27-10-2022

Thursday, dhaka : october 27, 2022; kartik 11, 1429 BS; rabi-ul-awal 30 , 1444 Hijri
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina exchanging views with the country's importers and exporters of
consumer goods at her official Ganabhaban residence yesterday.
Photo : Pid
JICA inks deal with
Govt for implementing
Human Resource Dev
Scholarship project
DHAKA : Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed
grant agreement with the government for
the implementation of the Project for
Human Resource Development
Scholarship (JDS).
The JDS is a grant aid that will support
young promising Bangladeshi officials to
acquire skills and knowledge necessary to
better serve the public through rigorous
research in the relevant master's or doctor's
courses in Japan, according to a press
release.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh
Ito Naoki, Chief Representative of JICA
Bangladesh Office ICHIGUCHI
Tomohide, Secretary of Economic
Relations Division (ERD) of Finance
Ministry Sharifa Khan, , representing the
respective governments, signed the
Exchange of Notes and Grant Agreement
in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Up to JPY 476 million (about USD 4
million) will be provided to the government
to implement the project. With the
signing of G/A, JICA will offer 33 scholarships
(30 Masters and 3 Doctoral) to the
civil servants of Bangladesh to study in
graduate schools of renowned Japanese
Universities.
This program creates an environment
where academic exchanges, which include
immersion and exposure to various fields,
become a tool for strengthening international
relations. To date, 492 fellows (477
Master's and 15 Doctoral Fellows) studied
in Japan. This year is the 50th anniversary
of the establishment of diplomatic relations
between Japan and Bangladesh.
JICA Bangladesh Office believes that
JDS will continue to enhance the everlasting
JapanBangladesh friendship even
further.
Forex reserves stand
at $37b, increases
12 times than BNP
regime: Hasan
DHAKA : Information and Broadcasting
Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday
said the foreign exchange reserves of the
country have stood at about US$37 billion,
increasing 12 times than the BNP regime.
"At the end of BNP's tenure, foreign
exchange reserves were less than US$ 3.5
billion in 2006, which increased 12 times
during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's
tenure and now stand at around US$37
billion," he said.
The minister was speaking at DRU
Sahitya Award-2022 distribution ceremony
as the chief guest at Dhaka Reporters'
Unity (DRU) auditorium in the city's
Segunbagicha area, reports BSS.
DRU President Nazrul Islam Mithu
presided over the function while General
Secretary Nurul Islam Hasib delivered the
welcome address. Dr Hasan, also ruling
Awami League (AL) joint general secretary,
said that Bangladesh is now the 31st
economy in the world as per the
Purchasing Power Parity or PPP.
Almost all countries across the globe are
running their states cutting the reserve savings
amid the Covid-19 and war situation, he
said, adding, "When it is enough for a country
to have foreign exchange reserves to
cover three months of import expenses, we
have the reserves for five months. So, there is
no scope to talk about reserve".
Referring to BNP leaders' talk about foreign
exchange reserves, the minister said
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken
the foreign exchange reserves to US$44
billion during the Covid-19 period, which
were US$3.45 billion at the end of BNP's
tenure and US$6.1 billion at the end of
caretaker government.
'No Hawa Bhaban at PMO
to share your profits with'
DHAKA : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
on Wednesday asked businessmen to
place Bangladesh and countrymen before
profits.
"There's no Hawa Bhaban and development
wing at PMO to share your profits
with," she said.
The PM made the remarks at a meeting
with importers and exporters of consumer
goods.
She said that in the last 14 years, during
the Awami League rule, businessmen of
the country ran their businesses and made
profits without hindrance.
She said that at present, businessmen of
the country are free from the "pain of
Hawa Bhaban and development wing of
the PMO."
"You are not suffering that now. You
have to admit that," she said.
Hasina observed that in the past, the
lion share of profits went to Hawa Bhaban
and PMO's so-called development wing.
"...Keep that in mind, and consider the
country and its people (first)," she said.
