For A Better Tomorrow: Scientific Analysis and Dialogue on the Latest Covid-19 Development



News Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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The Pandemic situation has created much uncertainty in the field of education, commerce, and the way we lead out a normal life. Everyone is looking up to the researchers who are on the quest to find a cure. But, how far have they been able to succeed and how well aware are we about the positive news of treatment and its development?

The first private university and the number one ranked private university of Bangladesh, North South University (NSU) in collaboration with NSU Global Health Institute jointly organized a webinar on the topic ‘For A Better Tomorrow’ on Tuesday, 11 August, 2020. It was an interactive webinar where professionals exchanged of dialogue between and shared their views of the current scenario and the reasons for being optimistic, which will lead to a better tomorrow.

Mr. Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, Honorable Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education, Govt. of the People Republic of Bangladesh was present as the Chief Guest. Former President of FBCCI Mr. M. A. Kashem, Chairman, Board of Trustees, North South University was present as the Special Guest. Professor Atiqul Islam, Vice-Chancellor of North South University chaired the event.

Mr. Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury said, ‘The government is working for the safety of all the people of our country.’ Talking about when the educational institution will open, he said, ‘The educational institution will be opened according to the instructions given by the expert committee. The reality of our country is that the situation is not the same everywhere. The density of students in everywhere is not the same. So, a little more time is needed to make a risk-controlled decision and plan that is suitable for everyone in this situation. We will proceed based on expert committee's decision. There are thousands of educational institutions in the country. If these institutions become fully operational, the big challenge we have to face is to check the capabilities of our public health sector to take the kind of risks that may arise in that case. We will not make any decision without the opinion of experts.

Mr. M. A. Kashem said, ‘The educational institution is not going to be kept open due to the Corona situation but if a student stays away from taking lessons in this way for a long time, it will hinder the development of merit. For this, students need to be encouraged to learn online. If the kind of damages that have been done in different sectors in the last 5 months continues like this, then our problem will get worse. So, we need to find a way out quickly.’ In the meantime, he said to the students, ‘You have to keep your mind strong, do not lose your courage, take care of yourself and your family and do your job well.’

Prof. Atiqul Islam said, ‘The government has been very successful in raising awareness about Corona among the people and has been working tirelessly to tackle Corona. He also mentioned that many technologies have been developed during the Corona period, which will benefit us a lot in the future.’ In the meantime, he said, ‘North South University has always believed in practical research, which helps in decision making for industry and government. I believe, webinar of today will play a key role for making future decision and what we should do to tackle corona crisis.

Prof. Dr. M. Shahidullah, Senior child specialists and president of Bangladesh Medical and Dental council, Chair, National COVID-19 technical advisory committee, Prof. Dr. Sanya Tahmina Jhora, Additional Director General, (Plan & Dev.), Directorate General of Health services, DGHS, Bangladesh, Dr. A.S.M. Maksud Kamal, Professor & Pro-Vice Chancellor, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Dhaka, Dr. Ahmed Hossain, Professor, Department of public Health, Director, NSU Global Health Institute, NSU, Dr. Mohammad Mushtuq Husain, Advisor, IEDCR, Former Principal Scientific Officer & Head Dept. of Medical Social Science, IEDCR and Mr. Suvas Singho Roy, Chief Editor, AB News24 were present as Speakers in the webinar.

The webinar moderated by Dr. Hasan Mahmud Reza, Dean (Acting), School of Health & Sciences, North South University.

Among others, Teachers, Researchers, Directors, officials of the university and Media representatives were also present in the webinar.

   

India's Foreign Secretary's visit to Dhaka postponed



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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India's Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra's visit to Bangladesh has been postponed.

A diplomatic source confirmed the matter on Thursday (April 18).

According to sources, the visit will take place on a mutually convenient new date. This is part of the high-level exchange between Bangladesh and India and the review of the progress of the bilateral cooperation agenda of the two countries.

A message in this regard has also been given to the guests invited to attend the dinner with the Indian Foreign Secretary on April 20. It said, "The trip has been postponed."

Although no official announcement was made from Dhaka and New Delhi regarding the visit, he was scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Saturday for a brief visit.

In addition to the meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen, the Indian Foreign Secretary was supposed to have a meeting with Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud.

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‘Amrita Sagar’ variety banana of Narsingdi gets GI recognition



Sharif Iqbal Russel, District Correspondent, Barta24.com
Amrita Sagar

Amrita Sagar

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Narshingdi: Narsingdi's ‘Amrita Sagar’ variety banana has received Geographical Indication or GI (Geographical Indication) product recognition. Farmers are happy to get this recognition. The Deputy Commissioner said that Narsingdi's position has been taken higher.

