05-07-2018

NEWS
THURSDAY,
JULY 5, 2018
2
Sangbadik Nirjatan Protirodh Committee formed a human chain in front of National Press Club yesterday.
Photo : TBT
Archaeologists urge
Albania to protect
underwater heritage
Researchers are urging
Albanian authorities to
build a museum to display
hundreds of Roman and
Greek artifacts and ancient
shipwrecks that are sitting
under the country's barely
explored coastline.
Archaeologists at the
Albanian Underwater
Archaeology conference
warned Tuesday that the
wealth of underwater
artifacts in the country's
southwestern seabed, near
its border with Greece,
could easily fall prey to
looters or treasure hunters.
James Goold, chairman of
the Florida-based RPM
Nautical Foundation, said
the objects - dating from the
8th century B.C. through to
World War II - would be a
great tourist attraction if
properly displayed.
Goold's RPM has mapped
out the Ionian seabed from
the Greek border all along to
the Vlora Bay, finding at
least 22 shipwrecks from
the ancient times to World
War II and hundreds of
ancient amphorae. Those
long, narrow terracotta
vessels carried olive oil and
wine along trade routes
between North Africa and
the Roman Empire, where
Albania, then Illyria, was a
crossroad.
"The time has come to
build a museum for
Albanian and foreign
tourists," said Albanian
archaeologist Neritan Ceka.
Some amphorae may have
already been looted - they
are not infrequently seen
decorating restaurants
along the Albanian
coastline.
Albania is trying to protect
and capitalize on its rich
underwater heritage, long
neglected by its former
communist regime, but
preservation still receives
scarce funding from the
government in one of
Europe's poorest nations.
The arrival of RPM's
Hercules research vessel 11
years ago was "a real
revolution," Ceka said,
praising its professional
divers, high-tech sonar and
remotely operated
underwater vehicle.
RPM and a joint
Albanian-Italian expedition
are the only scientific
underwater efforts in
Albania so far, both with the
government's approval.
Now RPM believes it's
time for the not-for-profit
Institute of Nautical
Archaeology research
organization, which is based
in Texas, U.S., to explore the
possibilities of excavating
shipwrecks, a financially
expensive and scientifically
delicate process.
"There's a special
environment in Albania,
because the coast has been
so protected for so many
years," said INA's David
Ruff, a former commander
of a nuclear-powered
submarine.
Ruff said "one of the real
gems of Albania is the
Butrint site" - a UNESCOprotected
ancient Greek and
Roman site in
southernmost Albania close
to the Greek border.
Two killed in Mymensingh,
Jashore 'gunfights'
DHAKA : Two suspected drug traders were killed in separate
incidents of reported gunfights in Mymensingh and Jashore
early Wednesday, reports UNB.
In Mymensingh, Jalal Uddin, 38, a suspected drug trader,
was killed in 'gunfight' with police at Habirbari in Bhaluka
early Wednesday.
Being informed that a gang of drug peddlers were trading
drugs at Khandakar Para, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of
police in association with members of Bhaluka Model Police
Station conducted a raid there around 2:30 am, said Ashiqur
Rahman, officer-in-charge of district DB police.
Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the criminals
hurled brickbats and then opened fire targeting the
policemen, prompted them to retaliate, triggering a gunfight.
Later, police recovered the body of Jalal from the spot, said
the OC. The law enforcers also recovered 200 pieces of Yaba
tablets, four bullet shells, one sharp weapon and one
motorbike from the spot. Jalal was wanted in six several
cases, said police. In Jashore, an unidentified young man,
aged around 35 years, suspected to be a drug trader, was
found dead on Chougaccha-Jashore road at Chanda Afra in
Chougaccha upazila around 2:30 am.
Being informed that two gangs of drug traders were
exchanging bullets, a team of police went there and recovered
the bullet-hit body, said Shamim Uddin, officer-in-charge of
Chougaccha Police Station.
However, sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the
traders managed to flee the scene, police said.
