Chattogram division is likely to experience rain and thundershowers accompanied by gusty winds, with the possibility of hail at isolated spots, according to BMD&rsquo;s weather bulletin for Friday.
Similarly, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Barishal, and Sylhet divisions may see rain in one or two places, alongside temporary gusty winds. Elsewhere in the country, the weather is expected to remain dry with partly cloudy skies.
A severe heatwave continues to grip districts including Rajshahi, Pabna, Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia.
Meanwhile, Dhaka, Rangpur, Mymensingh, and Barishal divisions, along with parts of Rajshahi, Khulna, and the district of Chandpur, are experiencing mild to moderate heatwave conditions.
There are expectations that this heatwave may begin to ease in some areas, it said.
Daytime temperatures are expected to slightly decrease, and night temperatures may fall by 1-2 degrees Celsius across the country, added the bulletin.

Rain, thunderstorms likely in Dhaka, Chattogram

Dhaka's air quality was categorised as &lsquo;unhealthy&rsquo; this morning.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 158 at 9:33am, Dhaka ranked sixth on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.
India&rsquo;s Delhi, Nepal&rsquo;s Kathmandu and Pakistan&rsquo;s Lahore occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 318, 197 and 193 respectively.
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered &lsquo;unhealthy for sensitive groups&rsquo;, between 150 and 200 is &lsquo;unhealthy&rsquo;, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. &nbsp;

Dhaka air ‘unhealthy’ this morning

Bangladesh recorded a substantial increase in remittances, receiving $2.04 billion in April, marking a 21.3%&nbsp; rise compared to the same period last year.
According to Bangladesh Bank, from January to April this year, the country received a total of $8.31 billion from expatriates, spurred by various bank initiatives aimed at encouraging the flow of remittances.
The figures show a consistent upward trend with $2.11 billion received in January, $2.16 billion in February, $1.99 billion in March, and $2.04 billion in April. This influx has been a boon to the economy, particularly during the ongoing foreign exchange crisis.
Dr Ahsan H Mansur, a noted economist, told UNB that Bangladesh could further increase remittances through legal channels by offering more financial and non-financial incentives to expatriates. He highlighted the preference among remitters for using the hundi system, an illegal money transfer method, due to its higher exchange rates, which are Tk5-7 more per US dollar compared to the official rates.
To counter this, Dr Mansur proposed that the government could introduce various benefits for legal remitters, including health cards, insurance coverage, and pension schemes, to make formal channels more attractive and dissuade the use of illegal methods like hundi.

Bangladesh secures $8.31 billion remittance in first 4 months of 2024

Desk Report

A delegation of the Near East South Asia (NESA) Centre for Strategic Studies, a pre-eminent institution of the US Department of Defense (DoD), visited Bangladesh Embassy in Washington DC on Wednesday and joined an interactive session with officials of the mission.
Dr. Hassan Abbas, the distinguished professor of the NESA Centre for Strategic Studies, led the 46-member team. The delegation comprised of participants of 28 countries in a seminar organised by the NESA Centre in Washington DC, said a press release.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the USA Muhammad Imran welcomed the NESA Centre delegation at the embassy and presented a keynote speech at the event.
In his keynote speech, Ambassador Imran highlighted the history of Bangladesh and the country&rsquo;s recent socioeconomic development. He also focused on the Rohingya crisis issue, Bangladesh&rsquo;s success in countering terrorism and extremism and the progress on Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF).
The ambassador stressed the need for undertaking coordinated and concerted efforts by all countries to effectively address the global challenge of terrorism. Terrorism is a global challenge and no country can handle the challenge alone, he said.
While talking about the protracted Rohingya crisis, Ambassador Imran reiterated Bangladesh&rsquo;s stance on durable and dignified repatriation of all displaced Rohingya people to their homeland in the Rakhine State of Myanmar.
If the problem persists further, it may affect the security and stability of the entire region and jeopardize development initiatives, he said.
While addressing the interactive session at the Bangabandhu Auditorium in Embassy, Dr. Abbas, highly commended Bangladesh&rsquo;s success in combating terrorism, violent extremism as well as climate change challenges.
Referring to Bangladesh&rsquo;s rich history, culture and heritage, he said he was highly inspired by the historical figures of Bangladesh in his personal and professional life.
Dr Abbas said his institution&mdash; NESA Centre for Strategic Studies &mdash; is looking forward to closer relationship between Bangladesh and the United States and wished more prosperous and developed Bangladesh.
First Secretary of the Mission Wahiduzzaman Noor highlighted the various initiatives and successes of Bangladesh in combating terrorism and extremism before the delegation.
First Secretary of the Mission Ataur Rahman moderated the event, while Counsellor and Head of Chancery Shamima Yasmin Smriti was in the overall coordination of the session.

US NESA Centre delegation praises Bangladesh’s success in combating terrorism

After a relentless month of fierce heatwave, Dhaka finally witnessed the much-desired rain, bringing a breath of cool relief.&nbsp;
The first drops fell around 9 pm on Thursday, as if the sky itself sighed in relief.&nbsp;
Across the capital, the rains whispered their arrival. The evening had already cloaked the city in heavy clouds, with occasional flashes of lightning piercing the gathering darkness, hinting at the impending downpour.&nbsp;
The Meteorological Department had forecasted this welcome change, signaling it as the clouds began to rumble in the evening. Lightning flickered, lighting up the sky, a prelude to the rain that would soon quench the heat-oppressed city.&nbsp;
The promise of rain lifted spirits, and prompted some to prepare to step out and embrace the cooling showers.&nbsp;
The lightning and the patter of rain gradually quieted, leaving behind a serene hush over Dhaka. Streets, dusty and dry till this evening, now glistened under the lamplight, reflecting the calm after the storm. The fleeting showers, though short-lived, provided a temporary escape from the persistent heat, whispering promises of cooler days ahead.

Rain arrives in Dhaka after prolonged heatwave

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Thursday said the government has taken plan to build open jail in Bangladesh like those in the developed countries.
He said this in reply to a query from ruling Awami League MP Mamunur Rashid Kiran elected from Noakhali-3.
The Home Minister said that 160 acres of land has been acquired in Ukhiya Upazila of Cox's Bazar district for the construction of an open jail following the model of Malaysia's Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP).
&ldquo;The construction of the open jail will start soon,&rdquo; he said.
In response to the question of Nizam Uddin Hazari, another ruling AL MP from Feni-2, the Home Minister said that 83,577 posts have been increased in the Bangladesh Police in the past three terms of the current government in order to modernise the Bangladesh Police Force.
&ldquo;Recruitment of manpower to these posts has been ensured through a transparent and corruption-free process,&rdquo; he said.
The minister said that the process of adding two sophisticated helicopters is underway to prevent criminal activities and conduct operations and transform the Bangladesh Police into a three-dimensional force.
&nbsp; He said that with the aim of making the police a smart force, various types of modern firearms are being given to them.
For example, the home minister said that 7.62 mm rifles are currently being used instead of the previous .303 rifles.
Also, policemen are being supplied with necessary ammunition including 7.62/9 mm pistol, 9 mm SMG, .45 inch SMG, 12 bore shotgun, 38 mm tear gas, gas gun/launcher.
In response to the question of AL MP Mahbubur Rahman from Chattogram-1, the Home Minister said Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been equipped with modern weapons, vehicles, aircraft and watercraft.
State-of-the-art weapons including 40 ALCOTAN, 12 ATGW, 132 Sniper Rifles, 3 AAMG, 28 APC Amors have been added to BGB.
The vehicles include 259 ATVs, 10 Riot Control Vehicles (RCV), 40 Armored Personal Carrier (APC), among others.
Three helicopters were also included in BGB.
Among the vessels, there are 87 speed boats, 12 high-speed engine boats, 4 air boats, 1 logistics ship, 5 pontoons, 25 motor launches, 4 petrol boats, 15 rescue boats, and 2 water carrier vessels.
In response to the question of AL MP Morshed Alam from Noakhali-2, the Home Minister said, for the first time in the country, seven grams of black cocaine was recovered by the Department of Narcotics Control on December 11, 2023.
&nbsp;

Govt plans to build open jail in Cox's Bazar’s Ukhiya: Home Minister

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia returned to her Gulshan residence on Thursday night after receiving treatment for just a day at Evercare Hospital in the capital.
"She was discharged from the hospital as per the advice of the medical board. The board took the decision after reviewing her medical test reports," said her personal physician, AZM Zahid Hossain.
He said the BNP chairperson will now be provided with proper treatment at home.
The BNP chief left the hospital at 8:20 pm and reached home around 9:00 pm, said BNP media cell member Sayrul Kabir Khan.
Earlier on Wednesday night, Khaleda was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital and placed in the CCU following the advice of the medical board.
She was shifted to a cabin from the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) in the afternoon.
Dr Zahid said the BNP chief underwent several urgent tests on Wednesday night.
Based on the test reports, the medical board determined her next course of medical treatment.
Since her conditional release from prison in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving medical care at the hospital under the supervision of a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.
The 79-year-old former prime minister has long been battling various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and issues related to the kidney, lung, heart, and eyes.
Khaleda's physicians have been advocating for her treatment abroad since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November 2021.
On October 26 last year, three US specialist doctors performed the hepatic procedure known as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS procedure) to alleviate fluid accumulation in Khaleda Zia&rsquo;s abdomen and chest, as well as to address bleeding in her liver.

Khaleda returns home from hospital

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation, led by Chris Papageorgiou, engaged in discussions with key Bangladeshi energy officials on Thursday. The meetings, centered around the pressing financial challenges in the country&rsquo;s power and energy sectors, remained closed to the media.
The delegation first met with officials from the Power Division, led by Power Secretary Habibur Rahman, before progressing to talks with the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, and concluding with Petrobangla, the nation&rsquo;s energy corporation.
Despite the high-profile meetings, officials were tight-lipped about the discussions. "Right at this moment it&rsquo;s really tough to comment on the issues discussed in the meeting,&rdquo; Rahman told UNB, reflecting the general reluctance among the participants to disclose any outcomes.
Sources close to the matter indicate that the primary focus of the discussions was on reducing the subsidies provided in the power and energy sector and adjusting power and gas tariffs accordingly. The IMF voiced concerns over pending dues amounting to approximately Tk 50,000 crore ($5 billion), pressing for a detailed plan on how the government intends to settle these substantial bills.
The IMF's visit forms part of a broader review of Bangladesh's adherence to economic commitments, including the implementation of an automated price adjustment system for petroleum fuels and recent hikes in power and gas prices aimed at curbing financial losses. Despite these measures, the disparity between government spending and income in these sectors continues to necessitate significant subsidies.
The ongoing negotiations also touched on the necessity of further tariff adjustments as a means to bridge the financial gap, a stance that the IMF has consistently maintained. As Bangladesh navigates these economic reforms, it anticipates the next installment of the IMF&rsquo;s $4.7 billion loan, with hopes pinned on an upcoming tranche worth around $690 million.
Previously, the IMF had disbursed an initial $476 million in January 2023, following the government's commitment to economic reforms, and a subsequent $690 million in December 2023, despite not meeting revenue and forex reserve targets.

IMF wants to know govt plan on settling energy dues

The authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) have published a list of 80 Saudi companies that are keen to invest in various sectors of Bangladesh, said Salman F Rahman, Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister.
Salman, who is currently visiting Saudi Arabia, attended meetings with the Saudi Ministers and various important persons in the country and discussed potential investment opportunities in Bangladesh.
After attending the special meeting of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh, Salman held these meetings with Saudi officials, according to a press release on Thursday.
He also met with the Chief of Staff and Secretary General of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saad Alkroud.
&ldquo;PIF Secretary General praised the economic development of Bangladesh and gave this information in a meeting: 80 Saudi companies have expressed interest in investing in Bangladesh,&rdquo; Salman said.
He said Saudi Arabia is interested in energy cooperation with Bangladesh. Saudi Arabia's Assistant Minister of Energy, Mohammed Al Ibrahim, said that the Saudi government is actively considering the proposal to buy crude oil on a deferred payment basis from Bangladesh. At this time, they discussed various issues of partnership between the two countries.

80 Saudi companies keen to invest in Bangladesh: Salman F Rahman

Press Release

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has called upon the UK government to collaborate with Bangladesh to establish a peaceful and conflict-free world and to put an end to the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
During his speech as the Guest of Honour at a high-profile diplomatic reception hosted by Bangladesh High Commission, London to celebrate the 54th Independence and National Day of Bangladesh on Wednesday, the Foreign Minister emphasized the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in conflict zones worldwide, including Gaza and Ukraine, reads a press release.&nbsp;
He stressed that stopping the killing of innocent people is crucial to restoring normalcy and establishing peace.&nbsp;
Speaker of the UK&rsquo;s Parliament Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle was the Chief Guest at the event where Leader of the House of Commons Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt, UK FCDO Minister for Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and United Nations Lord Tariq Ahmad, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed, and Chairman of All-party Parliamentary Group on Bangladesh Rushanara Ali spoke as special guests.&nbsp;
International Affairs Adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Dr Gawher Rizvi, Former Foreign Minister and Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs Dr AK Abdul Momen and State Minister for Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury attended the reception.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem gave welcome remarks at the reception held at the historic Churchill Room of Queen Elizabeth II sited in a magnificent setting centering the British Parliament.&nbsp;
In his speech, the Foreign Minister Dr Mahmud paid profound homage to Bangladesh's Founding Father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the 3 million martyrs, and the valiant freedom fighters of the 1971 War of Liberation. He expressed his gratitude to the UK Government, its citizens, and the British-Bangladeshi diaspora for their support during Bangladesh's War of Liberation, and pledged to elevate Bangladesh-UK historical relations to new heights under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He paid tribute to British Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath, who warmly welcomed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib as the President of independent Bangladesh at No 10 Downing Street on 8 January 1972.&nbsp;
The Minister also paid tribute to the then opposition Leader and two-time British Prime Minister Sir Harold Wilson, who welcomed Bangabandhu in London and later mourned his brutal assassination on 15 August 1975.
&ldquo;Bangabandhu&rsquo;s shared values of democracy, secularism and progressive aspirations with these stalwart British leaders and his special love and affection for his British Bangladeshi compatriots set the foundation of today&rsquo;s Bangladesh-UK friendship&rdquo;, he said.
Dr. Mahmud thanked Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for emphasizing his commitment to enhancing the economic and security partnership between Bangladesh and the UK in his congratulatory letter to Prime Minister Hasina after the national election on 7 January 2024.&nbsp;
He stated that Prime Minister Hasina remains dedicated to strengthening their robust trade, investment, aviation, climate, defence, security, and migration cooperation to the next level in her current term, as agreed upon by the two Prime Ministers in London last May.
The minister termed the UK as a true friend of Bangladesh and hoped that Bangladesh-UK friendship would continue to thrive, as they are an important partner in ensuring peace, prosperity, and security in the Bay of Bengal and a free, open, peaceful, and secure Indo-Pacific region.&nbsp;
He also emphasized the importance of the UK's support in the early repatriation of 1.2 million Rohingyas back to their ancestral home in Myanmar.
In his speech, he highlighted the sustained economic growth of Bangladesh over the past one and a half decades under the globally acclaimed dynamic Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who has leapfrogged Bangladesh from 41st to the world&rsquo;s 34th largest economy- just over the past decade. Today, the world has its eyes on Bangladesh, which is set to become the 9th largest consumer market by 2030, and a tech-based &lsquo;Smart Bangladesh&rsquo; by 2041.&nbsp;
The minister commended the Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK for launching the 'Bangabandhu-Edward Heath Friendship Award' and the 'Bangabandhu-Harold Wilson Friendship Award.'&nbsp;
Speaker of the UK's Parliament Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle in his speech paid tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and recalled the contribution of the British-Bangladeshis to the War of Liberation in 1971.&nbsp;
He reaffirmed that the UK would remain a steadfast partner of Bangladesh efforts towards a developed country.
Penny Mordaunt commended Bangladesh's recent progress and assured that the UK would collaborate with Bangladesh to build a better and prosperous future.&nbsp;
He also praised the significant role of the British-Bangladeshi diaspora for their contribution to the UK&rsquo;s economy and society.
Lord Tariq Ahmad lauded Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for upholding the values and spirit of Bangabandhu in creating a self-sustaining, inclusive, and secular Bangladesh, which is now one of the world's most rapidly growing economies.&nbsp;
He said that Sheikh Hasina is a leader who showed the world the magnanimity of humanity by hosting over a million of Rohingya displaced from the country Myanmar.&nbsp;
Lord Tariq Ahmad also praised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her efforts in upholding the values and ideals of Bangabandhu, which has resulted in a self-sustaining, inclusive, and secular Bangladesh.&nbsp;
He also highlighted Bangladesh's rapid economic growth, which has made it one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. Lord Ahmad further acknowledged Sheikh Hasina's compassionate leadership in providing refuge to over a million Rohingya people who were displaced from Myanmar.
Paying deep homage to the Father of the Nation and 1971 martyrs, High Commissioner Saida Muna Tasneem in her welcome remarks said: &ldquo;Bangabandhu founded Bangladesh on democratic, secular, and progressive values. Now, as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina relentlessly strides to realise Bangabandhu's vision of a prosperous Bangladesh, the UK remains a crucial partner in achieving this goal&rdquo;.&nbsp;
The High Commissioner thanked Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for his congratulatory message to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following January election, and also recalled the bilateral meeting of the two Premiers where they agreed to take Bangladesh-UK relations to new heights towards a sustainable, greener and more prosperous future.&nbsp;
High Commissioner also thanked the UK Government for its continued support to the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh, and urged the UK to take stronger diplomatic leadership for the return of the Rohingyas to their ancestral home in Myanmar.&nbsp;
In her speech, the envoy thanking the Foreign Minister Lord David Cameron for his congratulatory message to Bangladesh Foreign Minister, also highlighted the significant collaborations between Bangladesh and the UK in various fields including in trade, investment, climate, aviation, and defence, and said that the first-ever home office dialogue between the two countries would be held later this month.
The Foreign Minister along with the UK&rsquo;s Speaker, High Commissioner and distinguished guests unveiled the exclusive &ldquo;Mujib and Britain&rsquo; publication by Bangladesh High Commission, London and handed over the Bangabandhu-Edward Heath Friendship Award&rsquo; and the &lsquo;Bangabandhu-Harold Wilson Award&rsquo; to two great friends of Bangladesh Lord Marland and Lord Swaraj Paul respectively to honour their extraordinary contributions in promoting Bangladesh-UK Friendship.
The event's highlights included an Exhibition on Bangabandhu, a colourful cultural performance by British-Bangladeshi prominent performers; and a traditional Bangladeshi Saree exhibition. It was well attended by the vibrant presence of a distinguished selection of guests including UK parliament members, UK government officials, eminent British Politicians, high commissioners and ambassadors, senior representatives from Commonwealth and International Maritime Organisation (IMO), and representatives from the diplomatic missions in London, think tanks, members of the media, academia as well as members of the Bangladesh community in the UK.

