United News of Bangladesh

The National Economic Council (NEC) on Thursday approved the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the fiscal year of 2024-2025 with an outlay of Tk 265,000 crores. The transport and communication sector got the highest allocation of Tk 70, 687.75 crore (26. 67pc of allocation) in the ADP. Besides, the NEC approved some Tk 13,288.91-crore ADP of the autonomous bodies or corporations. The approval came from the NEC meeting presided over by NEC Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the NEC Conference room in the city's Sher-e Bangla Nagar area. Planning Minister Abdus Salam, State Minister for Planning Shahiduzzaman Sarker and Planning Division Senior Secretary Satyajit Karmaker briefed reporters after the meeting. “Among the Tk 265,000 crores, Tk 165,000 crore will be financed from domestic sources, while the rest Tk 100,000 crore from foreign sources,” said Satyajit Karmaker at the press briefing. In the new ADP, the total number of projects is 1,321 including 1,133 investment projects, 21 survey projects, 87 technical assistance projects and 80 projects from the autonomous bodies and corporations, he said. Like the previous years, the conditions of the country’s resources and macroeconomic conditions, and foreign financing were considered during designing the ADP for 2024-2025 FY, said the planning secretary. In terms of allocation, priority has been given to projects related to agriculture and agro-based industries to maintain food security, power sector, labour efficiency and poverty reduction amid the current global economic context, he added. Out of the Tk 13,288.91-crore ADP of the autonomous bodies or corporations, Tk 11,698.96 crore will be mobilized from internal resources, while the remaining Tk 1,589.95 crore from foreign sources, said the secretary. So, with the 13,288.91 crore ADP for autonomous bodies or corporations, the total size of ADP for 2024-2025 has stood at Tk 278,288.91 crore, he said. Among the top 10 sectors in terms of allocation, the power and energy sector received the 2nd highest allocation of around Tk 40,752 crore (15.38pc) followed by education sector with Tk 31,529 crore (11.36pc), housing community facilities with Tk 24,868 crore (9.38pc), health sector with Tk 20,683 crore (7.80pc), local government and rural development with Tk 17,986 crore (6.79pc), agriculture sector with Tk 13,220 crore (4.99pc), environment, climate change and water resources with Tk 11,089 crore (4.18pc), industry and economic services with Tk 6,492 crore (2.45pc) and science and information technology sector with Tk 4,786 crore (1.25pc). The total allocation against the top 10 sectors is some Tk 242,093 crore (90.25pc of the total ADP). According to the new ADP for FY25, the highest 10 allocation recipient ministries and divisions are Local Government Division with some Tk 38,809 crore (15pc of allocation), Road Transport and Highways Division with Tk 32,042 crore (12.39pc), Power Division with Tk 29,177 crore (11.28pc), Primary and Mass Education Ministry with Tk 16,136 crore (6.24pc), Health Services Division with Tk 13,741 crore (5.31pc ), Railways Ministry with Tk 13,726 crore (5.31pc), Science and Technology Ministry with Tk 12,887 crore (4.98pc), Secondary and Higher Education Division with Tk 11,388 crore (4.40pc), Shipping Ministry with Tk 10,373 crore (4.01pc) and Water Resources Ministry with Tk 8, 687 crore (3.36pc). The total allocation against the 10 ministries or divisions is around Tk 186,965 crore, which is some 72 percent of the overall ADP outlay.

A microbus caught fire on Dhaka Elevated Expressway in front of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Thursday. Rozina Akhtar, duty officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters control room, said the microbus caught fire due to overheating of its engine around 12:10pm. Being informed, two firefighting units from nearby Airport station came and doused the fire around 12:40 pm, she said. No casualty was reported, she added.

Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury has said the contribution of women in tackling climate risks is incredibly significant. Women are the pillars of resilience, being 14 times more affected than men, he said while speaking at the Global Dialogue on Demographic Diversity and Sustainable Development in the Climate Change and International Conference on Population and Development held at a city hotel on Thursday. Recognizing women’s role in disaster response, the minister stressed proper assessment of community vulnerability and updating the National Adaptation Plan to prioritize women and children's health, said a media release. The minister also advocated for the MCPP approach, aiming to transition vulnerability into resilience and resilience to prosperity. He also emphasized the need for financing, technology, and capacity building. Want to deepen ties with US to combat climate change: Saber Minister Chowdhury outlined various initiatives undertaken by the government to address climate challenge. He said the government is implementing initiatives to support communities in Bangladesh to adapt and build resilience to climate change impacts. He highlighted the government's active promotion of community-based adaptation programs aimed at empowering local communities to identify and implement strategies to cope with climate change challenges. These programs focus on enhancing community resilience through sustainable agriculture, water management, and disaster preparedness. The minister said the government is investing in climate-resilient infrastructure projects to safeguard critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and buildings from the impacts of extreme weather events like cyclones and floods. Strengthening early warning systems is also a priority to provide timely alerts and evacuation procedures for communities at risk of climate-related disasters. “We are committed to promoting sustainable livelihood options such as eco-friendly agriculture, aquaculture, and alternative energy sources to reduce dependency on climate-vulnerable sectors and enhance community resilience,” said the minister. US Department of State, Eastern Bank to work jointly on climate change adaptation He said large-scale afforestation and reforestation programs are being implemented to increase green cover, mitigate climate change impacts, and enhance biodiversity. Capacity-building programs and awareness campaigns among communities about climate change adaptation strategies, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable environmental practices are also underway, he said, adding that these efforts underscore the government's dedication to building a climate-resilient Bangladesh and ensuring the well-being of its people in the face of climate change challenges. The session was attended by distinguished figures including, Martin Moreti, Minister for Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs of the Republic of Kiribati; Diene Kieta, Assistant Secretary-General, Deputy Executive Director of UNFPA; and Elizabeth Gulugulu, former YOUNGO Global South Focal Point. Neil Datta from the European Parliamentarian Forum moderated the session.      

