National
DMP Bolster Road Safety Efforts thru Speed Risk Training Workshop
The Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) organized a comprehensive two-day training workshop for Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) with the theme “Speed as a Risk Factor.” Held at the InterContinental Dhaka, the workshop aimed to strengthen traffic law enforcement and promote road safety. A total of 60 police officers from the DMP, including the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Traffic Inspectors, and Sergeants, participated in two batches. The workshop was part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety, a global network dedicated to reducing road traffic crashes, deaths, and injuries.
The workshop commenced with an inaugural session on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. The event was inaugurated by Khandker Golam Faruq BPM (Bar), PPM, the Honorable Police Commissioner of the DMP, who served as the Chief Guest. Md Munibur Rahman, Additional Police Commissioner (Traffic), and SM Mehedi Hasan, Joint Police Commissioner (Traffic South), attended the workshop as special guests. Distinguished attendees included Russell Nyman, Senior Road Policing Advisor of the Global Road Safety Partnership, Suganthi Saravanan of Vital Strategies, and Md Abdul Wadud, Initiative Coordinator, along with other key personnel involved in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety.
Addressing the participants, Chief Guest Khandker Golam Faruq BPM (Bar), PPM, emphasized the paramount importance of road safety in society. He acknowledged the devastating consequences of traffic accidents and expressed the commitment of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) to ensuring the safety and well-being of citizens. The Chief Guest emphasized the crucial role of effective traffic law enforcement in creating a secure and livable city. He highlighted the shared vision of safer roads, reduced fatalities, and minimized injuries, stating that the training workshop provided an opportunity to exchange knowledge and learn from successful international and national road policing strategies. Furthermore, he recognized the expertise and global contributions of GRSP and BIGRS in enhancing the capabilities of law enforcement officials.
Russell Nyman, Senior Road Policing Advisor of the Global Road Safety Partnership, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, explained that the primary objective of the workshop was to facilitate the exchange of existing enforcement practices within a ‘Safe System’ model. The workshop aimed to stimulate discussions on the challenges and opportunities of enforcing traffic laws more effectively, drawing on international and national road policing strategies that have led to significant reductions in road deaths and associated trauma. Key topics covered during the workshop included current road safety trends, the role of enforcement in a ‘Safe System,’ the importance of speed reduction, speed enforcement technology, and tactics. By equipping police officials with these insights, the training aimed to contribute to the reduction of road traffic deaths and injuries.
This training workshop marked a significant step in strengthening traffic law enforcement and improving road safety in Dhaka. Through knowledge sharing and collaboration among police officials, the workshop aimed to create a safer road environment for all residents. The GRSP expressed gratitude to all participants, guests, and speakers for their unwavering commitment to this crucial cause.
Leaders of the quota reform movement have resolutely refused to negotiate with the government, insisting that their movement will persist until their demands are met.
In a Facebook post, Hasnat Abdullah, a coordinator of the movement, declared, “No discussion through stepping onto blood.”
Asif Mahmud, another prominent leader, echoed this sentiment, stating, “There can be no dialogue with bullets. I would prefer death over this betrayal.”
He further elaborated, “On one side, there are bullets. On the other, there is a call for dialogue. We can’t sit for dialogue while stepping onto the blood of our brothers.”
Earlier, leaders of the quota reform movement accused the government of escalating the law and order situation towards violence, asserting that their movement was peaceful until the government’s intervention.
Vowing to continue their struggle, Asif Mahmud stated, “We will continue our protests till we achieve our demands for reformation of the quota system, reopening of the halls and campuses, making university campuses terror-free, withdrawing political forces from the campuses, and punishing the killers and attackers.”
He added, “The people of the country have encircled those who tried to corner us. No conspiracy will be able to derail our movement.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today urged both local and international investors to invest in the extraction of marine resources from Bangladesh’s extensive sea areas.
“In order to fortify the blue economy through the diverse utilization of our marine resources, I call upon local and foreign investors to seize the opportunity to invest in Bangladesh. This will enable us to harness more of our marine resources,” she announced.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during the inauguration of the Bangladesh International Aquaculture and Seafood Show-2024 at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Dhaka.
She emphasized the importance of adhering to proper standards in the collection, distribution, and processing of fish to boost exports, aiming to make fish the country’s second-largest source of foreign currency.
Sheikh Hasina pointed out that her government has made limited progress in harvesting fish and other sea resources from the deep sea due to a lack of interest from local investors.
“Therefore, we need foreign investment to advance in this area. This is the reality we must face,” she noted.
She also suggested that both local and foreign investors can collaborate in joint ventures or invest separately in this sector to achieve better results.
The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) has forecasted light to moderate and moderately heavy rainfall or thundershowers, accompanied by temporary gusty winds, across all eight divisions of the country over the next 24 hours, starting from 9 am today.
In its weather bulletin issued this morning, the BMD stated, “Light to moderate rain or thundershowers with temporary gusty wind is expected in a few places over Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions. Additionally, one or two places in Rajshahi, Dhaka, Khulna, and Barisal divisions may experience similar conditions, with moderately heavy falls anticipated at several locations in Rangpur, Mymensingh, Chattogram, and Sylhet divisions.”
The bulletin also highlighted that the current mild heat wave sweeping across the Rangpur division and the districts of Tangail, Chuadanga, Rajshahi, Pabna, Bogra, and Netrokona may persist.
Daytime temperatures are expected to rise slightly, while nighttime temperatures are likely to remain nearly unchanged throughout the country.
On Wednesday, the highest recorded temperature was 36.7 degrees Celsius, observed in Rajshahi, Rangpur, and Rajarhat. The lowest temperature recorded today was 26.0 degrees Celsius, noted in Bandarban and Teknaf.
Over the last 24 hours, rainfall amounted to 16 mm in Bandarban.
For the capital, the sun will set at 6:48 pm today and rise at 5:21 am tomorrow.
