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‘Indian Ocean is named after us; if we don't take action, who will?’: Indian Navy Chief
Indian Navy will take affirmative action to ensure there is safety and security in the Indian ocean, Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, said on Saturday (March 23, 2024).
The Indian Navy is keeping a close watch on the hijacked Bangladeshi vessel MV Abdullah and it has been taken to Somalia, he said.
‘If money is not given, they will kill us’: Audio message of hijacked ship’s chief officer
He was speaking on the 100 days of the Indian Navy’s operations for anti-drone, anti-missile and anti-piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Red Sea.
Earlier, there were 54-55 anti-piracy ships everyday and now it has gone up to 64-65.
Please pray, says hijacked ship Abdullah's chief engineer to his family
"The Indian Navy is very clear about its job. This is the Indian Ocean, named after us, and if we don't take action, then who will?" he said.
Govt in touch with international bodies to rescue hijacked Bangladeshi ship, its crew: FM
UN Commission delivers blueprint to end women’s poverty
The 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) has concluded, marking a significant step towards eradicating women’s and girls’ poverty.
Over the twelve-day session, which ended on Friday, UN Member States committed to robust measures to strengthen financing and institutions to address poverty and ensure gender parity.
The commission emphasised the urgent need to invest in gender-focused initiatives to promote gender equality and mitigate the impacts of climate change. It highlighted the stark reality that one in every ten women globally lives in extreme poverty, with more than 614 million women residing in conflict-affected areas, where they are 7.7 times more likely to face extreme poverty.
A concerning projection indicates that climate change could exacerbate hunger for 236 million more women by 2030, effectively doubling the number of affected men.
In response to these challenges, this year’s secondary agenda focused on strengthening institutions, social protection systems, and financing with a gender perspective. During the side events, members put forward strategies outlining a forward-thinking framework designed to bolster women’s economic autonomy while confronting economic structures that have entrenched inequalities domestically and internationally.
Globally, 10.3 per cent of women live in extreme poverty today, according to the report presented by the UN Secretary-General to the Commission, and progress towards ending poverty needs to be 26 times faster to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Water crises threaten world peace; 2.2 billion still live without access to safe drinking water: UN Report
Dean of DU Social Science faculty Prof Zia Rahman passes away
Zia Rahaman, Professor of Criminology Department of Dhaka University and Dean of Social Science faculty passed away at the age of 58.
He died at Dhaka’s Labaid Hospital around 4:15 am on Saturday.
"He died in the early hours of Saturday (March 23) due to brain hemorrhage while undergoing treatment at the capital's Labaid Hospital," DU Proctor Prof. Maksudur Rahman confirmed.
PM condoles demise of actor Ahmed Rubel
Prof. Zia Rahman’s janaza will be held at the Central Mosque of Dhaka University after Zuhr prayers, Vice Chancellor Prof ASM Maksud Kamal confirmed.
Fire in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar; chemical warehouse burnt down
A chemical warehouse of a shoe factory was gutted in a fire that broke out in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar area early Saturday.
The fire broke out at the chemical warehouse of a shoe factory named Asia Rubber Industry around 3:30 am and engulfed it, said deputy director of Fire Service and Civil Defense (Dhaka division) Saleh Uddin.
On information, nine firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control around 6 am.
Demra warehouse fire doused: Fire Official
The firefighting units are working to fully douse the fire.
“It took time to extinguish the fire as there were plastic materials inside the warehouse. Plastic and adhesive used for making shoes were stocked in the warehouse,” Saleh Uddin said.
The firefighting units struggled a lot to reach the spot due to narrow roads, he said, adding, “We also faced difficulties in bringing water due to scarcity of water resources in the area.”
However, the reason behind the fire could not be known immediately and a probe committee will be formed to identify the reason.
‘Immediate Gaza cease-fire’: US calls for vote Friday on UN resolution
The extent of losses caused by the fire will be known later.
In 2019, 67 people were killed and 41 were injured in a devastating fire that broke out at a chemical warehouse and raged through four other adjacent buildings in the Chawkbazar area.
Dhaka’s air 2nd worst in the world this morning
Dhaka has ranked second on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 187 at 9:09 am this morning.
Dhaka’s air was classified as 'unhealthy', according to the air quality index.
India’s Delhi, Pakistan’s Lahore and Indonesia’s Jakarta occupied the first, third and fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 212, 181 and 168, respectively.
Dhaka’s air quality 5th worst in the world this morning
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
The AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality, informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Dhaka’s air quality still ‘unhealthy’, 3rd worst in the world today
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.
Satkhira coastal residents rally against water commercialization
On the occasion of World Water Day, residents of Kaliganj upazila in Satkhira district gathered in front of the Kaliganj Press Club to protest against water commercialization and demand access to free, safe, and sufficient water supply in government services. Led by Jano Kalyan Sanstha, Nirbhay Foundation, and Youthnet for Climate Justice, the demonstration drew attention to the pressing issue of water scarcity and its impact on coastal communities.
Amidst a sea of banners and placards adorned with pleas for clean water, local youth and community members, especially women, emphasized the critical need for accessible water resources, reads a press release.
The theme of this year's World Water Day, "Water for Peace," struck a chord with attendees, highlighting the intrinsic link between water and harmony.
Representatives from Water Strike shed light on the myriad challenges faced by residents of Kaliganj Upazila, including the exacerbating effects of climate change-induced salinity intrusion. Such challenges not only threaten human livelihoods but also the delicate ecosystems of coastal regions.
Speaking at the rally, Ariful Islam, founder of Nirbhay Foundation, expressed the frustration of coastal residents: "Access to clean water is not a luxury; it is a basic human right. Yet, for far too long, our communities have been deprived of this essential resource. It's time for immediate action to address this crisis."