Several markets and more than 50 tin-roof houses were gutted in a fire at Bhogra bypass area in Gazipur city early Thursday.  The fire started from a tea shop at around 3 am.  Dhaka's air quality ‘unhealthy’, 5th worst in the world this morning Senior Station Officer of Bhogra Fire Service, Md. Ruhul Amin Mollah, said the fire broke out in the market and tin roof houses built on a land owned by one Rafi Matbor, a resident of Bhogra bypass area. On information, two units of Bhogra Fire Service rushed to the spot. Later, two units of Konabari Fire Service joined and brought the fire under control after an hour's effort. JU students seize 16 buses of Moumita Paribahan following student's complaint of molestation by helper The cause of the fire and the extent of damage can be ascertained after investigation. Vehicular movement on the Dhaka-Tangail highway remained suspended for about two hours due to the fire incident. 

A team of Enforcement and Inspection Directorate of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), with the assistance of RAB-04, conducted an operation against the illegal sale and distribution of smart TV boxes and set-top boxes at Shah Ali Plaza Market in Mirpur and Elephant Road. During the operation, a total of 440 unauthorized and unapproved set-top boxes and smart TV boxes were seized from three shops in Shah Ali Plaza Market, and three individuals involved in their sale were arrested. The estimated value of the seized items is approximately Tk 15 lakhs. Additionally, one person was arrested and 537 unauthorized set-top boxes/smart TV boxes were seized from a shop named 'All IT Collection' on Elephant Road. The estimated value of the seized items is approximately Tk 16 lakhs - totaling Tk 31 lakhs. Legal proceedings under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Act, 2001, are underway against the arrested individuals. BTRC is regularly conducting operations to stop the sale of unauthorized set-top boxes and smart TV boxes. All stakeholders are specially requested by BTRC to refrain from buying or selling any type of unauthorized set-top boxes and smart TV boxes. Otherwise, strict actions will be taken against them.

State Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Shofiqur Rahman Chowdhury said the government is working with the goal of sending workers to Malaysia within the stipulated time. According to the quota, all workers should be sent to Malaysia by May 31 and the government is working to implement it" he said. Talking to reporters after meeting with Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies  (BAIRA) representatives, the state minister said they have sent a letter requesting to extend the time to send workers to Malaysia. "But if they don't extend the time despite our request, it won't be a problem because we are working to implement it focusing on the deadline", he added. "We are unitedly trying to send all quota workers by May 31." Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment Secretary Ruhul Amin, Additional Secretary Md. Khairul Alam, Director General of Manpower Employment and Training Bureau Saleh Ahmed Mozaffar and Secretary General of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies Ali Haider Chowdhury were present.

It will be easier to solve civic problems if a partnership is built between the government and citizens, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat said on Wednesday. “The government will perform its duty. But citizens should also play their roles from their sides . . . if citizens perform their responsibilities spontaneously, then a partnership between the government and citizens can be built, which would help resolve the civic problems easily,” he said. The state minister was talking to reporters after visiting a weeklong waste exhibition in front of the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Office in the city’s Gulshan-2 area this afternoon. He said Dhaka city experiences water-logging even from light raining, but visiting these areas, it was found that drainages of that areas were filled with different types bottles, chips packets and other wastes while canals are filled with big-size wastes like mattresses, sofas, refrigerators and water purifiers. Drive against illegal occupiers to continue: Atiqul Putting emphasis on creating public awareness so the city dwellers don’t throw wastes here and there, he said it is impossible for the city corporation alone to keep the city clean if the dwellers continuously make it dirty without maintaining the rules. Admiring the DNCC authority for organizing such an exhibition, Arafat said it is an excellent initiative to create public awareness. The involvement of school and college students with this exhibition will create awareness about cleanliness among themselves too, which would help them to make the people aware, he added. IFC pays tribute to Atiqur Rahman Salu, Bangladeshi leader of water movement, as he dies in US Not only DNCC and the government, but the Awami League (AL) itself as a political party is also involved in carrying out such an awareness campaign. DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam and AL Office Secretary and Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Barrister Biplab Barua, senior officials of Dhaka North City Corporation and various ward councillors were present on the occasion.

