Bangladesh
Bangladesh, Qatar sign 10 cooperation documents to take ties to new height
Bangladesh and Qatar on Tuesday signed 10 cooperation documents - five agreements and five MoUs - to strengthen ties on multiple fronts and help the relations reach a new height.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani witnessed the signing of the documents.
The five signed agreements are: agreement for cooperation in the legal field between Bangladesh and State of Qatar, agreement on promotion and protection of mutual investments; agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes in income between Qatar and Bangladesh; agreement on maritime transport; and agreement on the establishment of Joint Business Council (JBC).
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The five MoUs are: MoU on cooperation in the fields of sports and youth between Bangladesh and Qatar; MoU on cooperation in the field of manpower employment (Labour) between Ministry of Labour, State of Qatar and Bangladesh; MoU on cooperation in diplomatic training between Bangladesh and Qatar; MoU for cooperation in the field of education, higher education and scientific research between Bangladesh and Qatar; MoU in the field of ports (MAWANI Qatar and Chittagong Ports Authority).
Earlier in the morning, PM Hasina warmly welcomed and received Emir Sheikh Tamim at her office.
Both the leaders held an exclusive tete-a-tete discussion where they exchanged views on matters of mutual interests and priorities.
Held in a cordial and amicable environment, the Qatari Emir’s visit is expected to generate goodwill and understanding between the two countries, said the Bangladesh side.
This high-level visit will significantly contribute to the consolidation of ties and elevate the Bangladesh-Qatar bilateral relations to the next level, said the government.
During the visit, Bangladesh and Qatari delegations led by the Prime Minister and the Emir held fruitful bilateral talks at the Prime Minister’s Office.
PM Hasina warmly welcomes Qatar’s Emir at her office
During the bilateral Talks, both sides reviewed the whole gamut of bilateral relations and underlined the need to enhance the bilateral cooperation through exchange of visit and increased interaction at all levels and strengthening bilateral engagements between Bangladesh and Qatar.
The areas that came up for discussion on cooperation included bilateral trade and investment, energy and power, manpower, defense, education, agriculture, food security and culture. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interests in the meeting.
In the opening remarks, the Prime Minister deeply appreciated the incredible advancement and transformation of Qatar as an advanced knowledge-based multi-cultural society and Qatar’s role in mediation and multilateral diplomacy under His Highness’s stewardship.
Qatari emir appreciated the remarkable achievements of Bangladesh under the dynamic leadership of the Prime Minister and commended Bangladesh as an investment destination and expressed his keenness to invest in diverse potential sectors.
The emir also appreciated the expatriate community in Qatar who are making positive contributions to the economies of both the countries.
The Prime Minister requested the Qatar side to consider more workers/professionals, nurses, technicians, caregivers etc from Bangladesh to which the Qatari Emir responded positively.
Bangladeshi man injured in BSF firing along Cumilla border
A 26-year-old Bangladeshi man was injured after members of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) opened fire along the border at Burichang upazila of Cumilla on Monday night.
The injured was identified as Billal Hossain of Laribagh village of Rajapur union of the upazila.
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According to locals, BSF men opened fire on Billal when he was unloading sugar smuggled from India at the Tetultala border area around 9:30 pm on Monday.
Locals rescued him and took him to the emergency department of Cumilla Medical College Hospital, where doctors referred him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for better treatment.
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Border Guard Bangladesh Sankuchail BOP Commander Faruk Kamal said, "Locals took the injured person to the hospital before we could reach the spot.”
Six houses gutted in Magura fire
At least six houses were gutted in a fire at Khamarpara village of Sreepur upazila of Magura on Monday night.
The fire originated from a mosquito coil around 8:30 pm on Monday and quickly spread to the houses of Najak Joardar, Kamal Joardar, Shilan Joardar, Ziko Mollah, and Obayed Mollah around, confirmed Sreepur Fire Service Officer Delwar Hossain.
