24-02-2021

wednesday DhAkA : February 24, 2021; Falgun 11, 1427 BS; Rajab 11,1442 hijri

www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net

Regd.No.DA~2065, Vol.17; N o. 313; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00

InternatIonal

NASA releases Mars

landing video : 'Stuff

of our dreams'

>Page 7

sports

Ronaldo returns to

Portugal as Juve battle to

keep among Europe's elite

>Page 9

art & culture

Rosey with

new TV ad

>Page 10

'Will build our own

fighter jets': PM

Fugitive convict in

August 21 grenade

attack case held in city

DHAKA : Anti-crime elite force Rapid

Action Battalion (RAB) today arrested a

fugitive convict in the August 21 grenade

attack case from city's Diabari area .

A team of RAB with the help the

National Security Intelligence (NSI)

arrested Md Iqbal Hossain alias Iqbal

alias Jahangir alias Selim from Diabari

area here at about 3 am, RAB Director

General (DG) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-

Mamun told a press briefing.

He said the arrestee was a member of

the banned militant outfit Harkat-ul-

Jihad Bangladesh (Huji) and an inhabitant

of Jhenaidah.

In the primary interrogation, the DG

said Iqbal confessed his direct involvement

in taking part in the August 21 grisly

grenade attack.

According to RAB, Iqbal had a very

close link with the Huji chief Mufti Abdul

Hannan. He was involved with

Jatiyabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) in 1994 in

Jhenaidah. He joined Huji in 2001 and

met Mufti Hannan in 2003.

He left Bangladesh in 2008 and at the

end of 2020, Iqbal was sent back from a

foreign country where he was staying illegally,

the DG added.

IU students give 5-day

ultimatum for reopening

of campus, halls

ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY : The students

of Islamic University staged demonstrations

for the 3rd consecutive days on

Tuesday and gave a 5-day ultimatum to

the authorities for reopening of the campus

and the residential halls of the university,

reports UNB.

The students gave the ultimatum at a

press conference held at Chaal Chattar

area on the campus around 11:30am.

After the press conference, the students

brought out a protest rally from

Daina Chattar area which ended in front

of the administration building after

parading main roads of the campus.

They also observed a sit-in programme

there to press home their

demands.

Students will face session jams as the

university has been kept closed for a

long time due to the pandemic, the agitating

students said.

The students demanded the university

authorities to continue its bachelors'

and Master's final examinations.

Earlier, on Monday, Education

Minister Dipu Moni said classes in all

the public and private universities will

resume on May 24.

The residential halls of the universities

will be reopened on May 17, said the

Minister while addressing a virtual press

briefing.

Zohr

05:12 AM

12:16 PM

04:20 PM

06:04 PM

07:16 PM

6:25 5:59

DHAKA : Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina on Tuesday expressed a desire

to build fighter jets in Bangladesh to

protect its sovereignty, reports UNB.

"We're building the Air Force to make

it competitive, and we've a desire to

build fighter jets in Bangladesh. We're

taking preparations to protect our air

border with our own [strength]," she

said. The Prime Minister said this while

handing over the National Standard to

11 Squadron and 21 Squadron of

Bangladesh Air Force.

The programme was held at Air Base

Birsreshtha Matiur Rahman in Jashore

and the Prime Minister joined it virtually

from her official residence Ganobhaban.

Sheikh Hasina said the government has

taken steps to protect the country's sovereignty

and take the country some steps

ahead in defending it. "I believe we'll be

able to get success in this regard,

Inshallah."

The Prime Minister mentioned about the

'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Aviation and Aerospace University' and

aeronautical centre where the research

works would be done effectively.

Hasina said protecting the dignity of

the national flag is the sacred duty of all

the armed forces personnel. "We

attained the national flag in lieu of the

blood of millions of martyrs. This flag is

the symbol of our independence, honour

and dignity. It's the sacred duty of

DHAKA : Dhaka South City Corporation

(DSCC) Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle

Noor Taposh on Tuesday said he hoped

that the first piloting of the proposed bus

route from Ghatarchar to Kanchpur will

be completed within this year, reports

UNB.

"We're optimistic that if we can proceed

at this (current) pace, we'll be able

to complete the first piloting within this

year," he said at the 16th meeting of the

committee on bus route rationalisation

to restore discipline of mass transport

and reduce traffic congestion held at the

South Nagar Bhaban on Tuesday.

Taposh said they are hopeful that they

would be able to integrate the remaining

routes with this pilot route through completion

of the first piloting.

The DSCC Mayor, also chairman of

the Bus Route Rationalisation

Committee, said, "We're on the right

all members of the armed forces to protect

the dignity of the flag."

The Prime Minister said she thinks that

the members of the armed forces will

remain ready always to make any sacrifice

for protecting the dignity of the flag,

the country's independence, sovereignty

and while performing duties in international

arena in peacekeeping missions in

the UN so that the dignity of Bangladesh

could be increased. "You'll perform your

duties keeping eyes on that."

Recalling the efforts of Father of the

Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman to build the Air Force after the

independence of the country, she said

the Father of the Nation in 1974 formulated

Defence Policy for Bangladesh.

"Following that footsteps, we've formulated

Forces Goal 2030 to make our

armed forces a time-befitting and modern

one, and we've started implementing

that," she said.

Hasina also briefly described the

induction of various modern and technology-based

equipment in the Air

Force. As the country is celebrating

Mujib Borsha, she said, the birth centenary

of the Father of the Nation, the

government has taken massive programmes

for the overall development of

the country and implementing those to

change the fate of the general people

including those who are living in the

rural areas.

First piloting of Ghatarchar-

Kanchpur route to be

completed in 2021: Taposh

track. Our journey is not smooth. The

journey is very narrow, there are many

problems. But we're slowly moving forward."

The Bangladesh Road Transport

Authority (BRTA) was tasked with fixing

the bus fare of the piloting route from

Ghatarchar to Kanchpur, and they have

done so, said Taposh.

He said, "The fare has been fixed at Tk

2.2 per km. Now it will require the consent

and approval of the ministry. The process

will hopefully be finished quickly."

Replying to a question, he said that

they are optimistic about completing the

procedural work by April as it needs

more time to formally start

operation.He said he sought an allocation

of Tk 100 crore from Bangladesh

Bank on easy terms and interest, which

will be given to bus owners so that they

can carry out their activities.

Govt making list of

'fake' freedom fighters,

alleges BNP

DHAKA : BNP on Tuesday alleged that the

government is making a list of 'fake' freedom

fighters comprising Awami League

supporters and their relatives who did not

join the Liberation War in 1971.

"Those who're now in power didn't

fight the Liberation War. They didn't

see how the Liberation War took place

in the battlefield. That's why they want

to snatch the title of real freedom fighters,"

said BNP senior joint secretary

general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a human-chain programme,

he said, "They (govt) are

making a list of fake freedom fighters

comprising those belonging to Awami

League."

Referring to BNP senior leader and

gallantry title recipient freedom fighter

Hafizuddin Ahmed's remark, Rizvi said

only 80,000 freedom fighters had

fought the Liberation War in 1971. "But

Awami League is making the list of 2.5

lakh freedom fighters. They're including

the names of their relatives and

grandchildren who were not born in

1971 in the list of freedom fighters."

Doctors' Association of Bangladesh

(DAB) arranged the programme in

front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting

a move to revoke BNP founder Ziaur

Rahman's 'Bir Uttam' title.

Rizvi warned that those who are making

"evil efforts' to snatch Zia's Bir

Uttam title will one day be tried in a

'people's court'.

He said he was utterly shocked seeing

Al Jazeera's recent report on

Bangladesh. "Criminals have been pardoned

by the state, but the law minister

and the home minister said they don't

know anything about it. This is how the

government is doing evil acts and injustice

in the dark by introducing a mafia

system," the BNP leader alleged.

A fire broke

out in the

Palashnagar

embankment

slum in

Mirpur on

Tuesday.

Upon

receiving the

news, the fire

service

brought the

fire under

control.

Photo :

Star Mail

DHAKA : Fortify Rights has said the

regional governments in South and

Southeast Asia should support safe disembarkation

and humanitarian assistance

for scores of Rohingya refugees on

a boat reportedly adrift at sea, reports

UNB.

"Too many Rohingya lives have

already been lost at sea due to the callous

inaction or pushbacks of regional governments,"

said Amy Smith, executive

director of Fortify Rights on Tuesday.

Smith said regional governments in

South and Southeast Asia should

urgently protect those on board to prevent

any further loss of life.

Fortify Rights spoke with Rohingya

refugees in Malaysia, Bangladesh, and

India, who made phone contact with

passengers on the boat.

A Rohingya on the boat told a family

member in Bangladesh by phone that

there are 90 people on board, including

65 women.

Fortify Rights received taped phone

conversations between Rohingya

refugees, who claimed to be on the boat,

and their relatives.

"More than five people died today," a

Rohingya man says on one recording.

"Please try to send water by any means."

In another audio recorded on

February 22, a Rohingya man on the

boat says: "The India Navy is helping us.

DHAKA : Information Minister Dr

Hasan Mahmud yesterday said that

Bangladesh will have to be built as a

humane state side by side with its

materialistic deployment for fulfilling

the dreams of Father of the Nation

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman.

Hasan, also joint general secretary of

Awami League (AL), was speaking at

Save the Future Foundation Delegates

Conference-2021 as the chief guest at

Institution of Diploma Engineers

(IDEB), Bangladesh auditorium at

Kakrail in the capital this evening.

Praising the welfare oriented activities

and for the educational propgramme

for the deprived children of

the Save the Future Foundation, the

minister said, "We will have to build

Bangladesh as a humane state side by

side with its materialistic advancement

Police

dispersed the

demonstrators

who

pressed

their 7-point

demand,

including

revival of

30 percent

quota in

government

jobs.

Photo :

Star Mail

South, Southeast Asian govts

urged to rescue Rohingyas

stranded at sea

They provided food to us. Please tell my

mother to pray for us. We can drink

water now."

After locating the boat on February 22,

the Indian Navy reportedly provided

food, water, and first aid to the refugees

on the boat, according to Fortify Rights.

On February 22, the United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees

(UNHCR)-the U.N. agency mandated to

protect refugees-called for the "immediate

rescue of a group of Rohingya refugees in

distress on the Andaman Sea."

The statement said: "Many [of the

Rohingya refugees] are in a highly vulnerable

condition and are apparently

suffering from extreme dehydration. We

understand that a number of refugees

have already lost their lives, and that

fatalities have risen over the past 24

hours."

"Mohammed Jubar"-not his real

name-in Kutupalong refugee camp told

Fortify Rights on February 22 that his

brother departed on the boat more than

ten days earlier.

He said his brother called him from

the boat on February 21, saying he and

others were out of drinking water and

stranded at sea.

"I heard people are dying on the boat,"

Mohammed Jubar told Fortify Rights.

"If they have to stay on the boat, my

brother will also die."

Hasan for building BD

as a humane state

for fulfilling the dreams of Father of the

Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman".

He added that there is no alternative

to build a 'Sonar Bangla' for materializing

the dreams of the Father of the

Nation.

Lawmakers Kazi Monirul Islam

Monu and Akhtaruzzaman Babu were

present as special guest on the occasion,

among others, with Save the

Future Foundation chairman Shafi

Muddassar Khan Jyoti in the chair.

Earlier in the afternoon, the minister

visited the Sutrapur Community

Center in the city for paying last respect

to veteran actor ATM Shamsuzzaman.

