Press Release

Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC has launched a stall at the 11th National SME Product Fair 2024, taking place at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.
The inauguration ceremony, held on Sunday, saw the attendance of Md. Altaf Hossain, Additional Managing Director of the bank, who served as the chief guest, reads a press release.&nbsp;
Senior executives including A.S.M. Rezaul Karim, Senior Executive Vice President; Dr. Muhammad Solaiman, Executive Vice President; and Md. Shahidul Islam, Senior Vice President, along with other bank officials, were present at the event.
The seven-day fair aims to showcase and promote small and medium enterprises in Bangladesh.

Islami Bank inaugurates stall at National SME Product Fair 2024

BGMEA President S. M. Mannan (Kochi) on Monday urged the International Labour Organization (ILO) to take an initiative to establish such a code, stressing its significance for the benefit of all stakeholders including buyers, manufacturers, and workers worldwide.
He also emphasised on the importance of fair minimum prices for apparel, stating that without such pricing mechanisms, the industry would not be sustainable in the long run.
The BGMEA President urged the ILO to press this cause in global forums and in discussions with buyers, focusing its importance for the labour-intensive garment sector.
A delegation of the International Labour Organization (ILO) led by Country Director for Bangladesh Tuomo Poutiainen had a meeting with the President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on May 20.
The ILO delegation, comprising Mohamad Anis Agung Nugroho, Programme Manager of Better Work Bangladesh project; Linnea Strand, Programme and Operations Officer; and Md. Saidul Islam, Senior Programme Officer, engaged in discussions with BGMEA leaders regarding the progress of the ongoing ILO-led initiatives, especially Better Work Bangladesh aimed at enhancing working conditions and ensuring occupational safety for ready-made garment (RMG) workers in Bangladesh.
The meeting, held at BGMEA Complex, also discussed potential collaborations between the ILO and BGMEA to further develop the industry, with a specific focus on capacity building to align with evolving regulations such as the Due Diligence Directive and to enhance workers&rsquo; well-being.
The attendees from BGMEA were Vice President Arshad Jamal (Dipu), Vice President (Finance) Md. Nasir Uddin, Vice President Miran Ali, Vice President Abdullah Hil Rakib, and Directors Md. Imranur Rahman, Shovon Islam, Haroon Ar Rashid, Md. Mohiuddin Rubel, Barrister Shehrin Salam Oishee, Saifuddin Siddiquie Sagar, Md. Rezaul Alam (Miru) and Chair of BGMEA Standing Committee on Labour and ILO Affairs ANM Saifuddin.
One of the pivotal topics addressed during the meeting was the necessity for a unified code of conduct for social and technical audits, universally accepted across the industry, according to BGMEA.

Meeting with ILO: BGMEA stresses fair minimum prices, unified code of conduct

Sadiqur Rahman

Rampant use of agricultural chemical thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid insecticide present in different doses in nearly 100 agricultural products in Bangladesh, poses serious threats to bees and other pollinators. &nbsp; &nbsp;
20 May is observed as &ldquo;World Bee Day&rdquo; with the aim of raising awareness among people, especially the younger generations about the essential role of bees and other pollinators in agriculture.
This year's theme is "Bee Engaged with Youth".
Agricultural chemistry experts have expressed serious concern as farmers have been applying cocktails of insecticides containing thiamethoxam which are much more harmful to the agricultural ecology. &nbsp;
Meanwhile, some entomologists have urged the government and other stakeholders to control the excessive use of thiamethoxam and other harmful insecticides for the conservation of bee colonies and other pollinators.&nbsp;
There is no survey on the bee population in Bangladesh.&nbsp;
However, a couple of years ago, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned that the population of bees and other pollinators was declining in abundance in many parts of the world.
The major causes are excessive use of agricultural chemicals, mono-cropping and intensive farming practices, besides climate change-induced rising temperature, according to FAO.&nbsp;
In Bangladesh, farmers widely use thiamethoxam and cocktails with thiamethoxam in the fields of rice, sugarcane, mango, tomato, mustard, banana, brinjal, marigold, cotton, jute and tea.&nbsp;
The insecticides mainly eliminate brown planthoppers, aphids, jassid leafhoppers, termites, beetles, hispas, helopeltis, thrips, and yellow stem borers, among other bad insects.&nbsp;
However, the chemicals kill beneficial insects too.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Direct contact with thiamethoxam will kill bees instantly. Those who are intoxicated somehow will lose their hives and they will die,&rdquo; said Professor Mohammad Sakhawat Hossain from Sher-e-Bangladesh Agricultural University&rsquo;s Department of Entomology.
Exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides like thiamethoxam causes bees&rsquo; behavioural alteration and physiological disruption, sometimes leading to lethal effects on them, according to a study titled, &ldquo;Evaluating the Impact of Commonly Used Pesticides on Honeybees (Apis mellifera) in North Gonder of Amhara Region, Ethiopia.&rdquo;
After being sprayed, neonicotinoids are either coated on seeds or soil, allowing them to spread through plant tissues and ultimately appear in pollen and nectar.&nbsp;
Another study titled, &ldquo;Past insecticide exposure reduces bee reproduction and population growth rate&rdquo; reveals that neonicotinoids disrupt learning and memory in honey bees, and solitary bees also suffer similar damage.&nbsp;
These chemicals impair bee reproduction when used in higher concentrations - leading to fewer offspring, according to the study.
<img src="https://images.bangladeshfirst.com/resize?width=1600&amp;height=900&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=85&amp;path=mediaImages/2024-May-20_664b24ef6090a_1716200687.png" alt="" width="1280" height="720">
Another study titled &ldquo;Effect of insecticides on foraging behaviour of honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) on mustard (Brassica napus)&rdquo; found a drastic reduction, on an average of 75%, in the number of visitor bees after application of insecticides including thimethoxam at the mustard field during full bloom. &nbsp;
Why bees are important?&nbsp;
About two-thirds of the world's crop plants depend on pollination by insects or animals.&nbsp;
This process enhances human nutrition by fostering abundant, diverse, and high-quality production of fruits, nuts, and seeds.
For food production, human livelihoods and biodiversity, bees provide the important ecosystem service of ensuring pollination and reproduction of many cultivated and wild plants.&nbsp;
According to FAO, bees and other pollinators influence 35% of the world&rsquo;s crop production.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Insecticides, though harmful to all kinds of insects, have become an integral part of ensuring food security in Bangladesh, protecting the cash crops from damage,&rdquo; said Professor Zakir Hossain, a faculty at the Bangladesh Agricultural University&rsquo;s Department of Agricultural Chemistry.
&ldquo;Even so, I would recommend strict control over the rampant use of insecticides. I am seriously concerned about the application of chemical cocktails that are supposed to be more lethal to beneficial insects. Misguided by insecticide sellers, unaware farmers are using these cocktails," he added.
Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) approves 11 products containing thiamethoxam. Among them, some are the mixtures of chemicals like ethion, chlorantraniliprole, fipronil, imidacloprid and emamectin benzoate.&nbsp;
SM Shorab Uddin, additional director (pesticide administration and quality control) at DAE, said his department approves pesticides, insecticides and miticides upon clearance from the Department of Environment and related crop research institutes.
&ldquo;We have not yet analysed the impacts of thiamethoxam on bees and other pollinators,&rdquo; Shorab said.&nbsp;
Working for a future free of poison
Among thousands of farmers chasing the increasing domestic food demand with agricultural chemical-depended high-yielding crops, a few young people have been dreaming of a non-toxic safe food supply. &nbsp;&nbsp;
Delowar Jahan and his peers are those who have established a biodiversity farm Pran Boichitra Khamar on a two-decimal land in Kautia village of Manikganj.&nbsp;
Apparently, the young farmers grow indigenous crop varieties while avoiding synthetic fertilisers and insecticides.&nbsp;
They believe in the importance of pollinators like bees. They claim that for the last six years in Kautia village, they have been doing integrated farming which primarily supports all kinds of organisms but reduces pest attacks naturally.&nbsp;
&ldquo;When aphids attack the crops, ladybugs appear to prey on them. Apparently, tailorbirds also flock to the field to feed on ladybugs. There are small lizards on the field which also feed on the insects,&rdquo; Delowar explained the natural pest control.&nbsp;
He believes that 80-90% of pest control can be done if farmers design an integrated farming of diversified crops, following well-maintained soil nutrition management.&nbsp;
Nutrient-rick soil helps the growth of healthy and insect-resistant plants while integrated farming ensures the natural elimination of bad insects, he added.

Attack on the ecosystem: How thiamethoxam poisons crucial pollinators

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and the entourage in an Iranian helicopter accident.
"I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the sad demise of President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian, and members of the entourage in the tragic accident of the helicopter carrying them," she said.
Sheikh Hasina conveyed her condolence in a letter written to the First Vice President of Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Mokhber.
She said, "In this hour of grief, on behalf of the Government of Bangladesh and on my own behalf, I convey our deepest condolences to the Government and the brotherly people of Iran&rdquo;.&nbsp;
The premier mentioned that President Seyyed Raisi was a wise and selfless leader who served his country with deep commitment and worked for the well-being of the People of Iran.&nbsp;
"He was a great leader of international stature and his exemplary leadership and accomplishments will remain as a lasting legacy for us," she added.
The prime minister offered her prayers for seeking divine blessing for the departed souls and for bestowing courage and fortitude on the bereaved family members and brotherly people of Iran to overcome the irreparable loss.

PM mourns death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s leadership in Bangladesh&rsquo;s extraordinary success in the education sector was praised at the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers, held in London on 16-17 May.
Bangladesh was particularly commended for its recent achievements and transformations in the education sector, in particular for a stronger emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) over the past decade, leading to higher employment of young people in the private industry; greater access to IT education and lifelong learning on digital platforms as well as ensuring gender parity in primary, secondary and tertiary education, reads a press release.&nbsp;
Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury led the Bangladesh delegation at the 22nd CCEM and presented the country's statement.&nbsp;
He recommended that it is time for the global south to make greater financial investments in both hard and soft infrastructure in the education sector.&nbsp;
He also emphasized the need to build robust innovative partnerships with the private sector, international financial institutions, and global funds.
In his country statement, the Education Minister also briefed the Conference on the significant progress of Bangladesh in improving access to education, with efforts focused on enhancing quality and inclusivity across all levels of education.&nbsp;
He said, &ldquo;SDG 4 on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for our 60 million girls and boys and skill-based higher education for another 30 million, has been at the heart of our Head of Government Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s aspirations for an educated, healthy, inclusive and resilient Smart Bangladesh by 2041&rdquo;&nbsp;
Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi addressed the event as the keynote speaker while the Education Minister provided an update of the SDG 4 progress on behalf of the Asian Commonwealth.&nbsp;
He also co-chaired the ministerial roundtable on "Rethinking Education for Skills, Youth Employability, and Decent Work&rdquo; with Gambia&rsquo;s Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology Minister Professor Pierre Gomez.&nbsp;
He also met the Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Patricia Scotland KC during the conference at the Commonwealth Secretariat.&nbsp;
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem accompanied Education Minister at the Conference.&nbsp;
&nbsp;

PM Sheikh Hasina’s skill-based education agenda praised at Commonwealth

Staff Correspondent

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed that battery-run auto-rickshaws and easy bikes be allowed to operate in Dhaka city, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Monday (May 20).
The direction comes after the drivers of battery-run auto-rickshaws and easy bikes took to the street for the second consecutive day protesting the ban on their vehicles.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked for allowing the movement of battery-run auto-rickshaws during a Cabinet meeting on Monday,&rdquo; said Quader while addressing a discussion organised to mark the founding anniversary of the Olama League at the Awami League&rsquo;s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue in Dhaka this afternoon.
However, the movement of battery-run auto-rickshaws will be banned on 22 highways, said the road transport and bridges minister.
The auto-rickshaw and easy bike drivers blocked roads in the Staff Quarters, Mohammadpur Beribadh, Khilgaon, and Agargaon Taltola areas, causing significant inconvenience to commuters.
In Demra, a clash erupted between the police and drivers when the latter blocked the road in the Staff Quarters area around 11:15 am. Police used batons and fired shotgun rounds to disperse the crowd, according to Jahirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Demra Police Station. Protestors retaliated by throwing bricks at the law enforcers, creating panic in the area, as reported by police and locals.
In Rampura, over 100 drivers blocked the road near Better Life Hospital at around 9:30 am, causing a severe traffic jam. Mashiur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Rampura Police Station, said that traffic movement resumed after the drivers left the road around 10:30 am.
In Agargaon, a group of drivers formed a human chain beside the road, urging the government to allow their vehicles to operate until alternative employment could be arranged. When the protesters attempted to position themselves beside the road, police chased and dispersed them. Some drivers responded by throwing bricks at the police. Police detained at least seven drivers from the scene, according to our staff photographer on site.
Yesterday, traffic in Mirpur was severely disrupted as drivers of battery-run rickshaws demonstrated, clashed with police, and vandalised vehicles.

PM allows battery-run rickshaws to ply in Dhaka: Quader

Drivers of battery-run rickshaws and easy bikes continued their protests on various city streets for the second consecutive day, opposing the crackdown on their vehicles.
The drivers blocked roads in the Staff Quarters, Mohammadpur Beribadh, Khilgaon, and Agargaon Taltola areas, causing significant inconvenience to commuters.
In Demra, a clash erupted between the police and drivers when the latter blocked the road in the Staff Quarters area around 11:15 am. Police used batons and fired shotgun rounds to disperse the crowd, according to Jahirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Demra Police Station. Protestors retaliated by throwing bricks at the law enforcers, creating panic in the area, as reported by police and locals.
In Rampura, over 100 drivers blocked the road near Better Life Hospital at around 9:30 am, causing a severe traffic jam. Mashiur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Rampura Police Station, stated that traffic movement resumed after the drivers left the road around 10:30 am.
In Agargaon, a group of drivers formed a human chain beside the road, urging the government to allow their vehicles to operate until alternative employment could be arranged. When the protesters attempted to position themselves beside the road, police chased and dispersed them. Some drivers responded by throwing bricks at the police. Police detained at least seven drivers from the scene, according to our staff photographer on site.
Yesterday, traffic in Mirpur was severely disrupted as drivers of battery-run rickshaws demonstrated, clashed with police, and vandalized vehicles.

Drivers take to street for second straight day protesting ban on battery-run rickshaws

Gusty winds along with rain and thunderstorms are likely to pass through some places in Dhaka, Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, said the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).
&ldquo;Along with this, there may be scattered hailstorms in some places,&rdquo; the BMD said in its latest weather forecast bulletin on Monday (20 May).
Some places in Rajshahi, Khulna and Barisal divisions may experience temporary gusty or windy rain or rain with thunder, it added.
At the same time, stormy winds with a speed of 60-80km per hour may blow temporarily over Rangpur, Dinajpur, Bogura, Tangail and Mymensingh districts from west or north-west. &nbsp;Rain or thundershowers may also occur, the BMD said.
River ports in these areas have been asked to hoist warning signals no 2.
BMD said that the additional low pressure is extending from West Bengal in India to the North-West Bay of Bengal.

Gusty winds and rain likely in Dhaka, 4 other divisions: BMD

Dhaka has ranked sixth on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 165 at 9 am this morning (May 20, 2024).
Dhaka&rsquo;s air this morning was classified as 'unhealthy', according to the air quality index.
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered &lsquo;moderate&rsquo;, 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.
India&rsquo;s Delhi, Pakistan&rsquo;s Lahore and Indonesia&rsquo;s Jakarta occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 381, 188 and 175, respectively.
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 the 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’s air quality 6th worst in the world this morning

A Dhaka court on Sunday sent BNP's International Affairs Committee member and former mayoral candidate of Dhaka South City Corporation, Ishraque Hossain, to jail by rejecting his bail petition in a case filed on charges of committing treason.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad As-Shams Joglul Hossain issued the order as Ishraque Hossain appeared before the court seeking bail in the case, said his lawyer Taherul Islam Tauhid.
On 29 October, Mohiuddin Shikder filed a case with Paltan Police Station, accusing Mian Zahidul Islam Arefy, who claimed to be an advisor to US President Joe Biden, Ishraque, and retired Lieutenant General Chowdhury Hasan Sarwardi of attempting to destabilise the country by resorting to lies.
Tauhid stated that his client, Ishraq, had secured bail for six weeks once already in the case. "As that period was about to end, he applied for bail in court again."
Tauhid further mentioned that the BNP leader applied for permanent bail in twelve cases, including the one with Paltan Thana. "The court granted bail in all cases except this one and ordered him to be sent to jail."
According to the case statement, during a press conference at BNP&rsquo;s Nayapaltan central office on 28 October last year, Arefy recommended the US government to impose bans on various governmental departments and claimed to have frequent contact with President Biden.
The plaintiff also alleged that Ishraque and Suhrawardi endorsed Arefy's speech, inciting chaos to disturb the peace in the country. &nbsp;

BNP leader Ishraque sent to jail

Desk Report

World Metrology Day, commemorating the anniversary of signature by representatives of 17 nations of the "Metre Convention-1875", is being observed today (20 May) in Bangladesh and elsewhere across the globe.
Like all member countries of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) and International Bureau of Legal Metrology (BIML), the day will be observed at the initiative of the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) in Bangladesh.
The theme of the World Metrology Day-2024 is "We Measure Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow".
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages wishing the success of all programmes on the occasion.
Besides, the heads of BIPM and BIML issued messages on the occasion.
On the eve of the day, the president, in his message, said the government is working towards digital transformation of the traditional system to ensure accurate weight and measurement of equipment used in all sectors of industry, trade and services.
In her message, the prime minister hoped that the collective efforts of all will continue to transform the country into a developed and prosperous Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
To mark the day, BSTI has chalked out various programmes including discussions at its headquarters and regional offices.
Marking the day, a discussion will be held at the head office of BSTI in Dhaka's Tejgaon at 12:30pm today.
Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun will attend the event as the chief guest, a press release said.

