Constructing check dams could be a viable solution to flooding along highways if the ones constructed at Aieslip along the Gelephu-Zhemgang Highway are anything to go by. Check dams are structures built across water bodies to reduce erosion by lowering water speed.  At Aieslip, the structures which were built around two months ago have proved to be a success so far. This has come as a huge relief to commuters along the stretch, which has been experiencing landslides every summer, for over a decade. This is the Aieslip stretch along the highway. It is almost eight kilometres away from Gelephu town. Travellers, especially from Zhemgang, Trongsa, Bumthang and Sarpang use the road. However, every summer they dread roadblocks on the road as soon as the monsoon season starts.  The erstwhile Department of Roads used to spend millions of ngultrum annually just to keep the road open to traffic. However, the situation has improved this year, thanks to these newly constructed check dams. No roadblock has been reported so far. “It has become convenient this year compared to last year after the construction of the dams. We don’t get stuck on the road anymore,” said Kinzang, a taxi driver. “It has become much safer to travel on this road now. In the past, they used to keep an excavator on either side of the stretch to clear the road. It used to be very risky driving through this point because of shooting boulders,” said Madhan Kumar Rai, a resident. “We had a tough time commuting through this road till last year. This year we have not faced any problem,” said Narayan Bandhari, another resident. The Department of Surface Transport’s regional office in Sarpang constructed four such structures out of reinforced concrete, which are 10 meters tall.  These structures control the flow of debris and slow down runoff. Construction began in October last year and was completed in April this year. The construction was done with a budget of around Nu 3 M. SOURCE: The Bhutan Live.com

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the draft of Bank-Company (Amendment) Act, 2023 in a bid to check willful loan defaulters. Under the draft law, maximum three members (instead of existing four members) of a family will be allowed to be directors of a bank. The approval came from the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office here. Now the banking activities are run under the Bank-Company Act, 1991. Its amendment proposal was brought in order to make the law modern and time-befitting one, said Secretary (Coordination & Reforms) at the Cabinet Division Mahmudul Hossain Khan while briefing reporters at the secretariat after the meeting. “Those who are willful loan defaulters are defined and what actions will be taken against them are mentioned here,” he said. Talking about the actions, the secretary said the banks must send the list of willful loan defaulters to Bangladesh Bank and it can impose ban on going abroad,  issuance of trade license (against them), and registration under the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission and the Registrar of Joint Stock Company and Firm. Besides, a willful loan defaulter can’t be eligible to be a director of a bank or financial institution until five years passes after being excluded from the list of willful loan defaulters, he said. If any director of a bank becomes a willful loan defaulter, Bangladesh Bank can declare his post vacant, he added. The secretary said if a bank fails to send the list of loan defaulters to Bangladesh Bank in time, the bank can be fined Tk 50 lakh to Tk one crore. The bank will have to count additional Tk one lakh as fine for every each day delay, he said. “As per the existing law, the maximum four members of a family can be directors of any bank, but it has been reduced to three now,” he said. The bank directors and their family members must provide collaterals, bond or security for taking loans from the bank as per a new provision incorporated in the draft law. A provision was also included here so that Bangladesh Bank can regularly inspect different institutions and foundations run under the law, he added.

"Meta Verified" follows Twitter and other social media companies attempting to instill confidence in their services by asking users to pay to prove their identities. Facebook and Instagram's parent company, Meta, announced on Sunday it would test a paid subscription service. "Meta Verified," available in Australia and New Zealand this week, would authenticate users and reward them with a blue badge to show their status. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the subscription would also include extra protection against impersonation and ensure prioritized customer support. It will cost $11.99 (roughly €11.20) per month on the web or $14.99 a month on Apple's iOS system and Android. Other social media subscriptions It is very similar to Elon Musk's $8 per month "Twitter Blue" subscription service. Twitter's launch last year backfired with an embarrassing spate of fake accounts that scared advertisers and cast doubt on the site's future. Musk was forced to briefly suspend the effort before relaunching it to muted reception in December. Zuckerberg, however, stressed there would be no changes to accounts on Facebook and Instagram that were already verified. Other social media apps, like Snap Inc's Snapchat and messaging app Telegram also launched paid subscription services last year, as a new source of revenue. Meta sales revenue down in 2022 Meta is also under pressure after taking a huge gamble on the metaverse, the virtual reality world that Zuckerberg believes will be the next online frontier. Earlier this month, Meta posted its first-ever revenue decline since going public in 2012, with sales down by 1% to $116.6 billion last year. Facebook's user growth has slowed down but the company also recently announced that the number of daily users on Facebook hit two billion for the first time.

