United News of Bangladesh

The Ministry of Commerce has fixed prices of dates, an Iftar item. According to a notice issued on Monday, the ministry has fixed the price range for low-grade dates at Tk 150 to Tk 165 per kilogram. Besides, price of  Zahidi dates, which come in sacks, has been between between Tk 170 and Tk 180 per kilogram. This notice was sent to both the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Bangladesh Fresh Fruits Importers Association.  

Daraz Bangladesh has announced its ‘3.3-4.4 Grand Eid Fest’, comprising an array of discounts and offers for shoppers.  From March 10th to April 4th, customers can indulge in a shopping extravaganza featuring discounts of up to 75% on a wide range of products. Among the highlights are the ‘Buy More Save More’ options, including Free Shipping and discounts of 50/80 Tk, catering to shoppers looking to make the most of their purchases. Additionally, exclusive deals such as Everyday Low Prices on products below 499 Tk and Free Delivery will further enhance the shopping experience. The fest also features Flash Sales and Hot Deals with savings reaching up to 75%, providing opportunities for customers to snag their favorite items. Furthermore, Daraz is offering discounts of up to 75% and an Extra 20% Savings on Prepayment from March 10th to April 10th. In collaboration with co-sponsors like Lotto, Parachute Advansed, Beardo, Haier, Bata, and Nestle, Daraz ensures a diverse selection of high-quality products for its customers. From electronics to fashion items, home décor, and daily essentials, there's something for everyone. Payment security remains a top priority, with Daraz partnering with a wide network of trusted payment partners, including including bKash, City Bank, EBL, EBL Co-Branded Credit and Prepaid Card, HSBC, LBFL, NCC Bank, PBL, SCB, SEBL, BRAC Bank, Community Bank Bangladesh Limited, Dhaka Bank, and Bank Asia.   

Speaker of the Parliament, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, has said that Bangladesh is working to ensure economic, social and political justice for all. “Bangladesh is committed to maintain human rights and rule of law,” she said. She was speaking at a meeting held with Speakers of the Commonwealth countries along with the Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, Lindsey Hoyle, on Monday afternoon. The speaker of Jatiya Sangsad said that Bangladesh is determined to work to end all forms of discrimination and oppression across the world including in Commonwealth countries. Schools to remain open during Ramadan as Appellate Division stays HC order Earlier, the Speaker participated in the ‘Commonwealth 75 Flag Raising Ceremony’ organised on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Commonwealth at the Portcullis House of the House of Commons in London, United Kingdom. She also recited Maya Angelou’s poem “The Rock Cries Out to Us Today”, according to a press release from the Parliament Secretariat. Meanwhile, the Speaker participated in the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London, in the presence of the British royal family and guests. The programme was attended by representatives from Commonwealth countries.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecast rain or thunder showers in Dhaka, Khulna and Barishal divisions on in the next two days. According to a Met office bulletin, weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Tuesday. Besides, rain or thunder showers are likely in Khulna and Barishal divisions on Wednesday. Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country Day temperature night temperature may rise during the period. Weather forecast: Mixed weather conditions across country, BMD says BMD also forecast that Khulna, Barishal and Dhaka divisions and the regions of Cumilla and Noakhali may experience rain or thunder showers in 24 hours commencing 9 am on Thursday. The weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country, it added. Weather forecast: Rain, foggy conditions across country, BMD says Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country during the period. Country’s highest temperature was recorded in Rangmati at 33.8 degree Celsius on Monday and lowest in Chattogtam’s Sitakundu at 13.2 degree Celsius on Tuesday.

Journalist Brishty Khatun, a victim of the restaurant building fire on Bailey Road in the capital, has been buried beside her uncle’s grave  at the family graveyard in Kushtia. The ambulance carrying the body of Brishty reached her village home at Banagram Paschimpara of Ward No. 7 of Betbaria Union in Khoksa Upazila at 8:20 pm on Monday (March 11, 2024).  At that time, mourning relatives and villagers flocked to see her body. Fire at kitchen market in Dhaka’s Uttara doused Around 10 pm, it was announced through loudspeaker of a local mosque that her namaz-e-janaza will be held in the courtyard of her house. Hundreds of people of the village and nearby villages attended the janaza. A close relative of Brishty named Rabiul Islam conducted the namaz-e-janaza. After the namaz-e-janaza, Brishty was buried beside the grave of his uncle Mubarak Sheikh in the presence of administrative officials.       Brishty, also known as Ovisruti Shastri to her colleagues at The Report Live, was among the 46 people who lost their lives in the deadly fire on February 29 night. Bailey Road Tragedy: Brishty Khatun's body handed over to her family Due to identity complications, the body of journalist Ovisruti Shastri alias Brishty Khatun was handed over her father Sabuj Sheikh from the morgue of Sheikh Hasina Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute on Monday afternoon, 11 days after the DNA test report of Brishty and her parents came.

A fire that broke out at a kitchen market in Dhaka’s Uttara Sector 11 early Tuesday was doused. Nine firefighting units from Uttara, Tongi, Kurmitola, and Pallabi fire stations brought the fire under control at 2:45 am and doused it at 3:40 am on Tuesday, said Station officer Talha bin Zasim of FSCD headquarters media cell. A number of shops at the kitchen market were fully burnt, according to locals.