World Metrology Day today

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker T&uuml;rk has appealed to Bangladesh to once again extend protection to vulnerable people seeking safety, and for the international community to provide all necessary support.
&ldquo;I am deeply alarmed by reports of renewed violence and property destruction in Buthidaung township in Myanmar&rsquo;s northern Rakhine state, resulting in the displacement of potentially tens of thousands of civilians, mainly Rohingya," he said on Sunday, commenting on violence in Myanmar&rsquo;s Rakhine State.
Bangladesh is now shouldering the burden of 1.3 million Rohingyas and seeking international community's support for their safe repatriation first. &nbsp; With inter-communal tensions between ethnic Rakhine and Rohingya high &ndash; and being actively stoked by the military &ndash; this is a critical period when the risk of yet further atrocity crimes is particularly acute, T&uuml;rk said in a message issued from Geneva.&nbsp;
"While we seek to corroborate information indicating serious violations, I appeal directly to the Myanmar military and Arakan Army to pause the fighting, protect civilians, allow immediate and unhindered humanitarian access, and comply fully and unconditionally with international law &ndash; including the measures already ordered by the International Court of Justice for the protection of Rohingya," he said.
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Sunday said Bangladesh has been following the path of "negotiations" through diplomatic channels avoiding provocations from Myanmar and other international actors.
"There were provocations from Myanmar and other international actors. We did not step into those provocations. Rather, we have taken the path of negotiations. We are following the diplomatic path to seek a solution to the crisis and repatriation is the only solution," he said while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion at Jatiya Press Club.

Violence in Rakhine: UN rights chief appeals to Bangladesh to provide protection to people seeking safety

Anwarul Azim Anar, the lawmaker from Jhenaidah-4 constituency, has been missing since at least May 14, having gone on a medical trip to India on 11 May.
&ldquo;His whereabouts are still unknown. Family members and party activists could not reach him after 14 May(Tuesday),&rdquo; the MP Anar's personal assistant, Abdur Rauf said.
He also said &ldquo;Anar went to India for medical treatment on 11 May. He maintained contact with his family members till 14 May. Since then, all communication with him has been lost. His WhatsApp number is also unreachable.&rdquo;
MP Anar's wife and daughters went to the DB office in Dhaka on Sunday (May 19) at noon.
The Prime Minister has also been informed about the matter, Abdur Rauf told the media.
Meanwhile, Anar&rsquo;s nephew Simon and three others went to India to try and find him. But they could not give any good news till Sunday afternoon.
According to party insiders, moments before his last known activity, Hemant asked his manager for Rs 4.2. At that time he was in a private car with some Indian friends after attending a wedding ceremony. There is no trace of MP Anar since taking this money, they claimed.
&nbsp; Kaliganj Municipal Mayor Ashraful Alam said on Sunday afternoon that he spoke with the MP the day after he left for India. He did not know anything since then.
Saidul Karim Mintu, general secretary of the Jhenaidah district unit Awami League, said that he came to know about the matter from the MP's family and upazila Awami League leaders. &ldquo;We have informed the party high command in this regard,&rdquo; he added.
Jhenaidah Superintendent of Police Azim ul-Ahsan said, Awami League leaders and public representatives of Kaliganj verbally informed us about MP Anar's disappearance.
&ldquo;Since the incident is from a different state, we have informed it to the higher authorities,&rdquo; added the SP.
Regarding Awami League MP Anwarul Azim Anar's reported missing, Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi and Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Kolkata are in touch with the relevant authorities to try to know what exactly happened, a diplomatic source told UNB.
The Ministry of External Affairs has also been informed, the source said.

Jhenaidah-4 MP goes missing after going to India for treatment

Senior Correspondent

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the construction work of the Bangabazar Nagar Wholesale Market on 25 May.
Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) has taken the initiative to construct a new Bangabazar wholesale market to rehabilitate the traders affected by the terrible fire in the Bangabazar complex on 4 April last year.
The blaze razed around 5,000 shops across four markets, shattering the dreams of thousands of traders and leaving employees bereft of their livelihoods.
Sheikh Hasina will also inaugurate the construction of '8-lane Inner Circular Road' from Dhaka South City Corporation&rsquo;s Grihit Postagola to Rayer Bazar Sluice Gate and 'Najrul Sarobar' in the Dhanmondi Lake.
DSCC has initiated the establishment of an 8-lane inner circular road from Postagola Bridge to Rayer Bazar Sluice Gate. This project aims to ensure that North Bengal-bound buses from 21 districts in South Bengal and 16 districts in the Chattogram and Sylhet divisions no longer need to enter Dhaka city.
As part of the initiative, an 8-lane road will be constructed from Lohar Pool in Kamrangirchar to Rayer Bazar Sluice Gate in the 1st phase. Two four lanes in the middle of this road have been kept for expressways and two four lanes on both sides as service lanes.
DSCC is going to construct Nazrul Sarobar on the bank of Dhanmondi Lake adjacent to road number 13/A and 8/A of Dhanmondi residential area to create adequate public space in the city.

PM to inaugurate Bangabazar market on 25 May

The Bangladesh Jewelers Association (BAJUS) has increased the price of 22-carat gold by Tk 984 per bhori, setting the new price at Tk1,19,544.&nbsp;
This change will be effective from Monday (20 May), BAJUS announced in a press release this evening (19 May).
According to the new rates, 21-carat gold is now Tk 1,14,109 per bhori, 18-carat gold is Tk 97,803 per bhori, and traditional method gold is Tk 80,8667 per bhori.
The adjustment is due to an increase in the price of pure gold in the local market, BAJUS said.
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Gold price rises to Tk1.19 lakh per bhori

Drivers of battery-run three wheelers set a police box on fire at Kalshi intersection in the city's Mirpur area on Sunday during demonstration against banning the vehicle on Dhaka streets.
Duty office of Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters, Shahjahan, said the drivers set the police box on fire around 4:15 pm.
On information, a firefighting unit rushed to the spot around 4:32 pm and brought the situation under control.
Mukhlesur Rahman, inspector (investigation) of Pallabi Police Station, said necessary steps were taken.
The drivers of battery-run three wheelers staged demonstration blocking roads in Dhaka&rsquo;s Mirpur, Pallabi and some other areas on Sunday morning, obstructing traffic movement in the area.
The protesters also vandalised some buses passing in the Mirpur area after 2:30 pm. A chase and counter-chase between police and protesters also took place.
Munshi Sabbir Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Mirpur Police Station, said the traffic movement in the area remained halted for four hours following the demonstration, causing immense sufferings to the commuters.
Earlier on Wednesday, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader instructed the authorities concerned to take steps to stop the movement of battery-run three wheelers on the roads in Dhaka city.
&nbsp;

Ban on battery-run rickshaw: Drivers set police box on fire in Mirpur

Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that the government is working to develop an e-waste management system in Bangladesh.
"E-waste management rules have been formulated, and an e-waste management plant will be constructed under the BEST project," the minister told Telenor Asia Senior Vice President Manisha Dogra at the Secretariat on Sunday (19 May).
The minister stated that the government is strongly committed to implementing the sustainable agenda, with goals to reduce fuel consumption, expand the use of renewable energy, and decrease the use of single-use plastics.
He also mentioned that the government is working tirelessly to make Bangladesh a climate-resilient country. He urged Telenor to continue its efforts in building a green Bangladesh.
Climate action plan Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets will be revised soon. The draft of the Enhanced Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines will be finalized by June," said the minister.
Telenor Asia Senior Vice President Manisha Dogra said that Telenor Asia is committed to environmental sustainability and climate action in the region and is dedicated to working with the Government of Bangladesh towards a sustainable future.

Govt working to improve e-waste management: Environment Minister

Canada's Indo-Pacific Trade Representative Paul Thoppil said that his country wants to expand trade relations with Bangladesh.&nbsp;
"The Bangladesh-Canada relationship is crucial in the Indo-Pacific region. Canada aims to finalize an investment agreement with Bangladesh to attract investment companies," said Paul Thoppil during a meeting with State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu at the Secretariat on Sunday (19 May).
Indo-Pacific trade representative Paul Thoppil praised the development of Bangladesh and said that Canada is keen to invest in infrastructure projects, cyber security as well as the garment sector.&nbsp;
He said that Canola oil can be exported to Bangladesh, if the oil factory is set up here it will be easier to process the oil.
In the meeting, Ahsanul Islam Titu said that Bangladesh is transitioning to the status of a Least Developed Country (LDC) under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh is making bilateral agreements with different countries to gain market advantages in various regions.
"Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations started today. The Ministry of Commerce is working to improve relations with various countries of the world, especially ASEAN countries," said Ahsanul Islam Titu.
The first phase of Bangladesh-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations started on Sunday (19 May) at a hotel in the capital. The negotiations will be held on various commercial issues between the two countries and will end on Thursday (23 May).

Canada wants to expand trade relations with Bangladesh

The State Minister of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury said that the current government is working to build a better, prosperous and sustainable future for expatriate workers.
The government has always recognised the huge contribution of migrant workers, said the minister at the programme titled "The Project Launching and Stakeholder Networking Event for the Reintegration of Migrant Workers Project" at a hotel in the capital on Sunday (19 May).
"Prime Minister always says that we have taken a lot from them (migrant workers), now we have to give them something back," said the minister.
The state minister said that the government is committed to providing job-oriented training, financial assistance and counseling to the returning migrant workers.&nbsp;
He also said that the government is formulating and implementing various projects so that migrant workers can live in society properly, find jobs, and start businesses.
The Chairperson of Parliamentary Caucus of Migration and Development Tanveer Shakeel Joy, Secretary of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry Ruhul Amin, Head of Cooperation of Switzerland in Bangladesh Corinne Henchoz Pignani, Country Director of ILO Tuomo Poutiainen, representatives of various international organizations, NGOs were also present at the programme.

Govt working to build sustainable future for migrant workers: State minister

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) is going to bear the brunt after recent enhancement of US Dollar rate as it will have to spend an additional amount of over Tk 7,300 crore to purchase electricity from the private sector.
According to official sources, the BPDB's annual spending was roughly calculated as Tk 104,000 crore for purchasing electricity from the independent power producers (IPPs) for the fiscal year 2023-24. The total expense will now go up to about Tk 1,11,300 crore, according to officials familiar with the estimate this week.
But after the increase in the rate of USD by the central bank through the introduction of a crawling peg system, the BPDB has been a great victim of such a decision.
The Bangladesh Bank on May 8 unveiled the crawling peg exchange rate system and allowed banks to buy and sell US dollars freely near Tk117, as well as letting go of its regulatory power of the Smart rate, and hiking the repo rate.
Under this system, a crawling peg mid rate (CPMR) has been set at Tk117 per US dollar with immediate effect.
Scheduled banks may purchase and sell US dollars freely around the CPMR with their customers and in interbank deals, the notice also said.
A crawling peg system is a method of exchange rate adjustments that allows a currency with a fixed exchange rate to fluctuate within a band of rates. It is a hybrid of fixed and floating exchange rate systems.
"The payment mode of the power purchase agreements (PPAs) with the IPPS is in USD. So, we have to incur a huge financial loss when the USD rate goes up", a top official of the BPDB told UNB.
As the issue is very sensitive, preferring anonymity, he said the BPDB's loss will be enormous this year as the dollar rate went up in one go by Tk 7 to Tk 117 from the Tk 110.
He said the extra burden of paying Tk 7,300 crore will complicate the situation when the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has been insisting on reducing government's loss in buying electricity from the private sector.
He noted that The BPDB has to spend over Tk 12 in each unit of power generation while its average selling rate is about Tk 8.95 with incurring over Tk 3 per unit.
"The IMF has repeatedly been putting pressure on the BPDB to raise the electricity tariff to reduce the financial loss. Now, after enhancement of the USD rate, the financial loss will be tough to manage", said another official of the BPDB.
He, however, said despite the pressure from the international lending agency, the BPDB has not taken any decision to raise the tariff shortly.
"The Power Division and the BPDB have been making their own calculations about the impact of the USD rate enhancement. The final decision will come from the government if any decision is taken politically to raise the power tariff", added.
The BPDB annual report reveals that as the single buyer in the power sector, the organisation's operating expense was Tk 93,797.37 in the fiscal year 2023-24.

BPDB to bear the brunt after recent hike in US Dollar rate

The government has banned fishing in the Bay of Bengal for a total of 65 days, from tomorrow until July 23, to conserve marine fish and ensure their safe spawning.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock issued a notification on Sunday (19 May), prohibiting the fishing of any species using fishing boats in marine waters.
The notification said that during this period, monitoring at navigation entrances will be intensified, and fishing boats will be completely prohibited from operating. To prevent the transport of marine fish, seashore ice mills will operate at a limited capacity, and fishing vessels at sea will remain anchored.
The ministry has sought cooperation from law enforcement agencies to stop illegal fishing in the sea.
The ministry also sent a letter to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, requesting measures to broadcast special awareness programs on television and radio.
Under the direction of the Ministry, the Department of Fisheries has launched a control room and formed three divisional monitoring teams in the Barisal, Chattogram, and Khulna divisions.
The ministry announced that, as an emergency alternative source of income, a total of 311,062 families dependent on fishing for their livelihood will be provided with food aid. Each family will receive 86 kilograms of rice, distributed in two installments over 65 days, through the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme.

65-day marine fishing ban begins tomorrow

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said on Sunday it is possible to address the Rohingya crisis if the involvement of India and China can be strengthened.&nbsp;
"We are maintaining communication with countries having influence on Myanmar internationally. India and China are playing key roles in this regard," said the minister, expressing hope that Myanmar will start repatriation if international pressure is maintained.
Hasan made these remarks during a discussion titled "Rohingya Crisis: The Future Way Ahead," organised to mark the 45th founding anniversary of the Overseas Correspondent Association Bangladesh at the National Press Club on Sunday (May 19).
The minister said, "We can't push the Rohingyas into a situation where junta troops are fleeing intense conflicts with rebel groups."
"The country has more than six million Rohingyas who are trying to flee to developing countries like Bangladesh. Repatriation is not the solution; guaranteeing basic rights can provide a sustainable solution," Hasan said.
He also mentioned that during a meeting with Myanmar's foreign minister in Uganda, it was observed that Myanmar is keen to take back the Rohingyas to maintain good relations with the world.
"There have always been ethnic conflicts in Myanmar, but the country should come forward with a solution instead of using the crisis as an excuse," Hasan added.
Speaking at the programme, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said, "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave shelter to the displaced Rohingyas on humanitarian grounds. The government is now making all-out efforts to send them back, but it needs time and patience to facilitate repatriation. Not every international effort will fail."

Growing involvement of India, China can address Rohingya crisis: Hasan

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday urged local businesses to make investments in the country's 100 economic zones in addition to foreign investment.
&ldquo;We are setting up 100 economic zones across the country. We are inviting investments there. But we do not want only foreign investments, but also want domestic investments &nbsp;there,&rdquo; she said.
The prime minister said this while inaugurating the weeklong 11th National SME Product Fair to showcase locally made products from small and medium enterprises at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC), jointly organised by the Industries Ministry and SME Foundation.
She said that of the total 100 economic zones the government has so far allocated lands for up to 80 economic zones.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I think that from the SME Foundation or those who are entrepreneurs can avail lands in these economic zones alone or with partnership basis to set up their industries there,&rdquo; she said.
Hasina said that along with mechanisation of agriculture the government is putting emphasis on food production, agricultural products production which will contribute to the economy, and industrialisation based on that.&nbsp;
&ldquo;If there is no industrialisation no employment will be created and we won't be able to advance further. So We have to focus on industrialisation,&rdquo; she said.
She said that huge small mechanical parts will be needed for the mechanisation of the agriculture for which the government is providing various types of facilities.
She said that if proper training are provided it will be possible to produce those mechanical parts which can also be exported to many countries.&nbsp;
&ldquo;It will create market in our own country with the increase of our purchasing capacity,&rdquo; she said.
Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun presided over the programme where Senior Secretary of Industries Ministry Zakia Sultana, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Mahbubul Alam and Chairperson of the SME Foundation Professor &nbsp;Md Masudur Rahman also spoke.
A documentary on Industries Ministry and SME Foundation was screened at the programme.
On this occasion, the prime minister handed over the crests and certificates to 7 micro, small, medium and start-up entrepreneurs who have won the National SME Entrepreneurship Award 2023.
Swapna Rani Sen expressed her feelings from among the award recipients.
The prime minister visited different stalls of the exhibition.
&nbsp;

Make investments in country's economic zones, PM Hasina asks local businesses

A Dhaka Food Court has ordered the withdrawal of all SMC Plus electrolyte drinks from the market, deeming them harmful to human health. The court also fined Tanveer Sinha, owner of ACME Agrovet and Beverages Ltd, Tk 16 lakh.
Pure Food Court Judge Alaul Akbar delivered the order on Sunday (19 May).&nbsp;
ACME Agrovet and Beverages Ltd produces SMC Plus orange and lemon-flavored electrolyte drinks.
Earlier, on 14 May, Food Inspector Qamrul Hossain of the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority filed a case against the owners of five electrolyte drink companies, including SMC Plus, Active, Bruvana, Recharge, and Turbo, for selling products without acquiring approval.
Following the case, the court summoned the accused to appear.&nbsp;
Tanveer Sinha appeared in court this morning, pleaded guilty, and sought bail. The court fined Tanveer Tk 16 lakh and ordered the withdrawal of all SMC Plus electrolyte drinks from the market, confirmed Food Inspector Kamrul Hasan.

