Two thousands and fifty five aspirants have submitted nomination papers for contesting in the second phase of upazila polls. Election Commission additional secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath confirmed this information on Sunday (April 21). He said, 'Today was the last day to submit nomination papers in 160 upazila polls of the second phase. In the election, 730 aspirants filled nomination papers for the post of chairman, 763 for the post of Vice-chairman and 562 for the post of vice chairman reserved for women.'  According to the second phase schedule, nomination papers will be scrutinised on April 23, appeals will be accepted from April 24 to 26, and appeals will be disposed from April 27 to 29. Last date for withdrawal of candidature is 30 April. The allocation of symbol is on May 2. Voting will be held on May 21. 

On 22nd March 2024 , 200 underprivileged families residing in the rural areas of seven unions in Bakshiganj Upazila received Ramadan food packages. The initiative aimed to alleviate the struggles faced by vulnerable households during the holy month. Bakshiganj Upazila's Nirbahi Officer, Ahona Jinnat, along with Rafiqul Islam, General Secretary Silent Hands Support and Tarikul Islam Sanvi, were present at the distribution among others. Also in attendance were Mohammad Alauddin, Mahmudul Hasan, Tanvir Hasan, and Minhaj Uddin, the regional representative of Silent Hands Support  from Jamalpur district. Expressing her gratitude, Ahona Jinnat emphasized the importance of community support in ensuring that no one goes hungry during Ramadan. She highlighted the collaborative efforts of individuals and organizations in extending a helping hand to those in need, particularly in the remote areas where resources are scarce. In a heartfelt message, Tahamina Ahammed Tania(Tajj Momo) the founder of the organisation ,expressed her profound gratitude to all the volunteers and donors who made the distribution possible. She stated, "During this blessed month of Ramadan, let us remember the importance of compassion and generosity towards those in need. Together, through acts of kindness, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this noble cause." The recipients expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the timely assistance, expressing hope for more collaborative efforts to uplift the underprivileged segments of society. As the holy month progresses, initiatives like these serve as a beacon of hope, reminding us of the power of compassion and collective action in creating a more equitable society.

Election Commissioner Mohammad Alamgir has said the upazila elections will begin in the country in phases in the last week of April and continue until the last week of May. He disclosed this information at the Election Commission office at Agargaon in the capital on Tuesday (Jan 23) . “The elections may be held by using EVM or ballot. Even, the elections can be held with the coordination of EVM or ballot,” he said.   Regarding the mode of conducting elections, Commissioner Alamgir remained uncertain about whether electronic voting machines (EVM) or traditional ballot papers would be used. He said, "The elections may use EVM or ballot. We are considering both options, and the decision might involve a combination of EVM and ballot."

Two people were killed in a collision between a CNG-powered auto-rickshaw and pickup of a postal department at Santhia Upazila in in Pabna.  In this incident, at least 5 others were injured. On Tuesday, March 21 at around 8:30 am in the morning, the accident took place.The injured have been admitted to hospital. The names of the injured are not yet known. Santhia police station OC Rafiqul Islam said, "A pickup of the postal department was heading towards Dhaka from Pabna. On the way, the pickup collided head-on with a passenger CNG autorickshaw coming from the opposite direction. Two passengers of the autorickshaw were killed on the spot. 5 injured persons have been admitted to Bera Upazila Health Complex. He said, "After hearing the information, police recovered the bodies of the two dead from the spot. Identity of the deceased were not known.

Four people were killed on the spot when the bus overturned in Baganbari area of Dhaka-Sylhet highway at Bahubal upazila of Habiganj District. On Thursday, February 16 at around 7:30 in the evening, the accident happened. Bahubal police station Officer-in-charge (OC) Rakibul Islam confirmed the matter.  He said, "Bodies of the deceased were recovered from the spot. However, the identity of the deceased is not known." The official of the fire service also said that it is not possible to say for sure how many people were injured in the incident or whether there are more dead under the bus or not.

The International Organization of Migration (IOM) has created an online platform named ‘Bideshjatra’ under Prottasha project with financial support from European Union. This online platform will provide all necessary information service including safe migration and remittance management for the immigration seekers, immigrants in abroad and immigrants back in the country. On Thursday expatriate welfare and overseas employment Secretary Ahmed Munirus Salehin inaugurated the overseas going ‘platform’ through an online program. At that time he said, the government has plan to send thousand workers abroad from each upazila across the country in every year. To take information based decision in the immigration sector for helping the immigrants it (Bideshjatra) is a timely initiative. According to IOM, in 2019 expatriates have sent 18.32 billion dollars remittance in the country. In the last five decades Bangladesh has sent one crore 30 lakh people abroad. More than five lakh migrant workers go abroad from Bangladesh every year. IOM is working with Bangladesh government to ensure regular, legal and safe migration. IOM has created the ‘Bideshjatra’ platform as part of this endeavor. AH

