19-02-2020

wednesday
DhAkA: February 19, 2020; Falgun 6, 1426 BS; Jamadi-us Sanni 24,1441 hijri
www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net
Regd.No.DA~2065, Vol.17; No.24; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00
international
Iran sentences alleged
US spies to up to 10
years in prison
>Page 7
art & culture
‘Bunty Aur Babli
2’ to shoot in
Abu Dhabi
>Page 8
sport
Need to beat Zimbabwe
to regain the lost
confidence: Taijul
>Page 9
Nepal to use Saidpur Airport;
greater trade expected
26 days to go
Khaleda Zis
moves HC again
seeking bail
DHAKA : BNP Chairperson Khaleda
Zia on Tuesday filed a fresh petition
with the High Court seeking bail in the
Zia Charitable Trust corruption case,
citing illness, reports UNB.
The petition was moved before the
bench of Justice Obaidul Hassan and
Justice AKM Zahirul Huq, said Khaleda's
lawyer Advocate Sagir Hossain Leon.
It was mentioned in the petition that
the BNP chairperson is seriously ill and
she needs advanced treatment.
"Khaleda is not getting proper treatment
at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib
Medical University (BSMMU). She
wants to go to London for better treatment
if she gets bail."
On December 12, 2019, the Appellate
Division of the Supreme Court turned
down the bail petition of Khaleda Zia in the
graft case. A special court jailed the BNP
chief and three others for seven years in the
corruption case on October 29, 2018.
On August 8, 2011, the Anti-Corruption
Commission filed the Zia Charitable Trust
case with Tejgaon police against four people,
including Khaleda. They were
accused of abusing power in raising funds
for the trust from unknown sources.
The former prime minister has been
in prison since February 8, 2018 after
she was sentenced to jail for five years
in a separate corruption case.
Mother, son reunite in
Patuakhali after 17 years
PATUAKHALI : Seventeen years ago,
Bakul Bala left home without saying
anything in search of her daughter Alo
Rani, who was then 16. She never came
back to her son Thakur Krishna Halder,
who was then 28. Nor did the sister she
went out looking for. In one evening,
Krishna lost them both.
But, as fate would have it, Krishna
finally got back his mother after 17 long
years last Sunday - at Tital Intersection
in Sabujbagh area of Patuakhali district
town, reports UNB.
Bakul Bala was a resident of Talbaria
village in Galachipa upazila of the district.
She has two sons and two daughters in
her family. Her elder daughter, Alo Rani,
was married off at the age of 16.
After several months, the husband
left Alo and fled to India. After that, Alo
also left home in search of her husband
and did not return home.
Ripon Chandara Halder, the grandson
of Bakul, is studying at master's level at
Patuakhali Government College. He is
staying at a hostel in the district town for
his study purpose. He grew up hearing
the stories of his grandmother.
On Sunday, he found an elderly
woman in Sabujbagh area when he was
going to the district town. Interestingly
enough, he found the woman resembling
his grandmother as per the
description that he heard from his parents
in his childhood.
Zohr
05:16 AM
12:15 PM
04:16 PM
05:58 PM
07:15 PM
6:30 5:55
DHAKA : Bangladesh has agreed to allow
Nepal to use its Saidpur Airport as part of
strengthening trade and connectivity
between the two countries, reports UNB.
Welcoming the Nepalese proposal,
Bangladesh says a technical expert committee
will now look into what types of
flights can be operated between Nepal
and Bangladesh though Saidpur Airport.
"We're expanding the airport.
Currently, 12-14 flights go to Saidpur
Airport (from Dhaka). So, people (who
will be coming from Nepal) can come to
Dhaka easily," Foreign Minister Dr AK
Abdul Momen told reporters while briefing
on the outcome of the bilateral talks
between the two countries on Tuesday.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Dr Momen
had a bilateral meeting with his Nepalese
counterpart Pradeep Kumar Gyawali at
state guesthouse Meghna and discussed
how the two countries can enhance
trade, investment and connectivity,
including use of seaports.
The airport situated on 136.59 acres of
land started its journey as a domestic airport
in 1979. Saidpur Airport is managed
by the Civil Aviation Authority of
Bangladesh, according to Civil Aviation
Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB).
This Airport is located at 2 kms off
Saidpur town and 350 kms off Dhaka,
the capital city of Bangladesh. Biman
Bangladesh Airlines, Novoair and US-
Bangla Airlines are presently operating
their passenger flights from and to
Saidpur Airport, according to CAAB.
Talking to reporters, Nepal Foreign
Minister Pradeep Kumar said they discussed
how the two countries can develop
connectivity, transit, transport and
power sector cooperation. "We'll form a
taskforce which will discuss ways to
develop trade and connectivity."
He said Bangladesh has recently permitted
Indian company GMR to invest in
hydropower in Nepal that will provide
500 MW of power from Nepal to
Bangladesh through Indian company
GMR group. "It'll open a new chapter in
power sector cooperation," he said
adding that Nepal has made every
arrangement to facilitate smooth construction
of the mega project.
Bangladesh and Nepal signed an MoU
on power cooperation last year.
Responding to a UNB question, the
Nepalese Foreign Minister said the two
countries are exploring to sign a preferential
trade agreement (PTA).
"Draft of the PTA is under discussion.
We hope we'll finalise it. Bilateral agreement
on protection of investment is also
on the table. We're expecting that we'll do
it at the earliest," Minister Pradeep
Kumar said adding that it is very important
to protect the foreign investment.
Foreign Minister Dr Momen said they
have discussed connectivity, tourism, climate
and Rohingya issues and ways to
remove trade barriers specially non-tariff
barriers.
Dhaka's five more areas likely to
get prepaid gas metres from July
DHAKA : The household consumers of
five more areas in the capital are going to
get prepaid gas metres within this year as
Japan International Cooperation Agency
(JICA) has approved an additional funding
for an ongoing project of Titas Gas.
"We've already received JICA approval
for funding installation of 120,000 additional
prepaid gas metres of the project,"
Ali Mohammad Al Mamun, managing
director of Titas Gas Transmission and
Distribution Company Ltd, told UNB.
He said now a process is underway to
receive necessary approval of the
Planning Commission through a revised
development project profile (DPP).
Titas Gas officials said the organisation
is getting ready to implement the prepaid
gas metre project in new five areas of
Dhaka aimed at reducing the wastage of
natural gas. The areas are Paltan, Ramna,
New Market, Khilgaon and Segunbagicha
which are mainly located in the central
part of the city under the DSCC.
"We hope we would be able to get the
Planning Commission's approval on
revised DPP of the project," Mamun said
adding that the Titas Gas has a plan to
install additional 100,000 prepaid gas
metres within the next two years beginning
in July next.
The officials said the Titas Gas, responsible
for natural gas transmission and
distribution across Dhaka city and
adjoining areas, has already installed
200,000 prepaid meters for household
consumers, with an aim to check gas pilferage
and misuse. Under the existing
project, prepaid metres have been
installed in areas mainly under DNCC,
including Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara,
Bashundhara, Badda, Tejgaon,
Cantonment, Kafrul, Khilkhet, Uttara,
and Mirpur. Many consumers of these
areas informed that they have been getting
benefit of the prepaid gas metres as
they now pay less than one-third of the
amount which they paid under nonmetering
system monthly.
As per official data from Titas Gas,
the company has about 2.783 million
consumers in its command area, of
which 2.764 million are household
consumers.
A sand laden-truck drowned in the Garamara canal of Bogura-Sirajganj local highway as the bridge
collapsed on Tuesday.
Photo : TBT
On the occasion of celebrating International Mother Language Day, a painter painting on the
wall adjacent to Central Shaheed Minar.
Photo : TBT
Set up breastfeeding
corners at all factories
within 2 months: HC
DHAKA : The High Court on Tuesday
directed the authorities concerned to
set up breastfeeding corners at all mills
and factories across the country within
two months, reports UNB.
The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur
Rahim and Justice M Mostafizur
Rahman passed the order.
Labour secretary and Chairman of
Department of Labour were directed to
submit report within 60 days on implementation
of the order, said Advocate
Israt Hasan, who filed a petition in this
regard on October last. On October 24
last year, nine-month-old baby Umair
Bin Sadi and his mother Advocate Israt
Hasan filed the writ seeking a safe
atmosphere for breastfeeding.
Following the writ on October 27, The
High Court issued a rule asking the
authorities concerned to explain as to
why directives should not be given to
set up breastfeeding and baby-care corners
at workplaces, airports, bus stops,
railway stations and shopping malls.
It also wanted to know why the Women
and Children Affairs Ministry should not
be directed to formulate guidelines to
establish breastfeeding corners in public
places and private institutions.
Israt Hasan said that there is a provision
in the Bangladesh Labour Act-2006
for setting up breastfeeding corner in
workplaces, but there is no implementation.
She also said mothers often face
embarrassing situation to breastfeed their
children at public places. So breastfeeding
corners need to be set up in such places so
that they do not feel discomfort to breastfeed
their children.
Coronavirus deals serious blow to
printing industry in high season
DHAKA : The printing industry in
Bangladesh is facing a serious setback
during the peak time of Ekushey Book
Fair as the prices of production materials
and chemicals have gone up following
a supply crunch due to the coronavirus
outbreak in China.
Talking to UNB, publishers said
Bangladesh largely depends on China
for importing most printing materials,
but the export of these items remains
suspended in the wake of the prevalence
of deadly coronavirus that led to
the unusual hike in their prices.
They said the production cost of every
book has increased by 20-30 percent as
the prices imported papers, printing
colours, plates, plastics and most chemicals
have almost doubled.
Vice president of Bangladesh Gyan
and Srijonshil Prokashak Samiti
(BGSPS) Mohammad Gafur Hossain
said the production cost of books during
the country's biggest book fair have
increased due to the hike in printing
materials since China has shut down
its market.
He said they are now buying each
printing plate at Tk 350 against its previous
price of Tk 200. "Now, we've to
purchase printing colour at Tk 250-300
which was earlier Tk 180-200. The
prices of most of the imported printing
materials and chemicals have shot up
significantly due to their shortage in the
market."
Gafur, also the owner of Rhythm
Prakashan Sangstha, said they are currently
publishing at least 30 different
types of new books targeting the book fair.
"We've to spend additional Tk 2,000-
3,000 for each title just because of
increased prices of the printing materials."
He said the government needs to
explore suitable alternative markets to
import the printing materials as it is
uncertain when China will reopen its
market.
Monirul Hoque, owner of Ananya
Prokashoni, one of the biggest publication
houses in Bangladesh, said they are
in trouble at this peak season as the
prices of many printing materials and
chemicals have doubled due to the outbreak
of coronavirus in China.
As the import from China remain
halted, he said they are struggling to get
printing plate, colour, plastic and polythene
paper and various chemicals.
Monir said those who are now printing
books for the Ekushey Book Fair
will not be able to make profit due to the
raise in the production cost.
"The Book Fair won't be affected due
to the crisis of printing materials, but
the publishers will be hit hard as their
profit margins will drastically fall," he
added.
Monir said the government and the
importers are looking for alternative
market sources to import the printing
materials and chemicals.
DNCC takes all-out plans to prevent
dengue outbreak this year
DHAKA : Dhaka North City
Corporation (DNCC) Chief Health
Officer Brig Gen Md Mominur
Rahman Mamun yesterday said analyzing
all data regarding previous
dengue outbreak in the country, massive
programmes have been taken to
stop spread of the disease this year.
"To celebrate the birth centenary of
Father of Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman this year,
elaborate programmes have been
taken to prevent dengue outbreak
across the country," he told an advocacy
meeting for raising awareness
among the people of controlling
Culex and Aedes mosquitoes.
DNCC in the association with the
Centres for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) under health directorate
jointly organised the meeting in
city's KC Hospital, according to a press
release received.
At the beginning of the meeting, it is
said that in last July, August and
September months, the dengue outbreak
was at maximum level in the
country and probably this outbreak
may increase in the same period of time
this year.
Projecting various initiatives taken by
DNCC to stop dengue, Deputy Chief
Health Officer of DNCC Lt Col Md
Ghulam Mostafa Sarwar said in the
meeting that the authorities concerned
have already conducted awareness
campaigns to this end like previous
year as it is the only alternative to prevent
dengue outbreak.
The campaigns include holding dissemination
meetings at different
regional and central levels, public rallies,
broadcasting advertisements and
spreading awareness related posts on
social media about dengue, he added.
To accelerate the mosquito elimination
programmes, he went on saying
that purchasing of about 200 fogger
machines,238 pulse fog-machines,150
manually operated mosquito repellent
machines, 340 plastic hand-operated
machines, 2 vehicle-mounted fogger
machines, 10 motorcycle fogger and
hand-operated machines and 20 mist
blower or power spray machines is currently
underway.

NEWS
WednesdAY, FebruArY 19, 2020
2
A science speech centered climate conference was held at the national Museum of science and
Technology yesterday.
Photo : Courtesy
schoolgirl 'gang-raped' in Khulna; one held
KHULNA : A schoolgirl has allegedly been raped by
three youths in Dighalia upazila of Khulna district.
Police arrested a suspect, Shahin, 26, after a case was
filed on Monday over the incident that took place on
February 14, reports UNB.
The victim, a Class-VII student, was also admitted to
Khulna Medical College Hospital in the evening.
Victim's family members claimed that one Shariful
Islam, 30, took some indecent photos of the girl
several times when he used to live in the same rented
house in Chandonimahal area of the upazila.
When the matter came
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to light, Shariful was
driven out of the house.
On February 14,
Shariful called the girl
over mobile phone to
meet him at Fulbari Gate,
saying he would give back
the photos.
When the girl went to
meet him, he took her to
his new house where he along with his two friends-
Shahin and Kajalviolated
her in turns
throughout the night.
After returning home
on February 15, the girl
narrated the incident to
her family members.
However, an influential
group tried to hush up
the matter.
As the girl fell sick on
Monday noon, the family
members along with the
girl went the police
station and filed the case.
Manjur Morshed,
officer-in-charge of
Dighalia Police Station,
said they were
investigating the
incident.
500 structures
removed from
railway land
in Jashore
BENAPOLE : A mobile
court on Tuesday
demolished some 500
illegal establishments,
including shops, dwelling
houses and hotelrestaurants,
in Noapara
Railway Station area in
Abhaynagar upazila of
Jashore district, reports
UNB.
The mobile court, led by
railway divisional land
officer Mohammad
Nuruzzaman, in the
presence of high officials
conducted the drive and
demolished the illegal
structures.
The railway authorities
asked the owners of
different establishments
built
occupying
government land to vacate
the land by Sunday.
Additional police were
also deployed to maintain
law and order during the
eviction drive.
A Four day long (17-20 February 2020) workshop on "Curriculum
development workshop in bangladesh, erasmus + Project : enHAnCeenabling
Humanitarian Attributes for nurturing Community based
engineering" began on sunday at council building of bangladesh
university of engineering and Technology (bueT). Institute of Water and
Flood Management (IWFM) of bueT was organized the opening ceremony
of the workshop on sunday at 10 am which will be continued up to 20
February 2020.
Photo : Courtesy
GD-328/20 (4 x 3)
GD-324/20 (5 x 2)
GD-330/20 (5 x 3)
GD-325/20 (3 x 3)
GD-322/20 (5 x 3)
GD-321/20 (6 x 5)

METRO
WednesdAY, FebruArY 19, 2020
3
Freshers reception and farewell program of the department of Islamic History & Culture of the
university of dhaka was held yesterday.
