Special Correspondent

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

Press Release

&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

Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC organised a discussion programme on foreign currency deposit on 30 April at Islami Bank Tower.&nbsp;
Mohammed Monirul Moula, Managing Director of the bank addressed the programme as the chief guest, reads a press release.&nbsp;
Muhammad Qaisar Ali, Additional Managing Director of the bank addressed the programme as the key discussant. Kazi Md. Rezaul Karim, Deputy Managing Director presided over the program while Miftah Uddin, Deputy Managing Director and Md. Rafiqul Islam, Senior Executive Vice President of the bank addressed the program. Md. Maksudur Rahman, Senior Executive Vice President, Mohammad Ehsanul Islam and Md. Rafiqul Islam, Senior Vice Presidents of the bank along with executives and officials of head office attended the programme.

Islami Bank arranges discussion on foreign currency deposit

Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) organised an award giving ceremony to distribute its highest honour &ldquo;IAB Gold Medal 2023, IAB Awards 2023, and IAB Interior Design Awards 2023&rdquo; on &nbsp;April 27.&nbsp;
The award ceremony was held at the grand ballroom of InterContinental Hotel in Dhaka, reads a press release.
With the presence of distinguished professional and researcher architects, the winners of &ldquo;IAB Gold Medal 2023,&rdquo; different categories of &ldquo;IAB Awards 2023&rdquo; and &ldquo;IAB Interior Design Awards 2023&rdquo; were announced and awards were handed over to the winners.
The process of the award started from October 25. No names were proposed from the IAB Gold Medal Committee 2023 for the &ldquo;IAB Gold Medal 2023.&rdquo;&nbsp;
For the 12 categories of &ldquo;IAB Awards 2023,&rdquo; the IAB fellows and members nominated 65 constructed projects (category 1-11) and 17 publications (category 12). A five-member judge panel evaluated the category 1-11 (constructed projects) whereas category 12 (publication) was evaluated by a three-member judge panel.
The &ldquo;IAB Awards 2023&rdquo; winning esteemed architects are: Mahmudul Anwar Riyaad, Mamnoon Murshed Chowdhury, Daniel Haque and Mazhar Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury were awarded in 'retail' category for their project &lsquo;PMG Gallery, Tejgaon.&rsquo; Mustafa Ameen, Md. Kaisar Hossain, Kazi Meftahul Arefin, Adnan Ferdous Haque and Mahmud Hossain were awarded in 'Hospitality &amp; Health Care' category for their project &lsquo;Sairu Hill Resort, Bandarban.&rsquo;
Md Mohataz Hossain was awarded in the 'research' category for his research titled 'Thermal comfort guidelines for production spaces within multi-storey garment factories located in Bangladesh'; Nasreen Hossain and Mahmudul Anwar Riyaad were awarded in 'publication' category for their publication titled 'Fifty Years of Architecture in Bangladesh.'
The judges selected two projects from the 'conservation and revitalization' category. Abu Sayeed M. Ahmed, Md. Sarwar Hossain, Md. Khaled Shams Khan and Md. Masrur Mamun Hossain were awarded for their project 'Conservation of Baro Sarder Bari, Sonargaon;&rsquo; Naim Ahmed Kibria, Asia Karim, Mohammad Mahmudul Islam and Md. Bapparaj Chowdhury were also awarded for the 'Meer Manzil, Mohammadpur, Dhaka' project.
Professor Dr. Khandaker Shabbir Ahmed, President, IAB, said, &ldquo;Architects are playing an invaluable role in enriching the architecture scene of Bangladesh. Their imagination and technical knowledge contribute significantly to achieving sustainable development in this sector. To inspire them, IAB has introduced the most prestigious award in Bangladesh&rsquo;s architecture arena. We are honored to be part of this journey of the talented architects while addressing the public interest of the century through future endeavors.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Nabi Newaz Khan, General Secretary, IAB, said, The IAB Architecture Awards celebrate the works of visionary architects who have pushed the boundaries of creativity and sustainability through their projects. Additionally, the IAB Interior Design Awards showcase the outstanding talent and craftsmanship of the interior designers, setting new standards of aesthetic appeal and functionality.
Budhaditya Mukherjee, Country Head, Asian Paints, said, Architects are instrumental in crafting the most exquisite and habitable environments in our communities. The IAB Awards stand as a testament to their ingenuity and innovative contribution. We are honored to be a part of this esteemed award ceremony organized by the IAB. Asian Paints remains committed to enhancing our living spaces through a fusion of advanced technology and creative vision.&rdquo;
50 years ago, IAB was formed with only a few architect members. Currently, its membership has increased to five thousand and three hundred members. IAB's highest award for architects is the IAB Gold Medal. It is awarded every two years to architects in recognition of their lifetime contribution to architecture.
Asian Paints Bangladesh Limited is the exclusive partner of this award ceremony. In recognizing the profound impact of architects on the creation of livable and aesthetically pleasing habitats, the company's involvement renews its commitment to celebrating architectural brilliance.

IAB Awards 2023 distributed among the winners

Cumilla Zone of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC organised an employee conference at Magic Paradise Park in Cumilla recently.&nbsp;
Mohammed Monirul Moula, Managing Director of the bank addressed the conference as Chief Guest, reads a press release.&nbsp;
Md Maksudur Rahman, Senior Executive Vice President presided over the conference while Muhammad Qaisar Ali, Additional Managing Director, Mohammed Shabbir, Deputy Managing Director and Abu Sayed Md Idris, Senior Executive Vice President attended as special guests.&nbsp;
Md. Manirul Islam, Head of Cumilla Zone addressed the welcome speech. AFM Anisur Rahman, Head of Noakhali Zone, Khaled Mahmud Raihan, FCCA, Senior Vice President along with executives from Head Office, Branch Incumbents, Sub-Branch In-charges and employees from all branches under Cumilla Zone of the Bank attended the conference.

Islami Bank Cumilla Zone holds employee conference

Global Islami Bank arranged &lsquo;Quarterly Business Review Meeting 2024&rsquo; at the head office virtually on April 29.&nbsp;
The main purpose of the meeting was to review the current business position of the branch and sub branches to analyze the potential opportunities for future growth as well as to achieve yearly targets, reads a press release.
Syed Habib Hasnat, Managing Director of the bank inaugurated and presided over the meeting.&nbsp;
Among others Additional Managing Director Kazi Mashiur Rahman Jayhad, Deputy Managing Director Ataus Samad, all divisional heads, branch managers and sub branch in-charges attended the conference.

Global Islami Bank's Quarterly Business Review Meeting-2024 held

BSS/AFP

Samsung Electronics said Tuesday that its first-quarter operating profits had risen nearly tenfold year-on-year -- a 931.8 percent increase -- amid recovering chip prices and growing demand.
The firm is the flagship subsidiary of South Korean giant Samsung Group, by far the largest of the family-controlled conglomerates that dominate business in Asia's fourth-largest economy.
"Operating profit increased to KRW 6.61 trillion ($4.85 billion) as the Memory Business returned to profit by addressing demand for high value-added products," it said in a statement.
Samsung said the company's strong performance came "on the back of strong sales of flagship Galaxy S24 smartphones and higher prices for memory semiconductors".
Sales were up 12.8 percent on-year to 71.9 trillion won, the company said.
The company, one of the world's largest producers of high-tech semiconductors, said the crucial area had returned to profit and grown "by addressing the demand across servers, storage, PC and mobile," it said.
This success has come thanks in part to "focusing on high-value-added products such as HBM, DDR5, server SSDs and UFS 4.0., along with the increase in ASP," it said, referring to high-tech memory chips.
"Looking ahead to the second quarter, the industry is expected to remain solid, led mainly by demand for generative AI," the company added.
The weakness of the Korean won -- down nearly seven percent against the US dollar so far this year -- "resulted in a positive impact on company-wide operating profit of about KRW 0.3 trillion compared to the previous quarter," Samsung added.
Samsung's net profit of 6.75 trillion won exceeded market expectations, which had been estimated at 4.99 trillion won, according to a survey conducted by the financial data firm Yonhap Infomax.
- Focus on AI -
South Korean chipmakers, led by Samsung, enjoyed record profits in recent years as prices for their products soared, but a global economic slowdown dealt a blow to memory chip sales.
However, the semiconductor market had been predicted to recover this year and grow 11.8 percent, according to industry monitor World Semiconductor Trade Statistics.
The news from Samsung comes after South Korea's SK Hynix -- the world's second-largest memory chip maker -- announced in January that it had returned to profit after four consecutive quarters of losses.
Samsung's "overall outlook is secured by a resurgence in the smartphone market, escalating DRAM prices, and a modest decline in FED interest rates," Brady Wang, associate director of market research firm Counterpoint, told AFP.
"Samsung is strategically positioned to thrive amidst the evolving market conditions."
But to maintain its momentum, the tech giant needs to "focus on accelerating development in emerging areas like High Bandwidth Memory, crucial for AI and high-performance computing," he said.
Semiconductors are the lifeblood of the global economy, used in everything from kitchen appliances and mobile phones to cars and weapons.
And demand for the advanced chips that power AI systems has skyrocketed thanks to the success of ChatGPT and other generative AI products.
Semiconductors are South Korea's leading export and hit $11.7 billion in March, their highest level in almost two years, accounting for a fifth of South Korea's total exports, according to figures released by the trade ministry.

Samsung says Q1 operating profits soar nearly tenfold on-year

The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI), organized its Quarterly Luncheon Meeting at its Gulshan office in Dhaka on Monday (29 April).&nbsp;
Edimon Ginting, Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for Bangladesh, graced the event as the chief guest. Kamran T. Rahman, President of MCCI, offered the welcome remarks. The event was moderated by MCCI Secretary-General and CEO, Farooq Ahmed, reads a press release.&nbsp;
Kamran T. Rahman acknowledged ADB&rsquo;s assistance in developing Bangladesh&rsquo;s climate resilience, infrastructure, social protection, job creation, and water and sanitation landscape.
He said, &ldquo;MCCI, as the preeminent trade body, holds an exclusive position to partner with ADB to cultivate a favorable business ecosystem in Bangladesh.&rdquo;
The MCCI president believed that ADB&rsquo;s expertise, combined with MCCI&rsquo;s understanding, offered a unique opportunity to address Bangladesh&rsquo;s business challenges. He believed this visit could mark the beginning of a successful partnership between ADB and MCCI.
Edimon Ginting appreciated the growing involvement of Bangladesh in the global economy and affirmed their determination to further enhance it. He believed there was potential for increased investment flows, skills development, and overall capacity building in the country. However, a good competition policy was required to bring in new investments. He also underscored the need for human resources development and economic governance in the country and added that ADB could work in those areas. Before concluding, he reiterated ADB&rsquo;s commitment to helping Bangladesh progress sustainably amid various environmental challenges.
An open discussion took place before the conclusion of the event. Topics that came up included the scope for ADB financing in Taka, ADB&rsquo;s new rule of indirect financing in Bangladesh, the need for ADB funding in the development of social security and quality standards, the scope of ADB&rsquo;s work in governance and enforcement of laws, and capacity development in Bangladesh.
The event ended with a vote of thanks from MCCI.
Among others, representatives from various member firms of MCCI and the media attended the event.

MCCI holds quarterly luncheon meeting of 2024

Despite the alarming increase in deaths related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh, the allocation in the national budget falls significantly short in combating them. To effectively curb the growing prevalence of NCDs, it is essential to secure adequate funding for this sector in the upcoming budget for FY 2024-25.&nbsp;
Such demands were made at a workshop for journalists titled 'Budgetary Allocation to Combat NCDs: Bangladesh Perspective,' held at the capital&rsquo;s BMA Bhaban on Monday (29 April), reads a press release. &nbsp;
The workshop was organized by the research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). Twenty-eight journalists working in print, television, and online media participated in the workshop.
It was informed at the workshop that NCDs, such as heart diseases, stroke, cancer, kidney diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and hypertension, are the most prevalent causes of death in Bangladesh and account for 70% of the total deaths. However, the budgetary allocation dedicated to combat NCDs is alarmingly low, comprising only 4.2 percent of the total health budget.
Dr. Md. Enamul Haque, Director General (Additional Secretary) of Health Economics Unit said, &ldquo;The World Health Organization recommends countries to allocate at least 15% of their total budget to the health sector. Considering the practical context, it has been recommended in the latest strategic investment plan of the Bangladesh government to increase the budgetary allocation in health sector to 7%. However, the health budget has remained within 5% over the past few years. In order to combat NCDs, it is necessary not only to increase the allocation, but also to enhance efficiency in terms of its expenditure.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI, said, &ldquo;Many lives can be saved and the risk of serious non-communicable diseases such as heart attacks and strokes can be reduced to a great extent by allocating necessary funding to ensure availability of anti-hypertensive medicines in community clinics alone.&rdquo;
Julhas Alam, Journalist and Managing Committee Member of National Press Club, Mortuza Haider Liton, Convenor, Anti tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA), Mizan Chowdhury, Co-convenor, ATMA, and ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA were present at the workshop as discussants. The key-note presentation was delivered by PROGGA&rsquo;s Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova.&nbsp;

70% of deaths from NCDs, increased budgetary allocation demanded: Speakers at journalists' workshop

Staff Correspondent

Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC has retained its position as the leading remittance collector, bringing in the highest amount of funds in April sent by Bangladeshi expatriates.
According to Bangladesh Bank data, the largest Shariah-compliant bank in Bangladesh received $46,500,000 within 26 days of April.
The total remittance inflow for the 26 days of April amounted to $168,097,000.
Brac Bank secured the second position with $10,562,000, followed by Social Islami Bank Limited (SIBL) with $9,193,000.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Krishi Bank and Janata Bank received $898,000 and $743,000 respectively.
During the month of March in the fiscal 2024-25, expatriate Bangladeshis sent around $1,996.85 million remittances.
Out of the total figure, the highest $491.79 million remittance came to the country through Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC.

Islami Bank remains top remittance collector

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) is keen to strengthen bilateral trade relations with France. The apex trade body of the country also seeks support from France in skill development and technology advancement.
FBCCI is also eager to collaborate with its French counterpart, MEDEF, in establishing a Joint Business Council.
During a meeting with a delegation from the Embassy of France in Dhaka on April 28, 2024, at the FBCCI Icon in Motijheel, Dhaka, FBCCI Senior Vice President Md. Amin Helaly expressed these intentions, as stated in a press release.
The delegation was led by the Head of the Economic Department of the Embassy of France in Dhaka, Julien Deur.
In his address, FBCCI Senior Vice President Md. Amin Helaly emphasized the desire to strengthen cooperation with French counterparts to facilitate increased trade through diversified export goods and skill development.
"Both Bangladesh and France share a long-standing friendship. France stands as the fifth largest export destination of Bangladesh, showing a rising trend, with major export products including ready-made garments, knitwear, leather, and leather goods," Md. Amin Helaly added.
Highlighting Bangladesh's ongoing development projects, Md. Amin Helaly mentioned the establishment of two deep seaports at Matarbari and Payra, 101 Special Economic Zones, Hi-Tech parks, tourism parks, the Rooppur Nuclear Power plant, LNG terminal, and the expansion of the railway network across the country. He invited French investors to explore the vast potential of the Bangladeshi market.
Julien Deur, Head of the Economic Department of the Embassy of France in Dhaka, praised Bangladesh's economic progress in recent years. He emphasized the significant scope for mutual benefit through bilateral trade and the importance of Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings in this regard.
Former FBCCI Director Tabarakul Tosaddek Hossain Khan (Tito), FBCCI Secretary-General Md. Alamgir, Economic Attach&eacute; of the Embassy of France in Dhaka Yann Riegel, and others were present during the meeting.

FBCCI eager to strengthen ties with France in trade and skill development

Social Islami Bank organiSed its Annual Business Conference - 2024 for its branches on April 27.
Zafar Alam, the managing director and chief executive of the bank, graced the conference as the chief guest, as stated in a press release.
The conference, chaired by Mohammad Forkanullah, Deputy Managing Director of the bank, was attended by Deputy Managing Directors Abdul Hannan Khan and Mohammad Habibur Rahman, along with regional heads, department heads, senior executives, and in-charges of 226 sub-branches across the country.
During the event, discussions were held regarding the next course of action for the sub-branches in 2024.
In his address as the chief guest, Zafar Alam expressed confidence in the bank's gradual progress towards success, which he believed would continue in 2023 as well.
He emphasized the importance of the attendees' energetic efforts in achieving the bank's profit and business growth targets for the year. He underscored the crucial role of implementing the business strategies discussed during the conference.
Alam expressed optimism that Social Islami Bank's business success would persist through the collective efforts of all stakeholders, ensuring the attainment of set targets.