Bangladesh wants UK on its side to end war in Gaza for world peace: FM Hasan in London

Speakers at a panel discussion in Dhaka on Thursday said there is no alternative to freedom of the press and freedom of expression to ensure democracy.
It is also imperative that the safety and freedom of the press be prioritised to tackle the ongoing environmental crisis and natural disasters, they said.
Marking World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2024, speakers made these remarks at panel discussions organised jointly by UNESCO, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), and Article 19 at MIDAS Centre in Dhaka&rsquo;s Dhanmondi on Thursday.
The discussions centred on the WPFD theme of this year, &ldquo;A Press for the Planet: Journalism in the Face of the Environmental Crisis.&rdquo; There were two separate panel discussions where the panellists talked about issues like the ongoing oppression against journalists and their safety concerns in the context of climate-related issues, freedom of expression and the press, tackling misinformation, and access to information.
Dr Iftekharuzzaman, TIB executive director,, said, &ldquo;In the period from 2022 to 2023, while covering environmental issues, there were 23 attacks on the media, resulting in the torture of 43 journalists.
Between 2016 to 2021 alone, 12 individuals, including environmental rights activists, were killed for protesting against coal-based plants.&rdquo;
He further stated that those who are legally responsible for protecting the environment are the ones leading the destruction of the environment. Therefore, it is imperative to create an environment where journalists and civil society organisations can play their active roles. But in reality, such space is being shrunk by the use of repressive acts like the Digital Security Act.
Taking part in the &ldquo;zero-sum political game,&rdquo; journalists and rights activists are harassed by misusing laws, which ultimately benefits a certain faction. The harassment of media workers and civil society actors has been normalised through this process, he added.
There are additional risks while reporting on land grabbing, water bodies' destruction, or the construction of training centres by taking over protected land. To tackle such challenges, those who are responsible in the government have to respect the commitment to freedom of press and speech enshrined in the constitution, so journalists and activists working on environmental issues do not become the victims of "shoot the messenger".
Speaking at the opening session, Susan Vize, Head of Office and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh, said, &ldquo;Raising public awareness about climate change and other environmental issues in Bangladesh is critical to achieving behavioural change. The media remains the single most influential source of credible public information. WPFD 2024 aims to build the capacity of Bangladesh&rsquo;s media to ensure accurate and impactful coverage of the current environmental crises.&rdquo;
Alexandra Berg von Linde, Ambassador to Bangladesh, Sweden Embassy, said, &ldquo;Public interest is inextricably linked to climate change and environmental degradation. The negative effects of climate change are becoming more visible, affecting people's daily lives. People want to know about the results and effects of negative climate change. Freedom of the media and the ability to report independently on all such matters of public interest are important elements of democracy.&rdquo;
Responding to a question about the misuse of repressive acts (ICT, DSA and CSA) and the safety concerns of journalists, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad A Arafat said, &ldquo;We always talk about ensuring freedom of the press. However, in some cases, vested interests exploit this freedom to publish agenda-driven news and disseminate misinformation. Instances of such misinformation regarding Rampal or Adani power plants have been observed. Therefore, alongside ensuring media freedom, accountability must also be ensured.
"If media freedom is misused to spread false information or disinformation, appropriate legal action should be taken. However, I will take necessary steps to ensure the protection of journalists in the country who report on environmental crises or climate issues based on truth and scientific evidence.&rdquo;
The first panel discussion titled &ldquo;A Press for the Planet: Free Press and Freedom of Expression in the Context of the Current Global Environmental Crisis&rdquo; kicked off with the presentations of Shamsuddin Illius, bureau chief of Chattogram, The Business Standard, and Usraat Fahmidah, freelance journalist, regarding the challenges of journalism in environmental issues and training young journalists.
The second panel discussion focused on the safety issues of journalists under the theme of &ldquo;Media Defence for Crisis Reporting,&rdquo; where journalists and experts from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka participated.
&nbsp;

No alternative to press freedom to ensure democracy: Speakers

Maximum temperature in the country started falling on average one or two degrees Celsius from today, the Met Office said predicting temperature may dip more from 5 May as almost all parts of the country may witness much awaited rainfall. &nbsp; "Maximum temperature has started one or degree Celsius . . . it is an indicator that rainfall is likely to occur from May 5 in most areas in the country," Md Omar Faruq, a meteorologist of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) told BSS today.
Analyzing the mathematical model of rainfall index, he said, Bangladesh may witness heavy to very heavy downpour from the next three or four days meaning intense of heat will decrease significantly providing some relief as the entire country braced for more extreme heat since 1 April.
Large swaths of Khulna and Rajshahi division are sweltering through a heatwave as the Met office logged highest temperature above 40 degree Celsius in most stations located in the two divisions since 1 April, Omar said predicting rains are likely to occur in different areas of the two division.
"Northeastern, central parts including Sylhet division and some parts of Mymensingh and Dhaka division are likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall from 2 May," Dr Abul Kalam Mallik, BMD meteorologist said.
The meteorologist attributed uncomfortable feelings of unbearable hot-weather to high humidity persisting in the air during the afternoon and evening period suggesting avoiding movement between 12 noon to 4pm as the sunlight is getting too hot as it (the Sun) provides sunlight vertically with intense heat.
"Normally we record temperature from the air," Mallik said the highest temperature was found between 12 noon and 4pm because of vertical position of the Sun.
Analyzing humidity indexes, Mallik continued, "There is a close relation of temperature and humidity . . . discomfort feelings will increase, if high humidity persists in the air with high temperature. "Although temperature decreases after 4pm, but we feel very hot weather due to high humidity," he added. &nbsp; The Met Office today recorded 41.7 degree Celsius at Chuadanga, the highest temperature of the current year while the temperature in Dhaka was recorded at 37.9 degrees Celsius but the high humidity has exposed the residents to massive discomfort.
The BMD official said the country witnessed the longest duration of the heatwave for the past 30 days since April 1 and the met office warned the phenomenon would continue throughout the next month.
"But unlike the previous heatwaves, this year it spread all over the country," commented meteorologist Abul Kalam Mollik, who was supported by Zebunnesa as well.
Visibly for the first time the meteorologists acknowledged that the climate change phenomenon caused the erratic weather pattern with gradually expanding areas of heatwave, joining the voice with the climate experts and activists.
According to the weather bulletin of BMD issued here today, very severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Jashore, Khulna, Chuadanga, Pabna and Rajshahi and severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalgonj and rest parts of Khulna division.
Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping elsewhere over the country and it may abate from some places over eastern part of the country, the bulletin said adding day temperature may fall slightly over western part and it may fall by (1-2)oC elsewhere over the country
April is typically hot in Bangladesh as it is in other South and Southeast Asian countries, but according to meteorologists, temperatures this month have been unusually high which was highlighted by international media outlets as well.
According to the New York Times, hundreds of millions of people in South and Southeast Asia were suffering from a grueling heatwave that has forced schools to close, disrupted agriculture, and raised the risk of heat strokes and other health complications.
The recent report also specially acknowledged the Bangladesh scenario saying temperature in some areas soared above 42 degrees Celsius but the "numbers don't quite capture how extreme humidity makes the heat feel even worse".
The schools across the country were closed due to the extreme weather but students are struggling to or doing anything at home as well.
The heatwave has forced the healthcare facilities to take emergency measures to provide medical services with higher number of patients reporting to hospitals with heat-related ailments since the beginning of April while the children and elderly people appeared as the most vulnerable during this prolonged hot weather.
"Large numbers of people are becoming ill with heatstroke, dehydration, exhaustion and breathing problems and they are suffering from other heat-related diseases as well," Director of Mugda Medical College and Hospital Dr Md Niatuzzaman told BSS.
The other hospitals and healthcare facilities including Shishu Hospital, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital and International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) reported identical scenarios.
"Nearly, 500 diarrhoea patients have been admitted to the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B). A significant number of patients are getting admission to ICDDRB daily," ICDDR'B spokesman AKM Tariful Islam Khan said. &nbsp; The health ministry issued a directive to take extra measures to face the crisis in hospitals across the country.
Doctors suggested people to stay indoors as much as possible and wear weather-suitable clothes during exposure to sun to protect themselves from heatstroke and take rest after one or two hours during working period alongside consuming more liquid food beside water to avoid dehydration during the heatwave.
"Our brains can tolerate certain level of temperature, if it exceeds people may faint, suffer heatstroke besides suffering from dehydration causing electrolyte imbalance and other complications including kidney dysfunction," former Suhrawardy Hospital director Professor Dr Khalilur Rahman said.

Temperature starts falling, may dip more from 5 May

Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali has sought increased support from the development partners including ADB to improve Bangladesh's food distribution system, develop market connectivity and scale up innovation in agriculture in the wake of climate challenges.
The Finance Minister said this while addressing a High-Level panel titled "Harvesting hope; ensuring a food secure, climate resilient Asia and the Pacific" as a distinguished speaker at the 57th annual meeting of ADB at Tbilisi in the capital of Georgia today. &nbsp; Ali is currently leading a seven-member Bangladesh delegation to the 57th annual meeting of ADB at Tbilisi, said a press release received here today.
In his remarks, the Finance Minister said despite being a land scarce country, Bangladesh emerged globally as the third largest producer of rice and vegetables by increasing food production, supporting agriculture and expanding social safety net programmes under the guidance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's inclusive development policies.
On the same day, The Finance Minister met ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa to discuss bilateral issues.
In the meeting with the ADB President, the Minister sought policy based lending (PBL) supports for undertaking trade policy, logistics, climate, and LDC graduation reforms.
He also requested ADB to increase concessional climate finance, facilitate cross-border energy trade, assist Bangladesh in its initiatives for tax sector reforms, undertaking projects for river restoration and developing some of the thrust sectors of its economy such as, jute, leather and tourism towards Bangladesh's drive for diversifying economy.
In response, the ADB President praised Bangladesh government's strong climate and development agenda, and assured ADB's continued support both in sovereign and non-sovereign resources, in Bangladesh's prioritized sectors.

Finance Minister seeks increased support from development partners to improve food distribution system

Staff Correspondent

The price of gold has dropped for the consecutive eighth time as the Bangladesh Jewellers Association (BAJUS) reduced prices again on Thursday (2 May).
The price of 22-carat gold was downed by Tk1,878 per bhori (11.664g).
Each carat of top-quality gold will now cost Tk1,09,163, BAJUS said in a statement on Thursday.
The new revised prices will be effective from 3 May, it said, adding that the price will remain in effect until further notice.
Meanwhile, each bhori of 21-carat gold will cost Tk1,04,194 while 18-carat gold&rsquo;s price now stands at Tk89,331.
The traditional gold price has been set at Tk 74,276. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Gold prices reduced for 8 times straight

Expatriate Bangladeshis sent $2.04 billion remittances in April, which is 21.3 per cent higher than the corresponding period of the preceding year.
The country received $1.68 billion remittances during the month of April, 2023.
According to bankers, the flow of remittances usually rises during Eid.
In March, remittances dipped below the $2 billion mark after two months amid the weakening of the dollar against the Taka.
Data from the Bangladesh Bank show expatriate Bangladeshis sent home $1.99 billion in March.

Remittance rises 21% in April

Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said that the main goal of the ruling Awami League (AL) is to work for the welfare of the toiling people of the country. &nbsp; &ldquo;The goal of AL is to change the fate of farmers, workers and the toiling people,&rdquo; he said in a statement sent to the media today, protesting the misleading and provocative statements of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Recalling BNP-Jamaat&rsquo;s tenure, the AL general secretary said that when the BNP-Jamaat evil forces were in power, the people of the country had to live in misery due to their misrule.
&ldquo;Today, they talked about the rights of working people. But they never increased the wages of the workers while in power,&rdquo; he added.
Highlighting BNP-Jamaat&rsquo;s atrocities, he said this evil force shot dead laborers who were agitating for salary and bonus, killed farmers who were agitating for fertilizer and murdered ordinary people who were agitating for electricity.
Thus, the BNP-Jamaat clique crushed Bangladesh by holding people hostage at gunpoint, he said.
Obaidul Quader said that they made the life of working people miserable by shutting down different factories, including the Adamjee Jute Mills. &nbsp; On the other hand, Awami League has increased the salaries of garment workers as well as tea workers after coming to power, he said, adding that the living standard of all, including working people, has improved.
Quader further said that Awami League always comes to power with people's vote.
Awami League is not like a political party which came into being from the pocket of a military dictator, he said, adding that this party led the struggles for establishment of all rights, including democratic rights, of the people of this country, he said.
In continuation of that, Awami League is working to establish people's voting rights and other rights, he added.
He said that the 12th national election, held on January 7 last, was fairer than all the elections held in the country after 1975.
&ldquo;Awami League has come to power through elections by ensuring people's right to vote and is running the country with people's mandate,&rdquo; he said.
Obaidul Quader said that BNP had always taken away the voting rights of the people to grab the power. &ldquo;For this, they are afraid of elections and they don't want to participate in it,&rdquo; he added.
&ldquo;Once they excluded half a crore voters from the list to make smooth their way to grab power. They also created 1.23 crore fake voters,&rdquo; he said.
He said that issues like democracy and right to vote do not fit in the mouth of those who undertook different tactics to snatch the voting rights of the people.
&ldquo;The main objective of BNP&rsquo;s politics is to seize power by any means,&rdquo; he continued.
They seized state power and used it illegally to make Bangladesh a dysfunctional state through corruption and looting, he said.
Bangladesh had the stigma of being the champion of corruption for five times because of BNP, he said.