The body was sent to Jashore General Hospital morgue for
an autopsy. Two bullets, one pistol and 3.5 kgs of hemp were
recovered from the spot, said the OC.
With the latest, at least 123 people were killed in 'gunfights'
with members of law enforcement agencies while 38 bodies
of suspected drug traders were recovered after reported gun
battles between rival groups during the countrywide antinarcotic
drives since 15 May.
Another dies due to
'medical negligence' in Ctg
HATTOGRAM : Tension mounted at a private clinic in the
port city early Wednesday following the death of an elderly
patient allegedly due to medical negligence, reports UNB.
The deceased Hazi Mohammad Lokman Chowdhury, 69,
of Chandgaon residential area, had been undergoing
treatment at Fortress Private Clinics in Panchlaish area for
around one month, suffering from bronchitis.
Farhad Uddin, son of the victim, alleged that Dr Shimul
Bhoumik, a physician of the clinic, visited Lokman in the
dead of night. During the check-up, the doctor removed the
oxygen mask to observe the patient closely. After sometimes,
the patient died in front of the doctor, said the victim's son.
Soon after the incident, the physician managed to escape
from the clinic. But, tension had been prevailing in the
hospital over the issue.
Later, being informed, police rushed in and brought the
situation under control, said Mozammel Haq, officer-incharge
of Panchlaish Police Station. "We have received a
complaint and are investigating it," he added.
DU VC mourns death
of Prof Halima Khatun
DHAKA : Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Dhaka University (DU)
Professor Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman on Wednesday paid last
tribute to language movement veteran Dr Halima Khatun at
the central Shaheed Minar.
DU Pro-VC (Academic) Prof Dr Nasreen Ahmad and Pro-
VC (Administration) Prof Dr Muhammad Samad were also
present while placing wreaths at the coffin of Dr Halima
Khatun. In a condolence message, the VC said that the nation
has lost an intellectual who had multidimensional
qualifications. Her contribution to the 1952 Language
Movement and the 1971 Liberation War will be remembered
for ever, he said. Dr Akhtaruzzaman prayed for the eternal
peace of her departed soul and conveyed sympathy to the
bereaved family.
Two agreements on e-GP
signed at BRUR
RANGPUR : The authority of Begum Rokeya University,
Rangpur (BRUR) yesterday signed two separate agreements
on e-Government Procurement (e-GP) with two private
sector commercial organisations.
"The BRUR authority singed the e-GP contracts with Flora
Limited and Nadia Furniture Limited at a function held at
conference room of the administrative building of the
university," said a press release.
Vice-chancellor of BRUR Professor Dr Nazmul Ahsan
Kalimullah was present in the agreement ceremony.
Registrar of BRUR Muhammad Ibrahim singed the
agreements on behalf of the university while Manager (Incharge)
of Flora Limited Sahebul Alam Khondker and
General Manager (Sales) of Nadia Furniture Limited singed
on behalf of their respective organisations.
Officials of the university and two commercial
organisations were present, the release added.
Thais work to
install internet
in flooded cave
Thai authorities are working
to with navy SEALs to run a
fiber optic internet line into
a flooded cave in northern
Thailand where 12 young
soccer players and their
coach are trapped.
Communication
technician Phoowanart
Keawdum said Wednesday
that once the cable is
installed, phone calls to the
cave will be possible.
Authorities tried to do the
same Tuesday, but the
equipment was damaged by
the water.
In latest videos released by
the Thai navy, the boys and
coach say they're fine. The
group entered the cave in
northern Thailand on June
23 before flooding cut off the
main entrance. Rescuers are
studying how to extract
them safely.
Thailand's navy is
continuing to release videos
of the young soccer players
trapped in a flooded cave in
northern Thailand.
The two latest videos
posted to a navy Facebook
page late Wednesday
morning show a navy SEAL
treating minor cuts on the
feet and legs of the boys with
antibiotic ointment. Several
of the boys are seen smiling
as they interact with the
navy SEAL, who cracks
jokes.