Social Islami Bank branches host Annual Business Conference - 2024

Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC achieved International Finance Award-2023 in &ldquo; Most Innovative Private Commercial Bank in Bangladesh&rdquo; category conferred by UK-based International Finance Magazine.&nbsp;
Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC was awarded by the International Finance Authority at a function in Dubai recently, reads a press release.
The accolade was presented to Islami Bank for efficiency in Islamic banking, Deposit, Investment, Import, Export, Remittance, financial inclusion, new product development and overall performance.&nbsp;
The award is given on the basis of a global ranking by the International Finance Magazine which is published by International Finance Publication Limited in the UK, that researches the talent, leadership skills, financial growth and capabilities of financial institutions worldwide.

Islami Bank achieves International Finance Award

BRAC, the world's leading non-governmental development organisation, is celebrating the 88th birthday of its founder late Sir Fazle Hasan Abed on Saturday (April 27).
Fazle Hasan Abed was born on 27 April 1936, in the village of Baniachang, Habiganj. BRAC, the organisation he established, has now evolved into the world's largest non-governmental development organisation, reads a press release.
In 1962, he studied accountancy in London and became a cost management accountant. His life took a dramatic turn during the devastating cyclone of 1970 and the Liberation War of 1971 while working for a British multinational firm in Pakistan. Following the outbreak of the Liberation War, he resigned and returned to London, where he initiated the formation of two organisations, 'Action Bangladesh' and 'Help Bangladesh,' to aid the liberation effort.
In 1972, following the country's independence, he returned to Sunamganj at the age of 36 to establish BRAC. His aim was to provide relief and resettlement for the returning refugees in the remote areas of the district, as the nation faced economic turmoil. With one million refugees returning from India, urgent measures were needed. BRAC's primary objective was to empower the poor by creating employment opportunities and enhancing their skills, thereby transforming their lives.
Over the years, BRAC has expanded its reach into a diverse range of sectors, including health, education, microfinance, skills development, agriculture and food security, cottage industries, human rights, road safety, shelter, and urban development, all under its integrated development approach.
BRAC is now recognised as the number one NGO in the world, operating in 11 countries across Asia and Africa. Recognising its impact, innovation, and scalability, the Geneva-based media organisation, 'NGO Advisor,' ranked BRAC as the top NGO among the world's top 500 NGOs for the fifth consecutive year in 2020.

BRAC celebrates Sir Fazle Hasan Abed's 88th birth anniversary

Noakhali Zone of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC organised employee conference at Magic Paradise Park, Cumilla on Friday (April 26).&nbsp;
Mohammed Monirul Moula, Managing Director of the bank addressed the conference as chief guest, reads a press release.&nbsp;
Presided over by Md Maksudur Rahman, Senior Executive Vice President, the conference was attended by Muhammad Qaisar Ali, Additional Managing Director, Mohammed Shabbir, Deputy Managing Director and Abu Sayed Md Idris, Senior Executive Vice President as special guest.
AFM Anisur Rahman, Head of Noakhali Zone addressed the welcome speech.&nbsp;
Md Manirul Islam, Head of Cumilla Zone, Khaled Mahmud Raihan, Senior Vice President along with executives from Head Office, Branch Incumbents, Sub-Branch In-charges and employees from all branches under Noakhali Zone of the Bank attended the conference.

Islami Bank Noakhali Zone holds employee conference

RDRS Bangladesh, a pioneering organization in development and humanitarian efforts for over 52 years, has elected Faruque Ahmed as the new chairperson of its Board of Trustees.
The election took place during the 66th meeting of the board, and his three-year tenure is set to commence on 27 April 2024, as per a press release.
Faruque Ahmed, holding a master's degree in Economics from Dhaka University and another master's in Health Sciences from Johns Hopkins University, USA, brings extensive experience in the development sector.&nbsp;
Previously, he served as the executive director of BRAC International and worked at the World Bank office in Dhaka.
Ahmed was a board member of the vaccine alliance, GAVI, in Geneva, and contributed to various committees of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank.
Currently, Ahmed serves as a board member of the Social Marketing Company (SMC) Enterprise and actively participates in the Bangladesh Health Watch working group.
Having been a member of the RDRS Board of Trustees since March 16, 2020, Ahmed's continued commitment to the organization's mission underscores his passion for development.
RDRS believes that under Faruque Ahmed&rsquo;s leadership, the organization will be able to continue and strengthen its commitment to serving disadvantaged people across the country.

Faruque Ahmed elected as chairperson of RDRS Board of Trustees

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has expressed deep concern over the imposition of restrictions on journalists' access to the Bangladesh Bank and urged the withdrawal of the decision.
The anti-corruption organisation stated in release issued on Friday (26 April) that the decision represents an autocratic move and creates unprecedented obstacles for media professionals in fulfilling their responsibility to disclose banking and financial sector information for the public interest.
On 25 March, a delegation from the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) demanded hassle-free and unrestricted entry into the Bangladesh Bank headquarters during a meeting with BB Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder.
TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, "What message do the central bank authorities intend to convey by halting the free flow of information amidst the banking sector's turmoil, including issues like bad loans, financial frauds, and a lack of overall good governance? What are the objectives of the Bangladesh Bank in implementing this decision?"
"Is this initiative an effort to conceal information about their own failure in establishing good governance within the banking sector, which has now reached the brink of collapse? Or is it aimed at safeguarding the interests of those responsible for the crisis in this sector?&rdquo; &nbsp;TIB executive director questioned.
TIB stated that Bangladesh Bank authorities should remember that their role is to safeguard public interests, not to protect those responsible for the crisis in the banking sector.
&nbsp;

TIB urges Bangladesh Bank to withdraw entry restrictions on journalists

Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) has invited South Korean investors to invest more in Export Processing Zones (EPZs) of Bangladesh and BEPZA Economic Zone located in Mirsarai, Chattogram.
BEPZA Executive Chairman Major General Abul Kalam Md. Ziaur Rahman made this call as the Chief Guest at a seminar titled "Investment Opportunities in the Export Processing Zones and BEPZA Economic Zone of Bangladesh" held today (26 April) in Seoul, South Korea, reads a press release.&nbsp;
The Korean Community in Bangladesh, Kido Industrial Co. Ltd., and Giant BD Company Ltd. jointly organized the seminar. Ambassador of South Korea to Bangladesh Park Young Sik and Ambassador of Bangladesh to South Korea Md. Delwar Hossain attended the seminar as special guests.
About 60 participants from various South Korean investment organizations and industrial groups, who have an interest in investing in Bangladesh, attended the seminar.
In the seminar, BEPZA Executive Chairman provided a comprehensive picture of the favorable investment climate presently prevailing in Bangladesh, particularly for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).&nbsp;
He stated that Bangladesh has experienced tremendous growth over the last decade. The strategic geographical location, demographic dividend, large and expanding domestic market, stable socio-political environment, etc., are key contributors to the rapid economic development of Bangladesh.
Major General Zia mentioned that the main attraction of investment in Bangladesh is its inexpensive, productive, abundant, and easily trainable workforce.&nbsp;
He added that the minimum wage of workers in Bangladesh is the lowest in Asia.
Highlighting the incentives and facilities provided by the present government to the investors, BEPZA Executive Chairman said that Bangladesh has been consistently liberalizing its foreign investment policies over the time.&nbsp;
The Government has formulated &ldquo;One Stop Service Act&rdquo; for the Investment Promotion Agencies of Bangladesh to provide faster and better services, he added.&nbsp;
Mentioning the expansion plan of BEPZA the Executive Chairman said, along with the 8 operational EPZs, BEPZA is establishing an Economic Zone in Mirsharai, Chattogram which has already attracted 28 industries in its development stage, and few of them started production.&nbsp;
Moreover, establishment of 3 new EPZs are also under process which will be ready for the investors by the end of 2025.&nbsp;
He urged South Korean investors to come forward and explore the potentiality of investment in Bangladesh especially in these zones under BEPZA.
Mentioning the long-standing friendly relationship between Bangladesh and South Korea, Ambassador of Republic of Korea to Bangladesh Park Young Sik, highlighted Bangladesh's remarkable success story in the garment sector.&nbsp;
He informed the South Korean investors regarding investment opportunities in Bangladesh focusing its gradual progress in all sectors including infrastructure, graduation from LDC status and the nation&rsquo;s vision to build Smart Bangladesh.
Md. Delwar Hossain mentioned the various steps of the Government to create investment friendly Bangladesh and urged Korean investors to invest more in Bangladesh.
In the welcome speech, Chairman of KIDO Bangladesh Jang Hee Park, a South Korean investors of Adamjee EPZ highly appreciated the services provided by BEPZA in setting up factories at EPZ of Bangladsh.&nbsp;
He urged Korean investors to be benefitted by investing in the EPZ of Bangladesh.&nbsp;
The seminar was ended with a lively question and answer session where the BEPZA Executive Chairman along with Tanvir Hossain, Executive Director (Investment Promotion), Fazlul Haque Mazumder, Additional Executive Director (Investment Promotion), and Ali Istiak Chowdhury, Director of BEPZA answered various questions of the participants. BEPZA gets positive feedback from few investors who expressed their interest in investing in Bangladesh soon.

BEPZA seeks more South Korean investment in EPZs and BEPZA EZ

The shareholders of Robi Axiata Limited have approved a 10% cash dividend at the 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday (April 24).&nbsp;
Shareholders participated in the AGM both in-person and online, reads a press release.
In 2023, Robi earnings per share (EPS) was Tk0.61. Present at the meeting were the Chairman of Robi Axiata Limited&rsquo;s Board of Directors (BoD), Vivek Sood, the Managing Director and CEO, Rajeev Sethi, CFO, M Riyaaz Rasheed, other BoD members, and senior officials of the company. The AGM was chaired by the Company Secretary Shahed Alam.
Addressing the shareholders, Robi Axiata PLC Chairman Vivek Sood said, &ldquo;Robi had performed exceptionally well in 2023. The tremendous work that has gone into improving the quality of services is clearly evident in its performance in the first quarter of this year. Customers are finding a natural home in Robi to support their digital transformation journey. All that stands in the way is the taxation regime. Unless the tax is rationalized, we would always struggle to live up to the expectation from our valued shareholders. Apart from that, we are doing everything possible to grow our business within the scope allowed by the regulatory regime of the country. I thank all our shareholders for keeping faith in our ability to deliver the desired level of return on their precious investment.&rdquo;

Robi ‍AGM approves 10% cash dividend

The Board of Directors of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC has recommended 10% cash dividend for the shareholders for the year 2023 subject to approval of the 41st Annual General Meeting of the bank.&nbsp;
The decision was taken in a meeting of the board of directors on Wednesday (24 April) with the bank&rsquo;s Chairman Ahsanul Alam in the chair, reads a press release.
Tanveer Ahmad, Vice Chairman along with other Directors, Mohammed Monirul Moula, Managing Director &amp; CEO and JQM Habibullah, Additional Managing Director &amp; Company Secretary of the bank attended the meeting.
The meeting also decided to hold the 41st Annual General Meeting of the bank on 25 June.&nbsp;
The record date for entitlement of dividend has been fixed on 16 May.&nbsp;
The meeting also adopted unaudited financial statements for the first quarter ended on 31 March along with other issues.

Islami Bank declares 10% cash dividend

An Organization for Socio-Economic Development (AOSED) convened a meeting to establish a Multi-Actor Platform (MAP) aimed at amplifying awareness of the urgent needs of local communities, particularly marginalized groups and women, in the face of climate change-induced risks.
Through collaborative efforts, the MAP seeks to devise innovative financial and insurance mechanisms tailored to local contexts, while also facilitating the assessment of financial losses and advocating for equitable compensation, reads a press release.
AOSED, in collaboration with CARE Bangladesh, organized the meeting in Khulna on Wednesday (24 April).
The meeting was moderated by the Head of the Environmental Science Discipline at Khulna University, Prof. Dr. Mujibor Rahman. The Chief Scientific Officer of the Soil Resource Development Institute, GM Mostafizur Rahman, was the chief guest during the occasion.
Under the stewardship of AOSED Executive Director, Shamim Arfeen, the meeting convened a consortium of elected officials, professionals, civil society leaders, journalists, and development workers.
In the meeting, speakers underscored the urgency of collaborative action, emphasizing the need for evidence-based advocacy at the policymaking level to ensure equitable compensation for climate-induced damages.&nbsp;
Discussions also revolved around the integration of environmental considerations into development planning and the adoption of sustainable, eco-friendly initiatives.
Reflecting the consensus reached during the meeting, Dr. Mujibur Rahman was appointed as the convener of the Sub-national MAP committee comprising esteemed members.&nbsp;
SM Ferdous was designated as the member secretary, charged with operationalizing the committee's objectives. Based on the suggestion of the attendees of the meeting, the sub-national committee was named the &lsquo;Climate Justice Forum&rsquo;.
The meeting concluded with a resounding call to action, urging concerted efforts to integrate environmental considerations into development agendas and ensure that vulnerable populations receive adequate support in the face of climate-induced disasters.&nbsp;

AOSED convenes meeting to establish Multi-Actor Platform

Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC. has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth under strong leadership, achieving a significant increase in sales and profit.&nbsp;
In the first 9 months of the current financial year (2023-2024), the company's profit surged by Tk 512.42 crore, marking a 205 percent growth compared to the previous year. This growth was reflected across major financial indicators, including Operating Profit Margin, Earnings Per Share (EPS), and Net Asset Value Per Share (NAVPS).
The company's Third Quarter (Q3) Un-audited Financial Statements for the period ended March 31, 2024, showcased a profit of Tk 762.34 crore, a substantial increase from Tk 249.91 crore in the same period of the previous year.&nbsp;
The report was published after review and approved by the Company's Board of Directors in its 38th meeting held on Sunday (April 21, 2024).
According to the published report, EPS for the period ended March 31, 2024, reached Tk 25.17 compared to Tk 8.25 for the same period of the previous year. NAVPS stood at Tk 258.22 without revaluation and Tk 359.68 with revaluation as of March 31, 2024. Notably, Net Operating Cash Flows Per Share (NOCFPS) stood at Tk 22.88 during this period.
In the period (July&rsquo;23-March&rsquo;24), the finance cost percentage on sales decreased to 6.14 percent from 14.79 percent in the same period of the previous year, with total finance costs at Tk 263.07 crore at the end of Q3 of 2023-24, compared to Tk 604.79 crore in the previous year.
The amount and percentage of finance costs during the period July-2023 to March 2024 are significantly lower than the comparative period because of less impact of the devaluation of taka against foreign currencies like the Euro and USD. However, the company suffered foreign currency losses from July 2023 to March 2024 amounting to Tk 41.60 crore, which was Tk 392.73 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year.&nbsp;
From the period of January to March, 2024, the profit of the Company increased to Tk 421.98 crore as against the profit of Tk 235.55 crore of the corresponding period of the previous financial year.
Anticipating healthier profits in the last quarter of the current financial year (April to June, 2024), the management remains optimistic about Walton Hi-Tech's continued growth and performance.

Walton records Tk 512 cr profit growths in July-23 to March-24

Islami Bank Training and Research Academy (IBTRA) inaugurated 158th Internship Program on Monday (April 22).&nbsp;
Mohammed Monirul Moula, Managing Director &amp; CEO of the bank inaugurated the programme as the chief guest, reads a press release.&nbsp;
Md Nazrul Islam, principal of IBTRA presided over the programme while KM Munirul Alam Al-Mamoon, Senior Executive Vice President, Abdul Hamid Miah, Muhammad Hasnain Abid &amp; Md Mizanur Rahman, Senior Vice Presidents and Mohammad Rezaul Karim, Vice President of the Bank also attended the program.&nbsp;
A total of 95 students from different public and private universities are participating in the programme for 60 days.

