National
Bangladesh’s ‘ekShop’ Honored with UN SDG Digital GameChangers Award
The ‘ekShop,’ an innovative initiative by Aspire to Innovate (a2i), has been honored with the United Nations ‘SDG Digital GameChangers Award’ for its remarkable contribution to bridging the gap between rural and urban areas in Bangladesh through e-commerce services.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) jointly presented the award to ‘ekShop’ in the ‘Game Changer for Prosperity’ category. The accolade was received by a2i representatives at the UN Headquarters in New York during the dedicated SDG Action Weekend.
The SDG Digital GameChangers Award recognizes individuals and organizations that leverage digital solutions to accelerate progress towards global goals, spanning categories such as People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Pioneer.
The ‘ekShop’ initiative, Bangladesh’s pioneering rural-assisted e-commerce platform, empowers small and medium-sized businesses, refugees, and individuals facing digital disparities, particularly in less-developed regions. It serves as a digital public good, significantly contributing to bridging the digital divide.
This achievement not only showcases Bangladesh’s success but also serves as an inspiration for the development of sustainable economic systems aligned with the SDGs worldwide.
The ‘ekShop’ connects over 12,000 rural artisans with customers, facilitating the delivery of essential products to doorsteps. To date, it has successfully delivered more than 8 million products across the country via cash on delivery.
Sellers interested in using the platform can easily join ‘ekShop’ and display their products for sale on associated e-commerce sites. Additionally, the platform offers a delivery management system, which has become especially vital during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling e-commerce organizations and entrepreneurs to efficiently deliver products to customers.
The ‘ekShop’ initiative aims to reduce digital disparities not only within Bangladesh but also in underdeveloped countries. Its model is being replicated in South Sudan, Yemen, Turkey, Somalia, and the Philippines, with the support of the United Nations.
‘a2i,’ a government program implemented by the ICT Division and Cabinet Division with the support of UNDP Bangladesh, plays a pivotal role in promoting citizen-friendly public service innovations and advancing the government’s efforts to integrate new approaches to achieve the SDGs.
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.
