National
PM announces 12 districts, 123 upazilas free of homeless-landless people
In a recent development, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has declared 12 new districts and 123 upazilas (sub-districts) to be free of homeless and landless populations. This announcement came as part of the ongoing Ashrayan-2 project, which aims to provide housing to vulnerable families. A total of 22,101 families were provided with semi-pucca houses under this initiative.
The Prime Minister made this significant declaration during a video conference from her official residence, Ganabhaban. With these newly added districts and upazilas, the tally has now reached 21 districts and 334 upazilas across the nation that have successfully eradicated homelessness and landlessness.
During the event, keys to 22,101 houses and ownership documents for parcels of land were handed over to families in various districts. This effort is part of the larger endeavor to rehabilitate around 115,000 individuals within these houses.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina personally engaged with beneficiaries and local residents at three different locations. This distribution marked the sixth occasion of such an event during the Mujib Year, which commemorates the birth centenary of the nation’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The specific locations where the housing was distributed include the Barasat Sonar Bangla Palli Ashrayan Project site in Terokhada Upazila (Khulna), Chakla Ashrayan-2 project site in Bera Upazila (Pabna), and Amanullahpur Ashrayan project site in Begumganj Upazila (Noakhali district).
Prime Minister Hasina’s administration has not only focused on providing shelter but also on empowerment. The 12 districts newly recognized for their achievement in eliminating landlessness and homelessness are Manikganj, Rajbari, Mymensingh, Sherpur, Dinajpur, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna, Kushtia, Pirojpur, and Jhalakathi.
In an extensive list, the 123 upazilas include various regions across the country. These efforts signify the government’s commitment to addressing the plight of the homeless and landless population, with a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation.
The distribution ceremony was overseen by PM’s Principal Secretary M Tofazzel Hossain Miah. Notably, this declaration follows the earlier recognition of nine districts as landless and homeless people-free districts on two separate occasions. In total, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has provided homes to a remarkable 829,607 families through various projects and programs aimed at uplifting the vulnerable. This comprehensive effort has led to the rehabilitation of approximately 4,148,035 individuals since 1997, under the Ashrayan project overseen by the Prime Minister’s Office, as of July 2023.
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.
