Bangladesh
PM to highlight challenges, efforts on climate front at Leaders' Summit on Climate
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will deliver her speech virtually at the "Leaders Summit on Climate" on Thursday highlighting the climate-related challenges Bangladesh faces and the efforts it is undertaking.
Prime Minister Hasina, also President of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), will address the inaugural session of the Summit titled "Raising Our Climate Ambition" with other global leaders, an official told UNB.
US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will open the inaugural session of the two-day Summit at 6pm (Bangladesh Time).
This session will underscore the urgent need for the world’s major economies to strengthen their climate ambition by the time of COP 26 to keep the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach.
It will provide an opportunity for leaders to announce new steps to strengthen climate ambition.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will also join.
Also read: FM: Bangladesh’s points to be on agenda of Biden's Climate Summit
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Russian President Vladimir Puti, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Prime Minister, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are among participants invited by the US President.
The second session will be on "Investing in Climate Solutions."
Dutch investors urged to invest in Bangladesh’s aquaculture sector for growth, diversification
Speakers at a webinar on Wednesday urged Dutch investors to invest in Bangladesh’s aquaculture sector for steady growth and diversification noting that the sector is facing problems due to Covid-19 situation.
On behalf of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dhaka, Larive International, and their Bangladeshi counterpart, LightCastle Partners, have concluded a study titled ‘Opportunities in the aquaculture sector in Bangladesh’.
Larive International and LightCastle Partners jointly held a webinar titled "Opportunities in the Aquaculture sector in Bangladesh" Wednesday to disseminate the study’s findings.
Harry Verweij, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh and M. Riaz Hamidullah, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Netherlands, spoke on the occasion.
Also read: Dutch NGOs reiterate support to Bangladesh
The key speakers were Matthias Brienen, Director of Larive International; Zahed Amin, Director of LightCastle Partners; and Saif Nazrul, Senior Business Consultant and Project Manager at LightCastle Partners.
The study projected the per capita fish consumption of Bangladesh to grow to 23.1 kg/ per day by 2025 from 21.8 kg /day in 2019, facilitated by a projected growth in fisheries production to 5.67 million MT by 2024, signifying an annual production growth of 5.2%.
But Covid-19 has greatly disturbed the fisheries market, increasing its consumption while also increasing prices of fish feed drastically, said a media release.
Also read: Swedish, Dutch envoys for maintaining focus on Rohingya crisis until their repatriation
Farms faced increased loss due to delayed harvest, markets are still volatile due to repercussions of supply chain disruption, local demand increased, shrimp export plummeted and seed prices increased, the study said, calling for taking necessary steps.
Riaz Hamidullah said, “Time is indeed ripe for the Dutch actors to engage in Bangladesh as we strive to scale higher as a key aquaculture powerhouse”.
The study identified a lack of quality seeds, poor animal health, low availability of high-quality feed, post-harvest loss and less-developed cold chain facilities among some of the critical bottlenecks of the sector.
Also read: Investment Summit to attract Dutch investors in key sectors in Bangladesh
The study also presented opportunities for Dutch stakeholders in the aquaculture sector ranging from facilitating training programs, setting quality and regulatory protocols, expanding use of improved technology, and technical assistance in the identification and prevention of diseases.
The report contended that Dutch stakeholders can also support the sector’s growth by investing in agro-logistics, building cold chain solutions, and strengthening capacity throughout the value chain by providing technological, business development, and knowledge-sharing support.
The study’s outcome will be to help match and connect Bangladeshi and Dutch partners to act upon the study’s recommendations and jointly address the sector bottlenecks to achieve the full potential of Bangladesh’s aquaculture sector.
Police set up wireless communication using satellite for the first time
Police have established a wireless communication system using VSAT through Bangabandhu satellite for the first time in Bangladesh.
This has opened a new horizon in wireless communication, connecting Bhasan Char Police Station and Rohingya Camp directly with Dhaka and other police units from Wednesday.
VSAT, a very small aperture terminal, is a small-sized two-way ground station that transmits and receives data, voice and video signals over a satellite communication network, excluding broadcast television.
“Thanks to the wireless communication system, remote Bhasan Char Police Station and Rohingya Camp will able to communicate with other parts of the country easily and without any obstruction in case of any natural calamity including cyclone,” said AIG (Media) of Police Headquarters Md Sohel Rana.
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal formally opened the newly-built Bhasan Char Police Station in the remote island under Hatiya upazila of Noakhali on January 19 this year to ensure the overall law and order situation.
The government invested more than $350 million to develop the 13,000 acres island and to provide all modern amenities for the Rohingyas.
The government plans to shift some 100,000 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char in phases. Currently, several thousand of them are living there.
Mild to moderate heat wave sweeps over country
Mild to moderate heat wave is sweeping over Dhaka, Khulna & Barishal divisions, Met office said on Wednesday.
The heat wave is also sweeping over the regions of Sitakunda, Rangamati, Noakhali, Feni, Moulvibazar, Rajshahi & Pabna and it may abate from some places, Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) said.
Also read:Mild heat wave may spread further
About the synoptic situation, BMD bulletin said a trough of westerly low lies over West Bengal and adjoining area, extending up to North Bay.