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed for testing samples of at least two suspected persons in every upazila daily with an aim to prevent spread of coronavirus infection. The information was delivered in an online press briefing of IEDCR. Health directorate’s MIS branch Director Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman took part in the briefing. He said, the Prime Minister has directed to collect at least two samples from every upazila of the country. By this time following her direction Director General of Health Directorate Professor Dr. Abul Kalam Azad has directed different divisional directors to collect samples. Dr. Habibur Rahman hoped that on Thursday at least one thousand samples will be collected for testing across the country. In the briefing he said, two more people have been infected with coronavirus in the country in the last 24 hours. Both are male. One is aged between 30 to 40 and another is aged between 70 to 80 years. With this the number of coronavirus infected persons stands at 56 in the country. AH      

The Shibchar upazila administration under Madaripur district has ordered to shut all shops except shops of medicines, raw materials and groceries. Besides, the authority has ordered to halt the vehicular movement in the upazila. The decisions have been taken to prevent coronavirus spread in the locality. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md. Asaduzzaman confirmed the matter at an emergency press conference on Thursday afternoon. Shibchar upazila Chairman Shamsuddin Khan, ASP Abir Mahmud, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Shashanka Chandra Ghosh were present at that time. It was known that in Madaripur district 220 people are in home quarantine, one in quarantine at a hospital, four in isolation. Besides, 136 people were relieved from the home quarantine. AH

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today urged the members of parliament (MPs) not to contest in AL upazila councils for the posts of president and general secretary. “AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already given an instruction in this regard so that MPs do not contest in AL upazila councils. But they can compete in the AL district councils,” he told a press briefing held at the AL president’s Dhanmondi political office in the capital on Friday. About expansion of AL committees, Quader said it is only jurisdiction of AL President Sheikh Hasina whether the AL committees will be expanded or not. “There is no alternative to Sheikh Hasina in the Awami League. We need her for the country’s development and the greater interest of its people,” he said. He said the way Sheikh Hasina is advancing the country is highly admired across the globe. Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said the upcoming AL national council will be held with festivity where leaders of the country’s all registered political parties, including BNP, and diplomats of different countries will be invited. About AL Dhaka city councils, he said the councils of Dhaka south and north units of AL will be held on November 30. The Awami League general secretary said the party will send letters to the AL district leaders to know whether they have any proposal to amend the AL’s constitution. He said the Awami League wants to celebrate Mujib Year in a colorful manner as global leaders will visit Bangladesh on the occasion. About BNP’s demand for the release of its chairperson Khaleda Zia, Quader said BNP leaders often say there is no alternative to wage a vigorous movement to free their chairperson, which proves that they have no trust in judiciary. AL organizing secretary and deputy minister for water resources AKM Enamul Haque Shamim, AL science and technology affairs secretary Engr Abdus Sabur and its central leader SM Kamal Hossain, among others, were present at the press briefing. Source: BSS AH

The triennial conference of Pirganj upazila unit of Awami League (AL) on Monday elected Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy as its member number one. The conference, held at Pirganj upazila parishad auditorium in the district, elected acting President of Pirganj upazila AL Azizur Rahman Ranga as its President and reelected its incumbent General Secretary Tazimul Islam Shamim as General Secretary unopposed. Earlier, delegates and councilors started gathering at the conference at Pirganj upazila parishad auditorium with huge enthusiasm amid festivities since morning from across the upazila. Later, leaders of Rangpur district and Pirganj upazila units of AL and invited guests inaugurated the conference by hoisting the national and party flags amid rendering of the national anthem with participation of the delegates and councilors. Acting President of Pirganj upazila AL Azizur Rahman Ranga presided over the conference moderated by its General Secretary and Pirganj municipal Mayor Tazimul Islam Shamim. Member of the parliament from Tangail-2 constituency Choto Monir, Acting President of district AL Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, its Vice-president Chhayadat Hossain Bakul, General Secretary Advocate Rezaul Karim Raju, Organizing Secretary Advocate Anwarul Islam, Cultural Affairs Secretary Shahidul Islam Pintu, Pirganj upazila Chairman Nur Mohammad Mandal, its Vice-chairman Shafiur Rahman Mandal Milon and President of district Chhatra League Mehede Hasan Rony, among others, addressed on the occasion. After elaborate discussion on organizational activities of Pirganj upazila unit of AL, the councilors and delegates unequivocally elected Azizur Rahman Ranga and Tazimul Islam Shamim as its President and General Secretary respectively. “The conference elected Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy as the number one member of Pirganj upazila committee of AL,” Tazimul Islam Shamim told BSS. General Secretary of district AL Advocate Rezaul Karim Raju said inclusion of Sajeeb Wazed Joy in the Pirganj upazila AL committee has created huge enthusiasm among people from all walks of life in the upazila, district and division as a whole. Source: BSS AH