United News of Bangladesh

The first-ever ‘Smart Bangladesh Run 2024’ race competition was held in Dhaka amid a festive atmosphere. It was organised by Aspire to Innovate-a2i and ICT Divison with the theme ‘Step into the Future: Run for Mission 2041’ to promote a healthy lifestyle for citizens, build a Smart nation, and raise awareness and enthusiasm for the Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041 among the citizens. The ceremony was graced by State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak as the chief guest, said a media release on Friday. The race began at 6 am in front of Hatirjheel's amphitheater and ended there after covering a distance of 7.5 km around the entire Hatirjheel area. A total of 2041 amateur runners participated in the event in four categories: women, men, people over-50s, and people with disabilities. The 7.5 km category had separate events for women, men, and runners over 50 years old. On the other hand, the 1 km category was for runners with disabilities while the winners of the event were determined by a chip timing system. After the race, lawmaker Zunaid Ahmed Palak and other guests handed over the awards to the winners. Addressing the event, the state minister announced to organize this kind of race regularly in the future. A total of 19 winners in four categories were awarded cash prizes, certificates and medals. Md Imran Hasan became the champion in the men's category while Hamida Akhter Jeba clinched the champion title in the women's category Moreover, Md. Wahab Khan secured the first position in the over-50 category, Abu Rayhan, Shihab Biswas and Jannatul Naeem were champions respectively in three categories (wheel chair, visually impaired and hearing and speech impaired). All the runners were gifted race jerseys and medals. State Minister Palak participated in the 7.5 km catagory to motivate the runners participating in the Smart Bangladesh Run event and took 68 minutes to end the race. He expressed hope that this 'Smart Bangladesh Run 2024' will play a role in fulfilling the 2041 goals. “We are an invincible nation. We proved it in the language movement of 1952, we proved it in the great liberation war of 1971. Under the leadership of the father of the nation, Bangabandhu, we protected the dignity of the mother tongue, we achieved independent sovereign Bangladesh through the nine-month liberation war. To fulfill the vision of building a Smart Bangladesh by 2041, which has been given by our Honorable Prime Minister, we have to be prepared with a healthy, progressive and non-communal mindset.” The state minister also said, “Smart Bangladesh will be for everyone. We envision a future country for all healthy, normal, especially abled, male and female, third gender. This Smart Bangladesh Run has been organized to encourage everyone. Just as the target was 75 minutes to cover 7.5 km today, similarly we have 17 years to achieve Smart Bangladesh target of People's Leader Sheikh Hasina. Apart from contributing as an innovative, problem-solving citizen as a patriot from every place, we will make ourselves smart citizens. We will build a smart Bangladesh with healthy and merit-based Smart citizens.”   The platinum sponsor of the event is Mutual Trust Bank PLC (MTB) and the gold sponsors are SSL Wireless, Sublime Limited, Lead Academy, and Amiprobashi. In addition, the venue and media partner is RTV; media partners are T-Sports, The Business Standard, and Dhaka Post; award partners are ekPay and Tour Group BD; food and beverage partners are Cornflakes, Meena Bazar, Digibox, Skill Finance, and Gold Kinen; electrolyte partner is SMC Plus; event partner is Run Bangladesh and safety partners are Civil Surgeon Office, Dhaka and Bloodman. Besides, a2i's Project Director (Joint Secretary) Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Joint Project Director (Joint Secretary) Mollah Mizanur Rahman, Policy Advisor Anir Chowdhury, Project Manager Mazedul Islam, Head of Culture and Communications Purabi Matin, among others, distinguished persons, public representatives, citizens of various classes and occupations including teachers-students, representatives of sports organizations, voluntary organizations, cultural workers were present.

A 37-year-old man died after a speeding truck ran him over in Aditmari upazila of Lalmonirhat last night. The deceased was Sirajul Islam, the son of Abdul Miah of Saftibari Chowratari village of the upazila. Aditmari Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahmud-Un-Nabi confirmed the matter, saying that the accident occurred on Thursday night when the truck hit the pedestrian on his way home in the Khatapara area, leaving him dead on the spot. Trucker Rahmat Ali, 27, was detained in this connection, he added.

