30-04-2021

FRIDAY, APRIL 30 2021
3
Dhaka Ahsania Mission organized a workshop on the online platform Zoom on April 29 at noon with
the aim of giving fellowships in anti-tobacco journalism in Bangladesh.
Photo : Courtesy
Emphasis on Amending Current Tobacco
Control Laws in Fellowship Workshop
Dhaka Ahsania Mission organized a
workshop on the online platform
Zoom on April 29 at noon with the aim
of giving fellowships in anti-tobacco
journalism in Bangladesh. Initially 25
journalists participated in the
workshop. Iqbal Masud, Director,
Health and Wash Sector, Dhaka
Ahsania Mission gave a welcome
address at the workshop. He urged the
participants to prepare and publish a
report emphasizing the importance of
amending the tobacco control law, a
press release said.
Md. Shariful Islam, Coordinator,
Tobacco Control Project, Dhaka
Ahsania Mission, presented the
keynote paper of the workshop
conducted by Rezaur Rahman Rizvi,
Media Manager, Tobacco Control
Project, Dhaka Ahsania Mission.
Sarkar Shams Bin Sharif,
Communications Officer, Campaign
for Tobacco Free Kids Bangladesh, also
answered the questions of the
participating journalists. Mamun
Farajee, President of Dhaka Sub-
Editors Council and Senior Journalist
of Daily Jugantor spoke as a resource
person at the workshop. Abdus Salam
Mia, Grand Manager of Campaign for
Tobacco Free Kids Bangladesh
delivered the closing speech of the
workshop.
The 25 journalists who participated
in the workshop are: Masud Rumee
(Kaler Kantha), Zahidur Rahman
(Shamakal), Ishtiaq Mahmud
(Inquilab), Mohammad Jonaed
(Alokito Bangladesh), Monir Ahmmad
Zarif (Manobkantha), Md. Salauddin
Chowdhury (Bangladesher Khobor),
Shah. Md. Elahia Nakib (Bangladesh
Journal), Nasir Uddin Anik
(Bangladesh News), Md.
Akhtarujjaman (Amader Orthonity),
Rabiul Alam (Ajker Patrika), Jannatul
Ferdous Panna (Amader Natun
Somoy), Lashkar Saif-ud-Daulah
(Khola Kagoj), Nasir Uddin Bulbul
(Nawroj), Md. Sifayet Ullah (Suprovat
Bangladesh), Hasan Mahmud
(Gonomukti), Md. Mehedi Hasan
Dollar (71 television), Md.
Mahibbullah Muhib (Banglavision),
Allama Iqbal Anik (GTV), Mohaimanul
Islam Neon (Deepto TV), Md. Hasan
Taimum Wahab Sainik (Nexus TV),
Sanjoy Chowdhury (Radio Sagar Giri
99.2 FM), Selina Sheuly (BSS), Md.
Bahauddin Al Imran (Bangla Tribune),
Nahid-ul-Hasnat (Dhaka Post) and
Md. Ishaque Faruqee (United News).
The purpose of the fellowship
program in anti-tobacco journalism is
to enhance the skills of journalists in
preparing and publishing anti-tobacco
reports. Elected journalists will publish
reports in various media outlets with
the theme 'Amendment of the law is
necessary to build a tobacco-free
Bangladesh'. Fellowships will be
awarded for the top 4 reports selected
from the published reports. The
Fellowship recipient will be awarded a
Certificate and Honors as a Fellow in
Anti-Tobacco Journalism, subject to
successful performance.
DIU distributes 'A
Bag of Happiness'
to 3,000 needy
people
Daffodil International
University has distributed
relief goods titled 'A Bag of
Happiness' among 3,000
helpless needy people in
association with Daffodil
Institute of Social Sciences
(DISS) to share the joy of
being ranked 1st among
Bangladeshi universities in
the Times Higher Education
Rankings 2021. The 'A Bag
of Happiness' program
started on Thursday at
Daffodil International
University, located in
Daffodil Smart City, Ashulia,
Dhaka. In the morning,
maintaining the social
distance and following
proper health rules, the food
items of the holy month of
Ramadan were handed over
to the needy people at the
playground of Daffodil
International University.
Relief food stuffs include
rice, pulses, oil, gram and
other daily necessities, a
press release said.
Times Higher Education
Ranking is one of the most
prestigious rankings in the
world. This ranking is an
unprecedented source of joy
for Daffodil as well as for
Bangladesh. Daffodil
International University has
taken this exceptional
initiative to celebrate this joy
with helpless people. In the
future too, Daffodil
International University is
committed to sharing all
kinds of joys with the
underprivileged.
Govt formulating 'Mujib Climate
Prosperity Plan': Shahab Uddin
DHAKA : Environment, Forest
and Climate Change Minister
Md Shahab Uddin yesterday
said the government is
formulating the 'Mujib Climate
Prosperity Plan' under the
leadership of Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina, also the chair of
Climate Vulnerable Forum
(CVF).
