04-03-2019

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over the National Flag to the Unit
Commander of 7,8,9 and 10 Regiment of Bangladesh Army on Sunday at
Rajshahi Cantonment .
Photo: Star Mail
UNITING PEOPLE EVERYDAY
MONdAy, dHAKA, MARCH 4, 2019, FAlgUN 20, 1425 BS, JAMAdi-US SANNi 26, 1440 HiJRi
Stay alert to face any
threat: PM to Army
RAJSHAHI : Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina on
Sunday asked the
Bangladesh Army to
remain always ready to
unitedly face internal and
external threats for protecting
the constitution and the
sovereignty of the country,
reports UNB.
"You'll have to be always
ready to unitedly face any
internal or external threat
for protecting the holy constitution
and the sovereignty
of the motherland," she
said.
The Prme Minister was
addressing the 'National
Standard' Awarding
Ceremony to four battalions
of Bangladesh Infantry
Regiment (BIR) of the
Bangladesh Army in
Rajshahi Cantonment.
She conferred the
'National Standard' upon
the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th
Bangladesh Infantry
Regiments in recognition of
their excellence, hard practice
and dutifulness.
Sheikh Hasina said the
army has always extended
their cooperation to the
government in serving people.
"I firmly believe the
army will stand beside people
whenever needed during
the tenure of the present
government."
Hasina thanked the Army
members for playing a significant
role in upholding
the democratic process by
performing their duty sincerely
in the 11th parliamentary
election.
She also expressed her
gratitude to the country's
people for giving the scope
to her party to form the
government for the fourth
term, and the third term in
a row. "Our government
wants to govern the country
as the servant of people,
not as the ruler," she said.
The Prime Minister said
the Army is engaged in
nation-building activities
like construction of Padma
Bridge and Cox's Bazar-
Technaf Marine Drive,
alongside their main duty.
She said Bangladesh
Army earned rare dignity
and image for Bangladesh
through their sacrifice, sincerity
and professionalism
in establishment of world
peace and different foreign
missions, which brightened
the image of Bangladesh.
She said a process is on to
modernise the Bangladesh
Army following the foresighted
guidelines of the
Father of the Nation.
Hasina said she approved
in principle the formation
of Bangladesh Infantry
Regiment in 1999 and formally
hoisted the flag of
BIR on April 21, 2001.
"It's the only regiment
which was formed after the
Independence of
Bangladesh," she said
adding that now there are
43 units and two Para-commando
battalions under
the BIR.
The Prime Minister said
Bangladesh is marching
forward and will continue
to do so.
At the function, an attractive
parade of the four battalions
of the BIR was also
held.
As the Prime Minister
arrived at the parade
ground, Chief of Army Staff
General Aziz Ahmed
received her.
She inspected the parade
riding an open decorated
jeep and took salute. The
Chief of Army Staff and the
Parade Commander were
also with the PM at that
time.
The Prime Minister
handed over the National
Flag to the Commanders of
the respective battalions.
Once lost, hearing
doesn't come
back: WHO
DHAKA : The World
Health Organization (WHO)
has urged people across the
world to check their hearing
as many people live with
unidentified hearing loss,
often failing to realise that
they are missing out on certain
sounds and words,
reports UNB.
It made the call on this
year's World Hearing Day,
being observed on Sunday
(March 3).
Worldwide, some 466 million
people have disabling
hearing loss, and the WHO
estimates that by 2050 that
figure will almost double,
affecting one in 10 people.
Globally, hearing loss
which has gone unaddressed
poses an annual cost of US$
750 billion, according to
WHO.
Marking the World
Hearing Day 2019, WHO has
launched a new mobile and
web-based app called
"hearWHO," which allows
people to check their hearing
regularly, and intervene early
in case of hearing loss.
It can also be used by health
workers to screen people in
the community, and refer
them for diagnostic testing if
they fail the screening.
Users are asked to concentrate,
listen and enter a series
of three numbers when
prompted. These numbers
have been recorded against
varying levels of background
sound, simulating listening
conditions in everyday life,
according to UN News.
