United News of Bangladesh

Five women will be awarded for their contributions in different fields on the occasion of International Women's Day, said State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Simin Hossain Rimi.She said each of the five winners will be given a cheque of Tk 1 lakh, crest, shawl and certificate. US honours Bangladesh Supreme Court lawyer Fawzia Karim with 2024 International Women of Courage Award.She made the disclosure at a press conference on Women's Day at the Secretariat on Thursday.Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be present as the chief guest at the event to be held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium at 10 am on Friday. Bangladesh's Fawzia Karim named among International Women of Courage Award recipients for 2024 This year the theme of the day is “Invest to accelerate gender equality and opportunity”.Anar Kali of Mymensingh, Kalyani Minzi of Rajshahi, tea worker Kamali Rabidas of Sylhet, Jahanara Begum of Barguna and Pakhi Datta Hijra of Khulna will be awarded for their economic success.Highlighting the successes of the winners, the State Minister said Anar Kali of Mymensingh is a successful entrepreneur and businesswoman, Kalyani Minzi, a winner from the Orao community, graduated in Social Science from Rajshahi University. She is currently the headmistress of Sonadhighi Government Primary School. Women’s Heads of Mission in Bangladesh celebrate International Women’s DayBesides, Kamali Rabidas of Sylhet is a successful mother. With tireless work as a tea worker on a daily wage of only Tk 18, she educated one of her sons who is currently an officer in a private bank., she saidShe said said that Jahanara Begum of Barguna was married at the age of 12 and her husband burnt her with acid for not being able to pay the dowry money. Later, she proved herself to be a self-sufficient winner. Pakhi Datta Hijra of Khulna has worked for the rights and betterment of the lives of her own community.

The government is likely to float international bidding on March 10 for inviting foreign companies to explore oil and gas in the country’s in the Bay of Bengal. “We’re hopeful a good number of companies will participate in the bidding round,” chairman of Petrobangla Zanendra Nath Sarker told media recently. According to Petrobangla officials, the state hydrocarbon corporation, the bid invitation document will be sent to local newspaper in a day or two to publish it. In addition, it will be published on the websites of Implementation Monitoring and. Evaluation Division (IMED) and Bangladesh’s foreign mission abroad, they said. Do those not observing March 7 actually believe in Bangladesh’s independence? — Foreign Minister asks Besides, the Petrobangla has a plan to hold a press conference on March 11 to brief the media about the plan and other nitty-gritty of the initiatives. Prime Minister’s Energy Advisor Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury told UNB  that the government will try to wrap up the bidding in next 6 months. Many foreign companies have contacted the government and expressed their interest to join the bidding round,he said adding “Unless we conclude the bidding, it’s difficult to say how many companies are coming to participate in the bidding round.” He also noted that the government will arrange different programmes as part of campaign for the offshore bidding. Earlier, on July 26 last year, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the draft ‘Bangladesh Offshore Model Production Sharing Contract (PSC) 2023’ in order to invite international bidding for hydrocarbon exploration in offshore areas of the country. The final approval for the draft Model PSC 2023 was given under a plan to invite the bidding round. It was speculated a September bid might be in the offing, but that eventually fell through as the election was too close and at that stage there was still too much uncertainty to be cleared up. The Prime Minister’s Office has recently given a go-ahead to the Energy Division’s plan for inviting the bidding round in March. Send money through legal channels, Bangladeshi FM urges expats Farhana Sharon, general manager of the Petrobangla, informed that the organisation is taking necessary steps to invite the bidding round as per approval of the PMO. According to official sources, the new Model PSC was prepared as part of a plan to invite international bidding for offshore deep and shallow water gas blocks, to make Bangladesh more attractive to international oil companies. Under the initiative, the gas price was tagged with the price of Brent Crude in the international market to ensure flexibility. “Under the plan, we’re going to offer the price of gas at 10 percent of Brent Crude,” the Petrobangla official told UNB. The official said if Brent Crude is traded at USD $75 per barrel, the gas price would be USD 7.5 per thousand cubic feet (MCF). The gas price will always remain linked to the international oil price, he said, referring to the new provision of the Model PSC 2023. British oil & gas consultancy Wood Mackenzie has been advising the Bangladesh government and Petrobangla on the latest PSC revisions. Official sources said the country has a total of 48 blocks, of which 26 are located offshore. Of the 26 offshore blocks, 11 are located in shallow sea (SS) water while 15 are located in deep sea (DS) water areas. Of the offshore blocks, 24 remain open for IOCs while two blocks — SS-04 and SS-09 – are under contract with a joint venture of ONGC Videsh Ltd and Oil India Ltd where drilling work has recently started. Bangladesh's offshore area remains unexplored despite the settlement of its dispute with neighbouring Myanmar and India over maritime boundary almost nine years ago. Currently, about 2300 mmcfd gas is being produced from 22 gas fields in the country, while about 600 mmcfd gas is being imported from abroad to meet the demand of about 4000 mmcfd, leaving a deficit of about 1200 mmcfd daily.