'KNF man' killed, weapons recovered during anti-terrorism drive in Bandarban
Three houses, three cowsheds, four cows and four goats, and two kitchens were burned in the fire, he said.
On information, a team of Sreepur Fire Service and Civil Defence rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control, added the fire official.
According to the victims' families, thet suffered losses worth Tk 15 lakh.
PM Hasina warmly welcomes Qatar’s Emir at her office
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday morning warmly welcomed and received Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at her office.
They will have tête-à-tête (one-to-one) meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office, which will be followed by a bilateral meeting.
The two leaders will witness the signing of cooperation documents and join a joint press meet.
Bangladesh and Qatar expected to sign 10 cooperation documents - six agreements and five MoUs after the meeting.
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After signing visitors' book there, the emir will head for Bangabhaban on Tuesday afternoon where the president will receive him.
The five agreements that are planned to be signed are: agreement for cooperation in the legal field between Bangladesh and State of Qatar, agreement on promotion and protection of mutual investments; agreement on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes in income between Qatar and Bangladesh; agreement on maritime transport; and agreement on the establishment of Joint Business Council (JBC) between FBCCI & QCCI.
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The five MoUs that are likely to be signed are MoU on cooperation in the fields of sports and youth between Bangladesh and Qatar; MoU on cooperation in the field of manpower employment (Labour) between Ministry of Labour, State of Qatar and Bangladesh; MoU on cooperation in diplomatic training between Bangladesh and Qatar; MoU for cooperation in the field of education, higher education and scientific research between Bangladesh and Qatar; MoU between Qatar Ports management Company “MAWANI QATAR” and Chittagong Ports Authority.
A high-level Qatari delegation headed by Qatar’s emir is paying the state visit to Bangladesh at the invitation of the president and the prime minister of Bangladesh.
Contractual Appointment: Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan gets 6 months extension
The government has extended the contractual appointment of Shahabuddin Ahmed as the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan by another six months.
His new appointment will be effective from July 1, 2024, according to a gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Public Administration.
The government, in 2020, appointed Shahabuddin Ahmed as the ambassador of Bangladesh to Japan for three years.
He got an extension later, and his tenure was scheduled to end in June this year.
With the latest extension by six months, he will remain Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan until December this year.
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Ambassador Shahabuddin is a former secretary to the government of Bangladesh and was also a member of Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Administration cadre.
Shahabuddin obtained his Bachelor and Masters degree in Soil Science from the University of Dhaka.
He also completed his degree in Development Finance from the University of Birmingham.
Prof Anu Muhammad needs combined surgery: Health Minister
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen has said noted activist-economist Prof Anu Muhammad requires combined surgery.
“After seeing the pictures sent by the doctors last night, I decided that Professor Anu Muhammad needs a combined operation for his injuries. For this reason, he has been brought from Dhaka Medical College Hospital to Sheikh Hasina Burn Institute," he said.
Prof Anu Muhammad suffers serious injuries while getting down from train in Dhaka
Samanta was speaking to reporters after a board meeting on Professor Anu Muhammad at Sheikh Hasina National Burn and Surgery Institute on Monday afternoon.
“The Honorable Prime Minister inquired about Professor Anu Muhammad's condition this morning. She has instructed us to take all necessary measures. I have also informed her of everything. This institute will be better for a combined operation. We need orthopedics, I think it will be better if everyone works together on this matter. We want him to recover and return to his workplace," said the minister.
25-year-old dies of heatstroke in Ctg
Speaking about the adverse situation due to the intense heat wave, Samanta said, "Today we talked to the principals of all the medical colleges in the country. We have had a detailed discussion on how the students of the medical colleges will stay in this intense heat and have taken some decisions in this regard. Most of the classes will be online and instructions have been given to bring patients to the clinics and take clinical classes in rooms where there is air conditioning. We hope that this natural condition will not last long. It will be fixed. Then the normal situation will return again."
