05-01-2021

tuesday

Dhaka : January 5, 2021; Poush 21, 1427 BS; Jamadi-ul awal 20, 1442 hijri

www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net

Regd.No.Da~2065, Vol.17; N o.264; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00

InternatIonal

US aircraft

carrier to stay in

Gulf : Pentagon

>Page 7

sports

Ronaldo double lifts

Juve as 10-man Milan

stay top ahead of Inter

>Page 9

art & culture

'Maan Obhiman'

mega serial steps

into 3rd years

>Page 10

Bangladesh to get

Oxford Covid vaccine

on time as per

deal : Beximco

DHAKA : Beximco Pharmaceuticals, the

local partner of Serum Institute of India

(SII), on Monday assured that

Bangladesh will get the agreed amount of

vaccine doses on time as per agreement.

Quoting a communication with

Beximco, an official said the statement

made by Serum Institute, India (SII)on

Sunday will not impact on the deal with

Bangladesh, reports UNB.

Bangladesh is on a priority list as a

result of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's

diplomatic efforts, the official said.

Confusion arouse following a recent

statement from Serum Institute, India

(SII) whereby they stated that they will

export the Oxford-Astrazeneca Covid-19

vaccine only after fulfilling their domestic

demands in India.

Bangladesh has signed a deal with SII

and Beximco for receiving 30 million

doses of the said vaccine by the end of

January or early February. Foreign

Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen is likely to

talk to media at 3pm on Monday where

he is likely to address the issue.

Covid-19 concern

48 more UK

returnees land in

Bangladesh

SYLHET : Another 48 UK returnees

arrived at Sylhet's Osmani

International Airport on Monday amid

the detection of a new strain of Covid-19

in the European country, reports UNB.

Forty-two of the passengers, who

arrived by a flight of Biman Bangladesh

Airlines, were Sylhet residents.

And the flight left for Hazrat

Shahjalal International Airport with the

other six returnees, Osmani Airport

Manager Hafiz Ahmed said.

"The UK returnees have been sent to

an institutional quarantine of 14 days.

Two buses and hotels have been

arranged for them."

Earlier, the government made a 14-

day quarantine mandatory for the UK

returnees from December 28.

On December 21, the World Health

Organization Director General Tedros

Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, "Scientists

have been working to understand new

Covid-19 variants that have been reported

in South Africa and the UK."

More than 40 countries have now

banned air communication with the

UK over a new, more transmissible

mutation of the new Covid-19.

However, health officials maintain

that there is no evidence it is more

deadly, or that it would not respond in

the same way to the vaccines cleared for

emergency use.

Zohr

05:24 AM

12:08 PM

03:49 PM

05:29 PM

06:50 PM

6:42 5:26

A new horizon of huge potential has arisen in the bosom of the Bay of Bengal. This huge char with an area of five

thousand acres is located about 30 km east-south of Kuakata.

Photo : Star Mail

Bangladesh to get COVID-19

vaccine doses in time:Maleque

DHAKA : Health and Family Welfare

Minister Zahid Maleque yesterday said

Bangladesh will get COVID-19 vaccine

doses in time as the country signed an

agreement with the Serum Institute of

India.

"Under the agreement, Bangladesh

government will get three crore COVID-

19 vaccine doses from the Serum

Institute of India," he told a press conference

at his ministry here, an official

release said.

On December 13, the agreement was

signed for collecting three crore COVID-

19 vaccine doses developed by the

University of Oxford and AstraZeneca.

Secretary of the Health Service

Division Md Abdul Mannan, Secretary

of Health Education Division Md Ali

Noor Director General of Directorate

General of Health Services (DGHS)

Prof Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad

Khurshid Alam, Director General of

Directorate General of Drug

Administration Maj Gen Md.

Mahbubur Rahman and Director

General of Directorate of Family

Obaidul Quader made

himself ‘ridiculous’:Rizvi

DHAKA : BNP senior joint secretary

general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday

said Awami League general secretary

Obaidul Quader has made himself a

"ridiculous character" to people by making

'imaginary' comments about his

political opponents, reports UNB.

"We've recently noticed that some

leaders and ministers of Awami League,

especially its general secretary Obaidul

Quader, have taken fictitious statements

against BNP at daily press briefings as

their only political programme," he said.

Speaking at a press conference at the

party's Nayapaltan central office, Rizvi

said, "Obaidul Quader has turned himself

into a ridiculous character to people

by daily spreading lies against BNP without

any reason."

He said the ruling party leaders have

no choice but to make childish statements

against the BNP since they still

cannot understand that they have

become enemies of mass people.

Referring to a recent remark by

Obaidul Quader's younger brother and

Noakhali's Companygonj Municipality

mayor Abdul Quader Mirza that Awami

League's MP's will not get the escape

route, let alone getting elected, in a fair

election, Rizvi said this comment

Planning Sahan Ara Banu, among others,

were present at the press conference.

Maleque said, "We have to wait for

approval of WHO (World Health

Organization) for application of COVID-

19 vaccines on human body…All necessary

preparations have been made for

preserving coronavirus vaccines."

As per the agreement, the Indian government

will provide COVID-19 vaccine

doses through the Serum Institute of

India, he said adding, so, there is no reason

to be worried about getting COVID-

19 vaccines in time.

Mannan said the Indian government

has imposed restriction on sending

COVID-19 vaccines for commercial purpose.

The agreement between

Bangladesh government and the Serum

Institute of India will remain out of this

restriction, he added.

According to the health ministry,

Bangladesh will collect five to six crore

COVID-19 vaccine doses, developed by

the University of Oxford and

AstraZeneca, by June next year.

depicted present Bangladesh's a realistic

picture.

"We do hope Obaidul Quader will

realise the importance of his younger

brother's statement instead of finding

any involvement of BNP with Abdul

Quader Mirza." he said.

Rizvi said Mirza's remark has clearly

proved that the Awami government

has been cheating the country's people

in the name of elections for long 12

years by putting the Election

Commission in its lap.

He alleged that the current government

is now completely dependent on

the Rab-police and administration since

it came to power with their help by 'rigging

vote at the dead of night'.

The BNP leader alleged that the government

is encouraging police to indulge

in illegal activities only to bury democracy

and the rule of law. "They've also sacrificed

their self-esteem to take the

opportunity of plundering public money

by staying in power."

Rizvi said their party leaders and

activists will arrange human chains in all

metropolitan cities and municipalities on

January 10 demanding the resignation of

the Election Commission for its failure to

discharge constitutional duties.

Secondary school

admission lottery

on Jan 11

DHAKA : The digital lottery for admission

of the students from class one to

nine in government secondary schools

will be held on Jan 11 at 3 pm. Education

Minister Dr. Dipu Moni will inaugurate

the lottery, said a press release. On

December 30, 2020, the lottery for

admission test was supposed to be held

for the students from class one to 9th for

the 2021 academic year for government

secondary schools across the country.

But the lottery was postponed as the

writ petition 1030/2020 filed in the

High Court Division remained pending.

A section of students could not apply

as 11 years age limit was compulsory for

admission in class six.

In this context, the High Court relaxed

the age and gave them one week time to

apply online. The admission seekers

who were dropped can now apply for

admission till January 9, 2021.

Indictment hearing in

mountaineer Ratna's

death on Feb 1

DHAKA : A Dhaka court yesterday set

February 1 for hearing on charge framing

against SM Darus Salam, the driver

of the microbus that hit mountaineer

Reshma Nahar Ratna that led her to

death in the capital's Chandrima Udyan

area last year.

The case was scheduled for hearing on

Sunday, but lawyers of the sole accused

in the case prayed for time .

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate

Debabrata Biswas granted the application

and set a new date.

No worry, Bangladesh will

get vaccine timely: FM

DHAKA : Foreign Minister Dr AK

Abdul Momen on Monday cleared the

confusion about timely delivery of

COVID-19 vaccine to Bangladesh saying

it will get vaccine from India timely.

"Decision has been taken at the highest

level and that would be implemented.

Nobody has to worry or get panicked,"

he told reporters sharing the

updates they received from the Indian

Ministry of External Affairs, reports

UNB.

Dr Momen said they talked to the

Indian External Affairs Ministry and

theIndian High Commission in Dhaka

once they came to know about a media

report.

He said Bangladesh and India will get

the vaccine at the same time.

"Bangladesh must not be concerned as

commitment has been made at the

highest level. Nothing to worry."

The Foreign Minister said the regulatory

process on vaccine approval in

Bangladesh remains pending which will

be done soon.

Responding to a question on when

vaccine will be available, Dr Momen

hoped to get it by this month.

Asked whether the government is

thinking of any alternative, he said they

DHAKA : A total of 7,650 taxpayers

have shown their undisclosed assets in

their returns for the tax year 2020-2021

and thus deposited Taka 962.06 crore

to the state coffer as tax.

The National Board of Revenue

(NBR) has kept the provision of revealing

undisclosed amount and assets in

the national budget for the current fiscal

year (FY21) through giving tax in a

bid to keep dynamic the economic

activities in the private sector, boost the

flow of investment and develop of capital

market despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the NBR, a total of 205

taxpayers have availed the opportunity

of revealing their undisclosed amount

investing at shares, mutual funds,

bonds in the capital market paying tax

at 10 percent.

The government has extended such

facility on condition of investing the

amount at the capital market for at least

one year. The NBR realized a total of

Taka 22.84 crore as revenue from those

taxpayers who have disclosed their

are exploring various aspects.

The Foreign Minister said the statementsmade

by the Serum Institute of

India (SII) CEO were premature which

is not the policy of the Indian government.

Reiterating the highest priority India

attaches to Bangladesh under India's

Neighbourhood First Policy, Prime

Minister Narendra Modi, during a

Summit meeting with Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina on December 17 last

year, assured that vaccines would be

made available to Bangladesh as and

when produced in India.

Both leaders also noted the ongoing

bilateral collaboration between the private

sector in this area.

The two countries exchanged views on

the situation of the ongoing COVID-19

pandemic in their respective countries

and expressed satisfaction at the manner

in which sustained engagement

between the two countries has been

maintained during this ongoing crisis.

Earlier, Beximco Pharmaceuticals,

the local partner of Serum Institute of

India (SII), on Monday assured that

Bangladesh will get the agreed

amount of vaccine doses on time as

per agreement.

Some 7,650 taxpayers

show undisclosed assets

in tax returns

undisclosed amount through investing

in the share market.

On the other hand, a total of 7,445

taxpayers have availed the opportunity

of disclosing undisclosed amount

through investing at land, flat and thus

paid Taka 939.76 crore as tax to the

national exchequer.

Talking to the BSS, a senior official of

the NBR, said that such facility of disclosing

undisclosed amount has been

provided to the taxpayers so that there

is no economic recession in the country

in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

As a result, a large fund flow to the

mainstream of economy has taken

place while the revenue collection has

also witnessed an uptrend.

He informed that around Taka 10,220

crore has been injected to the mainstream

of economy through the provision

of disclosing untaxed amount.

This will further infuse dynamism in

the economy and thus put a positive

impact on investment and generating

more employments, added the NBR

official.

Getting

responsibility

Dhaka North

City Corporation

conducted

eviction drive at

Mirpur-14 of the

capital city

yesterday.

Photo : Star Mail

TueSDAY, JANuARY 5, 2021

2

Tanti League Dhaka Metropolitan North organized a seminar at National Music and Dance

Auditorium of Shilpa Academy in the capital on Saturday. Hamid Ahmed, President Tanti League,

Dhaka Metropolitan North presided over the seminar while SM Mosharraf Hossain, General

Secretary, Tanti League Dhaka Metropolitan North moderated the seminar. Dr. Abdus Sobhan

Golap, MP, Publicity and Publication Secretary of Bangladesh Awami League was present as the

chief guest.

Photo: Courtesy

Bangabandhu

The pathfinder to tap 'Blue

Economy' potential

>(From back page)

Following the foundation laid by the

Father of the Nation, Bangladesh is now

going to tap the marine potential by turning

the Bay of Bengal into a hub of economic

development to ensure the optimum

use of its maritime resources in

order to widen the country's economic

space.

Bangladesh settled maritime boundary

disputes with Myanmar in 2012 and with

India in 2014 through an arbitral

method. The newly- demarcated area of

the Bay of Bengal has opened a fresh economic

frontier for the country.

Experts claimed that fish alone has 500

varieties besides snails, shell-fish, crabs,

sharks, octopuses and other animals.

Bangladesh is estimated to catch only

0.70 million tons of fish every year out of

the total 8 million tons of fish available in

the Bay of Bengal.

Besides fish and other living animals,

Bangladesh could also have gas fields as it

is reported that Myanmar has discovered

a large gas field in its area of the sea.

Experts are of the view that Bangladesh

would be able to extract resources worth

about $1.2 billion from the ocean.

The experts observed that Bangladesh

should accelerate its efforts to harness

huge potentials of 'Blue Economy' to

attain double digit GDP growth as its

maritime territory is rich with huge precious

natural resources, living and nonliving.

They mentioned that contribution

of the vast maritime territory is only $9.6

billion or 6 percent annually to the

Bangladesh economy, but it has the

potential to contribute more to the economy

if the resources are exploited properly.

"There are a lot of opportunities in the

'Blue Economy'. We'll have to utilize the

resources under the water to boost the

economy," said noted economist and former

Bangladesh Bank governor

Mohammed Farashuddin.

Mentioning that the Bay of Bengal is

enriched with huge resources, he said

government needs planning to use these

resources to attain the Sustainable Development

Goals (SDGs) as well as the

Vision-2041.

The economist urged the authorities

concerned to open a wing in planning

ministry or under the Prime Minister's

Office for speeding up the initiatives to

avail the opportunities of 'Blue Economy'.

In order to utilize its unexplored

marine resources, Bangladesh has

already taken initiatives to flourish its

'Blue Economy'. Since 2015, the government

has undertaken a number of consultations

and workshops on the issue.

In 2017, the government established

the "Blue Economy Cell' with the mandate

to coordinate 'Blue Economy' initiatives

across sectoral ministries.

The government is going to enact 'The

Marine Fisheries Act-2020' which will

replace 'The Marine Fisheries Ordinance-1983'.

Regarding different initiatives of the

government, Secretary (Maritime Affairs

Unit) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Rear Admiral M Khurshed Alam said 26

maritime economic functions have been

identified for development of 'Blue Economy'

in Bangladesh.

The sectors, he said, are: shipping,

coastal shipping, seaports, passenger ferry

services, inland waterway transport,

shipbuilding, ship recycling industries,

fishery, marine aquatic products, marine

biotechnology, oil and gas, sea salt production,

ocean renewable energy, blue

energy (osmosis) and biomass, aggregates

mining (sand, gravel and others),

marine genetic resource, coastal tourism,

recreational water sports, yachting and

marines, cruise tourism, coastal protection,

artificial islands, greening coastal

belt or delta planning, human resource,

maritime safety and surveillance and

maritime spatial planning (MSP).

Alam pointed out that full account in

each of these functions has been taken of

the value chains that are developed

across a range of sectors.

He said well-trained, skilled and educated

human resources are the driving

force of the development of an economy,

who can participate in the globalization

of business and the accompanying technological

revolution.

A thrust in blue economic growth may

come from a large army of skilled coastal

and offshore engineers, navigators, merchant

mariners, fisheries technologists,

biotechnologists and in a variety of other

professions, he added.

After winning the sea area, Alam said,

the present government is paying special

attention to create skilled human

resources for unleashing opportunities

from the 'Blue Economy'.

"Recently, the Bangladesh Oceanographic

Research Institute (BORI) and a

maritime university have been established

for coastal and oceanic research

and human resource development," he

added.

The role of marine resources in poverty

alleviation, acquiring autarky in food

productions, protecting environmental

balance, facing adverse impacts of climate

change and other economic possibilities

are unlimited, the experts opined.

But with the potentialities and possibilities,

they said, there are many challenges

in the field.

The experts said the challenges include

ensuring the sovereignty over the total

coastal area, maintaining the security

over the economic area, establishing

marine friendly infrastructure for marine

tourist, protecting the area from the

international smugglers and fish pirates,

maintaining investment friendly environment

in the awarded area, sustainable

use of biodiversity and maintaining

marine and coastal ecosystems.

Other challenges are preserving mangrove

and sea grass, addressing climate

change and managing carbon emission,

maintaining sea-level rise and change in

ecosystem and temperatures, solving

ocean acidification and blue carbon and

keeping the sea area free from pollution

and marine debris.

Law minister

files GD over

fake FB ID's

DHAKA : A general diary

(GD) was filed with the capital's

Gulshan Police Station

today seeking necessary

action against the people

who opened fake Facebook

accounts in the name of Law

Minister Anisul Huq.

A law ministry release in

this regard said the minister

has no account on the social

networking site.

"But a couple of fake

accounts were opened in his

name to disgrace him socially

and to achieve evil intentions,"

it added.

The law minister recently

came to know that people

are confused because friend

requests were sending from

these fake Facebook

accounts and filed the GD.

JMI brings final

version of first

Bangladeshi

KN95 mask

DHAKA : JMI has launched

the final version of its first

made in Bangladesh

KN95respiratorymask.

Earlier, the Anti-Corruption

Commission filed a case

against JMI for supplying

low-quality masks and personal

protective equipment

(PPE) to the government

amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

However, JMI Hospital

Requisite Manufacturing

Managing Director Md Abdur

Razzaq said, "The masks supplied

to the government earlier

were not supposed to be

distributed. They were mistakenly

sent. The production

of N95 masks was under

development at that time."

"However, the current ones

are the final products. Also,

this KN95 mask model will be

the cheapest one - cheaper

than made in China masks."

"We saw that many countries

started to make KN95

masks following the Covid-19

outbreak. Now Bangladesh's

JMI has launched it," Home

Minister Asaduzzaman Khan

Kamal said this on Monday at

the launching of "JMI respirator

sterile disposable face

mask" in the city.

Dahaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority

Date : 04-01-2021

Date : 04-01-2021

Iqvmv- R: Z: 493/2021

GD- 19/21 (5x 4)

GD- 16/21 (8x4)

Md. Shah Alam

Executive Engineer

Saidabad Water treatment Plant (OP)

Dhaka WASA

tUesDAY, JAnUArY 5, 2021

3

Meeting to create website

and logo held

In order to properly celebrate the golden

jubilee of independence, a preparatory

meeting was held Monday on the digital

platform on website and logo design at the

initiative of the

Department of

Information and

Communication

Technology. State

Minister for information

and communication

technology Zunaid

Ahmed Palak presided

over the meeting, a

press release said.

The meeting decided

to take necessary steps

to create an international standard website

on the occasion of 'Golden Jubilee' and to

create a logo based on the advice of all

reputed agencies and talented artists. The

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday between

Bangladesh Hi-tech Park Authority and think Group to work on innovation

and automation.

Photo : Courtesy

Law needs to be amended to ban display of

tobacco products in sales outlets: Speakers

It is necessary to amend the law to ban

the display of tobacco products in the

tobacco sales center, sale of tobacco

products within 100 meters of the

educational institution and retail sale of

tobacco products in the sales center, a

press release said.

This was demanded by the speakers at

a virtual discussion meeting titled

'Publication of the results of the survey on

display of tobacco products at tobacco

sales outlets' organized by the health

sector of Dhaka Ahsania Mission on

Monday.

The Dhaka Ahsania Mission conducted a

survey titled 'Big Tobacco Tiny Target

Bangladesh' on the strategies that tobacco

companies are adopting, especially within

100 yards of educational institutions, to

attract tobacco products. The collaboration

was the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission Assistant

Director Md Mokhlesur Rahman

presented the results of the survey. He

said that according to the survey, tobacco

products were sold in 90% of the sales

outlets within 100 yards of schools and

playgrounds and in 82% of the outlets,

tobacco products were displayed within

the children's sight. 64% of sales outlets

display chocolate / candy, toys, sweets or

other items next to / along with tobacco

products.

On the other hand, the survey

conducted by the anti-tobacco

organization ACD and BETA in one of

website will be supervised by the Department

of Information and Communication

Technology till December 31, 2021 and will be

handed over to the Ministry of Liberation

War Affairs later.The

meeting also decided to set

up separate committees for

website creation, content

selection and logo selection.

During the time, NM

Ziaul Alam, Senior

Secretary, Department of

Information and

Communication

Technology, A2I's project

director Dr. Md. Abdul

Mannan, Anu Chowdhury,

Policy Advisor, A2I and other senior officials

of the Information and Communication

Technology Department were present at the

occasion.

the three major cities of the country

(Chattogram, Rajshahi and Rangpur)

also showed the display of tobacco

products at 84% point of sale. Of which

Rangpur (92%), Chattogram (86%) and

Rajshahi (73%).

Secretary of the Ministry of Health and

Family Welfare Md Abdul Mannan as

the chief guest said the government

enacted laws and regulations on tobacco

control and later amended it

appropriately.

Currently, the Department of Health

Services has taken the initiative to amend

the law again. In this case, the results of

such a survey will help in amending the

law. If everyone has equal energy and

cooperation then we can build a tobacco

free Bangladesh before 2040.

Kazi Jebunnesa Begum, Additional

Secretary, Department of Health Services,

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as

the special guest said that when a law is

enacted, many things are said in the law

and many things are not said but are

implied. As the Tobacco Control Act also

does not directly mention the issue of

display of tobacco products, tobacco

products are displayed in the tobacco sales

outlets. So the Department of Health

Services and the National Tobacco Control

Cell will take note of this when amending

the law.

Md Iqbal Ahsan Masood, Director,

Dhaka Ahsania Mission Health and WASH

Sector chaired the occasion while among

Major General

Moshfequr Rahman

appointed BUP VC

DHAKA : Major General Md

Moshfequr Rahman has been

appointed as new vicechancellor

(VC) of the military

run Bangladesh University

Professionals (BUP).

Chancellor of the university

President M Abdul Hamid

appointed Moshfequr

Rahman as the new VC on

December 28, 2020, said a

press release.

The newly appointed VC

already joined his office on

Thursday last, the release said,

adding that prior to joining the

BUP, he served as the Area

Commander of Logistic Area

of Bangladesh Army.

In his colorful career,

Moshfequr served as the GOC

of the 11th Infantry Division

and the Director General of

the Directorate General

Defence Purchase.

He also served as an

instructor in School of

Infantry and Tactics, Defense

Services Command and Staff

College, and National Defense

College.

His other important

appointments include Staff

Officer, US Central Command

Headquarters, Florida, Chief

Evaluator, Army Training and

Doctrine Command, and

Commandant, Bangladesh

Infantry Regimental Center.

Under the United Nations'

banner, Moshfequr

participated in Iraq-Kuwait

mission as a member of 1st

Bangladesh Contingent.

He was awarded with the

Army Medal of Glory (SGP)

for his special contribution to

military training. For topping

in three army level courses

Major General Moshfeq was

awarded with the Army Medal

of Excellence (SUP).

others, Md. Zillur Rahman Chowdhury,

Joint Secretary, Department of Health

Services, Ministry of Health and Family

Welfare, former Chairman of Bangladesh

Chemical Industry Corporation, Md.

Mostafizur Rahman, Secretary General of

Bangladesh Restaurant Owners

Association, Rezaul Karim Sarkar Robin

and Head of the Department of

Epidemiology, National Heart Foundation

Dr. Sohail Reza Chowdhury were also

present at the occasion.

It is to be noted that the Government of

Bangladesh enacted the Smoking and

Tobacco Use (Control) Act, 2005 in the

light of FCTC with utmost importance on

public welfare. In 2013, several

important amendments were made to

the Tobacco Control Act and in 2015, the

Smoking and Tobacco Use (Control)

Rules were formulated.

Notable aspects of these laws and

regulations include: banning smoking

in public places and public transport;

prohibit advertising and promotion of

tobacco products and control

sponsorship; banning the sale of

tobacco products to minors; ensuring

the printing of illustrated self-warning

on the packaging of tobacco products,

etc. Also, at the closing ceremony of the

"South Asian Speakers Summit" in

2016, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

announced that she would build

Bangladesh as a tobacco-free country

by 2040.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission organized a virtual discussion meeting on Monday over tobacco

control.

Photo : Courtesy

Bangladesh student League (BsL) celebrated its 73rd founding anniversary yesterday with amid

enthusiasm and festivity.

Photo : Courtesy

Student League celebrates 73rd

founding anniversary

DU CorresPonDent

Bangladesh Student League (BSL)

celebrated its 73rd founding

anniversary yesterday with amid

enthusiasm and festivity.

The week-long long celebration

started with hoisting of national and

party flags at party offices at 7:30am

and placing of wreaths at the

portrait of Bangabandhu at

Dhanmondi Road 32 in Dhaka at

8am. Then its leader and activists

cut a cake at Dhaka University's

(DU) Curzon Hall premises around

9am.

After placing of wreaths at the

portrait of Bangabandhu Chatra

League President Al Nahian Khan

Joy said, "Chatra League has been a

part in every achievement since the

establishment of this organization.

We are moving forward with an aim

of building a non-communal

DU Bangla Dept

Professor Ahmed

Kabir passes away

Dr. Ahmed Kabir, a retired

Professor of Bangla

Department of Dhaka

University, has passed away

at the age of 76, reports

UNB.

He breathed his last

around 6:50 pm on Sunday

at capital's Labaid hospital

after battling cancer,

Chairman of Bangla

department Dr. Syed Azizul

Haque said.

His first Namaz-E-Janaza

was held at the university's

Fuller Road area around

11:30 pm on Sunday.

He will be taken to his

hometown in Mirshrai of

Chattogram on Monday

where he will be laid to

eternal rest after his second

Namaz-E-Janaza.

He is survived by his wife,

three daughters, friends and

a host of well-wishers to

mourn his death. All of his

three daughters are teachers

of different departments of

the country's premier Dhaka

University.

Rabeya Khatun's

death an irreparable

loss to Bangla

literature : Hasan

DHAKA : Paying rich tribute

to noted litterateur Rabeya

Khatun, Information

Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud

yesterday said the sad

demise of Rabeya Khatun is

an irreparable loss to the

field of Bangla literature.

"Rabeya Khatun was one

of the writers of the country

who enriched the Bangla

litterateur. She wrote about

50 novels and more than

400 short stories," he told

reporters after placing floral

wreaths on the coffin of

Rabeya at Bangla Academy

in the capital.

The information minister

prayed for eternal peace of

the departed soul of Rabeya

Khatun and said there is a

few notable women writers .

Bangladesh. Our goal is to work to

strengthen the hand of our primminister

Sheikh Hasina."

After that the delegation team

that was sent by the Central

executive committee of this

historic organization paid tribute

to the Mazar of Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman at Tungipara and

attended in reciting Surah Fateha

and prayer at around 10 am.

It organized a convention program

at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh

(KIB) of Farmgate with the Virtual

presence of Prime Minister and

Awami League President Sheikh

Hasina as the chief guest on Monday

afternoon.

On 6th January, winter clothes

and health protection materials will

be distributed among the

impoverished people at 11am in

front of Swoparjito Swadhinota

Sculpture at Teacher-Student Centre

(TSC).

Besides, the week-long celebration

program also included a voluntary

blood donation campaign to be held

on January 8 around 11 am at

Bottola in front of the Arts Building

on DU campus.

The historic organization was

founded on January 4 in 1948 as

per instruction of Father of the

Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman and it's the

ruling Awami League-affiliated

student wing.

The Bangladesh Student League

played a vital roles in the language

movement in 1952, in 1954 polls,

anti-Ayub movement in 1958,

education movement in 1962, sixpoint

movement in 1966, mass

upsurge in 1969, elections in 1970,

the great Liberation War in 1971,

and in movements for restoration of

democracy.

on the occasion of the birth centenary of Father of the nation

Bangabandhu sheikh Mujibur rahman, an exhibition of photographs and

paintings on Bangladesh was organized by the children of the officers and

employees of the Bangladesh Atomic energy Commission at the Atomic

energy Center, Dhaka.

Photo : Courtesy

Health minister assures of

amending tobacco control law

DHAKA : Health and Family Welfare

Minister Zahid Maleque yesterday assured

of amending the tobacco control law aiming

at reducing tobacco use in the country.

"With the existing loopholes in the current

tobacco control law, achieving a tobacco free

Bangladesh within 2040 as declared by the

Prime Minister will be hampered, he said.

The health minister came up with the

remark when delegates from PROGGA

(Knowledge for Progress) and the Anti

Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) met him

yesterday, a PROGGA press release said.

During the meeting, Zahid Maleque said

his ministry is working to implement the

declaration of the prime minister to build a

tobacco free Bangladesh by 2040.

In order to achieve the premier's commitment,

stringent regulations will be imposed gradually to

reduce tobacco use, he said.

The health minister said once there was no

use of graphic health warnings on packages

of tobacco products; but it has already been

introduced through an amendment.

"Moreover, previously people used to

smoke in public places. It has also been

incorporated under regulations through

laws. The current law is being amended to

make it more updated and time-fitting," he

said.

Zahid Maleque assured that the proposals,

placed by PROGGA and ATMA, will be taken

into account seriously during the process of

amendment.

During the meeting, PROGGA and ATMA

placed some proposals for amendment in

tobacco control law.

The proposals included removing the

provision of "designated smoking zone" and

banning smoking in all public places, work

spaces, and public transports to ensure an

absolute tobacco free environment; banning

the display of tobacco products at points of

sale; banning 'corporate social responsibility'

activities of tobacco companies; restricting

the sale of single sticks and unpackaged

smokeless tobacco and banning the sale and

import of e-cigarettes and heated tobacco

products.

Journalist Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul,

convener of ATMA Mortuza Haidar Liton,

Co-convener of ATMA Mizan Chowdhury,

business in-Charge of Bangla Tribune Md

Shafiqul Islam and head of tobacco control

programme from PROGGA Md Hasan

Shahriar were, among others, present.

TUEsdAY, jANUARY 5, 2021

4

What the world will look like after Covid

Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam

e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

Haldar must get

punished for his

crimes

The name P K Haldar shall forever live in infamy in

Bangladesh. He is the person who has almost singlehandedly

masterminded and executed a plan that led to

the siphoning off of some 3,5000 crore Taka into

foreign accounts. He is now safely in Canada after

achieving this stupendous feat of money laundering.

There he has had no problem in buying real properly

and living a life of super abundance and luxury with his

criminally gotten wealth.

Of course, the monies don't belong to him in any way.

The same were kept deposited in his so called leasing

company for higher yields by thousands of

unsuspecting individuals in Bangladesh. But now these

hapless people are in utter ruination. They have lost

their entire savings in the swindle in most cases and are

suffering a wretched life of great poverty and

hopelessness unsure that there is even a small ray of

hope of their getting even a part of the money back. A lot

have been written and reported aboutHaldar's

crookedness and sheer looting of people's money. There

is no reason to duplicate the effort here. But the relevant

question that begs for an answer is : how long our

authorities will take to lay their hands on the collar of

this heinous criminal in his safe foreign haven and bring

him handcuffed to Bangladesh to stand in the dock ? So

far we know, our laws enforcement authorities were

seeking to get the cooperation of the Interpol to fetch

him to Bangladesh . But that was about two months ago.

What have they done in the last about eight weeks to

make sure that Interpol issues a red alert and does the

necessaryto ensure the return of this criminal to

Bangladesh as a captive at the fastest ? Not enough, it

seems. This slag is probably allowing Haldar to plot

more mischief in his host country to at least avoid arrest

through legal tangling or to try other sneaky means.

Needless to say, people in Bangladesh, specially

thousands of the affected ones, are screamig rightfully

for his immediate internment in Bangladesh and

squeezing out his unearned wealth to be able to

compensate them. But in vain, it seems.

Recently, as per mainstream media reports, even

judges of the High Court were seen in tears as they

heard the harrowing accounts of suffering by even many

eminent citizens who are the victims of Haldar's

swindling operations. Many of the victims are unable to

pay for their hospitalization, to buy food for their

children, to pay rent, etc. as they have no money left

after Halder's theft of their resources. Indeed, the

bloods of millions and millions of our countrymen are

probably boiling with rage from knowing about the

miseries of these innocent people in the face of

apparently casual initiatives on the part of the law

enforcement machinery to compel Haldar to

compensate for his sins.

We expect our administration and law enforcers to

tremendously step up their efforts to bring Haldar back

to Bangladesh. To this end, government of Bangladesh

(GOB) will have to initiate exclusive and urgent

communication with the Canadian government to

impress on them the seriousness of the case . The

Canadian government will have to be told that

misunderstanding may occur in bilateral relations

between our two countries if they do not act on this

matter with exclusivity and exceptionally in relation

with their immigration rules to enable the extradition of

Haldar to Bangladesh immediately.

For the longer term, it is equally important for GOB

to tell their Canadian counterparts that gradually but

firmly an impression is forming in the minds of the

rank and file of the population of Bangladesh that many

notorious swindlers, money launderers. murderers and

other criminals of Bangladeshi origin are finding it too

easy to hoodwink Canadian immigration laws and to

find safe shelter in that country to perpetuate in their

crimes with a sense of immunity.

Hopefully, such initiatives and follow up efforts on the

part of GOB will lead to changes in Canadian

immigration laws and monitoring their

implementation to make it impossible for the

continuation of this state of affairs which is found

hugely adverse by us. As it is recent media reports in

Bangladesh have been awash with accounts of looters of

various stripes in Bangladesh settling down in

important Canadian cities in community form. One

such area in Toronto has been named as Begumpara

which is reportedly full of the likes of P K Haldar who

are comfortably living a life of great enjoyment there

caring nothing for law and legality and the crimes they

committed in Bangladesh.

We are on the verge of a global

transformation. All we need is the

right major crisis for the next world

order." - David Rockefeller

Mankind has gone through many crises

during its evolution. All those crises have

pushed humanity to discover new frontiers

and go through new experiences.

But modern human civilization has never

faced a crisis like the Covid-19 pandemic,

which affects so many different frontiers of

lives and is far beyond the control and

comprehension of any single field of

knowledge.

It is not only about a virus infecting people

all across the world; the pandemic has also

exposed the fragility of our health-care

systems, institutions, governments, the UN

and WHO, as well as the lack of coordination

among them.

The current crisis is not about the pandemic

alone but also about its far-reaching

consequences on human behavior. Measures

like mass quarantines, lockdowns, new laws,

tracking, and surveillance of citizens will likely

continue to affect our lives.

The most likely effect will be on mental

health. Human beings are inherently social,

not solitary, creatures. So if their social contact

falls below their expectations, they begin to

feel lonely, and that is stressful and

depressing.

The stress of loneliness degrades mental

and physical health through behavior such as

self-harm, adjustment disorder, and posttraumatic

stress. Post-pandemic behavior will

see fewer social contacts as trust among

members of the human community will hit an

all-time low.

A new type of human being will emerge

whose daily behavior and thinking will differ

The 14th-century Arab traveler Ibn

Battuta described AlUIa as a beautiful,

large village that has palm groves and

water resources.

In modern times, AlUla is also the name

of the surrounding region, and this unique

destination is finally unveiling its rich

heritage to the world. Located in Saudi

Arabia's northwest, AlUla is an

extraordinary example of the Kingdom's

wonderful culture and deep-rooted history.

As a place of exceptional human endeavor,

visitors to AlUla are immersed in a capital of

ancient kingdoms.

Archaeological research in Saudi Arabia

reveals sites more than 1 million years old.

Here in AlUla, recent discoveries chart

more than 200,000 years of human history.

Evidence of settlements can be traced back

to 5,000 years BCE, when previously

nomadic North Arabian tribes started to lay

down roots, routines and traditions, making

AlUla their permanent home.