AL’s main goal is to work for welfare of toiling people: Quader

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is currently undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital in the capital, was shifted to a cabin from the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) on Thursday.
"Madam was previously in the CCU. The medical board has now shifted her to the cabin. She is receiving treatment under the close supervision of doctors in the cabin," Khaleda's personal physician Prof AZM Zahid Hossain told UNB.
In response to a question, Zahid said the BNP chief underwent several urgent tests on Wednesday night. &ldquo;Based on the test reports, the medical board is now giving her medical treatment.&rdquo;
Earlier on Wednesday night, Khaleda was admitted to Evercare Hospital in the capital and placed in the CCU following the advice of the medical board.
Since her conditional release from prison in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving medical care at the hospital under the supervision of a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.
The 78-year-old former prime minister has long been battling various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and issues related to the kidney, lung, heart, and eyes.
Khaleda's physicians have been advocating for her treatment abroad since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November 2021.
On October 26 last year, three US specialist doctors performed the hepatic procedure known as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS procedure) to alleviate fluid accumulation in Khaleda Zia&rsquo;s abdomen and chest, as well as to address bleeding in her liver.

Khaleda moved to cabin from CCU

Milton Samadder, chairman of Child and Old Age Care, has been placed on a three-day remand in a case filed in connection with forging death certificates.&nbsp;
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain of Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court passed the order on Thursday (May 2) after police produced him in the court seeking a 7-day remand.
Earlier on the day, Sub-Inspector Mohammad Kamal Pasha at Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detective Branch (DB) in Mirpur Zone filed the case against Milton at Mirpur Model Police Station.
Apart from this, two more cases on charges of human trafficking and illegal detention are under process, police said.
According to the case statement, &ldquo;Milton Samaddar used to forge death certificates of people who died in his shelter centre. He used to forge doctors&rsquo; signatures and seals in the death certificates of those who would die at the centre.
&ldquo;Milton Samadder is not a registered medical practitioner. No registered doctor has been appointed in his institution. He fraudulently made money by creating institutions in the name of child and old age care services.&rdquo;&nbsp;
It stated that Milton and his manager Kishore Bala cheated anonymous children and elderly people in the name of service to humanity.
A team of Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) detained Milton Samadder from Mirpur, Dhaka on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Milton Samadder on 3-day remand in death certificate forgery case

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked the country&rsquo;s leftist parties who they want to bring to power by ousting her.
&ldquo;The leftists have turned by 90 degrees. Well, they want to oust me. But could they determine who would come next? It is my question. Who would come to power and who would work for the country? But it is not clear who they want to bring,&rdquo; she said.
The premier said this while addressing a press conference arranged at her official residence Ganabhaban on the outcome of her recent six-day visit to Thailand.
Replying to a question, she said since it is not clear whom the leftists want to bring in power next, none of them don&rsquo;t get response from the people.
She said yes, movement is being carried out. Staying in a foreign land as a fugitive, someone is doing movement as well as giving orders online everyday thanks to Digital Bangladesh made by her government, she added.
&ldquo;Let those who are waging a movement do it. We at least are not hindering it,&rdquo; she said.
Criticising the US style to curb ongoing demonstrations carried out against Israeli aggression on Palestine, the PM said there is a possibility now for Bangladesh to stop the movement here following the American style.
&ldquo;I think our police now can follow the American police. We asked them (Bangladesh Police) to show patience,&rdquo; she said, adding that their member was beaten to death in October 2023.
&ldquo;So, our police can take measures to curb movement in American style,&rdquo; she went on.
Replying to another question, the prime minister said her government&rsquo;s goal is to make the ongoing upazila election a meaningful one.
In this context, she said a good number of political parties boycott elections as they have no capacity to run in the polls.
&ldquo;Why do they boycott elections? The reason is that they actually don&rsquo;t have capacity to compete in the elections,&rdquo; said Sheikh Hasina, also the President of ruling Bangladesh Awami League.
The prime minister returned to Bangladesh on April 29 after concluding her visit, which began on April 24 at the invitation of her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin.

Who they want to bring to power ousting me: PM Hasina wonders about leftists

The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has argued that it is possible to withdraw the subsidy provided in the energy sector without raising power tariffs, as suggested by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
&ldquo;The government can withdraw the power subsidy without hiking electricity prices by addressing issues such as irregularities, waste of resources, extravagance, and mismanagement prevailing in the sector,&rdquo; CAB&rsquo;s Energy Adviser M Shamsul Alam said on Thursday.
He read out a written statement from CAB at a press conference held under the banner &ldquo;Energy justice, not price hike, is needed to save the graft-hit electricity and fuel business&rdquo; at the auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity in Segunbagicha.
Earlier, on April 25, during a meeting with the budget sub-division under the Finance Division, the IMF delegation, which visited Bangladesh to evaluate the progress of conditions set as part of its $4.7 billion loan agreement, suggested that the government withdraw subsidies provided in the power, gas, and fertilizer sectors and adjust prices upward at the consumer level. The team also suggested using the money saved from the budget allocated as a subsidy in the social safety net.
The Finance Division informed the team that the government will continue subsidies in agriculture given the importance of ensuring food security.
Criticizing the government&rsquo;s response to the IMF proposal, the CAB energy adviser said, &ldquo;It seems the government is indifferent to ensuring energy security. Don&rsquo;t they understand that it is not possible to ensure food security if energy security is not ensured?&rdquo;
He further added, &ldquo;It would be possible to meet the deficit of around Tk40,000 crore without a price adjustment if the plundering expense and profit made in the energy sector could be prevented. But the IMF does not offer any such suggestion, as donor organisations like IMF want to turn Bangladesh into an export destination for electricity and fuel.&rdquo;
Speaking at the conference, Shamsul Huda, Executive Director of the Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), said, &ldquo;World Bank, IMF could not help any nation to be self-reliant, to come out of the crisis by providing them with loans since their century-old journey. So it is merely an injustice to create a burden for common people to meet their conditions to secure a loan.&rdquo;

CAB opposes IMF proposal to hike power tariff, withdraw energy subsidy

WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia Saima Wazed addressed the Regional Consultation on WHO South-East Asia Priority Programme Initiative in New Delhi, marking a significant step in her first year of leadership.
Wazed's opening remarks came after completing the first quarter of her tenure, a period she described as full of learning and valuable interactions with Member States and the WHO team.
During the consultation, Wazed emphasised the creation of a roadmap for the Priority Programmes that will guide the strategic direction during her term. These programmes were developed with contributions from Member States, aiming to address key health issues across the region and achieve transnational and multigenerational benefits.
Wazed shared her vision for the region, focusing on a holistic approach to health and well-being.
She emphasised prioritising the health of women, children, and marginalised groups such as persons with disabilities and underscored the goal of achieving universal health coverage within primary health care.
The WHO Regional Director highlighted the need for strong partnerships and collaborations beyond traditional health system boundaries to address determinants of health outside these systems.
She stressed that in working with a new and expanded range of partners, WHO's technical leadership, drawn from an extensive network of health professionals, could enrich all collaborations.
The consultation will delve into technical and non-technical aspects necessary for promoting health and well-being in the region. Wazed called for country engagement and ownership of the regional Priority Programme Initiatives as a tactical strategy to meet these ends.
Participants are expected to discuss and contribute to the draft strategic framework known as the Regional Roadmap for Results and Resilience. This roadmap aims to drive results, promote resilience, and enhance the health and well-being of communities across the region. It is synchronised with the WHO 14th General Programme of Work to support the accelerated progress towards SDG3 through five key action points: Promote, Provide, Protect, Power, and Perform.
Reflecting on the collective effort required, Wazed stated, "The roadmap for these programmes is now in your hands. I urge all of you to take ownership of it. This is not my roadmap - it is ours. Please give it the best of your intuition, experience, and expertise."
As the region faces various public health challenges, Wazed's call to action sets a hopeful tone for strategic health improvements driven by local solutions and collaborative efforts across South-East Asia.

WHO Regional Director Saima Wazed calls for collaborative health leadership in South-East Asia

The price of a 12 kg cylinder of Liquefied petroleum gas has been reduced by Tk 49 from Tk1,442 to Tk1,393 for the month of May.
Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission announced the new rate on Thursday (2 May).
The new prices will be effective from this evening.
According to the announcement, the retail price of private LPG has been fixed at Tk116 per kg at the consumer level including tax.
Price of LPG supplied in liquid form by private companies in the reticulated system has been fixed at Tk112 per kg inclusive of the price.
Besides, the price of autogas has been fixed at Tk63.92 at the consumer level.
Earlier in April, the price of 12kg cylinder was reduced by Tk40 to Tk 1,442.

Price of 12kg LPG cylinder drops by Tk49

The government will take steps to bring the people and groups involved in anti-state activities under surveillance to protect the country but media will be given full freedom, said the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad A Arafat.
&ldquo;Government has no intention to control the media, the government is committed to freedom of the media,&rdquo; he said while participating in a discussion meeting organised by UNESCO, Transparency International Bangladesh and Article 19 on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on Thursday (2 May).
&ldquo;Media in Bangladesh is open because of which anyone can do what they want&rdquo;, he added.
Stating that the media has the freedom to criticise the government, Arafat said, &ldquo;There is no obstacle to healthy journalism in the country.&rdquo;
However, the minister urged people to be aware so that the law is not misused.&nbsp;
&ldquo;If anyone abuses the law under the pretext of media freedom, they should be booked,&rdquo; he added.
The global theme for this year's Press Freedom Day is "A Press For The Planet: Journalism In The Face Of The Environmental Crisis".
Speaking at the event, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said environmental journalists in the country have come under attack many times while in the line of duty.
"Bangladesh has played a commendable role in combating global warming. However, increasing land grabbing, destruction of biodiversity in the name of development and encroachment in the name of urbanisation have now become normal.&nbsp;A section of the ruling class is benefiting from attacks on the environment and those who are supposed to enforce the law are not doing their work,&rdquo; he added.
&ldquo;In the 2022-23 year, a total of 23 incidents of cases and attacks have happened because of publishing reports related to environmental degradation news. In those incidents, at least 43 journalists have been injured,&rdquo; he further said.
The TIB executive director said such incidents are not isolated incidents that have become common.

People involved in anti-state activities will be brought under surveillance: Arafat

All primary and secondary level educational institutions which remained closed because of the countrywide heat wave will reopen on Saturday (4 April)
The Ministry of Education issued a notice in this regard on Thursday (2 May).
"Classes will resume from Saturday," reads the notice signed by the ministry&rsquo;s public relations officer MA Khayer.
Schools and colleges were scheduled to reopen on 21 April after the end of the Eid holidays but the closure was extended till 27 April due to sweltering heat across the country caused by heat waves.
Classes resumed on 28 April although there was no remarkable change in the heat wave condition, worrying the guardians, especially those of primary level students.
The authorities extended the closure of primary and secondary level educational intuitions till 2 May following a High Court order to keep those shut.
The HC passed the suo moto order following reports of death and sickness of people including teachers and students after the reopening of the educational institutions

Classes at schools, colleges to resume from 4 May

The bodies of eight Bangladeshi nationals who died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to enter Europe and subsequently drowned near the coast of Tunisia arrived at Dhaka airport on Thursday (2 May) afternoon.
A flight of Saudia Airlines, carrying the bodies, arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at around 12:30pm.
Following the tragic incident on the night of 14 February, officials at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli worked closely with Tunisia's Foreign Ministry and local authorities to manage the forensic identification, confirmation of identities through domestic agencies, issuance of death and medical certificates, and coordination of the repatriation process.
A boat, carrying 52 passengers and a sailor from the coast of Zuwarah on its way to Europe, sank off the Tunisian coast.&nbsp;
Out of the 44 survivors, 27 are Bangladeshis, with others from Pakistan (8), Syria (5), and Egypt (4).
Among the nine fatalities, eight were identified as Bangladeshis and one as a Pakistani national. The deceased Bangladeshis are - Sajal, Noyon Biswas, Mamun Sheikh, Kazi Sajib, and Kaiser Khalifa from Madaripur district, and Rifat, Russel, and Imrul Kayes from Gopalganj district.
BRAC Associate Director (Migration and Youth Platform) Shariful Hasan said, "11 Bangladeshis, who were on that boat but survived have returned to the country. Among them, two from Rajoi upazila of Madaripur contacted BRAC. They alleged that those 8 Bangladeshis were killed. Since a case has been registered in this incident, we hope that the details will come out in the investigation of the law enforcement agencies."
According to the police, Sunil Bairagi, the father of deceased Sajal Bairagi, filed a case at Dhaka Airport Police Station in this incident.
Two accused in the case were arrested.
They were arrested two days after the filing of the case on 19 April.
In the statement of the case, Sunil Bairagi alleged that his son Sajal Bairagi wanted to go to Italy in the hope of a better life.&nbsp;Sajal's former acquaintance Yuvraj Kazi, 24 and Mosharraf Kazi, who is now in Libya, offered to send him to Italy legally in exchange for Tk14 lakh. Sajal Bairagi and his family agreed to this proposal.
With the consent of both parties, on 17 November last year, Sajal gave Tk2.5 lakh and a passport to Yuvraj Kazi in Gopalganj.
He was taken to Shahjalal International Airport on 30 December, Sajal's father said.
Before entering the airport, Yuvraj Kazi took another five lakh cash from Sajal before getting out of the car. He left for Dubai at six in the morning on 31 December.
Sunil Bairagi gave another Tk6.5lakh to Yuvraj Kazi on 8 January.
But since then Sunil could not contact his son, he said.
After that, Sunil came to know from media reports that Sajal was among the eight Bangladeshis who were killed in a trawler travelling from Libya to Italy on 14 April.
He alleged that a gang of 20 people smuggled the victims out of Bangladesh illegally in exchange for huge sums of money with the lure of a better life.
Knowing that they would surely die, they put them in a small boat in the rough sea and drowned them in the water, he said.

Bodies of 8 Bangladeshis who died in Tunisia boat capsize arrive in Dhaka, case filed

A Dhaka court has granted bail to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, an economist, in a case filed under the Money Laundering Prevention Act.
Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 passed the order on Thursday, Dr Yunus' lawyer Abdullah Al Mamun told the media.
The court has also scheduled June 2 for the hearing of the charge sheet filed regarding the case, the lawyer added.
&nbsp;"The court was scheduled to hold the hearing today, but it deferred the date to June 2, taking into account an application filed seeking time," said Abdullah Al Mamun.
Dr. Yunus and the other accused individuals in the case appeared in court, he added.
On February 1, the Anti-Corruption Commission submitted a charge sheet against 14 people, including Yunus, in the case of embezzlement of Tk25.22 crore, which was entitled to Grameen Telecom workers as their share in the company&rsquo;s dividend.
ACC Deputy Director Gulshan Anwar filed the case as the main plaintiff on May 30 last year.
According to the investigation report, the accused embezzled Tk25.22 crore by transferring money illegally to another account, which is an offense under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
According to the ACC, in the presence of Grameen Telecom Chairman Yunus, the board of directors decided to open a bank account on May 9, 2022. Pursuant to that decision, a bank account was opened at the Gulshan branch of Dhaka Bank on May 8.
The ACC report states, &ldquo;An agreement was signed with the labor union and Grameen Telecom on April 27 of the same year for the distribution of dividends owed to Grameen Telecom employees. The contract shows that the bank account was opened on May 8, which is impossible in reality. This was done by forging documents.&rdquo;
It further stated, according to the agreement and the decision of the 108th board meeting (Grameen Telecom), on May 10, 2022, Tk437,112,621 was transferred from the Mirpur branch of United Commercial Bank to the Gulshan branch of Dhaka Bank. The dividend was embezzled without being disbursed to the employees.&rdquo;
However, Dr. Yunus's lawyer, Abdullah Al Mamun, told the media on Monday, &ldquo;Grameen Telecom reached an agreement with the workers when they went to court to demand their share of the dividend. Based on that agreement, the workers demanded an advance of Tk25, including the expenses of the lawyers, and it was paid. Employees have written consent in this regard.&rdquo;
Abdullah Al Mamun also added, &ldquo;The space for bank account information was left blank in the contract because the workers were late in opening bank accounts. Later, both parties included the bank account numbers. It was based on consent.&rdquo;
A total of 176 employees of Grameen Telecom filed more than 100 lawsuits demanding payment of dividend shares. They also approached the High Court. Later, Grameen Telecom agreed to disburse the dividend.
The lawyer said, &ldquo;Grameen Telecom workers dropped the lawsuits in May 2022 after receiving the dividend through a settlement. However, the ACC filed a case regarding the payment of the dues as embezzlement.&rdquo;
Abdullah Al Mamun said, &ldquo;The Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) sent a letter to the Law and Justice Division on the government's instructions, which they can't do. When Yunus disclosed this, the ACC hastily filed a charge sheet against him.&rdquo;
In another case filed by the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) on charges of violating labor laws, four people, including Yunus, were sentenced to six months in prison on January 1 by the labor court. Dr. Yunus and three others challenged the sentence, leading to a hearing date on January 28 set by the Labour Appellate Tribunal.