A fire that broke out in an under-construction building in Dhaka’s Banani on Thursday afternoon has been doused after 40 minutes.  The fire started in the building located on Road 4 of Block-F in Chairman Bari area around 2:40 pm on Thursday, said Rozina Parvin, duty officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence.On information, three firefighting units rushed to the spot. Only one firefighting engine, however, managed to douse the flame at around 3:20 pm, she added. The fire originated on the ground floor of the under-construction multi-storey building due to an electric short circuit.  No casualty was reported in the incident, the officer added.

The book “Bangladesh on a New Journey: Moving Beyond the Regional Identity” was launched on Wednesday. Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in collaboration with Bangladesh Foundation for Regional Studies (BFRS) organised the book launching ceremony at the BIISS auditorium. Dr AK Abdul Momen, Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest while Ambassador AFM Gousal Azam Sarker, Chairman, BIISS, Chaired the event. Barrister Saqeb Mahbub appointed as Officer of the International Bar Association Director General of BIISS Major General Md Abu Bakar Siddique Khan, delivered the welcome address while Dr Sreeradha Datta, Professor, OP Jindal Global University, India, and editor of the book introduced the book and deliberated on it.  Dr Iqbal Singh Sevea, Director, Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), National University of Singapore, Ambassador M Humayun Kabir, President, Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) and ASM Shamsul Arefin, Chairman, BFRS were also present among the distinguished guests at the event. Distinguished speakers in the ceremony noted that Bangladesh is now being considered an important factor in the Indo-Pacific, which bears global relevance in the narrative of the Indo-Pacific.  Bangladesh also showcased its willingness to promote prosperity and inclusivity through its latest peaceful and inclusive Indo-Pacific outlook. PM Hasina pays tribute to Bangabandhu on historic March 7 anniversary Learned speakers noted that the nation has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to fostering regional cohesion through active participation in initiatives such as SAARC and BIMSTEC.  They also said that the book edited by Dr Sreeradha Datta underscores the nation’s potential to achieve substantial economic and strategic gains through versed diplomacy and sustained engagement on the international stage.  Members of the Parliament, senior officials from different ministries, former ambassadors, senior civil and military officials, media, academia, researchers, faculties from various universities, the business community and representatives from international organisations participated in the book launching ceremony and enriched it by presenting their valuable opinions, comments, suggestions, and observations during the open discussion session.

On the occasion of the historic March 7, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh paid tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.  The historic March 7 marks the day when Bangabandhu delivered his historic speech at the Racecourse Ground (now Suhrawardy Udyan) in Dhaka on March 7, 1971 igniting the flame of independence in the hearts of millions on the eve of the War of Independence. Anti-liberation forces failed to erase Bangabandhu's iconic March 7 speech: PM Hasina In recognition and memory of this pivotal moment in the history of Bangladesh, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud paid homage to the memories of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with his party colleagues. Senior officials of the ministry led by the Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen laid a floral wreath at Bangabandhu's portrait at the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32.

