United News of Bangladesh

The Digital Media Forum (DMF) on Saturday recognised the outstanding performance of five journalists by awarding them the 'Digital Media Excellence Award 2024'. Besides, six individuals were honoured with the DMF Special Excellence Award in recognition of their noteworthy contributions to the country’s media, digital, and business sectors. Prominent journalist and the Director-General of the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB), Zafar Wazed, Jatiya Press Club (JPC) General Secretary and Daily Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, Dhaka University’s Mass Communication & Journalism Department Professor Robaet Ferdous, and jury board members UNB Special Correspondent Abdur Rahman Jahangir and Head of News of Daily Sobuj Nishan Mohammad Moksedur Rahman Wali handed over the awards to the recipients at a ceremony at Bishwa Sahitya Kendra in the capital. 20 individuals, organizations receive Tourism Award The five award-winning journalists are Eiahia Nkib of Bonik Barta (Business Category), SM Marzan Ivan of Rtv (Entertainment), Jafar Iqbal of The Daily Kalbela (Investigative Reporting), Sabbin Hasan of Samakal (ICT), and Yeasin Hasan of risingbd.com (Sports). Besides, Joy Barua, Founder and CEO of Roblife Technologies, Bibradhan Roy Emon, Deputy Manager of the Daily Prothom Alo, Mohammad Mohsin PPM (BAR), Officer-in-Charge of Tejgaon Police Station, Abdullah Jayed, Founder and CEO of Founded Next & NEXT Ventures and Director of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), Dr Rafat Ul Islam Khan, Managing Director Khabar Dabar Catering and Sabbir Hasan Nasir, Managing Director of SWAPNO, were also given DMF Special Excellence Award. DMF, an organisation dedicated to journalists and digital media workers, introduced the award this year to help further advance the country's digital media industry and uplift it to international standards.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury emphasized Bangladesh's vulnerabilities to climate change and the urgent need for adequate climate finance to support national plans like the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, National Adaptation Plan, and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). "This programme will strengthen our ability to access and utilize global funds while catalyzing investments from diverse sources,” the minister said while addressing a workshop as the chief guest on Saturday. Saber highlighted three key challenges---scaling up the global donor base through inclusive partnerships, ensuring policy coherence and coordination across ministries to maximize co-benefits such as health and employment and conducting a comprehensive financial needs assessment as the current $230 billion estimate is likely understated. Addressing these challenges through collaboration is essential for securing sustainable climate financing, he said. A four-day capacity development workshop titled "Climate Finance Access and Mobilization in Bangladesh" was jointly inaugurated by the International Climate Finance Cell (ICFC), Economic Relations Division, Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh Climate Development Partnership (BCDP), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Dhaka on Saturday. The event, with the participation of over 45 participants from 16 ministries, divisions, agencies, research institutes, and academia across the country, was designed to enhance understanding of climate finance, mobilize additional funds, engage key stakeholders, and utilize existing climate finance platforms. Among the participants, Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary, the Economic Relations Division (ERD); Stefan Liller, Resident Representative, UNDP Bangladesh, Matt Cannell, Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director, British High Commission, Dhaka, Nayoka Martinez-Bäckström, Deputy Head of Development Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden and Edimon Ginting, Country Director, Asian Development Bank, spoke on the occasion. Shahriar Kader Siddiky said, "Integrating climate change into public financial management is crucial for aligning national budgets and fiscal policies with climate priorities.” "Our goal is to create a knowledge circle in both the public and private sectors that can access and utilize climate finance from national and global sources effectively”, he added. "UNDP remains committed to supporting Bangladesh in its pursuit of climate-resilient development pathways. This workshop will lay the ground for enhanced collaboration and coordination among stakeholders to mobilize additional climate finance from diverse sources," said Stefan Liller. "Bangladesh has received substantial financing from vertical funds like the Global Environmental Facility, the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund, but the process of accessing such funds needs to be simplified and the utilization of these need to be made quicker, more efficient, and in an accountable and transparent way to make Bangladesh best in class both in mobilizing and delivering climate finance - in support of its mitigation and adaptation priorities and larger development aspirations,” Stefan added.  

