Prime Minister stresses on ‘zone map’ to increase farm production



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has stressed on research and preparation of region-based 'zone map' to increase food production, saying that considering the fertility of the soil and the environment, the crop should be cultivated where it is best produced.

She said, "We need to prepare a 'zone map' based on the area of the whole of Bangladesh considering the fertility of the soil and the environment, considering how we can produce more crops at a lower cost."

She called upon all concerned to consider whether extending the tenure of government service of the agri-scientists could bring them under special incentives.

She was speaking as the chief guest at the unveiling ceremony of the 100th Agricultural Technology Map for Sustainable Development and Prosperity in Agriculture on Thursday (February 4) morning marking the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation. She was virtually connected to the main event from Gonobhavan organized by the Ministry of Agriculture at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center.

Addressing the officials and scientists of the Ministry of Agriculture, Sheikh Hasina said, "We need to set up more laboratories to meet the standards of agricultural products in our country." There is also a need to build regional laboratories.

Noting that her government has given utmost importance to agriculture as the country's economy is dependent on it, the Prime Minister said increasing the purchasing power of the people of the country and creating and exporting markets at home and abroad should be at the core of product production.

The Prime Minister said, "We want to build agro-based industries and that is what we will do. I also want the cooperation of our researchers in this regard. "

She emphasized on the importance of extending the service tenure of researchers and said, "Research does not end in a day. There is a lot of research to be done. However, there is a fixed age for the government job, after which the job can no longer be done. But for the government employees involved in the research, I have said one thing over and over again, how can we motivate these researchers so that they can have the fruits of their research in their hands. '

The Prime Minister said once her government took the initiative for this, it was no longer possible as everyone associated with the research institute wanted to take this opportunity.

For example, she said, ‘No one is left out, starting from the office peon, the orderly, the doorman. This is not the case. This is the problem in our country. So how can this be done for those involved in research?

Sheikh Hasina said that there is no problem in raising the age limit in the universities. So, how can we give this incentive to the institutes? I want that advice from you because we want to give more opportunities to our agricultural researchers. '

The Prime Minister said, "I have a desire to have a government exchange of views with those of us who are engaged in research to discuss their problems." We have to create such an opportunity in the future. So that I can know how you can continue your research.

Fisheries and Animal Resources Minister SM Rezaul Karim addressed the function as a special guest.

Presided over by the Minister of Agriculture Dr. Abdur Razzak the   Senior Secretary of the Ministry Mejbaul Islam delivered the welcome address. BARC's Executive Chairman Dr. Sheikh Mohammad Bakhtiyar also spoke. Successful farmer  Rafiqul Islam also spoke expressing his personal feelings.

100 technologies selected from rice, jute, sugarcane tea, silk, cotton, forest resources and fisheries invented by the agricultural scientists of the country have been added in the map. In addition, there are several success stories in the application of technologies which can be a role model in agricultural development. For the convenience of the readers from home and abroad, Bengali as well as English has been kept in this atlas.

Published by BARC (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council) and invented by the concerned institutes, this '100 Agricultural Technology Atlas' is expected to play a pivotal role in modern agricultural development and improving the living standards of farmers.

# MS/0848 Hours/5/2/21

   

Dhaka is the sixth most polluted city in the world, Seoul is on top



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Today, Dhaka is sixth in the list of the most polluted cities in the world. The air quality of the capital has become 'unhealthy' with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 172 at 6:50 am today.

South Korea's capital Seoul topped the air quality index with 343. South Korea's Incheon, Pakistan's Lahore, Vietnam's Chiang Mai and India's Delhi occupy the second, third, fourth and fifth places in the list with AQI scores of 217, 187, 179 and 177 respectively.

An AQI score between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy' for sensitive groups. An AQI score between 201 and 300 is considered 'very unhealthy'. And an AQI between 301 and 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing a serious health risk to residents.

AQI in Bangladesh is determined based on 5 parameters of pollution, namely - Particulate Matter (PM10 & PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone (O3).

Dhaka has been suffering from air pollution for a long time. Its air quality generally becomes unhealthy during winters and improves slightly during monsoons.

