Pirates yet to be contacted: Foreign Minister



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
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Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud said that communication has not yet been established with the ships under the control of Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean.

He said these things to the journalists in a briefing at the Senate building of Dhaka University on Wednesday (March 13).

The Foreign Minister said that attempts to communicate through third parties have been continued. However, whether ransom will be paid to release the sailors will not be revealed at this time due to strategic reasons.

Hasan Mahmud said that the issue of ship capture was discussed in the cabinet. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is vocal about the issue.

Earlier, State Minister for Shipping, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, said that Bangladesh is carrying out all-out efforts to rescue the 23 sailors who were held hostage by pirates in the Indian Ocean.

The Bangladeshi ship named 'MV Abdullah' has been captured by pirates in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday (March 12) afternoon. Somali pirates took control of the ship en route to the United Arab Emirates. Then 23 Bangladeshi sailors on board were taken hostage.

   

Recommendation to drop the story 'Sharif thekey Sharifa' from textbooks



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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The expert committee of the Ministry of Education has recommended to drop the story of 'Sharif thekey Sharifa' discussed in history and social science books of class VII.

At the beginning of this month, the report has been submitted to the Ministry of Education.

According to the concerned sources, some members of the committee have raised objections regarding 19 words in the discussed 'Sharif thekey Sharifa' story. If these words are omitted, the story will not be complete. That is why the expert committee recommended dropping the entire story. However, they also gave an opinion on whether it is possible to rewrite an awareness story about the transgender community and add it to the book.

From the current year, studies are being conducted in the new curriculum from 6th to 9th class. However, from the beginning of the year, criticism started on various issues. The most critical is the story of Sharif thekey Sharifa in the history and sociology book of class VII, which was judged and analyzed by an expert committee appointed by the Ministry of Education.

NCTB member (curriculum) Prof. Moshiuzzaman said that the expert committee has submitted a comprehensive report in this regard to the Ministry of Education. However, no response has been given so far from the ministry. We will take further steps accordingly if we receive the instructions from the ministry.

On the recommendation of the expert committee, Professor Mohammad Abdur Rashid, principal of Dhaka Aliya Madrasa said, we have submitted a report in this regard. The ministry will be able to say what the recommendations are in the report.

Meanwhile, a high-level committee formed by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has recommended correction of 147 mistakes in 31 books of the four classes of the new curriculum for the current year.

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Prime Minister's gift house sale festival in Raninagar



District Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Allegations have raised of transfer of the gift houses of Asrayan project gifted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Mujib Year In the Dakahar Chowdhury Pukur of Ekdala Union of Raninagar Upazila of Naogaon.

Rafiqul Islam, son of deceased Tahir Uddin Molla of Kaligram Munsipur village, filed a written complaint with the Deputy Commissioner and Upazila Nirbahi Officer to investigate the matter and take action.

It is learnt after visiting the area and complaint sources that in the past 2021-22 fiscal year, the Upazila Administration constructed 59 houses in several phases in the Dakahar Chowdhury Pukur Asrayan Project of Ekdala Union of Raninagar Upazila of the district. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina constructed these houses and land as a Mujib Year gift for the homeless, but most of the houses in this project were unethically allotted to those who own land and houses. As the allotters have their own land and houses, instead of living there, house buying and selling started a few days after the inauguration. In this buying and selling, many who did not get a house through legal means are living by buying a house with a large sum of money. Many people are buying houses at a low price in the hope of selling them at a high price. It is as if the festival of house buying and selling has started in the Asrayan project.

According to the source of the complaint, house number 1 was sold by Beno Hossain purchased by Azizar. House No. 35 Fekrul sold to Yunus Ali son of Afzal Hossain of Dhakahar village and Yunus Ali sold the same house to Dulal. Alam sold house No. 37 to Shariful. Although Salim Uddin of Dhakahar village has his own land, father and son have been allotted 2 houses, besides they have bought 2 houses for sale. Rahman Kabiraj has a thatched roofed house in that village, but he has bought 2 houses.

Despite having the land and house of the Asrayan vice-president (dabwala) Hasin Ali, his mother has allocated 3 houses including 1 house in the name of Hasina Begum, 1 house in her name and 1 house in the name of his wife. Buyers interested in selling their mother's house are bidding. Locals said Hasin Ali is the main owner of these shelter houses.

Locals complain that Hasin lacks nothing. There are many resources in his village. The houses are occupied by himself even though he leads a luxurious life in this house.

Going there with the truth of the allegations, Hasin lives a luxurious life in the house with expensive furniture, phones. The color of the room has been changed to a different color. There is no way to understand that this is the house of the Asrayan project.

