US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced $6 billion in new military aid for Ukraine on Friday as Washington rushes to fill gaps left by months of limited American assistance. The package is the second this week, following another valued at $1 billion that was announced just after US President Joe Biden signed a much-delayed bill to provide new funding for Ukraine as it struggles to hold back Russian advances. "I`m... pleased to announce today an additional commitment of $6 billion through our Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative," Austin told journalists, saying it will allow the procurement of new capabilities for Kyiv from US industry. "This is the largest security assistance package we`ve committed to date," Austin said, adding that it will include air defense munitions, counter-drone systems, artillery ammunition and maintenance and sustainment support. The United States has been a key military backer of Ukraine, committing more than $44 billion in security assistance since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. But prior to this week, Washington had announced new aid for Ukraine on just one other occasion this year, a $300 million package in March that was only made possible by using money that the Pentagon had saved on other purchases. A squabbling Congress had not approved large-scale funding for Kyiv for nearly a year and a half, but eventually took action starting last week after months of acrimonious debate among lawmakers over how or even whether to help Ukraine defend itself. The US House of Representatives on April 20 approved legislation authorizing $95 billion in aid funding, including $61 billion for Ukraine, while the Senate passed the measure on Tuesday and Biden signed it into law the following day.

Staff Correspondent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday asked Thailand to explore the possibility of investing in hospitals and medical facilities in Bangladesh. She also sought Thai investments in special economic zones and hi-tech parks in Bangladesh. “We discussed the possibility of cooperation on training and capacity building for Bangladeshi medical personnel. I also proposed to explore the possibility of investing in hospitals and medical facilities in Bangladesh,” she said. The Bangladesh premier said this at a joint press conference after a bilateral meeting with her Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin at Government House (Thai Prime Minister’s Office) in Bangkok. Five bilateral documents – an agreement, three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and a Letter of Intent (LOI) – were signed in the presence of the two prime ministers following the meeting. She said Bangladesh attaches great importance to its relations with Thailand as an immediate neighbour. “Our friendship is deeply rooted in our historical, linguistic, and common cultural heritage. The warm and cordial relations between our two countries are ever-growing in multi-faceted areas of cooperation,” she said. The two leaders discussed in detail the bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest. “We see Thailand as a very important and dynamic partner in our engagement with the vibrant economies of Southeast Asia,” said the Bangladesh prime minister. On trade cooperation, they discussed at length measures to enhance the current volume of bilateral trade and agreed to work together to achieve healthy two-way growth. “I assured the prime minister (Thavisin) to take the necessary measures for investment facilitation and ease of business in Bangladesh. I proposed to the Thai side to invest in our special economic zones and hi-tech parks and to take one SEZ, exclusively for Thailand,” said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Noting that the two sides agreed to commence negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the year 2024, she said the concerned Ministers of Commerce of the two countries have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) on the issue. To facilitate smooth contact between Thai and Bangladeshi officials, Dhaka and Bangkok signed the Agreement on Visa Exemption for Holders of Official Passports, she said adding that the two countries already have an agreement for diplomatic passport holders. “For Bangladesh, Thailand is a potential partner to engage in energy cooperation. To explore the potential of energy cooperation, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Energy Cooperation was the second instrument signed,” she said. A third Memorandum of Understanding has been signed on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters. “To benefit from Thai knowledge, experiences, and best tourism practices, we signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the field of tourism,” said the premier. To ensure food security for our people, the two sides explored the possibility of collaboration in the agriculture and food processing sectors, she stated. Regarding maritime connectivity, she said the two sides discussed the direct shipping line between Ranong Port and Chattogram Port. Bangladesh is following with great interest Thailand’s flagship “Landbridge project.” “I proposed to the Thai side to enhance cooperation among specialized universities between the two countries, especially in agriculture, fisheries, and food processing,” said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The two prime ministers also discussed regional cooperation mechanisms under the Bimstec framework. Thailand, as the current chair and host of the Summit to be held later this year, will hand over the chairmanship to Bangladesh. “We firmly believe that Bimstec is a key driver of regional economic growth for a total population of 1.8 billion. To achieve a sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis, Bangladesh sought the support of Thailand,” she said. She reiterated the importance of high-level visits between the two countries. Prime Minister Hasina also invited Prime Minister Thavisin to undertake a return visit to Bangladesh. Earlier on her arrival at Government House, she was received by Thavisin and then she was accorded a warm welcome at the front lawn of Thai Kooh Fah Building. The Bangladesh premier arrived in Thailand on Wednesday on a six-day official visit at the invitation of her Thai counterpart.

