04-01-2021

Monday

Dhaka : January 4, 2021; Poush 20, 1427 BS; Jamadi-ul awal 19, 1442 hijri

www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net

Regd.No.Da~2065, Vol.17; N o.263; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00

InternatIonal

Congress opens new

session as COVID-19,

Biden's win dominate

>Page 7

sports

We prefer not to play

back-to-back Tests in

Sydney: Wade

>Page 9

art & culture

Sonakshi Sinha to

star in Shree Narayan

Singh's Bulbul Tarang

>Page 10

Bangladesh's

Covid-19 mortality

rate 1.48 pc

DHAKA : The Covid-19 death toll in

Bangladesh rose to 7,626, raising the

mortality rate to 1.48 percent. In the last

24 hours until Sunday morning, 27 more

deaths were recorded, according to a

handout from the Directorate General of

Health Services, reports UNB.

During this time, 835 new cases were

detected through 10,925 tests as 978

more patients recovered. The recovery

rate currently stands at 89.26 percent.

So far, 3,260,327 tests have been carried

out. Bangladesh reported its first

coronavirus cases on March 8 and the

first death on March 18. The country's

infection number reached the 5,00000-

mark on December 20. The death toll

exceeded 7,000 on December 12.

Dhaka has so far recorded the highest

number of fatalities 4,192 or 54.97 percent

of all the Covid-19 related deaths in

the country.

Padma Bridge, Metro Rail

opening to public within

June 2022 : Quader

DHAKA : The Padma Multipurpose

Bridge, Dhaka Elevated Expressway,

Metro Rail and Karnaphuli Tunnel will be

opened for all within June next year, Road

Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul

Quader said Sunday, reports UNB.

"The government has completed twelve

years [in office]. We're working as per the

election manifesto and the government

takes it as a challenge [to implement electoral

pledges]," he told reporters on current

issues at the Secretariat.

Mentioning that coronavirus has

turned the world into a death-valley,

Obaidul said the government is trying

to tackle the spread of the virus and

keep the economy operational.

DMP arrests 41 for selling,

consuming drugs in city

DHAKA : Members of Dhaka

Metropolitan Police (DMP) arrested 41

people on charges of selling and consuming

drugs while conducting different

anti-narcotics drives in the last 24

hours till 6am of Sunday.

The Detective Branch (DB) of the

DMP in association with local police

stations carried out the simultaneous

drives starting at 6am on Saturday.

A total of 2,698 pieces of Yaba tablets,

43.35 grams of heroin, 6.415 grams of

cannabis, 193 bottles of Phensedyl and

10 liters of domestic liquor were recovered

from the arrested person's possession,

said a DMP press release here.

A total of 32 cases have been filed

against them under the Narcotics

Control Act in these regards.

Zohr

05:20 AM

12:03 PM

03:37 PM

05:24 PM

06:41 PM

6:39 5:20

Give highest importance

to human rights, rule

of law: PM to police

DHAKA : Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina on Sunday asked members of

the police force to attach highest importance

to basic rights, human rights and

rule of law while discharging their professional

duties.

"I hope that during the professional

duties, police force will give highest

importance to people's basic rights,

human rights and rule of law," she said,

reports UNB.

The Prime Minister said this while

addressing the training completion

programme of 37th BCS (police cadre)

at Bangladesh Police Academy, Sarda

in Rajshahi virtually from her official

residence Ganobhaban.

She said that the government will

ensure peace and security of the people

by establishing the rule of law and

strengthening democracy.

"Remember that we mostly need to

establish rule of law, serve the people

and develop the people's living standard,"

she said.

In this connection, she asked the

police personnel to gain people's confidence,

trust and love.

"And if you can gain people's love,

confidence and trust, the number of

police force won't matter. It'll be possible

to contain any sort of crime with the

assistance of the people. You have to

prepare (yourselves) that way and we

want that," she said.

Talking about the increasing number

6 of a family among 7 killed

in M’singh road accident

Ali AhsAn RAj, MyMensingh CoRRespondent

Seven people were killed after a bus hit

an auto-rickshaw at Gachtala in

Tarakanda upazila of Mymensingh on

Sunday.

The deceased were identified as Faruk

Hossain, 30, his wife Masuma Khatun,

23, their three-day-old newborn, sister

Julekha Khatun, brother Nizam Uddin,

32, sister-in-law Josna Begum and

autorickshaw driver Rakibul Hasan, 30.

Rakibul Hasan is the son of Abul

Hossain of Charladhipur village in Sadar

upazila of Mymensingh.

Seven passengers of the auto-rickshaw

were killed on the spot after a

Netrakona-bound bus from Dhaka hit

the Mymensingh-bound three-wheeler

around 1:15pm, said Abul Khayer, officer-in-charge

of Tarakanda Police

of cyber-crimes, she asked the police

force to contain those.

The Prime Minister also said that

money laundering, cyber-crime and

human trafficking are global issues and

Bangladesh has to be saved from these.

She said that police force is contributing

remarkably to contain terrorism,

militancy, drugs, violence against

women and children.

"These should be contained with

more skill," she told police members.

Sheikh Hasina put emphasis on

establishing a separate Medical Unit for

police to look after the medical services

of the force's personnel.

She also mentioned that the government

is taking steps to modernise and

develop police hospitals outside Dhaka,

especially in the divisional headquarters.

Talking about development of the

police force since 2009, the Prime

Minister said that in 2009 the budget

for the force was Tk 3,000 crore while

in 2020-21 fiscal it has been increased

to Tk 16,000.

She said that to control and contain

crimes in the country, the government

has formed various types of units like

Police Bureau of Investigation, Tourist

Police, Special Security and Protection

Battalion, Industrial Police, Women

Armed Police Battalion and two separate

armed police battalions for

Rohingya camps.

Station.

A firefighting unit from Mymensingh

and police went to the spot and conducted

the salvage operation. The bodies

were taken to Mymensingh Medical

College and Hospital.

Eyewitness Sohel Mia said the

autorickshaw came to the front when the

bus overtook a truck. After hitting the

autorickshaw, it got stuck in the bus and

flew some distance. The locals went to the

spot and saw that all but one have died.

He also died on the way to the hospital.

Ali Hossain, a relative of the deceased,

said Masuma Khatun, wife of Faruk

Hossain, gave birth on January 1 at a private

hospital in Mymensingh. They had

an accident on their way home on

Sunday with their newborn son.

seven people were killed in a head-on collision between a bus and a Cng-run autorickshaw in

Mymensingh's tarakanda upazila on sunday.

photo: Ali Ahsan Raj

A massive fire broke out in a factory of Konka electronics located in Mograpara, sonargaon, narayanganj. After

a four-hour stint 12 units of Fire service brought the situation under control.

photo: star Mail

DB tortured

college student to

death : Family

BARISHAL : Brutal custodial torture by

the Detective Branch (DB) of police

caused the death of Law College student

Rezaul Karim Reza, his family

says, reports UNB.

Reza died at Barishal Sher-e-Bangla

Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) on

Saturday night. His father Yunus Mia

said Sub-Inspector Mohiuddin of DB

picked up Reza from Hamid Khan

Road on December 29.

The college student was brutally tortured

in DB custody and was later produced

before the court which sent him

to prison.

He was taken to SBMCH on Jan 1

after his condition had deteriorated but

he succumbed to his injuries.

SI Mohiuddin claimed that he had

arrested Reza along with hemp and

drugs on December 29 and handed him

over to Kotwali Police Station that

night. On December 30, he was produced

before a court and sent to jail for

possessing drugs.

"He was not tortured in police custody,"

Mohiuddin claimed.

An image of Reza's body showed

injury marks in both of his legs and he

appeared to have been hit by blunt

objects. Barishal Central Jail's

Superintendent Proshanto Kumar

Banik said Reza had been sick when

they received him. "He was bleeding

from the joint of his legs," he said.

Banik said they took Reza to the hospital

as his condition deteriorated on

Saturday night but he died.

Nurul Islam, officer-in-charge of

Kotwali Model Police Station, said they

would take action against policemen if

anyone is found guilty of torturing the

college student.

50pc power sector data

generation to be brought

under automation this yr

DHAKA : The government is set to bring

50 percent of data generation of power

sector under automation system by this

year to ensure uninterrupted power

supply as well transparency of power

distribution companies, officials familiar

with the

process said.

"We're working

on setting up

a u t o m a t i c

machine at each

d i s t r i b u t i o n

feeder to count

every disruption

of electricity

round the clock,

which is now

being done manually,"

Director

General (DG) of

Power Cell

E n g i n e e r

Mohammad Hossain told BSS

Hossain said the digital machine will

generate data of interruption, which the

distribution companies are now counting

manually. "There was no such a system

to ensure original number of disruption

per day," he added.

Despite facing many hurdles, Hossain

said, the power sector witnessed incredible

success in the last 11 years under the

leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina.

The Power Cell DG said the government

successfully achieved the target of

DHAKA : A court yesterday ordered to

seize the property of fugitive accused

Mahin Uddin in a case over the lynching

of Taslima Begum Renu in the city's

North Badda area over child-lifting

rumor in 2019.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate

Mamunur Rashid passed the order

after a hearing.

The court also fixed February 1 for

submitting the report in this regard.

Taslima Begum Renu, 40, a single

parent of two, was brutally beaten to

death by a mob that suspected her to be

a child lifter, in front of North Badda

Government Primary School in the

morning on July 20 in 2019.

It was later learned that Renu went

24,000 MW generation capacity and

100 percent power coverage before one

year of the target.

"Everyone will get quality and uninterrupted

electricity. Industrial confidence

will be regained for grid power

system. … we're trying to ensure 'double

source' for electricity," he said.

According to a Power Cell official, the

preparation for an integrated power

generation policy is underway.

Opportunity for private companies to

engage them in transmission sector will

be opened in the policy.

Talking to BSS, State Minister for

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources

Nasrul Hamid said that the government

has been working ceaselessly for uninterrupted

and quality electricity supply

to all.

Court orders seizing fugitive accused's

property in Renu lynching case

there to gather information about

admission of her daughter Tahsin

Tuba, 4, at that school.

Later, her nephew Nasir Uddin filed

the case with Badda Police Station

against 400-500 unidentified people.

On September 10, Inspector Abdul

Haque, the investigating officer (IO) in

the case, filed a chargesheet against 15

people in the Dhaka Metropolitan

Magistrate's Court.

Ibrahim alias Ridoy Mollah, Ria

Begum Mayna, Abul Kalam Azad,

Kamal Hossain, Md Shahin, Bachchu

Miah, Md Bappi, Murad Mia, Sohel

Rana, Asadul Islam, Bellal Mollah, Md

Razu and Mahin Uddin were accused in

the charge-sheet.

MondAY, JAnUARY 4, 2021

2

Liton calls for materializing

dreams of Bangabandhu

RAJSHAHI : Rajshahi Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman

Liton today urged all to play due and responsible role to

materialize the dreams of Father of the Nation

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in building

'Sonar Bangla'.

"The nation was taken backward with the killing of the

Father of the Nation but her competent daughter Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina with her political wisdom and

realistic vision is striving hard to march forward the

county with massive developments " he said.

The mayor made this observation while speaking as

chief guest at the unveiling ceremony of a music album

dedicated to Bangabandhu at the premises of Rajshahi

station of Bangladesh Betar today.

Betar, Rajshahi station developed the album styled

"Hridoyer Ohongkare Tumi " to mark the Mujib Borsha,

the birth centenary of Father of the Nation

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

With Regional Director of Bangladesh Betar Hassan

Akter in the chair, the meeting was addressed, among

others, by city unit Vice-President of Bangladesh Awami

League Shaheen Akter Rainy and former Principal of

Shahmukhdum Degree College Dr Tasiqul Islam Raja.

Mayor Liton said the spirit of the Liberation War has

been established in the country under the dynamic leadership

of Bangabandhu's worthy daughter Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh is now a unique

example of communal harmony before the world.

He said Bangabandhu dreamt of building a secular

Bangladesh. But, it is regretful that the conspirators had

destroyed the spirit of non- communalism through

killing Bangabandhu brutally.

Besides, Liton said the country is moving forward with

indomitable speed to materialize the dreams of

Bangabandhu under the dynamic and visionary leadership

of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Colombia's jobless

rate hits pandemic

low in Nov.

BOGOTA : Colombia's

unemployment rate fell to

13.3 percent in November,

its lowest level since the

COVID-19 began, the

National Administrative

Department of Statistics

(DANE) said Wednesday,

reports BSS.

The decline mirrored signs

of economic recovery following

periods of lockdown

imposed due to the health

crisis, according to Juan

Daniel Oviedo, director of

DANE, at a press conference.

Colombian women suffered

the most from job losses

amid the pandemic, with

an unemployment rate of

19.6 percent from

September to November

compared to 10.9 percent for

men.

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New Year OPEC+ meeting

to decide production levels

LONDON, Jan 2, 2021

(BSS/AFP) - Members of the

OPEC group of oil producers

and their partners will meet

via videoconference on

Monday to decide on production

levels for February,

hoping to turn the corner on

a difficult year.

The OPEC+ ministerial

meeting comes after oil consumption

tanked in 2020

due to the Covid-19 pandemic

and a price war between

Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Despite a pick up in prices

towards the end of last year,

the market levels for black

gold remain uncertain.

After their last summit,

from November 30-

December 3, the OPEC+

members agreed to increase

production by half a million

barrels per day in January.

Also at that meeting the 13

members of the OPEC cartel,

led by Saudi Arabia, and

their six allies, led by Russia,

agreed to meet at the beginning

of each month in order

to decide on any adjustments

to production volumes for

the following month.

Russia and Saudi Arabia

are respectively the second

and third biggest oil producers

in the world after the

United States.

The decision illustrates

OPEC's desire to maintain a

strong influence on the oil

market and the gravity of the

situation for crude producers

last year.

" ' R e m a i n i n g

demand uncertainty' -

Before the pandemic,

OPEC members were content

with two summits per

year at the organisation's

headquarters in Vienna.

"Finally, we saw a strong

demonstration of OPEC+

will and capability to manage

the market, laying the

groundwork for Brent's

recovery to over $50 per barrel

despite remaining

demand uncertainty in the

market," JBC Energy analysts

said in a statement.

The two contracts of reference,

North Sea Brent Crude

and West Texas

Intermediate (WTI) crude

both ended the week around

the $50 per barrel level, far

lower than the prices seen at

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the start of 2020 but well up

on the lows seen last year.

In March, Moscow and

Riyadh embarked on a brief

but intense oil price war

which led prices to plummet.

On April 20, West Texas

Intermediate (WTI) crude

collapsed to minus $40.32

per barrel - meaning producers

paid buyers to take

the oil off their hands.

The climate between the

two oil giants has eased since

then, with the Russian and

Saudi energy ministers

meeting in mid-December

in a display of unity.

It remains difficult, however,

to predict the evolution

in demand as governments

begin rolling out vaccination

programmes against the

coronavirus.

Last month OPEC predicted

a slight rebound in the

market while noting continued

uncertainties, particularly

in the transport sector.

Despite the heft of the

OPEC+ countries, countries

outside the system have a

major impact on the oil market;

principally the United

States which is still producing

11 million barrels of

crude per day.

Even within its ranks,

OPEC will have to pay attention

to developments in the

three members which have

been granted exemptions

from quotas - Libya, Iran

and Venezuela.

Oman foresees

$5.7 bn deficit

in pared down

2021 budget

MUSCAT, Jan 2, 2021

(BSS/AFP) - The Gulf sultanate

of Oman unveiled a 2021 budget

on Friday that foresees a

deficit of 2.24 billion riyals ($5.7

billion), despite a 14 percent cut

in spending.The government

expects revenues of 8.64 billion

riyals based on an oil price of

$45 dollars a barrel, 19 percent

less than in 2020, the official

Oman News Agency reported.

Spending is set at 10.88 billion

riyals, 14 percent less than

in 2020.The government plans

to finance 73 percent of the

deficit through borrowing on

local and international markets,

and the rest from state

reserves.

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud addressed a discussion meeting on the occasion of the 2nd death anniversary

of Syed Ashraful Islam.

Photo: PBA

China, Russia vote against UN

draft resolution on minorities'

situation in Myanmar

DHAKA : China and Russia have once again

stood beside Myanmar while India and Japan

refrained from standing against them as a

draft resolution on the situation of human

rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities

in Myanmar was adopted 130-9 by the UN

General Assembly.

Russia, China, Belarus, Cambodia, Laos,

Philippines, Vietnam, Zimbabwe and

Myanmar themselves were the nine countries

that voted against the resolution, i.e. in

Myanmar's favour, reports UNB.

The proposal was placed before the 75th

General Assembly of the United Nations on

Thursday.

A total of 130 countries including

Bangladesh voted against Myanmar.

Nine of the 130 countries previously voted

in favour of Myanmar but this time, they voted

against.

A total of 26 countries, including India,

Japan, Sri Lanka and Singapore abstained

from voting.

India recently said they engage with

Myanmar at every level, including the highest

level of the civilian government and the highest

level of military establishment in the State

of Rakhine, where they claimed to make their

position clear.

Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki said they

are communicating directly with Myanmar's

top military officials and at the government

level on the Rohingya crisis as Japan sees it

the proper channel to play a role.

China is trying to work with Myanmar and

Bangladesh to find a solution through tripartite

discussion.

Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it

rejects "ill-disguised, mischaracterized and

politicized" resolution co-sponsored by the

OIC and the European Union.

On 31 December 2020, at its 48th plenary

meeting (resumed), the 75th UN General

Assembly took action on Third Committee

resolution against Myanmar.

Myanmar delegation called for the vote and

voted against resolution number IV contained

in document A/75/478/Add.3.

In his explanation of the vote, Myanmar's

Permanent Representative reiterated that the

country would not accept the exploitation of

human rights and would regard any attempt

to censure them as an abuse of UN mechanisms

under "the banner of human rights".

Allegations of

irregularities

brought against an

LGED engineer

Staff Correspondent

Allegations of various irregularities

and corruption

have been surfaced against

LGED Senior Assistant

Engineer (Administration),

Manas Mandal. According

to the allegation, Manas

Mandal extorted large sums

of money from the executive

engineers, senior assistant

engineers, upazila engineers,

assistant engineers

working in different districts

across the country by threatening

to transfer them from

their current posts.

He allegedly founded a

transfer trade syndicate by

abusing the power of the

LGRD minister's APS. He is

also accused of illegally laundering

money to America.

He has his own house in old

Dhaka.

