Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is going to inaugurate the dream Padma Bridge today Saturday (June 25). All preparations for the inauguration have already been completed. The Padma Bridge can be seen on the web mapping platform Google Maps even before the inauguration. A search on Google maps reveals the location of the bridge. Satellite view is also available.

A search of the destination on Google Maps shows that it will take about an hour and a half to drive from Dhaka to the Mawa end of the Padma Bridge.

Padma Bridge is being considered as a sign of change in the destiny of the people of 21 districts of the south. All preparations have already been completed to open the 6.15 km long Padma Bridge for vehicular traffic. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the Padma Bridge today Saturday (June 25) morning by unveiling the inaugural plaque at Mawa Point.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Moday urged the authorities concerned to keep preservation of environment in mind while taking any development plan.

“Since I came to power I asked all to sketch plan for all cities. Whatever plan we take there should be emphasis on waste management and proper maintainace of flow of water,” she said.

The prime minister was speaking at a meeting on the presentation of the survey report and the policy decision for the adoption of the related project in the light of the master plan designed to prevent pollution and protect the navigability of the rivers around Dhaka at the cabinet room of her office (PMO).

She said that this is very regrettable that country’s development programmes were not taken in a planned way in the past.

Those who grabbed power illegally on August 15 in 1975  violating the constitution with arms did not pay attention on overall coordinated and planned development of the country, she said.

“As a result the environmental issues were neglected and rivers were grabbed,” she said.

She mentioned that After assuming power the aim of her government was to protect the rivers, return the navigability and save those from pollution.

“In the name of river training it was a normal phenomena to build embankments that heavily harmed fertile crop lands,” she observed.

Hasina recalled that during the first tenure her government started river dredging and used the silts for land reclamation.  

“We have to do dredging and maintain navigability. We have to go for river dredging to stop river erosion,” she added.

She said that the industries that were constructed beside the rivers usually dump its wastes in the rivers. 

“All wastes of the swearage lines also are dumped in the rivers. There is no plan for waste treatment. As a result the pollution has increased,” she said.

The PM said that It is very much painful that the Buriganga River stinks due to pollution. 

“Whatever we do, we have to keep in mind first the waste management,” she said. 

She also suggested to setting up small treatment plants in different parts of Dhaka city to save the rivers around the capital.

“We have to save our rivers if we want to save Bangladesh. We have to live with the floods. We have to always keep that in our mind. We need silt that comes with flood water,” she said.

For river training, the prime minister said that depth of a river has to be considered.

“We must create a buffer zone beside the river aiming to preserve the water that comes during the rainy season,” she said. 

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today handed over the 'Asia Climate Mobility Champion Leader Award' to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud handed over the Asia Climate Mobility Champion Leader Award to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban this morning," Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsansul Karim told to the press.

Earlier, Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud and the Head of Bangladesh delegation in the COP28 high level segment, received the Award on behalf of the Prime Minister.

The award was conferred on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, acknowledging her voice of leadership in championing the climate actions and a lead global advocate for vulnerable communities.

The Global Centre for Climate Mobility, supported by IOM and the UN system conferred the Award during a high-level panel on the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai on December 1.

President of the UN General Assembly, Ambassador Dennis Francis and Director General of IOM, Amy Pope co-hosted the high-level panel.

During the UNGA78 Climate Mobility Summit, the Prime Minister drew the sharp focus of the global leaders to the urgency of climate-forced migration and displacement.

The award is a significant international recognition to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the country's continuous advocacy in addressing climate mobility and the challenges derived from it. Botswana, Suriname and Palau also received the award from Africa and the Pacific.

The Global Centre for Climate Mobility works for cooperative and comprehensive solutions to addressing climate mobility collaborating with the United Nations system, regional intergovernmental organizations and development finance institutions. 

During COP27, the award was given to five African Heads of State and Government as Climate Mobility Champion Leaders.

: BSS

President Mohammed Shahabuddin today asked the graduates of National Defence Course (NDC) and Armed Forces War Course (AFWC) to contribute to national development.

"In this era of globalization, efficient and smart manpower are a must to continue development spree . . . You (NDC, AFWC graduates) should help build your nation and develop country through knowledge gained from the training courses," he said.

The President was addressing a graduation ceremony of NDC and AFWC courses in Mirpur Cantonment's National Defence College (NDC) here.

President Shahabuddin said in view of rapid expansion and development of ICT and changing global situation, the government is responsible to meet the hopes and aspirations of the people and nation.

Noting that 'a higher position usually comes with the higher responsibility', he said the acquired knowledge about policy-making, security, war strategy and development through the trainings would usher the graduates to the right direction.

The NDC and AFWC courses will have a great contribution to improving the graduates' professional confidence with the desirable cohesiveness, transparency, commitment, dedication, accountability, discipline, efficiency and effectiveness to make perfect visionary leaders, pioneers and good officers, the President hoped.

"Only skilled, knowledgeable and self-esteemed people can help sustain democratic values, overcome poverty and face the challenges of the 21st century," he added.

The Head of the State said the present government under the efficient leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is trying hard to build Bangladesh as 'Sonar Bangla' envisioned by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Referring to 'Vision 2041' declared by the Prime Minister, to transform the country into 'Smart Bangladesh', he said Bangladesh's current 'Economic Miracle' and 'Development Marvel' posed the country as a role model of development and an inspiring paragon of poverty eradication by the World Bank.

The President categorically said Bangladesh is rapidly moving towards the path of development and already gained the status of a developing country.

He also highlighted the government's various development schemes including Padma Bridge, Metro Rail, Dhaka Elevated Expressway, Third Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Bangabandhu Tunnel, Matarbari Deep Sea Port, Rooppur Power Plant, Ghorashal Palash Urea factory as the real manifestation of Bangladesh's economic emancipation.