Yunus granted bail in money laundering case

With no sign of relief from the scorching heat felt in most parts of the country, the Bangladesh Meteorological Department has come up with good news for five divisions - Chattogram, Sylhet, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Barishal.
Rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally winds are likely to occur today at a few places over Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, and at one or two places over Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Barishal divisions, with hailstorms at isolated places, according to the BMD weather forecast.&nbsp;
However, the met office have no good news for Rajshahi and Khulna divisions, which are experiencing very severe heat waves with temperatures exceeding 42 degrees Celsius.
The meteorological office said the very severe heat wave, indicating temperatures above 42 degrees Celsius, is sweeping over the districts of Jashore, Khulna, Chuadanga, Pabna, and Rajshahi, and a severe heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalganj, and the rest of the Khulna division. Mild to moderate heat waves are sweeping elsewhere across the country, and they may abate in some places over the eastern part of the country.
While rain is likely to continue until Saturday in Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, and until Friday in Barishal division, the weather may remain dry in Rajshahi, Khulna, and Rangpur divisions.
The prevailing heat wave may abate from some places over the country from Friday, according to the weather forecast.

5 divisions including Dhaka to experience rain today

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina once again appealed to the international community to speak out against all forms of aggression and atrocities and to say 'no' to war.
&ldquo;I have called upon the world community, including the Asia-Pacific region, to work together to resolve the ongoing genocide in Palestine, the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, and the Rohingya issue,&rdquo; the premier said while briefing the media about her recent visit to Thailand at a press conference organised at the Ganabhaban at 11:30am on Thursday (2 May).
&ldquo;UN Under-Secretary-General and the Executive Secretary of UN-ESCAP Armida Salsian Alisjahbana and I met during my Thailand visit. I emphasised increasing mutual cooperation between the countries of South Asia and Southeast Asia region,&rdquo; she added.
The premier said that has expressed interest in exchanging the development models invented and implemented in Bangladesh with other countries in the region through the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP).
PM Hasina said she requested her Thai counterpart to encourage the participation of the private sector, especially investment in our Special Economic Zones and Hi-Tech Parks, to keep the balance of trade between the two countries.
"I requested the Thai Prime Minister to consider the issue of granting duty-free access to some Bangladeshi goods, including ready-made garments, for a logical period,"
PM Hasina said as an agricultural country, Bangladesh can utilise Thailand's experience and technological expertise to strengthen food security through increasing cooperation in the sector.
"I also urged Thailand to invest in the health sector of Bangladesh," she added.
&nbsp;The two countries agreed to strengthen economic relations between Bangladesh and Thailand by quickly launching direct coastal shipping between Thailand's Ranong Port and Chattogram Port with the aim of economic development through seamless regional connectivity, the premier said.
She also reiterated Bangladesh's expectation of joining the &ldquo;India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway&rdquo; to strengthen regional cooperation.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned home from Bangkok on 29 April after a 6-day visit to Thailand.
She went to Thailand on 24 April at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
Following the meeting, five bilateral documents were signed in the presence of the two leaders on visa waiver, energy cooperation, tourism and customs issues and free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations between Bangladesh and Thailand.
Apart from this, the Prime Minister addressed the 80th session of the UN-ESCAP at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.

Speak out against aggression and atrocities: PM Hasina to international community

Five people inlcuding an elderly woman were killed in separate incidents of lightning strikes in Rangamati and Cox's Bazar in the early hours of Thursday.
Fifty-year-old Nazir Ahmed was struck by lightning while he was catching fish with a fishing rod at Kaptai lake around 8:30am.&nbsp;
He was taken to Rangamati General Hospital where the doctor on duty declared him dead.
The hospital&rsquo;s Residential Medical Officer Shawkat Akber Khan said he was already dead on arrival.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, two woman -- 60-year old Baharzan from Baradom Muslim Block area and 37-year-old Tonibala from Betling Mouza in Sazek -- under Baghaichari upazila were killed by lightning strike this morning, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shirin Akter told the Bangladesh First.&nbsp;
Another woman named Tonibala Tripura, 37, was hit by lightning in Longthian area of Betling Mouza in Sajek.&nbsp;
In Cox's Bazar, two salt cultivators died after being struck by lightning in Pekua upazila.&nbsp;
Didarul Islam from Kodailya Dia area in Magnama union went to collect salt at dawn sensing rainfall when he was hit by lightning, said the union parishad&rsquo;s Chairman Chairman Yunus Chowdhury.
He was rushed to Pekua Upazila Health Complex where the doctor on duty declared him dead.&nbsp;
In a repeat of such an incident, salt cultivator Arafat from Charipara area in Rajakhali union lost his life after being struck by lightning while collecting salt from a land, said local Union Parishad Nazrul Islam Sikder Babul.

Lightning kills 5 people in Rangamati, Cox's Bazar

Amid the persistent severe heat waves sweeping across the country, the residents of Chattogram got some relief as rain graced the port city and the surrounding areas.
The local meteorological office has recorded 7 millimetres of rain in two phases of rain in the city.
Rain graced Chattogram at around 3am on Thursday (2 May), later it rained again at 9am.
Due to the rain, the intensity of heat waves has decreased.
Chittagong's Patenga Meteorological Office said intermittent light to moderate rain is likely in the port city in the next 24 hours.
Meteorologist Abdul Baker said, "A total of 7 mm of rainfall has been recorded so far. There may be more rain in Chattogram in the afternoon and evening. There is a chance of intermittent rain tomorrow as well&rdquo;.

Chattogram residents get some relief from heat wave thanks to rain

The bodies of eight Bangladeshi nationals who died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe and subsequently drowned near the coast of Tunisia will arrive in the country this afternoon.
According to a Facebook post by the Bangladesh Embassy in Libya, the coffins, transported via Saudia Airlines, are scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 12:15pm on 2 May.
On Tuesday, in the presence of Bangladesh's Ambassador to Libya and non-resident envoy to Tunisia, Major General (Retd.) Abul Hasnat Mohammad Khairul Bashar, embassy officials transferred the bodies to the authorities at Tunis International Airport.
Following the tragic incident on the night of 14 February, officials at the Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli worked closely with Tunisia's Foreign Ministry and local authorities to manage the forensic identification, confirmation of identities through domestic agencies, issuance of death and medical certificates, and coordination of the repatriation process.
The Foreign Ministry's Africa Wing coordinated inter-ministerial efforts to facilitate the repatriation of the bodies, with assistance from the ministries of home, law, and funds from the Expatriates Welfare Ministry.
Among the deceased are Sajal, Noyon Biswas, Mamun Sheikh, Kazi Sajib, and Kaiser Khalifa from Madaripur district, and Rifat, Russel, and Imrul Kayes from Gopalganj district.
A boat, carrying 52 passengers and a sailor from the coast of Zuwarah on its way to Europe, sank off the Tunisian coast. Out of the 44 survivors, 27 are Bangladeshis, with others from Pakistan (8), Syria (5), and Egypt (4). Among the nine fatalities, eight were identified as Bangladeshis and one as a Pakistani national.

Bodies of 8 Bangladeshis who died in Tunisia boat capsize to arrive today

Dhaka's air quality was categorised as &lsquo;unhealthy for sensitive groups&rsquo; this morning.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 106 at 10:19 am, Dhaka ranked 11th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.
Pakistan's Lahore, India&rsquo;s Delhi and Nepal&rsquo;s Kathmandu occupied the first, second and third spots in the list, with AQI scores of 214, 175 and 170, respectively.
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered &lsquo;unhealthy for sensitive groups&rsquo;, between 150 and 200 is &lsquo;unhealthy&rsquo;, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Dhaka&rsquo;s air quality &lsquo;moderate&rsquo; this morning
As per World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Dhaka’s air ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ this morning

District Correspondent

At least five people were killed in a head-on collision between a truck and a car in Madhavpur of Habiganj.
The accident took place in the Haritala area on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway of the upazila.at around 1:30am on Thursday (2 May),&nbsp;Shaestaganj Highway Police OC Badrul Kabir said.
Police said that among the five killed, four were members of the same family.
However, the names and other details of the deceased could not be known immediately.
The bodies were kept at Habiganj Sadar Hospital morgue.

5 killed in truck-car collision in Habiganj

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is set to brief journalists on the outcome of her recent Thailand visit on Thursday (2 May) morning.
The scheduled briefing will be held at her official Ganabhaban residence here at 10am.
The premier returned home from Bangkok on 29 April wrapping up her six-day official visit to the East Asian country - Thailand.
Five bilateral documents on visa exemption, cooperation on energy, tourism, and customs matters, and negotiation of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and
Thailand were signed in the presence of both leaders during Sheikh Hasina's visit to Thailand. Sheikh Hasina also had a bilateral meeting with Thai Prime Minister Thavisin at the Government House, the Thai Premier's Office.&nbsp;
The premier of Bangladesh also made a courtesy call to Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshan and King and Queen of the Kingdom of Thailand, Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, at Amphorn Satharn Throne Hall at Dusit Palace.
In addition, she gave a speech in Bangkok during the 80th session of UNESCAP, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

PM to brief media this morning

The 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) will go into its second session at 5:00pm today (2 May).
Exercising the power bestowed upon him as per the Clause (1) of Article 72 of the Constitution, President Mohammed Shahabuddin summoned the 2nd session of the 12th parliament on 15 April.
Prior to the sitting, JS business advisory committee will hold a meeting. Proceedings and duration of the session will be decided in the meet.
On 5 March last, the first session of the current parliament was prorogued.

JS goes into second session today

Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury today shared plans to boost the adoption of eco-friendly technologies in rice cultivation, aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
Embracing such technologies not only mitigates carbon footprints but also optimizes resource utilization, potentially unlocking opportunities for international carbon crediting.
Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury shared these insights during a meeting with a coalition comprising the Asian Development Bank, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industries, and Cisco, convened at his residence in Dhaka&rsquo;s Paribagh.
Acknowledging the efforts of the Asian Development Bank and Cisco in launching a pilot project in the Barendra region, the minister emphasized the significance of technology in resolving water scarcity and slashing carbon emissions.
He expressed readiness to endorse initiatives that address these critical issues, urging stakeholders to submit proposals through the Ministry of Agriculture.
Highlighting the pivotal role of the private sector and farmers, Minister Chowdhury underscored the imperative of implementing carbon-reducing smart agricultural practices to bolster productivity and yield positive outcomes while grappling with challenges like dwindling groundwater levels and the imperative of decarbonization.
He reiterated Bangladesh's commitment to spearheading environmentally conscious initiatives, setting a precedent for a sustainable future.
The meeting convened luminaries such as Takashi Yamano, Principal Economist of the Asian Development Bank Bangladesh Resident Mission; Dr. Joshoda Jibon Deb Nath, Vice President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI); and Dinesh Pal Singh, Tech Lead of the Digital Transformation Office at Cisco.
Discussions centered on exploring cutting-edge technologies, fostering sustainable methodologies, and forging strategic alliances to effect tangible reductions in carbon emissions and fortify climate resilience. The delegation commended Bangladesh's proactive stance and pledged unwavering support in advancing environmental sustainability endeavors.

Govt to enhance eco-tech in rice cultivation to cut greenhouse gas emission: Environment Minister

Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) detained Milton Samaddar, Chairman of Child and Old Age Care, on Wednesday (1 May) from Mirpur in Dhaka.&nbsp;
DMP DB Chief and Additional Commissioner of Police, Harun-Or-Rashid, stated that Milton Samaddar was apprehended in the Mirpur area following a raid.&nbsp;
"Milton Samaddar is now in our custody, and he will be interrogated over several allegations, including issuing fake death certificates, organ trafficking, and child harassment," said Harun.
"We will also quiz him on why he set up an operation theatre without any license and proper authorisation," added Harun.&nbsp;
The recent report published in the national daily Kalbela reveals that Milton is involved in selling organs under the guise of medical treatment. He reportedly picks up sick, helpless, and innocent people from the streets, posing as a humanitarian worker.
On 28 April, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) instructed the DMP to investigate allegations against Milton Samaddar.

Milton Samaddar detained

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was taken to Evercare Hospital in the capital this evening for health check-up.
She arrived at the hospital from her Gulshan residence around 7:05 pm, said her media wing member Shamsuddin Didar.
He said the BNP chairperson will undergo several tests at the hospital as per the advice of her medical board.
Didar said the medical board will decide whether she needs to be hospitalised after observing her condition and assessing the test reports.
The 78-year-old former prime minister has long been suffering from various ailments, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and issues related to kidney, lung, heart, and eye.
Earlier on March 31, the BNP chairpersons was admitted to the hospital and stayed there for two days for some pathological tests and regular examinations.
&nbsp; Since her conditional release from jail in 2020, the BNP chief has been receiving treatment at the hospital under a medical board headed by cardiologist Prof Shahabuddin Talukder.
Khaleda was sent to the Old Dhaka Jail after a lower court sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018. Later, she was found guilty in another corruption case the same year.
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the government temporarily freed Khaleda Zia from jail through an executive order, suspending her sentence on March 25, 2020, with the condition that she stay in her Gulshan house and not leave the country. That has since been extended multiple times to keep her out of jail.
Khaleda&rsquo;s doctors have been recommending sending her abroad since she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis in November 2021.
On October 26 last year, three US specialist doctors completed the hepatic procedure known as transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS procedure) to stop water accretion in Khaleda Zia&rsquo;s stomach and chest, and bleeding in her liver.

Khaleda Zia taken to Evercare Hospital for check-up

Health and Family Welfare Minister Professor Dr Samanta Lal Sen today said attacks on doctors on the pretext of wrong treatment are very despicable. &nbsp; "Beating doctors, especially women physicians in the name of wrong treatment is not at all acceptable," he said while addressing as the Chief Guest the 12th International and 2nd ACNS-BSNS Hybrid Conference and Cadaveric Workshop at the National Institute of Neuroscience.
"Only Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) has the right to report about wrong treatment, neither you nor I have any right to say wrong treatment," said the health minister.
Referring to the ability of doctors in Bangladesh, Sen said, "I wholeheartedly believe that the talent and skills of our physicians are not less than the doctors of any country in the world".
Citing the example of Rokeya-Rabaya operation of conjoined twins, the minister said that although Hungarian doctors were present during that operation, the neurosurgeons of Bangladesh played the biggest role in it.
The health minister called upon the young doctors to provide the best services with merit and attention to the patients. "We want to take Bangladesh to a place where the people of the country respect the medical community," he added.
"If we provide services from 8:00am to 2:30pm sincerely . . . if we serve the patients properly, then people will respect us." he said. &nbsp; "We have talent. With that talent, you serve the best, I will ensure your protection. This is my promise to you as a doctor," Sen added.
President of Bangladesh Society of Neurosurgeons Professor Dr. Mohammad Hossain presided over the function while Dr. Md. Ehteshamul Huq Choudhury, Secretary General, Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) and Joint Director of NINS Prof. Dr. Md. Badrul Alam were present as guest of honour.