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SundAY, JAnuARY 3, 2021

3

Anisul exchanges

greetings with

ministry officials

DHAKA : Law, Justice and

Parliamentary Affairs

Minister Anisul Huq yesterday

exchanged greetings

with officials and staff of the

ministry on the first working

day of the New Year.

The minister enquired

about health and wellbeing

of the ministry officials and

staff and later cut a cake in

presence of the senior officials

including the two secretaries

of both the divisions of

the ministry.

Later, he sent sweets to all

the officials and staff of the

ministry.

Hearing of graft case

against suspended

DIG Mizanur

adjourned till Jan 19

DHAKA : A Dhaka court yesterday

adjourned the hearing

of a graft case against suspended

Deputy Inspector

General (DIG) of police

Mizanur Rahman and three

of his family members till

January 19.

Judge Md Asifuzzaman of

Dhaka Sixth Special Judge

Court set the date as two new

prosecution witnesses testified

in the case.

Deputy Commissioner (tax)

Ayesha Siddiqi and Anti-

Corruption Commission

(ACC) sub-inspector Farid

Ahmed Patwari submitted

their deposition and were

cross-examined by the

defence afterwards.

Earlier on October 20, the

court framed charges in the

case against Mizanur

Rahman, his wife Sohelia

Anar Rotna, younger brother

Mahbubur Rahman and

nephew Mahmudul Hasan.

On September 2, 2020,

Dhaka Senior Special Judge

KM Imrul Qayesh transferred

the case to this court as it got

ready for trial.

The court earlier had also

ordered the publication of

advertisements in national

dailies, asking the fugitive

accused Rotna and

Mahbubur to surrender.

73rd founding anniversary

of BCL today

DHAKA : Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL)

is set to celebrate its 73rd founding anniversary

through different programmes today.

The largest student organization having glorious

heritage of struggle and success, the BCL

came into being on January 4 in 1948 at the

instruction of Father of the Nation

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with

a view to attaining the country's independence.

BCL central leaders greeted all on the occasion

of the organization's 73rd founding

anniversary.

Marking the anniversary, the student wing

of the ruling Awami League has taken elaborate

programmes on Monday (January 4).

The day's programmes will include hoisting

national and party flags at party offices at

6.30 am, placing of wreaths at the portrait of

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi road-32 at

8 am maintaining the health guidelines, cutting

of cake at 9.30 am at Dhaka University

Curzon Hall.Later, a discussion will be held

at Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh (KIB)

Chairman of Farid-Masuma Janakalyan Trust and Dhaka University Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) Prof Dr. ASM Maksud

Kamal distributed winter clothes among 2,000 helpless people at Laharkandi area of LakshmipurSadarupazila on

Sunday.

Photo: MasudurRahaman Khan

DMP arrests 41 for

selling, consuming

drugs in city

DHAKA : Members of Dhaka

Metropolitan Police (DMP)

arrested 41 people on charges

of selling and consuming

drugs while conducting different

anti-narcotics drives in the

last 24 hours till 6am Sunday.

The Detective Branch (DB)

of the DMP in association with

local police stations carried

out the simultaneous drives

starting at 6am on Saturday.

A total of 2,698 pieces of

Yaba tablets, 43.35 grams of

heroin, 6.415 grams of

cannabis, 193 bottles of

Phensedyl and 10 liters of

domestic liquor were recovered

from the arrested person's

possession, said a DMP

press release here.

A total of 32 cases have been

filed against them under the

Narcotics Control Act in these

regards.

Turkey keens for huge

investment in BD : Turan

DHAKA : Turkish Envoy to Bangladesh

Mustafa Osman Turan paid a courtesy

call on State Minister of Shipping Khalid

Mahmud Chowdhury at the latter's office

yesterday

During the visit, the Turkish Envoy said

the Government of Turkey has expressed

its keen interest for vast investment in

Bangladesh , especially in the Special

Economic Zone, said a press release .

"Turkey wants to work on joint venture

investment in the ship breaking and

building industry in Bangladesh and also

in setting up liquefied petroleum gas

(LPG) plants on the banks of the river

Karnaphuli in Chattogram ."

The state minister for Shipping urged

the Turkish Envoy for recruitment of the

skilled and trained sailors of Bangladesh

in Turkish merchant ships and recognition

of the two countries' Certificates of

Competency (COC) in the maritime sector.

'This will open up a new era of

employment opportunities for sailors in

auditorium at 3.30 pm while Prime Minister

and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina

is expected to address the discussion as the

chief guest through a videoconferencing.

The BCL has been leading all democratic

and progressive movements in the country

since it established in 1948. This organization

attained victory in all struggles in

exchange of great sacrifices.

The BCL played pioneering roles in the

language movement in 1952, in the victory of

Jukta Front in 1954 polls, anti-Aiyub movement

in 1958, education movement in 1962,

six-point movement in 1966, mass upsurge

in 1969, elections in 1970, the great

Liberation War in 1971, rehabilitation activities

in post-war Bangladesh, movement for

restoration of democracy after 1975 carnage,

student movement in 1983 and anti-autocratic

movement in 1990.

The BCL was also engaged in the movement

launched by Sheikh Hasina against

the 'state terrorism' unleashed by the then

BNP-Jamaat alliance government after the

2001 polls.

Report in Padma Bank case

against Shahed, 3 others on 16 Feb

DHAKA : The court yesterday fixed February

16 for the submission of investigation report

in the case filed against four people, including

Chairman of Regent Group and Regent

Hospital Mohammad Shahed, for embezzling

funds from Padma Bank (former 'The

Farmers Bank Limited').

The investigation report of the case was

scheduled to be submitted on Sunday, but

the investigating agency of the case, Anti-

Corruption Committee (ACC), did not submit

the report.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge KM

Imrul Qayesh set a new date.

Earlier on July 27, Mohammad Shahjahan

Miraj, deputy assistant director of the ACC

head office, filed the case against Shahed and

four others at the ACC's integrated district

office in Dhaka-1.

The accused in the case are Mahbubul

Haque Chishti, former chairman of the executive

and audit committee of the board of

directors of Padma Bank, Rashedul Haque

Chishti, managing director (MD) of

Bakshiganj Jute Spinners Limited,

Mohammad Shahed, chairman of Regent

Hospital and Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil,

managing director (MD) of the same hospital.

According to the case, between January

11 and January 21, 2015, the accused embezzled

Taka 1 crore from the Gulshan corporate

branch of Padma Bank Limited in the name

of loan through misuse of power, criminal

breach of trust and money transfer.

The amount including interest, stood at

Taka 2.71 crore till 15 July, 2019.

The accused were charged under Section

409,109 of the Penal Code, Section 5 (2) of

the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and

Section 4 of the Prevention of Money

Laundering Act, 2012.

On September 28, the court sentenced

Shahed to life imprisonment in a case filed

under the Arms Act. The court also sentenced

him to 7 years in prison under

Section 19 (f) of the Arms Act.

The court ruled that both sentences would

run concurrently.

On July 6, 2019, RAB raided the Uttara

and Mirpur branches of the Regent

Hospital.

During the operation, fake Covid-19 test

reports were discovered, and various irregularities

including collection of money from

patients in the name of corona treatment

also came in light.

Shahed fled after the incident. On July 15,

RAB arrested Shahed from the border area

of Satkhira. Later he was brought to Dhaka

from Satkhira by helicopter.

both the countries, said the state minister.

He emphasized the need for modern

information technology in shipbuilding in

Bangladesh and training of Bangladeshi

engineers, Public Private Partnership

experts and technical officials .

The Ambassador assured the minister

of the appointment of sailors in Turkish

merchant ships, recognition of COCs,

exchange of modern information technology

in ship building and training in various

fields , the press release added .

They discussed the bilateral shipping

agreement signed between the two countries

in 1986.

Later, the State Minister presented

'Unfinished Autobiography ' written by

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Turkish

Ambassador.

Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping

Mohammad Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury

was present at the time.

Turkish Envoy to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan paid a courtesy call on State Minister of Shipping

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury at the latter's office yesterday.

Photo : Courtesy

Novelist Rabeya

Khatun passes

away

DHAKA : Eminent novelist

Rabeya Khatun died of old age

complications at the age of 86

yesterday evening.

She breathed her last around

6:00 pm at her house in

Gulshan, her family sources

said .

Rabeya Khatun was born on

December 27, 1935 to Maulavi

Mohammad Mulluk Chand

and Hamida Khatun in

Bikrampur (now in

Munshiganj).

She wrote over 50 novels

and more than 400 short stories,

as of 2008, according to

Wiklipedia.

Her works include essays,

novels, research, short stories,

religious history and travelogues.

She was awarded Bangla

Academy Literary Award in

1973, Ekushey Padak in 1993

and Independence Day Award

in 2017 by the Government of

Bangladesh.On 23 July 1952,

she married to Fazlul Haque

(1930-1990). He was the editor

of the Cinema magazine. He

directed President, the first

film for children in

Bangladesh.

DU Pro-VC

distributes

winter clothes

in Lakshmipur

Masudur Rahaman Khan,

Lakshmipur Correspondent:

Winter clothes were distributed

among 2,000 helpless

people on Sunday at the initiative

of Farid-Masuma

Janakalyan Trust at

Laharkandi area of

Lakshmipur Sadar Upazila.

Chairman of the trust and

Dhaka University Pro Vice-

Chancellor (Education) Prof

Dr. ASM Maksud Kamal

distributed winter clothes at

theupazila.

It is learned that the trust

has distributed winter

clothes among 2,000 destitute

families in different

parts

of

LakshmipurMunicipality

including Laharkandi,

Hajirpara, Bhangakha and

Mandari Unions of

LakshmipurSadarUpazila.

During the distribution of

winter clothes, the chairman

of the trust and the pro

vice-chancellor of Dhaka

University (Education) Prof

Dr. ASM Maksud Kamal

said, "We should all stand

by the helpless people out of

conscience.We need to

make sure that these people

can be somewhat better in

the midst of the winter and

the Corona epidemic.

It is to be noted that

Dhaka University Pro Vice-

Chancellor (Education) Prof

Dr. ASM Maksud Kamal is

the brother of AKM

Shahjahan Kamal, Member

of Parliament for

LakshmipurSadar and former

Minister for Civil

Aviation and Tourism.

Govt working to formulate light

engineering development policy

DHAKA : The government is working to

formulate a light engineering development

policy aimed at strengthening the

contribution of the domestic light engineering

industry to the national economy.

The policy will be finalized soon with the

concerned stakeholders.

This was informed yesterday at a virtual

discussion on the progress of implementation

of the activities organised by the

Ministry of Industries for the development

of the light engineering industry at the initiative

of the ministry, said a press release.

Industries Secretary KM Ali Azam

presided over the discussion.

Additional Secretary of the Ministry of

Industries Md Zafar Ullah, Director

General of Bangladesh Industrial

Technical Assistance Centre (BITAC)

Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, Project

Director of Tools and Technology Institute

Dr Syed Md Ihsanul Karim, Joint

Secretary of Commerce Ministry Jinat

Ara, Deputy Secretary of ERD Abdul

Quader, First Secretary of National Board

of Revenue (VAT Policy) Kazi Farid Uddin

and Deputy Secretary of Financial

Institutions Department Mohammad

Enamul Haque, among others, joined the

discussion.

The meeting also instructed to make

necessary proposals with the concerned

stakeholders of the industry including

BITAC, SME Foundation and BSCIC for

inclusion in the budget in the interest of

the domestic light engineering industry.

It was informed at the meeting that an

initiative has been taken to send a list to

Bangladesh Bank to ensure incentives for

other small and medium enterprises

including light engineering industries

which have been damaged due to the corona

situation.

In his speech, KM Ali Azam directed

BSCIC to form a new cell with high priority

on the light engineering industry and to

intensify the process of creating master

trainers for engineers and workers working

in light engineering industries at

Dholairpar in old Dhaka.

Delwer Hussain elected

new SAFA president

DHAKA : AKM Delwer Hussain, former

president and council member of the

Institute of Cost and Management

Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB),

has been appointed as the new

President of South Asian Federation of

Accountants (SAFA) for the year 2021.

Delwar is a senior fellow member of

the ICMAB. He has served ICMA

Bangladesh as its President for two

times in the year 2004 and 2013, said a

press release.

He was elected as a board member

and also member of the strategic committee

of the Confederation of Asian

and Pacific Accountants (CAPA) in

2004.

Delwer is principal and CEO of AKM

Delwer Hussain and Associates. He is

also Director of Agrani Equity and

Investment Limited (A subsidiary of

Agrani Bank Limited).

He is also a member of finance committee

of Bangladesh University of

Engineering and Technology (BUET)

and Director of Audit Committee of

WASO Credit Rating Company BD Ltd.

Delwar is Chairman of WASO

Engineers & Consultants (BD) Ltd. He

has acted as Chairman of a State owned

Corporation namely Bangladesh Sugar

and Food Industries Corporation

(BSFIC) from 2014 to 2019. Prior to

taking this responsibility, he was the

Director (Finance) of BSFIC.

He was nominated as the Director of

Rupali Bank Ltd., Dhaka Power

Distribution Company Ltd., (DPDC)

Khulna Shipyard & Narayanganj

Dockyard, Bangladesh Diesel Plant

BDP, Bangladesh Institute of Capital

Market (BICM) and Dhaka Stock

Exchange (DSE) Limited.

The release said SAFA has undertaken

the leadership role in providing a new

direction to the accountancy profession

within the region and this Apex body

has nearly 375,000 professional

accountants affiliated with its member

bodies.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md. Tajul Islam paid tribute

to former General Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League Syed Ashraful Islam. Photo : Courtesy

MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021

4

At a loss for words

Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam

e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com

Monday, January 4, 2021

Linking population

and quality of life

Some analysts have sought to downplay the

Malthusian fears of the overpopulated

conditions of Bangladesh by pointing to its

growing agricultural productivity, particularly

cereal production, that maintained a balance of

sorts between population growth and food supply.

But surely there are limits to such productivity

rises and economic laws also uphold such

saturation points. In many ways, Bangladesh is

reaching these saturation points and the same are

reflected in land scarcity for different purposes and

the problems of housing, greater stresses in the

national budgets in respect of providing

adequately for employment, education, healthcare

and other basic needs. There is hardly any sector

that is not facing the stresses from overpopulation

and the same would only multiply if the population

is allowed to grow at the current rate of some 1.48

per cent to be some 180 million in only ten years

from now.

The fast growing population and their laying

their hands indiscriminately on natural resources

for survival such as on trees and vegetation,

intruding into eco systems, etc., have already

endangered the environment and biodiversity of

the country. The degradation can only worsen

without checks in the population growth rate. The

quality of life in the country which has deteriorated

from its present population size, will only be

further downgraded from unchecked population

growth. Overpopulation leading to vanishing or

depleting of resources and the scramble arising

from the same as these become even more scarce

cause social tensions and conflict to add to the

decline in the quality of life. These things are

showing up in the Bangladesh context but the ugly

faces of such social unrest with their political

implications as well, could be much worse even in

the near future if reduction and stabilization in the

population growth rate are not achieved quickly.

It is fanciful to say that the country's population

can be turned into human resources. Thetheory of

deriving demographic dividend is there. However

deriving demographic dividend from a young

population depends crucially on providingthe

growing number of younger ones with suitable

education, ample nutrition and effective skill

training. But the hard realities are that in their

present conditions of illiteracy, hunger and

deprivation, the young people of the country in

large measures remain more as liabilities than

assets and allowing the likes of them to breed

recklessly further will only add overwhelmingly to

the liabilities.

Hard boiled realists say Bangladesh is already

overpopulated by any assessment or definition.

Already, the existing size of the population and its

growth have created crisis like situations in sectors

of housing, employment, health, etc. The crises are

going to be deeper in the near future and could

shatter whatever socio-political and economic

stability the country has at present.

Therefore, the population growth rate needs to be

brought down, substantially, at an early date. The

population growth rate in Bangladesh will not be

brought down to zero level like in the Scandinavian

countries. There would be encountered strong

social and cultural barriers against such initiatives.

But it can be tried to effectively bring it below one

per cent in a decade from now if the same goal is

earnestly pursued. This decrease in growth will

mean a manageable population by the middle of

the present century.

But the official population programmes in the

rural areas where over 80 per cent of Bangladeshis

have their existence, are seen to be shot through

with corruption, inefficiency, lethargy and all

other ills. Family visitors under the programme

hardly do their job ; they may make some casual

visits at long intervals without doing their work

with motivation and sincerity. In most cases,

there are no publicities of the same and people

remain unaware of what things are on offer for

adopting sterility or permanent birth control. The

cash awards for conducting vasectomy on men and

women are found misappropriated in many cases

while on paper they maintain fake records of

persons who were operated as well as their getting

of the awards.

Clearly therefore, a very strong case exists to

revamp the official population control

programmes to achieve much better results.

The writer is a former dean of the

School of Humanities and Social

Sciences at Lums.

I RECENTLY visited public high schools

in two villages in Mandi Bahauddin

district. I was impressed by the insights of

their heads on the merits of various

languages of instruction. They regretted

not being consulted on the matter and I

couldn't agree more with them.

I had one incongruous visual

impression pertaining to the names of the

schools that might seem peripheral to

many. In villages with every student a

native speaker of Punjabi and Urdu the

medium of instruction, the names of

schools, written in both Urdu and English,

were comprised entirely of English words

- 'government', 'girls', 'high', and 'school'.

I wonder if this strikes anyone as odd? It

would be fine to refer to a school thus in a

report written in English but shouldn't it

have an indigenous name as well? In

India, one comes across 'kendriya

vidyalaya' and in Iran I am sure there is

some equivalent of 'madressah-i markazi.'

(In conversation, it became clear there

were no local terms for headmaster or

headmistress either.)

We have perfectly good words in Urdu

for 'government' ('sarkar') and 'girls'

('larkiyan'). 'Madressah' was the term for

'school' except that it has been shunned

and left for institutions imparting religion

to the poor. But we have 'maktab' as an

alternative. It was only 'high' that

stumped me.

The lack of a local name for such a vital

institution made me wonder what goes on

in the minds of parents when they send

their daughters to a place called

'Government Girls High School'. Do they

think it is an alien institution, a colonial

legacy with no equivalent in our own

tradition?

Perhaps not. I doubt if people rack their

brains over such questions. Children have

to go to iskool/ sakool, gormint or pryvate,

and that's that. But, at another level, the

question is intriguing. It is certainly not

the case that there was no education in the

Punjab before the British and we have

G.W. Leitner's 1882 book History of

Indigenous Education in India to vouch

for that. The institutions must have had

local names in those times - I saw

remnants of pathshalas and gurukuls and

there were madressahs, of course.