The PM also said that during the Covid-
19 pandemic, the government provided
stimulus packages to businessmen to run
their business smoothly, even though they
did not ask for that.
She said that a team was formed
through her initiative, and it operated well
in running the wheels of the economy.
She also recalled that during the pandemic,
many factories and industries of
developed countries shut down.
"We said that we will not allow our factories
and industries to close down, we
have to continue... I ensured workers'
wages, gave the stimulus packages," she
said. The PM said that when the opposition
is holding anti-government protests
on the streets some businessmen have
Govt works to protect Sundarbans,
coastal areas from climate
disasters : Shahab
TBT rePorT
Minister for Environment Forest and
Climate Change Md. Shahab Uddin said,
the government is working to protect the
Sundarbans and the coastal areas from the
harmful effects of climate change.
He said various projects including protection
of the world heritage Sundarbans,
construction of sustainable embankments
and harvesting rainwater have been taken
to reduce the risk of disasters. At the same
time, he said, effective initiatives have also
been taken to realize climate compensation
from rich countries.
The minister was speaking at the chief
guest at a national dialogue on impacts of
climate change in southwestern coastal
areas of the country held at Parliament
Members' Club at the Jatiya Sangsad
Bhaban on Wednesday.
Deputy Minister for Environment,
Forest and Climate Change Habibun
Nahar, Mir Mostaque Ahmed Robi, MP,
Syeda Rubina Akhter, MP and general
secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon
Sharif Jamil addressed the dialogue as
special guests. Non-government organisation
LEDARS- Local Environment
Development and Agricultural Research
Society and Sundarbans and Coastal Area
Protection Movement jointly organized
the dialogue a day after devastating
cyclone Sitrang hit the country leaving
about 40 people killed.
Moderated by coordinator of the
become anxious, but there are some others
who have started looking for opportunities
about how to make profits by opening
Hawa Bhaban again.
"Don't know why, suddenly they (businessmen)
have started singing a synchronised
tune that there is lack of this or that,
and this cannot be done or that cannot
take place," she said.
She said that the government so far
managed to keep inflation under control,
mentioning that in England the rate of
inflation has jumped to 40 percent.
She also said that the whole world is suffering
from the crisis.
The PM said that the government is
importing LNG with higher prices and
providing it at a cheaper rate to the businessmen.
"The crisis is not originated in
Bangladesh, it is an international crisis, we
must keep that in our mind," she said.
Hasina said that to procure soybean and
sugar, a team led by the Commerce
Secretary will go to Brazil to negotiate
directly for the TCB (Trading Corporation
of Bangladesh).
"They (Brazil) want to sell directly, and
we have to procure those (sugar and soybean)
directly, no other means they will
allow, it is their system," she said adding
that this system has to be followed to procure
items from there.
Talking about the foreign currency
reserves, she said that during the COVID-
19 pandemic people could not travel overseas
resulting in high deposit of foreign
currency. She also said that expatriate
Bangladeshis send all their money
through banking channel.
"We did not have any expenditure, as a
result the reserve reached $48 billion," she
said.
Sundarbans and Coastal Area Protection
Movement, journalist Nikhil Chandra
Bhadra, LEDARS executive director
Mohon Kumar Mondal made the keynote
presentation in the dialogue.
Rafiqul Islam Azad, former president of
Dhaka Reporters Unity, Matilda Tina
Baidya of KARK In Aktri, Ahsan Wahid of
Manusher Jonne Foundation,
Moniruzzaman Mukul of SCAN
Bangladesh, Sheikh Abdul Alim of CCDB,
Mahbub-Ul-Hasan of Oxfam,
Shahiduzzaman Pulak of Swiss Contact,
Moshi Mondal of World Concern, Nripen
Boidya of Faith In Action, Anisur Rahim,
Md Noor Alam Sheikh, Madhobi Rani
Mondal and Azadul Haque, among others,
also spoke on the occasion.
