United News of Bangladesh

 Development Organization of the Rural Poor (DORP) on Sunday organized a street show to protect public health and implement the pledge to make Bangladesh tobacco-free before 2040 announced by the Prime Minister. The street drama titled “Strong Tobacco Control Act to Build a Cancer-Free Bangladesh”  was organised on the occasion of World Cancer Day 2024.  Through street plays organized by the DORP Youth Forum, the public is informed about the cancer risk of using tobacco products. At the same time, the need to amend the existing tobacco control laws to achieve a cancer-free Bangladesh is highlighted. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), only in 2022, 2 crore new cancer patients were diagnosed in the world and 97 lakh people died while the number of lung cancer cases and deaths is the highest among all the types of cancer.  The World Health Organization has identified smoking as the leading cause of lung cancer. According to the organization, the risk of dying from cancer can be prevented by 30 percent to 50 percent by taking certain steps, including avoiding tobacco use. Strengthening tobacco control laws is one of the ways to reduce the prevalence of tobacco. Among the recent recommendations made by the Ministry of Health to strengthen the existing tobacco control laws and align them with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) are the abolition of designated smoking areas in all public places and public transport for the protection of non-smokers, the promotion of tobacco products Ban on display of tobacco products at points of sale, ban on tobacco company social responsibility activities, ban on import and manufacture, use and marketing of e-cigarettes or emerging heated tobacco products, ban on all forms of retail and open sale of tobacco products and  increase of pictorial warning size from 50 percent to 90 percent.  Assistant Director of Directorate of Youth Development Ferdous Ahmed and Information Officer Tania Sultana spoke in a short discussion on the occasion of Cancer Day 2024 after the end of the street show.  They expressed solidarity with the demands of the DORP Youth Forum and urged all concerned parties to take initiative to amend the Tobacco Control Act quickly to protect public health. Dorp has been involved in various development programs since 1987 and is best known for introducing maternity allowance. In line with this, DORP is currently working on amending the Tobacco Control Act and raising tobacco taxes and implementing various projects to achieve the government's sustainable development goals.  

 State Minister for Posts, Telecommunication and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Sunday said online gambling apps will be completely stopped. He asked the authorities concerned to take strict measures to stop  online gambling apps at any cost. The state minister gave this instruction while visiting the Cyber Threat Detection and Response Centre set up at the Headquarters of the Telecommunication department in the city. He said propaganda on social media is extremely harmful to individuals, institutions and the country. He directed the authority concerned to take strong action to stop it at any cost.   Earlier, Palak at a view exchange meeting instructed the officials of the Telecommunication Department on how to get better results by using less resources, said a PID handout. Posts and Telecommunications Division Secretary Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, additional secretary Golam Sarware Kainat, Director General of Telecommunications Department Rafiqul Islam, among others, were present.

As a testimony of observing World Cancer Day, Surjer Hashi Network (SHN) has organized rallies in 8 divisional cities of Bangladesh participated by employees of Surjer Hashi Clinics, local communities and representatives from GoB on Sunday. The initiative has been co-sponsored by Incepta pharmaceuticals Ltd and inspired by Global Health Catalyst (GHC). Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer of female in Bangladesh. Surjer Hashi Network, which delivers health care services mostly to women and children through its 134 clinics, has been working to fight against this deadly disease by spreading awareness and educating people in remote areas of Bangladesh. Surjer Hashi has focused on amplifying the urgent need for increased awareness, education, and counselling in the global fight against cancer. The processions have been streamed live on social media, extended the reach of this vital message, transcending geographical boundaries.

The certificates of the accused in a rape case have been revoked by a special syndicate of Jahangirnagar University on Sunday.  Vice-Chancellor Dr. Nurul Alam read out the decisions at the syndicate meeting. He said BCL leader Mostafizur Rahman has been declared unwanted on the campus.  The other accused students are Murad Hossain, Sabbir Hossain Sagor and Mostafa Monwar Siddique. The certificates of Hasanuzzaman and Shah Paran were also suspended.  Earlier on Friday, a resident of Ashulia was gang raped on the campus after keeping her husband confined at No 317 room of Mir Mosharraf Residential Hall. A case was filed against six people with Ashulia Police Station. Later, police have arrested four people including the BCL leader in this connection Meanwhile, teachers and students of the university formed a human chain demanding punishment of those involved in the rape.  