Thinking along these lines, it occurred

to me that we have no word for 'college'

and although 'jamia' is a perfect

equivalent for university (there is the

Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi and the

1,000-year-old Jamia Al Azhar in Cairo),

we don't employ that term either.

There is much less of a loss of words in

Persian - primary school is dabestan, high

school is dabirestan, college is

ANJUM ALTAF

daneshkadeh, and university is

'daneshgah'. Hindi also has reverseengineered

the vocabulary - vidyalaya for

school, mahavidyalaya for college, and

vishvavidyalaya for university.

When I looked up websites of

institutions in Iran and India, I saw their

indigenous names along with their

English translations with both displayed

on their respective logos. Thus,

Daneshgah-i-Tehran (Tehran University),

Jawaharlal Nehru Vishvavidyalaya

(Jawaharlal Nehru University), Bharatiya

Perhaps not. I doubt if people rack their brains over

such questions. Children have to go to iskool/

sakool, gormint or pryvate, and that's that. But, at

another level, the question is intriguing. It is certainly

not the case that there was no education in the

Punjab before the British and we have G.W.

Leitner's 1882 book History of Indigenous

Education in India to vouch for that.

JOSEPH HAMMOND

Praudyogikee Sansthaan (Indian Institute

of Technology), Bharatiya Prabandh

Sansthaan (Indian Institute of

Management), etc. All have websites in

the local language as well.

Contrast that with Lahore University of

Management Sciences that was conceived

and born in English and has not felt the

need to invent a local name or offer a

website in Urdu. ('Lums,' on the other

hand, has entered the vocabulary as a

local term which led to a mercifully

aborted move by the university to rename

itself 'LumsU'.)

All this is intriguing because of the great

tradition of learning in the subcontinent

with landmark contributions to

mathematics, astronomy, architecture,

philosophy, theology, politics, and

sexuality. The scholarship in these fields

must have had institutional foundations.

The first institution of higher learning in

the world, a university with over 10,000

foreign students, was founded in the 10th

century BC in Takshila, now in Pakistan.

Such great names as Charaka, Panini,

Kautilya, and Chandragupta Maurya were

students at this institution. What was it

called? When a student set out for it,

where did he say he was going? Nalanda,

the renowned fifth-century AD

monastery-cum-centre of learning, was

called a Mahavihara. These universities

must have had subsidiary institutions

with distinct names.

I know this is not something that

consumes our TV channels but

although I can't place my finger on it, I

have a feeling that somewhere, deep

down, the loss of words might matter. I

respect the opinion of those who

respond that languages grow by

absorbing new words, that old names

were not native either but borrowed

from Sanskrit, Persian or Arabic, and

that there really was no tradition of

mass secular education before the

British. But what of the loss of perfectly

good words like 'ustaad' and 'ustaani' or

'pirach' and 'piyali' for that matter?

What does our shrinking vocabulary say

about us? It is an issue worth a thought

on a lazy winter evening.

Source: Dawn

How Iran is still playing Soleimani’s ‘long game’

For a brief moment, the assassination of

Qasem Soleimani a year ago was "the

story" of 2020. Analysts were frenzied

in their alarmist predictions that not only

was war with Iran on the horizon, but a

broader conflict across the region was also

imminent. Instead, 2020 proved to be

noteworthy for how little the assassination

altered the status quo.

Soleimani's assassination in Baghdad was

the biggest foreign policy gamble of

President Trump's term in office, but it was

perhaps less audacious than George W.

Bush's venture in Iraq or Barack Obama's

war in Libya. The ostensible rationale

offered by the Trump White House for the

Soleimani strike was the murder of a US

citizen in a rocket attack on an air base in

Iraq, a clear act of provocation and one

linked to Soleimani's Revolutionary Guarddirected

proxies.

For fans of Trump, the strike on Soleimani

was bold, decisive, surgical and successful.

For his detractors it was hasty, foolhardy

and unnecessarily provocative. Such critics

could point out that the strike provoked an

Iranian missile attack on US forces in Iraq

that injured 100 American soldiers.

However, a year has passed without the

predicted conflagration in the Middle East.

Not only did the mouse fail to roar, it barely

squeaked. Perhaps Iran deemed its missile

attack on the US air base in Iraq a

proportionateresponse to the targeted

killing of a senior military commander, an

act that could reasonably warrant a

declaration of war. Another possible

explanation for Iranian restraint was its own

role in shooting down Ukraine International

Airlines Flight 752 five days after Soleiman's

assassination, with the loss of all 176

passengersand crew, nearly 150 of them

Iranian. Such collateral damage may have

caused Ayatollah Khamenei a moment of

reflection and reticence. Indeed, Iran only

reluctantly admitted its role in shooting

down the plane.

In either case, Iranian actions in response

to Soleimani's assassination reveal

considerable insight into Tehran's approach

to geopolitics. The Quds Force under

Soleimani regarded its terrorist plots and

proxies in the Middle East as part of a longterm

chess game. They are patient enough to

study the board several moves ahead, and

recognize their opponents may be impatient

because of political and other factors.

Tehran is adept at resisting the temptation

to act impulsively or impetuously, and is

willing to outlast opponents'

administrations and regimes if it serves their

interests - even if that means sacrificing key

pieces on the board.

Killing Soleimani was intended to coerce

Iran into abandoning its aggressive foreign

policy in the Middle East. One year on, that

history appears to be repeating itself with a

rocket attack on the US Embassy in

Baghdad. Again, Kata'ib Hezbollah, an Iraqi

militia with close ties to Tehran, is denying

responsibility for an attack on US citizens,

RYM TINA GHAZAL

but evidence appears to point to its

involvement and that of Iran.

One year on, Soleimani is long dead, but

the terrorist network he has built across the

region - from Iraq to Yemen - lives on.

In light of this recent incident, and its

relative proximity to the anniversary of

Soleimani's assassination, it is worth noting

that Soleimani did not die alone on that day

in early 2020; also killed in the drone strike

was Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, the

commander of Kata'ib Hezbollah, who had

been designated a terrorist by the US and

the UAE. It would not be implausible to infer

that the latest embassy attack is retribution

for Al-Muhandis, even though he was an

incidental casualty in the strike intended for

Soleimani.

The assassination of Soleimani revived

global attention on Iraq, as well as Iran's

continued and growing influence over Iraqi

politics and indeed the larger Middle East

region. As a consequence of the killing, and

as evidence of how much sway Tehran holds

over Iraq, the parliament in Baghdad passed

a resolution calling for the expulsion of US

forces from Iraq. This resolution was

approved only by pro-Iranian Shiite political

parties and boycotted by a coalition of

Kurdish and Sunni Arab politicians, as well

as some Shiite groups. Iran preferspulling

levers to launching missiles as a way of

achieving its objectives. This is a key part of

its long game.

Iran's overt influence has been a

contributing factor to street protests in Iraq,

which began in October 2019 and have

continued until now, albeit dampened by

the pandemic. Indeed, a massive leak of

documents in November 2019 revealed the

broad extent to which Iran controls Iraqi

public life. The New York Times obtained

the cache of documents and gave the story

greater visibility, though for most Iraqis it

was hardly a revelation.

The Trump administration's targeting of

Soleimani was part of a wider strategy

meant to roll back Iran's influence in many

parts of the Middle East. Indeed, another US

drone strike in Yemen targeted Abdulreza

Shahlai, a brigadier general in the Quds

Force, on the same night as the Soleimani

strike. Shahlai escaped but the strike did kill

a lower ranking Islamic Revolutionary

Guard Corps soldier, the first combat death

the IRGC has acknowledged in its long war

in Yemen.

Iran remains undaunted in its approach

despite the death of Soleimani and even

the killing of nuclear scientist Mohsen

Fakhrizadeh. As I wrote here last year,

Iranian operatives in South Africa planned

to kill the US ambassador there, a personal

friend of Trump. Last week the US

designation of a pro-Iran Bahraini group

as a terrorist organization also speaks to

Iran's commitment to building up the

capabilities of its proxies across the region.

Source: Arab news

Don't neglect pets who comforted us during pandemic

One of the few positive things to come out

of the Covid-19 pandemic has been the

surge in animal adoption from shelters as

people looked to pets to help alleviate fear,

anxiety and loneliness.

This is no surprise, as the benefits of pet

ownership are well documented. According

to the UK's Mental Health Foundation, as

well as providing companionship, pets help

reduce depression and stress.

Caring for a pet also makes you think

beyond yourself, and forces you to get out

and about (dogs need to be walked, for

example), thus avoiding the danger that too

much isolation poses to mental well-being.

Being confined to home during lockdown

also gave many the ideal opportunity to

lavish time and effort on a new pet. Even

though some restrictions have been lifted,

travel remains more difficult and more

expensive, so people are taking far fewer

trips or none. And of course, there is still the

residual fear of contracting the virus as we

await widespread vaccination.

Rescue animals also got a profile boost

when it emerged that US President-elect

Iran's overt influence has been a contributing factor to street

protests in Iraq, which began in October 2019 and have continued

until now, albeit dampened by the pandemic. Indeed, a massive

leak of documents in November 2019 revealed the broad

extent to which Iran controls Iraqi public life.

Joe Biden's rescue dog, a German shepherd

named Major, would be moving to the

White House too. (However, Major's claim

to be the first rescue animal to live in the

presidential residence is disputed by both

Yuki, a mixed-breed pup found abandoned

in 1966 and given to then-president Lyndon

B Johnson, and by Socks, the Clintons'

rescue cat.)

In the United Arab Emirates, Noura Al

Kaabi, the minister of culture and youth, is

often seen at her office with her rescue cat,

who is now quite the celebrity at the

ministry and is thoroughly spoiled by staff

and visitors.

All very heartwarming, but what happens

when life returns to pre-pandemic

normalcy? Will all those well-intentioned

people who took on a pet during lockdown

discover that, now that they are back in their

workplaces, they can spare neither the time

nor the effort to look after it? And what

about those now living on half- salaries, or

no salaries, unable to afford pet food and

vets' bills?

After the initial euphoria of animal

shelters gradually emptying as more people

decided to adopt or foster a pet, the great

fear of animal-welfare organizations now is

of an increase in the numbers of abandoned

animals.

Some of the worst pet-dumpers are

expatriates who happily take on a pet while

living abroad but when the time comes for

them to leave, suddenly decide it's not worth

the expense, paperwork and inconvenience

involved to relocate Kitty or Fido as well.

Some even abandon pets rather than pay for

a few weeks' boarding while they are away

on their summer holiday.

Those who work at animal shelters are all

too accustomed to the callousness of people

who ditch their pets. They have heard all the

excuses: too time-consuming, too draining

on the finances, too messy, not cute enough

now that they've grown out of the

puppy/kitten stage.

Some owners have no shame in simply

stating that they have "lost interest," as if an

animal were a game they had tired of

playing.

The early days of the pandemic also saw a

great deal of misinformation about pets

being carriers of the virus. (Be assured, once

and for all: They are not.)

It all comes down to whether you regard a

pet as "someone" - a sentient creature, a part

of your family who is capable of feeling pain

and distress - or a "something" - a toy,

accessory or commodity to be bought and

sold or discarded or even destroyed when

you have tired of it. Sadly, it is the latter view

that prevails in too many parts of the world,

and certainly in the Middle East.

Under new anti-cruelty laws introduced

two years ago in the UAE, it is illegal to

abandon an animal or to mistreat or neglect

it. Enforcing the law is another matter,

however, especially if there are no witnesses

or the culprit has already left the country.

How do we go about changing the

mindset that regards animals as objects to

be used or abused at will? Certainly, it has to

begin in childhood, both at home and in

schools, and a very good place to start is with

the teachings of Islam, which are very clear.

Source: Asia times

MOnDAY, JAnuARY 4, 2021

5

COVID-19 eclipsed other priorities

in science and development

InGa VESPEr

at the beginning of 2020, the

United nations anticipated

that climate change, conflict

and food insecurity would

dominate science and

development news.In mid-

January, the horror of the

Yemen flu outbreak took

centre stage, but this

particular epidemic was soon

trumped by a new virus that

shut down China in January.

COVID-19 had entered the

picture, and would go on to

shut down much of the world

over the course of the year.

While the world struggled to

respond to the rapid spread of

the virus, development news

soon turned to the most

vulnerable populations. In the

first few months of the year, as

the World Health

Organization declared a

global pandemic, it became

clear that countries with poor

border control and large

numbers of refugees were at

the greatest risk of COVID-19.

restrictions imposed on

populations to curb the virus

had been used to discriminate

against people living with

HIV, including arbitrary

arrest and denial of

medication.

Soon, the extra financial

resources needed to respond

to the pandemic started to

affect spending on the

Sustainable Development

Vaccine research highlights other ongoing health crises.

Goals and neglected diseases.

Towards the second half of the

year, conversations around

the pandemic shifted from

emergency responses to a

long-term solution, including

vaccines, and what

contributions the global South

could make to their

development.

a global debate emerged on

how to get vaccines to the

poorest. The world grew

suddenly familiar with

vaccine hesitancy, the cold

chain and the COVaX

Facility, a global collaboration

launched in June aimed at

securing the equitable

distribution of new vaccines.

Every newsrooms were

affected by the pandemic.

reporters resorted to working

from home and major

international meetings, such

as the climate change and

biodiversity Un conferences,

were cancelled.

and a global Spotlight on

the next pandemic, published

in July, warned that global

crop disease outbreaks, urban

Photo: Internet

disease hotspots and new

zoonotic disease outbreaks

could be on the horizon

without stronger monitoring

and planning. a study

published in november found

that newly disturbed forests

are a major source of diseases

transmitted by animals - and

may well be the origin of the

next pandemic.

Yet, the other big debates in

science and development lost

none of their urgency under

COVID-19.One topic that

dominated this year's news

was gender. In an interview,

rojas de arias, an influential

researcher of Chagas disease

and leishmaniasis who

became the first woman to

lead the Paraguayan Science

Society. In September, our

africa Science Focus podcast

asked why so few women on

the continent enter science,

technology, engineering and

maths careers.

new research on women's

health and wellbeing emerged

throughout the year,

including a study on how a

woman's health can

deteriorate after the death of a

child - a life-changing

experience that more than

half of women aged 45 to 49 in

parts of Sub-Saharan africa

have suffered.

Often, gender and COVID-

19 overlapped, as in the latest

podcast episode on women

losing access to antenatal care

during lockdowns, or avoiding

health clinics over fears of

catching the virus.

Throughout the year, the need

for sex disaggregated data to

combat COVID-19.

Despite the gravity of these

topics, 2020 left some space

for the curious and quirky.a

biofilm developed in Brazil

could prolong the shelf life of

eggs, fruits and vegetables. In

august, a robot hiked across

the andes to provide children

in remote communities with

education after schools shut

down. and in October, a study

showed that the popular

children's board game Snakes

and Ladders can be used to

teach behaviours that protect

children against intestinal

worms.

But, as we look to the new

year, the news continues to be

dominated by pandemics.

Developed countries are

beginning COVID-19

immunisationprogrammes,

but communities in the global

South are still waiting for their

chance to access these lifechanging

vaccines.

People in the global South may have to wait more than a year for their COVID-19 jab.

FIOna BrOOm

Even though COVID-19 vaccination

programmes are underway in some of

the world's most developed countries,

those in the global South may have to

wait a year or more before

immunisation programmes can be

rolled out.

The pandemic has cast a pall over

the already faint progress towards the

Sustainable Development Goals, as

major international donors cut back

on development aid. Our reporters

and editors in over 80 countries

across the developing world will be

tasked with highlighting the impact

of these cuts on their communities

and their research institutions.

We will look in particular at

international efforts to contain

diseases of poverty, such as

tuberculosis, malaria, and

HIV/aIDS, which have been

sidelined as COVID-19 monopolised

attention and funding.

as the coronavirus pandemic bit,

education systems and universities

scrambled to adapt to online learning.

This drew attention to the sharp

digital divide within and between

countries, and local solutions and

technological innovations will be a

major focus in 2021.

For our teams in Sub-Saharan

africa, innovation in the face of

adversity is central to the region's

progress. Our editors will examine

the force of design and creativity for

sustainable development and poverty

alleviation. Local innovation may

prove crucial to food security efforts

as climatic disturbances alter the

onset and end of seasons, disrupting

farmers and breeders, and mitigation

becomes increasingly urgent.

In asia and Pacific, water

management and international

relations will remain prominent, as

Photo: Collected

The great vaccine divide

ahead to 2021

hydropower projects currently under

consideration could result in tension

or conflict between neighbours.

In the middle East and north

africa, climate change and water

sustainability will similarly lead the

headlines with ongoing desalination,

groundwater and hydropower

projects, while mega-dams, such as

the Grand Ethiopian renaissance

Dam and Turkey's Ilisu Dam are

expected to affect downstream

countries.

and mining, deforestation and

biodiversity loss will remain a

concern for communities in Latin

america and the Caribbean.

There is no doubt that 2021 will be

as challenging as 2020 was - if not

more so. Our international team of

editors and writers will be there at

every step, giving a voice to those who

fall on the wrong side of the great

global vaccine divide.

Child malaria deaths can be

slashed in rainy season

Heat waves have a harmful effect on health, and the poorest are most vulnerable.

Temperature changes affect

poor more than rich

mEGHIE rODrIGUES

People who live in poorer cities have a

higher risk of being hospitalised if

temperatures change quickly through the

course of a day or over a short period,

according to a study undertaken in

Brazil.While it was known that

temperature variations increased the risk

of disease and mortality for people with

conditions such as diabetes or asthma,

researchers wanted to understand the

impact of socioeconomic indicators, such

as monthly household income.

Paulo Saldiva, a senior professor at the

medicine faculty of the University of São

Paulo and co-author of the research

published in The Lancet Planetary

Health: "These disparities are for

everything you can think of, from

COVID-19 to cardiac problems."

By analysing data from about 148

million hospitalisations in 1,814 Brazilian

cities from January 2000 to December

2015, researchers found that an increase

of one degree Celsius in a given day,

relative to the day before, increased the

risk of hospitalisation by 0.52 per cent on

average.

While the numbers might seem low,

the real risks can be much higher because

"temperature variability can change by

several degrees from day to day", says

Ben armstrong, a professor in

epidemiological statistics at the London

School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine,

who did not take part in the study.

researchers found disparities between

municipalities. People aged under 19 or

over 60 years old, and those with

infectious, respiratory and endocrine

diseases from cities of lower income

levels were at greater risk of

hospitalisation due to temperature

changes than those from affluent cities.