At least seven people, including an autorickshaw driver, died in a head-on collision between a speeding bus and a CNG-run autorickshaw in Alalpur area of Mymensingh Sadar upazila on Friday afternoon, according to police. The identities of the victims could not be known immediately, said Md Anwar Hossain, officer-in-charge (investigation), Kotwali Model Police Station. He said the accident happened around 12:00 pm when the bus crashed into the autorickshaw coming from the opposite direction on the Mymensingh-Sherpur regional road in the Alalpur area, leaving all seven dead on the spot. All the victims except the driver were passengers in the autorickshaw, he said. Details about the fatal accident would be shared later, the police officer added.

The Dhaka Metro Rail authorities have started conducting mobile court drives against kite flying in the metro rail area following several disruptions to metro rail services due to kites getting entangled in the overhead wires. On Wednesday and Thursday, a total of eight people were detained from Dhaka’s Mirpur-10 to Shewrapara areas, adjacent to the metro rail line. Metro Rail to run after every 8 minutes during peak hours from Saturday In addition, 7,000 kites were seized. A case was filed against two of the eight detained at Kafrul Police Station under the Companies Act. The six others were handed over to their guardians on bond as they were underage. Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Managing Director MAN Siddique confirmed the matter at a press briefing at the Probashi Kalyan Bhaban on Thursday. Metro rail service resumes after one hour of suspension He said the drive is still going on and would continue in future. Earlier on Wednesday, a kite flying from the roof of a nearby building got entangled in the overhead wires of the metro rail line between Kazipara and Shewrapara stations. This caused the metro rail service to be disrupted for about an hour. Dhaka Metro Rail extends service hours on Uttara-Motijheel route; here are the timings

The 40th death anniversary of General MAG Osmani, the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces during the War of Liberation, will be observed on Friday. On the occasion of the death anniversary, a preparatory meeting of Bangabir Osmani Smriti Sangsad was held on Monday afternoon at Bar Hall-5 in Sylhet. MAG Osmani’s 35th death anniversary Saturday Presided over by Bangabir Osmani Smriti Sangsad Sylhet President Syed Ahmed Bahlul, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Vice President Advocate Abdul Malik, Amirul Hossain Chowdhury Amnu, Joint General Secretary Chowdhury Delwar Hossain Jilon, Advocate Khandaker Delwar Hossain Rana, Kayes Ahmed Sagar, Abdus Samad, and Amin Tahmid. Various programmes were announced during the meeting. Among them, on Friday, from 10 am to 12 pm, there will be recitation of the Holy Quran, Milad Mahfil, and prayers at the Jame Mosque in the Hazrat Shah Jalal (RA) Dargah Complex. At the end of the programme, homage will be paid at the Mausoleum of Bangabir Osmani. On February 29, Thursday, a free medical camp, eye camp, and distribution of sewing machines among disadvantaged women will be organised by doctors at Bangabir MAG. Osmani Charitable Hospital, Memory Museum, and Public Library in Osmaninagar upazila. Osmani was born in Sunamganj, Assam Province, during the British era, on September 1, 1918, and died in London on February 16, 1984. He was educated in Assam and Sylhet and graduated from Aligarh Muslim University in India.

Two people were killed and seven others injured in a head-on collision between a tractor and a CNG-run autorickshaw in Gowainghat upazila of Sylhet on Thursday evening. Deceased Nazrul Islam, 50, and Jasir Uddin, 65, were residents of Korni and Lengura villages respectively of the upazila. Five of the injured are Alim Uddin, 40, Rahmatullah, 30, his son Raihan, 10, Jasim Uddin, 28, and Marjahan Ahmad, 30. Locals said some people were returning to Upazila sadar from a waz mahfil (religious gathering) from Laughut area by the autorickshaw. The accident happened around 6:30 pm when the tractor crashed into the autorickshaw coming from the opposite direction in Purnanagar area, leaving nine people including the autorickshaw driver injured. Of them, Nazrul breathed his last on the way to a hospital while Jasir succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment, they said. Gowainghat police station Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam confirmed the matter saying that legal actions would be taken in this regard. The injured were undergoing treatment at several hospitals, he added.

