United News of Bangladesh

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Affairs Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said that a new law is being formulated to protect trees, which will include special provisions against using nails for advertisements. She also urged everyone to refrain from using fireworks that cause noise and air pollution on New Year’s Eve. She added that mobile courts under the Ministry of Environment will operate tonight to protect public health and biodiversity. She made these remarks while inaugurating a tree protection campaign by removing nails from trees on the road adjacent to the south gate of Abahani Field in the capital on Tuesday. The adviser said that trees supply oxygen to the environment, and driving nails into them disrupts their growth, ultimately leading to their death. Such actions harm the environment. Read: Drives to be conducted to prevent fireworks use on New Year’s eve: Ministry At another event, the adviser attended an orientation workshop for executive magistrates involved in mobile court operations. She directed them to take stringent measures against those responsible for air pollution. The events were attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Farhina Ahmed; Acting Director General of the Department of Environment, Dr. Fahmida Khanom; Chief Conservator of Forests, Md. Amir Hossain Chowdhury; along with officials from Dhaka North and South City Corporations, RAJUK, BRTA, and 35 executive magistrates from the Department of Environment and other organizations.

The arrival of New Year's Eve traditionally brings with it spectacular fireworks displays. While visually impressive, these celebrations often have unintended consequences, such as disturbing wildlife, contributing to air pollution, and posing fire hazards. As environmental awareness grows, there's a shift towards finding safer, more sustainable ways to celebrate. This guide offers a range of creative and eco-friendly alternatives to fireworks for welcoming the New Year, ensuring that your celebrations are not only memorable but also kind to our planet and its inhabitants. Exploring Creative and Sustainable Ways to Ring in 2024 without Fireworks 1. Theme-based Home Party Transform your home into a magical celebration space with a chosen theme. Consider superheroes or fairy tales for kids, and perhaps a nostalgic retro or glam theme for adults. Encourage guests to dress in theme-specific attire. Decorations and snacks tailored to your theme can elevate the experience. This personalized, home-based party offers a unique, intimate, and cost-effective way to usher in the new year. 2. Epic Movie Marathon Plan a movie marathon night with a specific theme like classic comedies, epic adventures, or family favorites. Set up a comfortable viewing area, either indoors with blankets and pillows or outdoors with a projector under the stars. Create a mix of films to cater to different age groups, ensuring everyone has a favorite to look forward to. Don't forget the popcorn machine and a snack bar to mimic a real cinema experience! Read more: 10 Foods to Eat for Good Luck in New Year 3. Culinary Delights: Cooking and Potluck Why not make the kitchen the heart of your New Year's celebration? Arrange a group cooking session where each participant can contribute to making a special dish. For a more relaxed approach, host a potluck dinner where everyone brings their signature dish. This not only makes for a diverse spread of culinary delights but also sparks conversations and recipe exchanges. Combine this with music, a dance area, and a storytelling corner to reminisce memories, experiences, and adventures. 4. Competitive Game Night Organize a game night featuring a variety of games – from classic board games and card games to interactive video games and outdoor sports if weather permits. Tailor the game selection to suit all ages and interests, ensuring everyone has a chance to participate. Offer small prizes for winners to add an extra layer of excitement to the competition. 5. Showcase of Talents: Music, Dance, and More Create a home concert or talent show where guests can perform their favorite songs, dance routines, or even magic tricks. This is a great opportunity for everyone, especially children, to showcase their talents and enjoy the spotlight. You can also curate playlists for a dance party, ensuring there’s something for every musical taste. Read more: IGP calls for flawless security over Christmas and New Year

No open air events, fireworks and crackers will be allowed on the eve of New Year, said Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruque on Saturday. “No one will be allowed to hold outdoor programmes, use of crackers, fireworks or sky lanterns (fanush) will also remain prohibited on 31st night,” he said. The DMP boss came up with the information at a press briefing held at the DMP media centre in the city. Adequate police including plainclothes ones will be deployed to ensure security on the 31st night and check-posts will be set up in different parts of the city and people will have to undergo police checking so that no militants can carry out sabotage activities centering the night, he said. The Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) team of DMP, dog squad and bomb disposal units will kept ready to tackle any situation, said Faruque. No DJ parties will be allowed and bars will remain closed from Saturday till 6 pm on Sunday, he said. No one will be allowed to carry firearms at residential hotels till 10 am on Sunday, he added. Also Read: Revellers gather in Cox's Bazar to usher in New Year Besides, the entry of outsiders will remain restricted from 8 pm in Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara areas today but the Amtoli crossing and Kakoli crossing will be opened for allowing entry of residents of those areas, said the DMP commissioner. Meanwhile, no outsiders will be allowed in Dhaka University area after 6 pm and no vehicles will be allowed there during this period. People can enter the university area through Nilkjhet and Shahbagh areas after showing their identity cards. Firefighting units and ambulances will be keep ready in different important points of the city and no vehicles will be allowed in Hatirjheel area after sun set. Also Read: 5 New Year Resolutions that are actually achievable When asked about any possible militant threat, the DMP commissioner said there is no specific threat centering the 31st night.              