IBTRA inaugurates internship programme

Nagad Limited, a leading mobile financial service provider in Bangladesh, presented a cheque of Tk 20 lakh to the players and staff of Fortune Barishal, the reigning champions of the Bangladesh Premier League.
Tanvir A Mishuk, founder and CEO of Nagad Ltd., handed over the cheque to team owner Mizanur Rahman and captain Tamim Iqbal at a ceremony recently held at a five-star hotel in the capital, said a press release on Monday.
Mizanur Rahman&rsquo;s family members were also present there.
Besides, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyadh, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Soumya Sarkar, Taijul Islam, Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Saifuddin, Shamim, and other players, along with team officials graced the event with their presence.
The team Fortune Barishal does not have a direct association with Nagad, but its captain Tamim Iqbal is Nagad&rsquo;s brand ambassador for several years.
Additionally, Mushfiqur Rahim is associated with Nagad Islamic. Mahmudullah Riyad and Mehedi Hasan Miraz have also worked for prompting Nagad in different ways. The power of customer-centric innovations and easy and affordable services, have drawn best stars of the country to Nagad&rsquo;s terrain. It is to be mentioned that Nagad was associated with this BPL season in the &ldquo;powered by&rdquo; category, the release said.
Nagad CEO Tanvir went to the stadium and watched this year&rsquo;s BPL final at the invitation of Tamim Iqbal and the team Barishal.
In the BPL final, Cumilla posted 154 runs, and in response, Barishal reached the target losing only four wickets. Tamim Iqbal played a crucial innings, scoring 39 runs off 26 balls. Tamim emerged as the tournament&rsquo;s highest run-scorer.
Barishal, often referred to as the team of oldies and unlucky too, previously reached BPL finals several times but suffered defeats. This time, they showed remarkable resilience.
The entire Barisal team was rejoicing after becoming the champion. At that time, team captain Tamim Iqbal connected Tanvir A Mishuk through a video call. Tanvir congratulated Tamim and his team and announced a cash prize of Tk 20 lakh. As soon as the announcement was made, there was a wave of excitement among the champion team.
In an event held before Eid, the promised funds were handed over to the players and officials of Fortune Barishal.
At that time, Barishal&rsquo;s captain and the country&rsquo;s top batsman Tamim Iqbal said, &ldquo;Tanvir bhai is a great cricket enthusiast. He has been with our Barishal team from the beginning and has always kept track of us. He has been with Barishal not because we [ including Mushfiqur, Mahmudullah, Miraz] played here, rather owing to his love for cricket. We are very happy to receive this gift from him, which will boost the morale of the whole team.&rdquo;
Furthermore, Mizanur Rahman, the owner of Fortune Barishal, said at the event, &ldquo;Even though we had reached the BPL final many times, we couldn&rsquo;t win the trophy before. So, the joy this time is really special. I express my gratitude to Tanvir A Mishuk bhai for adding to our joy.&rdquo;
Tanvir A Mishuk, after handing over the cheque, said, &ldquo;As a sponsor of BPL, we have been associated with the entire tournament. I have always felt Barishal team as my own. Some of my favorite players and representatives of Nagad have played in this team. Therefore, we consider it our own team.
Mentionable, iftar and dinner were arranged for cleaning staff of Bangladesh Cricket Board at a five-star hotel at the initiative of Tamim Iqbal and Tanvir A Mishuk. At the event, Tanvir A Mishuk, the founder of Nagad Ltd., gave them an Eid gift of Tk 50,000 each.

Nagad hands over promised Tk 20 lakh to BPL champions Barishal

Professor Tahmina Banu, eminent pediatric surgeon and public health activist, is currently serving as the president of the Asian Association of Pediatric Surgeons (AAPS) (2022-2024) and is the President-Elect of the Global Initiative for Children Surgery (GICS) (2024-26).&nbsp;
GICS is a global consortium committed to enhancing surgical care for children worldwide.&nbsp;
Professor Banu is the Founder-Director of Chittagong Research Institute for Children Surgery (CRICS) and is a Trustee and Senior Fellow of the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC).&nbsp;
She also spends time as Overseas Faculty in Global Surgery at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom.&nbsp;
Dr Banu is a passionate advocate on surgical solutions for birth defects and has several innovations in such healthcare.&nbsp;

Tahmina Banu elected to Global Pediatric Surgical leadership roles

LafargeHolcim has expressed its interest to work with the Ministry of Environment on sustainable waste management.
Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhury, Chief Executive Officer of LafargeHolcim Bangladesh Limited (LHBL), conveyed the message during a courtesy call on Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury yesterday (April 21), reads a press release.
LHBL Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Asif Bhuiyan and Holcim Group's Asia, Middle East and Africa region&rsquo;s Head of Geocycle, Moumita Chakraborty were present along with senior officials of the company during the visit.
At the beginning of the meeting, LafargeHolcim officials apprised the minister about the overall waste situation in the country and the company's initiative named 'Geocycle' to address this issue.&nbsp;
The minister praised the company for ensuring municipal solid waste management and circular economy through Geocycle, reads the release.
Electronic waste, which has been a grave concern for Bangladesh, was a major topic in the discussion. A model for such waste management was presented by LafargeHolcim and the necessary policies were emphasised. The company also gave details on how such waste is being managed sustainably by other countries.
Besides, the officials of LafargeHolcim informed the minister about the initiative of LafargeHolcim in manufacturing environment friendly blocks.
The minister applauded LafargeHolcim for its sustainable waste management program and requested to work on familiarising the best waste management practices of different countries in Bangladesh.
Finally, the Chief Executive Officer of the company handed over the sustainability report to the Hon&rsquo;ble Minister which has been published for the first time.

LafargeHolcim keen to work with environment ministry on waste management

Social Islami Bank Limited (SIBL) initiated a three-week-long foundation course in banking for its officers at the bank's training institute on Sunday (21 April).
Zafar Alam, Managing Director, and CEO of SIBL inaugurated the training event as the chief guest. Md Shafiqul Islam, the principal of SIBL Training Institute, along with officials from the head office, attended the event.
A total of 40 officials from various branches participated in the session.
Zafar Alam emphasized the importance of training in developing oneself and enriching work skills. He urged all trainees to properly implement the lessons learned from the training and to serve the banking sector with honesty and cordiality.

SIBL launches foundation training course

RDRS Bangladesh has distributed the Bangabandhu Higher Education Scholarship 2024 to ten students from Rangpur districts, marking a significant step towards empowering youth education.
The 'Bangabandhu Higher Education Scholarship 2024 Presentation Ceremony' was held at the RDRS Ranpur office on Sunday (21 April), said a press release.&nbsp;
Md Fasiullah, Executive Vice Chairman of the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA), graced the occasion as the chief guest.
The event, chaired by RDRS Bangladesh Executive Director Tapan Kumar Karmakar, also saw the esteemed presence of Rangpur ADC General Habibul Bashar Rumi and Muhammad Majedul Haque, Executive Director of the Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA).
A total of Tk 1 lakh 5 thousand was disbursed among the recipients, categorized into two groups. Five students received a monthly stipend of taka 4,000 for three months, totaling taka 60,000 each, under the Bangabandhu Higher Education Scholarship. Additionally, five students were awarded taka 45,000 each under the Diploma Course Scholarship, receiving a monthly allowance of taka 3,000.
During the event's discussion session, Md. Fasiullah emphasised the significance of education in shaping the nation's future, urging scholarship recipients to embody the spirit of the liberation war and contribute to the country's development.&nbsp;
Rangpur ADC General Habibul Bashar Rumi envisioned a prosperous future for Bangladesh, highlighting the pivotal role of students in this journey.&nbsp;
Muhammad Majedul Haque lauded the initiative as a tribute to the memory of Bangabandhu, emphasizing the transformative power of education.&nbsp;
Tapan Kumar Karmakar expressed RDRS Bangladesh's commitment to empowering students through education, citing the organisation's longstanding scholarship programme.
Since January 2022, RDRS Bangladesh has disbursed scholarships amounting to Tk 13 lakh 72 thousand to 27 students. Over the years, a total of Tk 79 lakh 20 thousand scholarships have been awarded to 660 students, underscoring the organisation's dedication to fostering education.

10 students receive Bangabandhu Higher Education Scholarships from RDRS Bangladesh

To safeguard public health, research and advocacy organisation PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) and Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) have called for an effective hike in the prices of tobacco products in the upcoming FY 2024-25 national budget.&nbsp;
The two organisations have presented their tobacco taxation and pricing related proposals for upcoming FY today (20 April 2024, Saturday) during a press conference held at the Tofazzal Hossain Manik Miah Auditorium of the National Press Club, Dhaka, reads a press release.
In support of the budget proposals, eminent economist and convener of the National Anti-Tobacco Platform, Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad said, &ldquo;Tobacco products are becoming cheaper over time when compared to the prices of essential commodities which is an ominous sign for public health. Considering hundreds of thousands of premature deaths, diseases, detrimental effects on environment and ecosystem- all caused by tobacco, the upcoming national budget must effectively hike the prices of tobacco products to bring it beyond the purchasing power of the people."&nbsp;
Dr Mahfuz Kabir, Research Director of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), said, "Currently 75 percent of total cigarette users belong to the low tier. However, the supplementary duty (SD) on this tier stands at only 58 percent. Raising the SD to 63 percent would certainly reduce the prevalence of cigarette use and raise revenue inflow for the government. The additional revenue would also play a major role in tackling the ongoing financial crisis."
An analysis of the average retail prices of essential commodities in seven metropolitan cities of the country (Dhaka, Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barisal, and Rangpur) between 04 July 2021 and 04 July 2023, as reported by the Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM), shows that price of loose sugar has seen an 89% hike in this period, the hike is 87% for potatoes, 75% for loose flour, 47% for pangash fish, 43% for eggs, 34% for soybean oil, 30% for powdered milk, and 27% for broiler chicken. However, during this same timeframe, the hike in the prices of different tiers of cigarettes ranged between 6-15% only.
The tobacco prices and taxation proposals presented during the workshop are as follows:
The retail price of low-tier cigarettes should be increased to Tk60 for 10 sticks from the existing Tk45, followed by a 63 percent supplementary duty. The prices of 10 sticks should be set at Tk80, 130 and 170 for medium, high, and premium tiers respectively, followed by the existing 65 percent supplementary duty on these three tiers.
For non-filtered bidis, the retail price should be Tk25 for 25 sticks. In the case of filtered bidis, the retail price for 20 sticks should be set at Tk20. Both prices should be followed by a 45 percent supplementary duty.
Regarding smokeless tobacco, the retail price for 10 grams of jarda and gul should be Tk55 and Tk30, followed by 60 percent supplementary duty. The budget proposals also suggest continuing the existing 15 percent VAT and 1 percent health development surcharge (HDS) on the retail prices of tobacco products.
It was also informed that the implementation of the above-mentioned budget proposals would generate BDT 10,000 crore as additional revenue which could greatly contribute to tackling the existing financial crisis. Additionally, the proposals, in the long run, will also help prevent the premature deaths of 1.1 million Bangladeshis, including nearly half a million youths.
The panel of speakers in the event include Md. Abdus Salam, Program's Manager (Bangladesh) for Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Mortuza Haider Liton, Convener, ATMA and ABM Zubair, Executive Director, PROGGA.
It should be noted that 37.8 million adults in Bangladesh use tobacco products (smoked and smokeless). Tobacco claims 161,000 lives every year in Bangladesh. &nbsp;In 2017-18, the toll of tobacco use in the national economy (due to medical expenses and loss of productivity) stood at Tk30,560 crore while the revenue generated from the tobacco sector stands at only Tk22,810 crore.

Hike tobacco price to safeguard public health: Speakers

The Mymensingh Zone of Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC organized an employee conference at the Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Auditorium of Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh on Friday (19 April).
Mohammed Monirul Moula, managing director and CEO of Islami Bank, addressed the conference as the chief guest, reads a press release. &nbsp;
Md. Altaf Hossain, additional managing director, and G.M. Mohd. Gias Uddin Quader, senior executive vice president, addressed the conference as special guests.
Md. Maksudur Rahman, senior executive vice president of Islami Bank, presided over the function while Md. Anisul Haque, head of Mymensingh Zone addressed the welcome speech.&nbsp;
Md. Khalilur Rahman and Md. Abdul Jalil, senior vice presidents and A M Shahidul Amran, senior assistant vice president, along with executives from Head Office, branch incumbents, sub-branch incharges and employees from all branches under Mymensingh zone of the bank attended the conference.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Islami Bank holds employee conference in Mymensingh

&lsquo;Mohor&rsquo; is the amount demanded from the bride during marriage, and it is obligatory for the groom to pay the amount to the woman. Allah says in the Holy Quran, &ldquo;&hellip; and give to the women (whom you marry) their Mohor (obligatory bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) with a good heart, but if they, of their own good pleasure, remit any part of it to you, take it, and enjoy it without fear of any harm&hellip;&rdquo;
Most people are callous, seemingly indifferent to recognizing it as an essential right of a woman to receive her Mohor from her husband. Consequently, the practice of Mohor payment is not widely practiced in society. A hefty amount of Mohor is stipulated in marriage, but it becomes difficult for the groom to fulfill the financial commitment (Mohor) to his wife while simultaneously meeting the family&rsquo;s expenses.
Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC has launched the Mudaraba Mohor Savings Account (MMSA) with the aim of promoting the culture of fulfilling Mohor to the wife and facilitating an easy payment process, reads a press release.&nbsp;
Muslim people from all walks of life, especially professionals, employees, businessmen, and expatriates, can open the Mudaraba Mohor Savings Account (MMSA) by depositing money in monthly installments according to their ability.&nbsp;
The monthly installments range from Tk 500 to Tk 5,000 for a tenure of five years or ten years. A married man or a man wishing to marry can open this account. The installments will be determined based on the total amount to be paid by the groom, after deducting the amount already paid either in cash or other forms from the amount mentioned in the Kabinnama. Around 33 thousand clients opened this account in Islami Bank.
Any legal citizen of Bangladesh can open a Mudaraba Mohor Savings Account (MMSA) at any branch, sub-branch, or agent of Islami Bank by providing a photocopy of their National Identity Card/Passport/Driving License, 2 copies of their own photographs, 2 copies of their wife's photographs (if applicable), and one copy of the nominee's photograph.
Additionally, men can open an MMS account through Islami Bank&rsquo;s Celfin app.&nbsp;
Installments can be deposited online from other branches, sub-branches, or agent banking outlets.&nbsp;
Monthly installments can be conveniently paid from any location on any day of the month through Celfin or by a "Special Instruction" at the branch, which will result in automatic transfers from the respective savings account to the Mohor account on a specified date each month.&nbsp;
Furthermore, monthly installments can also be paid through Islami Bank's i-banking and mcash. The account holder has the option to pay the installments in advance if they wish to do so. The principal and profit paid thereagainst are all due to the wife.&nbsp;
Installment amount and tenure should be decided at the time of account opening and cannot be changed later.
&nbsp;A husband can absolve himself of his wife's debt by fulfilling Mohor from accumulated funds in the Mudaraba Mohor Savings Account (MMSA). This not only brings financial stability to women's lives but also establishes respect for them. After all, they are empowered by realizing the rights of women in society.&nbsp;
Ultimately, this initiative by Islami Bank, aimed at promoting the practice of giving Mohor, deserves commendation.
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
&nbsp;

Mudaraba Mohor savings account: Revolutionising the practice of Mohor

The new private airline, Fly Dhaka, aims to launch its operations by the end of the year, targeting the growing number of passengers and aiming to reclaim the country&rsquo;s aviation market, currently dominated by foreign airlines, occupying 80% of the market share.
Adhering to the motto "Connecting Dreams, Uniting Destinations," Fly Dhaka is gearing up to commence its domestic services, becoming the 12th private airline in the country, operating with ATR 72-600 aircraft.
Plans are underway to expand its fleet to include Boeing and Airbus aircraft upon receiving approval for international routes. With the introduction of Fly Dhaka, the number of domestic airlines will rise to four.
Currently, three local airlines, namely Novoair, US-Bangla, and Air Astra, operate domestic flights, with NovoAir and US-Bangla also catering to international passengers.
Over the past 25 years, eight private airlines have ceased operations, with Regent Airways being the latest to halt services in 2022.
Lieutenant General (retired) Molla Fazle Akber, CEO of Fly Dhaka, stated that all necessary preparations have been made to commence operations by the end of this year.
He emphasised their commitment to achieving the Prime Minister's vision of establishing the country as an aviation hub while ensuring the sector's enrichment and safety standards.
Anisul Islam Mahmud, a Jatiyo Party lawmaker and former minister, holds ownership of Fly Dhaka.
Farabi Bin Jahir, Head of Corporate Affairs and Public Relations at Fly Dhaka, highlighted the airline's goal to capitalise on the growth in air passenger numbers.
He expressed concerns over the dominance of foreign airlines, which currently control 80% of the market share, resulting in significant capital outflow from the country. "Fly Dhaka aims to address this disparity by entering the market."
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh, in 2023, the country's airports served 1.74 crore passengers, with the majority being international travelers, marking a year-on-year increase of 26 lakh passengers.
Farabi bin Zahir addressed the issue of sustainability among private airlines, noting that air travel is no longer exclusive to the elite and has become increasingly popular among the middle class due to time constraints and transportation challenges such as traffic congestion.

