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.
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.
Two separate murder cases were filed today in connection with the deaths of a private service holder and a Madrasa student during the anti-discrimination student movement.
The first case was lodged by Ridwan Ahmed with Panchlaish police station, accusing former ministers Dr. Hasan Mahmud, Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, and 127 others for the death of his nephew Sujan, 14. Sujan, the son of Belal Hossain from Beramara village in Noakhali’s Sadar Thana, was a student at Al Jamirul Hayat Madrasa in the city’s Chandgaon area. He was fatally shot in the Muradpur area on July 18.
The second case was filed by Jamal Uddin at Doublemooring police station, accusing 225 individuals, including Dr. Hasan Mahmud and Education Minister Barrister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, for the killing of his elder brother Alam, a private service holder, on August 5.
