Bangladesh
S Korea has no strategic interests; Dhaka-Seoul ties can be deepened further in a mutually beneficial way: Ambassador Park Young-sik
South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Park Young-sik on Saturday said Bangladesh and South Korea both could further develop the existing bilateral relations in a mutually beneficial manner.
"Korea is not India, China, or the United States and does not have strategic interests (in Bangladesh)," he said while delivering his keynote speech at Cosmos Dialogue.
Building on what both countries have achieved over the past five decades, the ambassador said, it is now high time for both countries to make the next 50 years even more prosperous.
To do this, he said that both countries need to expand high-level contacts.
Cosmos Foundation hosted the dialogue - the latest edition of Ambassadors’ Lecture Series titled "Bangladesh-South Korea Relations: Prognosis for the Future."
Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Cosmos Foundation President, scholar-diplomat, and former Foreign Affairs Advisor of Bangladesh Caretaker Government chaired and conducted the session.
Enayetullah Khan, Chairman of the Cosmos Foundation, delivered the closing remarks while Masud Khan, Deputy Managing Director of Cosmos Group, delivered the welcome remarks.
Tetulia records lowest temperature in country at 7.2 degrees
Country’s lowest temperature of 7.2 degrees Celsius was recorded in Tetulia of Panchagarh district for the second consecutive day on Saturday as a mild to moderate cold wave is sweeping over parts of the country.
According to Dhaka’s Bangladesh Meteorological Department, “A mild to moderate cold wave is sweeping over Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions and the districts of Gopalganj, Kishoreganj, Moulvibazar, Jashore, Kushtia and Chuadanga and it may continue.”
Read: Cold wave grips Kurigram; Temperature drops to 6.8 Degrees Celsius
Moderate to thick fog may occur at places over the river basins and light to moderate fog at places elsewhere over the country during midnight to morning. Inland river transport may be disrupted due to thick fog.
Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country.
Night temperature may fall slightly and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.
UNB’s Chuadanga correspondent reports that the district has been grappling with intense cold, disrupting day-to-day life, especially affecting children and the elderly.
On Saturday, the lowest temperature was recorded at 8.3 degrees Celsius in the district, said meteorologist Rakibul Hasan at the district Met Office.
Read: Mild cold wave sweeping over Kurigram with temperatures falling to 10.2 degrees Celsius
Though the sun is visible, a mild cold wave has been prevailing in the district for the past few days.
The day labourers are the worst sufferers due to lack of daily jobs amid cold. Some people were seen keeping warm by burning logs while most preferred to stay indoors.
Liakat Ali, a rickshaw puller of Chuadanga district town said, “If this situation continues then it will be difficult for me to maintain the family.”
Majid, a day labourer, feared that he would have to starve if the situation continued for more days.
Car ploughs into Gaibandha fish Market; three dead
In a heartrending incident on Friday, three fish traders lost their lives and five others sustained injuries when a private car ploughed into a bustling fish market in Dharmapur Bazar, located in the Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha district.
The victims, fatally struck in this tragic accident, have been identified as Haren Chandra Das, 55; Pratap Chandra Das, 35; and Aijal Haque — all residents of Dharmapur village. These individuals were attending to their regular business in the market when the tragedy struck.
Accident halts traffic on Dhaka-Tangail highway for 2 hours
According to Shamsul Alam, the officer-in-charge of Gobindaganj Police Station, the accident occurred at approximately 6:30 am. The driver of the private car, en route to Gobindaganj, lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer off the road and plough into the crowded fish market.
The injured individuals were promptly transported to the Gobindaganj Upazila Health Complex for emergency medical attention. Due to the severity of injuries, one of the victims was later transferred to the Bogura Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital for advanced treatment. The incident has cast a shadow of mourning over the community, as it grapples with this sudden and tragic loss.
Father, son dead in Kurigram road accident
British parliamentary delegation in Bangladesh to strengthen trade, economic and Indo-Pacific partnership
A five-member British cross-party parliamentary delegation is visiting to discuss issues of mutual interest with Bangladesh leadership.
The British parliamentary delegation is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Gonobhaban on January 28.
They are scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud at State guesthouse Padma at 1 pm today(January 27).
This is the first parliamentary visit from the UK since general elections were held in Bangladesh earlier this month, said the Bangladesh High Commission in London.
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The five-member parliamentary delegation led by Paul Scully MP, former Conservative Minister for Tech and Digital Economy also comprises three labour MPs namely Virendra Sharma MP, Vice Chair of All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Bangladesh and Chair of APPG on Indo-British, Neil Coyle MP, Member of UK House of Commons Select Committee on Foreign Affairs, Andrew Western MP, Opposition Whip at the House of Commons and Dominic Moffitt, Senior Parliamentary Assistant at House of Commons. The delegation will be accompanied by Zillur Hussain MBE, Advisor for The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and Strategic Adviser for CWEIC and Dr Ivelina Banyalieva, CEO of Connect.
