Today is March 17. National Children's Day and the 102nd birth anniversary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the great architect of independence of Bangladesh, the best Bengali of the millennium. He was born on 17 March 1920 in Tungipara village in Gopalganj subdivision of Faridpur district in the then Bengal province of India. His father's name is Sheikh Lutfar Rahman and mother's name is Saira Khatun.

The child named 'Khoka', who was born in Tungipara on that day, later became the guide for the liberation of the oppressed Bengali nation. Due to his deep political wisdom, self-sacrifice and extraordinary affection for the people, he became the undisputed leader of the Bengali nation in his old age. As a teenager, he became involved in active politics. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested and imprisoned for the first time for joining the anti-British movement while studying in the eighth grade at the Mission School in Gopalganj. From then on, the journey of Bangabandhu's lifelong struggle began.

Bangabandhu along with his colleagues formed Bangladesh Chhatra League in 1948 and later Bangladesh Awami League in 1949. After the partition and independence movement of '47, language movement of '52, united front election of '54, education movement of '62, six-point movement of '66 and after the mass uprising of '69, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was established as the undisputed leader of the Bengali nation in the historic elections of '70. Independence was achieved through nine months of bloody armed struggle under his undisputed leadership. An independent Bangladesh emerged on the world map. Bengalis celebrate National Children's Day on March 17 every year on his birthday to remember their leader.

On this occasion, President Mohammad Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave separate messages. The National Implementation Committee and various socio-cultural organizations including Awami League have taken detailed program to celebrate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The day will also be celebrated with due dignity in Bangladeshi embassies in other countries of the world.

At least nine people were killed and several others injured as a microbus, carrying a bridal party, plunged into a river after a bridge collapse in Amtali upazila of the district today.

The deceased were identified as Rubia ,45, wife of Rakibul Howladar, Raiti Khan,22, wife of Sohail Khan, Fatema,35, wife of Babul Matbar, Shahnaz Akhtar, 37, wife of Abul Kalam, and her  two daughters Tahiyat Mejbin, 7, and Tasfia Mubassera, 12, Farida Begum,48,  wife of Fazlur Rahman Khan, residents of  Kokararchar village of  Shibchar upazila in  Madaripur district,  Zakia, 35 ,   wife of Zahirul Islam and her  daughter Rukaid Islam, 5, resident of Taktabunia village of Amtali Upazila Haldia Union in Barguna district.

The accident occurred when they were going to attend a wedding ceremony in Amtali Municipal Town on a microbus while crossing the connecting bridge of Chawra Union and Haldia Union of the upazila around 2:30 pm this afternoon as the bridge collapsed into the Subandhi river, leaving at least 20 people injured, officer-in-charge (OC) of Amtali Police Station Kazi Tofazzal Hossain Tapu said.

Later, fire service and police personnel rescued the injured and took them to Amtali Upazila Health Complex where on-duty doctor declared nine of them dead, he said.

Golam Sarwar Tuku, MP of Barguna-1 constituency and Deputy Commissioner Rafiqul Islam visited the spot.

The bodies will be handed over to theirs family members after legal process, The OC added.

(Source: BSS)

The outgoing Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed received farewell ‘darbar’ here today.

He also exchanged views with the military officers, junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and other army personnel of different ranks, according to an ISPR press release.

Army personnel from all cantonments participated in the darbar through Video teleconferencing (VTC), the release added.

In his farewell address, the Army Chief expressed his special gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, saying that the Bangladesh Army has stood with its head high before the world today as a modern and smart force due to the sincere efforts of the premier.

He also expressed his sincere gratitude to all concerned for their full cooperation during discharging duties.

(Source: BSS)

A devastating floods in Sylhet and Sunamganj inundated much of two northeastern districts leaving over 17 lakh people stranded and damaging standing crops and infrastructures.

 
Residents and officials of local administrations told BSS that 17,57,222 people have been marooned in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts as this year's second spell of flood submerged vast swaths of the two district creating huge suffering of the people.
 
