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Young Bangla: Recognising, grooming, connecting young changemakers
Countdown for the biggest recognition for young Bangladeshi changemakers, Joy Bangla Youth Award, is about to be over with the event on Saturday.
Young Bangla, country’s biggest youth network, this year announced to hand over awards to ten outstanding organisations under five categories following a rigorous screening process for over 500 applications.
Sajeeb Wazed, chairperson of Center for Research and Information (CRI), will hand over the awards at the ceremony — to be attended by an esteemed jury panel and a stream of country’s top young achievers, former and current awardees.
As part of endeavours to revive his grandfather Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s vision of “Sonar Bangla”, Sajeeb Wazed has been credited for the country's digital transformation, making Awami League's 2008-electoral promise of Digital Bangladesh a reality.
As Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ICT adviser, Sajeeb Wazed has monitored and overseen the digitalisation of all spheres of life — from online schooling to financial transactions.
Read: 6th Joy Bangla Youth Award to be held on Nov 12
Bangladesh benefited from that digital transformation during the coronavirus catastrophe across the world. It managed to keep its economy going through a wide spectrum of digital activities, including e-commerce, telemedicine, virtual court, and delivering money to the poor through mobile platforms.
Bangladesh’s growth trajectory during the Covid-19 pandemic was much better compared to its bigger neighbours , owing to this all-encompassing digitalisation.
As the chairperson of Centre for Research and Information (CRI), Awami League’s think tank, Sajeeb Wazed is realising his vision of grooming the next generation of Bangladeshi super-achievers.
With the CRI team, he launched a series of interactive programs with young Bangladeshis. Joy Bangla Youth Award — the country's first initiative to recognise, award and create a network of young changemakers — is CRI's signature programme.
Joy Bangla Youth Award has helped showcase silent but transformational initiatives — from educating street children in Dhaka to helping the poor and vulnerable tea worker communities in Sylhet.
Read: ‘Sports for All’: Young Bangla holds “Let’s Talk” with policymakers, students in Ctg
Born amidst the turmoil of the 1971 Liberation War, Sajeeb Wazed, like his sister Saima Wazed, had to come to terms with the “Midnight Massacre” on the fateful night of August 15, 1975, when Bangabandhu was gunned down with much of his family. Only his mother Sheikh Hasina and aunt Sheikh Rehana survived the horrific carnage.
“Hasina: A Daughter's Tale”, the CRI-driven moving docu-feature showcases the horrors of that darkest chapter of the nation and the incredible transformation the country went through under Sheikh Hasina.
Since its inception in 2014, Young Bangla, the largest network of the country's youths, has become a hub of 12,500 volunteers, 2,00,000 members, and 300 youth organisations.
Read: ‘Joy Bangla’ made national slogan: Govt notification
The goal of this platform, CRI’s youth secretariat, is not just awarding or recognising the young changemakers but also helping them network, connect with policymakers, and receive proper grooming.
Owing to the support provided by Young Bangla, a couple of past awardees later earned international recognition including the prestigious Diana Award and International Children’s Peace Prize.
Go to village, help boost farm production: PM to Jubo League members
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday asked the leaders and activists of her party’s youth front Jubo League to go to their villages and work for boosting farm production to offset any impact of global food crisis.
“I would like to ask every activist and leader of Jubo League to go to your village and ensure that no land remains uncultivated,” she said.
The premier was addressing a grand youth rally arranged in the city’s historic Suhrawardy Udyan to mark the golden jubilee of Bangladesh Jubo League, the youth wing of Bangladesh Awami League.
On November 11, 1972, Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani had formed Bangladesh Awami Jubo League at the directive of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Hasina, also the AL president, said the price of every commodity has soared in the world market due to the Ukraine war, sanctions and counter sanctions.
Read: PM Hasina credits long stay in power for country’s development
“We should not remain dependent on others rather we should be self-reliant. So, I’ve been asking everyone not to leave even an inch of land uncultivated,” she said in her first physical appearance at a public rally since the outbreak Covid-19 pandemic two years ago.
She said leaders and activists of Jubo League and other associate organisations of Awami League helped the farmers in harvesting their crops during the Covid-19 pandemic responding to her call.
“Now we’ll have to stand beside the people as well,” she said asking Jubo League members to cultivate own lands and help others to produce food and other crops in their lands.