AlUla was once a vital crossroads along

the famous incense-trading routes running

north from southern Arabia into Egypt and

beyond. Today, through a diverse offering of

heritage, nature, arts and culture, and

adventure tours, AlUla is a year-round

boutique and fascinating tourist

destination.

Hegra is Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO

World Heritage Site and is one of four main

heritage sites for visitors to discover. Best

known for its remarkably well-preserved

tombs - 111 to be precise, of which 94 have

elaborately carved facades - Hegra was

established 2,000 years ago by the

Nabataean Kingdom.

Today, visitors can tour the site with a

"rawi," the name given to a special group of

The writer is a professor at the Lahore

School of Economics and former vice

chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of

Development Economics.

THE consensus amongst the economic

policymaking triumvirate in government -

finance, planning and State Bank - that an

IMF-prescribed economic stability package

was the only solution to Pakistan's

economic ills and road to eventual growth

has begin to show cracks. And as in previous

times, it is the Planning Commission that

has fired the first shot across the bow of the

State Bank and the finance ministry.

At a recent meeting of the Monetary and

Fiscal Policy Coordination Board, the

Planning Com mission purportedly argued

for three vital policy changes that lie at the

heart of the current economic policy stance of

the government. The first to reduce further

the interest rate; the second to hold the

exchange rate at near its current rate (Rs160)

and not allow it to be dictated by market

forces alone; and the third to pursue

supporting fiscal policy measures to stimulate

the nascent economic recovery seen in the last

from what they were before the outbreak.

They are likely to behave more rationally than

emotionally.

The generation born after the pandemic will

think differently from the pre-pandemic

generation. Cleanliness and hygiene will

become a major preoccupation and spending

on health by both individuals and

governments a top priority.

The current political, legal and economic

systems will have to adapt to this new

generation. Behavioral changes will force

businesses and brands to look for new

inventories and strategies to get accustomed

to new realities.

Digitization trends will likely increase with

the adoption of virtual media for all sorts of

experiences, whether shopping, transactions,

sales, or accounting.

There is no doubt that Covid-19 will leave us

a complex legacy, but will this be the last of

such events, or are we entering a period of

"black swan" events?

"Black swans" are surprising events that

had been thought to have a very low

probability of occurring. These events appear

evident in hindsight but lie outside the path of

RAVi KANT

predictions or normal human expectations.

Generally, average human brains

understand events or things that are

repeatable and discussible. But looking at the

current situation, the term "black swan"

needs redefinition, as the gap between the

attributes of such events, such as a class of

uncertainty and our intuitions about

randomness, is widening as the world

becomes more complicated and

interconnected.

When we entered the 21st century, there

was a lot of optimism and hope. Many people

Keynes' theory suggested that increases in government

spending, tax cuts, and monetary expansion

could be used to counteract depressions and sustainable

growth. Until Keynes came along, economics

was decidedly supply-side, which places

demand at the center of macroeconomic activity.

it is buying that supposedly drives an economy

forward, not producing.

PHiLLiP jAmEs jONEs

saw it as the dawn of a new era, or the start of

a new world. But within two decades, the

world has seen some major black-swan

events such as 9/11, the Indian Ocean

tsunami, the global financial meltdown, the

Fukushima nuclear disaster, and now Covid-

19.

The upcoming decades will bring a lot of

uncertainties and randomness in the global

order, which may increase the probability of a

black-swan event. Almost every memorable

technological advancement is a black swan.

Subjects such as economics, epidemiology,

nutrition science, quantum physics, and

AlUla a fitting venue for GCC summit

local guides who not only offer fascinating

insights into the sites and the people who

lived there, but also stories from their own

family history and the AlUla community.

The ancient capital of Dadan is another of

AlUla's sites that is now open for tourism.

Archaeologists still have much to uncover

about this city, which dates back to the 9th

century BCE and was the capital of the

kingdom of Dadan before the Lihyanites

took over and made their presence known

by erecting colossal statues of their kings.

Jabal Ikmah, near Dadan, has been

termed the "open-air library" and is home

to more than 500 inscriptions, written in

the precursors to Arabic, as well as scripts

from other civilizations, including Aramaic,

Palmyrene, Greek and Latin. Many of the

writings help to shed light on ancient beliefs

and practices. One can feel the presence of

the ancient people who shared their stories

via these rocks, and it is these inscriptions

that have earned Jabal Ikmah the unofficial

name of "the whispering canyons."

AlUla is an extraordinary example of

Saudi Arabia's wonderful culture and deeprooted

history.

As of February this year, visitors will also

be able to access AlUla Old Town. An active

restoration project, AlUla Old Town is

RAsHid AmjAd

located in the narrowest part of the AlUla

valley and is looked down on by AlUla

Castle, a citadel dating to at least the 10th

century.

Continuously occupied from the 12th

century until the 1980s, the settlement, with

its mud brick houses, intricate urban

pattern, outstanding fort, and the remains

of its arts and crafts, is of tremendous

historical significance.

At present, more than 900 properties

have been identified, including 400 shops

and five "rahbas," or town squares. A path

through the town has been carefully

restored, allowing visitors to experience for

At present, more than 900 properties have been identified,

including 400 shops and five "rahbas," or town squares. A

path through the town has been carefully restored, allowing

visitors to experience for themselves what living in AlUla Old

Town would have been like.

themselves what living in AlUla Old Town

would have been like.

Outside of the heritage sites, the unique

rock formations dotting the desert

landscape, as well as the lush, green oasis,

make AlUla a nature lover's dream

destination. The AlUla region offers some of

the most beautiful and unique landscapes in

the world. Throughout this stunning desert,

you will discover sand-drifted canyons, redrock

cliff faces and unique outcrops and

rock formations - all surrounded by vast

expanses of desert sand. These

imagination-spurring rock formations -

which have, over time, developed names

Growth versus stability

few months and led by large-scale

manufacturing and the construction sector.

Further, many of the participants

reportedly went on to express doubt over

the claims of the commerce ministry of

rising exports. They presented figures that

total export earnings were less in the first

five months of the current financial year as

compared to last year and the improvement

in the current account was due to a sharp

contraction in imports and an unexpected

boon in remittances. The large devaluation

had not yet shown the benefits expected of

it, despite the upturn in December.

The State Bank avoided entering into a

debate on these contentious issues by

feigning to preserve its independence in

deciding interest rates and exchange rate

policy. Instead, it said the positive role in its

accommodative monetary policy had been

to reduce sharply the interest rate in a timely

manner and introduce other support

measures to the private sector to cushion

the downturn due to Covid-19 as well as

help the current economic upturn.

The finance ministry held back its cards

on the government's future economic policy

stance (perhaps keeping in mind its present

negotiations to revive the stalled IMF $6

billion support programme) though it is said

to have opposed a further cut in the interest

rate. However, much like the State Bank, it

wanted to take its share of the credit,

pointing to the fiscal stimulus provided

primarily in the form of direct income

support to the poorest households that had

been seriously affected by loss of income

and employment due to the economic

downturn resulting from Covid-19.

Talk and claims aside, the time of

reckoning is fast approaching and the

government must deliver on its promises

with less than two and a half years left in

power. Political imperatives must now take

the upper hand and economic policy

accordingly follow suit. The prime minister

expects his economic team to deliver.

But what path to take? Retain stability as

the primary goal - follow IMF

conditionalities and revive the stalled IMF

programme? Or say goodbye to the IMF (for

the umpteenth time), and on a wing and a

psychology are not linear domains like

engineering, astronomy and biology.

An "outside context problem" is a sort of

thing that most civilizations will encounter

just once. To illustrate an outside context

problem, let's imagine an artificial intelligence

that becomes aware of itself and somehow

gets access to the Internet. The entire fate of

humanity will be in the hands of that digisuperintelligence.

Rapid developments in AI with no

regulation at present may prove to be an

excellent case for such a scenario. If that digisuperintelligence

has a goal and humanity

just gets in the way, it will destroy humanity

without any hard feelings, much as we destroy

the environment for our economic

development without caring about its impact

on the ecosystem.

So we need constantly to question our basic

assumptions about predictions for the future.

We need to build a system or model that not

only responds better to such events but also

minimizes the impacts of shocks.

The 20th century belonged to

Keynesianism, as much of the world's

government policy decisions were based on

keeping in mind John Maynard Keynes' 1936

book The General Theory of Employment,

Interest and Money.

Keynes' theory suggested that increases in

government spending, tax cuts, and monetary

expansion could be used to counteract

depressions and sustainable growth. Until

Keynes came along, economics was decidedly

supply-side, which places demand at the

center of macroeconomic activity. It is buying

that supposedly drives an economy forward,

not producing.

Source: Asia times

like "Elephant Rock," "Face Rock," "the

Dancing Rocks," and "Rainbow Rock" - add

to the wonder of AlUla.

Excitingly, there is now an increasing

range of guided tours available, allowing

visitors to fully appreciate this stunning

landscape. We have hiking trails with

options of desert or oasis, a cycling trail, and

stargazing or moonlit night-time

experiences. As of this month, our new bike

park will be operational, along with zip line

and buggy experiences.

A unique place like AlUla attracts a

unique group of artists and creatives, and it

would be remiss not to mention some of the

more recent wonders of AlUla. The venue

known as Maraya, which means mirrors in

Arabic, is an architectural masterpiece. This

multi-purpose entertainment venue in the

Ashar Valley was designed by Italian

architects Gio Forma and is at the center of

AlUla's world-class events ambitions.

Wrapped in mirrors to simulate a dazzling

desert mirage, it is the world's largest

mirrored building, according to Guinness

World Records.

Having already hosted the likes of Lionel

Richie, Andrea Bocelli and a conference of

Nobel Prize laureates, it is here that the

2021 GCC leaders' summit will be held on

Jan. 5. AlUla is delighted to have been

chosen to welcome the region's leaders for

this important event. This will be the first of

many auspicious gatherings of minds in

AlUla, as meetings, incentives, conferencing

and exhibitions (MICE) organizers will be

drawn to the rich history of AlUla as a place

of human ingenuity and cultural exchange

for millennia.

Source: Arab news

prayer opt for reviving growth through a

mixture of strong fiscal and monetary

stimuli.

Those who support the 'stability' approach

would argue that an artificially spurred

economic revival (as happened in the

Musharraf years) by reducing further

interest rates below the inflation rate and an

unaffordable fiscal stimulus through deficit

financing and cheap money will be shortlived.

It could also spark double-digit

inflation which has only now shown signs of

receding. Also, artificially holding down the

exchange rate will haunt one as imports will

shoot up and reserves come crumbling

down. And there would be no IMF to turn to!

Yet the case for opting for stimulating

growth and fuelling the nascent recovery is

a very strong one. Growth will create jobs

and spur new investment. Most

importantly, only a broad-based economic

recovery will allow economic gains to be

shared with the large informal economy and

small businesses.

Source: Dawn

TUESdAY, JANUARY 5, 2021

5

The true price of a greener future

5

Robin McKie

The battle to stave off Earth's looming climate crisis is

driving engineers to develop hosts of new green

technologies. Wind and solar plants are set to replace

coal and gas power stations, while electric cars oust

petrol and diesel vehicles from our roads. Slowly our

dependance on fossil fuels is set to diminish and so ease

global heating.

But scientists warn there will be an environmental

price to pay for this drive to create a world powered by

green technology. Prospecting for the materials to

construct these devices, then mining them, could have

very serious ecological consequences and major impacts

on biodiversity, they say.

"The move towards net zero carbon emissions is going

to create new stresses on our planet, at least in the short

term," said Prof Richard Herrington, head of earth

sciences at the Natural History Museum, London. "We

are going to have to learn how to consider profit and loss

with regard to ecosystems just as we do now when we are

considering economic issues."

Metals such as lithium and cobalt provide examples of

the awkward issues that lie ahead, said Herrington. Both

elements are needed to make lightweight rechargeable

batteries for electric cars and for storing power from

wind and solar plants. Their production is likely to

increase significantly over the next decade - and that

could cause serious ecological problems.

In the case of cobalt, 60% of the world's supply comes

from the Democratic Republic of the Congo where large

numbers of unregulated mines use children as young as

seven as miners. There they breathe in cobalt-laden dust

that can cause fatal lung ailments while working tunnels

that are liable to collapse.

"Men, women and children are working without even

the most basic protective equipment such as gloves and

face masks," said Mark Dummett of Amnesty

International, which has investigated the cobalt-mining

crisis in DRC. "In one village we visited, people showed

us how the water in the local stream that they drank was

contaminated by the discharge of waste from a mineral

processing plant."

Then there is the issue of lithium mining. World

production is set to soar over the next decade. Yet mining

is linked to all sorts of environmental headaches. In the

so-called Lithium Triangle of South America - made up

of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia - vast quantities of water

are pumped from underground sources to help extract

lithium from ores, and this has been linked to the

lowering of ground water levels and the spread of

deserts. Similarly in Tibet, a toxic chemical leak from the

Ganzizhou Rongda Lithium mine poisoned the local

Lichu river in 2016 and triggered widespread protests in

Volkswagen to break into the burgeoning electric car market.

the region.

Nor will these ecological problems be confined to

specialist metals, analysts have pointed out. They say

that rising demands for traditional materials such as

cement - for building hydro-electric dams - or for copper,

to provide cables to link wind and solar farms to cities

and to build electric cars, could also cause widespread

environmental damage unless care is taken.

Our growing appetite for copper provides a striking

illustration of the issues. Thousands of tonnes are

needed to create wind or solar power devices while

electric vehicles use two or three times more copper than

those powered by a diesel or petrol engine. As a result,

the world's appetite for copper is likely to jump by more

than 300% by 2050, according to one recent report.

"You need tens of kilograms more copper for an electric

Photo: Sean Gallup

car compared with one with a petrol engine," said

Herrington. "That means, if you want to turn all the UK's

31m cars into electric vehicles you would require about

12% of the world's entire copper output - just for Britain.

That is an unrealistic demand, given that we are hoping

to be making electric cars only within a decade."

Harrington said it was inevitable that there would an

expansion in mining and in providing energy for refining

ores which, combined, would have real environmental

impacts. "We are going to have to do that in a way that

creates profits but also serves people and the planet."

In addition to these issues, the proposed expansion of

nuclear power in the UK - to satisfy demand no longer

met by coal or gas plants - is likely to lead to the creation

of increased amounts of nuclear waste. However, the UK

still has no method for safely storing nuclear waste

underground and relies on keeping highly radioactive

remnants from power plant operations above ground.

These stores may have to be expanded significantly in

future.

One solution put forward to these green technology

problems would be to limit the exploitation of resources

on land and turn instead to the sea to gather the

materials we need. Several promising marine sources

have been pinpointed, with the most attention focusing

on metal nodules which litter some parts of the ocean

floor. These potato-sized globs of mineral are rich in

copper, cobalt, manganese and other metals. According

to the International Seabed Authority, some deposits

contain millions of tonnes of cobalt, copper and

manganese.

As a result, several organisations are now surveying the

most promising of these deposits, in particular the

Clarion-Clipperton Zone in international waters in the

Pacific Ocean. These could be hoovered up using robot

submersibles that would criss-cross the 4.5m sq km that

make up the zone.

However, recent research by marine scientists have

also revealed that despite the Clarion-Clipperton Zone's

depth - it lies between 4,000 and 5,500 metres below the

surface - the ocean floor there is also rich is sea-life. One

survey, in 2017, found more than 30 species new to

science living on the zone's abysmal plain, most of them

xenophyophores - considered the world's largest living

single-celled organisms.

Hoovering up the nodules could devastate these life

forms, marine scientists have warned. "At present, we

still don't have enough data about the sea floor to be sure

what the impact would be of mining there," said Adrian

Glover, a deep-sea ecology researcher at the Natural

History Museum.

"However, when we do, it's going to be a big question

for society. If these are environments rich in biodiversity

that could be easily damaged, will it be better or worse to

exploit them compared with exploiting our rainforests

on land? That could be a very difficult issue to resolve."

How birds are coping with

the climate crisis

Stephen Moss

Lockdown has sparked a renewed

interest in our garden birds, with

millions of us enjoying watching them

from our windows. But could some

species - including the common and

familiar great tit - vanish from Britain's

gardens by the end of the century?

Researchers from the Norwegian

University of Science and Technology,

working with the University of Oxford,

have modelled how great tits are

reacting to the climate crisis.

Specifically, are the birds able to

respond to the earlier emergence of the

caterpillars on which they feed their

chicks?

Birds such as great tits have evolved to

time their breeding cycle so it coincides

with the peak of moth caterpillars that

feed on oak leaves, which traditionally

happens in late May and June. But as

temperatures rise, so oaks are coming

into leaf earlier, and the caterpillars

have responded by hatching out earlier

too.

This means that when the great tit

chicks are ready to be fed, the peak of

caterpillars is already coming to an end.

Because the parent birds need to find

1,000 caterpillars every day for their

hungry offspring, any mismatch is likely

to dramatically reduce breeding

success.

The researchers found that although

the birds can respond to climatic shifts,

they are not doing so quickly enough.

Lead author Emily Simmonds

estimates that the tipping point comes

when oak leaves, and their associated

caterpillars, appear 24 days earlier than

usual.

The discovery that birds can and do

respond to climate change by breeding

earlier than normal was first made in

the 1990s by Dr Humphrey Crick, a

scientist working at the British Trust for

Ornithology. He was analysing

thousands of cards from the BTO's longrunning

Nest Record Scheme, which

had been filled in by amateur

birdwatchers over the previous halfcentury,

detailing the dates when eggs

are laid and chicks hatch.

Crick noticed a surprising trend: for

many species, the date on which they

laid their eggs had moved forward by an

average of nine days. The resulting

landmark paper, "UK birds are laying

eggs earlier", published in the journal

Nature in 1997, provided some of the

earliest empirical evidence that wild

creatures were already responding to a

warming climate.

A decade later, in 2006, I remember

Bill Oddie introducingd Springwatch

with the astonishing news that every

blue tit nest they were monitoring had

already fledged young - several weeks

A longer breeding season benefits birds such as the

robin.