Photo : Courtesy
Air Pollution: All dhakaites at health risk
DHAKA : All the residents of
Bangladesh's capital Dhaka are at
health risk as the megacity ranked top
among cities with the worst air
quality on Tuesday morning, reports
UNB.
It had an AQI score of 298 at 8am.
The air was classified as 'very
unhealthy' and in this state of air
everyone may experience serious
health effects.
When the AQI value is between 201
and 300, the entire population is
more likely to be affected while
children are advised to limit outdoor
activities in this situation.
India's Delhi and Mongolia's
Ulaanbaatar occupied the second and
third positions in the list of cities with
the worst air quality with AQI scores
of 219 and 215 respectively.
The AQI, an index for reporting
daily air quality, informs people how
clean or polluted the air of a certain
city is, and what associated health
effects might be a concern for them.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on
five criteria pollutants - Particulate
Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO,
SO2 and Ozone (O3).
The Department of Environment
has also set national ambient air
quality standards for these
pollutants. These standards aim to
protect against adverse human health
impacts.
Dhaka has long been grappling with
air pollution. Its air quality usually
improves during monsoon.
GD-326/20 (13 x 4)
GD-319/20 (20 x 4)

EDITORIAL
WedneSday, FeBRuaRy 19, 2020
4
Power moves
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Increase cotton
production locally
The export earnings of the country's
readymade garments (RMG) sector
could be substantially greater if the
RMG industries could be backed up
adequately by value-addition through
backward linkage activities. Presently,
nearly the value of 60 per cent of foreign
currencies earned through RMG export are
spent on importing raw cotton, fabric and
yarn to support the RMG industries.
But the greater value of such imports can
be saved through import substitution if
raw cotton, the primary raw material for
RMG sector's linkage industries, is grown
in greater quantities in the country. Such
cotton can be utilised to make yarn and
fabric for the RMG industries locally and,
in that case, value addition in the textile
sector can be so much more and the
amount of the country's retained foreign
exchange earnings from the textile sector
should increase spectacularly .
Raw cotton produced in the country
meets only about 5 per cent of the total
demand. The rest 95 per cent are
imported. Total cotton production in the
country in recent years has been about
14,000 metric tons, on average, annually.
But experts are of the opinion that total
yields of cotton can be fast increased by
extending cotton cultivation in the southwestern
parts of the country.
Bangladesh has very suitable lands and
climate for cotton cultivation. Apart from
the south-western districts of Jessore,
Kushtia, Jhenaidah and Chuadanga, no
activity of the Bangladesh Cotton
Development Board (BCDB) is seen in
other areas to encourage cotton cultivation
among farmers.
Many places of the country are suitable
for cotton cultivation but the potential of
extending cultivation in these areas is not
being tested by BCDB though it was set up
over a decade ago. But the present
worldwide scarcity of cotton and its
soaring prices, has also put into sharp
focus the imperative of growing cotton
within the country to reduce import
dependency for the product and find price
relief as well.
It is believed that greater activism on the
part of BCDB, plus government's
incentives and support prices for cotton
growing , can enthuse a larger number of
farmers to take up cotton cultivation as a
remunerative commercial crop in between
production of foodgrains at many different
parts of the country. Besides, there is also
the prospects of successfully carrying on
cotton cultivation in marginal lands which
are not being farmed intensively at
present throughout the year.
Cost analysis has shown that it would
even make economic sense to release part
of the good cultivable lands to grow cotton
instead of foodgrains. In that case, it might
be necessary to import some quantities of
foodgrains. But the import costs of the
foodgrains are likely to be notably lower in
comparison to the value added earnings of
the RMG sector through import
substitution.
An action plan needs to be in place for
greater production of raw cotton in the
country. To satisfy growing demand of
cotton with quality, high yielding best
quality clone cotton plant has to be
imported to produce cotton in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and
Exporters Association (BKMEA) says that
production of raw cotton could be
increased manifold in some years from
now through making up a task force to
implement an action plan.
THE government is unravelling; Imran
Khan has disappointed all and sundry and
there is little hope left. The opposition is
gearing up to replace his government. The
PTI has failed only because of itself; it faces
no enemies but from within. The
opposition has already begun talks with
the powers that be. A relationship that
soured over five years has repaired in two
because of the mess that is Khan and the
PTI.
So many rumours, but one subeditor's
brain. The latter is reeling from
information overload. Indeed, the general
perception is that the PTI is not governing
and the PML-N is about to take over. The
latter does have a spring in its step - and
it's not just due to the extreme cold in
Islamabad giving way to a bit of warmth.
Its senior leadership has a newfound
confidence and their speeches in
parliament are testament to the fact that
the biting humour of the Noonies is back.
They are in a position to once again say
that no one but they can actually govern
this country. And boy, are they rejoicing
when they say it!
They sound believable because the
government is busy firefighting without
much success - its various ministers can't
stop cribbing in public, and do so more in
private; they can't seem to deliver any of
the tough decisions expected of them and
Khan has no ideas or vision needed to set
Pakistan on the right path. But is it all
enough for someone, somewhere to
decide that the chessboard needs to be
swept clean and the game begun anew?
So, say the whispers of those in the know
in Islamabad. The knowledgeable ones
argue that this will take the form of an inhouse
change - either in Punjab or at the
centre. Of course, no one bothers to
explain why Islamabad will be left to them
if they are that incapable of governing, but
then no one in the city of power has the
answer to such silly questions.
Though if those laying out the
chessboard had a sense of humour, they
would ensure that the in-house change is
at the centre - for the PML-N would then
be forced (as is the PTI now) to listen to its
various statements in parliament and in
talk shows about how the incompetence of
the PTI was leading to the rise in energy
prices and how insanely high interest rates
were destroying the economy. And while
the PML-N would be squirming, the PTI
would be back on its high horse (or, shall
one say, container). For only the most
besotted of Noonie lovers can think that if
the shers of Punjab are back in power,
they can avoid taking the harsh decisions
being forced upon the PTI. Perhaps this is
one reason that the party of experience
itself says it is averse to being part of an inhouse
change; it's not just because the
PML-N realises the impossibility of
aRIFa nooR
forming a government with the help of the
PPP (there is no other way to form a
government at the centre) but also
because it knows the flak it will get for
dealing with the impossibly difficult
economic conditions. In other words,
those who bring the PML-N back to
power now would not be doing them a
great favour.
Numbers-wise, Punjab is an easier deal.
Unlike the centre, the PML-N can form a
government in Lahore as easily as did the
PTI; a handful of disloyal PTI members or
an alliance with PML-Q can do the trick
for sure. And why not? For everyone is
Though if those laying out the chessboard had a
sense of humour, they would ensure that the in-house
change is at the centre - for the PMl-n would then be
forced (as is the PTI now) to listen to its various
statements in parliament and in talk shows about
how the incompetence of the PTI was leading to the
rise in energy prices and how insanely high interest
rates were destroying the economy.
CoRnelIa MeyeR
worried about governance in Punjab and
everyone also knows that the tirchi topi
wallay aka Shabaz Sharif can deliver,
while Usman Buzdar is struggling. And
this is being discussed seriously; we all
know that poor governance is the only
reason governments in Pakistan are
manoeuvred out of power (discord in the
civil-military relationship is just a ruse).
Hence, the PTI will now be
outmanoeuvred and the PML-N brought
in! And, once again, just consider the
benefits.
The PTI at the centre, cribbing that they
were hobbled because of weak numbers
and being robbed of Punjab; they will have
something to blame their failure on. The
PML-N too will be able to blame any
problem on the centre being hostile if
anything goes wrong; but more serious
still, it will have to face considerable
condemnation for having made a deal
with the khalai makhlooq. Remember the
flak the party got for voting for the
extension law; imagine the brickbats
coming their way if they take over Punjab.
It will not be easy for the party to explain it
away! The only advantage of doing this,
frankly, will be if the powers that be want
to discredit both the PML-N and the PTI.
Good governance in Punjab will just be a
sideshow. o wonder then that the PML-N
- while it is busy and cheerfully reading out
loud the writing on the wall for the PTI - is
not willing to commit officially to
anything. Or perhaps because nothing is
final yet.
And apart from all else, would the PML-
N be willing to give the PTI a second lease
of life. Any move to remove the PTI right
now - from the centre or Lahore - may just
give it the legitimacy it needs. Not only
would it remove the stigma of Khan being
'selected', he would be able to galvanise his
support base by arguing that he was
robbed of his turn to rule; he might just
begin sounding effective once again (as do
most politicians once they are in
opposition). After all, isn't this how Nawaz
Sharif began his political journey in the
1990s?
Source : Dawn
Why oil rebounded last week despite coronavirus doom
Last week proved once more that
markets often react on sentiment
and perceived outlook rather than
to cold, hard facts.
The coronavirus outbreak severely
impacted oil demand, a situation
underlined by forecasts released last
week by both the Organization of the
Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
and the International Energy Agency
(IEA).
The IEA downgraded its demand
predictions for this year by 365,000
barrels per day (bpd) to 825,000 bpd, the
lowest since 2011. It even expected oil
demand to fall by 435,000 bpd during the
first quarter of 2020.
OPEC's downward revisions were less
hefty. The organization predicted oil
demand to grow by 990,000 bpd in
2020, which included a downward
revision of 230,000 bpd.
The two reports were published amidst
negative news of the coronavirus. Its
impact on Chinese oil demand has been
severe, reducing the run rates of refineries
by as much as 3 million bpd. The impact
of the virus will take 1.1 million bpd out of
the market during the first quarter of this
year and 344,000 bpd during the second
in China - all according to the IEA.
The situation has become so grave that
several suppliers are willing to discount
the oil price for their eastbound cargo in
order to retain market share. According
to S&P Global, this mainly affected Brazil,
Russia and Angola.
These numbers make sense when
looking at the impact the spread of
coronavirus has had on global supply
chains, especially in the automotive and
technology sectors. Hyundai closed
factories in Korea, and Chrysler Fiat in
Serbia. General Motors is worried about
its production lines in the US and several
factories in the UK have shortened their
hours due to a lack of parts.
Apple has been particularly impacted,
with several of its factories in China
manufacturing parts or assembling
iPhones having been slow to reopen after
the lunar new year - if at all.
The outlook on the global economy is
bleak. In January the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) downgraded
global economic growth for 2020 by 0.1
percent to 3.3 percent. That was before
worries about the coronavirus emerged.
On Sunday the IMF's managing
director, Kristalina Georgieva, floated a
further reduction in the growth rate by 0.1
- 0.2 percentage points. At the same time,
she warned about making hasty
predictions, because too little was known
at this point about how the virus would
develop. Depending how the economic
These numbers make sense when looking at the
impact the spread of coronavirus has had on
global supply chains, especially in the automotive
and technology sectors. Hyundai closed factories
in Korea, and Chrysler Fiat in Serbia. General
Motors is worried about its production lines in
the uS and several factories in the uK have
shortened their hours due to a lack of parts.
RaMzy BaRoud
impact of the coronavirus unfolds, the
600,000 bpd might well do the trick and
balance markets.
The impact of the virus is twofold, one
lasting and the other one resulting in a
rebound after the worst is over. The
former is the loss in consumption, travel
and tourism during the Chinese lunar
new year, constituting a one-time hit,
which cannot be recovered.
The second effect is the loss of
production in the global supply chain.
Industry will, over time, make up for the
backlog that creates. Down the line it will
probably even result in greater-thanexpected
demand for oil - the premier
fuel for transport - because shipments
will resume, and factories will need to
compensate for the backlog.
So why then was there a hike in the oil
price while the short-term outlook was so
bleak? The development ran against what
was seen in most other commodities,
especially copper. Brent was up by more
than $3.60 per barrel or close to 7 percent
on the week. The price has dropped a
little bit since then, reaching $57.39 per
barrel for Brent in early Asian trading on
Monday.
The answer is simple. While the shortterm
outlook is negative, analysts and
traders pin great hopes on the upcoming
meeting of OPEC+, a grouping of the
OPEC member countries and their 10
allies lead by Russia.
Ministers will gather in Vienna on
March 5 and 6 and most analysts expect
them to follow the recommendations of a
technical meeting held earlier this month,
which stipulated that the grouping should
cut production by an additional 600,000
bpd. That would go beyond the 1.7 million
bpd by which OPEC+ reduced
production in December of last year. The
full 2.3 million bpd should remain off the
market until June, when another meeting
is scheduled.
Depending how the economic impact
of the coronavirus unfolds, the 600,000
bpd might well do the trick and balance
markets. There are, however, other
factors that could influence
developments. For one, political and
internal tensions in Libya have grinded to
a halt the country's oil exports. If the
Berlin process achieves its desired results
later this quarter, Libyan production, and
with it exports, could resume adding to
the supply glut.
Secondly, analysts will observe how
OPEC+ interacts in March. Saudi Arabia
wanted to bring the March meeting
forward, but Russia denied the urgency.
Source : Arab News
The new war brewing in the Mediterranean
Merely one month after the Israel
Leviathan gasfield began
pumping gas for the first time,
an explosion in a pipeline that pumps
Israeli gas to Egypt brought the
operations to a temporary halt.
The attack on the pipeline in the
northern Egypt Sinai Peninsula on
February 2 was a microcosm of a much
wider conflict that has been brewing for
months, which is likely to escalate into an
unprecedented regional power-play.
It all started with massive natural gas
discoveries off the eastern coast of Israel
and Palestine. Considering that Israel has
robbed Palestinians of their land, it is no
surprise that Palestinians are denied
access to their very own natural resources.
Israel is diversifying beyond exerting
regional economic dominance, to
becoming a major player on the
international geopolitical stage as well.
The EastMed pipeline project, estimated
at €6 billion (Dh23.87 billion), is expected
to cover 10 per cent of Europe's overall
need for natural gas Now, Israel is
working to translate the massive new
discoveries to make Tel Aviv a regional
energy hub.The Middle East is already in
the throes of a major geostrategic war that
has the potential to become an actual
military confrontation. Israel's new gas
wealth promises to be a major aspect of
the region's already existing conflicts.
"We turned Israel into an energy
superpower," Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu bragged during a
cabinet meeting on January 19, in
reference to Israeli Leviathan gas
shipments to Jordan and Egypt, the latter
being temporarily disrupted in the Sinai
attack. For years, Israel has been
exploiting the discovery of massive
deposits of natural gas from the Leviathan
and Tamar fields - located nearly 125km
and 80km west of Haifa respectively - to
reconstruct regional alliances and to
redefine its geopolitical centrality to
Europe.
The Israeli strategy has, however,
already created potentials for conflict in
an already unstable region, expanding the
power-play to Cyprus, Greece, France,
Italy, and Libya, as well as Egypt, Turkey,
Lebanon, and Russia.
On January 2, Netanyahu was in
Athens signing a gas pipeline deal with
Greek Prime Minister Kyriako Mitotakis
and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades.
The EastMed pipeline is projected to
travel from Israel to Cyprus, to Greece
and, ultimately, to Italy, thus transporting
eastern Mediterranean gas directly to the
heart of Europe.
A few years ago, this scenario seemed
unthinkable, as Israel has, in fact,
imported much of its natural gas from
neighbouring Egypt.