A policeman was killed when terrorists attacked a checkpost near Kinger Bridge in Bannu district on Tuesday night. Police officials said that the checkpost had been established near the bridge in the limits of Mandan police station as part of security measures to protect roads and citizens from attacks. They said that the policemen deployed at the post were performing their duties as usual when they came under firing attack. “The policemen returned the fire and a gun battle continued for some time,” they maintained, adding that a head constable, namely Sardar Ali Khan Marwat, embraced martyrdom as a result of the attack. They said that the attackers fled the place taking the advantage of darkness, adding additional force was sent to the area and a search for the fleeing attackers was launched. The body of the policeman was shifted to the police lines for offering funeral prayers after completing medico-legal formalities at a hospital. Bannu district police officer Dr Mohammad Iqbal, SP investigations Zia Hasan and area elders attended the funeral. Later, he was laid to rest in a graveyard in his native village in Lakki Marwat district with full official honour. It was the second attack on law enforcement personnel in the last 48 hours, as on Monday night a group of armed assailants had killed and beheaded an FC soldier in Janikhel town of southern Bannu district. Source: DAWN

Pakistan's banned outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for a hand grenade attack on a police check post in the Phandu region of Peshawar, said South Asia Media Research Institute (SAMRI). A total of 4 policemen were allegedly killed and injured in the attack. Taking to Twitter, SAMRI said, "Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claims responsibility for a hand grenade attack on a police check post in Phandu region of Peshawar. 4 policemen were allegedly killedinjured in the attack. 4 policemen were allegedly killedinjured in the attack."In January alone, several terrorist incidents rocked Pakistan as major cities including Islamabad and Lahore were targeted. On January 25, in an attack in Kech, Balochistan over 10 Pakistani military personnel were killed. Just over a week later, on February 2, the Noshki and Panjgur districts of the same province saw the killing of seven military personnel, including an officer. Balochistan Liberation Army, a separatist group in Balochistan, claimed the responsibility for the attack. They claimed to have killed "more than 100 enemy personnel" in Noshki and Panjgur. In another terrorist attack, unidentified motorcyclists shot a Christian priest and injured his companion in Peshawar. Police suspect the Islamic State (IS) to be behind the attack. These attacks were mostly carried out by banned outfits including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).   Source: ANI

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Thursday) called upon the countrymen to help the government in containing the Covid-19 onslaught by maintaining health guidelines such as wearing masks, avoiding mass gatherings and refraining from going outside unnecessarily in view of the sudden surge in the coronavirus infections. “We have to bring the situation under control as we did earlier immediately after the coronavirus breakout. We are trying to bring the virus under control. But, assistance from the people is necessary to contain it,” she told the parliament while speaking on a condolence motion on incumbent lawmaker from Sylhet-3 constituency Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury, who died recently. The Leader of the House said that a sudden surge in the coronavirus infection rate has been seen in Bangladesh and elsewhere across the world, adding, “The coronavirus (infection) has increased, particularly on March 29, 30 and 31, as high as couldn’t be imagined.” She said that the country is witnessing the sudden surge in the Covid-19 infection as the people are ignoring the health guidelines since vaccination against the virus started as they are thinking that nothing would happen to them. “I repeatedly told people to wear masks and follow the health guidelines even after taking the jabs against coronavirus. But, maintaining the health protocol has been stopped,” she continued. The Prime Minister reiterated her call to the countrymen to put masks on faces which she described as the most important thing and follow other health guidelines to remain protected from the lethal virus. She said it has been estimated that the people attending marriage ceremonies and going to tourist places for outing mainly contributed to the sudden surge in the Covid-19 infection rate. The Prime Minister called upon all to avoid mass gatherings and stop going out home unnecessarily and arrange marriage ceremonies on a limited scale following the health guidelines. “After returning home from offices or other places, take steam of hot water by covering heads with a piece of cloth which can work effectively against the Covid-19,” she suggested. She also suggested taking mustard oil in the nose before leaving the house, saying that she has been using it since the Covid-19 onset. The Prime Minister said that her government has already issued some directives to effectively fight the coronavirus onslaught. She stressed the need for making people aware about maintaining the directives to check