Photo: Alamy

earlier than usual. Because blue tits only

have one brood, they must respond very

rapidly to changes such as earlier

springs. If they fail to do so quickly

enough, their numbers will plummet.

At the end of his 1997 paper,

Humphrey Crick made this prophetic

comment: "For birds, earlier nesting

could be beneficial if juvenile survival is

enhanced by a prolonged period before

winter. Conversely, birds may be

adversely affected if they become

unsynchronised with the phenology of

their food supplies."

Less than a quarter of a century later,

both parts of that prediction appear to

be coming true. In the short term, a

longer breeding season has benefits,

especially fr birds such as the robin,

blackbird and song thrush, which

produce two or more broods of young.

Starting to nest earlier in the year might

allow them to squeeze in an extra brood,

and so produce more offspring in total.

Professor James Pearce-Higgins, the

BTO's director of science, points out

that our smallest birds, such as

goldcrests, wrens and long-tailed tits,

are benefiting from another aspect of

climate change: the much milder

winters of recent years.

He also points to the positive impact

of our habit of feeding garden birds,

which helps species such as blue tits,

great tits and goldfinches. At present, he

suggests that the advantages of higher

winter survival rates outweigh the

failure to synchronise with the spring

food supply, though that may not

always be so.

Another climate-driven success is the

way many species are now expanding

northwards. The latest European

Breeding Bird Atlas reveals that, on

average, the ranges of Europe's

breeding birds have shifted north by

28km (17.5 miles) since the original

survey was done in the late 1980s -

almost 1km every year.

This may not sound like much, but

over time it will allow species once

confined to continental Europe to

cross the Channel and colonise the

UK. Indeed, given that some species

respond much faster than others,

several (including cattle egrets and

great white egrets) have already done

so. But as our climate becomes less

predictable, with more extreme

weather events such as storms,

droughts and floods, what scientists

have called the "honeymoon period"

will come to an abrupt end.

As Professor Pearce-Higgins notes,

ground-feeding birds may not be able to

cope with prolonged summer droughts,

which make it harder for them to find

food: "One potential exception to this

positive picture of warmer

temperatures is thrushes and

blackbirds, which rely on soil

invertebrates. We know, from a study

we have run recently asking

schoolchildren to count earthworms in

school playing fields, that the

availability of worms - a major food

source for many species - declines

significantly in summer, particularly

when it is dry."So, as we stand on the

precipice of a runaway warming world,

the future for many of our best-known

and best-loved birds remains in the

balance.

Workhorse hand-builds most of its vans at its factory.

Photo: Workhorse

The making of the Tesla of delivery

trucks and vans

Neal E. Boudette

A business like Workhorse Group,

which employs 130 people and had

sales of less than $1 million in the first

nine months of the year, would not

normally attract much attention on

Wall Street.

But these are not normal

times.Workhorse is aiming to make

electric delivery vans. Its stock has risen

nearly sevenfold this year, and it is not

alone. Several of its competitors started

trading on the stock market this year and

have seen their share prices rocket up.

Because of the success of Tesla and its

electric cars, many investors have

become convinced that electric vehicles

are no fad, and that a real transition

away from internal combustion

engines is well underway. For a time,

investors poured money almost

exclusively into Tesla, but that capital

has spread to makers of commercial

vehicles like Workhorse in anticipation

of large orders from companies

including Amazon and UPS, which are

delivering more packages every year

and have pledged to reduce their

greenhouse gas emissions.

"We've had probably 180 one-on-one

meetings this year with different funds

and investors that want to hear our

story," Workhorse's chief financial

officer, Steve Schrader, said in a recent

interview. "Last year we had one

analyst covering us. Now we have six.

The phone's ringing all the time."

Unlike some of its rivals, Workhorse

is not a start-up and has been making

small numbers of electric trucks for

years. The company has struggled at

times and at least once nearly ran out of

cash, but executives are hopeful that its

breakout moment is at hand.

Interest in the electrification of

commercial vehicles is one reason that

Wall Street embraced Nikola, a start-up

aiming to make hydrogen-powered

heavy trucks, whose market

capitalization briefly exceeded Ford

Motor's valuation last summer. Even

after a plunge of more than 75 percent

in its stock price - largely fueled by a

hedge fund's assertion that the

company had exaggerated its abilities -

Nikola has a market value of more than

$6 billion.

At least a dozen companies trying to

make electric vehicles or related

technology have gone public in the last

year, often by merging with special

purpose acquisition companies, or

SPACs. Also known as blank-check

companies, they consist of little more

than a stock listing and investor cash.

These publicly traded newcomers

include Hyliion Holdings, valued at

more than $2 billion. It is trying to

develop electric propulsion systems for

semi trucks. Lordstown Motors, in

which Workhorse has a stake, is

working on an electric commercial

pickup truck, and has a market

capitalization of about $3 billion.

Arrival, based in London, plans to

make electric delivery vans and buses.

Hyundai and Kia, the Korean

automakers, have invested about $120

million in the company. UPS, which

has also invested, committed in

January to buying 10,000 of the

company's vans. Arrival has announced

plans to merge with a SPAC and is

expected to begin trading in the first

quarter of 2021.

Tesla itself plans to make a batterypowered

semi truck. It is building a

plant in Texas to manufacture the

vehicle as well as a futuristic-looking

pickup truck for consumers. The

company has said it hopes to begin

producing the semi next year but has

warned that output will be limited for a

time by a tight supply of battery cells.

Of course, there's no guarantee of

success for any of these electric-truck

makers. Competition will be stiff,

including from traditional automakers

that have manufacturing expertise and

established relationships with big fleet

operators. Ford, Mercedes-Benz,

General Motors and Fiat Chrysler are

all planning to sell electric vans and

trucks.

"Not all players are going to make it,

but there's super-duper hype right

now," said Gregory Lewis, an analyst at

BTIG Research. "There is this

generational transition to electric that's

going to happen, and there's potential

for explosive growth, so there's a lot of

excitement."

Amazon, UPS, FedEx and other

owners of big delivery fleets like

Anheuser-Busch have outlined

strategies to cut their carbon emissions

and shift to zero-emissions trucks,

noted Jeffrey Osborne of Cowen &

Company. And in June, California

mandated that commercial truck fleets

begin transitioning to zero-emissions

vehicles in 2024.

TUeSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021

6

A law and order, public awareness view exchange meeting was held with the traders of Jamddar

Bazar in Chhagalnaiya Upazila of Feni on Sunday.

Photo: Kafil Uddin Majumder

View exchange meeting on law and

order held at Chhagalnaiya

KAfIL UDDIN MAJUMDER, CHHAGALNAIyA

CORRESPONDENT:

A law and order, public awareness

view exchange meeting was held with

the traders of Jamddar Bazar in

Chhagalnaiya Upazila of feni on

Sunday near the office of the Jamddar

Bazar Management Committee.

Chhagalnaiya Municipality Mayor

and Jamddar Bazar Management

Committee Chairman M Mostafa

presided over the function while

Birganj Diabetes and foot Care Center holds

discussion meeting with journalists

UTTAM SHARMA, BIRGANJ CORRESPONDENT:

A discussion meeting of Birganj Diabetes

and foot Care Center has been held with

the journalists of 3 upazilas of Dinajpur.

Director of Birganj Diabetes and foot Care

Center and Diabetes Specialist Dr. DC Roy

organized a discussion meeting with the

Chhagalnaiya Maulvi Samsul Karim

College Assistant Professor Abdul Jalil

moderated the occasion. Chhagalnaiya

Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md.

Mezbah Uddin Ahmed was the special

guest at the occasion.

The OC in his speech said, "all the

traders will coordinate and run the

market in an orderly manner. In this

case, we will co-operate with the

committees and request the traders to

bring the market area under CCTV."

During the time, Shahadat Hossain

journalists of Birganj, Kaharol and

Khansama Upazilas on Sunday.

Dr. DC Roy said the Birganj Diabetes

and foot Care Center has been set up in

Birganj, Kaharol, Khansama and adjoining

areas with the aim of ensuring medical

services to the economically

disadvantaged, helpless and backward

Prakash Sadek Majumder, General

Secretary of Market Management

Committee, Abu Ahmed Majumder,

eminent businessman, Md. Sheikh

Kamal, General Secretary of feni

District Journalists Welfare

Association, Ziaul Haque Didar,

President of Upazila Chhatra League,

Municipal Panel Mayor-1 Munshi Nur

Hossain, Panel Mayor-2 and Ward

Councilor Shimul Chowdhury were

among others also present at the

occasion.

In observance of the 73rd founding anniversary of Chhatra League, wreaths were laid on the

portrait of Bangabandhu in Natore on Monday.

Photo: TBT

people suffering from diabetes.

During this time, he gave advise various

awareness campaigns on diabetes for the

publicity through the media and regularly

tested for diabetes, including salt, sugar

and rice as white poisons and salads,

pulses, vegetables and water as well as

regular exercise before taking these foods.

A discussion meeting of Birganj Diabetes and Foot Care Center has been held with the journalists

of 3 upazilas of Dinajpur on Sunday.

Photo: Uttam Shamra

Winter clothes

distributed in

Chilmari

GOLAM MAHBUB, CHILMARI

CORRESPONDENT:

At the initiative of

Bangladesh Registration

Service Association (BRSA),

blankets have been

distributed among the coldstricken

people in Chilmari,

Kurigram. The blankets

were distributed at

Thanahat Union Parishad

ground of the upazila on

Sunday.

During the time, Upazila

Parishad Chairman Shawkat

Ali Sarkar Birbikram,

Upazila Nirbahi Officer

AWM Raihan Shah,

Thanahat UP Chairman

Abdur Razzak Milon,

Upazila Sub-Registrar Md.

Raihan Habib, Project

Implementation Officer Md.

Kohinur Rahman and UP

members were among

others present at the

occasion.

73rd founding

anniversary of

Chhatra League

observed in

Natore

NATORE CORRESPONDENT:

The 73rd founding

anniversary of Chhatra

League has been celebrated

in Natore on Monday. In the

morning the national and

party flags were hoisted at

the temporary Awami

League office in Kandivita in

the district. Later wreaths

were laid on the portrait of

Bangabandhu.

During the time,

Municipal Mayor Uma

Chowdhury Jolly, District

Awami League Senior Vice

President Adv. Sirajul Islam,

Sadar Upazila Parishad

Chairman Shariful Islam

Ramzan, District Awami

League Joint General

Secretary Syed Ali Bablu,

District Chhatra League

President Rakibul Islam

James and General

Secretary Reazul Islam

Masum were among others

present at the occasion.

Adopting scientific

method in tea

farming stressed

RANGPUR: Experts at a

practical training workshop

have stressed on adopting

scientific methods and latest

technologies in small-scale tea

farming on plain lands to

enhance production of the

cash crop and reap more

profits, reports BSS.

"Use of scientific methods

can boost tea farming in the

northern region," said Senior

Scientific

Officer

(Entomology) of Bangladesh

Tea Board (BTB) and its

Project Director of Northern

Bangladesh Project

Agriculturalist Dr.

Mohammad Shameem Al

Mamun.

He said this while

conducting the daylong event

on 'Plucking, pruning and

pests' management in tea

plantation' arranged by BTB

at Paria village in Baliadangi

upazila of Thakurgaon on

Sunday, said a press release

today.

Six academic institutions of Gaibandha

chars get solar panels

GAIBANDHA: Six academic

institutions, located at different chars of

Kamarjani union under Sadar upazila in

the district, got high capacity solar panels

from Japan International Cooperation

Agency (JICA) on Sunday to run their

academic activities smoothly, reports

BSS.

A discussion on solar panel distribution

was also held on the premises of union

parishad(UP)with UP Chairman Abdus

Salam Jakir in the chair.

Sub assistant agriculture officer of the

Bangladesh Registration Service Association (BRSA), blankets have been distributed

among the cold-stricken people in Chilmari. Photo: Golam Mahbub

Allegations of recruitment and

tender trade against VC Harun

STAff REPORTER:

It has been learnt that Patuakhali University

of Science and Technology (PSTU) Vice-

Chancellor Prof Dr Harun-Or-Rashid has been

accused of recruitment trade, bribery,

corruption and nepotism since he joined office.

His father Abdul Quader Master was a razakar

commander. During the war of independence,

the freedom fighters grabbed VC's father from

his house and shot him dead on the local

Chingri bridge. His younger brother

Nasimuddin Akon is the general secretary of

Rajapur Upazila BNP. Another brother firoz

Akon is a BNP leader of Rajapur upazila.

Harun-Or-Rashid has been the chief guest at

various meetings of BNP-backed teachers,

officials and employees of Patuakhali

University of Science and Technology in recent

days. On condition of anonymity, some people

said that Harun is looting the money allocated

by the present government in three steps of Tk

1220 crore under the further Development

Project. In the last 4 years, VC Harun has

appointed 92 lecturers, 25 officers and 447

employees. He has taken bribe of Tk 20-25 lakh

per lecturer, Tk 18-20 lakh for appointment of

officers and Tk 8-12 lakh for recruitment of

employees.

The recruitment trade is being done through

Nowroz Jahan Lipi, former Chhatra Dal leader

and a well known teacher close to the Vice

Chancellor, her husband Prof. Md.

Moniruzzaman, former leader of the White

Party of Teachers Association, Tanvir Rashid,

the eldest son of the Vice Chancellor, Md.

Kamrul Islam, Deputy Registrar of the

University, Arif Jewel, Assistant Professor

Sujan Kanti Mali and MLSS Md. Zakir

Hossain. Most of the appointments have been

given to the people of Jamaat BNP.

They also said that no educated staff has been

appointed for the four members of parliament

in Patuakhali region, including former minister

of religion and three-time elected member of

parliament Mohammad Shahjahan Miah.

Shahjahan Mia requested VC Harun many

times but his own nephew (MA) was not given

the job.

Debashish Mandal, a meritorious student

and Chhatra League activist of the university

department of agricultural Extension

(DAE) Mokbul Hossain, UP secretary

Sarwar Hossain, local social worker

Saddam Hossain, UP members Abu

Sayeed, Abu TalebAkand and Mazu

Ahmed addressed the meeting, among

others.

The speakers in their speeches thanked

the JICA for standing beside the chars

academic institutions with solar panels to

help the students run their academic

activities.

Later, they distributed high capacity

was asked to provide bribe to the VC to give

him a job as a lecturer. The VC first promised to

hire Debashish for Tk 10 lakh. He later

committed suicide on May 14, 2018 as he could

not raise the amount when he demanded Tk 15

lakh.

for a long time (5-10) years, they promised to

give jobs to 55 people in regular and irregular

masters role of the, but later they hired 6-7 of

them. Excluding the rest, he has hired new

employees from outside through large bribes.

Debashish's father Parimal Mandal said, "VC

killed my talented son without giving him a job.

VC demanded a bribe of Tk10 lakh. Later, when

he demanded another Tk 5 lakh, Debashish

committed suicide due to his inability to raise

money.

According to various sources, VC Harun-Or-

Rashid has a lot of money and wealth. He owns

10 acre of the land near the Rayerbazar

Intellectual Cemetery in Dhaka. There are two

flats of 2100 square feet in the name of his son

Tanvir Rashid and wife Kanika Mahfuz on the

third and fourth of Hajir Bari of Rayerbazar

Intellectual Cemetery. BNP-backed teachers',

white party leader and former Jamaat leader

and recently joined Bangabandhu Parishad,

VC's son-in-law Prof. Dr. Muhammad

Moniruzzaman (Junior Professor) has been

given 8 important responsibilities by the VC.

He has been given charge of controller of

examinations, Provost of Begum Sufia Kamal

Hall, Transport Officer, Member Secretary of

Admission Examination Committee, Member

of Recruitment Board, Member of

Procurement Committee, Member of Regent

Board.

According to source, on December 19, 2020,

at the meeting of the Regent Board of the

University, he passed various agendas through

other esteemed members of the Regent Board,

forcing them to resort to various corruptions

and irregularities. Section Officer Shahadat

Hossain Nantu appointed two employees by

forging the signature of Registrar Professor

Swadesh Chandra. He took a bribe of Tk 10

lakh from two employees. He was fired for the

crime 10 months ago. VC Harun Rashid took a

bribe of Tk 6 lakh from him and reinstated his

job in the Regent Board.

The photo shows Professor Dr. Md. Harun-Or-Rashid as the chief guest at the

meeting of Zia Parishad, BNP backed officials and employees. Photo: TBT

solar panals to the chiefs of the six

institutions.

Besides the solar panels, table, ceiling

fans and lights were also distributed to

the chiefs of the academies that included

Kunder para Gana Unnayan Academy,

East Batikamari Government Primary

School, Keblaganj Government Primary

School, Nungola Government Primary

School, Pardiara Nurani Hafezia

Madrasa and Kharjani Government

Primary School.

TUESdAY, JANUARY 5, 2021

7

The US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz will remain in the Gulf due to "recent threats" by Iran, the

Pentagon said Sunday, following reports the ship was returning home in what some read as a sign of

de-escalation.

Photo : AP

US aircraft carrier to stay in

Gulf: Pentagon

WASHINGTON : The US aircraft carrier

USS Nimitz will remain in the Gulf due to

"recent threats" by Iran, the Pentagon

said Sunday, following reports the ship

was returning home in what some read

as a sign of de-escalation, reports BSS.

The Nimitz has been patrolling Gulf

waters since late November, but

American media said this week that the

acting US defense secretary, Christopher

C. Miller, had ordered the vessel to

return home.

The New York Times, quoting US

officials, said this move was part of a

"de-escalatory" signal to Tehran to

avoid a conflict in President Donald

Trump's last days in office.

Brian Urquhart,

early leader of

United Nations,

dies at 101

TYRINGHAM : British

diplomat Brian Urquhart, an

early leader of the United

Nations who played a

central role in developing

the U.N. practice of

peacekeeping, has died,

according to his family. He

was 101.