The students of Jahangirnagar University have seized 16 buses of transport service company Moumita Paribahan, in protest against the alleged molestation of a female student of the University by one of the bus helpers. JU students intercepted 16 buses of Moumita Paribahan bound for Dhaka-Nabinagar at the main gate (Dairy Gate) area of the university on Wednesday morning. However, the bus owners have alleged  incidents of snatching mobile phones and wallets with cash from the seized bus drivers and helpers by the students. Earlier on Tuesday, a student of the 51st batch of the university was allegedly assaulted by a helper of a Moumita Paribahan bus in Radio Colony area of Savar on her way back to the university from Savar. She lodged a written complaint to the university proctor regarding this on Wednesday. In the complaint, the victim wrote: "I was coming to the campus by Maumita bus after getting tuition from Bank Town around 6:30 pm on Tuesday. When I paid the bus fare, the helper said that he had no change and would give it later. When the bus got close to Radio Colony, the helper said that the bus would not go further. All the passengers of the bus then got down and left. When I asked the helper to return the change, the helper said, let's take you to Dhaka. JnU female student accused of assaulting, revoked from dormitory "At that time, there were only three people on the bus. Bus driver, helper and one with them. As the driver did not stop the bus, being scared, I jumped off the bus and got serious injuries in my knee. “I was mentally disturbed after this incident. When I informed my batchmates, they brought me to the hospital.” Sohel Rana, a friend of the victim, said: "A bad incident happened with their friend yesterday. In protest, we stopped the bus of Maumita Paribahan. Later, We, along with the university proctor and the police of Ashulia police station went to the spot. But surprisingly, despite all the CCTV footage, no footage of the period from 6.10 to 6.18 was found. We demand a fair trial of this incident." In this regard, Assistant Proctor Monir Uddin Shikder said, "We visited the spot along with the police of Ashulia police station and the students. But we could not find any incident by checking the CCTV. We are looking at the matter very seriously. On behalf of the university, security officer Sudipta Shaheen will file the case as the plaintiff." DU BCL leader accused of assaulting canteen manager for asking unpaid dues “The buses will remain here until the incident is resolved,” he added. Regarding snatching mobile phones by the students, he admitted that some of the students did this in excitement, but these were later returned. "Later, they returned those mobiles in my presence within an hour,” the assistant proctor said. University  Proctor Professor Dr Alamgir Kabir said they informed the bus authority to identify the helper and driver of the bus and inform them immediately. “Police are also trying to identify the culprits,” he said.  

Engineer Mohammad Taufiqul Islam, who was held captive for over two months, has finally returned home to Khulna. He served as the second engineer aboard the MV Abdullah. Taufiqul arrived at his residence in the Karimnagar area of Khulna at 11:00 am on Wednesday, where he was welcomed with open arms by his overjoyed family. His return sparked a wave of emotions and celebrations, with his family greeting him with flowers. His father, Iqbal Hossain, mother, Bil-Afroz, wife, Jobaida Noman, and his two children, Tasfiya Tahsina (7) and Ahmed Rusafi (5), expressed their immense happiness at his safe return. His children, in particular, were tearful and insisted that they would not let their father leave them again. The ordeal began when the MV Abdullah, carrying 23 crew members and 55,000 metric tonnes of coal from Mozambique to Dubai, was hijacked by Somali pirates on March 12 while traversing the Indian Ocean. After a month of negotiations and efforts, the ship and its crew were finally freed on April 14. Taufiqul and the rest of the crew landed on home soil on Tuesday afternoon, marking the end of a harrowing experience. The joyous reunion with his family in Khulna underscores the relief and gratitude felt by all those involved.

The historic ‘Farakka Long-March Day' will be observed on Thursday in the country, commemorating populist leader Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani’s long march towards the Farakka Dam 48 years ago. Different socio-political organisations, including the Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani Parishad and the International Farakka Committee, have chalked out various programmes to mark the day with due respect. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir issued a message on the occasion, showing deep respect for Maulana Bhasani. "I believe Farakka Day remains profoundly significant even today. The unilateral construction of dams one after another on 54 different rivers flowing from India to Bangladesh, without consideration for international laws, treaties, and conventions, has posed a serious threat to Bangladesh's existence. The consequences of this unilateral action are already evident with the emergence of desertification in parts of Bangladesh," he said. Recalling the events of the long march towards India's Farakka barrage on May 16, 1976, under the leadership of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, Fakhrul said the Historic Farakka Day every year invigorates the people of Bangladesh to uphold their rights. On May 16, 1976, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani led a massive long march from Rajshahi towards India's Farakka barrage, demanding the demolition of the barrage constructed by the Indian government to divert the flow of Ganges water inside its territory. Thousands of people participated in the long march and staged demonstrations protesting the construction of the barrage. The Farakka Barrage over the Ganges in the Indian state of West Bengal is roughly 16.5 kilometers (10.3 miles) from the Chapainawabganj border, which has had a massive adverse impact on Bangladesh’s ecology since its implementation.