Other boys are seen
sleeping under foil warming
blankets.
A previous video released
early Wednesday showed
the boys saying they were
healthy.
The Thai official
overseeing the rescue
operation of a soccer team
trapped in a flooded cave
says the boys have been
practicing wearing diving
masks and breathing.
Officials have said that
teaching the 12 boys and
their coach to dive may be
the only way to get them out
of the cave, but other options
are being explored.
AL leader's
throat-slit
body found
in M’singh
MYMENSINGH : Police
recovered the throat-slit
body of a local Awami
League (AL) leader from his
pond at Khagati village in
Trishalupazilaon
Wednesday, reports UNB.
The deceased was
identified as Abdul Matin
Master, a freedom fighter
and also the president of
ward no 8 of Mathbaria
union unit Awami League.
Locals spotted the throatslit
body of Matin in his
pond around 10:30 am and
informed the matter to
police. On information,
police recovered the body
and sent it to the local
hospital morgue, said Jakiur
Hossain, officer-in-charge of
Trishal Police Station.
Matin come out from his
home around 12 am on
Tuesday and went to his
pond to watch out, said
family his members.
The motive behind the
killing could not be known
immediately, said the OC.
Youth shot
dead in
Cox’s Bazar
COX'S BAZAR : A young
man was shot to death
allegedly by some miscreants
at Pahartoli Islampur in the
district town on Tuesday
night, reports UNB.
The deceased was
identified as Ismail, 27, son of
Lalu Mia of the area.
Farid Uddin Khandaker,
officer-in-charge of Sadar
Model Police Station, said a
group of miscreants opened
fire on Ismail around 9 pm
while he was in Pahartoli
Islampur area, leaving him
critically injured.
Later, he was taken to sadar
hospital where the doctors
declared him dead.
Police suspected that
miscreants might have killed
him over enmity between two
criminal groups, said the OC.
Laborers busy at dockyard in Narayangaj.
Merkel pledges 'every
effort' to avert US trade war
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday that the
European Union will make every effort to avoid a trade war
with the United States, and underlined her country's
commitment to raise defense spending gradually - another
point of contention with Washington.
President Donald Trump's administration has imposed
tariffs on EU steel and aluminum imports and is mulling
whether to add tariffs on cars, trucks and auto parts, something
that could be painful for Germany with its major auto industry.
"It is worth every effort to try to defuse this conflict so that it
doesn't turn into a real war, but of course there are two sides to
that," Merkel told the German parliament, noting that the head
of the EU's executive Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, will
soon travel to the U.S. She added that the good functioning of
the world economy depends on countries working together as
partners, and also questioned the value of measuring surpluses
and deficits by trade in goods alone. If digital services were
included, she said, it's likely that the U.S. would have a trade
surplus with Europe. "It is almost old-fashioned only to count
goods and not to count services," she said.
The U.S. is also pressing Germany over what it considers
insufficient defense spending ahead of NATO's July 11-12
summit in Brussels. In 2014, NATO allies agreed to stop
cutting defense budgets, start spending more as their
economies grew and move toward a goal of devoting 2 percent
of GDP to defense within a decade.
Germany's current spending amounts to 1.24 percent of
GDP. Merkel said that, though spending is rising, "relative to
what others are doing in terms of their gross domestic product,
that is far from sufficient." She added that "that is why we have
committed to spend 1.5 percent of gross domestic product for
this by 2025," and defended Germany's position.
Man gets life term jail
for rape in Cumilla
CUMILLA : A court here on Wednesday sentenced a man to
life term imprisonment for raping a widow in Daudkandi
upazila in 2001, reports UNB.
Judge of Women and Children Repression Prevention
Tribunal-3 Sheikh Hafizur Rahman pronounced the verdict.