New airlines 'Fly Dhaka' set to take off by year's end

Bangladesh has demonstrated remarkable development progress in the last five decades, according to the editorial of the current News Bulletin (January-March 2024) of the International Chamber of Commerce-Bangladesh (ICCB) released on Monday (8 April).
&ldquo;Macroeconomic stability with low levels of inflation and high levels of GDP growth have been key to Bangladesh's underlying strengths and major drivers of socio- economic achievements,&rdquo; it added.
Bangladesh reached lower-middle income status in 2015 and is on track to graduate in 2026 as a middle-income country and aspiring to be an upper-middle income country by 2031.
However, Bangladesh after LDC graduation in November 2026, will experience significant preference erosion.
&ldquo;Although the EU and UK have offered to extend preferential duty-free market access for an additional three years, the export scenario to other markets will change immediately after graduation,&rdquo; ICCB said.
Bangladesh has a greater opportunity of increasing export to ASEAN, having a population of 661 million with a GDP of $3.08 trillion and trade exceeding $2.7 trillion, it added.
Citing data from 2020, It said Bangladesh imports goods worth nearly $7.0 billion from ASEAN countries as against its export of only $1.0 billion.
So, Bangladesh should give priority to have Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN in order to increase its exports, it added.
However, in 2024 the economy is also facing challenges on multiple fronts such as rising inflation, balance of payment deficit along with budget shortfall, declining foreign exchange reserve, contraction in remittances, a depreciating currency, rising income inequality and the demand-supply imbalance in the energy sector, ailing banking sector crippled by loan defaults. Bangladesh could not bring down inflation whereas it has come under control in most countries, ICCB said.
ICCB said despite impressive growth rates, Bangladesh faces challenges in its export basket's diversification, more than 80% of Bangladesh's total export earnings come from garment exports.
Bangladesh has significant opportunities in leather, and footwear, food processing, pharmaceuticals, light engineering, assembling plants, and API production. Both domestic investment and FDI will need to be geared towards these sectors, it added.
The ICCB said Bangladesh is facing an energy crisis due largely to reliance on imported fuels which is estimated at about $ 2.5 billion a year for power generation and also a lack of renewables and cleantech alternatives.
&ldquo;In fact, instead of moving towards exploring renewable energy sources, Bangladesh turned to the use of more fossil fuels such as coal, oil and LNG. With a depreciating currency, a reliance on imported fuels for power generation has led to significant rise in power generation costs,&rdquo; it added.
Climate change is a critical issue in Bangladesh as it is one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, according to Germanwatch's 2021 Global Climate Risk Index, Bangladesh ranked seventh in the list of countries most affected by climate calamities during the period 2000-2019.
Bangladesh has achieved today&rsquo;s position by overcoming many obstacles and setbacks, the ICCB remarked.
It further said that with targeted actions and appropriate policy followed by timely implementation to overcome the key challenges, Bangladesh has the capacity to become an upper middle income country by 2031.

Bangladesh demonstrated remarkable development progress in the last five decades: ICCB

To support severely impacted businesses&mdash;especially those relying on imports for raw materials&mdash;amid a shortage of US dollars in Bangladesh, International Finance Corporation (IFC) is investing $30 million in Pran Dairy Limited (PDL) and Habiganj Agro Limited (HAL), both part of the PRAN Group, a leading player in the food and beverage industry (F&amp;B) in the country.&nbsp;
The aim is to improve the resilience of the food processing market while creating jobs, fostering gender diversity, and strengthening the economy, said a press release.
This is the first of IFC&rsquo;s USD term loans to be used for working capital purposes in Bangladesh, which will enable PDL and HAL to sustain operations, increasing exports and preserving over 30,000 jobs. IFC will further support PRAN Group to improve participation of women as well as inclusion in their workplace through relevant policies and practices.&nbsp;
The F&amp;B sector is a key pillar of Bangladesh&rsquo;s economy. The food processing industry accounts for approximately 13% of the manufacturing production value and employs 19% of the industrial manufacturing workforce with a projected compound annual growth rate of 12%.&nbsp;
However, the current paucity of foreign exchange, higher energy prices, and power shortages in the country have disrupted the import of raw materials while constraining local commercial banks&rsquo; lending ability. Against this backdrop, IFC&rsquo;s longer-term US dollar financing will help improve access to foreign exchange, supporting Bangladeshi companies to navigate the crisis.&nbsp;
Uzma Chowdhury, director, Finance, PRAN-RFL Group said, &ldquo;As a net importer, regular access to US dollars is critical. But given the prevailing shortage, it has been difficult for us to access USD funds for working capital in a timely manner. By providing scarcely available US dollar working capital, IFC will help ensure the long-term stability of the company&rsquo;s operations and allow us to contribute to the country&rsquo;s economic stability.&rdquo;
As part of its advisory services, IFC will also support PRAN Group to develop the company&rsquo;s smallholder sourcing supply chain in Bangladesh and identify opportunities to decarbonize its agro-processing operations, among others.
Martin Holtmann, IFC Country Manager for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal said, &ldquo;Reiterating our commitment to supporting clients during a crisis, IFC&rsquo;s financing aims to ease the current lack of access to foreign exchange while enabling private sector growth in Bangladesh. We are optimistic it will help improve food security while prioritizing support for strategically important industries through innovative solutions. By backing PRAN Group, IFC will also contribute to diversifying Bangladesh's export base, key to creating jobs, expanding market opportunities, and enhancing economic resilience.&rdquo; &nbsp; Since 2010, IFC has invested over $3.8 billion to help the private sector grow in Bangladesh.

IFC investing $30 million in Pran Group

Professor Shibli Rubayat-Ul Islam is poised to serve another four-year term as the chairman of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC).
On 31 March, the Ministry of Finance sent a summary to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to reappoint Shibli Rubayat as BSEC chairman for another term.&nbsp;
The finance ministry's recommendation for his reappointment has recently received approval from the Prime Minister, and a circular announcing the decision will be issued imminently, according to finance ministry sources.
Along with Shibli, four commissioners of the stock market regulator have also gotten another term of four years to serve in the same posts.
"Professor Shibli Rubayat-Ul Islam meets the age requirement to serve as the capital market regulator, as he will only be 56 years old on 16 May, which marks the end of his first term as BSEC chairman," stated the finance ministry in its recommendation to the prime minister.
Shibli Rubayat-Ul Islam was appointed as BSEC chairman in May 2020. Before that, he served as a professor of Banking and Insurance and as the Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies at the University of Dhaka.

Shibli Rubayat to be reappointed as BSEC chairman

The newly elected Board of Directors of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), led by its President S. M. Mannan (Kochi), took charge of the trade body today for the term 2024-2026.
Outgoing Board of Directors handed over the responsibility to the new Board at the 41st Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at BGMEA Complex in Uttara today.
The audited accounts of BGMEA for the year 2022-2023 were adopted and the budget for the year 2023-2024 was approved in the AGM, said a press release.
The new office bearers of BGMEA are -- Syed Nazrul Islam, first vice president; Khandoker Rafiqul Islam, senior vice president; Arshad Jamal (Dipu), vice president; Md. Nasir Uddin, vice president (Finance); Miran Ali, vice president; Abdullah Hil Rakib, vice president; and Rakibul Alam Chowdhury, vice president.
The other Board of Directors from Dhaka are -- Shahidullah Azim, Asif Ashraf, Md. Imranur Rahman, Shovon Islam, Haroon Ar Rashid, Mohammad Sohel Sadat, Ashikur Rahman (Tuhin), Anowar Hossain (Manik), Mesbah Uddin Khan, Shams Mahmud, Rajiv Chowdhury, Abrar Hossain Sayem, Md. Shahadat Hossain, Md. Jakir Hossain, Nusrat Bari Asha, Md. Mohiuddin Rubel, Shehrin Salam Oishee, Md. Nurul Islam, Saifuddin Siddiquie Sagar, and Md. Rezaul Alam (Miru), while Directors from Chattogram are -- Mohammed Musa, Amzad Hossain Chowdhury, M Ahsanul Hoque, Mostafa Sarwar Riyadh, Mohammed Rakib Al Naser, Gazi Md. Shahid Ullah and Md. Absar Hossain.
The Sammilito Parishad, led by S. M. Mannan (Kochi), achieved a clean sweep by securing all 35 directorship positions -- 26 in Dhaka and 9 in Chittagong -- in the BGMEA elections for the 2024-26 term held on 9 March 2024.
&nbsp;

Newly elected Board of Directors of BGMEA takes charge

Supermarket chain Shwapno has announced special discounts on several essential items ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr. 
According to a press release, the offer will be available on 5 and 6 April.
During the discount campaign, products including semai, rice, sugar, onions, beef, hilsa, shrimp, chicken, powdered milk, lentils, salt, mustard oil, soybean oil, turmeric powder, chili, and cold drinks from various brands will be sold at prices lower than the market rate.

Shwapno offers discounts on essential items ahead of Eid

Desk Report

Sheikh Mohammad Ashfaque, head of branches at BRAC Bank, has been promoted to the post of Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of the bank.
The promotion takes effect from 1 April, according to a press release issued today (5 April).&nbsp;
Ashfaque leads the distribution network comprising 187 branches and 40 sub-branches. He also looks after Premium Banking, Branch Corporate and Government Relations segments.
He has been a cornerstone in expanding the Distribution Network and pivotal in the bank's deposit growth during challenging times.
As a homegrown talent to become the Deputy Managing Director, Ashfaque's journey with BRAC Bank began in 2006. His extensive experience across Branch, Corporate, and Retail Banking and involvement in strategic planning have been invaluable. A graduate of the University of Dhaka with an MBA from North South University, Ashfaque is also a trained professional from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
His global perspective, shaped by leadership training in GABV member countries and active participation as a GABV alumnus, positions himself uniquely to lead BRAC Bank's mainstream channels.
BRAC Bank's Managing Director and CEO Selim RF Hussain said, "Ashfaque's past record speaks volumes about his dedication and achievements for the bank. We believe, in his new role as the DMD, he will drive the Distribution Network business to new heights and become a market leader."

Sheikh Mohammad Ashfaque promoted to DMD at BRAC Bank

Integrating digital payments in the microfinance sector can save work hours, enhance productivity, simplify instalment and deposit collection, ensure 24/7 transaction reporting, reduce cash-carrying risk, and increase efficiency of cash management, experts said at a seminar jointly organised by bKash and DataSoft to raise awareness on digital payments.&nbsp;
They also said digital payments will ensure overall efficiency and bring dynamism to the country&rsquo;s microcredit activities, reads a press release.
Representatives from different Microfinance Institutes (MFIs) using Microfin360 solution by DataSoft participated in the seminar arranged recently at a city hotel where Kamal Quadir, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of bKash, M Monjur Mahmud, President of DataSoft Systems, Ali Ahmmed, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of bKash, among other top officials were present in the occasion.
At the event, speakers also discussed the benefits of using digital payments in MFIs through bKash specially on automatic bank settlement, digital receipt and passbook, receiving instalments and savings from clients any time and place, microfinance payment by dialling *247#, payment from agent points etc. They also discussed about making overall microcredit activities more effective, efficient, easier, faster and safer through digital transactions.
Meanwhile, Mahfuzur Rahman Chowdhury, Executive Director of Muslim Aid Bangladesh and Moshiur Rahman, Microfinance Director of People-Oriented Programme Implementation (POPI) spoke on digital inclusion in microcredit activities. Besides, Farmina Hossain, Operations Director of Bureau Bangladesh, Mifta Nayeem Huda, Executive Director of Centre for Development, Innovation and Practices and A.K.M. Sirajul Islam, Executive Director of BASA Foundation also addressed the programme through a video message.
DataSoft has long been providing data management and accounting system services to various MFIs through their Microfin360 solution. Around 10 million customers of more than 200 MFIs use DataSoft&rsquo;s solution to enjoy hassle-free loan instalment repayment through bKash, saving valuable time and cost. They also said that the joint service of bKash and DataSoft will add a new dimension to the microcredit activities conducted across the country.

bKash and DataSoft’s joint initiative to increase digital payments in microfinance

In a landmark move towards the active sharing of telecommunications network infrastructure, Banglalink, in collaboration with Teletalk, announced the piloting of the Active Sharing (Roaming) service in Bangladesh, said a press release.
Following the successful national roaming field trial, this initiative will allow Teletalk subscribers to seamlessly switch to the Banglalink network in areas with coverage gaps. This will be achieved through the active sharing and collaborative use of Banglalink&rsquo;s network infrastructure by Teletalk, enhancing coverage and service quality within these areas.
Active Sharing ensures the optimisation of resources by efficiently and effectively using telecom infrastructure, unlocking new opportunities in Bangladesh's telecommunication sector.
During the two-month pilot period, 2,000 selected Teletalk postpaid and prepaid subscribers will have access to the Active Sharing (Roaming) service, enjoying seamless Voice, SMS, and Data Services through Banglalink's Ookla&reg;-certified fastest 4G network across Bangladesh.
The State Minister of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak announced this groundbreaking service. The announcement occurred on the Independence Day program with high-level stakeholders from the ministry and the regulatory body at the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Auditorium in the ICT Tower, Agargaon.
This marks the first time in Bangladesh's history that two telecom service providers have collaborated to actively share network infrastructure, setting an example for future collaborations and infrastructure sharing aimed at enhancing the customer experience.
Looking ahead, upon the successful completion of the piloting, Banglalink and Teletalk will collaborate on the nationwide commercial launch of the Active Sharing (Roaming) service in the days ahead. &nbsp;
State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, said, &ldquo;Inspired by the success of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the sharing platform, and in line with the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Information and Communication Technology Adviser, we aim to accelerate communication and economic progress by introducing a revolutionary concept of active sharing (national roaming) in Bangladesh's telecom sector. With this pioneering initiative from Banglalink and Teletalk, I am hopeful that future collaborations between government and non-government organizations will further accelerate our journey towards building a Smart Bangladesh. To build a Smart Bangladesh, we must be innovative, creative, and problem solvers.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Encouraging intra-industry infrastructure sharing has always been a priority for the BTRC. The piloting of the Active Sharing (Roaming) service further reinforces the potential of such partnerships. We will continue to facilitate this process for Banglalink and Teletalk and anticipate utilizing the insights gained from the field trial for a successful commercial launch,&rdquo; said Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Chairman Engineer Md Mohiuddin Ahmed.
Banglalink CEO Erik Aas said, &ldquo;At Banglalink, we consistently strive to align with the regulatory priorities set forth for the advancement of the telecom industry and to deliver exceptional service to the customers. Our collaboration with Teletalk represents a significant milestone &mdash; the first of its kind in the nation. This agreement empowers Teletalk subscribers to utilise our network, featuring over 16,000 towers nationwide. Recently, we have doubled our network coverage nationwide, supporting to the vision of a Smart Bangladesh.&rdquo;
&ldquo;The piloting of the Active Sharing (Roaming) service represents a significant advancement in telecommunications industry in Bangladesh. Teletalk is committed to providing subscribers with the highest quality of service, and this collaboration with Banglalink will further enhance connectivity for our customers,&rdquo; said Teletalk MD AKM Habibur Rahman.
&nbsp;

Banglalink and Teletalk announce piloting of telco Active Sharing

Parliamentarians have sought an increase in retail prices of low-, medium, high- and premium-tier cigarettes by 33%, 19%, 15%, and 13% respectively, to help realise the prime minister&rsquo;s directives to achieve &lsquo;Tobacco-free Bangladesh&rsquo; by 2040 by curtailing the availability and affordability of cigarettes.
They said so today (21 March) at a pre-budget discussion session organised by non-government think tank Unnayan Shamannay at the Bishwoshahitto Kendro building, reads a press release.&nbsp;
The parliamentarians present at the discussion were- Dr Shri Biren Shikder, MP (Magura 02), Tarana Halim, MP (Women Seat 18), Nazma Akhter, MP (Women Seat 37), Dr. Jannat Ara Henry, MP (Sirajganj 02), Dr. Md. Aolad Hossain, MP (Dhaka 04), and Anima Mukti Gomes, MP (Women Seat 29). Former Governor of Bangladesh Bank and eminent Economist- Professor Dr. Atiur Rahman Chaired the session where two professors from Dhaka University were present as expert discussants. They were- Dr. M. Abu Eusuf, and Dr. Muhammad Shahadat Hossain Siddiquee. Unnayan Shamannay&rsquo;s Research Director- Abdullah Nadvi presented the effective cigarette taxation proposals on behalf of Unnayan Shamannay and certain other anti-tobacco civil society organizations.
Dr Aolad Hossain, MP and Dr. Jannat Ara, MP emphasised on increasing retail prices of cigarettes and imposing higher taxes on them considering the well-being of the low-income people and the youth.&nbsp;
The linkage between reducing use of cigarettes and attaining the SDGs and other national objectives was pointed out by Anima Mukti Gomes, MP, and Nazma Akhter, MP.&nbsp;
Furthermore, Tarana Halim, MP and Biren Shikder, MP opined that policymakers must prioritise safeguarding public health over getting revenue from cigarette sales.&nbsp;
Dr Atiur Rahman pointed out that taxation has been established as the most effective tool to reduce cigarette use. And that is why the anti-tobacco civils society organizations are strongly advocating for this.&nbsp;
However, to ensure that there is no sudden pressure on the government&rsquo;s revenue income- effective tobacco taxation proposals have been developed with utmost caution, he added. He further pointed out that if the effective taxation proposals for FY2024-25 are realized, on the one hand- cigarette use will decrease by 9%, and on the other hand, revenue coming from cigarette sales will increase by 28%.