Urquhart's son, Thomas,

confirmed he died at his

home in Tyringham,

Massachusetts, on Saturday

but didn't provide a specific

cause, the New York Times

reported.

Urquhart, born in

Bridport, England in 1919,

served in British military

and intelligence during

World War II before

becoming the second official

hired by the U.N. after its

formation in 1945. He went

on to be a principal adviser

to the first five U.N.

secretaries-general.

Urquhart worked for the

commission that set up the

United Nations Secretariat

in 1945, arranged the

General Assembly's first

meeting in London and

settled on New York City as

the U.N.'s permanent home.

But he was best known for

creating and directing U.N.

peacekeeping operations in

war zones around the world.

Urquhart called

peacekeeping forces an

army without an enemy and

decided they should wear

blue helmets to distinguish

them from combatants. He

said they should enter a war

zone only with broad

political support, with the

goal of ending hostilities and

facilitating negotiations.

Before he retired in 1986,

Urquhart had directed 13

peacekeeping operations,

recruited a force of 10,000

troops from 23 countries

and

established

peacekeeping as one of the

U.N.'s most visible and

politically popular functions.

The U.N. peacekeeping

forces won the 1988 Nobel

Peace Prize.

However, Miller issued a statement to

the contrary late Sunday.

"Due to the recent threats issued by

Iranian leaders against President Trump

and other U.S. government officials, I

have ordered the USS Nimitz to halt its

routine redeployment," he said.

"The USS Nimitz will now remain on

station in the U.S. Central Command

area of operations. No one should doubt

the resolve of the United States of

America."

His statement came one year after a

US drone strike in Baghdad killed

Iran's revered commander Qasem

Soleimani and his Iraqi lieutenant Abu

Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Thousands of Iraqi mourners chanted

"revenge" and "no to America" on

Sunday.

The anniversary of the Baghdad drone

strike was also marked in recent days

across Iran and by supporters in Syria,

Lebanon, Yemen and elsewhere.

Trump unilaterally withdrew the US

from a landmark nuclear deal with Iran

and world powers in 2018 and launched

a "maximum pressure" campaign against

Tehran, reimposing and reinforcing

crippling sanctions.

The two countries have twice come to

the brink of war since June 2019,

especially following the killing of

Soleimani.

Rescue workers have uncovered a seventh body from a landslide that buried

homes in a village near Norway's capital, police said Sunday, with a two-yearold

girl and her father among the dead.

Photo : AP

Seventh body found

in Norway mudslide,

three still missing

OSLO : Rescue workers have uncovered a

seventh body from a landslide that buried

homes in a village near Norway's capital,

police said Sunday, with a two-year-old

girl and her father among the dead.

The tragedy occurred early on

Wednesday when houses were destroyed

and shifted hundreds of metres under a

torrent of mud in the village of Ask, 25

kilometres (15 miles) northeast of Oslo.

Police spokesman Bjorn Christian

Willersrud told journalists they hoped to

find more survivors in the landslide zone.

"It is still a rescue operation until we

decide otherwise," he said.

Earlier Sunday, the head of the rescue

operation, Goran Syversen, told

reporters: "We are working hard in the

depression created by the landslide,

reports UNB.

"We have five teams working at the

same time. They are doing very difficult

work which is not without risk.

Nevertheless, we are making good

progress." Police said the latest body was

found near where two others had been

recovered, but gave no further details.

The teams, backed up by sniffer dogs,

helicopters and drones, have now found

three bodies on Sunday, one on Saturday

and three on Friday.

Local residents left candles near the site

of the tragedy.

Five of the recovered victims have been

identified, including a woman in her

fifties and her 29-year-old son, and a 40-

year-old man and his two-year-old

daughter.

The first victim to be recovered, on

January 1, was a 31-year-old man.

Earlier police published the names of all

10 people, including the two-year-old and

a 13-year-old, who went missing on

Wednesday.

Ten people were also injured in the

landslide, including one seriously who

was transferred to Oslo for treatment.

About 1,000 people of the town's

population of 5,000 have been evacuated,

because of fears for the safety of their

homes as the land continues to move.

"It is a completely surreal and terrible

situation," one of the evacuees, Olav

Gjerdingen, told AFP.

South Korea

population falls

for first time

SEOUL : South Korea's

population fell for the first

time in 2020, with more

people dying than were born,

the government said

Monday, warning that towns

in poor regions faced a "crisis

of extinction".

The world's 12th-largest

economy has one of its

longest life expectancies and

one of its lowest birthrates, a

combination that presents a

looming demographic

disaster. As of December 31,

South Korea had 51,829,023

people, down 20,838 from a

year earlier, according to

data released by the interior

ministry. Annual births have

been falling for years and it

added that they had been

exceeded by deaths for the

first time, 275,815 to

307,764.

"In regions with poor

economic, medical and

educational infrastructure,

the crisis of the extinction of

such towns is escalating," the

ministry said.

It called for "fundamental

changes" in government

policies, including on welfare

and education.

According to experts there

are multiple causes for the

phenomenon, including the

expense of child-rearing and

soaring property prices,

coupled with a notoriously

competitive society that

makes well-paid jobs difficult

to secure.

The double burden for

working mothers of carrying

out the brunt of household

chores and childcare while

also maintaining their

careers is another key factor.

The South has spent more

than 180 trillion won ($166

billion) since 2006 to boost

birth rates but the

population is projected to fall

to 39 million in 2067, when

the median age will be 62.

WASHINGTON : Nancy Pelosi was

narrowly reelected Sunday as speaker,

giving her the reins of Democrats'

slender House majority as she and

President-elect Joe Biden set a

challenging course of producing

legislation to tackle the pandemic,

revive the economy and address other

party priorities.

"We accept a responsibility as

daunting and demanding as any that

previous generations of leadership have

faced," the California Democrat told the

chamber as she accepted a fresh twoyear

term in her post, perhaps her last.

Citing the 350,000 Americans who've

died from COVID-19 and the millions

who've lost jobs and livelihoods, she

won a standing ovation when she said,

"Our most urgent priority will continue

to be defeating the coronavirus. And

defeat it, we will."

Yet even before House Minority

Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif.,

ceremonially handed her the speaker's

gavel - a normally genial moment - he

provided a stark reminder of the

partisan divide coloring Congress.

McCarthy accused Pelosi of over the

past two years leading "the least

productive Congress in nearly 50 years"

and said there was a clear message in

World's biggest COVID-19

vaccination programme set

to begin in India: Indian PM

NEW DELHI : Indian Prime Minister

Narendra Modi said on Monday that the

world's biggest inoculation drive against

coronavirus is set to begin in the country, a

day after the drugs regulator approved two

vaccines for restricted emergency use.

Lauding the scientists and technicians for

the 'Made in India' vaccines, he said the

country is proud of them, reports PTI.

"World's biggest COVID-19 vaccination

programme set to begin in India. For this,

the country is proud of the contributions of

its scientists and technicians," Modi said.

India's drugs regulator on Sunday

approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine

Covishield, manufactured by the Serum

Institute, and indigenously developed

Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted

emergency use in the country, paving the

way for a massive inoculation drive.

Addressing scientists at the National

Metrology Conclave, Modi said it must be

ensured that 'Made in India' products not

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

last November's elections, when

Republicans gained seats by defeating a

dozen Democratic incumbents. "It was

a wake-up call," he said. "The question I

ask of this majority: were you

listening?" Those are assertions that

Democrats strongly dispute, saying it's

Republicans, especially in the GOP-led

Senate, who've blocked progress on

pandemic aid and other issues.

Pelosi, who has led her party in the

House since 2003 and is the only

woman to be speaker, received 216

votes to 209 for McCarthy, who again

will be the chamber's minority leader.

It was the first vote of the new

Congress, which convened Sunday with

COVID-19 guidelines requiring testing

and face coverings for lawmakers. There

was widespread mask-wearing and far

fewer legislators and guests in the

chamber than usual, an unimaginable

tableau when the last Congress

commenced two years ago, before the

pandemic struck.

Pelosi's election came 17 days before

Biden is inaugurated. Yet rather than a

fresh start for him and Pelosi, there are

issues and undercurrents that will carry

over from President Donald Trump's

tempestuous administration. Though

Congress enacted - and Trump finally

only have global demand but also global

acceptance.

"Quality is as much important as quantity,

our standards should rise with our scale in

our quest for Aatmanirbhar Bharat," he said.

The prime minister said in any progressive

society, research is key and effective and its

effects are commercial and social. They also

help widen approach and thinking.

"Past teaches us that more a country

concentrates on science, the more its

technology gets strengthened. This

technology in turn helps new industries and

promotes research. This cycle takes the

country ahead," he said.

"We do not want to fill the world with

Indian products, but we must win the hearts

of every customer of Indian products in

every corner of the world," he said.

Quality of services in our country and

products, both public or private sector, will

determine India's strength in the world, he

stressed.

Photo : AP

Pelosi narrowly reelected speaker,

faces difficult two years

signed - a $900 billion COVID-19 relief

package late last month, Biden and

many Democrats say they consider that

measure a down payment. They say

more aid is needed to bolster efforts to

vaccinate the public, curb the virus and

restore jobs and businesses lost to the

pandemic.

Biden's priorities also include efforts

on health care and the environment.

Guiding such legislation through the

House will be a challenge for Pelosi

because her party's narrow majority

means just a handful of defectors could

be fatal. In addition, cooperation with

Republicans could be made more

difficult as many in the GOP are

continuing to demonstrate fealty to the

divisive Trump, backing his unfounded

claims that his reelection loss was

tainted by fraud. Congress will meet

Wednesday to officially affirm Biden's

clear Electoral College victory over

Trump. Many House and Senate

Republicans say they will contest the

validity of some of those votes, but their

efforts are certain to fail.

There was no widespread fraud in the

election, which a range of election

officials across the country including

Trump's former attorney general,

William Barr, have confirmed.

Pressure on French government

to speed up vaccinations

PARIS : The French

government on Monday faced

growing pressure to accelerate

its Covid-19 vaccination drive,

with President Emmanuel

Macron reportedly also furious

over the slow pace of progress.

Just a few hundred people

have received the jab so far in

France, compared with over

200,000 in Germany and

around one million in Britain.

"What we have seen is a

government scandal," Jean

Rottner, the head of France's

Grand Est eastern region,

which has seen a particularly

sharp rise in infections, told

France 2 television.

"Things need to accelerate,"

said Rottner, a member of the

right-wing Republicans (LR)

opposition party. "The French

need clarity and firm messages

from a government that knows

where it is going. It is not giving

this impression."

Macron in his New Year

address to the nation had

already pledged there would

be no "unjustifiable delays" in

the rollout of the vaccination,

but the Journal du Dimanche

newspaper reported Sunday

that he has been scathing in

private about the speed of

progress. A pace at the level of

"a family stroll" was not

"worthy of the moment nor of

the French," the newspaper,

seen as close to the Elysee

Palace, quoted Macron as

saying.

"I am at war in the morning,

noon, evening and night," the

president, who recently

himself recovered from Covid-

19 infection, said according to

the report. "I expect the same

commitment from all. This

won't do. It must change

quickly and firmly." The

deputy president of the farright

National Rally (RN),

Jordan Bardella, said that

France had become the

"laughing stock of the world."

"We vaccinated in a week the

same number that the

Germans vaccinated in 30

minutes. It's shameful," he told

RTL television.

According to the French

health ministry just 516 people

had received the vaccination

by January 1.

The government had begun

the vaccination drive by

targeting residents of care

homes, a laborious process

given that consent is required

from each patient.

TuESDAY, JANuARY 5, 2021 8

The Senanibash Branch of First Security Islami Bank Ltd. relocated at new premises- Euro Star

Tower (1st & 2nd floor), 82/4/A, Ibrahimpur, Kachukhet Main Road, Kafrul, Dhaka-1206 with a view

to providing shariah based banking services in a greater extent to its clients recently. Syed Waseque

Md Ali, Managing Director of the Bank inaugurated the activities of relocated branch at new premises

through Video Conference. Among others, Abdul Aziz and Md. Mustafa Khair, Additional

Managing Director(s), Md. Zahurul Haque & Md. Masudur Rahman Shah, Deputy Managing

Director(s) along with other officials were present in the occasion. A Doa Mahfil was organized in

this regard.

Photo: Courtesy

Tokyo shares sink on expected

virus emergency

TOKYO: Tokyo stocks

began the new year in

volatile form, starting the

Monday session up but

quickly sinking on reports

Japan may call a state of

emergency over surging

coronavirus cases, reports

BSS.

The benchmark Nikkei

225 index started the first

trading day of the year up

0.53 percent but within an

hour it was down 1.07

percent, or 292.88 points, to

27,151.29.

The broader Topix index,

which had also started

higher, gave up 1.32 percent,

or 23.80 points, to 1,780.88.

The dollar stood at 103.05

yen, compared with 103.28

yen seen Thursday in New

York ahead of the new year

break.

The volatile start came as

local media widely reported

that Prime Minister

Yoshihide Suga was

considering issuing a

regional state of emergency

for Tokyo and surrounding

areas as the nation

continues to log record

numbers of daily

coronavirus infections.

Regional governors,

including Tokyo's Yuriko

Koike, on Saturday jointly

urged the national

government to declare a

state of emergency to slow

the spread of Covid-19.

LONDON: Britain faced

the first true test of its

Brexit preparations on

Monday, with thousands of

lorries expected to make

the Channel crossing for

the first time since the

country left the EU's single

market and customs union,

reports BSS.

Britain left the EU's

institutions late Thursday,

but light holiday season

traffic has meant little work

for border officials

implementing new

customs checks.

However,

the

government expects

thousands of lorries to

make the crossing on

Monday, bringing goods to

and from the continent and

testing its plans to keep

traffic flowing around key

ports such as Dover.

The government, which

has employed 1,000 new

border officials, is phasing

in the new customs checks,

with full import control

checks for all goods not to

be implemented until July.

But it is concerned that

truckers will turn up at

Dover without the proper

paperwork, causing delays

at the port itself and

blocking surrounding

roads if they are turned

away.

While it believes most

large businesses are ready

for the new rules, the

government is worried that

But the pandemic has

already caused severe

economic suffering to many

people, and Suga has been

reluctant to issue fresh

measures that could further

damage the economy.

Analysts have generally

kept an optimistic outlook

for the Japanese market in

the long run, although they

warned about a possible

correction phase through

March after strong gains

seen in recent weeks.

"The market opened with

buy orders leading the way,"

Okasan Online Securities

said in a note.

"But many investors

wanted to monitor the

spread of the coronavirus

infections as well as the

outcome of the US Senate

runoff elections."

"Once the initial buying

subsided, the market faced

pressure," encouraging

investors to wait for the next

opportunity to return to

buying, Okasan added.

The Nikkei index may

head toward 30,000 by

September, Rakuten

Securities said, with the

coronavirus vaccines

helping to normalise the

global economy and

encourage global investors.

But it could experience a

correction through March,

following sharp gains seen

toward the end of last year,

around 50 percent of

medium and small firms

have not carried out the

measures now needed to

export goods to Europe.

In its reasonable worstcase

scenario, over half of

trucks turning up to Dover

may not be ready for travel,

leading to queues of 7,000

lorries that will be directed

towards a disused local

airfield.

That could lead to a

return to the chaotic scenes

witnessed before

Christmas, when

thousands of trucks were

marooned in Britain after

France closed the border to

all traffic due to surging

coronavirus cases.

The lorries ended up

being stuck for days at the

Manston airfield while the

drivers were all tested for

the virus.

France still requires a

negative test for drivers

crossing the Channel,

adding an extra layer of

complexity for officials

trying to keep traffic

flowing.

The Department for

Transport announced on

Saturday the creation of 10

new testing sites, with 10

more opening on Sunday.

In a bid to prevent lorries

arriving at Dover

unprepared, truckers

heading across the

Channel are required to

obtain temporary permits

Rakuten added.

"All in all, Japanese shares

are still attractive, and we

expect buy orders will

dominate the market in a

long run," it said.

Okasan also said it

expected the Tokyo market

to generally "keep

performing" this year.

"The global economy in

2021 should move gradually

toward normalisation…

With excessive liquidity, the

market's upward

momentum should

strengthen further," the

brokerage said.

Okasan added that many

people might still feel

hesitant about getting

coronavirus vaccine shots,

making their effectiveness at

eradicating the pandemic

lower than many had hoped.

Many blue chip issues

gave up early gains and

plunged into negative

territory. Nintendo fell 1.20

percent to 65,040. Toyota

lost 0.65 percent to 7,905

yen. Uniqlo-operator Fast

Retailing gave up 0.97

percent to 91,570.

Construction equipment

maker Komatsu fell 1.83

percent to 2,766.

Some firms managed to

stay in the black. Sony added

0.63 percent to 10,350 yen.

Major logistics firm Yamato

Holdings rose 0.15 percent

to 2,635.

UK's Brexit plans to be tested

as festive period ends

to allow them to drive on

the roads of Kent, the

county in which the port is

situated.

Cameras will identify any

trucks without the Kent

Access Permit, with the

drivers facing a o300

($410, 337 euros) penalty,

although it appeared not all

truckers understood the

new rules.

"Some people are

worried because of the new

documents needed (for UK

exports) - you saw what

happened before

Christmas," Romanian

trucker Alexandru Mareci,

one of the first to make the

journey after the new rules

kicked in, told AFP.

Mareci, who was stuck in

Britain for two days during

the French border closure,

said he had never heard of

the Kent Access Permit.

As well as the new

customs checks, free

movement of over 500

million people between

Britain and the 27 EU

states ended as the new

arrangements took hold.

Britain voted to leave the

EU in 2016.

As part of the divorce

deal, the UK remained tied

to the EU's institutions for

a year-long transition

period, during which talks

took place to secure a deal

on the future trading

relationship.

