The surrounding areas of the Secretariat  have been declared  ‘No Horn Zone’ and the decision will become effective from December 17 aiming to prevent sound pollution.

No vehicle will be allowed to play horn at Zero Point, Paltan intersection and secretariat link road areas.

The decision was taken at an inter-ministerial meeting of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at the secretariat on Sunday.

The meeting stressed the need for creating public awareness to stop honking of horns in the surrounding areas of the secretariat and sought cooperation of all including media workers in the regard.

According to Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995, if anyone violates this ban, the offender will be sentenced to maximum one month imprisonment or fined maximum of Tk 5,000 or awarded both fine and jail term.

Earlier, on November 25, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin said the surrounding areas of the secretariat will be declared as ‘No Horn Zone’ from December 17.

Robi 10 Minute School, Robi Axiata Ltd. and Save the Children in Bangladesh signed a tripartite Strategic Partnership to empower girls through ICT in education.  

10 Minute School Chief Executive Officer Ayman Sadiq, Robi Axiata Limited Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer Md Shahed Alam and Save the Children Country Director Mark Pierce signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations at the country office of Save the Children in Bangladesh the city.

This agreement aims to enhance the skills in literacy and numeracy for the fourth and fifth grade girl students of government primary schools in two upazilas of Bangladesh under Save the Children's 'Empowering Girls through Education (EGE)’ project.

Save the Children Country Director Mark Pierce said, “This collaboration between development organisation and corporates will help to promote ICT in education for the under privileged girls.”

He added that evidence generated from the project will inspire government and other private sectors to achieve the vision of digital Bangladesh by 2021.

Ayman Sadiq, Chief Executive Officer of 10 Minute School said, “We are honored to partner with Save the Children…We are often asked about the impact of our digital education programme. Finally, this partnership with Save the Children will allow us to generate some evidence.”

Mohammed Shahed Alam, Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer of Robi Axiata Limited said, “Robi has always been involved with initiatives in creating digital education systems and will support such initiatives in the future also. It’s an opportunity to collaborate with Save the Children through EGE project as both the organizations are working to promote technology based education in our country.”

President Abdul Hamid on Sunday urged participants of the National Defence Course (NDC) and Armed Forces War Course
(AFWC)  to use their knowledge for development of the country.

” I’m sure you’ll be able to make a huge difference and set examples for others through your prudence and leadership, and provide fresh impetus to the quest for development,” he said.

He came up with the remarks when successful participants of the National Defence Course-2019 and Armed Forces War Course-2019 paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban in the afternoon.

He urged all to observe the birth centenary celebration of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee celebration of independence in an elegant manner.

"It’s a matter of pleasure that the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of our independence will be celebrated throughout the country and outside Bangladesh in a befitting manner in 2020 and 2021 respectively. I call upon all to observe these two magnificent events in an elegant way," he said.

Describing the month of December as the month of remembrance of united struggle, sacrifice and joyous victory, he recalled with profound respect, the architect of the country’s independence Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and paid his deep homage to the martyrs and valiant sons of the soil, who made the supreme sacrifice in the Liberation War.

Congratulating the graduates on their successful completion of the year-long National Defence Course and Armed Forces War Course at NDC, President Hamid said he believes that this is an outstanding course ranging from national security to national development, leadership to policymaking that will enrich their professional knowledge and give them a greater confidence in discharging their duties.

"The members of War Course have also gained knowledge on leadership and the mechanism of warfare at operational level in relation to the present global context. It’ll sharpen their knowledge and make them more professional in the coming days," he added.

More than 150 course participants, including 31 from 16 countries, took part in the courses.

Commandant of National Defence College Lieutenant General Sheikh Mamun Khaled delivered the thanksgiving speech at the programme.

Secretaries concerned to the President were also present.

Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) General secretary Golam Rabbani on Sunday demanded the resignation of its Vice-President Nurul Haque Nur for his alleged involvement in corruption and extortion.

He came up with the demand at a press conference held at the office at Ducsu building of Dhaka University campus around 12.30 pm.

The Chhatra League panel members of Ducsu organised the press conference .

Twenty members of Ducsu executive body out of 25 attended the press conference.

Rabbani said it’s clear from the audio clip that Ducsu VP was involved in corruption and illegal activities. "He has no moral right to remain as VP of Ducsu.”

Describing  Nur as corrupt,  he  said, “I hope he’ll step down soon. If he doesn’t, then we’ll take steps against him.”

"We also request the University Vice-Chancellor and Ducsu president to remove Nur from the post as soon as possible, " he added.

An audio clip of a conversation between the Ducsu vice-president and an expatriate Bangladeshi was leaked on December 3.

In the audio clip, the expatriate was heard requesting Nur to send his bank account number along with an email address.

Workers of nine state-owned jute mills on Sunday threatened to go on hunger strike unto death on Tuesday (Dec 10) to press home their 11-point demand, including immediate payment of their arrears.

The workers also observed a sit-in programme arranged by CBA and non-CBA Sangram Parishad in the morning.

Over 30,000 jute mill workers in front of their respective jute mills vowed to go for the hunger strike.

The state-owned jute mills are Crescent Jute Mills, Platinum Jute Mills, Khalishpur Jute Mills, Daulatpur Jute Mills, Star Jute Mills, Eastern Jute Mills, Alim Jute Mills in Khulna, and JJI and Carpeting jute mills in Jashore.

Md MuradHossain, joint convener of CBA and Non-CBA Sangram Parishad, said they will go on hunger strike unto death on Tuesday because there is no other option for them. “Now, we’re unable to run families without salaries and wages,” he added.

Leaders of jute workers, including Abdul Hamid Sardar, Shahana Sharmin, Humayun Kabir, Sohrab Hossain, Billal Mollik, Mujibor Rahman, Makbul Hossain, Md Alauddin, Deen Mohammad and Sheikh Ibrahim were, among others, present.

Their 11 points include necessary allocation for jute sector, payment of outstanding salaries, wages, implementation of Wage Board Commission and weekly wage payment.

On December 3, jute workers observed a 24-hour strike to press home their 11-point demand

Later on December 6, the authorities cleared their due salaries of 12 weeks.