Minister for Housing and Public Works R.A.M. Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury on Saturday urged everyone to work together for earthquake-resistant urbanization. "The government is working to build earthquake-resistant structures and urbanisation. And we all need to work unitedly to make it successful", he said. Dedicated fund by central bank essential to promote renewable energy: Speakers He was speaking at an 'International Seminar on Earthquake Resilience' organized by the Capital Development Authority under the initiative of the Urban Resilience Project (Rajuk part) funded by the World Bank at a hotel in Dhaka. He also said that due to rapid urbanization and lack of construction rules and ethics, all the district towns of the country including Dhaka and Chattogram have become vulnerable. Due to population growth and lack of proper enforcement of laws, the city's open spaces are gradually seized by land grabbers. Besides, rapid population growth in Dhaka makes it vulnerable to earthquakes and other natural calamities. By implementing sustainable development policies and strategies, existing vulnerabilities can be overcome to build a sustainable and risk-free city, he added. Train service on Benapole-Mongla route begins with 500 passengers Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Advisor Salman Fazlur Rahman spoke as a guest of honor at the event. Presided by RAJUK Chairman Major General (retd) Siddiqur Rahman, Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works Md Nabirul Islam was present as a special guest on the first day of the two-day seminar.

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Saturday assisted fire fighting units at Ukhia Rohingya camp-13 fire in Coxs Bazar and also conducted rescue assistance At least 200 shanties were gutted in the fire incident that broke out at around 1:00 pm in the Block No. D/1 and D/2 of Rohingya Refugee camp-13 under Palongkhali union of the Ukhia upazila. However, no casualties were reported in the fire.   Over 200 shanties gutted in Rohingya camp fire in Cox’s Bazar Being informed, the members of Balukhali BOP and Palangkhali BOP under Cox's Bazar Battalion (34 BGB) immediately rushed to the spot. The BGB members worked tirelessly to control the law and order situation in the surrounding area including assisting in fire fighting and conducting rescue operations there. Later, with the help of 2 units of fire fighting units and the efforts of BGB members, the fire was completely brought under control at 2:00 pm, said Lt. Col. Mohammad Iqbal Hossain, Director (Operations)of Coxs Bazar BGB Region Headquarters. Fire breaks out in Ukhiya Rohingya camp

At least 200 shanties were gutted in a fire that broke out in a Rohingya camp in Ukhiya upazila of Cox’s Bazar on Saturday afternoon. However, no casualties were reported in the fire. Earlier, around 12:30 pm, the fire broke out in the 13 Tanjimarkhola Rohingya camp under Palongkhali union of the upazila, said Kamal Hossain, assistant director of the Ukhiya Fire Service. On information, several firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the flame under control around 1:50 pm, he said, adding that some dwelling houses and shops were gutted in the fire. However, Additional Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mohammad Samsudouzza Nayon said over 200 Rohingya shanties and other establishments were damaged in the blaze. The fire-affected families will be given assistance, said the commissioner. Additional Deputy Inspector General Md Amir Jafar, commander of the APBn-8, stated that attempts were underway to determine the cause of the fire, whether it was an accident or a premeditated occurrence. Earlier on May 24, a fire broke out in the same place that gutted over 300 shanties.

