United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh Meteorological  Department has predicted rains in eight divisions of the country in 24 hours commencing 9am on Monday. "Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at many places over Khulna, Barishal, Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions; at a few places over Dhaka and Chattogram divisions and at one or two places over Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions with hails at isolated places," said a Met office bulletin. 9 flights from Dubai to Dhaka cancelled for inclement weather in UAE Day temperature may fall slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, it added. Meanwhile, a mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna and Barishal divisions and it may abate from most places. Deadly severe weather roars through several states in US, spawning potential tornadoes Country’s highest temperature was recorded in Chuadanga at 40.3 degrees Celsius on Sunday. On the other hand, the lowest temperature was recorded in Sylhet at 19.7 degrees Celsius on Monday.

A major fire that erupted in the Chandpai range of the Sundarbans East Zone on Saturday afternoon has been successfully contained after over 29 hours of continuous efforts by multiple emergency teams. Mongla Station Officer Md Kaymuzzaman from the Fire Service confirmed that the coordinated efforts of the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Forest Guard, and Fire Service brought the blaze under control by around 8 pm Sunday. “The fire is under control but will remain under observation,” he stated, highlighting the caution with which the situation is being handled. The incident drew immediate attention from senior officials, including Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Md Amir Hossain Chowdhury, Deputy Commissioner of Bagerhat Mohammad Khalid Hossain, and Superintendent of Police Abul Hasnat Khan, who visited the site on Sunday afternoon.

Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) has expressed deep shock over the passing of Jahanara Begum, mother-in-law of its member and office secretary, Morshed Hassib Hasan. She was 65.  She had been battling cancer before her demise at Square Hospital in Dhaka on Sunday night. DCAB President Nurul Islam Hasib and General Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Apu expressed profound shock at her death. They offered prayers for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has dissolved the board of National Bank again to bring back good governance in the bank. The BB informed this through a letter to the managing director of National Bank regarding the cancellation of the bank's existing board of directors. The central bank also formed a new board of directors and set the bank's sponsor director Khalilur Rahman as the new chairman. Earlier on December 21 in 2023, the central bank issued an order to dissolve the then board of National Bank and formed a new board. Then, the banking regulator then made Syed Ferhat Anwar, a former professor of the Institute of Business Administration under Dhaka University, the new chairman of the bank. This time, the banking watchdog removed most of the previous directors, including Syed Ferhat Anwar and Parveen Haque Sikder.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder on Sunday said within a very short time the central bank will go for a market-based interest rate and apply a crawling peg system to fix the foreign exchange rate. He said the BB is working with prominent economists and bankers to prepare a contractionary monetary policy measure for curbing inflation and restoring macroeconomic stability. Abdur Rouf said this while speaking as the chief guest at a plenary discussion session on ‘Fiscal and Monetary Policies in the evolving Economic Order: Risk, Vulnerabilities and Solutions’ held in a hotel in Dhaka on Sunday. The discussion session was held at the 1st Development Studies International Conference, Dhaka, jointly organized by the Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka, and Bangla Daily the ‘Bonik Barta’. The crawling peg is a system of exchange rate adjustments in which a currency with a fixed exchange rate is allowed to fluctuate within a band of rates. The method fully uses the key attributes of the fixed exchange regime, as well as the flexibility of the floating exchange rate regime. Former BB Governor Dr Atiur Rahman in the chair, former governors of BB Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, Fazle Kabir, former finance secretaries Dr. M Tareque and Mohammad Muslim Uddin Chowdhury, among others, spoke at the event. Dr Salehuddin said that the central bank has to handle some issues strongly to give respite to honest businessmen and influence over the banks and more beneficiary groups. So that they cannot influence independent policy-making and its implementation. He said Pakistan’s economy fell into a trap for the last 50 years due to priorities of the policies set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Learning from that the BB has to be more cautious in the implementation of the IMF suggestions. He emphasized policy to ensure low-cost funding for small and medium industries and increase money flow for agriculture lending to grow food production. Former finance secretary Muslim Uddin Chowdhury said that Bangladesh has to improve the quality of data of various sectors especially the financial sector making proper policies based on it. He also suggested to all the offices and departments of government to cut additional and unnecessary expenditures, as the small expenditures altogether made a big amount and at last it caused the deficit of financial accounts. He suggested reducing the high-power money supply in the money market, which pushed up inflation.

