Bangladesh High Commission

London

News Brief

London, 10 May 2018

Bangladesh is set to step into space today as the country launches its first communication satellite 'Bangabandhu-I' into the orbit at 4:00 pm this afternoon local time (BST 2:00am Friday) from the Cape Canaveral launching pad in Florida. State Minister for Information Tarana Halim who is visiting the USA said, the authorities concerned yesterday informed her about the launching of the satellite.

Human resource development and education will get priority in the national budget for fiscal year 2018-19 which will be placed in Jatiya Sangsad on June 7. Finance Minister AMA Muhith said this at a pre-budget meeting with Economic Reporters' Forum members in Dhaka yesterday. He said, the size of the next budget will be around Tk 4.60 lakh crore.

Human Rights Watch has said, the United Nations Security Council should immediately refer the widespread abuses against ethnic Rohingyas in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court. Senior diplomats from the 15-member Security Council said this while visiting Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar recently. The diplomats on their return to New York pledged to take action on the issue.

Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya has urged India to exert pressure on Myanmar to take back its nationals from Bangladesh. He made the urge while receiving relief supplies sent by the Indian government for the Rohingyas at Chattogram port yesterday. Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla handed over the relief materials to the Minister.

A milad and doa mahfil was arranged for Dr MA Wazed Miah, an eminent nuclear scientist and husband of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, at PM's official residence Ganobhaban yesterday on the occasion of his 9th death anniversary. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana attended the milad and doa mahfil held after Asr prayers.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has said, the government will take legal actions against the private universities which have failed to fulfill their conditions under the Private University Act-2010. The Minister said this while speaking at the convocation of State University of Bangladesh in Dhaka yesterday.

The International Crimes Tribunal will declare the verdict of 1971 war crimes judgement in the crimes against humanity case against Mymensingh Al-Badr commander Reazuddin Fakir today. He has been accused of involvement in killing, genocide, detention, kidnapping, torture and rape during the war in 1971.

Lightning accompanying rainstorms continued to wreak havoc on life and crops across the country, leaving at least 24 people dead yesterday. The casualties in lightning strikes were reported from Habiganj, Rajshahi, Sunamganj, Nilphamari, Kishoreganj, Manikganj, Gaibandha, Narayanganj, Mymensingh and Netrakona.

Bangladesh won the 2nd ISSF International Solidarity Archery Championship at the final competition at Maulana Bhashani National Stadium in Dhaka yesterday.

Press Wing