He stayed there for some time and

consoled the family members of ATM

Shamsuzzaman. The minister also

prayed for eternal peace of the

departed soul.

weDNeSDAY, FeBRuARY 24, 2021

2

Chattogram Divisional Commissioner ABM Azad along with other officials

inaugurated a brand book of Noakhali yesterday. Photo : Manik Bhuyan

German shares lose 0.96 pct

at start of trading Monday

BERLIN : German stocks were off to a shaky

start on Monday, with the benchmark DAX

index losing 134.67 points, or 0.96 percent,

opening at 13,858.56 points, reports BSS.

The biggest winner among Germany's 30

largest listed companies at the start of trading

was Deutsche Bank, increasing by 0.76 percent,

followed by consumer goods company

Beiersdorf and carmaker Volkswagen, declining

the least by 0.14 and by 0.26 percent.

Shares of Continental fell by 3.74 percent.

The German automotive supplier was the

biggest loser at the start of trading Monday.

Production of Germany's industry declined

by more than 10 percent in 2020 year-onyear,

the country's Federal Statistical Office

(Destatis) announced on Monday. The

decline in the automotive sector was "particularly

sharp" as car producers and related

industries saw production fall 25 percent.

Islamic Foundation

calls for special prayers

on 'Shaheed Dibosh'

DHAKA : Islamic Foundation has

called for offering special prayers

yesterday marking the 'Shaheed

Dibosh' and International Mother

Language Day-2021. Imams

have been requested to offer the

prayers in all mosques across the

country, said a press release.

Islamic Foundation will arrange

Qurankhwani and special prayers

at Baitul Mukarram National

Mosque around 11 am on the day

seeking eternal peace of the martyrs,

who sacrificed their lives in

1952 for mother tongue.

E-poster published marking

Language Martyrs Day

DHAKA : An E-poster has been

published in print, electronic,

online and social media recently

on the occasion of Language

Martyrs Day (February 21) and

International Mother Language

Day-2021. It was introduced at

the initiative of Father of the

Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman Birth

Centenary Celebration National

Implementation Committee,

according to a press release

received.

Speaker opens Shaheed Minar at

JS Secretariat residential complex

DHAKA : JS Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin

Chaudhury yesterday formally inaugurated a

newly built Shaheed Minar on the Jatiya

Sangsad (JS) Secretariat Residential

Complex premises here in the memory of the

Language Movement martyrs.

The Speaker opened the Shaheed Minar

through a videoconferencing as the chief

guest while JS Deputy Speaker Advocate Md

Fazle Rabbi Miah and Senior Secretary of the

JS Secretariat Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan

addressed the inaugural ceremony in person

as special guests, said a press release.

Addressing the function, Dr Shirin called

for upholding the true history of the

Language Movement before the new generation.

She thanked and greeted all involved in

setting up the Shaheed Minar the Jatiya

Sangsad (JS) Secretariat Residential

Complex.

Presided over by Jatiya Sangsad (JS)

Secretariat Residential Complex Association

President Md Asif Hasan, its General

Secretary Rezaul Karim gave welcome

address at the function.

JS Secretariat Officer-Employee Forum

President AKMG Kibria Mazumder and

Vice-President Md Tariq Mahmud also

spoke on the occasion, among others.

Chief of the Air staff of Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria

placing floral wreath at Shikha Anirban on Tuesday in Dhaka Cantonment. Photo : ISPR

Tunisia fires head

of national airline,

month into job

TUNIS : Tunisia's transport

minister on Monday fired the

CEO of Tunisair, just over a

month after naming her to

revive the ailing national carrier's

fortunes, reports BSS.

Olfa Hamdi, an engineer

educated in France and the US

with experience in managing

major enterprises, was dismissed

because she failed "in

her duty to act discreetly" and

did not coordinate with the

ministry, Transport Minister

Moez Chakchouk said.

Hamdi had clashed with the

powerful UGTT union, publishing

details of union dues

on Facebook.

The state-owned airline is

heavily indebted and subsidised

by the public purse.

It employs around 7,800

staff, for a fleet of less than 30

planes, of which only a maximum

of eight are currently

operational, according to the

ministry.

Tunisair's accounts were

frozen earlier this month at

the behest of Turkish operator

TAV, a creditor of the airline

which operates airports in the

North African country.

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WEDNESDAY, fEBrUArY 24, 2021

3

Vice-chancellor of DU Professor Dr. Akhtaruzzaman addressing a press conference held at his office

on Tuesday.

Photo : Courtesy

Dr Zafrullah slams

BNP for failure to

wage any movement

DHAKA : Criticising BNP for

its failure to wage any

movement with public issues,

Gonoshasthya Kendra

founder Dr Zafrullah

Chowdhury on Tuesday said

senior leaders of the party have

apparently become 'deaf and

blind', reports UNB.

"Though there're many big

leaders in BNP, I think they've

become deaf and blind. The

government has been making

mistakes one after another, but

they can't do anything as they

can't see or hear anything," he

said.

Zafrullah, also a freedom

fighter, came up with the

remarks while speaking at a

discussion arranged by Jatiya

Party (Zafar), one of the

components of the BNP-led

20-party alliance, at the Jatiya

Press Club, marking 'Amar

Ekushey', the Language

Martyrs' Day and

International Mother

Language Day.

He said BNP has long been

talking about only one issue of

its chairperson Khaleda Zia's

release ignoring the public

issues. "Even, they can't speak

straightly about the release of

Khaleda Zia."

The freedom fighter said

Khaleda has the right to go

abroad for medical treatment

as she is ill. "The rights have to

be realised."

He said though all the

offices, courts, madrasas and

maktabs are now open,

general educational

institutions still remained

closed. "Because the

government's intelligence

agencies have reports that if

the universities and halls are

reopened, an anti-government

movement can be waged."

Zafrullah slammed the

leaders BNP and the 20-party

alliance for not taking position

in favour of the students

seeking the immediate

reopening of the universities

and dormitories. "What are

you (20-party leaders) doing?

Why aren't you taking a

position in favour of the

students?" Don't you wake you

up? People's rights will be

restored if students

'movement is intensified."

He alleged that the

backbone of the nation is being

broken by keeping the

educational institutions shut

as the students are making

teen gangs by watching Hindi

films.

Zafrullah said Awami

League is often making

mistakes since Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina has become

'lonely' as the senior party

leaders like Amir Hossain

Amu, Tofail Ahmed and Matia

Chowdhury are not there

beside her.

"As the Prime Minister has

remained confined (to

Gonobhaban), Awami League

is going to a wrong direction.

The boat of the Awami League

government is now in a so

delicate condition that it'll sink

with just a little push."

About the current

vaccination programme

against Covid-19, Dr Zafrullah

appreciated the government

for providing people vaccine

on its own initiative.

He urged the government

not to allow private companies

to import the Covid-19 vaccine

to ensure quality jabs for

people free of charge.

DU merges its decision with

the line of government

DU CORRESPONDENT

The Dhaka University (DU) authorities

have changed its decision with the line of

the government on reopening residential

halls from May 17 and the classrooms from

May 24.

Vice-chancellor of DU Professor Dr.

Akhtaruzzaman told reporters in a press

conference held at his office on Tuesday.

Classrooms will be open for teaching from

May 24 and the residential halls will be open

a week earlier, on May 17. We will start

taking exams after two weeks of reopening

halls with the coordination of faculty and

related department. The exam routine that

fixed on basis of previous decision is no

more, said Akhtaruzzaman.

The residential students must have to be

vaccinated if there any health issue can be

considered. The vaccination programme will

be conducted following the heath protocol of

the related Ministry, VC added.

We made the decision as the government

said teachers and students are likely to be

vaccinated by May 17. We learned that four

weeks after the first dose of vaccine antibody

starts working for that reason we urged the

government to vaccinate teachers, students,

staff and employees by April 17, said the

Vice-Chancellor of DU.

It is not possible to make a single decision on

a subject in pandemic time. Instead, we have

to move towards a coordinated decision

that's why we took the decision with the line

of government, he furthered.

Akhtaruzzaman said we are grateful to the

government as it took the Mass vaccination

for students. It's a great initiative; many

other governments of the world can't even

think of it.

Being asked about students 72 hours

ultimatum he said, I firmly believe that they

will behave responsibly in this regard.

8th FYP to expedite country's

development: Mannan

DHAKA : Planning Minister MA Mannan

yesterday said that the 8th Five Year Plan

will take forward the country's

development trend through the

implementation of different projects and

generation of more employment

opportunities, reports BSS.

"Through the 8th Five Year Plan, many

projects will be implemented. The

members of the Planning Commission will

play a vital role in this regard. The projects

under the plan will be reflected in the

living standard of the country's people and

will expedite further the country's

development," he said.

The planning minister said this while

speaking at a meeting on the '8th Five-

Year Plan (July 2020-June 2025)' at the

NEC conference room in the city.

Through the plan, Mannan said, the

whole system of the country will forward

more which will be helpful in achieving

the country's development goals, Vision-

2041.

The planning minister urged all to feel

the Padma Multipurpose Bridge from

heart. "I sometimes look with surprise -

there will be a bridge, and a span will sit

on the river. For this, 16 crore people are

standing there to watch. Even, the

children often rent cars to go there. I also

saw it myself. They tried to feel with

hands. This is a very important matter.

There may be some emotion. Those who

do not realize will lag behind," he added.

He said the country will witness more

mega projects during this new Five-Year

Plan period while the implementation of

the existing mega projects would get a

'pick-up' and many of those would witness

completion during this 8th Plan period.

He said this expansionary Plan would be

helpful in attaining growth, further

alleviating poverty, further strengthening

the rural economy, addressing income

inequality, expanding and further

deepening the coverage of the social safety

nets.

Among others, Planning Commission

secretary, IMED secretary and members

of the Planning Commission were present

on the occasion.

The National Economic Council (NEC)

approved the 8th Five Year Plan (2021-

2025) of the country on December 29,

2020 in order to attain 8 percent GDP

growth on average per year and also to

achieve various economic and social

targets during the five-year period as

envisioned under the country's 2nd

Perspective Plan (2021-2041).

Missing army person's

body recovered from

Sangu River

CHATTOGRAM : The body of an army

person who went missing while taking bath

in the Sangu River was recovered on

Tuesday afternoon, reports UNB.

The deceased was identified as Asif

Hossain Nishan, 21, a resident of Halisahar

in Chattogram.

Anowara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sheikh

Jobayer Ahmed said a team of new army

members came to Anawara upazlia for a

winter training programme.

Fire Service and Civil Defence Deputy

Assistant Director Farid Ahmed said Nishan

went missing while taking bath in the Sangu

River on Monday afternoon. The body has

been handed over to Bangladesh Army, he

added.

Led by Mahbub Alam Badsha, Tati League president of 50 no Ward of Jatrabari

thana of the capital city paid tribute to language hero by placing wreath at Central

Shaheed Minar on Sunday.

Photo : Courtesy

Japan with Bangladesh to enhance regional

stability, boost connectivity: Official

DHAKA : Japan will have a stronger

cooperation with Bangladesh,

especially for enhancing regional

stability and connectivity in the region,

as the development of Bangladesh

contributes to the stability of Indo-

Pacific region, says a senior official at

the Japanese Ministry of Foreign

Affairs, reports UNB.

"Bangladesh is achieving a higher

rate of economic growth. We'll further

promote comprehensive partnership

with Bangladesh," Senior Regional

Coordinator at Southwest Asia Division

of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign

Affairs (MoFA) Hitomi Sato told UNB

in an interview.

Bangladesh and Japan are currently

focusing more on infrastructure

development and business partnership

under "BIG-B" initiative.

The two countries have deepened

friendship and partnership in a

number of areas, including Matarbari

deep seaport, Dhaka Metro and

Terminal 3 of the international airport

in Dhaka.