Israel's Tamar field partly rectified
Israel's reliance on imported gas when it
began production in 2003. Shortly after,
Israel struck gas again, this time with far
greater potential, in the massive
Leviathan field. On December 31, 2019,
Leviathan began pumping gas for the first
time.Leviathan is located in the
Mediterranean Sea's Levantine Basin, a
region that is rich with hydrocarbons.
"Leviathan is estimated to hold over 21
trillion cubic feet of natural gas - enough
to fill Israeli power-generation needs for
the next 40 years, while still leaving an
ample supply for export," wrote Frank
Musmar in the BESA Centre for Strategic
Studies website. Israel is diversifying
beyond exerting regional economic
dominance, to becoming a major player
on the international geopolitical stage as
well. The EastMed pipeline project,
estimated at €6 billion (Dh23.87 billion),
is expected to cover 10 per cent of
Europe's overall need for natural gas. This
is where things get even more interesting.
Turkey believes that the deal, which
involves its own regional rivals, Cyprus
and Greece, is designed specifically to
marginalise it economically, by excluding
it from the Mediterranean's hydrocarbon
boom. Ankara is already a massive energy
hub, being the host of TurkStream which
feeds Europe, with approximately 40 per
cent of its needs of natural gas coming
from Russia. This fact has provided both
Moscow and Ankara not only with more
than economic advantages but with
geostrategic leverage as well. If the
EastMed pipeline becomes a reality,
Turkey and Russia will stand to lose the
most. In a series of successive, and
surprising moves, Turkey retaliated by
signing a maritime border deal with
Libya's internationally-recognised
Government of National Accord (GNA),
and by committing to send military
support to help Tripoli in its fight against
forces loyal to General Khalifa Haftar.
"Turkey will not permit any activity that
is against its own interests in the region,"
Fuat Oktay, Turkey's vice-president, told
Anadolu News Agency, adding that, "any
plan that disregards Turkey has
absolutely no chance of success."
Source : Gulf news

ACHIEVEMENT ENVIRONMENT
WEDNESDAY,
FEBrUArY 19, 2020
5
Climate anxiety likely to stress out the human race
Matthew Taylor
Over the past few weeks Clover Hogan has found herself
crying during the day and waking up at night gripped by
panic. The 20-year-old, who now lives in London, grew
up in Queensland, Australia, cheekbyjowl with the
country's wildlife, fishing frogs out of the toilet and
dodging snakes hanging from the ceiling.
The bushfires ravaging her homeland over the past
few weeks have taken their toll. "I've found myself
bursting into tears … just seeing the absolutely
harrowing images of what's happening in Australia - it
is overwhelming and terrifying."
Hogan said her lowest point came when she heard
about the death of half a billion animals incinerated as
the fires swept through the bush. "That was the moment
where I felt my heart cleave into two pieces. I felt
absolutely distraught." The physical impact of the
climate crisis is impossible to ignore, but experts are
becoming increasingly concerned about another, less
obvious consequence of the escalating emergency - the
strain it is putting on people's mental wellbeing,
especially the young.
Psychologists warn that the impact can be debilitating
for the growing number of people overwhelmed by the
scientific reality of ecological breakdown and for those
who have lived through traumatic climate events, often
on the climate frontline in the global south..
Until two years ago Dr Patrick Kennedy-Williams, a
clinical psychologist from Oxford, had spent his career
treating common mental health difficulties including
anxiety, depression and trauma. Then something new
started to happen. Climate scientists and researchers
working in Oxford began to approach him asking for
help. "These were people who were essentially facing a
barrage of negative information and downward trends
in their work … and the more they engaged with the
issue, the more they realised what needed to be done -
and the more they felt that was bigger than their
capacity to enact meaningful change," he said. "The
consequences of this can be pretty dire - anxiety,
burnout and a sort of professional paralysis."
Kennedy-Williams began to research the topic and
realised it was not just scientists and researchers who
were suffering. "There is a huge need among parents,
for instance, who are asking for support on how to talk
to their kids about this."
When Kennedy-Williams began focusing on young
people he assumed most would be older teenagers or at
least have started secondary school. But he soon
discovered worrying levels of environment-related
stress and anxiety in much younger children.
"What I was most surprised by is how young the
awareness and anxiety starts. My own daughter was just
six when she came to me and said: 'Daddy, are we
winning the war against climate change?' and I was just
flummoxed by that question in the moment. It really
showed me the importance as a parent of being
prepared for the conversation, so we can respond in a
helpful way."He says there is no way to completely
shield young people from the reality of the climate
Elizabeth Wathuti, a climate activist remarked 'We won't die of old age, we'll die from climate change'.
Photo: Aitor Baez
crisis, and argues that would be counterproductive even
if it were possible. Rather, parents should talk to their
children about their concerns and help them feel
empowered to take action - however small - that can
make a difference.
A key moment for Kennedy-Williams came with the
realisation that tackling "climate anxiety" and tackling
the climate crisis were intrinsically linked. "The positive
thing from our perspective as psychologists is that we
soon realised the cure to climate anxiety is the same as
the cure for climate change - action. It is about getting
out and doing something that helps.
"Record and celebrate the changes you make. Nobody
is too small. Make connections with other people and at
the same time realise that you are not going to cure this
problem on your own. This isn't all on you and it's not
sustainable to be working on solving climate change
24/7."This certainly resonates with Hogan, who has set
up Force of Nature, an initiative aimed at helping young
people realise their potential to create change. Hogan's
group aims to target people aged 11-24 with a crash
course in the climate crisis that helps them navigate
their anxiety and realise their potential to get involved,
take action and make a stand. "This is only the
beginning," said Hogan. "We're going to see massive,
massive widespread climate crisis in every country
around the world, so it's about developing the
emotional resilience to carry on, but in a way that
ignites really dramatic individual initiative."
Beyond climate anxiety - the fear that the current
system is pushing the Earth beyond its ecological limits
- experts are also warning of a sharp rise in trauma
caused by the experience of climate-related disasters.
In the global south, increasingly intense storms,
wildfires, droughts and heatwaves have left their mark
not just physically but also on the mental wellbeing of
millions of people. For Elizabeth Wathuti, a climate
activist from Kenya, her experience of climate anxiety is
not so much about the future but what is happening
now. "People in African countries experience ecoanxiety
differently because climate change for us is
about the impacts that we are already experiencing now
and the possibilities of the situation getting worse," she
said. She works with young people through the Green
Generation Initiative she founded and sees the effects of
eco-anxiety first-hand. A common worry she hears
among students is: "We won't die of old age, we'll die
from climate change."Extreme climate events can
create poverty, which exacerbates mental health
problems, and Wathuti says she has seen stress,
depression and alcohol and drug abuse as some of the
side-effects of climate anxiety and trauma in her
country.Even in the UK, a recent study by the
Environment Agency found that people who experience
extreme weather such as storms or flooding are 50%
more likely to suffer from mental health problems,
including stress and depression, for years afterwards.
More than 1,000 clinical psychologists have signed an
open letter highlighting the impact of the crisis on
people's wellbeing and predicting "acute trauma on a
global scale in response to extreme weather events,
forced migration and conflict".
Kaaren Knight, a clinical psychologist who
coordinated the letter, said: "The physical impacts
related to extreme weather, food shortages and conflict
are intertwined with the additional burden of mental
health impacts and it is these psychologists are
particularly concerned about."
She added that fear and trauma "significantly reduced
psychological wellbeing", particularly in children. "This
is of huge concern to us and needs to be part of the
conversation when we talk about climate breakdown."
One of the high-profile signatories of the letter, Prof
Mike Wang, the chair of the Association of Clinical
Psychologists UK, said: "Inaction and complacency are
the privileges of yesterday … Psychologists are ready
and willing to help countries protect the health and
wellbeing of their citizens given the inevitable social and
psychological consequences of climate change."
This rallying of the psychological profession around
the climate crisis has led to experts around the world
forming groups to research and treat the growing
number of people caught up in the unfolding crisis,
attempting to help them move from fear and paralysis
towards action.
But even for those who are following this advice, the
scale of the emergency is taking its toll. Kennedy
Williams - who has set up his own group, Climate
Psychologists, specialising in climate anxiety - said he
and his colleagues were not immune from the
psychological impacts of the crisis.
"This is such a universal thing that [we] have all been
through our own set of climate-related grief and
despair, and we talk about riding the wave between
hope and despair … it is absolutely as real for us as it is
for anyone else."It's OK to explore learning together. If
your child asks a question you can't answer
immediately, respond by saying: "What a great
question. Let me look into that so I can answer it
properly." Try to validate, rather than minimise,
children's emotions If children express anxiety, it's
much better to say: "It's OK to feel worried. Here is what
we can do about it," than to say: "Don't worry. It's all
fine." But always try to support this emotion with
suggestions for positive action.
Negative information hits harder Bad or
threatening facts tend to resonate more strongly -
and therefore stick in the mind. So try to balance one
piece of negative news with three pieces of positive
news. Have some examples of good climate-related
news ready - for example, successful conservation
projects.
For younger children, keep it local and tangible
Suggest litter picks and school events. For teenagers,
encourage them to stay connected at a wider level - help
them write to their MP, take part in protests and join
local communities and campaigns.
Set practical goals as a family and follow through
Record and celebrate your climate successes together
(even a piece of paper on the fridge door). Reinforce the
message that small actions can make a big difference.
The dwindling numbers of chinstrap penguin
Jonathan Watts
Colonies of chinstrap penguins have
fallen by more than half across
islands in Antarctica, prompting
scientific concern that "something is
broken" in the world's wildest
ecosystem.
After more than a month counting
chicks in the South Shetland Islands,
researchers suspect global heating is
behind the sharp fall in numbers of
the distinctive birds, which get their
name from a black line that runs
below the beak from cheek to cheek.
Using drones and handheld
clickers, the team of four scientists
from Stony Brook University in the
US found only 52,786 breeding pairs
on Elephant Island, 58% fewer than
in the last survey in 1971. Travelling
on a Greenpeace expedition, the
scientists also conducted a penguin
census in the snow, fog and freezing
rain of Low island, where preliminary
figures indicated a similar scale of
decline in what is believed to be the
largest chinstrap population in
Antarctica.
It was the same story on Livingston
island, where the team braved
choppy seas to land by the rocks of
Hannah Point and conduct a count
that was far down from previous
estimates.
The full tally from each island will
not be released until the expedition is
completed, but the researchers said
the trend was clear and disturbing;
chinstrap colonies are shrinking,
leaving space for another species of
penguin, the gentoo, to move in.
"This shows something in the
marine ecology is broken, or has
drastically changed since the 1970s,"
said Noah Strycker, a scientist and
author, during a research camp amid
tens of thousands of penguins on
Low island.
Breeding success rates remain
consistent, he noted, which means
the cause of the chinstrap decline is
something that affects the birds after
they become juveniles.
Scientists believe the most likely
cause is climate disruption. Humandriven
heating has pushed up winter
Chinstrap Penguins on Elephant Island, Antarctica.
Photo: Christian Aslund
temperatures on and around the
Antarctic peninsula by 5C above preindustrial
levels - one of the fastest
rises in the world. Recently, the
region recorded a new high of 18.3C,
smashing the previous record of
17.5C.
Sea-ice is forming later and melting
earlier, which is weakening the
Antarctic food chain. The ice is vital
for phytoplankton, which fatten up
the shrimp-like krill on which the
chinstraps feed.
"While several factors may have a
role to play, all the evidence we have
points to climate change as being
responsible for the changes we are
seeing," said Dr Heather Lynch, one
of the expedition's lead researchers.
The research confirms separate
findings from other less remote areas
that suggest the Antarctic has
"climate winners and losers". The
orange-beaked gentoo appears to be
replacing the chinstrap, a specialist
that depends on krill and ice. The
gentoo is described by some
scientists as the "pigeon of the
penguin world" because it a
generalist with a varied diet that
includes fish and squid and an ability
to thrive in a wider range of
conditions.
But there are far more losers than
winners. Most penguin species are
suffering from the warming
climate. Two years ago, scientists
warned 70% of king penguins could
either disappear or be forced to find
new breeding grounds by the end of
the century. An earlier study found
60% of the Adélie penguin habitat
in Antarctica could be lost.
With krill declines of up to 40% in
some areas of the Southern Ocean,
there are concerns of a knock-on
effect on other predators, including
whales and leopard seals. The
sharp fall in chinstrap numbers has
prompted calls for the bird to be
classified as a species of concern. In
2012, satellite population estimates
found numbers were down about
39% between 2003 and 2010.
Greenpeace said the decline of the
chinstraps highlighted the need for
stronger climate action and greater
wildlife protection in the world's
most remote corners.
"Governments must respond to the
science and agree a strong Global
Ocean Treaty at the United Nations
this spring, that can create a
network of ocean sanctuaries to
protect marine life and help these
creatures adapt to our rapidly
changing climate," Louisa Casson,
oceans campaigner at Greenpeace,
said.
In October, the Antarctic Ocean
Commission will discuss three
sanctuary proposals, which were
rejected last year.
Algae being grown in the lab are made into a fabric for the designer.
Photo: Charlotte McCurdy
Turning algae into living fabrics
James Tapper
Mushroom, pineapple and
algae: it sounds like the
topping for a rather unusual
pizza. In fact, they could be
the crucial ingredients in the
wardrobe of the future as
growing numbers of
designers try to create
fashion that doesn't harm
the environment.
Examine a garment's care
label and you may find that
it was made out of pineapple
stalks or cactus leaves, or a
tote bag was woven with
thread made from banana
trees. From mushroom
leather to algae T-shirts, the
search is on for alternative
materials with smaller
carbon footprints. And the
latest result are carbonnegative
clothes made with
algae that absorb carbon
dioxide from the air.
"Fashion is part of the
problem but it's also part of
the solution," said Nina
Marenzi, founder and
director of the Sustainable
Angle, a not-for-profit
organisation which
promotes green textiles at its
annual Future Fabric Expo.
"We begin with materials
and making them
sustainable, and if fashion
supply chains can change,
then we start to address
that."
The New York designer
Charlotte McCurdy has
made a see-through
bioplastic mac using algae -
specifically algae powder
used in vegan food products.
She worked with glass
casters to find a way to heat
the algae and cool it in a
controlled fashion to make it
transparent. The material is
carbon-negative because the
algae draw carbon out of the
atmosphere, meaning the
coat acts as a carbon sink.
"Follow the carbon -
where did it come from?"
she said. "Has it come from
carbon taken out of the
atmosphere millions of
years ago and put in the
ground? We talk a lot about
what happens to materials
after we use them, but not
where they come from in the
first place."Post Carbon Lab
is using the same principle
with another algae
prototype - clothes that
photosynthesise. The startup
in London has created
photosynthesis coating, a
layer of living algae on the
fabric of garments that
absorb carbon dioxide and
emit oxygen, turning the
carbon into sugar. One large
T-shirt - nearly a square
metre of material -
generates about as much
oxygen as a six-year-old oak
tree, according to the cofounder
Dian-Jen Lin.
The start-up has been
working with designers and
industry to translate its
photosynthesis coating into
a marketable product, and
Lin said it could be used in
shoes, backpacks, curtains,
pillow cases, umbrellas and
building canopies.
