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PM mourns death of agriculturist Dr Samiul Alam
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of organising secretary of Mymensingh Awami League and agriculturist Dr Samiul Alam Liton.
Hasina, also the Awami League president, prayed for the eternal salvation of the departed soul and expressed sympathy to the bereaved family.
Read: PM mourns death of Jamalpur AL leader Sarwar Jahan
Dr Samiul Alam Liton breathed his last this evening at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital at the age of 53. He left behind his wife, daughter, son and a host of relatives and well-wishers.
Meanwhile, AL general secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader also expressed deep shock and sorrow at the death of Dr Samiul Alam.
Eid-ul-Fitr prayer: 5 jamaats to be held at Baitul Mukarram
Like every year five Eid jamaats will be held at the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque from 7 am on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr this year
Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh revealed the schedule in a press release on Saturday
The first Eid jamaat will be held at 7am, followed by three more at the top of each hour till 10am. The last one will be at 10:45 am.
Also read: Eid-ul-Fitr: National Moon sighting committee to meet on Sunday
The National Moon Sighting Committee will meet on Sunday evening to fix the date of Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of Muslims.
The Islamic Foundation issued a press release on Saturday saying the meeting will be held at the foundation's Baitul Mukarram office after Maghrib prayers for reviewing information on the sighting of Shawwal moon.
Also read :Footpath vendors doing brisk business ahead of Eid
May Day to be observed Sunday
The historic May Day will be observed in Bangladesh on Sunday as elsewhere across the world with due respect.
May Day, also known as the International Workers' Solidarity Day, commemorates the historic uprising of working people in Chicago, USA at the height of a prolonged fight for an eight-hour workday in the late nineteenth century.
The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh.
This year, the theme for this historic day in Bangladesh is "Sramik-Malik Ekota, Unnoyoner Nischoyota '' (roughly translated reads: workers-owners unity, assurance of development).
Also read: Barapukuria coal mine workers continue demo demanding arrears
President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages ahead of the day.President Hamid called upon all development stakeholders to work together to ensure welfare of the country’s workers.
“In order to survive in today's competitive world, workers and employers along with the government will need to be more dedicated to maintaining a good relationship to boost production," said the president.
The Prime Minister in her message said, “Our government has taken all possible measures to tackel the Covid situation including distribution of relief among the working people to stand beside them”.
She urged all to build happy, rich and Sonar Bangla as dreamt Bangabandhu by working for the welfare of working people and the country's overall development.
Newspapers will publish supplements while radio and television channels will air special programmes highlighting the significance of the day.
Different organizations, political parties chalked out dedicated programmes to observe the day.
Also read: Bangladesh bidi workers demand wage hikeOn May 1, 1886, 10 workers were killed when police opened fire on a demonstration in the US city of Chicago near Hay Market demanding an eight-hour working day instead of a 12-hour shift. On the height of agitation, the authorities had to accept the workers' demand and the eight-hour day has been introduced universally.On July 14, 1889, an international workers' rally in Paris declared May 1 as the International Workers’ Solidarity Day in recognition of the Chicago workers' sacrifice and achievement and since 1890, the day has been observed globally as the International Workers’ Solidarity Day.
The day has been observed globally as the International Workers’ Solidarity Day since 1890.
Rain, hailstorm likely in parts of country
Bangladesh Meteorological Department on Saturday forecast rain or thunder showers in different parts of the country including Dhaka in the next 24 hours commencing 9 am.
“Rain/thunder showers accompanied by intense lightning flashes and temporary gusty/squally wind is likely at a few places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh & Sylhet divisions,” said a Met office bulletin.
Read: No gas in parts of Dhaka, Savar and southern districts for 48 hrs from 10 pm on May 3
Rain may occur at one or two places over Khulna, Barishal & Chattogram divisions with hails at isolated places, it added.
Mild heat waves are sweeping over different parts of the country including Tangail, Gopalgonj, Faridpur, Madaripur, Rangamati, Rajshahi & Pabna.
Day temperature may fall slightly and night temperature may remain unchanged over the country.
Foreign Minister's daughter fondly reminisces dearly departed 'Chachu'
Sarah Momen, youngest daughter of Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, has described her uncle and former Foreign Minister late AMA Muhith as a human encyclopedia and quote directory.
