The region needs to invest an estimated $3.1 trillion per year in energy and transport assets alone to meet net zero by 2050—around 50% more than current levels.
As Asia and the Pacific’s climate bank, ADB aims to provide $100 billion in climate financing from its own resources from 2019 to 2030.
Read: ADB predicts robust growth for developing Asia amid global challenges
In 2022, ADB committed $6.7 billion of climate finance from its own resources, including $4 billion for mitigation and $2.7 billion for adaptation.
ADB’s flagship climate projects in 2023 include a $400 million policy-based loan to help Bangladesh implement its national adaptation plan and pursue climate-focused development; a $1 billion loan to help deploy the Philippines’ first large-scale electric bus system in Davao City; and an $18 million grant from the Asian Development Fund (ADF) to improve the resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainability of water supply and sanitation services in the Federated States of Micronesia.
The ADF provides grants to ADB's lower-income DMCs to promote poverty reduction and improvements in the quality of life.
Dhaka’s air quality: Once again world’s worst
Dhaka has once again topped the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality. The AQI score of Dhaka’s air quality was 254 at 9 am on Thursday (February 01, 2024).Dhaka’s air was classified as “very unhealthy”, posing serious health risks to residents, according to the air quality index.Ghana’s Accra, India’s Mumbai and Nepal’s Kathmandu occupied the second, third and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 191, 179 and 173, respectively.
As cold weather continues, Dhaka’s air quality still ‘unhealthy’When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, between 150 and 200 is “unhealthy”, between 201 and 300 is said to be “very unhealthy”, while a reading of 301+ is considered “hazardous”, posing serious health risks to residents.The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
Dhaka’s air quality again world's worst this morningThe AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.