Court orders withdrawal of SMC Plus electrolyte drinks from market

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said on Saturday he had requested Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to reconsider the National Board of Revenue's (NBR) decision to impose a 15% VAT on metro rail services.
"Imposing a 15% VAT on metro rail services is a wrong decision. Our neighboring country has not imposed any VAT on metro rail services," Quader said at a branding seminar for Dhaka Metro Rail held at a city hotel.
Addressing the issue of rundown buses in the capital, Quader said, "This is shameful. Don't our bus owners see it?"
He said, "Dhaka's status as one of the most unliveable cities in the world is inconsistent with the country's significant progress over the past fifteen years."
Quader urged the city mayors to take immediate action to address these issues.

Quader requests PM to reconsider decision imposing 15% VAT on metro rail

Though the situation in the Kyrgyzstan capital is &ldquo;under control,&rdquo; as per the local authorities, panicked Bangladeshi students want to return home for a few weeks.
They want to attend regular classes online for the time being.
&ldquo;The situation is under control. We are trying to return to Bangladesh, but we do not have a flight schedule. All Bangladeshi students are trying to return home for the time being,&rdquo; Bangladeshi medical student Samia Kabir told UNB.
She said the university authorities told them that their classes would be conducted online.
Regarding their exams, Samia said that the university authorities will issue a notice soon.
She also said students from other countries are also leaving Kyrgyzstan.
&ldquo;Even though the situation is under control, we still don&rsquo;t feel safe here. It would be better if chartered flights can be arranged soon,&rdquo; Samia said.
Speaking on the subject, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud told reporters today, &ldquo;We have conveyed our concerns to Kyrgyzstan. Our students also came under attack, but no one was severely injured.&rdquo;
The Embassy of Bangladesh in Uzbekistan, concurrently accredited to the Kyrgyz Republic, has said the situation in Kyrgyzstan is under control, as per information released by the relevant state authorities.
However, Bangladeshi students have been advised to stay indoor for the moment and get in touch with the embassy for any issue in this regard at the following 24x7 emergency number: +998930009780.
Embassy of Bangladesh in Uzbekistan is in communication with Bangladeshi students in Kyrgyzstan, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on Saturday night.
The embassy is also in touch with Kyrgyzstan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this matter.
&ldquo;Till now, we have information that Bangladeshis are unhurt,&rdquo; a Bangladeshi diplomat stationed in Uzbekistan told UNB.

Panicked Bangladeshi students want to return home following mob attack in Kyrgyzstan

The Government of Bangladesh has expressed deep concerns over the mob violence on the night of 17 May in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek.
&ldquo;We have conveyed our concerns to Kyrgyzstan. Our students also came under attack but no one was severely injured,&rdquo; Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud told reporters today.
He said they are closely monitoring the situation through the Embassy in Uzbekistan, concurrently accredited to the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Embassy is in constant communication with Bangladeshi students who are currently studying in Kyrgyzstan, as well as with Kyrgyz government officials.
There are no reports of any serious injury or casualty among Bangladeshi students so far.
The Embassy has already shared an emergency contact number on its official Facebook page.
Through the Embassy in Uzbekistan, the government is coordinating with the relevant authorities of Kyrgyzstan, including the ministries of foreign affairs and internal affairs, to ensure the safety and security of Bangladeshi students.
&ldquo;We are closely and constantly monitoring the developments. We have asked our Ambassador stationed in Tashkent to visit Bishkek soon to inquire about the well-being of Bangladeshi students,&rdquo; said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement.

Conveyed our concerns to Kyrgyzstan, no Bangladeshi student severely injured: Foreign minister

Three members of the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) were killed during a gunfight with the army-led joint force in Ruma upazila, Bandarban, on Sunday (May 19).
Acting on a tip-off, the joint force raided a KNF hideout in the Ranin area of the upazila that left three members of the group dead, said Bandarban&rsquo;s Additional Superintendent of Police Raihan Kazemi.
Following the gunfight, the army recovered a cache of arms, ammunition, and radio devices from the scene.
The joint force also conducted a search operation in the area, and the patrolling of security forces has been intensified, Kazemi added.
On April 2 and 3, the joint force launched combing operations in Ruma and Thanchi in Bandarban, suspecting the involvement of the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) in cases of bank robbery, mosque attacks, and the looting of money and weapons.

3 KNF members killed in gunfight with army in Bandarban

A clash erupted this afternoon between battery-run rickshaw drivers and police, who were supported by local ruling party members, as the authorities attempted to clear the Mirpur-10 intersection.
The protest, which started earlier in the day, saw the drivers blocking the busy roundabout to oppose ongoing drives against their vehicles. The confrontation escalated, but by 3:00 pm, the protesters were dispersed, and vehicular movement resumed after a five-hour blockade.
A group of ruling party members arrived around 2:30 pm and requested the rickshaw drivers to vacate the area. When the drivers refused, the party members chased them with sticks. The police, who had been managing the situation for several hours, joined in and used batons to drive the protesters away.
The drivers retaliated by throwing bricks, resulting in injuries on both sides. Several vehicles were also vandalised during the clash.
As of 3:30 pm, the protesting drivers had taken positions in different lanes.
Jasim Uddin Mollah, Deputy Commissioner of Mirpur Division Police, said they had waited a long time for the protesters to leave peacefully, but when the drivers refused, they were forced to disperse them.
Witnesses reported that commuters suffered significant inconvenience as battery-run rickshaw and easy bike drivers blocked various roads in Mirpur, Dhaka, since the morning.
The drivers later gathered and blocked the Mirpur-10 intersection, leading to the day's events.

Battery-run rickshaw drivers dispersed after clash with police

The number of candidates with assets worth over Tk1 crore has tripled to 116 in the second phase of the sixth upazila parishad elections, according to the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB).&nbsp;
"Chairman candidates seeking re-election have seen an asset increase of 11,000% over the last five years, with movable assets rising by 11,500% and dependents' assets, including those of wives and others, climbing by 12,400%," stated the anti-graft ogranisation, reviewing the affidavits submitted by candidates for the elections scheduled on May 23.
TIB shared these findings during a press conference at the Midas Convention Centre in Dhaka on Sunday.
It also revealed that 13.13% of the candidates are accused in various cases.
TIB says 1811 candidates are contesting in 157 upazilas across the country in the second phase. Among them, 599 candidates for the chairman position, 689 for vice-chairman, and 533 for women vice-chairman positions.
Notably, Asaduzzman, a chairman candidate from Purbadhala in Netrokona, has the highest amount of loan of Tk310.98 crore, followed by Mohammad Akturazzaman, a chairman candidate from Cumilla Sadar South, with a loan of Tk99.15 crore, and Sohag Miah, a vice-chairman candidate from Necharabad, Pirojpur, with a loan of Tk35.87 crore.

Number of candidates with assets over Tk1cr triples in 2nd-phase upazila polls: TIB

The 7.5km long metro rail route from Uttara North to Tongi Railway Station will have a total of 5 stations along the way, Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) Managing Director MAN Siddique said.
"Once the work on this route from Uttara North to Tongi railway station is completed, the metro rail will be able to carry an additional 5 lakh passengers. There will be 5 new stations on this route," he said while speaking at a branding seminar for the Dhaka metro rail on Sunday (19 May).
"MRT Line-6 of Metrorail has gained popularity as the capital's fastest public transport. At present, passengers are travelling on this route from Uttara to Motijheel for work," he added.
The route is currently being extended from Motijheel to Kamalapur railway station.
DMTCL has started the process of extending the project from Uttara Uttara Station to Tongi Railway Station.

Uttara-Tongi route will have 5 metro rail stations: DMTCL MD

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the government is working to try to tame the persistent inflation in the country.
"The instability in the world has affected the economy of Bangladesh. We have to face the challenges arising from these situations. The government is trying to keep inflation under control," she said at the opening ceremony of the National SME Product Fair-2024 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on Sunday (19 May).
"Importance should be given to increasing domestic production to tackle the effects of the global economic crisis on Bangladesh," she added.
The premier said the Awami League government started working to develop the youth of the country as entrepreneurs after coming to power.
"Along with production, market creation of the products is also important," she said.
The fair will continue till 25 May under the aegis of the SME Foundation as it will be open for visitors from 10am to 9pm daily.
More than 300 entrepreneurs are taking part in the fair as almost 60% of participants are women entrepreneurs.
After the inauguration, PM Hasina handed over the National SME Award-2023 to seven small, medium and start-up entrepreneurs including crest and accreditation certificates.
Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Senior Secretary Zakia Sultana, FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam and SME Foundation Chairman Dr Md Masudur Rahman spoke at the function.

Govt trying to control inflation: PM Hasina

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today opened the seven-day 11th National Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Fair in the city.
She inaugurated the fair at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) at Agargaon this morning.
The fair will continue till 25 May under the aegis of the SME Foundation as it will be open for visitors from 10am to 9pm daily.
More than 300 entrepreneurs are taking part in the fair as almost 60% of participants are women entrepreneurs.
The SME fair will showcase 100% local products. More than three hundred and fifty companies will participate in this year's fair.
At the same function, the prime minister handed over the National SME Award-2023 to seven small, medium and start-up entrepreneurs including crest and accreditation certificates.
Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, its Senior Secretary Zakia Sultana, President of FBCCI Mahbubul Alam and SME Foundation Chairman Dr Md Masudur Rahman spoke at the function.
Of the award recipients, Swapna Rani Sen expressed her feelings on winning the National SME Award -2023.
This year's fair will see the largest number of 75 participants from the garment sector. Besides, 42 participants will showcase jute products, 38 to present handicrafts, 32 to display leather products and 27 to showcase processed agricultural products.
Moreover, 23 will display light engineering products, 14 to present food products, 13 to display IT-based services as 12 SME cluster entrepreneurs will take part in the fair from different parts of the country, 5 participants will showcase herbal industry products and 5 more will display jewellery products.
Four stalls will display plastic products, 3 to showcase electrical and electronics items, 3 to present furniture items and 19 others will display various government organisations products.
Besides, 30 banks, 15 public-private organisations, business clubs of 5 universities and about 50 other organisations will provide services to participants in the fair.
SME Business Incubation Centers in Dhaka and Chattogram under the supervision of SME Foundation will display their activities.

PM Hasina opens SME Fair

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department forecasts rain across the country until Tuesday. 
Thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty winds are expected today in many areas, including the Rangpur, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, and Sylhet divisions, and in a few places over the Rajshahi and Chattogram divisions.
Meanwhile, a mild heat wave is sweeping over the districts of Gopalganj, Rajshahi, Noakhali, Cox&rsquo;s Bazar, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jashore, Satkhira, Patuakhali, and Bhola.
However, temperatures are likely to drop in the next two days, coinciding with the expected rainfall on Monday and Tuesday.
Looking ahead, the meteorological office has indicated the potential formation of a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal from Wednesday, which could influence weather patterns in the subsequent days.

Rain likely until Tuesday: Met office

Dhaka has ranked second on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 183 at 9am this morning (19 May).
Dhaka&rsquo;s air this morning was classified as 'unhealthy', though yesterday&lsquo;s air quality was &lsquo;moderate&rsquo; with an AQI score of 99, according to the air quality index.
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered &lsquo;moderate&rsquo;, 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.
India&rsquo;s Delhi, Pakistan&rsquo;s Lahore and China&rsquo;s Wuhan occupied the first, third and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 370, 177 and 167, respectively.
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.

Dhaka’s air quality 2nd worst in the world this morning

Special Correspondent

Bangladeshi Mountaineer Babar Ali has become the fifth person in the country to conquer the world's tallest peak, Mount Everest.&nbsp;
He reached the summit around 8:45am on Sunday (19 May), said the&nbsp;chief coordinator of the expedition, Farhan Zaman.
"Expedition to Mount Everest is undoubtedly a difficult task. After completing it today, Babar will embark on a journey to climb the 27,940-foot Mount Lhotse. Although Everest has been conquered before by Bangladeshis, no attempt has been made to climb Everest and Lhotse in the same expedition before. That is the challenge taken by Babar, who has prepared himself for expeditions to various peaks of the Himalayas for the past several years," he added.
<img src="https://images.bangladeshfirst.com/resize?width=1600&amp;height=900&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=85&amp;path=mediaImages/2024-May-19_664985a5169e5_1716094373.jpg" alt="" width="1156" height="867">
"The total cost of this campaign is Tk45 lakhs. In which Visual Knitwear Limited is the main sponsor. Besides, co-sponsors were Everest Pharmaceuticals Limited, Dhaka Divers Club, Beacon Pharmaceuticals Limited, Blue J, Chandrabindu Prakashani, Giri, and Vertical Dreamers," Farhan Zaman said.
Also, various social and sports organisations from the country and abroad and countless well-wishers have participated in mass fund collection for the campaign.
Babar's Everest adventure began on 1 April, he reached Everest base camp 10 days later, said a press release issued by his organisation, Vertical Dreamers.
On 26 April, he started from the base camp and went up to Everest Camp-II and returned in order to acclimatise to the conditions.
After that, it had been a long wait for the right weather to summit.&nbsp;The journey to the final goal began on 14 May.
Babar Ali reached Camp-II on 14 May, Camp -II on 18 May, and Camp-IV early on 19 May.
Born in Budishwachar of Hathazari Upazila of Chrattogram, Babar Ali is a doctor by profession.
He started his medical career after passing MBBS from Chattogram Medical College and Hospital.
<img src="https://images.bangladeshfirst.com/resize?width=1600&amp;height=900&amp;format=webp&amp;quality=85&amp;path=mediaImages/2024-May-19_664985b2155e0_1716094386.jpg" alt="" width="1156" height="867">
Babar eventually quit medical practice to pursue his passion.
Previously four Bangladeshis -&nbsp;Musa Ibrahim in 2010, MA Muhit in 2011, Nishat Majumdar in 2012, and Wasfia Nazreen in 2012 successfully summited Mount Everest.
Mohammed Khaled Hossain summited Mount Everest in 2013 but died on his way down.

Babar Ali becomes 5th Bangladeshi to conquer Mount Everest

UNB/AKM Moinuddin

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong is scheduled to pay an official visit to Bangladesh on May 21-22 to strengthen their bilateral relationship with Bangladesh and find ways to boost cooperation for regional peace, prosperity and security.
Issues related to the promotion of trade and investment, sustainable and renewable energy production, Rohingya crisis, maritime security, technology transfer and free and open Indo-Pacific region are likely to be discussed during her visit, officials said here on Sunday.
Penny Wong is likely to have a courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina apart from holding a bilateral meeting with her Bangladesh counterpart Hasan Mahmud, a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UNB.
A small delegation including Deputy Secretary, South and Southeast Asia Group and Head of the Office of Southeast Asia, in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Michelle Chan will accompany the Australian foreign minister, he said.
The Australian minister is likely to visit the Rohingya camp during her visit to see the situation there.
Bangladesh seeks Australia&rsquo;s support in keeping the Rohingya issue alive globally with a view to the ultimate repatriation of the forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals sheltered in Bangladesh.
Australia has a commitment to continue the humanitarian assistance for the Rohingyas and support Bangladesh in their repatriation effort.
Wong was born in the Malaysian state of Sabah. Her family moved to Australia in 1976, when she was eight years old, and settled in Adelaide.
The forthcoming visit by the Australian foreign minister demonstrates the country's growing interest in Bangladesh, an Australian diplomat told UNB.
Earlier this month, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he looks forward to working with PM Hasina to strengthen the bilateral relationship and together contribute to regional peace, prosperity and security.
&ldquo;As Indian Ocean nations, we share an interest in a region that is grounded in sovereignty, promotes the prosperity and security of our citizens, and addresses the threat of climate change," he said in a letter written to PM Hasina congratulating on her reelection in January.
The Australian PM highlighted the importance of their partnership in promoting "peace, prosperity and security" in the Indian Ocean.
He affirmed his support for growing bilateral and regional cooperation between Australia and Bangladesh.
&ldquo;We have many common interests in increasing our trade and investment, promoting human rights, cooperating on people smuggling and addressing the Rohingya issue,&rdquo; Albanese wrote.
Bangladesh and Australia have already signed a framework agreement to open newer trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.
The Trade and Investment Framework Arrangement (TIFA), the first of this kind between Australia and Bangladesh in the last five decades, is expected to provide a platform for institutionalised economic interactions and open newer opportunities for trade and investment.
In May last year, Australian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Tim Watts visited Bangladesh.
During the visit he said Bangladesh and Australia work closely together to promote their shared interests in regional peace and security, and have a growing trade and investment relationship.
Welcoming Bangladesh&rsquo;s Indo-Pacific Outlook, he said Australia seeks a region where &ldquo;no country dominates, and no countries are dominated,&rdquo; and the country thinks building a region like that requires efforts by all countries in the region.
&ldquo;We welcome the Bangladesh government&rsquo;s Indo-Pacific Outlook in that context. I particularly welcome the point in the Indo-Pacific Outlook that argues for an inclusive region,&rdquo; Watts said while responding to a question from UNB in a group session at that time.
Australia recently sent a defence advisor to its High Commission in Dhaka, and, reciprocally, they welcomed a defence advisor from Bangladesh in Australia.
From Australia's perspective, the defence adviser is a symbol of their "intention and willingness" to cooperate on defence matters.
The two countries are scheduled to hold the 5th Foreign Office Consultation (FOC) in Australia next month, said an official.
The 4th FOC was held in Dhaka in March last year.
The two-way trade now stands at around $4 billion, reflecting Bangladesh&rsquo;s significant economic growth and its highly complementary commercial strengths. &nbsp;