Major General

Md Nazrul Islam,

new Executive

Chairman of

BEPZA

Major General Md Nazrul

Islam, SPP, ndu, afwc, psc, G

has taken over the charge of

the Executive Chairman of

Bangladesh Export

Processing Zones Authority

(BEPZA) recently. He

replaced Major General S M

Salahuddin Islam, BP, SPP,

ndc, psc who joined as

Military Secretary to the

President recently, a press

release said.

Before joining BEPZA,

Major General Nazrul was

General

Officer

Commanding (GOC) of 66

Infantry Division at

Rangpur Cantonment. Prior

to that, he served as the Area

Commander of Logistics at

Dhaka Cantonment. He also

commanded one Artillery

Brigade at Cumilla

Cantonment.

In his adorned service life,

Major General Nazrul has

served in Directorate

General of Forces

Intelligence (DGFI), Armed

Forces Division and Military

Secretariat (MS) Branch in

Army Headquarters. His

Military career spanned over

command, staff and

instructional appointments.

He commanded three

Artillery units. Moreover, he

has served at the UN

mission in Sierra Leone and

Democratic Republic of

Congo (DRC).

Major General Nazrul

Islam has been awarded

with prestigious Sena

Parodorshita Padak (SPP)

for his dynamic leadership

in 2020.

Hopes for recovery help Asian markets

start new year with a pop

HONG KONG: Optimism about the

economic outlook in 2021 helped Asian

investors kick off the new year Monday

on a positive note, as hopes

surrounding the rollout of coronavirus

vaccines offset a frightening surge in

infections, reports BSS.

With uncertainty over Brexit and a

new US stimulus gone, sights are now

on the economic recovery from the

calamity that was 2020, with a broad

expectation that countries will enjoy

strong rebounds as life gets back to

some semblance of normal.

Vast amounts of government and

central bank cash have been a crucial

driver of a global rally in equities from

their March troughs, and analysts

expect those loose monetary policies -

particularly at the Federal Reserve - to

stay in place for the foreseeable future.

"Stock markets are headed higher

and they are headed higher without the

old traditional valuation techniques" as

long as the Fed "keeps the liquidity

bubble going", David Kotok, at

Cumberland Advisors, told Bloomberg

TV.

However, while the consensus is for a

strong performance for markets this

year, he did warn that the first quarter

will likely be tough as vaccinations are

administered but the virus continues to

spread.

Seoul rallied two percent following

strong export data, while Sydney put on

more than one percent as there were

signs a spike in new infections in the

city was being brought under control.

Hong Kong rose, though China

Mobile Communications, China

Telecommunications Corp and China

Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited all

dipped more than three percent after

they were delisted in New York to

comply with an order by Donald

Trump barring investment in firms

with ties to the Chinese military.

State-owned oil giants CNOOC and

Petrochina were also hit on speculation

they could be next in line.

Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Manila

and Jakarta were all on course to start

the year on a positive note.

But Tokyo fell as investors fretted

over reports that Japanese Prime

Minister Yoshihide Suga was

considering issuing a regional state of

emergency for the capital and

surrounding areas as new virus cases

soar. Still, Rakuten Securities said the

Nikkei could hit 30,000 by September

as people are vaccinated.

The broad gains in Asia came after

the Dow and S&P 500 finished at fresh

records on Wall Street.

"Covid cases and vaccine distribution

will remain the key focus for investors

for now. The political forces that

influenced markets late in 2020 have

almost faded as the US election and

Brexit have passed," said Kerry Craig at

JP Morgan Asset Management.

"Without the wide distribution of

vaccines, the paths of Covid and the

economy are locked together, given the

impact on social mobility and economic

curtailment.

"This link will be broken as immunity

levels rise into the middle of the year,

but until then the economic path will be

bumpy over the first quarter."

On currency markets the pound

extended gains against the dollar on the

first trading day after the United

Kingdom left the European customs

union, having eventually agreed a trade

deal.

Oil prices were also higher as eyes

turn to a meeting of OPEC and other

major producers later in the day to

decide February output levels.

"While it is increasingly clear that

2021 global demand will be above

supply if OPEC+ can hold together,

limiting downside risk in oil, near-term

catalysts due to the new contagious

mutations are more likely to be

negative than positive for near term oil

prices," said Axi strategist Stephen

Innes.

Investors are also keeping tabs on the

US, where Georgia has two runoff

elections that will decide which party

holds control of the Senate.

Bitcoin surged to a new record high

near $34,000 after smashing through

$30,000 for the first time at the

weekend as risk-seeking investors pile

into the cryptocurrency, with demand

helped by online payments giant

PayPal's announcement in October

that it would enable account holders to

use it.

Prime Bank launches real-time remittance service, RemitPrime,

for expatriate Bangladeshis in Singapore and the UK

Prime Bank has recently

launched a state-of-the-art

real-time remittance

service- RemitPrime- for the

customers of its subsidiaries

in Singapore and the United

Kingdom (UK). This is the

first real-time, online

platform launched by a

Bangladeshi Bank abroad, a

press release said.

Through RemitPrime, the

expatriate Bangladeshis can

transfer remittance in realtime

to any account of Prime

Bank and to any bKash

wallet across the country.

For all other banks,

remittance will be

transferred instantly as per

the BEFTN* transaction

cycle. Along with the

remittance, the new service

also ensures payment of 2%

incentive instantly*.

RemitPrime also provides

real-time information on the

transaction to its users.

The expatriates from

Bangladesh, India, and the

Philippines, residing in

Singapore, can now send

money to their respective

home countries through

RemitPrime services by

downloading Prime Bank's

Interment Banking mobile

app 'Prime Bank App' from

'Apple's App Store' and

'Google's Play Store' or by

logging

in

www.remitprime.com.

Prime Bank has plans to

extend its online remittance

payment services to major

remittance corridors likeUS,

EU, Gulf Countries, Japan,

Korea, Malaysia and so on.

Prime Bank's Acting

Managing Director and CEO

Faisal Rahman said, "Our

customers maintaining

account with Prime Bank

will enjoy real-time fund

transfer against their

remittance from abroad. We

also can make transfer to

bKash Accounts in real-time

with RemitPrime. With this

new service, our customers

are enjoying the

convenience of receiving

remittance at their

doorsteps round-the-clock.

We believe these services

will inspire expatriate

Bangladeshis to send more

money through legal

channel and boost up the

flow of remittance into the

country. The remitters from

other major corridors like

KSA, Malaysia, and other

countries will also receive

similar facilities soon."

Highlighting the

capabilities of the

RemitPrime mobile

applications, Shams

Abdullah Muhaimin, Prime

Bank's Head of Transaction

Banking, said: "RemitPrime

platform is built on a

machine learning

technology which has

automated majority of

manual activities. The

system can process

thousands of transactions in

minutes with real-time fund

transfer to beneficiary

accounts 24X7. The mobile

app version of the

application is first of its kind

launched by a local bank into

overseas. The system can

now be offered as a whitelabel

solution to different

overseas remittance service

providers working in

Bangladesh corridor."

Prime Bank has two

remittance subsidiaries, one

is in Singapore - Prime

Exchange Co. Pte Ltd- which

has 3 branches located at

Desker Road, Jurong East

and at Joo Koon. Another is

in the UK named PBL

Exchange (UK) Ltd having

three branches in London,

Birmingham and Oldham

and 35 agent locations well

distributed throughout the

UK. This new service has

already gained huge

popularity among the

expatriates in Singapore

who are relying on the

online service to send money

to their near and dear ones

in Bangladesh quickly,

especially at this time of

COVID-19.

OPEC+ meeting to set February production levels

LONDON: Members of the

OPEC group of oil producers and

their partners will meet via

videoconference Monday to

decide production levels for

February, which it hopes to

continue boosting, reports BSS.

The OPEC+ ministerial

meeting comes after the Covid-19

pandemic tanked the market for

crude in 2020.

Despite a slight recovery of

prices towards the end of last

year, the 13 members of the

Organisation of the Petroleum

Exporting Countries (OPEC), led

by Saudi Arabia, and their ten

allies, led by Russia, are still

suffering under a highly volatile

market.

After their last videoconference

summit, held from November 30

to December 3, the OPEC+

members agreed to raise

production levels by half a

million barrels per day in

January.

At the same meeting, OPEC+

agreed to meet at the beginning

of each month to decide on any

adjustments to production

volumes for the following month.

That agreement "paved the way

for a gradual return of 2 million

barrels per day to the market

over the coming months,"

OPEC's general secretary,

Mohammed Barkindo, said on

Sunday.

OPEC members typically meet

twice a year at the cartel's

headquarters in Vienna, but last

year, summits were scheduled

more frequently to maintain a

strong influence on the oil

market amidst the pandemic.

Despite demand remaining

uncertain, analysts have said that

OPEC+ demonstrated that it can

manage the market as the North

Sea Brent Crude and West Texas

Intermediate (WTI) crude both

ended the week around the $50

per barrel level.

Though far lower than the

prices seen at the start of 2020,

crude was well up on the lows

seen last year, particularly in

March, when Moscow and

Riyadh embarked on a brief but

intense oil price war that caused

prices to plummet.

Russia and Saudi Arabia are

respectively the second and third

biggest oil producers in the world

after the United States.

On April 20, WTI crude

collapsed to minus $40.32 per

barrel - meaning producers paid

buyers to take the oil off their

hands.

Relations between the two oil

giants have 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.

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.

TUeSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021

9

Ronaldo scored twice as champions Juventus bounced back from their first Serie A defeat of the season

by beating Udinese 4-1 on Sunday.

Photo: AP

ronaldo double lifts Juve as 10-man

Milan stay top ahead of Inter

SportS DeSk:

Cristiano ronaldo scored twice as

champions Juventus bounced back

from their first Serie A defeat of the

season by beating Udinese 4-1 on

Sunday to move up to fifth place,

reports BSS.

the Milan clubs are top of the Italian

league with Juventus 10 points adrift

of the summit having played a game

less. Leaders AC Milan stayed one

point ahead of Inter with a 2-0 win

over midtable Benevento despite

playing an hour a man down.

City rivals Inter crushed lowly

Crotone 6-2 with Lautaro Martinez

bagging his first hat-trick for the club.

But Milan restored their advantage

thanks to a Franck kessie penalty on

15 minutes and rafael Leao's terrific

curling strike from a tight angle shortly

after half-time.

Sandro tonali's sending off after 33

minutes for a high tackle on Artur

Ionita did not hold back Stefano pioli's

side. Gianluigi Donnarumma was

solid in the Milan goal while Gianluca

Caprari dragged a penalty wide on the

hour.

"We don't let ourselves be put under

pressure by the results of the

opponents," said pioli whose side are

unbeaten in 27 league games going

back to March.

"We're ambitious, we're not hiding it

and we aim to win the next match as

well against Juventus (on

Wednesday)."

ronaldo once again proved decisive

for Juventus scoring a goal in each half

to bring his league-leading tally to 14

this campaign and teeing up Federico

Chiesa after the break.

paulo Dybala added the fourth deep

into injury time as Andrea pirlo's side

moved on from their shock 3-0 loss to

Fiorentina last time out.

"It wasn't the best Juventus because

we were coming off a bad defeat, we

were a bit fearful at the beginning,"

said pirlo. "Slowly we grew and in the

second half we did better. It's a delicate

moment but we have to have

confidence in what we can achieve and

the determination to get there."

At the San Siro, Martinez and

romelu Lukaku combined to

devastating effect for Inter who have

now won eight league games in a row.

the strike duo were involved in five

goals although midfielder Arturo Vidal

was hauled off at half-time after

conceding a penalty in a woeful

display. Antonio Conte's side had been

pegged back 2-2 at the break with

Niccolo Zanellato scoring first with a

12th-minute header for the rock

bottom Calabrians with the worst

attack in the league.

But Martinez picked up a Lukaku

cross to pull the hosts level eight

minutes later.

Martinez had a role in Inter's second

just after half an hour when Crotone

defender Luca Marrone turned the

ball into his own net under pressure

from the Argentina forward.

Vladimir Golemic put the sides level

six minutes later after Vidal fouled

Arkadiusz reca, with a furious Conte

replacing the Chilean with Stefano

Sensi at the break.

Martinez restored the lead for Inter

before the hour connecting with a

Marcelo Brozovic through ball

following a Lukaku back-heel, and

headed in his third with 12 minutes to

go off a rebound.

Lukaku blasted in his 50th goal for

Inter after 64 minutes but limped off

after taking a knock to his right thigh

10 minutes later, before Achraf

Hakimi rounded out the win with

three minutes to go.

"there is great desire and it

shows," said Conte as Inter target

their first Serie A title since 2010

with their european campaign over

this season.

Williamson, Nicholls propel New

Zealand with record stand

SportS DeSk:

kane Williamson's brilliant 112*, in a

record 215-run unbroken partnership

for the fourth wicket with Henry

Nicholls, laid the groundwork as New

Zealand reduced their deficit to just 11

by stumps on Day 2 of the test series

decider in Christchurch, on Monday

(January 4), reports Ap.

Amidst testing spells from pakistan's

four-pronged pace attack, New Zealand

lost three wickets in quick succession

on either side of the lunch break. But

Williamson dug in to squeeze the life

and patience out of the pakistan attack

and notch up his 24th test hundred in

the process. At the other end, Nicholls

made pakistan pay for the early

reprieve on 3 and rode his luck to finish

the day just 11 short of what could be

his test career's seventh century.

After posting 297 on a green-top on

Day 1, pakistan's pace battery came out

with an aggressive approach right from

the word go, but didn't manage to

trouble New Zealand's openers a whole

lot consistently for the better part of the

morning session. Both tom Latham

and tom Blundell put on a show on

how to bat effectively in seam-friendly

conditions, keeping the visitors at bay

for close to 90 minutes - offering no

chances whatsoever barring a run-out

scare for the latter.

Mohammad Abbas seemed to be the

only bowler trying to ask questions to

the batsmen, but the openers stood well

outside their crease to counter the

movement and negate any threat he

posed. Both Blundell and Latham took

their time to get their eye in, wearing

down the pakistani bowlers in the

process. Desperate for a breakthrough,

the visitors resorted to the short-ball

ploy, but both openers merrily pulled

those away to get the runs flowing more

easily after the first half an hour.

New Zealand's first fifty came in the

20th over with a third man boundary,

between two loud lbw shouts against

Blundell, the second of which got

pakistan the much-needed

breakthrough. Unlike earlier in the

over, pakistan wasted little time in

reviewing the call the second time they

were turned down by the on-field

umpire when Faheem Ashraf pinned

the opener in the line of the stumps

with a pitched up delivery that swung

back in sharply. New Zealand had

barely recovered when Shaheen Afridi

dealt them a second blow by finding a

thick edge off Latham's bat that was

taken by a tag-team effort between the

first and the second slip as the hosts lost

both set openers in the space of an over.

Senior pro, ross taylor joined hands

with his captain, Williamson, to brave it

out for the rest of the session but nicked

an away going delivery from Abbas

shortly afterward that gave pakistan

another reason to rejoice. It could have

been a double whammy had Afridi not

overstepped to nib the Nicholls threat

in the bud. Instead, pakistan paid the

price as he combined with Williamson

for a record highest fourth-wicket stand

against them in test cricket.

It wasn't the easiest spell in the day to

survive when the two came together,

but help came from unexpected

quarters. After having kept New

Zealand under strict check for almost

the entirety of the session, pakistan

rather needlessly introduced parttimers

into the attack before tea. And a

well-set Williamson pounced on the

opportunity to extract a few freebies,

quickly moving from 10 off 48 to 40 off

88 by the session break.

the final session was indeed most

productive for the hosts with a tiring

bowling attack erring more often to

help both Williamson and Nicholls find

boundaries rather consistently.

Williamson's last 93 runs up until his

century came off just 92 balls, as New

Zealand fetched a total of 141 runs after

tea. the kiwi skipper didn't let the lone

spinner in the game, Zafar Gohar, settle

in and then punished the haywire

bowling of Naseem Shah right after

drinks to steal 16 in an over and move

into his 90s. taking just 35 balls

between his fifty and hundred,

Williamson reached the milestone with

back to back boundaries off Ashraf in

the 73rd over.

Taking just 35 balls between his fifty and hundred, Williamson reached the milestone with back to back

boundaries off Ashraf.

Photo: AP

Lampard is the man in the firing line after Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Manchester City capped a run of

one win in six games.

Photo: AP

Chelsea collapse leaves Lampard testing Abramovich's patience

SportS DeSk:

Frank Lampard knows the demands

of being a Chelsea manager under

roman Abramovich more than most

having played for nine different

coaches during his playing career at

Stamford Bridge, reports BSS.

Now Lampard is the man in the firing

line after Sunday's 3-1 defeat to

Manchester City capped a run of one win

in six games that looks to have

extinguished any hope of a premier

League title challenge. Much more was

expected of the Blues after a o220

million ($300 million) spending spree in

the transfer market at a time when most

of european football's major powers

were scaling back due to the economic

effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

After bankrolling the purchases of kai

Havertz, timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech,

Ben Chilwell and edouard Mendy,

Abramovich will have expected more

than Chelsea's position of eighth in the

table nearly halfway through the season.

patience has not been a virtue of the

russian's 18-year reign as Chelsea

owner and even a club legend like

Lampard, who is the club's all-time

top goalscorer, is unlikely to be

afforded much more time to turn the

situation around.

the Athletic reported on Sunday that

Chelsea are already lining up suitable

candidates should the 42-year-old be

sacked. - Great expectations -

Lampard does have some credit in

the bank from his first season in

charge, which took the club back into

the Champions League despite a

transfer ban and the sale of eden

Hazard to real Madrid.

But expectations have changed since

the summer spending spree, even if

Lampard has always cautioned Chelsea

will need more time to match the

standards set by Liverpool and City in

recent seasons.

"the expectations are different this

year because everyone looks and says

'you spent this amount of money',"

Lampard said after a fourth defeat in

six games. "the reality is a lot of the

players that have come in are new,

young, have been injured, or not

played together. there are a lot of

expectations that are not real."