Bangladeshi lawyer Barrister Saqeb Mahbub, Partner of Mahbub & Company, has been appointed as an Officer of the prestigious International Bar Association for the 2024-2025 term. Saqeb Mahbub will hold the portfolio of “Professional Well-Being Commission Liaison Officer” within the committee and will serve as the Asia Pacific Regional Forum's Professional Well-Being Commission Liaison Officer for the term. On March 1, the International Bar Association approved the committee for the 2024-25 term of the Asia Pacific Regional Forum and officially announced the committee on March 4. This information was conveyed in a press release on Thursday. The press release stated that Dr. Kamal Hossain, an esteemed jurist from Bangladesh, has previously held an important position within the association and Saqeb Mahbub's appointment marks a significant milestone, as he follows in the footsteps of Dr. Kamal Hossain. DMP conducts drives targeting fire safety violations in Dhaka The new executive committee of the IBA is co-chaired by David Liu, Partner at JunHe, Shanghai, China and Preetha Sridharan Pillai, Partner at Skrine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, underlining the committee's leadership by distinguished legal professionals in the Asia Pacific region. Saqeb Mahbub on his representation for Bangladesh stated, "I am proud to be following in the footsteps of Dr. Kamal Hossain, and I am proud to be representing Bangladesh internationally.” Saqeb Mahbub also expressed his commitment to contributing to the association’s mission and objectives, particularly in the realm of professional well-being within the legal profession. Mahbub & Company extended its heartfelt congratulations to Saqeb Mahbub on this remarkable achievement and looks forward to his contributions to the international legal community through his new role within the IBA. Founded in 1947, the IBA stands as the premier organization for international legal practitioners, bar associations, and law societies. With a mission rooted in promoting and preserving the rule of law worldwide, the IBA has grown to include over 80,000 individual international lawyers from the world's leading law firms and some 190 bar associations and law societies across more than 170 countries. Hoarders of essential commodities to face action under Special Powers Act: Law minister The IBA plays a crucial role in assisting the global legal community, influencing international law reform, and shaping the future of the legal profession across the globe. The Asia Pacific Regional Forum serves as the executive committee for the IBA in the Asia Pacific Region.  

Dhaka ranked third on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality on Thursday morning. Its air quality continued to be in the 'unhealthy' zone with an air quality index (AQI) score of 174 at 9:10 am. An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’ while between 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and 301–400 is 'hazardous', posing severe health risks to residents. Dhaka’s air quality worst in the world this morning Thailand’s Chiang Mai, India’s Delhi and Nepal’s Kathmandu occupied the first, second and fourth spots in the list, with AQI scores of 191, 185 and 169, respectively. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone. Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon. No improvement in Dhaka’s air quality Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long been recognised as increasing a person’s chances of developing a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and cancer, according to several studies. As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.  

March 7, a remarkable day in the history of the nation’s long arduous freedom struggle, is being observed on Thursday across the country with elaborate programmes. In 2017, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recognised the historic March 7 speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as a world documentary heritage. On this day in 1971, Bangabandhu, the undisputed leader of Bangalees, delivered an epoch-making speech before a mammoth rally at the then Racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) in Dhaka city. In his 19-minute extempore speech before a million freedom-loving people, Bangabandhu made a clarion call for a non-cooperation movement -- asking the nation to prepare for liberating the country from the oppressive Pakistan regime. Historic March 7 being observed across the country "The struggle this time is for freedom, the struggle this time is for independence, Joy Bangla," Bangabandhu declared from the massive rally. During his speech, Bangabandhu said: "Since we have learnt to give blood, we'll give more blood. Insha Allah, the people of this country will be liberated...turn every house into a fortress. Face (the enemy) with whatever you have." His speech worked like a magic spell, inspiring the entire nation to join the struggle for independence from the autocratic and repressive rule of the then-Pakistani junta. The Cabinet on October 7, 2020 declared March 7 as a 'Historic Day' instead of 'National Historic Day' -- to observe the day nationally and internationally, commemorating the immortal speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Awami League and different socio-political and cultural organisations have chalked out elaborate programmes on the occasion. Historic March 7 to be observed Tuesday Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as well as private television channels and radio stations are airing special programmes while national dailies published special supplements marking the day. National and Awami League party flags have been hoisted marking the day at Bangabandhu Bhaban and the party office this morning. Meanwhile, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages.    