“You’ll have to serve the country and its people,” the prime minister told the huge rally, many of its attendants in colourful t-shirts and bandanas.
Hasina also asked the Jubo League activists to work for eradicating terrorism, militancy, drug and corruption and keep the youth away from such social diseases.
Read: People will talk but Bangladesh is benefitting from AL govt's dev work: PM
“Every leader and activist will have to promise and work accordingly as well as develop such spirit among other youths in this regard,” she said.
Our economy is still strong: PM
The PM criticised those who earlier thought that Bangladesh would face the fate of Sri Lanka.
“Our economy is still strong enough. Many individuals thought Bangladesh would be a Sri Lanka….. But ashes fell on their faces,” she said.
Coming down heavily on BNP, she said now many BNP leaders are talking about money laundering, plundering and corruption, though their leader Tarique Rahman was convicted in a money laundering case.
She said Tarique Zia was sentenced to seven-year jail term and fined Tk 20 crore in a money laundering case as well as awarded life-sentence in the August 21 grenade attack case.
“It is not decent for those, whose leader is accused in killing, money laundering, illegal arms smuggling cases, to criticize the Awami League.
In an oblique reference to BNP leader Khaleda Zia, the PM said if any country is run by a person who studied only up to Class-8, and failed to pass the matriculation exams, it makes no progress.
She said Bangladesh has witnessed massive development in the last 14 years. Now none can neglect Bangladesh in international arena.
Read: Forex reserves still enough to cover 5 months' imports: PM
The PM said today Bangladesh is marching forward overcoming many hurdles. “We’ve been able to raise the per capita income to 2,824 US dollar,” she said.
She said the size of the national budget was only Tk 64,000 crore during the BNP regime, which jumped to over Tk 678,000 crore in the 2022-23 fiscal. “How could we place such a big budget unless there was no progress achieved?” she added.
On PM’s arrival at the venue, Jubo League chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and its general secretary Mainul Hossain Khan Nikhil received her.
Sheikh Hasina opened the rally by releasing pigeons and balloons.
She uncovered a special publication and unveiled a logo on the occasion of the golden jubilee celebration, as well as opened the website of Jubo League.
The premier was given a golden jubilee crest and two separate paintings on Bangabandhu.
AL general secretary Obaidul Quader, and former Jubo League chairmen Amir Hossain Amu, Fazlul Karim Selim and Jahangir Kabir Nanak also spoke on the occasion.
Sheikh Parash presided over the rally, moderated by Nikhil.
CU JCD committee annulled six years after formation
The central body of BNP’s student wing Jatiyatabadi Chattra Dal (JCD) has annulled its Chittagong University unit - around six years after its formation.
A press release signed by the central committee’s office secretary Md Jahangir Alam said this on Friday.
“The date expired committee of the Chittagong University JCD unit was annulled to form a new committee as per the decision of the central committee,” the release said adding that central President and General Secretary Kazi Rawnakul Islam Sarbon and Saif Mahmud Jewel respectively approved the decision.
Necessary measures will be taken to reform the grainsizing committee, it read.
Read more: JCD have to repent for their statement to enter DU campus: Al Nahiyan Khan Joy
A 69-member committee with Khorshed Alam and Shahidul Islam as president and general secretary of the CU unit was formed in October, 2016.
Later, a full-fledged committee comprising 243 members was also announced on May 18, 2018 but its activities on the campus were not seen remarkably.
Adapting to climate change is the main focus of COP27: Info Minister
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said that adaptation to and mitigation of the losses caused by climate change are being widely discussed at this year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference of The Parties (COP27).
The minister shared this with UNB after attending COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh of Egypt on Friday.
“Climate vulnerable countries like Bangladesh are urging the developed nations for a long time to provide USD 100 billion per year to the Green Climate Fund. The issue is being discussed in details at COP27, which is making us hopeful,” Hasan said.
Read: COP27: Bangladesh wants developed countries to deliver on $100 billion promise
Bangladeshi climate specialists attending the conference said that the United Nations has marked November 11 as ‘De-carbonization Day’ and today’s discussion topics include reducing carbon emission in different sectors.
During the discussion, countries will talk about how to control carbon emission in sectors like oil, gas, steel and cement.
