The Bangladesh Today (12-02-2018)

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NEWS MonDAY, FEBrUArY 12, 2018 2 Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Professor Dr. Yousuf M Islam, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. S.M. Mahbub Ul Haque Majumder, Pro Vice Chancellor of Daffodil International University visits the innovative projects after inaugurating the 3 day Daffodil ICT Carnival. Photo : Courtesy Digital payment increases book sales in Ekushey book fair DHAKA : Book sale in Ekushey Book Fair this year is jumping day by day as a result of introducing digital payment system, sellers of different book stalls at the fair ground said. Leading publishers said their sale volume increased significantly since Friday as bookworms are coming to buy books every day. Digital payment facility offered by GD-230/18 (12 x 3) bKash, the leading mobile financial service of the country, has opened the opportunity for them to buy books in cash where they get back a good amount of money from bkash. "This year digital payment has encouraged many book lovers to buy books of their choices. Most publishers were enjoying higher sales since Thursday and a large amount of buyers are paying through bkash payment system to get back some cash", a sales man of a big publishing company said. bKash offers a 10 percent cash back when making the payment on purchases at the Ekushey Book Fair 2018 through its payment network. Around 350 leading publishers are accepting bKash payment at the book fair, which began on February 1 on the Bangla Academy premises. Bkash is the leading mobile financial service provider in the country with more than 30 million users all over Bangladesh. Every day, bKash stall at Bangla academy ground is seen crowded as bkash offers 10 per cent cash back to book buyers. Visitors who have no bKash accounts are opening accounts without any charge. The cash back is applicable on top of the publishers 25 percent discount on cover prices. A Dhaka university graduate, Shahabuddin Molla came on Friday at fair ground just to accompany his daughters who bought a number of books written by local novelists and story writers. Shabuddin suddenly found some rare books at the stall of Dhaka University and Muktodhara. As he had no enough cash with him, he didn't miss the chance offered by bKash. Around 60 publishers came to the fair with new children's books. The book fair also displays a big collection of audio books mostly for children. As the first two hours from 11am to 1pm dedicated to kids as children's hour on Friday and Saturday, publishers expect increased sale of children's books on these two days compared to other working days. The land earmarked for the Ekushey fair has been increased to about 5,50,000 square feet from last year's 5,13,000 square feet. Total number of stalls increased to 700 from 659 while the number of publication agencies increased by 60 percent and the number of pavilions by 12 percent compared to the previous year, officials of Bangla Academy told BSS. "Bangla Academy should care of this pricing issue and the government should extend support to some publishers of quality books as well as boosting the printing industry of Bangladesh,", Abul Quasem, a banker who was visiting the book fair said. "This year, the Ekushey Mela has been appeared with a digital face thanks to publication of some digital books and digital payment with cash back offered by bKash", said Nishi, a student of North South University. According to the website of Bangla Academy, a total of 1134 books of different genres of literature and branches of knowledge were available in the book fair till yesterday. The month-long book fair began on February 1 on the premises of Bangla Academy and its adjoining Suhrawardy Udyan in the city. Writers, booklovers and publishers observed that the Amar Ekushey Book Fair has now become a festival of all ages of people. This is a great success of the book fair, they added. Young man beaten to death in Keraniganj KERANIGANJ : An unidentified man was beaten to death by miscreants at Battoli in Taranagar union of the uapzila on Saturday afternoon, reports UNB. The miscreants beat the man mercilessly in the area, leaving him seriously injured, said sub-Inspector Obaidul Rahman of Keraniganj Model Police Station. A local security guard rescued him and sent to Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead. The miscreants beat the man mercilessly in the area, leaving him seriously injured, said sub-Inspector Obaidul Rahman of Keraniganj Model Police Station. Later, the body was sent to Mitford Hospital for autopsy. The British Council has recently hosted a reader development conference of book reading competition, a flagship outreach programme for the British Council. Principals and education coordinators from different schools have attended the conference. This book reading competition brings the latest collection of "Best of British" resources for readers which include the best collection of fiction and non-fiction in English in the institution premises. Photo : Courtesy GD-228/18 (6 x 4) Flower-sellers gearing up for lucrative mid-February JESSORE : Flower farmers of Jhikargacha in Jessore district, one of the largest flower markets of the country, expect to sell flowers worth over Tk 30- 35 crore ahead of Pahela Falgun (February 13), Valentine's Day (Feb 14) and International Mother Language Day (Feb 21). The farmers are now