Among the total people, who are marooned by flood water, 7.92 lakh people are in Sunamganj and 9.64 lakh people are in Sylhet, they added.
 
Officials of Sylhet district administration said the first spell of flood affected thousands of people in 13 upazilas and municipalities of Sytlhet district in late May and the flash flood prolonged first week of the current months leaving a large number of people marooned.
 
The authorities have set up 6,392 shelter centres after the second round of flood hit Sylhet and Sunamganj districts. As flood water started receding, people are going to home from shelter centres.
 
The Sunamganj district administration sources said flood water submerged 11 upazilas and Sunamgaj municipality.

Mayor of Sylhet City Corporation Anwaruzzaman Choudhury said, "Volunteer teams of city corporation are working to extend assistances for flood-hit people. We have arranged adequate amount of food at shelter centres."

A devastating flood, triggered by heavy rainfall and onrush water from hilly regions, have affected 20 lakh people in Sylhet and Sunamganj districts, according to a statement of UNICEF issued today.

 The statement, signed by Sheldon Yett, UNICEF Representative to Bangladesh, read among 20 lakh flood affected people in two northeastern regions - Sylhet and Sunamganj - 7.72 lakh are children.
 
The UNICEF called for emergency assistances for flood-hit children as they (children) are the venerable segment of the population in case of any natural disaster.

Sheldon Yett said, "When flood waters are in rising trend, unsecured condition has created for children. They face different problems including drowning, malnutrition and various water-borne diseases."

The UNICEF in cooperation with of Bangladesh government and other organization working at field level have distributed safe drinking water among one lakh flood-hit people in Sylhet and Sunamganj to reduce their suffering.

Alongside distribution of drinking water, the UNICEF also distributed over 10 litre capacity 3000 water pots for the people in food-hit regions.

According to the UNICEF statement, 810 primary schools in Sylhet Division have been submerged by flood water while 500 primary schools are used as shelter centre for flood-affected people. As many as 140 community clinics have been damaged by flood waters in the Sylhet region, it added.
 
 Water levels at 59 river stations monitored by Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) have marked rise while 48 stations recorded fall.

Among the 110 monitored river stations, two have been registered steady and water levels at seven river stations are flowing above the danger level, a bulletin issued by the FFWC said here today.

The Teesta River is flowing at 15cm above danger level at Kaunia station while the Surma at Kanaighat, the Kushiyara at Amalsad, at Sherpur-Sylhet and at Markuli, the Old Surma at Derai and the Someshwari at Kalmakanda are flowing 35cm, 15cm, 18cm, 39cm, 23cm and 34cm are flowing respectively.

The Ganges-Padma rivers are in rising trend, which may continue in the next 72 hours, the bulletin said, adding that the major rivers in the North-eastern region of the country are in falling trend which may continue in the next 72 hours.

Overall improvement of the flood situation in various low-lying areas under districts of the North-eastern part of the country may continue in the next 72 hours.

According to the information from meteorological organisations, low to medium rainfall in next 24 hours and medium to heavy rainfall in the next 48 to 72 hours is expected in the Northern and adjoining upstream parts of the country.

As a result, the water level of Dudhkumar, Teesta and Dharla rivers in those regions may fall in the next 24 hours which may rise in particular time in the next 48 to 72 hours.

Sending a technical team by India to Bangladesh soon for a mega project to conserve and manage Teesta river, moving ahead to start negotiations on a comprehensive trade pact and boosting defence ties were among major outcomes of talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina on Saturday.

 The decision to send an Indian technical team to hold talks on the conservation of the Teesta river within Bangladesh assumes significance as China was keenly eyeing the estimated USD one billion project notwithstanding reservations by New Delhi.

Sheikh Hasina is expected to travel to China next month.

 In reflection of growing intensity in their ties, India and Bangladesh also firmed up a "futuristic vision" to further facilitate transformative cooperation in their engagement.

 Separately, the two sides signed 10 agreements providing for bolstering ties in a range of critical areas such as digital domain, maritime sphere, blue economy, railways, space, green technology, health and medicine.

