Others
Take action immediately if unauthorised landfilling is identified: Land Minister
Land Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda has directed the divisional commissioners to take measures to prevent the unauthorised use of farmland for housing, commercial, and industrial purposes.
Additionally, he directed them to take the necessary measures to prevent unauthorised land filling activities with sand or soil as soon as they are discovered.
Land Reforms Board's capacity will be increased: Land Minister
The minister gave the directive while addressing the divisional commissioner coordination meeting as the chief guest at the Secretariat on Thursday.
The land minister reiterated the prime minister's directive to protect double- and triple-crop farmland for food security and environmental protection. He emphasised the need to build a social movement to prevent the illegal cutting of land's top layer or filling of land with sand or soil.
If any such incident occurs, locals should be encouraged to promptly inform the relevant office, and quick measures should be taken to prevent further illegal activities, added Narayon.
He informed the divisional commissioners that the Land Zoning and Protection Act, 2024 (draft) is in the final stage to protect agricultural land and the environment.
Provide land service through sincerity and good behaviour: Land Minister to ACs Land
The land minister said the purpose of this law is to prevent unplanned urbanisation, housing, construction of houses, development activities, and construction of industries and roads; to protect the environment and continue the production of food crops while maintaining the class or nature of the land; To ensure planned and optimum use of land, including protection of agricultural land, forests, hillocks, hills, rivers, canals, and water bodies; and to ensure the use of land and state discipline in the best use of land through planned zoning.
1, 333 more city and union land offices to be constructed across country: Land Minister
Additional Secretary Md Abbas Uddin chaired the meeting. Among others, chairman of the Land Appeal Board, AKM Shamimul Haque, chairman of the Land Reform Board, Md.Abdus Sabur Mondal were present in the meeting, among others.
Upazila parishad polls to be held in free, fair environment: Quader
Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Thursday said the upazila parishad election will be held in a free, impartial, fair and peaceful environment though BNP leaders are making confusing statements over the polls going beyond political etiquette.
“Bangladesh Awami League is determined to develop democratic culture. Elections at different tiers of local government are immensely important for empowerment of people. Upazila Parishad elections will be held in a free, neutral, fair and peaceful environment,” he said.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said this in a statement sent to the media to protest the ‘false and fabricated’ remarks of BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and its other leaders.
BNP's ‘wrong’ political strategy has left its leadership perpetually embroiled in conspiracies: Quader
He alleged that BNP leaders are making confusing statements about the upazila elections, going beyond political etiquette.
“BNP as always has taken a stance against the elections and the country's democracy. That is why people have turned away from them,” said the AL leader.
Noting that Awami League had to take a strategic stance regarding the upazila election in the context of BNP’s an anti-election stance, he said Awami League is not allocating it’s symbol (Boat) this time.
“Awami League expects that persons, who are acceptable to the party (AL) and the people outside the party, would be elected,” said Quader.
He said Awami League has given strict organisational instructions so that ministers, MPs and party leaders can’t make any sort of interference in the upazila parishad elections.
Extensive electoral campaigns and spontaneous participation of the people are being noticed in the first phase upazila election, said the AL general secretary.
CHT situation to be normal soon: Quader
“When the people of the country are spontaneously participating in the elections, the BNP leaders are taking steps to question the country's democratic system and elections as always. BNP wants to disrupt the electoral system and destroy the democratic process,” he said.
Quader said BNP leaders including BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir have been continuously lying.
“In fact, they have no respect towards democracy and the rule of law. On one hand they are nurturing arson terrorists and on the other hand they are raising false allegations of suppressing the opposition when the law enforcement agencies take legal action against the terrorists. BNP has continuously been engaged in conspiracies to destroy the continuation of democracy and stability of Bangladesh,” he said.
Joint operations in Bandarban: Obaidul Quader assures control amid challenges
The AL leader alleged that BNP leaders are trying to protect terrorists by making false allegations of suppression of opposition parties.
“We want to say in an unequivocal voice that Awami League does not believe in suppressing the opposition parties. But there is no exemption for terrorists and they must face justice no matter what party they belong to,” he said.
The AL general secretary urged everyone to be aware and alert about the anti-democratic activities of BNP.
Besides, he asked his party’s leaders and activists to extend full cooperation to the Election Commission for arrangement of free, fair and peaceful elections.
Biman recruits 84 ground service assistants to improve passenger services
Aiming to enhance passenger services and ground handling capacity, Biman Bangladesh Airlines has recruited 84 ground service assistants.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director and CEO Shafiul Azim officially issued the appointment letter to 84 new ground service assistants at Biman Head Office on Thursday.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Director (Customer Service) Motiul Islam Chowdhury was present at the event along with various Biman officials.
Expatriate Bangladeshis in Venice ecstatic over launch of Biman flight to Rome
Biman CEO said the newly recruited ground service assistants will play an important role in the continuous improvement of Biman Bangladesh Airlines' passenger services and increasing the capacity of ground handling.
He instructed the recruits to discharge their duties with integrity, efficiency and professionalism.
A total of 1100 people have been appointed in various positions of Biman in the last one year and the recruitment process of 550 people is on.
Biman resumes Dhaka-Rome-Dhaka flight after 9 years
Besides, equipment worth approximately 1000 crores has been purchased to increase the capacity of ground handling.
1 more dengue patient dies; 23 hospitalised in 24hrs
One more death was reported from dengue in 24 hours till Thursday morning, raising the number of fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease in Bangladesh to 24 this year.