Besides, in next 24 hours commencing from 6 pm, rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at one or two places over Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with hails at isolated places.
Also read:Mild heat wave sweeping over Bangladesh
Day and night temperature may fall slightly over the country, Met office stated.
KEPZ Hi-Tech park will attract huge FDI, hopes Palak
The Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) Hi-Tech park will play a significant role in attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Bangladesh, said State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Wednesday.
"Korea is a pioneer country to invest in Bangladesh and has extended and enhanced its cooperation beyond textile to ICT, energy, blue economy, climate change and infrastructure development for over 45 years," he said.
Palak made the remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony of the KEPZ Hi-Tech Park mentioning that the collaboration between Bangladesh and South Korea goes a long way.
The Hi-Tech Park was jointly inaugurated by State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak and South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun with the physical presence of Kihak Sung, Chairman & CEO of Youngone Corp & KEPZ.
It was a remarkable day for KEPZ in the field of Hi-Tech industrial development, said the Youngone Corp adding that the vision of the company to establish a state-of-the-art Hi-Tech park is coming to a reality.
Also read: S Korea sees brighter ties with Bangladesh with multifarious success stories: Envoy
Over 1mn Covid-affected families to get PM’s Eid gift through bKash
bKash will distribute the cash aid of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to 10,50,000 low-income group families affected by COVID-19.
In a unique initiative of the Prime Minister to stand by families who have lost their livelihood, financial aid of Tk 2,500 will be provided to each of them before the Eid, bKash said in a media release on Wednesday.
The money is being disbursed digitally with transparency, swiftness and security to the real victims through verification of NID cards, it said.
Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: PM allocates Tk 10.50cr for affected poor
Through MFS, the cash aid of Tk 2,500 is going to be distributed to 3.4 million affected families.
The 10,50,000 low-income families will receive this cash aid through bKash.
During the month of Ramadan and the Eid festival, this money will bring relief to the families and help them greatly in case of emergency, bKash said.
Also read: bKash offers 1 pc cash bonus on receiving remittance
The beneficiary will not need to bear any Cash Out charge.
The government will pay Tk 15 from the total Cash Out charge, while the remaining Tk 31.25 will be borne by bKash.
bKash says it has taken all arrangements to enable the family members to Cash Out the money without any hassle.
Also read: Stipends from PM’s education fund disbursed through bKash
With the far-sighted decision of the government, bKash said, it is becoming possible to disburse financial aid conveniently among the affected families amid such a critical situation.
This is a significant step towards building Digital Bangladesh, it said.
Last year too, bKash successfully distributed the cash aid of the Prime Minister to nearly 1 million families.
Read Financial aid for all mosques, 7,000 more Qawmi Madrasas before Eid: PM
Bangladesh raises concern over UK's travel 'red list'
Bangladesh High Commissioner to the UK Saida Muna Tasneem has briefed the Uk's all-party parliamentary group (APPG) about the inconveniences caused by the country's travel ban that has put Bangladesh among the nations on its "red list."
She said the decision would seriously hurt the bilateral trade in the apparel, food and beverage sectors and also emergency medical treatments.
On April 2, the UK said it would put Bangladesh, Kenya, Pakistan and the Philippines on its travel "red list," banning entry to people arriving from those countries unless they are Britons or Irish.
The high commissioner, during a recent virtual meeting with the APPG on Bangladesh, raised two issues including the UK's travel "red list," and the protracted Rohingya crisis.
Also read: Covid-19 in Bangladesh: 95 more die with infection rate falling to 15.07pc
Praising the British government's role on the Rohingya issue especially as the pen-holder at the UN Security Council, she called upon the APPG to keep the issue of the sustainable and dignified return of the Rohingyas back to Myanmar high on its agenda at the British Parliament.
She took great pride in the extraordinary achievements and contributions made by the enterprising expatriate Bangladeshis in the UK in enhancing the shared prosperity of both countries.
"The government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina looks forward to further intensifying Bangladesh's bilateral trade, investment, climate and digital innovation partnership with a post-Brexit 'Global Britain," Muna said.
Also read: 14-day institutional quarantine mandatory for travellers from European countries: CAAB
The virtual meeting was held to mark the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence.
Chaired by Rushanara Ali, MP, chairman of the APPG on Bangladesh and UK's trade envoy to Bangladesh, the meeting was also attended by the vice-chairs of the parliamentary group including Bob Blackman MP, Rupa Huq MP, Afzal Khan MP, Khalid Mahmood MP, Tony Llyod MP, and Geraint Davies MP.
Rushanara said, "As a British-Bangladeshi, I am extremely proud to mark the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence. I pay tribute to all those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom and independence. We are forever indebted to them."
Also read: Fully vaccinated people can travel safely again, CDC says
APPG vice-chairs Bob Blackman, MP, and Geraint Davies, MP, praised Bangladesh for its sustained growth and progress over the past 50 years.
Other members of the APPG including Khalid Mahmood, MP, praised Bangladesh's climate leadership.
Cabinet purchase body nods LNG import
Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase on Wednesday approved eight procurement proposals including the import of LNG.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presided over the meeting.