The analysis was based on city-level

socioeconomic statistics from the

Brazilian Institute of Geography and

Statistics, hospitalisation data from the

Hospital Information System of the

Brazilian Unified Health System, and

daily weather reports from a peerreviewed

Brazilian meteorological

dataset.

The team found that people with

endocrine diseases, such as diabetes, in

lower-income cities were almost four

times more likely to be hospitalised than

those with a similar condition living in

high-income cities.

People with infectious diseases in poor

cities were almost three times as likely to

be hospitalised because of abrupt

temperature changes than their

counterparts in affluent cities, and it was

a similar picture for respiratory diseases.

Diabetes and respiratory diseases are

not caused by temperature variability, but

can be adversely affected by it. The

capacity of our blood vessels to swell

when it is hot or constrict when it is cold

is an important safeguard against abrupt

temperature changes, Saldiva explained.

"With uncontrolled hypertension or

diabetes, people can have atherosclerosis,

which rigidifies blood vessels. That makes

it harder for them to cope with

temperature variation because their

thermal regulation functions don't work

so well anymore," he added.

armstrong told: "These results are

quite striking, as the association between

Photo:Raúl Santana

socioeconomic status and vulnerability

gets really clear here."Heat waves have a

harmful effect on health, and the poorest

are most vulnerable. People from lowerincome

cities often lack good housing

structure and air conditioning, "and

many people in rural areas work

outdoors, being directly exposed to the

heat and daily temperature variations,"

said Sonja ayeb-Karlsson, a professor at

the United nations University's Institute

for Environment and Human Security,

who did not participate in the study.

"additionally, poorer diets and

financial stress add to the mental impact

that can make people living in poorer

regions even more vulnerable," she

added.Saldiva believes this vulnerability

may be true in other parts of the world.

"Brazil can be, unfortunately, a good

laboratory for this sort of study: the

country is unequal, and we have climate

variability besides good health data," he

said.

armstrong agrees, but urges caution:

"Extrapolation is always risky because

there are just too many features to it we

must take into account. It makes sense to

extrapolate these results for Latin

america, for example, but maybe not for

the whole world."

massive migration and climate change

could wreak evolutionary havoc for

humans, Saldiva warns."Vascular

responses to climate are different in every

part of the world and it took millennia for

each people to evolve their adaptive

advantage. Bacteria, unlike us, evolve in a

matter of hours. With climate change,

we'll enter an evolutionary mismatch," he

says.

OnYanGO nYamOL

Giving antimalarial medicines to

children monthly during the rainy

season cut malaria deaths in children

by 42 per cent, making a case for wide

implementation in malaria-endemic

african regions, a study found.

In 2012, the World Health

Organization (WHO) issued guidelines

for implementing intermittent

monthly drug administration, also

known as Seasonal malaria

Chemoprevention (SmC), in areas of

high transmission that occurs during

particular seasons to help prevent

malaria in children under five years

old.

malaria killed 643,000 people

globally in 2019 and more than half of

these were children under five, with

the majority of the deaths occurring in

West and Central africa, according to a

press release on the study, which was

published on 5 December in The

Lancet.

The study evaluates SmC

implemented in the Sahel region -

Burkina Faso, Chad, Gambia, Guinea,

mali, niger and nigeria - in 2015

targeting about 3.6 million children

and an additional 7.6 million children

in the seven countries in 2016.

"This study showed that high,

equitable coverage was achieved

overall, but coverage varied, with some

countries achieving better coverage

than others," says Paul milligan, the

study's corresponding author and a

professor of epidemiology and medical

statistics at the UK-based London

School of Hygiene and Tropical

medicine.

Burkina Faso and Gambia

achieved better coverage than

nigeria thanks to the two countries'

established District Health

Information Software systems for

malaria surveillance during the

study period, researchers found.

"Each monthly treatment provided a

high degree of protection for four

weeks, reducing malaria incidence by

88 per cent during that time," milligan

adds.

according to the study published

this month (5 December), data

collected from outpatient clinics also

showed that malaria cases reduced by

25 per cent in nigeria in 2016 while in

Gambia it went down by 55 per cent in

the same year.

milligan adds that when the WHO

recommended SmC in 2012, countries

in West and Central africa were quick

to adopt the new strategy, but there

were obstacles to implementing it

widely, including a shortage of

quality-assured medicines and lack of

funding.

The UnITaID-funded project

sought to scale-up implementation of

SmC on a large scale in the seven

countries, to demonstrate the

effectiveness of the intervention and to

evaluate safety, feasibility, and effects

of large-scale use on drug resistance.

In 2015, about 12.5 million

treatments - combinations of

antimalarial

medications

A child recovering from Malaria.

amodiaquine and sulfadoxinepyrimethamine

- were administered

over four monthly cycles between

July-august and October-november.

The programme reached about 3.2

million children who were aged

between three months and five years.

In 2016, about 25.1 million treatments

were administered by more than

47,000 distributors to 6.9 million

children.

milligan says that monitoring

showed that drug-resistant infections

were uncommon although some

selection for resistance to sulfadoxinepyrimethamine

occurred. Serious

side-effects were rare.

These findings, according to

milligan, should support efforts to

ensure that SmC programmes reach

all children in areas of West and

Central africa with highly seasonal

transmission of malaria to help

prevent the many thousands of

unnecessary child deaths each year

from malaria.

"Drug resistance is a threat, and

continued molecular monitoring is

needed to provide early warning of loss

of effectiveness, and pharma

covigilance [monitoring of drug safety]

needs to be strengthened," he tells.

Elizabeth Juma, principal research

officer and public health specialist at

the Kenya medical research Institute,

tells: "Studies are under way to see

whether there may be more areas

Photo: Tobin Jones

where this can be applied, other than

in the Sahel".

as with many health interventions,

reaching every person has challenges

such as insufficient funding to recruit,

train and supervise community health

workers and purchase adequate

medicines, Juma explains.

"Sometimes finding all the children

is a challenge," she adds, citing

nomadic populations and those who

become displaced because of

insecurity or natural calamities.Juma

says that increased community

engagement and availability of

adequate resources to reach all those

who need SmC could help fight

malaria in africa.


6

Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard in a drive seized 1200 kg jatka from a passenger launch in

the Buriganga river in Fatulla Launch Ghat area under Fatulla police station in Narayanganj on

Sunday.

Photo: Courtesy

72 landless and homeless families

getting new houses in Rupsha

AloK CHANdRA dAS, RuPSHA CoRReSPoNdeNT:

on the occasion of Mujib Year, 72

landless and homeless families of

Rupsha upazila are getting semi-paved

houses as a gift from Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina at the initial stage at the

beginning of 2021.

72 landless and homeless families of

Khulna's Rupsha sub-district are

getting semi-paved houses as a gift from

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Mujib

Year. Those who have no land or house

are being given a two-room semidetached

shelter with 2 per cent khas

land settlement under the supervision

of the local administration.

According to sources, as a gift of

Mujib Year, the government has taken

initiative to build new houses for those

who are landless and homeless in

category "A" and those who have land in

category "B" but do not have a house.

From Rupsha a list of 503 landless

and homeless families were sent in

category "A" to the concerned

ministry.In the first phase, 72 families

have been allotted land and houses. In

this case, 14 landless and homeless

families are getting houses in Rupsar

TSB union, 29 in Ghatbhog union, 256

in Naihati union and 48 in Srifaltala

union. The construction work of all the

houses is already underway. The subdistrict

administration is hopeful that

the construction of these houses will be

completed by January 10. under the

priority of Prime Minister's office's

project Asrayan II, work is underway to

construct two-room semi-detached

houses with at least two hundred khas

of land for 72 landless families in the

upazila.

The project is being implemented by

the PIC committee of the upazila. Its

president is uNo Nasreen Akhter. She

has been working tirelessly for the

construction of these houses, including

the recovery of government land and

the location of houses.

The cost of each house has been

estimated at one lakh 61 thousand taka.

According to him, the total cost of

building a house is one crore 23 lakh 72

thousand bdt. each house will have two

rooms with brick walls, concrete floor

and colored tin canopy, a kitchen, toilet

and front porch. The list of beneficiaries

is being prepared after the local uP

chairmen verify the information of the

uprooted and landless families from the

local land office. Besides, under the

direction of deputy Commissioner

Mohammad Helal Hossain, upazila

Nirbahi officer Nasreen Akhter and

Project Implementation officer Md.

Arif Hossain providing close

supervision of the addresses of these

dreams of homeless people are being

formed. Homeless people are waiting

for the fulfillment of their dreams.

uNo Nasreen Akhter is regularly

monitoring the progress of the work so

that the construction work of safe

shelters for these helpless families is

completed properly. Meanwhile, the

director-13 (Transport) of the Prime

Minister's office, Major Md. Faridul

Islam (PSC) and Additional deputy

Commissioner (Revenue) and

Additional district Commissioner

(Revenue) expressed their satisfaction

over the inspection.

upazila project implementation

officer Md Arif Hossain is overseeing

the construction work. He said 80 per

cent of the construction work of 726

houses has already been completed.

out of 503 homeless families, uNo is

hopeful that in the first phase, 72

families will be given new houses with

2% land settlement within the

stipulated time. He also said that there

is a plan to provide government houses

in phases subject to the approval of the

rest. upazila Nirbahi officer Nasreen

Akhter said, "We are determined to

hand over the gift of Hon'ble Prime

Minister to the landless and homeless

beneficiaries in the year of Mujib by

maintaining the quality of work.

Additional deputy Commissioner

(Revenue) ziaur Rahman PA said that

on the occasion of Mujib Year, those

who are landless and homeless are

being given houses as per the

instructions of the Hon'ble Prime

Minister. 9226 houses are being

provided in Khulna district. of these,

728 are in Rupsha sub-district.

Construction of Rupsha houses is in

progress as per the guidelines while

maintaining proper quality. on 15

January 2021, the Prime Minister will

jointly inaugurate houses across

Bangladesh. It is hoped that the houses

in Rupsha sub-district will be

inaugurated at the same time. He added

that the monitoring was carried out on

behalf of the district level committee for

monitoring. At the same time, opinions

are exchanged with those who are

beneficiaries. We are constantly

monitoring the construction of quality

and sustainable houses for the homeless

as directed by the Prime Minister.

BCG seizes huge

quantity of jatka

from passenger

launch

Bangladesh Coast Guard

Station Pagla conducted a

special operation on the

basis of secret information

in the Buriganga river in

Fatulla launch Ghat area

under Fatulla police station

in Narayanganj district and

seized 1200 kg jatka from a

passenger launch named

MV Iyad-3 on Sunday, a

press release said.

The estimated market

value of the seized jatka is

only Tk 3,60,000. It was not

possible to arrest anyone as

the real owners of jatka were

not found in the operation.

The seized jatkas were later

distributed among 27 local

orphanages and the poor

people in the presence of the

executive Magistrate and

upazila Senior Fisheries

officer.

Regular operations will be

carried out in the areas

under the jurisdiction of

Bangladesh Coast Guard to

control law and order, curb

robberies and ensure public

safety as well as prevent

illegal fishing and jatka

killing.

Textbook

distribution

festival held

at Banaripara

S MIzANul ISlAM, BANARI-

PARA CoRReSPoNdeNT:

Textbook distribution

festival was held at

Banaripara on Friday. The

occasion was held at

Banaripara Port Model

Government Primary School

where upazila Chairman

Md. Golam Faruk, upazila

Acting education officer

Chunnu Fakir, former

education officer Md. Abul

Kalam Azad, Headmaster

Chandra Shekhar das and

students were present while

maintaining social distance.

This year, about 1 lakh books

were distributed in 126

primary schools in

Banaripara upazila tied with

red ribbon.

dG of Islamic Foundation visits

construction work of Model

Mosque in Subarnachar

lIToN CHANdRA dAS, SuBARNACHAR CoRReSPoNdeNT:

The director General of the

Islamic Foundation inspected

the construction work of the

upazila Model Mosque

adjacent to the Subarnachar

upazila of Noakhali.

Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina, daughter Father of

the Nation Bangabandhu

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,

started the construction of

560 model mosques in each

Mohammad Ali Jinnah

takes charge as president

of Melandaha upazila Al

RuHul AMIN RAzu, MelANdAHA CoRReSPoNdeNT:

Mohammad Ali Jinnah, acting president

of Melandaha upazila Awami league has

been given the charge of full president.

According to the emergency decision of

Bangladesh Awami league Jamalpur

district branch on January 2, acting

president of Bangladesh Awami league of

Melandaha upazila branch, Mahmudpur uP

chairman Mohammad Ali Jinnah has been

given the responsibility of full president.

This was stated in a press release signed by

Jamalpur district Awami league office

secretary Asaduzzaman Babu. From Sunday,

Mohammad Ali Jinnah will be the president

of Melandaha upazila Awami league.

Talking to Mohammad Ali Jinnah about

this, he said, "I am grateful to be given the

responsibility of the president. I also

thanked the organizing secretary of

upazila of Bangladesh under

the management of Islamic

Foundation. In that light, Anis

Mahmud, director General

(Additional Secretary) of

Islamic Foundation, came to

inspect the construction work

of the upazila Model Mosque

in Subarnachar upazila of

Noakhali Saturday and

planted a fruit tree.

during the time,

Subarnachar upazila Nirbahi

officer Ibnul Hasan evan,

Foundation Assistant

director Md. Nur uddin,

deputy director Mohammad

Rezzakul Haider, Mohammad

Asaduzzaman Bhuiyan

Assistant director Islamic

Foundation Noakhali and

Sheikh Mohammad Hanif, FS

Islami Foundation

Subarnachar were among

others also present at the

occasion.

Bangladesh Awami league, Alhaj Mirza

Azam MP, and the leaders of the district

Awami league."

Upazila Chairman Md. Golam Faruk, Upazila Acting Education Officer Chunnu

Fakir and senior journalist S Mizanul Islam were among others present at textbook

distribution festival at Banaripara recently.

Photo: TBT

Call to use hot water plant for post-harvest

fruits, vegetables treatment

RAJSHAHI: Substantial and

sustainable adoption and use of

hot water treatment plants can be

the vital means of reducing postharvest

losses of vegetables and

fruits caused by conventional and

unscientific practices, reports BSS.

The traditional practices cause

huge loss of vegetables and

various seasonal fruits including

mango at different stages of the

supply chain every year but the

losses can be reduced qualitatively

and quantitatively after the best

uses of modern technologies of

hot water treatment, washing and

packaging.

Agricultural scientists and

researchers made these

observations while addressing the

opening session of a daylong

training workshop styled "Value

Chain Based Improved

Postharvest Management of

Fruits and Vegetables" in Rajshahi

city today.

Post-harvest Technology

Section under Horticulture

Research Centre of Bangladesh

Agriculture Research Institute

(BARI) organized the training at

Rajshahi Fruit Research Station

(RFRS) under the Integration of

Postharvest Technology and Best

practices in the Value Chain of

Fruits and Vegetables project and

Agricultural Technology Project

(NATP).

On the occasion of Mujib Year, 72 landless and homeless families of Rupsha Upazila are getting

semi-paved houses as a gift from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the initial stage at the beginning

of 2021.

Photo: Alok Chandra Das

Rangpur records 3.23pc CoVId-19 infection Saturday

RANGPuR: The lowest ever 3.23 percent

daily coronavirus (CoVId-19) infection rate

was recorded on Saturday in Rangpur

division where the infection rate continues

to show a declining trend in recent weeks,

reports BSS.

Health officials said only four people were

reported coronavirus positive after testing

124 collected samples at the two CoVId-19

laboratories in Rangpur division on

Saturday at the daily infection rate of 3.23

percent.

"The daily CoVId-19 infection rate

remained under 10 percent consistently

during the last one week in Rangpur

division," Focal Person of CoVId-19 and

Assistant director (Health) for Rangpur

division dr. zA Siddiqui told BSS yesterday.

The daily CoVId-19 infection rates were

9.29 percent on Friday, 8.87 percent on

Thursday, 4.79 percent on Wednesday, 6.91

percent on Tuesday, 8.59 percent on

Monday and 7.98 percent on Sunday last in

the division.

Since the beginning, a total of 96,000

collected samples of suspected patients of

Rangpur division were tested till Saturday,

and of them, 15,387 people were found

CoVId-19 positive with an average infection

rate of 16.03 percent.

"The district-wise break up of the total

15,387 patients stands at 3,928 in Rangpur,

771 in Panchagarh, 1,309 in Nilphamari, 956

in lalmonirhat, 1,000 in Kurigram, 1,483 in

Thakurgaon, 4,508 in dinajpur and 1,432 in

Gaibandha districts," he said.

Anis Mahmud, Director General (Additional Secretary) of Islamic Foundation planted a fruit

tree during his visit at the construction work of the Upazila Model Mosque in Subarnachar

Upazila recently.

Photo: Liton Chandra Das


7

Congress is preparing to convene for the start of a new session, swearing in lawmakers during a

tumultuous period as a relative handful of Republicans work to overturn Joe Biden's victory over

President Donald Trump and the coronavirus surge imposes limits at the Capitol. Photo : AP

Congress opens new session as

COVID-19, Biden's win dominate

WASHINGTON : Congress is preparing to

convene for the start of a new session,

swearing in lawmakers during a

tumultuous period as a relative handful of

Republicans work to overturn Joe Biden's

victory over President Donald Trump and

the coronavirus surge imposes limits at the

Capitol, reports UNB.

Democrat Nancy Pelosi is set Sunday to

be reelected as House speaker by her

party, which retains the majority in the

House but with the slimmest margin in 20

years after a November election wipeout.

Opening the Senate could be among Mitch

McConnell's final acts at majority leader.

Republican control is in question until

Tuesday's runoff elections for two Senate

seats in Georgia. The outcome will

determine which party holds the chamber.

It's often said that divided government

can be a time for legislative compromises,

but lawmakers are charging into the 117th

Congress with the nation more torn than

ever, disputing even basic facts including

that Biden won the presidential election.

Fraud did not spoil the 2020

presidential election, a fact confirmed by

election officials across the country. Before

stepping down last month, Attorney

General William Barr, a Republican

appointed by Trump, said fraud did not

affect the election's outcome. Arizona's

and Georgia's Republican governors,

whose states were crucial to Biden's

victory, have also stated that their election

results were accurate.

Nevertheless, a dozen Republicans

bound for the new Senate, led by Sens.

Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, and even more

in the House have vowed to become a

resistance force to Biden's White House,

NEW DELHI : India on Sunday

approved emergency use of two Covid-

19 vaccines to kick off one of the world's

biggest inoculation drives, while the

European Union offered to help drug

companies expand production to ease

distribution bottlenecks.

