The Ministry of Public Administration has issued instructions to take action against government employees posting on social media without adhering to established guidelines. A letter was sent to secretaries, senior secretaries, divisional commissioners, and district administrators on Thursday instructing them to take immediate steps against employees violating social media protocols. ACC seeks info on dual citizenship of govt employees The letter said certain government officials are using social media to post status updates that not only undermine the government’s image but may also jeopardise national security. In its communication, the Ministry pointed out that a number of employees have been disregarding the “Social Media Usage Guidelines for Government Institutions, 2019.” These employees have been sharing documents and posting content that embarrasses the government or creates unnecessary controversy, which goes against the service rules for government personnel. Govt employees to receive dearness allowance The Ministry’s warning said that such behavior is both a breach of the official code of conduct and, in some cases, could be deemed harmful to national security. The Ministry’s guidelines clearly state that employees must refrain from engaging in conduct that is detrimental to the government or violates the code of ethics for public servants. Such actions can be categorized as misconduct under the 'Government Employee Discipline and Appeal Rules, 2018.' Govt employees must submit wealth statement by November 30: Senior Secretary To address these concerns, the Ministry has urged relevant authorities to take necessary actions in line with established regulations. The letter stressed the importance of vigilant monitoring and adherence to the social media usage guidelines, with strict consequences for violations.

Marin Plank truly had no interest in birds when she gave her husband a camera-equipped bird feeder for his birthday. But by Christmas, she had become so obsessed with it that most of the gifts she received this year — books, stickers, notecards — were bird-related. “This is who I am now,” she said. Acquaintances have stopped Plank on the street to discuss the bird photos she shares on Facebook. From copious amounts of research, she now knows the best birdseed blend and has a premium membership to a store that delivers giant bags of it to her Delaware home. It all started when she got her first postcard from the Bird Buddy app, which provides photos and video clips that can be downloaded or shared. “You’ve just got to click, and then the bird is in your face looking at you and mugging for you, and it’s like your own little private show,” she said. “Something about their little eyes and their goofy little faces just drew me in, and now I’m a bird enthusiast.” While North American bird populations decline dramatically, paradoxically, the number of people watching them has increased. While the coronavirus pandemic spurred many people to head outside in search of birds, for others, smart feeders that snap photos and video of backyard visitors have brought the hobby inside. “It really delivers value with very little input,” said Franci Zidar, founder and CEO of Bird Buddy, which has sold 350,000 smart bird feeders since 2022. “If you’re actually kind of a hardcore bird watcher, that can be a very demanding hobby. There are, however, 20 to 30 species of birds in most U.S. backyards that people either don’t really know or appreciate.” Several other companies, including Birdfy, make similar bird feeders that are mounted with cameras. And while standard bird feeders tap into people’s altruistic sides by allowing users to take care of animals, smart feeders take it a step further, Zidar said. Read: Staying safe in a wildfire: What to pack and when to evacuate “Ultimately, I think it marries two really beautiful things. One is your need to nurture and to give back and to connect with nature, and the other one is to kind of see it and appreciate it,” he said. Bird Buddy has proven so successful that the company is expanding its portfolio to include a tiny flower-shaped camera called Petal, and Wonder Blocks, which can be assembled to provide habitats for butterflies and other insects. Details were announced Monday at CES, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics show, in Las Vegas, with a Kickstarter campaign this spring. “Let’s not ask people to do crazy things, because they won’t. Let’s just give them value by just pointing a camera into this beautiful natural space,” Zidar said. “We’ll give you the drama, the happenings, the life that’s happening in that corner of your home.” In Ipswich, Massachusetts, Judy Ashley already had 11 bird feeders in her yard when she got a Bird Buddy last year. She has taken down some of the older feeders in hopes of attracting more birds to the camera to capture photos of those hanging out lately in her yard, especially a yellow-throated warbler, which is rarely seen in New England. She finally succeeded on Monday. “What’s amazing is how close you can see the details of backyard birds that you just wouldn’t see if you just stood there for hours with binoculars,” she said. “You just realize how amazing nature is.” Rachel Matthews in Austin, Texas, has three camera-equipped feeders, including one specifically for hummingbirds. While she grew up with bird feeders, the smart feeders have increased her interest, she said. “I love having the camera, and I see detail that even with my binoculars I’d never seen," she said. "The female cardinals with their red eyebrows and little feathers — it’s just phenomenal.” In November, the National Audubon Society announced a partnership with Bird Buddy to increase awareness about bird conservation. The arrangement could provide a pathway to get data from the company’s community science platform to scientists, said Nicolas Gonzalez, a spokesperson for the Audubon Society. “We’re eager to see how smart feeders and kind of just the whole bird-feeding industry can continue fostering this appreciation for birds and nature,” he said. Read more: Migratory birds under threat in Kushtia’s Padma Char In Delaware, Plank has grown attached to specific visitors to her feeder — a “badass” female Red-winged blackbird, a tufted titmouse who she said seems to know he’s handsome and blue jays who act like “drunk uncles.” “I give them these personalities in my mind, and it’s about having them right in front of my face, doing their little silly things,” she said. “That really has drawn me in.” So, too, have the frequent alerts and notifications she gets on her phone. “It’s just like a little spark of joy,” she said. “There’s something about being interrupted to remind you about this little part of the world that is just really lovely.”