The care instructions were
rather different to normal
clothes, she said. Wearing
algae was not without its
perils. "You can't put it into
your dark wardrobe. It
needs light and carbon
dioxide, so you have to put it
in a well-ventilated area, like
the back of your chair."
Washing machines would
harm the algae, so "it's
handwash only - you have to
be a bit careful. I wouldn't
recommend this coating for
your underwear but maybe
for a windbreaker or a
jacket."
Lin and her co-founder
Hannes Hulstaert are
testing the limits of the
coating, which she says can
be applied to almost any
garments, either as a full
coating or a print. "But it
might change colour if it's
really upset, if it didn't like
the light or temperature,"
Lin said. "Most of the
organisms are in the green
shade. In the healthy state
they are dark brownish
green, orangeish green.
When it's unhappy it might
turn yellow, orange, brown,
purple or white or
transparent."
However, it seems
remarkably resilient. "We've
had samples for three years
which have come back to
life," Lin said. Other textiles
include Piñatex, made from
pineapple leaves and used
by Hugo Boss and H&M,
and Mycotex, a substance
grown from mushrooms.
Cactus is the next plantbased
leather to emerge, the
creation of Desserto.

NATIONAL
WeDNeSDAY, FeBRUARY 19, 2020 6
Satota Store, Muktijoddha Corner and digital
attendance inaugurated in Chilmari
Pabna Deputy Commissioner Kabir Mahmud chaired a preparatory meeting to celebrate 100 birth
anniversary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the district on
Tuesday.
Photo: Abdul Hamid Khan
Preparatory meeting to celebrate
'Mujib Borsho' held in Pabna
Abdul hAmId KhAn, pAbnA Correspondent:
A preparatory meeting organized by
district administration to celebrate 100
birth anniversary of the Father of the
nation bangabandhu sheikh mujibur
rahman was held in pabna on
tuesday. the meeting was chaired by
deputy Commissioner Kabir mahmud
at the deputy Commissioner's
Conference room.
deputy Commissioner Kabir
mahmud in his speech said that all
kinds of billboards, festoons, arcades
have been removed in the city as part of
cleaning pabna to celebrate 'mujib
borsho'. he further said that the official
AzAm pArVez, rAngpur Correspondent:
deputy Inspector general
of police (dIg) of the rangpur
range devdas bhattacharya
made annual inspection of
district police reserve office
on monday. during the time,
rangpur superintendent of
police of rangpur district,
mr. biplob Kumar sarkar
gave a warm welcome to the
dIg.
later a parade performed
by contingents and band
members of rangpur district
police, headed by Additional
superintendent of police (b-
Circle) maruf Ahmed was
held. during the time, dIg in
his speech urged all the
policemen to remove the
negative perception of the
people about the police during
this "mujib borsho",
highlighting the ideology of
the greatest bangali of all
programs for the celebration of 'mujib
borsho' are set to begin on march 17.
From that day through the year-long
spectrum program, celebrations will be
celebrated in every upazila of pabna
like the rest of the country.
pabna zila parishad Chairman
rezaul rahim lal said in his speech
that the policy makers and the heads of
all offices should be watchful to make
the 'mujib borsho' celebrations
successful. we should properly
organized and respectfully implement
each program.
Among others, district Council Chief
executive officer Kazi Atiur rahman,
time, Father of the nation
bangabandhu sheikh
mujibur rahman. he also
expected service must be
provided to the people by
maintaining
their
professionalism and sincere
duty.
during the time, Abu maruf
hossain, superintendent of
police (Administration and
Crime) rangpur, md. Fazle
pro-VC of pabna university of science
and technology, dr. Anwarul haque,
Additional deputy Commissioner
(public), shahed parvez, Additional
superintendent of police shamima
Akhter, deputy director of local
government Afroza Akhtar, Additional
deputy Commissioner (revenue) )
mokhlesur rahman, Additional
district magistrate zahid nawaz,
executive engineer of local
government engineering department,
pabna Km badshah mia and president
of pabna newspaper Council,
journalist Abdul matin Khan were also
present at the occasion.
Rangpur Range DIG made annual inspection
of district Police Reserve Office
Mobile
workshop
on hoisting
the
national
flag held in
Ishwarganj
Abul KAlAm AzAd, IshwArgAnj
Correspondent:
A mobile workshop was
held to raise public
awareness on hoisting the
national flag correctly in
Ishwarganj uapzila of
mymensingh on tuesday.
the workshop was
inaugurated by uno zakir
hossain.
Among others, Assistant
Commissioner (land)
sayeda parveen, freedom
fighter Abdul hai, senior
upazila fisheries officer
Asm sanowar russell, up
Chairman shafiqul Islam,
Anwar parvez, Agriculture
officer sadhan Kumar
guha mazumder, Family
planning officer Kamal
hossain, secondary
education officer Ashraful
Islam, pIo shafiqul Islam
and press Club president
Abul Kalam Azad were also
present at the occasion.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) of the Rangpur Range Devdas
Bhattacharya and Rangpur Superintendent of Police, Biplob Kumar
Sarkar were present during a parade of annual inspection of district Police
Reserve Office on Monday.
Photo: Azam Parvez
elahi, superintendent of
police (Additional special
branch), rangpur and a large
numbers of officers and police
members were also present at
the occasion.
Ishwarganj UNO Zakir Hossain addressed a mobile workshop to raise
public awareness on hoisting the national flag correctly in Ishwarganj
uapzila on Tuesday.
Photo: Abul Kalam Azad
Police in a drive arrested three drug dealers along with 240 bottles of
phensedyl and a motorcycle in Adamdighi uapzila of Bogura on Monday
night.
Photo: Soikat Khan
golAm mAhbub, ChIlmArI
Correspondent:
satota
store,
muktijoddha Corner and
digital attendance for
students were inaugurated
in Chilmari upazila on
tuesday.
Kurigram deputy
Commissioner mst.
sultana parveen
inaugurated the satota
store, muktijoddha Corner
and digital attendance at
patrokhata riajul jannat
dakhil madrasha in the
upazila. later a meeting
was held which was chaired
by madrasha managing
Committee president sm
tofazzal hossain. Among
others, upazila parishad
Chairman shawkat Ali
sarker bir bikrom,
Additional deputy
Commissioner md
sujuddaula, upazila
nirbahi officer Awm
MoU signed between
district administration
and Nandail Gram
Unnayan Committee
ArAbIndA pAul, nAndAIl
Correspondent:
A memorandum of
understanding (mou) was
signed between district
administration and 35 gram
unnayan Committees of
nandail upazila to create a
developed, safe, child-friendly
and prosperous ideal village
with the theme 'mujib borsho
2020'and 'Amar gram Amar
sohor' organized by nandail
world Vision bangladesh,
nandail Ap (Area program) in
the upazila on tuesday.
deputy Commissioner md
mizanur rahman presidents
of 35 gram unnayan
Committee signed the
memorandum
of
understanding at the upazila
parishad hall room. during
the time, upazila parishad
Chairman hasan mahmud
jewel, upazila nirbahi officer
muhammad Abdur rahim
sujan, municipal mayor md.
rafiq uddin bhuiyan,
Assistant Commissioner
(land) mahmuda Akhter and
raju william rosario from
world Vision were among
others also present at the
occasion.
world Vision bangladesh
nandail Ap manager suman
ruram moderated the
program.
3 held with
240 bottles of
phensedyl in
Adamdighi
soIKAt KhAn, AdAmdIghI
Correspondent:
police arrested three drug
dealers along with 240
bottles of phensedyl and a
motorcycle in Adamdighi
uapzila of bogura. on
tuesday morning, a case
was filed against them under
the special powers Act and
sent to jail.
the arrestees were
identified as jony Ahmed,
21, son of Abdur rahman of
Chupinagar village of
shahajahan upazila of
bogura, naim 19, son of
mokhlesar rahman of the
same village and Al Amin,
19, so of tajmal hossain.
officer-in-charge of
Adamdighi police station
jalal uddin said the three
drug dealers were going to
bogura
from
Chapainawabganj with a
Apache tVs motorcycle
without a number and a
school bag filled with
phensedyl. through secret
news, a patrol police stopped
the motorcycle in the night
at boro Akhira Charmatha
place in the highway and
searched the school bag.
later 240 bottles of
phensedyl were found inside
the bag. the motorcycle was
also seized.
Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Mst. Sultana Parveen as the chief guest
inaugurated Satota Store, Muktijoddha Corner and digital attendance at
Patrokhata Riajul Jannat Dakhil Madrasha in Chilmari upazila on
Tuesday.
Photo: Golam Mahbub
raihan shah, Chilmari
model police station
officer-in-Charge md.
Aminul Islam, upazila
parishad women Vice
Chairman Asma begum,
project Implementation
officer Kohinur rahman,
ramna up Chairman
Azgar Ali sarkar and
madrasha super md.
Abdul Aziz Akanda were
also present at the
occasion.
deputy Commissioner
mst. sultana parveen said
that honesty is the main
tool for creating a civilized
society. to establish an
honest, sincere, upright
and socially conscious
individual life, we must
develop ourselves on the
basis of honesty. she said
that the war of liberation
would play a vital role in
nurturing the present and
future generations in the
spirit of the unity and
giving accurate history.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between district
administration and 35 Gram Unnayan Committees of Nandail upazila
on Tuesday.
Photo: Arabinda Paul
Social group of work on poverty
alleviation projects of
marginalized people formed
rohulAmIn rAzu, melAndAhA Correspondent:
the process of forming social groups for
poverty alleviation of the marginalized
people of mahmudpur union of melandah
upazila of jamalpur district has been
completed. the meeting was held in the hall
of mahmudpur union parishad on monday
which was chaired by of rdA, deputy
project director and joint director of
bogura sheikh mehedi mohammed.
melendah upazila nirbahi officer tamim
Al Yameen addressed the occasion as the
chief guest. Among others, melandaha
upazila Cooperative officer md shahadat
hossain, mahmudpur up secretary md
nurul Islam, deputy Assistant engineer md.
Kabir hossain, rana Chowdhury, golam
hossain, Abu walid, shahjalal, sanowar
hossain and Atiqul Islam were also present
at the occasion.
dr. mohammad riazul Islam, project
Associate officer and deputy project
director, rdA bogura conducted the
program.
Awami League nominated candidate for Gaibandha-3 by-elections
Umme Kulsum Smriti addressed a mass assembly in Palashbari upazila
on Tuesday. Palashbari Upazila Awami League President and Municipal
Administrator Abu Bakar Pradhan presided over the function while
among others, Former MP and Former Upazila Awami League
President Alhaj Tofazzal Hossain Sarkar, Upazila Awami League
General Secretary Shamikul Islam Sarkar Lipon and Vice President
Shahidul Islam Badsha were also present at the occasion. Photo: TBT
Sweet potato cultivation regaining its glory in Manikganj
mAnIKgAnj: the cultivation of sweet
potato is regaining its lost glory in manikganj
that was disappeared from the district,
reports bss.
department of Agriculture extension
(dAe) sources said a total of 170 hectares of
land was brought under sweet potato
cultivation in all seven upazilas in the district
with a production target of 3,172 metric tons
during the current season.
the harvesting of sweet potato has already
been started and is appearing in the markets.
the sweet potato cultivators are happy to
getting its high price in the markets.
dAe sources said once manikganj district
was famous for sweet potato cultivation.
sometimes sweet potatoes were cultivated
about five thousand hectares of land in the
district.
but the producers did not get their desired
prices of their products and declined the
cultivation of the potatoes. An elderly sweet
potato cultivator wahed Ali (70) of dalla
village of singair upazila of the district said
'we had to sell taka 30-35 per mound of
sweet potato before some years. we did not
get our production cost selling it in the
markets.
now sweet potatoes are using as one of the
best vegetables. now per Kg. sweet potato is
being sold at taka 25-30 in the markets'.
even early harvesting sweet potato was sold
at taka 40-50 per Kg. in the markets, he
added.

INTERNATIONAL
WEDNESDAY,
FEBRUARY 19, 2020
7
Iran sentences alleged US spies
to up to 10 years in prison
Residents in central England and Wales braced Tuesday for more flooding as rivers peaked in the
wake of a weekend storm that brought up to 6 inches (150 mm) of rain to an already waterlogged
region.
Photo : AP
UK issues severe flood alerts as
storm-swollen rivers surge
Residents in central England and
Wales braced Tuesday for more flooding
as rivers peaked in the wake of a
weekend storm that brought up to 6
inches (150 mm) of rain to an already
waterlogged region.
Environment agencies in England
and Wales on Tuesday declared 10
severe flood warnings, meaning there is
an immediate danger to life, for the
rivers Severn Trent, Wye and Lugg.
More than 180 less severe flood warnings
were also in place, reports UNB.
Storm Dennis - the second major
storm of the winter-blew through the
U.K. on Saturday and Sunday, bringing
wind gusts of up to 90 mph (145 kph)
Bloomberg makes
debate stage, facing
Dem rivals for 1st
time
Billionaire Mike Bloomberg
has qualified for the upcoming
Democratic presidential
debate, marking the first
time he'll stand alongside
the rivals he has so far avoided
by bypassing the early
voting states and using his
personal fortune to define
himself through television
ads.
A new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist
poll published
Tuesday shows
Bloomberg with 19% support
nationally in the Democratic
nominating contest,
reports UNB.
The former New York City
mayor, who launched his
presidential campaign in
November, will appear in
Wednesday's debate in Las
Vegas alongside former Vice
President Joe Biden, Sens.
Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth
Warren and Amy Klobuchar
and former South Bend,
Indiana, Mayor Pete
Buttigieg. Fellow billionaire
and philanthropist Tom
Steyer is still hoping to qualify.
Bloomberg's campaign
said that it was seeing "a
groundswell of support
across the country" and that
qualifying for Wednesday's
debate "is the latest sign that
Mike's plan and ability to
defeat Donald Trump is
resonating with more
Americans." "Mike is
looking forward to joining
the other Democratic candidates
on stage and making
the case for why he's the best
candidate to defeat Donald
Trump and unite the country,"
Bloomberg campaign
manager Kevin Sheekey said
in a statement.
The Democratic National
Committee recently changed
its rules for how a candidate
qualifies for the debate,
opening the door for
Bloomberg to be on stage
and drawing the ire of some
candidates who dropped out
of the race for failing to
make prior stages. The
candidates were previously
required to receive a certain
number of campaign
contributions to qualify, but
Bloomberg, who is worth an
estimated $60 billion, is not
taking donations.
and heavy rain that flooded roads, railways,
homes and businesses. The fierce
weather upended travel plans for thousands
of British families trying to get
away on the mid-winter school break.
It turned rivers including the Severn
and the Wye, which normally
meander through picturesque countryside,
into raging torrents. The River
Wye reached the highest level ever
recorded in the central England town
of Hereford.
Dave Throup, a manager in the
region for the Environment Agency,
tweeted; "I've seen things today I would
not have believed. ... This is not normal
flooding, we are in uncharted territory."
The storm has killed at least three
people in Britain, including a 55-yearold
woman who was swept away by
floodwaters in the central English town
of Tenbury.
The high seas churned up by the
storm left an abandoned cargo ship, the
MV Alta, crashed up upon the shores of
County Cork, near Ballycotton, southern
Ireland.
The storm also left a trail of flooding
and power outages across northern
Europe, including in southwestern
Sweden. In Denmark, 100 people who
had been evacuated late Monday due to
fears that a levee might collapse began
returning home Tuesday.
