bangladesh
PM receives treatment at National Institute of Ophthalmology as an ordinary patient
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday morning received treatment at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
The premier went to the hospital in the morning and received treatment by purchasing a Tk 10-ticket as an out-door patient like other ordinary patients, said the Prime Minister’s press wing.
Dhaka's train link with north-western parts of country snapped after train accident in Gazipur
At least four people were injured as a commuter train crashed into a stationary oil carrying freight train at Outer Signal of Joydebpur Railway junction in Gazipur on Friday morning, said railway officials.
Several compartmentds of both the trains derailed after the accident that occurred around 11am, disrupting rail communication with Dhaka and northern and western parts of the country.
Sub Inspector Setafur Rahman, In-Charge of Joydebpur railway police outpost, said the accident happened around 10:50am when the Dhaka-bound Tangail Commuter Train hit the Gazipur-bound freight train due to a mistake of the signalman on the south end of the station.
The accident left four compartments of the commuter train and five compartments of the freight train derailed, he said, adding that four people including the loco master of the commuter train sustained injuries.
Measures were being taken to remove the derailed compartments from the rail tracks, he said
UN unanimously adopts Bangladesh’s Resolution on Culture of Peace
The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously adopted Bangladesh’s flagship annual resolution on the ‘Culture of Peace’ with an overwhelming number of co-sponsorships.
Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in New York Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith introduced the resolution at the General Assembly Hall.
It marks the 25th anniversary of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.
In 1999, during the first tenure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the delegation of Bangladesh led the intergovernmental negotiations for adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action which identified eight areas of action to promote culture of peace and non-violence.
While introducing the resolution, Ambassador Muhith highlighted the continued relevance of culture of peace, as the world faces spiralling conflicts and dereliction of human dignity.
“To reverse the trend, we must rekindle the brighter and harmonious faculties of the human minds, foster respect for equality and equal value of all human beings; and most importantly we must make peace more profitable than war,” he said.
To observe and celebrate the 25th anniversary in a befitting manner, the president of the General Assembly has been requested to convene a day-long high-level forum.
Through this resolution, the General Assembly also invited the Member States, United Nations entities, international and regional organisations and other relevant stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, academia and the media to observe the 25th anniversary, in an appropriate manner, including through educational and public awareness-raising activities.
Referring to Bangladesh’s own experience of war and devastation, Muhith said that the initiative of Bangladesh to introduce the notion of culture of peace in the UN was inspired by the country’s own experience.
“Having born out of a devastating war that was rooted in discrimination, racial intolerance and subjugation, we made promotion of peace a fundamental principle of our foreign policy,” he added.
The consideration of the resolution was preceded by a general debate on the culture of peace.
A large number of member states and groups of countries delivered statements in which they expressed their commitment to advancing the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a culture of peace.
The delegations particularly acknowledged the historic leadership of Bangladesh on this agenda.
This year's resolution has been cosponsored by 112 countries, showcasing a broad-based endorsement from a diverse representation of UN Member States.
9 Bangladeshi universities in Times Higher Education 2024 Asia list
Nine Bangladeshi universities have made it to the Times Higher Education 2024 Asia list.
Times Higher Education, a renowned education magazine from the UK, shared a list of 739 universities across Asia for the year 2024 on its website on April 30.
Including Bangladesh, the list includes universities from 31 different territories in Asia. Among them, India has 91 universities, China has 86, and Pakistan has 40 universities.
Bangladeshi universities, including BUET and Jahangirnagar University, are ranked between 301-350.
Other top universities in Bangladesh include Bangladesh Agricultural University, North South University, BRAC University, University of Dhaka, University of Rajshahi, Khulna University, and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.
The top two spots on the list went to Chinese universities: Tsinghua University and Peking University. China also has 33 universities in the top 100.
In India, the Indian Institute of Science is at the top, ranking 32nd in Asia. In Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam University leads nationally and ranks 121st in Asia.