Popular singer and actor Tahsan Khan sparked widespread buzz on Friday night and throughout Saturday after posting two photos with his speculated fiancée, Roza Ahmed and he officially confirmed their marriage to media on Sunday. “We got married today (Saturday) in the presence of our two family members. I wanted to inform everyone after we got married. That's why I didn't tell anyone before. I pray that we can walk the path beautifully together," Tahsan said. On Saturday evening, the heartthrob artist shared a new photo with Roza Ahmed again, with a lyrical tribute and the hashtag #homeforlife. Earlier that day, Tahsan informed a prominent local media outlet that he was not married till then and no formal ceremony had taken place, further stating that the (viral) photographs had been captured at a household event on Friday. Despite Tahsan's statement that he would disclose additional details on Saturday evening, he only posted the couple's supposedly newlywed photo on social media without any detailed information. The post has received over a million reactions on Facebook. Fans, well-wishers and their colleagues in the entertainment and make-up sectors congratulated the newlywed on the post. #homeforlife: Tahsan and Roza Ahmed still teasing followers, with no confirmation of relationship status Following her graduation from New York University, Roza Ahmed obtained her license as a cosmetologist and went on to open "Roza's Bridal Makeover" in Queens, New York. She has a large following on social media. Tahsan was previously married to actress-development professional Rafiath Rashid Mithila. The popular artist couple's divorce in 2017 shocked their fans and admirers.

In an era of rapid globalisation and technological advancement, social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube have become integral to students’ academic and informal learning activities. A recent study published in the Teacher’s World: Journal of Education and Research by Saiful Islam and A B M Najmus Sakib explores how Dhaka University utilised these platforms for educational purposes during the research period from January to December 2022. The findings shed light on the evolving patterns of social media usage among university students in Bangladesh. A recent study published in the Teacher’s World: Journal of Education and Research by Saiful Islam and ABM Najmus Sakib explores how Dhaka University students utilise these platforms for educational purposes. The research, conducted over an extensive period, sheds light on the evolving patterns of social media usage among university students in Bangladesh. Key Findings of the Study The study employed a mixed-method approach, including structured surveys and semi-structured interviews, to gather data from 130 Dhaka University students. The research focuses on the role of Facebook and YouTube in both formal academic studies and informal learning, guided by Social Learning Theory (SLT). Read: Should reform education system to create generation of entrepreneurs: Prof Yunus The theory emphasises learning through observation, imitation, and modeling—a process facilitated by these platforms. Demographic Insights Nearly half of the respondents, both male and female, belong to the age group of 20–22 years. A smaller proportion of students under 20 years (13.1%) and those above 22 years (approximately 40%) were also included. The respondents spanned different educational levels, including undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students, indicating that social media use cuts across all academic tiers. Facebook in Education The study highlights that Facebook plays a crucial role in academic activities, with 92.3% of respondents using it to enhance their studies. Common uses include: · Attending online classes. · Sharing academic materials via Messenger groups. · Providing feedback during live sessions. · Participating in group discussions. Facebook also serves as a hub for collaborative learning, with students uploading and sharing course content and class lecture links. YouTube’s Growing Role While Facebook dominates in academic contexts, YouTube excels in informal learning. About 75.4% of students rely on Facebook for informal study, compared to 79.2% who turn to YouTube. Popular YouTube channels such as 10 Minute School, Farjana Drawing Academy, and 5-Minute Crafts provide content on diverse topics ranging from graphics design and videography to spoken English and health-related tutorials. Read more: Britain keen to invest in Bangladesh’s youth education: UK Deputy High Commissioner Many respondents described YouTube as “the teacher of all teachers,” thanks to its vast repository of free, accessible educational materials. Impact of the Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic significantly influenced the use of social media in education. The study notes that social networking platforms replaced traditional classrooms during lockdowns. Online education became the norm, with students increasingly relying on Facebook and YouTube for coursework, tutorials, and virtual group discussions. This shift underscores the necessity of integrating social media into the formal education system to address future disruptions. Call for Further Research The researchers recommend further sociological studies to analyze the role of other platforms like LinkedIn, WhatsApp, and Twitter in educational activities. They also stress the need for a deeper exploration of the long-term effects of social media usage on academic and informal learning. This study highlights the dual role of social media as a tool for formal education and informal learning among the Dhaka University students. As the use patterns of platforms like Facebook and YouTube continue to evolve, their impacts on education in Bangladesh remain profound.