The steel industry is one of the top emitters of carbon in the world. Emphasis will be given on taking global measures to reduce carbon emission from the Steel industries worldwide.
Besides, countries will also discuss how to cut back the emission of human-generated methane gas from oil and gas industries through technology transfer, capacity building and financing.
Read: COP27: Bangladesh prioritises realisation of green climate fund, Environment Minister tells UNB
For the first time, children and young people have been included in activities related to dealing with climate change at this year’s climate conference.
“The world will move a step further in tackling climate change through the participation and activism of children and young people,” said Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN.
Tanzim, Rajib, Sabuj elected President, VP, GS of ATJFB
Md Tanzim Anwar, Special Correspondent of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), has been elected President of the Aviation and Tourism Journalists Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB) unopposed for a two-year tenure (2023-24).
Rajib Ghosh, Chief Reporter of DBC News, has been elected Vice President unopposed while Ziaul Hoque Sabuj, Special Correspondent of Bangla Vision, has been elected General Secretary with Abdul Baten Biplob (Asian TV) elected Joint General Secretary.
Chief Election Commissioner Mashiur Rahaman and two Election Commissioners Golam Mujtaba Dhruba and Sohel Hossain announced the election results after the vote casting on Friday.
Earlier, the Annual General Meeting of the Forum was held at the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) auditorium with outgoing President Nadira Kiron in the cheir.
Read more: ATJFB joins beach cleanup on World Tourism Day
Shafiullah Sumon (BTV) has been elected Treasurer unopposed while Emrul Kausar Emon (Daily Bhorer Dak) elected Organizing Secretary of the Forum.
Dengue death toll rises to 193 with another death
With another death reported in 24 hours till Friday morning, this year’s fatalities from Dengue climbed to 193.
During this period, 266 patients were hospitalised with the viral fever, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The latest death was reported from Chattogram, taking the death toll in the division to 49.
Read more: Dengue death toll rises to 192 with 5 more deaths
Of the new patients, 150 were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka and 116 outside it, according to the DGHS.
A total of 3,252 dengue patients, including 1,923 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country.
The directorate has recorded 46,752 dengue cases and 43,307 recoveries so far this year.
Read more: Dengue death toll in Bangladesh reaches 182, surpassing previous record
This year’s fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease reached 182 on Tuesday, exceeding all previous records in Bangladesh.
Earlier the country recorded the highest 179 deaths from Dengue in a year in 2019.
Reinstate religious subjects in public exams: Charmonai Pir
Islami Andolan Bangladesh Amir Mufti Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim (Pir Shaheb Charmonai) on Thursday alleged that the government is dodging the nation by excluding religious subjects in public examinations.
On the other hand, the government is building eye-catching mosques in upazilas.
The Islamic party’s leader came up with the remarks while addressing a rally organised at north gate of national mosque Baitul Mukarram in the capital, demanding reinstatement of religious subjects in public exams, cancellation of what he called 'unscientific Darwin theory' (evolution) from the syllabus and making the religious lessons compulsory at every level of education.
“We can’t let our offspring be atheists. Sleep should break with tunes of Azan in the country of ninety per cent Muslims,” he said.
Amir Mufti Rezaul alleged that a conspiracy of establishing Hinduism and atheism was going on in the country.
Read: Prophet remarks: Police halt Islami Andolan’s march towards Indian High Commission
After the rally, a procession led by the party’s leader was heading towards the Education Ministry.However, law enforcers intercepted them, spreading panic in and around the area.
Later, a team of five members of the party submitted a memorandum containing their demands to the education secretary after police gave them clearance to march.
Cargo ship docks at Chattogram port with over 52,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat
A Liberian cargo ship carrying 52,500 tonnes of wheat from Ukraine has docked at Chattogram port for the first time since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Magnum Fortune arrived at the outer anchorage of the port on Wednesday evening, Abdul Quader, food controller (storage and movement) of Chattogram division, told UNB Thursday.
The cargo ship will move to the silo jetty for releasing the food grain after the testing of samples, he added.
Read: Cargo vessel carrying Indian transit container arrives in Chattogram port
The government bought the wheat under its government-to-government (G2G) agreements with Russia and Ukraine after India turned down Bangladesh's request for wheat import.