But the manner of defeat to a City side

depleted by coronavirus infections and

who have struggled to score goals this

season, offered little sign of what

Lampard is trying to build towards.

Bayern Munich

avoid Bundesliga

rivals in German

Cup draw

SportS DeSk:

Germany's top clubs

managed to mostly avoid each

other in Sunday's German Cup,

last 16 draw with just two all-

Bundesliga ties in Schalke away

to Wolfsburg and Stuttgart

hosting Moenchengladbach,

reports BSS.

Should european champions

and German Cup holders

Bayern Munich beat Holstein

kiel in their second-round tie,

postponed to January 13, they

will face another second

division side in Darmstadt on

February 2 or 3. Likewise, the

winner of Bayer Leverkusen

against eintracht Frankfurt on

January 12, also postponed

from December, is away to rot-

Weiss essen, the only

remaining fourth-tier team.

Borussia Dortmund and rB

Leipzig have drawn second

division clubs in paderborn and

Bochum respectively.

the quarter-finals are

scheduled to be held in early

March with the final at

Berlin's olympic Stadium on

May 13. German Cup, last 16

draw - ties to be played on

February 2/3 VfL Wolfsburg v

Schalke 04, VfB Stuttgart v

Borussia M"nchengladbach, rB

Leipzig v VfL Bochum, Borussia

Dortmund v paderborn, Jahn

regensburg v Cologne, Werder

Bremen v Greuther Fuerth,

Holstein kiel/Bayern Munich v

Darmstadt 98, rot-Weiss essen

v Bayer Leverkusen/ eintracht

Frankfurt.

Barca triumph as Messi makes

500th Liga appearance

SportS DeSk:

Barcelona won 1-0 at

bottom side Huesca on

Sunday as Lionel Messi

became the first foreigner to

make 500 appearances in

Spain's La Liga, while a late

Luis Suarez goal secured

leaders Atletico Madrid

victory against Alaves,

reports BSS.

Messi returned for Barca

after missing the final game of

2020 with an ankle knock and

swung in a cross for Frenkie

de Jong to divert home for the

only goal on 27 minutes.

Although ronald koeman's

side began a potentially

season-defining run of four

consecutive away matches

with a comfortable win, they

remain a distant 10 points

behind Atletico in fifth having

played a game more.

"In general, aside from the

last 20 minutes we played

well," said koeman.

"We created a lot of danger,

which isn't easy against a

team that shuts up at the back.

We got a great goal and we

had two or three more

chances to pull away."

Barca dominated possession

and created a number of

chances but Huesca goalkeeper

Alvaro Fernandez produced

several fine saves to keep the

hosts in touch.

After De Jong's opener

Messi was denied a second

just before half-time when

Fernandez superbly clawed

away his free-kick heading

towards the top corner.

the Argentine was again

thwarted by the legs of

Fernandez in the second half

after combining well with

pedri, moments after Marc-

Andre ter Stegen reacted

sharply to keep out rafa Mir's

inventive back-heel.

that was a rare threat from

Huesca who have now won

just once in 17 tries this season

but had taken points off most

visitors to their estadio el

Alcoraz so far, including

Atletico in September.

"We came out strong and

very concentrated. It's the

main base we need. If we have

that, we improve a lot with the

ball and if we get better in

front of goal then we can have

a very good start to the year,"

added koeman.

earlier in the day, Suarez

struck a 90th-minute

winner for Atletico as they

defeated 10-man Alaves 2-1

to move back above real

Madrid at the top. Marcos

Llorente gave Atletico the

lead at Mendizorroza shortly

before half-time with a

deflected strike from just

outside the area.

Diego Simeone's side

appeared to have the game

under control when Alaves

defender Victor Laguardia

was sent off on the hour

following a VAr review for

chopping down thomas

Lemar as the Frenchman ran

towards goal.

Florian Lejeune headed

against the post for Alaves

before a spectacular own goal

on 84 minutes from Felipe

threatened to cost Atletico two

vital points, the Brazilian

centre-back drilling beyond

Jan oblak as he attempted to

hack clear an attempted cross.

However, Suarez secured

Atletico's fourth consecutive

win in the final minute as the

Uruguayan tapped in from

close range after the ball was

slotted across goal by

substitute Joao Felix.

"the best thing is how the

team finished, not getting

nervous, just playing. And the

goal was a great goal," said

Simeone.

Atletico climbed two points

clear of real Madrid and have

two games in hand on the

defending champions.

"the takeaway from this is

to continue on the same path,"

added Simeone.

Athletic Bilbao sacked

coach Gaizka Garitano

following a 1-0 home win over

elche, with reports in Spain

linking former Barcelona boss

ernesto Valverde to the

vacant job.

real Sociedad lost more

ground on the top two after

they could only manage a 1-1

draw at home to struggling

osasuna, while teenager

Bryan Gil scored both goals

in eibar's 2-0 defeat of

Granada.

TUesDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021

10

Cinema halls to screen

Hindi movies

TBT RepoRT

‘Maan Obhiman’ mega serial

steps into 3rd years

Deepto TV's popular mega

serial 'Maan Obhiman' has

reached a new milestone by

completing its two-year

journey today (January 5).

The drama will complete its

565th episode at 7pm today, said

a press release.

Screenwriter Nasimul Hasan

adapted the serial's screenplay

from Jane Austen's classic novel

Pride and Prejudice. Directed by

Ashish Kumar Rai, Maan

Tribhanga trailer

Kajol turns Odissi dancer

struggling with hatred

for mom

The trailer of Kajol-starrer

Tribhanga is out. Directed by

Renuka Shahane, the film, also

starring Tanvi Azmi, Mithila Palkar

and Kunaal Roy Kapur, revolves

around the complexities of three

women from different generations

in a family, whose lives are

intertwined despite their

unconventional life's decisions.

The trailer shows Nayan (Azmi),

a Marathi litterateur and a

matriarch, telling her story for an

Obhiman premiered on TV on

January 5, 2019. The drama

revolves around five sisters from

a middle class family, dealing

with life's day to day

complications.

Cast of the serial includes

Rosey Siddique, Tofa Hassan,

Shamapty Mashuq, Iffat Ara

Tithi, Shibly Nouman, Sanjida

Epsha, Arman Parvez Murad,

Tanin Tanha, Shelly Ahsan,

Sanjida Mila, Teresa Chaity,

autobiography to writer Kapur. We

also see her daughter Anu (Kajol), a

classical dancer and her

granddaughter Masha (Palkar)

reveal flaws and frustrations about

being a part of the same

dysfunctional family.

Talking about Tribhanga, Renuka

Shahane said in a statement, "I

wanted to capture the

dysfunctional family dynamics

when the core, the relationship

with the mother, is shaky and

Emila Haque, Zebunnessa

Sobhan, Sujat Shimul, Kazi Raju,

Ashok Bepari, and many others.

Maan Obhiman is being aired

on Deepto TV from Saturday to

Friday at 7pm.

On several occasions, the longrunning

drama reached number

one in rankings among all the

broadcast serials on Bangladeshi

television channels, and

continues to maintain a steady

and dedicated viewership.

unstable. I added three different

generations to better reflect the

intergenerational perspective in

looking at the same event in three

different ways."

Speaking about her character in

the film, Kajol said, "Tribhanga is a

celebration of women and all their

beautiful imperfections. We need to

embrace these imperfections and

live on our own terms, just the way

Nayan, Anu, and Masha do in this

film. My character is outspoken

and opinionated much like how the

audience knows me, yet is

completely different."

While Tanvi Azmi called her

character Nayan "ahead of time",

Mithila said her Masha is the

"calming force among the three

women".

Tribhanga is produced by Ajay

Devgn, Siddharth P Malhotra,

Sapna Malhotra, Deepak Dhar,

Rishi Negi and Parag Desai. Also

starring Manav Gohil and Vaibhav

Tatwawaadi, the film will premiere

on Netflix on January 15.

Source: indianexpress.com

Bangladeshi film industries policy-making body has reached a

consensus to screen Hindi films in the country's cinema halls.

The decision came from a meeting of Bangladesh Film

Producers Distributors Association, Bangladesh Film

Exhibitors' Association and Bangladesh Film Directors

Association in Dhaka.

Leaders of the three organizations said finding no alternative,

they took the decision to save the country's cinema halls. They

also called upon the government to ease the existing regulations

over producing joint venture movies.

Mushfiqur Raman Gulzar, president of Bangladesh Film

Directors Association; Khorshed Alam Khasru, president of the

producers and distributors association; Sohanur Rahman

Sohan, noted film producer, Mirza Abdul Khaleq, former

president of film exhibitors association; among others were

present at the meeting. Khorshed Alam Khorsu said that the

decision was taken, keeping the pandemic in mind. "We want to

TBT RepoRT

Shooting of Tauquir Ahmed's

film 'Sphulingo' concluded

yesterday. The director

completed the shooting in

just 23 days. The shooting of

the film started on December

11 at Nokkhottrobari Resort

in Rajendrapur. Tauquir

Ahmed said.

However, some patchwork

remains. I will complete the

work of dubbing and

editing. 'Tauquir Ahmed

expressed his gratitude to

everyone including the

artist of the film for their

great cooperation to

complete the shooting for

just 23 consecutive days.

'Sphulingo' is being produced

by 'Shopnoer Bangladesh

Foundation'. After ' Joyjatra ',

Angelina Jolie approached

to direct Fifty Shades films

Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan rose to fame with the

Fifty Shades Of Grey franchise with their role of Anastasia

Steele and Christian Grey respectively. They have got a

massive fan following post the success of films. But do y'all

know, not Sam Taylor-Johnson but Angelina Jolie was the

first choice to direct the film?

Yes, that's correct. The beautiful mommy has already directed

films like Unbroken, By The Sea and First They Killed My Father

to name a few.

In an interview, Angelina Jolie revealed why she declined to

direct the Fifty Shades Films and said, "I - I think they're just …

it's funny, I think with directing, you just think, "I'm better at

telling some stories than others," but, um, who knows? I came

very clear out of the gate: after Blood And Honey, if I ever

directed again, it would have to be a certain kind of film."

Meanwhile, have you ever wondered how much Dakota earned

with her raunchy character in Fifty Shades? For the unversed,

Dakota Johnson's role as Anastasia was pretty bold. Her

character involved a lot of innocence and sweetness, but there

was a lot of steamy romance. And with that came multiple

intimate scenes. In fact, Dakota even had to go n*de for multiple

of them. Of course, she charged a hefty sum for the same.

But we're a little shocked with the fact that Dakota Johnson

and Jamie Dornan almost earned equal amounts. We mean,

equality all the way as far as the pay parity goes. But Dakota had

a lot more bold scenes, and most actors charge double the

amount for the same. For example, Megan Fox charged a huge

sum for her role in the Transformers.

Source: oltnews.com

make it clear that we are taking this decision for the betterment

of cinema halls during the pandemic," he said.

"After the pandemic is over, we will not release Indian films

anymore. Local films are our highest priority. There will also be

no foreign releases in major festivals, moving forward."

Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar stated that new policies are

required before releasing Indian films. "We already have the

permission of importing Indian films in the SAFTA agreement,"

he said. "We can bring both Bengali and Hindi films, but not

throughout the year. For the time being, we have agreed to do

this for one year," he said.

Shooting of Tauquir’s

‘Sphulingo’ concludes

'Rupkothar Golpo', 'Daruchini

Dwip', ' Oggatonama ', 'Halda'

and 'Fagun Haway', this time

Tauquir Ahmed's movie is with

a band group.

Basically, the film is found in

a combination of youth with the

ideals and consciousness of

Bangabandhu. This was stated

by the director at a press

conference on the film in

December.

At that time, the director of

the film said in the context of

the story of the film, the

movie will go ahead with the

relationship between the

liberation war and creativity

in youth. Through band

music, various forms of

relationship, creation and

revolution will be revealed in

it. Besides, the desire for

responsibility will also be

highlighted.

The film stars Rawnak

Hasan, Pori Moni and Shamol

Mawla and Zakia Bari Mamo

in four central roles. Artists

like Abul Hayat, Mamunur

Rashid, Shahidul Alam

Sachchu have also acted.

Pintu Ghosh is in charge of

directing the music of the

movie. Director Tauquir

Ahmed has announced plans

to release the movie in

March.

H o R o s c o p e

ARIes

(March 21 - April 20) : The morning

might find you sitting like a stick in the

mud, Aries. People might be getting

down on you for not contributing, but

tell them to be patient. You will be raring to go by

nightfall. The catalyst may come from an outside

source. Be on the lookout for a challenge. Someone

might rattle your cage a bit too much, so be patient

and don't take it personally.

TAURUs

(April 21 - May 21) : Things are

moving your way, Taurus. As the day

progresses, you will find that the

energy intensifies. Conflicts may

arise near sundown, but don't worry about it too

much. See it as a call to jump-start your motor.

Visit an antique shop and chat with the people

around you. Simple yet meaningful encounters

may prove richly rewarding.

GeMINI

(May 22 - June 21) : You should enjoy the

intense energy of today, Gemini. The mud is

finally beginning to clear away. Expose the

truth in every issue and get ready for the

gremlins that may be unEarthed. Connect with nature

today and spend some time with animals if you can. Take

deep breaths in fresh outdoor air and enjoy a long walk

somewhere special with a close friend.

cANceR

(June 22 - July 23) : Today marks the

beginning of a new cycle for you, Cancer.

Collect and consolidate your recent ideas

and focus them outwardly. The time is

right for you to act. Improve your surroundings and

adjust your bed so that it faces east/west. (A

north/south placement aligns you with Earth's

magnetic field and causes you to lose energy at night.)

Drink plenty of water to keep your mind clear.

Leo

(July 24 - Aug. 23): Take a cold

shower to jump-start yourself today,

Leo. It's fine if you laze around a bit in

the morning, but by evening, you

should be working at full capacity. You will be called

into action whether you want to be or not. Notice

how active your dreams are tonight and over the

next couple of nights. Messages are trying to get

through, so listen.

VIRGo

(Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): Today may start

out sluggish for you, Virgo, but by the end of

the day the energy will move fast and

furious. Your thoughts will be buzzing

around your head like bees around a hive. An introspective

and contemplative morning has filled your brain with a

new wave of thoughts, which you will be eager to share with

anything that has ears tonight.

LIBRA

(Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): Enjoy the calm

morning, Libra, because things are

going to get crazier and more

energetic as the day goes on.

Emotions will run high, and people will be more

opinionated than usual. A conflict may arise from

which you just want to extricate yourself. Realize

that a more peaceful agreement will ensue if you

jump in and add your two cents' worth.

scoRpIo

(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22): You will experience

an intense amount of energy today,

Scorpio. Your dream state will be more

active than usual, and you will find

that people are drawn to you like moths to light.

Make sure you keep your fiery emotions in balance

and don't cross any boundaries with others. People

have limits, and it's important that you honor theirs

as well as your own.

sAGITTARIUs

(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): It's time to get up and get

moving, Sagittarius. You have tremendous

ideas and vision for the future. You have all the

information you need. Now all you have to do

is act. Step up to the plate and hit one over the fence. Getting

out of your box and further into the world at large will do you

a great deal of good. Get a greater perspective on things and

enjoy time in a new environment.

cApRIcoRN

(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): The early part of the day

might find you sluggish and indecisive,

Capricorn, but later you should be

psyched up and ready to go. Today

marks the beginning of a new period in which you

should set your ideas in motion. Action is the key.

Think before you speak and use caution when talking

about other people. Make sure your discussions

about others don't turn into gossip.

AQUARIUs

(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) : Today's energies will

get progressively more intense as the day

goes on. In the morning, you may be in an

easygoing, dreamy state, Aquarius, but

you will be itching to take action by nightfall. Take what

you've learned from your sensitive, meditative state and

share it with others. Use your inner calm to bring

stability to stressful situations. Make sure things don't

get out of hand tonight.

pIsces

(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) : For the past several

weeks you've felt like you've been dragging

your heels, Pisces. Decisions may have been

hard to make and people may have seemed

wishy-washy. There's a major energy shift tonight that will

spark things back into action. Once again you will be on

center stage. Be yourself and smile. Fun is a commodity you

have in abundance. Share this incredible gift with others.

TuESdAY, JANuARY 5, 2021

11

Educational institution built by illegally occupying land in Kazir Hat area of Jajiraupazila of

Shariatpur district.

Photo: TBT

Principal Ali Hossain illegally occupying land in the

name of educational institution in Shariatpur

Staff Reporter : Ali Hossain, principal of Abdur Razzak

School and College in South Dubaldia in Kazir Hat area of

Jajiraupazila of Shariatpur district, has been accused of illegal

land grabbing. For many years, he has been occupying

other people's land and running the institution. The victim

filed two cases in the court and the landlord Monsur Ali

Mridha got the verdict in both the cases.

After visiting the spot that since the establishment of the

school, principal Ali Hossain has been carrying on the activities

of the school by occupying the ancestral land of Monsur

Ali Mridha, son of late DhalaiMridha of South Dubaldia village

of Jajiraupazila.

In this regard, the victim Monsur Ali Mridha said, "when

the school was established, some local people, including the

principal Ali Hossain, asked me for some land and when I

was asked to keep me as a donor member of the school, I

wrote 12 percent land in the name of the school." Principal

Ali Hossain cheated with me after taking the land. He did not

make me a donor member. Gradually, Ali Hossain forcibly

occupied another 30 percent of my land and built a house

there and conducted classes.I repeatedly asked him to move

the house but he did not move and said he would kill me in

life and threatened to occupy my house in the name of all the

schools.When I filed a civil case against it in the court, I got

verdict in both the cases. Now Ali Hossain is coming with

various threats to occupy my house to build a new building.

I appeal to the Prime Minister, my ancestral land to return

me and keep me as a donor member of this educational

institution. In this regard, the wife of the victim said- this

school has built the house in the land of our house. They

have not been removed so far as they will be removed after

a few days. Ali Hossain's house in Jajira costs 1 crore Taka.

