03-03-2022

ThuRsDAY, MARCh 3, 2022
2
Principal Robert Robin Marandi addressing an orientation program for the students of class eleven
of YMCA public school and college, Bogura.
Photo : TBT
NEC approves Tk 2,07,550
crore revised ADP
DHAKA : The National Economic
Council (NEC) on
Wednesday approved Tk
2,07,550 crore revised
Annual Development Programme
(RADP) for the
current fiscal year, downsizing
the original ADP outlay
of Tk 2,25,324 crore, reports
UNB.
The approval came at a
meeting of the NEC
presided over by NEC
Chairperson and Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina. She
joined it virtually from her
official residence Ganobhaban.
Other NEC members,
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02/03/22
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including ministers and secretaries
attended the meeting
from the NEC Conference
Room at Sher-e-Bangla
Nagar and the Cabinet Division's
Conference Room at
the Bangladesh Secretariat.
"The NEC endorsed the
RADP slashing the original
ADP by Tk 17,774 crore,"
said Planning Division Secretary
Pradip Ranjan
Chakraborty at a press briefing
after the NEC meeting.
He said the number of
projects in the RADP
increased to 1,770 from 1534
in the original ADP.
The funding from foreign
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sources saw a cut of Tk
17,774.23 crore to stand at
Tk 70,250 crore while the
funding from the local
sources remained almost
unchanged at Tk 1,37,300
crore.
However, considering the
RADP allocation of Tk
9,613.68 crore for the
autonomous bodies and
corporations, the overall
RADP allocation for the current
FYFY22 stood at Tk
2,17,163.68 crore.
In the last FY2020-21, the
RADP was Tk 1,97,643
crore, said the planning secretary.
Ex-UP member
crushed under
train in Bogura
BOGURA : A man was
crushed under the wheels of
a train in Bogura Sadar
upazila on Wednesday
morning, reports UNB.
The deceased was
identified as Rezaul Karim,
55, former member of
Shakaria union parishad
under Sadar upazila.
According to witnesses,
Bonarpara-bound Karatoya
Express train hit Rezaul near
Knowledge Harbor School
and College of the upazila
around 9:30 am when he
was crossing the rail tracks,
leaving him dead on the
spot.
It was not clear whether it
was an accident or a suicide
incident.
ASI Abdul Awal of Naruli
police outpost of Bogura
Sadar police station said that
the body was recovered by
railway police.
Germany's
Scholz visits
Israel amid
Ukraine war,
Iran talks
JERUSALEM : German
Chancellor Olaf Scholz on
Wednesday visited Israel for
the first time since taking
office, days after Russia's
invasion of Ukraine and amid
international efforts to forge a
new Iran nuclear deal.
He toured Jerusalem's Yad
Vashem Holocaust memorial
with Prime Minister Naftali
Bennett, laid a wreath and left
a message in the guest book
stressing Germany's historical
responsibility toward the
Jewish state.
"The mass murder of the
Jews was instigated by
Germany," he wrote. "It was
planned and carried out by
Germans. Consequently,
every German government
bears
permanent
responsibility for the security
of the state of Israel and the
protection of Jewish life."
Bennett welcomed Scholz,
saying that "the Shoah, the
methodical destruction of the
Jews, is a wound that is the
basis of the ties between
Germany and Israel. From
this wound we have built
strong and significant ties."
The two heads of
government-both relatively
new to office following many
years under the political
veterans Angela Merkel and
Benjamin Netanyahu- met as
rapidly moving world events
test their leadership.
They have diverged on their
responses to Russia's war in
Ukraine. Scholz's coalition
government reversed a ban on
sending weapons into conflict
zones and halted the Nord
Stream 2 gas pipeline project
between Russia and
Germany.
He also pledged 100 billion
euros ($113 billion) this year
to modernise Germany's army
and committed to spending
more than two percent of
Germany's gross domestic
product on defence annually,
surpassing even NATO's
target. Israel has taken a
more conservative approach
to the Ukraine crisis, citing
its warm ties with both Kyiv
and Moscow.
National govt needed to create election atmosphere: Zafrullah
DHAKA : Gonoshasthaya Kendra
founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury on
Wednesday advocated for the formation
of a national government for two years to
create the proper atmosphere for a fair
and credible election in the country,
reports UNB.
"I think a national government should
be established for at least two years. If it's
not done, democracy won't be restored
and a fair election won't be possible in
any way in the country," he said.
Speaking at a discussion, he said
Awami League will benefit much if the
national government is established in the
country. "Awami League will also have a
representative in that government.
Maybe Sheikh Rehana can be the
representative. But it's a matter of Awami
League," he said.
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD-Rob)
arranged the discussion at the Jatiya
Press Club, marking the historic first flag
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hoisting day.
On March 2, 1971, then Vice President
of Dhaka University Central Students
Union (Ducsu) ASM Abdur Rob first
hoisted the country's flag adorned the
map of an independent Bangladesh at a
student gathering at Dhaka University.
About the probable format of the
national government, Dr Zafrullah, also a
freedom fighter, said all the major parties
will have representatives in it with some
notable citizens of the country.
He said the main objective of the
national government will be to establish
the truth and justice.
"If justice and fairness are established
in the country, then March 2, March 3
and March 7 will be observed officially,
and the true history of independence will
be known," Zafrullah observed.
Stating that one person did not liberate
Bangladesh, he said many people,
including Abdul Kader Siddique, Sirajul
Alam Khan, Ziaur Rahman and ASM
Abdur Rob, had contributions to it.
"A 30-year-old man, Abdur Rob, dared
hoist the flag at that time while Major
Ziaur Rahman declared independence on
behalf of Bangabandhu. Calling him (Zia)
a Pakistani spy and making derogatory
comments against him is a betrayal," he
observed.
Speaking at the programme, JSD
president Abdur Rob said the 'parasites'
and 'weeds' those who had no
contributions to the country's
independence are now in the government
and the cabinet. "They must be ousted
and thrown in the Bay of Bengal."
He said no national election will be
allowed to hold under the current Awami
League government since it remained in
power by indulging in 'vote robbery' at
night. "We don't accept this government.
They're thieves, robbers, murderers and
oppressors."
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