Bangladesh China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCCI) and Economic Reporters’ Forum (ERF) awarded 17 reporters for reporting on connectivity with China in the business, technology, and education sectors of Bangladesh.   State Minister for Commerce Ahasanul Islam Titu was present as the chief guest in the award-giving ceremony. FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam and Yan Hualong, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of China were present as special guests.   Among others, BCCCI president Gazi Golam Murtoza, ERF president Mohammad Refayet Ullah Mirdha, BCCCI General Secretary Al Mamun Mridha spoke at the function while ERF Secretary Abul Kashem moderated the programme. The function was held in a hotel in the capital on Sunday.   BCCCI-ERF award winners’ category-1, trade, and investment relationship between Bangladesh and China are Ziadul Islam (Amader Shomoy), SAM Hamid-Uz-Zaman (Jugantor) and Tanjila Khanam Sathi (Boishakhi Television).   Category-2, How the high-quality development concept/policy of China helped Bangladesh award winners are Mohammad Jahidul Islam (Business Standard), Jasim Uddin Haroon (The Financial Express), and Sushanta Sinha (71TV).   Category-3: Science and technology (opportunities of technology transfer between Bangladesh and China, AI, Fourth Industrial Revolution, etc. award winners are- Doulot Akter Mala (The Financial Express), Ibrahim Hossain Ovi (The Business Post) and Tawhidur Rahman (ETV).   Category-4: Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) award winners are Abbas Uddin Noyon (Business Post), Iqbal Ahsan (Channel -24), and Md. Hasanul Alam Shaon (NTV).   Category-5: Others (such as blue-economy, tourism, culture, education, and hospitality industry, etc. award winners are Babu Kamruzzaman (News 24), FHM Humayan Kabir (The Financial Express), Ahsan Habib (The Daily Star), SMAlamgir (Somoyer Alo) and Hasan Arif (The Business Post) last three reporters won the award jointly.

Aspire to Innovate-a2i project of the government and Netcom Learning Global Limited will work together to build skills and create jobs in the modern technologies including AI-Robotics. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Sunday at the ICT tower in the city’s Agargaon area. A2I Project Director Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan and Chairman and Managing Director of Netcom Learning Global Mamun Sardar (Russell Sardar) signed this MoU on behalf of their respective parties. ICT Secretary Samsul Arefin was present at the time. Under this MoU, A2i's e-learning platform 'Muktopaath' (muktopaath.gov.bd) and skill and employment matchmaking platform 'NISE' (nise.gov.bd) of Netcom Learning Global Limited will enhance latest technical skills among job aspirants in the country. They will work to improve the skills of the country's job aspirants and increase employment opportunities through training on artificial intelligence (AI)-robotics and modern technology of the fourth industrial revolution era, said a press release.

A total of 58 members of Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) have taken shelter in Bangladesh border amid a conflict between the Myanmar military and the armed rebel group the Arakan Army in Myanmar's bordering Rakhine state. Fifty-eight members of BGP, aka Nasaka, have taken shelter along the border, said Shariful Islam, public relation officer of BGB Headquarters. However, he did not provide any more details. UNB Cox’s Bazar correspondent reports: two Bangladeshis sustained bullet injuries during firing between Myanmar’s army and armed groups in Tumbru area along Ghumdhum border in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban on Sunday morning. The condition of one of the injured identified as Pobindra Dhar was stated to be critical. Locals said there has been a fierce conflict between the country's army and armed groups inside Myanmar over the past few days. High-powered ammunition and explosives have been used and the border area of Ghumdhum has now become heated due to the big bang of these ammunition and explosives. BGB, BGP to work together to step up border security Ghumdhum Union Parishad Chairman AKM Jahangir Aziz said bullet shells and mortar shells are falling on the zero line. As a result, residents of Tumbru, Baishfari, Bhajabnia border points on the border under his union are now in an extreme panic. Moreover, residents of two villages have left as parts of a mortar shell fell on the top of a homestead, he said. Due to the ongoing situation, many farmers fear to go to their croplands. Various types of fruits and fruits are getting rotten in the fields of many as the produced crops are not being harvested from the lands. BGB returns four BGP members to Myanmar  