Attacking doctors on pretext of wrong treatment is shocking: health minister

In response to the imminent threat of flash floods in the north and northeastern regions of Bangladesh, the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) has issued alerts and recommendations for local communities.
The FFWC, managed by the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and the Department of Disaster Management, is closely monitoring the situation and advising on precautionary measures.
According to recent reports, water levels in rivers in the northeastern districts are rapidly rising, posing a risk of flash floods in several areas. Vulnerable districts including Netrakona, Sunamganj, Kishoreganj, and Moulvibazar are expected to experience swift inundation as rivers overflow their banks.
Over the next 48 hours, districts along the northeastern border, including Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj, and Habiganj, are likely to face significant water inflows, breaching pre-monsoon levels. Residents are advised to take immediate precautions and be prepared for potential evacuations.
To stay informed, residents can access real-time updates and flood forecasts through the BWDB Flood App and the FFWC website at www.fwc.gov.bd and www.ffwc.gov.bd/flashflood. Additionally, emergency hotlines are available at 1090 (toll-free) and 01841-002299 for rapid response coordination.
The BWDB and relevant authorities have urged residents in flood-prone areas to remain vigilant and follow official guidelines to ensure their safety and the safety of their communities.

Flash flood alerts issued for northeastern districts

Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan has said that the judiciary of the country will be stronger with collective efforts of all.
"Bangladesh Judiciary is working independently. Judiciary will be stronger with collective efforts," he said in a citizen reception programme organized by Sylhet City Corporation here on Tuesday night.
Attorney General Abu Mohammad Amin Uddin was the guest of honour at the reception given to the Chief Justice while Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury gave welcome speech on the occasion.
The Chief Justice further said when the local administration, the law enforcement agencies and the elected public representatives work together, the judiciary becomes complete and justice is established.
"In this case, everyone's cooperation is needed," he added.
Sunamganj-1 Constituency Member of Parliament Advocate Ranjit Chandra Sarkar, Sylhet Senior District and Sessions Judge AQM Nasir Uddin, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Zakir Hossain Khan, Additional Divisional Commissioner Debojit Singh, Osmani Medical College and Hospital Director Lt. General Mahbubur Rahman, Additional DIG Humayun Kabir, Deputy Commissioner Sheikh Russell Hasan and Superintendent of Police Abdullah Al Mamun were present, among others.
Sylhet City mayor Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury presented gift and memento to the Chief Justice in the programme.

Chief Justice for collective efforts of all to make judiciary stronger

A woman and her nephew died when a bus hit them in front of the Purobi Cinema Hall at the Pallabi area in Dhaka's Mirpur on Tuesday night.
The deceased were identified as Khairun Begum, 36, and her four-year-old nephew Yasin. Khairun Begum, originally from Bhola Sadar, was a garment worker and lived in the Pallabi area.
The incident happened around 9pm when a Basumati Paribahan bus hit them while crossing the road, leaving them injured, said Apurva Hasan, officer-in-charge of Pallabi Police Station.
Locals rushed them to a nearby hospital. Later, they were taken to the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital after their condition deteriorated.
They died while undergoing treatment there, added the OC.
Police apprehended the bus driver, said the officer, adding that the bodies were sent to Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College morgue for autopsies.

Woman, nephew die as bus hits them in Dhaka's Pallabi

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury today said Bangladesh's participation in the Conference of the Parties-29 (COP-29) is expected to reinforce its proactive advocacy for environmental sustainability and climate resilience globally. &nbsp; "As preparations for COP29 intensify, Bangladesh is getting ready to engage actively with the international community, advancing shared goals of environmental stewardship and sustainable development," he said while presenting the official invitation letter of COP29 from the President of Azerbaijan to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban here.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed her gratitude for the invitation and reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to actively participate in the COP29 deliberations, a ministry press release said.
Saber Hossain said Bangladesh's role in international forums like COP29 is crucial aiming to contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
He highlighted the COP29 as a pivotal platform for advancing climate agendas, fostering partnerships, and catalysing tangible actions to combat climate change.
Earlier on 25 April 2024, Environment Minister Saber Chowdhury received the invitation letter of the Bangladesh premier to participate in COP-29 from Yalchin Rafiyev, Deputy Foreign Minister and Chief Negotiator of Azerbaijan, on the sidelines of the Petersburg Climate Dialogue held in Berlin, Germany.

Bangladesh to reinforce global climate resilience advocacy in COP29: Saber

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on 1 May asked the mills and factory owners to pay special attention to the labourers' welfare cutting some luxury in their lives.
"I want the owners to pay special attention to the labourers reducing their luxury a little bit as the labourers have given you the scope to lead lavish life by increasing production through their hard work," she said.
The premier was addressing a discussion as the chief guest marking the historic Great May Day at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) here organised by the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
She also reminded the labourers not to do any activity being influenced by any other that led to damage to the mills and factories which brought them work and scope to earn their bread.
"And such way, the labourers sometimes actually make damage to them, their families, the country and the owners of the factories," she said.
The prime minister said there are some hired people in Bangladesh who are always out to bring the workers to the streets in any lame excuse.
She said the labourers have to keep one thing in mind the owners have built factories to get benefits while at the same time; the owners also have to focus on the welfare of the workers.
"I want the industrial production to increase for the overall development of Bangladesh maintaining good relations between the owners and labourers," she added.
Sheikh Hasina called upon both the owners and labourers to proceed to her not going door to door to solve the problem if any difficulty arises.
"My door is open for all. Come to me if you have any trouble. I will solve the problems. Keep one thing in mind, I am not only the prime minister, but also a daughter of the Father of the Nation," she said.
The prime minister earlier handed over cheques of financial assistance to some labour families.
She later attended a colourful cultural programme.
State Minister for Labour and Employment Ministry Md Nazrul Islam Chowdhury, Chairman of the Standing Committee on the ministry H.M Ibrahim, Country Director of International Labour Organization (ILO) to Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen, President of Bangladesh Employers' Federation Ardashir Kabir and President of Jatiya Shramik League Noor Qutub Alam Mannan, spoke at the discussion.
Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment Md Mahbub Hossain gave the address of welcome.
A video documentary on the Great May Day was screened at the function.
The historic May Day is being observed today in the country and elsewhere across the world in a befitting manner.
This year's theme of the day is "Sramik-Malik Gorbo Desh, Smart Hobey Bangladesh".
The May Day has been observed across the globe since 1886 commemorating the supreme sacrifices of the workers at Hay Market, Chicago, in the USA for an eight-hour working day and upholding the rights of the working people.

PM asks factory owners to prioritise labourers' welfare

Instances of rain with thunderstorms are likely to occur across the country in the coming five days, said the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
&ldquo;The trend of rain may increase across the country in the coming five days. Along with that, the temperature may drop slightly in the next three days,&rdquo; BMD said in its latest weather forecast update on Wednesday (1 May).
However, heat waves across the country may cause discomfort due to excess water vapour, it added.
The weather forecast for the next 24 hours said that there may be temporary rain or thunder with gusty winds in two places of Chittagong and Sylhet divisions, and there may also be scattered hailstorms in some places.&nbsp;
Elsewhere in the country, the weather will remain mainly dry with a partly cloudy sky.
A very severe heat wave is passing through Jashore, Kushtia, Chuadanga, Pabna, Rajshahi, Bagerhat and Satkhira districts and a severe heat wave is sweeping over Tangail, Faridpur, Gopalganj, Narayanganj, Naogaon, Sirajganj, Dinajpur and Khulna districts.&nbsp;
Elsewhere in the country, mild to moderate heat waves are prevailing and may continue.
Day and night temperatures may remain almost unchanged across the country.&nbsp;

Rain and thunderstorms likely across country in next 5 days, heat wave may continue: BMD

Senior Correspondent

Different organisations and trade union bodies held rallies in front of the National Press Club in the capital to observe the May day.&nbsp;
The leaders of the organisations have also raised labour rights issues, workplace safety and minimum wages, among other issues.&nbsp;
"Still many people in the country have to work over 8 hours a day. 85% of people work in the informal sector. The labourers of the informal sectors have to work 14-15 hours a day," said&nbsp;Sramik Karmachari Oikko Parishad Joint Coordinator Naimul Ahsan Jewel&nbsp;addressing a rally in front of the National Press Club on Wednesday (1 May).
He asked the government to ensure that the labourers worked 8 hours a day and stop the outsourcing system.
"Movement for fair wages has been going on. It has been 53 years since the country achieved independence. However, the labourers of the country could not get National Minimum Wages," he added.
"Governments are coming and going but the demand of the more than 7 crore of the labourers of the country has not been met yet. We are still waging the movement to press home the demand for minimum wages," Naimul further said.
Jatiya Mukti Council and Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies, among other organisations, also held rallies in the city&rsquo;s press club area.

Different labour organisations observe May Day

The preparatory meetings of the 15th Session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Islamic Summit have started in Banjul, The Gambia, on Tuesday (30 April), under the theme &ldquo;Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through dialogue for sustainable development&rdquo;.
The two-day-long senior officials meeting is being led by Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Ambassador Masud Bin Momen.
The Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the OIC, Dr Javed Patwary, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria and Non-Resident High Commissioner of Bangladesh to The Gambia, Masudur Rahman, Director General (International Organsations), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wahida Ahmed, are participating at the meeting.
It is finalising the &ldquo;Draft Resolution on the issue of Palestine and Al-Quds Ash-Sharif&rdquo;, &ldquo;Draft Final Communique&rdquo;, and &ldquo;Banjul Draft Declaration&rdquo; to be adopted by the Preparatory Meeting of the Foreign Ministers.
The discussions are dominated by issues related to Palestine in view of the recent atrocities in Gaza.
It will also discuss economic, humanitarian, social, cultural, and issues concerning women and youth that have an impact on the Muslim Ummah.
The Preparatory Meeting of the Foreign Ministers will start on 2 May, and will be led by Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud MP.&nbsp;

OIC Islamic Summit preparatory meetings starts in Banjul

Sadiqur Rahman

As the scorching summer sun shone, the four bulkheads jettied on the bank of River Turag near the Amin Bazar Landing Station in Dhaka, bore the burn of the heat wave.
Some 100 male and female labourers in groups were unloading wet sands from the vessels - extracted somewhere from shoals of the river.
Each of them was carrying more than 25kg of sand in the Turki (bamboo-made basket) over their heads.
Surprisingly, their faces appeared dry despite doing such arduous work.
&ldquo;Perhaps, the extreme heat evaporates our sweat,&rdquo; said Abdul Khaleque, a 58-year-old man who migrated to Dhaka from Netrokona two decades ago and became a day labourer.
All the labourers were exhausted - taking a break for 10-15 minutes and drinking water collected from a nearby mosque.
Like the previous couple of years, the summer of 2024 has arrived as a punishment period for the day labourers like Khaleque.&nbsp;
They have been struggling to cope with the heat but cannot afford to enjoy vacations for long as their wages have not increased as much as the prices of the goods they handle.&nbsp;
<img src="https://images.bangladeshfirst.com/resize?width=1600&amp;height=900&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=85&amp;path=mediaImages/2024-May-01_6631e183208cc_1714545027.png" alt="">
Despite many challenges including the intolerable weather and deteriorating health, labourers like Khaleque keep doing this job only to support their families.
Khaleque&rsquo;s wife is a part-time housemaid while his only son Moslem Uddin works at a garments factory.&nbsp;
But their wages are inadequate to meet the family demands.
40-year-old Nargis Begum, who migrated from Jamalpur district, started working as an unloader at Amin Bazar 12 years ago.&nbsp;
Those days, she was paid Tk10 for unloading 10 baskets of sand.
At present, she is paid the same amount in wages for unloading seven baskets of sand.&nbsp;
On the other hand, the price of sand has increased manifold.
&ldquo;The price of one truck-full white sand (dredged silt) was Tk2,000, which is now Tk5,000. The price of Sylhet sand has increased to Tk14,000 from Tk5,000 in the last 10 years,&rdquo; manager Moshiur said.
When asked why don't the labourers are paid more, Moshiur Rahman, a Sardar (manager) of the labourers, said, &ldquo;Expansion of sand market, as well as inclusion of many traders, eventually has reduced the income of Amin Bazar-based Mahajons (contractors who pay the labourers). If they earned well, the labourers would have been paid well&rdquo;.
The mechanisation of the loading-unloading activities has also contributed to a static wage system and even job cuts.
5 privately owned cranes were operating at the Amin Bazar Landing Station. Last year, the number was two, the labourers said.
&ldquo;It would take 2 days for 150 workers to unload sand from a bulkhead. Whereas, a crane operator and 4-5 workers can do the same job in five hours,&rdquo; Khaleque explained how the mechanisation has been impacting their livelihood.
Amid such inconvenience, they don't have labour rights because of the informal nature of their profession.
&ldquo;After the Eid vacation, most of the employees returned to Dhaka by the third week of April. However, unloading of sand at Amin Bazar started this morning (29 April) due to a shortage of labourers. Amid the hot weather, they didn't show up for work,&rdquo; said Moshiur.
He added that there was only one-fourth of the usual labour force for unloading the bulkheads that day.
&ldquo;Usually, 150 labourers take two days to unload 950 sq-ft of sand from a single bulkhead. The available labourers cannot work in full swing under the scorching sun,&rdquo; he added.
Moshiur&rsquo;s statement asserts a study by Duke University in the US, that states Bangladeshi people were losing 7 billion working hours every year because of climate change.
<img src="https://images.bangladeshfirst.com/resize?width=1600&amp;height=900&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=85&amp;path=mediaImages/2024-May-01_6631e1946d0ce_1714545044.png" alt="">
Exposure to extreme heat reduces working capability, especially for people involved in outdoor activities.&nbsp;
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), 2.2% of working hours worldwide, or 80 million full-time jobs, will be lost by 2030 as a result of global warming.
Because of its geological existence, Bangladesh is at high risk for extreme heat hazards.&nbsp;
The country&rsquo;s tropical and subtropical climate means that both temperature and humidity are high on average here, so any increase in temperature is likely to further exacerbate heat-related impacts.
In 2019, ILO predicted that Bangladesh may lose 4.84% of its total working hours due to heat stress resulting from global warming by 2030.
Bangladesh has the National Occupational Safety and Health Policy and the Health National Adaptation Plan, which are aimed at protecting the health of the labour force.
Especially, the National Adaptation Programme of Action explicitly recognises the threat of climate change to labourers&rsquo; health as increased mortality from heat stress has been identified as one of the main climate change vulnerabilities in Bangladesh.
However, there remains a lack of specific measures to ensure that workers are protected from the negative impacts of climate change.
Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies Director (Programme &amp; Information) Kohinoor Mahmood said employers of day labourers should provide them with the necessary support to minimise the burdens of heat-related challenges.
&ldquo;Unfortunately, there is no legal binding upon them. Because, the informal workers like the sand unloaders, do not enjoy labour rights in Bangladesh&rdquo;, Kohinoor said.

