Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Tuesday said stopping boarding of passengers in moving buses and practicing quality journalism maintaining objectivity will be useful in paying respect to the late journalist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury. "Two things can be exemplary for us in paying tribute to the late journalist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury on his death anniversary. One is to stop boarding passengers in moving buses and another thing is to pay attention to practicing quality journalism by the journalists," he said. Read more: Momen courts Canadian investors at 50th anniversary event Momen said Zaglul always presented correct information and the budding journalists must study Zaglul. The Foreign Minister was speaking as the chief guest at the reminiscence meeting held at  the Jatiya Press Club. Recalling his relationship with journalist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury through family sources and for professional reasons, the foreign minister said, "His death  was very painful. He has left a legacy of journalism for Bangladesh that can be followed by this generation of journalists." Momen also said since professional journalists need to know a lot, Zaglul was also very interested in knowing. "He always sought to know the facts and acquired a lot of knowledge for reporting. He was particularly interested in learning about the subcontinent. From that interest, he knew and could analyze a lot about Bangladesh's relations with neighboring countries," said the Foreign Minister. Momen said Zagalul was very kind as a person and he never disrespect anyone. "This is one of his great qualities. He was also generous in mind." Read more: Momen ‘not worried’ about Japanese Ambassador’s remarks, calls him a ‘simple, good person’ Journalist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury Memorial Trust President and former Food Minister Adv Qamrul Islam, Secretary General and Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta, Secretary (West), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury, UNB Editor Farid Hossain, journalist Zaglul’s former collogues and family members also spoke at the event marking the 8th death anniversary. The speakers fondly remembered the late Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, a committed journalist, columnist and analyst on South Asian affairs. They remembered his contributions to journalism and recalled how quickly he could write both in English and Bangla and analyze important national, regional and global issues. They said there are many people who love journalist Zaglul from the deep core of their hearts with much respect. On November 29, 2014 Zaglul met an accident in Dhaka. He had a personal car, but preferred travelling by public transport. While getting down from a bus on his way to a TV talk show, he slipped and fell, and was fatally hit by a bus.   Journalist Zaglul worked as a diplomatic correspondent, special correspondent, head of the parliamentary team, foreign editor, and in-charge of the human rights desk of BSS. He also served as Managing Director of BSS. At the time of his demise he was working with The Financial Express as Consulting Editor. The prominent journalist was connected with several prominent foreign media.

With three more deaths from dengue recorded in 24 hours till Tuesday morning, the official death toll from the mosquito-borne disease rose to 250 this year. During this period, 436 more patients, including 253 in Dhaka city, were hospitalised, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Among the latest deaths, one each was reported from Dhaka Chattogram and Barishal division. Read more: 366 more dengue cases reported With this, the death toll in Dhaka division rose to 153, in Chattogram to 60 and in Barishal to 12. A total of 1,827 dengue patients, including 1,067 in the capital, are now receiving treatment at hospitals across the country. The DGHS has recorded 56,932 dengue cases and 54,855 recoveries so far this year. Read more: Dengue: 513 cases, 3 deaths reported in 24 hrs

Bangladesh reported another Covid-linked death with 11 more Covid cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning. With the new numbers, the fatalities rose to 29,433 and the caseload to 2,036,567, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Read more: Bangladesh logs another death, 29 Covid cases in 24 hrs The daily case test positivity dropped to 0.72 per cent from Monday’s 0.79 per cent as 1,520 samples were tested during the period. The deceased was a woman from Chattogram division. The mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45 percent while the recovery rate rose to 97.51 per cent. Read more: China's Xi faces public anger over draconian 'zero COVID' In October, the country reported 60 Covid-linked deaths and 10,043 cases. Bangladesh registered its highest daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and daily fatalities of 264 on August 10 the same year.

Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) to set up a 1000MW solar power plant in Bangladesh. Welcoming the initiative, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said that the investment and technological assistance from Saudi Arabia’s ACWA will help Bangladesh achieve its clean energy by 2041 goal. He said Bangladesh has been promoting renewable energy in various ways.    Read more: Govt positive about Singapore company's 400MW Matarbari solar power plant proposal: Nasrul “The government has been working in a coordinated manner to promote renewable energy. State-owned Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) is providing necessary technological support and consultations,” he said at the contract signing ceremony held at Biduyt Bhaban in Dhaka on Monday (November 28, 2022).  BPDB Board Secretary Mohammad Selim Reza and ACWA Power Business Development Department’s Executive Director Ayad Al Amri signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides. As per the non-binding MoU, Saudi ACWA Power will provide technological and financial support while BPDB will extend its administrative support for the 1000MW solar power project. Read more: British High Commission Dhaka turns to renewable energy through solar panels With BPDB chairman Md Mahbubur Rahman in the chair, the MoU signing event between BPDB and Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power was also addressed by power secretary Habuibur Rahman and Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Bin Yousef Al Duhailan.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (November 29, 2022) had her eyes checked at the National Institute of Ophthalmology (NIO) and Hospital. Like every general patient, the PM had her check-up after purchasing a Tk 10 ticket. The prime minister went to the national eye hospital at 8 am. First, she went to the ground floor to purchase the Tk 10 ticket from the counter of the hospital in Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar. Read: Shun luxury and serve the people: PM Hasina tells elected Zila Parishads After that she went to the designated physician for her eye check-up. Director of National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, Professor Dr. Golam Mustafa, welcomed the PM on her arrival. While leaving the hospital, PM Sheikh Hasina exchanged greetings with nurses, patients and their relatives. She inquired about them and took photos with them on National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital premises. Read: PM officially announces completion of Karnaphuli Tunnel’s south side

A female student hanged herself after failing the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations in Jamkandi village of Gowainghat upazila on Monday. The deceased was identified as Fahima Begum, daughter of Abdul Aziz of the village. She was a student at Birmangal High School. KM Nazrul Islam, officer-in-charge of Gowainghat police station, said Fahima hanged herself at home in the afternoon, shortly after receiving her results. Read more: Mymensingh girl commits suicide over SSC result Meanwhile, Fahima's mother and father went for a visit to her maternal uncle's house this morning. After coming home in the afternoon, they found Fahima's hanging body and informed police. On information, police rushed to the spot and recovered the body. Fahima's body has been kept in the morgue of Osmani Medical College Hospital in Sylhet for an autopsy, added the OC. Read more: SSC Results 2022: 2,975 institutions achieve 100% pass rate, none passed from 50  

Mentioning that kabaddi is a popular game in Bangladesh, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun on Sunday said the sport can play an important role in creating a drug-free society. He said this while presiding over the executive committee meeting of the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation at the Hall of Pride of Police Headquarters today (28 November 2022). He said that this is a popular game in our country which was declared a national game by Bangabandhu. Recently, a huge development was made in this game through Kabaddi Federation. Our kabaddi players have been able to mark their achievements in various international tournaments in home and abroad, added the IGP. The IGP, also the President of the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, urged everyone to spread the game across the country by making the game more popular in schools and colleges. Habibur Rahman, additional IGP of the Tourist Police and General Secretary of the Kabaddi Federation raised various proposals for the development of Kabaddi games. Members of the Executive Committee of the Federation were also present in the meeting.