BUET dissolves its campus journalists' club
The authority of Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology (BUET) has dissolved the executive committee of its journalists club named BUET Journalists Association.
The declaration of dissolving the committee came with an official notice signed by BUET DSW assistant director Dr. Rupak Mutsuddy.
"Due to unavoidable reasons, the Executive Council 2023-24 Committee of the University's co-curricular club BUET Journalists Association has been declared dissolved," the notice reads.
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In this regard, Prof. Mohammad Al Amin Siddique, Director of BUET's Directorate of Student Welfare (DSW), said, "The committee has been abolished. We will make decision regarding the formation of committee after reviewing the scope of the association and looking at the constitution.”
It may be mentioned, members of BUET Journalists Association are not involved in journalism in any national media. Rather they have their own news portal and Facebook page, where they disseminate information related to BUET.
'KNF man' killed, weapons recovered during anti-terrorism drive in Bandarban
An alleged member of the Kuki-Chin National Front (KNF) was killed on Monday, in a clash with state security forces who are carrying out an anti-terror combing operation in Bandarban district.
Although ostensibly the KNF advocates for the rights and betterment of the indigenous Kuki Chin tribal people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, it maintains a separate armed wing, the Kuki Chin National Army (KNA), that has engaged in acts of terrorism in the hills.
The incident happened on Monday afternoon, in the Munlai Para area of Ruma Upazila.
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According to a press release issued by the Army's PR wing, the Inter Services Public Relation Directorate (ISPR), weapons and equipment were recovered from the area during the operation. Although they are unable to offer his name, the ISPR asserts he was a KNF member.
That is the only detail on offer. There is no age, name, residence, family, employment history or anything else. Just 'KNF member'.
The body has been taken to Ruma Health Complex. As word spread of the killing, it created panic among the people of the area.
Security sources and locals said that a joint operation by the army was launched on Monday morning in Munlai Para and several surrounding areas. During the operation in the afternoon, a KNF armed member was killed in a clash in Munlai Para area. Several KNF members are reported to have been injured. Later, the area was searched and the body was recovered along with weapons. The operation is still going on.
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Meanwhile, the joint forces have arrested 72 KNF members and their associates in the ongoing anti-terror operation.
On the second and third of this month, KNF armed members raided three branches of Krishi Bank and Sonali Bank in Ruma and Thanchi Upazilas and looted weapons and money. Following the incident, the army-led joint forces launched an operation to suppress terrorist activities and arrest KNF members.
Country pushes against heat wave setting new record in power generation on consecutive days
The country set a new record by generating 16,233 MW of electricity at 9pm on Monday, said the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.
Right at this moment, an external heatwave is prevailing in the country, said the ministry, adding the Power Division has been working sincerely to produce uninterrupted power in order to give a relief to the public.
The previous record in power generation was 15,666 MW, just a day earlier on Sunday.
Enrolling in universal pension scheme can relieve old age worries: Agriculture Minister
Agriculture Minister Md Abdus Shahid on Monday said if anyone joins the universal pension scheme, they don’t need to worry about life after retirement.
“This pension system will ensure financial security during retirement,” he said, adding that Sheikh Hasina introduced the pension scheme for the welfare of all the people.
The minister made these remarks while addressing a motivational meeting on the universal pension scheme and pension fair in Moulvibazar Shilpakala Academy auditorium, said a PID handout.
He said family members do not take proper care of the elderly persons in some cases and even leave the elderly members in old age homes.
“In this case, the pension scheme is very important. So, if anyone joins the pension scheme, the person doesn’t need to worry (about financial security) during old age,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Urmi Binte Salam presided over the meeting while local Member of Parliament (MP) Mohammad Zillur Rahman and Superintendent of Police Monzur Rahman, among others, spoke on the occasion.
People from all classes including chairmen and members from 67 Union Parishads of seven upazilas participated in the meeting.