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DNCC's Anti-Aedes drive: Tk 1.28 crore fine imposed in 16 days
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has imposed a total fine of 1.28 crore in 16 days of a month-long special mosquito eradication drive.
DNCC imposed fine of Tk 2.21 lakh in 7 cases after finding Aedes larvae in several establishments on the 16th day, according to a press release.
18 establishments fined out of 280 inspected during DSCC’s anti-Aedes drive
Regional executive officers and executive magistrates conducted simultaneous drives in all 10 areas of DNCC.
The drive will be carried out throughout July.
23 establishments fined Tk 3.66 lakh in DSCC's anti-Aedes drive
The country has been experiencing a massive rise in Dengue cases in the past few days. Since January of this year, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has recorded 35, 270 dengue cases and 185 deaths across the country.
Submit list of railway land grabbers within 30 days: HC
The High Court on Tuesday ordered the authorities concerned to submit within 30 days a list of those who have occupied the land of Bangladesh Railway in different parts of the country.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order after hearing a petition filed by a human rights organisation.
Senior Advocate Manzill Murshid stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Md Saifuddin Khaled represented the state.
High Court orders submission of list of top drug traffickers
The HC also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the inaction of the respondents to free the land of railway should not be declared unlawful and directives should not be given to evict the land grabbers.
Secretary to the Railway Ministry , Director of Bangladesh Railway and assistant land officers have been made respondents to the rule which is returnable in two weeks.
High Court orders investigation into alleged money laundering by Biopharma
It also wanted to know how much land of Bangladesh Railway has been occupied by the land grabbers.
Advocate Manzill Murshid, said in 2016, a writ petition was filed seeking directives to evict the encroachers from the land of railway land in Narayanganj. Later, a number of reports were published over encroachment of railway land in Sirajganj, Bogura, Pabna and other districts.
High Court questions hike in price of performing hajj
Hundreds of acres of land of Bangladesh Railway have been occupied due to involvement of some unscrupulous railway officials and these lands needed to be free from occupation, he said. It is possible only through the intervention of the court, he added.
Low pressure area formed over Bay
A low pressure area has formed over Westcentral Bay and adjoining Northwest Bay, Bangladesh Meteorological Department(BMD) has said.
Light to moderate rain or thunder showers may drench different parts of the country, said a BMD bulletin on Tuesday.
Low pressure area intensifies into well-marked low over Bay: Met office
It predicted rain or thundershowers at many places over Sylhet & Mymensingh divisions; at a few places over Rangpur & Chattogram divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna & Barishal divisions with moderately heavy falls at places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram & Sylhet divisions.
Low pressure area formed over Bay; Mild heat wave may continue
Besides, mild heat wave is sweeping Dhaka, Rajshahi, Pabna, Feni & Chuadanga and it may continue.
Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
Low pressure area likely to be formed over Southeast Bay by May 8: BMD
Bangladesh-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Room opened at FAO Headquarters
Bangladesh-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Room was inaugurated on Monday at the Headquarters of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is now here to attend the UN Food Systems Summit+2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2), opened the room. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu was present at the function.
Read: PM Hasina offers Nepal use of Pyra port during meeting with Nepalese counterpart in Rome
The establishment of the Room marks the celebration of the 100th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who had a dream of building a nation free from hunger and poverty and initiated the “Green Revolution” in the agriculture sector of Bangladesh.
Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said that her country is delighted to have a little piece of Bangladesh inside the FAO Headquarters.
In this regard, she expressed her gratitude to the Director General and his team for their whole-hearted support in making it possible.
Read: Time has come for a climate-smart agri-food revolution: PM Hasina tells UN food summit
She said Bangladesh became a member of FAO in 1973 under the guidance of our Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Mentioning that Bangabandhu’s life-long mission was to free Bangladesh’s people from oppression, poverty and hunger, she said that “I pay my profound homage to his memory as we officially open this room that bears his name.”
Significance of Bangladeshi private sector lies in ability to drive economic growth, says AmCham President
The significance of the Bangladeshi private sector lies in its ability to drive economic growth, create employment opportunities, attract investment, and foster innovation, said Syed Ershad Ahmed, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh.
“This competitive advantage leads to increased foreign direct investment (FDI) by offering profitable business opportunities, and, in creating a favorable investment climate, putting the economy on a path to cross a $1 trillion mark by 2040, according to the World Bank & BCG Analysis,” he said, according to a press release.
Also read: AmCham recommends focusing crisis management contingency approach prioritizing expenditures
The AmCham president made the remarks during its monthly Luncheon meeting on Monday – held at a hotel in the capital.