Business, Rohingya issue and regional security likely to get priority during Australian foreign minister's Dhaka visit

Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani students have reportedly come under attack by violent mobs in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek.
Pakistan's mission in Bishkek said a few hostels of medical universities in Bishkek, where students from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan reside, have been attacked amid the violence, which broke out on Friday night.
The Kyrgyz government said four foreign citizens have been arrested following mob violence in Bishkek on the night of May 17-18 that injured at least 28 people, including several foreigners, and appeared to be directed against foreign students and migrants.
The violence prompted diplomatic reactions from Pakistan and India, who have warned their students in Bishkek to remain indoors.
The violence broke out after a video purportedly showing Kyrgyz students fighting medical students from Egypt on May 13 was widely shared online, according to Radio Free Europe.
Mobs gathered in several spots in Bishkek on Friday night after users on social media claimed those who were beaten were Kyrgyz youths.
On Saturday, a number of Bangladeshi students reached out to UNB seeking help for their safety.
&ldquo;We are here, five Bangladeshi girls. We are inside our apartment right now. Some people are gathering in front of our apartment. Please help us," Samia Kabir, one of the Bangladeshi students at International School of Medicine, Kyrgyzstan, told UNB on Saturday evening.
"We have been asked by the authorities to stay inside. We hear some noises from other apartments nearby&hellip;some Pakistanis are likely to be there," Samia added.
"Our mission in Uzbekistan is looking into the matter. So far, we have not received any reports of injuries of any Bangladeshis. We are in touch with our Mission. We will share a complete report soon," a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka told UNB.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic in a statement said that at present the situation in Bishkek is "absolutely calm and fully under control".
"All necessary measures have been taken to ensure security and maintain peace and stability," it said.
It also asked representatives of the media, the blogging community and foreign colleagues to be guided only by official and verified information from the competent authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic.
One of the students, named Mustafa, who is living a bit far from the main city, told UNB that the number of Bangladeshi students is now over 1000 in Kyrgyzstan. &nbsp; He said they are relatively safer where he is than those who are living in Bishkek.
In some cases, students from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan live in the same hostels, putting them at risk together.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the situation was "calm" in Bishkek and advised students to stay in regular touch with the Indian Embassy.
"The situation is presently calm, but students are advised to stay indoors for the moment," the Indian Consulate tweeted.
Videos of the clashes have flooded social media since Friday night.
Kyrgyzstan has long been a favoured destination for students from South Asian nations for top-notch medical training. As per the Migration Data Portal, Kyrgyzstan hosted the highest number of international students (61,418) in 2021 among the five Central Asian countries.
There are multiple reasons why students flock to Kyrgyzstan, which has the best healthcare, education, and transportation facilities among Central Asian nations.
Cheap cost of living, wide availability of Subcontinental cuisine, a good student-teacher ratio, and no entrance fees are some of the facilities that attract MBBS students.

South Asian students, including Bangladeshis, endure night of horrors in Kyrgyz capital

There is no restriction on journalists entering Bangladesh Bank to get information, its Deputy Government Khurshid Alam said on Saturday.
"If you need information, you can go to the bank a hundred times," he said.
He came up with the remarks on the occasion of "Customer Awareness Week-2024" in Rangpur, held at the conference room of Panchagarh Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday afternoon.
"Each institution has a spokesperson. We have three. Go and talk to them for any kind of information."
"If you're not satisfied with the information, you can talk to the four deputy governors. We will give you the answer," he added.
Regarding free access, Khurshid Alam posed a question: "What is free access?"
Would any private company give anything freely to another company? &nbsp;There is no country in the world that allows so much access to legally recalled products.
"If you want to go alone, you can and the assigned officials will provide you with information, which is allowed under The Secrecy Act. However, it is not permitted if you want to get information about the secrecy of the state."
He urged journalists not to be misguided with any kind of propaganda.
Acknowledging the challenges of the emerging economy, he said we are moving forward with long strides.
Addressing the bankers, the deputy governor said that we have to advance the country with the economy. The finance sector is the lifeblood of the economy. You have to collect taxes from the customers, and at the same time, you have to keep an eye on them so that they are not harassed or dissatisfied.
"Bangladesh has now become a role model for many countries. The country is moving forward. There is no time to look back," he added.
Bangladesh Bank Executive Directors Nurul Amin and Ruhul Amin, Bangladesh Bank Financial Integrity and Customer Services Department Directors Liza Fahmida and Shayema Islam, Bank Asia Managing Director Shafiuzzaman also spoke on the occasion.

Journalists can frequent central bank for info, says deputy governor

Bangladeshi students in Kyrgyz Republic have been advised to stay indoors for the moment and get in touch with the Bangladesh embassy in Uzbekistan.
The Bangladesh Uzbekistan embassy, concurrently accredited to the Kyrgyz Republic, suggested the Bangladeshi students to contact at the following 24x7 emergency number +998930009780 for any issue, said a foreign ministry press release Sarturday. &nbsp; "The Embassy of Bangladesh in Uzbekistan is in communication with Bangladeshi students, currently studying in Kyrgyz Republic, regarding the recent incident of mob violence in Bishkek," said the release. &nbsp; The mission said that the situation in Kyrgyzstan is under control of the law enforcing agencies as per information released by the relevant state authorities.
The Embassy is also in touch with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyz Republic on this matter, said the release.

Bangladeshi students in Kyrgyz advised to stay indoor

Bangladesh Bank lost its ability, to make independent decisions for the banking sector, and it&rsquo;s now operating to implement decisions of outsiders, which is unable to resolve the crisis in the banking sector, said&nbsp;eminent economist Fahmida Khatun.
The executive director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) made these remarks on Saturday (18 May) while speaking as the chief guest at the shadow parliament debate competition organised by the Debate for Democracy at the FDC Auditorium, in the capital.
&ldquo;The culture of transparency and accountability is being lost in various regulatory bodies, including the central bank. As a result, the institutions are not able to fulfill the responsibilities, that the state assigned to them," said Dr Fahmida.
Currently, the anarchy in the banking sector has reached such a level that the decision to merge banks has to be taken on the advice of the IMF, she pointed out.
However, due to a lack of prior preparation, integration has been challenged. Forced bank mergers may not be sustainable. The banking sector has lost its ability to support the overall economy due to a lack of good governance, said Dr Fahmida.
She said that people have lost confidence in the banking sector. The central bank even cannot provide any guarantee to keep the deposits in the bank safe
As a result, there has been concern among depositors. Those responsible for the haemorrhaging of the banking sector remain untouchable. People are not able to know the correct information about defaulted loans in the banking sector from the BB, Dr. Fahmida opined.
Referring to the Bangladesh Bank's recent decision to restrict the entry of journalists, Chairman of Debate for Democracy Hasan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiran said the central bank owes them (journalists) an explanation.
&ldquo;Journalists have played a major role in publishing news of major irregularities in the country's financial sector, it is not a crime, but their professional responsibility to highlight any irregularities [of the banking sector] in the media, including the heist in the BB's reserves,&rdquo; the state minister said.

BB lost ability to make independent decisions for country’s economy: Dr Fahmida Khatun

Rail stations will be built in every district of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to realise Bangabandhu's dream, Railway Minister Zillul Hakim said on Saturday.
All stations and lines will be renovated to facilitate connectivity in the public interest, he said.
He said this while visiting the site office of the broad gauge railway construction project from Madhukhali via Kamarkhali to Magura this afternoon and inspecting the progress of the project.
Later, the minister visited the under-construction railway bridge on Madhumati River, broad gauge railway and Magura's Ramnagar Thakurbari railway station areas.
Lawmaker Dr Biren Shikder, Secretary of the Ministry of Railways Dr. Md Humayun Kabir, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Abu Naser Baig, Superintendent of Police Mashiudullah Reza, Magura District Council Chairman and District Awami League General Secretary Pankaj Kumar Kundu, were also present.

Every district to get rail station, Minister Zillul Hakim says

Silmoon Pipe and Fittings have entered the market with a commitment to serving customers with high-quality plastic products.
The product was officially launched at an event held at the Gulshan Club in the capital, inaugurated by Silmoon&rsquo;s Chairman, Abdus Samad Labu, who is also the vice chairman of S Alam Group and Ekushey TV.
The event was organised under the slogan &ldquo;Tension-Free Life with the Right Pipe,&rdquo; and Silmoon&rsquo;s Managing Director assured the audience of the product&rsquo;s quality and affordability.&nbsp;
At the event, Abdus Samad Labu emphasised that Silmoon Pipe and Fittings will play a significant role in the plastic industry by maintaining high-quality standards.&nbsp;
&ldquo;The use of plastic products is increasing in the country, especially in the construction sector. With the customer in mind, Silmoon Pipe and Fittings have been introduced to the market,&rdquo; he said.
Additionally, a 26% discount was announced in celebration of the launch.
The launch event was attended by Silmoon&rsquo;s dealers, sales staff, and senior officials.

Silmoon Pipes and Fittings enters market with commitment to quality

The Bangladesh Jewelers Association (BAJUS) has increased the price of 22-carat gold by Tk1,178 per bhori, setting the new price at Tk1,18,460.&nbsp;
This change will be effective from Sunday, BAJUS announced in a press release this evening (18 May).
According to the new rates, 21-carat gold is now Tk1,13,082 per bhori, 18-carat gold is Tk96,916 per bhori, and traditional method gold is Tk80,131 per bhori.
The adjustment is due to an increase in the price of pure gold in the local market, BAJUS said.
Earlier on 11 May, the price of 22-carat gold was Tk1,17,282 per bhori. The prices for 21-carat, 18-carat, and traditional method gold were Tk1,11,951, Tk95,960, and Tk79,339 per bhori, respectively.
This year, gold prices have been adjusted 23 times, with 12 increases and 11 decreases.&nbsp;
In 2023, prices were adjusted 29 times.

Gold prices hike again, 22-carat now Tk1,18,460 per bhori

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun today said by following the 'zero-tolerance' policy of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, militancy and terrorism have been brought under control in the country.
IGP said this while talking to reporters after inaugurating the Liberation War-themed terracotta 'Mrityunjai' at Moulvibazar District Police Lines and 'Bangabandhu Corner' at the District Superintendent of Police today, said a press release here.
He said there was a rise of militancy and terrorism in the country. Today, with the cooperation of all, Bangladesh Police has been able to maintain law and order in the country.
"In response to Bangabandhu's clarion call, on the night of March 25, 1971, the Bengali policemen at the Rajarbagh Police Lines mounted the first armed resistance against the Pakistani invaders forces with the only weapon 'Three Not Three' Rifles, he said.
The police chief said motivated by patriotism, every member of the Bangladesh Police is committed to ensuring safety of the people by keeping the spirit of the great liberation war alive.
DIG of Sylhet Range Sha Migan Shafiur Rahman, Sylhet Metropolitan police Commissioner Md. Zakir Hossain Khan, Superintendent of police of Moulvibazar district Md. Manjur Rahman and other officials were present in the function.

Militancy, terrorism now under control: IGP

Two cousins were killed and four others injured by lightning strike at Noabari village in Birbashinda union under Kalihati upazila of the district today.
The deceased were identified as Afzal Hossain, 52, and his cousin Amir Hossain, 50. They are residents of Chakdafarpur village of Pirganj upazila of Dinajpur district.
According to the locals, six workers, including Afzal and Amir, were harvesting paddy in the field of Hazrat Ali in the area early on Saturday morning. When it started to rain around 9:30am, lightning struck Afzal and Amir as they were running home from the paddy field. They died on the spot and four others were injured, sub-inspector (SI) of Kalihati Police Station Rajib said.
The injured were taken to Kalihati Upazila Health Complex, he added.
Md Sohrab Ali, union parishad Chairman of Birbashinda Union, said Afzal and Amir had rented a room at Awliabad Bazar and had been harvesting paddy in many nearby areas for the past week.

2 cousins killed in Tangail lightning strike

Jute and Textile Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak today said the government is working tirelessly to return previous glory of golden fibre (jute).
Terming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as labourer friendly and she is working for their welbeing, the minister said while addressing a press breifing after visiting a number of Jute and Textile Mills here.
The minister said that the Prime Minister have already paid all the dues of the labourers amid closed jute mills in the region.
Nanak, who is also a presidium member of Bangladesh Awami League, said that the leasee jute mills would not be able to showcase the expected result. The ministry can take new decision as the leasee of the mills can&rsquo;t fulfill lease conditions, Nanank added.
He, however, said the main condition of lease was to produce adequate jute goods &nbsp;and to create job opportunity of previous skilled labourers.
Besides, the government is considering to build economic zone of the lands of closed jute mills, he added.
Earlier, the Textile and Jute Minister visited Daulatpur Jute Mill, Platinum Jubilee Jute Mill, Crescent Jute Mill, Khalishpur Jute Mill under the BJMC and Khulna Textile Mill under the BTMC of the Ministry.
Mayor of Khulna City Corporation(KCC) Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Parliament member of Khulna-3 constituency S M Kamal Hossain, Chairman of BJMC Faruk Ahmed, Chairman of BTMC Brig Gen Zia, among others, were present.
The Textile and Jute Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak later exchenged views with the members of Bangladesh Jute Association(BJA) at a hotel here as chief guest.
He urged the BJA members to work unitedly to reduce dependency of jute yield import.
Terming the farmers are growing 1,500 metric tonnes of jute yield across the country in a year and the remained 4,500 metric tonnes jute yeild has been collected from India as 5,000 jute yeild is needed in the country, he said, adding that we should inspire our fermers to produce huge jute yield in the country.
Chaired by the Chairman of BJMC Farhad Ahmed Akand, KCC Mayor Talukder Abdul Khaleque and Parliament Member S M Kamal Hossain addressed the meeting as special guests.

Govt is working to return glorious days of golden fibre: Nanak

Embracing the Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) compliance framework is essential for businesses in Bangladesh to align their values and strategies with sustainability objectives, foster economic growth, and remain competitive beyond LDC graduation, said DCCI President Ashraf Ahmed.
He highlighted these points during a roundtable discussion titled &ldquo;Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities of ESG Compliance in Bangladesh,&rdquo; organized by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce &amp; Industry (DCCI) on Saturday (May 18).
Ashraf Ahmed emphasised that as Bangladesh becomes more interconnected with the global economy and its international trade continues to grow, ESG compliance is becoming mandatory for businesses. Investors consider ESG factors when assessing a business's potential as they indicate resilience and long-term financial health.
He pointed out the increasing trend of ESG reporting in Bangladesh. Various organizations across different industries have started reporting on their ESG performance, and government bodies have also initiated efforts to promote and encourage ESG reporting. Recognizing the importance of ESG compliance, he recommended developing effective ESG compliance strategies aligned with the global value chain and integrating ESG considerations into decision-making processes and organizational culture.
He underscored the need to educate stakeholders, including employees, management, investors, regulators, and the public, about the importance of ESG compliance and its reporting. Furthermore, ESG compliance should be embedded in other policies such as industrial policy and SME policy, he added.
Md Munim Hassan, Director General, Department of Patent, Design &amp; Trademarks, Ministry of Industries, emphasized that compliance is mandatory in every sector and enhances business credibility. He stressed personal responsibility for environmental and social compliance and noted significant progress in Bangladesh's GI (Geographical Indication) certifications.
Md Anwarul Alam, Director General (Additional Secretary), Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB), Ministry of Industries, stated that the BAB is directly linked with ESG, ensuring the quality of goods and services with worldwide acceptance of BAB&rsquo;s certification. He encouraged lab owners to seek accreditation from BAB and highlighted the interconnection between ESG and the vision of Smart Bangladesh.
Keynote speaker Zaku Uz Zaman, Country Representative for UNIDO, Bangladesh, explained that the term "ESG" emerged in the early 2000s, with roots in the 1990s. ESG evaluates a firm's engagement with environmental, social, and governance factors, and investors are increasingly focused on a company's societal impact. He noted the lack of a defined format for ESG reporting, which challenges management in understanding reporting requirements. Compliance with ESG reporting can help Bangladeshi companies remain competitive post-LDC graduation.
Other speakers, including Dr. M Niaz Asadullah, Visiting Professor of Economics at the University of Reading, UK; Mohammad Bin Quasem, Director of Echotex Ltd.; Yeasmin Akther, Business Manager at Knowledge, Health and Nutrition, SGS Bangladesh Limited; M. Abu Horairah, former Vice President of DCCI; Enamul Haque Patwary, former Director of DCCI; and Rashid Shah Shamrat, former Director of DCCI, also contributed to the discussion. They stressed the need for an ESG policy, creating awareness, and having a monitoring and reporting system. They suggested educating people about ESG, emphasizing environmental safety, and advocating for massive afforestation across the country. The speakers called for concerted efforts and the implementation of rules and regulations to enforce ESG in Bangladesh.