In his speech, the environment minister
said that the risk of coastal areas including
Sundarbans due to climate change has
been determined. The government has
already taken a national adaptation plan.
He mentioned that various schemes
have been taken up to address the risk due
to climate change. Monitoring has been
strengthened to ensure transparency and
accountability of project implementation
in the coastal areas.
"A specific action plan has been taken to
develop the tourism industry around the
Sundarbans," he added.
He urged the government as well as
non-governmental organizations to work
to raise awareness on all these issues.
Low pressure problem in
gas supply to industries
to be resolved: Nasrul
DHAKA : State Minister for Power,
Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul
Hamid has said necessary measures will
be taken to address the low pressure problem
in gas supply to industries.
"We'll take a move to resolve the local
problem in gas supply so that situation doesn't
deteriorate," he told reporters after a
meeting with business body leaders at the
Bangladesh Investment Development
Authority (BIDA) at Agargaon in the city on
Wednesday.
He said the business leaders have complained
that industries are not getting gas in
adequate pressure in some particular areas.
"We'll look into those to fix them"
A group of business leaders, led by president
of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers
of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI)
Jashim Uddin, participated in the meeting
while Prime Minister's Private Industry and
Investment Adviser Salam F Rahman were
present on the occasion. The meeting was
held at a time when the export-oriented
industries, specially textile, garment and
ceramic manufacturers are desperately persuading
the top policymaker to get adequate
gas and power supply against the backdrop
of the ongoing energy crisis.
Nasrul said he has discussed with the business
leaders to address the local problems
that the industries are now facing in gas supply.
He said the meeting mainly focused on
the issues of local gas supply.
He assured them they would get similar
supply that they received previously. We all
will together try to keep the supply better in
the coming months and also next year".
­ Sitrang
Indian Coast Guard
rescues 20Bangladeshi
fishermen stranded
at sea
DHAKA : The Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
has rescued 20 Bangladeshi fishermen
near the Bangladesh-India international
maritime border line after their fishing
boat capsized when cyclone Sitrang made
landfall.
They were caught in the cyclone which
destroyed their boats. The fishermen
clung to floats and debris from their
sunken boats, reports UNB.
Although Sitrang spared India's West
Bengal, Bangladesh was not so lucky. At
least 25 people died as the cyclone made
landfall in the southern part of the country
Monday.
After that, ICG looked for any vessels
stranded at sea and spotted around 20
people in the water, about 90 nautical
miles (166km) from Sagar Island in West
Bengal, Tuesday.
"In a swift co-ordinated search and rescue
operation, India Coast Guard has rescued
20 Bangladeshi fishermen postlandfall
of cyclone Sitrang," ICG tweeted
Wednesday.
The fishermen will be handed over to
Bangladesh in accordance with the existing
memorandum of understanding
(MoU) between Dhaka and Delhi, it
added.
Tirail in Baraigram Upazila of Natore is
now known as bird village. Tirail Bazar
area has become a beautiful environment
with native and guest birds in the bamboo
grove. From early morning, everyone can
hear the chirping of birds in the bamboo
grove, see the free movement of their
wings, and their flight in flocks. The area is
full of chirping of visiting birds. These
birds came from the Siberia area in search
There is no alternative to Sheikh Hasina
in Bangladesh : Home Minister
DHAKA : Home Minister Asaduzzaman
Khan Kamal yesterday said there is no
alternative to Sheikh Hasina in
Bangladesh, as the country has been progressing
fast towards its desired goal.
"If people of this country vote for you
(BNP) in the next general election, you will
come to power. The only way to come to
power is the people's mandate. People will
not accept you (BNP) in power through
public sufferings," he said this at a programme
at Tejgaon Women's College
here.
The BNP men have been seeing many
colourful dreams for going to power, the
minister said, "Wait for another one year
to contest in the general election."
Awami League never came to power
through conspiracy or muscle power, he
said adding, "Awami League came to
power through people's vote. Awami
League thinks that people are its main
strength. People of the country think that
there is no other alternative to Sheikh
Hasina in the country."
