Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People's Republic of Bangladesh. To commemorate the milestone, Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh Pham Viet Chien and the embassy's staff visited and laid a floral wreath at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi 32 to pay tribute to Bangladesh's Father of the Nation, the "architect of setting up the diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Vietnam." Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh were also present. "Over the last 50 years, the excellent traditional friendship between Vietnam and Bangladesh has been consolidated and strengthened based on historical similarities and shared values of independence, peace, cooperation and development. Bilateral multi-faceted cooperation in various fields has been bolstered to be more intensive, substantive and effective," said the Vietnam Embassy in Dhaka. Trade and economic cooperation between the two economies have been constantly growing, stronger than ever before. "Bangladesh has been the second largest trading partner of Vietnam in South Asia. Remarkably, 2021 was the first time that the two-way trade turnover surpassed $1 billion, and approached $1.5 billion in 2022, recording an impressive 75-fold growth in the last 20 years and a four-fold increase in the last 10 years," said the Embassy of Vietnam. "Although the trade balance is still in favour of Vietnam, it is such a positive sign that Bangladesh's exports to Vietnam have exceeded $100 million for the first time in 2022." "After five decades of walking alongside each other on the path of national construction, both Vietnam and Bangladesh have transformed into emerging middle-income nations with high sustained growth and outstanding development successes," the Vietnamese mission said. "The phenomenal achievements in the last 50 years of Vietnam-Bangladesh diplomatic relations have created a firm basis to elevate the two nations' friendship to a new height, for the benefit of the two peoples, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and over the world," it added. Read more: 'Bangladesh, Vietnam to keep moving together living up to dreams of Bangabandhu, Ho Chi Minh'

Bangla daily Kaler Kantho stepped into the 14th year of its publication Tuesday. Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir inaugurated the celebrations of Kaler Kantho's 13th founding anniversary by cutting a cake at the conference room of East West Media Group in the capital Monday night. Editor-in-Chief of Kaler Kantho Imdadul Haq Milan, Editor Shahed Mohammad Ali; Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam, Daily Sun Editor Enamul Hoque Chowdhury and some officials of East West Media Group attended the programme, said a media statement. On January 10, 2010, Kaler Kantho launched its journey with the slogan "complete truth, not partial." Read more: Daily Sun steps into 13th year

NOVOAIR, country’s leading private airline has successfully completed its 10 years of operation and is celebrating 10th anniversary through various programs. NOVOAIR started the 1st flight on January 9, 2013, from Dhaka to Chattogram route, said a press release issued on Monday. On the occasion of the 10th anniversary, Mr. Mofizur Rahman, Managing Director of NOVOAIR, acknowledged the concerned authorities, business associates, and esteemed passengers for being with NOVOAIR for 10 years journey. "Our journey began with the promise of providing world-class service. Ensuring on-time flight operations and safe travel is the highest prerogative of our business philosophy. We give equal importance to these two main mantras, safety, and service,” he said. “NOVOAIR has served more than 5.5 million passengers by operating more than 1 lakh flights in 10 years by overcoming various challenges and adversities and has been established as a trustworthy, reliable, and trusted airline. Entering the New Year, we commit to ensuring enhanced passenger service through the expansion of domestic and international destinations in line with the needs of our esteemed passengers, and the addition of more aircraft to the fleet”, he added. NOVOAIR is currently operating flights from Dhaka on domestic routes to Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, Jashore, Saidpur, Rajshahi, and international routes to Kolkata. Besides, it is transporting passengers directly from Jashore to Cox's Bazar route and from Rajshahi to Cox's Bazar route. NOVOAIR always strives to improve the quality of passenger service by adding new services. To that end, as the country's first airline to offer special services to passengers, frequent flyer program Smiles, NOVOAIR-EBL co-branded prepaid MasterCard, a mobile app for easy ticket purchase and web check-in to make the check-in process hassle-free, NOVOAIR-MTB co-branded credit Activates the card service. NOVOAIR was awarded Best Domestic Airlines in 2014, Best Domestic Airlines in 2019, and Best Ontime Performance Airlines in 2021 by the fortnightly travel magazine The Bangladesh Monitor.  

Bangladesh Nutrition and Dietetics Forum (BNDF) on Friday celebrated its 4th anniversary.  The annual meeting of the BNDF was also held at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh chaired by its President Shamsun Naher Mohua. General Secretary of BNDF Tamanna Chowdhury delivered opening speech, said a media release.  Read: Fairs & discussions mark DU's anniversary celebrations Professor Shaheen Ahmed, former Principal and Nutrition head of the Government College of Applied Human Science, was the chief guest.  Special guests were Prof. Dr. Modasser Ali, Advisor-BNDF (Chairman, Bangladesh Medical  Research Council), Prof. Dr. Liyakot Ali, Advisor of BNDF (Chief Scientist and Advisor, Pothikrit Institute of Health Studies), Sayeda Saliha Saleheen Sultana Apa (Associate Professor Gov. College of Applied Human Science) and Loby Rahman spoke as special guests. Chowdhury Tasneem Hasin, Associate General Secretary of BNDF) also spoke at the programme hosted by Shayela Sabrin Shormi and Nishat Sharmin Nishi.