the sudden surge of the Covid-19 and asked all not to mix with people unnecessarily. Taking part in the discussion on a condolence motion expressing profound shock at the death of a sitting member of parliament, Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury, and some noted personalities, including HT Imam, Sheikh Hasina, also the Leader of the House, expressed found shock and sorrow at their deaths and conveyed profound sympathy to the bereaved families. She described both Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury and her political adviser HT Imam as politically conscious persons and recalled their contributions to nation building activities. On Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury, she said that he was elected lawmaker in every national election with a huge margin from his constituency as he was keen to work for the people, adding, “Sylhet has been affected politically at his demise.” About HT Imam, the premier said that he was a cabinet secretary since the emergence of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh in 1975 and was a politically conscious person. She said that HT Imam has written two books on the measures taken by then governments at the request of mine. The Prime Minister also recalled the contribution of former state minister Mohammad Aman Ullah (four-time MP from Mymensingh-11), Monsur Ahmed (two-time MP from Satkhira-4) and Abdul Majid Mandal (MP in 10th Parliament from Siranganj-5). She said Monsur Ahmed, who was president of Satkhira District Unit Awami League, was brutally tortured by the government of Ziaur Rahman. Regarding Barrister Moudud Ahmed (six-time MP from Noakhali-5 and Bogura-7), the premier said that Moudud had talent, if it was used for the welfare of the people, it could have been better. She also said that Moudud had never been appointed as a lawyer in the Agartola Conspiracy Case though he (Moudud) had claimed so. On the death of Bengali daily Janakantha editor Mohammad Atikullah Khan Masud, the Prime Minister said, “It will be injustice to say nothing about Atikullah Khan Masud.” She said that Atikullah Khan Masud had, at his own initiative, taken a brave role in collecting information regarding inhuman tortures of Awami League leaders and workers by the BNP after it assumed office through the 2001 farcical election though many newspapers dared not to do it at that time. “It’s a matter of regret that the journalist community has lost a brave person and a good warrior at the demise of Atikullah Khan Masud,” she opined. On death of chairman of Sikder Group of Industries Zainul Haque Sikder, also father of Parveen Haque Sikder, an Awami League lawmaker from women reserved seat, the premier said that he was not only a freedom fighter but also a person who gave all sorts of supports to the pro-liberation people. The parliament unanimously adopted a condolence motion this morning. Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion in the House at the beginning of the 12th session of the 11th Parliament. As per the tradition, the day’s business of parliament was adjourned after the adaptation of the condolence over the death of sitting Awami League MP Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury, who was elected from Sylhet-3 constituency, in order to pay respect to him. A one-minute silence was observed and a munajat was offered seeking eternal peace of the departed soul. Deputy Speaker Md Fazle Rabbi Miah conducted the munajat. Before the condolence motion was passed, Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan (Panchagarh-2), Opposition chief whip Mashiur Rahman Ranga (Rangpur-1), Awami League MPs Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim (Gopalganj-2), Muhammad Faruk Khan (Gopalganj-1), Nurul Islam Nahid (Sylhet-6), Md Abdus Shahid (Maulvibazar-4), Nesar Ahmed (Maulvibazar-3) and Enamul Haque (Rajshahi-4), Jatiya Party MP Pir Fazlur Rahman (Sunamganj-4) and BNP MP Md Harunur Rashid (Chapainawabganj-3) also took part in the discussion. Source: BSS AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Sunday) asked the police personnel to stop cyber crimes alongside money laundering, human trafficking, terrorism, militancy, abuse of drugs, gangster culture and repression on women and children. “The most important thing is that the trend of crimes is changing with the advent of newer technologies as it is an era of technology. Cyber crimes are increasing drastically and we have to prevent it,” she said. While addressing virtually the passing-out parade of the 37th BCS batch of assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) from her official Ganabhaban residence in the capital, the Prime Minister also said that the crimes which are being committed using technology must be stopped. Bangladesh Police organized the programme at the Bangladesh Police Academy, Rajshahi. The premier called upon the police personnel to always serve the people with honesty, dedication, moral values and discipline and thus achieve the trust, confidence and love of the people. “In case of discharging professional duties, the police personnel have to give utmost priority to the people’s fundamental rights, human rights and the rule of law,” she said. Noting that money laundering, cybercrime and human trafficking have global phenomenon, Sheikh Hasina said, “We have to protect our country from the