ESG compliance reporting standard essential to boost trade: DCCI president

Bangladeshi civil society organizations (CSOs) have raised concerns about the country's increasing debt and its implications for sustainability following Bangladesh's transition to a middle-income country.&nbsp;
They demanded a people-centric budget at an event held today (18 May) led by EquityBD.
&ldquo;The total FY 2024-25 budget will be Tk8.05 trillion including a debt of Tk2.75 trillion. The per capita debt is now US $580. The repayment of this unprecedented amount of debt will cause reductions in the lifeline of people,&rdquo; said Omour Faruk Bhuiya of BDCSO Process.
Ferdous Ara Rumee from the International Rural Women&rsquo;s Day Observation Committee stated, &ldquo;91% of people are involved in the informal sector employment where 95% are women. We must evaluate women's progress through the yearly gender-budget reporting system.&rdquo;
Mustafa Kamal Akanda of COAST Foundation criticized the budget allocation for roads and highways, saying, &ldquo;The total budget for roads and highways is 875 billion Taka while there is no allocation for safety in the road. The number of deaths in road accidents in 2023 is 8,505.&rdquo;
Mir Mohammad Ali of Shere Bangla Agricultural University highlighted the challenges facing fisherfolk, explaining, &ldquo;Fisheries and aquaculture employed nearly 1.4 million people but the budget hardly considers how the poor fisherfolk survive during three to four fishing ban periods across the year.&rdquo;
Pradip K Roy of the Online Knowledge Society stressed the need for investment in skilled human resources, stating, &ldquo;The government must allocate enough budget for skilled human resources if we want to take advantage of the demographic dividend by 2040.&rdquo;
Abul Hasan of EquityBD pointed out, &ldquo;Internal climate-induced migration is one of the biggest challenges for Bangladesh. Even after five years of migration strategy paper is developed, not enough investment is declared on it.&rdquo;
Hasan Mehedi of CLEAN emphasized, &ldquo;The government&rsquo;s 8th FYP planned to achieve at least 10% renewable energy by 2025, now only 3%. The allocation for power in the upcoming budget is 450 billion Taka hardly has the allocation to achieve the target.&rdquo;
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, the Chief Moderator of EquityBD, concluded, &ldquo;The entire budget process in Bangladesh is undemocratic. Even the participation of the parliament members in the budget process is questionable.&rdquo;
The event, moderated by Mustafa Kamal Akanda of COAST Foundation, featured speakers from various organizations, including Bangladesh Krishok Federation, CLEAN, CSRL, NDF, Online Knowledge Society, Sundarban Bachao Andolon, Young Change Makers, and Water Keepers Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi CSOs demand people-centric budget for 2024-25

President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Saturday stated that the defeated evil forces of foreign masters continue to make relentless efforts to tarnish the country's achievements even after 53 years of independence. He delivered this speech at the eighth council of the Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city.
&ldquo;After winning the bloody nine-month war under the leadership of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, we forgot the torture, exploitation, and deprivation of the past. However, the anti-independence forces could not forget the despair of their defeat,&rdquo; he said.
He also mentioned that these evil forces are engaged in various conspiracies against the country and its freedom, collaborating with foreign powers in efforts to destabilize the spirit of the Liberation War.
Referring to the assassination of Bangabandhu along with his family on August 15, 1975, as part of a domestic-foreign conspiracy by the defeated forces of the Liberation War, he said, &ldquo;We could not save the Father of the Nation. It is our unforgivable failure as a nation.&rdquo;
President Shahabuddin said the anti-independence faction embarked on a series of conspiracies to destroy the spirit of the Liberation War and independence, attempting to erase the principles and ideals of Bangabandhu after coming to power. They took shameful steps to distort the history of the Liberation War and independence.
&ldquo;Whenever they get a chance, they want to strike like a poisonous snake. They do not believe in the country&rsquo;s development, democracy, human rights, or tolerance,&rdquo; he said.
He added that these forces want to use the country and its people for their own benefit and that of their local and foreign masters.
The President urged everyone to build an all-out resistance against the defeated forces of 1971 to continue the current development spree and maintain the country's independence and sovereignty.
&ldquo;There is no alternative to strong unity among all pro-liberation forces,&rdquo; he said, adding that everyone must work for the interests of the country and its people, putting aside individual and group interests.
He said those who spread negative propaganda about Bangladesh mainly aim to hinder its development journey.
Stressing the need to strengthen social bonds between religious and ethnic communities, he said any form of discrimination against citizens is against the rule of law.
&ldquo;It must be remembered that awareness, humanity, human rights, and respect for the beliefs and lifestyles of others strengthen social bonds among different groups in society,&rdquo; he added.
He urged the government as well as civil society to play an effective role in ensuring that no one is discriminated against regardless of religion, caste, or community.

Defeated evil force still active to tarnish country’s achievements: President

Global Islami Bank formally opened its two sub-branches respectively at Sarulia of Narayanganj and Dhorkora of Cumilla on Monday (20 May).
Syed Habib Hasnat, Managing Director of the Bank has virtually inaugurated the operation of the sub-branches as chief guest, said a press release.&nbsp;
Additional Managing Director Kazi Mashiur Rahman Jayhad, Deputy Managing Director Sami Karim, Divisional Heads from Head Office, Branch Managers, sub-branch in-charges and clients were also present on the occasion.
It is expected that with the latest technological support, the bank will provide quality service to its customers and expand its network both domestically and internationally, offering &lsquo;Banking with Faith&rsquo; to its stakeholders.

Global Islami Bank opens two sub-branches

Social Islami Bank inaugurated 10 new sub-branches on May 20.
The bank's Managing Director and Chief Executive, Zafar Alam, inaugurated the sub-branches as the chief guest, reads a press release.
Deputy Managing Director Muhammad Forkanullah presided over the event organized at the head office, with Deputy Managing Director Mohammad Habibur Rahman and Head of Branches Control Department Zainal Abedin also speaking at the event.
AAM Habibur Rahman, Head of Internal Control and Compliance Division, along with various department heads and senior executives, were present on the occasion. Dignitaries, including local public representatives, teachers, journalists, businessmen, regional heads of different regions of the bank, managers of related branches, and in-charges of sub-branches, participated virtually.
The new sub-branches are located in Guimara in Khagrachari, Abu Torab in Baroyarhat in Chittagong, Khaja Road in Baklia, Kanuram Bazar in Lohagara, Islamia Bazar in Nanupur, Chagalnaia in Phulgazi in Feni, Manikganj, Harisardar Bazar in Munsirhat in Comilla, Garhmora Bazar in Homna, and Ibrahimpur in Dhaka.
In his speech, Zafar Alam emphasized that Islamic banking is an interest-free system that brings welfare to all. He highlighted that one-third of the country's remittances come through Islamic banks, and noted that Social Islami Bank currently ranks second in remittance collection. Alam also mentioned that the bank's customer base is steadily increasing, and the bank is working towards the goal of serving half a million people soon.

Social Islami Bank inaugurates 10 new sub-branches

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
ICC&rsquo;s Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan KC told the charges related to the Oct 7 attacks on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza, The Telegraph reported, citing CNN.&nbsp;
The ICC is also seeking warrants for Yoav Gallant, Israel&rsquo;s defence minister, and two other top Hamas leaders.
The charges against Netanyahu and Gallant include &ldquo;causing extermination, causing starvation as a method of war, including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies, deliberately targeting civilians in conflict,&rdquo; Karim Khan said.
Israel is not a member of the ICC and disputes its jurisdiction.

ICC prosecutor seeks arrest of Israeli President and Hamas leaders

Reuters

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's lawyers told London's High Court on Monday that he should not be extradited to the United States over the mass leak of secret U.S. documents as he may not be able to rely on his right to free speech.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the court ahead of what could be the culmination of 13 years of legal battles, with two judges due to declare whether they are satisfied by U.S. assurances that Assange, 52, can rely on the First Amendment right if he is tried for spying in the U.S.
Assange's legal team say he could be on a plane across the Atlantic within 24 hours of the decision, but that he could also be released from jail, or find himself yet again bogged down in months of legal battles.
His lawyer Edward Fitzgerald said the judges should not accept the assurance given by U.S. prosecutors that Assange could seek to rely upon the rights and protections given under the First Amendment, as a U.S court would not be bound by this.
"We say this is a blatantly inadequate assurance," he told the court.
Fitzgerald accepted a separate assurance that Assange would not face the death penalty, saying the U.S. had provided an "unambiguous promise not to charge any capital offence".
The U.S. said its First Amendment assurances were sufficient.
James Lewis, representing the U.S. authorities, said in court documents that the assurance "cannot bind the courts", but that the U.S. courts would "take solemn notice and give effect so far as they are able to a promise given by the executive".
PROTESTERS APPEAL TO BIDEN Protesters gathered outside the court early on Monday, tying yellow ribbons to the iron railings, holding placards and chanting "Free, free Julian Assange". In a plea to U.S. President Joe Biden, flags read "#Let him go Joe".
One protester, Emilia Butlin, 54, told Reuters she wanted to show solidarity: "He, with his work, has offered tremendous service to the public, informing them about what governments are doing in their name."
Assange's wife Stella appeared in court with his brother and father, but Assange stayed away for health reasons, Fitzgerald said.
WikiLeaks released hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. military documents on Washington's wars in Afghanistan and Iraq - the largest security breaches of their kind in U.S. military history - along with swathes of diplomatic cables.
In April 2010 it published a classified video showing a 2007 U.S. helicopter attack that killed a dozen people in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, including two Reuters news staff.
The U.S. authorities want to put the Australian-born Assange on trial on 18 charges, nearly all under the Espionage Act, saying his actions with WikiLeaks were reckless, damaged national security, and endangered the lives of agents.
His many global supporters call the prosecution a travesty, an assault on journalism and free speech, and revenge for causing embarrassment. Calls for the case to be dropped have come from human rights groups, media bodies and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with other political leaders.
ASSANGE JUDGES CONSIDER US ASSURANCES Assange was first arrested in Britain in 2010 on a Swedish warrant over sex crime allegations that were later dropped.
Since then, he has been variously under house arrest, holed up in Ecuador's embassy in London for seven years and, since 2019, held in the Belmarsh top security jail, latterly while awaiting a ruling on his extradition.
If the High Court rules the extradition can go ahead, Assange's legal avenues in Britain are exhausted, and his lawyers will immediately turn to the European Court of Human Rights for an emergency injunction blocking deportation pending a full hearing by that court.
If the judges reject the U.S. assurances, Assange will have permission to appeal his extradition case and the appeal might not be heard until next year.
The judges might also have decided to consider not only whether Assange can appeal but also the substance of that appeal. If they find in his favour in those circumstances, he could be released.
"We hope that the courts do the right thing today and find in Julian&rsquo;s favour. But if they don&rsquo;t, we will seek an emergency injunction from the European Court of Human Rights," said Stella Assange, who married him in Belmarsh in 2022.
She has said that, whatever the outcome, she would continue to fight for his liberty. If he is freed, she said she would follow him to Australia or wherever he was safe. If he is extradited, she said all the psychiatric evidence presented at court had concluded he was at serious risk of suicide.
&nbsp;

Julian Assange: WikiLeaks founder fights US extradition with free speech argument

Nepal's prime minister won a parliamentary vote of confidence on Monday amid protests by the opposition demanding a parliamentary probe into allegations that his home minister illegally took money from several companies before he entered politics.
Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a former Maoist rebel chief in the Himalayan nation sandwiched between China and India, formed a coalition cabinet in March with the support of the liberal Communist Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) party and several smaller parties.
A fresh vote of confidence became necessary after a junior partner in the coalition withdrew support following differences with the leader.
The main opposition Nepali Congress said Dahal must set up a parliamentary panel to probe allegations that Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the home ministry, Rabi Lamichhane, illegally took large amounts of money from a number of cooperative companies, which are formed and run by small group of people, when he was a television show presenter before joining politics.
Lamichhane has denied the charges.
Parliament Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire said Dahal won 157 votes, exceeding the minimum 138 required, in the 275-member parliament in Monday&rsquo;s voting in which the entire opposition - except one member - did not participate.
&ldquo;As the number is the majority of all members of parliament, I declare the motion of confidence tabled by the prime minister as passed,&rdquo; Ghimire told the parliament as the opposition Nepali Congress party protested and shouted slogans.
Dahal, who still goes by his war nom de guerre "Prachanda", which means fierce, led a decade-long insurgency from 1996 which caused 17,000 deaths before he joined mainstream politics under a 2006 peace deal overseen by the United Nations.
He is serving a third time as prime minister, although he did not complete the full five-year term during previous stints.
Nepal has had 13 governments since it abolished its 239-year-old monarchy in 2008 and became a republic.

Amid opposition protests, Nepal PM wins parliamentary vote of confidence

A Donald Trump biopic and the latest&nbsp;dark creation by David Cronenberg premiere in Cannes on Monday as the world-famous film festival reaches its midway point.
"Emilia Perez", a musical about a narco boss having a sex change, is the audacious&nbsp;frontrunner so far, after 11 of the 22 entries for the top prizePalme d'Or have been seen.
The festival -- considered the film industry's foremost get-together --&nbsp;concludes with its award ceremony on Saturday, with "Barbie" director Greta&nbsp;Gerwig heading the jury.
But two more buzzy entries arrive on Monday.
"The Apprentice" is a biopic of Trump's formative years from Iranian-born&nbsp;director Ali Abbasi -- bound to stir up controversy in an election year for&nbsp;the United States.
It stars Sebastian Stan, best-known for playing the Winter Soldier in Marvel&nbsp;films, though he also won best actor at this year's Berlin Film Festival and&nbsp;widespread acclaim for his part as rocker Tommy Lee in series "Pam and Tommy".
Later, Cronenberg -- director of many body-horror classics like "The Fly",&nbsp;"Crash" and "Videodrome" -- returns to the Cote d'Azur festival with "The&nbsp;Shrouds".
Billed as his most personal film yet, it tells the story of a widowed&nbsp;businessman (Vincent Cassell) who invents a machine to monitor the dead in&nbsp;their graves.
It was partly inspired by the death in 2017 of Cronenberg's wife of 43 years.
"I don't really think of art as therapy," the Canadian director told Variety.&nbsp;"Grief is forever, as far as I'm concerned. It doesn't go away. You can have&nbsp;some distance from it, but I didn't experience any catharsis making the&nbsp;movie."
Among entries to score well with critics during the first week was "Bird", a&nbsp;gritty but sweet and fantastical tale about a young girl in working-class&nbsp;England from director Andrea Arnold.
"Kinds of Kindness", the latest bizarro team-up between Emma Stone and Yorgos&nbsp;Lanthimos, featured some ultra-dark comedy moments, including a thumb-and-&nbsp;cauliflower dinner.
"Megalopolis", the decades-in-the-making epic from Francis Ford Coppola, has perhaps been the most divisive entry, with some reviewers finding it a profound end-of-life work of philosophy, and others a barely comprehensible&nbsp;mess.
But the one to beat so far is "Emilia Perez", which has won a lot of acclaim&nbsp;for stars Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez and trans actor Karla Sofia Gascon in the&nbsp;title role, as well as its risk-taking French director, Jacques Audiard, who&nbsp;already has a Palme d'Or under his belt.
- Sagas -
The festival has also seen glitzy out-of-competition launches for two&nbsp;Hollywood blockbusters that fancy themselves as "sagas".
The action-packed "Furiosa: a Mad Max Saga" received largely strong reviews,&nbsp;while Kevin Costner returned to his favourite Western genre with the three-hour "Horizon: An American Saga", just the first of four mooted chapters.
Like Coppola, Costner put millions of his own fortune into the decades-long&nbsp;passion project.
"At a certain moment I just said OK, I'm going to do this myself. And so I&nbsp;mortgaged property, I raised the money," he told AFP at the festival.
The early reviews were decidedly mixed, with The Hollywood Reporter deriding&nbsp;it as a "clumsy slog".
But Costner says he is unconcerned about losing his money.
"If they take it away from me, I still have my movie. I still have my&nbsp;integrity. I still listened to my heart," he said.