 A major focus of the talks between the two prime ministers was to explore ways to shore up India-Bangladesh cooperation in digital and energy connectivity even as both sides resolved to work towards peaceful management of borders between the two countries.
 
Sheikh Hasina arrived here on Friday, becoming the first foreign leader to make a bilateral incoming visit to India after Modi became prime minister for the third straight term.
 
 In his remarks to the media after the talks, Modi said both sides agreed to start negotiations on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA).

 "To take our economic relations to new heights, both sides have agreed to start negotiations on CEPA (Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement)," he said.

 Modi said an Indian technical team will soon visit Dhaka for talks on the conservation and management of Teesta river.

"Fifty-four shared rivers connect India and Bangladesh. We have been cooperating on flood management, early warning, drinking water projects. We have decided to start negotiations at the technical level for the renewal of the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty," he said.

"On the conservation and management of the Teesta river in Bangladesh, a technical team will soon visit Bangladesh for talks," he said.

 At a media briefing, Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said the management of shared water resources is a crucial and sensitive matter. "Naturally, given our close and friendly ties with Bangladesh, cross-boundary river issues -- and Teesta is one of them -- become important," he said.

"It's less about water-sharing per se, it's more about the management of the water flows within Teesta river," he added.

 In his remarks, Modi described people-to-people contacts as the foundation of ties between the two nations and said India will launch an e-medical visa facility for people from Bangladesh coming to India for medical treatment.

 India has also decided to open a new assistant high commission in Rangpur.

 "Today, we have prepared a futuristic vision for cooperation in new areas. The youth of both countries will benefit from the consensus reached on cooperation in many areas such as green partnership, digital partnership, blue economy and space," Modi said.

 "We have kept in our focus -- connectivity, commerce and collaboration. In the last ten years, we have restored the connectivity that existed before 1965. Now we will emphasise more on digital and energy connectivity," he said.

 Both sides also firmed up a joint document titled the "India-Bangladesh shared vision for the future: Enhanced connectivity, commerce and collaboration for shared prosperity" to expand ties and to align India's "Viksit Bharat 2047' goal with "Smart Bangladesh 2041" vision.

 In the talks, Modi and Hasina also resolved to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation including in areas of defence production and modernisation of Bangladeshi armed forces and agreed to enhance engagement on countering terrorism and radicalisation.

 "We had extensive discussions on further strengthening defence cooperation, from defence production to modernisation of armed forces," Modi said.

 "We have decided to strengthen our engagement on counter-terrorism, de-radicalisation and peaceful management of borders." "We share a common vision for the Indian Ocean region. We welcome Bangladesh's decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative," he said.

 The issue of Rohingya as well as the situation in Myanmar and boosting regional cooperation under the framework of BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) grouping also figured in the talks.

 In his remarks, Modi said Bangladesh is India's largest development partner and New Delhi attaches highest priority to its relations with that country. "Bangladesh is situated at the confluence of our Neighbourhood First policy, Act East policy, Vision SAGAR and Indo-Pacific vision." India has been cooperating with the countries of the Indian Ocean region under the broader policy framework of SAGAR or Security and Growth for all in the Region.

 Following the Modi-Hasina talks, the two sides announced a slew of new measures to boost connectivity and trade.

 It was announced that a passenger train between Kolkata and Rajshahi will commence service soon. A goods train on Bangladesh Railways from Gede-Darshana to Haldibari-Chilahati cross-border interchange point will also begin a trial run next month.

A new bus service between Kolkata and Chittagong will also be rolled out. India will provide a grant for building an inland container depot at Sirajganj in Bangladesh.

 In his media statement, Modi also listed various initiatives rolled out in the last one year to expand ties.

"In the last one year, together we have completed many important projects for public welfare. The sixth cross-border rail link between India and Bangladesh between Akhaura-Agartala has become operational," he said.