UN says Libyan rival
forces resume talks
to save cease-fire
Libya's warring sides resumed Tuesday
U.N.-brokered talks aimed at salvaging a
fragile cease-fire in the North African country,
the U.N. said in Geneva, reports UNB.
The current cease-fire was brokered by
Russia and Turkey on Jan. 12. It marked the
first break in months of fighting for control of
the Libyan capital, Tripoli. But both sides
have repeatedly violated the cease-fire.
Oil-rich Libya is split between rival governments,
each backed by an array of foreign
countries apparently jockeying for influence
in order to control Libya's resources.
A U.N.-supported but weak administration,
led by Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj,
holds only a shrinking area of western
Libya, including the capital. It's been
fending off an offensive since last April by
forces loyal to Gen. Khalifa Hifter. The
military commander is allied with a rival
government that controls much of Libya's
east and south, including key oil fields
and export terminals.
The U.N. support mission in Libya said
five military representatives from each
side have met Tuesday in Geneva, more
than a week after they ended their first
round of negotiations without striking a
deal that would help end the fighting in
Tripoli.
In the previous round of talks, the U.N.
mission said there was "broad consensus"
between the two sides on "the urgency for
Libyans to safeguard the sovereignty and
territorial integrity" of the country, and to
"stop the flow of non-Libyan fighters and
send them out of the country." Hifter's
forces rely on military assistance from the
United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well
as France and Russia. On the other side,
Turkey, Italy and Qatar support the
embattled Tripoli-based government.
Powerful tribes loyal to the eastern the
commander Hifter have also largely
stopped the country's oil production, after
they seized last month several large oil
export terminals along Libya's eastern
coast as well as its southern oil fields.
The country's National Oil Corporation,
which dominates Libya's critical oil
industry and is based in Tripoli, said losses
from the oil closures have reached
more than $1.6 billion as of Monday.
The daily oil production has since the closure
fallen to 135,745 barrels a day from
about 1.2 million. It put the daily losses at
close to $59 million.
Libya has the ninth largest known oil
reserves in the world and the biggest oil
reserves in Africa.
The corporation reiterated its warning that
the blockade is quickly depleting fuel that
supplies Libyan power stations.
The Geneva talks come amid intensified
diplomacy among world powers seeking to
end the conflict that has ravaged Libya for
nine years and increasingly drawn in foreign
powers. European Union foreign ministers
agreed Monday to launch a new maritime
effort focused on enforcing the U.N arms
embargo around the North African country.
Libya has been in turmoil since 2011, when a
civil war toppled long-time dictator Moammar
Gadhafi, who was later killed.
A UN-supported but weak administration, led by Prime Minister Fayez
Sarraj, holds only a shrinking area of western Libya, including the capital.
It's been fending off an offensive since last April by forces loyal to Gen.
Khalifa Haftar.
Photo : Internet
Iran sentenced eight environmental
activists, including an Iranian who
reportedly also has British and American
citizenship, to prison sentences
ranging from four to 10 years on
charges of spying for the United States
and acting against Iran's national security,
the judiciary said Tuesday, reports
UNB.
According to the judiciary
spokesman, Gholamhossein Esmaili,
an appeals court issued the final verdicts.
Two of the activists, Morad Tahbaz
and Niloufar Bayani, got 10 years each
and were ordered to return the money
they allegedly received from the U.S.
government for their services.
Tahbaz is an Iranian who also holds
U.S. and British citizenship.
Iran does not recognize dual or multiple
nationalities, meaning Iranians it
detains cannot receive consular assistance
from their other countries. In
most cases, dual nationals have faced
secret charges in closed-door hearings
before Iran's Revolutionary Court,
which handles cases involving alleged
attempts to overthrow the government.
Esmaili, the judiciary spokesman,
said two other activists, Houman Jokar
and Taher Ghadirian, each got eightyear
sentences for allegedly "collaborating
with the hostile government of
America."
Another three of the activists, Sam
Rajabi, Sepideh Kashan Doust and
Amirhossein Khaleghi Hamidi, were
sentenced to six years in prison each.
The eighth activist, Abdolreza Kouhpayeh,
got four years. All the activists
were arrested in early 2018.
A ninth activist who was arrested at
the time, Kavous Seyed Emami, an
Iranian-Canadian naional, died while
in custody under disputed circumstances
in February 2018. His widow
then was blocked from flying out of
Iran, but later made it out.
Iran is also holding others with ties to
the West, including Nazanin Zaghari-
Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman sentenced
to five years on allegations of
planning the "soft toppling" of Iran's
government while traveling in Iran
with her young daughter.
Suspension
of Libyan
oil exports
costs over
1.6 bln USD
Libya's National Oil Corporation
(NOC) on Monday
said that the suspension
of oil exports due to
closure of oil fields and
ports has caused a loss of
more than 1.6 billion U.S.
dollars so far, reports
UNB.
"National Oil Corporation
(NOC) confirms a
drop in production as a
result of the blockade of
ports and pipelines to the
current level of 135,745
barrels per day, as of Monday
February 17, 2020,
with losses exceeding 1 billion
USD at 1,616,886,132
USD," the NOC said in a
statement.
"NOC renews its call for
all blockades to be lifted to
allow the corporation to
resume production immediately,
for the sake of
Libya and its people," the
statement said.
Tribal leaders in eastern
Libya have recently closed
oil ports, accusing the UNbacked
government of
using oil revenues to support
armed groups against
the east-based army.
The United Nations
Security Council recently
adopted Resolution 2509
to extend the ban on the
illicit export of petroleum
from Libya, including
crude oil and refined
petroleum products, till
April 30, 2021.
Libya has been suffering
escalating violence and
political instability ever
since the fall of its leader
Muammar Gaddafi in
2011.
Iranian businessman Siamak Namazi
and his 81-year-old father Baquer, a
former UNICEF representative who
served as governor of Iran's oil-rich
Khuzestan province under the U.S.-
backed shah, both are serving 10-year
prison sentences on espionage charges.
Iranian-American Robin Shahini was
released on bail in 2017 after staging a
hunger strike while serving an 18-year
prison sentence for "collaboration with
a hostile government." Shahini has
since returned to America and is now
suing Iran in U.S. federal court.
Former FBI agent Robert Levinson,
who vanished in Iran in 2007 while on
an unauthorized CIA mission, remains
missing.
Earlier this month, Iran's supreme
court confirmed the death penalty for
Amir Rahimpour, who was convicted of
spying for the C.I.A. Iranian state
media have alleged that he had shared
details of the Islamic Republic's nuclear
program with the American spy
agency. Esmaili said at the time that
Rahimpor would soon be executed.
Iran has in the past has sentenced
alleged American and Israeli spies to
death. The last such spy executed was
Shahram Amiri, who defected to the
U.S. at the height of Western efforts to
thwart Iran's nuclear program. When
he returned in 2010, he was welcomed
with flowers by government leaders
and even went on the Iranian talk-show
circuit. Then he mysteriously disappeared.
He was hanged in August 2016, the
same week that Tehran executed a
group of militants and a year after Iran
agreed to a landmark accord to limit
uranium enrichment in exchange for
the lifting of economic sanctions.
Tensions remain high between Iran
and the U.S. since President Donald
Trump unilaterally withdrew America
from Tehran's nuclear deal. A U.S.
drone strike in January killed Iranian
Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem
Soleimani in Baghdad, prompting
Tehran to retaliate with a ballistic missile
strike on Iraqi bases housing American
troops.
Iran sentenced eight environmental activists, including an
Iranian who reportedly also has British and American citizenship,
to prison sentences ranging from four to 10 years on charges
of spying for the United States and acting against Iran's national
security, the judiciary said Tuesday.
Photo : AP
Engineer to Olympian: Quintero
ready for karate in Tokyo
More than five years ago, one of Spain's most
successful karate athletes was splitting his
time between practice, graduate school and
his day job as an aeronautical engineer.
Before training and studying at night,
Damian Quintero spent hours analyzing
faulty airplane parts and working on complex
calculations to determine whether the
parts were safe enough to go back into
planes, reports UNB
With little time left in his day, he couldn't
fully dedicate himself to the sport he loved.
"It was a difficult time," the 35-year-old
Quintero told The Associated Press after a
recent training session in Madrid. "I was
doing my masters, working and practicing.
All at the same time. I looked like a walking
cadaver." That all changed in 2015, when
karate made the short list for the Tokyo
Games.
"I took a leap, leaving a good job and a
good salary," said Quintero, who was born in
Argentina and moved to Spain with his family
when he was 5 years old. "When karate
became an Olympic sport in 2016, it was
time to start training hard."
Now, nearly five months before the Tokyo
Games, Quintero is a full-time karateka and
a top contender for the gold medal in Japan.
He is set to enter karate's inaugural Olympic
tournament as the world's No. 1-ranked athlete
in the kata category, in which athletes
perform solo and are evaluated on their
offensive and defensive techniques.
"It will be historic. That makes me even
more excited about going there and doing
well," Quintero said. "Not only for me - winning
a medal would mean the greatest
achievement of my career - but for all the
karatekas who will be there trying to showcase
our sport to the whole world."
A good showing will be key for karate,
which made it to the Tokyo Games but is not
expected to be included in the program for
the 2024 Paris Games. The sport was not
originally selected by French organizers,
though the final decision by the International
Olympic Committee isn't expected until
December. "We don't really know what happened,"
Quintero said. "Some people blame
the IOC, others the Paris 2024 organizing
committee. All we can do is try to put on a
good show in Tokyo. Then we will look at
things, like television ratings and media
exposure, and if they aren't good, we will be
the first ones to look back and say that we are
not meant to be in the games. But we have to
wait and see."
If the sport is dropped, it would mean a
huge blow for Quintero and other karatekas
around the world.
"There's been a huge difference since the
sport became part of the Olympics," he said.
"Now karate is my job, I have a sponsor, I get
help from the Spanish Olympic Committee
and the government. If it goes back to the
way it was before, probably people again will
have to start splitting time between practice
and study and work if they want to keep
competing at a high level."
Before the sport's inclusion, Quintero himself
said he considered retiring so he could
focus on his career as an aeronautical engineer
- airplanes were always another great
passion of his. He stuck to karate, though,
and by 2015 he had taken over the No. 1 spot
in the world rankings. He won the world title
in 2014 and became a 10-time European
champion, an unprecedented feat for Spanish
karate.
Daughter of man
accused of killing 8
describes his abuse
The daughter of a Mississippi man on trial in
the shooting deaths of eight people testified
Monday that he was abusive and beat her frequently,
reports UNB.
My'Khyiah Godbolt took the stand at a
courthouse in Magnolia, the Daily Leader
newspaper reported, to testify against her
father, Willie Cory Godbolt.
Godbolt, 37, is charged with capital murder,
accused of fatally shooting eight people,
including the deputy who arrived at his inlaws'
home over the Memorial Day in 2017.
Godbolt's 12-year-old daughter told jurors
that he "was very mean" and beat both her
and her mother often.
Godbolt appeared agitated, shaking his
head and pursing his lips together tightly
when she described an attack on her with a
plastic bat once when they were practicing
baseball outside. She testified that he became
angry when she asked to take a break and
beat her repeatedly with the bat. She called to
relatives for help, and he responded by
threatening her. "If you ever embarrass me
like that again, it's going to be worse," she
quoted her father as saying. Godbolt has
pleaded not guilty to four counts of capital
murder, four counts of murder, one count of
attempted murder, two counts of kidnapping
and one count of armed robbery. He has
remained in custody since his arrest on May
28, 2017, hours after the shootings.

ART & CULTURE
WeDNeSDAy, FeBRUARy 19, 2020
8
the Ride
The inspiring story of a BMX champion who
overcame an abusive childhood through the
love and life lessons of his interracial foster
family.
Gallery of
the day
This year’s featured stars include Balan, Pednekar,
Sunny Leone, John Abraham, Vicky Kaushal, Varun
Dhawan, Ananya Panday, Kartik Aaryan, Anushka
Sharma, Kiara Advani, Kriti Sanon, Parineeti Chopra,
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Tiger Shroff.
Release Date
Director
Writers
Stars
Taglines
Genres
Runtime
Country
Language
Production
: 6 December 2019 (USA)
: Alex Ranarivelo
: Alex Ranarivelo, Hadeel
Reda
: Shane Graham, Ludacris,
Sasha Alexander
: It looks like we don't have
any Taglines for this title
yet.
: Action
: 98 minutes
: 6 December 2019 (USA)
: English
: ESX Entertainment
StoRylINe :
It looks like we
don't have a
Synopsis for this
title yet.
Be the first to
contribute! Just
click the "Edit
page" button at
the bottom of the
page or learn more
in the Synopsis
submission guide.
|Source: IMDb]
Bollywood film ‘Bunty
Aur Babli 2’ to shoot
in Abu Dhabi
Rani Mukerji and Siddhant
Chaturvedi will spend a week
in the country.
Bollywood actors Rani
Mukerji and Siddhant
Chaturvedi will film in Abu
Dhabi this month for their
new comedy ‘Bunty Aur Babli
2’, and will spend more than a
week in the region.
“We are shooting a highlight
con in Abu Dhabi. The
landscape of Abu Dhabi just
Rani Mukerji and Saif Ali Khan.
gives a lot of scale to the film
and the team is going to spend
around 10 days shooting the
con and also some parts of the
film. We want to make ‘Bunty
Aur Babli 2’ a cool entertainer
for all,” said director Varun in
a statement.
Produced by Yash Raj Films,
‘Bunty Aur Babli 2’ will
introduce ‘Gully Boy’
sensation Chaturvedi and a
new face Sharvari. The first
installment, released in 2005,
featured Mukerji and
Abhishek Bachchan as a
quirky pair who conned
people for a living. The sequel
will feature Mukerji and actor
Saif Ali Khan as the original
con couple. The two have
featured in hits including
‘Hum Tum’ and ‘Ta Ra Rum
Pum’.
It isn’t the first time that
Abu Dhabi has served as a
filming location to Bollywood
films. Producers Yash Raj
Films also filmed ‘Bharat’
starring Salman Khan and
Katrina Kaif last year in the
capital.
Other action films including
‘Dishoom’ and ‘Bang Bang’
were also shot in Abu Dhabi.
Produced by Aditya Chopra,
‘Bunty Aur Babli 2’ will be
directed by debutant Varun,
who worked as an assistant
director in YRF’s blockbusters
‘Sultan’ and ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’.
It is scheduled to release in
June this year.
|Source: gulfnews]
Bengali actor and
former MP
tapas Paul dead
KOLKATA: Veteran Bengali actor and
former Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul
died of cardiac arrest early Tuesday, family
sources said.
He was 61.
Paul, who had gone to Mumbai to visit his
daughter, complained of chest pain at the
Mumbai airport during his return to
Kolkata and was rushed to a hospital in
Juhu but died around 4 am, they said.
He had been suffering from heart
ailments and been to hospitals several times
for treatment during the past two years.
A two-term MP from Krishnanagar and
MLA from Alipore, he is survived by his
daughter and wife.
Paul remained away from films after CBI
arrested him in the Rose Valley chit-fund
scam in December 2016 and was given bail
after 13 months.