Trump biopic hits Cannes Film Festival

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces voter fatigue and some resistance from a resurgent opposition in India's mammoth general election, foot soldiers of his party's Hindu nationalist parent have stepped in to help regain momentum, insiders said.
With less than two weeks left of a six-week voting schedule, voter turnout has been lower than previous elections, raising concern within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that some of its core supporters were staying away.
Modi's party, chasing a rare third term in office, has also faced stronger opposition than anticipated in a handful of states, leading election experts and Indian financial markets to adjust forecasts of a landslide win.
With no exit polls allowed until all the voting is completed on June 1, it's difficult to judge how well or poorly candidates are faring. But most analysts say Modi should be able to retain a majority in the 543-seat parliament when votes are counted on June 4.
"The trend is suggesting that Modi will be back in power with a reduced majority," said Rasheed Kidwai, a visiting fellow at the Observer Research Foundation think tank.
But he added: "Any shortfall of a clear mandate of 300 seats for BJP will reflect poorly on Modi."
At the start of the campaign, Modi was projected to win up to three-fourths of the seats, with the opposition led by Rahul Gandhi, the scion of the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty, a distant second.
After the first two phases of voting, though, analysts and political workers said the chances of the BJP getting above 362 seats, the two-thirds majority required to bring changes in the constitution, had been affected.
One reason the opposition is clawing back ground is the fading of the euphoria in India's Hindu majority when Modi inaugurated a temple in January on a site disputed with the country's minority Muslims.
Bread and butter issues seem to be replacing religious fervour in many parts of the country.
Jobless youth in northern Haryana state have held street protests against the BJP during the campaign and in western Maharashtra, farmers incensed over a ban on onion exports canvassed support for an opposition candidate.
In the big, battleground state of Bihar, a BJP lawmaker has defected to the opposition Congress party saying the poor have been left behind in India's world-beating economic growth.
Some of the unhappiness is resulting in a swing to the opposition or in apathy, analysts have said.
"The decline in voting has been a cause of concern in recent weeks and we have been working to bring a shift in the numbers," said Rajiv Tuli, an official at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Hindu group that is the ideological parent of the BJP.
"Meetings, outreach campaigns and even a renewed push to remind voters about ensuring a full-majority government comes to power did become critical after the first phase of voting."
GO OUT AND VOTE RSS volunteers are hosting neighbourhood meetings in their homes to persuade people to go out and vote, said Ritesh Agarwal, the senior publicity official for the group in the New Delhi region.
Three national spokespersons of the BJP said they were aware that the RSS was working to help improve voter turnout but declined comment on how this would affect the BJP.
"I don't think there is any sense that BJP is in a weak position," said spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, adding that a low turnout affected all parties and that voter numbers had increased after the first two phases.
In Haryana, some youngsters have criticised a government decision to cut back on recruitment to the military and switch to temporary commissions to control a bloated defence budget. Jobs are so scarce, residents say, that people are lining up for employment in Israel which has turned to India to plug a labour shortage following the war in Gaza.
"We see no future for ourselves," said 28-year old Kuldeep Singh in the northern state's Jahangirpur village, where black ink was smeared on walls displaying Modi's campaign slogans.
Ganesh Wadhwan, a farmer in Maharashtra's Dindori constituency said he sought funds for opposition candidate Bhaskar Bhagare ahead of the vote there on Monday to punish the Modi government for blocking onion exports.
"We believed Modi would double our income as promised. But instead, our incomes have halved," said Wadhwan.
Some analysts say there is also considerable disapproval of the government in Bihar, one of India's poorest states which has fallen behind as incomes climb in other parts of the country.
Together, Maharashtra, Bihar and Haryana account for nearly 100 seats in parliament, but it was not clear how far the discontent had spread there or in other parts of the country.
The opposition has said its campaign rallies are drawing good crowds and Gandhi, the alliance leader, is predicting it will unseat the BJP and form the government.
India's stock markets fell sharply last Monday on the possibility of political instability before recovering later in the week.
The underground betting market is currently predicting that the BJP will win fewer than 300 seats but well clear of the 272 required for a majority, according to a trader who runs one of the betting pools.
He declined to be identified as these pools are illegal.
Yashwant Deshmukh, founder of polling agency CVoter Foundation, said all the evidence pointed to Modi winning.
"Jobs and unemployment are huge issues but not really an electoral issue. When we asked who will give a solution to these problems - jobs, inflation, unemployment and the economic situation - Modi&rsquo;s score was 2:1 over Rahul Gandhi."
&nbsp;

As Modi faces resistance, fatigue in India election, parent group steps in

Iran's government cabinet appointed on Monday Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani as acting foreign minister following the death of Hossein Amirabdollahian in a helicopter crash.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, six other passengers and crew were killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border, officials and state media said on Monday.

Ali Bagheri Kani appointed as Iran's Acting Foreign Minister after Amirabdollahian's death

Iran's three branches of government held an extraordinary meeting on Monday, with First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber representing the executive branch following the death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, state TV said.
"We will follow the path of President Raisi in fulfilling assigned duties without any interruption," Mokhber said.
The three branches to which state TV referred are the executive, the legislative and the judiciary.
If a president dies in office, the Islamic Republic's constitution says that the first vice president takes over for an interim period of 50 days, with the approval of the Supreme Leader, who has the final say in all matters of state in Iran.
A new presidential election would be held at the end of the 50 days.

3 branches of Iranian government hold 'extraordinary meeting' after president's death

Oil prices extended gains on Monday amid political uncertainty in major producing countries after Iran's president died in a helicopter crash and Saudi Arabia's crown prince cancelled a trip to Japan, citing issues with the king's health.
Brent gained 41 cents, or 0.5%, to $84.39 a barrel by 0632 GMT, after rising to $84.43 earlier, its highest since May 10.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude for June edged up 23 cents to $80.29 a barrel, after hitting $80.35 earlier, the highest since May 1. The June contract expires on Tuesday and the more-active July contract was at $79.89, up 31 cents, or 0.4%.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner long seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border, officials and state media said on Monday.
Separately, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman postponed his visit to Japan, scheduled to begin on Monday, because of a health issue with his father King Salman, said Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.
Saudi Arabia's state news agency on Sunday reported that 88-year-old King Salman will undergo treatment for lung inflammation.
"If the father's health is failing, it adds to the layer of uncertainty already circling energy markets this morning following the news that the Iranian President is missing," IG Markets analyst Tony Sycamore said.
He added that WTI prices may rebound further toward $83.50 after rising above the 200-day moving average of $80.02.
"I do think there are enough reasons out there for this to happen, more so when you factor in China property measures announced last week, including relaxing mortgage rules, lowering deposits, and buying unsold homes," Sycamore said.
Brent ended the previous week up about 1%, its first weekly gain in three weeks, while WTI rose 2% on improved economic indicators from the U.S. and China, the world's largest oil consumers.
Despite the volatility in the region, oil prices moved only slightly.
"The oil market remains largely rangebound and without any fresh catalyst we will likely have to wait for clarity around OPEC+ output policy in order to break out of this range," said Warren Patterson, head of commodities strategy at ING.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies, together called OPEC+, are scheduled to meet on June 1.
"The market also appears increasingly numb to developments on the geopolitical front, likely due to the large amount of spare capacity OPEC is sitting on," Patterson said.
Saul Kavonic, an energy analyst at MST Marquee, said the market and industry were already accustomed to Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's leadership in the energy sector.
"Continuity in Saudi strategy is expected regardless of this health issue," he added.
In the United States, Washington took advantage of the recent drop in oil prices, saying late last week it had bought 3.3 million barrels of oil at $79.38 a barrel to help refill its Strategic Petroleum Reserve after a massive sale from the stockpile in 2022.
&nbsp;

Oil climbs after Iran's president dies, Saudi flags issue with king's health

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei announced five days of public mourning for President Ebrahim Raisi following his death in a helicopter crash and confirmed First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber as interim head of the country's executive branch.
Iran now has a maximum period of 50 days before a presidential election must be held to choose Raisi's successor.
"I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran," Khamenei said in a statement carried by the official news agency IRNA. &nbsp; "... Mokhber will manage the executive branch and is obliged to arrange with the heads of the legislative and judicial branches to elect a new president within a maximum of 50 days," he said.
According to Article 131 of Iran's constitution, a council consisting of the first vice president, the speaker of parliament and the head of the judiciary must prepare the way for the election of a new president.okhber, like Raisi, is seen as close to Khamenei, who has the last say in all matters of state. Mokhber became first vice president in 2021 when Raisi was elected president.

Iran's Supreme Leader approves Mokhber as interim president, declares 5 days mourning

AP/UNB

The helicopter crash in which Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country&rsquo;s foreign minister and other officials were killed is likely to reverberate across the Middle East, where Iran&rsquo;s influence runs wide and deep.
That's because Iran has spent decades supporting armed groups and militants in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and the Palestinian territories, allowing it to project power and potentially deter attacks from the United States or Israel, the sworn enemies of its 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Tensions have never been higher than they were last month when Iran under Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei launched hundreds of drones and ballistic missiles at Israel in response to an airstrike on an Iranian Consulate in Syria that killed two Iranian generals and five officers.
Israel, with the help of the United States, Britain, Jordan and others, intercepted nearly all the projectiles. In response, Israel apparently launched its own strike against an air defence radar system in the Iranian city of Isfahan, causing no casualties but sending an unmistakable message.
The sides have waged a shadow war of covert operations and cyberattacks for years, but the exchange of fire in April was their first direct military confrontation.
The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has drawn in other Iranian allies, with each attack and counterattack threatening to set off a wider war.
It's a combustible mix that could be ignited by unexpected events, such as Sunday's deadly crash.
A BITTER RIVALRY WITH ISRAEL
Israel has long viewed Iran as its greatest threat because of Tehran's controversial nuclear program, its ballistic missiles and its support for armed groups sworn to Israel's destruction.
Iran views itself as the chief patron of Palestinian resistance to Israeli rule, and top officials for years have called for Israel to be wiped off the map.
Raisi, who was a hard-liner viewed as a prot&eacute;g&eacute; and possible successor of Khamenei, chastised Israel last month, saying &ldquo;the Zionist Israeli regime has been committing oppression against the people of Palestine for 75 years.&rdquo;
&ldquo;First of all we have to expel the usurpers, secondly we should make them pay the cost for all the damages they have created, and thirdly, we have to bring to justice the oppressor and usurper," he said.
Israel is believed to have carried out numerous attacks over the years targeting senior Iranian military officials and nuclear scientists.
There is no evidence Israel was involved in Sunday's helicopter crash, and Israeli officials have not commented on the incident.
Who is Ebrahim Raisi, Iran's president whose helicopter suffered a 'hard landing' in foggy weather?
Arab countries on the Persian Gulf have also long viewed Iran with suspicion, a key factor in the decision of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to normalize relations with Israel in 2020, and of Saudi Arabia to consider such a move.
A PROXY WAR STRETCHING FROM LEBANON TO YEMEN
Iran has provided financial and other support over the years to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which led the 7 October attack into Israel that triggered the Gaza war, and the smaller but more radical Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which took part in it. But there is no evidence that Iran was directly involved in the attack.
Since the start of the war, Iran's leaders have expressed solidarity with the Palestinians. Their allies in the region have gone much further.
Lebanon's Hezbollah group, Iran's most militarily advanced proxy, has waged a low-intensity conflict with Israel since the start of the Gaza war. The two sides have traded strikes on a near-daily basis along the Israel-Lebanon border, forcing tens of thousands of people on both sides to flee.
So far, however, the conflict has not boiled over into a full-blown war that would be disastrous for both countries.
Iran-backed militias in Syria and Iraq launched repeated attacks on US bases in the opening months of the war but pulled back after US retaliatory strikes for a drone attack that killed three American soldiers in January.
Yemen's Houthi rebels, another ally of Iran, have repeatedly targeted international shipping in what they portray as a blockade of Israel. Those strikes, which often target ships with no apparent links to Israel, have also drawn US-led retaliation.
BEYOND THE MIDDLE EAST
Iran's influence extends beyond the Middle East and its rivalry with Israel.
Israel and Western countries have long suspected Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons in the guise of a peaceful atomic program in what they see as a threat to non-proliferation everywhere.
Then-President Donald Trump's withdrawal from a landmark nuclear pact between Iran and world powers in 2018, and his imposition of crushing sanctions, led Iran to gradually abandon all the limits placed on its program by the deal.
These days, Iran is enriching uranium to up to 60% purity &mdash; near weapons-grade levels of 90%. Surveillance cameras installed by the UN nuclear agency have been disrupted, and Iran has barred some of the agency's most experienced inspectors. Iran has always insisted its nuclear program is for purely peaceful purposes, but the United States and others believe it had an active nuclear weapons programme until 2003.
Iran has also emerged as a key ally of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, and is widely accused of supplying exploding drones that have wreaked havoc on Ukraine's cities. Raisi himself denied the allegations last fall in an interview with The Associated Press, saying Iran had not supplied such weapons since the outbreak of hostilities in February 2022.
Iranian officials have made contradictory comments about the drones, while US and European officials say the sheer number being used in the war in Ukraine shows that the flow of such weapons has intensified since the war began.

Helicopter crash that killed Iran's president and others could reverberate across the Middle East

As Iranian President &nbsp;Ibrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash, US Republican Senator Rick Scott said the world is a "safer and better place" without him.
"If Raisi is dead, the world is now a safer &amp; better place. That evil man was a tyrant &amp; terrorist. He was not loved or respected &amp; he will be missed by no one," Rick Scott wrote on X on Monday (20 May).
"If he's gone, I truly hope the Iranian people have the chance to take their country back from murderous dictators," he added.
Senator Scott's comments stand in stark contrast with the numerous foreign officials and countries expressing condolences over Raisi's death, including many US allies in the Middle East.
As confirmed by officials and state media, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, along with other passengers, were killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border.
Their remains were found early on Monday after an overnight search in blizzard conditions.&nbsp;
State TV reported that images from the site showed the aircraft slammed into a mountain peak, although there was no official word on the cause of the crash.

World is now a safer place: US senator on Raisi's death

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner long seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain near the Azerbaijan border, officials and state media said on Monday.
The helicopter was also carrying Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six other passengers and crew.
Here are reactions to the news:
CHARLES MICHEL, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, ON X, FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER:
"The European Union expresses its sincere condolences for the death of President Raisi and Foreign Minister Abdollahian, as well as other members of their delegation and crew in a helicopter accident. Our thoughts go to the families."
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SERGEI LAVROV, IN STATEMENT:
Raisi and Abdollahian were known as "true, reliable friends of our country".
"Their role in strengthening mutually beneficial Russian-Iranian cooperation and trusting partnership is invaluable.
"We sincerely extend our condolences to the families and friends of the victims, as well as to the entire friendly people of Iran. Our thoughts and hearts are with you in this sad hour."
JAPAN'S GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON YOSHIMASA HAYASHI:
Japan expresses its deepest condolences to the government and people of Iran over the death of President Raisi and the foreign minister.
VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO, ON X:
"...Deeply saddened to have to say goodbye to an exemplary person, an extraordinary leader of the world as our brother Ebrahim is, and will always be, an excellent human being, defender of the sovereignty of his people and unconditional friend of our country.
"From Bolivarian lands, we express our deepest condolences to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and wish for divine consolation for such a sensitive loss. We join the feelings of his family and our Iranian brothers and sisters in these difficult moments."
MARYAM RAJAVI, PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE PARIS-BASED NATIONAL COUNCIL OF RESISTANCE OF IRAN OPPOSITION GROUP, IN A STATEMENT:
"This represents a monumental and irreparable strategic blow to the mullahs&rsquo; Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the entire regime, notorious for its executions and massacres.
"It will trigger a series of repercussions and crises within theocratic tyranny, which will spur rebellious youths into action.
"The curse of mothers and those seeking justice for the executed, along with the damnation of the Iranian people and history, mark the legacy of Ebrahim Raisi, the notorious perpetrator of the 1988 massacre of political prisoners."
EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT ABDEL FATTAH EL-SISI, IN A STATEMENT:
"The president of the Arab Republic of Egypt extends his sincere condolences and sympathy to the brotherly Iranian people, and prays that the deceased Iranian President and the departed may rest in God Almighty's mercy, and grant their families patience and solace, expressing the solidarity of the Arab Republic of Egypt with the Iranian leadership and people in this terrible incident."
LEBANON'S IRAN-BACKED HEZBOLLAH GROUP, IN A STATEMENT:
Said it mourned "with deep sadness the martyrdom of Raisi, Abdollahian and others in a tragic incident."
It offered condolences to the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the religious authorities, the leaders of Iran and its patient people.
It praised the struggle of the martyrs in defending the causes of the nation and their service to Iran, calling upon God to bless them with His mercy, to protect Khamenei, and to grant Iran the ability to overcome the ordeal with patience and determination.
SRI LANKA PRESIDENT RANIL WICKREMESINGHE, ON X:
"I express my deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to the bereaved families, the government and the people of Iran. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of President Raisi and his entourage."
JORDAN'S KING ABDULLAH, ON X:
"My deepest condolences to the brothers, leadership, government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran on the death of Brother President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Brother Hossein Amir Abdullahian and those accompanying them, may God have mercy on them all.
"We stand in solidarity with our brothers in Iran in this difficult circumstance"
UAE PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL-MAKTOUM, IN A STATEMENT:
"Our hearts are with you in this difficult time. Our prayers are that God will cover them with His vast mercy and dwell them in His spacious Paradise."
SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD:
In a statement of condolence, Assad affirmed Syria's solidarity with the Islamic Republic of Iran and the families of the dead, adding that Raisi's dedication to his work and duties had taken him to East Azerbaijan to inaugurate a vital project for his country, where he was martyred in the line of duty.
Assad added that Syria had worked with the late president to ensure strategic ties between Syria and Iran remained prosperous, recalling Raisi's important visit to Syria as part of enhancing ties for the benefit of both nations.
IRAQ PRIME MINISTER MOHAMMED SHIA AL-SUDANI, IN A STATEMENT:
"We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei, and to the nation of Iran, its government and people.
"We express our solidarity with the brotherly Iranian people and the officials of the Islamic Republic during this painful tragedy."
HAMAS STATEMENT:
The statement conveyed Hamas' "deepest condolences...for "this immense loss."
It praised the deceased Iranian leaders for supporting the Palestinian cause and resistance against Israel and expressed confidence that Iran's "deep-rooted institutions" will enable it to overcome "the repercussions of this great loss."
MOHAMMED ALI AL-HOUTHI, HEAD OF YEMEN'S HOUTHI SUPREME REVOLUTIONARY COMMITTEE, ON X:
"We ask God to grant their families patience and solace. Verily we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. The Iranian people will remain adhering to the loyal leaders of their people, by God's will."
QATAR'S EMIR SHEIKH TAMIN BIN HAMAD AL-THANI, ON X:
"Sincere condolences to the government and people of the Islamic Republic of Iran...asking God Almighty for mercy and forgiveness for them and for their families with patience and solace.
"We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return."
PAKISTAN PRIME MINISTER SHEHBAZ SHARIF, ON X:
"The great Iranian nation will overcome this tragedy with customary courage.
"Pakistan will observe a day of mourning and the flag will fly at half mast as a mark of respect for President Raisi and his companions and in solidarity with brotherly Iran."
INDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI ON X:
"Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered.
"My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow."
&nbsp;

Reactions to the death of Iran's president in a helicopter crash

Here are some key facts about Mohammad Mokhber, 68, Iran's first vice president who, based on the country's constitution, is expected to become interim president following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash.
* As interim president, Mokhber is part of a three-person council, along with the speaker of parliament and the head of the judiciary, that will organise a new presidential election within 50 days of the president's death.
* Born on Sept. 1, 1955, Mokhber, like Raisi, is seen as close to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has the last say in all matters of state. Mokhber became first vice president in 2021 when Raisi was elected president.
* Mokhber was part of a team of Iranian officials who visited Moscow in October and agreed to supply surface-to-surface missiles and more drones to Russia's military, sources told Reuters at the time. The team also included two senior officials from Iran's Revolutionary Guards and an official from the Supreme National Security Council.
* Mokhber had previously been head of Setad, an investment fund linked to the supreme leader.
* In 2010, the European Union included Mokhber on a list of individuals and entities it was sanctioning for alleged involvement in "nuclear or ballistic missile activities". Two years later, it removed him from the list.
* In 2013, the U.S. Treasury Department added Setad and 37 companies it oversaw to a list of sanctioned entities.
* Setad, whose full name is Setad Ejraiye Farmane Hazrate Emam, or the Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam, was set up under an order issued by the founder of the Islamic Republic, Khamenei's predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. It ordered aides to sell and manage properties supposedly abandoned in the chaotic years after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and channel the bulk of the proceeds to charity.