The convict, Kabir Hossain, of Gopalpur village of the
upazila, was tried in absentia. The court also fined him Tk
50,000, in default, to suffer six months imprisonment
further. According to the case statement, Kabir had forcefully
entered the house of Halima Khatun, widow of Shanti Miah,
and violated her on November 9, 2001. She became
pregnanent Halima filed a case on May 11, 2002 with
Daudkandi police station. Police submitted a charge sheet
against the accused on July 25 in the same year.
Two IU students suspended
for 'cheating' in exams
ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY : The authorities of Islamic
University (IU) in Kushtia have suspended two students for
one academic year over the allegation of copying notes in
exam halls, reports UNB.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of 'crime
in exam and discipline committee' at the vice-chancellor's
office around 11:00 am on Wednesday.
Vice-chancellor Professor Dr M Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari
issued the suspension order against Nasrin Nahar, final year
student of Department of Law and Sabbir Ahmed, third year
student of Biotechnology and Genetics Engineering
department, said acting Registrar SM Abdul Latif.
They were suspended for violating the examinations' rules
and regulations, he added.
Man killed in city road
crash
DHAKA : A man who was using a motorbike ridesharing
service died as a state-run BRTC bus crushed him at Airport
intersection in the city on Wednesday, reports UNB.
The deceased was identified as Nazmul Hossain Fuad, 32,
an employee of a private company and son of Abul Bashar of
Dakkhin Khan in the city. Sub-inspector Shariful of Airport
Police Station said Nazmul was heading towards Mohakhali
for his office on a motorcycle in the morning.
When the motorbike reached Airport intersection, a BRTC
bus knocked the vehicle from behind, killing Fuad on the
spot as the bus smashed his head at 9 am. The motorcycle
rider was injured in the accident, said the SI.
10 drug traders among
42 held in Satkhira
SATKHIRA : Police in a drive arrested 42 people including
ten suspected drug traders from different parts of the district
on Wednesday, reports UNB.
Of the arrestees, five each were held from Sadar, Ashashuni
and Kaliganj upazilas, seven from Kalaroa, three from Tala,
13 from Shyamnagar, two each from Debhata and
Patkelghata upazilas of the district, said Azam Khan,
inspector of Special Branch of Police.
Police also recovered some drugs during the drive. The
arrestees were wanted in several cases, he added.
GD-899/18 (5 x 3)
Heavy rain
inundates low-lying
areas in Rangamati
RANGAMATI : Many lowlying
areas of Barkol and
Bilaichhari upazilas of the
district went under water
following torrential rain and
onrush of water from the
hills, reports UNB.
Besides, water in Kaptai
Lake was flowing over the
danger
levelon
Wednesdaydue to the
incessant rainfall. Sources at
Kaptai Water and Electricity
Center said the authorities
concerned have opened
eight out of 16 gates of the
spillway of the dam to
release 4500 cusec water to
the Karnaphuli River to
avoid the danger and to
handle the excess water
pressure. Meanwhile, the
road communication
between Chattogram and
Rangamati remained
suspended since Tuesday
morning due to landslides at
different points on the road.
However, ommunications
on internal routes of
Rangamati remained normal.
Six gamblers
jailed in Sirajganj
SIRAJGANJ : A mobile
court here sentenced six
gamblers to six-month
imprisonment each in
Raiganj upazila on Tuesday,
reports UNB.
The convicts are Sajib
uddin Talukdar, 33, son of
Sujabat Ali Talukdar of
Gopalpur village, Masud
Rana, 27, son of Abdul
Khalek of Rupkhara village,
Jakir Hossain, 26, son of
Joynal of Gotitha village,
Afsar Ali, 55, son of Insaf Ali
of Sreerampur village,
Shafiqul Islam, 38, son of
Sarkar of Nimgacchi village,
Abdul Hannan, 37, son of
Iman Ali of Bhuiyat village
in the upazila.
Tipped off, a team of Rab-
12 conducted a drive in the
area and arrested six people
while they were gambling on
Monday night.
Photo : Star Mail