During the period, 23 more patients were hospitalised with viral fever, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Of them, six were hospitalised in Dhaka city, while the rest were outside the capital.
A total of 96 patients are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
A total of 1,939 dengue cases have been reported since January 1, 2024.
Last year, a total of 1,705 people lost their lives due to dengue, making it the deadliest year on record. The DGHS recorded 321,179 dengue cases and 3, 18,749 recoveries last year.
Last year’s September was the deadliest month for the dengue outbreak, with 396 fatalities and 79,598 cases, according to DGHS data.
Govt to launch international news analysis programme on BTV: Arafat
The government is going to launch a two-hour international news analysis programme on Bangladesh Television (BTV), said state minister for information Mohammad A Arafat on Thursday.
He came up with this announcement while talking to reporters after a meeting with Indian High Commissioner Pranay Kumar Verma in his office at the Secretariat on Thursday.
BTV produced many renowned artists: Info Minister
He said, " We have discussed cooperation on various issues, particularly about the international news analysis programme on BTV. Discussion was held whether it is possible to cooperate with Indian news agency ANI."
The state minister said, "Since BTV is shown in India, we will gradually increase the time of this news analysis. We will try to make it an international standard. There will be news from various South Asian countries. We would also try to attract Indian viewers so that they watch them," he added.
“Collaborating with the Indian Film and Television Institute, we have to see whether any more co-productions like ‘Mujib: The Making of a Nation’ film can be done or not.”
BTV to air Buddha Purnima special programme 'Jaytu Buddha Sasanang’
Singer Pagal Hasan among 2 killed in Sunamganj road crash
Two people including popular singer Pagal Hasan were killed and three others injured in a collision between a bus and a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw in Chhatak upazila of Sunamganj early Thursday.
Pagol Hasan was a resident of Shimultala Muktigaon area and another autorickshaw passenger Sattar Mia, 52, son of Ahad Ali, hailed from Shimultala-Muktirgaon village.
The injured were identified as Layes Mia, Rupon Mia and Jahangir Alam of the same village.
According to locals, they were returning home after performing in a music programme in Dowarabazar area around 6:30 am.
After having tea and breakfast in Chhatak Gol Chattar area, when they were again going to Dowarabazar in a CNG-run auto-rickshaw a bus coming from the opposite side collided with the autorickshaw.
Matiur Rahman Hasan (Pagal Hasan) and Abdus Sattar died on the spot.
Chhatak Fire Service recovered the bodies and the injured were taken to Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
Police seized the bus and the CNG-run auto-rickshaw and took it to the police station.
Md Shah Alam, officer-in-charge of Chhatak Police Station, said the bodies were sent to Sunamganj morgue for autopsy.
Singer Md. Matiur Rahman Hasan (Pagal Hasan) was the composer of many popular songs including "Jiban Khata", "Aasman Jayo Na Re Bondhu", "Ami Ek Papistha Banda" "Train Engine".
Press Club President Gias Uddin Talukder, General Secretary Anwar Hossain Rin, Organizing Secretary Kazi Rezaul Kirom Reza and other leaders mourned his death.
Man dies after being hit by bus in Sirajganj
A 35-year-old man was killed as a bus hit him in Dhopakandi area under Salanga police station of Sirajganj district on Thursday.
The deceased Abdul Halim was the son of late Khorshed Alam of Dhopakandi village.
Quoting locals, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Hatikumrul Highway Police Station Monirul Islam, said Abdul Halim left home on Thursday (April 18) at around 12:30 pm to get his haircut.
The unidentified bus hit him while he was crossing the highway near his house, leaving him dead on the spot, he said.
On information, police recovered the body the spot and handed it over to the family as there was no complaint.
A case was filed in this regard, added the officer.
One held with 2 kg crystal meth in Cox’s Bazar
Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have arrested a young man along with two kgs of crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth or ice) in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar district on Wednesday night.
The arrestee was identified as Sain Mong Thoai Marma, 18, son of Mongsain Marma of Bandarban district.
Acting on secret information that a big consignment of drugs will be smuggled into the country from Myanmar, a team of BGB intercepted a CNG-run auto-rickshaw at Moricha checkpost and seized two kgs of crystal meth, kept in a shopping bag, from it, said a press release of BGB.
CID seizes assets worth Tk 179 crore of 10 drug traffickers
Later they arrested the driver for possessing drugs. He was later handed over to Ramu Police Station.
Two drug peddlers held with phensedyl in Kurigram
Dhaka’s air quality remains ‘unhealthy’ amid heat wave
As heat wave continues to impact daily life, Dhaka’s air quality has been again marked ‘unhealthy’.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 156 at 8:59 am this morning, Dhaka ranked ninth on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.
Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Nepal’s Kathmandu occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 206, 191 and 178, respectively.
No improvement in 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.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria 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.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.
Dhaka’s air quality 5th worst in the world this morning
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Tamabil land port to remain closed on April 18-19 for Indian general election
Import-export and immigration activities through Tamabil land port in Sylhet will remain suspended on Thursday and Friday.
Indian immigration police verbally informed Tamabil immigration police that import-export and immigration activities at Tamabil land port will be closed for the next two days on the occasion of the 18th general election of India.
Runu Mia, In-charge of Tamabil Immigration Police, confirmed the matter on Wednesday.
He said no letter has been received yet in this regard.
The 18th general election of India will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1.
It is to be noted that voting will be held in the first phase on April 19 in the two Lok Sabha seats of Meghalaya state, India, located opposite to Tamabil land port.