Heatwave makes already underpaid bulkhead unloaders' perils heavier

The historic May Day is being observed today in the country and elsewhere across the world in a befitting manner.
The day has been observed across the globe since 1886 commemorating the supreme sacrifices of the workers at Hay Market, Chicago, in the USA for an eight-hour working day and upholding the rights of the working people.
To press home their demands, working people had to sacrifice their valuable lives in tragic bomb attacks and police atrocities on May 1, 1886 and the following days.
This year's theme of the day is "Sramik-Malik Gorbo Desh, Smart Hobey Bangladesh".
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday issued separate messages on the eve of the historic May Day.
They extended their greetings to all working people of the world, including Bangladesh, wishing success of all programmes on the occasion.
In his message, the President said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had fought for the rights of hard-working people throughout his life.
Bangabandhu gave state recognition to the "May Day" after independence, the head of the state said, adding that he had declared May Day a public holiday.
Bangabandhu set up a wage commission to ensure fair rights of the workers and he also announced a new salary structure for the workers, Shahabuddin said.
In 1972, under the initiative and strong leadership of Father of Nation, Bangladesh became a member of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and ratified 29 conventions, including 6 core conventions of the ILO, he said.
Through the positive and progressive participation of workers and employers, stability and productivity in the labour sector will be enhanced, he hoped.
The underlying significance of the May Day is closely connected with the rights, interests and welfare of the working people, Shahabuddin mentioned.
He hoped that everyone would take responsibility in their respective fields to improve their living standards and protect their rights.
There is no alternative to ensuring the overall rights including an improved working environment, good labor-employer relations, professional safety and well-being of workers in building a developed and smart Bangladesh by 2041, Shahabuddin added.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, Father of Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman formulated a labour policy in 1972 with the aim of establishing a society free from exploitation.
He strengthened the country's economy and ensured the fair rights of the workers by nationalizing the abandoned mills, the premier said.
The present Awami League-led government is implementing various activities for the development and welfare of the working people of the country, she said.
Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act, 2018 has been enacted by updating and modernising the Bangladesh Labor Act to ensure a safe working environment, social security and workers' welfare by maintaining goodwill and good relations between employers and workers, the premier added.
Bangladesh Workers Welfare Foundation has been formed to ensure the welfare of workers working in different sectors of the country, Sheikh Hasina continued.
She believed that all workers and employers will maintain good relations and devote themselves to increase national production being imbued with the ideals of the great May Day.
"We will build a developed and prosperous golden Bangladesh as dreamt by the father of the nation by ensuring the welfare of the working people and the overall development of the country," she added.
Both the president and the premier wished all programmes undertaken on the occasion of the May Day-2024 a success.
On the occasion of the Great May Day, various organisations including the ruling party Awami League (AL) have taken elaborate programmes today.
The programmes include holding workers' rallies, processions, discussions, seminars and cultural functions.
National newspapers published special supplements marking the day.
Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar and private TV channels are broadcasting special programmes and talk shows.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has organised a discussion meeting at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center at 11am.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the event as the chief guest.
Jatiya Sramik League will organize a workers' rally in front of the central office of Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue at 3pm today.
Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader will attend it as the chief guest.

May Day: President, PM greet working people

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will address a press briefing on the outcome of her recent Thailand visit on Thursday (2 May) morning.
"The press conference will be held at her official Ganabhaban residence here at 10am on Thursday," said an official release of the prime minister's press wing.
The premier returned home from Bangkok on 29 April wrapping up her six-day official visit to Thailand.
During her visit, Sheikh Hasina had a bilateral talk with Thai Prime Minister Thavisin at the Government House (the Thai Premier's Office) as five bilateral documents were signed on visa exemption, cooperation on energy, tourism and customs matters, and negotiation of free trade agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Thailand in the presence of the two leaders.
The Bangladeshi premier also paid a courtesy call on King and the Queen of the Kingdom of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshan at Amphorn Satharn Throne Hall in Dusit Palace.
Apart from these, she addressed the 80th Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Bangkok.

PM to brief media on Thailand visit tomorrow morning

AFP/BSS

Myanmar's junta has suspended the issuing of permits for men to work abroad, it said, weeks after it introduced a military conscription law that led to thousands trying to leave the country.
The labour ministry had "temporarily suspended" accepting applications from men who wish to work abroad, the ministry said in a statement posted by the junta's information team late Thursday.
The measure was in order to "take more time to verify departure processes and according to other issues," it said, without giving details.
The Southeast Asian nation has been in turmoil since the military seized power in 2021, sparking massive armed opposition it has failed to crush.
In February, it said it would enforce a law allowing it to call up all men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 to serve in the military for at least two years.

Myanmar junta bans men from applying to work abroad

Japan and India are struggling economically because they are "xenophobic," US President Joe Biden told a campaign event, lumping the American allies in with rivals China and Russia as countries rejecting immigrants.
"Why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan in trouble? Why is Russia in trouble? And India? Because they're xenophobic. They don't want immigrants," Biden said on Wednesday, with a transcript not made public until Thursday.
The 81-year-old Democrat, who is seeking reelection against Republican rival Donald Trump in the November presidential vote, made the remarks at a campaign fundraising event in Washington marking the start of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month.
Such events are neither filmed nor recorded, but a small number of journalists attend and provide a written account.
"One of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants," the president said.
While China and Russia are considered US rivals, Biden's remarks on Japan and India came as a surprise.
Since taking office in 2021, Biden has made a point of strengthening ties with US allies in Asia, in particular with New Delhi and Tokyo.
He has hosted state dinners -- a rare high-level diplomatic gesture -- for both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
The White House sought to downplay the president's remarks on Thursday.
"The broader point the president was making, and I think people all around the world recognize this, is that the United States is a nation of immigrants, and it's in our DNA," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
"Our allies know very well how much the president respects them, values their friendship, values their contributions," he added.

Biden calls ally Japan 'xenophobic' along with India, China

Turkey said Thursday it was suspending all trade with Israel until it allows aid to enter Gaza unhindered during its offensive against Hamas in the territory.
"Exports and imports to and from Israel have been suspended," the trade ministry said in a statement, adding: "Turkey will apply these new measures... until the Israeli government authorises an uninterrupted flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza."
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz had earlier on Thursday accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of breaking agreements between the two countries by blocking Israeli exports and imports.
The move is the latest incident degrading relations after Turkey, one of the few Muslim-majority nations to recognise Israel, restricted exports to the country in April.
The Gaza Strip is suffering a humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's war against Hamas that has been raging since 7 October, with the United Nations and aid agencies warning of impending famine.
The war started with Hamas's unprecedented 7 October attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
Israel estimates that 129 captives seized by Hamas during their attack remain in Gaza. The military says 34 of them are dead.
Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 34,596 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

Turkey says suspending all trade with Israel

AP/UNB

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida unveiled an international framework for regulation and use of generative AI on Thursday, adding to global efforts on governance for the rapidly advancing technology.
Kishida made the announcement in a speech at the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
&ldquo;Generative AI has the potential to be a vital tool to further enrich the world,&rdquo; Kishida said. But &ldquo;we must also confront the dark side of AI, such as the risk of disinformation."
When Japan chaired the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations last year, it launched a Hiroshima AI process to draw up international guiding principles and a code of conduct for AI developers.
Some 49 countries and regions have signed up to the voluntary framework, called the Hiroshima AI Process Friends Group, Kishida said, without naming any. They will work on implementing principles and code of conduct to address the risks of generative AI and &ldquo;promote cooperation to ensure that people all over the world can benefit from the use of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI,&rdquo; he said.
The European Union, the United States, China and many other nations have been racing to draw up regulations and oversight for AI, while global bodies such as the United Nations have been grappling with how to supervise it.

Japan's Kishida unveils framework for global regulation of generative AI

Reuters

Earthquake warning smartphone apps have surged in popularity in Taiwan due to high demand from people eager to get a few extra seconds to take cover after more than 1,300 aftershocks rattled the island in the past month following a large temblor.
Taiwan's east coast was struck by a 7.2 magnitude quake on April 3, killing 17 people.
The frequent aftershocks since then - including more than 200 tremors in a 24-hour period starting April 22 - have unnerved many.
While the government has an automated quake warning system, sent in the form of an text message accompanied by a loud alert sound meant to sound a few seconds before the shaking starts, it can be patchy. In the capital Taipei it did not sound before the April 3 quake, prompting criticism of the system.
That, along with the rising demand to stay more informed about forthcoming earthquakes, have helped a surge in popularity in privately-developed quake warning apps.
"What we offer is customised earthquake early warning. You get to set your own threshold," said Kuo Chen-yu, the 20-year-old co-founder of Disaster Prevention Information Platform, whose users jumped to nearly 370,000 from around 3,000 in recent weeks.
Lin Ruei, another co-founder of the app launched in 2022, said their app tracks fast-moving seismic waves from more than 130 seismic sensors the team installed across the island to give users early warnings. For instance, he said, the app could give users in more populated western Taiwan up to 30 seconds warning for a quake from the remote eastern coast.
"Some people might feel quite panic with just an earthquake of intensity 2, then they can download our app," said Lin, a 17-year-old student.
"If you get a 10-second early warning and you move to a secure spot, maybe it would be a life-saving tool for you."
The official, government-run warning system only goes to phone users in areas where major earthquakes with estimated intensity of 4 or above are expected, which authorities say are powerful enough to move some furniture, cause wall cracks or disrupt power or water supplies.
Wu Chien-fu, Director of the Central Weather Administration's Seismological Center, told Reuters they encourage development of alternative tools which provide innovative means for disaster response, adding authorities were aware of calls to lower thresholds for official alerts, a system designed for bigger tremors that are more likely to bring damage.
"We will consider whether to issue warnings to the whole of Taiwan for big earthquakes," Wu said.
Still, many are drawn to the privately-developed apps extra functionalities, such as automatic flashlight switch-on before the shaking starts, a countdown timer, or alerts for smaller quakes that did not trigger the government warnings - a reassurance for those who wish to stay more alerted for the frequent tremors.
"The 30-second countdown gave me enough time to mentally prepare myself, grab my survival kit, and dash to my child's room," one user wrote in the review of Taiwan Earthquake Quick Alert, currently one of the most-downloaded apps for iPhones in Taiwan which issues a countdown to the first shock waves.

Quake warning app demand surges in earthquake-rattled Taiwan

Russian military personnel have entered an air base in Niger that is hosting US troops, a senior US defence official told Reuters, a move that follows a decision by Niger's junta to expel US forces from the country.
The military officers ruling the West African nation have told the US to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country, which until a coup last year had been a key partner for Washington's fight against insurgents who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions more.
A senior US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russian forces were not mingling with US troops but were using a separate hanger at Airbase 101, which is next to Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger's capital.
The move by Russia's military puts US and Russian troops in close proximity at a time when the nations' military and diplomatic rivalry is increasingly acrimonious over the conflict in Ukraine.
It also raises questions about the fate of US installations in the country following a withdrawal.
"(The situation) is not great but in the short-term manageable," the official said.
The Nigerien and Russian embassies in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The US and its allies have been forced to move troops out of a number of African countries following coups that brought to power groups eager to distance themselves from Western governments. In addition to the impending departure from Niger, US troops have also left Chad in recent days, while French forces have been kicked out of Mali and Burkina Faso.
At the same time, Russia is seeking to strengthen relations with African nations, pitching Moscow as a friendly country with no colonial baggage in the continent.
Mali, for example, has in recent years become one of Russia's closest African allies, with the Wagner Group mercenary force deploying there to fight jihadist insurgents.
Russia has described relations with the United States as "below zero" because of US military and financial aid for Ukraine in the war now approaching the end of its second year.
The US official said Nigerien authorities had told President Joe Biden's administration that about 60 Russian military personnel would be in Niger, but the official could not verify that number.
After the coup, the US military moved some of its forces in Niger from Airbase 101 to Airbase 201 in the city of Agadez. It was not immediately clear what US military equipment remained at Airbase 101.
The United States built Airbase 201 in central Niger at a cost of more than $100 million. Since 2018 it has been used to target Islamic State and al Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) fighters with armed drones.
Washington is concerned about Islamic militants in the Sahel region, who may be able to expand without the presence of US forces and intelligence capabilities.
Niger's move to ask for the removal of US troops came after a meeting in Niamey in mid-March, when senior US officials raised concerns including the expected arrival of Russia forces and reports of Iran seeking raw materials in the country, including uranium.
While the US message to Nigerien officials was not an ultimatum, the official said, it was made clear US forces could not be on a base with Russian forces.
"They did not take that well," the official said.
A two-star US general has been sent to Niger to try and arrange a professional and responsible withdrawal.
While no decisions have been taken on the future of US troops in Niger, the official said the plan was for them to return to US Africa Command's home bases, located in Germany.

Russian troops enter base housing US military in Niger, US official says

Shamsunnahar Seba

With the world yet to be civilized enough to see a girl as a human being akin to a man, &ldquo;Laapataa ladies&rdquo; played the role of a wake-up call, alerting those oblivious to the struggles of girls living in the lowest echelons of our multi-layered society.
Just as the life of Jaya, who was barred from pursuing her dreams despite showing potential, sheds light on the struggles of Afghan girls who are prevented from continuing their studies after completing their academic year in schools.
Meanwhile, Phool, one of the two brides who were swapped, leading to the exposure of the flaws of patriarchal society that sets norms to handicap women for its survival, represents those who are unaware of their rights.
She was content with society until she had to face the world alone. Phool found herself unable to take a single step without the support of others, making her realize the hypocrisy of the paternalistic patriarchal society.
It showcases the independent nature of women through the portrayal of Manju Maai, who embodies strength and humanity simultaneously.
Apart from depicting the harsh reality, the movie possesses every element to captivate an audience. Especially, the love story of Deepak and Phool touches the hearts of the audience and provides satisfaction with their reconciliation. The joyful moments of people with limited or no access to entertainment uphold the notion that wealth or fame has nothing to do with happiness. It can be attained anywhere through the right approach to life.
Additionally, the flawless cinematography lends the movie a semblance of reality. Director Kiran Rao did not compromise on the length, cast, or timing required to film the perfect version of the movie.
Kiran Rao, the ex-wife of Bollywood actor Amir Khan, has already garnered acclaim both domestically and internationally for this outstanding movie. I believe the movie will surely endure beyond its time, much like the struggle of women.

Laapataa Ladies: Heart wrenching yet wonderful

Palestinians may be gratified to see American university campuses erupt in outrage over Israel's offensive in Gaza, but some in the embattled enclave are also wondering why no similar protests have hit the Arab countries they long viewed as allies.
Demonstrations have rocked US universities this week, with confrontations between students, counter protesters and police, but while there have been some protests in Arab states, they have not been nearly as large or as vociferous.&nbsp;
"We follow the protests on social media every day with admiration but also with sadness. We are sad that those protests are not happening also in Arab and Muslim countries," said Ahmed Rezik, 44, a father of five sheltering in Rafah in Gaza's south.&nbsp;
"Thank you students in solidarity with Gaza. Your message has reached us. Thank you students of Columbia. Thank you students," was scrawled across a tent in Rafah, where more than a million people are sheltering from Israel's offensive.&nbsp;
Reasons for the comparative quiet on Arab campuses and streets may range from a fear of angering autocratic governments to political differences with Hamas and its Iranian backers or doubts that any protests could impact state policy.&nbsp;
American students at elite universities may face arrest or expulsion from their schools, but harsher consequences could await Arab citizens protesting without state authorisation.
And US students may feel more motivation to protest as their own government backs and arms Israel, while even those Arab countries that have full diplomatic relations with it have been strongly critical of its military campaign.&nbsp;
When asked about the conflict, Arabs from Morocco to Iraq have consistently voiced fury at Israel's actions and solidarity with Gaza's embattled inhabitants, leading to muted Ramadan celebrations across the region last month.&nbsp;
Some rallies to support Palestinians have erupted, notably in Yemen where the Houthis have joined the conflict with strikes on shipping in the Red Sea.&nbsp;
And Arabs around the region have also shown their horror at the war and support for their fellow Arabs in Gaza on social media, even if they have not taken to the streets.&nbsp;
But whatever the reason for the lack of public protests, some people in Gaza are now drawing unfavourable comparisons between the tumult in the United States and the public reaction they can see in other Arab countries.&nbsp;
"I ask Arab students to do what the Americans have done. They should have done more for us than the Americans," said Suha al-Kafarna, displaced by the war from home in northern Gaza.&nbsp;
PUBLIC OPINION
In Egypt, which made peace with Israel in 1979 and where President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has largely outlawed public protests, the authorities fear that demonstrations against Israel could later turn against the government in Cairo.&nbsp;
At state-sanctioned protests over the war in October, some demonstrators veered off the agreed route and started chanted anti-government slogans, prompting arrests.&nbsp;
"One cannot see the lack of large public protests against the war and the muted reaction on the Egyptian street in isolation from a broader context of crackdown on all forms of public protest and assembly," said Hossam Bahgat, head of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.&nbsp;
At the American University in Cairo security forces are less likely to intervene on campus and there have been some protests. But a student activist there who requested anonymity said they could still face consequences for demonstrating.&nbsp;
"Being arrested here is nothing like being arrested in the US It's completely different," he said, adding that there was "the factor of fear" preventing many from taking to the streets.&nbsp;
In Lebanon, where success in studies has become even more personally important to many young people after years of political and economic crises that have shrunk their shot at future prosperity, that calculation is even tougher.&nbsp;
Several students Reuters approached at campus protests in Beirut declined to be interviewed, saying they feared repercussions from university authorities.&nbsp;
The complex histories of Lebanon and other Arab states such as Jordan that host many Palestinian refugees also play into the question of public protests.&nbsp;
In Lebanon, some people blame Palestinians for triggering the 1975-90 civil war. Others fear any overt displays of support for Palestinians might be hijacked by the Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has been trading fire with Israel since the start of the Gaza conflict.&nbsp;
"The Arab world is not reacting like Columbia or Brown (US universities) because they don't have the luxury to do so," said Makram Rabah, a history professor at the American University of Beirut.&nbsp;
Besides, he added, with public opinion already largely backing the Palestinian cause it was not clear what protests there would achieve.&nbsp;
"The dynamics of power and the way you change public perception are just different in the Arab world compared to the US," he said.