Soccer fans in Iran's Kurdish region set off fireworks and honked car horns early Wednesday to celebrate the U.S. win over the Iranian national team in a politically charged World Cup match that divided the protest-riven country. Cheering fans hit the streets in Iran's Kurdish-majority province of Kurdistan and fireworks lit the skies over the Bukan area of West Azerbaijan province to celebrate the Iranian team’s 1-0 loss. Some shouted “Death to the dictator,” a popular protest slogan referring to the Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Kurdish areas of Iran have been hot spots of ongoing anti-government demonstrations. The protests first erupted in September, following the death of a young Kurdish woman in the custody of Iran's morality police in the capital of Tehran. The protests quickly morphed into the most serious challenge to Iran's theocracy since its establishment in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iranian authorities have blamed foreign actors, chiefly the U.S., for orchestrating the protest movement, but have provided no evidence. Read more: Iran shuts out noise at World Cup but United States looms Iran’s Kurdish-majority areas have seen waves of unrest amid nationwide protests against the government. The national team’s loss to the United States was seen by some as a victory against what they see as oppression by the government. Even in areas of Tehran some chanted protest slogans following the U.S. win. Videos posted online showed cars out on the streets of Saqqez, the capital of Kurdistan province, and the home town of Mahsa Amini, the young woman died in police custody in September. But not everyone was cheering. Parham Azmand, a soccer fan in Tehran, said the Iranian team had done its best. “We worked very hard but we couldn’t score although we did whatever we could," he said. "This was their day (the Americans). Our players did their best and I hope we will perform better in future world cups and God willing go through to the second round.” Following the match, state TV commentator Mohammad Hossein Misaghi said the U.S. took advantage of “many opportunities” in the match. Read more: Iran-US World Cup clash rife with political tension “It was not our day,” said another commentator, Mohammadreza Ahmadi. He brushed off the defeat, saying “a match is like that; it has win and loss."

Police have  arrested the owner of an unauthorized fireworks factory in Mymensingh where an explosion killed two female workers on Wednesday.  The arrestee is  Md Borhan Uddin, 50, said Mukta Dhar, special superintendent of police, in a press briefing held at CID headquarters on Saturday.  The arrest was made from Brahmanbaria during a drive on Friday night, she said.  The arrestee is the prime accused in two cases filed under the Explosive Substances Act and the Penal Code at Nandail police station in Mymensingh over the incident.  READ: Explosion at Indian fireworks factory kills at least 22 On Wednesday, Nasima Aktar,30 and Afia Khatun,45, were killed in an explosion around 6:30 am while working at the factory located at South Bashati Chondipasha area.  Primary interrogation revealed, Borhan was illegally producing fireworks at the factory for the last 20 years and used to supply them to nearby local shops. “50 workers used to work in the factory on rotation basis. Deceased worker Nasima had been working there for one and a half year and Afia for just four months,” said SSP Mukta Dhar. 

Victory rallies, a slew of cultural programmes and dazzling fireworks officially rang down the curtains to the celebrations of 100 years of Dhaka University (DU) and the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's Independence on Thursday. University authorities chose December 16 to end the over fortnight-long celebrations to mark the 51st Victory Day of Bangladesh. Also read: Centenary celebration of Dhaka University begins Wednesday

Shakrain – a celebration of kites and lights – is one of the oldest festivals of Bangladesh. It starts with kite flying and ends with unity and friendship.

Fireworks and ammonium nitrate appear to have been the fuel that ignited a massive explosion that rocked the Lebanese capital of Beirut, experts and videos of the blast suggest, reports AP.

With dances and fireworks, indigenous residents of a town in the Guatemalan highlands on Saturday held a festival celebrating their patron saint, Thomas the apostle.