Day: March 19, 2025

Mar192025 by No Comments

Hypertension control must be prioritized in budget- Public health experts at journalists’ workshop

Hypertension and various other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 71% of total deaths in Bangladesh. However, the budgetary allocation dedicated to combat NCDs is alarmingly low, comprising only 4.2 percent of the total health budget. To combat the growing prevalence of hypertension, it is essential to increase allocation for this sector in the upcoming budget for FY 2025-26. Such demands were made at a two-day long workshop for journalists titled "Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress and Way Forward", held at the capital's BMA Bhaban from 18-19 March 2025. The workshop was organized by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). Twenty-six journalists working in print, television and onlin...

Mar192025 by No Comments

Govt intervention drops air ticket fares by 75%, Says ATAB

Breaking News, Business

Air ticket prices, particularly for flights to various destinations in Saudi Arabia, have fallen by nearly 75 percent following the government's intervention and the implementation of stricter regulations, according to the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB).Between December and February, passengers were forced to pay exorbitant fares for tickets from Dhaka to major Saudi Arabian cities, with prices soaring to as high as Taka 190,000 under group booking schemes.However, following the government's monitoring efforts, ticket prices have dropped dramatically, with fares now available for as low as Taka 48,000 to 50,000.Some airlines are even offering tickets for routes such as Dhaka to Dammam and Dhaka to Riyadh at prices as low as Taka 35,000.In a move to curb t...

Mar192025 by No Comments

BRAC Bank, Bengal Aitken Spence Travels Launch Sri Lanka’s First Medical Tourism in Bangladesh

Breaking News, Business

BRAC Bank has partnered with Bengal Aitken Spence Travels Limited to introduce Sri Lanka’s premium healthcare services to Bangladeshi travellers, marking the launch of the first-ever Sri Lanka Medical Tourism Campaign in Bangladesh.This exclusive initiative offers BRAC Bank’s selected cardholders special access to top-tier medical care in Sri Lanka, including a 15% discount on hospital charges at leading healthcare institutions such as Asiri Group of Hospitals, Melsta Hospitals, and The Lanka Hospital.Bengal Aitken Spence Travels is a premier travel company in Bangladesh, operating as a subsidiary of Aitken Spence Travels Sri Lanka and a joint venture with Bengal Airlift Group. Aitken is the largest and most established Destination Management Company (DMC) in Sri Lanka.The offe...

Mar192025 by No Comments

Reduce Cigarette Price Tiers to Three: ATMA Demands

Breaking News, NGO News

The existing four price tier (low, medium, high, and premium) system in cigarettes has rendered the tobacco price and tax measures less effective. Particularly, the very narrow price difference between low and medium tier cigarettes allows consumers to choose brands belonging to any of these two tiers. To safeguard public health, this glaring loophole can be plugged by merging low and medium price tiers and reducing the number of price tiers to three. Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) raised such demands today (18 March 2025, Monday) during a FY 2025-26 pre-budget meeting with the National Board of Revenue (NBR) held at the NBR Conference Room, chaired by Md. Abdur Rahman Khan, Chairman, NBR. During the pre-budget (2025-26) meeting, the NBR Chair said that he would consider reducing the ...

Mar192025 by No Comments

HONOR launches Guinness World Record-holding X9c in Bangladesh

Breaking News, Technology

HONOR Bangladesh, a leading technology brand, has officially launched HONOR X9c in the market, setting a new standard for smartphone durability in the industry in the mid-range category. Known as ‘The Unbreakable Phone,’ this phone holds a Guinness World Record for most people performing a mobile phone drop test simultaneously (264 participants), which made HONOR X9c the toughest HONOR phone so far. This phone blends exceptional durability with comprehensive protection, long-lasting battery life, outstanding display, photography capabilities, and advanced AI experience – all encased in a stunning design. HONOR X9c boasts a new generation of Anti-Drop Display, providing remarkable resistance to falls from heights of up to 2 meters. Compared to its predecessor, X9b, the comprehensive re...