National
PM Sheikh Hasina Distributes Relief to Cyclone Remal Victims in Patuakhali
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina distributed relief materials to the victims of Cyclone Remal in Patuakhali district on 30 May.
The relief distribution event took place at Government Mojahar Uddin Biswas Degree College in Kolapara, organized by the district administration.
Earlier, the Prime Minister conducted an aerial survey of the Mathbaria and Pathorghata areas in Patuakhali district to assess the damage caused by the cyclone. She arrived at the helipad next to Khepupara Govt Model Secondary School in Kalapara at 12:20pm, following a one-and-a-half-hour helicopter ride from Dhaka.
Mathbaria and Pathorghata in Kalapara were severely affected when the cyclone hit the Bangladesh coast on Sunday, originating from the Bay of Bengal.
The Prime Minister’s helicopter flew low over the affected areas, allowing her to closely inspect the devastation caused by tidal surges and heavy rains that washed away embankments, fish farms, and toppled houses and trees along the coast.
The cyclone resulted in at least 16 deaths and numerous injuries, despite a significant evacuation effort to cyclone shelters, which was closely monitored by the Prime Minister from Dhaka.
Following the relief distribution, Sheikh Hasina visited the Shaheed Sheikh Kamal Bridge on the Patuakhali-Kuakata road. She then met with divisional level officials to review the relief operations and discuss the immediate rehabilitation needs of the affected population.
Concluding her day-long visit to the region, the Prime Minister is scheduled to return to Dhaka at 3pm.
Cyclone Remal claimed lives and caused extensive damage, destroying over 35,000 homes and seriously affecting more than 3.7 million people across 19 districts. The storm made landfall near Khepupara in Patuakhali, with wind speeds reaching up to 130kmph on Sunday evening.
In Patuakhali alone, around 327,000 people were affected, with 235 houses completely destroyed and 1,865 partially damaged, according to official sources. The agricultural sector suffered losses exceeding Tk 260 million, while the fishery sector’s losses were estimated at over Tk 280 million.
National
Professor Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman Appointed Vice-Chancellor of Northern University Bangladesh
Professor Dr. Md. Mizanur Rahman, a distinguished academic from the Department of Marketing at the University of Dhaka, has been appointed the new Vice-Chancellor of Northern University Bangladesh (NUB). The Ministry of Education confirmed the appointment through an official notification issued on Sunday (23 November), signed by Sultan Ahmed, Assistant Secretary of the Secondary and Higher Education Division, on behalf of the President.
The notice states that, with the approval of the Honorable President and Chancellor, Professor Rahman will serve a four-year term as Vice-Chancellor under Section 31(1) of the Private University Act, 2010. He will receive all salary, allowances, and benefits as determined by the university, and his duties will commence immediately in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Professor Rahman has an outstanding academic background. He secured First Class First in his Honors degree from the University of Dhaka’s Marketing Department, achieving record-breaking marks. He completed his MBA with dual majors in Finance and Marketing at Dalhousie University in Canada, graduating in the top 1% of his class. He later earned his Master’s degree (First Class Second) and PhD from the same department at the University of Dhaka.
During his illustrious 35-year career, he has served as Chairman of the Department of Marketing at the University of Dhaka for three years and was elected to both the Syndicate and Senate of the university. He also served as Dean at Daffodil International University and has taught as an adjunct professor at North South University, BRAC University, and Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB).
Professor Rahman has an extensive body of research, with over 35 publications, including four international papers and three research monographs. Several MPhil and PhD scholars have completed their degrees under his supervision. He also served for many years as Vice President of the Dhaka University Marketing Alumni Association.
Outside academia, he has contributed significantly to the corporate sector and educational governance. He has worked as an independent director and strategic adviser to various reputed organizations and has served on the governing bodies of several well-known colleges in Dhaka. He currently holds the position of Chairman of the North South Society.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds at most places across the Rangpur, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Dhaka, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas may experience moderately heavy to very heavy rainfall, according to their latest weather bulletin released on Thursday.
Day and night temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country.
The highest rainfall in the country over the past 24 hours was recorded in Kumarkhali, with 104mm of rain by 6 a.m. on Thursday.
The axis of the monsoon trough extends from India’s Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal to Assam, passing through Bangladesh, with one of its associated troughs stretching into the North Bay of Bengal.
The monsoon remains active over Bangladesh and moderate to strong over the North Bay region.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted that the mild heat wave currently affecting parts of the country, including the capital, is expected to subside in most areas within the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
“A mild heat wave is sweeping across the divisions of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, and Sylhet, as well as the districts of Jashore, Chuadanga, and Kushtia. It is likely to ease in most regions,” the department reported.
In addition, BMD predicted light to moderate rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across most of Rangpur, Rajshahi, Dhaka, Mymensingh, Khulna, Barishal, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Some areas are expected to experience moderate to very heavy rainfall.
Temperatures across the country may drop by 1-2 degrees Celsius during both day and night.
On Monday, Dinajpur in the Rangpur division recorded the country’s highest temperature at 38.6°C, while Bandarban in the Chattogram division saw the lowest temperature at 24.6°C early today.
Meanwhile, rainfall recorded in the past 24 hours, ending at 6 am today, reached 66 mm in Nikli of Dhaka Division.
The sunset in Dhaka is at 5:53 pm today, and sunrise is expected at 5:49 am tomorrow.
