Ajay Bhatt, Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Tourism of India called on Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, MP on the sidelines of the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Accra, Ghana yesterday (6 December).  Both the dignitaries discussed various issues of mutual interest and expressed their satisfaction over the rock-solid relationship between the two countries based on shared history, culture, language and many other commonalities.  Earlier on Tuesday, 5 December Foreign Minister met his Ghanaian counterpart Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey in Accra.  Both the foreign ministers underscored the need for adopting aggressive Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by the developed countries and materializing the commitment of allocating 100 billion dollars annually. Ghana and Bangladesh are the Troika-members of the Climate Vulnerable Forum as the current and immediate past Chairs respectively of the organization.  Both the foreign ministers agreed to share experience and expertise in the agriculture sector towards mutual benefit of both nations and also discussed ways of possible collaboration in the pharmaceutical and IT sectors among others.  Foreign Minister Dr. Momen led a high-level Bangladesh delegation to the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial during 5-6 December 2023.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Tuesday, predicted that the country is likely to experience rainfall for three consecutive days starting from tomorrow as monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh. "Due to the monsoon, there is possibility of rainfall in Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions for three days from Wednesday, lessening the current intensity of hot weather ," Meteorologist AKM Nazmul Haque. The remaining parts of the country, however, are likely to experience light to moderate rain during the period, he added. Earlier, a met release said mild heat wave is sweeping over Sylhet division and the district of Feni and it may abate Light to moderate rain or thunder showers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, at a few places over Dhaka, Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions in next 24 hours from 9am today, it said.  Moderately heavy to heavy falls may occur at some places over the country, it added. A low pressure area has also formed over north-west Bay adjoining west central Bay of Andhra-Odisha coast. Country's maximum temperature on Monday was recorded 37.2 degrees Celsius at Sylhet, while today's minimum temperature was 21.5 degrees Celsius at Khepupara. The highest rainfall in the last 24 hours till 6am today was recorded 45 mm at Hatiya. The sun sets at 6:13pm today and rises at 5:42am tomorrow in the capital.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has said, light to moderate rain or thundershowers in eight divisions, including Dhaka, started from 9 am on Tuesday. “Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at a few places over Barishal and Chattogram divisions and at one or two places over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy falls at places over the country, said a regular BMD bulletin on Tuesday. Day and night temperatures may rise slightly over the country. Country’s highest 38 mm rainfall was recorded in Chattogram’s Hatiya and Barishal’s Khepupara in 24 hours till 6am on Tuesday, met office said.

Bangladesh Meteorology Department (BMD) today forecasts light to moderate rain or thundershowers along with temporary gusty wind in all eight divisions of the country in the next 24 hours commencing 9am today, as monsoon is fairly active over Bangladesh. (Reports BSS) "Light to moderate rain or thundershowers along with temporary gusty wind may occur at most places Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions; at many places over Dhaka, Mymensingh and Khulna divisions and at a few places over Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions with moderately heavy to heavy falls at places over the north-eastern part of the country in next 24 hours till 9am tomorrow," it said. However, the met office predicted that the day temperature may rise slightly and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged.

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) today (Dec2) predicted that the low pressure area, which currently lies over southeast Bay of Bengal & adjoining Andaman Sea after turning into a well-marked low over central parts of Andaman Sea and adjoining area, can intensify further.   "The low pressure which already turned into a well-marked low is likely to move in a west-northwesterly direction and intensify further," it said.    One of its associated trough extends up to North Bay. Ridge of sub-continental high extends up to Bihar and adjoining area.    The met office also said weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country.    Light fog is likely to occur at some places over the country during tomorrow morning.    Night temperature may rise slightly and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country.   Country's maximum temperature on Wednesday was recorded 33.7 degrees Celsius at Cox's Bazar and lowest one today was 11.8 degrees Celsius at Tetulia.   Today's sunset at 5.11 PM and tomorrow's sunrise at 6.26 AM at Dhaka. Source: BSS AH