A romantic hero, having endeared himself
to the Bengali audience since his debut film
Dadar Kirti in 1980, Paul became a known
household name because of his lead roles in
Saheb (1981), Parabat Priya (1984),
Bhalobasa Bhalobasa (1985), Anurager
Choyan (1986) and Amar Bandhan (1986).
He was awarded the Filmfare Award for
Saheb (1981).
Veteran Bengali actor Ranjit Mallick
described Paul's death as "untimely".
"I am yet to come to terms with the news.
He was like my younge ..
Source : indiatimes.com
Karan Johar thought I’d be
apprehensive doing another Netflix
film : Kiara Advani on Guilty
Kiara Advani returns to Netflix with Guilty, her
second outing with the streamer after Lust
Stories, and the actor says filmmaker Karan
Johar thought she would be apprehensive
about coming on board for another project on
the OTT platform.
Kiara made her debut in 2014 with Fugly,
but found acclaim with Johar’s directorial
segment in the 2018’s anthology.
“I was in the car with Karan when he told me
he has heard a narration and it’s a very strong
role. He said it’s the most thrilling script he had
heard. He wanted me to hear it and told me it
was on Netflix.
“But he thought I may have an apprehension
in my mind because I had signed films like
‘Kabir Singh’ and ‘Good Newwz’ but in my head,
the platform doesn’t matter. What matters is the
content,” Kiara told reporters here.
Having seen the reach of web, the actor said
she had no qualms about returning to the
Kiara Advani opens up about Netflix film Guilty.
medium.
“As an actor you want to reach out to as
many people as possible. Fortunately, the
script that came to me was ‘Guilty’. ‘Lust
Stories’ was a game changer for me. So there
was never a second thought about doing
‘Guilty’. It seemed like a perfect opportunity.”
Directed by Ruchi Narain, Guilty explores
the different versions of truth that emerge
when a small-town girl accuses the college
heartthrob of rape.
Kiara said the story of the film is layered and
hence it cannot be classified as a thriller.
“Yesterday I called Karan and asked him,
‘What do I say (about the trailer)’ and he said
something that I wrote down because it aptly
describes the film.
“Basically, consent is a victim of perception.
And it’s true because what may be consensual
to you might not be consensual to someone
else.” Ruchi, known for writing screenplays of
films such as Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi and
Calcutta Mail, said while sexual assault has
always been a relevant issue, there is a lot more
conversation and awareness around it today.
“There is a lot of talk and awareness about it
these days, about any kind of assault and who
do you believe. What interested me the most in
telling this story was that when you read an
article, there are opinions and a lot of things
are academic. But life is about human beings
Photo: Instagram/kiaraadvani)
and everybody is coming from a (certain)
place, they have their own agenda.
“So when an issue like this happens, there
are different reasons to believe and to not
believe. So how do you really know? That’s the
question which bothers and plagues all of us.
Everyone has a point of view and it is, in some
way, relevant. It is a story about human
complexities,” Ruchi added.
|Source: indianexpress.com]
H o R o S c o P e
ARIeS
(March 21 - April 20) : A friend, perhaps
a woman, could well be upset or even
angry with you today, Aries. Money
might be involved in some way. There may be
nothing you can do to reassure her at this time, so it's
best to give what reassurances you can and then back
off. Whatever has gone wrong, she's probably
overreacting, and eventually she'll see that.
tAURUS
(April 21 - May 21) : Is your boss a woman,
Taurus? If so, stay out of her way today. To
put it mildly, she isn’t in a good mood.
Work hard, be very sweet to everyone, and make copious
use of your innate diplomacy. You may be on the
receiving end of some sharp words, but by remaining
focused and continuing your routine in your usual
efficient manner, you should avoid any major blowups.
GeMINI
(May 22 - June 21): Travel may cause
more problems than it's worth today,
Gemini. You may forget some vital items
when packing or there could be too little time to get
everything ready. Your plane could be delayed or
something valuable lost. Try to short-circuit potential
problems. Use a checklist when packing, keep valuables
close to you, and take lots of books and CDs in case you
have to wait out a delay. In spite of it all, have fun!
cANceR
(June 22 - July 23): Finances may cause
an upset between you and a friend
today, Cancer. Perhaps this person owes
you money and can't pay it back, or vice versa. If this
is the case, try to work out some kind of arrangement
that suits you both. There's always a way to create a
win-win situation if you don't both get so angry that
your objectivity is totally wiped out.
leo
(July 24 - Aug. 23): A social event could put
you in touch with someone who's carrying
around a lot of bitterness and anger, Leo.
This probably won't be very pleasant for you, as this
person could well see you as the perfect listening post for
all their problems. Don't feel trapped! Be polite but make
your excuses as soon as you can. There are other friends
present whose company you'll enjoy a lot more!
VIRGo
(Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): The workplace could
be very hectic today as a colleague prepares
to leave on an important business trip,
Virgo. Nerves could be strained and tempers short. Try to
stay focused and get everything necessary done without
making yourself crazy. You may be the one who keeps
everyone else from going crazy, although you might
consider hiding in the closet yourself. Say a prayer of
thanks when your colleague finally rides off in the taxi.
lIBRA
(Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): You may have a
wonderful day today, Libra. Your
imagination, intuition, and creativity are all
high, and inspiration for new artistic works could be filling
your heart and brain. You'll be all too happy to discuss
your ideas with anyone who shows an interest. The one
dark spot in the day might be that a child, close friend, or
lover goes into a snit because he or she feels ignored.
ScoRPIo
(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22): A chance to take a long
journey, perhaps to a distant state or foreign
country, could suddenly present itself to you
today, Scorpio. This trip is apt to be far more significant than
a simple vacation. It may be career related or involve an
opportunity to expand your education. It could also concern
a relationship. Whichever it is, you're likely to make the trip
and it will probably change your life in subtle ways.
SAGIttARIUS
(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): You’ll find that a
sensitive mind that’s open to everything
and every possibility is exactly the thing
you need at this time in order to be successful in
reaching all the goals you’re working toward,
Sagittarius. You’ll find that your sense of duty and need
for plans and solid goals are key elements for getting to
where you need to be. Gather information and create a
plan of attack that is well thought out.
cAPRIcoRN
(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): An argument with your
partner could have you feeling very
disheartened and somewhat depressed
today, Capricorn. Yet you probably are too shaken up to feel
like discussing it with him or her. Spend the day keeping
yourself busy and working off your frustration. Forget about
it for a while, Capricorn. This should enable you to see the
situation more objectively.
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19): Although you may have
been feeling somewhat out of sorts for the
past few days, Aquarius, today you could feel
as if you just got a new lease on life. You’re in
excellent physical, mental, and emotional shape, so you
should be raring to go. Both immediate and long-term goals
should be easy to achieve while your energy is strong today.
Begin working on them; don't put them off. This high level
of motivation should continue for a while.
PISceS
(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20): Children or possibly
some close friends or a love interest could
be upset today, Capricorn. The financial
coffers aren't full enough to afford something they think
they absolutely have to have right now. You might find
yourself having to soothe their feelings, reassuring them
that "not now" doesn't necessarily mean "never." If they
don't respond, don't keep pushing. They'll have to come
to terms with the situation in their own way.

SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020
9
Taijul remained concerned about Zimbabwe, stating that they need to play well against the Southern
African nations to grab the victory.
Photo: BCB
Need to beat Zimbabwe to regain
the lost confidence: Taijul
Sports Desk: Bangladesh left-arm
spinner Taijul Islam insisted that the
Tigers need to win the one-off Test
against Zimbabwe to regain the
confidence that was severely dented by
the six straight defeats in the longer
version format of late, reports BSS.
Out of the six defeats, five came at the
innings. To be more precious
Bangladesh lost the last three matches
against India and Pakistan by innings
margin.
However, all of the five innings
defeats came at abroad while the match
in which they didn't taste innings defeat
came at the home against low ranked
Afghanistan.
Bangladesh could feel some sort of
relief that Zimbabwe was not boasted
by the threatening spinners like Rashid
Khan who led Afghan's astonishing
victory against the Tigers.
But Taijul still remained concerned
about Zimbabwe, stating that they need
to play well against the Southern
African nations to grab the victory.
At the same time he also looked
relieved to play at home condition after
a series of defeats in Test cricket.
"Doesn't matter who the opponent iswe
must win a Test," Taijul said on
Tuesday after Bangladesh's practice
session.
"It is very important to win the Test.
If we can win, our confidence level will
be enhanced, which at the moment is
really crucial for us."
He continued: "When we play at
home condition, it gives us some relief.
But at the same time everybody wants
us to win when we play at our home. I
think it is natural to do well at home."
Taijul's career-best 8-39 came
against Zimbabwe, a performance that
made him the premium spinner of the
side alongside Shakib Al Hasan.
So naturally his name came to the
fore when Bangladesh play against
Zimbabwe. It's however a thing that
Taijul disliked most as he said that he
also took wickets against other
opponents.
"It's not that I only picked up
wickets against Zimbabwe. Against
other opponents too, I took wickets.
As I said earlier, you have to land the
ball in the right areas, whatever the
opponent is. If you can't bowl well,
even the Zimbabwe batsman would
hit you," he remarked.
The two teams so far played 16 Tests
between them of which, Zimbabwe still
had the upper-hand with seven
victories while Bangladesh won six
matches. Three of the Tests ended in a
draw.
Most of Bangladesh victory came at
the recent past when Zimbabwe lost its
aura. However, still the South African
nation beat Bangladesh in Sylhet in
2018.
Many of the Bangladeshi fans saw the
Zimbabwe victory in 2018 as an
accident but Taijul said Zimbabwe won
the match because Bangladesh played
badly.
Recalling that memory, Taijul
warned his teammates to come up with
good if they want to beat Zimbabwe in
the one-off Test, slated to begin on
February 22 at Sher-e-Bangla National
Cricket Stadium.
"The defeat was not an accident or
not an upset. We had played badly in
that Test and therefore we lost the
match. Then we played well in the next
Test and won it to draw the series.
There is nothing like accident. In
cricket you have to play well to win the
game," Taijul concluded.
Hamilton, Messi share men’s
Laureus award
Sports Desk: Formula One champion
Lewis Hamilton and football superstar
Lionel Messi shared the Laureus
sportsman of the year award at
Monday's ceremony in Berlin, reports
BSS.
Hamilton, 35, a six-time world
champion and Barcelona star Messi,
32, share the award for their
achievements in 2019.
This is the first time a footballer has
won the award and also the first
occasion in the event's 20-year history
when the jury reached a tied decision.
"I am honoured to be the first to win
this award being a sportsperson
coming from a team sport," Messi said
from Barcelona via a video message.
US gymnastics superstar Simone
Biles, who won five titles at the 2019
world championships in Stuttgart to
leave her with a record 25 world gold
medals, took the Laureus sportswoman
of the year award for the third time.
"It means the world to me, this is my
third Laureus award and I'm really
grateful," said Biles in a video message.
South Africa, who won the 2019
World Cup, were named team of the
year, beating Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool
and the US women's football team.
Springboks captain Siya Kolisi was
joined on stage by six South African
team-mates to collect the trophy.
"With this group of players, we came
together for the love of the game with
one goal and fought so hard for each
other," Kolisi told the audience in
Berlin.
"We gave everything we had to win
the trophy and hopefully inspire kids
for generations to come."
Snowboarding sensation Chloe Kim,
19, won the action sportsperson award
after taking gold medals at the world
championship halfpipe and X Games
super pipe.
Oksana Masters, who was born with
limb impairments caused by radiation
from Chernobyl and was later adopted
in the US, won the sportsperson with a
disability award.
The 30-year-old won five gold medals
and a silver at the world para nordic
skiing championships and also took the
cross-country overall world cup title.
She also won silver medals in the
road race and time trial H5 at the para
cycling road world championships.
Colombia's Egan Bernal, 22, who
became the youngest rider to win the
Tour de France for 110 years, won the
breakthrough award after winning the
world's top cycling race in what was
only his second three-week classic
event.
"I'm really happy, this is a big result
for me in my career," the Colombian
said in a video.
German F3 driver Sophia Floersch
scooped the comeback of the year
award for racing once again at the
Macau Grand Prix last November, a
year after a crash on the same circuit
left her with a spinal fracture.
Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and football superstar Lionel Messi shared the Laureus
sportsman of the year award.
Photo: AP
AC Milan
eye Euro
spots after
Torino win
Sports Desk: AC Milan
closed in on the European
places in Serie A after Ante
Rebic fired them to a 1-0
win over Torino on
Monday, reports BSS.
Rebic swept home Samu
Castillejo's low pull back in
he 25th minute to consign
to draw Milan level on 35
points with Hellas Verona,
who currently occupy the
final Europa League spot
on goal difference.
Rebic's winning goal was
his sixth in seven games in
all competitions, a run that
comes after failing to score
at all in the first half of the
season.
The Croatian's strike
helped the hosts bounce
back from last week's
derby disappointment
against Inter Milan to
continue a positive run
under coach Stefano Pioli
that also saw them unlucky
not to beat Juventus in the
Coppa Italia semi-final
first leg last week.
They have lost just once
since the turn of the year -
to title-chasing Inter - and
are playing well enough to
aim for European football
next season.
However the Champions
League will likely be
beyond them thanks to the
10-point gap between them
and fourth-placed
Atalanta.
Rebic's winning goal was
his sixth in seven games in
all competitions, a run that
comes after failing to score
at all in the first half of the
season.
Torino meanwhile are
inching closer to the
relegation zone after their
fifth straight defeat, a
slump that shows little sign
of ending.
They are just five points
from the drop despite
bringing in Moreno Longo
to replace Walter Mazzarri
earlier this month.
Australia ready for frosty
reception on SA return
Sports Desk: Australian coach Justin
Langer and limited-overs captain Aaron
Finch said on Monday they were looking
forward to playing in front of South African
crowds on their first tour since the
sandpaper scandal of 2018, reports BSS.
Former captain Steve Smith and batsman
David Warner, who were both banned for a
year for their role in ball-tampering during
the third Test in Cape Town, are both in the
team that will play three Twenty20
internationals and three one-day
internationals against South Africa, starting
with the first T20 game at the Wanderers
Stadium on Friday.
"We love coming to South Africa," said
Langer at the team's arrival press
conference.
"We've got so many good memories for so
long. It was obviously a very hard tour last
time but the way our guys have moved on, it
gave us a great opportunity to reassess where
we're at in Australian cricket."
Langer said last year's tour of England was
"a great dress rehearsal" for the likely
reception Smith and Warner will face,
especially from an expected capacity crowd
at the Wanderers.
"It was a tough (England) tour for those
two guys," said Langer. "I was really proud of
the way they let their bat do the talking and
were great ambassadors off the field, so
hopefully they'll be looking forward to
getting back into it and playing good cricket
here."Finch said his team knew what to
expect when they stepped on to South
African grounds.
"South African crowds are very passionate
and very vocal. We're expecting that. David
loves that banter coming from the crowd. It
gets him into the game. I don't think it's
going to make much difference to our group.
We're going to play cricket with a smile on
our face," he said.
Langer said there had been plenty of talk
about the culture of the Australian team
following the 2018 tour.
"We've talked about making Australians
proud of us again, earning that respect, not
only from the Australian public and our past
players but also across the world," he said.
"Changing cultures is purely about
behaviour," he said.
"We're playing really good cricket, the
numbers will tell you that, we're also playing
it in great spirit.