Amidst the conflict over control of the border in Myanmar's Rakhine State, 179 armed members of the Border Guard Police (BGP), Myanmar's equivalent of the BGB, took refuge in Bangladesh with their lives at stake on Monday. Early in the morning, they arrived in Pillar-46, and in the evening, they moved to Pillar-45 in the Jamchhari village. These BGP members are being accommodated in a government primary school in Naikhongchhari Sadar, confirmed Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Mujahid Uddin. UP member shot near Myanmar border; out of danger after receiving treatment Initially, 29 BJP members have been accommodated in a primary school. Later, the remaining 150 individuals were also placed in the same location. However, to avoid any educational disruption, the DC has directed the Naikhongchhari UNO not to use any place that could affect the students' learning environment. He said 29 BGP members took shelter in Bangladesh from Myanmar Border Security Force's Ongthapaya camp through the border area of Jamchhari BOP under Naikhongchhari BGB 11 Battalion. The BGB has taken them into custody with their weapons. Md Shariful Islam, public relations officer of BGB headquarters, reassured journalists that first, 29 members and later, 150 more entered Bangladesh. BGB has taken measures to safeguard them, he added.

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs (MoWCA), with technical support of UNICEF, today launched the "National Multimedia Campaign on Prevention of Violence Against Children (VAC) and Child Marriage (CM).” The initiative is a part of the ongoing efforts of the Accelerating Protection for Children (APC) project led by MoWCA and UNICEF to address the alarming prevalence of violence against children and child marriage in Bangladesh. The project is focused on strengthening institutional capacity and establishing a system for child protection at national and sub-national level. Numaligarh Refinery Ltd's liaison office inaugurated by Indian envoy "Today’s launching is a pivotal moment in our ongoing mission to protect the rights and dignity of children in Bangladesh," stated Simeen Hussain (Rimi), Honorable State Minister, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. "Violence against children and child marriage not only violates their fundamental rights but also has enduring detrimental effects on their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. The government is committed to working hand in hand with UNICEF and other stakeholders to eradicate these harmful practices and create a safe and nurturing environment for all children," she added.

Bangladesh is ready to be a global leader in sustainable development by emphasizing collaboration and innovation in adopting a gender-responsive and inclusive circular economy.  The National Workshop on 'Adoption of Gender-responsive and Inclusive Circular Economy,' organized today (11 March) at the CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), highlighted the crucial need for transitioning to a circular economy to meet ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions as outlined in the NDC. Implemented under the 'Climate Promise - From Pledge to Impact' project, supported financially by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany, the workshop showcased a consortium led by Nature Conservation Management (NACOM) in partnership with the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Research (C3ER), BRAC University, and the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD). The Circular Economy (CE) model, emphasizing sustainable resource use and waste minimization, offers a promising alternative to the Linear Economy (LE) model.  Keynote presentations by circular economy experts Dr. Mohammad Asaduzzaman and Mr. Sachin Pant focused on policy landscapes and initiatives in key sectors such as RMG and textiles, construction and demolition, plastics, electronics, and solid waste management.  They underscored the importance of gender-responsive and socially inclusive approaches, advocating for public-private partnerships and collaboration to scale up circular economy initiatives. Commenting on the RMG and textile industry, Professor of Economics, East West University, A K M Enamul Haque of , called for policy intervention to promote circularity.  Dr. Md Tarek Uddin, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, urged to rethink of construction practices, emphasizing the mainstream use of demolished concrete. Addressing participants, Mr. Arif Faisal, Programme Specialist, UNDP, highlighted the second phase of the Climate Promise project, focusing on formulating a national circular economy strategy. He stressed the urgency of adopting a circular economy to address biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, pollution, and increased greenhouse gas emissions, emphasizing the need for a massive awareness campaign to shift citizen behavior. Later the technical session moderated by Mr. Zaki Uz Zaman, Representative, UNIDO, where Dr. Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, Economist, and Chairman, Dhaka School of Economics, emphasizing the importance of efficiency, behavioral change, and ethical consumption. The workshop explored the feasibility of implementing circularity in Bangladesh and identified key considerations for a just transition. The Climate Promise project interventions are expected to integrate gender inclusivity and circular economic principles into Bangladesh's economic policies and practices.  

Grameenphone has received the Unified Licenses named ‘‘Cellular Mobile Services Operator License’’ and ‘‘Radio Communications Apparatus License for Cellular Mobile Services” from Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) at an event organized by BTRC at its office on Monday. Yasir Azman, chief executive officer (CEO), Grameenphone received the licenses from State Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, according to a press release. BTRC Chairman Engr. Md. Mohiuddin Ahmed and other high officials from BTRC and Grameenphone were also present during the ceremony. These licenses have amalgamated existing licenses (2G, 3G & 4G) and included provisions/scope for 5G and beyond services. This achievement will further enhance the telecom ecosystem, benefiting customers and accelerating the journey towards building a Smart Bangladesh. This technological leap will enhance connectivity and simplify telecom services by consolidating multiple existing and potential future technology licenses. It will also reduce regulatory complexities, promote efficiency, flexibility, and improve service quality. Additionally, it supports the adoption of smart technologies and aligns with the country’s vision of a Smart Bangladesh by enhancing service offerings. Yasir Azman said, “We wholeheartedly welcome this timely initiative and express our deepest gratitude to the regulators, government bodies, and policymakers for their visionary efforts. Grameenphone receiving the unified licenses mark the beginning of a transformative era, empowering Bangladesh's digital transformation and catalyzing progress.”