Who is Mohammad Mokhber, the man set to become Iran's interim president?

Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC and Daffodil International University (DIU) signed an agreement on payment of all student fees.&nbsp;
Under this agreement, DIU students and their parents can pay all kinds of fees including tuition and semester fees conveniently at Islami Bank branches, sub-branches, agent outlets and through the Cellfin app, reads a press release.&nbsp;
In the presence of Professor Dr. M. Lutfar Rahman, Vice Chancellor of DIU and Md. Altaf Hossain, Additional Managing Director of Islami Bank, Mominul Haque Majumder, Treasurer (Current Duties) of DIU and A.B.M Mostafa Ali Haidar, Head of Ashulia Branch of the bank signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations recently at the DIU Conference Hall. Md. Maksudur Rahman, Senior Executive Vice President, Bashir Ahamed, Head of Dhaka North Zone of Islami Bank, Dr. S.M. Mahbub Ul Haque Majumder, Pro- Vice Chancellor and Dr. Mohammed Nadir Bin Ali, Registrar, Dr. Sayed Mizanur Rahman, Professor, Department of Economics of DIU along with executives &amp; officials of both institutions were present on the occasion.

Islami Bank inks agreement with Daffodil International University

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister were killed in a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain and icy weather, an Iranian official said on Monday, after search teams located the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province.
"President Raisi, the foreign minister and all the passengers in the helicopter were killed in the crash," the senior Iranian official told Reuters, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Iran's Mehr news agency confirmed the deaths, reporting that "all passengers of the helicopter carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister were martyred".
An Iranian official earlier told Reuters the helicopter carrying Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was completely burned in the crash on Sunday.
State TV reported that images from the site showed the aircraft slammed into a mountain peak, although there was no official word on the cause of the crash.
State news agency IRNA said Raisi was flying in a US-made Bell 212 helicopter.
Raisi, 63, was elected president in 2021, and since taking office has ordered a tightening of morality laws, overseen a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests and pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate power with a final say on foreign policy and Iran's nuclear programme, had earlier sought to reassure Iranians, saying there would be no disruption to state affairs.
PRAYERS, SEARCHES
Rescue teams fought blizzards and difficult terrain through the night to reach the wreckage in the early hours of Monday.
&ldquo;With the discovery of the crash site, no signs of life have been detected among the helicopter's passengers,&rdquo; the head of Iran&rsquo;s Red Crescent, Pirhossein Kolivand, told state TV.
Earlier, the national broadcaster had stopped all regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi across the country.
In the early hours of Monday, it showed a rescue team, wearing bright jackets and head torches, huddled around a GPS device as they searched a pitch-black mountainside on foot in a blizzard.
Several countries expressed concern and offered assistance in any rescue.
The White House said US President Joe Biden had been briefed on reports about the crash. China said it was deeply concerned. The European Union offered emergency satellite mapping technology.
HARDLINER, POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR TO KHAMENEI
The crash comes at a time of growing dissent within Iran over an array of political, social and economic crises. Iran's clerical rulers face international pressure over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme and its deepening military ties with Russia during the war in Ukraine.
Since Iran's ally Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October provoking Israel's assault on Gaza, conflagrations involving Iran-aligned groups have erupted throughout the Middle East.
In Iran's dual political system, split between the clerical establishment and the government, it is Raisi's 85-year-old mentor Khamenei, supreme leader since 1989, who holds decision-making power on all major policies.
For years many have seen Raisi as a strong contender to succeed Khamenei, who has endorsed Raisi's main policies.
Raisi's victory in a closely managed election in 2021 brought all branches of power under the control of hardliners, after eight years when the presidency had been held by pragmatist Hassan Rouhani and a nuclear deal was negotiated with powers including Washington.
However, Raisi's standing may have been dented by widespread protests against clerical rule and a failure to turn around Iran's economy, hamstrung by Western sanctions.
Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border on Sunday to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, who said he had bid a "friendly farewell" to Raisi earlier in the day, offered assistance in the rescue.

Iranian president, foreign minister killed in helicopter crash

Social Islami Bank held a reception and felicitation ceremony for its newly promoted officers working in Dhaka.
The event took place at Jamuna Future Park Convention Center on May 13 with the bank's Managing Director and Chief Executive &nbsp;Zafar Alam in attendance as the chief guest at reads a press release.
Muhammad Forkanullah, Deputy Managing Director, presided over the ceremony. Special guests included Deputy Managing Directors Abdul Hannan Khan and Mohammad Habibur Rahman.
The occasion was attended by regional heads from various bank regions, department heads from the head office, senior executives, and branch managers from Dhaka and surrounding areas. Approximately 2000 officers and employees from all levels of branches in Dhaka and its neighboring regions participated in the event.
In his address, Zafar Alam encouraged everyone to collaborate and innovate to propel the bank forward. He emphasized that the success of the bank is intrinsically linked to the success of its employees, urging them to work together to achieve excellence.

Social Islami Bank greets promoted officers in Dhaka

Social Islami Bank arranged a programme on Saturday &nbsp;to congratulate the officers who got promotion in 2024 in Chattogram.&nbsp;
Zafar Alam, Managing Director &amp; CEO, was present as chief guest while Mohammad Forkanullah and Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Deputy Managing Directors, were present as special guests, reads a press release.&nbsp;
Sayed Md Sohel, Head of Chattogram Zone, presided over the programme. Md. Towhid Hossain, SEVP &amp; Head of IRMD-I, Abu Rushd Iftekharul Haque, Head of TF &amp; RMG, branch managers, sub-branch in-charges &amp; officers of Chattogram Zone attended the event.
Zafar Alam, MD &amp; CEO, greeted the officers who got promotion, and urged everyone to work dedicatedly to take our bank to the height of success.&nbsp;

Social Islami Bank greets promoted officers in Chattogram

Bangladesh is going to organise a big roadshow in the USA on Friday (24 May) with 30 managing directors of different domestic banks to attract dollar deposits in response to recent foreign exchange fluctuations.
A total of 45 officials, including MDs of 30 banks are going to the USA for the special promotion program to increase US dollar deposits in banks through offshore accounts. Such a big gathering of Bangladeshi bank MDs will be held for the first time ever abroad.
According to the source, commercial banks are launching special campaigns to increase the flow of dollar deposits. Expatriates will be encouraged to send dollars through banking channels. For this purpose, a program related to Offshore Banking Fixed Deposit has been organised for expatriates in a hotel in New York.
Bangladesh Ambassador to the United States Mohammad Imran, will be present as the chief guest at the event. Muhammad Abdul Muhith, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations in New York, Deputy Governor Kazi Sayedur Rahman, Bangladesh Consulate General in New York Md Najmul Huda will be special guests.
This gathering, aimed at exploring opportunities in offshore banking, underscores the growing interest among Bangladeshi banks in diversifying their foreign currency reserves.
As a part of this, it is said that a promotional event has been organised in the country to encourage Bangladeshis residing in the United States to deposit dollars under offshore banking. &nbsp;

Bangladesh to launch US roadshow with 30 banks’ MDs to advertise offshore services

Israeli planes and tanks pounded areas across the Gaza Strip, residents said, as White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday amid US calls for a more focused military campaign.
Sullivan was expected to press for Israel to go after Hamas militants in a targeted way, not with a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, the White House said before the discussions.
Israel has been pushing into the city that it says is the last bastion of Hamas forces. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have fled the area that was one of their few remaining places of refuge.
"Across the Gaza Strip, there is no safety," said Majid Omran who told Reuters his family had fled Rafah and just returned to what was left of their home in the southern city of Khan Younis that they had fled nearly five months ago.
"We took our children, grandchildren, and daughters and we came and lived above the rubble of our home. Because there is no place to take refuge here," Omran told Reuters inside the wrecked property as a woman cooked over a fire.
Israeli forces also pushed deeper into the narrow alleyways of Jabalia in northern Gaza overnight and into Sunday, returning to an area that they said they had cleared earlier in the conflict, residents said.
The Israeli military has said its operations in Jabalia - the largest of Gaza's eight historic refugee camps - are precise and meant to stop Hamas from reestablishing its grip there.
The Israeli military said it was "operating to identify armed terrorist cells and ... conducting dozens of strikes to assist the forces operating on the ground" in the Jabalia area.
TALKS, TUNNELS, THREATS
Ahead of Sunday's talks, an Israeli official said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his senior aides would try to reach an agreement with Sullivan about the need to press ahead with the Rafah push.
Past US misgivings about the feasibility of Israel's humanitarian measures may have been allayed by the evacuation of around half of the city's Palestinians in 12 days, said the official, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.
"We've shown that this is not only necessary, but doable," added the official.
The official said Israel would also air concerns about dozens of tunnels it says its forces have found under Rafah, running into next-door Egypt - which has condemned the military sweep.
"These tunnels are used by Hamas to supply itself with weapons and ammunition, and could potentially be used to smuggle out of Gaza hostages or Hamas senior operatives," Deputy Israeli State Attorney Noam Gilad said during a hearing at The Hague on Friday, in a rare detailing of allegations that Egypt's state information service previously dismissed as untrue.
Netanyahu has said the operation in Rafah, where Israel believes that as much as a quarter of Hamas' fighting forces are holed up, could be completed within weeks.
Washington worries for the hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians sheltering there, and has cited a need not just to evacuate them but also to ensure adequate alternative accommodation.
At least 28 Palestinians were killed on Sunday, Gaza health officials and Hamas said, most of them in a strike on a house in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip.
The Gaza Civil Emergency Service said in a statement rescue teams have so far recovered the bodies of 150 Palestinians killed by the army in recent days, and that 300 houses had been struck by Israeli aerial and ground fire.
The 7 October Hamas assault on Israel that sparked the war killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies. About 125 of the 253 people abducted in the raid are believed to remain in captivity in Gaza.
At least 35,386 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since 7 October, according to the enclave's health ministry. Aid agencies have warned of widespread hunger and shortages of fuel and medical supplies.
The US military said on Friday trucks had started moving aid ashore from a temporary pier built by its forces, the first to reach the besieged enclave by sea in weeks.
The Popular Resistance Committee (PRC), an armed group that fights alongside Hamas in Gaza, released a statement saying the pier had been built to ease political pressure on Israel, and that any Israeli or US troops on its territory would be considered a legitimate target.
On Saturday, Hamas also raised concerns about the pier and warned against any foreign military force in Gaza, but made no direct threats.
In March, when President Joe Biden announced his country's pier construction plans, he said: "No US boots will be on the ground."

Israel launches strikes across Gaza as US envoy meets Netanyahu

India began voting in the fifth phase of its mammoth general elections on Monday, with seats in the financial capital Mumbai and the opposition's Gandhi family bastions set to be sealed in the last few legs of the seven-phase vote.
The world's largest election began on 19 April and will conclude on 1 June, with votes set to be counted on 4 June.
Monday's phase has the least number of seats being contested, with 89.5 million voters set to choose representatives for 49 seats.
Several high-profile candidates are in the fray on Monday - including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Lucknow and Trade Minister Piyush Goyal from Mumbai - cities which have suffered from a dismal voter turnout in the past.
The Election Commission on Sunday specifically called upon residents of those cities "to erase the stigma" of urban apathy.
"At the core of our vision for Mumbai is &ndash; better infrastructure and more 'ease of living," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while campaigning in the city last week, just days after at least 14 people were killed when a massive billboard fell during a rainstorm.
Two boroughs of the Congress party's Nehru-Gandhi dynasty in the politically crucial Uttar Pradesh are also going to polls, with scion Rahul Gandhi contesting the seat of Raebareli, in addition to Wayanad in the south which has already voted. India allows candidates to contest multiple constituencies but represents only one.
Sonia Gandhi, Congress party chief and former lawmaker from Raebareli, made an emotional appeal to voters asking them to vote for her son in a region that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has dominated in the last 10 years.
Smriti Irani, minister for women and child development, is contesting from Amethi. In 2019, she defeated Rahul Gandhi in a seat his family held continuously for the last four decades.
Among other keenly watched electorates in the state is Kaiserganj, where the BJP is fielding a former wrestling federation chief's son, despite his father being charged with sexually harassing female wrestlers.
Poor voter turnout became a concern for the ruling BJP initially, and analysts believe the low numbers cast doubts on the landslide victory the party and its allies sought.
After an initial poor performance, more people started casting their votes with an average turnout of 66.95% in four phases, and 69% in the fourth one on 13 May.
Modi, widely expected to return as prime minister for a third consecutive term, has been accused by opponents of targeting minority Muslims to please hardline voters.
Modi has repeatedly accused the Congress party of planning to extend welfare benefits to Muslims at the expense of disadvantaged tribal groups and Hindu castes, a claim the Congress has denied.
In a recent television interview aired after the fourth phase, Modi said it was his resolve to "not do Hindu-Muslim (in politics)".
The opposition INDIA alliance, consisting of Congress and a dozen political parties, got a major boost after fierce Modi critic and Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal was given temporary relief by the court and allowed to campaign in the elections.

India begins voting in fifth phase as Mumbai, Gandhi family boroughs head to polls

BSS/AFP

China said on Monday it was "deeply concerned" after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter went missing in what Tehran's state media described as an accident, and pledged to help the rescue operation.
Contact was lost with the aircraft carrying Raisi, as well as Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others, in East Azerbaijan province in northwest Iran on Sunday, reports said.
Iran's Red Crescent said on Monday the helicopter had been found and the situation was "not good".
"The Chinese side is deeply concerned about the hard landing of the helicopter in which President Raisi was travelling, and we wish President Raisi and the crew on board safe and sound," state broadcaster CCTV quoted Beijing's foreign ministry as saying.
China was closely monitoring the situation and would "provide all necessary support and assistance" to the rescue operations, it added.
China is a close partner of Iran, its largest trade partner, and a top buyer of its sanctioned oil.
Tehran and Beijing have deepened trade ties in recent years, though Beijing's efforts to pull Iran into its flagship Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure project have been complicated by sanctions.
Beijing has also long played a critical role in arming Iran, aiding its efforts to modernise its military hardware and tactics.
It has also facilitated the "transfer of technology and machinery" for Iran's illicit nuclear program, according to the RAND Corporation.
The United States has repeatedly made public appeals for China to use its influence over Tehran to manage tensions in the region, which have been heightened by the Israel-Hamas conflict.

China 'deeply concerned' over Iran president's helicopter accident

Hopes are fading that Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister have survived a helicopter crash in mountainous terrain and icy weather, an Iranian official said on Monday after search teams located the wreckage.
"President Raisi's helicopter was completely burned in the crash ... unfortunately, all passengers are feared dead," the official told Reuters.
Rescue teams fought blizzards and difficult terrain through the night to reach the wreckage in East Azerbaijan province in the early hours of Monday.
&ldquo;We can see the wreckage and the situation does not look good,&rdquo; the head of Iran&rsquo;s Red Crescent, Pirhossein Kolivand, told state TV.
&ldquo;With the discovery of the crash site, no signs of life have been detected among the helicopter's passengers.&rdquo;
Iranian state media said images from the site showed the helicopter crashed into a mountain peak, although there was no official word yet on the cause of the crash.
Raisi, 63, was elected president in 2021, and since taking office has ordered a tightening of morality laws, overseen a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests and pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate power with a final say on foreign policy and Iran's nuclear programme, had earlier sought to reassure Iranians, saying there would be no disruption to state affairs.
PRAYERS, SEARCHES A Turkish drone identified a source of heat suspected to be the helicopter's wreckage early on Monday and had shared the coordinates of the possible crash site with Iranian authorities, Anadolu news agency said on X.
State news agency IRNA said Raisi was flying in a U.S.-made Bell 212 helicopter.
The chief of staff of Iran's army ordered all resources of the army and the elite Revolutionary Guards to be put to use in search and rescue operations.
Earlier, the national broadcaster had stopped all regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi across the country.
In the early hours of Monday, it showed a rescue team, wearing bright jackets and head torches, huddled around a GPS device as they searched a pitch-black mountainside on foot in a blizzard.
&ldquo;We are thoroughly searching every inch of the general area of the crash," state media quoted a regional army commander as saying. "The area has very cold, rainy, and foggy weather conditions. The rain is gradually turning into snow."
Several countries expressed concern and offered assistance in any rescue.
The White House said U.S. President Joe Biden had been briefed on reports about the crash. China said it was deeply concerned. The European Union offered emergency satellite mapping technology.
HARDLINER, POSSIBLE SUCCESSOR TO KHAMENEI The crash comes at a time of growing dissent within Iran over an array of political, social and economic crises. Iran's clerical rulers face international pressure over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme and its deepening military ties with Russia during the war in Ukraine.
Since Iran's ally Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, provoking Israel's assault on Gaza, conflagrations involving Iran-aligned groups have erupted throughout the Middle East.
In Iran's dual political system, split between the clerical establishment and the government, it is Raisi's 85-year-old mentor Khamenei, supreme leader since 1989, who holds decision-making power on all major policies.
For years many have seen Raisi as a strong contender to succeed Khamenei, who has endorsed Raisi's main policies.
Raisi's victory in a closely managed election in 2021 brought all branches of power under the control of hardliners, after eight years when the presidency had been held by pragmatist Hassan Rouhani and a nuclear deal negotiated with powers including Washington.
However, Raisi's standing may have been dented by widespread protests against clerical rule and a failure to turn around Iran's economy, hamstrung by Western sanctions.
Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border on Sunday to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, who said he had bid a "friendly farewell" to Raisi earlier in the day, offered assistance in the rescue.