Independent MP Abdul Latif Siddiqui on Sunday in parliament said he couldn’t become vocal for 60 years due to his affiliation with Awami League. “Today, you have untied the hook from my neck. Therefore, I will try to speak as long as I am here--no matter how many obstacles you create,” Latif Siddique said while speaking on a point of order. Siddiqui was expelled from the cabinet and the party in 2014 due to his controversial comments on Hajj. He was speaking in protest of placing a bill titled “Local Government (Union Parishad) (Amendment) Bill, 2024”. The bill has a provision to appoint administrators in Union Parishads on the expiry of five-year tenure of the elected representatives. LGRD Minister Tajul Islam placed the Bill which was sent to the respective ministry for further examination. Latif Siddique strongly opposed placing of the bill saying the provision of appointing administrator in the local government body is totally undemocratic. The bill states that the government can appoint administrators in Union Parishads after the expiry of tenure. But the appointment will be for one time and maximum 120 days. Pointing to the ruling Awami League MPs, Latif Siddique in his speech said those who have rope attached to their necks will not speak. “I also didn't speak for 60 years. Today you have untied the hook from my neck. So as long as I'm there - no matter how much you interrupt - I'll try to talk,” he said. He said this while opposing the introduction of the amended Local Government (Union Council) Bill-2024 in the National Parliament on Sunday. Before this, a bill was raised in the Parliament adding the provision of appointment of administrator in the Union Parishad. Latif Siddiqui was a member of the presidium of the Awami League and was a minister in AL government. He became completely inactive in politics for a long time. Latif Siddiqui was elected an independent MP in the January 7 parliamentary polls.

At least fifteen were killed and nine others injured by lightning strikes across the country in the last two days. Of the victims, the majority have been farmers. Aiming to save their lives, the social voluntary organization Save the Society and Thunderstorm Awareness Forum (SSTF) has called upon the farmers working in the field to follow a three-point guideline. Besides, the members of the organization also said how farmers can keep themselves safe in case of lightning. The three pieces of advice are: 1. If you are under the open sky, take shelter in a safe place as soon as you see dark clouds in the sky. 2. Don't stay under trees when it's raining. 3. Wearing shoes while working under the open sky. "If there is a sudden lightning while in the field, lie down on the ground." SSTF conducted lightning awareness activities among more than two hundred farmers in the last two days. In two days, several delegations of SSTF sent their messages to the farmers who were busy harvesting paddy in different fields of Munshiganj's Sirajdikhan and Dhaka's Nawabganj upazilas. Rashim Mollah, general secretary of the organization, Abdul Alim, head of the research cell, joint secretary Mostak Ahmed and volunteer Md Shariful Islam conducted the awareness program. During this time, drinking water, syrup and saline were distributed among the farmers.

Voluntary Consumers Training and Awareness Society (Vocta), a consumers' right group, has urged the government to continue providing subsidies in agriculture and power sectors despite pressure from the IMF and take effective steps to curb inflation and resist business syndicates that control the market system. The leaders of the Vocta also advised the government to increase revenue without putting pressure on consumers in the upcoming budget. Executive Director of the organisation Md. Khalilur Rahman Sajal made the demands at a press conference at National Press Club on Sunday. In the press conference, the Vocta placed 19-point recommendations to make coming the national budget for 2024-25 fiscal year more people-oriented. The recommendations include strengthening the market monitoring to check profiteering of unscrupulous business groups, taking action against market syndications and expanding the open market of TCB's subsidized products to facilitate low income people. Reducing the price of essentials, keeping the import duties and taxes on daily commodities including rice, pulses, sugar and edible oil at a tolerable level and increasing the duty-tax on the consumables of the rich including luxury goods are among the recommendations. The Vocta also demanded for taking measures to prevent the middlemen responsible for the increase in prices of agricultural products, taking measures to mobilize farmers to market directly in the retail market, employment and income-raising measures for the unemployed, continuing cost-saving policies by increasing production and supply in the budget plan. It is also urged the government to announce in the budget to bring down the price of medicine to a bearable level to prevent the increase in medical expenses. Vocta Chairman and Dhaka University teacher professor Dr. Hossain Uddin Shekhar, Vice Chairman Sanwar Hossain Nowroz, Director (Finance) Lutfar Rahman Liton, Director Dr. Latiful Bari, Mohsinul Karim Lebu, Saidul Abedin Dollar, Mizanur Rahman Talukder, Fazlul Haque, Noorun Nabi and Gholam Kabir were present on the occasion. Khalilur Rahman Sajal said that the situation of the consumers in the country has been fragile due to the unbridled increase in commodity prices in the last few years, the increase in the number of unemployed people, the decrease in people's income, and the syndication by some unethical businessmen. The purchasing power of most consumers is also getting limited.