Bangladesh is making its way to becoming a developing nation with an impressively steady annual GDP growth rate, unique geopolitical location, and solid and skilled workforce that’s attracting global attention, labeling us as an FDI-friendly country, said.
Also read: Budget 2023-24 reaction: AmCham focuses on crisis management
“Ready Made Garments (RMG) sector and Foreign Remittance earnings shielded us despite all these unforeseen challenges in the pre-COVID era,” the AmCham president said.
Among others, Martin Holtmann the country manager of International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan was present at the luncheon meeting.
During his speech, the AmCham president acknowledged IFC’s contribution to private sector’s growth in Bangladesh.
Also read: More cooperation may attract more US investment in diversified segments, hopes AmCham President
The audience comprised members of the American Chamber of Commerce, former presidents of AmCham, business leaders, representatives from the US Embassy and other diplomatic missions, distinguished guests, and members of the media.
Shielding capital Dhaka from loadshedding masks reality of power cuts biting nation
Though there was no loadshedding in the capital city Dhaka, again the gap between the demand and supply is increasing in the power system across the country.
According to official sources, the areas outside the capital Dhaka had to experience between 700 MW to 1200 MW of loadshedding during the day and evening peak hours on Monday.
They said the loadshedding situation was better in the last two weeks across the country due to the calm weather situation. But with the increased heatwave, the power supply situation is getting worse in recent days.
The official data of the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh showed that different areas, specially, rural areas of the country experienced a shortfall of about 781 MW at 12 noon when the demand was 14,200 MW against the generation of 13,419 MW.
At 3pm the shortfall ballooned to 1347 MW when the demand went up to 14,250 MW against a supply of 12,903 MW.
The extent of loadshedding, however, came down to 786 MW at the evening peak hour at 7pm on Monday when both demand and supply also increased.
“The power supply increased to 13,533 MW and generation was also increased to 14,340 MW at the 7 pm… power supply was increased through the start of some peaking plants,” said a top official of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).
He confirmed that Dhaka city was kept out of loadshedding as per a specific government's directive.
“But we can’t avoid power outages in rural areas to keep the system running,” he said, adding that mainly areas in greater Mymensingh and Rangpur are suffering the most in terms of power outage.
Areas under greater Dhaka, Barisal, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Sylhet are experiencing less loadshedding compared with areas in greater Mymensingh and Rangpur, he said.
About the power supply situation in Dhaka, both the officials of Dhaka Electric Supply Company (Desco) and Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC) informed that they don't expect ;padshedding here. load shedding.
“We’re getting adequate electricity supply against our demand of about 1,800 MW in the day peak times and there was no loadshedding in my areas,” DPDC managing director Bikash Dewan told UNB.
The same was echoed by Desco managing director Kausar Ameer Ali.
“We received 1,263 MW of electricity against the same in our demand at that time,” he said.
President’s press secretary gets extension till Feb 10
The contractual tenure of Md Joynal Abedin, press secretary of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, has been extended till February 10, 2024.
Build social movement against corruption: President Shahabuddin tells ACC
A gazette notification signed by the Public Administration Ministry’s Senior Assistant Secretary Kaniz Fatema said this on Monday.
Also read: Joynal reappointed President’s press secretary
The gazette said as continuation of his contractual appointment, the tenure of Joynal Abedin, as press secretary of the president, has been extended till February 10, 2024 from July 11 this year.
Also read: Outgoing Navy Chief meets President
Vice Admiral M Nazmul Hassan takes over as Chief of Naval Staff
Vice Admiral M Nazmul Hassan has been appointed as the new Chief of Naval Staff.
He has taken over the duties of incumbent CNS Admiral Shaheen Iqbal, according to a press release of the Inter Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR) on Monday.
A ceremony marking the hand-over of CNS duties took place at the at Naval Headquarters on Monday afternoon, it said.
Principal staff officers, area commanders, admin authorities, managing directors of dockyards and shipyards and high officials of Bangladesh Navy were present in the ceremony.
Newly appointed Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral M Nazmul Hassan was commissioned in Bangladesh Navy on July 1, 1986.
Prior to his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Nazmul Hassan has performed the duties of Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations), Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Personnel), Director Naval Operations, and Director Naval Intelligence at Naval Headquarters and as Director General Civil Military Relations of Armed Forces Division.
Vice Admiral Nazmul is a distinguished graduate of Defense Services Command and Staff College at Mirpur and Naval War College in USA. He also attended Naval Command Course in US and National Defence Course in Bangladesh. His academic qualifications include Bachelor of Science degree from Chattogram University and Masters in Defense Studies from National University.