Parliamentarians call for effective taxes on all tiers of cigarette in FY 2024-25

Walton Digi-Tech Industries Limited is providing up to 100% cashback on purchase of its computer items including laptop, desktop and accessories.&nbsp;
So far six customers got 100% cashback with many others receiving various amounts of cashback, reads a press release.
The cashback facilities are being provided on both cash and installment purchase from any Walton Plaza across the country. The offer is being given so that customers can purchase tech products at more affordable prices. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, inaugurated the offer on February 8 this year. The offer will continue until further notice.
Just after the campaign began, Mohammad Kawser got 100% cashback purchasing a laptop from Nagarpur Walton Plaza in Tangail. After that, another customer named Badrul Alam Abbasi received hundred percent cashback buying a laptop from the Walton Plaza at Jessore's New Market area.
Meanwhile, a student named Mostakin Billah Masum got 100% cashback purchasing a laptop in installment facilities from Kurigram Walton Plaza. Another customer Md. Redwan Sarker also received 100% cashback purchasing a laptop in installment facilities from Shahjadpur Walton Plaza in Sirajganj. The other two 100% cashback winners are Jannatul Islam Tua from Fulbaria of Mymenshingh and Md. Ishad Akhon from Barisal Amanatganj Walton Plaza.
Walton Computer's Chief Business Officer Md. Touhidur Rahman Rad said: The facilities of up to 100 percent cashback are being given to the customers of Walton Desktop PC, Laptop, All-in-One PC, 27-inch monitor, Single function printer, Walpad 8G Tab, all models of Bluetooth Speakers, Portable SSD, Power Supply Unit, 300 Mbps router, weight scale, webcam, pen drive, power bank, network switch, neckband, mouse, keyboard, headphone, micro SD card, HUB, E-Writing Pad, CPU Cooler, CCTV, Card Reader, Cable and Converter products.
He said that the cashback offer is only being given on purchase of the above computer items from Walton Plaza across the country. Customers are getting notified about the amount of the cashback through an SMS to their cell phone while purchasing the products. They can adjust the amount of received cashback with the price of the purchased product in cash payment. The cashback can be adjusted with the first month installment if the product is purchased on installment facilities. No other offer is valid with the product purchased under cashback offer.

6 Walton customers for computer get 100% cashback

Following a successful giveaway of a BMW last year, Nagad, the country&rsquo;s leading mobile financial service provider, has now come up with a never-seen-before offer for its customers to win land in Dhaka and many other exciting mega gifts worth Tk20 crore on transactions using this MFS.
Every year Nagad dangles a plethora of exciting gifts on the occasion of Eid. Last year Nagad&rsquo;s BMW mega campaign generated a significant buzz within the country. Besides, customers grabbed sedan cars, motorcycles, and other gifts through Nagad payments.
This year Nagad has gone a step ahead as it has launched the country&rsquo;s biggest campaign, allowing its users to win dream plots in Dhaka by following three easy steps, reads a press release.
Different popular brands in the country have already partnered with Nagad for this BDT 20 crore campaign named &ldquo;Nagad e Jomi&rdquo;. They include Apex Footwear, Bay Emporium, Gentle Park, Sailor, Artisan Outfitters, Rangs eMart, Lotto, Demand Fashion, MK Electronics Ltd, Hisense, Samsung, Singer BD, and Chery Bangladesh.
Moreover, customers can enjoy 100 percent cashback alongside an opportunity to win mega gifts, including hundreds of motorbikes, TVs, fridges, smartphones, and many more on individual transactions.
To participate in the campaign, a Nagad customer must make a minimum of BDT 100 mobile recharge a minimum of BDT 500 payment, or a minimum of BDT 1,000 add-money. Following any of the three transactions, they will instantly get a message that will confirm their eligibility to take part in the campaign.
Then, a participant will create a team of three having active Nagad accounts, including himself/herself, and everyone in the team will have to remain active in transactions during the campaign period to stay in competition to win land in Dhaka.
Customers can also win land by receiving a minimum of BDT 5,000, excluding government incentives, in remittances through Nagad.
Nagad users can form groups through the Nagad app or by sending an SMS to 26969 using following the format: NGD&lt;space&gt;OPEN&lt;space&gt;Member 1 Nagad Number&lt;space&gt;Member 2 Nagad Number. Besides, they can also create groups by directly going to the link: nagad.io/jmi.
A group creator will be known as the group leader and after successfully creating each group, the leader will receive a voucher as a reward, which will be notified through a confirmation SMS.
A Nagad user can create an unlimited number of groups and any Nagad user can be a member of an unlimited number of groups. Once the group is successfully created, each member must initiate at least one transaction per calendar month (except Send Money) to remain eligible for the campaign. To access group details, each group leader will receive an access code, which must be used to log in to the microsite. The leaderboards of the groups making regular transactions will be updated on the Nagad website regularly. All such information will be available at this link: nagad.io/jmi. Starting on 15 March 2024, the campaign will continue till June 30.
Regarding this mega campaign, Md Shihab Uddin Chowdhury, deputy managing director of Nagad Ltd., said, &ldquo;We always want people to be more accustomed to digital transactions and enjoy rewards. Owning a piece of land in Dhaka is a big dream for many. So, we want people to fulfill their dreams during this festival initiated by Nagad. We offer BDT 20 crore worth of mega gifts this time.&rdquo;

Nagad now offers land in Dhaka on transactions

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State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu said the immediate implementation of price caps upon fixing the price of an item is not feasible.
"When you bring down something to a logical level, immediate implementation becomes challenging. It was crucial to first determine the prices. Now, the Department of Agricultural Marketing, Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection, UNOs, DCs will collaborate to establish the price caps. Hopefully, it will stabilise at a rational level," said the state minister.
He made these remarks to reporters following a discussion programme on the 104th birth anniversary of Bangabandhu, organised by the Ministry of Commerce at TCB Bhavan in the capital on Sunday (17 March).
Titu explained, "The Agricultural Marketing Department, responsible for setting the prices, operates through committees at the district, upazila, and central levels. We will coordinate with them and commence monitoring."
Furthermore, he emphasised proactive engagement with market committees and traders to ensure compliance with the price caps.
Titu added, "We are implementing the price caps while addressing their concerns."
Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Tapan Kanti Ghosh, along with chief officers and employees of the ministry and various departments under it, were also in attendance.
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Immediate implementation of price caps not feasible: Titu

BRAC Bank has won the Top Ten Remittance Award at the World Conference Series 2024.
The Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshis handed the award to BRAC Bank at the World Conference Series 2024 grand inauguration ceremony held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka on 10 March, reads a press release.
BRAC Bank set a new benchmark by facilitating wage remittances totaling USD 817 million in 2023. This milestone underscores its significant impact on the country's economic stability.
AK Abdul Momen, former foreign minister; Mashiur Rahman, economic affairs adviser to the prime minister; Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury, state minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, alongside managing directors and senior executives from various banks, attended the ceremony.
Tareq Refat Ullah Khan, deputy managing director and head of Corporate Banking at BRAC Bank, and Shahrear Zamil, head of Remittance and Probashi Banking, received the award on behalf of the bank.
This year's World Conference Series, themed 'Branding Bangladesh,' aims to elevate the nation's profile on the global stage, encouraging the Bangladeshi diaspora to increase their investment in the homeland and to utilize formal channels for remittances.

BRAC Bank wins Top Ten Remittance Award at World Conference Series 2024

The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) on Saturday welcomed the central bank&rsquo;s decision to merge weak banks with strong ones, deeming it a positive move overall.
&ldquo;We think there is a need for this merger, for this consolidation. However, to reap the benefits of this initiative, the underlying causes behind the banks' deterioration should be identified and addressed,&rdquo; said Professor Mustafizur Rahman, a distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
He made the remarks during a press conference convened by CPD to discuss its recommendations regarding the national budget for the fiscal year FY2024-25. &nbsp;At that time, CPD Executive Director Fahmida Khatun presented several recommendations to reflect on the budget.
Mustafizur Rahman said, &ldquo;There were several logical reasons behind the weakening of several banks. They had major weaknesses in management. It is essential to establish good governance and ensure prudent lending practices post-merger.&rdquo;
In the question and answer session of the program, the CPD fellow said, &ldquo;Before the approval of nine banks of the fourth generation, it was recommended to give the license to the new banks based on research and evidence.&rdquo;
&ldquo;There was a concern about whether the current economy of Bangladesh would be able to accommodate all these banks or not. It was also feared that the banks would face problems if they could not do business, including deposit collection and lending. Later, these fears unfortunately came true, and several banks were marked as weak, leading to the Bangladesh Bank move for initiating a merger of these banks," he said.
Acknowledging the need for this merger, he said, &ldquo;It would be good for our banking system if we could do this on the basis of evidence. And it will be good for the economy.&rdquo;
Airing a warning, he also said the main purpose of this merger should be eradicating the reasons why the banks have become weak.
&ldquo;The strong bank which is being merged with a weak bank should not fall into the situation of the latter,&rdquo; Mustafizur Rahman voiced a cautious warning.
&ldquo;Through assimilation, the strong banks should ensure strong positions through good governance, proper management," the CPD fellow added.
Fahmida Khatun, CPD Executive Director, presented three specific recommendations for the forthcoming budget, focusing on enhancing food production, bolstering social protection, and effectively managing subsidies in key sectors like agriculture, energy, health, and education.

Merger should be followed by addressing causes behind banks' poor performance: CPD

Salman F Rahman, the prime minister's adviser on private industry and investment, emphasised the importance of making the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal (ICT) profitable.
"Huge investments have been made in the Pangaon ICT, a project initiated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. It is imperative for its success, and together we can achieve this," said Salman F Rahman after inspecting the terminal located in Keraniganj, Dhaka, on Saturday (16 March).
During his visit, the adviser on private industry and investment convened a meeting with the relevant stakeholders.&nbsp;
Among those present were Environment, Forest, and Climate Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Jatiya Sangsad Chief Whip Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping Mostafa Kamal, and Rear Admiral Mohammad Sohail, alongside others.

Pangaon container terminal must become profitable: Salman F Rahman

The global NEV giant BYD has recently opened its chapter in the Bangladesh market by launching its flagship vehicle, BYD SEAL.&nbsp;
They have also opened up their flagship showroom in 340 Haque Center, Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Tejgaon, Dhaka on 2 March, reads a press release.&nbsp;
To make this journey more rewarding for EV lovers, CG Runner BD LTD, the distributor of BYD in Bangladesh, has come up with the Avant-Garde scheme, rolling out lucrative benefits for potential buyers, the release added.
Electric vehicles are the future and those who are willing to stay ahead in this race of owning the future should opt for something as smart &amp; stylish as BYD SEAL.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Pre-booking is underway in full swing. To spice things up, the no.1 Global NEV makers BYD is offering Avant-Garde scheme to its customers. Customers will get four kinds of benefits by availing this scheme - &nbsp; double deposit, insurance coverage, free accessories &amp; free registration facility. These benefits are together worth 10 lacs, meaning that customers can enjoy up to 10 lacs worth utility simply by availing this offer,&rdquo; the release stated.
This premium scheme has been offered taking into account the convenience of the customers. Car enthusiasts can click this link to pre-book BYD SEAL -- https://www.drivebydbd.com/.&nbsp;
Moreover, those who want to feel the real thrill can go to their newly opened flagship showroom and experience the car by taking it for a spin or by visiting https://www.drivebydbd.com/. The BYD SEAL is available in two variants: Extended Range (Rear Drive) and Performance (All-Wheel Drive). The available colors are: Arctic Blue, Aurora White, Atlantis Gray, and Cosmos Black. All the variants showcase a distinctive "Ocean Aesthetics" design. What are you waiting for then? It&rsquo;s time for you to get your hands on the steering wheel.

BYD brings in Avant-Garde scheme for Bangladeshi car enthusiasts

Mobile financial service provider Nagad has claimed to have uncovered a scheme attempting to sell fabricated customer information through misleading advertisements on social media platforms.
"A thorough investigation conducted by Nagad has shed light on the deceptive tactics employed by certain quarters, which led to the dissemination of false information regarding customer data. Regrettably, some media outlets fell prey to these promotions and erroneously implicated Nagad in their reports," reads a press release issued by Nagad on Wednesday (13 March).&nbsp;
In response to these alarming findings, Nagad said they have promptly reached out to regulatory authorities, emphasising the urgency of the matter. A formal letter has been dispatched in this regard, seeking immediate intervention to address the issue and safeguard the interests of customers."
Asserting its unwavering commitment to the highest standards of data security, Nagad assures customers of the utmost safety of their personal information. Leveraging state-of-the-art technology, Nagad ensures that all customer data remains encrypted, rendering any unauthorized access virtually impossible. Independent security analysts have repeatedly commended Nagad's robust security measures, underscoring the effectiveness of its infrastructure in safeguarding customer information.
Shyamol B Das, Additional Managing Director (Technology) at Nagad, reiterated the company's steadfast dedication to prioritizing the security of customer information above all else. He emphasized that despite rumors circulating on social media platforms, Nagad maintains stringent security protocols to prevent any compromise of customer data. Mr. Das reaffirmed Nagad's commitment to conducting business with integrity and ensuring the highest level of security for its customers.
Over the past five years, Nagad has played a pivotal role in revolutionizing Bangladesh's mobile financial landscape, attracting over 85 million customers with its customer-friendly innovations. The platform's simplified account opening process, coupled with its safe and affordable services, has significantly contributed to its widespread popularity. Nagad's utilization of cutting-edge technology underscores its commitment to providing the safest digital banking experience for its customers.
The recent approval for Nagad's digital bank launch marks a significant milestone in its journey, further solidifying its position as a trailblazer in the financial sector. With its transformative strides and unwavering dedication to customer security, Nagad continues to spearhead positive change, driving substantial business success in Bangladesh's dynamic financial landscape.