"I'm very hopeful we can continue to do
that because that's how we all want to see
cricket played. We've done it for 18 months
now, there's absolutely no reason why that
can't continue."
Finch said the Australians were confident
they could do well on their tour but said he
had been impressed by the way South Africa
played in a high-scoring T20 series against
England.
"I followed that really closely. It was a great
series to watch. Obviously the bat
dominated more than the ball. For South
Africa to having a changing side and play so
well was impressive. All the guys in their side
had an impact on the game at various times."
Australian coach Justin Langer and limited-overs captain Aaron Finch said
on Monday they were looking forward to playing in front of South African
crowds on their first tour since the sandpaper scandal of 2018. Photo: AP
Lampard asks for Chelsea fight after
smash and grab United defeat
Sports Desk: Chelsea manager Frank
Lampard told his side the "fight starts
now" for a place in the Champions
League next season after suffering a 2-
0 smash and grab defeat at the hands of
Manchester United on Monday,
reports BSS.
The Blues had two goals disallowed
by VAR reviews and were furious Harry
Maguire was not sent-off for an off-theball
kick out at Michy Batshuayi before
he headed in United's second goal after
Anthony Martial's opener.
Lampard cut a frustrated figure as the
flaws in both boxes which have seen his
side win just four of their last 14 league
games were exposed once more against
ordinary opposition.
"The fight starts now," said Lampard.
"It's not worth me going on about it
now but the reality was there for us to
see.
"If we're not going to take chances
then we're not going to win games.
When you dominate large periods you
have to take your chances."
Victory lifts United up to seventh and
within three points of Chelsea in fourth,
while fifth could now even be good
enough to qualify for the Champions
League next season pending
Manchester City's appeal again a twoseason
ban from European
competition. However, even United
boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted he
had not been impressed by the visitors'
performance.
"When you win 2-0 here you are
delighted," said Solskjaer.
"Then again I didn't think we played
well, particularly with the ball in the
first half. We were cumbersome, slow,
passing wasn't great but we got the first
goal then we hung in there."
Lampard made a bold call before
kick-off by again dropping the most
expensive goalkeeper in football
history, Kepa Arrizabalaga, to the
bench in favour of the 38-year-old
Willy Caballero.
Batshuayi also started with Tammy
Abraham ruled out by injury and
Lampard's anger at missing out on a
striker in the January window was
borne out by a poor night for the
misfiring Belgium forward.
But the course of the game could have
been very different had Maguire not
escaped unpunished for kicking
Batshuayi after the two collided in front
of the dugouts.
"I know I caught him and I felt he was
going to fall on me and my natural
reaction was to straighten my leg to
stop him," said Maguire.
"I apologised to him and it was nice
that the referee saw sense." - One-way
traffic - Chelsea's sense of injustice
increased when Willian was harshly
booked for diving as he went down
under a challenge from Bruno
Fernandes looking for a penalty.
United had not made Caballero make
a single save before going in front a
minute before the break when Martial
planted a brilliant header into the far
corner from Aaron Wan-Bissaka's
cross.
There was still time for Batshuayi to
miss another chance before half-time
when he skewed wide from a narrow
angle.
The one-way traffic continued at the
start of the second period as Mount hit
the post and a brave block from Wan-
Bissaka deflected Pedro's goal-bound
effort behind.
But even when Chelsea did get the
ball in the net through substitute Kurt
Zouma, the goal was ruled out by VAR
for a push on Brandon Williams by
Cesar Azpilicueta.
Fernandes was unable to make much
of an impact from open play in his
second United appearance since a œ47
million ($62 million) move from
Sporting Lisbon. However, the
Portuguese international is a huge
threat from set-pieces and nearly
caught Caballero out with a free-kick
that crashed back off the post.Moments
later, Fernandes provided his first
assist for the Red Devils with a corner
which Maguire powered home.
Lampard had seen enough from
Batshuayi and handed Olivier Giroud a
rare appearance off the bench for the
final quarter.
IPL’s Kings XI Punjab buy
Caribbean Twenty20 side
Sports Desk: The owners of Kings XI
Punjab have bought a Caribbean
Premier League side, becoming the
second Indian Premier League club to
own a Twenty20 franchise in the West
Indies, reports BSS.
Punjab took over St Lucia Zouks, led
by former West Indies captain Darren
Sammy, on Monday. In 2015 the
Kolkata Knight Riders purchased
Trinidad and Tobago.
"We are excited at the opportunity to
invest in one of the most exciting
sporting tournaments in the world, and
we have been impressed by the
vibrancy of CPL over the last seven
years," Punjab co-owner Mohit
Burman said on a St Lucia Zouks media
release. The eighth edition of the CPL
will be held from August 19 to
September 26.

ECONOMY & BUSINESS
WEDnESDAY, FEBRuARY 19 2020
10
IuB implements a Seminar on Preventing
Terrorism and Extremism
Islami Bank Central Hospital inaugurated neonatal Intensive Care unit (nICu) service. Yousif
Abdullah Al-Rajhi, Vice Chairman of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited and Islami Bank Foundation
inaugurated the service recently as chief guest at Islami Bank Central Hospital, Kakrail, Dhaka.
Professor Md. nazmul Hassan, Ph.D, Chairman of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) and
Islami Bank Foundation (IBF) presided over the program. Professor Dr. Qazi Shahidul Alam, Vice
Chairman of IBF and Director of IBBL, Dr. Tanveer Ahmad, Chairman, Executive Committee of IBF
and director of IBBL, Dr. Areef Suleman, Md. Qumrul Hasan, Professor Dr. Mohammad Saleh Jahur
and Professor Dr. Md. Fashiul Alam, Directors of IBBL and Members of IBF, Md. Mahbub ul Alam,
Managing Director & CEO and JQM Habibullah, FCS, Deputy Managing Director & Company
Secretary of IBBL attended the program as special guests. SAM Salimullah, Executive Director of IBF
addressed welcome speech. A total of 10 newborns can be provided medical care at the nICu with
modern technologies imported from the uSA, Germany, new Zealand and Japan. Photo: Courtesy
RFL introduces'Bangla in 68 years' campaign
Independent University, Bangladesh
(IUB) hosted a Seminar titled
'Preventing Terrorism and Extremism
through Community Engagement' at
the university's own campus in
Bashundhara, Dhaka orecently. Anti
Terrorism Unit (ATU) of Bangladesh
Police, School of Environmental
Science and Management (SESM) at
IUB and Community Development for
Peace jointly organized the Seminar.
The objective of this Seminar was to
create awareness against terrorism and
extremism and thereby involve
community & society for making a
social movement to stop all this, a press
release said.
Md. Moniruzzaman, Additional
Deputy Inspector General, ATU
presented the Key Note in the Seminar.
In his presentation, he gave an
overview of terrorism & extremism and
explained that youth are most
vulnerable both in terms of getting
involved with these devastating
activities and being victimized of these
attacks. Therefore, he urged upon the
students to remain alert and talk to
their families and peer groups so any
inappropriateness can be faced
strategically.
Later, Mohammad Abul Kashem,
Additional Inspector General, ATU
delivered his speech and emphasized
on relevant issues that might misguide
our young generation. As no religion
supports destructive activities, he
requested the students to study more
on these issues and involve community
to support for a homogenous
environment.
A Matin Chowdhury, Chairman,
Board of Trustees, IUB; Prof. Milan
Pagon, Vice Chancellor (Acting), IUB;
Ms. Penny Morton, High
Commissioner (Acting) of Australia in
Bangladesh; Kanbar Hossein - Bor,
British Deputy High Commissioner to
Bangladesh; Md. Didar Ahamed,
Deputy Inspector General, ATU and;
Md. Haider Ali Khan, Additional
Deputy Inspector General were also
present and spoke on the occasion.
They stated that terrorism and
extremism is now a global problem and
all countries across the world are
working tirelessly to resolve it. Only law
enforcement agencies alone cannot
stop militancy and terrorism. In the
long run, there is a need for different
stakeholders' involvement, like
educational institution and societyas a
whole to prevent it.
Prof. Md. Abdul Khalek elaborated
IUB's role and activities in
preventingterrorism and militancy.
Following the presentation, the floor
was open for question-answer session
where students raised various
concerned issues. Md. Moniruzzaman
answered all questions and assured to
provide all required support to IUB for
making a terrorism free society.
During the next phaseof the event, a
mini workshop was held where
faculties & students separated in ten
different groups and made their
presentations. Deans, senior members
of the faculty & administration and full
house of students attended the daylong
Seminar.
RFL, country's leading
conglomerate, has launched an
awareness campaign titled 'Bangla in
68 years' on the occasion of the
International Mother Language Day, a
press release said.
The aim of the campaign is to create
awareness among the people about
unnecessary mixing of words of
different languages with strange
pronunciations and expressions into
bengali language and encourage them
to speak in bengali completely.
RN Paul, Managing Director of RFL
Group, briefed about the campaign
through a press conference held at
Badda's Premier Plaza on Tuesday.
Addressing the occasion, RN Paul
said, "Our achievement of mother
Language is going to be steppedin 68
years but many of us are not speaking
in banglafluentlyfor 68 seconds.
Therefore, we have distorted our
language through strange
pronunciation and mixing of words of
different language. So we have taken
the initiative to encourage the people
especially young generation to speak in
Bengali language completely."
He also said, "RFL is a local
conglomerate. Most of our brands have
received good response from the
customers for standard quality. We
know that language movement sowed
the seeds for the independence of
Bangladeshand everybody should
come forward to maintain standard of
our mother tongue."
RashedUl Alam, Head of Marketing
of Durable Plastic, said, "We have
arranged a competition through online
under the campaign. Anyone can join
here by sending his or her video with
68 second speech in Bengali language
throughrflplastics.com/68-rbanglawebsite.
The topics will be on
Bengali language, book fair,
21stFebruary and language movement.
We will award 10 people among the
participants."
Under the campaign, RFL is also
running various awareness message
through social media and its various
retail outlets including Best Buy and
distribute leaflet among the people.
The campaign will be continued till
25th February.
Zeaul Haque, Assistant General
Manager (Public Relations) of PRAN-
RFL Group, EsfaquelHoque, Senior
Brand Manager ofDurable
Plasticamong others, were also present
at the occasion.
Independent university, Bangladesh (IuB) hosted a Seminar titled 'Preventing Terrorism and
Extremism through Community Engagement' at the university's own campus in Bashundhara, Dhaka
on Monday.
Photo: Courtesy
Southeast Bank Limited (SEBL) has inaugurated integrated Vending Station for providing Prepaid
Meter Recharge Service to the subscribers of Dhaka Electricity Supply Company Limited (DESCO)
recently.The vending station service has been inaugurated by Dr. Sultan Ahmed, Secretary, Power
Division, The Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources. This service will be available for the
customers on round the clock basis. M. Kamal Hossain, Managing Director of Southeast Bank, Mst.
Maksuda Khatun, Additional Secretary, Chairman, DESCO, Brig. Gen. Md Shahid Sarwar, ndc (Rtd.),
Managing Director of DESCO were present on behalf of their respective organizations. Kazi Azizur
Rahman, Deputy Managing Director of Southeast Bank and other officials from both the organizations
were also present at the ceremony.
Photo: Courtesy
A team led by CID's ASP Mohammad Iqbal Hossain seized huge quantities of fake drug cartoons, plates
and dye from SB Laboratories Limited from Arambagh in the capital on Sunday. Photo: Courtesy
Asian markets fall as virus hits earnings, growth
Asian markets tumbled Tuesday
after Apple warned the new
coronavirus had hit output and
demand in China, fuelling fears over
the wider impact of the epidemic on
corporate earnings and economic
growth, reports BSS.
Investors looked past a positive
lead from European bourses to focus
on the spiralling fallout from the
virus that has so far killed more than
1,800 people and infected nearly
72,500, mostly in mainland China.
As well as denting company bottom
lines, the virus has sparked panic
buying, economic jitters and the
cancellation of high-profile sporting
and cultural events.
"Best to buckle in as we could be in
for a bumpy ride (over) the next few
weeks," said Stephen Innes of
AxiCorp.
"I'm struggling to find any research
report that doesn't suggest (COVID-
19) could significantly affect short
term earnings."
Apple suppliers in Asia were hit by
the tech giant's warning that it would
miss its quarterly revenue forecast
because of the virus, dragging
markets lower. Tokyo's benchmark
Nikkei 225 index closed down 1.4
percent - its fourth straight session in
the red - a day after data showed the
economy shrank in the December
quarter, even before the effects of the
virus hit Japan.
Hong Kong was down 1.3 percent
as banking heavyweight HSBC
reported a 33 percent fall in 2019
pre-tax profits alongside an
announcement that it was cutting
35,000 jobs. Mainland China's
benchmark Shanghai Composite
Index recovered earlier losses to
close up 0.1 percent.
Elsewhere, Singapore fell 0.4
percent as investors digested the
government's decision to cut its
economic growth forecast for this
year as the virus batters the city
state's tourism and trade. Seoul was
off 1.5 percent and Taipei lost one
percent. Sydney shed 0.2 percent.
Investors have taken some comfort
from a slowdown in new infections
outside hardest-hit Hubei province,
which Chinese officials say is a sign
that the outbreak is under control.
But World Health Organization
chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
said the trend "must be interpreted
very cautiously".
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said
Sunday there could be a cut of
around 0.1-0.2 percentage points to
global growth but stressed there was
much uncertainty about the virus's
economic impact.
Further moves by China's central
bank on Monday to cushion the
world's second-largest economy
against the health crisis appear to
have done little to allay concerns.
European markets were higher
after Eurogroup chief Mario Centeno
predicted the coronavirus would
have a "temporary" impact on the
eurozone and the WHO warned
against over-reacting about the
epidemic.
US markets were closed for a
holiday.
China is the world's biggest
importer and consumer of oil, and
crude prices have been particularly
sensitive to the epidemic that has
spread to nearly 30 countries and
territories.
Global oil demand will suffer its
first quarterly drop in a decade as the
virus lashes China's economy and its
impact ripples throughout the world,
the International Energy Agency
warned last week. Brent Crude fell
one percent and West Texas
Intermediate was down 0.7 percent.
Gold, seen as a safe haven in times
of uncertainty, was up 0.4 percent.
Asian markets mixed: Japan skids;
China helped by rate cut
Markets were mixed in Asia on
Monday, with Japan's benchmark
slipping 0.8% after the government
reported the economy contracted
6.3% in annual terms in the last
quarter. China's shares got a boost
after the central bank stepped in to
help the economy with a rate cut,
extra buying of securities and tax
cuts, reports UNB.
The Nikkei 225 in Tokyo was at
23,507.63 by late morning, while
Sydney's S and P ASX/200 edged 1%
lower to 7,120.00. South Korea's
Kospi was flat, at 2,242.50, while the
Hang Seng in Hong Kong climbed
0.5% to 27,953.73.
The Shanghai Composite index
jumped 1.3% to 2,955.07 after the
central bank and finance minister
announced a slew of measures to
support the economy as the country
battles an outbreak of a new virus
that has killed 1,770 people and
infected nearly 70,000.