Why Palestinians can count on American students but not Arab allies to protest

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto made it clear that his side won't make any experiment in the five-match series against Zimbabwe, despite taking it as the preparation platform for the T20 World Cup.
Considered as the third biggest cricket extravaganza, the T20 World Cup will be held in West Indies and USA from June 1-29. Apart from these five matches, Bangladesh will play three more T20 Internationals against hosts USA later this month.
Bangladesh are keen to sort out their shortcomings and other technical issues in these eight matches before the World Cup.
"World Cup is knocking at the door, so the series is a preparation platform for us. What matters is that how we would prepare ourselves and how we can gain the confidence," Shanto said in Chattogram today.
"While the World Cup preparation will be in our mind, at the same time, we want to win the series and that's our first goal. Normally when a preparation goes on, teams make experiment but I think there is no need to make any experiment because the 15 players who were included in this team, are capable enough to beat this Zimbabwe. I think the series will give us the insights about our shortcomings and where to focus to rectify our mistakes."
The selectors rested Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman for the first three matches. Shanto said when these two players will be included, the World Cup squad will be complete. According to him, there is hardly any chance that the squad will be changed, sans injury and other issues.
"The team that was given for this series, is originally the World Cup squad. Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman will be added later and may be one or two changes may come but I think it's the original squad barring injury and other issues," he said, adding that Saifuddin's inclusion after 18 months will bolster Bangladesh's lower order.
"A key component is T20 cricket is how the lower order fires. Our lower order batters -- Taskin, Shoriful, Rishad can bat well and when Saifuddin will be added, it will be a good lower order."
Shanto further said, lower order strength doesn't necessarily give every player the freedom to bat at his will.
"The thing is that everyone has a role in the team and he should play it well," he said. "The lower order's strength won't give you the license to come hard at the bowlers at will. Yes there is freedom to play the shots without any reservation but at the same time, there will be specific role for everyone. A boundary or over boundary from lower order always helps. So it's a good sign that our lower order can play shots."

Our first target is to win series against Zimbabwe: Shanto

India's Kerala state has closed all schools and colleges until Monday due to scorching temperatures, urging people in the coastal region to limit exposure to the sun and take care to prevent wildfires.
With most parts of India reeling from high temperatures, the weather department has forecast an unusually high number of heatwave days for April to June, as the country stages a general election that has seen a low voter turnout.
Heatwaves are rare in Kerala and data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) shows that the state recorded five heatwave days in April.
Referring to the current El Nino weather pattern, the IMD said on Wednesday that El Nino years typically have more heating, with hot and dry weather in Asia and heavier rains in parts of the Americas.
Fewer thunderstorms and an anti-cyclonic circulation near India's southeastern coast were causing heatwaves, the IMD said.
Kerala's state government on Thursday directed people to minimize exposure to the sun and urged authorities to monitor situations to avoid fires. With several districts issuing heatwave warnings, the government asked all educational institutions to be shut till Monday.
Heatwaves have forced school closures in parts of Asia and North Africa too, widening learning gaps between developing nations in the tropics and developed countries, experts told Reuters.
Local media reported that at least two people died earlier this week in Kerala, but authorities are yet to confirm if their death was due to extreme heat.
On Thursday, temperature in state capital Thiruvananthapuram touched 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) but the IMD said it felt like 46 (115) due to high humidity.
Soaring temperatures and dry spells have caused frequent forest fires in other parts of India, and the blazes have been worsened by people burning the forest to collect a flower used to brew alcohol in Odisha state.
&nbsp;

India's Kerala shuts schools, colleges amid sweltering heat

Special Correspondent

Forced mergers will not save poorly performing banks, said Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, veteran economist and former governor of Bangladesh Bank.
&ldquo;Mergers should be ensured through discussion among parties instead of enforcing force,&rdquo; he said while presenting a keynote at an event titled &ldquo;Conversation with ERF members&rdquo; arranged by the Economic Reporters&rsquo; Forum (ERF) in Dhaka on Thursday (2 May).
ERF General Secretary Abul Kashem moderated the event while ERF President Mohammad Refayet Ullah Mirdha chaired it.
&ldquo;The number of banks in Bangladesh has not exceeded the limit. But the pattern of loan disbursement is a major problem,&rdquo; he added.
Dr Mohammed Farashuddin said a bank branch in Bangladesh serves 15,000 people, while the number is around 12,000 in India and Pakistan.&nbsp;
&ldquo;So, there can be more bank branches in proportion to population but the distribution of deposits and loans should be balanced,&rdquo; he added.
For example, he said that many banks disbursed around 80% of their loans from the branch in Motijheel and the remaining 20% through the remaining branches across the country.
Highlighting the country&rsquo;s present economic condition, he said, &ldquo;Bangladesh is one of the many countries in the world that are maintaining the continuity of GDP growth for the last couple of decades. The economy of 16 countries was stable during the Covid-19 crisis and Bangladesh is one among these countries.&rdquo;
Bangladesh has been maintaining geopolitical balance, the former central bank governor said.
However, the economist has expressed concern over the rising and persistent inflation.
&ldquo;Bangladesh failed to reduce inflation while most economies all over the world have succeeded in taming commodity price hikes,&rdquo; he said, urging for coordination among fiscal and monetary measures and also effective market monitoring to reduce the price of the essential commodities.
Dr Farasuddin said, &ldquo;Ministers are saying that people are doing well even after inflation of 9.7%. &nbsp;That is unrealistic. Salaries for certain groups of people may have gone up a little but the majority is not better off due to this inflation.&rdquo;
He also said the central bank should have stronger rules from the Ministry of Finance for transparency in the financial sector.
&ldquo;The former finance minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith announced the formation of the banking reform commission, but it was not done. This commission needs to be formed and active,&rdquo; he added.
Dr Farasuddin also said that there is no need for a reform commission if there is a strong central bank and an efficient finance ministry.
Expressing concern over the recent rise in inequality in the country, the former central bank governor said, &ldquo;When a capitalist economy grows, the kindness of people decreases.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Maybe that's what's happening now. That is why the inequality has increased,&rdquo; he added.

Forced mergers won’t save troubled banks: Farashuddin

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), India's largest private port operator, posted a 76% rise in its fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, helped by record cargo volumes.
The company, which is part of billionaire Gautam Adani's conglomerate, said its consolidated net profit rose to 20.40 billion rupees ($244.6 million) in the quarter ended March 31, from 11.58 billion rupees a year earlier.
Adani Ports achieved its highest ever quarterly volumes at 109 million metric tonnes (MMT) in the January-March period, helping revenue rise by 19% to 68.97 billion rupees as business activities picked up pace in the early months of 2024.
APSEZ operates 13 ports and terminals in India, including the country's largest container handling port in Mundra in the western state of Gujarat.
The Adani group company last month said more than a fourth of India's cargo volumes was routed through its ports in FY24, while flagging a growing share of cargo volumes for its non-Mundra ports.
APSEZ handled 420 MMT cargo in FY24, surpassing its guidance of 370 MMT-390 MMT.
In March, the company said it would acquire 95% of Odisha's Gopalpur Port for $162 million to expand its east-coast presence.
Shares of APSEZ were up 1.5% after the company reported its results. So far this year, the stock has risen about 31%, outperforming a 4.5% gain in the blue-chip Nifty 50 index (.NSEI).
($1 = 83.3970 Indian rupees)

India's Adani Ports Q4 profit soars 76% on record cargo volumes

The death toll from the collapse of an expressway section in China's Guangdong province that caused vehicles to tumble down a slope has risen to 48, with rescue work hampered by mudslides, state media reported on Thursday.
The road collapsed in the wee hours of Wednesday, the first day of the five-day May Day holiday break as millions in the country travel.
The collapse, triggered by heavy rain, occurred at around 2:10 a.m. on the Meizhou-Dabu Expressway, Xinhua news agency reported, adding that 17.9 meters (58.7 feet) of the road gave way and caused 23 vehicles to plunge. Another 30 people sustained injuries, it said.
Meizhou is one of the areas in southern China's Guangdong that has been badly hit by heavy rain and hail since late April which set off dangerous mudslides, inundated homes and destroyed bridges.
Meizhou officials told a press conference on Thursday livestreamed on state broadcaster CCTV that 577 relief personnel and more than 80 rescue vehicles and equipment had been dispatched to the site but rescue work proved difficult as some vehicles were buried deep in the mud after their fall.
Video from state media showed a twisted metal guardrail and a big hole in the path of the forested green area where the collapse happened. Rescue personnel with cranes and excavators as well as a few damaged cars could also be seen.
Some vehicles fell and caught fire, according to social media accounts in China. A driver of a vehicle said in a video posted on Weibo he saw a crack in the road in front of him and mistook it for a puddle, but sped off before the road collapsed.
President Xi Jinping called for the utmost efforts to save lives and eliminate danger as rainy weather continued in the region, according to a Xinhua report.
Task forces from the central and local governments have been dispatched for the rescue work, the report added.
&nbsp;

Road collapse in southern China kills 48, state media reports

Rajshahi University (RU) has attained its place among 500 top universities in Asia.
Times Higher Education (THE), a periodical related to education based in the United Kingdom (UK), has recently published a ranking list of 2024 showing RU's place among 401-500.
In the list, 21 universities in Bangladesh including RU have come, said a press release issued by RU Public Relation Office here today.
The ranking list has been made based on some indicators, including education standard, teachers-students ratio, research standard and citation rate and international students. &nbsp;
Published in THE's website on April 30 the list showed RU, Dhaka University and Brac University grabbed the third position jointly among Bangladesh's universities.
The release added that RU Vice-chancellor (VC) Professor Golam Sabbir Sattar has joined a conference on 'Going Global Asia Pacific' held in Singapore in November 2022 and talked with the THE education and research officials about planning towards taking the RU to world standard through development.&nbsp;
Subsequently, the VC has adopted all sorts of time-fitting steps and implemented those efficiently.

RU among 500 top universities in Asia

UNB/AP

Over 1,000 pro-Palestinian protesters have been arrested in recent days according to US media reports, as the anti-war demonstrations at over 20 American universities continued on Tuesday.
Some schools including Columbia University, where the protests initially erupted, have seen a further intensification of the protests, while on some other campuses, the situation appears to be cooling down.
Early Tuesday, dozens of protesters at Columbia University's Manhattan campus moved furniture and metal barricades to block the entrance of Hamilton Hall, one of several buildings occupied by students during the 1968 civil rights and anti-Vietnam War protests.
Protesters formed a human chain in front of the building and said that they would only leave unless the school meets their demands, which include the university's divestment from Israeli-related companies, disclosure of all financial assets, and amnesty for students and faculty disciplined in the protests.
In a statement Tuesday, a Columbia spokesperson said that "students occupying the building face expulsion."
The university spokesperson stated that the protesters were offered an opportunity to depart peacefully and complete the semester. However, those who does not comply with the conditions outlined since Monday should face suspension.
"Protesters have chosen to escalate to an untenable situation -- vandalizing property, breaking doors and windows, and blockading entrances -- and we are following through with the consequences we outlined yesterday," the spokesperson said.
On Tuesday night, New York police entered Columbia University campus and started to make arrests after pro-Palestinian protesters refused to leave.
In light of the escalation, the White House expressed disapproval of the actions taken by the protesters at Columbia University.
"The president believes that forcibly taking over a building on campus is absolutely the wrong approach, that is not an example of peaceful protests," White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told reporters. "Taking over a building by force is unacceptable."
"A small percentage of students shouldn't be able to disrupt the academic experience, the legitimate study, for the rest of the student body," Kirby said.
At a demonstration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earlier Tuesday, police entered the protest camp and arrested about 30 people.
Later in the day, protesters returned to the site and replaced the American flag in the center of the campus with a Palestinian flag. They linked arms and formed a circle around the flagpole, and could be heard chanting "Intifada" and "Free Palestine," according to the school newspaper. Law enforcement officers later switched back to the American flag.
In the northwestern state of Oregon, protesters occupied a library at Portland State University overnight. On Tuesday, the university urged protesters to leave the library and asked the police for help.
Clashes between police and protesters turned violent in some cases. Police used riot gear and pepper spray to break up a protest at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond late Monday after protesters threw objects at officers and used chemical spray, officials said. Thirteen people, including six students, have been charged with unlawful assembly and trespassing.
Since protests broke out at Columbia University on April 18, more than 1,000 protesters have been arrested on over 20 U.S. college campuses in recent days, the New York Times reported.
While tensions have increased on some campuses, they appear to be cooling on others.
On Tuesday, police managed to end an eight-day occupation of the administration building at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. Protest camps at Yale University and the University of Pittsburgh also appeared to have been emptied.
Northwestern University announced an agreement with protesters late Monday, saying it would re-establish an Investment Responsibility Advisory Committee in the fall with participation of student, faculty and staff representatives.
The agreement calls for the removal of tents set up by protesters and in exchange, the school allows students to demonstrate peacefully on the grass until the end of the semester on June 1.
The multi-day wave of campus anti-war protests is a manifestation of young Americans' discontent with how the Biden administration is managing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A recent CNN poll found that 71 percent of American adults surveyed were dissatisfied with the Biden administration's handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Among those under 35, 81 percent were dissatisfied.

Over 1,000 arrested so far in protests on US college campuses nationwide

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has renewed the Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) license of Fiber@Home Limited.
BTRC Chairman Engineer Mohiuddin Ahmed handed over the renewed license to Fiber@Home Limited on Thursday (2 May).&nbsp;
Fiber@Home Limited &nbsp;Managing Director Brigadier General Md Rafiqul accepted the renewed license on behalf of the company.
The commission has already granted NTTN license to six companies including three government and three private companies.
Fiber@Home Limited was the first among the private companies to get a license from BTRC for 15 years on 7 January, 2009.
The company's license was valid till 6 January this year.&nbsp;
Later, given the application for renewal on 12 November 2023, its NTTN license was renewed for the next 15 years &ndash; effective from 7 January this year.

