United News of Bangladesh

 The World Food Programme (WFP) has swiftly dispatched cash assistance to families most at risk across Khulna and Barishal divisions ahead of cyclone Remal's anticipated landfall in the southern coastal regions of Bangladesh. A total of 30,000 families, or 150,000 people, in 11 upazilas spanning five districts—Khulna, Satkhira, Barguna, Patuakhali, and Bhola—received Tk 5,000 (US$43) each, WFP said on Sunday. The cash, facilitated through bKash, a Bank-led Mobile Financial Service Provider partnering with WFP, will aid families in preparing for and recovering from the impending storm. Cyclone Remal, meaning "sand" in Arabic, is the first pre-monsoon cyclone in the Bay of Bengal this season. The government of Bangladesh has issued cyclone signal number 10, out of a maximum of 11, indicating the severity of this storm. With this assistance, families have been able to procure essential items such as food, medicines, and cattle feed. Additionally, some have utilized the funds to reinforce their homes with ropes and arrange transportation for family members to safer locations. The cash distribution was complemented by early warning messages and evacuation support, coordinated with local government authorities in alignment with the Cyclone Preparedness Programme managed by the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. This timely response is part of one of WFP's flagship programmes, Anticipatory Action (AA) for climate shocks. With generous support from Germany, through WFP’s Anticipatory Action Trust Fund, WFP activated this support and provided forecast-based cash assistance. "Early action saves lives. WFP has amassed years of experience in Anticipatory Action worldwide and here in Bangladesh," remarked Dom Scalpelli, WFP Bangladesh Country Director. "Through innovative approaches like this, we will continue to assist the Government in bolstering its national emergency preparedness and enhancing the resilience of communities disproportionately impacted by climate change.” The AA programme enables the implementation and financing of actions before an extreme weather event occurs. These anticipatory actions aim to prevent and mitigate – to the extent possible – the effects of extreme weather on the food security and nutrition of highly vulnerable people. Launched in 2015, WFP’s AA portfolio now includes 36 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. In Bangladesh, WFP, together with national and local government partners, has been supporting the development of early-warning systems and anticipatory actions for critical natural hazards such as floods, cyclones, flash flood, and heavy rainfall.  

Md. Jahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Additional Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office, has been appointed as the new Managing Director (MD) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited. Cyclone Remal: Biman suspends all Cox's Bazar bound flights Sunday A notification regarding this appointment was issued today from the Ministry of Public Administration. Earlier on May 21, Shafiul Azim, incumbent MD of Biman, was appointed as the Secretary of Election Commission.

Severe cyclonic storm Remal has started to make landfall on Bangladesh’s coast with strong wind and heavy rainfall, according to the Met Office. “It began to make landfall at 9pm and it will take five to six hours to cross the coast,” meteorologist Dr Mohammad Abul Kalam Mollik told UNB. Cyclone Remal: Coastal areas in Khulna experiencing rain, tidal surge The coastal areas are experiencing heavy rainfall due to the influence of cyclonic storm Remal.Bangladesh has evacuated more than 800,000 people from the coastal areas. "We have already prepared 8,000 to 9,000 shelters. Adequate dry food, biscuits, water and medical supplies have reached all the shelters,” said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman on Sunday. Youth swept away in tidal surge dies in PatuakhaliMaritime ports of Payra and Mongla have been advised to keep hoisting Great Danger Signal 10 while Cox's Bazar and Chattogram have been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal number 9.

Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali today said that the army can take action against former Bangladesh Army Chief General Aziz Ahmed. While speaking to reporters at the Secretariat about addressing loan defaulters, the Finance Minister incidentally mentioned the potential for military action against Aziz Ahmed. Bangladesh to get third IMF loan installment in June: Finance Minister Earlier in the day, the Finance Minister held a meeting with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Director Krishnamurthy V Subramanian at the Secretariat. When asked which economic indicator he would highlight as positive, the Finance Minister gave a vague response. However, when pressed on the economy's biggest challenge, he acknowledged inflation but also noted improvements in areas such as foreign reserves and revenue collection. He downplayed concerns about the dollar exchange rate, stating that the IMF-recommended crawling peg system was working effectively. Finance Minister sees online gambling, hundi behind increasing money laundering Unexpectedly, the Finance Minister remarked, “Now we have to catch the debtors.” When he paused after this statement, journalists asked, “Can you do this? The debtors are very strong.” He responded, “Let’s see if we can do it or not. You see, action is being taken against the former police chief (Benazir Ahmed). Did he have less power?” When journalists pointed out that the government had not taken any action against the former army chief, the Finance Minister replied that while the government had not acted, the army might take steps. Finance Minister Mahmood Ali seeks increased concessional finance, policy based lending supports from ADB  Upon being reminded that Aziz Ahmed is no longer in the army, the Finance Minister stated that the army could still take action even after retirement.

All educational institutions in Chattogram City Corporation will remain closed on Monday due to the severe cyclonic storm Remal. Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Rezaul Karim Chowdhury shared this information, saying that 81 educational institutions under CCC will be used as shelters. The Port City mayor came up with the announcement while speaking at a meeting over disaster management at CCC office on Sunday. Cyclone Remal: Coastal areas in Khulna experiencing rain, tidal surge The local administration informed about the situation in risk-prone areas of the city through loudspeakers and a control room was opened at Dampara to monitor the situation, he said. He also asked the city corporation councilors to monitor the overall situation and help local people to move into shelters. Rains start in coastal districts as cyclone Remal nears

The government has appointed Air Vice Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan as the new chief of Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) by elevating him to the rank of Air Marshal. Air Vice Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, who will succeed Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan, will take over as the new BAF chief on June 11, 2024 for three years, according to a notification issued by the Defence Ministry on Sunday. Air Vice Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan will be promoted to Air Marshal rank with effect from June 11, 2024 afternoon. Outgoing Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shaikh Abdul Hannan will go on retirement on June 11, 2024, said another notification issued by the Defence Ministry on Sunday. Shaikh Abdul Hannan took charge as the air chief on June 12, 2021.

Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has taken some preparations including opening control rooms as cyclone Remal is likely to make landfall in Bangladesh on Sunday . The preparations were taken in line with the advices from the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, said the ministry. The other measure taken by the ministry include posting of staff in vacant posts in an expeditious manner and cancelling all leaves of the staff of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board (BREB) and West Zone Power Distribution Company (WZPDC) in Khulna and Barisal regions, and protecting the development works of the government from the impact of Cyclone Remal. Preparing extra manpower to provide necessary support to the cyclone related works of the BREB and WZPDC in Khulna and Barisal regions is also a part of the preparations. The ministry said that all have to remain alert so that nobody can touch any power lines snapped by storm and immediately contact the nearest power offices if any snapped electrical wire is seen anywhere. The ministry also advised all to call at the number: 16999 of the call centre for any electricity related needs. The BREB control Room No. 01792-623467, 02-8900575, while the West Zone Power Distribution Company’s Barisal Region office: 01713-850218, Khulna Region office: 01713-850211, Patuakhali Region: 01713-850219 will remain open round the clock. Apart from this, the BREB and WZPDC have opened their control rooms in each of the districts to deal with the cyclone. Meanwhile, two oil tankers have been sent to deep sea area while it will be possible to supply 700 MMCFD gas from two FSRUs (LNG terminals) by 4 pm and 1000 MMCFD gas by night. Fuel transportation in inland waterways will remain closed. In order to deal with the disaster situation arising from Cyclone 'Remal' (in terms of landslides), people in Chittagong, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachari districts are requested to contact the Directorate of Geological Survey of Bangladesh on the following numbers- 01712-811252, 01715- 821802, 01912-675180, 01717-293411, 01726-706755, 01552-447093. Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has also opened a control room with the Number: 01755-587627 (mobile), land phone Number: +8802333316335, said the MPEMR.

Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) President Major General (retd) ANM Muniruzzaman on Sunday said it is important for everyone to understand all the connotation of this new space of influence operations so that no one is misguided. He particularly referred to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for elucidating how it can complicate the whole issue and magnify the problems that they are already facing. “The advent of AI has made the situation far more complex”, he said, pointing out the necessity of establishing more efficient fact-checking mechanisms and forensic labs in Bangladesh. Muniruzzaman said the threat associated with influence operations is evolving every day and in a rapid manner. BIPSS organized the policy circle on “Influence Operations: An Emerging Threat” in Dhaka. Country Representative- Bangladesh, Internews Shameem Ara Sheuli, lecturer, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka Tanvir Habib, and lecturer, Department of Peace, Conflict and Human Rights, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) Marjuka Binte Afzal were the speakers who shared their knowledge and perspectives on the discussion topic. Senior Research Fellow, BIPSS Shafqat Munir said influence operations are emerging as a key security and political challenge in many countries. Among many facets of influence operations, Munir highlighted how it undermines democracy and societies. “Over the last ten years, we have seen in various countries of Europe, Asia and other continents how various actors have used influence operations to divide societies and spread disinformation”, he said. He also mentioned that even elections have been undermined as a result of influence operations. “We are now increasingly living in the information space. The utmost importance of information has become critical not only to our individual lives but also to our social lives, our national lives and our international thinking”, Muniruzzaman said. Shamim Ara Sheuli depicted that before the 1990s, the authorities, influential groups, political parties and others used to rely on traditional media platforms like radio, television to influence the targeted groups; but with the emergence of some new information technologies, a new dimension to the influence operations has been added. “Influence operations are nothing new, it has always been there”, she said while differentiating the tools that facilitate these types of operations. She also identified that AI has become a new tool of influence operations and that it can be threatening to some extent. Tanvir Habib talked about how influence operations are initiated with the intentions to create some certain outcomes and how these can create particular reactions among the targeted group of people. He identified some key features of the current world’s influence operations such as the aggregation or the abundance of data, the question of algorithm, anonymity etc. among others. “There are mainly two types of influence operations; one is longer term exposure and the other one is shorter term”, he mentioned. He described that the longer term operations may sustain for four to five years while the shorter ones may exist for a few months. “There is a gradual formation of alignment of actors in terms of influence operations which indicates that actors are coordinating their influence operations across multiple domains and multiple narratives”, he further added. Marjuka Binte Afzal expressed her eagerness to explore how Russian influence operations function. “You are more likely to discuss those things which are shown as significant ones to you”, she said while elaborating how influence operations can have impacts on peoples’ minds. Further, she stressed on the importance of understanding the true goals of different influence operations. Marjuka also mentioned some terms like gatekeeping information, agenda setting, deepfake etc. to analyze the relation of those attributes to modern-day influence operations. “We as young people need to practice the idea of patience”, she said while urging the need of shaping the reactions of people after receiving certain information. She also expressed concern regarding the lack of well-established fact-checking mechanisms in the news outlets of Bangladesh. During the interactive session how influence operations can be deployed in a positive way, role of non-state actors, how to cope with the threats, impacts of geopolitical rivalries on influence operations, need of diversifying research issues were raised and discussed. When questioned about the gullibility of people towards any information, Marjuka mentioned that people tend to be more gullible when he or she is ignorant; one can be influenced more when there is lack of understanding regarding a certain topic. So awareness must be built. Social resiliency can be a key tool against influence operations. Ambassadors and delegates from different embassies, former Bangladesh ambassadors, journalists, academicians, representatives from different organizations and students attended the event.