The app displays the user's
score, and its meaning, and
stores the outcome of the test
so that the user can monitor
hearing status over time.
Symptoms indicating the
onset of hearing loss include a
ringing sensation in the ear,
known as tinnitus; frequently
missing parts of a conversation;
or a tendency to increase
the volume of television,
radio or audio devices.
The app is of particular
benefit to people who are
often exposed to high levels of
sound, such as those who listen
to loud music or work in
noisy places; people who use
medicines that are harmful to
hearing; and people aged
above 60 years.
"Above all, this app will
help us increase awareness of
the importance of ear and
hearing care," said Dr Shelly
Chadha, WHO Technical
Officer. "Once lost, hearing
does not come back.
President, PM visit Quader at BSMMU
DHAKA : President Abdul Hamid and
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on
Sunday visited ailing Road Transport
and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical
University (BSMMU) , reports UNB.
The President went to BSMMU at
4:17pm visited Quader at the Coronary
Care Unit (CCU).
Abdul Hamid talked to doctors and
enquired about the minister's health
condition.
He left the hospital around 4:38pm.
Just a few minutes before the
President's arrival, Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina departed the hospital visiting
Quader.
Later, talking to UNB, BSMMU
Director Brig Gen Abdullah Al Harun
said as the Prime called Quader by his
How The Soviet Helped Vulcan, An
American Town, Get a Bridge
INTERESTING NEWS
In south West Virginia, near the border
with Kentucky, the United States, is
a small unincorporated community
named Vulcan. Vulcan was once a
thriving coal mining town, but in the
early 1960s, the mines dried up and
many residents moved away in search
of employment elsewhere. No longer a
productive community, Vulcan’s infrastructure
deteriorated and even the state
government forgot the town existed.
The town of Vulcan was built on a
fork of the Big Sandy River near the
main line of the Norfolk & Western
Railroad. There was no road connecting
Vulcan to Kentucky across the river,
only a suspension foot bridge. The
swing bridge itself was on the verge of
collapse with many footboards missing.
Yet, every morning children had to walk
name at the CCU, the Awami League
general secretary slowly opened his eyes
and looked up.
He said Quader also stared at
President Abdul Hamid during his visit.
Obaidul Quader, also general secretary
of Awami League, was admitted to the
CCU of BSMMU in the morning following
his breathing complications.
Doctors found three blockages in his
coronary artery following an angiogram,
BSMMU cardiology department chairman
Prof Syed Ali Ahsan.
He said Quader's condition is still critical.
"He's not out of danger."
Information Minister Dr Hasan
Mahmud said preparations were going
on to send Quader to Singapore for better
treatment.
across it to catch the school bus on the
Kentucky side. Sometimes they had to
crawl under parked rail cars to get to
the bridge, which was a dangerous
practice.
The alternative route was a gravel
road maintained by the Railroad company.
This road ran parallel to the
tracks, passed through Vulcan, and
continued north to the community of
Delmore, located five miles away. The
road, however, was legally not accessible
to the public, and the Railroad company
hung “No Trespassing” signs on
either ends. The company explained
their actions saying that the road was
dangerous to use, and in any case, it was
not the company’s responsibility to provide
transportation in and out of the
impoverished community.
Tejgaon slum
catches fire
DHAKA : A fire broke out at
a slum beside private television
channel Deepto TV in the
city's Tejgaon area on Sunday,
reports UNB.
The fire originated around
12:10 pm during an eviction
drive conducted by police in
the area, said Ekramul Islam,
duty officer at the Fire Service
and Civil Defence control
room.
On information, three firefighting
units rushed to the
spot to douse the flame, he
added.
ACC finds 19
areas of
corruption in
Biman, Caab
DHAKA : Identifying 19
areas of corruption in Biman
Bangladesh Airlines and
Civil Aviation Authority of
Bangladesh (Caab), the Anti-
Corruption Commission
(ACC) has put forward a
number of recommendations
to check the ill practice,
reports UNB.