passing busy days in their fields, reports UNB. Flower growers and traders make huge money every year in February, a month that sees huge sales of flowers as people celebrate three major events-Pahela Falgun, Valentine's Day and International Mother Language Day. The farmers of Godkhali, Panisara, Haria, Potuapara, Taora, Matikorma, Baisha, Kaoria villages of the upazila cultivated rose, gerbera, gladiolus, tuberose and marigold, Chrysanthemum on 1600 hectares of their land. As ever, there has been a surge in sales of flowers at Godkhali in Jhikargacha upazila, the flower hub of the district and birthplace of the country's floral industry, said farmers and traders. The wholesale flower market at Godkhali in Jhikargacha is the source of 70 percent of the entire flower supply of the country. The farmers started commercial flowers farming in the upazila since 1982. The local cultivators said after meeting the local demand, the flowers of the upazila are supplied to at least 52 districts (out of 64) including capital city Dhaka. Jhikargachcha Upazila Agricultural Officer Dipangkar Das said the farmers of the upazila earned at least Tk 30-35 crore selling flowers last year (2017). This year the farmers are expecting sales will cross Tk 35 crore as the weather is favorable. "We are providing all necessary technical assistance to the farmers," Das added. Abdur Rahim, president of Bangladesh Flowers Society, said around 5-6000 farmers are involved in flower cultivation in Jessore district. The flowers produced in Godkhali achieve international reputation on standard, comparable with India, Malaysia and United Arab Emirates. He said the farmers earn lots of foreign currency exporting the flowers every year. Emphasizing an upgrade transportation, he said that cultivators may earn more as remittance if the transport systems were repaired and storage upgraded as soon as possible. Lots of flowers are damaged on the way to market. If we can reduce this damage the farmers will be benefited and government will receive revenue in the sector, Abdur Rahim added. PPPA Chief for public-private infrastructure platform DHAKA : Chief Executive Officer of Public Private Partnership (PPP) Authority Syed Afsor H Uddin underscored the importance for forming a Public-Private Infrastructure Platform and a National Infrastructure Plan for fast implementation and monitoring large mega infrastructure projects. "A national infrastructure execution committee can also be formed for proper and timely implementation of mega projects," he said during a meeting with the Board of Directors of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI). Syed Afsor said lack of finance, skilled manpower, specialist project delivery team and lengthy procedures in feasibility study are some major challenges in timely execution of PPP projects. By the year 2018, about US$1.6 billion will be spent for about 13 mega PPP projects which include road sector, township, tourism sector, health sector, port sector and industrial sector, he said. The CEO said that in terms of investing in PPP projects the investor will get tax and VAT exemption for 10 years from the time of operation. DCCI president Abul Kasem Khan proposed to include private sector in the PPP Board for faster implementation of PPP projects in future. He also proposed to form "National Infrastructure Development and Monitoring Advisory Authority" (NIDMAA) to implement and monitor large mega infrastructure projects. Abul Kasem Khan also suggested forming an Infrastructure Bond under the stock market for facilitate financing of large infrastructure projects.
METRO MoNDAY, FeBRUARY 12, 2018 3 Bangladesh Hajj agency and Haji Kalyan Parishad organized a press conference at National Press Club yesterday demanding Prime Minister's handling over reducing the plane fair of Hajj passengers. Photo : Star Mail Bangladesh attains autarky in fish, meat production DHAKA : Bangladesh has attained self-sufficiency in fish and meat production, reports UNB. Fisheries and Livestock Minister Narayon Chandra Chanda announced this at a press conference held at the Secretariat on Sunday. "After 46 years of our independence, the country is now self-sufficient in fish and meat production," said the minister. The minister said that the fish sector is contributing 3.61 percent in country's total gross domestic production (GDP) and 24.41 percent in country's agricultural GDP. According to a report from the fisheries ministry, country's fish production (41.34 lakh metric tonnes) Rupa murder case verdict today TANGAIL : A court here will deliver its verdict on Monday in a case filed over the murder of law student Zakia Sultana Rupa after gang rape in a running bus on August 25 last year, reports UNB. Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Abul Hossain fixed the date on February 5 after closing arguments of both sides. On January 23, the court concluded the recording of depositions of witnesses in the case when 27 witnesses out of total 32 testified before the court. On October 25 last, a court accepted the chargesheet against the accused-bus driver Habibur, its supervisor Safar Ali, and helpers Shamim, Akram and Jahangir-in the case. Rupa, 27, was murdered after gang rape in the running bus while returning to Mymensingh from Bogra on August 25 last. GD-229/18 (5 x 3) has well surpassed the target (40.50 lakh MT) in 2016-17. A total of 84,000 MT fish production was increased in the year. According to Preliminary Report on Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2016 of Bangladesh Statistic Bureau, on an average per capita fish consumption is 62.58 gram daily, which is surplus than the daily requirement. "According to per capita individual's demand, Bangladesh has become selfsufficient. We have been able to restore our heritage 'Mache Bhate Bangalee'," said the minister. In 2016, according to a report of United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Bangladesh ranked fourth in collecting fish from inland water bodies and the fifth largest producer in fish production, said Chanda. Besides, in 2016-17 fiscal, the meat production was 71.54 lakh MT as against the target of 71.35 lakh MT. Now one is getting 121.74gram meat daily, which is more than the requirement, added the minister. While responding to a question about meat price, he said that the initiative will be taken by March 15 to lower the prices. Besides, Chanda added that the Hilsa production has been increased 66 percent in least eight years. So the Hilsa will be exported after fulfilling local demand. Shajahan for strengthening base of education for better Bangladesh DHAKA : Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan yesterday underscored the need for strengthening the base of education further by utilizing information and communication technology (ICT) to build a better Bangladesh, reports BSS. "We will have to put emphasis on technological education. We should keep our children away from venomous bite of drug addiction and involvement in militancy," he told a ceremony of giving stipend among offspring of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) officers and employees at BIWTC office here. The minister said the government has been working relentlessly to provide time-befitting education to the new generation. To build Digital Bangladesh as dreamt of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, there is no alternative to technological education. Khan sought cooperation from all to turn Bangladesh into a middle income country by 2021 and developed country by 2041. Acting Secretary of Shipping Ministry Md Abdus Samad, BIWTC Director (administration) Pranoy Kanti Biswas, BIWTC Officers' Association President Ashiqur Rahman and Employees Union President Md Mohsin Bhuiyan, among others, addressed the function with BIWTC Chairman Mohammed Mafijul Haque in the chair. Worker dies in Sylhet stone quarry SYLHET : A worker was killed while he was extracting stones from a quarry at Shah Arifin tila in Companyganj upazila on Sunday, reports UNB. The deceased was identified as Basir Miah, 42, son of Rupa Miah, resident of Putamara village. Dilwip Kumar Debnath, officer-in-charge of Companyganj Police Station, said that the accident occurred when a portion of mud collapsed on Basir, leaving him dead on the spot. Rudder sensors to be set up along border: BGB DG DHAKA : Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General (DG) Major General Abul Hossain yesterday said rudder sensors would be set up to safeguard the border, reports BSS. "Rudder sensors would be set up to protect the border and the process is going on...We have already reduced the distance between the Border Observation Posts (BOP)," he said at a press conference at BGB headquarters here. The BGB is now a disciplined force due to the modernization by the present government, Abul Hossain said, adding, "Give us some more time, we would implement the zero tolerance policy against drug". He said "We have also formed 'Quick Response Force' and increased the mobile patrolling." The DG said the BGB has played an active role in the Rohingya issue. Myanmar crossed border line by APC helicopter 18 times, but the BGB foiled their conspiracies, he added. Abul Hossain sought cooperation and suggestion for ensuring better services. Commuters on Dhaka-Narayanganj rail route suffer for 'unbearable overcrowding' NARAYANGANJ : The sorry state of Dhaka- Narayanganj rail route now has turned worse, though it was the first broad-gauge rail track of the then British India government, reports UNB. Some 1.4 lakh commuters use Dhaka-Narayanganj route every day, said a senior official at Bangladesh Railway. According to commuters, they have to struggle and suffer each day to ensure a place for at least standing in a compartment due to shortage of train. "In most cases, I've to travel in trains standing. Each of the seven compartments of Demu Train remains full of commuters and packed with baggage. Three people have to share a two-man seat. But, the authorities are least bothered. I think they should increase the number of compartments immediately," said Hafiz Uddin, a passenger who travels on this route every day. Private bank employee Sahabuddin who resides in Dhaka needs to travel to Narayanganj every working day. He shared his experience with this correspondent saying, "Usually, it should take 45 minutes to reach Narayanganj, but most of the time trains take 15 to 30 minutes extra. Sometimes, trains do not leave station in time." The distance between Dhaka and Narayanganj is 18 kilometers. Apart from the weekly and official holidays, 16 pairs of passenger trains make 32 up and down trips on this route from 5:30am to 11:00pm, according to sources at the Bangladesh Railway. BNP to form human chain in city Monday DHAKA : As part of its countrywide scheduled programme, BNP leaders and activists will stage a human chain in the