Times Higher Education Rankings 2023: DU, NSU ranked top Bangladeshi universities
The rankings consider things like teaching quality, research, industry connections, and international influence.
The list was made available on Times Higher Education's website on Tuesday (April 30th).
Dhaka urges coordinated efforts by all countries to address global challenges of terrorism
Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran has stressed the need for undertaking coordinated and concerted efforts by all countries to effectively address the global challenge of terrorism.
Terrorism is a global challenge and no country can handle it alone, he said while speaking at a function recently, according to a message received here on Friday.
While talking about the protracted Rohingya crisis, the ambassador reiterated Bangladesh’s stance on durable and dignified repatriation of all displaced Rohingya people to their homeland in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.
If the problem persists further, it may affect the security and stability of the entire region and jeopardize development initiatives, he said.
A delegation of the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies, a preeminent institution of the US Department of Defense (DoD), visited Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC recently and joined an interactive session with officials of the mission.
Dr. Hassan Abbas, the Distinguished Professor of the NESA Centre for Strategic Studies, led the 46-member team.
The delegation comprised of participants of 28 countries in a seminar organised by the NESA Centre in Washington DC.
Ambassador Imran highlighted the history of Bangladesh and the country’s recent socioeconomic development.
He also focused on the Rohingya crisis issue, Bangladesh’s success in countering terrorism and extremism and the progress on Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).
While addressing the interactive session at the Bangabandhu Auditorium in Embassy, Dr. Abbas, highly commended Bangladesh’s success in combatting terrorism, violent extremism as well as climate change challenges.
Referring to Bangladesh’s rich history, culture and heritage, he said he was highly inspired by the historical figures of Bangladesh in his personal and professional life.
Dr Abbas said his institution— NESA Center for Strategic Studies — is looking forward to closer relationship between Bangladesh and the United States and wished more prosperous and developed Bangladesh.
First Secretary of the Mission Wahiduzzaman Noor highlighted the various initiatives and successes of Bangladesh in combating terrorism and extremism before the delegation.
First Secretary of the Mission Ataur Rahman moderated the event, while Counsellor and Head of Chancery Shamima Yasmin Smriti was in the overall coordination of the session.
Fear of fruit failure grips mango growers in Chapainawabganj as heatwave Intensifies
Chapainawabganj, the country's mango capital, is facing a potential fruit failure this year due to the relentless heatwave scorching the region. Mango cultivation, already hit by an off-year with lower yields, is now under further threat as the intense heat dries up and causes immature mangoes to fall from trees.
Despite efforts by farmers to irrigate and control the situation with pesticides, the mangoes continue to fall, raising serious concerns about the district's mango output. The woes of growers began earlier in the season when excessive cold delayed the emergence of mango buds. This was followed by untimely rains during the blooming stage, destroying many buds and reducing fruit production.
Off year for mangoes in Chapainawabganj? Farmers fear potential loss
Disheartened by these initial setbacks, farmers are now grappling with the scorching heatwave. A visit to several orchards revealed a disheartening scene – small mangoes scattered on the ground instead of hanging healthily on the trees. The lack of rain has stunted their growth, leaving them significantly smaller than they should be at this stage.
Some fortunate farmers with the resources have installed diesel-powered irrigation machines to provide much-needed water to their trees. However, many others lack this facility and can only watch helplessly as their mangoes fall victim to the harsh weather conditions.
Chapainawabganj agriculture entrepreneur’s innovative mango cultivation technique doubles yield
Abdur Ahad, a local mango grower, shared his worries: "This year, there were very few mangoes to begin with due to the scarce buds. Now, the situation is even worse with the drought. The mangoes are drying up and falling every day. Despite irrigating and spraying, I can't seem to stop them. The lack of rain is hindering their growth as well."
Abdur Rakib, another grower from Ajaipaur, echoed Ahad's concerns. "The intense heatwave is causing the mangoes to fall. I've already sprayed them thrice, and the production cost is skyrocketing. If the yield is affected, I'm looking at a major financial loss."