BTRC renews Fiber@Home’s transmission license for 15 years

A lower turnout so far in India&rsquo;s long general election has rattled Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s campaign managers, raising into question whether his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies can achieve the landslide victory predicted by opinion polls just one month ago.
The lack of momentum has been partly blamed on apathy among party workers believing victory is assured and seems to have prompted Modi to change tack in his campaign speeches to try to fire up the Hindu majority, the party&rsquo;s support base, and get them out to voting stations, political analysts said.
The last major opinion poll had predicted that the BJP and its allies could win three-fourths of parliament's 543 seats at stake on the back of Modi's popularity, strong economic growth, handouts and the inauguration of a Hindu temple on a contested site in the Hindu majority country.
At the last election in 2019, the BJP won 303 seats and its allies won around 50 seats. Its slogan before this year's election began was "Ab ki baar, 400 paar" or "This time, above 400".
More than half a dozen BJP leaders and political analysts that Reuters spoke to said a lack of momentum in the two initial phases of the seven-phase election have dampened hopes of a huge majority for the party, although they said it was still likely to retain power in the world's most populous nation.
What could be affected is the BJP's aim to get a two-thirds majority in the chamber, or 362 seats, which would let the party usher in far-reaching constitutional changes.
"The fall in polling turnout is mainly due to apathy among party workers and voters," said Sanjay Sharma, one of the members of the BJP's campaign committee in the northern state of Haryana.
Some candidates were being affected by an anti-incumbency wave, he said, adding the party was facing a "tough fight" in the state where it won all ten parliamentary seats in 2019.
Modi himself has shifted in his campaign speeches from a focus on the administration's successes in his 10-year tenure to targeting minority Muslims and the opposition Congress party.
"After the first phase, we saw a definite change of strategy by the PM...delivering Islamophobic kind of speeches," said Arati Jerath, a Delhi-based political commentator.
"Obviously, he has now decided to polarise the campaign."
A total of 190 seats went to the polls on April 19 and 27 with approximate voter turnout at about 66%, the Election Commission has said. The number was only slightly lower than the last election in 2019, although there was a drop of 5-8 percentage points in voting in the BJP and allied-ruled states Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.
The BJP had been hoping for a high turnout, believing that would signal that its supporters had voted in force.
Polling ends on June 1 and votes will be counted on June 4. The government bans the publication of exit polls until all voting is concluded.
'BELOW EXPECTATIONS' Gopal Krishna Agarwal, BJP's national spokesman, said the voting numbers were "below expectations" but would not have much impact on the final results.
"Many voters have become lethargic as they are convinced about the victory of the party," he said.
The BJP's shift in tack may have backfired with some voters.
"We have lost interest because the BJP is seeking votes by communalising the campaign, and not on its performance," said Vikash Kumar, a voter in Rajnandgaon in the state of Chhattisgarh.
Kamal Abbas, a Muslim shopkeeper in the city of Lucknow, the capital of politically vital Uttar Pradesh state, reflected the sense of apathy. He said he would not waste time and money to travel to his hometown Prayagraj to vote as Modi's party was set to win the election.
"Minority votes do not stand anywhere in the majoritarian government... there is no point in wasting time," he said.
Anirudh Singh, one of the district campaign managers of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, said the party would have reaped rich electoral dividends if the election was held during February-March, when fervour over the construction of the Ram Temple was at its peak.
"The party has failed to encash public support for Modi after the inauguration of the temple," said Singh, noting that the religious feel-good mood had by and large been replaced by issues like jobs and inflation.
"So far there's neither a communal wave, nor a Ram wave, nor a Modi wave in the election,&rdquo; said Jerath, the political commentator, noting Modi would have to re-invigorate his party workers and supporters if he hoped for a sweep.
After being battered by Modi in the two last general elections, opposition parties are hopeful of a better performance.
The shift in the language and style of Modi's campaign reflected a sense of nervousness, said Jairam Ramesh, a Congress party general secretary.
"The initial voting trends show there is no Modi wave. In states where we were wiped out in 2019, this time the trends are encouraging," he said.
Gilles Verniers, a political analyst who teaches at Amherst College in Massachusetts, said the BJP appeared to have revised its expectations and was feeling a bit rattled at the moment.
"But it's still a very long campaign. There's still room for events and surprises that may alter the course of the election," he said.
"The balance of probability continues to tilt in favour of the BJP, but not maybe as strongly as they would have hoped."

Low turnout, apathy in India election a worry for Modi's campaign

A senior US official on Thursday urged China and Russia to match declarations by the United States and others that only humans, and never artificial intelligence, would make decisions on deploying nuclear weapons.
State Department arms control official Paul Dean told an online briefing that Washington had made a "clear and strong commitment" that humans had total control over nuclear weapons, adding that France and Britain had done the same.
"We would welcome a similar statement by China and the Russian Federation," said Dean, principal deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence and Stability.
"We think it is an extremely important norm of responsible behaviour and we think it is something that would be very welcome in a P5 context," he said, referring to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.
Dean's remarks come as the administration of US President Joe Biden tries to deepen separate discussions with China over both nuclear weapons policy and the growth of artificial intelligence.
The Chinese defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The spread of artificial intelligence technology surfaced during sweeping talks between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on April 26.
The two sides agreed to hold their first bilateral talks on artificial intelligence in the coming weeks, Blinken said, adding that they would share views on how best to manage risks and safety surrounding the technology.
As part of normalising military communications, US and Chinese officials resumed nuclear weapons discussions in January, but formal arms control negotiations are not expected any time soon.
China, which is expanding its nuclear weapons capabilities, urged in February that the largest nuclear powers should first negotiate a no-first-use treaty between each other.

US official urges China, Russia to declare only humans, not AI, control nuclear weapons

&lsquo;Synergy Solutions and Advisory Limited&rsquo; has started its journey as a business consulting firm.
&lsquo;Synergy&rsquo; will put forth a combined effort to bridge the link between public and private sectors, reads a press release.
The firm says they will significantly contribute to both business facilitation and sustainability, which will significantly help to improve the nation&rsquo;s &lsquo;Ease of Doing Business&rsquo; index as a whole.
In line with the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s vision, &lsquo;Synergy Solutions and Advisory Limited&rsquo; is committed to facilitate Bangladesh on its path to become a developed and smart nation by 2041, the release added.
Wahid Haider, Synergy&rsquo;s Managing Director, said, &ldquo;From the experience of more than a decade and a half of working in various departments of different business organizations and multinational companies, we are today&rsquo;s &lsquo;Synergy&rsquo; and from our acquired experiences, we will move forward with the conviction of playing an instrumental role in the business world through Synergy.&rdquo;

Consulting firm Synergy begins journey

UNB/AKM Moinuddin

The number of people aged 60 and above in developing Asia and the Pacific is set to nearly double by 2050 to 1.2 billion&mdash;or about a quarter of the total population&mdash;significantly increasing the need for pension and welfare programs as well as healthcare services, said a new report on Thursday.
At the same time, economies have an opportunity to reap a &ldquo;silver dividend&rdquo; in the form of additional productivity from older people, which could boost gross domestic product in the region by 0.9% on average, said the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
&ldquo;Asia and the Pacific&rsquo;s rapid development is a success story, but it&rsquo;s also fueling a huge demographic shift, and the pressure is rising,&rdquo; said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Governments need to prepare now if they&rsquo;re going to be able to help hundreds of millions of people in the region age well. Policies should support lifetime investment in health, education, skills, and financial preparedness for retirement. Family and social ties are also important to foster healthy and productive populations of older people and maximize their contribution to society.&rdquo;
Developing Asia and the Pacific are unprepared to secure the well-being of its rapidly aging population as the growing share of older people in the region face challenges from low pension coverage to health problems, social isolation, and limited access to essential services, according to the multilateral development bank.
While longer lifespans reflect the region&rsquo;s development success, comprehensive policy reforms are urgently needed to support the welfare of older people, according to &ldquo;Aging Well in Asia: Asian Development Policy Report,&rdquo; released on Thursday by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at its 57th Annual Meeting.
According to the report, 40% of people over age 60 in Asia and the Pacific lack access to any form of pension&mdash;with women disproportionately affected, as they are more likely to do unpaid domestic work.&nbsp;
As a result, many older people in the region have no choice but to work well beyond retirement age to survive.&nbsp;
Among those still working at age 65 or older, 94% work in the informal sector, which typically doesn&rsquo;t provide basic labor protections or pension benefits.
Physical and mental health challenges also increase with age.&nbsp;
Around 60% of older people in Asia and the Pacific do not attend or receive regular health checks, while 31% report depressive symptoms owing to illness, social isolation, and economic insecurity.&nbsp;
Older women in the region are also more likely than older men to suffer from ill health, from depression to diabetes and hypertension.&nbsp;
The report recommended a wide range of policy measures to support healthy and economically secure aging.&nbsp;
Among these are government-assisted health insurance and pension plans, improved health infrastructure, and free annual check-ups and lifestyle evaluations.&nbsp;
Policy makers should aim for universal healthcare coverage, while basic labour protections should be extended to older informal workers, according to the report.
By making mandatory retirement ages more flexible, helping older people stay healthy, and providing them with suitable work opportunities as well as lifelong learning and skills development, economies in the region can help older people stay productive longer.

Despite economic success, rapidly-aging developing Asia unprepared to ensure elderly wellbeing: ADB

Touseful Islam

While filmmaking has had many geniuses, there is only one who has been a pioneer, an artist and a storyteller &ndash; all amalgamated into one, whose lens captured the soul of India with unparalleled grace - Satyajit Ray.
Born on 2 May, 1921, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Satyajit Ray was destined for greatness.&nbsp;
His lineage steeped in the arts&mdash;his grandfather, Upendrakishore Ray, a polymath, and his father, Sukumar Ray, a noted writer&mdash;instilled in him a deep appreciation for creativity.&nbsp;
Ray's early years were marked by an innate curiosity and artistic flair, honed further during his tenure at Shantiniketan under the tutelage of Rabindranath Tagore.
His early exposure to art, literature, and music resonated deeply within him, shaping his artistic sensibilities.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Manik Babu&rdquo; as he used to be addressed by some, initially pursued a career in graphic design, but fate had grander plans.&nbsp;
In 1950, inspired by the Italian neorealist movement, Ray embarked on his cinematic odyssey with Pather Panchali (1955) - a film that heralded the birth of modern Indian cinema.&nbsp;
A poignant portrayal of rural Bengali life, this film was a revelation.&nbsp;
Ray's masterful storytelling, imbued with profound humanism, transcended cultural boundaries.&nbsp;
His camera, a silent observer, captured the essence of life in its raw beauty and quiet struggles.
<img src="https://images.bangladeshfirst.com/resize?width=1600&amp;height=900&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=85&amp;path=mediaImages/2024-May-02_66332ec02e432_1714630336.png" alt="" width="1440" height="810">
The Apu Trilogy, chronicling the life of a young boy named Apu, cemented his position as a global auteur.&nbsp;
Each film, Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959) resonated with universal themes of childhood, loss, and the bittersweet journey of self-discovery.
Ray's repertoire encompassed a diverse spectrum.&nbsp;
He tackled social issues with films like Charulata (1964), explored the complexities of urban life in Nayak (1966), ventured into the realm of fantasy with Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1969), political commentary with Heerak Rajar Deshe (1980) and economic difficulties faced by middle-class, educated, urban youth in Pratidwandi (1970), Seemabaddha (1971) and Jana Aranya (1976).
Ray's meticulous attention to detail extended beyond the narrative. He composed the music for many of his films, weaving melodies that perfectly complemented the visual tapestry.&nbsp;
His graphic design background along with experience working at an advertisement agency abroad found expression in the iconic title cards that became a signature of his work.
Ray's cinema was a celebration of life's intricacies.&nbsp;
He portrayed human emotions with such depth that audiences worldwide found themselves drawn into the lives of his characters.&nbsp;
Attention to detail, coupled with a profound understanding of human nature, allowed him to weave narratives that were universal yet distinctly Indian.
<img src="https://images.bangladeshfirst.com/resize?width=1600&amp;height=900&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=85&amp;path=mediaImages/2024-May-02_66332eb203808_1714630322.png" alt="" width="1418" height="788">
The effortless blending of realism and lyricism in Ray's films is a testament to his genius.&nbsp;
His compositions, often infused with Tagore's music, created a symphony of sights and sounds.&nbsp;
Each frame was a canvas where life unfolded in its myriad hues&mdash;joy, sorrow, love, and longing&mdash;all captured with sublime simplicity.
Behind the camera, Ray was a visionary. He was known for his meticulousness&mdash;a perfectionist who spared no effort in pursuit of excellence.&nbsp;
Anecdotes abound of his creative process, from handcrafting props to patiently coaxing nuanced performances from non-professional actors.
The Academy Honorary Award in 1992 recognised his lifetime achievement, elevating Indian cinema onto the global stage.
Satyajit Ray's cinematic legacy is a testament to the power of art to transcend boundaries.
His films continue to inspire generations, resonating with a timeless allure.&nbsp;
In Ray, one not only finds not just a filmmaker but a bard of the human spirit - whose legacy will endure as long as the magic of storytelling persists.
Satyajit Ray was not merely a filmmaker but a cultural architect.&nbsp;

Ray Day: Remembering the Satyajit of seventh art

Solomon Islands lawmakers selected a new prime minister on Thursday, choosing foreign minister Jeremiah Manele, who has pledged to continue the Pacific Island nation's foreign policy that drew it closer to China.
Governor General Sir David Vunagi announced outside parliament house that Manele had won 31 votes, to Opposition leader Matthew Wales' 18 votes.
Police boosted security in the capital Honiara as newly elected lawmakers arrived at parliament on Thursday to vote in a secret ballot.
A national election last month saw incumbent Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's government lose half of its seats but failed to deliver a majority to any political party, and two camps lobbied to win support from independents ahead of the vote for prime minister.
The election is being closely watched by China, the US and neighbouring Australia because of the potential impact on regional security, after Sogavare struck a controversial security pact with China in 2022.
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he looked forward to working closely with Manele. "Australia and Solomon Islands are close friends and our futures are connected," he wrote on social media platform X.
Sogavare, who built close ties with Beijing during five years in power, but only narrowly held his seat last month, did not seek re-election to the top political office and his party backed Manele.
Wale's coalition of opposition parties had criticised the arrival of Chinese police in the archipelago in 2022, and favoured returning to closer ties with traditional aid donors such as Australia and accepting infrastructure aid from the United States.
Manele said outside parliament on Thursday "the people have spoken", and called for calm, noting a history of violence in Solomon Islands after elections.
"Today we show the world we are better than that - we must respect the democratic process for electing our prime minister," he said.
The economy was slowly recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and 2021 anti-government riots, and the government would soon unveil tax, forestry and minerals policies, he added.
Manele is a former diplomat who entered parliament in 2014, and travelled to China as foreign minister in 2019 to formalise Solomon Islands' switch in diplomatic ties from Taiwan to Beijing.
On Monday, Manele said he would keep the "same foreign policy basis - friends to all and enemies to none".
Lowy Institute research fellow Mihai Sora, a former Australian diplomat in the Solomon Islands, said Manele has "a strong track record of working well with all international partners", compared to Sogavare who was "a polarising figure".
Australian National University's Pacific expert Graeme Smith said Manele was capable and "a big change in style" for the Solomon Islands.
Manele's OUR party, which has pledged to build more infrastructure, won 15 seats, and gained four seats under a renewed coalition with two micro parties. It needed support from independents to reach a majority in the 50-seat parliament. A total of 49 votes were cast with one lawmaker absent.
Wale said on Wednesday that lobbying of politicians ahead of the vote was dominated by "people asking for money and positions".
The government had failed to create jobs and the economy was dominated by logging and mining companies which shipped resources to China, while health clinics were unable to obtain medications such as paracetamol, he said at a Solomon Islands National University event.

Solomon Islands picks China-friendly Manele as new prime minister

Eleven more members of the Myanmar Border Guard Police (BGP) have sought shelter in Bangladesh amid the ongoing conflict between Arakan Army insurgents and junta forces in Rakhine state.
These BGP members entered Bangladesh from Jimongkhali border and Hatimarajiri border of Teknaf on Friday (19 April), said Shariful Islam, public relations officer (PRO) of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) headquarters.&nbsp;
Earlier on 18 April, 13 members of BGP surrendered to the Bangladesh Coast Guard after crossing the border through the Naf River in Teknaf.&nbsp;
Later, they were handed over to the BGB.
On Tuesday (16 April) night, 46 BGP members from Myanmar entered Bangladesh through the Naikshyongchari border in Bandarban.
Presently, there are at least 285 members of Myanmar&rsquo;s army and BGP staying in Bangladesh.
Today (19 April), Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud announced that 285 members of BGP and Army who had taken refuge in Bangladesh will be repatriated to Myanmar via sea route on April 22.
Additionally, the foreign minister said that 150 Bangladeshi citizens detained in Myanmar will also be repatriated via ship.
At the beginning of this year, 330 BGP members and their family members entered Bangladesh amid the intense conflict between the rebels and Myanmar junta.
Later on 15 February, they were sent back through Cox's Bazar sea border.

11 more Myanmar border guard members take refuge in Bangladesh

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