"The Mujib Climate
Prosperity Plan is underway
now, which will provide a
holistic pathway to prosperity
highlighting Bangladesh as a
global benchmark," he told the
"GCA, CVF and V20 Briefing
and Reporting Session with the
Ministers" arranged by the
Environment, Forest and
Climate Change Ministry
through videoconferencing
from his official residence here.
The minister said this
flagship project will be a
significant step towards a
green, nature-based and
resilient recovery, and
addressing post COVID-19
impacts.
He said: "We're taking
necessary measures to deal
with climate change impacts as
the fight against climate change
is a struggle of survival for
Bangladesh."
Shahab Uddin said despite
many challenges, Bangladesh
has become a global example in
climate change adaptation.
"We've already planted 11.5
million saplings across the
country to initiate a strategic,
low-carbon investment
framework for growth and
prosperity," he said.
The environment minister
stressed the need for taking a
collaborative effort involving
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
the Finance Ministry, the
Public Administration Ministry
and other ministries concerned
aiming to address the growing
climate related challenges and
enhance resilience to climate
change.
Finance Minister AHM
Mustafa Kamal, Foreign
Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen,
State Minister for Public
Administration Farhad
Hossain, Special Envoy of
Climate Vulnerable Forum
Abul Kalam Azad, Foreign
Secretary Ambassador Masud
Bin Momen, Environment,
Forest and Climate Change
Secretary Ziaul Hassan,
Economic Relations Division
Secretary Fatima Yasmin, CEO
of the Global Center on
Adaptation, Dr Patrick
Verkooijen, CVF Chair of
Expert Advisory Group Dr
Saleemul Huq , Regional
Director of GCA South Asia and
the Focal Point of CVF A
Shamim Al Razi, Additional
Secretary of the Public
Administration Ministry
Anisur Rahman and CVF and
V20 Programme Head
Matthew McKinnon, among
others, spoke at the meeting.
At the meeting,
representatives from
international organisations
discussed the Bangladesh
leadership as Chair of the CVF
and V20; GCA, CVF and V20
update; key milestones of the
GCA Regional Office; V20
Ministerial Dialogue VII;
Climate Diplomacy in 2021;
upcoming CVF and V20 events
and COP26 Policy Priorities
with Dhaka-Glasgow
Declaration of the CVF.
Lower courts allow bail to
21,461 accused through
virtual hearing
DHAKA : Lower courts and tribunals across the country in
the last 12 working days have granted bail to 21,461 accused
after hearing their pleas virtually.
Confirming the matter to BSS, Supreme Court
spokesperson and High Court Division Special Officer Md
Saifur Rahman said the lower courts and tribunals across the
country in the last 12 working days have disposed of 38,966
bail pleas and allowed bail to 21,461 accused.
"Of the total number of accused those who were granted
bail in the last 12 days, 269 were juvenile. The lower courts
and tribunals on April 28 disposed of 2,736 bail pleas and
allowed bail to 1,422 accused," he added.
Govt plans to give subsidy for jute
seed production: Dr Razzaque
DHAKA : The government
has a plan to give subsidy
to the farmers for jute seed
production as an
integrated project is
underway for achieving self
sufficiency in jute seed
production.
Agriculture minister Dr
M Abdur Razzaque said
this while addressing a
virtual meeting.
"To curb dependency on
foreign countries for jute
seed, we have to achieve
self-sufficiency in jute seed,
but the farmers are
reluctant to produce jute
seed as jute seed
production is less
profitable compared to
other crops," said the
minister.
So, the government will
give incentive or subsidy to
encourage the farmers in
jute seed production, he
added.
Claiming that the yield of
local jute variety is
comparatively more than
the Indian variety, the
agriculture minister said
the scientists already have
discovered high yielding
jute variety by using
genome sequence which
was recently developed by
the Jute Research Institute.
"So, we will achieve selfsufficiency
in jute seed
production, if we can make
the high yielding jute
variety popular among the
farmers," he added.
He urged the scientists
and extension workers to
take a short and long term
initiatives for quick
implementation of a road
map of achieving selfsufficiency
in jute seed
production.
Moderated by Senior
Agriculture Secretary M
Meshbahul Islam, the
programme was also
attended, among others, by
Additional secretary M
Mahbubul Islam,
Additional Secretary (PPC)
M Ruhul Amin Talukder,
Additional Secretary
Hasanuzzaman Kallol and
Director General (seed)
Balai Krishna Hajra.
Regarding the land
scarcity for cultivating jute
seed, the agriculture
secretary said, "We have
land scarcity for cultivating
jute seed, so the land under
the sugar mills could be
used for jute seed
production. The
government will take
initiatives in this regard,"
he added.
Of the cultivated jute
varieties, over 85 per cent
is tosha variety and 85-90
per cent jute seed are being
imported from India.