Sarah Momen shared her story on Muhith on her Facebook wall sharing memories with the Freedom Fighter and language veteran who will be laid to rest at his family graveyard in Sylhet after Zohr prayers on Sunday.
Here is the full story below.
Also read: Muhith: A gifted economist who was a prolific writer!
“I love you Chachu. May you Rest in Power.
You were a titan among men. The reason our homeland is an economic powerhouse. A human encyclopedia and quote directory. One of the most brilliant people I knew. I was always in awe of how you could point to any of the hundreds of books in your library and recite a quote from memory. I always wished to be like you.
There is a lot I could say about your legacy. I’m sure all your accomplishments as Finance Minister will flood the papers, and surely they deserve to be remembered since you’ve done things many only dream of in their lifetimes. But I want to remember you for your grace and the gentleness of your spirit. The man you were behind the cape.
The way you’d always greet me with a smile and hold my hand while you spoke to me is imprinted in my mind. A lot of people say Assalam Wailaikum reflexively, but not many truly embody the essence of extending love and peace to another. I am thankful to have learned this example from you. Always so earnestly you’d ask me how I was doing, never asking anything more of me. Never pushing expectations of any kind. Just happy to share a moment with me. In some ways, I felt more seen by you than others in my family. I felt a love and bond that was pure, and unconditional. We weren’t always together or in communication, but there was always a mutual fondness. I’d come to see you in NY, and you’d see me whenever I was in BD. And always there’d be smiles, no judgment. Just hand holding and love.
Also read: Architect of AL’s development era Muhith to be laid to rest in Sylhet Sunday
I will always remember your laugh and smile - looking off at Bangla classical music festivals clapping, when being asked about the accomplishments you’re most proud of, when telling a story that delighted you. Your smile lit up a room. And you forever are a light in my heart.”
Eid-ul-Fitr: National Moon sighting committee to meet on Sunday
The National Moon Sighting Committee will meet on Sunday evening to fix the date of Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of Muslims.
The Islamic Foundation issued a press release on Saturday saying the meeting will be held at the foundation's Baitul Mukarram office after Maghrib prayers for reviewing information on the sighting of Shawwal moon.
Mohammad Faridul Haque Khan, State Minister for Religious Affairs and also president of the committee, will preside over the meeting, it added.
Read: Solution to pollution: Sprinkling water on Dhaka's roads & construction sites?
People have been requested to inform the committee through the following phone and fax numbers if they see the Shawwal moon anywhere in Bangladesh sky.
The phone numbers are: 02-223381725, 02-41050912, 02-41050916, and 02-41050917 while the fax numbers are 02-223383397 and 02-9555951.
They also can report to the concerned upazila nirbahi officers or the deputy commissioners.
Bangladesh reports 17 new Covid cases, no death
Bangladesh reported 17 fresh Covid cases in 24 hours till Saturday morning, which took the total caseload to 19,52,691.
As per the latest government data, the country’s total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,127 as no one died during the period.
Read: Hajj pilgrims must submit Covid-negative report before journey
The daily positivity rate decreased to 0.58 per cent from Friday's 0.63 per cent from after testing 2,938 samples during the period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
On Thursday, the number of infections was higher as 30 new cases were reported with zero death.
Besides, the mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.49 per cent.
The recovery rate rose to 97.07 per cent with the recovery of 258 more patients during the 24-hour period.
In March, the country reported 85 Covid-linked deaths and 8,000 new cases while 66,639 patients recovered from the disease, according to DGHS.
Among the 85 deaths during the period, 44 were unvaccinated patients, 11 were vaccinated with the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine, 28 with the second dose and two with the third dose.
Read: 2-month ban on Hilsa catching to end Saturday midnight
The country reported its first zero Covid-related death in a single day on November 20 last year, along with 178 infections, since the pandemic broke out in Bangladesh in March 2020.
On January 28, Bangladesh logged its previous highest daily positivity rate at 33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and 20 deaths.
Besides, the country registered the highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year, while the highest number of daily fatalities was 264 on August 10 last year.
No gas in parts of Dhaka, Savar and southern districts for 48 hrs from 10 pm on May 3
Gas supply will remain suspended for 48 hours from 10 pm on May 3 in different areas in Dhaka city and its adjoining areas.