All social media platforms including Facebook will be unblocked within two hours on Wednesday. State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak confirmed the development. Palak shared the update following virtual meeting with representatives from Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, joining from Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) building in Dhaka's Agargaon this morning. Earlier on July 18, internet services were disrupted and access to social media platforms were blocked.   Read more: Only Youtube gets back to Palak; Facebook, others have till Wed morning

While the social media platform is still officially restricted in Bangladesh, Facebook is seeing a “red tide” as an overwhelming number of students and people from all walks of life in the country are changing their profile pictures with red images. The government had earlier announced that mourning day would be observed nationwide on Tuesday (July 30, 2024) to honour those who died during the violence surrounding the student protests for quota reform. The decision came at a cabinet meeting on Monday. In accordance, government officials and many others wore black badges. However, this decision was met with opposition from protesting students, who rejected the gesture as “dismissive of their struggle.” After the announcement of mourning day, Mahin Sarker, a coordinator of the Anti-discrimination Students’ Movement, published a video statement. “Without addressing the mass killings and oppression committed by the state, they are mocking students every day. In protest of this, to achieve the students’ demands, we request a nationwide campaign on Tuesday where participants will cover their faces and eyes with red cloth and take photos, which will be widely circulated online. Our symbol is red, as the symbol of rebellion. We urge students and our countrymen to take part in this campaign,” he said. Abdul Hannan Masud, another coordinator, added, “We consider the government’s decision to observe mourning day a mockery. Students boycotted their black badge program.” In solidarity, people from various walks of life—students, teachers, doctors, journalists—flooded social media with red profile pictures, using hashtags such as #RedforJustice, #RedforVictims, #StudentsInRed, #RedAgainstOppression, #BloodOnTheirHands, and #JulyMassacre. Read more: Govt will ensure ‘extremist’ Jamaat-Shibir cannot exploit legal loopholes to engage in politics: Quader A student from the University of Dhaka wrote, “Red is my love, blood, resistance, and revolution. A protest against mass killing and mass arrest.” Jesmin Papri, a journalist, wrote, “Having seen so much blood of kids, this red is nothing.” Yashab Osama Rahman, another journalist, wrote, “For the kids, for the future, for the present and for all the things we were put through in the past. For us.” People updated their profile pictures with captions such as: “Red is the colour of blood,” “Red is the colour of rebellion,” “Not the black of grief, but the red of betrayal,” and “Come next Spring, we will be twice as many.” Read more: PM Hasina visits vandalised Metro Rail station at Mirpur-10

A video featuring a restaurant in India’s Bangalore has gone viral and is trending online, as it shows a cook using a broom to clean the tawa (griddle). The video shows the process of making dosas from scratch, giving viewers an idea of what goes into the preparation. After seeing it, however, Facebook users were enraged, reports NDTV. 10 Bangladeshi Winter Street Foods: Taste Meets Tradition The video by @thefoodiebae shows a cook standing in front of a giant tawa in a restaurant's open kitchen. Crowds of consumers can be seen behind him, waiting for their orders. The cook begins preparing the tawa for dosas. He sprinkles it with water and then sweeps the tawa with a broom. On the heated tawa, the water starts to vaporise, and he resumes his sweeping motion. Following that, he begins spreading batter in circular motions to produce the dosas. One tawa can accommodate 12 dosas, it said. AI Robot Chefs: Automated Cooking Could Redefine Food Industry The video has been viewed 15 million times and received 111K likes. Disapproving comments have flooded the comments section, however. Many individuals have objected to using a broom to clean the tawa. 5 Tasty Savoury Winter Pitha Recipes for Bangladeshi Kitchen

Facebook is a crucial platform for businesses with a huge user base. However, there's a lot of content, and it's tough for algorithms to pick the right stuff quickly. Many businesses are competing for space in the news feed, making it hard to reach people naturally. To do well, focusing on attracting visitors is mandatory. Following the tips in this article can help you reach more people on Facebook. Basic Strategies to Increase Facebook's Reach Organically Tailor Your Content to Specific Audiences Recognize the importance of meaningful interactions and adjust your posting approach accordingly. Always consider the specific users your post is targeting. Publish posts that you believe will be genuinely interesting and relevant to your intended audience. Whether or not a post is sponsored, you can target each of your posts on your business page to a specific audience. Control Your Posting Frequency The frequency of your Facebook posts is a crucial factor. Aim to post as often as possible while maintaining quality content. It's essential to keep your Facebook page active to foster growth. Avoid over-posting, as it can become