MISCELLANEOUS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2020
11
Project Director Shahadat Hossain Majumdar handed over the cheque for
compensation of the land acquired in Madaripur district for the project
establishment titled Sheikh Hasina Tant Polli (1st Phase) in Madaripur on
Tuesday. During the time, Madaripur Deputy Comissioner Wahidul Islam,
Executive Engineer of Bangladesh Handloom Board ADC (Revenue)
Madaripur, Mohammad Sadakatul Bari, Shibchar UNO, Land Acquisition
Officer, Madaripur and other officials were among others also present at
the occasion.
Photo: TBT
Vaccination campaign for Cholera,
diarrhoea starts today
DHAKA : A six-day vaccination campaign will be kicked off
today in the city aiming to immune people from Cholera and
diarrhoea diseases. The information was given at a press
conference organised at the auditorium of Directorate
General of Health Services (DGHS) at Mohakhali in the
capital yesterday morning.
The vaccination campaign will be conducted in the city's
Mohammadpur, Adabor, Darus Salam, Kamrangirchar,
Hazaribagh and Lalbagh area's ward numbers 9, 10, 14, 22-
25,29-34 and 55-57 under Dhaka North City Corporation
(DNCC) and it will continue till February 25.
The vaccination will be given to the children and people,
aged one year and above, from 8am to 4pm everyday at 360
centres including City Corporation's permanent vaccination
centres. However, some vaccination centres will remain open
till 7pm for the convenience of the workers.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of
Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has
decided to provide cholera vaccines to the country people
under National Cholera Control Plan to eliminate the
disease by 2030.
'Gazipur Unnayan Kartripakkha
Bill' placed in JS
SANGSAD BHABAN : A bill titled 'Gazipur Unnayan
Kartripakkha Bill 2019' was placed in Parliament on Tuesday
to turn the fast-growing Gazipur city into a planned, liveable
and environment-friendly urban area, reports UNB.
State Minister for Public Works and Housing Sharif
Ahmed placed the Bill and it was sent to the respective
scrutiny committee. The
committee was asked to
submit its report within 30
days.
Gazipur Unnayan
Kartripakkha (Gazipur
Development Authority-
GDA) will be like Chittagong
Development Authority
(CDA), Khulna Development
Authority (KDA) and
Rajshahi Development
Authority (RDA).
GD-323/20 (7 x 3)
GD-329/20 (4 x 4)
28.10.1213.877.09.002.20 (FP)
GD-327/20 (10 x 4)
GD-320/20 (12 x 4)

WEDNESDAy, DhAKA, FEBrUAry 19, 2020, FALGUN 6, 1426 BS, JAMADI-US-SANNI 23, 1441 hIJrI
Dhaka North City Corporation conducted drive against illegal settlements from the Gulshan-1
area on Tuesday.
Photo : Star Mail
BNP wants to create
issue over Khaleda’s
illness: Quader
DHAKA : Awami League
general secretary and road
Transport and Bridges
Minister Obaidul Quader
yesterday said BNP wants to
create a political issue over
the illness of BNP
Chairperson Begum
Khaleda Zia.
"BNP wants to do politics
over every matter that is
why they are out to create a
political issue over the party
chief Begum Zia's physical
condition," he told a joint
meeting with leaders of
Khulna divisional units of
AL at the party's central
office Bangabandhu Avenue
here.
Quader said BNP
secretary general Mirza
Fakhrul Islam Alamgir
could be an experienced
politician but in fact, he is
not a physician.
so, how would he give
decision about the treatment
of Begum Zia, he questioned.
About the issue of
BNP chairperson Begum
Khaleda Zia's bail, Quader
said it is the jurisdiction of
the court to give her bail.
Ecnec clears nine projects
involving Tk 13,639 cr
DHAKA : The Executive
Committee of the National
Economic Council (Ecnec)
on Tuesday approved nine
projects involving Tk 13,639
crore, including a Tk 6,014-
crore project to enhance the
capacity of Mongla seaport,
reports UNB.
The approval came from
the weekly Ecnec meeting
held at the NEC conference
room with Ecnec
Chairperson and Prime
Minister sheikh Hasina in
the chair.
"The Ecnec meeting today
approved nine projects with
an estimated cost of Tk
13,639.01 crore," said
Planning Minister MA
Mannan while briefing
reporters after the meeting.
Of the cost, Tk 8,886.44
crore will come from the
national exchequer, while Tk
4,459.41 crore as foreign
loan and the remaining Tk
293.16 crore from the own
fund of the organisation concerned
(rajshahi City
Corporation), he said.
The road Transport and
Highways division placed
three projects, while the
shipping ministry and the
Fisheries and Livestock ministry
brought two projects
each, and the water
resources ministry and the
Local government division
placed one project each, he
said. All the nine projects
approved at the Ecnec meeting
are fresh ones.
Talking about the project
titled 'Increasing Capacity of
Mongla Port', the Planning
Minister said the Mongla
Port Authority will implement
the project aiming to
ensure modern facilities for
the users of this port located
in Bagerhat.
The project will be implemented
by June 2024 at a
cost of Tk 6014.62 crore.
Of the project cost, Tk
1,555.21 will come from the
goB fund, while the rest Tk
4,459.41 crore as foreign
loan (Indian LoC), said
Mannan.
According to the factsheet
of the Planning Commission,
the major project operation
The Sunken Forest of
Lake Kaindy
INTErEsTINg NEWs DEsK
Kaindy Lake is a 400 meter long lake in
Kazakhstan’s portion of the Tian shan
Mountains located 129 km from the city
of Almaty. The lake was created after an
earthquake in 1911 that triggered a large
landslide blocking the gorge and forming
a natural dam. subsequently, rainwater
filled the valley and created the lake.
The lake is famous for its scenic beauty
particularly the submerged forest and the
imposing trunks of spruce trees that rises
out of the lake water. Above water, the
sunken trees appear as large masts from
lost ghost ships, or perhaps the spears of
a mysterious army hiding and waiting for
the right time to emerge.
The water is so cold (even in summer
the temperature does not exceed 6
degrees) that the great pines still remain
on the trees, even 100 years later. Because
of the clear mountain water, you can see
deep into the depths of the lake. In winter,
the surface of the lake freezes over and
during this time, Lake Kaindy becomes a
great spot for trout fishing and ice diving.
included construction of
container terminals with all
facilities at jetty No-1 and 2,
container handling yards
and container delivery yard
with all facilities, strengthening
the security system and
automation and improving
roads and yards.
Finance Minister AHM
Mustafa Kamal, road
Transport and Bridges
Minister Obaidul Quader,
Planning Minister MA
Mannan, Agriculture
Minister M Abdur razzaque,
Information Minister
Mohammad Hasan
Mahmud, LgrD and
Cooperatives Minister Md
Tazul Islam, Education
Minister Dr Dipu Moni,
Industries Minister Nurul
Majid Mahmud Humayun,
Commerce Minister Tipu
Munshi, Fisheries and
Livestock Minister sM
rezaul Karim, Environment,
Forest and Climate Change
Minister Md shahab Uddin,
Land Minister saifuzzaman
Chowdhury, among others,
attended the meeting.
2,475 books
released in
Ekushey Book
Fair so far
DHAKA : In the ongoing
Ekushey Book Fair, the country's
largest literature festival,
poetry volumes continue to
rule as 720 of the total 2,475
books released so far.
Novel books came second
with the publications of 399
books while short story books
in third position so far with
the publications of 338 books,
the Bangla Academy sources
said. Of those, books of essay
got fourth position with 135
publications while children
novels were fifth with 108
publications.
Besides, 88 Liberation War
related books, 75 about
Bangabandhu, 80 biographies,
47 researches, 52 science
books, 44 travel books,
54 history books, 41 science
fictions, 27 translation and 11
drama related books were
released in this fair so far.
This year, around 873 units
have been allocated for 560
publishing houses and organisations
to sell and exhibit
their books and publications.
On Tuesday, presence of
the visitors was remarkable
throughout the day.
The fair will be open for the
visitors from 3pm to 8pm
every day. On holidays, it will
be open from 11 am to 8:30
pm and on February 21 it will
open at 8 am and continue till
8:30 pm.
ACC to receive
graft allegations
directly from
expatriates
DHAKA : Bangladeshi
expatriates, who have been
living in different parts of
the world, now can be able
to place allegations of corruption
or irregularities to
the Anti-Corruption
Commission (ACC) directly.
The national anti-graft
agency at a meeting yesterday
decided to receive allegations
from the
Bangladeshi expatriates,
ACC director (public relations)
and spokesman
Pranab
Kumar
Bhattacharya said.
The expatriates are not
able to register their allegations
to the ACC by using
the "106" hotline, which was
earlier introduced by the
national anti-graft watchdog
to receive graft allegations
from commoners.
To resolve the technical
problem, Pranab said, the
Commission decided to
receive calls through a
mobile phone. "That's why
the Bangladeshi expatriates
can now place their allegations
by dialing my mobile
phone
number-
+8801716463276- any
time," he added.
Overtourism harming
‘Char Bijoy’s’ pristine
beauty
PATUAKHALI : An unhealthy competition
between travel agencies and irresponsible
behaviour of tourists have endangered
the natural ecosystem of newlyemerged
island 'Char Bijoy' in the Bay of
Bengal, about 40 kms southeast off the
Kuakata sea beach, reports UNB.
The 5,000-acre island is home to thousands
of migratory birds and countless red
crabs. When the crabs crawl out of the
ground, the entire island seems from afar
that it is covered in a red carpet. The flocking
of so many birds in the island at the
same time gives it a picturesque look.
As the name of this island found traction
in mass media, its popularity began to rise
and 'Char Bijoy' added a new dimension to
the tourist attraction of Kuakata.
As more and more tourists arrive at
Kuakata, the local travel agencies have
resorted to an unhealthy completion to
take as many tourists to the island as possible.
The absence of any directive from
the Tourism Ministry about visiting 'Char
Bijoy' made their job even easier.
With the arrival of so many tourists, the
areas inhabited by red crabs and flocked
by migratory birds in 'Char Bijoy' have
come under threat. The unwanted disturbance
has shrunk those areas for the crabs
and birds while their numbers have also
begun falling sharply.
While visiting 'Char Bijoy', the irresponsible
behaviour of tourists was seen firsthand
by the UNB correspondent.
The curious tourists wanting to catch a
glimpse of the birds create a ruckus where
the avian travellers gather. Not only that,
the loud noise from the sound boxes they
bring is a constant annoyance for the
birds.
These tourists often enter the sanctuary
of migratory birds with speedboats and
scare the birds by running after them. As a
result, the number of migratory birds visiting
'Char Bijoy' has decreased dramatically
with the arrival of the tourists.
Even, the presence of red crabs has fallen
as tourists walk and stomp over the
ground where the crabs live.
When the island emerged from the Bay
in 2017, it created a lot of interest among
tourists to see the pristine 'Char Bijoy'
which was discovered first by fishermen.
The fishermen called it 'Hairer Char'. On
December 23 of that year, the then deputy
commissioner of Patuakhali visited the
island and proposed the name of 'Moon
Island' due to its shape.
since the island was discovered in
December, which is known as the month
of victory, it was named 'Char Bijoy' after
local travel agencies and tourists rooted for
it.
Chattogram City Corporation Mayor and general secretary of the Metropolitan Awami League
AJM Nasir Uddin addressed a view exchange meeting with reporters at the Chattogram Press
Club on Tuesday.
Photo: S M Akash
If anyone needed the mayor
post, he could have told me
directly: CCC Mayor
s M AKAsH, CHATTOgrAM COrrEsPONDENT:
Chattogram City Corporation Mayor and
general secretary of the Metropolitan
Awami League AJM Nasir Uddin said that
'if anyone needed the post of mayor, he
could have told me directly, I would have
given it freely" said AJM Nasir Uddin. The
mayor made the remarks while addressing a
view exchange meeting with reporters at the
Chattogram Press Club on Tuesday.
He further said that, the propagandists
who are claiming a picture of me along with
Bangabandhu's murderer's brother, I do not
know him and even never met him. It is very
sad to take shelter in such a conspiracy to
withhold the nomination for mayor. such
propaganda is not desirable at all. With
whom I have no involvement. The mayor
added that in the photo shown, at the call of
Akram Khan, former Chhatra League leader
of Chattogram University, I went to inaugurate
a shop in the oxygen area. speaking of
hardships in my mind, one of the issues
where I was very troubled was that I took
part in the protest march in Chattogram
College after the assassination of
Bangabandhu. Extreme propaganda and
lies have been made on Facebook.
He said that,I started politics in the worst
of times, and the Bangabandhu massacre
shook me. Then after 1975, for the first time
in January, we four or five boys brought out
a procession together. We passed through
Chandanpara with the slogan, Joy Bangla,
Joy Bangabandhu. At that time, the army
came and surrounded the whole area.
I have no arrogance, outrage and anger, I
am a political activist, a field worker. I came
to this position from the field today, faced
death many times, was brutally attacked
while trying to make Chattogarm College
campus free from shibir activists. Torture
was my daily companion. Prime Minister of
the country and Bangabandhu's daughter
has given me the responsibility of general
secretary of the city Awami League. Then I
was fortunate to get the opportunity to serve
as mayor. Promising to work 100 percent to
make Awami League nominated candidate
M rezaul Karim Chowdhury win the election,
the mayor said, I want to everyone that
the way you worked for me, also work for the
candidate chosen by prime minister, I will
give my 100 percent to make him win.
Chattogram Press Club President Ali
Abbas chaired the meeting while among
others Vice-President of Bangladesh Federal
Journalists Union riaz Haider Chowdhury,
Chattogram Press Union President
Mohammad Ali, general secretary of the
press union Md. shamsul Islam, Press Club
general secretary Chowdhury Farid and
Chattogram reporters Forum President
Kazi Abul Mansur were among others also
present at the occasion.
Power sector received
Tk 52,260 cr as subsidy
in 10 years: Nasrul
sANgsAD BHABAN :
The government provided
Tk 52,260 crore as subsidy
to power sector in the last 10
years, state Minister for
Power, Energy and Mineral
resources Nasrul Hamid
told parliament on Tuesday,
reports UNB.
The minister said this in
reply to a query from Awami
League MP Didarul Alam
from Chattogram-4.
Nasrul said the average
cost of generating per unit of
electricity for both public
and private sectors is Tk 13-
14 (furnace oil based), Tk
25-30 (diesel based) and Tk
2.5-3 (gas based).
However, he said, the cost
of per unit supply of electricity
at the bulk level of Power
Development Board is Tk
5.82 and its average sales
price at the bulk level is Tk
4.80.
responding to a question
from AL MP
shahiduzzaman sarker
from Naogaon-2, the state
minister said gas is currently
being imported as LNg.
At present, the LNg,
equivalent to about 590 million
cubic feet is imported
daily.
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam, Executive Editor : Sheikh Efaz Ahmed, Managing, Editor: Tapash Ray Sarker, News Editor : Saiful Islam, printed at Sonali Printing Press, 2/1/A, Arambagh 167, Inner Circular Road, Eden Complex, Motijheel, Dhaka.
Editorial and News Office: Bangladesh Timber Building (3rd Floor) 270/B, Tejgaon I/A Dhaka-1208. Tel : +8802-8878026, Cell : 01832166882; Fax: + 880244611604, Email: Editor : editor@thebangladeshtoday.com, Advertisement: ads@thebangladeshtoday.com, News: newsbangla@thebangladeshtoday.com, contact@thebangladeshtoday.com, website: www.thebangladeshtoday.com