In March 2019, a report by the Department of Environment and the World Bank stated that the three main causes of Dhaka's air pollution are brick kilns, smoke from vehicles and dust from construction activities.

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Taka 400 crores laundered through digital Hundi, controlled by Dubai



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Police's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested 5 people for allegedly laundering around Tk. 400 crore abroad through Digital Hundi using Mobile Banking Service (MFS).

CID Chief Additional IGP Mohammad Ali Mia informed this in a press conference at CID headquarters on Thursday (March 28) afternoon.

The arrested are - Nasim Ahmed (62), the owner of Tasmia Associates, Fazle Rabbi Sumon (32), the territory sales manager of Agent SIM, Md. Kamruzzaman (33), Zahir Uddin (37), representative of Jet Robotics Apps Bangladesh and Khairul Islam alias Pius (34).

Additional IGP Mohammad Ali Mia said, a gang has smuggled around Tk. 400 crore abroad through digital Hundi using mobile banking services. Five members of this gang were arrested during the operation.

He said that Tk. 400 crores illegally came to Bangladesh through Jet Robotics app in the last few months. Police traced the app through intelligence.

He also said that the money of this gang was transacted from the Chattogram based distribution house. Five members of the gang were arrested in separate raids in Dhaka and Chattogram on Wednesday night.

He said that Tk. 28 lakh 51 thousand cash was seized from them at the time of arrest. He said that they used to rent development agent SIMS and deliver money through them to the grassroots level.

The head of CID said that Mamun, the master of this gang lives in Dubai. He is using agent SIM here. This app used for smuggling cannot work outside 48 SIM along the specific link sent from Dubai. Only seven people can enter this app.

Referring to this as a modern form of Hundi business, he said, money is being circulated in the country through this app by blocking remittances coming to Bangladesh. Already we got 5-7 more such organizations who are working like this.

He said, in the last three months, Tk. 400 crores have been hindered from coming to Bangladesh through Jet Robotic Apps. Five people using these apps have been arrested and their devices seized.

He said, Chattogram's development distribution house Tasmia Associates company has 1000 Bkash Agent SIMs. These agent SIMs who are not performing well, the agent SIMs provide DSOs to the users of Jet Robotic Apps.

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Demand for punishment for those responsible for electrocution death in Moulvibazar



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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The death of 6 members of the same family due to electrocution in Moulvibazar is very shocking and heartbreaking. The chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Dr. Kamaluddin Ahmed said that the main responsible person and institution should be brought under accountability.

He made this comment at a discussion on 'Role of Media in Protection of Human Rights and Consumer Rights' organized by 'Business Digest' at a hotel in the capital on Thursday (March 28).

The Chairman of the Human Rights Commission said, after investigating the incident of Moulvibazar, appropriate legal action should be taken against those responsible and necessary measures should be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. We could not do anything for one family, but we have to do for hundreds of such families.

He also said that the issue of rights is directly and indirectly the daily practice of the media. Media can question all the irregularities; make people aware of their rights and duties and play an important role in establishing rights. We can carry out reformative activities only in view of the news published in the media.

Dr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed called on the media workers to take all-out efforts to spread the necessary knowledge about the constitution, law and rights among the people.

At one stage of the discussion, he said about the recurrence of fires, we have not learned proper lessons from the big fires and explosions in Nimatli, Newmarket and Bangabazar in the past years. Had we taken effective measures, recurrence of fires could have been prevented.

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Suggestion to introduce Human Rights Wing in the Foreign Ministry



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recommended setting up a new wing on human rights to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The suggestion was made at the parliamentary committee meeting held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhavan on Thursday (March 28). After the meeting, this information was informed in a press release of the Parliament Secretariat.

The meeting recommended taking necessary steps to recognize March 25 as International Genocide Day. A proposal was made in the meeting to visit the Rohingya camps Kutupalong and Bhasanchar with the members of the Standing Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Chairman of the committee AK Abdul Momen chaired the meeting and members of the committee and Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud, Shahriar Alam, Nahim Razzak, Nizam Uddin Jalil, Nurul Islam Nahid, Habibur Rahman, Saimum Sarwar, Zara Zabeen Mahbub took part in the meeting. #

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