Special mango train on Chapainawabganj-Dhaka route launched
Shamima, a grower from the same area, painted a bleak picture: "The condition of mangoes in our district is very bad. We won't be able to achieve our goals from cultivating the orchards. It seems like there will be a mango fruit failure this time."
Palash Sarkar, Deputy Director of the District Agricultural Extension Department, explained the factors contributing to the crisis. "This year, we observed a significant decrease in mango bud formation. The dense fog in February and March followed by rain and light hailstorms damaged the flowers during the crucial flowering stage. Now, the intense heatwave is causing the remaining mangoes to fall. The possibility of future hailstorms and Kal Baisakhi storms further threatens the yield."
According to the Department of Agriculture, mango cultivation in Chapainawabganj this season covers 37,604 hectares of land, with a target production of 450,000 metric tons. Last season, the district produced 443,625 MT of mangoes.
The current heatwave poses a significant threat to exceeding or even meeting last year's production. The plight of Chapainawabganj's mango growers highlights the vulnerability of agriculture to extreme weather events and the urgent need for climate-resilient practices to safeguard future harvests.
Duet students, transport workers clash as bus services suspended in Gazipur
Bus movement on the Dhaka-Gazipur route has remained suspended since Friday morning following a clash between students of Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (Duet) and transport workers in Gazipur Sadar upazila on Thursday night.
Bus passengers were bearing the brunt of it, as no buses from the Gazipur Bus Stand left for Dhaka as of filing this report around 11:00 am on Friday.
However, bus movement on other routes from Gazipur remained normal.
Nandalal Chowdhury, inspector (investigation) of Sadar Police Station under Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP), said two Duet students narrowly escaped a road accident late Thursday night when a bus hit one of the motorbikes carrying them from behind in the bus stand area on their way to campus from the Shibbari intersection.
Later, an altercation broke out between the students and the transport workers, centring on the matter, he said.
As the news of the clash spread on the Duet campus, aggrieved students from the university rushed to the spot, carried out an attack on the workers, and vandalised the windows of some buses, the inspector also said.
Protesting the attack and demanding justice, the transport workers held a protest procession and kept buses off since the morning, he said.
Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Syed Rafiul Karim Rafi said they were trying to resolve the matter so that bus movement could be resumed.
Arakan Army releases 12 Bangladeshi fishermen
The Arakan Army, a rebel group in Myanmar, has released 12 Bangladeshi fishermen who were abducted from the Thaiingkhali Rahmaterbazar border area in Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar, while fishing in the Naf River.
They were released after 7 pm on Thursday. Around 8 pm, a young man named Abdul Jalil from the Hoikyang Lambabil area of Teknaf upazila, who was among the abductees, confirmed the release of the 12 Bangladeshis.
He said, "The Arakan Army had taken us from the Bangladesh side of the Naf River. After confirming our identity as Bangladeshis by checking our national ID cards, they wanted to release us at noon. But considering the border situation, they later released us at 7 pm in an area called Balukhal on the Bangladesh side of the Naf River at the border. We are all fine."
On Wednesday morning around 8 am, they were taken from the Naf River on the Thaiingkhali Rahmaterbazar border in Palongkhali union of Ukhiya.
Confirming the release of the abductees, Palongkhali Union Parishad Chairman M Gofur Uddin Chowdhury said, "The fishermen were abducted while fishing in the Bangladesh side of the Naf River. They were released after 7 pm on Thursday."
The released fishermen are: Jane Alam (35), son of Hossain Ali of Rahmaterbazar Bil area of Palongkhali union; Abdur Rahim (40), son of deceased Abdus Salam; Anwarul Islam (37) and Saiful Islam (30), sons of deceased Jalal Ahmed; Ayubul Islam (30), son of deceased Ali Ahmed; Shah Alam (20), son of Abu Taher;
Abdur Rahim (52), son of Ali Ahmed of Gaujgona area; Osman Gani (30), son of deceased Mia Hossain of Putibania area; Osman (35), son of deceased Abul Sham; Abul Hashim (35), son of Ayub Islam; Abdul Jalil (32), son of Roman Ali of Hoikyang Lambabil area of Teknaf upazila; Hossain Ahmed (55) of Daingyakata area.
Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Tanvir Hossain said, "Since they were abducted from the border area, the matter has been informed to BGB."
Without directly mentioning the name of the Arakan Army, Tanvir Hossain said he has also heard that a separatist organisation in Myanmar was involved in the abduction of the fishermen.
No statement could be obtained from BGB in this regard.
Law enacted to ban rice polishing goes into effect from Aman season: Food Minister
Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder said on Thursday that the nutritional value of rice is lost due to excessive trimming and polishing.
"So, a law was enacted to ban polishing the rice, and it would be implemented from Aman season on," he added.
The minister was speaking at a meeting with the officials of the Food Department on the occasion of the Boro paddy-rice collection campaign at Circuit House in Naogaon on Thursday afternoon.
He said that 16 to 20 lakh metric tonnes of rice are wasted due to excessive rice trimming and polishing. "If there is a law, this huge quantity of rice will be saved, and consumers can buy rice at a lower price."
Regarding price tags on rice sacks, the food minister said that the work has already started. The sacks with prices and types of rice have started coming into the market.
Majumdar said that it will be ensured that no farmer or mill owner is harassed while giving paddy to the government food warehouse. “Strict action will be taken against the culprits in case of any complaint of harassment.”
In response to the question of whether the procurement of paddy will be successful, he said that measures are being taken to identify the reasons why the collection of paddy is not successful.
"The procurement of paddy will be successful, like rice collection this year," he hoped.
Last year, rice was not imported into our country. Due to the timely action of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, production has increased multiple times, he added.
"This year, we had a bumper yield of Boro paddy as well," he mentioned.
Stay away from upazila polls: PM Hasina tells ministers and AL MPs
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday warned ministers and MPs of her party not to use their influence in the upcoming upazila elections.
She issued the warning while chairing the meeting of the Awami League Parliamentary Party (ALPP) at the meeting room of ruling party at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
She said that those who will defy the party’s instructions and fielded their family members and relatives in the upazila elections, they will have to stay with their families in the future.
Who they want to bring to power ousting me: PM Hasina wonders about leftists
“They will not get the people's vote,” an Awami League MP who was present at the meeting quoted Hasina as saying.
She gave instructions to her party’s deputies to provide all-out support to the administration to make the Upazila Parishad elections free, fair and impartial.
Addressing the AL MPs, the prime minister said that it's bad that the relatives of the MPs are participating in the upazila election.
“It's not right for them to do that. What the party activists will do? Leaders and activists need space and respect,” another MP quoted her as saying.
Thailand visit a significant step forward in efforts to protect Bangladesh’s economic interests and enhance regional involvement: PM Hasina
The prime minister indicated actions against those who are participating in the upazila elections defying the party’s instructions.
An AL MP said that the prime minister told them that the party belongs to everyone.
“Everyone should be given a chance. Awami family should be made bigger. It is not good that only relatives of AL MPs will vote in the polls. If this is the case, you will not get votes in the future,” the AL MP quoted the party chief.
Referring to the twelfth parliamentary elections, the prime minister said that the voting this time was the best after 1975. She wanted such vote in upazila too.
Awami League president, who is also the leader of the House, also spoke about the independent MPs.
Addressing the party MPs, the prime minister said, many have participated in the polls independently with my permission.
“Don’t make any trouble for them," she said.
PM Hasina to discuss outcomes of Thailand visit at media briefing today
The PM also said that she will also sit with independent MPs and other political parties.
AL lawmakers--Salahuddin Miyaji, Mohit Ur Rahman, Religious Affairs Minister Faridul Haque Khan, Draupadi Devi Agarwala, Farzana Sumi and Anima Mukti Gomez also spoke at the meeting.