Maruf Hasan, founder of Jan Kalyan Sansthan, emphasized the urgency of the situation: "The people of Satkhira and other coastal areas have been demanding access to clean water for years. The time for empty promises is over. We need concrete solutions now."
Sohanur Rahman, executive coordinator of Youthnet for Climate Justice, highlighted the broader implications of water scarcity: "Water is not just a resource; it is a cornerstone of peace and prosperity. Without access to clean water, tensions rise, and conflicts erupt. We cannot afford to ignore this issue any longer."
Rahman further stressed the importance of engaging young people meaningfully in water management at all levels: "Young people are the future custodians of our environment. Their involvement in water management is not only crucial for sustainable development but also ensures that their voices are heard in decision-making processes."
The rally coincided with World Water Day, a day designated by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness about the importance of freshwater resources. This year's theme, "Water for Peace," underscores the vital role that water plays in promoting stability and harmony.
College student drowns in SUST campus pond
A college student drowned in the pond adjacent to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology on Friday.
The deceased, Arnab Talukdar, 17, was a resident of Madina Markets area of Sylhet city, and son of Kritish Talukdar.
Arnab was a first-year student at Shah Khurram Degree College in Sylhet. He hailed from Vishwambharpur Upazila of Sunamganj district.
Eyewitnesses report that Arnab went underwater and failed to resurface for a considerable period.
Subsequently, students from the university present at the scene managed to retrieve him from under the water. He was then rushed to Osmani Medical College Hospital by the university ambulance, where duty doctors pronounced him dead.
Dr. Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, the Proctor of the university, expressed his condolences, mentioning that Arnab might have come to learn swimming.
"The police are investigating the matter. We had previously instructed not to bathe in the pond, and the directive remains in place," he said.
Integrated checkpost to benefit both Bangladesh and India economically: BGB DG
Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, Director General of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), has said that once the ICP (Integrated Checkpost) is launched in Khagrachari's Ramgarh, the economies of Bangladesh and India will be very prosperous and benefitted as well.
"Many countries of the world, including Japan, are investing in both sides of the ICP. Once this ICP is launched, it will definitely boost the economy as a whole," he said.
The BGB chief came up with the remarks while briefing journalists at the Ramgarh BGB memorial area in Khagrachari on Friday (March 22).
BGB-BSF border conference wraps up with pledge to bring down border killings to zero
Earlier, he visited the battalion headquarters of Ramgarh Battalion (43 BGB), the ICP adjacent to Ramgarh land port and the Indo-Bangladesh friendship bridge area and BGB monument.
"The way the economic wheels are moving now under the direction of the Prime Minister, it will be stronger and will be more prosperous in the future," the BGB Director General said.
Bangladesh reports 42 COVID-19 cases in 24hrs
Bangladesh reported 42 COVID-19 cases in 24 hours till Friday morning.
With the new numbers, the country's total COVID-19 caseload rose to 2,049,329, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The official death toll from the disease remained unchanged at 29,493 as no new fatalities were reported during this period.
The daily case test positivity rate stood at 6.11 percent as 687 samples were tested, said the DGHS.
The recovery and death rates stood at 98.4 percent and 1.44 per cent, respectively.
Divisional Consultation on Migration, Reintegration, Service Delivery and Referrals held in Rangpur
A Divisional Consultation on Migration and Reintegration, Service Delivery and Referrals was organised jointly by Wage Earners’ Welfare Board (WEWB), Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Bangladesh (MoEWOE) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Rangpur.
The second of a series of consultations was supported under Asia Regional Migration Programme (ARMP) funded by Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) of the State Department, the United States of America (USA).
The event served as a vital platform to address the challenges of migration and reintegration services, with a strong emphasis on promoting safe migration practices and also recognized the Govt of Bangladesh (GoB) led initiatives in migration and reintegration sector through interventions such as RAISE.
Since independence, approximately 16 million Bangladeshi men and women have embarked on journeys abroad in search of better livelihoods and have contributed significantly to the nation's economy through remittances.
However, the migration process oftentimes is fraught with risks, ranging from exploitation to rights violations, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive measures to safeguard the rights and well-being of migrants.
The Divisional consultation was held in Rangpur as part of an ongoing series of consultations to explore strategies and initiatives to mitigate these risks and ensure the safe migration and dignified return and reintegration of migrants into their communities.
Abdusattor Esoev, Chief of Mission of IOM Bangladesh, highlighted the importance of collaborative initiatives to promote safe migration and facilitating the successful reintegration of returnees. "This consultation is an important platform to address the challenges faced by returnees and to reinforce our joint commitment to promoting safe migration practices".
Chief Guest of the consultation, Md Ruhul Amin, Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, reiterated the government's unwavering dedication to promoting safe migration practices and supporting returnees. “The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment is prioritizing lowering the cost of migration. The middlemen are being able to influence the prospective migrants due to lack of information on safe migration channels. Through initiatives like this I hope we would be able to promote safe migration channels.”
He further went on to state that “The RAISE project is the first of its kind of project globally to support the returnees by any government. There are projects for prospective migrants, but this project focuses on returnees. This is the uniqueness of this project.”
The Chair of the event, Riaz Uddin, Deputy Director of Local Government, Rangpur, expressed his gratitude to IOM, the World Bank and the Ministry for organizing this consultation and for providing him the opportunity to work on the referral systems under the RAISE project at the Divisional level. He assured his office would provide full support to the RAISE project.
The successful conclusion of the Divisional Consultation marks a significant step forward in strengthening efforts in supporting the holistic well-being of returnees and promoting safe migration practices in Bangladesh
The successful conclusion of the Divisional Consultation marks a significant step forward in strengthening efforts in supporting the holistic well-being of returnees and promoting safe migration practices in Bangladesh.