To offset the rising
demand of jute seed, the
Agriculture Ministry is
implementing a five-year
long project with a target to
produce 4,500 tonnes jute
seed during this time.
DU admission
tests escheduled
amid pandemic
DHAKA : The Dhaka
University (DU) authorities
have rescheduled the dates
of the Bachelor entrance
examinations considering
the country's Covid-19
situation, reports UNB.
The Public Relations
officer of the university
issued a notice in this regard
on Thursday.
According to the revised
schedule, 'Ka' unit
admission test will be held
on August 6, 'Kha' unit
admission test on August 7,
'Ga' unit on August 13, 'Gha'
unit on August 14 and 'Cha'
unit (general knowledge) on
July 31.
The date for 'Cha' unit
admission test (drawing)
will be informed in due time,
it said.
The decision was taken at
an emergency virtual
meeting of the DU General
Admission Committee
chaired by the Vicechancellor
Professor Dr Md
Akhtaruzzaman on
Thursday.
State Minister for Water Resources Zahid Faruk distributing relief and hand sanitizers among the
poor people at Barishal Sadar upazila hall room yesterday.
Photo : Star Mail
'A Bag of Happiness' is being distributed among 3,000 helpless needy people by Daffodil
International University in association with Daffodil Institute of Social Science (DISS) to share the
joy of being ranked 1st among Bangladeshi universities in the Times Higher Education Rankings
2021 on Thursday at Daffodil Smart City, Ashulia, Dhaka. Photo : Courtesy
Armanitola fire:
Death toll climbs
to six
DHAKA : The death toll from the
massive fire that broke out at a
building in Armanitola area of
Old Dhaka in the early hours of
April 23, climbed to six as another
victim succumbed to injuries on
Wednesday night, reports UNB.
The deceased was identified as
Ashikuzzaman, 32.
Dr Partha Shankar Paal,
resident medical officer of Sheikh
Hasina National Institute of Burn
And Plastic Surgery, said
Ashikuzzaman breathed his last
around 11:45 pm while
undergoing treatment at ICU.
Among the injured, three
people are now at the ICU while
the others are being treated at
Post Operative Ward, he said.
On April 23, four people were
killed and 35 others sustained
burn injuries after a massive fire
broke out at the six-storey
building.
Another victim identified as
Shafayet succumbed to his
injuries at the hospital on April
25.
What happened?
Officials said the fire broke out
at Hazi Musa Mansion in
Armanitola and soon spread to
other portions of the building.
And it took 19 fire tenders nearly
three hours to douse the flames.
Initially, two bodies were
recovered by the firefighters but
later two more were pulled out
from a small room near the stairs
of the building, officials said.
Projects must be implemented
before timelines: Nasrul
DHAKA : Stressing on implementing
projects before scheduled timeframe,
State Minister for Power, Energy and
Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid
yesterday said there is no alternative way
of hundred percent achievement of
Annual Development Programme (ADP)
without implementing projects before the
stipulated time amid coronavirus
pandemic.
"We have to continuously make efforts
for implementing projects before the
scheduled timeframe for achieving ADP
by maintaining necessary health
guidelines of the Covid-19 pandemic," he
said while addressing an online review
meeting on implementation progress of
the development projects under the
Power Division.
Underscoring the need for publicity of
the works of the Power Division, the state
minister said, "We have to enhance
communication with the subscribers."
Expressing his satisfaction over the
implementation of the ADP, Nasrul
Hamid said the ADP implementation
progress of the Power Division is still good
as the financial progress is 54.70 percent
with an expenditure of Taka 13,503 crore
till March 2021 against the overall ADP
allocation of over Taka24,768 crore.
The virtual programme also was
attended, among others, by Bangladesh
Power Development Board (PDB)
Chairman Engineer Belayet Hossen,
Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board
(REB) Chairman Major General (Retd)
Mayeen Uddin , Power Cell Director
General Mohammad Hossain and agency
chiefs of different organizations under
Power Division.
234 people get govt
humanitarian
assistance in Sylhet
SYLHET : Some 234 people of different
professions were given humanitarian
assistance to mitigate their sufferings in
the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic.
Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet M Kazi
Emdadul Islam distributed the
government assistance among them at a
function held at the deputy commissioner
office hall room on Wednesday.
DC Emdadul Islam said the district
administration provided the assistance
from the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's
relief fund and as a part of the
government's instant humanitarian
support.
Earlier on April 28, Tk 3,28,00 were
given to the unemployed people in the
district to mitigate their financial
hardship in the Covid-19 pandemic
situation. People of different professions
including unemployed public transport
workers, stone workers, day laborers, cart
drivers, restaurant workers, saloon
workers, tea-stall workers have received
the grants.
Under this program, financial and
humanitarian assistance will be provided
to the other professionals and distressed
people later, the DC said.