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina commenced the day by paying tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with a wreath-laying ceremony at his portrait in Dhanmondi-32, commemorating the pivotal March 7. The homage took place in front of the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 7 am, where the Prime Minister stood in solemn silence, honouring the memory and legacy of Bangladesh's independence architect. Accompanied by key figures from the Bangladesh Awami League, Sheikh Hasina offered another wreath on behalf of the party, demonstrating collective reverence for Bangabandhu. Historic March 7: PM pays tributes to Bangabandhu Following the Prime Minister's lead, representatives from Awami League's associate organisations, including Awami Jubo League, Chhatra League, Mohila Awami League, Sramik League, Krishak League, Jubo Mohila League, and Swechchhasebok League, also paid their respects, marking the occasion with wreath-laying. On this historic day in 1971, Bangabandhu galvanised the nation with his revolutionary call to arms against Pakistani oppression, setting the stage for Bangladesh's quest for independence. In 2017, the speech delivered by Bangabandhu on this day was recognised by UNESCO as a documentary heritage of the world, underlining its significance in the global context. Bangladesh to observe historic March 7 Monday to draw inspiration from Bangabandhu’s iconic speech Bangabandhu's speech, delivered at the then Racecourse Maidan (now Suhrawardy Udyan) to a gathering of over a million patriots, lasted 19 minutes and unequivocally urged Bangalees to engage in a non-cooperation movement against the oppressive Pakistani regime, culminating in the memorable proclamation, "The struggle this time is for freedom, the struggle this time is for independence, Joy Bangla."  

PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), a research and advocacy organisation as well as a member of Stop Tobacco Pollution Alliance (STPA), has written a letter to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, urging the ministries to work together in banning cigarette filters and vaporisers to address plastic pollution. The letter upheld a landmark decision on the implementation of Article 18 (Protection of the Environment) adopted by the 183 Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) Conference of the Parties (COP10), held on February 10, 2024. WHO has recommended an immediate ban on cigarette filters and vaporizers as they are “unnecessary, avoidable and problematic, single-use plastics that are widely spread in the environment, killing microorganisms and marine life, as well as polluting oceans”. Several Parties have already taken initiatives in terms of banning disposable vapes (Australia, UK), taxing the tobacco industry (Benin, Chad and Gambia), and calling for a ban on cigarette filters (Belgium, Netherlands). On the issue of tobacco's toxic impact on the environment, ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) said, “On average, a staggering 71 billion cigarette filters are tossed into the environment each year in Bangladesh. Cigarette filter takes more than a decade to degrade and release more than 7,000 chemical substances in the process. To tackle plastic pollution, the government should ban the use of cigarette filters and vaporizers.” Bangladesh is a party to the WHO FCTC, which provides global regulatory mandates relating to tobacco control. In order to shape the Revised Zero Draft Text in the upcoming INC4 negotiations on April 23-29 2024, to develop a plastic pollution treaty PROGGA stressed the need for a closer collaboration between the two concerned ministries to ensure that cigarette filters and disposable vapes are recognized as problematic and avoidable plastic products that should be banned. Additionally, it was urged to classify cigarette butts as hazardous plastic waste, and prevent/avoid tobacco industry implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).