The “Yass”, which the meteorologists called a “very severe” cyclone, made its landfall ravaging India’s North Odisha-West Bengal coasts and largely sparing neighbouring Bangladesh but the met office in Dhaka warned the full moon phase later tonight could linger its impact. “Under the influence of steep pressure gradient and the full moon phase, the low lying areas of the (coastline) districts . . . are likely to be inundated by 3-4 feet height above normal astronomical tide,” said the last met office bulletin issued this afternoon. A meteorologist said the full moon was supposed to expect high tide period in the sea, intensifying the fears that the situation would worsen in the evening as the tide rises to a higher level than normal because of the astronomical coincidence. The bulletin, issued this afternoon, lowered the local cautionary signal number 2 from 3 for Chattagram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra seaports and the adjoining areas and islands. It said those areas could witness gusty winds with a speed of 60 to 80 kilometers per hour (kph) alongside “heavy to very heavy” downpours and simultaneously asked all fishing boats and trawlers on the north bay and deep sea to remain in shelters until further notice. The met office said Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhghat, Jhalakathi, Pirozpur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Barishal, Bhola, Laxmipur, Feni, Chandpur and Chattogram districts would come under the purview of its warning. State minister for disaster management and relief Dr Enamur Rahman, meanwhile, told a media briefing that though the “Yass” largely spared Bangladesh coastlines unlike that of Indian ones, 27 upazilas in nine coastal districts were hit by the residual onslaughts of the deadly storm. He said official assessments were underway to gauge the cyclone damage as field level reports suggested the tidal surges leveled or washed away hundreds of homes and other vulnerable structures and cattle, splitting the coastal embankments at many places. “This was the worst flooding we saw since the Sidr 2008,” a resident of Bhola was heard telling a TV channels while he was supplemented by several others in the neighbourhood. The state minister said geo-bags, which are made of non-woven geo-textile, were being used at the affected embankment sites to repair the damage and prevent influx of gushing waters inside mainland or localities. He said the local administrations so far distributed 16,500 packets mostly containing dry food at the affected areas where 76,000 volunteers including Red Crescent workers, scouts and ansar-vdp personnel were still carrying out the relief and rehabilitation campaign. According to the state minister 20,000 people were evacuated to cyclone shelters in Bangladesh coastlines while most of them returned home by now. Field level officials said in Bhola at least 36 low-lying villages were inundated and around 15,000 people are suffering from clogged waters as the rivers overflew above danger levels due to super cyclone. “Many people in these low-lying areas were left marooned,” said deputy director of the district cyclone preparedness programme Md. Abdur Rashid adding some 13,000 volunteers were working in the areas to mitigate people’s sufferings. Officials reported the Yass to have inundated several hundred villages and damaged a number of dams in Khulna and Satkhira. According to district administrations, several dams, situated at Shyamnagar, Ashashuni, Dakop and Koyra upazilas in Khulna and Satkhira were damaged while 20 villages in the last two upazilas were severely inundated rendering hundreds of families homeless. “At least 50 points of several dams in the two districts have been damaged due to tidal surge,” Water Development Board (WDB) executive engineer Md Rashed told a BSS reporter adding works were underway to repair the damages with the help of residents in those areas. In Patuakhali, more than 20 villages in Rangabali upazila alone went underwater after two river embankments were washed away, officials said. The Yass also left its mark on the country’s lone coral island of St. Martins inundating several hundred homesteads and damaging roads and culverts while the storm affected largely the mainland of Cox’s Bazar and islands under its administrative jurisdiction. Source: BSS AH

Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) on Saturday forecast that light to moderate rain and thundershowers will continue for the next three days all over the country commencing 9am. “The well-marked low over west central Bay and adjoining Northwest Bay now lies over Odisha and adjoining area as a low. Southwest monsoon is active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over North Bay,” said a Met Office bulletin. Light to moderate rain/thunder showers accompanied by temperature gusty/squally wind is likely to occur at most places over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions with moderately heavy to very heavy falls at places over the country, it said. Meanwhile, wind direction and speed in Dhaka will be at south/southeasterly (8-12kph) with temporary gusting to 30-40kph, it said. Day and night temperature may fall by 1-2 °C and night temperature may fall slightly over the country. The maximum temperature on Friday was recorded 35 degree Celsius in Rajarhat in Rangpur while the lowest one was 24 degree Celsius in Nikli. Source: UNB AH