Housing and Public Works Minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury said on Thursday that planned housing projects will be established in urban and rural areas shunning unplanned housing projects. Bangladesh has now reached a higher position in the world under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he noted. Muktadir said this while addressing a programme organised for according him a mass reception on behalf of ‘University of Brahmanbaria’ in the district. Addressing the ongoing development projects, the minister informed that multi-storied apartments will be built across the country while flats of those will be reserved for expatriates. Muktadir, also founder and trustee board chairman of the university, said a suburb will be built on the east bank of the Titas river in Brahmanbaria while its work has already begun. Urging the authorities concerned to take measures to curb criminal activities like mugging and extortion, he said if anyone from Awami League or its associate bodies is involved in these misdeeds must be arrested. Chaired by the university’s Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Syed Samsuddin Ahmed, treasurer Prof Fahima Khatun, district deputy commissioner Mohammad Habibur Rhaman and superintendent of police Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain spoke on the occasion

A fire in a cattle feed and organic fertilizer manufacturing factory in Kaliakoir upazila of Gazipur caused a massive damage on Thursday night. Iftekhar Hossain Raihan Chowdhury, station officer of Kalikoir fire station, said the fire broke out in Sabuj Bangla Organic Fertilizer Factory located in Jamalpur Chowrasta area of the upazila around 9:30 pm. On information, two firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the flame under control after around one hour’s effort, he said. He suspected that the fire originated from an electric short-circuit as an electric transformer exploded near the cotton warehouse of the factory. The exact reason behind the fire could not be known immediately, he said, adding that it is impossible to determine the extent of damage caused by the fire without investigation.