As per a proposal, placed by Energy and Mineral Resources Division, state-owned Petrobangla will import 3.360 million MMBtu of LNG from Vitol Asia Pte Ltd, Singapore, at a cost of Tk 267.57 crore. Each unit will cost $8.01.
Also read: Cabinet purchase body approves LNG, rice import
Three proposals of the Roads Transport and Highways Division received the nod of the Cabinet body.
As per the proposals, Roads and Highways Department will award a Tk 188.35 crore contract to Spectra Engineers Ltd, under package No-PW-02 of its Project “Installing Excel Load Control Centre at the Transport Sourcing Points in the Important Highways”.
The Roads and Highways Department will extend the cost of 25km road improvement from Cox’s Bazar to Ukhia by Tk 13.43 crore under the package No-WP-01 of Cox’s Bazar-Tekhnaf Road Development project and also Tk 16 crore for 25km road improvement from Ukhia to Unchiprang road of the same project under the package No-WP-02.
Also read: Will seek details of Vitol Asia on LNG supply: Finance Minister
The committee approved two proposals of the Railway Ministry.
As per approval, Bangladesh Railway (BR) will award a contract of Tk 433.78 crore to Joint Venture of (1) CREC and (2) CCCL, Dhaka, to implement the project: Construction of Broadguage Rail Truck from Madhukhali to Madura via Kamarkhali under its package No-WD-1.
The BR will award Tk 448.98 crore contract to Joint Venture of (1) CRCC and (2) MAHL, Dhaka, to implement the work under the package No-WD-02 of the same project.
Also read: Cabinet body okays LNG import from int’l spot market
The Cabinet body approved a proposal of the Health Services Division to procure Tk 80,734 cartons of 27 kinds of drugs from the state-owned Essential Drugs Company Limited, for community-based healthcare (CBHC) authority through direct procurement method.
Community Radios helping tackle pandemic, info-demic
Community Radios have been broadcasting various programmes 160 hours a day for tackling the second wave of COVID–19 pandemic and Info-demic by following the government instructions.
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) has been exploring and sharing the updated information and materials needed by the radio stations, according to a press release.
The content of the programme motivates community people to stay at home and be safe, take COVID–19 vaccine immediately, avoid gathering, wear the mask. wash hands frequently, etc.
Community Radio broadcasts are a useful means to share community information, especially to the most remote populations. In rural Bangladesh, people depend on it as their primary source of information.
Read Workshop on COVID-19 held for Dalits
Since the lockdown is going on and the community radio stations have been broadcasting COVID-19 related programme through community service announcement (CSA) Radio Spots, Jingle, Drama, magazine, interviews of Upazila and District Corona Prevention Committee, District and Upazila Administration, and vaccination team on COVID-19 and community people’s voices too.
Community Radio broadcasters are working by maintaining a close liaison with the Local Corona Committees, Communities, District, and Upazila Administration for updates. Community Radios have restricted visitors’ entry in the premises, make the security alert, monitor body temperature of broadcasters, and disinfecting equipment and other accessories frequently and regularly.
The Community Radios are broadcasting programme with special emphasis to provide COVID-19 vaccine to the disadvantaged and marginalised community people and ensure government incentive package for the most vulnerable, disadvantaged, and marginalised community during the lockdown.
Community people are making phone calls and sending SMS during the live broadcasting to share their queries.
They are maintaining social distancing, handwashing with soap, and avoiding all public gatherings.
National print and online dailies have published the initiatives that are being fostered by the community Radios to prevent the second wave of COVID–19 pandemic.
BNNRC has been working for adaptation and coping with the new normal situation of COVID-19 pandemic demands and reset new objectives to enhance the capabilities of affected communities through an equity lens for adapting, coping, surviving with the new normal situation.
Read Community radio stations start broadcasting on flash flood
Ex-DUCSU VP Nur sued under Digital Security Act in Rajshahi
Former DUCSU VP Nurul Haque Nur was accused in another case under the Digital Security Act in Rajshahi on Wednesday for allegedly hurting religious sentiment.
Jubo League’s Rajshahi city unit Joint General Secretary Towrid Al Masud Rony filed the case at Boalia Police Station.
Nur was accused of delivering provocative, fake and defamatory comments on social media and stoking religious hatred on April 15, said Nibaran Chandra Barman, Officer-in-Charge of Boalia Police Station.
The case documents have been sent to the Cyber Crimes Tribunal and legal action will be taken against Nur, the OC said.
Also read: Another case filed against Nur for hurting religious sentiment
Earlier, several more cases were filed against the student leader on similar charges in Chattogram, Dhaka and Sylhet.
The case statement said Nur has hurt religious sentiment of Awami League supporters with his comments during a programme on April 16 in Shahbagh.
No Muslim can support Awami League, Nur said in his speech adding that only some extortionists, cheaters, drug traders, fortune seekers support AL, the statement added.
Also read: ‘Hurting religious sentiment’: More cases filed against Nur
The ex-DUCSU VP also placed the badge of 'Fake Muslims' against supporters and leaders of Awami League, appearing on a Facebook live on April 15.