Holiday makers to feel ease this time in rail journey



Shihabul Islam, Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
Photo: Barta24.com

Photo: Barta24.com

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After few days the advance ticket selling of passenger trains will begin. Thousands of people return to their native homes from the capital to meet the waiting relatives by means of bus, train and water ways. However, most holiday makers prefer to train journey. For this purpose the ticket purchasers are to wait outside the counters hours together.

But the system of ticket selling has been changed this time. This has brought comforts in the willing train passengers. They hope that they do not make to wait in long queue for hours this year.

The passengers’ expectation is that there will be no ticket black- marketing this time making tickets easy available. The passengers have expressed this expectation on Tuesday to Barta24.com at Kamalapur rail station.

This time the railway authority will begin selling of advanced tickets from May 22. Fifty percent tickets will be sold at five points of the capital. The points are – Kamalapur, Biman Bandar, Banani, Tejgaon rail stations and at Rail Bhavan. The rest fifty percent will be sold through the website of railway and apps. So the passengers have welcomed these arrangements. They hope that this time they will not to make wait in queue for long time.

Swarnali Akhtar Swarna of B’baria is doing a job in a private company in the capital. Narrating her experience of last year told Barta 24.com that she had gone to purchase ticket at 6 a.m. which she got in the evening. She got the ticket after such sufferings. It is more suffering for a female passenger.

She further told that if we are to wait for one hour then it is acceptable. But if it exceeds it is frustrating. She hoped that this time it will not be suffering.

Welcoming this year’s changing of ticket selling system one Hsanuzzaman told Barta 24.com that this year there might not be long queue as the tickets will be sold at five places.

One Nazmul of Tangail working in a private clinic as physiotherapist said Barta 24.com that in our country the number of train is less so the trains cannot take the mounting pressure of the holiday makers. If there was a large number of trains then the passengers could be ensured a safe journey. Moreover the authority should look into the matter so that the syndicate cannot be active with ill motive to make extra profit out of the sufferings of the passengers.

   

Donald Lu is coming to Dhaka



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
Photo: Collected

Photo: Collected

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US State Department Assistant Minister for South Asia Donald Lu is coming to Dhaka again. He is scheduled to come to Dhaka in the middle of this month to discuss Bangladesh-US relations.

On Tuesday (May 7), the diplomatic sources of the two countries confirmed the truth of this matter.

This is the US Assistant Secretary's first visit to Dhaka after Bangladesh's 12th national elections. Before this, he last visited Bangladesh last July. After the election on January 7, the discussion around Lu's visit has started in the diplomatic arena.

This will be the 4th visit of Donald Lu, who is discussed in South Asia for various reasons, to Dhaka. He last visited Bangladesh last July as part of a multi-faceted campaign, including announcing a separate US visa policy for Bangladesh to ensure a credible election. At that time, he was accompanied by Uzra Jaya, the US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights. Due to the increased heat of the political field before the election, the double visit of Uzra Zeya and Donald Lu was much discussed in the country and outside the country. Uzra Zeya and Donald Lu met the highest levels of government that time.

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The 'Shishu Bazar' of the British era is still going on in Katiadi



Saidur Rahman Naim, Upazilla Correspondent, Barta24.com,Katiadi(Kishoreganj)
photo: Barta24

photo: Barta24

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In Achmita Union of Katiadi Upazila of Kishoreganj, the ancient British-era Shishu Bazar still survives as a witness of time. Although the name is Shishu Bazar, it is actually a milk market. This traditional milk market has been meeting the demand of milk in the region for years.

Every morning buyers meet with wholesalers and retailers at the cow milk market. Here the farmers sell about 6-7 thousand liters of milk every day. Farmers are happy to get cash by selling milk.

Talking to the local elders, it is known that during the British period, the British used to visit the Achmita area. In Hossainpur and Jalalpur of Katiadi there was a blue hut.(Neel Kuthi). Among them, Jalalpur was the largest furnace in Asia. which still exists today. Considering the geographical advantage, the British started living in the present Achmita area by setting up some palaces. There is a legend that Shishu Bazar for milk is required for feeding their young children. Over time comes the Zamindari era. Then they also used to take milk from this market in the morning. This Bazar used to start from the crowing of dawn which is still going on for ages Today it is known as Shishu Bazar to the people of Ashmita.