The Japanese, the MoFA official said,

both the leaders (Prime Ministers)

affirmed that the development of

Bangladesh through regional

connectivity would contribute to the

overall stability of the Indo-Pacific

Region.

Under the Bay of Bengal Industrial

Growth Belt (BIG-B) initiative, she

said, Japan and Bangladesh would

continue collaborating towards

development in the Southern

Chattogram area, including the highly

efficient coal-fired power station, as

well as bolstering cooperation which

could contribute to long-term

decarbonisation through supporting

the application of renewable energy.

Sato said Japan will continue its

support and cooperation with

Bangladesh in accelerating the

economic growth which brings benefits

for all the people of Bangladesh and

beyond.

Responding to a question, she said

investment and trade also need to be

promoted further for the faster

economic growth of Bangladesh.

"In order to invite more Japanese

private companies to operate in

Bangladesh, the issue of improving the

business environment will remain

important," said the senior Japanese

official adding that Japan will continue

supporting Bangladesh's efforts to that

end. Sato said Japan will continue to

support Bangladesh to overcome social

vulnerabilities in various fields,

including health and education,

disaster management so that

Bangladesh can achieve the status of a

middle-income country by 2021,

sustainable development goals by 2030

and the status of a developed country

by 2041. Responding to a question,

Sato said the concept of free and open

Indo Pacific aims to promote peace,

stability and prosperity in the region.

She said they are focusing on

ensuring the international order based

on rule of law and promoting freedom

of navigation and free trade.

"This concept targets neither any

specific country nor any agenda against

any framework. In this context, Japan

intends to cooperate with countries in

the region and beyond," said the

Japanese MoFA official.

She said Japan does not see the BIG-

B initiative conflicting with any other

global initiatives.

Referring to the telephone

conversations of the two Prime

Ministers, Sato said both leaders

welcomed the fact that the exchange of

notes had been signed earlier under

which an ODA Loan Agreement

provided in response to the ongoing

coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis in

Bangladesh.

Bangladesh expressed its gratitude

for the support from Japan and the two

countries agreed to firmly cooperate

towards containing the spread of the

Covid-19 pandemic.

Reinstatement of 30% quota

FFs' descendants block Shahbagh

DHAKA : Bangladesh Muktijoddha Santan Sangsad, an

organisation of freedom fighters' descendants, are

demonstrating at Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka to press

home their 7-point demand, including revival of 30 percent

quota in government jobs. Traffic movement in and around

the area has come to a complete halt due to their sit-in

programme.

Hundreds of members of the organisation from across the

country, carrying posters and placards, gathered in front of

the National Museum around 10:00am.

Later, they moved to the Shahbagh intersection and started

the sit-in programme around 12:00pm. Additional police

have been deployed in the area to avert any untoward

incident. The demonstrators chanted slogans like "No place

for Razakars in this Bangla of Freedom Fighters", "Weapons

Prof. Dr. S M Mahabub Ul Haque Majumder, Acting Vice Chancellor of Daffodil International

University handing over the Champion Trophy to winning team members of Martyred Jobbar

Ekadosh organized by Daffodil International University Sports Club. Photo : Courtesy

WHO calls for prioritising vaccine

contracts with COVAX

DHAKA : The head of the World Health

Organization (WHO) has called on

Covid jab manufacturers to prioritise

contracts with the UN-led equitable

vaccines initiative, COVAX, saying "it's

not a matter of charity, it's a matter of

epidemiology", reports UNB.

Director-General Tedros Adhanom

Ghebreyesus was speaking at WHO's

regular bi-weekly briefing for

journalists on the UN health agency's

latest efforts to curtail the pandemic,

reports UN News.

He began by praising Friday's pledge

from leaders of G7, to intensify

cooperation and increase their overall

contribution to the international effort

under the ACT Accelerator

programme, to around $7.5 billion.

COVAX is working to ensure

equitable distribution of vaccines,

diagnostics and therapeutics to end the

crippling march of coronavirus, Tedros

said, expressing his thanks to the EU

nations for committing an extra $4.3

billion last week.

"These funds and donations move

us one step closer to meeting our

target to start vaccination of health

workers and older people in all

countries, within the first 100 days of

the year," said Tedros.

But all countries needed to step up,

he said, adding that money was far

from the only challenge: "If there are no

vaccines to buy, money is irrelevant.

Currently, some high-income countries

are entering into contracts with vaccine

manufacturers that undermine the

deals that COVAX has in place, and

reduce the number of doses COVAX

can buy.

"Even if we have the funds, we can

only deliver vaccines to poorer

countries if high-income countries

cooperate in respecting the deals

of '71 roar once again" and "We want 30 percent quota".

Their other demands include giving VIP status to freedom

fighters and their descendants everywhere, including

hospitals, government offices, enacting a law to protect the

freedom fighters' families, and exclusion of names of antiliberation

people from the government list of freedom

fighters.

Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sontan Sangsad vice chairman

Mizanur Rahman said, "We won't leave the place until our

seven demands are fulfilled."

Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sontan Sangsad founding

president Soleman Miya, vice chairman Sojib Serker,

Mijanur Rahman, Yeasin Akand, Toslim reza, organising

secretary Nazmul Huda, Titumir, among others, joined the

protest programme.

COVAX has done and the new deals it is

doing. This is not a matter of charity,

it's a matter of epidemiology."

The WHO chief said that there was

still a funding gap of nearly $23 billion

to "fully finance" the entire ACT

Accelerator vaccine initiative.

To make sure the most at risk in lowand

middle-income countries get their

shots first, "we need more funding, we

need countries to share doses

immediately, we need manufacturers

to prioritise contracts with COVAX,

and we also need a significant increase

in the production of vaccines", Tedros

said.

"More vaccines are being developed,

approved and produced. There will be

enough for everyone," he noted. "But

for now, and for the rest of this year,

vaccines will be a limited resource. We

must use them as strategically as we

can."

WEdNEsdaY, FEBRuaRY 24, 2021

4

Lessons of a losing strategy

Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam

e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com

Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Earning more from

agro-based industries

Bangladesh enjoys a big comparative

advantage compared to many other

countries in producing and exporting a wide

range of fruits and vegetables to the world's

markets where there is a huge and growing

demand for the same. The very fertile soil,

favourable weather conditions and cheap labour,

give the local producers a big edge in producing for

export markets. The government in recent years

declared export-oriented agro-industries as a

thrust area although this has not been backed up

by adequate supports to it. The steady progression

of exports in this sector is encouraging but a great

deal more can be achieved both in the areas of

increasing export volumes and earnings from this

sector. For this to happen, all stakeholders need to

be persuaded by the potentials of the sector and

adopt and apply policies with a vision.

A number of export-oriented agro-industries

have been doing path breaking work in this

direction. They have contracted with farmers to

produce round the year with guaranteed stable

price for their yields. Thus, the motivation of the

farmers have remained strong as their earnings

have become regular and ensured. More

significantly, the farmers have been trained to

produce quality products observing the latest

health and safety factors. Secondly, the agroindustries

have acquired good technologies in the

areas of processing and packaging which means

not only substantial value-addition to the produces

from the fields but also the creation of appeal for

the processed and packed foods among not only

Bangladeshi expatriates but also foreign

consumers. Thus, from the growers' to the

consumption stages, some producing and

exporting houses here have been successful in

ideally building up a value-chain that meets

eminently the interests of all the parties involved at

different phases.

Private sector operators who intend to join the

ranks of successful agro-industries with an export

dimension, need to essentially copy the methods of

the few firms which are there and which have been

successful in exporting agro-products. But the new

firms should try to do better than the older ones by

trying to acquire even more sophisticated

technologies, innovating with food products and in

their packaging. In that case, their attraction will

not be limited to only expatriate Bangladesh and

they can expect to gain a wider market access

among foreign consumers. Consumers abroad of

food products in European, Japanese and North

American countries, are usually fond of trying out

foods catered to them in novel ways or enhancing

their appeal through packaging and different

marketing methods. Thus, the agro-industries here

will have to pay attention to these factors right from

the start to become successful and retain the

success over the longer run.

Specially, the problems of air shipment facilities

will have to be much improved and this is one area

where the government can play a major role

through the national carrier, Bangladesh Biman.

Biman is presently in financial difficulties but it

can considerably pull up from this situation by

arranging more flights or creating cargo spaces for

the exporters of agro-products. Biman would find

assured business of a lucrative kind if it attempts

this because only a few foreign airlines currently

agree to carry perishables but their charges are

prohibitive.

Thus, Biman can financially improve its position

as well as help out in opening up a rich new export

outlet for the country by substantially increasing

air shipment capacities for the products of agroindustries

particularly for the fast airfreighting of

fruits and vegetables. The Export Promotion

Bureau (EPB) should host more single country

fairs abroad to introduce and popularise the agroproducts.

The commercial wings of the Bangladesh

missions abroad must also take up more energetic

plans to make agro-products familiar and popular

among the foreign buyers.

IT is not just the long war in Afghanistan

that the US with all its military power has

been unable to win. A new and insightful

book argues that Washington's long game in

the Middle East has similarly been in vain.

Titled Losing the Long Game by Philip H.

Gordon it critically examines America's

controversial regime change strategy and

shows how disastrous it has been.

As President Joe Biden crafts his foreign

policy the book's insights offer important

lessons from a region that is pivotal not just

for Washington but for international peace

and security. In his first foreign policy

speech Biden set out broad contours of

policy focusing on China, Russia and

repairing relationships with traditional

allies. He also pledged to re-engage with the

international community.

However, the most significant reversal of

his predecessor's policy related to the

Middle East. Biden announced an end to

American support for Saudi Arabia's war in

Yemen which he depicted as a

"humanitarian and strategic catastrophe".

The decision to review some arms sales to

Saudi Arabia and recalibrate relations may

produce a chill in relations with Riyadh,

which Biden criticised on several grounds in

recent years. Especially if he makes good on

his pledge to rejoin the Iran nuclear deal,

cavalierly abandoned by president Trump.

His administration has formally announced

its readiness for talks with Iran but the path

to re-entering JCPOA is expected to be

arduous and will take time.

For Philip Gordon the underlying premise

of Trump's abrogation of this deal was the

undeclared policy of regime change in

Tehran. Encouraged by hawks in his

national security team, Trump expected the

Iranian government to be swept away by a

popular upheaval due to the tough US policy

of sanctions, covert actions, isolation and

coercion. That policy failed. But, writes

Gordon, it made him think anew about the

The cost of celebrating Mother Language Day in Tibet

On February 21, 1952, in what was

then East Bengal (renamed East

Pakistan in 1956 and Bangladesh

in 1971), many students were martyred for

voicing their concerns and the protection

of mother language, Bengali, under the

government of the Dominion of Pakistan.

Bengali students sacrificed their lives for

language protection and for the sake of

future generations in their own homeland.

Five decades later, February 21 was

declared International Mother Language

Day by the United Nations Educational,

Scientific and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO). It was a tribute to the

language movement started by Bengalis

and the ethno-linguistic rights of people

around the world.

In Tibet, however, a person called Tashi

Wangchuk was sentenced in 2018 to five

years in prison for speaking up on the

protection of his mother language, which

is in fact enshrined in the Constitution of

the People's Republic China.

The Chinese government has used

many strategies to Sinicize Tibetan

people's identity. During the Cultural

Revolution, thousands of sacred texts

were burned and reading and learning of

the Tibetan language was considered

backward. This led to 10 lost years in Tibet

as teaching the language was banned.