Locals complained that all except 20 houses out of 59 houses have been bought and sold in this project. Conscious people think that the main purpose of Bangabandhu's daughter's Mujib Year is being disrupted. They demanded necessary measures subject to immediate investigation.

Ashraful purchased house number 30 from beneficiary Nargis, when contacted he said, I did not get any house but Nargis gave me the house for living. When asked if he had made the purchase, he said, "I took the paper but did not pay any money."

In this regard, Ekdala Union UP member Abdul Alim (Apple) said that there are a total of 59 houses in this Asrayan project. Most of the real landless here have been sold as they cannot find houses. Even after proving that the house was sold, the Upazila Nirbahi Officer did not take any action.

Chairman of Ekdala Union Shahjahan Ali said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's gifts to the landless houses are being sold on the occasion of Mujib Year. No action has been taken even though I have mentioned this several times in the monthly disciplinary meeting. I demand a fair investigation from the administration. He said that some of the Asrayan leaders are involved in the sale of houses.

In this regard, Upazila Nirbahi Officer Umme Tabassum told Barta24.com that they have received complaints about the sale of Asrayan project houses. I have made an investigation committee, if the truth of the incident is found, necessary measures will be taken.

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Today is Sheikh Hasina's homecoming day



News Desk, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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After the killing of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family August 15, 1975 Sheikh Hasina had returned to the soil of Bangladeshi after a long exile on May 17,1981. She arrived at the then Dhaka Kurmitola Airport from New Delhi via Kolkata at 4:30 pm on that day.

On the night of August 15, 1975, a group of misled army officers killed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family through the most brutal murder in history. Bangabandhu's two daughters, Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana, survived because they were abroad. After the assassination of Bangabandhu, the killer group started a multifaceted conspiracy to endanger the existence of the Bengali nation by destroying the spirit of the liberation war in independent-sovereign Bangladesh.

In the life of the Bengali nation, the darkness was pressing like a rock. In the same way, in the absence of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina, she was elected the president of the organization in the national conference of Awami League held on February 14, 15 and 16, 1981. The sacred responsibility of leading the struggle for the liberation of the motherland is entrusted to the hands of the eldest daughter of the Father of the Nation. Assassination group fears the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter. The murderous military junta led by Ziaur Rahman created all kinds of obstacles to prevent Sheikh Hasina from returning to her homeland.

Sheikh Hasina returned to her beloved homeland on May 17, 1981, ignoring the bloodshed and restrictions of the military ruler. She returned to Bangabandhu's Bangladesh after a long 6-year exile. That day the capital Dhaka became a city of processions. From morning till midnight, the city of Dhaka vibrated with processions and slogans. Bad weather and heavy rain could not stop the march of millions of people that day. Kurmitola International Airport and Sher-e-Bangla Nagar turned into a sea of people.

Dhaka, the capital, was the destination of people from all over Bangladesh that day to catch a glimpse of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina. The immortal slogan of independence, 'Jai Bangla, Jai Bangabandhu' vibrated the air and air of Bengal. The voice of the crowd thunderously proclaimed 'Hasina, I promised you, I will avenge the murder of my father'; "We are with you in the dark night of storm and rain". "Sheikh Hasina's arrival, welcome with greetings".

Sheikh Hasina assumed responsibility as the President of Awami League with a firm promise to implement the ideals and dreams of Bangabandhu back home, to prosecute the murder of Bangabandhu and four national leaders, to restore the lost democratic rights of the people by ending the dictatorship forever, to establish a sovereign parliamentary system and to establish a government.

When the plane carrying Sheikh Hasina was seen in the sky at 4:30 that afternoon, thousands of people entered the airport ignoring all controls and requests. The plane landed with a lot of risk. The crowd moves right up to the airport tarmac. After several attempts the truck was taken just in front of the cockpit door after the flow of the crowd was somewhat diverted. At this time, Sheikh Hasina waved to the crowd from inside.

At 4:32 PM, Sheikh Hasina came down from the plane to the truck. It took 3 hours to reach Sher-e-Bangla Nagar of Sheikh Hasina from Kurmitola. At this time, city life is almost endangered due to stormy rains. Hundreds of thousands of people wait on the roads when normal life is disrupted. At 7:30 in the evening, she appeared on the public reception stage.

On May 17, 1981, Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina said in response to the reception of millions of people in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar amid storms and clouds and people's tears of joy, 'I came to you after losing everything, I sacrificed my life to avenge the killing of the Father of the Nation by implementing his ideals on the path indicated by Bangabandhu want to do.'

She also said, I have nothing to lose. I have come to you having lost my parents, brother Russell and all, I want to get them back among you. With you, I want to put a smile on the faces of the suffering people of Bengal by implementing it in the way indicated by Bangabandhu. We want to take away the socio-economic as well as overall freedom of the Bengali nation.