According to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, the areas which will have no gas supply during the period include Amin Bazar, Hemayetpur, Savar EPZ, Ashulia, Manikganj, Dhamrai.
Read: Solution to pollution: Sprinkling water on Dhaka's roads & construction sites?
In addition, some areas of Dhaka city may experience low pressure in gas supply during the same period which include Gabtoli, Mazar Road, Kalyanpur, Shymoli, Mirpur, Mohammadpur, and Dhanmondi, Titas, said a press release.
Meanwhile, the Gas Transmission Company of Bangladesh (GTCL) in a public notice informed that it will suspend gas supply to two high-pressure pipelines for maintenance and replacement works for 48 hours from 10 pm on May 3.The high-pressure gas pipelines are Dhanua-Savar 20-inch dia gas transmission line and 30-inch dia gas transmission line from Bangabandhu Bridge’s Eastern end to western end.
Due to this maintenance and pipeline replacement works of the two high-pressure pipelines, gas supply might be disrupted to the power plants, industries, CNG stations, residential consumers in Dhaka and Savar under the Titas Gas command areas and also the areas in South-western districts under the Sundarban Gas Company Limited.
Chattogram AL leader torture: UP chairman, his son held
Police arrested a union parishad chairman and his son from Haidgaon in Patia upazila early Saturday in connection with the torture on a local Awami League leader.
The arrestees were BM Jashim, chairman of Haidgaon UP and his son Mushfique Uddin.
Rashedul Islam, officer-in-charge of Patia Police Station, said a team of police raided the house of Jashim and arrested them in the early hours of Saturday.
“Efforts are on to arrest the other people involved in the incident,” he said.
READ: 7 ‘carjackers’ held in city
Earlier on April 29, Jashim and his associates allegedly tortured Jiten Kanti Guho, vice-president of Haidgaon union unit Awami League, after tying up hands with a tree, in broad day light.
They tortured Jiten reportedly for not inviting the UP chairman in an Iftar party organized by Awami League.
The torture incident went viral on social networking site Facbook which drew a huge flack.
Tapash Kanti Guh, brother of Jiten , said the AL leader is now undergoing treatment at Chattogram Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) and his two hands were broken.
2-month ban on Hilsa catching to end Saturday midnight
Fishermen have taken preparation to resume fishing as two-month long ban on catching, selling, transportation and hoarding of delicious hilsa fish will end Saturday midnight.
Fishermen in different districts including Chandpur are preparing their fishing nets and trawlers to start catching hilsa in the rivers after 12 am.
UNB Chandpur correspondent reports: Netting of hilsa was restricted in five sanctuaries across the country during this period.
A festive mood is prevailing in the fishermen para as around 52,000 fishermen will resume fishing from the midnight.
Like previous years, the ban was imposed on a70-kilometer long area from Matlab Uttar Shatnol to Haimchar Charbhairabi area in Chandpur and 44,035 fishermen got government aid.
During a reality check at Ananda Bazar, Harina, Bahria, Laxmipur in Sadar upazila on Saturday, the UNB correspondent found fishermen are taking preparation to go for fishing and already they have repaired their fishing boats.
Imam Hossain Bepari, 62, a fishermen, said the movement of hilsa has declined due to hidden chars in the river.
Golam Mehedi Hasan, an officer of fisheries department, said this year, the production of hilsa may increase this year.
READ: 2-month ban on hilsa fishing, selling begins Tuesday
Earlier, a two-month government ban on hilsa catching, selling, hoarding and transporting began on March 1, with a view to boosting its production.
The ban covers hilsa sanctuaries in six districts -- Barishal, Chandpur, Laxmipur, Bhola, Shariatpur and Patuakhali .
The sanctuaries are 100km in the Meghna River from Chandpur’s Shatnol to Laxmipur’s Char Alexander, 90km in Shahbazpur Channel in Bhola, 100km in Tentulia River in Bhola, 20km in Naria and Bhederganj upazilas in Chandpur district and 82km in Hizla, Mehendiganj and Barishal Sadar Upazila, Gazaria and the Meghna river.
Hilsa has the highest contribution in the country's fish production as the single fish species.