city on Monday protesting the jailing of its chairperson Khaleda Zia in a graft case, reports UNB. Talking to UNB, party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said their party leaders and followers will observe the programme from 11am to 12 noon in front of the Jatiya Press Club also demanding the release of Khaleda immediately. He said their party's district, thana, upzila and city units will also observe the programmes at their convenient time and places. Earlier on Saturday, Rizvi announced a three-day protest programme at a press briefing at BNP's Nayapaltan central office. They said each compartment always remains full of commuters. According to the passengers, Dhaka- Narayanganj trains are always operated taking risk due to overloading of passengers as each train carries passengers more than five times of its capacity. "Besides, railway bogies are of very low graded ones. There's no useable toilet and sufficient light...we've to travel in dark at night," passenger Yusuf Mia told this correspondent. Yusuf who sells clothes on a footpath in front of Dhaka's Baitul Mukarram National Mosque said he has to travel in train every day. "Makeshift markets, fruit shops and many slums were built alongside rail tracks. I saw several times that people suffered injuries due to bamboos coming out of those establishments. Even, one day I myself sustained injury when a slum boy threw stones targeting the running train." Dhaka-bound passenger Al Amin, who resides in Narayanganj, said, "Train is the main way of transport for the middle-class people, especially the workers. Although millions of passengers are travelling every day, the service quality is not improving." He also said there is no sitting room in every railway station, and specially Narayanganj, Chashraha and Fatulla railway stations have become the hotspots of anti-social activities. And Kamalapur Railway Station is the undisclosed public spot for trading drugs, he added. "There're seven bogies in each train. Half of those are for passengers and half for luggage. The number of compartments in Demu train is 3. The number of seats in each compartment is 70 and in each Demu compartment only 35 to 40 people can sit," Narayanganj Central Railway Station Master Golam Mustafa told UNB. About the passengers' allegations, he said the service quality of the railways remained the same as before. "At least three 3,000 passengers travel on this route in every trip. There're many problems with this route. Though we repeatedly informed the authorities concerned about the problems, they did not take any action," said Md Rafiq, supervisor of a privately operated Demu train. Farjana Mou, who was standing on a train leaving Kamlapur on Wednesday at 10:35am, complained to this correspondent that the number of seats on the train is not adequate. Currently, there are seven stations on Dhaka- Narayanganj route. Apart from Demu trains, all other trains run under private supervision. Until 2011, rail fare was Tk 6. In 2012, it was increased to Tk 10 and then in 2014 it was fixed at Tk 15. Although the fare was increased, the standard of service did not improve, allege passengers. It is rather getting worse day by day, some others said. Demanding exemplary punishment of the doctors who underwent treatment of late Asaduzzaman Rakib, a press conference was held at Bangladesh Crime Reporters Association (CRAB) yesterday. Photo : Star Mail As part of the programmes, the party will also hold an hour-long sit-in programme on Tuesday and a hunger strike from 9am to 5pm on Wednesday across the country. On Thursday last, a special court here convicted Khaleda and sentenced her to five years' imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case. Earlier, BNP leaders and activists staged demonstrations on Friday and Statuary all over the country, including in the capital, amid obstruction by police protesting Khaleda's conviction. Rizvi said the government has continued arresting their party men across the country. He claimed that around 4,300 BNP leaders and activists have so far been arrested across the country over the last 13 days. Invest in girls, women: UN chief DHAKA : UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has laid emphasis on investing in women and girls to help them achieve their full potential as scientific researchers and innovators, reports UNB. "We need to encourage and support girls and women achieve their full potential as scientific researchers and innovators," he said in a message marking the International Day of Women and Girls in Science that falls on February 11. The UN chief said both girls and boys have the potential to pursue their ambitions in science and mathematics, in school and at work. But systemic discrimination means women occupy less than 30 percent of research and development jobs worldwide. "We need concerted, concrete efforts to overcome stereotypes and biases. One starting point is banishing the predominantly male images of scientists and innovators on social media, in textbooks and in advertising," he said. The UN chief said women and girls need this, and the world needs this, if they are to achieve their ambitions for sustainable development on a healthy planet. "Throughout history, from Hildegard of Bingen to Wangari Maathai, women scientists have built our world. It's time to support and invest in them," said Secretary-General Guteress.
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