The historic homecoming day of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina is a significant event in the journey of restoring the spirit of the great liberation war and establishing a prosperous Bangladesh. After August 15, 1975, when our beloved motherland was torn apart by the perfidious, traitorous, murderous traitors, when our national life was disturbed by the fierce violence of the traitors, Sheikh Hasina's historic homecoming was an eternal inspiration to win the hill like rainwater of Sravan. On that day, the tears of Bangabandhu's daughter's homecoming, the seeds of crisis were planted in the land of birth.

Sheikh Hasina's uninterrupted long struggle began with the historic homecoming. Her fearless struggle against the military junta and dictatorship continued for 16 long years. Jail-tyranny, torture, nothing could sway her from her path even one iota. She was never persevered even in the face of adversity. She repeatedly ignored the bloodshed of autocracy, risking her life to restore the lost rights of the people of Bengal appeared as the ideal of democracy.

After assuming office of the Awami League President, in the long 43 years of political life, under the leadership of Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina, the end of dictatorship, restoration of democracy, Bengali’s right to food and vote has been established. A smile has appeared on the faces of the sad people of Bengal. Bangladesh has achieved self-sufficiency in food. The trial of the murderers of Bangabandhu and the murderous anti-humanity war criminals of 1971 has been completed and the verdict has been executed. Bangladesh, once plagued by poverty and famine, is moving forward in a new journey of world conquest due to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's opportune leadership, competence, dedication, talent-mindedness, skill, creativity, liberal democratic vision and visionary leadership. Bangladesh has been established as a self-respecting nation in the World Assembly. Bangladesh has turned from a less developed country into a developing country by overcoming the stigma of a bottomless basket.

Sheikh Hasina has been recognized as one of the best statesmen in the contemporary world for her political wisdom, integrity, talent, skills and qualities. She has become the creator of the new history of Bangladesh in the glory of her work; mountain peak is a symbol of success, a pillar of development. The shape of developed and prosperous Bangladesh is the trustful address of Bengalis' hopes and dreams, the charioteer of Bengali's world conquest the brightest light of world politics - a world-renowned leader as the spokesperson of backward nations and peoples in the international arena. The 'blue bird' who returns from the door of death again and again is a dying free man. She is the mother of humanity's adventurer, the self-empowering truth-seeker. Progress-development is a pure estuary of peace and prosperity. In a word, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's career is rich in achievements like the sea.

Sheikh Hasina's long 43-year movement-struggle was never smooth, it was noisy and fraught with danger. She has been repeatedly attacked by assassins and tortured in prison for the crime of agitating for the liberation of the people. But she was steadfast, firm and courageous like her father in the matter of establishing the rights of the people of Bengal and the principles and ideals. Having been anointed by the people's love, she has been making groundbreaking contributions to the socio-economic development of the country and the welfare of people of all classes and professions.

Like Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina has implemented multi-dimensional initiatives for the welfare of the soil and people of this country whenever she assumed the responsibility of running the country. Her political strength is her immense love and inexhaustible love for the soil and people of Bangladesh.

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Government is not in a position to repay foreign debt: Dr. Devapriya Bhattacharya



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Fellow of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), noted economist Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya said that the country is in the most difficult situation. Our revenue has not increased; at the moment there is no condition to increase government expenditure. There is no condition to repay the foreign debt.

He said these things in an event titled 'Keman Budget Chai' in view of the budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Thursday (May 16) night.

Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya said, if we cannot control our politics, then problems are created in other parts of the body. What has come this time since last time? If you see in the last 10 years we have not increased the revenue at the individual level. If you talk about Corona today, then the consideration of the economy is not right.

He said, many words of the IMF will not agree with our words, but we have come to a consensus among the economists of our country. That is inflation and macroeconomics. No matter how we say it, be it exchange rates, commodity prices or interest rates. Macroeconomic stability will be promoted as the number 1 issue for all because it is like a diabetic in the body.

He also said, "If you consider the last 15 years, then I don't think there has been such a complicated and financial budget." This complex financial situation is further complicated by the international situation. You say it is the product price and you say the recession in the market.

This renowned economist said the kind of politics that is happening in the world now, as a result of our regional politics and various geo-strategic situations are affecting our economy. So if you say in general terms, this budget is coming in very complicated situation. So this budget is tougher than any other year and above all Bangladesh is currently in a conditional loan with IMF. Fulfilling all commitments is now mandatory. So what are the challenges we are going through in the next budget in this situation.

Minister of State for Finance Wasika Ayesha Khan, Prime Minister's Economic Adviser Dr. Moshiur Rahman, former governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr. Saleh Uddin Ahmed and Executive President of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) Mohammad Hatem were present in the meeting.

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