India, the second-worst affected

country, has authorised use of shots

developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford

University and by local pharmaceutical

firm Bharat Biotech, the country's drug

regulator said.

starting with efforts to subvert the will of

American voters. These GOP lawmakers

plan to object to the election results when

the Electoral College meets Wednesday to

tally his 306-232 victory over Trump.

Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing

ahead, eager to partner with Biden on

shared priorities, starting with efforts to

stem the pandemic and economic crisis.

They plan to revisit the failed effort to

boost pandemic aid to $2,000 for most

people.

"This has been a moment of great

challenge in the United States of America

filled with trials and tribulations, but help

is on the way," Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-

N.Y., the chairman of the House

Democratic caucus, said in an interview.

"America is a resilient nation, filled with

resilient people," he said. "We will

continue to rise to the occasion emerged

from this pandemic and continue to

march toward our more perfect union."

Among the House Republican

newcomers are Trump-aligned Marjorie

Taylor Greene of Georgia, who has given

nod to conspiracy Q-Anon theories, and

gun rights advocate Lauren Boebert of

Colorado, who circulated a letter of

support to retain the right of lawmakers to

carry firearms in the Capitol.

Taylor Greene was among a group of

House Republicans led by Rep. Mo Brooks

of Alabama who visited with Trump at the

White House during the holiday season

about their effort to undo the election.

The "Jan. 6 challenge is on," Taylor

Greene said in a tweet pinned to the top of

her social media account. Boebert also

tweeted support for those challenging

Biden's victory.

The Serum Institute of India, the

world's biggest manufacturer of

vaccines, has said it is making between

50 and 60 million doses a month of the

AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine, which is

cheaper than the Pfizer-BioNTech jab

India on Sunday approved emergency use of two Covid-19 vaccines to

kick off one of the world's biggest inoculation drives, while the

European Union offered to help drug companies expand production

to ease distribution bottlenecks.

Photo : AP

and easier to store and transport.

India has set an ambitious target of

inoculating 300 million of its 1.3 billion

people by mid-2021.

Countries around the globe are

hoping that the roll-out of vaccines will

bring under control a pandemic which

House Republicans boosted their ranks

in the November election, electing a

handful of women and minorities, more

than ever. Some of the new GOP

lawmakers are being called the "Freedom

Force," and a counter to the "squad" - Rep.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York

and other liberal Democratic women who

swept to office in the last session.

Progressive Democrats bolstered their

ranks with newcomers aligned with more

liberal priorities.

The Capitol itself is a changed place

under coronavirus restrictions.

Lawmakers are arriving in Washington

from all parts of the country potentially

exposed to the virus during their travel.

Several lawmakers have been sickened

by the virus. A memorial was held

Saturday for newly elected Republican

lawmaker Luke Letlow, 41, of Louisiana,

who died of complications from COVID-

19 days before the swearing in.

The Office of the Attending Physician

has issued several lengthy memos warning

lawmakers off meeting in groups or

holding traditional receptions to prevent

the spread of the virus. Masks have been

ordered worn at all times and Pelosi has

required them to be used in the House

chamber. Members are required to have

coronavirus tests and have access to

vaccines.

"Do not engage any in-person social

events, receptions, celebrations, or

appointments, outside your family unit,

and always wear a face covering outside

your home," the physician's office warned

in one memo. "You should strictly avoid

any type of office-based reception or

celebration during the days ahead."

India approves vaccines as nations

fight virus resurgence

has infected 84.6 million people and

killed more than 1.8 million since it first

emerged in China just over a year ago.

But there is a worldwide shortage of

vaccine production capacity, the EU's top

health official said on Saturday, offering

help to drug firms amid concerns over

the speed of vaccinations across Europe.

"The situation will improve step by step,"

as vaccines roll out, health commissioner

Stella Kyriakides told German news

agency DPA.

With vaccine production and mass

inoculation programmes likely to take

months, countries have tightened

restrictions to fight a virus resurgence

as experts predict a sharp rise in cases

after weeks of holiday gatherings.

From local curfews to alcohol bans

and complete lockdowns, governments

are trying to tackle a surge in infections.

In Bangkok, the city's nightlife shut

down following a ban on bars, nightclubs

and restaurant alcohol sales, among a

raft of restrictions aimed at curbing

Thailand's rising virus toll after an

outbreak at a seafood market last month.

Public schools in the Thai capital are

also set to close for two weeks.

In Tokyo, the city's governor asked

the Japanese government to declare a

new state of emergency as the country

battles a third wave, with record

numbers of new cases.

And South Korea extended its antivirus

curbs until January 17 in the

greater Seoul area, including a ban on

gatherings of more than four people,

which will be widened to cover the

whole country.

US virus death

toll hits 350,000;

surge feared

BALTIMORE : The COVID-

19 death toll in the United

States has surpassed

350,000 as experts

anticipate another surge in

coronavirus cases and

deaths stemming from

holiday gatherings over

Christmas and New Year's.

Data compiled by Johns

Hopkins University shows

the U.S. passed the

threshold early Sunday

morning. More than 20

million people in the country

have been infected. The U.S.

has begun using two

coronavirus vaccines to

protect health care workers

and those over 80 but the

rollout of the inoculation

program has been criticized

as being slow and chaotic,

reports UNB.

Multiple states have

reported a record number of

cases over the past few days,

including North Carolina

and Arizona. Mortuary

owners in hard-hit Southern

California say they're being

inundated with bodies.

The U.S. by far has

reported the most deaths

from COVID-19 in the

world, followed by Brazil,

which has reported more

than 195,000 deaths.

Egypt approves

Chinese Sinopharm

Covid-19 vaccine

CAIRO : Egypt has approved the use of a

Covid-19 vaccine developed by Chinese

pharma giant Sinopharm with its rollout to

start later in January, the health minister said.

"The Egyptian pharmaceutical authority

approved on Saturday the Chinese Sinopharm

vaccine," Hala Zayed said late Saturday, on the

local MBC Masr channel.

The first batch of the vaccine was delivered in

December, with further doses expected this

month. "The second shipment of this vaccine is

due to arrive in the second or third week of

January, and as soon as it arrives, we will start

vaccinations," the minister said.

Each batch of the vaccine consists of 50,000

doses, and the ministry has announced that

the first group to receive it will be medical

workers.

Zayed said Egypt plans to purchase 40

million doses of the Sinopharm jab.

Egypt, the Arab world's most populous

country with around 100 million inhabitants,

has recorded more than 140,000 cases of the

Covid-19 disease, including 7,800 deaths.

After a brief lull, the number of infections

rose dramatically in late 2020, from around

100 new cases confirmed per day in October, to

some 1,400 daily cases currently.

Sinopharm announced on Wednesday that

one of its vaccines, to be distributed in China,

was 79 percent effective.

The jabs efficacity is lower than that of

vaccines developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and

Moderna - both over 90 percent effective.

A jab developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford

University has proved 70 percent effective with

one dose, and 100 percent effective with two.

Egypt will also receive the AstraZeneca/Oxford

vaccine in the third or fourth week of January,

according to Zayed, who added that a contract

"was being finalised".

New York State's

coronavirus case

count surpasses 1 m

NEW YORK : New York became the fourth

US state, where the coronavirus caseload has

exceeded 1 mln, according to the Johns

Hopkins University, which relies on data

provided by international organizations,

federal and local authorities.

Since the start of the pandemic, some

1,011,665 COVID-19 cases have been

confirmed in this state and the death toll has

hit 38,273.

California recorded as many as 2,367,970

coronavirus cases by Saturday evening while

another 1,786,941 cases were registered in

Texas and 1,354,833 in Florida. Some

975,352 people contracted the coronavirus

in Illinois.

The COVID-19 death toll in the United States has surpassed 350,000 as experts anticipate another

surge in coronavirus cases and deaths stemming from holiday gatherings over Christmas and New

Year's.

Photo : AP

World's captive

panda population

hits 633

BEIJING : The number of

giant pandas in captivity

worldwide reached 633 in

2020, thanks to China's

increasing panda breeding

and conservation efforts,

official data shows. By Dec.

1, a total of 44 panda cubs

had been born and survived

in 2020, according to the

National Forestry and

Grassland Administration,

reports BSS.

The number of wild giant

pandas in China has

increased from 1,114 in the

1980s to 1,864, according to

a survey on the panda

population. Meanwhile, the

protected panda habitat area

has almost doubled to 2.58

million hectares, protecting

66.8 percent of giant pandas

living in the wild.

Growth in captive panda

numbers resulted from

improved breeding

technologies, overcoming

challenges such as

difficulties in giant panda

mating and the low survival

rate of panda cubs.

So far, nine captive-bred

giant pandas have been

released into the wild and

have survived, the

administration said, adding

that 61 giant pandas have

been involved in the

country's scientific and

research cooperation with

22 zoos in 18 countries.

Efforts will be made to

strengthen key giant panda

breeding and protection

technologies, develop panda

vaccines and increase the

wild panda population,

according to the

administration.

Russians and Ukrainian

released in Libya arrive

in Moscow

MOSCOW : Three Russians and one

Ukrainian, who were earlier released in

Libya, have arrived in Moscow's

Sheremetyevo airport, a member of the

Russian Civic Chamber, Alexander

Malkevich, told reporters on Sunday, reports

BSS.

"The plane has landed, it is now on the

runway. I'm on the airfield, I'm meeting

them," Malkevich said.

According to him, those who arrived from

Libya don't have any documents, including

passports.

Earlier, Malkevich said a group of Russians

and one Ukrainian citizen, who had been

kidnapped in Libya several weeks ago, were

released.

Copy video url Play / Pause Mute /

Unmute Report a problem Language Mox

Player An effort carried out by Russia's

authorities, contribution of socially

responsible businesses and readiness for

dialogue of certain representatives of Libya's

Government of National Accord helped

return the sailors captured in the African

republic back home, Malkevich told

reporters.

The sailors were released after the return

of Russian citizens Maxim Shugaley and

Samer Seifan from Libya, which showed that

"there is no point in messing around with

Russia," Malkevich said. "It's noteworthy

that certain representatives of Libya's

Government of National Accord, including

the foreign minister, promptly established

contact and everything was successful. We

express great gratitude to Russian Special

Presidential Envoy for the Middle East and

Africa Mikhail Bogdanov. He carried out a

titanic work in order to once again save

Russian citizens," he noted.

The member of the Russian Civic Chamber

noted that the sailors' return became

possible due to the steps of Russian

authorities via the Foreign Ministry and

business representatives, who were able to

arrange a special flight in order to bring

Russians and a Ukrainian to Moscow.

In December, Russian citizens Maxim

Shugaley and Samer Seifa, who had been

detained a year and a half ago in Libya and

were accused of meddling in the republic's

domestic affairs, returned home.

Russia's top diplomat Sergey Lavrov said

after talks in Moscow with Foreign Minister

of the Government of National Accord

Mohamed Taher Siala that in case of similar

incidents with Russians in the African

republic in the future Moscow would get

access to its citizens and all the necessary

data about them.

Train accident

kills 3 in central

Tanzania

DAR ES SALAAM : Three people were

killed and 66 others injured after a passenger

train derailed in central Tanzania on

Saturday evening, said the Tanzania

Railways Corporation (TRC) on Sunday,

reports UNB.

The train was ferrying 720 passengers

from the country's port city Dar es Salaam to

up-country regions of Tabora, Katavi,

Kigoma and Mwanza, when it derailed 58

km from the capital Dodoma, the TRC said

in a statement, adding that six of the 12

wagons derailed at around 7 p.m. local time

in the Kigwe-Bahi area.

TRC officials, along with security staff,

were investigating the cause of the deadly

accident, said the statement.

TRC Director General Masanja Kadogosa

told Xinhua over phone that heavy rains in

the area could be the culprit.

MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021 8

Brexit sparks fears of disrupted

food, drug supplies

First Security Islami Bank Ltd. launched e-KYC based solution 'FSIBL Freedom' to facilitate client's

instant bank account opening from anywhere anytime. On the first working day of New Year, 03

January 2021 Syed Waseque Md. Ali, Managing Director of First Security Islami Bank Limited inaugurated

instant new account opening e-KYC based solution 'FSIBL Freedom' through video conference.

Among others, Mr. Abdul Aziz and Md. Mustafa Khair, Additional Managing Director(s), Md.

Zahurul Haque and Md. Masudur Rahman Shah, Deputy Managing Director(s), Division Heads of

Head Office, all Zonal Heads and Branch Managers along with other officials were participated in

the conference.

Photo: Courtesy

LONDON : Despite the

free trade deal signed by

London and Brussels,

suppliers of food and

medicine fear the rapidly

introduced changes will

disrupt supplies and

increase costs,

undercutting government

claims of a post-Brexit

dividend, reports BSS.

While Boris Johnson

had promised an "ovenready"

deal a year ago, the

British prime minister

eventually "delivered us

four working days", the

Food and Drink

Federation complained

ahead of Britain leaving

the EU's single market at

the close of 2020.

Minette Batters,

president of the National

Farmers' Union, said

members "do anticipate

that there will still be

disruption to trade at the

border", despite the deal

signed on Wednesday.

As many companies

rushed to order in more

stock or fulfil orders

delayed by coronavirus

lockdowns, England's

Channel ports,

particularly Dover, were

already overflowing ahead

of the deal's

announcement.

The situation worsened

when a number of

European countries

closed their borders with

Britain for two days ahead

of Christmas, seeking to

curb the spread of a new,

more contagious variant

of Covid-19.

Thousands of lorries

heading to ports got stuck

in vast traffic jams and it

took several days and the

help of the armed forces to

unravel the situation.

Ian Wright, chief

executive of the Food and

Drink Federation, said

"last week's chaos at

Dover and the last-gasp

nature of this deal means

that there will be

significant disruption to

supply and some prices

will rise".

While the compromise

deal between London and

the EU lifted the threat of

quotas and tariffs, all the

new checks and forms to

fill will take up time and

push up costs for food and

drug companies, trade

associations complain.

Around 30 percent of

the food eaten in the UK

comes from the EU.

Britain imports almost

half of its fresh vegetables

and most of its fruit.

But John Allan,

chairman of the marketleading

Tesco

supermarket giant, sought

to reassure consumers,

telling the BBC that the

new administrative costs

would "hardly be felt in

terms of the prices

consumers are paying".

But smaller food

businesses do not enjoy

the heft of Tesco. And the

changes also affect the

import and export of

medicines amid the

pandemic.

The deal does not

remove difficulties over

"the flow of vital supplies

into the UK", Mark Dayan

of the Nuffield Trust, an

independent healthcare

think-tank, said in a

statement.

He praised the deal for

agreeing "mutual

recognition of inspections

for medicine factories,

and some cooperation at

customs", but cautioned

that "the red tape required

to get vital products in and

out of the UK is still going

to be multiplied".

This will make it more

difficult and expensive to

"get supplies to the NHS

(National Health Service)

or to sell them

competitively into

Europe", he warned. It

was also not clear whether

the deal provided for

mutual recognition of

standards for ventilators

and face masks essential

to combat Covid-19, he

said.

In the case of medicines

with a short shelf life,

Britain's health

department "has asked

companies to ensure that

they can fly these

medicines in from the EU

in the event of supply

disruption", according to

the Royal Pharmaceutical

Society. It also said the

government has secured

extra warehouse space

and more ships including

priority for cargos of

medicines on ferries from

certain ports.

Nevertheless, Dayan,

writing in the British

Medical Journal, said that

given the need for a

"major logistical and legal

shift overnight" and the

fact that Britain has

suffered shortages of

generic drugs in recent

years, it would "take a lot

of bravery to promise no

shortfalls would occur".

"There will be changes,"

Johnson conceded in a

BBC interview

Wednesday, while

insisting that Brexit would

lead to a trading boom

through "free trade deals

with other countries

around the world".

Deputy Minister of Education Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury Nawfel as the chief guest was present at

the inaugural ceremony of the local e-commerce marketplace Khajana.com.bd at four star hotel The

Peninsula Chittagong recently. Md. Yaqub Alam Ovi, Chairman and CEO of Khajana.com.bd, was

present at the Trinamool through Khajana.com.bd.

Photo: Courtesy

Digital Campaign Season- 9

Free fridge in every hour on Walton

fridge, washing machine purchase

Bangladeshi multi-national

electronics brand Walton

started the 'Digital Campaign

Season-9' with some

customers' benefits to mark

the celebration of Happy New

Year 2021, says a press

release.

Under the Season 9,

customers are offered free

fridge every hour or crores of

taka worth sure cash

vouchers upon the purchase

of either refrigerator or

washing machine from

Walton Plaza, distributors'

outlets or online sales

platform E-Plaza all over the

country.

The benefits, declared

under the campaign Season-

9, have come into effective

from January 2, 2020 and to

be continued until the further

announcement.

The announcement was

made at a 'Declaration

Programme of Digital

Campaign Season-9' held at

Walton Corporate Office in

the capital on Saturday

(January 2, 2021).

Walton Group's Director

SM Ashraful Alam attended

the declaration programme

virtually while Walton Hi-

Tech Industries Limited

Managing Director Engineer

Golam Murshed announced

the launching of Digital

Campaign Season 9 across

the country.

The event was also

attended, among others, by

the company's Deputy

Managing Directors SM

Nazrul Islam Sarker, Eva

Rezwana Nilu, Amdadul

Haque Sarker and Humayun

Kabir, Executive Directors

SM Zahid Hasan, Uday

Hakim, Mohammad Rayhan,

Firoj Alam, Anisur Rahman

Mollick, Ariful Ambia, Amin

Khan, Dr Md Shakhawat

Hossen and Toufiq-Ul-

Quader.

Walton Refrigerator's Chief

Executive Officer Anisur

Rahman Mollick said that

they have been conducting

the digital campaign across

the country to create

customers database for

bringing the after sales service

operation under the online

automation. During the

campaign, some details such

as customer's name, contact

number and the product's

model number have been

stored on Walton server. As a

result, the users of Walton

products will easily get the

desired after sales service

even if they have lost the

product's warranty card.

Customer database will also

Walton's higher officials attend the 'Declaration Program' of Digital

Campaign Season 9 with the titled 'Free Fridge Every Hour' held at Walton

Corporate Office in the capital recently.

Photo: Courtesy

help the service center's

representatives getting

customers' feedback about

their respective Walton

products' service. To

encourage customers'

participation in the

campaign, the local brand has

been offering special

customers' benefits like cash

back, cash vouchers etc.

Walton is now

manufacturing and

marketing more than 150

models of frost and non-frost

refrigerator, freezers and

beverage coolers. Customers

can buy a Walton fridge

between Tk 10,990 and Tk

80,900.