Speakers at a seminar today said creation of a dedicated renewable energy fund by Bangladesh Bank is essential to promote green financing. Otherwise, it will not be possible to remove the existing barriers to access institutional financing, they said while addressing a seminar at the 2nd Dhaka Renewable Energy and Finance Talk. Change Initiative, a research body, organized the event at the Military Museum Multipurpose Hall in the city. Tahmid Zami, Bangladesh Correspondent and Climate Reporter of Thomson Reuters Foundation, moderated the event. M Murshed Haider, Infrastructure Finance and PPP Consultant of World Bank, said one of the key problems in financing renewable energy projects is lack of available funding for long term financing. “Bangladesh Bank has some refinancing schemes for green products, but there is no dedicated renewable fund for green energy promotion,” he said. He also observed that safety and a higher return from the investment are also key issues in the case of financing which need to be ensured by the policy support. Admitting the absence of a dedicated financing scheme for renewable energy, Chowdhury Liakat Ali, Director, Sustainable Finance Department of Bangladesh Bank said the central bank has been giving policy support to the banks to encourage them to promote renewable energy. He also admitted that there are some criteria for accessing the refinancing of the central bank which the private investors cannot meet. As a result, banks seek BB directives on the issue. Mohammad Alauddin, Rector of Bangladesh Power Management Institute and former chairman of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda), said there were some available funds from the international agencies. But the financial closing to those funds takes a huge time as the investors need to fulfill some criteria to avail the funding, he said. He also said that there is huge potential for rooftop solar power in the country. But so far no successful business model was developed on which it could be utilised. Nayoka Martinez-Bäckström, First Secretary and Deputy Head of Development Cooperation, Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka; Dr Fazle Rabbi Sideque Ahmed, Deputy Managing Director of Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF), and Sabbir Hossain, DMD and Chief Operating Officer of Sustainability Unit of BRAC Bank Limited, also spoke on the occasionIn another session of the seminar, former member of Sreda, Siddique Zobair, said in general, subsidy is not good. But it is essential in the case of promoting renewable energy in transformation from fossil fuel.  

Bangladesh reported 16 more COVID-19 cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning. With the new numbers, the country's total COVID-19 caseload rose to 2,050,493, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,495 as no new fatalities were reported during this period. The daily case test positivity rate was 4.24 percent as 377 samples were tested, said the DGHS. The recovery and death rates stood at 98.41 percent and 1.44 per cent, respectively.

A four-member team from the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) is en route to Nepal following an investigation in India, to probe the murder of Jhenaidah-4 MP Anwarul Azim Anar. The team, led by the DB Chief Mohammad Harun-or-Rashid, is focusing on the main accused in the murder, Akhtaruzzaman Shaheen. MP Anar murder investigation sees remarkable progress: DB Chief Before departing Dhaka, Harun addressed media reports about the arrest of a person named Siam in Nepal. “I can't say anything at this moment. But we are going for an investigation. We will let you know soon,” Harun told journalists at Dhaka Airport this morning. Harun revealed that the suspects in Anar's murder had used the Nepal route. "We have spoken to Jihad in India. We have several suspects related to Anar's murder, apart from the main culprit. Both sides have discussed this matter," he said. Motive behind MP Anar murder yet to be ascertained: DMP Commissioner He also noted that several major criminals from Bangladesh, including suspects in Anar's murder, have recently been using the Kolkata route. “Considering everything, we have also written to Interpol to check if there are any criminals in that area. Overall, we are going to Nepal mainly for investigation," Harun added. DB mum about possible recovery of MP Anar's body parts

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate rains across all eight divisions, including Dhaka, over 24 hours starting from 9 am today. Rains likely across the country in 24 hours According to the BMD's regular bulletin, “Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty winds are likely to occur at most places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Sylhet divisions; at a few places over Rajshahi, Khulna, and Chattogram divisions; and at one or two places over Dhaka and Barishal divisions, with moderately heavy falls at places across the country.” Rains likely in Dhaka, 4 other divisions in 24 hours The bulletin also indicates that the day temperature may fall slightly, while the night temperature is expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country.

Train communication on the 138.64 km Benapole-Mongla route began operations today (June 01, 2024), carrying 500 passengers on its inaugural journey. Saidur Rahman, Benapole Rail Station Master, reported that the commuter train departed for Mongla port at around 10 am, reaching Mongla via Khulna's Phultala at approximately 12:50 pm. Train services on Benapole-Mongla route set to start from June 1 The commuter train will operate daily, except on Tuesdays, according to Asim Kumar Talukdar, General Manager of the Railway Western Zone. The route includes stopovers at Navaron, Jhikargacha, Jashore Junction, Rupdia, Singia, Chengutia, Noapara, Bejerdanga, Phultala, Aronghata, Mohammadnagar, Katakhali, Chulkati Bazar, Bhaga, and Digraj stations. Train derailment in Bogura: Communication resumes after 2 hrs The new service follows a trial run that began on November 1, when a train was operated on the 138.64 km Khulna-Mongla rail tracks. After seven months of testing, the train service is now officially launched.