 "The cargo facility for the north-eastern states of India has been started through Khulna-Mongla Port. Mongla Port has been connected by rail for the first time. Both units of the 1320 MW Maitree thermal power plant have started generating electricity," he noted.

 Modi said trade in Indian Rupees has commenced between the two countries. "The world's longest river cruise on the Ganga River between India and Bangladesh has been successfully completed. The first cross-border friendship pipeline between India and Bangladesh has been completed," he said.

 "Export of electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh, through the Indian grid, has become the first example of sub-regional cooperation in the energy sector," he said.

 The Indian prime minister said the implementation of such major initiatives in so many areas, in a single year, reflects the "speed and scale of our relations."

In the media briefing, Kwatra said the Rohingya issue was discussed.

 "This is an issue that India and Bangladesh have discussed periodically at different levels of interaction... Humanitarian assistance to Rohingyas is something which we have offered in the past. We continue to work with Bangladesh closely on it," he said.

(Source: BSS)

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said Dhaka and New Delhi agreed about a shared vision for digital and green partnership to ensure a sustainable future for both the nations.

"Both countries endorsed the 'Vision Statement' to guide us toward a peaceful and prosperous future. We agreed to have a shared vision for 'Digital Partnership' and 'Green Partnership for a Sustainable Future," she said.
 
The Bangladesh premier came up with the remarks in a joint statement before the media after a tete-e-tete and bilateral meeting with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi followed by signing of several instruments at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

The entire gamut of binary relationship that includes sharing of water from common rivers, security and trade has prominently come for discussion during the bilateral meeting of two neighbouring countries, she said.

Describing India as Bangladesh's major neighbour, trusted friend, and regional partner, Sheikh Hasina said: "Bangladesh greatly values our relations with India, which were born during our War of Liberation in 1971."

She also said Bangladesh-India relations are ever-growing at a fast pace.

"Today, our two sides had very productive meetings where we discussed politics and security, trade and connectivity, the sharing of water from common rivers, power and energy, and regional and multilateral cooperation, among other issues of mutual interest," she added.

The premier said, "We agreed to collaborate with each other for the betterment of our people and countries".

As Dhaka and Delhi have started new journeys, she said, "We charted the future course of action to ensure a smart Bangladesh by following Vision 2041 and Viksit Bharat by 2047."

Sheikh Hasina said they concluded MoUs, renewed several of them, and made announcements for future collaboration.

In recent years, she said both sides have sustained high-level engagements, including at the highest level.

The Indian president and its prime minister visited Bangladesh in 2021 to attend the celebration of the Birth Centenary of Bangladesh's Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the 50-year celebration of Bangladesh's independence, and the establishment of the two countries' diplomatic ties, she said

The Bangladesh premier said she paid her last bilateral visit to India in September 2022 and later attended the G20 Summit held under the Presidency of India in September 2023 in New Delhi as the leader of 'Guest Country'-Bangladesh, the only country from South Asia.

"I am now visiting New Delhi for an unprecedented second time in the same month, June 2024," she said.

Earlier on June 9, Sheikh Hasina attended with other world leaders the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his new cabinet.

"These are testaments to our two countries' close engagement," the premier said.

Mentioning her today's meeting with Narendra Modi, she said they discussed the ways and means of collaborative engagement between the two countries.

She also said she will also have meeting with the Vice President and the President of India later this (Saturday) afternoon.

"I believe all these meetings would give us more insights into enhancing our two countries' cooperation," she added.

Sheikh Hasina said this is her first bilateral visit to any country after Bangladesh's 12th Parliamentary Elections and the formation of new government in January, 2024.

"I thank the Government of India for extending warm hospitality to me and my delegation," she said.

The prime minister also recalled with gratitude the contribution of the government and the people of India to Bangladesh's independence.

"I pay deep homage to the brave fallen heroes of India who sacrificed their lives during our War of Liberation in 1971," she said.

Sheikh Hasina, as well, thanked her Indian counterpart for inviting her to visit India and re-invited Narendra Modi to visit Bangladesh at his earliest convenience.

(Source: BSS)