Finally, schools in Tibet were reopened,

but much of the curriculum was on the life

of Chairman Mao Zedong and the

greatness of Communism. Those years

were marked by a deliberate

marginalization of Tibetan tradition and

culture.

Teaching of Chinese language was made

compulsory in almost every corner of

Tibet. The brightest Tibetan students were

selected to travel to China. They were

chosen for further studies and considered

the foundation for Tibetan society. Later

they returned to Tibet with limited skills

in their mother tongue.

For the past few years, thousands of

teachers (Han Chinese or other non-

Tibetans) have been sent to teach in

Tibetan areas without any knowledge of

the Tibetan language and traditions.

People who had knowledge of the Tibetan

language and traditions were not given

any proper teacher's training.

KaRMa TENZiN

The so-called Bilingual Education Policy

in Tibet led to introduction of two models,

the first focuses on the Tibetan language

the second on Chinese language. The

Model 1 education system lacked proper

facilities, trained teachers and resources.

This policy is implemented during the

primary grades and after that all subjects

are taught in Chinese.

A wave of resentment against this

education and language policy has been

expressed on the streets by students and

in articles written by many Tibetans.

In Tibet, parents face the dilemma of

choosing between the Chinese language

and the Tibetan language. While the

former provides greater survival

opportunities for a child, the latter is

about the survival of their identity and

preservation of the linguistic culture of

Tibet.

For the past 70 years, the Chinese

government has employed every possible

dR. daNia KOlEilaT KHaTiB

trickery to destroy the Tibetan language

environment and to build a more

Sinicized population who are loyal to the

Communist Party regime.

Denying Tibetans the use of their

mother tongue is against international

human rights. As a member of the world

community, the Chinese government

needs to reconsider its policy on the

Tibetan minority and protection of its

language.

Tsering Shakya, in his 1999 book

Dragon in the Land of Snows: The History

of Tibet Since 1947, clearly captured the

situation during the Cultural Revolution.

He writes, "On the surface it seemed that

Chinese had succeeded in assimilating the

Tibetans: All expressions of Tibetan

identity and culture was forbidden with

the exception of the language, now the

only marker of Tibet's separateness from

China."

Currently in Tibet, the only marker of

Tibetan identity is the Communist Party's

onslaught against the Tibetan language,

and as in the case of Tashi Wangchuk,

voicing one's concerns and even

celebrating Mother Language Day could

land one in prison.

Source: Asia times

Arab Gulf states need to present a united front on Iran

As expected, new US President Joe Biden

appears set on going back to the Joint

Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)

nuclear deal with Iran. All the talk of

including US allies such as Israel and the

Arab Gulf states in any negotiations,

requiring Iran to roll back on its enrichment,

or the prompt and shy "no" that was Biden's

reply when asked if he would lift sanctions,

does not seem to have amounted to

anything.

The US wants to return to the deal as soon

as possible. Last Thursday, Biden rescinded

the Trump administration's attempt to

restore UN sanctions on Iran. Meanwhile,

there has been an invitation by European

partners to discuss re-entry into the JCPOA,

which can be seen as a face-saving

mechanism to avoid a "you go first" scenario

between Iran and the US. However, what is

the Arab Gulf position on this?

Barack Obama did not include Gulf

countries in the initial JCPOA negotiations

with Iran, as he did not want to add another

layer of complications to an already complex

matter. Biden will probably follow suit. He

would not want to give any US allies veto

power over the deal. The Gulf is still waiting

for the courtesy call Biden has yet to make.

His reluctance to engage is supposed to send

a clear message: US policy will be crafted

mainly to suit America's strategic objectives

US track record of regime change efforts

over the years "replete with cautionary tales

of hubris, overreach and magical thinking".

From the first intervention in Iran in 1953

("the original sin" of Mosaddeq's overthrow)

to 70 years of clandestine US actions across

the Middle East there has been "no case of

clear success, some catastrophic failures,

and universally high costs and unintended

consequences".

What is laid bare is the folly and failure of

Washington's regime change policy.

Gordon brings his long experience in

dealing with the Middle East to a book that

narrates a series of failed regional strategies.

He served as special coordinator to the

Middle East under president Obama and

has returned to government as deputy

national security adviser to Vice President

Kamala Harris. What he calls his direct

experience with regime change in the

Obama administration informs his views.

He dealt with policy to stabilise two

countries where the US engineered regime

change, Iraq and Afghanistan, and with

unsuccessful attempts at political change in

Syria, Libya and Egypt. The outcome in Iraq

was violence and instability and in

Afghanistan, "the Taliban in greater control

and a weak and corrupt government in

Kabul".

The opening sentence of Gordon's

introduction to the book is telling: "Since the

end of World War II the United States has

set out to oust governments in the Middle

in Tibet, parents face the dilemma of choosing between

the Chinese language and the Tibetan language. While the

former provides greater survival opportunities for a child,

the latter is about the survival of their identity and

preservation of the linguistic culture of Tibet.

and interests, not those of the Gulf.

This was expressed in an article written by

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy, who is a

member of the Senate Foreign Relations

Committee, in Foreign Affairs magazine last

week. He wrote that the Carter Doctrine,

which states that the US should use force to

protect the Gulf and its oil wells, no longer

applies and America should change its

policies toward the Gulf nations, putting its

own interests above theirs. In the case of

Iran, the main US objective is to prevent it

from acquiring a nuclear weapon. There is

still no cohesive and coherent Gulf policy

toward Iran that can be sustained.

And, as the Biden administration is likely

to repeat Obama's mistakes, so the Gulf

states are likely to repeat theirs. I once asked

a contact of mine who worked for the

Obama administration why the US did not

consult with the Gulf when it entered the

JCPOA. His reply was: "Do they know what

they want?" He explained that these states

never came up with a clear, unified position.

Before the deal, they did not want the US to

engage with Iran, but at the same time they

did not advocate a military strike that might

have repercussions for them. Nevertheless,

the US wanted to close the nuclear file. My

contact might have been exaggerating and

trying to throw the blame on to the Gulf, but

there is still no cohesive and coherent Gulf

MalEEHa lOdHi

East on an average of once a decade." These

interventions, justified on varied grounds,

have been tempting for many

administrations but have inevitably gone

wrong according to him, "failing badly" in

the long run despite deceptive early

'success'. The lessons he draws from this

policy include the following: it is much

easier to remove an undesirable regime than

to put a better one in its place; the security

vacuum that follows engenders bloody

power struggles and regional competition;

"liberators" invite rejection as money and

Gordon brings his long experience in dealing with the Middle East to a

book that narrates a series of failed regional strategies. He served as

special coordinator to the Middle East under president Obama and has

returned to government as deputy national security adviser to Vice

President Kamala Harris. What he calls his direct experience with

regime change in the Obama administration informs his views.

military force are not enough; and

unintended consequences prove to be

detrimental.

The two chapters on Afghanistan will be of

special interest for readers in Pakistan. Their

conclusions have added significance as the

Biden administration undertakes a review of

Afghan policy. Although Biden told the

recent Munich conference that he supports

the diplomatic process under way to end the

war, indications are that Washington may

extend the deadline for a complete military

pullout from Afghanistan committed under

the Doha agreement with the Taliban. That

will postpone not reverse the American

withdrawal but can risk a collapse of the

Doha deal.

While Bob Woodward's book Obama's

Wars had detailed the heated internal

debates that led to the 2009 military surge,

which Biden opposed as vice president,

Gordon deals with the Afghan conundrum

policy toward Iran that can be sustained.

The region's policies have been more a set of

uncoordinated, knee-jerk reactions to Iran's

strategic deployment of its own policies.

At the time of the Obama administration,

Iran had been emboldened by what it

perceived as a US endorsement, especially

when the president famously called on

Saudi Arabia to "share" the region with Iran.

On top of that, the release of funds as a result

of the JCPOA gave Iran the means to finance

its operations across the region. The US

attitude of ignoring and even snubbing the

Gulf while appeasing and even courting Iran

made the Gulf states nervous, putting them

on the defensive. They responded to Iran's

adventurism by supporting groups on the

opposing side. This was done in a chaotic

manner and as a result emboldened Iran.

The deal that was supposed to bring stability

to the region had exactly the opposite effect.

Not taking Iran's proxies into account

rendered the JCPOA vulnerable and

unsustainable. US allies rejected it, many

inside America criticized it, and Donald

Trump reneged on it. This scenario is at risk

of repeating itself unless a more in-depth

approach is adopted by both the US and

Gulf countries. However, the Gulf states

need to help themselves if they want the US

to help them. The first step is to put their

own house in order.

from a longer perspective, from 1979 to the

present. He describes Washington's covert

war to roll back the Soviet occupation of

Afghanistan, how the original goal to "bleed

the Russians" and deter further aggression

escalated and the deleterious consequences

that ensued. He casts this as a pyrrhic

victory for the multiple problems it later

created for the US and Afghanistan. He does

not mention Pakistan in this context and

ignores the fact that the country had to

struggle for decades to deal with the

multifaceted destabilising consequences of

that war. However, he cites prime minister

Benazir Bhutto telling George Bush during

her 1989 visit: "I am afraid we have created

a Franken stein monster that could come

to haunt us later."

In the chapter about America's post-9/11

prosecution of the war in Afghanistan he

describes the confusion over US goals,

initially, as well as over the next 20 years,

under different administrations. He argues

that declarations of victory, 'new

approaches' and rosy assessments by

American politicians and generals proved

illusory when the situation only continued to

deteriorate. His brief account of the Trump

policy leading to the Doha accord is

informed by the view that the US entered

these negotiations from a position of

weakness when its intention to pull out had

been made apparent. The conclusion he

draws from two decades of war is that the

US made a "costly mistake" to have tried "to

turn Afghanistan into something it had

never been before".

Some references in these chapters are

gratuitously critical of Pakistan - a default

option when some Western writers find

other explanations inconvenient.

Nevertheless, the book is worth reading for

its compelling account of the folly of

Washington pursuing regime change at the

cost of its own long-term interests.

Source: Dawn

The Gulf has not been on the same page

when it comes to conflicts in the region. The

Yemen conflict has been exacerbated by the

UAE and Saudi Arabia's diverging policies.

In Libya, since the fall of Muammar

Qaddafi, the UAE and Qatar have been

supporting different sides. Syria is not so

different, with the various Gulf countries

supporting different groups and even

creating competing platforms for the

opposition. To add to that, despite the

ending of the Qatar blockade, the UAE and

Bahrain still have reservations regarding

Doha. All these issues should be streamlined

and solved immediately. Everyone should

be on the same page regarding the region in

order to present a comprehensive initiative

to Iran and to engage with the US as a

proper partner that has a concrete and

executable offering.

It is now time for the Arab Gulf to come

together. It is also time to change the

previous attitude, whereby each country

sought to have preferential relations with

the US over other Gulf countries. This

mentality will lead nowhere. They need to

start thinking, planning and acting with a

united front, otherwise they will miss the

boat and get nothing out of the Biden

administration.

Source: Arab news

WeDNeSDaY, FeBRuaRY 24, 2021

5

The auto industry eyes on batteries

IvaN PeNN

As automakers like General Motors, Volkswagen and Ford

Motor make bold promises about transitioning to an

electrified, emission-free future, one thing is becoming

obvious: They will need a lot of batteries.

Demand for this indispensable component already

outstrips supply, prompting a global gold rush that has

investors, established companies and start-ups racing to

develop the technology and build the factories needed to

churn out millions of electric cars.

Long considered one of the least interesting car

components, batteries may now be one of the most exciting

parts of the auto industry. Car manufacturing hasn't

fundamentally changed in 50 years and is barely profitable,

but the battery industry is still ripe for innovation.