Iranian President Raisi feared dead as helicopter wreckage found

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, whose helicopter crashed in mountainous terrain on Sunday, has become a contender to be Iran's next supreme leader with a clampdown on morality questions and a bloody crackdown on the nationwide protests it triggered.
Raisi's victory in an election in 2021, after heavyweight conservative and moderate rivals were disqualified by a hardline oversight body, brought all branches of power under the control of hardliners loyal to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Raisi's 85-year-old mentor, who has the final say on all major policies.
Raisi, 63, took a tough stance in now-moribund negotiations with six major powers to revive a 2015 nuclear deal, seeing a chance to win broad relief from US sanctions in return for only modest curbs on Iran's increasingly advanced nuclear programme.
Hardliners in Iran have been emboldened by the chaotic US military withdrawal from neighbouring Afghanistan and policy swings in Washington.
In 2018, then-US president Donald Trump had reneged on the deal Tehran had done with the six powers and restored harsh US sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to progressively violate the agreement's nuclear limits.
Indirect talks between US President Joe Biden's administration and Tehran to revive the pact have stalled.
Raisi's hardline position has also been evident in domestic politics; a year after his election, the mid-ranking cleric ordered that authorities tighten enforcement of Iran's "hijab and chastity law" restricting women's dress and behaviour.
Within weeks, a young Kurdish Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, died in custody after being arrested by morality police for allegedly violating that law.
The resulting months of nationwide protests presented one of the gravest challenges to Iran's clerical rulers since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Hundreds were killed, according to rights groups, including dozens of security personnel who were part of a fierce crackdown on the demonstrators. "Acts of chaos are unacceptable," the president insisted.
Although a political novice, Raisi has had full backing for the nuclear stance and the security crackdown from his patron, the strongly anti-Western Khamenei.
However, the widespread protests against clerical rule and a failure to turn around Iran's struggling economy - hamstrung by Western sanctions and mismanagement - may have diminished his popularity at home.
'PILLAR OF THE SYSTEM'
As a young prosecutor in Tehran, Raisi sat on a panel that oversaw the execution of hundreds of political prisoners in the Iranian capital in 1988, as Iran's eight-year war with Iraq was coming to an end, rights groups say.
Inquisitions known as "death committees" were set up across Iran comprising religious judges, prosecutors and intelligence ministry officials to decide the fate of thousands of detainees in arbitrary trials that lasted just a few minutes, according to a report by Amnesty International.
While the number of people killed across Iran was never confirmed, Amnesty said minimum estimates put it at 5,000.
Asked about allegations that he had played a part in the death sentences, Raisi told reporters in 2021: "If a judge, a prosecutor, has defended the security of the people, he should be praised ... I am proud to have defended human rights in every position I have held so far."
He rose through the ranks of Iran's Shi'ite Muslim clergy and was appointed by Khamenei to the high-profile job of judiciary chief in 2019. Shortly afterwards, he was also elected deputy chairman of the Assembly of Experts, the 88-member clerical body responsible for electing the next Supreme Leader.
"Raisi is a pillar of a system that jails, tortures and kills people for daring to criticize state policies," said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of New York-based advocacy group the Centre for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI). Iran denies torturing prisoners.
Raisi shares with Khamenei a deep suspicion of the West. An anti-corruption populist, he backs Khamenei's self-sufficiency drive in the economy and his strategy of supporting proxy forces across the Middle East.
When a missile attack killed senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers in Iran's embassy in Damascus in April, Iran responded with an unprecedented but largely unsuccessful direct aerial bombardment of Israel.
Raisi said that any Israeli retaliation against Iranian territory could result in there being nothing left of the "Zionist regime".
"Raisi is someone that Khamenei trusts," said Sanam Vakil, deputy director of Chatham House&rsquo;s Middle East and North Africa Program. "Raisi can protect the supreme leader's legacy.
Raisi served as deputy head of the judiciary for 10 years before being appointed prosecutor-general in 2014. Five years later, the United States imposed sanctions on him for human rights violations, including the 1980s executions.
Seeking the presidency, Raisi lost to the pragmatist Hassan Rouhani in a 2017 election. His failure was widely attributed to an audio tape dating from 1988 that surfaced in 2016 and purportedly highlighted his role in the 1988 executions.
In the recording, the late Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, then deputy supreme leader, spoke of the killings. Montazeri&rsquo;s son was arrested and jailed for releasing the tape.
Raisi was born in 1960 to a religious family in Iran's holy Shi'ite Muslim city of Mashhad. He lost his father at the age of 5, but followed in his footsteps to become a cleric.
As a young student at a religious seminary in the holy city of Qom, Raisi took part in protests against the Western-backed Shah in the 1979 revolution. Later, his contacts with religious leaders in Qom made him a trusted figure in the judiciary.

Iranian President Raisi: a hardliner on morality, protests and nuclear talks

Sunrisers Hyderabad ended the IPL league stage in second behind table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders after they beat Punjab Kings by four wickets on Sunday (19 May).
Former champions Hyderabad, led by Pat Cummins, edged out Rajasthan Royals for second spot on net run-rate after the final league match between Rajasthan and Kolkata was abandoned due to rain without a ball being bowled in Guwahati.
Chasing 215 for victory, Hyderabad, who are already among the top four teams to have made the play-offs, depended on Abhsihek Sharma's 66 to reach the target with five balls to spare at their home.
"We've had a lot of fun and played some really great cricket," said Cummins. "It's satisfying and exciting (to be in the play-offs)."
Kolkata and Hyderabad will face each other in the first qualifier on Tuesday with the winner moving to the final on May 26 in Chennai.
The loser will have another shot at making the final when they play the winner of the eliminator in the second qualifier.
Third-placed Rajasthan, who have been winless in their last five matches, will play Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the eliminator on Wednesday in Ahmedabad.
Left-handed Abhishek, who has been a breakout young Indian star in this edition with 467 runs including three half-centuries, took charge after Travis Head departed for a first-ball duck.
"He (Abhishek) is amazing. I wouldn't want to bowl to him," Cummins said of his team's player of the match. "It's scary as he plays with freedom, not only against pacers but also against spinners."
He reached his 50 in 21 balls and hammered five fours and six sixes in his 28-ball blitz to set up the chase.
- Classy Klaasen -
Abhishek put on an attacking stand of 72 with Rahul Tripathi, who smashed 33, before Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen steadied the innings and hit back.
Klaasen smashed 42 before he got out in the 19th over and Sanvir Singh steered the team home.
Punjab, who exited the play-off race early and extended their wait for a first IPL title, posted 214-5 as Prabhsimran Singh hit 71 off 45 balls to lay the foundations for the total.
Prabhsimran put on a key stand of 54 with South Africa's Rilee Rossouw, a left-handed batsman who hit 49, to set up the batting attack.
Rossouw kept up the charge after Prabhsimran's departure in the 15th over as he smashed three fours and four sixes in his 24-ball knock.
Jitesh Sharma, who stood in as captain after England's Sam Curran returned home after the previous win, steered the team past 200 and ended the innings with two sixes in his unbeaten 32 off 15 balls.
Left-arm medium-pace bowler T. Natarajan stood out with figures of 2-33 in his four overs.
In the second match of the day at Rajasthan's adopted home ground in Guwahati, unrelenting rain kept the players off the field until a seven-overs-a-side game was planned.
Kolkata won the toss and elected to field first but another spell of rain finally forced officials to call off the match.

Hyderabad finish second after last IPL league match washed out

Jurgen Klopp hailed Liverpool's fans as the "superpower of world football" after his final match as manager ended in a 2-0 win at home to Wolves on an emotional day at Anfield on Sunday.
Alexis Mac Allister and Jarell Quansah scored the goals, but the game was largely a sideshow as supporters paid tribute to the German they have taken to their hearts.
The charismatic 56-year-old, who announced in January he was leaving the club, has forged a strong bond with the Anfield faithful, who gave him a rousing welcome as he emerged from the famous tunnel.
The fans used cards to create giant mosaics, one simply reading "Jurgen" and another saying "Danke", with many holding scarves aloft bearing Klopp's name during a rousing rendition of the club's anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone".
After full-time he returned to the pitch through a guard of honour from the players to address the crowd wearing a red top bearing the words "Thank You" on the front and "I'll Never Walk Alone Again" on the back.
A stage was set up in the centre of the pitch and the club's owners, directors and ambassadors, including Anfield great Kenny Dalglish, all welcomed Klopp onto the field, with fans chanting his name.
"It doesn't feel like an end," said Klopp, who arrived at Anfield in 2015 with the club at a low ebb.
"It just feels like a start. Today I saw a football team play full of talent, youth, creativity, desire, greed. That's one part of development, that's what you need, obviously.
"People say I turned them from doubters into believers. That's not true. You did it. Nobody tells you to stop believing. This club is in a better moment than for a long time.
"We have this wonderful stadium, training centre and you -- the superpower of world football. Wow."
'Keep believing'&nbsp;
Klopp added: "We decide if we are worried or excited. We decide if we believe. We decide if we trust or don't trust. Today I am one of you and I keep believing. I stay believing 100 percent.
"Obviously I saw a lot of people crying and I will tonight too because I will miss people but change is good. Everything will be fine because the basics are 100 percent there.
"You welcome the new manager (Arne Slot) like you welcomed me. You go all in from the first day. You keep believing. You push the team. I'm one of you now. I love you to bits.
"Thank you. You are the best team in the world. Thank you."
Klopp then also adopted the song Liverpool fans had created for him to lead the crowd in a chant of "Arne Slot, na, na, na, na".
The German led the club to Champions League glory in 2019 -- the sixth time they had been crowned European champions.
The following season he secured his place as a Liverpool great by winning their first Premier League title for 30 years, the 19th time they had been crowned English champions.
He also lifted the FA Cup and won two League Cups in his spell.
When Klopp made the shock announcement that he was leaving earlier this year, Liverpool were chasing a quadruple.
They won the League Cup final against Chelsea in February but crashed out of the FA Cup against Manchester United and the Europa League against Atalanta.
Their Premier League title bid also faded quickly, but by finishing third Liverpool have qualified for next season's Champions League.
Pep Guardiola, the manager of Premier League champions Manchester City, paid a warm tribute to his long-time rival, saying Klopp deserved to be ranked alongside such outstanding Liverpool bosses as Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley.
"He has been a huge competitor in my life," Guardiola said after guiding City to an unprecedented fourth straight English title.
"It's not just about titles won and who won the most. There are personalities that when they arrive in one place they stay forever and Jurgen will depart in the level of Shankly, Paisley, these incredible legends."
/MHK/

Klopp hails 'superpower' fans in emotional Liverpool farewell

Rescuers in Iran were racing on Sunday to find the crash site of a helicopter that was carrying President Ebrahim Raisi to find out the fate of all those on board. Below is brief outline of what Iran's constitution says happens if a president is incapacitated or dies in office:
According to article 131 of the Islamic Republic's constitution, if a president dies in office the first vice president takes over, with the confirmation of the supreme leader, who has the final say in all matters of state.
A council consisting of the first vice president, the speaker of parliament and the head of the judiciary must arrange an election for a new president within a maximum period of 50 days.
Raisi was elected president in 2021 and, under the current timetable, presidential elections are due to take place in 2025.

What happens if an Iranian president dies in office?

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister crashed on Sunday as it was crossing mountain terrain in heavy fog, an Iranian official told Reuters, and rescuers were struggling to reach the site of the incident.
The official said the lives of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were "at risk following the helicopter crash", which happened on the way back from a visit to the border with Azerbaijan in Iran's northwest.
"We are still hopeful but information coming from the crash site is very concerning," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate power in the Islamic Republic, sought to reassure Iranians, saying there would be no disruption to state affairs.
Iranian state media said bad weather was the cause of the crash and was complicating rescue efforts. The chief of staff of Iran's army ordered all the resources of the army and the elite Revolutionary Guard to be put to use in search and rescue operations.
 "It is dark and it has started raining, but the search continues. Rescue teams have reached the area ... however, the rain has created mud, making the search difficult," a local reporter told state TV.
State TV had earlier stopped all its regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi across the country and, in a corner of the screen, live coverage of rescue teams deployed on foot in the mountainous area in heavy fog.
The rescue teams were expected to reach the probable site of the crash later on Sunday evening.
Neighbouring countries expressed concern and offered assistance in any rescue. The White House said U.S. President Joe Biden had been briefed on reports about the crash. The European Union offered emergency satellite mapping technology to help Iran with the search.
Hardliner seen as possible successor to Khamenei
The crash comes at a time of growing dissent within Iran over an array of political, social and economic crises. Iran's clerical rulers face international pressure over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme and its deepening military ties with Russia during the war in Ukraine.
Since Iran's ally Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, provoking Israel's assault on Gaza, conflagrations involving Iran-aligned groups have erupted throughout the Middle East.
Raisi, 63, was elected president in 2021, and since taking office has ordered a tightening of morality laws, overseen a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests and pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers.
In Iran's dual political system, split between the clerical establishment and the government, it is Raisi's 85-year-old mentor Khamenei, supreme leader since 1989, who has the final say on all major policies.
For years many have seen Raisi as a strong contender to succeed Khamenei, who has endorsed Raisi's main policies.
Raisi's victory in a closely managed election in 2021 brought all branches of power under the control of hardliners, after eight years when the presidency had been held by pragmatist Hassan Rouhani and a nuclear deal negotiated with Washington.
However, Raisi's standing may have been dented by widespread protests against clerical rule and a failure to turn around Iran's economy, hamstrung by Western sanctions.
Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border on Sunday to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev, who said he had bid a "friendly farewell" to Raisi earlier in the day, offered assistance in the rescue.

Lives of Iran president, FM at risk following helicopter crash, official says

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Iranians on Sunday to "not worry" for the country after state media said a helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi had an accident.
"The Iranian people should not worry, there will be no disruption in the country's work," Khamenei said in a speech carried on state TV. "We hope that Almighty Allah will bring our dear president and his companions back in full health into the arms of the nation."
/MHK/

Khamenei tells Iranians to 'not worry' after president's helicopter accident

A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his foreign minister crashed on Sunday as it was crossing mountain terrain in heavy fog on the way back from a visit to the border with Azerbaijan, an Iranian official told Reuters.
The official said the lives of Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian were "at risk following the helicopter crash".
"We are still hopeful but information coming from the crash site is very concerning," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The bad weather was complicating rescue efforts, the state news agency IRNA reported.
State TV stopped all its regular programming to show prayers being held for Raisi across the country and, in a corner of the screen, live coverage of rescue teams searching the mountainous area on foot in heavy fog.
The 63-year-old was elected president at the second attempt in 2021, and since taking office has ordered a tightening of morality laws, overseen a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests and pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers.
In Iran's dual political system, split between the clerical establishment and the government, it is the supreme leader rather than the president who has the final say on all major policies.
But many see Raisi as a strong contender to succeed his 85-year-old mentor, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has strongly endorsed Raisi's main policies.
Interior Minister Ahmed Vahidi told state TV only that one of the helicopters in a group of three had come down hard, and that authorities were awaiting further details.
Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalaisi Dam, a joint project.

Helicopter carrying Iran's President Raisi crashes in mountains, official says

India has said its Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra&rsquo;s just-concluded visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties and impart momentum to the cooperation in diverse areas.
"Bangladesh is India&rsquo;s leading development partner and its largest trade partner in the region," said the Indian Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday.
The Foreign Secretary paid an official visit to Bangladesh from May 8-9 May.
This was the first official visit to Bangladesh after the formation of the new government in January 2024.
During the visit, the Foreign Secretary called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud.
He also met his counterpart Masud Bin Momen.
The visit to Bangladesh is keeping in line with the highest priority accorded to India&rsquo;s &lsquo;Neighbourhood First&rsquo; Policy.
During the visit, the Foreign Secretary reviewed the wide-ranging bilateral relationship including political and security, water, trade and investment, power and energy, defence, connectivity and sub-regional cooperation. &nbsp;

Kwatra’s visit is expected to further strengthen bilateral ties: Indian Govt

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