annoying, and don't post so infrequently that your audience forgets about you. Hubspot's research suggests that for pages with fewer than 10,000 fans, engagement per post drops by 50% if you post more than once per day. Consider a guideline of one post per day or up to five posts per week. Read more: How to Prevent Facebook Hacking: Security measures from Mobile, Desktop Encourage Audience Interaction Publish content that sparks conversations among your audience. Facebook's algorithm takes note when a post generates a lot of discussion among a user's friends and may prioritize such posts. Content that people want to share and discuss with their friends holds value. Time Your Posts for Maximum Impact The recency of a post is crucial, as the newest posts appear at the top of users' news feeds. To maximize visibility and engagement, schedule your posts to coincide with your audience's online activity. According to Coschedule, the best times to post are between 1-4 pm, with specific time slots based on each weekday. Keep in mind that these times may vary depending on your followers' behavior patterns. You can use Hootsuite to obtain custom recommendations for the best posting times. Share Longer Videos Facebook's algorithm prioritizes videos based on watch time and completion rates. Focus on creating videos that capture your audience's attention and keep them engaged for longer durations, preferably over three minutes. Additionally, native videos receive a boost in reach. Read more: How to Earn Money from Facebook Leverage Your Top Advocates Facebook prioritizes posts from person to person over those from pages to a person. Encourage your employees to post about your brand, as their content carries more credibility and authority with the algorithm due to their personal connections. Sharing your brand's posts on your personal timeline can also help improve visibility. Avoid Engagement Baiting Steer clear of engagement-baiting tactics, which involve creating posts designed to artificially boost engagement through likes, shares, comments, and other actions. These tactics can result in lower visibility, as Facebook demotes such posts. Examples include asking for reactions, comments, shares, tags, or votes. Read more: How Do Social Media Influencers Make Money?

Google, Facebook, TikTok and other Big Tech companies operating in Europe must comply with one of the most far-reaching efforts to clean up what people see online. The European Union's groundbreaking new digital rules took effect Friday for the biggest platforms. The Digital Services Act is part of a suite of tech-focused regulations crafted by the 27-nation bloc — long a global leader in cracking down on tech giants. Also read : Technology should be smart, people-friendly, cost-effective: Speakers The DSA is designed to keep users safe online and stop the spread of harmful content that's either illegal or violates a platform's terms of service, such as promotion of genocide or anorexia. It also looks to protect Europeans' fundamental rights like privacy and free speech. Some online platforms, which could face billions in fines if they don't comply, already have made changes. Also read : Scientific Advisory Board for Independent Advice on Breakthroughs in Science and Technology Here's a look at what has changed: WHICH PLATFORMS ARE AFFECTED? So far, 19. They include eight social media platforms: Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Snapchat. There are five online marketplaces: Amazon, Booking.com, China's Alibaba AliExpress and Germany's Zalando. Mobile app stores Google Play and Apple's App Store are subject, as are Google's Search and Microsoft's Bing search engine. Also read : Walton to hold first-ever mega 'International Advanced Components and Technology Expo' in August Google Maps and Wikipedia round out the list. WHAT ABOUT OTHER ONLINE COMPANIES? The EU's list is based on numbers submitted by the platforms. Those with 45 million or more users — or 10% of the EU's population — face the DSA's highest level of regulation. Brussels insiders, however, have pointed to some notable omissions, like eBay, Airbnb, Netflix and even PornHub. The list isn't definitive, and it's possible other platforms may be added later on. Any business providing digital services to Europeans will eventually have to comply with the DSA. They will face fewer obligations than the biggest platforms, however, and have another six months before they must fall in line. WHAT'S CHANGING? Platforms have rolled out new ways for European users to flag illegal online content and dodgy products, which companies will be obligated to take down quickly and objectively. The DSA "will have a significant impact on the experiences Europeans have when they open their phones or fire up their laptops," Nick Clegg, Meta's president for global affairs, said in a blog post. Facebook and Instagram's existing tools to report content will be easier to access. Amazon opened a new channel for reporting suspect goods. TikTok gave users an extra option for flagging videos, such as for hate speech and harassment, or frauds and scams, which will be reviewed by an additional team of experts, according to the app from Chinese parent company ByteDance. Google is offering more "visibility" into content moderation decisions and different ways for users to contact the company. It didn't offer specifics. Under the DSA, Google and other platforms have to provide more information behind why posts are taken down. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat also are giving people the option to turn off automated systems that recommend videos and posts based on their profiles. Such systems have been blamed for leading social media users to increasingly extreme posts. The DSA also prohibits targeting vulnerable categories of people, including children, with ads. Platforms like Snapchat and TikTok will stop allowing teen users to be targeted by ads based on their online activities. Google will provide more information about targeted ads shown to people in the EU and give researchers more access to data on how its products work. IS THERE PUSHBACK? Zalando, a German online fashion retailer, has filed a legal challenge over its inclusion on the DSA's list of the largest online platforms, arguing that it's being treated unfairly. Nevertheless, Zalando is launching content flagging systems for its website even though there's little risk of illegal material showing up among its highly curated collection of clothes, bags and shoes. The company has supported the DSA, said Aurelie Caulier, Zalando's head of public affairs for the EU. "It will bring loads of positive changes" for consumers, she said. But "generally, Zalando doesn't have systemic risk (that other platforms pose). So that's why we don't think we fit in that category." Amazon has filed a similar case with a top EU court. WHAT IF COMPANIES DON'T FOLLOW THE RULES? Officials have warned tech companies that violations could bring fines worth up to 6% of their global revenue — which could amount to billions — or even a ban from the EU. "The real test begins now," said European Commissioner Thierry Breton, who oversees digital policy. He vowed to "thoroughly enforce the DSA and fully use our new powers to investigate and sanction platforms where warranted." But don't expect penalties to come right away for individual breaches, such as failing to take down a specific video promoting hate speech. Instead, the DSA is more about whether tech companies have the right processes in place to reduce the harm that their algorithm-based recommendation systems can inflict on users. Essentially, they'll have to let the European Commission, the EU's executive arm and top digital enforcer, look under the hood to see how their algorithms work. EU officials "are concerned with user behavior on the one hand, like bullying and spreading illegal content, but they're also concerned about the way that platforms work and how they contribute to the negative effects," said Sally Broughton Micova, an associate professor at the University of East Anglia. That includes looking at how the platforms work with digital advertising systems, which could be used to profile users for harmful material like disinformation, or how their livestreaming systems function, which could be used to instantly spread terrorist content, said Broughton Micova, who's also academic co-director at the Centre on Regulation in Europe, a Brussels-based think tank. Big platforms have to identify and assess potential systemic risks and whether they're doing enough to reduce them. These assessments are due by the end of August and then they will be independently audited. The audits are expected to be the main tool to verify compliance — though the EU's plan has faced criticism for lacking details that leave it unclear how the process will work. WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE WORLD? Europe's changes could have global impact. Wikipedia is tweaking some policies and modifying its terms of use to provide more information on "problematic users and content." Those alterations won't be limited to Europe and "will be implemented globally," said the nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation, which hosts the community-powered encyclopedia. "The rules and processes that govern Wikimedia projects worldwide, including any changes in response to the DSA, are as universal as possible," it said in a statement. Snapchat said its new reporting and appeal process for flagging illegal content or accounts that break its rules will be rolled out first in the EU and then globally in the coming months. It's going to be hard for tech companies to limit DSA-related changes, said Broughton Micova, adding that digital ad networks aren't isolated to Europe and that social media influencers can have global reach. The regulations are "dealing with multichannel networks that operate globally. So there is going to be a ripple effect once you have kind of mitigations that get taken into place," she said.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal will hold a meeting with a Facebook delegation on Thursday (August 3, 2023), on preventing propaganda on social media. The meeting will be held at Election Commission building in Dhaka’s Agargaon at 11 am tomorrow. Read: Dialogue among political parties needed to resolve crisis: CEC tells US Ambassador When contacted, Election Commission (EC) Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath said, the Facebook delegation sought time for the meeting. Asked about the reason behind the meeting, he said, “The national election is approaching. With that in mind, there can be a discussion on how to prevent propaganda on social media.” Read: US to send pre-election assessment and monitoring team in early Oct: Peter Haas Three officials from Facebook's Singapore office will meet the CEC. The delegation will be led by head of public policy for Bangladesh at Facebook's parent company Meta, Ruzan Sarwar, the EC official said.