Terming the personnel of country's Armed Forces Division (AFD) as pro-people, the President, also the Commander-in-Chief of the AFD, said, the Armed Forces of Bangladesh symbolizes patriotism, commitment to the nation and guarantor of peace as well.

This year, 141 participants, including 43 from the Bangladesh Armed Forces, 13 from Bangladesh Civil Services, and 29 from 17 friendly countries took part in the National Defence Course.

The President said the 29 foreign graduates had developed social bonds and friendships beyond the professional relationship and they would act as 'Goodwill Ambassadors' of Bangladesh in their respective countries.

Acting Commandant of National Defense College Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Kamrul Islam delivered the welcome speech and a vote of thanks.

Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, Chiefs of the three services, senior civil and military officials, secretaries concerned to the President, faculties, staff officers, and course members of NDC and AFWC, among others, were present on the occasion.

The President also cut a cake and took part in the photo session with the NDC and AFWC graduates.

: BSS

A 5.6 magnitude earthquake jolted different parts of the country including the capital this morning.

The quake was felt in Chattogram, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Rangpur, Chuadanga, Noakhali, Kushtia and other parts of the country.

Rabiul Haque, officer-in-charge of the Meteorological Office, said that the place of origin of the earthquake was Ramganj.

According to the United States Geological Survey, USGS, the epicenter of the earthquake is 8 km east-northeast of Ramganj upazila in Laxmipur district.

Many people came out of their houses in fear during the earthquake.

No casualties or damage were reported immediately.

 (BSS) 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has coauthored an article with CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation Patrick Verkooijen on climate change in the famous American weekly news magazine, Newsweek.

The article was published on Thursday (November 30) while the global leaders are convening for the COP28 climate summit in Dubai to find ways to fight climate change impact globally.

Following is the full article:

Let's Put People Back at the Heart of Climate Action

By Sheikh Hasina and Patrick Verkooijen

Climate change is a global disaster inflicted by the rich upon the poor-and increasingly upon themselves. Global leaders convening for the COP28 climate summit in Dubai need to understand that their top-down approach can never work. Rather, we need to put the victims in charge of the fight back and fund their battle.

The climate breakdown will not wait while leaders equivocate. It is already unleashing typhoons and floods on communities, and spreading hunger through crop failures and drought. Only a tiny fraction of climate funding reaches the people battling the worst effects of climate change-they are without the resources needed to protect themselves and their livelihoods, leaving them more vulnerable. Climate injustice is being exacerbated.

Climate action at a global level makes no sense unless it helps protect people on the frontlines of climate change. We need to find ways to quickly and efficiently channel all necessary funding to locally led climate-resilience initiatives. This calls for fresh thinking and a new approach. At COP28, the world needs to double down on adaptation finance. The Loss and Damage Fund must become fully operational so we can respond rapidly and urgently to meet the needs of local communities to rebuild infrastructure and adapt more effectively to climate impacts. This is also a vital step toward climate justice.

Moving from Global to Local

To ensure adaptation finance flows from developed to developing countries double to reach $40 billion by 2025, as pledged at COP26 in Glasgow, finance providers must on average increase annual adaptation flows by at least 16 percent between 2022 and 2025. Yet adaptation finance flows to developing countries declined 15 percent in 2021 to $21.3 billion. That is clearly too little. Yet less than 6 percent of this sum, and perhaps as little as 2 percent, reaches climate-resilience projects led by local communities. Estimates vary due to a lack of properly tracking and reporting money flows-and this needs to improve. But it's also because climate policy and decision-making flows from the top down.

The people who know which towns, streets, fields, and homes are most vulnerable are those who live there. We must encourage and empower them to get together and draw up and implement their own projects to protect themselves against the consequences of climate change.

This is easier said than done. Local communities often lack the time and skills to manage longer-term projects aimed at strengthening climate resilience. They need help and training to draw up project proposals; and to access funding they need basic things such as legally constituted organizations and bank accounts.

Bangladesh has always been a leader in locally led climate adaptation and recently the government has been exploring various ways to channel climate assistance to local communities. The Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan makes it easier to access low-interest loans for adaptation, has a climate risk fund to train communities and local governments to lead adaptation, expands green banking services, and explores paying communities for ecosystem services.   

Through the Global Hub on Locally Led Adaptation in Dhaka, the government is also helping scale up solutions and share best practices with other vulnerable regions of the world. These efforts are already achieving dramatic improvements on the ground.

From Challenges to Opportunities

In Mongla, the second-largest seaport in Bangladesh, the mayor and residents are drawing up a plan to identify economic opportunities in their climate challenges. Like other major cities, Mongla has seen a large influx of climate migrants even as it struggles with rising sea levels-a consequence of global warming-that are contaminating the city's fresh water supplies. Mongla is mapping settlements, identifying key climate vulnerabilities, and developing locally led initiatives. With the support of the U.K. and Canadian governments working through BRAC, an international development agency, and the Global Center on Adaptation, it is hoped that Mongla's People's Adaptation Plans might become a blueprint for other towns and cities adapting to climate change.

This shows us that locally led adaptation is the way forward. But we need to massively scale up these approaches. For that, we need to find ways to finance local communities, without creating undue risk for donors. Strong intermediary organizations can be valuable here to act as a transmission belt to accelerate People's Adaptation Plans into the portfolio of large financiers, including international finance institutions such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

COP28 will only be a success if it achieves real benefits for the communities most affected by the climate crisis. This year's climate summit must ensure that finance flows to the poor communities most affected by climate change, and into locally led, appropriate, and effective adaptation. If we achieve this, the world will have taken a big step toward redressing the gross injustices of climate change.

: BSS