Customer info secure, no possibility of unauthorised access: Nagad

India's leading renewable energy (RE) company, Adani Green Energy Limited (AGEL), has successfully operationalised a cumulative capacity of 1,000 MW of solar energy at the world's largest RE park in Khavda, Gujarat.
According to a press release, this milestone propels AGEL's operational capacity to 9,478 MW, aligning with its ambitious target of reaching 45,000 MW by 2030.
Remarkably, AGEL accomplished the delivery of 1,000 MW in less than 12 months from the commencement of work at Khavda, involving the installation of approximately 2.4 million solar modules. This rapid progress underscores AGEL's dedication to India's objective of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.
Spanning a colossal 538 square kilometers of barren land, the world's largest RE plant at Khavda, with a capacity of 30 GW, is expected to be completed within the next five years, generating over 15,200 green jobs.
Drawing upon the established project execution capabilities of Adani Infra, technological expertise of Adani New Industries Limited (ANIL), and operational excellence of AIMSL, AGEL aims to replicate its success by constructing and operating India's first and the world's largest wind-solar hybrid cluster in Jaisalmer.
Innovative solutions are being deployed at Khavda to integrate sustainable practices. AGEL has committed to deploying waterless cleaning robots for the entire solar capacity to address dust accumulation on panels, thereby increasing energy output and conserving water in the arid Kutch region. This initiative aligns with AGEL's goal of water neutrality, in accordance with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6.
The Khavda plant stands as a testament to AGEL's sustainable progress and steadfast commitment to accelerating India's clean energy transition while enhancing social and natural capital in the region.

Adani Green Energy operationalises 1,000 MW of Khavda renewable energy park

Two platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to assist in the rescue work of two trains derailed after a commuter train crashed into an oil-carrying train in Joydebpur Railway junction in Gazipur on Friday morning.
The information came in a media release signed by Shariful Islam, public relations officer of the BGB headquarters in Dhaka.
The paramilitary members led by BGB-63 commander would remain deployed to maintain law and order and assist in the rescue operation, it reads.
Earlier in the morning, the Dhaka-bound Tangail commuter train smashed into Gazipur-bound freight train allegedly due to an error of the signalman on the south end of the railway junction.
Several compartments of both the trains derailed after the accident that occurred around 11am, disrupting rail communication with Dhaka and northern and western parts of the country.
Four people including the loco master of the commuter train sustained injuries in the accident.

Gazipur train derailment: 2 BGB platoons deployed to help rescue work

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is keen to work together with Bangladesh and other partners on climate front, extending finance to important projects which are useful and impactful.
"We want to finance very impactful, very useful and very important projects with other private sector investors," ADB Vice-President (Market Solutions) Bhargav Dasgupta told UNB while responding to a question during an interaction on Friday.
Dasgupta, who assumed the position on December 4 last year, said in Bangladesh what they understand is that there is a lot of interest in diversifying the energy sources.
"We are happy to see how we can partner with the government of Bangladesh and how we can work together," he said.
ADB&rsquo;s private sector operations are designed to empower businesses, unlock investments, and support the advancement of key development priorities in Asia and the Pacific.
ADB collaborates with a diverse range of stakeholders to address critical development challenges such as climate change, food security, and gender equality by providing innovative solutions to our clients.
Dasgupta, who is responsible for management of the operations of ADB&rsquo;s Private Sector Operations Department and Office of Markets Development and Public&ndash;Private Partnerships, ADB has been one of most "respected and trusted" partners for the governments in Asia's developing countries.
"We are trying to continue the good work we do always," he said.
The ADB vice president said they have been playing a fair role in the private sector, but they need to increase and scale up that role.
In 2021, ADB announced its ambition to increase its cumulative climate financing to $100 billion between 2019 and 2030, and to allocate $34 billion of this amount for cumulative adaptation and resilience investments, and $66 billion for cumulative mitigation financing.
ADB also aspires to reach $12 billion in cumulative climate finance for private sector operations by 2030, and to crowd in an additional $18&ndash;$30 billion to support the development of more commercially viable and climate-friendly businesses.
In 2022, ADB committed climate financing from own resources reached $6.7 billion, of which $2.7 billion is on adaptation and resilience and $4.0 billion is on mitigation.
The ADB official said one of the numbers that they have studied that Asia needs $1.7 trillion to achieve net zero objective.
Talking about engagement in Bangladesh with the private sector, he referred that the ADB last month signed a $121.55 million financing package with Dynamic Sun Energy Private Limited to build and operate a 100-megawatt (MW) grid-connected solar photovoltaic power plant in Pabna, Bangladesh.
&nbsp; The plant is the country&rsquo;s first private sector utility-scale solar facility to secure support from global financiers.
ADB arranged, structured, and syndicated the debt package as the sole mandated lead arranger and bookrunner.
The financing package comprises a $46.75 million loan from ADB, a syndicated B-loan of $28.05 million from ILX Fund I, an Amsterdam-based emerging market private credit fund focused on supporting the Sustainable Development Goals with ADB as lender of record, and a syndicated parallel loan of $46.75 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
&ldquo;As Asia&rsquo;s climate bank, ADB welcomes the opportunity to support renewable energy in Bangladesh, where obtaining long-term financing for such projects is a challenge,&rdquo; said ADB Private Sector Operations Department Director General Suzanne Gaboury.
&ldquo;This partnership exemplifies our lead role in mobilising financing for clean energy facilities and stimulating further investment in sectors where it&rsquo;s needed the most.&rdquo;
The solar power plant will generate 193.5 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually and avoid 93,654 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. &nbsp;

ADB keen to work together with Bangladesh on useful, Impactful projects

The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) has released the apparel export statistics for the period of July-April FY-2023-24.
During the mentioned period, the readymade garment (RMG) exports grew by 4.97% year-over-year to US$ 40.49 billion from US$ 38.58 billion during the same period of the fiscal year 2022-23, said BGMEA Director Mohiuddin Rubel.
The export of knitwear was US$ 22.88 billion, growth increased by 9.11% and woven garments were US$ 17.62 billion, growth increased by 0.03%, the business group&rsquo;s leader said.
The single-month apparel export earnings that indicate export in April 2024 was US$ 3.29 billion which decreased by 1.01% growth compared to April 2023, he added.

RMG exports up by almost 5pc in FY 2023-24

Although the rainfall in different parts of the country has declined heatwave intensity by this time in various places while&nbsp;medium to high range heatwave still continue in several north and southern parts of the country. &nbsp; "Severe heatwave is sweeping over Rajshahi, Pabna, Jashore, Chuadanga and&nbsp;Kushtia districts. Mild to moderate heatwave is sweeping over Dhaka, Rangpur,&nbsp;Mymensingh and Barishal divisions and rest part of Rajshahi and Khulna&nbsp;divisions and the district of Chandpur and it may abate from some places over&nbsp;the country," said a met office release for the next 24 hours begins from 9am on Friday (3 May).
Rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind are likely to occur at a few places over the Chattogram division and at one or two places over Dhaka, Barishal and Sylhet divisions with hails at isolated&nbsp;places.
Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere over&nbsp;the country, the release added.
Trough of westerly low lies over West Bengal to the North-east Bay across the&nbsp;southwestern part of Bangladesh.
The country's highest temperature on Thursday was recorded 41.8 degree Celsius at Chuadanga and today's minimum temperature 16.1 degree Celsius was recorded at&nbsp;Tetulia.
Maximum rainfall for the last twenty-four hours till 6am today was recorded 67 millimetres (mm) at Rangamati.
Day temperature may fall slightly and night temperature may rise slightly&nbsp;over the country.
The sun sets at 06.28 pm today and rises at 05.22 am tomorrow in the capital.

Heat wave weakens thanks to rain but still sweeping over country

Bangladesh has ranked 165th among 180 nations in on the World Press Freedom Index 2024.
Only Afghanistan is below Bangladesh in the list among South Asian countries, according to the index by Reporters Without Borders published on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day on Friday (3 May).
Bangladesh&rsquo;s score dropped to 27.64 out of 100 - a decrease from 35.31 last year, when it was ranked 163rd.
In 2022, Bangladesh held the 162nd position with a score of 36.63.
Meanwhile, it was in 2021, it was in 152nd place with a score of 50.29.
World Press Freedom Index assesses the level of freedom enjoyed by journalists and media across various countries and territories, analysing five contextual indicators: Political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and safety.
The report underscores that press freedom worldwide faces threats from political authorities, as indicated by the significant decline in the political indicator, which has experienced a global average decrease of 7.6 points.
The report highlights the Asia-Pacific region as the world's second most challenging region for journalism.
Myanmar, China, North Korea, Vietnam, and Afghanistan are among the top 10 most dangerous countries for media personnel, according to the index.
Norway retains its top spot in the global index with a score of 91.89, followed by Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Estonia, Portugal, Ireland, Switzerland, and Germany, rounding up the top 10.
Ranking 74th globally with a score of 60.52, Nepal has emerged as the leader in press freedom in South Asia.
It is followed by the Maldives at 106th with a score of 52.36.
Bhutan, previously leading in the region, now stands in third place in the region with a score of 37.29 and a global ranking of 147th.
Sri Lanka follows closely behind at fourth place with a score of 35.21 and a global rank of 150th.
Pakistan occupies the fifth position in the region, standing at 152nd place.
India holds the sixth position regionally and has climbed to 159th globally from last year's 161st.
Afghanistan now ranks at the bottom of the region, plummeting 26 places to 178th, with a score of 19.09.

Bangladesh among bottom 15 countries in Press Freedom Index 2024

Reuters

A bus veered into a ravine in Pakistan's far north early on Friday, a local government spokesman said, killing 20 passengers, while 21 injured were rescued and taken to hospital.
The bus was headed to the mountainous northern area of Gilgit-Baltistan from the garrison city of Rawalpindi in Pakistan's eastern province of Punjab, when the accident happened in the early hours.
"The bus was passing through Diamer district in Gilgit-Baltistan when it fell into a deep ravine," Faizullah Firaq, a spokesman for local government authorities in the area, told Reuters, adding that 21 people were injured.
The government immediately launched a rescue operation to evacuate all the injured, who were taken to hospital, he added.
Fatal road accidents are common in Pakistan, where traffic rules are rarely followed and roads in many rural areas are in poor condition.
For decades Pakistan has done extensive work in carving roads through its dramatic rugged northern terrain, home to some of the world's highest mountain ranges, approached by narrow roads perched on sheer cliffs.
Militant attacks, including one in March nearby in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that killed six people, pose another risk to travellers in the area, targeting Chinese-backed dams and hydropower infrastructure projects.

Bus falls into ravine in Pakistan's far north, killing 20

AP/UNB

Police have arrested nearly 2,200 people during pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses across the United States in recent weeks, sometimes using riot gear, tactical vehicles and flash-bang devices to clear tent encampments and occupied buildings. One officer accidentally discharged his gun inside a Columbia University administration building while clearing out protesters camped inside, authorities said.
No one was injured by the officer's mistake late Tuesday inside Hamilton Hall on the Columbia campus, the NYPD said Thursday. He was trying to use the flashlight attached to his gun at the time and instead fired a single round that struck a frame on the wall.
There were other officers but no students in the immediate vicinity, officials said. Body camera footage shows when the officer's gun went off, but the district attorney's office is conducting a review, a standard practice.
More than 100 people were taken into custody during the Columbia crackdown, just a fraction of the total arrests stemming from recent campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war. A tally by The Associated Press recorded at least 56 incidents of arrests at 43 different U.S. colleges or universities since April 18. The figures are based on AP reporting and statements from universities and law enforcement agencies.
Early Thursday, officers surged against a crowd of demonstrators at University of California, Los Angeles, ultimately taking at least 200 protesters into custody after hundreds defied orders to leave, some forming human chains as police fired flash-bangs to break up the crowds. Police tore apart a fortified encampment&rsquo;s barricade of plywood, pallets, metal fences and dumpsters, then pulled down canopies and tents.
Like at UCLA, tent encampments of protesters calling on universities to stop doing business with Israel or companies they say support the war in Gaza have spread across other campuses nationwide in a student movement unlike any other this century.
Israel has branded the protests antisemitic, while Israel&rsquo;s critics say it uses those allegations to silence opposition. Although some protesters have been caught on camera making antisemitic remarks or violent threats, protest organizers &mdash; some of whom are Jewish &mdash; call it a peaceful movement to defend Palestinian rights and protest the war.
President Joe Biden on Thursday defended the right of students to peaceful protest but decried the disorder of recent days.
The demonstrations began at Columbia on 17 April with students calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas war, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to the Health Ministry there. Israel launched its offensive in Gaza after Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, on Oct. 7 and took roughly 250 hostages in an attack on southern Israel.
On April 18, the NYPD cleared Columbia's initial encampment and arrested roughly 100 protesters. The demonstrators set up new tents and defied threats of suspension, and escalated their actions early Tuesday by occupying Hamilton Hall, an administration building that was similarly seized in 1968 by students protesting racism and the Vietnam War.
Roughly 20 hours later, officers stormed the hall. Video showed police with zip ties and riot shields streaming through a second-floor window. Police had said protesters inside presented no substantial resistance.
The officer's gun went off at 9:38pm, the NYPD said, about 10 minutes after police started pouring into Hamilton Hall. The department did not name the officer, whose actions were first reported by news outlet The City on Thursday.
The confrontations at UCLA also played out over several days this week. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block told alumni on a call Thursday afternoon that the trouble started after a permitted pro-Israel rally was held on campus Sunday and fights broke out and &ldquo;live mice&rdquo; were tossed into the pro-Palestinian encampment later that day.
In the following days, administrators tried to find a peaceful solution with members of the encampment and expected things to remain stable, Block said.
That changed late Tuesday, he said, when counterdemonstrators attacked the pro-Palestinian encampment. Campus administrators and police did not intervene or call for backup for hours. No one was arrested that night, but at least 15 protesters were injured. The delayed response drew criticism from political leaders, including California Gov Gavin Newsom, and officials pledged an independent review.
By Wednesday, the encampment had become &ldquo;much more of a bunker&rdquo; and there was no other solution but to have police dismantle it, Block said.
The hourslong standoff went into Thursday morning as officers warned over loudspeakers that there would be arrests if the crowd &mdash; at the time more than 1,000 strong inside the encampment as well as outside of it &mdash; did not disperse. Hundreds left voluntarily, while another 200-plus remained and were ultimately taken into custody.
Meanwhile, protest encampments at other schools across the US have been cleared by police &mdash; resulting in more arrests &mdash; or closed voluntarily. But University of Minnesota officials reached an agreement with protesters not to disrupt commencements, and similar compromises have been made at Northwestern University in suburban Chicago, Rutgers University in New Jersey and Brown University in Rhode Island. &nbsp;

Nearly 2,200 people have been arrested during pro-Palestinian protests on US college campuses

Nine Bangladeshi universities have made it to the Times Higher Education 2024 Asia list.
Times Higher Education, a renowned education magazine from the UK, shared a list of 739 universities across Asia for the year 2024 on its website on April 30.
Including Bangladesh, the list includes universities from 31 different territories in Asia. Among them, India has 91 universities, China has 86, and Pakistan has 40 universities.
Bangladeshi universities, including BUET and Jahangirnagar University, are ranked between 301-350.
Other top universities in Bangladesh include Bangladesh Agricultural University, North South University, BRAC University, University of Dhaka, University of Rajshahi, Khulna University, and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.
The top two spots on the list went to Chinese universities: Tsinghua University and Peking University. China also has 33 universities in the top 100.
In India, the Indian Institute of Science is at the top, ranking 32nd in Asia. In Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam University leads nationally and ranks 121st in Asia.
The rankings consider things like teaching quality, research, industry connections, and international influence.
The list was made available on Times Higher Education's website on Tuesday (April 30th).

9 Bangladeshi universities in Times Higher Education 2024 Asia list

The present situation of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is the result of the party leaders&rsquo; negligence, said Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.
&ldquo;The case was filed against her by the caretaker government, Awami League did not file the case. She was arrested and imprisoned in that case. &nbsp;BNP leadership&rsquo;s negligence is the reason for Begum Zia's current situation,&rdquo; he said at a press briefing at the Awami League president's political office in Dhanmondi on Friday (3 May).
&ldquo;A trial that could have been over in a year has not been completed in ten years,&rdquo; he added.
He said PM Sheikh Hasina was generous enough to allow Khaleda&rsquo;s punishment to be suspended.
&ldquo;Arrangements have been made for her to stay at home and receive treatment,&rdquo; the AL leader said.
In response to a question about domestic and foreign pressures, Obaidul Quader said, "We feel these pressures while performing the duties of the country."
&ldquo;Before the elections, there were public threats, intimidation, and fear of sanctions. These were given openly. Our statement on this matter is also clear,&rdquo; he further said.