We are thinking of our children's future and have given 12

percent of the land to the school for the development of the

area. What's more, they have taken over 3 times more land

and entered our house. We want our land back. We have

gone to law. We have won by law. Even after that Ali

Hossain is not leaving our land.

In this regard, Rubel Hossain, son of Monsur Ali said- Ali

Hossain has built the school on our own land by force. We

went to have a party with the family at that time. I came and

saw Ali Hossain making establishment on our land with

people. When we resisted, he overcame our obstacles and

opened the door. At that time, Ali Hossain himself went to

hit my head and wanted to kill my father. My father ran

away and saved his life. We went door to door and found no

help.

On condition of anonymity, some locals said that the current

principal of the college, Ali Hossain, found Monsur Ali

a soft man and forced him to build a school by writing off

some land. This is completely unfair. We knew Monsur Ali

would be kept as a donor member. Ali Hossain, the fraudster,

did not keep him as a donor member.

In this regard, the principal of the organization Ali

Hossain said, we did not occupy his land but he is occupying

the land of our organization.

At least 15 killed

in Syria road

attack: monitor

BEIRUT : Gunmen killed at

least 15 people in Syria, mostly

government soldiers travelling

on a bus in the second such

road ambush in recent days, a

war monitor said Monday.

The ambush late Sunday

resulted in the deaths of eight

soldiers, four allied fighters and

three civilians, the Britainbased

Syrian Observatory for

Human Rights said, updating

an earlier toll.

There was no immediate

claim of responsibility, but the

monitor said the Islamic State

group was to blame.

Another 15 people were

wounded, with cars and fuel

tankers also attacked, in the

Wadi al-Azib area of Hama

province.

Syria's official news agency

SANA said the "terrorist attack"

killed nine people, all civilians.

Last week, the IS group said

it ambushed a bus on

December 30 in Syria's eastern

Deir Ezzor province, killing at

least 37 soldiers.

EXPLAINER: How

Congress will count

Electoral College votes

WASHINGTON : Wednesday's

congressional joint session

to count electoral votes has

taken on added importance

this year as congressional

Republicans allied with

President Donald Trump are

pledging to try and undo

Democrat Joe Biden's victory

and subvert the will of the

American people, reports

UNB.

The Republicans - a dozen

senators and many more

House members - are citing

Trump's repeated, baseless

charges of widespread fraud.

They say they will officially

object to the results, forcing

votes in the Republican-run

Senate and the Democraticcontrolled

House that will

almost certainly fail.

Beijing vaccinates thousands

in Covid-19 jab drive

BEIJING : Thousands of people lined up in

Beijing Monday to receive a Covid-19 vaccine as

China races to innoculate millions before the

Chinese New Year mass travel season in

February, reports BSS.

More than 73,000 people in the Chinese capital

have received the first dose of the vaccine

over the last couple of days, state media reported

Sunday, including community workers and

bus drivers.

Health authorities on New Year's Eve granted

"conditional" approval to a vaccine candidate

made by Chinese pharma giant Sinopharm,

which the company said had a 79 percent efficacy

rate.

An AFP journalist saw people being bussed

into a temporary vaccine centre at a central park,

after being instructed to fill in electronic forms

about their health status and any allergies at an

outside gate.

Some were wearing two layers of surgical face

masks.

One man surnamed Gu, a catering worker in

his 30s, told AFP his employer had booked him

GD- 17/21 (4x 3)

a vaccine appointment at the centre, and that he

wanted the jab "for peace of mind."

"I believe any adverse effects will be controllable,"

he said.

Footage from state broadcaster CCTV showed

queues outside local hospitals and community

health centres as people waited to read consent

forms and have their temperatures taken before

getting the jab.

Health officials said gyms and empty factories

were among centres being used for the vaccination

programme.

China plans to vaccinate millions this winter in

the run-up to Lunar New Year in mid-February.

Beijing has already administered around 4.5

million doses of largely unproven emergency

vaccines this year - mostly to health workers and

other state employees destined for overseas jobs,

according to authorities.

But China now plans a gradual rollout for the

vaccine starting with key groups considered to

have a high risk of exposure to the virus, including

port and food logistic workers and people

planning to return to studies abroad.

we`ÿ r/Rb-487(2)/3/1/21

GD- 15/21 (4x3)

Shooting in Texas church leaves one

dead, others wounded: governor

WASHINGTON : A shooting Sunday morning in a church in

northeastern Texas left one person dead and others wounded,

officials said.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott confirmed in a statement that

a suspect had been apprehended after the shooting in the

Starrville Methodist Church in the town of Winona.

Few details were immediately confirmed, but ABC affiliate

KLTV said the church's pastor pulled his gun when he found

a man hiding in a restroom. It said the man lunged at the pastor,

grabbed the gun and shot him dead.

KLTV said the man, who has not been identified, had been

involved in a shooting incident the night before. It said he

was shot and apprehended following a high-speed chase.

Abbott said the state would "ensure that justice is served

and that the Starrville community has the resources it needs

during this time."

Winona lies about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of

Dallas; it has a population of about 525.

Texas has seen other church shootings in the past.

A shooting at a Baptist church in Sutherland Springs on

November 5, 2017, left 26 people dead and 20 wounded; it

was the worst mass shooting in state history. Shooter Devin

Patrick Kelley was later found dead.

GD- 18/21 (4x 3)

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GD- 13/21 (5x 3)

GD- 14/21 (6x 3)

Tuesday, Dhaka, January 5, 2021, Poush 21, 1427 BS, Jamadi-ul Awal 20 , 1442 Hijri

Bangabandhu

The pathfinder to tap

'Blue Economy' potential

On Monday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took part in a function at the Khamarbari Krishibid Institution auditorium in the

capital on the occasion of the 73rd founding anniversary of BCL.

Photo : Star Mail

Put Bangabandhu's ideology in heart,

be imbued with patriotism:PM to BCL

Jagannathpur

farmers fret over

stagnant water as

boro yield hit

SUNAMGANJ : This year, many farmers

in the haor areas of Sunamganj's

Jagannathpur upazila have still not

been able to prepare boro paddy

seedbeds due to "water stagnation in

their farm lands".

In Nalua Haor, the largest among the

swamps, farmers say they are facing real

difficulties in draining out the water

from their fields mainly because of a

blockade at the Bhurakhali sluice gate

by fish cultivators.

This blockade, the farmers say, has

been posing as the biggest hurdle for

them to prepare the seedbeds for cultivating

boro paddy this winter for summer

harvest. Seedbed finishing is the

final step in soil preparation for sowing

crops, reports UNB.

"This year, boro crop cultivation has

been hit as the tenants of Hamhami

Jalmahal have blocked the waterway

with bamboos and nets for fishing," says

Mia, a farmer from Bhurakhali village.

Another farmer, Nagendra Das, a resident

of Dasnowagaon village, claims

that waterlogging has rendered his 1.2

acres of land in the haor uncultivable.

Despite several complaints, he alleges,

authorities are yet to redress their problems.

"Cultivation this year has been disrupted

due to the non-discharge of

water from farm lands," says Randhir

Das, a member of the local union

council.

When contacted, Jagannathpur

Upazila Agriculture Officer Shawkat

Osman Majumder admitted that he was

apprised of the problems by the local

farmers.

DHAKA : Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina on Monday asked Bangladesh

Chhatra League (BCL) leaders and

activists to build themselves up putting

ideology of Bangabandhu in their

heart, imbued with patriotism and

keeping their organisation's tradition

in mind to lead the country in the

coming days.

"I will tell Chhatra League that you

have to keep your tradition in your

mind and put the ideology of

Bangabandhu in your heart for building

up yourselves imbued with patriotism

as the future leaders of the

country," she said, reports UNB.

The Prime Minister said this while

joining the 73rd foundinganniversary

of BCL virtually from her official residence

Ganobhaban. The programme

was arranged at Krishibid Institute,

Bangladesh.

She said that the BCL activists have

to build themselves up as leader of ideology

so that they could advance the

country in the coming days.

"You have to lead the country from

frontline, you have to build up yourselves

like that way," she said.

In this connection, she reminded

the BCL activists that one will be successful

if that person could be

groomed up with ideology.

"And if the concentration goes to

wealth and money, then that person

cannot be successful in life, rather that

person can be indulged with luxury,"

she said.

Sheikh Hasina, chief patron of the

BCL, asked the leaders and activists

of the organisation to inherit the

ideology of the Father of the Nation

and patriotism.

"BCL is one of the oldest organisations

in the subcontinent, make it

stronger," she said.

She said that principles of the BCL,

education, peace and prosperity,

should be kept in mind of all its leaders

and activists.

"We give highest priority to the education,

because without an educated

nation we won't achieve advancement.

We'll attain peace through education,

Bangladesh will be a non-communal,

hunger and poverty-free

developed and prosperous country.

Walking the path of peace, we'll go to

the [path of] prosperity," she said.

She asked all BCL activists to

remember the three principles of BCL

all time.

"Without ideology, you won't be

able to give anything to the country,"

she said.

Talking about COVID-19, she

directed all to follow the health guidelines

to protect themselves from the

virus.

She said that facing the COVID-19

pandemic, the government is doing

whatever needed to keep country's

economy running.

She said that apart from agriculture,

the government is giving same importance

to industrialisation as both are

essential for the country.

"There might be famine across the

globe due to the coronavirus. To avert

famine in Bangladesh, it should be

ensured that not a single inch of arable

land is left empty," she said.

In this connection, she put emphasis

on the optimum utilisation of the

arable lands.

Former BCL leader and Awami

League central committee member Dr

Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin, AL presidium

member and former BCL leader

Jahangir Kabir Nanak, BCL president

Al Nahean Khan Joy also spoke at the

programme while general secretary

Lekhak Bhattacharjee conducted it.

BNP's Jan 10 demonstration

programme an anti-state

conspiracy: Quader

DHAKA : Awami League General

Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday

said BNP's announcement of holding

demonstration programme on January

10, the historic homecoming day of

Bangabandhu, is nothing but an antistate

conspiracy.

In a statement, Quader, also Road

Transport and Bridges Minister, has

strongly condemned the announcement

of demonstration programme on the

historic day.

He said the historic homecoming of

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on January 10

is a milestone in the chronological history

of the great Liberation War and the

Bangalee nation has been observing the

day with deep respect.

BNP has announced their so-called

demonstration programme on the historic

day to attain their evil interests and

"it is nothing but an anti-Bangladesh

conspiracy", he said in the statement.

The minister said BNP showed their

characteristics as an anti-liberation force

and revealed their hatred towards

Bangabandhu by announcing such programme.

BNP had rehabilitated and safeguard

the killers of Bangabandhu, he said.

He said the people know the history of

ruination of the spirit and values of the

Liberation War with the assassination

Bangabandhu and evil efforts of dishonoring

the great architect of independent

Bangladesh.

As part of BNP's evil efforts to harm

the Liberation War spirit, the party is

becoming aggressive against the historic

synchronization that remains between

Bangabandhu and Bangladesh's independence,

he added.

Quader said the demonstration is also

the outburst of BNP's evil efforts to

destroy the hard-earned democracy of

the people.

Structures built

grabbing canals to be

demolished : Atiqul

DHAKA : Issuing a note of warning,

Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation

(DNCC) Md Atiqul Islam yesterday said

all the structures, which have been built

grabbing canals across the city, will be

demolished no matter how influential

the illegal occupants are.

"All the multi-storey buildings, built

grabbing canals, will be

demolished…After getting the responsibility

of the canals from WASA, we started

work to evict the illegal occupants of

the canals.

No matter how influential the canal

occupiers are, no one will be spared," he

said inspecting the eviction drive on

both sides of Ibrahimpur canal in the

city. He said the DNCC will continue its

drive to free canals from illegal occupants.

Bangladesh reports

24 COVID-19 deaths,

4,61,515 total

recoveries

DHAKA : Bangladesh recorded 24

novel coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths

and 910 fresh cases overnight. The

recovery count rose to 4,61,515 after

another 917 patients were discharged

from the hospitals during the period, a

press release of the Directorate General

of Health Services (DGHS) said.

"Twenty-four more COVID-19 patients

died in the last 24 hours, increasing the

death toll from the pandemic to 7650," the

release said. It said the tally of infections

has surged to 5,16,929 as 910 new cases

were confirmed in the last 24 hours.

A total of 12,096 samples were tested

at 180 authorized laboratories across

the country during the time.

Of the total sample tests in the past 24

hours, 7.52 percent tested positive, while

15.80 percent cases were detected from the

total tests conducted so far, the release added.

Among the total infections, 89.28 percent

patients have recovered, while 1.48

percent died so far since the first

COVID-19 positive cases were reported

in the country on March 8. Among the

24 deaths, 18 are male and six female,

the press release said, one is in his 40s,

eight are in their 50s while 14 are above

60 years and one is below 10 years.

According to the division-wise data, 17

deaths took place in Dhaka division and

rests are in other divisions.

Among the total 7,650 deaths, 4,209

deaths occurred in Dhaka division,

1,416 in Chattogram division, 441 in

Rajshahi division, 536 in Khulna division,

238 in Barishal division, 293 in

Sylhet division, 346 in Rangpur division

and 171 in Mymensingh division,

according to the press release.

A total of 32,72,423 samples have so

far been tested since the detection of the

first COVID-19 cases in the country.

The DGHS said in order to make

treatment facilities easily available for

the COVID-19 patients, the government

has introduced telemedicine services

comprising 100 physicians for round

the clock in the country.

A total of 6,65,895 people have so far

received healthcare services from

telemedicine. The DGHS said 2,33,07,922

people received healthcare services from

hotline mobile numbers and health web

portals as the government formed a group

of medical professionals to provide emergency

healthcare services.

DHAKA : Oceans and seas are the major

sources of both finite and infinite

resources, covering over two-third of the

earth surface. Those are the safe abodes

of marine resources, which provide food

and minerals and generate oxygen for

the living things, absorb greenhouse

gases, help check global warming, determine

weather patterns and work as

cheap-cost routes for maritime trade,

reports BSS.

Many mega cities and the hubs of trade

and commerce have been established on

the seashores since the beginning of

human civilisation aiming to utilise the

advantages of maritime routes.

In the Sustainable Development Goal

(SDG)-14, the United Nations has

informed that more than 3 billion people

directly depend on oceans worldwide

for their livelihoods, while the

value of the global ocean-based economy

is estimated to be around US Dollar

3-6 trillion per year.

Realising the huge potential of marine

resources, Father of the Nation

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujubir Rahman

developed the Bangladesh's maritime

sector immediately after the birth of a

new state.

As part of his visionary policy, he

upgraded the sea-bound transportation

connecting the whole world, rebuilt the

seaports of a war-ravaged country and

cleared the mines from Chattogram

Port with support from Mine Clearance

Force of the then Soviet Union.

DHAKA : Bangladesh now can afford

more borrowing to address the economic

fallout from COVID-19 pandemic

as the country managed public

debt to GDP ratio in a conservative

way, as per a policy note, prepared by

Bangladesh Bank (BB).

According to the note, Bangladesh

has experienced low debt to GDP

ratio of around 34 percent of GDP

since last few years.

Debt statistics report also shows

that Bangladesh is at low risk in

terms of vulnerable debt sustainability.

Therefore, the country can

increase their expenditure, if needed,

at significant level through domestic

borrowing and foreign loans to support

affected sectors of the economy.

The report also recommends that

the government may improve tax

compliance with proper implementation

of tax reform policies for improving

tax-GDP ratio in the near and

medium term.

Chief Economist's Unit of the central

bank release the policy note,

titled 'COVID-19 Crisis and Fiscal

Space for Bangladesh Economy: A

Comparative Analysis with South

Asian Countries'.

Foreseeing the country's marine potential,

Bangabandhu had enacted the

'Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones

Act 1974', which was a milestone in the

maritime history of Bangladesh.

Nearly 46 years ago, the Father of the

Nation announced the legal instrument

to develop a sustainable 'Blue Economy'

in the country even before the United

Nations Convention on the Law of the

Sea was adopted in 1982.

In fact, the Territorial Waters and

Maritime Zones Act 1974 had laid the

foundation for the country's 'Blue

Economy'. Ceaseless efforts of Awami

League government under the visionary

and dynamic leadership of Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina have earned a

1,18,813 square km boundary in the Bay

of Bengal after settlement of long-pending

maritime disputes with neighbouring

India and Myanmar.

The law paved the way for the proper

management and protection of the

country's marine resources, conservation

of biodiversity, pollution control,

coastal zone management, maintaining

the marine-protected areas and shipping,

harvesting marine fish and ensuring

maritime governance as well.

The act provided an excellent

roadmap for the demarcation of the

country's various maritime zones and a

clear indication of its rights and responsibilities

in sea, including regulations for

ensuring maritime safety and security.

>(Contd. on page-2)

Bangladesh can afford more

borrowing to address COVIDaffected

economy: BB

It also pointed out that Bangladesh

maintained around 10 per cent of tax

to GDP ratio, which is lower than all

other south Asian countries, except

India.

This report also finds that

Bangladesh was the lowest spending

country among South Asian countries

and the fiscal deficit as percent

of GDP for Bangladesh is below 5

percent in the last decade.

As per the policy note, COVID-19

pandemic continued to spread and

impacted Bangladesh economy

since March 2020, reflecting in a

sharp decline in growth rate of real

gross domestic product (GDP) to

5.24 percent in FY20 as compared

to a record high of 8.15 percent

growth in FY19.

Likewise, other South Asian countries

are not exception as being

affected by COVID-19, slowing

down their economic growth as well.

In response to combat against the

possible economic disruptions

because of the pandemic, South

Asian countries including

Bangladesh have been taking extensive

fiscal measures depending on

their own capacities.

DMP police seized

hemp while

transporting it in

a fancy manner

from Kadamtali

police station area

of the capital.

Photo : Star Mail

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

05-01-2021

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