menaces.” The premier highly praised Bangladesh Police personnel for playing a significant role in controlling militancy and terrorism in the country, saying, “Police have to play a stronger role in curbing militancy and terrorism alongside stopping the abuse of drugs. Many police personnel have sacrificed their lives for the noble cause.” She asked the police personnel to prevent the repression on the women and children with more efficiency alongside stopping other social crimes such as spreading rumours and gangster culture. “We have to bring to normal life the teenagers who are involved in crimes using various apps,” she said. The Prime Minister asked the police personnel to stay alert so that none could spread rumour to destabilize the country. Describing training as the most important thing to make the police personnel capable to fight the crimes, she said, “We have taken measures to train the police personnel accordingly at home and abroad and it must be continued.” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, MP, and Senior Secretary of Public Security Division Mostofa Kamal Uddin spoke on the occasion while Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr. Benazir Ahmed gave the welcome address at the function. On behalf of the Prime Minister, the home minister distributed prizes among apprentice assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) Abul Hossain, Snehasish Kumar Das, Md Fayejul Islam and Md Abul Hossain for their best performances in various fields. Among them, Snehasish Kumar Das was adorned with the best all round performance award. The newly commissioned police officers also took formal oaths on the occasion. Bangladesh Police arranged a spectacular parade marking the occasion which the premier witnessed virtually from the Ganabhaban. The Prime Minister said that her government’s topmost priority is to ensure peace and security of the people by strengthening democracy. She called upon the police personnel to stand beside the people in their bad days to gain their confidence, trust and love, saying, “The number of the police would not matter if you can gain confidence, trust and love of the people and you can contain any crime with the help of people.” In this connection, the premier said, quoting Bangabandhu, “Bear in mind that the people will love you instead of fearing. You know, people love police in many countries. You have to learn how to earn honour.” Briefly highlighting various measures taken by her government for the overall development of police, Sheikh Hasina said her government has formed, Anti-Terrorism Unit and Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crimes (CTTC) Unit to enhance efficiency of the police personnel in containing the terrorism and militancy. Besides, the government has established Special Security and Protection Battalion, Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI), Tourist Police, Naval Police and Industrial Police to effectively fight all sorts of crimes, she continued. The premier said they have formed armed police battalions for ensuring security at airports while two armed police battalions have also been formed to maintain law and order at camps in Cox’s Bazar where around 11 lakh Rohingyas took shelter and one female armed police battalion has also been formed. Sheikh Hasina said that the budget for police was only Taka 850 crore when her party Awami League assumed office in 1996, adding that the government increased the amount to Taka 1,200 crore in its first budget. Noting that after coming to power for the second time in 2009, her government found that no more allocation was made for the police in the national budget, she said, “We have increased the allocation for Bangladesh Police to Taka 16,000 crore in the national budget announced for the FY 2020-21.” The premier said she herself as the head of the government has established a 10-storey hospital for police at Rajarbagh Police Lines after coming to power in 1996 and stressed the need of forming a separate medical unit for ensuring medicare services for the police. She said that her government has rented a private hospital for giving proper treatment to the policemen infected with the Covid-19. Sheikh Hasina also said her government has been taking measures to establish educational institutes in the divisional cities for ensuring proper education for the children of the police personnel. She greeted the police personnel for playing an effective role to help the people particularly in reaching food at night to the doorsteps of those who couldn’t want assistance in broad day light and arrange burial of those who died of Covid-19 during the coronavirus pandemic. The Prime Minister said that the police have to play a great role in establishing a developed and prosperous country free from poverty, hunger and religious disharmony as envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Source: BSS AH