He also took part in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in former Yugoslavia. His 38-year career has been marked by great professionalism and military prowess, influenced by the values of the Father of the Nation, the spirit of the Liberation War, and patriotism. He has always been committed to developing Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Navy, reads the press release.
Vice Admiral Nazmul has commanded Bangladesh Navy Fleet and also served as the Commander Chattogram Naval Area. During this time, he continued the process of rehabilitation of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals in Bhasan Char, added the press release.
Declaring you oppose an election tantamount to spoiling election environment: Hasan Mahmud
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Monday said that declaring to oppose the election is tantamount to spoiling the election environment.
“Someone can boycott the election but no one has the right to oppose it. If someone declares to oppose the election it is tantamount to spoiling the election environment,” he said while talking to reporters after a meeting with the newly elected Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters Forum (BSRF) committee at the Secretariat.
Referring to the remark of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleging that the government is trying to repress the opposition party by controlling the internet, Hasan said “When BNP was in power, there were 50 lakh internet users in the country but now 13 crore people are using the internet as the current government made it universal.”
Political crime surges in the country: Info Minister
Replying to a question about the election decision of BNP, the minister said “We want BNP to join the election with its full power. At one point they are saying that they will not participate in the election, on the other hand they said they are being refrained from the election. We want the BNP in the election and participate in the election as per the constitution.”
Foreign envoys' statement over attack on election candidate is clear violation of Vienna Convention: Information Minister
“It is clear in the statement of the BNP secretary general that they want to participate in the election but they can’t do it due to an invisible power,” he said.
He also made a request to BNP to take the party to the people of the country after freeing it from invisible grip.
BNP’s demand for dissolving Parliament is threat to democracy: Info Minister
Transforming Global Food Systems: $400 billion needed per year while doing nothing could cost $12 trillion
Following recent news that the fight against hunger has stalled, a gathering of global leaders taking stock of progress made in transforming food systems becomes even more urgent.
“There will be no end to the cycle of hunger and poverty if we continue to finance instruments and business models that do not work for primary producers and food-systems operators,” said Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in a statement during the opening session of UN Food Systems Summit + 2 Stocktaking Moment on Monday.
He added that firm financial commitments and political will are needed to halt current trends and build a food secure future.
The Summit is convened by UN Secretary General António Guterres, who said in his opening address: “In a world of plenty, it is outrageous that people continue to suffer and die from hunger.”
Later he added, “Starving food systems on investment means, quite literally, starving people.”
The emerging global vision is to create a new food financial architecture with governments, the private sector and development partners mobilising as much as US$400 billion a year until 2030 - far less than the cost of inaction estimated at $12 trillion a year in environmental, social, and economic damage to communities, families, livelihoods and lives.
Providing access to healthy diets
“Today’s food systems have failed to make nutritious diets accessible or affordable for all. Four out 10 people worldwide are unable to afford a healthy diet. We must build a world where healthy and nutritious food is available and affordable for everyone, everywhere. If we don’t act now, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate targets remain completely out of reach,” said Lario.
Read: UN food chief: Billions needed to avert unrest, starvation
According to the latest figures that the UN released on 12 July, 122 million more people are suffering chronic malnourishment since 2019. Currently, over 3 billion people in the world cannot afford a healthy diet. Food systems are responsible for one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, up to 80% of biodiversity loss and up to 70% of fresh-water consumption.
Financing food systems transformation: a cost within reach
“We need to massively scale-up investments in rural development and across food systems to help small-scale farmers produce more food and more diversified food, access markets, value chains and technologies and adapt to climate change,” added Lario. IFAD, the only UN fund that exclusively focuses on rural areas, is co-leading the financing agenda together with the World Bank Group.
“All the governments represented here today have committed to eliminating poverty and hunger, and to taking urgent climate action by 2030. So, I am here to say loudly and clearly that we will not succeed – that you will not succeed – unless we transform our food systems today.
Read: UN food price index dropped in July for fourth month
The stakes are higher than ever. The next few years are critical for financing food security,” said Sabrina Elba, who is receiving an honourable mention at the UN SDG Awards for her work as IFAD’s Goodwill Ambassador.
The Summit is taking stock over the next three days of the progress made to create inclusive, sustainable and resilient food systems. The event is hosting 2,000 in-person participants and thousands of virtual attendees from 170 countries – including 22 heads of state, 103 ministerial level delegates, close to 100 Food Systems National Convenors, 450 non-state actor (NSA) delegates, and high-level delegates from the UN system and other international organizations.
Read more: UN food agency members vote to elect new director general