BNP’s negligence responsible for Khaleda Zia’s present situation: Quader

Chapainawabganj, the country's mango capital, is facing a potential fruit failure this year due to the relentless heatwave scorching the region. Mango cultivation, already hit by an off-year with lower yields, is now under further threat as the intense heat dries up and causes immature mangoes to fall from trees.
Despite efforts by farmers to irrigate and control the situation with pesticides, the mangoes continue to fall, raising serious concerns about the district's mango output. The woes of growers began earlier in the season when excessive cold delayed the emergence of mango buds. This was followed by untimely rains during the blooming stage, destroying many buds and reducing fruit production.
Disheartened by these initial setbacks, farmers are now grappling with the scorching heatwave. A visit to several orchards revealed a disheartening scene &ndash; small mangoes scattered on the ground instead of hanging healthily on the trees. The lack of rain has stunted their growth, leaving them significantly smaller than they should be at this stage.
Some fortunate farmers with the resources have installed diesel-powered irrigation machines to provide much-needed water to their trees. However, many others lack this facility and can only watch helplessly as their mangoes fall victim to the harsh weather conditions.
Abdur Ahad, a local mango grower, shared his worries: "This year, there were very few mangoes to begin with due to the scarce buds. Now, the situation is even worse with the drought. The mangoes are drying up and falling every day. Despite irrigating and spraying, I can't seem to stop them. The lack of rain is hindering their growth as well."
Abdur Rakib, another grower from Ajaipaur, echoed Ahad's concerns. "The intense heatwave is causing the mangoes to fall. I've already sprayed them thrice, and the production cost is skyrocketing. If the yield is affected, I'm looking at a major financial loss."
Shamima, a grower from the same area, painted a bleak picture: "The condition of mangoes in our district is very bad. We won't be able to achieve our goals from cultivating the orchards. It seems like there will be a mango fruit failure this time."
Palash Sarkar, Deputy Director of the District Agricultural Extension Department, explained the factors contributing to the crisis. "This year, we observed a significant decrease in mango bud formation. The dense fog in February and March followed by rain and light hailstorms damaged the flowers during the crucial flowering stage. Now, the intense heatwave is causing the remaining mangoes to fall. The possibility of future hailstorms and Kal Baisakhi storms further threatens the yield."
According to the Department of Agriculture, mango cultivation in Chapainawabganj this season covers 37,604 hectares of land, with a target production of 450,000 metric tons. Last season, the district produced 443,625 MT of mangoes.
The current heatwave poses a significant threat to exceeding or even meeting last year's production. The plight of Chapainawabganj's mango growers highlights the vulnerability of agriculture to extreme weather events and the urgent need for climate-resilient practices to safeguard future harvests. &nbsp;

Fear of fruit failure grips mango growers in Chapainawabganj as heatwave intensifies

The United Nations General Assembly has unanimously adopted Bangladesh&rsquo;s flagship annual resolution on the &lsquo;Culture of Peace&rsquo; with an overwhelming number of co-sponsorships.
Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in New York Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith introduced the resolution at the General Assembly Hall.
It marks the 25th anniversary of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.
In 1999, during the first tenure of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the delegation of Bangladesh led the intergovernmental negotiations for adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action which identified eight areas of action to promote culture of peace and non-violence.
While introducing the resolution, Ambassador Muhith highlighted the continued relevance of culture of peace, as the world faces spiralling conflicts and dereliction of human dignity.
&ldquo;To reverse the trend, we must rekindle the brighter and harmonious faculties of the human minds, foster respect for equality and equal value of all human beings; and most importantly we must make peace more profitable than war,&rdquo; he said.
To observe and celebrate the 25th anniversary in a befitting manner, the president of the General Assembly has been requested to convene a day-long high-level forum.
Through this resolution, the General Assembly also invited the Member States, United Nations entities, international and regional organisations and other relevant stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, academia and the media to observe the 25th anniversary, in an appropriate manner, including through educational and public awareness-raising activities.
Referring to Bangladesh&rsquo;s own experience of war and devastation, Muhith said that the initiative of Bangladesh to introduce the notion of culture of peace in the UN was inspired by the country&rsquo;s own experience.
&ldquo;Having born out of a devastating war that was rooted in discrimination, racial intolerance and subjugation, we made promotion of peace a fundamental principle of our foreign policy,&rdquo; he added.
The consideration of the resolution was preceded by a general debate on the culture of peace.
A large number of member states and groups of countries delivered statements in which they expressed their commitment to advancing the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a culture of peace.
The delegations particularly acknowledged the historic leadership of Bangladesh on this agenda.
This year's resolution has been cosponsored by 112 countries, showcasing a broad-based endorsement from a diverse representation of UN Member States.

UN unanimously adopts Bangladesh’s Resolution on Culture of Peace

The former joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam, Maulana Mamunul Haque has been released from jail after securing bail in the cases filed against him.
He walked out of Kashimpur High-Security Central Jail in Gazipur at around 10:30am on Friday (3 May), Senior Jail Superintendent Subrata Kumar Bala said.
Mamunul Haque's supporters and Hefazat activists gathered at the jail gate to welcome him.
Initially slated for Thursday (2 May) night, Mamunul's release was postponed due to security concerns, as disclosed by a source familiar with the matter.
Mamunul is accused in 41 cases filed with different police stations.
On April 3, 2021, Mamunul was found at a resort in Sonargaon, Narayanganj, with a woman. He was surrounded by Awami League activists.&nbsp;
Later, activists and supporters of Hefazat went there, ransacked the resort and took him away. &nbsp;
Then on April 30, 2021, the woman appeared at Sonargaon police station and filed a case against Mamunul alleging that he had raped her with the promise of marriage.
Two cases were filed against Mamunul Haque at Paltan police station in the capital and Sonargaon police station in Narayanganj in connection with violence and the resort incident.

Mamunul Haque walks out of jail after getting bail

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina received eye treatment at the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital like a general patient after buying a Tk10 ticket.
The premier reached the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in the capital at around 11am on Friday (3 May), PM's Assistant Press Secretary ABM Sarwar-e-Alom Sarkar said.
She stood in line, collected the ticket herself and went for regular eye exams.
While leaving the hospital, she exchanged pleasantries with the patients and their relatives, as well as the doctors, nurses, and employees of the hospital .
&nbsp;

PM Hasina takes treatment at eye hospital as general patient

This year's Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and equivalent exam results will be published on 12 May.
Education Minister Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel will hand over the summary and statistics of the results to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at 10am on that day, said a letter sent from the Prime Minister's Office to the Education Secretary on Thursday (2 May).
The chairmen of nine education boards will be with him at that time.
&nbsp;

SSC results on 12 May

The health authorities in Bangladesh said they are monitoring the global concern over the serious side effects of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
However, no serious side effects have been reported so far among the vaccine&rsquo;s recipients in the country, said the officials.
The National Immunisation Technical Advisory (NiTAG) acts as an advisor to the government on vaccine approval and implementation in the country.
When the AstraZeneca vaccine was introduced under the Covishield name in 2021, public health expert Professor Dr Bey-Nazir Ahmed was a member of NiTAG.
"In emergency situations, after analysing the scientific data, NiTAG advised to approve the vaccine in the country. The AstraZeneca vaccine was prepared in a very short time. It usually takes 10-12 years for a vaccine to reach the implementation stage. Sometimes more time is needed. When the vaccine was approved in Bangladesh, it was also approved in the UK,&rdquo; he told the media recently.
&ldquo;A clinical survey is needed to determine whether the problem that is being talked about is happening in Bangladesh. We advised the government at that time to monitor those who will be vaccinated. This observation is usually for a short or long period of time,&rdquo; he added.
&ldquo;Which vaccine can be approved, whether there will be a trial or not, how it will be applied, who will get priority, how to save - NiTAG advises the government on these issues. The Directorate of Drug Administration (DGDA) seeks feedback when a vaccine is discovered. These procedures have been adopted regarding coronavirus vaccination. If a vaccine causes a problem in a person, it may not be detected if the subject is not properly reviewed. For this, a certain number of people should be monitored for a long time after vaccination,&rdquo; the health expert further said.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), so far 8 coronavirus vaccines have been administered in the country.
More than 15 crore people of different ages have received 36,68,75,000 vaccinations in the first to fourth doses, DGHS added.
DGHS Line Director (Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Expanded Immunisation Programme) Dr Mohammad Nizam Uddin said, "We are not giving AstraZenecar vaccine now. We have heard about the side effects of this vaccine. However, no such incident has been found in Bangladesh. We have an expert committee to work on this. The issue of vaccine side effects is observed across the country.&rdquo;
On 27 January, 2021, the government administered the first Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine on an experimental basis.
It was developed by the Serum Institute of India. After that, Bangladesh got AstraZeneca vaccine from other sources as well.
So far, 5,62,80,000 doses of vaccine has been administered in the country - which is 15.3% of the total administered vaccines.
Rare side effects have recently been reported in Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine recipients and the British-Swiss pharmaceutical company even has been forced to admit it in a legal battle following a case in the British court on the matter.
Although the company had said so far, the COVID-19 vaccine developed with the help of Oxford University is not harmful; however, there were claims that some people died and some suffered serious illnesses because of the vaccine.
UK&rsquo;s The Telegraph reported that it causes a rare side effect called thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS).
According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TTS is a rare physical condition that causes low platelets in the blood.
Platelets help blood clot. As a result, if this component of the blood decreases, the physical condition of the person may deteriorate.
TTS causes blood clots in the brain or intestines, sometimes in the legs or lungs. As a result, the platelet count in the blood can drop below 150,000 per microlitre.
Symptoms of TTS include severe headache, abdominal pain, leg swelling, shortness of breath and seizures.
Considering the various side effects, no vaccine other than Pfizer is being used in the country, said NiTAG President Professor Dr Khan Abul Kalam Azad.
"Last November, we only told the government about Pfizer's vaccination. Moderna&rsquo;s vaccines have some side effects on the heart, so we stopped that too,&rdquo; he added.
"When the AstraZeneca vaccine was introduced, there was no alternative vaccine. Later many vaccines were found. These vaccines have been approved in different countries of the world including the USA, UK, Australia, Japan, and Germany. We have suggested the same. This approval was given based on scientific data,&rdquo; the health expert further said.
However, he said those who have received the CoviShield vaccine have been asked to monitor whether there are any problems.
Doctors have been asked to seriously monitor patients with neurological, heart and lung problems.
As early as March 2021, concerns about side effects of the Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine spread in Europe.
Blood clots in about 40 people who received the vaccine in Norway and Denmark raised concerns.
In a statement at the time, AstraZeneca said there was no scientific evidence that the vaccine it developed increased the risk of blood clots.
DGHS says that the vaccination programme is now ongoing in the country on a regular basis.
As advised by the technical advisory committee, only Pfizer vaccine is being used in the country.
The AstraZeneca vaccine was last administered at least a year and a half ago, DGHS added.

AstraZeneca side effects: Bangladesh monitoring global situation

Islami Bank Plc and Social Islami Bank Limited (SIBL) were the top remittance collectors in April as $2.4 billion was sent to Bangladesh by expatriates in the month.
A total of around $500 million in remittances were sent through Islami Bank PLC in the month of April this year, according to Bangladesh Bank data released on Thursday (2 May).
SIBL, BRAC Bank, Janata Bank and National Bank respectively stood at the second, third, fourth and fifth positions.
The central bank said the growth in remittance flow in April compared to March was 2.16%.
Earlier, remittances fell by 8.46% in March compared to February.
&ldquo;Decrease or increase in remittance flow is a regular and normal phenomenon. However, the remittance flow is increasing every year. Remittances help stabilise the supply and exchange rate of foreign currency in the country and strengthen reserves,&rdquo; said a top official of the Bangladesh Bank.
Meanwhile, central bank sources said that if the 'hundi' syndicates are not stopped, the flow of remittances through the legal route will decrease.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, in the first 10 months of the current financial year, remittance inflows saw a 7% increase compared to last year.
According to sources, a total of $1.99 in remittances came to the country in March. The amount of remittance in February was $2.16 billion.

Islami Bank, SIBL top remittance collectors in April

AFP/BSS

Modern Europe is facing a triple existential threat; a new paradigm is needed to counter it, French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with the British weekly The Economist.
"It's this triple existential risk for our Europe: a military and security risk; an economic risk for our prosperity; an existential risk of internal incoherence and disruption to the functioning of our democracies," the French president said. "So these are the three risks that have accelerated in recent years, very strongly no doubt. Moreover, after the pandemic, we underestimated these tensions, even though Europe began to respond to them, but too timidly or sometimes a little too late," he added.
According to Macron, "a new geopolitical, economic and societal paradigm for Europe" is needed to address these challenges. First of all, as the president believes, Europe must take care of its own security. In addition, it needs to ensure its strategic autonomy "in terms of energy, materials and rare resources, but also in terms of key skills and technologies."
Among other things, this concerns the active participation of its companies in the development of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing, where the United States and China may get a long-term advantage. Finally, Europe needs to address the vulnerabilities "created by social networks and the digitalization of our societies and the way democracy works," he went on to say.
In reply to the question whether this will lead to a gradual death, or will it be a sudden death, Macron said: "Things can fall apart very quickly. In Europe and everywhere else, they are creating a rise in anger and resentment."

Europe facing 'triple existential risk,' Macron warns

Former British prime minister Boris Johnson, who introduced a contentious requirement for voters to show photo ID while voting, was turned away from a polling station on Thursday for forgetting to bring his.
Johnson, who quit in 2022 following a scandal-ridden premiership, was initially turned away at a polling station in Oxfordshire, southern England, while trying to vote in local elections taking place across England on Thursday (2 May), reports the BBC.
As prime minister, Johnson's government introduced the ID requirement in 2022 to crack down on possible voter fraud but it was heavily criticised for the potential to disenfranchise parts of the electorate.

Boris Johnson, who introduced voter ID rule in UK, turned away from polling station after forgetting his own

Several people were injured when a freight train collided head-on with a passenger train in Gazipur.
The incident took place at Joydebpur railway station around 10:45am on Friday (3 May).
Locals said a commuter train leaving Dhaka for Tangail hit a freight train standing at the outer signal at Kazipara when it crossed Joydebpur railway station.
Five compartments of the passenger train have been derailed.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Several injured as trains collide head-on in Gazipur

Despite there being no shortage of supply, the prices of almost every daily essential commodity have increased on the pretext of the heat waves sweeping across the country.
Traders say there is adequate supply but high prices are due to items rotting faster than before because of the severe heat waves.
However, the price of broiler chicken has decreased slightly compared to week.&nbsp;
Visiting the capital's Karwan Bazar kitchen market on Friday (3 May), broiler chicken was found to be selling at Tk190-200 per kg, which was Tk220-230 per kg last week.
Beef was being sold at Tk780-800 per kg while mutton was at Tk1,100 per kg.&nbsp;
Meanwhile, the price of vegetables has increased compared to last week, citing less supply due to last night's rain.&nbsp;
No vegetable was being sold for less than Tk60-70.
Carrots were being sold at Tk60, beans at Tk80, and eggplants at Tk100 per kg.
A hali (set of four) of lemons was being sold at Tk40.
Prices of fish have not increased much compared to last week.&nbsp;
Hossain Ali, a resident of Moghbazar, came to the kitchen market for his weekly grocery shopping.
&ldquo;The price of fish seems to be the same as before. But the price of vegetables is increasing day by day,&rdquo; he said.