Stating that the government has no
objection in holding free and fair election,
he said, "You (BNP) should not try to create
suffering for the people by holding rallies
in Dhaka-Chattogram. If the country's
situation is destabilized in the name of rallies,
people will not accept it."
About the Russia-Ukraine conflict,
Kamal said, "Commodity price has been
increasing due to the conflict. Russian-
Ukraine is a food bank. Anyone who
thinks food price will not go up, he or she
is living in a fool's paradise."
Mentioning a rise in diesel price internationally,
he said load shedding is being
mandatory in the country because of the
gasoline price hike. "Efforts are underway
to solve this issue. I think we will be able to
back to normal situation by December this
year," he added.
The home minister said that the country
will move forward as long as Sheikh
Hasina remains in power.
ireland´s Captain andrew Balbirnie (C) celebrates win with teammates
after the iCC men´s Twenty20 World Cup 2022 cricket match
between england and ireland at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
on october 26, 2022 in Melbourne.
Photo : internet
Ireland stun England for
famous win at T20 World Cup
MELBOURNE : Minnows Ireland pulled
off a huge upset Wednesday, stunning
world number two England by five runs
with a fine bowling display in a rain-affected
match to throw the Twenty20 World
Cup wide open, reports BSS.
After being sent in to bat, Ireland captain
Andy Balbirnie (62) led his team to
92-1 off 10 overs before a mid-order collapse
saw them all out for 157 with four
balls remaining
But England slumped to 29-3 with just
one boundary in the first five overs as the
Irish bowlers found pace and movement,
and they struggled to get any momentum.
Eighteen minutes were lost to rain at the
beginning of the game and the players
Tirail: a place known as the village of birds
SHeikH Tofazzal HoSSain, naTore CorreSPondenT:
Hargila birds sitting on the nest.
of food in the winter season and settled in
the Tirail Bazar area of the upazila. There,
around 4 acres of bamboo bushes and
mango, tamarind, mahogany trees are
considered as habitat for them. Visitors
are flocking to see these birds every day. In
the dark of night, some steal the eggs and
chicks of birds. Also, some took the mother
birds again. They are in a vulnerable
state. The area can be developed as a
Photo : TBT
were taken off again with England on 105-
5 off 14.3 overs just as Moeen Ali was getting
into his stride. England were five runs
behind on the DLS scoring method, giving
Ireland a famous victory when the game
was called off a few minutes later.
It was Ireland's second massive upset of
the tournament after they West Indies in
the first round to send the two-time champions
home. England were among the title
favourites and heavily-fancied to beat
Ireland after opening their tournament
with a five-wicket win over Afghanistan at
the weekend.Instead the shock defeat has
thrown Group 1 wide open with Australia,
Sri Lanka, Ireland and England all now
with one win and one loss.
tourist center if the government takes
notice. Visiting birds start arriving in early
winter in the surrounding bill areas
including Chalanbill of Natore. All these
guest birds can be seen in the green fields,
in most places of Chalan bill, Chinadanga,
Satail, Lohagara bill including Pangyar
Dighi of the upazila.
A large number of birds including Sand
Duck, Crane, Dahuk, Nalkak, Jalpipi,
Kombadak, Sarali, Patari Duck and
Hargila can be seen. These birds directly
benefit the farmers by eating harmful
insects and snails in the fields. Their discharge
of stools increases the fertility of the
land. It increases the yield of crops in the
field. Farmers are benefited.
Professor Mojibur Rahman of Tirail
area said that around 4 acres of bamboo
groves have created a sanctuary for various
species of birds. Most of them are
Hargila birds. They are 4 to 5 kg in weight
each in adult age. Earlier they used to
come only in winter and go away in summer.
For about ten years, the birds have
been guarded and preserved by the initiative
of the local people, and the birds have
made habitats to the high branches of
mango, tamarind, and mahogany trees
along with bamboo bushes. The birds
hatch eggs and hatchlings there.