The farmers who came to the market said that about a thousand farmers of the union raise dairy cows. They produce about 7-8 thousand liters of milk. Medium and small farmers bring milk to the market and sell milk to retailers and wholesalers. 8-10 wholesalers collect milk here.

Going to the market on Tuesday (May 7) morning, it is seen that farmers are bringing fresh milk by bi-cycle, rickshaw and CNG auto rickshaw. Someone is standing with a bottle, pitcher, jug, some brought two liters, some 10 liters, some brought more milk. Tk. 70-80 per liter is being retailed. Again wholesalers are buying milk and pouring it in drums. The sweet smell of milk is spreading in the air. The farmers got the price at the rate of Tk. 60-70 per litre. Most of the customers in the market are sweet sellers. Milk is collected and used to make sweets.


Zamir Uddin (75), a milk seller of Achmita village, said, 'Our fathers and grandfathers used to sell milk here. I have been watching since childhood. I do not know how old this market is. I am bringing three liters of milk. It feels good to sell and get cash.'

Madan Gopal, a buyer from Bajitpur said, 'I have been collecting milk from this market for 30 years. Ancestors also took from here. I bought 70 liters of milk for the sweet shop.

This Bazar runs from dawn to 9 am in Achmita Bazar next to the Katiadi-Kishoreganj regional road.

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Govt to buy 10 Airbus planes: Aviation Minister



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com
photo: Collected

photo: Collected

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Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muhammad Farooq Khan said that the government will buy 10 more aircraft made by Airbus.

He said this after a meeting with Annie Marie Trevelainn, Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific Region of the UK Department of Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, at her office in the Secretariat on Tuesday (May 7).

The minister said that what can be done in the civil aviation sector was the focus of our discussion. They saw our new airport. They understand that there will be a lot of work here. In Europe they make Airbus, we have Boeing. We are also thinking of buying Airbus.

The United Kingdom will also provide technical support to Bangladesh's third terminal, Saidpur Airport, and the tourism sector. In this case, the country will provide modern training to the workers. The aviation minister said that the third terminal will be inaugurated within the next six months.

At that time, Annie Marie said, UK is interested in Bangladesh's aviation and tourism related issues. The country wants to work together with Bangladesh in this regard. The state minister of the Indo-Pacific region of the United Kingdom said that she had a preliminary discussion with the Aviation minister and said that she will also have a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, where the matter will be discussed in detail.

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Consider economic feasibility before taking up projects: PM



Staff Correspondent, Barta24.com, Dhaka
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Photo: Collected

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the concerned authorities to take into consideration how much the country's economy will be boosted and how much the locals will benefit if the development project is accepted.

She said, we should first think what will be the result and how much people will benefit after taking up a project by investing huge amount of money. The development of the country should be done in such a way that we increase our capacity and reduce our dependence on others.

The Prime Minister said this while observing the presentation regarding the outline of the activities of the Roads and Highways Directorate in the construction of Smart Bangladesh-2041 at the government residence Ganabhaban on Tuesday (May 7) morning.

After witnessing the outline, the Prime Minister gave necessary directions and asked all concerned to give priority to avoid unnecessary expenditure and speedy completion of the projects.

The Prime Minister said that you have to consider how much the country will develop and how much the people will benefit while taking the project. She said that some infrastructural development has been done quickly and the people of the country are getting the benefits.

The head of government said, they are running the state with one goal. She said that after coming to power in 1996, her government's first priority was to ensure food and nutrition security for the people.

She further said that we have successfully ensured food security by increasing food production through research.

Sheikh Hasina said her government had announced Vision 2021 and successfully implemented it by gaining recognition from developing countries. She said, now our aim is to transform Bangladesh into a developed, prosperous and smart country by 2041. We are working to implement that vision.

At this time Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader and Prinipal Secretary to the Prime Minister Tofazzal Hossain Mia were present. 

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