As climate change, biodiversity loss, economic uncertainties and growing instability take a strong toll on rural communities and small-scale farmers in many parts of the world, particularly in the most fragile and vulnerable places, the 178 Member States of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) today adopted an ambitious agenda to improve the production, incomes, food security and resilience of more than 100 million rural people over three years. Attending the second day of IFAD’s annual Governing Council Meeting, government leaders adopted a report and resolution for the 13th replenishment of IFAD’s resources.  So far, 68 Member States have committed an unprecedented US$1.34 billion in support of a three-year programme of work (2025-2027). Pledges already exceed the total US$1.28 billion pledged for the 12th replenishment of IFAD (2022-2024). In the coming months, IFAD expects more pledges as it works to mobilize US$2 billion in new funding to implement a US$10 billion programme of work. “Your investments will create jobs and opportunities and increase resilience. IFAD is an excellent and very effective vehicle against food insecurity, climate change and biodiversity loss,” said Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD. “They are fundamental investments in creating shared prosperity and resilience in the world’s most vulnerable communities.” Lario encouraged Member States who have not yet pledged to do so in the coming months. “The conversation will continue. The momentum is there. This US$1.34 billion is record breaking but not enough to achieve the target we have,” he further acknowledged. Amongst the 68 Member States who have pledged thus far in the current replenishment cycle, 45 made their highest pledge ever and 14 of those pledges have increased their commitment by more than 50 percent since the last pledging cycle, showing their strong commitment to the Fund, and need to step up investments in rural development to fight hunger and poverty. To support small-scale farmers and their efforts to build resilience in the face of growing challenges, the IFAD13 report and resolution adopted by Member States set three main priorities for the Fund: IFAD will increase its focus on fragile contexts, scale-up investments in biodiversity and climate resilience for small-scale farmers, and further leverage engagement with the private sector. Priorities have been determined based on a year-long consultation process with its Member States and stakeholders and careful analysis of today’s multiples global crisis. About 3.1 billion people, nearly half of the global population, live in the rural areas of developing countries. These areas are home to over 80 per cent of the world’s extreme poor. Violent conflict has spiked dramatically in several regions. By 2030, almost 60 percent of the world's poor will live in countries classified as fragile or affected by conflicts. Climate change and biodiversity extinction are accelerating. As global temperatures continue to rise, leading to worse living conditions for millions of people worldwide, the poorest are the most vulnerable and will be the most severely impacted. Today close to 700 million people live in extreme poverty. Official Development Assistance and developing countries’ financing will not suffice to close the finance gap for climate adaptation, to end hunger and make food systems more sustainable, resilient and equitable. Engagement and financing from private sector stakeholders ranging from global investors to local small and medium enterprises will be necessary. Estimates find that between US$33 and US$50 billion in additional finance per year until 2030 will be needed to fight hunger globally. The priorities and business model for IFAD’s 13th replenishment benefited from insights from the Multilateral Organisation Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN) with the aim to ensure a successful implementation of IFAD’s programme of work from 2025-2027. The MOPAN report on IFAD was launched during the Governing Council. Overall, MOPAN rated IFAD as well-positioned and agile to respond to critical global challenges and recognised its niche and critical role in the global architecture system. Innovation driven by and for rural people Governors also immersed themselves in rural communities through a virtual field trip to Ghana to discover how rural people manage ecosystems, cope with climate change and produce nutritious foods in a challenging environment. Kevin Perkins, Executive Director of Farm Radio International and Hélène Papper, Director for Global Communications and Advocacy at IFAD presented IFAD’s Rural Voices initiative and described how radio can help put rural people at the center of innovations and capture the ideas of those who may otherwise not have been heard. “At IFAD, we see innovation as a two-way process, a partnership with rural people. We can use our expertise to bring new innovations to rural areas but, equally, rural people can share their unique knowledge and innovations with us so we can better design projects to serve their needs,” said Papper after the event. Governors also heard the testimony of food writer and chef Sophie Grigson who cooked with rural communities as part of IFAD’s Recipes for Change programme.

The government agrees to the demand placed by journalists to determine qualifications for journalism, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad A Arafat said on Thursday. “According to the proposal of journalists, there is a need to have something (policy) to determine the qualification for journalism,” he said. The state minister was speaking at a workshop titled ‘Role of mass media in building Smart Bangladesh’ at the BCS Administration Academy in Dhaka’s Shahbagh. The Public Administration Ministry in association with the BCS Administration Academy organised the workshop for Bangladesh Secretariat Reporters’ Forum members. Domestic industries facing tough challenges for high inflation and  interest rates: BCI He said that if the government takes the initiative to determine the qualifications for journalists, it would be considered as an attempt to control journalism. So, professional journalists should raise their voices about it, he added. “The government agrees to your (journalists) demand for determining requirements for journalism. The government has no problem from its end. We will resolve the matter,” the state minister said. As non-professional people come to journalism, Arafat said that all professional journalists demanded to determine a definition of journalists, introduce an examination system for them and prepare a list of journalists. Battle for credible information against disinformation is a must, which is going on, he said. He said that journalists have an opportunity to play a role in preventing disinformation by receiving training. Govt giving Tk 7.49cr incentives to jute farmers to boost production Speaking about the Cyber Security Act (CSA), the state minister said, “Not only the CSA, we all should take stance in unison against the misuse of any law”. The government does not want innocent people to suffer because of misuse of any law, Arafat said. He added that the pro-liberation forces were attacked several times through propaganda and lies. "Where truth stops, falsehood and rumours head up there." Grameen Bank has forcefully occupied 8 institutions housed in Grameen Telecom: Muhammad Yunus Public Administration Minister Farhad Hossain, Dhaka University (DU) former Vice-Chancellor and eminent educationist Professor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, Senior Secretary of Public Administration Ministry Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury and Senior Secretary of Information and Broadcasting Ministry Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker also took part in the panel discussion.