An additional 8 million cubic feet of gas per day (mmcf/d) to the National Grid has resumed from the previously abandoned well no 1 of Sylhet's Beanibazar gas field. The gas lifted from the well began to be supplied to the national grid on Monday (November 28) evening nearly after five years, said Abdul Jalil Pramanik, general manager (Administration) of Sylhet Gas Field Limited (SGFL). He said that the supply of gas was supposed to start from Monday morning. However, on the advice of experts, we flowed out gas throughout the day and started to supply to the national grid from 6 pm, he added. Abdul Jalil said, “We completed all the experimental work on Sunday (yesterday). Read more: Abandoned Beanibazar well to add 8mmcf/d gas to national grid from Monday After the gas pressure test (testing) work, all the technical preparations had also been completed for the gas supply, he added. The Beanibazar gas field is under Sylhet Gas Field Limited (SGFL). About 7 million cubic feet of gas per day is being supplied to the national transmission line from well number 2 of this gas field. According to SGFL sources, there are two wells in Beanibazar under Sylhet Gas Field. Production from well no 1 started in 1999 and was closed in 2014. Production resumed in well no 1 at the beginning of 2016 and was stopped again at the end of the same year. From then the well remained abandoned. Managing Director (MD) of SGFL Md Mizanur Rahman said this well has more than 70 billion cubic feet of gas stored at a depth of 3,254 meters currently. After the gas pressure test, it was found that the well is capable of supplying 10 to 12 million cubic feet of gas per day. However, eight million cubic feet of gas will be supplied per day considering various technical aspects. It is expected to provide 125 to 130 barrels of condensate gas per day as a by-product. The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources has asked to finish the ancillary work quickly after getting gas in well number 1 of Beanibazar gas field and supplying it to the national transmission line, he added. Read more: Gas reserve found in abandoned well of Beanibazar Besides, the three-dimensional seismic survey is going on in different areas of Beanibazar. There is a possibility of getting a new gas field from that survey, said SGFL MD. By the year 2025, all the companies in the country have taken a plan to increase 618 million gas by digging (work over) about 46 wells, he added. At present there are five gas fields under SGFL--Haripur gas field, Rashidpur gas field, Chhatak gas field, Kailashtila gas field and Beanibazar gas field. Among these, Chhatak gas field is abandoned while the remaining 12 wells are currently producing 91 million cubic feet of gas per day.

The Cabinet on Monday directed the authorities concerned to verify the accuracy of the videos and news seen on social media and newspapers about the current situation in the banking sector. The direction came at the Cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at the PMO, said Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam, while briefing the media at the Secretariat. Read:  Cabinet approves amendment to let govt decide energy price without BERC The Cabinet Secretary said different types of videos are being viewed on social media about the current situation of the banking sector. "An explanation has been sought from the authorities concerned to verify the accuracy of these videos", he added. Meanwhile, after the secretary's meeting on Sunday, the cabinet secretary told reporters that there was an indirect discussion about this and instructions were given to the banking and finance division to expose the real scenario, added Khandker Anwarul Islam.  

The leaders of the water transport workers have withdrawn their strike demanding wage hike as of Monday evening. The decision was taken after a meeting of owners, workers and authority at the Labour Department building in the capital led by State Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian. Vice President of Bangladesh Lighterage vessel Workers Union Nabi Alam told UNB the strike was withdrawn as the government assured a gazette notification will be issued raising the wage within a month. The State Minister said a proposal formulation committee in coordination with the government, owners and workers' representatives has been formed to determine the new wage structure for the workers of the inland waterways under the private sector. Within the next one month, the proposal committee will recommend the new wage structure, said Monnujan Sufian. “From this month till the implementation of the new wage structure, the workers of 100 ton cargo ships and passenger launches will get an additional allowance of Tk 1200 per month along with their wages. And the workers of ships above 1000 tons will get an additional allowance of Tk 1500 per month,” she said The state minister said that the other problems of shipping workers will be solved after discussion with the relevant authorities. Read more: Day 2 of water transport workers’ strike: Passengers bear the brunt as always From Sunday, the water transport workers embarked on a countryside strike to press home their 10 point demands, including fixing their minimum wage at Tk 20,000. At present, a water transport worker gets a minimum wage of Tk 7,750 monthly and they demanded a hike in context of abnormally rising commodities prices. Other demands of the workers were- providing appointment letter, identity card and service book to workers, formation of Contributory Provident Fund and Seafarer Welfare Fund to provide food and sea allowances, providing Tk 10 lakh compensation for accident and death at work. Read more: Countrywide water transport strike: Unloading at Ctg port halted Besides, relaxation of restrictions on nighttime movement of sand-carrying bulkheads and dredgers, stopping terrorism, extortion and robbery on waterways, stopping harassment along the Indian border in providing landing passes to workers travelling India, 100% enforcement of goods transport policy at Chattogram port to force all lightering vessels to maintain serial, canceling the lease at Charpara Ghat and stopping all kinds of irregularities and mismanagement by the Department of Shipping.