ACC Commissioner Dr
Mozammel Haque Khan
handed over a report on corruption
and irregularities in
Biman and Caab to State
Minister for Civil Aviation
and Tourism M Mahbub Ali
at the Secretariat on Sunday.
The report prepared by an
ACC institutional team
found corruption and irregularities
in eight areas of the
national flag carrier, including
aircraft purchase and
lease, maintenance, ticket
sales, cargo export-import
and catering, said the ACC
commissioner.
He said the other 11 areas
of corruption in Caab include
purchase, asset management,
construction and
development work, consultant
appointment, renting
billboards, space and stalls at
airports, and maintenance.
The ACC has formed 25
institutional teams to identify
reasons of corruption and
harassment in as many
organisations and place suggestions
to end the menace.
Mozammel also said they
have already submitted such
reports to a number of ministries,
including Education
and Health and Family
Welfare.
A warehouse behind Janata Tower of Karwan bazar caught the fire on Sunday noon. Fire fighters
controlled the fire.
Photo : Star mail
Rohingya Crisis
US contributes $105m to 2019 JRP
DHAKA : The United
States has contributed $45.5
million to the UN World
Food Program in support of
the Rohingya crisis, reports
UNB.
This is in addition to the
$60 million announced at
the 2019 UN Joint Response
Plan (JRP) launch in
Geneva on February 15.
This brings the total US
contribution to the 2019
JRP to $105 million, said
the US Embassy in Dhaka
on Sunday.
The United States is committed
to helping those
affected by this crisis. "We're
deeply appreciative of the
generosity of the government
and people of
Bangladesh for opening
their border and hearts to a
Rohingya community that
has suffered greatly," said
the Embassy in a press
release.
The United States also
called on all nations with the
means to contribute to this
global humanitarian
response.
The US is the leading contributor
of humanitarian
assistance in response to the
Rohingya crisis, said the
Embassy.
It has provided nearly
$500 million since the outbreak
of violence in August
2017.
Approximately $450 million
is dedicated to programmes
in Bangladesh for
Rohingya refugees and
Bangladeshi host communities.
The new US contribution
will provide lifesaving food
assistance to Rohingyas to
augment existing humanitarian
interventions, including
vouchers, so refugees
can buy food in local markets,
monsoon and cyclone
preparedness to protect
lives, and nutritional support
for vulnerable children
and pregnant and lactating
women.
This additional funding
complements ongoing US
humanitarian assistance
reaching more than one million
Rohingyas in
Bangladesh, Bangladeshi
host communities, and people
displaced within
Myanmar and the region to
provide protection, emergency
shelter, food, nutrition,
water, sanitation,
health care, psychosocial
support, and learning
opportunities.
US funding targets
Bangladeshi communities
impacted by this crisis.
In Cox's Bazar, US assistance
helps improve the
lives of Bangladeshis in
these communities through
programs expanding access
to health care and better
economic and education
opportunities, said the
Embassy.
The US assistance also
supports the efforts of
humanitarian organisations
and the government of
Bangladesh to improve preparedness,
infrastructure,
and shelter for monsoon
and cyclone seasons.
BNP MPs-elect
determined to
boycott JS
DHAKA : Describing the
decision of two Gono Forum
MPs-elect to take oath as personal
one, BNP senior leader
Khandaker Mosharraf
Hossain on Sunday said their
party is determined not to join
parliament, reports UNB.
"It's not an election at all on
December 30, and we turned
down the so-called election of
vote robbery. It was the decision
of BNP and the Jatiya
Oikyafront that no one of our
MPs-elect would go to parliament,"
he said.
The BNP leader further said,
"Two MPs of Oikyafront's
partner Gono Forum have
now announced to take oath
and it's their personal decision.
We know Gono Forum
and Oikyafront is still against
joining parliament. BNP is
strict to its decision of not joining
the parliament of vote robbery."
Mosharraf, a BNP standing
committee members, came up
with the remarks while talking
to reporters after placing
wreaths at their party founder
Ziaur Rahman's grave together
with members of newly
formed convening committee
of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal.
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