Bangladesh Meteorological Department has said that very severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ is going to begin hitting Bangladesh coastal belts on Friday evening. But its wind speed will decrease. On Friday morning ‘Fani’ with 200 kilometers per hour speed hit Puri coastal belts of Odisha state in India. Indian met office said, the devastation of ‘Fani’ will continue in Odisha till Friday afternoon and then it will proceed towards West Bengal of India and Bangladesh with a decreased wing speed in the center. Bangladesh met office said, severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ will enter Bangladesh with half of its previous wind speed. At that time the wind speed may be 100 to 120 kilometers per hour. ‘Fani’ will proceed towards Meghalaya state of India after passing through Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barishal, Faridpur and Dhaka. Meanwhile, rain has been occurring from Friday morning throughout the country including Dhaka influenced by ‘Fani’. Mongla and Payra seaports are advised to hoist danger signal number 7 and Chattogram seaport is advised to hoist signal number 6. Cox’s Bazar seaport is asked to hoist local cautionary signal number 4. Bangladesh government has taken all out preparations in advance to protect lives and properties from the upcoming natural calamity. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who is visiting United Kingdom, has urged concerned authorities to take all sorts of preparations to face the cyclonic storm. AH  

State Minister of Labor and Employment Monnujan Sufian has assured the garments workers to fulfill all their demands within next one month. She urged all to go back to work places after informing her decision to review the under implementation wage structure. The government sat for a meeting with representatives of workers and owners on Tuesday afternoon following garments workers unrest for the fourth consecutive day. Representatives of law enforcing agencies also took part in the meeting. After the meeting State Minister Monnujan Sufian said, if there is any discrimination in the new wage structure then that will be driven away. If anybody gets less salary at present then that will be paid with the next month’s salary as due.   She said, our Prime Minister is very workers friendly. She herself has recommended for wage hike for the garments workers. Now the decision has taken to solve the matter through discussion if there is any problem in the new wage structure. So there will be no chaos. After the meeting Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said, decision was taken to form a 12 member committee comprising 5 members from owners, 5 members from workers, Commerce Secretary and Labor Secretary. This committee will scrutinize the inconsistencies of the wages within one month and will take steps to solve the problem. He also expressed doubt that there might be incitement of outsiders in the workers movement. He said, workers are being misguided. We would request the workers for not to get involved in any rumor or provocation. From today if anybody does anti industry activity then that will be curbed strictly. AH     

BNP Secretary General and spokesman for Jatiya Oikya Front Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, if the Wednesday’s dialogue is not succeed and demands are not met then Jatiya Oikya Front will hold road march towards Rajshahi on the following day (November 8). And public gathering will be held in Rajshahi on November 9. Then road march will also be held towards Khulna and Barishal. He said these in his speech while presiding over the public meeting organized by Oikya Front at Suhrawardy Udyan on Tuesday. Mirza Fakhrul said, if election schedule is declared by not accepting demands in the dialogue then Oikya Front will hold march towards Election Commission. He said, when Khaleda Zia went to jail she said, I am not afraid of jail. She gave direction of movement after being united. Today the national leaders are united. Liberty from misrule and rule of people will be ensured in the united process. The BNP Secretary General said, short dialogue will be held on Wednesday. We believe in dialogue. But no drama will be allowed. The Prime Minister has to step down. Parliament has to be dissolved. Our demands have to be met. Election has to be arranged under neutral government. Mirza Fakhrul said, 4 thousand 371 cases were filed from September 1 of the current year. We don’t want arrest anymore, will do movement along with people. We want to form government of people. Gono Forum president Dr. Kamal Hossain was the chief guest in the public gathering. JSD president ASM Abdur Rab was the main speaker. Bangabir Kader Siddique, Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, Mahmudur Rahman Mana, Sultan Mohammad Mansur, Mostafa Mohsin Montu, Abdul Malek Ratan, BNP standing committee members Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Abdul Moyeen Khan also delivered speeches in the public meeting. AH