Technology is evolving at a pace that is reminiscent of the

early days of personal computers, mobile phones or even

automobiles, and an influx of capital has the potential to mint

the next Steve Jobs or Henry Ford.

Wood Mackenzie, an energy research and consulting firm,

estimates that electric vehicles will make up 18 percent of

new car sales by 2030. That would increase the demand for

batteries by about eight times as much as factories can

currently produce. And that is a conservative estimate. Some

analysts expect electric vehicle sales to grow much faster.

Carmakers are engaged in an intense race to acquire the

chemical recipe that will deliver the most energy at the lowest

price and in the smallest package. G.M.'s announcement last

month that it would go all electric by 2035 was widely

considered a landmark moment by policymakers and

environmentalists. But to many people in the battery

industry, the company was stating the obvious.

"This was the last in a wave of big announcements that very

clearly signaled that electric vehicles are here," said Venkat

Viswanathan, an associate professor at Carnegie Mellon

University who researches battery technology.

Battery manufacturing is dominated by companies like

Tesla, Panasonic, LG Chem, BYD China and SK Innovation -

nearly all of them based in China, Japan or South Korea. But

many new players are getting into the game, and investors,

sensing the vast profits at stake, are hurling money at startups

that they believe are close to breakthroughs.

"I think we're in the infancy stage," said Andy Palmer, the

former chief executive of Aston Martin and now the

nonexecutive vice chairman of InoBat Auto, a battery startup.

"There is more money than there are ideas."

QuantumScape, a Silicon Valley start-up whose investors

include Volkswagen and Bill Gates, is working on a

technology that could make batteries cheaper, more reliable

and quicker to recharge. But it has no substantial sales, and

it could fail to produce and sell batteries. Yet stock market

investors consider the company to be more valuable than the

French carmaker Renault.

China and the European Union are injecting government

funds into battery technology. China sees batteries as crucial

carmakers, government agencies and investors are pouring money into battery research.

to its ambition to dominate the electric vehicle industry. In

response, the Chinese government helped Contemporary

Amperex Technology, which is partly state-owned, become

one of the world's biggest battery suppliers seemingly

overnight.

The European Union is subsidizing battery production to

avoid becoming dependent on Asian suppliers and to

preserve auto industry jobs. Last month, the European

Commission, the bloc's administrative arm, announced a 2.9

billion-euro, or $3.5 billion, fund to support battery

manufacturing and research. That was on top of the more

than €60 billion that European governments and

automakers had already committed to electric vehicles and

batteries, according to the consulting firm Accenture. Some

of the government money will go to Tesla as a reward for the

company's decision to build a factory near Berlin.

The United States is also expected to promote the industry

in accordance with President Biden's focus on climate change

and his embrace of electric cars. In a campaign ad last year,

Mr. Biden, who owns a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette, said he was

looking forward to driving an electric version of the sports car

if G.M. decided to make one.

Photo: Gabriela Hasbun

Several battery factories are in the planning or construction

phase in the United States, including a factory G.M. is

building in Ohio with LG, but analysts said federal incentives

for electric car and battery production would be crucial to

creating a thriving industry in the United States. So will

technological advances by government-funded researchers

and domestic companies like QuantumScape and Tesla,

which last fall outlined its plans to lower the cost and

improve the performance of batteries.

"There's no secret that China strongly promotes

manufacturing and new development," said Margaret Mann, a

group manager in the Center for Integrated Mobility Sciences at

the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a unit of the U.S.

Energy Department. "I am not pessimistic," she said of the

United States' ability to gain ground in battery production. "But

I don't think all of the problems have been solved yet."

Entrepreneurs working in this area said that these were

early days and that U.S. companies could still leapfrog the

Asian producers that dominate the industry."Today's

batteries are not competitive," said Jagdeep Singh, chief

executive of QuantumScape, which is based in San Jose,

Calif. "Batteries have enormous potential and are critical for

a renewable energy economy, but they have to get better."

For the most part, all of the money pouring into battery

technology is good news. It puts capitalism to work on

solving a global problem. But this reordering of the auto

industry will also claim some victims, like the companies that

build parts for internal combustion engine cars and trucks, or

automakers and investors that bet on the wrong technology.

"Battery innovations are not overnight," said Venkat

Srinivasan, director of the Argonne National Laboratory's

Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science. "It can take

you many years. All sorts of things can happen."

Most experts are certain that demand for batteries will

empower China, which refines most of the metals used in

batteries and produces more than 70 percent of all battery

cells. And China's grip on battery production will slip only

marginally during the next decade despite ambitious plans to

expand production in Europe and the United States,

according to projections by Roland Berger, a German

management consulting firm.

Battery production has "deep geopolitical ramifications," said

Tom Einar Jensen, the chief executive of Freyr, which is building

a battery factory in northern Norway to take advantage of the

region's abundant wind and hydropower. "The European auto

industry doesn't want to rely too much on imports from Asia in

general and China in particular," he added.

Freyr plans to raise $850 million as part of a proposed

merger with Alussa Energy Acquisition Corporation, a shell

company that sold shares before it had any assets. The deal,

announced in January, would give Freyr a listing on the New

York Stock Exchange. The company plans to make batteries

using technology developed by 24M Technologies in

Cambridge, Mass.

The first priority for the industry is to make batteries

cheaper. Batteries for a midsize electric car cost about

$15,000, or roughly double the price they need to be for

electric cars to achieve mass acceptance, Mr. Srinivasan said.

Those savings can be achieved by making dozens of small

improvements - like producing batteries close to car factories

to avoid shipping costs - and by reducing waste, according to

Roland Berger. About 10 percent of the materials that go into

making a battery are wasted because of inefficient

production methods.

But, in a recent study, Roland Berger also warned that

growing demand could push up prices for raw materials like

lithium, cobalt and nickel and cancel out some of those

efficiency gains. The auto industry is competing for batteries

with electric utilities and other energy companies that need

them to store intermittent wind and solar power, further

driving up demand.

"We are getting rumbles there may be a supply crunch this

year," said Jason Burwen, interim chief executive for the

United States Energy Storage Association.An entire genre of

companies has sprung up to replace expensive minerals used

in batteries with materials that are cheaper and more

common.

How does Bill Gates plan to solve the

climate crisis?

BIll McKIBBeN

First things first - much respect to Bill Gates for his

membership in the select club of ultra-billionaires

not actively attempting to flee Earth and colonize

Mars. His affection for his home planet and the

people on it shines through clearly in this new

book, as does his proud and usually endearing

geekiness. The book's illustrations include photos

of him inspecting industrial facilities, like a

fertilizer distribution plant in Tanzania; definitely

the happiest picture is of him and his son grinning

identical grins outside an Icelandic geothermal

power station. "Rory and I used to visit power

plants for fun," he writes, "just to learn how they

worked."

And this new volume could not be more timely -

it emerges after a year that saw the costliest slew of

weather disasters in history, and that

despite a cooling La Niña current in

the Pacific managed to set the mark

for record global temperature. As

everyone can attest who watched the

blazes of Australia and California, or

the hurricanes with odd Greek names

crashing through the gulf, we are in

dire need of solutions to the greatest

crisis our species has yet faced.

It is a disappointment, then, to

report that this book turns out to be a

little underwhelming. Gates - who

must have easy access to the greatest

experts the world can provide - is

surprisingly behind the curve on the

geeky parts, and he's worse at

interpreting the deeper and more

critical aspects of the global warming

dilemma. Since he confesses that he

completely missed the climate

challenge until 2006, when he met

with some scientists almost two

decades after the problem emerged

(previously "I had assumed there

were cyclical variations or other

factors that would naturally prevent a

true climate disaster"), it's perhaps not surprising

that he's still catching up. And yet, his

miscalculations are important, because they are

widely shared.

Let's do the numbers first. Gates correctly

understands the basic challenge, which is to "get

to zero" as soon as we can. "Humans need to stop

adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere," he

writes, which is as useful a sentence as the English

language admits. And he understands that the key

to doing this is to electrify as much human activity

as possible: from powering our computers to

turning the wheels of our cars and buses to

producing steel. But when it comes to generating

that electricity, he worries that solar panels aren't

becoming more efficient fast enough: Unlike

computer chips, for instance, there's no "Moore's

law" that doubles their usefulness every two years.

But that's not really the target here: In fact, as

the analyst Ramez Naam pointed out last spring,

the price of solar power has dropped astonishingly

in the last decade, far outpacing even the most

optimistic forecasts. The price drop is 50 to 100

years ahead of what the International Energy

Agency was forecasting in 2010, mostly because

we're getting better at building and installing solar

panels. Every time we double the number of

panels installed, the price drops another 30 to 40

percent, and there's plenty of runway left.

These staggering numbers are why Gates's

current-day snapshots of the "Green Premiums"

you need to pay for clean energy don't mean as

much as he thinks they do: Especially since

Bill Gates touring the Yara fertilizer distribution facility in

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 2018. Photo: Gates Notes

storage batteries are now dropping in price on a

similar curve, it's clear that the imperative is to

install as much solar (and wind power, which is on

the same price trajectory) as fast as humanly

possible, since if we don't make huge progress in

the next 10 years scientists have made clear we can

kiss the targets we set in Paris goodbye.

One wishes Gates had talked, for instance, with

Stanford's Mark Jacobson, whose team has

calculated how almost every country on earth

could go to 80 percent renewable energy by 2030.

If he had, he might have understood more clearly

that the things that really interest him - advanced

nuclear power, for instance, where he describes

his considerable investments - are more about

mopping up: He's absolutely right that we should

be investing in research across a wide list of

technologies because we may need them down the

line to help scrub the last increments of fossil fuel

from the system, but the key work will be done (or

not) over the next decade, and it will be done by

sun and wind.

As London's Carbon Tracker Initiative

explained last year, building new sun- and windpower

facilities is already, or soon will be, cheaper

even than operating existing coal-fired power.

Most people, Gates included, have not caught on

yet to just how fast this engineering miracle is

happening.

So why aren't we moving much faster than we

are? That's because of politics, and this is where

Gates really wears blinders. "I think more like an

engineer than a political scientist," he says proudly

- but that means he can write an entire book about

the "climate disaster" without

discussing the role that the fossil fuel

industry played, and continues to play,

in preventing action.

We now know from great

investigative reporting that the oil

companies knew everything about

climate change back in the 1980s, and

that they systematically built an edifice

of disinformation and denial to keep us

in the dark. That's why we've wasted

almost three decades of scientific

warning. "I don't have a solution to the

politics of climate change," Gates

writes, but in fact he does: He founded,

and his foundation is a shareholder in,

a company that has donated money to

exactly the politicians who are in the

pocket of big oil. A Bloomberg analysis

last fall found that Microsoft had given

only a third of its contributions to

"climate-friendly" politicians. Emily

Atkin, in a December issue of her

climate newsletter Heated, pointed out

that Microsoft had joined 42 other

corporations in a letter to Presidentelect

Biden calling on him to enact

"ambitious" climate policies - and then donated to

David Perdue for his Georgia Senate runoff (other

signatories to the letter also gave to Kelly Loeffler).

Had they won and the G.O.P. retained control of

the Senate, the chances for those ambitious

climate policies would have been nil.

Gates mentions in passing at one point that he

chose to divest his fortune from fossil fuel

companies, but only because "I don't want to

profit if their stock prices go up because we don't

develop zero-carbon alternatives." He scoffed at

the idea that activists (who otherwise go mostly

unmentioned in this book) thought that "divesting

alone" would "transform the world's energy

system." But of course those activists, myself

included, thought no such thing.

a Ford display at the 2019 International auto Show in Frankfurt.

