Economy
Internet to shutdown after Midnight: Mozammel
The internet services in the nation should be shut down after 12:00 am daily, said liberation war affairs minister AKM Mozammel Haque.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the 74th founding anniversary of the Dhaka University Alumni Association (DUAA) at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) on the DU campus on Saturday, 8 October.
“The way we are sticking to mobile phones and keeping studying aside is alarming for the nation. The nation will be talentless in the later future, I guess. There could be a recommendation to the government – the internet services should be shut down after 12:00 am. Special rules can be made for those who work with foreign companies, do business with them,” said AKM Mozammel Haque.
Requesting the universities to ramp up research, the minister said, “There will be a lack of experts in the future if there is no research. Our children pass time with mobile phones until 12:00am, 1:00am, 2:00am. The way we would go to libraries (in our younger days), the initiatives of studying, those are lacking now.”
He said no doubt we need connectivity but everything needs to have a limit. “You know the way falsehood and negative propaganda are spread through this technology (mobile phone)! It would become tough to have healthy politics or healthy life if there is no control over these things.”
The minister further said, “Almost all the countries have part-time job opportunities at the universities. This is possible in our country as well.”
DU vice-chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman inaugurated the programmes of DUAA’s 74th founding anniversary.
Alumni association’s president Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury chaired the programme where its secretary general Molla Md Abu Kawsar gave the welcome speech.
Supreme Court justice Jahangir Hossain Badal, immediate past IGP Benazir Ahmed, DUAA’s former president Manzur Elahi, former secretary general Mohammad Faras Uddin, among others, addressed the programme.
Expatriate Bangladeshis sent approximately US$ 2.11 billion in remittances during the first 28 days of September in the fiscal year 2024-25, according to data released by Bangladesh Bank on 29 September.
Of this total, state-owned and specialised banks handled $679.10 million, while private banks received $1.43 billion in remittances.
Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has vowed to expedite reforms and hold elections swiftly. Yunus, who recently assumed the role after the collapse of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year administration, expressed his commitment during an interview with Tokyo-based news outlet NHK WORLD in New York on Sunday. He was attending the United Nations General Assembly at the time.
Following mass student-led protests that ended Hasina’s long-standing rule in August, Yunus stepped in as the leader of the caretaker government. Known for founding Grameen Bank, an institution providing microloans to the underprivileged, Yunus, along with the bank, earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts in poverty alleviation.
During the interview, Yunus emphasized that the interim government’s primary mission is to implement reforms promptly and ensure elections are held as soon as the groundwork is complete. He underscored the importance of success, stating, “Failure is not something that we can accept.”
Addressing the pivotal role of students in the ousting of the Hasina administration, Yunus acknowledged the sacrifices made by young people, referring to their involvement as part of a “revolution.” He highlighted his intention to engage the younger generation in shaping policy.
Furthermore, Yunus called for continued support from Japan, Bangladesh’s largest donor, during this crucial transition period. He stressed that Japan’s assistance is vital to stabilizing Bangladesh’s economy and fostering a democratic foundation in the nation.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Adviser for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, announced today that steps will be taken to restrict the use of polythene shopping bags to safeguard future generations.
Starting from October 1, polythene bags will be banned in shopping malls, followed by a ban in kitchen markets from November 1.
“Everyone must take responsibility and stop using polythene voluntarily. Action against polythene producers will begin from November 1,” Rizwana Hasan stated during a seminar.
The Department of Environment (DoE) organized the seminar to raise public awareness about alternatives to banned polythene bags.
Rizwana Hasan highlighted that the restriction on polythene will be executed in phases according to legal provisions, and discussions with shopping centers and store owners are ongoing to ensure a smooth transition.
She also announced plans to make the government secretariat a plastic-free zone by December.
Other speakers at the seminar included Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr. Abdul Hamid, Director Rajinara Begum, President of the Shop Owners Association Muhammad Helal Uddin, and Md. Arifur Rahman Bhuiyan, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at BUP. They discussed the harmful effects of polythene and the need for alternative products.
Earlier, Rizwana Hasan inaugurated a fair showcasing eco-friendly alternatives to polythene bags and visited 24 stalls. The fair featured products from government and private entrepreneurs, including reusable bags, jute bags, paper bags, and items made from bamboo and cane.
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