Describing the Narayanganj mosque blast as a very tragic incident, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said it is essential to oversee whether mosques are constructed in the country maintaining the due designs and with permission from relevant authorities so that such incidents do not happen again. “Now air-conditioners are being installed in the country’s mosques in an unplanned way or mosques are built anywhere [without planning]. Now it’s absolutely essential to see if the place is suitable to construct a structure or permission is taken from appropriate authorities or its design is formulated accordingly. Or else, such incidents (like Narayanganj mosque blast) might recur anytime,” she told Parliament. The Prime Minister said this joining the discussion on a condolence motion brought in the House expressing profound shock at the demise of two sitting MPs –-Advocate Sahara Khatun and Israfil Alam— as well as former President of India Pranab Mukherjee and some other personalities. Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury moved the condolence motion in the House at the beginning of the 9th session of the 11th parliament. Later, the House unanimously adopted the condolence motion. Sheikh Hasina said the government has already formed a committee to ascertain the reason why the deadly blast in the Naryanganj mosque took place. “Now it’s being investigated to find out how and why this incident happened. I would like to say it (the reason) will definitely be unearthed.” she added.   The Prime Minister said she has already instructed the Cabinet Secretary and the electricity and gas authorities to identify the reasons behind the incident. She said the government has taken all the necessary measures for the treatment of those injured in the deadly blast. She prayed for the salvation of the departed souls, expressed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members and wished speedy recovery of the injured. Source: UNB AH

Prime Minister and Leader of the House Sheikh Hasina today said the government has been implementing the “Zero Discharge Policy” in the industrial sector to check industrial pollution and protect the country’s environment. “Installation of Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) or Air Treatment Plant (ATP) and taking environmental clearance have been made mandatory for mills and factories which require it ,” she told parliament while responding to a starred question placed by ruling party lawmaker Mohammad Shahiduzzaman (Meherpur-2). The Prime Minister informed the House that a total of 1,920 industries out of 2,400 have set up ETPs across the country till December 2019. She said the government has been implementing the “Zero Discharge Policy” in the industries releasing liquid wastes with a view to stopping industrial pollution. “The government has given approval of the Zero Discharge Plan to 526 industries till December 2019,” Sheikh Hasina said. About the measures taken by the government to check air pollution, she said the government executed the Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (CASE) Project. Under the project, 16 Continuous Air Quality Monitoring Stations were established in 12 towns of the country, the premier said, adding that the authorities concerned are now monitoring the level of air pollution. Noting that the government is working sincerely in controlling air pollution caused by brick kilns and motor vehicles, she said the Brick Manufacturing and Brick Kiln Establishment (Control) (Amendment) Act 2018 has been enacted to this end. Sheikh Hasina said a project is being implemented to introduce environment-friendly improved stoves to prevent indoor air pollution and greenhouse gas emission and reduce health risk. Under the project, she said, 9.73 lakh improved stoves were installed across the country. Sheikh Hasina said the drives of mobile courts are continuing across the country to stop the use of banned polythene shopping bags. “We’ve been implementing the Sound Pollution (Control) Rules 2006 through the Department of Environment (DoE) aiming to control sound pollution,” she said. Following the rules, the streets surrounding the Bangladesh Secretariat was declared as a “silent zone” on December 17, 2019, the Prime Minister said, adding that punitive measures have been taken by conducting mobile court drives against the vehicles that are causing sound pollution in the area. She said the government declared the country’s 13 important spots as the ecologically critical areas (ECAs) to protect biodiversity and environment. Sheikh Hasina said the government has taken different plans to create 52,000 hectares block garden in degraded forests and introduce mangroves in 63 hectares of land in the country’s coastal region under a project. “We’ve also planned to distribute one crore saplings in current fiscal, marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she said. Source: BSS AH

Five physicians of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) have checked the health condition of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. They performed the medical checkup following order of the Supreme Court. Sources said, at around 3 pm on Sunday the five physicians went to the old central jail at Nazimuddin Road in old Dhaka to check Khaleda Zia’s health condition. They conducted the medical checkup process for more than one hour. In the five-member medical team there were- BSMMU internal medicine department Professor Md. Abdul Jalil Chowdhury, Associate Professor of rheumatology department Shamim Ahmed, Associate Professor of cardiology department Tanjila Parvin, Associate Professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation department Badrunnesa Ahmed and Assistant Professor of orthopedic surgery department Chowdhury Iqbal Mahmud. AH