Photo: Ronald Wittek

Ford to phase out gasoline-powered

vehicles in Europe

Neal e. BouDeTTe

Ford Motor became the latest

automaker to accelerate its transition to

electric cars, saying Wednesday that its

European division would soon begin to

phase out vehicles powered by fossil

fuels. By 2026, the company will offer

only electric and plug-in hybrid models,

and by 2030 all passenger cars will run

solely on batteries.

The plan is part of a bid to generate steady

profits in Europe, where Ford has struggled

for several years, as well as to meet

increasingly strict emissions standards in the

European Union."We are going all in on

electric vehicles," Stuart Rowley, president of

Ford of Europe, said during a news

conference.

Ford and other automakers are moving

more rapidly on electric vehicles in Europe

than in the United States. Last year, the

European Union began imposing penalties

on carmakers that do not adhere to limits on

carbon dioxide emissions, forcing them to

sell more electric cars.

Ford is a relatively minor player in Europe,

with 5 percent of the passenger car market,

but it said it planned to spend $1 billion to

overhaul its main European plant, in

Cologne, Germany, to produce electric

vehicles. The first new model is supposed to

go into production in 2023, Ford said, and

will use electric vehicle technology developed

by Volkswagen.

Ford has begun selling its battery powered

Mustang Mach-E in Europe and will begin

delivering models to European customers

during the next few weeks.All of the delivery

vans and commercial vehicles made by Ford

of Europe will be electric or plug-in hybrids

by 2024, and its entire range of vehicles

would be electric or plug-in hybrids two

years after that.

However, Ford will continue to sell

commercial vehicles with gasoline or diesel

engines in Europe for years to come. The

company said that, by 2030, two-thirds of

the commercial vehicles it sells in Europe

will be battery powered.

"There will still be demand for

conventionally power vehicles," Mr. Rowley

said.

Last month, General Motors said it aimed

to produce only electric vehicles by 2035, but

G.M. has all but pulled out of Europe. The

company sold its Opel division in 2017 to

France's Peugeot SA. Peugeot recently

merged with Fiat Chrysler and is now known

as Stellantis.

Jaguar Land Rover said Monday that all of

its Jaguar luxury cars, and 60 percent of

Land Rover luxury SUVs, will run solely on

batteries by 2030.The lab at QuantumScape,

a Silicon Valley start-up whose investors

include Volkswagen and Bill Gates, is

working on a technology that could make

batteries cheaper, more reliable and quicker

to recharge.Credit...Gabriela Hasbun for The

New York Times.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021

6

An advocacy meeting on women empowerment communication skills development was held in

Kishoreganj on Tuesday.

Photo: Mafe Sheikh

Advocacy meeting on women empowerment

communication skills development held

MAFE SHEIKH, KISHOREGANJ UPAZILA CORRESPONDENT:

An advocacy meeting on women

empowerment communication skills

development was held at Upazila

Shilpakala Academy at 11 am on

Tuesday under the auspices of

Democracy watch Aparajita Project in

Kishoreganj Upazila.

The meeting was presided over by

Upazila Mohila Vice Chairman Shapla

Begum while among others, Bangladesh

Awami League Upazila Branch

President Zakir Hossain Babul, Jatiya

Party Convener Rezaul Alam Swapan,

BNP Convener Abdullah Al Mamun,

Democracy watch Nilphamari District

Program Coordinator Kamal Hossain

Shah, women reserved members in

different unions, teachers, dignitaries

and journalists engaged in various

activities.

The program was conducted by

Democracy Watch Upazila Coordinator

Khurshid Jahan.

Bangladesh Army University of Engineering & Technology (BAUET), Qudirabad celebrated it's 6th

founding anniversary recently.

Photo: Sheikh Tofazzal Hossain

World Scout

Day celebrated

in Gaibandha

GAIBANDHA: World Scout

Day-2021 and the birth day of

the founder of the scout

Robert Baden Powell was

celebrated here as elsewhere

in the country and the globe

yesterday in a befitting

manner, reports BSS.

Marking the day, District

Rover and Scout chalked out

the elaborate programmes.

In the morning, a

discussion was held on the

premises of the bungalow of

the deputy commissioner

(DC) in the town.

Speaking on the occasion,

DC Abdul Matin emphasized

conducting scout movement

in the country to build

prosperous nation.

Scouting helps a learner

become a good citizen

through

training

simultaneously study, he said.

The national development

will be accelerated, if teaching

of scouting can be reflected in

personal, family and social

lives, he further said.

Later a cake was cut amid

much festivity.

A rally was also brought out

on limited scale amid the

present coronavirus

pandemic.

Lord Baden Powell, the

founder of the scout, was born

at 6 Stanhope Street (now 11

Stanhope Terrace),

Paddington, London, on 22

February 1857.

Educated at Charterhouse

School, Baden-Powell served

in the British Army from 1876

to 1910 in India and Africa.

In 1910, Baden-Powell

retired from the army and

formed the Scout Association

which was expanded across

the world later.

BAUET celebrates 6th

founding anniversary

SHEIKH TOFAZZAL HOSSAIN, NATORE CORRESPONDENT:

Bangladesh Army University of Engineering

& Technology (BAUET), Qudirabad celebrated

it's 6th founding anniversary recently. On the

occasion, rally, discussion meeting and special

prayers were arranged at the campus premises.

The programme was started with hoisting

the national and the university flags by Vice-

Chancellor Brig. Gen. M.Mustafa Kamal and

Treasurer Col. Mohammad Hamidul Haque

psc (Retd.) respectively. Also, a pair of white

RANGPUR: Banana farming continues

boosting both in mainland and char areas

bringing self-reliance to many people in

Rangpur agriculture region during the last 12

years, reports BSS.

Deputy Detector of the Department of

Agricultural Extension (DAE) at its regional

office Agriculturist Md. Moniruzzaman said

farmers have cultivated bananas on 2,559

hectares of land in all five districts of the region

during the current Rabi season.

Farmers are enhancing cultivation of

bananas as a cash crop every year to reap more

profits after being inspired by the DAE and

other agriculture related organisations.

"Braving the coronavirus (COVID-19)

pandemic, farmers are showing more interest

in farming bananas and other fruits also to

meet their own nutrition, public nourishment

and enhance immunity against the deadly

virus," he said.

The field level DAE officials are extending

assisting farmers, riverside and char people to

expand cultivation of 'Meher Sagar', 'Sobri' and

other varieties of banana on more lands both in

mainland and char areas.

With the DAE assistance, many small and

marginal farmers and landless char and

riverside people have cultivated bananas in all

upazilas of Rangpur, Gaibandha, Kurigram,

pigeons was freed away in the sky as a symbol

of peace and a festoon as the mark of 6th year

celebration of BAUET.

Then a colorful rally was brought out from

BAUET campus. Parading the main streets of

Qudirabad, the rally ended at campus premises

again. Students, teachers and officials took part

at the rally.

Also, a special prayer was arranged and

sweets were distributed among the

participants. Beside these, campus was

decorated with colorful flags.

Banana farming boosts in mainland,

char areas of Rangpur region

Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts in the

region this season.

In Nageshwari upazila of Kurigram alone,

char and riverside people have cultivated

bananas on 175 acres of char lands in

Bamondanga, Berubari, Raiganj, Kochakata,

Bolloverkhas, Kaliganj and Bhitorband unions

this time. Talking to BSS, farmer Rafikul Islam

of Bamondanga union in the upazila said a

group of char people led by him started

cultivating banana on 25 bighas of char lands

four years back. "Excluding farming costs, we

are earning Taka eight lakh to ten lakh on an

average annually by farming bananas on 25

bighas of char lands," he said.

Farmer Yusuf Ali of the same area said,

another group of char people led by him, are

cultivating bananas for the last three years by

planting over 70,000 banana saplings on 160

bighas of char lands. Farmer Lokman Hossain

of the area said char people are selling bananas

on one side of char lands and cultivating

banana afresh on the other side on vacant

lands. The process of formation and growth of

new banana bunches continues all the time

giving the gardens fresh looks.

"Like hundreds of farmers in the mainland,

many char families have become dependent on

cultivating bananas on sandy char lands to

become self-reliant," Hossain added.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Dhaka

Marathon completed in Chhagalnaiya

Kafil Uddin Majumder,

Chhagalnaiya Correspondent:

Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujib Dhaka Marathon

Race 2021 was held in a

festive atmosphere with the

participation of a large

number of people organized

by Chhagalnaiya Upazila

Administration and Upazila

Parishad. Chhagalnaiya

Upazila Parishad Chairman

Mejbaul Haider Chowdhury

Sohel and Upazila Nirbahi

Officer Sajia Taher

inaugurated the marathon.

The marathon started

from the Upazila Parishad

premises on Tuesday

morning, February 23 and

ended at the Upazila

Parishad premises. During

the time, Chhagalnaiya

Upazila Assistant

Commissioner (Land)

Humaira

Islam,

Municipality Mayor M.

Mostafa, Upazila Vice

Chairman Enamul Haque

Majumder, Women Vice

Chairman Bibi Jolekha

Shilpi, Chhagalnaiya Police

Station Officer-in-Charge

Mezbah Uddin Ahmed, OC

(Investigation) Mahbubur

Rahman PPM and

Chhagalnaiya BRDB

Chairman Mujibur Rahman

Mujib participated in the

marathon.

Jubo Sanghati leader held

with arms in Sundarganj

Manish Sarkar Rana,

Sundarganj Correspondent:

Police have arrested Golam

Rabbani Rubel, upazila

convener of Jatiya Party's

(Japa-Ershad) affiliate Jatiya

Jubo Sanghati, with illegal

pistols in Gaibandha's

Sundarganj. Six rounds of

fresh ammunition were

recovered from him.

Sundarganj Police Officerin-Charge

(OC) Abdullah

Zaman confirmed the matter

at an official press conference

on Tuesday (January 23rd).

The arrestee is the son of

Rafiqul Islam of Madhyapara

village in Shantipur union of

Rubel upazila. He is the

convener of Jatiya Jubo

Sanghati.

It was informed at the press

conference that the police

raided Madhyapara village of

Shantiram union of the

upazila on Tuesday morning

on the basis of secret

information. After searching

his home, a foreign pistol and

six rounds of fresh

ammunition were recoeverd.

He was later arrested and

brought to the police station.

A meeting was held in Narail with the participation of UP Secretaries to review the ongoing activities,

resolve issues arising at the local level and plan for the future. The meeting was held at noon on

Tuesday and was chaired by Md. Yarul Islam, Deputy Director, Local Government Department,

Deputy Commissioner's Office. Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Habibur Rahman spoke as the

chief guest at the occasion.

Photo: Humaun Kabir

RAJSHAHI: A total of 12 more people

have tested positive for Covid-19 in five

districts under Rajshahi division in the

last 24 hours till Monday evening,

climbing the number of infections to

25,598, reports BSS.

However, the new daily infection figure

is one of the ever-lowest ones compared

to the previous couple of months, said the

health department sources.

Of the infected patients, 23,967 have, so

far, been cured from the lethal virus with

35 new recoveries found during the time,

they said. A total of 2,982 infected

patients are now undergoing treatment at

designated hospitals here, they added.

Besides, all the positive cases for

COVID-19 have, so far, been brought

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Dhaka Marathon Race 2021 was held in

Chhagalnaiya Upazila on Tuesday.

Photo: Kafil Uddin Majumder

Police in a drive arrested Golam Rabbani

Rubel, upazila convener of Jatiya Party's (Japa-

Ershad) affiliate Jatiya Jubo Sanghati, with

illegal pistol and ammunition in Sundarganj on

Tuesday.