They will visit Tungipara to pay respects to Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at his Mausoleum.
This would be the first time, a British parliamentary delegation is visiting the Bangabandhu Mausoleum at Tungipara.
During the visit, the delegation is also scheduled to call on State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam to discuss ways to further strengthen Bangladesh-UK trade, economic and Indo-Pacific partnership.
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The delegation will also have a meeting with the business leaders of Bangladesh followed by visit to a green apparel factory.
The delegation will also be traveling to Sylhet to visit some of leading charities established by the British-Bangladeshis in the UK.
On January 30, the delegation will be visiting the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar in reaffirmation of their support to Bangladesh’s generous hosting of the persecuted Rohingyas from Myanmar and resolution of the protracted Rohingya crisis.
Bangladesh High Commission in London coordinated the visit with the British Parliamentarians and the Commonwealth business delegation by Connect.
The delegation is scheduled to depart for London on January 31.
As cold weather continues, Dhaka’s air quality still ‘unhealthy’
As cold weather continues to impact daily life, Dhaka’s air quality remains ‘unhealthy’.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 191 at 9:02 am this morning, Dhaka ranked 6th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.
Bosnia Herzegovina’s Sarajevo, India’s Delhi and Ghana’s Accra occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 323, 241 and 227, respectively.
Dhaka’s air quality 2nd worst in the world this morning
An AQI between 101 and 150 is considered 'unhealthy' for sensitive groups, while AQI between 150 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy' and AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria 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.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.
Worst Air Quality: Along with Dhaka, South Asian cities in top 5
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Donald Lu to lead US delegation at India-US Forum in New Delhi
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu will travel to India and the Maldives on January 26-31.
While in India, Assistant Secretary Lu will lead a U.S. delegation’s participation at the India-U.S. Forum in New Delhi, said the US Department of State on Friday.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Geoffrey R. Pyatt will also participate.
The delegation will engage with Indian government officials and members of the private sector, academia, and media to discuss and enhance opportunities for partnership between the United States and India.
The Assistant Secretary and delegation will then travel to Maldives, where they will meet with senior Maldivian officials to build U.S.-Maldives cooperation and to advance the establishment of a permanent U.S. Embassy space in Malé.
The delegation will also engage with members of civil society and higher education officials, according to the office of the Spokesperson.
UNCTAD raises alarms on escalating disruptions in global trade
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has expressed profound concerns over the escalating disruptions in global trade, particularly stemming geopolitical tensions affecting shipping in the Black Sea, recent attacks on shipping in the Red Sea affecting the Suez Canal and the impact of climate change on the Panama Canal.
UNCTAD underscored the critical role maritime transport plays as the backbone of international trade, responsible for over 80% of the global movement of goods, said the UN trade and development body on Friday in Geneva.
Developing countries are particularly vulnerable to these disruptions and UNCTAD remains vigilant in monitoring the evolving situation.
The organization emphasizes the urgent need for swift adaptations from the shipping industry and robust international cooperation to navigate the rapid reshaping of global trade dynamics.
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The current challenges underscore trade's vulnerability to geopolitical tensions and climate-related challenges, demanding collective efforts for sustainable solutions especially in support of countries more vulnerable to these shocks.
Trade disruption in the Black Sea, the Panama Canal and the Suez Canal routes.
The recent attacks on Red Sea shipping, coupled with existing geopolitical and climate-related challenges, have given rise to a complex crisis affecting key global trade routes.
UNCTAD estimates that the weekly transits going through the Suez Canal decreased by 42% over the last two months.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has triggered substantial shifts in oil and grain trades, reshaping established trade patterns. Simultaneously, the Panama Canal, a pivotal conduit for global trade, is grappling with diminished water levels, resulting in a staggering 36% reduction in total transits over the past month compared to a year ago.
The long-term implications of climate change on the canal's capacity are raising concerns about enduring impacts on global supply chains.
The crisis in the Red Sea, marked by Houthi-led attacks disrupting shipping routes, has added another layer of complexity.
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Major players in the shipping industry have temporarily suspended Suez transits in response. Notably, container ship transits per week have plummeted by 67% compared to a year ago, with container carrying capacity, tanker transits, and gas carriers experiencing significant declines.
The surge in the average container spot freight rates during the last week of December, by plus 500 dollars, in one week, was the highest ever weekly increase.
Average container shipping spot rates from Shanghai this week are up by 122% compared to early December. i.e. have more than doubled.
The rates from Shanghai to Europe went up by 256%, i.e. more than tripled. Rates to the United States West coast also increased above average, although they do not go through Suez.
They increased by 162%. Here we see the global impact of the crisis, as ships are seeking alternative routes, avoiding the Suez and the Panama Canal.
The cumulative effect of these disruptions translates into extended cargo travel distances, escalating trade costs, and a surge in greenhouse gas emissions from shipping having to travel greater distances and at greater speed.