A court in Dhaka on Sunday remanded four people including a BCL leader for three days allowing police to interrogate them in a case filed for allegedly raping a woman after holding her husband hostage on the Jahangirnagar University (JU) campus.   Dhaka’s Senior Judicial Magistrate Rabeya Begum passed the order when Mizanur Rahman, sub-inspector of Ashulia Police Station, produced them before the court with a seven-day remand prayer.   Rahman, also the investigating officer of the case, urged the magistrate to allow the interrogators to question them in custody for their alleged crime on the university campus. DU JCD leader among 11 remanded Those who remanded were identified as Mostafizur Rahman, International Affairs secretary of JU unit BCL, Sabbir Hasan Sagar, Sagar Siddique and Hasanuzzaman. Police arrested four among six people accused in the case.   Earlier on Friday, a resident of Ashulia was gang raped on the campus after keeping her husband confined at No 317 room of Mir Mosharraf Residential Hall.   A case was filed against six people with Ashulia Police Station.   The key suspect Mostafizur Rahman was arrested on Sunday after the incident took place on Saturday night.   According to the case statement, the woman said that one accused named Mamun used to rent a room in their house and had prior acquaintance with Mostafizur. Mamun occasionally stayed with Mostafizur in Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall. 2 cops arrested for kidnapping, extortion; put on 3-day remand Mamun had invited her husband to visit the university under the pretext of purchasing furniture.   On the evening of the incident, the woman’s husband informed Mamun about their plan to buy furniture.   Mamun then instructed the husband to call his wife to the university, suggesting that she brings some clothes for Mamun as he would be staying on campus for a few days.   Subsequently, Mostafizur and Mamun confined the woman’s husband in room 317 of the ‘A’ block of Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall.   When the woman arrived with the clothes, Mamun took them and later deceived her into going to the forested area near the hall under the pretext of meeting her husband from another gate, where she alleges both men raped her.   Later, police have arrested four people including the BCL leader in this connection   Meanwhile, teachers and students of the university formed a human chain demanding punishment of those involved in the rape.   Superintendent of Police Abdullahil Kafi confirmed the arrest of the accused at a press conference on Sunday.   END/UNB/Corr/MAS/JA  

The Newspaper Owners Association of Bangladesh (NOAB) said that in the age of digital media, newspapers are struggling to survive with the huge cost of newsprint and other printing items.   The leaders of NOAB urged the revenue board that there is a need for reforms in the customs and taxation policy for the newspaper industry.   The NOAB President AK Azad said this during the pre-budget discussion for the fiscal year 2024-25, held at the conference room of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) at Agargaon on Sunday.   Azad said that the current state of the global economy, especially the rising exchange rate of the US Dollar, has brought the industry to its knees. A ton of newsprint cost less than US $600 a few years ago, now it's over $700.   “One of the main reasons for this is the adverse exchange rate of US dollars. The import duty of newspapers is 5 percent, but with 15 percent VAT, advance income tax, transport insurance, etc., the landed cost comes to about 30 percent,” he said.   He urged to reduce different types of tax, VAT, and customs on importing newsprint for the sake of surviving the newspaper industry.   “The government has not taken any of our suggestions to develop the newspaper industry in the past few years. May our proposals be taken into account in this year's budget,” said AK Azad.   Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam said, “Paying tax is a universal global practice. If you look at other countries how newspapers are branding, how revenue is taken from it.”   “As far as I know newspapers are treated differently in India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Their taxes are even lower,” he said.   NBR Chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem assured consideration of NOAB's proposal.   He said that if any advantage is given, another group is ready to abuse it. If the price of paper or import duty is reduced for newsprint, all papers will come under the cover of newsprint.   “It has happened in the past too. It is not possible to figure out how much paper is coming for newsprint. We want to work for this,” said the NBR chairman.   Appreciating the role of media in increasing revenue, the NBR chairman said, the media are doing an awareness campaign to increase tax- GDP and tax rate.

At last seven educational institutions in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban district have been declared shut in light of the ongoing violent clashes between the Myanmar military and the armed rebel group the Arakan Army in Myanmar's bordering Rakhine state.Shantanu Kumar Das, Executive Officer of Naikhongchhari upazila, said amid fear, the local administration has decided to close the seven educational institutions.The educational institutions are--Tambru Government Primary School, Bhajabunia Government Primary School, Baishfari Government Primary School, Tambru West Government Primary School and South Ghumdhum Government Primary School, Ghumdhum High School and Mishkatul Nabi Dakhil Madrasha. KNF, peace committee meet in BandarbanTriroton Chakma, Naikhongchhari upazila Education Officer, local people left their locality amid the ongoing clashes in Myanmar to a safer place.According to BGB, 18 border guards of Myanmar have took shelter in the bordering area and of them two were injured.Dhaka remains alert to stop any intrusion from Myanmar, keep Bangladeshis safe: Spokesperson