Photo: Manish Sarkar Rana

After questioning him, the

police held an official press

conference and informed him

about the whole matter.

However, the police did not

know for how long and for

what reason he had illegal

weapons. He did not disclose

under necessary treatment while

6,559 were kept in isolation units of

different hospitals for institutional

supervision.

Of them, 5,731 have by now been

released. On the other hand, 24 more

people have been sent to home and

institutional quarantine afresh while 26

were released in all eight districts of the

division over the last 24 hours till 8 am

yesterday.

The number of deaths from the disease

stands at 396 including 250 in Bogura

and 55 in Rajshahi with one more fatality

reported afresh today, said Dr Habibul

Ahsan Talukder, Divisional Director of

Health.

Of the total new positive cases, the

any further details in the

interest of the investigation.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday

afternoon, the police filed a

case under the Arms Act with

the police station. He will be

taken to court in the

afternoon in this case.

According to a police

source, RAB members

recently arrested Sundarganj

Upazila Chhatra Dal leader

Mahbub. Later, when the

police questioned him on

remand, Mahbub informed

that Rubel had a weapon. On

the basis of that information,

they raided the house at night

and arrested Rubel with a

weapon.

Confirming the matter,

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of the

police station Abdullahil

Zaman said Rubel, the

upazila convener of the Youth

Solidarity, was arrested in a

night raid on the basis of

secret information. Six

rounds of fresh ammunition

were recovered from him. A

case has been filed against

him under the Arms Act and

he has been sent to jail

through the court.

12 more test positive for Covid-19 in Rajshahi division

highest five were detected in Bogura,

followed by four in Rajshahi including

two in its city and one each in Joypurhat,

Sirajgaonj and Pabna.

With the new detected cases, the

district-wise break-up of the COVID-19

cases now stands at 6,057 in Rajshahi

including 4,562 in its city, 824 in

Chapainawabganj, 1,632 in Naogaon,

1,244 in Natore, 1,363 in Joypurhat,

9,986 in Bogura, 2,779 in Sirajganj and

1,713 in Pabna.

Dr Habibul Ahsan said the

whereabouts of the persons, who came in

contact with COVID-19 patients, were

identified and they were asked to remain

in home isolation so that the virus cannot

spread further.

7

wedNeSdAY, februArY 24, 2021

NASA releases Mars landing

video : 'Stuff of our dreams'

NASA on Monday released the first high-quality video of a spacecraft landing

on Mars, a three-minute trailer showing the enormous orange and

white parachute hurtling open and the red dust kicking up as rocket

engines lowered the rover to the surface.

Photo : Internet

CAPE CANAVERAL : NASA on Monday released the first

high-quality video of a spacecraft landing on Mars, a threeminute

trailer showing the enormous orange and white parachute

hurtling open and the red dust kicking up as rocket

engines lowered the rover to the surface, reports UNB.

The footage was so good - and the images so breathtaking

- that members of the rover team said they felt like they were

riding along.

"It gives me goose bumps every time I see it, just amazing,"

said Dave Gruel, head of the entry and descent camera team.

The Perseverance rover landed last Thursday near an

ancient river delta in Jezero Crater to search for signs of

ancient microscopic life. After spending the weekend bingewatching

the descent and landing video, the team at Jet

Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, shared the

video at a news conference.

"These videos and these images are the stuff of our dreams,"

said Al Chen, who was in charge of the landing team.

Six off-the-shelf color cameras were devoted to entry,

descent and landing, looking up and down from different

perspectives. All but one camera worked. The lone microphone

turned on for landing failed, but NASA got some snippets

of sound after touchdown: the whirring of the rover's

systems and wind gusts.

Flight controllers were thrilled with the thousands of

images beamed back - and also with the remarkably good

condition of NASA's biggest and most capable rover yet. It

will spend the next two years exploring the dry river delta and

drilling into rocks that may hold evidence of life 3 billion to 4

billion years ago. The core samples will be set aside for return

to Earth in a decade.

NASA added 25 cameras to the $3 billion mission - the

most ever sent to Mars. The space agency's previous rover,

2012's Curiosity, managed only jerky, grainy stop-motion

images, mostly of terrain. Curiosity is still working. So is

NASA's InSight lander, although it's hampered by dusty solar

panels. They may have company in late spring, when China

attempts to land its own rover, which went into orbit around

Mars two weeks ago.

Deputy project manager Matt Wallace said he was inspired

several years ago to film Perseverance's harrowing descent

when his young gymnast daughter wore a camera while performing

a backflip.

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GD-312/21 (5x3)

Malaysian court halts

deportation of 1,200

Myanmar migrants

KUALA LUMPUR : A

Malaysian court Tuesday

ordered a halt to the planned

deportation of 1,200

Myanmar migrants to hear

an appeal by two human

rights groups, which say

refugees, asylum seekers and

minors were among those

being sent back, reports

UNB.

The court order, following a

legal bid by Amnesty

International Malaysia and

Asylum Access Malaysia,

came just after the migrants

were transported to a naval

base where three Myanmar

military ships were waiting to

take them home.

"In light of the court ruling,

the government must respect

the court order and ensure

that not one of the 1,200 individuals

is deported today,"

said Amnesty International

Malaysia's director, Katrina

Jorene Maliamauv.

Amnesty said the court will

hear their appeal Wednesday

and urged the government to

reconsider its plans to send

the migrants back home,

where human rights violations

are high following a

Feb. 1 military coup that

deposed the country's elected

leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

US imposes sanctions

against two more

Myanmar military officials

WASHINGTON : The

United States imposed sanctions

against two Myanmar

military officials on Monday,

reports UNB.

The U.S. Department of

the Treasury said in a statement

that it had designated

two more military officials,

both of whom were members

of Myanmar's State

Administration Council.

Earlier this month, the

United States had designated

10 current and former military

officials and blacklisted

three entities related to the

military or security forces of

Myanmar.

A one-year state of emergency

was declared in

Myanmar after President U

Win Myint and State

Counsellor Aung San Suu

Kyi, along with other officials

from National League for

Democracy (NLD), were

detained by the military on

Feb. 1.

The military had alleged

that there was massive voting

fraud in the country's

November 2020 general

elections, which saw the

NLD win a majority of seats

in both houses of parliament.

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e-Tender Notice

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021 8

The Premier Bank Limited has successfully inaugurated its Shariah Based Islami Banking window services:

'Premier Bank Tijarah', at another 6 conventional branches (Uttara Branch, Kakrail Branch,

Mymensingh Branch, Barisal Branch, Khulna Branch and Rangpur Branch) of the bank through Virtual

Platform recently. Now, 20 Windows have become fully operational. M. Reazul Karim, FCMA,

Managing Director and CEO, of the bank announced the inauguration. Senior Management of the Bank

along with the 6 respective branch managers cut the ribbon for celebrating the program. All kinds of

Islami Banking facilities can be availed at Islami Banking window services.

Photo: Courtesy

Vaccine hopes boost

British pound

LONDON: The British

pound continued a frantic

two-month rise against the

euro and the dollar, reaching

new highs Monday in a sign of

traders' enthusiasm for the

country's vaccination roll-out,

reports BSS.

Just before Christmas,

investors feared the country

would leave the European

single market without a post-

Brexit trade agreement.

At the same time, a deadly

second wave and new, more

transmissible coronavirus

variants pushed infection

rates up and saw the death toll

soar.

It currently stands at more

than 120,000 - one of the

worst in the world.

But since December, the

pound has gained more than

five percent against the euro

and US dollar, making it a top

performer among major

currencies.

The jump is due to the

number of people vaccinated:

according to the government,

LONDON : Britain's unemployment rate

edged up to 5.1 percent in the final quarter of

2020, official data showed on Tuesday, as

coronavirus lockdowns slashed economic

activity, reports BSS.

The rate compared with 5.0 percent in the

three months to the end of November,

which was a 4.5-year high, the Office for

National Statistics said in a statement.

Analysts expect unemployment to surge

when the UK government's furlough

scheme paying the bulk of wages for

millions of private-sector workers comes to

a stop - as currently planned - at the end of

April.

Finance minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday

hinted at further employment support in the

coming months as England begins to exit its

third lockdown form early March.

Details are expected to come in his annual

budget next week.

one adult in three has already

received a first dose,

representing more than 17.5

million people.

Another reason for

optimism is Prime Minister

Boris Johnson's publication

Monday of a "cautious but

irreversible" roadmap to ease

lockdown restrictions by July.

"After a year in which the

government's reputation was

soured by a string of policy U-

turns, the UK has made good

decisions regarding vaccines,"

Jane Foley, head of FX

strategy at Rabobank.

"Markets are still adjusting

to the fact that the Bank of

England is unlikely to

implement negative rates for

now," added analysts at Swiss

bank UBS.

Like other central banks, the

Bank of England adopted a

record low interest rate of just

0.1 percent to cushion the

economic impact of the

pandemic.

But traders were mainly

worried it would adopt a

negative rate like the

European Central Bank or the

Bank of Japan.

At its last monetary policy

meeting, the bank took that

option off the table until

August, and governor Andrew

Bailey said it might not be

implemented then either.

As a result, forex traders

began to bid up the pound

against the dollar and the

euro.

Unlike Europe's single

currency, whose strength has

weighed on exports, the

pound is just returning to

relatively low levels.

The British currency is still

12 percent lower against the

euro and six percent lower

against the dollar, compared

with levels before the seismic

Brexit referendum in June

2016.

"A stronger pound is

another headwind for UK

exporters and provides some

small relief for households,"

noted Paul Dales of Capital

Economics.

UK unemployment edges up

to 5.1pc on pandemic fallout

"I know how incredibly tough the past

year has been for everyone and every job lost

is a personal tragedy," the chancellor of the

exchequer said in a statement.

"That's why throughout the crisis, my

focus has been on doing everything we can

to protect jobs and livelihoods.

"At the budget next week I will set out the

next stage of our plan for jobs and the

support we'll provide through the

remainder of the pandemic and our

recovery." British Prime Minister Boris

Johnson on Monday set out a four-step plan

to ease coronavirus restrictions, expressing

hope that life could get back to normal by

the end of June.

In a statement to parliament, he outlined

a "gradual and cautious" approach to lifting

curbs in England, starting with the

reopening of schools from March 8 and

non-essential retail from April 12.

BAT Bangladesh

appoints Sarzil

Sarwar as the

new Head of IDT

BAT Bangladesh has

appointed Sarzil Sarwar as

the new head of Information

& Digital Technology (IDT)

recently. Prior to joining

BAT Bangladesh, Sarzil was

the Group Head of

Technology Programme and

Performance Management

in his role at Axiata Group

Berhad, a press release said.

During his tenure with

Axiata Group Berhad, Sarzil

served in several

management roles in Robi

Axiata since 2012,

overseeing

the

Transformation office,

Programme management,

digital transformation, and

customer experience

functions. Besides serving

Axiata Berhad, Sarwar also

worked for many other

leading Telecom companies

such as Ooredoo, Airtel and

Veon in various IT, B2B &

Strategy functions across the

Middle East, Africa and

South Asian markets.

Indian markets

close lower

MUMBAI : Indian

markets closed extremely

lower on Monday.

Except metal, all other

sectoral indices ended in the

red. Also, both BSE Midcap

and Smallcap indices shed

over 1 percent, reports BSS.

The benchmark S&P, BSE

Sensex closed at 49,744.32,

1145.44 points or 2.25

percent down compared to

its previous close at

50,889.76.