Prices of kitchen market essentials still high

The success of ballistic missile defences facing their first complex, high-stakes combat scenarios in Israel, the Red Sea and Ukraine will encourage militaries globally to invest in the pricey systems, experts say - and intensify missile arms races.
Iran launched as many as 120 intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Israel on 13 April, US and Israeli officials say. US SM-3 and Israeli Arrow interceptors destroyed nearly all of them, leaving drones and smaller threats to the Iron Dome system. &nbsp; In previous months, interceptors fired from US Navy destroyers stopped Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles, while in Ukraine, US-made MIM-104 Patriot batteries have shot down advanced Russian Iskander and Khinzal missiles.
Reuters spoke with six experts who said more militaries would look to invest in ballistic missile defence, a potential windfall for companies such as Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, which build those types of systems. &nbsp; "It's undeniable that any wealthy country with the technological wherewithal will continue to invest in missile defence," said Ankit Panda of the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a defence and security think tank. "All of this is a recipe for a conventional arms race."
European countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Poland already operate RTX subsidiary Raytheon's Patriot batteries, the most common Western advanced ballistic missile defence system. &nbsp; Saudi Arabia has used its Patriots for years to defend against Houthi attacks; it and the United Arab Emirates also operate the Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), opens new tab Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system.
Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain have Patriot batteries as well, and Oman has expressed interest in missile defence.
In the US, Lockheed Martin in April won a $17.7 billion contract for a next-generation interceptor for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) programme - designed to shoot down small numbers of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) aimed at the continental United States. &nbsp; But the impact may be most acute in Asia, where China has invested heavily in conventionally armed ballistic missiles.
A 2023 Pentagon report said the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force has about 500 DF-26 missiles, designed to accurately strike targets thousands of kilometres away.
That puts US and allied bases in Japan and Guam within range of an attack that may only come with 20 to 30 minutes' warning.
Ballistic missile defence works by spotting an attacking weapon either at launch or in flight, then using a surface-based radar to guide an interceptor to the target.
Interceptions can occur in the atmosphere or in space, and each domain requires different hardware. For instance, fins won't work outside the atmosphere - interceptors must have small steering rockets to function there.
The necessary high-powered computers, far-seeing radars and missiles as large as telephone poles are not cheap, together stretching into the billions. In 2022, for example, the US approved the sale of both Patriots and THAAD systems to Saudi Arabia, in deals worth as much as $5.3 billion.
In the Indo-Pacific region, wealthier countries such as Japan, Australia and South Korea are prime candidates for missile defence, Lewis said, while nearly every country in Asia is already investing in missiles.
Japan's defence ministry said the country "needs to fundamentally and swiftly reinforce its defence capabilities, including integrated air and missile defence". It said it is investing in improved Patriot missiles, better radars and enhanced naval anti-missile capabilities.
In its latest defence budget, South Korea increased funding by 12% for its Korea Air and Missile Defense System to expand it "from the existing lower-level defence concept," the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
"Cases such as the Israel-Hamas conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war have reaffirmed the importance of a 'ballistic missile defence system' to respond to increasingly sophisticated missile threats," the ministry said.
In mid-April, Australia announced a A$500 million ($328 million) contract with Lockheed Martin to deliver its Joint Air Battle Management System for tracking and destroying aircraft and missiles.
The cost of a ballistic missile is often much cheaper than the system meant to stop it.
But that isn't the right way to consider cost, said Yoji Koda, former commander in chief of Japan's Self-Defense Fleet, and an advocate of stronger missile defences in his country.
"In a war economy, the cheaper the better. But sometimes what is necessary, is we need to protect key infrastructure, or key command centres, at any cost. Because without them we would lose."
THE CHINA QUESTION
Most of China's conventionally armed ballistic missiles are designed to hit targets on land.
But it also fields steerable warheads meant to hit ships at sea, including the DF-21D and variants of the DF-26, developed by the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
Such anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) had never been used in combat until late 2023, when Houthi forces in Yemen began firing Iranian-made models at ships in the Red Sea.
Between November - the first documented use - and April, U.S. Central Command reported at least 85 ASBMs fired in the region, with 20 interceptions and one civilian ship reported sunk.
CENTCOM has declined to provide specifics about the effectiveness of Iranian ASBMs but has noted missiles posing no threat were not engaged and most that were not intercepted landed harmlessly.
The effectiveness of missile defences on land and at sea will catch China's attention, said Tong Zhao, a senior fellow with the Nuclear Policy Program and Carnegie China.
"It raises the possibility that the US and its allies could depend on missile defence significantly against a ballistic missile attack," Zhao said.
Although the technical specifics of China's missiles are closely held secrets, the country's heavy investment means they are likely to be more reliable, and are widely believed to use complex countermeasures to complicate interception.
"For opponents such as China which have missile stockpiles an order of magnitude larger than that of Russia or Iran and which field more sophisticated systems ... it's not clear that the lessons learned invalidate existing operational constructs," said Sidarth Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute.
But the political and practical incentives to invest in missile defence will be too attractive for many countries to ignore, Lewis said.
"All defence procurement decisions are ultimately about politics," he said. "The politics of this stuff is really simple: do you want to defend the country or not? And the winning answer is always 'Yes'."
($1 = 1.5225 Australian dollars) &nbsp;

Missile defence successes in Israel, Ukraine fuel global urgency to acquire systems

Under mounting political pressure, US President Joe Biden broke his silence on campus unrest over the war in Gaza on Thursday, saying Americans have the right to demonstrate but not to unleash violence.
"There is a right to protest, but not a right to cause chaos," Biden said in remarks at the White House.
With television images of campus unrest that have swept the country in recent days playing out on news networks, Biden has faced criticism of his handling of the situation. He had been leaving it largely up to his spokespersons to comment.
The Democratic president, seeking re-election in November, has walked a careful line of denouncing antisemitism while supporting young Americans' right to protest and trying to limit longer-term political damage.
Biden said both sides had a point, that peaceful dissent was critical to a democracy but that violence would not be tolerated.
"Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It's against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancelling of classes and graduations -none of this is a peaceful protest," he said.
Biden said the United States was not an authoritarian nation that silences critics but that "order must prevail."
"Dissent is essential to democracy but dissent must never lead to disorder or denying the rights of others so students can't finish the semester and college education," he said.
Biden, asked whether state governors should call in National Guard troops to restore order if necessary, replied "no."
In response to a reporter's question, Biden said the campus protests had not forced him to reconsider his policies in the Middle East.
Student protesters are calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and demanding schools divest from companies that support Israel's government.

Biden breaks silence on college protests over Gaza conflict

Police forcibly removed scores of defiant pro-Palestinian protesters at several colleges on Thursday, including taking down an encampment at UCLA in a jarring scene that underscored the heightened chaos that has erupted at universities this week.
In the pre-dawn hours, helmeted police swarmed a tent city set up at the University of California in Los Angeles, using flash bangs and riot gear to push through lines of protesters who linked arms in a futile attempt to halt their advance.
Hundreds were arrested at UCLA and other schools.
"I'm a student here," one UCLA protester told cameras as he was led away, his hands bound. "Please don't fail us. Don't fail us."
Hours later, the student, who would only give his first name as Ryan, was back on campus and vowed he would not stop fighting.
"We will be back," said Ryan, who was cited for unlawful assembly. "We will be disrupting. We will be demanding divestment."
Students have rallied or set up tents at dozens of universities in recent days to protest Israel's war on Gaza. Demonstrators have called on President Joe Biden, who has supported Israel's right to defend itself, to do more to stop the bloodshed in Gaza and demanded schools divest from companies that support Israel's government.
Many of the schools, including Columbia University in New York City, have called in police to quell the protests.
Biden broke his silence on the demonstrations on Thursday after the UCLA raid, saying Americans have the right to protest but not to unleash violence.
"Destroying property is not a peaceful protest," he said at the White House. "It's against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancelling of classes and graduations - none of this is a peaceful protest."
Biden, who is seeking re-election in November against Republican former President Donald Trump, has walked a careful line as he confronts criticism from both the right and the left over his Israel policy.
VIOLENCE ON CAMPUS
At UCLA, police repeatedly urged demonstrators to clear the protest zone, which occupied a central plaza about the size of a football field, before they moved in.
Dozens of loud explosions were heard from stun grenades, fired by police, while demonstrators, some carrying makeshift shields and umbrellas, chanted "push them back" and flashed bright lights in officers' eyes.
Live TV footage showed officers taking down tents and tearing apart makeshift barricades.
Some of the protesters had been seen donning hard hats, goggles and respirator masks in anticipation of the siege a day after the university declared the encampment unlawful.
By morning, the plaza was strewn with detritus from the destroyed encampment: tents, blankets, food containers, a Palestinian flag, an upturned helmet. Police remained on hand during the first half of the day as the area was cleaned of debris.
In Portland, Oregon, police entered the Portland State University library on Thursday morning, where demonstrators had barricaded themselves since Monday. Several dozen protesters ran out of the building and rushed into a phalanx of officers in riot gear, who arrested them.
In New Hampshire, police arrested approximately 100 protesters in separate incidents at Dartmouth University and the University of New Hampshire overnight, breaking up encampments.
The protests follow the deadly Oct 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip, which killed 1,200 people and saw dozens taken hostage, and an ensuing Israeli offensive that has killed about 34,000 and created a humanitarian crisis.
The campus demonstrations have been met with counter-protesters accusing them of fomenting anti-Jewish hatred. The pro-Palestinian side, including some Jews opposed to Israeli actions in Gaza, say they are being unfairly branded as antisemitic for criticizing Israel's government and expressing support for human rights.
UCLA had cancelled classes for the day on Wednesday following a violent clash between the encampment's occupants and a group of masked counter-demonstrators who mounted a surprise assault late Tuesday night on the tent city.
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, in a written statement, said that officials had allowed the encampment to remain on campus for several days as it was peaceful at first, but that the clashes with the pro-Israeli crowd clearly put students in harm's way.
"It led to unsafe conditions on our campus and it damaged our ability to carry out our mission," Block said of the encampment. "It needed to come to an end."
Taylor Gee, a 30-year-old pro-Palestinian protester and UCLA law student, said the police operation on Thursday felt "especially galling" to many protesters given the slow police response a night earlier.
"For them to come out the next night to remove us from the encampment, it doesn't make any sense, but it also makes all the sense in the world," he said.
UCLA officials said the campus, with nearly 52,000 students, would remain shuttered except for limited operations on Thursday and Friday.

Fresh chaos, arrests on US college campuses as police flatten camp at UCLA

Seventy percent of environmental journalists from 129 countries, polled in March, reported experiencing attacks, threats or pressure related to their job, UNESCO said Thursday.
Of those, two in five subsequently experienced physical violence, it said in a report released on World Press Freedom Day. More than 900 reporters were questioned for the poll.
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization warned of an increase in violence against and intimidation of journalists reporting on the environment and climate.
"Without reliable scientific information about the ongoing environmental crisis, we can never hope to overcome it," UNESCO director general Audrey Azoulay said in a statement.
"And yet the journalists we rely on to investigate this subject and ensure information is accessible face unacceptably high risks all over the world, and climate-related disinformation is running rampant on social media."
UNESCO said at least 749 journalists and news media outlets reporting on environmental issues were "targeted with murder, physical violence, detention and arrest, online harassment or legal attacks" between 2009 and 2023.
More than 300 of those attacks occurred between 2019 and 2023 -- a 42 percent increase on the preceding five-year period.
"The problem is global, with attacks taking place in 89 countries in all regions of the world," the agency added.
At least 44 environmental journalists have been killed for their work in the past 15 years, with convictions in only five cases, said the report.
On top of hundreds of reported physical attacks, "a third of journalists surveyed said they had been censored," it added.
"Almost half (45%) said they self-censored when covering the environment due to fear of being attacked, having their sources exposed, or due to an awareness that their stories conflicted with the interests of concerned stakeholders."
At a press freedom conference in Chile this week, UNESCO will announce the launch of a grants program to provide legal and technical support to over 500 environmental journalists facing persecution, said the statement.

70% of environment journalists report attacks, threats, pressure: UN

Quebec Premier Francois Legault said on Thursday the encampment at Montreal's McGill University should be dismantled as more students erected pro-Palestinian camps across some of Canada's largest universities, demanding they divest from groups with ties to Israel.
The Canadian protests come as police have been arresting hundreds on US campuses and the death toll in Gaza has been mounting.
While McGill had requested police intervention, law enforcement had not stepped in Thursday to clear the encampment and did not respond to Reuters' questions about their plans. Students also set up encampments at Canadian schools including the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia and the University of Ottawa.
"We want the camp to be dismantled. We trust the police, let them do their job," a spokesperson for Legault said.
There was also a pro-Israel counter-protest in Montreal Thursday. The two sides were kept separate.
On Thursday morning, students at the University of Toronto set up an encampment in a fenced-off grassy space at the school's downtown campus where some 100 protesters gathered with dozens of tents.
According to a statement from organisers the encampment will stay until the university discloses its investments, divests from any that "sustain Israeli apartheid, occupation and illegal settlement of Palestine" and ends partnerships with some Israeli academic institutions.
Israel says it does not participate in apartheid and that its assault on Gaza does not constitute genocide.
A university spokesperson told Reuters it was "in dialogue with the protesters" and that, as of midday, the encampment was "not disruptive to normal university activities."
University of Toronto graduate student and encampment spokesperson Sara Rasikh told Reuters they will remain until their demands are met.
"If public disruption is the only way to get our voice heard, then we are willing to do that," she said.
Some Jewish groups have accused protesters of being antisemitic. Organisers deny that charge, noting that some protesters are Jewish.
Asked to comment on the encampments, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office pointed to a statement he made on Tuesday, saying "Universities are places of learning, they&rsquo;re places for freedom of expression ... but that only works if people feel safe on campus. Right now ... Jewish students do not feel safe. That&rsquo;s not right."The protests follow the deadly Oct 7 attack on southern Israel by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip, which killed 1,200 people and saw dozens taken hostage, and an ensuing Israeli offensive that has killed about 34,000 and created a humanitarian crisis.

Students erect pro-Palestinian encampments across major Canadian universities

The United&nbsp;Nations said Thursday that the post-war reconstruction of Gaza would require an&nbsp;international effort unseen since the aftermath of World War II, estimating it&nbsp;could cost up to $40 billion.
It came as Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh struck an optimistic tone over a&nbsp;possible truce and hostage release deal for Gaza, after weeks of largely&nbsp;stalled negotiations.
There have been reports of sticking points between the group and Israel nearly seven months into the war that has devastated the Palestinian&nbsp;territory.
But Haniyeh, head of the militant group's Qatar-based political bureau,&nbsp;said in calls to Egyptian and Qatari mediators that Hamas was studying the&nbsp;latest proposal with a "positive spirit".
Much of Gaza has been reduced to a grey landscape of rubble and the United&nbsp;Nations estimated the cost of reconstruction at between $30 billion and $40&nbsp;billion.
"The scale of the destruction is huge and unprecedented... this is a&nbsp;mission that the global community has not dealt with since World War II," UN&nbsp;assistant secretary-general Abdallah al-Dardari told a briefing in the&nbsp;Jordanian capital Amman.
The UN official said "72 percent of all residential buildings have been&nbsp;completely or partially destroyed".
Reconstruction is made more difficult by the presence of large quantities&nbsp;of unexploded ordnance in the debris that Gaza's Civil Defence agency says triggers "more than 10 explosions every week".
The war started with Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel that resulted in&nbsp;the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of&nbsp;Israeli official figures.
Israel estimates that 129 captives seized by militants during their attack&nbsp;remain in Gaza. The military says 34 of them are dead.
Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 34,596&nbsp;people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
Mediators have proposed a deal that would halt fighting for 40 days and&nbsp;exchange Israeli hostages for potentially thousands of Palestinian prisoners, according to details released by Britain.
An Israeli official not authorised to speak publicly said Israel was still&nbsp;waiting for Hamas's formal response to the latest proposal.
Before Haniyeh's comments on Thursday, Hamas officials had given it a&nbsp;generally negative reception.
Senior Hamas official Osama Hamdan told AFP late Wednesday that the&nbsp;movement's position on the proposal was "negative" for the time being.
Another senior Hamas official, Suhail al-Hindi, said the group's aim&nbsp;remained an "end to this war" -- a goal at odds with the stated position of&nbsp;Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But the militant group has come under intense pressure from mediators to&nbsp;accept the latest offer.
"Hamas needs to say yes and needs to get this done," US Secretary of State&nbsp;Antony Blinken said in Israel Wednesday on his latest Middle East crisis tour.
&nbsp;

Gaza needs biggest post-war reconstruction effort since WWII: UN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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