Global smartphone manufacturer vivo has officially introduced the new vivo V30 Lite in Bangladesh through a dazzling event held in the capital on Sunday. Celebrated musician, actor and model Tahsan Khan, vivo’s brand ambassador was present there, said a press release. The vivo V30 Lite, recognised for its innovative colour-changing glass design, changes its backside colour instantly under sunlight, giving it a unique and avant-garde look. Complemented by a metallic high-gloss frame, the device is available in Breeze Green and Crystal Black. The vivo V30 Lite incorporates a premium 80-watt flash charger capable of fully charging its 5000 mAh battery in just 43 minutes, offering users not only time savings but also an enhanced smartphone experience. Once charged, the phone can handle up to 29 hours of calls or 16 hours of continuous video playback on social media platforms. vivo iQOO Neo9 Pro Review: The Gaming-focused Flagship Phone of 2024 A standout feature of vivo V30 Lite is the Super Charge Pump, designed to charge the battery quickly while producing minimal heat, thereby ensuring the device remains cool during multitasking or even in extreme heat. Vivo also promises a free battery replacement if the battery shows less than 80% degradation within four years of use. Weighing just 186 grams with a super-slim 7.79 mm body, the V30 Lite boasts a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 1800 nits, ensuring vivid visuals. vivo iQOO 12 Review: Flagship Killer or a Flagship Itself? It is powered by the advanced Qualcomm Snapdragon 685 processor and runs on Funtouch OS 14, supporting multitasking with up to 25 apps simultaneously thanks to its 8 GB RAM, which can be expanded by an additional 8 GB. The phone also offers 256 GB of storage for smooth daily operations. Additionally, vivo V30 Lite features dual stereo speakers that can amplify volume by up to 300%, enhancing the audio experience for music, videos, and games. The main 50-megapixel rear camera is paired with a 2-megapixel bokeh camera, and a flicker sensor ensures high-quality images in low light settings. An 8-megapixel front camera caters to selfie enthusiasts. Priced at Tk 32,999, the vivo V30 Lite is available for pre-booking from May 6 to May 10, with each pre-booking including an exclusive gift box featuring RIRO TWS wireless earphone L13 and a 4-year battery replacement card. A special 180-day display replacement offer is also part of the pre-booking benefits, providing a free display repair if it breaks within the first 180 days—services that would typically cost around Tk8,999, offered free by vivo.  

US-Bangla Airlines, one of the private airlines of Bangladesh, is going to operate flights to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from August. Jeddah is the main gateway to Mecca, the holiest city for the Muslim Ummah, said a press release issued on Sunday. US-Bangla Airlines decided to operate flights on Dhaka-Jeddah route with an aim of providing better passenger services to expatriate and working Bangladeshis and to strengthen friendly relations with the brotherly nation Saudi Arabia. US Bangla launches Dhaka-Male-Dhaka direct flights The aircraft plans to start flights on the Dhaka-Jeddah route every day of the week. Currently US-Bangla Airlines has a total of 24 aircraft including two Airbus 330-300 in its fleet. Currently US-Bangla Airlines operates flights to Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Doha, Male, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Chennai and Kolkata routes in addition to all domestic routes.