According to Walton

authorities, every fridge of the

local brand is being marketed

after getting the quality

testing certificate from the

international standard

Nusdat-Universal Testing

Lab. Walton brand

refrigerators have received

several standard certifications

at national and international

level, including BSTI's 'Five

Star' energy rating, ISO,

OHSAS, EMC, CB, ROHS,

SASO, ESMA, ECHA, G-

Mark, E-Mark etc. Walton

made refrigerators are being

exported to different

countries of the world as well.

World's latest technologies

like intelligent inverter, nanohealth

care and anti-fungal

door gasket are being used in

Walton refrigerators.

Walton is giving one-year

replacement guaranty as well

as 12 years compressor's

guaranty.

In additon, customers are

getting Walton brand's 14

models of energy efficient

washing machine at the

prices from Tk 6,900 to Tk

48,000. Walton is giving up

to 12 years guaranty on the

motor of its automatic

washing machine.

Global Islami Bank starts

journey forward

From the beginning of new year, Global

Islami Bank started its journey forward

with full-fledged Shariah based Islami

Banking operations. Its former name

was NRB Global Bank. Since, the first

two days of new year was government

holiday, the Islami Banking Service

actually started from 3rd January 2021,

a press release said.

On the occasion, Quran Khatam, Milad

Mahfil and Munajat were arranged at

the Head Office of the Bank. Managing

Director Syed Habib Hasnat

inaugurated the Islamic Banking

Operations as Chief Guest. Additional

Managing Directors Md. Golam Sarwar

and Kazi Mashiur Rahman Jayhad,

Deputy Managing Directors

Mohammad Shamsul Islam and Ataus

Samad, Department Heads and other

officials of the Bank have attentded the

program.

This 4th generation bank has been able

to achieve the trust of all its customers

by rendering conventional banking

service with "Great Experience", for

which it is now switching to a shariahbased

service of "Banking with Faith".

Earlier, the bank received official

permission from Bangladesh Bank and

changed all its portfolios to Islami

Banking Mode, based on Shariah

principles.

A competent Shariah Supervisory

Committee supervises and guides the

overall activities of the bank from

shariah point of view. This committee

consists of renowned Islamic Scholars,

Learned Educationists and Faqeeh.

Following their prudent guidance and

supervision, from now on, the Bank will

run its business complying all Islami

Shariah Laws.

Serving its customers since 2013 the

bank successfully managed banking

activities throughout the country. It

offers a strong banking network having

its footsteps around the country with

highly experienced and professional

bankers. The Bank has 80 Branches, 25

Sub-branches and 78 ATM Booths.

US imposes new tariffs on French, German

products in Airbus-Boeing spat

WASHINGTON : The United

States announced Wednesday that it

will impose additional tariffs on

French and German products as part

of a long-running dispute over

subsidies for aircraft manufacturers

Airbus and Boeing, reports BSS.

The tariffs are on "aircraft

manufacturing parts from France

and Germany, certain non-sparkling

wine from France and Germany, and

certain cognac and other grape

brandies from France and Germany,"

which will be added to the list of

products taxed since 2019, according

to a statement from the US Trade

Representative.

It said the move was in retaliation

to tariffs imposed by the European

Union which it considers unfair.

The decision is the latest twist in the

16-year trade battle over aircraft

subsidies that turned increasingly

sour under the protectionist instincts

of US President Donald Trump, and

comes despite hopes for a trade truce

following Joe Biden's election.

The EU was authorized this year by

the World Trade Organization

(WTO) to levy additional customs

duties on American products.

But Washington believes it has

been penalized by the method of

calculation chosen, which, according

to the Trump administration, has led

to an excessive amount of customs

duties levied on American products.

"In implementing its tariffs… the

EU used trade data from a period in

which trade volumes had been

drastically reduced due to the horrific

effects on the global economy from

the Covid-19 virus," the USTR

statement said.

"The result of this choice was that

Europe imposed tariffs on

substantially more products than

would have been covered if it had

utilized a normal period. Although

the United States explained to the EU

the distortive effect of its selected

time period, the EU refused to change

its approach," the statement said.

As a result the US "is forced to

change its reference period to the

same period used by the European

Union," it continued.

The aviation feud predates Trump,

but Washington quickly embraced

the opportunity to impose $7.5

billion in tariffs against Europeans

after also being cleared to do so by the

WTO last year.

Washington imposed punitive

tariffs of 25 percent on iconic EU

products such as wine, cheese and

olive oil and put a 15 percent tariff on

Airbus planes in March.

MoNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021

9

We prefer not to play back-to-back

Tests in Sydney: Wade

SpoRtS DeSk:

Amidst the growing chatter

surrounding India's reluctance to

travel to Brisbane to play the final test

due to stricter quarantine protocols in

the state, Matthew Wade has said that

Australia wouldn't prefer moving the

final test. the final game of the fourmatch

series is scheduled to be played

from January 15 at the Gabba - a venue

where India have never won a test,

reports Ap.

one of the options out there for India

is to play back-to-back tests in Sydney

where the third test begins on

thursday, with the touring party

unhappy about undergoing another

strict quarantine in Brisbane after the

one that lasted 14 days upon their

arrival in Australia. Sydney itself had

recorded fresh CoVID-19 cases not too

long ago, which had put the third test

being played there in doubt. However,

it was eventually given the green light.

"I have not heard of this, but we

obviously prefer not to (play back-toback

in Sydney)," said Wade on

Sunday (January 3). "the schedule

has been rolled out and we prefer to

stick to that. Regardless, if that is a

quarantine-based hotel, go to the

ground, play and come back. Cricket

Australia have been firm that they will

stick to the schedule that we rolled out

at the start of the summer so we fully

expect to play at Gabba. there is no

secret that we would love to play at

Gabba. Harder quarantine and stricter

biosecurity protocols will be there. But

we are ready for more sacrifice and

face more challenges.

"From our position, there is no

uncertainty, we are going to play at the

SCG and then playing at the Gabba

until we are told that it is going to

change. So, we are rolling to the next

game expecting what is going to be. It

is out of our control and there is

nothing we can do," he added.

As many as five Indian players

including vice-captain Rohit Sharma,

Shubman Gill, prithvi Shaw, Navdeep

Saini and Rishabh pant were placed in

isolation after a potential CoVID-19

biosecurity protocol breach. the five

were found dining at an indoor

restaurant in Melbourne with its video

surfacing online and prompting

Cricket Australia and BCCI to conduct

an investigation.

"What India is doing, I have not

really thought much about. As a group

and personally we have not thought

much about what India is doing

outside a cricket ground. that is the

situation. We are thinking of how we

can do much better," said Wade

factoring in Australia's eight-wicket

loss in the Boxing Day test with the

series standing at 1-1. part reason for

the loss was Australia's batsmen being

unable to kick on and get scores. Steve

Smith, the pivot of Australia's batting

line-up, failed in both tests

aggregating just 10. Wade, however,

expects Smith to get among the runs

and deal better with R Ashwin and

Ravindra Jadeja.

"they (Ashwin and Jadeja) are a

tough spin duo to crack, very

consistent and have bowled terrifically

well, especially in Melbourne.

probably they got more spin and

bounce, more than what we expected

in first innings. that was a little bit of

shocker, but we expected that to come

into play. We didn't adapt quick

enough to that wicket, but Steve

(Smith) played against Ashwin plenty

of times before this and he has been

very successful on our wickets against

him. I am sure he will be fine and no

problems at all. We have to find a way,

that's the nature of the beast," said

Wade who has scored 111 runs in the

four innings he has played so far,

batting at a position new to him, in the

absence of the swashbuckling David

Warner.

With Warner returning and Will

pucovski being named in the squad for

the third test, while Wade said he's

mentally prepared about the

possibility of being dropped, he was

ready to bat in any position if it helps

the team's case.

"I have really enjoyed opening,

moving forward if that is something

that selectors want me to keep doing

more, I am comfortable doing. If I slide

back down the order, I will do that

Real Madrid jumped to the top of La Liga on Saturday with a 2-0 home victory over in-form Celta

Vigo.

Photo: AP

Real Madrid beat

Celta to take Liga

top spot

SpoRtS DeSk:

Real Madrid jumped to

the top of La Liga on

Saturday with a 2-0 home

victory over in-form Celta

Vigo, reports BSS.

Lucas Vazquez headed in

a cross from Marco Asensio

at the far post in the sixth

minute, barely a minute

after Real centre back

Nacho had cleared a shot by

Celta striker Iago Aspas off

the line.

Vazquez returned the

favour in the 53rd minute,

laying a diagonal ball into

the path of Asensio with the

visiting defence in disarray.

Asensio drove his shot into

the roof of the net.

Real rebounded from a

draw with promoted elche

on Wednesday to move one

point clear at the top of the

table, but second-place

Atletico Madrid have played

three fewer games and can

regain the lead when they

face Alaves on Sunday.

It was Celta's first loss

since eduardo Coudet took

over as manager on

November 12, ending a run

of seven games unbeaten

that had lifted them from

the relegation zone to eighth

in the table.

With Real Madrid in

control, coach Zinedine

Zidane took off Asensio,

Luka Modric, Dani Carvajal,

toni kroos and, right at the

end, captain karim

Benzema and brought on

eden Hazard and Fede

Valverde, who are returning

from injuries, and

youngsters Martin

odegaard and Vinicius

Junior.

Man Utd title challenge a year

in the making, says Solskjaer

SpoRtS DeSk:

ole Gunnar Solskjaer hailed Manchester

United's progress over the past year after a 2-

1 win over Aston Villa took them level on

points with Liverpool at the top of the premier

League, reports BSS.

A year ago to the day, United lost 2-0 at

Arsenal to fall 24 points behind the english

champions, having played two games more.

Another season contending just for a topfour

finish looked in store for Solskjaer's men

after winning only two of their opening six

league games.

But as all the other contenders have

stumbled in recent weeks, the Red Devils have

now taken 26 from a possible 30 points to

mount an unexpected title challenge.

"of course we are happy with what we are

doing. We have shown we have improved a lot

in a year," said Solskjaer.

"We are getting fitter and fitter and stronger

and stronger."

Bruno Fernandes has been the key figure in

transforming United's fortunes over the past

12 months and the portuguese again provided

the winner to edge out a rapidly improving

Villa side.

Solskjaer's side needed a 93rd minute

winner to beat Wolves on tuesday, but were

far faster out the blocks this time round.

Anthony Martial forced emiliano Martinez

into an excellent save high to his left inside 10

minutes before Fred, paul pogba and

Fernandes fired efforts just off target.

the breakthrough came five minutes before

the break and owed much to pogba's

ingenuity with the Frenchman finally starting

to find form despite the speculation over his

future.

pogba and Marcus Rashford combined to

send Aaron Wan-Bissaka free down the right

and his cross was headed home by Martial at

the near post.

Villa were on a five-game unbeaten run

themselves to earn a place in the top six and

showed why with their start to the second-half

as United were forced back.

Jack Grealish was again at the heart of all

the visitors' best work going forward and it

was from his cross that Bertrand traore

equalised.

However, Dean Smith's men quickly undid

their good work as a soft challenge from

Douglas Luiz on pogba was deemed enough

for a penalty by referee Michael oliver.

Fernandes's near-perfect penalty record

continued as he slotted the spot-kick just out

of the reach of Martinez for his 15th goal of the

season.

United needed a big save from David De

Gea to deny Matty Cash and a brave block

from eric Baily in stoppage time to hang on

and Solskjaer is not getting carried away with

talk of challenging for the title ahead of a trip

to Liverpool in two weeks' time.

"It's early on in the season and we shouldn't

be carried away," added the Norwegian. "the

league this season is going to be so tight.

"there are going to be difficult games,

strange results, but since 'project Restart' I

think we've been very consistent." - everton

lack 'quality' -

earlier, everton missed the chance to close

to within a point of the top two as they were

beaten 1-0 at home by West Ham.

the toffees failed to impose themselves on

a West Ham side playing their third game in

six days and were punished when tomas

Soucek slotted home the winner four minutes

from time.

"It was not a good game," said everton boss

Carlo Ancelotti.

"We didn't have opportunities and we didn't

concede opportunities, they had a lucky

deflection and we lost the game. We could

play with more intensity and more quality up

front."

David Moyes's men had the toughest festive

fixture schedule in the premier League in

terms of rest and he said there has been a

change in mindset with the Hammers this

season to battle through adversity.

"the players have played three games in six

games, they are amazing," said Moyes, who

won for the first time as a visiting manager at

Goodison park, where he made his name in 11

years in charge of everton.

Shakib had a reality check in the just-concluded Bangabandhu T20 Cup as he failed to impress; he completed

nine matches without any standout performances.

Photo: BCB

Not taking any pressure to replicate

old form: Shakib on comeback

SpoRtS DeSk:

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al

Hasan said that he is looking forward to

making a comeback to international

cricket, which will be "totally different"

from the others he's made in his career,

reports Ap.

Shakib, who is now out of his oneyear

ban imposed by the International

Cricket Council on october 28 last year,

is expected to play in the home series

against West Indies. He had skipped

the final of the Bangabandhu t20 Cup

for personal reasons, and that he's back

home from the USA, he is now available

for the national team ahead of the

upcoming home season.

"this comeback is totally different,"

Shakib said on Sunday (January 3). "I

was disappointed that I could not go to

Sri Lanka. thank you West Indies for

coming here and I am excited about it,"

he said.

earlier, Shakib had an intense

training session in BkSp in September

as he was preparing for a comeback to

international cricket through the tour

of Sri Lanka that was eventually

postponed.

He also said that he is well aware that

it won't be easy for him to start

dominating the scene right away but

added that he is not taking any extra

pressure on himself to try and get back

his old form. His reality check came in

the just-concluded Bangabandhu t20

Cup as he failed to impress, especially

with the bat; he completed nine

matches without any standout

performances.

Shakib bowled economically,

conceding only 204 runs in 34 overs -

an economy rate of 6.00 and picking up

six wickets - but his contributions with

the bat were below-par. He scored 110

runs in nine innings, averaging 12.22

with a strike-rate of 120.87.

"I am happy that I am returning to

international cricket and there is no

pressure on me," said Shakib. "But it

won't be easy for me and I will try to get

back my old form," he said.

"If we cannot do well against the

West Indies, it will be disappointing."

West Indies will arrive on January 10

and will quarantine for seven days

before playing their first game - a

warm-up match against a local

selection on January 18.

the first two oDIs of the series will be

held in Dhaka respectively on January

20 and 22 while Chattogram will host

the final oDI on January 25.

the visitors are scheduled to play a

four-day practice game at the MA Aziz

Stadium from January 28-31 while the

first test is scheduled from February 3-

7 at Chattogram's Zahur Ahmed

Chowdhury Stadium.

the series-concluding final test

match will be played at the Sher-e-

Azhar Ali, Rizwan revive pakistan

after Jamieson special

SpoRtS DeSk:

Azhar Ali's brilliant 93 and a

counterattacking 61 from stand-in

skipper Mohammad Rizwan showed

pakistan the way as the visitors recovered

well from a middle-order collapse to

finish with 297 in their first innings, on

the opening day of the Christchurch test

on Sunday (January 3), reports Ap.

Reduced to 83 for 4 at the stroke of

Lunch, thanks to a kyle Jamieson special,

Rizwan's brisk hand paved the way for

pakistan's comeback, while Azhar's gritty

93, which made the conditions seem like

anything but a green top, was the

foundation that allowed for captain's

typically aggressive knock. However,

every time the home team got desperate

for a breakthrough, Jamieson came to the

rescue in his third test fifer that denied

pakistan the morale boost of a 300-plus

score.

New Zealand made two changes by

bringing in Daryl Mitchell and Matt

Henry against pakistan going in with an

all-pace attack and put the visitors in to

bat in bowling-friendly conditions. And

tim Southee got the hosts off to a perfect

start with a brutal toe-crusher to Shan

Masood, who was caught plumb in front

for an eight-ball duck, but burnt one of

pakistan's review on his way back to the

hut. However, Azhar put on a test match

batting masterclass, stitching two vital

stands - worth 62 with opener Abid Ali

and 88 with his captain - to twice drag

pakistan's wavering innings back on the

right track.

the visitors were the happier side at the

first drinks break, having recovered well

to post 43/1 with Azhar leading the way.

even if with a fair bit of luck, Azhar and

Abid did well to negotiate the swing on

offer and raised the team's fifty off the

first ball of the 17th over. Azhar, in

particular, showed excellent judgment in

leaving alone deliveries that spelled

trouble and converting the loose ones

into boundaries. He hit nine of those in

his 73-ball fifty that came at the stroke of

lunch as the second-wicket pair went on

to frustrate New Zealand bowlers for well

over an hour.

However, all of pakistan's hard work

was laid to waste by Jamieson in the 30

minutes leading up to Lunch, who got

extra bounce and made the batsmen

suffer by picking three wickets in

successive overs. Abid pushed at one too

many, offering a catch to gully this time

off a length ball that swung back in. Haris

Sohail was caught in two minds, and by

the time he decided to leave the length

delivery, the ball was on his way to the

gully fielder after kissing the outside edge

of his bat. Fawad, the centurion from last

game, was floored, literally, with a sharp

bouncer aimed at the throat. the

batsmen tried to get out of harm's way

but gloved the ball to the keeper in the

process as pakistan slipped to 83 for 4

minutes before Lunch.

the post-Lunch session saw a couple of

delays, first due to the minor rainfall

during the break that delayed the start of

play and then 20 balls into the session

shortly after trent Boult had bowled the

most expensive over of his test career as

Rizwan cashed in with four boundaries. A

half an hour's halt, however, made way

for a clear and sunny afternoon, where

Rizwan's brisk scoring brought pakistan

back in the contest, subdued an on-song

Azhar at the other end for the better part

of their 88-run association and threw

New Zealand into a tizzy.

Rizwan, who had opened his account

with a four down the ground off Southee

straight after Lunch, continued dealing in

boundaries as he launched a

counterattack. kane Williamson resorted

to Jamieson once again, but Rizwan went

after Henry at the other end to keep the

scoreboard ticking. He raised his 60-ball

fifty-fifth on the trot in tests - with a

boundary again, this time off Jamieson

with a drive through the covers.

Desperate for a breakthrough, Jamieson

resorted to short balls and Rizwan cut

and pulled two of them away to the fence

as well.

Kyle Jamieson celebrates the wicket of Fawad Alam at Christchurch during 1st day in 2nd Test on

Sunday.