In the context of the soil, water, and weather of a specific territory of a country, if the culture of the people there plays the most important role in the production of a product, it is recognized as a GI product of that country.

Recognition of GI is very significant in domestic and international trade. Now in the list of GI products Narsingdi’s ‘Amrita Sagar’ banana. On February 8, the Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, an institution under the Ministry of Industries, granted the Geographical Indication or GI product recognition to Amrita Sagar banana of Narsingdi. The GI certificate was handed over to the Prime Minister on February 11. Banana cultivators are happy with this recognition.

According to the sources of Narsingdi Agricultural Extension Department, because of loam and sandy loam soil in Narsingdi, cultivation of Amrita Sagar banana is high here. Amrita Sagar banana is supplied to the surrounding districts and the capital to meet the local market demand.

Not only that, this banana is also being exported outside the country. In this context, an application was made by the district administration to include Narsingdi’s latkon and Amrita Sagar banana as geographical indication products in collaboration with e-commerce development center. Following the application, the authority recognized Sagar banana as a GI product after vetting the application.

Narsingdi Deputy Commissioner Dr. Badiul Alam said, due to recognition as a GI product, Amrita Sagar banana will have a huge response in commercial exports in the country and abroad.

According to the information of the District Agriculture Department, Amrita Sagar banana has been cultivated in 580 hectares of land in the district this year. In this recognition, its cultivation will increase further next year, and there is optimism in the conscious community.

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242 metric tons of Indian sugar seized in Pabna, 23 detained



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
ছবি: সংগৃহীত

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Pabna district police seized 12 trucks with 242 metric tons of Indian sugar smuggled from India by evading customs duty. At this time, 23 people including the truck driver and helper were arrested.

They were arrested in a special operation by the District Intelligence Police on Thursday (April 18) afternoon.

Pabna Additional Superintendent of Police Masood Alam confirmed the matter.

He said that for a long time a gang was bringing illegally imported Indian sugar to the country and selling it in different districts. Based on such news, the police entered the field. Later they were arrested in a raid in the Kazirhat Ghat area. At that time they could not show the valid documents of the goods. They were later seized and 23 people were arrested.

Additional Superintendent of Police Masood Alam also said that the case is under process. Details will be given after the investigation.

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Parimoni has been summoned to appear in court



Special Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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The court has issued a summons to the plaintiff businessman Nasiruddin Mahmud to appear in the court in the case of attempted murder in the case against the popular and criticized actress Parimani. At the same time the accused Junaid Bogdadi Jimmy asked to appear in court.

Dhaka Senior Judicial Magistrate M Saiful Islam gave this order on Thursday (April 18). Nasiruddin, the plaintiff in the case, had applied for the issuance of an arrest warrant against Parimoni.

The plaintiff's lawyer Abul Kalam Mohammad Sohail gave this information.

Earlier, the investigation officer of the case, police inspector Monir Hossain filed a report in the Dhaka Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court stating that the allegation of beating and intimidation against Parimoni and her costume designer Junaid Bogdadi Jimmy alias Jim was found to be true.

However, the report mentions that the allegations against another accused, Fatema Tuz Jannat Boni, were found to be true.

Businessman Nasiruddin filed the case in court on July 6, 2022.

In the statement of the case, it is said that Parimoni and her associates are alcoholics. Taking advantage of the opportunity, they entered various famous clubs and drink alcohol and do not pay the price with the parcel. Parimoni threatened harassment by filing false cases with police officials she knew. On June 9, 2021, after 12 midnight, the accused entered Savar's Boat Club and used the washroom on the second floor.

Later they sat inside the club and drank alcohol. When the plaintiff and his accomplice Shah Shahidul Alam were leaving the club at around 1.30 am, Parimoni purposefully called the plaintiff Nasiruddin and requested him to sit with them for some time. At one point Parimoni tried to lure Nasiruddin through obscene gestures and pressured the plaintiff to give the parcel a bottle of Blue Label alcohol free of charge.

As the plaintiff did not agree to this, Parimoni insulted the plaintiff. During an altercation between the plaintiff and the accused, Paramoni threw a serving glass at the plaintiff and also threw the mobile phone in his hand. Nasiruddin was injured in the head and chest. Parimoni and her accomplices beat up and threatened to kill Nasiruddin and vandalized him. 

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