Severe cyclonic storm Remal over northwest bay and adjoining area is expected to make landfall between West Bengal's Sagar Island and Bangladesh's Khepupara from 6 pm today (Sunday). Under the peripheral effect of the severe cyclone, rains with gusty or squally wind have started in coastal regions of Bangladesh. After crossing the center of a severe cyclonic storm, the rest part of the system may continue to cross, said a special bulletin of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).It was centred at 3 pm today about 325 kms southwest of Chattogram port, 310 kms southwest of Cox's Bazar port, 200 kms south of Mongla port and 180 kms south of payra port. Ctg Port implements emergency protocols as Cyclone Remal approachesMaximum sustained wind speed within 64 km of the severe cyclone centre is about 90 kph rising to 120 kph in gusts or squalls. Over 8 lakh people evacuated Over 8 lakh people have so far been evacuated to shelters as cyclone Remal is approaching Bangladesh coast, said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman. He urged the people of 16 coastal districts to go to cyclone centres immediately for their safety. He made the request at a press briefing after an inter-ministerial meeting on cyclone management at the Secretariat on Sunday. 8-12 feet tidal surge likely in costal districts The low-lying areas of coastal districts Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Barguna, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Laxmipur. Feni, Chandpur, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar and their offshore islands and chars are likely to be inundated by wind driven surge of 08-12 feet height above normal astronomical tide. Heavy rainfall Rajshahi, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions are likely to experience heavy (44-88 mm) to very heavy rainfall ( 89 mm) with gusty or squally wind.Sea will remain high near the severe cyclone centre.Maritime ports of Payra and Mongla have been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal no 10.The coastal districts of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Barguna, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal no 10.Maritime ports of Cox's Bazar and Chattogram have been advised to keep hoisted great danger signal no 9. Over 8 lakh people evacuated to shelters: State Minister Mohibur Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Feni, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Chandpur and their offshore islands and chars will come under great danger signal no 9. River ports of Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Jhalakathi, Barguna, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Chattagram, Cox's Bazar have been asked to hoist riverine great danger signal no four. Hill districts may witness landslides Due to very heavy rainfall, landslides may occur at places over the hilly regions of Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamatl, Khagrachari and Chattogram. All fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay and deep sea have been advised to remain in shelter till further notice. Leave of all govt officials cancelled Leave of officials of all ministries, divisions and subordinate offices have been cancelled to tackle the possible aftermath of cyclone Remal. State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman announced it after an inter-ministerial meeting at the secretariat on Sunday.

Over 8 lakh people have so far been evacuated to shelters as cyclone Remal is approaching Bangladesh coast, said State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Mohibur Rahman. He urged the people of 16 coastal districts to go to cyclone centres immediately for their safety. He made the request at a press briefing after an inter-ministerial meeting on cyclone management at the Secretariat on Sunday. The cyclone may start crossing the coast of Bangladesh by this evening, he added. Maritime ports of Mongla and Payra have hoisted great danger signal number 10, while Chattogram and Cox's Bazar seaports have hoisted great danger signal number 9. "We have made all preparations to deal with Remal with more capacity with the experience of the past. If everyone follows the instructions, we hope that we will be able to deal with this disaster successfully as before.” Cyclone Remal: Great Danger Signal No. 10 issued for Mongla, Payra; 9 for Ctg and Cox’s Bazar The coastal districts which are under cyclone threat are Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Barguna, Barishal, Bhola, Patuakhali, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Feni, Cumilla, Noakhali, Laxmipur and Chandpur. "We have already prepared 8,000 to 9,000 shelters. Adequate dry food, biscuits, water and medical supplies have reached all the shelters,” said the state minister. The state minister said, “By this evening, the front part of the cyclone will start crossing Bangladesh. The main part of the cyclone will cross Bangladesh by midnight. The maximum wind speed can be 110 to 130 kilometers per hour while crossing the coast. During the cyclone, coastal area may experience tidal surge of 10 to 12 feet high.” The entire area from Satkhira to Cox's Bazar is likely affected by the cyclone, he added. Mohibbur Rahman said there is a possibility of 300 millimeters of rain within 24 hours of the cyclone.