Earlier, as part of the agreements, Bangladesh already received more than one lakh tonnes of wheat from Russia in two shipments.
Public-private partnership key to SDGs financing: Tazul
LGRD Minister Md Tazul Islam has said public-private partnerships can be the catalyst for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 in Bangladesh, as the private sector has been identified as a key financing source by the country.
"Financing is a key aspect of continuing momentum on delivering the SDGs at the local level. While the government emphasises financing development activities at the grassroots level, we need to work more to ensure that the resources of the government can bring the best possible outcome in achieving SDGs," he added.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest in a national-level workshop organised jointly by the government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the key integrator of SDGs in the UN system, at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre Thursday.
The workshop, "SDG Localisation in Nine Lagging Districts: Findings and way forward" was organised to share the results of the efforts in nine lagging districts: Sunamganj, Kurigram, Natore, Cox's Bazar, Patuakhali, Satkhira, Gopalganj, Sherpur and Feni.
"The SDG Implementation Review Report shows that Bangladesh has not only adopted the SDGs in the development agenda but also has started the process of translating the goals according to local priorities, which is termed as SDG localization," Tazul said.
Read: LGRD minister urges public representatives to build 'creative society'
Zuena Aziz, principal coordinator for SDGs at the Prime Minister's Office, said: "We partnered with the UN to pilot and define the approach in nine lagging districts across Bangladesh, with at least one district from each of the eight divisions."
"For that, we ask not only development partners but also the private sector and civil society to come forward with their resources, knowledge, and solutions."
"Bangladesh government has given more emphasis on SDG localisation. The country has identified 39+1 national priority indicators and took significant steps towards setting the framework for institutionalising the SDGs at different levels," said Gwyn Lewis, UN resident coordinator in Bangladesh.
UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller said: "There is an important funding gap to achieve the SDGs both at the national and local levels. An estimation from 2017 shows that an additional $928 billion are needed only in Bangladesh."
"So, we need to think and act on how to generate new financing instruments and new financing streams to bridge that gap – in this case, for local priorities. We also need to explore innovative solutions of how funding for local priorities can be channelled, allocated, coordinated, spent and reported in more efficient ways."
Read: People from all religions must be united to stop conspiracy: LGRD Minister
"Sweden is a strong promoter of democratic governance, and we are happy to have been a development part in this process," said Maria Stridsman, head of cooperation at the Embassy of Sweden.
"It's quite obvious, with local involvement, you are much more likely to develop a solution which will fit local problems. And that is also the case for Bangladesh."
With transport strike in mind, BNP activists reach Faridpur days before rally
BNP activists started gathering in Faridpur from Wednesday, three days ahead of the party’s scheduled rally.
Hundreds of BNP activists and leaders from Shariatpur, led by Khokon Talukder, BNP central executive committee’s assistant public education secretary, arrived at the Abdul Aziz Institute premises under Komorpur upazila on Wednesday at 10 pm.
Khokon Talukder said they were the first to arrive in Faridpur. On Thursday morning, hundreds of more activists from Shariatpur and Rajbari districts started coming to the venue, keeping in mind the transport strikes.
He said organisers have arranged food and accommodation for the BNP activists.
Read: Arrest, harassment continue to foil anti-government rally in Faridpur, says BNP
Helana Begum, a local woman cooking for the activists at the venue, said on Thursday noon food for 2,000 people was prepared.
Shama Obaid, BNP central committee member, said the government is creating various problems to obstruct a sea of people from joining the rally.
“As the transport workers will embark on a strike, the activists started arriving for the rally three days before,” she said.
Earlier on November 7, Faridpur transport sector workers and leaders said they would start a 38-hour long strike from 6am on November 11, demanding a ban on three-wheelers on highway.
Meanwhile, Faridpur Awami League General Secretary Shah Md Ishtiak said they won’t be obstructing BNP’s rally but will hold a rally at Rajendra College field on Friday morning, following previous schedule.
Read: Another BNP rally, another transport strike: This time in Faridpur
Sumon Ranjan Sarkar, Additional Superintendent of Police, said police activity in the area has been increased to maintain law and order situation.The organisers said the rally is meant to denounce the price hike of daily essentials and fuel, to ensure the freedom of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and demanding removal of politically motivated cases filed against the opposition activists and leaders.