The 38th death anniversary of Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan (retired), also a former minister for communications and agriculture, will be observed on Saturday. Elaborate programmes have been chalked out to observe the day with due respect, both at home and abroad. Special prayers will be offered and Quran khwani will be held at different mosques in Dhaka, Sylhet, Bogura, Jamalpur; Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, the US and UK, said a media statement on Friday. Besides, wreaths will be placed on his grave in the capital's Banani on Saturday morning. Special prayers and Quran Khawani will also be held at different orphanages in Dhaka. Read: Remembering Humayun Ahmed on his 10th death anniversary Surovi, a voluntary organisation founded by Mahbub Ali's wife, will arrange special prayers for the salvation of the departed soul on Sunday. Mahbub was also the father-in-law of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. Mahbub Ali Khan Memorial Committee is scheduled to arrange a doa mahfil on Saturday and a memorial meeting on Sunday in the UK. Special prayers will be held at Brick Lane Mosque in London. Food items will be given to food banks in London. Also, special prayers will be held in the US, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia seeking eternal peace for the departed soul of Mahbub.

Private carrier US-Bangla Airlines will enter the ninth year of providing services on domestic and international routes Sunday. US-Bangla started its journey on July 17, 2014, by operating flights on Dhaka-Jashore with two Dash 8-Q400 aircraft and soon started running flights to all operational airports within Bangladesh. The airline now runs flights from Dhaka to Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, Jashore, Syedpur, Barishal, and Rajshahi. US-Bangla started its journey on the international route on May 15, 2016, with the Dhaka-Kathmandu flight. The carrier now operates international flights from Dhaka to Kolkata, Chennai, Male, Muscat, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok and Guangzhou. The airline plans to operate flights to more international destinations, including Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Medina, Abu Dhabi and Delhi soon. US-Bangla also wants to run flights to new destinations, including London, Rome, and Amsterdam by 2023 and to New York and Toronto by 2025. The airline owns 16 aircraft, including six Boeing 737-800s, seven ATR 72-600s and three Dash 8-Q400s. The private carrier now has about 1,800 employees at home and abroad. Read: US-Bangla Airlines adds another brand new aircraft to its fleet Also, US-Bangla is providing several special services such as luggage delivery within 15 minutes of the landing of international flights and a 20 percent discount for senior citizens. The airline not only transports passengers but also cargo to various domestic and international destinations. "In today's world, there is no substitute for brand new aircraft to provide proper service. US-Bangla is constantly adding new aircraft to its fleet to ensure comfortable service for passengers," US-Bangla Managing Director Mohammed Abdullah Al-Mamun said.

Grassroots people took to Facebook to greet the Awami League (AL) on its 73rd founding anniversary and expressed their gratitude towards Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by sending short messages and audio-visuals. A handful of selected audio-visuals were shared on the verified Facebook account of Awami League. On May 20, the ruling party's official Facebook page invited greetings from people to mark its founding anniversary. From Rangpur's Chadmapuskorini, more than 10 female footballers made it to the national level of the game. They lacked opportunities and a playground. Standing in front of the Chadmapuskorini mini-stadium, Md Milon Mia, coach of the AFC Female Football Team said, "This mini-stadium is for female footballers in Chadmapuskorini. Sports enthusiasts, as well as people from all walks of life, are happy with this gift of the prime minister." "Ten to twelve female footballers are now playing for the national team under different age groups. The prime minister donated Tk10 lakh for female footballers and transformed this area." Shahab Uddin Shihab, a Patuakhali Medical College student, said, "This medical college in Patuakhali was an earnest demand of the people of this area and 60 lakh people of southern Bangladesh." "On February 25, 2012, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, while addressing a gathering, announced the establishment of Patuakhali Medical College to ensure people's access to healthcare. Then it was established as the country's 24th medical college." Female entrepreneur Mosammat Dilruba of Rangpur Sadar's UDDC said, "As a female entrepreneur, I thank Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. UDDC is the epitome of her initiative to digitalise Bangladesh." "Poor rural women make wonderful products such as Nakshi Kantha. We take photos of their works and send them to Platform 101. Customers can pick that up according to their choice." Aslo read: Awami League marks 73rd founding anniversary

The 41st death anniversary of BNP founder  and ex-president of the country Ziaur Rahman was observed with various programmes across the country on Monday. Black flags were hoisted while party flags kept at half-mast atop the party's central offices and chairperson’s Gulshan office at 6am as part of its programme to mark the day. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir together with party senior leaders paid homage to Zia by placing a wreath at his grave on the occasion. Leaders of BNP’s different associate bodies also placed wreaths at Zia’s grave on the occasion. Zia, who founded Bangladesh Nationalist Party in 1978, was assassinated by a group of disgruntled army officers at the erstwhile Chittagong circuit house on May 30, 1981 while serving as the country's president, a position he formally assumed in 1977. Mirza Fakhrul and party standing committee members distributed food and clothes among the destitute at 70 points of the capital on the day arranged by Dhaka North and South units of BNP. READ: Zia’s 41st death anniversary Monday Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) arranged a free medical camp at BNP’s Naya paltan central office from where poor people were provided with treatment and d medicines. The party's all district, city and thana units also observed the day amid various programmes, including discussions and distribution of food among the poor. BNP and its different associate bodies chalked out a 10-day programme to observe the death anniversary across the country with due reverence. The observance of Zia's death anniversary programmes began on Sunday through holding a discussion at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, in the capital. The programmes will end on June 7.