Photo: AP

MoNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021

10

UNHCR appoints Tahsan

as goodwill ambassador

TbT RepoRT

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency,

on Saturday appointed singersongwriter

and actor Tahsan Khan

as its first goodwill ambassador for

Bangladesh.

Tahsan will join a global team of

30 UNHCR goodwill ambassadors,

who are helping highlight the

situation of refugees and the work

of UNHCR in every corner of the

world through their influence,

dedication and hard work.

The popular musician has been

supporting UNHCR's advocacy and

outreach activities since 2019.

He visited the Rohingya refugee

settlements in Cox's Bazar and

supported agency in the promotion

of World Refugee Day and other

events.

Through these engagements,

Tahsan witnessed the complex

Rohingya humanitarian response

in Cox's Bazar, met with refugees,

and deepened his understanding of

the root causes of displacement.

"I feel privileged and honoured to

be engaged with UNHCR which

ensures protection, provides lifesaving

assistance and seeks

solutions for millions of refugees

and displaced people worldwide,"

he said.

"More than 1% of humanity - 1 in

every 97 people - are displaced by

conflict and persecution. As part of

the privileged 99%, I feel a moral

obligation to offer every support I

can extend to uphold their voices."

Steven Corliss, the UNHCR

representative in Bangladesh, said:

"Not only is Tahsan a brilliant

musician and actor, but he is also a

passionate refugee advocate and a

wonderful human being, who is

well-respected and liked in

Bangladesh and beyond."

"I am very sure that Tahsan will

be able to use his reach and

influence to give a voice to refugees

and advocate for their well-being

and protection."

UNHCR engages prominent

individuals like Tahsan as Goodwill

Ambassadors and supporters as

advocates to draw attention to the

Sonakshi Sinha to star

in Shree Narayan

Singh's Bulbul Tarang

Actor Sonakshi Sinha is set to play

the lead role in director Shree

Narayan Singh's social-drama,

tentatively titled Bulbul Tarang.

Like Singh's previous films

Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017) and

Batti Gul Meter Chalu (2018), his

upcoming directorial venture will

also be based on a true incident.

"The film has Sonakshi in the

lead. It also stars veteran actor Raj

Babbar. Tahir Raj Bhasin is most

likely to be part of the film too. It is

a social drama set in the heartland

of India. It is about an age-old

custom," a source close to the

film's team told PTI.

This project marks the first

collaboration between

Singh and

Sinha,

who

has

acted in both massy entertainers

as well as content-driven movies

like Dabangg series,

Lootera, Akira and

Mission Mangal.

Bulbul

Tarang will go

on floors in

March-

April,

the

need for refugees and other forcibly

displaced people to be protected,

live decently and find solutions for

their plight.

Bangladesh hosts over 1.1 million

Rohingya refugees in the largest

refugee camp in the world in Cox's

Bazar district, according to the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

UNHCR's history in Bangladesh

dates back to the Liberation War of

1971 and successive influxes of

Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh

from Myanmar since the late 1970s,

including the influx of some

740,000 refugees following August

2017.

insider said, adding it will have "a

straight-to-digital release."

Sinha is looking forward to the

release of Bhuj: The Pride of India,

also starring Ajay Devgn. The film

is slated to be released worldwide

on streaming platform Disney+

Hotstar.

Sinha is also making her digital

debut with Amazon Prime Video

series in a web series that is

reportedly titled Fallen. Directed

by Reema Kagti, it also stars

Gulshan Devaiah,

Vijay Varma and

Sohum Shah.

Source: indianexpress.com

Prabir Mitra :

Suffering from old

age complications

TbT RepoRT

Prabir Mitra a prominent

Bangladeshi film actor is

well-known in Bengali flims.

He won Bangladesh National

Film Award for Best

Supporting Actor for his

performance in the film Boro

Bhalo Lok Chhilo in 1982. He

also won the 2018 Lifetime

Achievement Award. As of

2019, he has worked in over

400 films.

Actor Prabir Mitra is

suffering from old age

complications. This actor has

been out of acting for a long

time. Today, despite being

tired of his age, Prabir Mitra

once made the audience

happy, cry, laugh, he is now

going through difficult times.

Can't even walk properly,

now Prabir Mitra relies on

the stick. The actor made

headlines last July after

recovering from Corona virus

at the age of 79.

Sonia Yasmin, his daughterin-law

was contacted to get

information about his current

physical condition.

Sonia Yasmin said, Prabir

Mitra is not well. Now the

actor is suffering from knee

pain and ear problems. In

addition, there are various

physical complications due to

aging.

Asked how the actor passes

his time, Sonia Yasmin said he

reads books and magazines.

Sometimes he watches TV with

us on holidays. Representatives

from the artist association

come with some gifts. That's it.

Sonia Yasmin further said

that her father-in-law does

not walk much because of

severe knee pain,it is difficult

to walk without a stick. He

started his acting career

through theater. For the first

time in his school life, Prabir

Mitra played the role of a

watchman in Rabindranath

Tagore's drama 'Dakghar',

The Post Office.

Later, he made his debut on

the big screen in the film

'Jolchobi' directed by H

Akbar. In his nearly fourdecade-long

career, Titash

Ekti Nadir Naam- A River

Called Titas, Dui Poishar

Alta, Boro Bhalo Lok Chhilo,

and has acted in numerous

films, including Beder Meye

Josna.

Most recently he starred in

a film called 'Briddhashram'

directed by SD Rubel;

However, the film has not

been released yet.

Entertainment world hopes to stage

a comeback after Covid-19 year

The year 2020 will forever be

remembered not only as the time of

pandemic but also as the one with empty

stadiums, galleries, concert halls, and

movie theatres,reports UNB.

Covid-19 took many superstars away from

us throughout the year while a lot of them

also won their lengthy battle against the

virus.

Also, the pandemic made lasting

damage to the entertainment industry -

films, concerts, drama and programmes

on television channels, and advertising

industry.

Despite facing a tough reality check, the

show business helped people out and saved

them from going insane when every day

seemed like a new ordeal with the news of a

spike in Covid-19 infections and deaths.

The term "survival" has never been this

much meaningful in the history of the

country's cinema industry.

Bangladesh, a country well-known for

catering to movie-goers with many

cinema halls, now only has 194 cinema

halls and cineplexes running which was

1,200 not so long ago.

The country's first international standard

multiplex chain Star Cineplex had to

announce the shutdown of its successful

branch in Bashundhara City in September.

And major cinema halls including

Purnima, Rajmoni and Ovishar have

already been closed while other halls like

Balaka, Modhumita and more have been

suffering losses for ages. The picture is

darker outside Dhaka.

"Although we had to say that we were

shutting down, we came back due to great

support from the moviegoers. However, we

might have to go for closure shortly if the

situation does not get back to normal soon,"

Star Cineplex Chairman Mahboob Rahman

Ruhel told UNB.

"We are suffering a huge amount of

financial losses every day. To make up for

the loss of the lockdown period, the

government should allow the hall

authorities to run foreign movies."

The film industry had many problems of

its own before the arrival of Covid-19 in

Bangladesh. As the pandemic started to

wallop lives and livelihood all over the

country, the problems turned into a

nightmare for it.

On December 30, Bangladesh Film

Producers Distributors Association,

Bangladesh Film Exhibitors' Association

and Bangladesh Film Directors Association

decided to screen Hindi films in the

country's cinema halls.

However, 16 films have been released this

year, which was 38 in 2019.

Shakib Khan starred in "Bir" and "Nabab

LLB," Siyam Ahmed and Pori Moni in

"Bishwoshundori," and Indian actor

Sabyasachi Chakrabarty appeared in a

Bangladeshi film - "Gondi" - for the first

time. The government-funded "Rupsha

Nodir Baanke."

These were some of the much talked

about films of 2020, while 2021 is awaiting

big releases including the biopic on the

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman, Arifin Shuvoo's "Mission

Extreme," Shwadhin Bangla Football

Team-inspired periodical film "Damaal."

Several film stars including Arifin Shuvoo,

Nusrat Faria got infected with Covid-19. But

the virus took away Soumitra Chatterjee -

one of the most iconic Bengali film

superstars of all time.

Music

2020 was a year of online concerts and

live music sessions. The annual Joy Bangla

Concert paid tribute to Bangabandhu's

March 7 speech.

This year's lineup featured F Minor,

Minar, Avoid Rafa, Shunno, Vikings, Fuad

& Friends, Lalon, Arbovirus, Chirkutt,

Cryptic Fate, Nemesis, Arekta Rock Band,

Adverb, and Sin.

Many online charity concerts and musical

events were arranged throughout the year

and covered all major festivals virtually to

help the Covid-19 victims around the

country.

These charity initiatives, from home and

abroad, again proved that music can indeed

heal the world.

However, the country lost several of its

iconic musicians this year, including

"Playback King" Andrew Kishore,

eminent composer Alauddin Ali, music

maestro Azad Rahman, Sarod legend

Ustad Shahadat Hossain Khan.

Meanwhile, several artistes raised

voices for securing copyrights of their

creations, and Bangladesh Copyright

Office launched the first-ever digital

archive "AB Kitchen" for the artistes, in

honour of the late rock legend Ayub

Bachchu.

Also, several associations including

Lyricists Association of Bangladesh, Singers

Association of Bangladesh, Music

Composers' Association of Bangladesh saw

progress in copyright issues.

Television

2020 was a bleak year for the television

drama industry, as YouTube and over-thetop

(OTT) platforms took over the charge to

entertain the audiences.

Many noted actors and television

superstars got infected in Covid-19 in 2020,

including Apurba, Azizul Hakim, Ramendu

Mazumdar, Ferdousi Mazumdar,

Nasiruddin Yousuff, Asaduzzaman Noor,

Aly Zaker, Iresh Zaker, Tanjin Tisha,

Tahsan, Abdul Kader, Md Barkatullah,

Zinnat Barkatullah, and Liaquat Ali Lucky.

Also, many legendary actors including Aly

Zaker and Abdul Kader lost their battle

against Covid-19 and cancer.

Although 2020 was a trying year for the

entertainment world, the entertainers are

hoping that 2021 will be a different year

under a new sun.

H o R o S c o p e

ARIeS

(March 21 - April 20) : You're going

through a time of great preparation

right now, Aries, You're building the

foundation for a major life project. This

period isn't to be taken lightly. The day's energy

brings this importance into focus. Make sure you're

building with bricks and not straw, and that the

mortar you use is strong. Try not to get discouraged

by negative emotions.

TAURUS

(April 21 - May 21) : There's a sober

feeling to the day that may leave you

feeling a bit down, Taurus. There may

not be any specific instance or

situation that causes you to feel this way, so don't

sweat it. Focus on getting your projects done. This

isn't the best day to look for sympathy from others.

Crank up your stereo as loud as you can and indulge

in a scrumptious meal.

GeMINI

(May 22 - June 21) : People may be extra

stubborn today, so try to avoid any

confrontations that could lead to full-scale

war. Your emotions may feel restricted and

restrained, Gemini. Don't sweat the small stuff. Realize

that you're going through a trying period right now and

that you need all the sanity you can muster. Refrain from

making mountains out of molehills.

cANceR

(June 22 - July 23) : Your freedomloving

nature may seem a bit

dampened today, Cancer, but don't

let it get you down. Things might not

be lining up perfectly, but that's no reason to get

frustrated. Perhaps the situation was just not

meant to be. Look for a higher, more practical

solution. You have all the information you need to

make an intelligent decision.

Leo

(July 24 - Aug. 23): Today is a

great day to get rid of the stuff that's

cluttering up your life, Leo. Get to the

heart of the issue and stop beating

around the bush. Your emotions may feel a bit

more negative than usual, but realize that you can

use this to your advantage. Your sober attitude

can aid in making extremely practical, wellgrounded

decisions.

VIRGo

(Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): Don't sweat the

small stuff, Virgo. You may feel like

something is restricting your otherwise

light, witty nature, but don't worry

about it. Things probably seem worse than they

really are. Trust in yourself. Relations with others

may not be at their best, and it may seem like your

feelings are being squeezed through the ringer.

LIbRA

(Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): There are

opportunities open to you now whether

you realize it or not. It may be hard to be

aware of them today, given the

astrological weather. Your emotions may feel restricted

and weighed down, like something is trying to tie you

down. Realize that this is just a message from the

Universe reminding you that having at least one foot on

the ground is key to manifesting your dreams.

ScoRpIo

(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22): Your emotions

may feel restricted today, Scorpio.

You may feel bad about something

you did in the past. Somehow your

heart isn't able to let it go. Work to overcome this

by realizing that this is only a briefly passing

trend and that you probably are feeling much

worse about the situation than necessary. Don't

be so hard on yourself.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): You're going through a

period of major evaluation and assessment

of certain life projects. Today's energies

bring much of that tension into focus,

Sagittarius, and put it right in the place where it affects

you most - your heart. You may feel the clock ticking more

loudly and have a sense that something holds you back.

The situation probably looks worse than it is.

cApRIcoRN

(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): Try to stay disciplined

and focused today, Capricorn. This may

be easier said than done, but it's crucial

for preserving your sanity. There's a

restrictive, weighty air to the day that may put a

damper on your jovial nature. Instead of getting

down on yourself, use this energy to your advantage

and make order out of the chaos in your life. Eat a

healthy meal and share your thoughts with others.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) : You're going

through a time in which you have the

opportunity to make tremendous

advances, Aquarius. These rewards

won't come without hard work and discipline,

however, and this seems to be a focus of the day. Get

your emotions in line and make the best of what

seems to be a pretty dreary situation. A fantastic

opportunity is at hand.

pISceS

(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) : Don't mess with

superiors or people in authority today,

Pisces, or you might end up in some

serious hot water. Take it easy and try not

get bogged down by negative emotions. Things may not

be as sunny as usual, but that doesn't mean the day will

be terrible. Complete projects and stay focused on things

that require a great deal of discipline on your part.

MonDAY, JAnUARY 4, 2021

11

The traditional pottery of rural Bengal is also losing ground under the influence of modernity. The

people involved in this industry are doing their best to sustain the profession of their fathers and

grandfathers even after hundreds of years. The picture was taken from Penchibari village in Dhunat

upazila of Bogra on Sunday.

Photo: PBA

Germany faces

'difficult times'

with virus in

2021: Merkel

BERLIN : Germany's "historic"

coronavirus crisis will

extend into 2021 even if the

vaccines bring some hope,

German Chancellor Angela

Merkel said Thursday in her

New Year's greetings,

reports BSS.

And she denounced the

conspiracy theories

advanced by virus sceptics

as not just false and dangerous

but cynical and cruel

towards those who had suffered

during the pandemic.

US news star Larry

King hospitalized with

Covid-19: report

WASHINGTON : Veteran talk

show host Larry King has been

hospitalized with Covid-19, US

media reported Saturday.

Citing a "source close to the

family," CNN reported that

King, one of the network's

biggest stars, has been hospitalized

for more than a week at

Cedars Sinai Medical Center in

Los Angeles.

King, 87, has Type 2 diabetes

and has had a long history of

medical issues, including several

heart attacks, lung cancer

and angina, a condition caused

by reduced blood flow to the

heart. The legendary host is one

of the most recognizable figures

on US television, known

for his signature rolled-up

shirtsleeves, multi-colored ties,

suspenders and big glasses.

His list of interviewees has

ranged from every US president

since 1974 to world leaders

Yasser Arafat and Vladimir

Putin, and celebrities Frank

Sinatra, Marlon Brando and

Barbra Streisand.

King hosted CNN's "Larry

King Live" for 25 years, retiring

in 2010. He continued to do

interviews on his own website

and then, in 2012, he began

hosting "Larry King Now" on

Ora TV, an on-demand digital

network that he co-founded.

Man held after entering Japan

emperor's residence: media

TOKYO : A 29-year-old man has been

arrested after allegedly breaking into the

Tokyo residence of Emperor Naruhito,

where he reportedly spent two hours

before being discovered, local media said

Sunday.

The man, who has not been named,

entered the usually heavily guarded

Akasaka residential complex for imperial

family members through the adjacent

guesthouse on Saturday night, Fuji News

Network (FNN) said.

He was caught by the Imperial Guard

near the residence of Princess Yuriko, the

great-aunt of Emperor Naruhito, about

two hours after he broke in, the broadcaster

said, quoting police officials.

FNN said the man had gained access via

the entrance gate of the guesthouse, which

was not guarded at the time.

The break-in was also reported by TBS

news, which said the suspect had told

police: "I wanted to meet members of the

imperial family."

There were no details on whether the

man had encountered any royals, but local

LONDON, Britain on Friday

began a new year and life

outside the European

Union's single market, with

the first trucks crossing the

Channel by ferry and rail

largely reporting few difficulties

despite new customs

rules, reports BSS.

Brexit, an all-consuming

issue in Britain since it voted

in 2016 to quit the bloc,

became reality an hour

before midnight after nearly

five decades of integration

with Europe.

Prime Minister Boris

Johnson was bullishly optimistic,

writing in the Daily

Telegraph that Brexit presented

"opportunities

unknown to modern memory",

even as the country battles

a new wave of coronavirus

infections.

Johnson also tweeted his

ambitions for a "Global

Britain", as the country took

over the presidency of the G7

nations on Friday and prepares

to host the COP 26 climate

summit in November.

"I look forward to welcoming

our friends and allies as

we beat Covid and build

back better from the pandemic,"

he wrote.

In practical terms, free

movement of over 500 million

people between Britain

and the 27 EU states ended

with the New Year.

More rigorous customs

checks returned for the first

time in decades, despite the

hard-fought brokering of a

deal with the EU allowing

for tariff- and quota-free

trade.

Ferry group Stena Line

media said no one was injured in the incident.

Local police declined to comment and

the Imperial Household Agency did not

immediately respond to requests for comment.

Naruhito ascended the Chrysanthemum

Throne in 2019, after his father abdicated.

He and his wife Empress Masako delivered

the traditional New Year's greeting

on Friday by video message for the first

time, after their usual appearance was

cancelled to avoid crowds gathering as the

country battles a third wave of coronavirus.

The incident is not the first time intruders

have breached palace security.

In May 2020, a Japanese man was

arrested after swimming across the

Imperial Palace's moat to scale an outer

wall and enter off-limits parts of the

grounds.

And in years past, both Japanese and

foreigners have been held after swimming

across the moat, including a Brit who did

so naked.

New Year, new rules: UK

begins post-Brexit future

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said six freight loads bound

for EU member Ireland were

turned away at the port of

Holyhead in north Wales for

not having the correct

paperwork.

But the approach to Dover

in southeast England, where

ferries to and from northern

France dock, was quiet as

dawn broke at the start of a

holiday weekend.