Avoiding the Suez and Panama Canal necessitates more days of shipping, resulting in increased expenses.
The price per day of shipping and insurance premiums have surged, compounding the overall cost of transit.
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Additionally, ships are compelled to travel faster to compensate for detours, burning more fuel per mile and emitting more CO2, further exacerbating environmental concerns.
Global Implications: increases in food and energy prices.
UNCTAD underscored the far-reaching economic implications of these disruptions.
Prolonged interruptions, particularly in container shipping, pose a direct threat to global supply chains, potentially leading to delayed deliveries and heightened costs.
While current container rates are approximately half of the peak during the Covid crisis, passing on higher freight rates to consumers takes time, with the full impact expected to manifest within a year.
Energy prices are witnessing a surge as gas transits are discontinued, directly impacting energy supplies, especially in Europe.
The crisis is also reverberating in global food prices, with longer distances and higher freight rates potentially cascading into increased costs.
Disruptions in grain shipments from Europe, Russia, and Ukraine pose risks to global food security, affecting consumers and lowering prices paid to producers.
14 arrested for black marketing of train tickets at Dhaka airport, Kamalapur stations
Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) has arrested 14 people including two kingpins from Dhaka airport and Kamalapur Railway Stations for alleged black marketing of train tickets.
The arrestees are- gang leaders Uttam Chandra Das, 30, and Md Selim, 50, gang members Anwar Hossain alias Kashem, 62, Abani Sarker Sumon, 35, Md Harun Miah, 60, Md Mannan, 50, Md Anwar Hossain, 50, Md Faruk, 62, Md Shahidul Islam Babu, 22, Md Jewel, 23, Md Abdur Rahim, 32, Md Morshed Miah, 45, Abdul Ali, 22, and Md Zobayer.
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The elite force arrested them in separate drives from Kamalapur and Airport Railway Stations last night (Thursday), RAB Legal and Media Wing director Commander Khandaker Al Moin said in a press briefing at its Media Center at Karwan Bazar on Friday.
RAB also seized 1,244 train tickets of different routes, 14 mobile phone sets and Tk20,000 in cash from their possession, he added.
14 gold bars worth Tk 1.5 crore recovered from Ctg airport
The arrestees confessed to their crimes in primary interrogation.
"Selim had been operating their activities at Kamalapur Railway Station while Uttam at Airport Railway Station for a long time. They used to block and subsequently collect the tickets of different trains from railway servers and booking counters with the help of corrupt employees. The gang members used to take 50% of the ticket black marketing profit, the other 50% was given to the corrupt railway employees," Khandaker Al Moin said.
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“If station masters or anyone concerned is found involved in the train ticket black marketing would be brought to justice,” the RAB official said.
Hungary, Kyrgyzstan greet PM Sheikh Hasina on her re-election
Hungary and Kyrgyzstan have greeted Sheikh Hasina on her re-election as the prime minister of Bangladesh.
“We greatly appreciate the development of Bangladesh in the past period and the responsible policy with which you contribute to the stability of your region. I am sure that the renewed confidence of the people of Bangladesh in you will enable you to continue your success,” said Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban, in a congratulatory letter sent to Sheikh Hasina.
He assured that his government will continue to work in a committed way in the future to further deepen the cooperation (between Hungary and Bangladesh) that goes back to more than half a century.
The Hungarian PM wished Sheikh Hasina success and good health in discharging her highly responsible duties.
Kyrgyzstan's President Sadyr Zhaparov in a greeting letter said, “I believe that your activities at the head of the government will contribute to the further strengthening of friendly relations between our countries and the development of multifaceted Kyrgyz-Bangladesh cooperation in trade-economic, scientific, technical, cultural and people-to-people spheres.”
He assured that they are ready to strengthen constructive cooperation on current issues of bilateral and international agenda that meet the interests of Kyrgyzstan and Bangladesh.
The Kyrgyz president wished Sheikh Hasina good health, prosperity and success in her state work.
Good educational institutions can make smart citizens: Saber Hossain
Bangladesh needs skilled and educated manpower to face various challenges and good educational institutions can make smart citizens, said Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury on Friday.
“A smart society is needed to build a smart Bangladesh. Smart citizens are needed to build a smart society. And good educational institutions can make smart citizens,” he said .
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The environment minister said these things while addressing as the chief guest at an event on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Notre Dame College.
He also said that ideal educational institutions like Notre Dame College can play an important role in building a smart Bangladesh as per the vision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
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Such types of educational institutions create the leadership of the society, the leadership of the country.
“We have to work for the economic emancipation of the people of our country. Everyone should work together to build a developed, prosperous non-communal welfare state dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” Chowdhury added.
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The minister said this traditional institution has been playing an important role in the field of education and culture for 75 years.
He assured the support of the government for the overall development of Notre Dame College.