The 161st birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore is being celebrated in the country on Sunday after two years of muted celebrations for the Covid-19 pandemic. Tagore was a poet, visual artist, playwright, novelist, as well as a composer whose works reshaped Bangla literature and music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born on May 7, 1861 at Jorasanko mansion in Kolkata, he was the youngest of 13 surviving children of Debendranath Tagore and Sarada Devi. He became Asia's first Nobel laureate after winning the Nobel Prize in literature for Gitanjali in 1913. Two of his songs are now the national anthems of Bangladesh and India. Tagore wrote novels, short stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays on political and personal topics. Gitanjali, Gora, and Ghare-Baire, Chokher Bali are among his best-known works. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion. READ: Tagore’s historic Kuthibari is threatened by river erosion, locals scream for help President Hamid wished overall success of all the ceremonies planned to observe the birth anniversary saying, “May the call of 25th Baishakh to the evergreen touch every Bengali’s heart.” “I believe that the philosophy of the ‘Biswa Kabi,s’  life and his creations will forever inspire the Bengalis in building a non-communal Bangladesh free from exploitation and deprivation,” said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in her message. Bangladesh Television and different private television channels and Bangladesh Betar are airing special programmes highlighting the life and works of Rabindranath. Like every year, different cultural organisations have chalked out events to celebrate the occasion with rich tributes to Tagore through performances and lecture on his life and works. 

Monday marks the 46th death anniversary of eminent Bangladeshi poet Jasimuddin, widely revered as the “Polli Kobi” (the Sylvan poet). The legendary poet, lyricist and writer, best known for his pastoral-themed contemporary ballad and poetries, passed away on this day in 1976 at the age of 73 in Dhaka. Born to Ansaruddin Mollah and Amina Khatun on January 1, 1903, in his maternal uncle’s home at Tambulkhana in Faridpur, Jasimuddin completed his matriculated from Faridpur Zilla School in 1921 and IA from Rajendra College in 1924. READ: Palli Kabi Jasimuddin’s 116th birth anniversary being observed in Faridpur He then earned his BA and MA in Bangla from the University of Calcutta in 1929 and 1931 respectively and joined Dhaka University as a lecturer in 1938. Before joining academia, he worked with eminent Bengali writer, educationist and researcher of Bengali folklore Dinesh Chandra Sen from 1931 to 1937 as a collector of traditional literature. After leaving DU in 1944, Jasimuddin worked at the Department of Information and Broadcasting, until his retirement in 1962 as the deputy director. Polli Kobi Jasimuddin’s journey into the realm of poetry began at a very early age. He wrote the poem ‘Kobor’ (The Grave), which became widely popular for its simple yet majestic rural storytelling style, while he was studying at Calcutta University. The poem was later included in the Bengali textbook of entrance level while he was still a student at Calcutta University. As an ardent admirer of Bengali rural literature and folklore, Jasimuddin is considered the key figure for the revivals of pastoral literature in Bengal during the 20th century. He is one of the Purbo-Bongo Gitika's compilers (Ballads of East Bengal) and compiled a collection of over 10,000 folk songs, some of which were included in his song collections Jari Gaan and Murshida Gaan. Two of his legendary works, ‘Nakshi Kanthar Math’ (Field of the Embroidered Quilt) and ‘Sojan Badiar Ghat’ (Gypsy Wharf) are considered two masterpieces in Bengali literature and has been globally translated. Being a versatile writer, Jasimuddin is also respectfully remembered for his numerous other creative works including poems, ballads, songs, dramas, novels, stories, memoirs, travelogues and more. As an esteemed lyricist, Jasimuddin penned many popular Bengali songs including “Amar sonar moyna pakhi,” “Prano shokhi re,” “Amay eto raate,” “Nishithe jaiyo fulobone,” “Amar haar kala korlam re,” “Amay bhaisaili re,” and others. Also widely revered for his support of socialism and the Bengali language movement, Jasimuddin is considered one of the pioneers of the progressive and non-communal cultural movement during the 1950s and 1960s in then-East Pakistan. For his remarkable literary works, Jasimuddin was awarded the President's Award for Pride of Performance in 1958, DLitt. by Rabindra Bharati University, India in 1969, Ekushey Padak in 1976 and Independence Day Award (posthumously) in 1978. In January 2018, Bangla Academy announced Jasimuddin Literary Award, a biennial award to be given for lifetime contribution to Bangla literature. The Polli Kobi was buried at his ancestral home Gobindapur, Faridpur after his death in 1976.