Staff Correspondent Chuadanga experienced its highest temperature of the season, reaching 42.7 degrees Celsius on Friday, following a prolonged period of intense heat since the start of the month of Boishakh, disrupting the daily lives of the district`s residents. The regional meteorological observatory recorded this temperature peak at 3pm, with humidity at a low 11%. As the day progressed, the sun`s heat intensified, causing discomfort for low-income people such as construction workers, farmers and rickshaw pullers, who were exposed to the high temperatures. The heat was so intense that it even caused the bitumen on roads to melt. The soaring temperatures also led to an increase in the number of patients seeking medical attention, particularly children, at local hospitals. Jaminur Rahman, the official overseeing the Bangladesh Meteorological Department`s local office, noted that a severe heatwave was affecting Chuadanga. He said this situation might persist for several more days, with no immediate likelihood of rainfall or storms to alleviate the heat.

Staff Correspondent Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Friday said BNP always sees darkness in the daylight and that`s why they could not see the development of the country. "Although Pakistan admires the development of Bangladesh, the opposition could not see the development as they [BNP] see darkness in the daylight", he said. Quader, also Road Transport and Bridges Minister, made this comment while addressing a press briefing organized at the Awami League president Sheikh Hasina`s political office at Dhanmondi here this afternoon. Calling the BNP leaders to take real true lesson from a recent speech made by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Awami League general secretary said the Pakistani premier feels shame when he sees the progress and height of Bangladesh. "Once East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, was a burden to them ...but now it has made a lot of progress and I feel shame to see such development", said Quader quoting the Pakistani PM as saying. BNP usually makes propaganda, so there is a lot of real true lessons for BNP to take from the statement made by the Pakistani Prime Minister, he added. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the economic development of Bangladesh in his address at a view exchange meeting with the representatives of the business community at the residence of the chief minister of Sindh province in Karachi on Thursday. "They feel shame now to see the economic growth of Bangladesh while `East Pakistan` was thought a burden for Pakistan. But they [East Pakistan now Bangladesh] have made surprising progress in industrial growth," said Shehbaz Sharif in his address. Highlighting the current conflicting situation across the world, the Awami League general secretary said:"We are watching with concern that the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine-Hamas conflict has overheated the global situation." Israeli prime minister has launched an aggressive attack ignoring global opinion, he added. Under the circumstances, Quader said: "Our leader Sheikh Hasina has taken a strict position against the war. She called upon the world leaders to stand against all kinds of aggression and to say `no` to wars," he said. Awami League Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organizing secretaries BM Mozammel Huq, Mirza Azam, Afzal Hossen, and Sujit Roy Nandi, Health Affairs Secretary Dr Rokeya Sultana, Cultural Affairs Secretary Ashim Kumar Ukil, Deputy Office secretary Sayem Khan and executive member Shahabuddin Farazi, among others, present at the press conference.

Staff Correspondent The government is constantly working to bring equality between men and women, establish women`s rights and eliminate discrimination against women, State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Simeen Hussain (Rimi) said on Friday. “The government is also working on including women`s domestic work in the GDP as recognition of economic activities along with determining the specific value of it,” she said. She was speaking at the National Assembly Meeting-2024 organized by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad at Chittagong Hill Tracts Complex on Friday as the chief guest. The state minister said: “The position of women now we are currently seeing was not like this before.” “Women`s empowerment in Bangladesh has been ensured through the adoption of women-friendly policies under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after 2008”, she added. "Women are working with reputation in home and abroad as per their qualifications. Women are playing an important role in all fields including information technology, research, sports, entertainment and bringing fame to the country." The state minister said that the government has taken various steps for the development of women`s society, including the Prevention of Women and Child Abuse Act 2020, Dowry Prevention Act 2018, Child Marriage Prevention Act 2017. "Digital Security Act 2018 was enacted to protect women from cyber bullying on online platforms," she said.