" 'Our destiny' -

"Everything was normal,"

said Romanian Alexandru

Mareci, who was among the

first truck drivers to enter

Britain after the rule

changes.

"Of course, how many

people do you know who

work on the first day of the

New Year? We don't know

how it will be in the

future."

India approves

two Covid-19

vaccines for

emergency use

NEW DELHI : India has

authorised the emergency

use of two coronavirus vaccines

developed by

AstraZeneca and Oxford

University and by local pharmaceutical

firm Bharat

Biotech, the country's drug

regulator said Sunday.

"The… vaccines of Serum

I n s t i t u t e

(AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine)

and Bharat Biotech are

being approved for restricted

use in emergency situations,"

the Drugs Controller

General of India, V.G.

Somani, said at a briefing.

The approval is expected

to kick off one of the world's

biggest vaccination drives in

coming days in the country

of 1.3 billion people.

India is the world's second

most-infected nation with

more than 10.3 million cases

and almost 150,000 deaths.

Nine killed in

head-on crash in

central California

LOS ANGELES : Nine people,

including seven juveniles,

lost their lives in a

severe collision between an

SUV and a pickup truck on

State Route 33 in Fresno

County, California on

Friday, the California

Highway Patrol (CHP) said

Saturday.

The crash occurred at

around 8 p.m. local time

(0400 GMT on Saturday)

when the driver of the SUV,

a 28-year-old man headed

southbound on the highway,

suddenly lost control and

bumped head-on into the

pickup traveling in the opposite

direction, the patrol told

a news conference.

All the eight passengers,

including seven juveniles, on

the truck were killed as the

vehicle was "fully engulfed in

flames." The SUV driver also

died. The authorities have

been working to confirm the

young victims' ages, said

CHP Central Division Cpt.

Kevin Clays.

Saudi Arabia

reopens borders

closed due to

Covid-19

RIYADH : Saudi Arabia on

Sunday announced the

reopening of borders and the

resumption of international

flights after a two-week suspension

aimed to stem the

spread of a new Covid-19

strain.

The government ordered

the lifting of "precautionary

measures related to the

spread of a new variant of

coronavirus", the Ministry of

the Interior said, according to

the official Saudi Press

Agency. Saudi Arabia has

recorded more than 363,000

cases, including over 6,200

deaths - the highest among the

Gulf Arab states - but has also

reported a high recovery rate.

'Day zero': Cubans wary

as currency reform begins

HAVANA : Cubans awoke on New Year's Day to a new currency

structure under long-awaited economic reforms that come

with a double-edged sword of salary increases and price hikes,

reports BSS.

The reforms entered into force on the communist island on

Friday - dubbed "Day Zero" - just weeks after they were

announced by President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

The policy is intended to make the Cuban economy more efficient

and easier to understand for foreign investors 62 years

after Fidel Castro's communist revolution.

The plan will see the convertible peso, which is pinned to the

dollar and was introduced in 1994 to replace the US currency,

phased out over six months.

This will leave only the regular peso, worth about 24 times

less.

Inflation will soar as a result, and authorities have warned of

a 160-percent average hike in prices.

Bread and electricity costs will rise, and in an added blow, the

government has said it will also curb subsidies on some consumer

goods as part of the reforms.

In exchange, the minimum wage will be hiked from 400 pesos

to 2,100 pesos (about $15 to $80.)Many are concerned

higher salaries will not make up for inflation.

Homes of top Republican

and Democrat vandalized

WASHINGTON : Vandals have targeted the

homes of Republican Senate leader Mitch

McConnell and Democrat Speaker of the House

Nancy Pelosi with graffiti, fake blood and a pig's

head, US media said.

"Were's [sic] my money," and "Mitch kills the

poor," was daubed on McConnell's front door

and window in Louisville, Kentucky, US media

reported.

A pig's head and fake blood were left outside

Pelosi's San Fransisco home on January 2,

according to local media Saturday.

The houses of the top Republican and

Democrat were targeted following intense

debate over a Covid-19 stimulus bailout for

Americans.

A long-awaited $900 billion pandemic relief

package was finally approved Christmas Eve,

with the Democrat-led House of Congress

approving an increase in aid from $600 to

$2,000.

But the Republican-led Senate has not

approved the increase - despite furious calls to

do so from President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, McConnell had told

reporters: "The Senate is not going to be bullied

into rushing out more borrowed money into the

hands of Democrats' rich friends who don't need

the help."

Kentucky Metro police said the incident

occurred around 5am local time Saturday (1000

GMT) according to local news channel WAS11.

It was unclear if anyone was home at the time.

McConnell called the graffiti a "radical

tantrum," and added: "Vandalism and the politics

of fear have no place in our society."

In San Fransisco, Pelosi's garage door was

sprayed with a crossed-out "$2K", followed by

"Cancel rent!" and "We want everything!"

The city's police Special Investigations

Division was looking into the incident, NBC

News reported.

8 militants killed in

E. Afghan clashes

JALALABAD, Afghanistan : Eight Taliban

militants were killed and six others wounded

after Afghan government security forces

repelled a militants' attack at security checkpoints

in the country's eastern Nangarhar

province, the military said Sunday, reports

BSS.

"The clashes erupted after militants armed

with guns and Rocket Propelled Grenades

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(RPGs) attacked Afghan National Defense

and Security Forces (ANDSF) checkpoints in

Bati Kot district, in the eastern of provincial

capital Jalalabad city on Saturday," army's

Selab 201 Corps said in a statement.

The ANDSF personnel deployed at the

checkpoints retaliated effectively, forcing the

militants to flee from the scene, the statement

said.

Monday, Dhaka, January 4, 2021, Poush 20, 1427 BS, Jamadi-ul Awal 19 , 1442 Hijri

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina virtually attends the 37 BCS (Police Cadre) Training Completion Ceremony held

at The Police Academy in Sarda, Rajshahi on Sunday.

Photo: Star Mail

It's a strategic decision:FM about

UN resolution on Rohingyas

DHAKA : Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul

Momen on Sunday said they have no

displeasure against the countries which

abstained from voting in the UN resolution

and voted against it saying it is a

"strategic" decision, reports UNB.

"It's a strategic decision. We're happy

with the results," he told reporters at his

office, adding that a total of 132 countries,

not 130 as reported in the media,

voted in favour of the resolution which is

a success for Bangladesh.

China and Russia stood beside

Myanmar while India and Japan

refrained from voting the draft resolution

on the situation of human rights of

Rohingya Muslims and other minorities

in Myanmar which was adopted by the

UN General Assembly.

Russia, China, Belarus, Cambodia,

Laos, the Philippines, Vietnam,

Zimbabwe and Myanmar themselves

were the nine countries that voted

against the resolution, i.e. in Myanmar's

favour.

"Those countries could play a better

role which voted against the resolution.

We don't have any displeasure against

them," Dr Momen said.

A total of 26 countries, including

India, Japan, Sri Lanka and Singapore,

abstained from voting on the resolution

on the situation of human rights of

Rohingya Muslims and other minorities

in Myanmar.

The resolution was placed before the

75th General Assembly of the United

Decision on onion import

considering interest of

consumers, producers: Tipu

DHAKA : Commerce Minister Tipu

Munshi yesterday said that the government

would take decision on import of

onion considering the interest of the

consumers and producers.

"Those onions are now entering the

country against which LCs were opened

earlier. The current import price of

those onions is Taka 39 per KG.

Decision will be taken shortly on fresh

onion import considering the interests

of all," he said. The commerce minister

said this while addressing a press conference

at the ministry conference room

at Bangladesh Secretariat.

He also informed that local onion will

hit the market in this March.

Seeking support of the media personnel

for playing their due role in stabilizing the

market, Tipu said, "Our main goal is to

keep the market stable. No dishonest

businessman will be given space as stern

action will be taken against them."

Noting that there is an annual deficit

of 8 to 9 lakh metric tons of onion in the

country, Tipu said the government has

undertaken various programmes to

gain self sufficiency in onion production

through overcoming the deficit.

He said the production of onion is now

increasing in the country and Bangladesh

would be self sufficient in onion production

over the next three years.

Nations on Thursday.

"We're happy that they talked to us

before the decision," Dr Momen said

explaining why the countries wanted to

remain neutral in the UN to use their

leverage on Myanmar in finding the

solution.

India has recently said they engaged

with Myanmar at every level, including

the highest level of the civilian government

and the highest level of military

establishment in the State of Rakhine,

where they claimed to make their position

clear.

Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki said

they are communicating directly with

Myanmar's top military officials and at

the government level on the Rohingya

crisis as Japan sees it the proper channel

to play a role.

China is trying to work with Myanmar

and Bangladesh to find a solution

through tripartite discussions.

Dr Momen said the Rohingya issue

remains a big challenge and expressed

his optimism over resumption of the

repatriation process in this year. "It's our

expectation."

"I've conveyed to my counterpart in

Myanmar that we want the process to

start. You repeatedly told us that you will

take them back after verification and

provide safety and security. It's our

demand that you will provide it what

you promised," he said, adding that creating

a conducive environment for voluntary

repatriation has to be in place as

The commerce minister said neighboring

India makes onion export to

Bangladesh as per their convenient and

sometimes they also halt onion export.

"That's why the government has undertaken

various steps to boost onion production

to meet the growing demand of

country's people by not only relying on

imports,"

He informed that the government has

taken different measure to provide high

quality seeds and technology to the

farmers side by side conserving 4 to 5

lakh metric tons of onion in the cold

storage. Besides, onions will be marketed

in the peak season after processing

those into powder.

Answering to a question, he said that

the price of potatoes has come down in

the local market while the Trading

Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB)

would put it on sale if the price goes up.

Mentioning that there has been some

impact in the local market since the

price of edible oil has increased globally,

Tipu said the government has been in

strong vigil so that none could increase

the price in an illegal way.

He said the government has decided

to import rice since there has been a

slight shortage in stock while rice will

be imported to make necessary stockpiling.

promised.

The Foreign Minister said he wrote to

his counterpart at the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs, Myanmar on January 1

touching upon overall issues.

He said Myanmar is a friendly country

and Bangladesh is trying to solve the

Rohingya issue through discussion with

Myanmar bilaterally apart from exploring

other ways.

Dr Momen said they see some

changes in Myanmar's attitude.

Responding to a question, the Foreign

Minister said China is trying to discuss

the issue through a trilateral mechanism

with Myanmar and Bangladesh. "We're

ready. We'll sit once a date is fixed for the

next round of discussions."

He said Bangladesh also requested

Japan as they have leverage on

Myanmar. "Japan assured us of extending

their help. We're yet to take decision

on how the framework will be

designed."

Dr Momen said Myanmar is also is in

touch with Myanmar on the issue.

The Foreign Minister said there has

been no progress from the Myanmar

side and in the New Year Bangladesh

expects that Myanmar will keep its

word.

Historically, he said, Myanmar kept

their words as he referred to the

progress in 1978 and 1992. "It's our

belief and expectation that Myanmar

will take back their nations though the

figure is big compared to the past."

Missing RMG

worker found

dead after seven

days in Savar

SAVAR : A garment worker, who

went missing on December 28, was

found dead in the Dhaweleswari

River at Jhauchar in Savar early

Sunday, reports UNB.

The deceased was identified as

Sajedul Islam, 18, son of Mostak

Shah of Naldnga in Natore district.

He used to live at a rented house in

Harindhara area of Savar.

Sajedul had an altercation with

three alleged muggers-identified as

Milon, 24, Shaon, 22 and Imon, 23-

over snatching goods one month

ago, said officer-in-charge of Savar

Model Police Station, AFM Sayed.

Later, the muggers plotted to kill

Sajedul. To make their plan success,

the trio called Sajedul over phone

and asked him to meet at a place.

On December 28, when Sajedul

confronted them, the trio took him

to an abandoned place and killed

him. Later, they dumped the body

in the Dhaweleshwari River.

Getting no whereabouts, Sajedul's

mother filed a case with Savar Model

Police Station against the trio.

Police conducted a drive at

Bathuli area on Saturday and

arrested one of the suspects.

Based on the information gleaned

from him, police recovered the

decomposed body of Sajedul, kept in

a sack and tied with bricks, from the

river early in yesterday morning.

'Parjatan

Corporation

needs to take

customer service

to next level'

DHAKA : Bangladesh Parjatan

Corporation is a reliable big name

when it comes to serving customers.

But this is an age of competition.

And to stay afloat in a competitive

world,ParjatanCorporation will

have to take its service to the next

level to win customers' loyalty and

trust.

State Minister for Civil Aviation

and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali said

this on Sunday after inaugurating a

restaurant at the rooftop

ofBangladesh Parjatan Corporation

headquarters, Parjatan Bhaban, in

the capital.

The tourism industry will have to

play a vital role in achieving all

17Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs), the minister said.

Tourism as an economic powerhouse

has the potential to contribute,

directly or indirectly to all

of the goals.

Namely, it has been included as

targets in Goals 8, 12 and 14 on

inclusive and sustainable economic

growth, sustainable consumption

and production (SCP) and the sustainable

use of oceans and marine

resources.

However, when asked about

international travel, the minister

said:"We will resume flight operations

as soon as all the countries,

which have suspended flights for

the time being over Covid-19 risk,

lift their bans."

DHAKA : Members of Parliament

(MPs) and representatives of various

organizations yesterday called for

ensuring speedy punishment of

rapists.

They said the Covid-19 pandemic

has triggered violence against women

worldwide and Bangladesh is not

exception in this regard.

They made the call at a meet-thepress

programme titled "What to do

to prevent violence against women" at

the Sangsad media center yesterday

morning, said a press release.

The speakers said that one of the

reasons for the increase in violence

against women is negative impact of

drugs in society; therefore, special

importance should be given to drug

control. Dope tests (special health

tests) should be introduced at all levels

of government and non-government

government to identify drug

addicts.

Organized by the Social Welfare

and Development Organization

(SCAS), Chairman of the

Parliamentary Standing Committee

on the Ministry of Home Affairs

Shamsul Haque Tuku was the chief

Syed Ashraf took

politics as

vow: Hasan

DHAKA : Paying rich tribute to

Awami League former general secretary

Syed Ashraful Islam,

Information Minister Dr Hasan

Mahmud yesterday said he took the

politics as vowbeing devotedto leadership.

"The name of Syed Ashraful Islam

will be written in the history of the

country as a gentleman and transparent

politician. Late Syed Ashraf

was a very gentle, moderate and a

good human being," he said.

The minister came up with the

views while addressing a memorial

meeting at an auditorium of Jatiya

Press Club in the city.

Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote

(BSJ) organised the meeting marking

the 2nd anniversary of Syed

Ashraful Islam with BSJ advisor

Chittaranjan Das in the chair.

Deputy Minister for Water

Resources Enamul Haque Shamim

addressed the meeting as the key

speaker while AL leader Advocate

BoloramPoddar addressed it as special

guest.

Hasan said Syed Ashraf worked

remaining trusted in the party and

its leaders like his father Vice

President of the country's first government

Syed Nazrul Islam. He

(Syed Ashraf) took the politics as

vow rendering services to the

nation, he added.

He said, "The role of Syed Ashraf

Lawmakers call for ensuring

speedy punishment of rapists

guest at the event.

He said various ministries and

departments were working separately to

stop violence against women.

Tuku called upon all to work unitedly

by adopting an integrated action

plan to stop violence against women.

SCAS Chairman Jasmine Premar

presided over the function while Vice

Chairman of Parliamentary Caucus

on Child Rights Arma Dutt MP,

Member of Parliament for Opposition

Jatiya Party Barrister Shamim Haider

Patwari, Aparajita Haque MP,

General Secretary of Street Children

Activists Network (SCAN)

Moniruzzaman Mukul and journalist

Nikhil Bhodro.

The keynote paper was placed by

Sakila Parveen, Editor, Parliament

NewsBD.com.

Calling for a change in the education

system to stop violence against

women, MP Arma Dutt said, "We will

pledge on the golden jubilee of independence

that not a single woman in

the society should become a victim of

violence." Therefore, proper implementation

of the law must be

ensured.

in freeing our leader AL President

Sheikh Hasina from jail in 2007 and

the democracy will be written in the

country's history and in the history

of Awami League."

About a recent comment of BNP

secretary general, the information

minister said Mirza Fakhrul Islam

Alamgir told that they will topple

the government this year. Actually,

BNP, itself, isolated from the people

as they tries to topple the government

during the last 12 years, said

Hasan, also AL joint general secretary.

He said BNP makes themselves

funny to the people. "Earlier I

hoped that there will come changes

in the languages of Mirza Fakhrul

Islam in the beginning of the New

Year. I would like to say, with due

respect, that there is no change. I

also urge you (BNP) to come in the

positive politics and seek apology

from the countrymen for your

destructive politics," he added.

The minister hoped that

Bangladesh and the world will be

freed from Coronavirus and BNP

will be back in the positive politics

after shunning the politics of

hostage of people.

AL leader MA Karim and journalist

Samiran Roy, among others, also

addressed the meeting while BSJ

general secretary Arun Sarker Rana

conducted it.

The parliamentary

committee

for 50th anniversary

celebration

with utmost

dignity held its

first meeting on

Sunday at a

conference room

in the secretariat.

The meeting was

attended by AKM

Mozammel

Haque, Dr. Hasan

Mahmud, Tajul

Islam, A K Abdul

Momen, and

Zunaid Ahmed

Palak.

Photo: Star Mail

'Bangladesh to

be turned into

green Bengal'

DHAKA : Illegal occupants will be

evicted from the forest lands and the

forests will be brought back. The

country will be turned into green

Bengal by planting more and more

trees.

Environment, Forest and Climate

Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin

said this on Sunday at the online discussion

"Bangabandhu's Contribution

in Building Bangladesh."

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman started the

tree plantation campaign to build a

green Bangladesh to save the country's

nature and environment, he

said. "We are committed to building

Bangabandhu's green Bengal."

The minister said, "Accountability

will be ensured in forestry activities,

wildlife conservation and prevention

of environmental pollution."

Also, on 30 December, the minister

said trees would fill places in

Cox's Bazar left vacant by Rohingyas

who had and would set for Bhashan

Char in phases.

Shahab Uddin said this while

instructing the Forest Department

officials to plant as many trees as

required to restorer forests in

Rohingya settlements and other

areas of Cox's Bazar.

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 : 01736786915; Fax: + 880244611604, Email: Editor : editor@thebangladeshtoday.com, Advertisement: ads@thebangladeshtoday.com, News: newsbangla@thebangladeshtoday.com, contact@thebangladeshtoday.com, website: www.thebangladeshtoday.com

04-01-2021

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