Recently ONE Bank Ltd signed an Agreement with FARAZY Hospital Ltd. and FARAZY Dental

Hospital & Research Center. Dr. Anower Farazy Emon, Chairman of FARAZY Hospital Ltd. and

FARAZY Dental Hospital & Research Center and Md. Kamruzzaman, Head of Retail Banking of ONE

Bank Ltd signed the Agreement on behalf of their respective organizations. Under this Agreement,

OBL Debit, Credit & Prepaid card holders with dependents will enjoy up to 30% discount on all

Pathological Tests, 25% discount on Imaging Services, 15% discount on Bed charge, up to 50% discount

on dental services & exclusive discount on Check-up packages round the year. High officials of

both the organizations were also present in this occasion.

Photo: Courtesy

Workers of three closed factories of

Adamjee & Dhaka EPZ get dues

Kwun Tong Apparels Ltd. of

Adamjee EPZ and Lenny

Fashions Ltd. & Lenny

Apparels Limited of Dhaka

EPZ, the recently closed RMG

factories, have paid dues to

their workers. The relentless

efforts of BEPZA made it

possible to pay the dues after

the several rounds of

discussions between the

Executive Chairman of

BEPZA and the

representatives of those

companies.

The British Virgin Island

owned Kwun Tong Apparels

Ltd. had been operating

business in Adamjee EPZ

since 2006. But due to the

global economic downturn

caused by Corona Pandemic,

the company declared closed

for not being able to run the

business. BEPZA asked Kwun

Tong Apparels repeatedly to

pay the dues of the workers of

the factory. In this context, the

company recently paid

Tk.18.58 crore to 5787

workers against their

Provident Fund (PF) and

Gratuity.

Hong Kong (China) owned

Lenny Fashions and Lenny

Apparels Ltd. had been

operating RMG industry in

Dhaka EPZ since 1999 and

2010 respectively. At present,

the demand of the woven

garments is decreased and the

orders from the buyers is also

stopped due to Covid-19

situation. As a result, the two

factories declared closed their

business activities. Tk. 42.25

crore against the dues of 6730

workers have been paid due to

tireless effort of BEPZA.

BEPZA has been operating

8 EPZs in the country through

maintaining Workers-

Management-Owner

Synergy. The harmony

between BEPZA and the

workers-owners have become

stronger by the arrangement

of dues payment of the

workers by the efforts of

BEPZA.

Revzol Lubricants paid honor to family of language martyr Abduds Salam who died on February 21,

1952 during the great language movement. Mosaddek Hossain, Head of country operation, Revzol

Lubricantshanded over the plaque of honor and donationto Subedar Abdur Rafiq, younger brother

of language martyr Abduds Salam at the award giving ceremony of language festival 'VASA UTSOB

2021' held on 21 February 2021 at Noakhali.Renowned language soldier Professor Abdul Gafur inaugurated

the festival, language soldier and freedom fighter ManjurulHaqueShikder was the key

speaker. Observing International Mother Language Day 2021 the festival had different events along

with inter school hand writing competition, book fair and cultural completion. Photo: Courtesy

Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd inaugurated its Dhaka Judge Court Sub-Branch under Sadarghat

Branch, Dhaka recently. Muhammad Qaisar Ali, Additional Managing Director of the Bank inaugurated

the Sub-Branch as chief guest. Md. Iqbal Hossain, President of Dhaka Bar Association

addressed as special guest. Abu Sayed Md. Idris, Executive Vice President and Head of Dhaka South

Zone of the Bank presided over the program. B.M. Habibur Rahman, Senior Vice President and

Head of Sadarghat Branch addressed welcome speech. Shaick Farid Ahmed, Senior Vice President

and S.M. Enayet Hossain,Vice President of the Bank were present on the occasion. Md. Nasir Uddin,

In-charge of the Sub-Branch thanked the audience. Businesspersons, Professionals and Social elites

were present on the occasion.

Photo: Courtesy

Asia markets swing as reopening

optimism battles inflation fear

HONG KONG : Asian markets

fluctuated Tuesday, with growing

optimism that the rollout of vaccines will

allow the global economy to get back on

track offset by niggling worries that the

recovery will fan inflation and lead to a

hike in interest rates, reports BSS.

With governments picking up the pace

in their inoculation drives, and infection

and death rates slowing in most parts of

the world, observers are predicting a surge

in economic activity from the middle of

the year as lockdowns are eased.

Added to that is Joe Biden's huge

growth-boosting spending programme,

which is likely to be passed by Congress

next month, on top of the Federal

Reserve's pledge to keep monetary policy

ultra-loose for as long as needed.

Monumental government and central

bank support worth trillions of dollars has

been a key driver of the surge in world

equities from their nadir almost a year ago

when the coronavirus was rampaging

across the planet.

But while the mood is increasingly good,

investors are turning their focus to the

impact of the reflation - a rally in prices as

people go back to shops and restaurants

or start going on holiday again.

Expectations that inflation will spike

has seen US 10-year Treasury yields rally

to a one-year high, and that has spooked

investors who fear that means interest

rates will go up in turn.

Technology firms, which have

outperformed as they benefit from people

being forced to stay home, have been worst

hit, while those likely to do well as

economies reopen are enjoying muchneeded

buying interest. "Investors are

quickly rediscovering that not all stocks

are created equal in a Covid recovery as

expensive tech names (are sold) to provide

the source of funds for less expensive

travel-related markers, along with energy

and other inflation beneficiaries," said Axi

strategist Stephen Innes.

wedNeSdAY, FebruArY 24, 2021

9

'Champion of his era' Federer

still the best: Laver

SportS deSk

Tennis great Rod Laver

Tuesday said Roger Federer

will always be "the

champion of his era" and

expects him to win more

tournaments even though

Rafael Nadal is just three

matches away from

overtaking his 20 Grand

Slam title haul, reports BSS.

The 39-year-old Swiss has

been out of action for a year

and shelved plans to

compete in the Australian

Open as he continues his

recovery from two knee

operations, targeting a

comeback at Doha next

month.

He won the last of his 20

Slams at Melbourne Park in

2018 and Nadal will go one

better if he lifts the title on

Sunday.

The Spaniard, 34, faces

Stefanos Tsitsipas on

Wednesday for a place in

the final four of this year's

Australian Open.

World number one Novak

Djokovic, 33, is also in the

last eight and takes on

Alexander Zverev Tuesday

as he chases an 18th Grand

Slam crown.

Laver praised Nadal and

Djokovic but said Federer

was still in his eyes the best.

"For me, I think Roger is

the champion of his era," he

told Fox Sports from his

rod Laver tuesday said roger Federer will always be "the champion of his era"

and expects him to win more tournaments even though rafael Nadal is just three

matches away from overtaking his 20 Grand Slam title haul.

photo: Ap

Panchagarh clinch

Bangabandhu Interdistrict

volleyball title

SportS deSk:

Panchagarh district clinched title of

the Bangabandhu Inter-district

Volleyball competition beating

Chattogram district 3-2 sets in the

final held yesterday at Shaheed

Noor Hossain Volleyball Stadium in

the city, reports BSS.

Mohammad Shawon of Chattogram

district team was named the best

attacker in the competition while

Mohammad Ashik of Panchagarh

district team was adjudged the best

setter of the meet.

Besides, Mohammad Risalat of

the champion team was named the

best libero of the competition.

Earlier, on way to the final,

Chattogram district team beat

Cumilla district team by 3-1 sets in

the first semifinal while

Panchagarh district team defeated

Dinajpur district team by straight

3-0 sets in the second semis.

Organised by Bangladesh

Volleyball Federation (BVF), a

total of twelve district teams from

across the country, split into four

groups, participated in the meet,

which was held marking the birth

centenary of Father of the Nation

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman.

home in California, with the

82-year-old unable to travel

to the Australian Open,

where the centre court is

named after him, because of

the coronavirus pandemic.

"I think he's certainly …

you know, you look at his

record and there's a lot to

say he's the best of all time.

"But give some of the

other guys a little bit more

time, maybe they'll come up

and … be as good as Roger.

"Djokovic is certainly is on

his way because he won a

huge amount of

tournaments and his

consistency is amazing."

Laver, the only player to

win all four majors in the

same season twice, and

Federer have long shared a

reverence for each other.

The Laver Cup, pitting

Europe against the Rest of

the World, was established

in 2017, driven by Federer

to honour his hero's legacy.

Laver said he had spoken

with the Swiss star about

how much longer he had left

in the game.

"Roger, when I chatted to

him the past year or so, he

thought he'd play his best

until he's 40 and I think he's

pretty much on it," Laver

said, with Federer's

milestone birthday coming

in August.

"Unfortunately, you

know, his knee has been

giving him some trouble. So

he had an operation on the

knee that will set him in

good position.

"I wouldn't think too

much about him winning

the French," he added. "But

I think Wimbledon is

certainly going to be there

and the US Open. I think he

can win more tournaments.

"He loves to play, loves to

compete. He loves the

environment he's in."

India beat England by

317 runs to level Test

series at 1-1

SportS deSk:

Local hero Ravichandran Ashwin starred

with ball and bat as India thrashed

England by 317 runs in the second Test

in Chennai to level the series at 1-1 on

Tuesday, reports BSS.

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel claimed a

five-wicket haul on his Test debut as

England were out for 164 while chasing

an unlikely 482 on day four.

Ashwin claimed eight wickets in the

match and hit 106 with the bat as India

bounced back from their crushing

opening loss in the four-match series.

England, struggling since the opening

day, kept losing wickets after resuming

on 53-3.

Skipper Joe Root departed for 33 soon

after lunch, falling to Patel.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav

joined in to finish off the innings, taking

Moeen Ali after he smashed 43 off 18

balls.

The last wicket partnership of 38

between Ali and Stuart Broad, unbeaten

on five, was England's highest of the

match.

Ashwin's five wickets to help bowl out

England for 134 in the first innings in

response to India's 329 set the tone for

the host's dominance.

England conceded a lead of 195 and

then struggled on a pitch that offered

turn from day one and was criticised by

some pundits.

Opener Rohit Sharma hit an attacking

161 to set up India's big innings after they

won the toss and elected to bat first.

Sharma's seventh Test ton and first

against England raised the pitch of the

returning Indian crowd-present in a

stadium for the first time since the

coronavirus pandemic.

Virat Kohli played a part with his 62 in

the first innings and put on a key 96-run

seventh-wicket partnership with Ashwin

on day three. The skipper failed to score

in the first innings.

Returning England spinner Ali claimed

eight wickets in the match. Jack Leach

took six with his left-arm spin.

The third Test-a day-night match-will

begin in Ahmedabad on February 24.

It is not clear if fans will be allowed

into the game.

Local hero ravichandran Ashwin starred with ball and bat as India thrashed england by 317 runs in

the second test in Chennai to level the series at 1-1.

photo: Ap

Cristiano ronaldo faces a portuguese team for the first time since 2016.

Former NFL

wide receiver

Vincent Jackson

found dead in

hotel room

SportS deSk:

Former NFL wide receiver

Vincent Jackson was found

dead Monday in a hotel

room in Brandon, Florida,

officials said, reports CNN.

The 38-year-old had been

staying at the Homewood

Suites in Brandon, about 12

miles outside Tampa, since

January 11, according to a news

release from the Hillsborough

County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's Office officials

said they spoke with

Jackson's family members

on February 10, after they

had called to report that he

was missing. A formal report

was filed the following day.

Last Friday, officials said

they located Jackson at the

Homewood Suites and spoke

with him, according to the

news release. "After

assessing Jackson's wellbeing,

the missing persons

case was canceled," the

release said.

Vincent Jackson of the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers against

the New Orleans Saints at the

Mercedes-Benz Superdome on

October 5, 2014 in New

Orleans, Louisiana.

Jackson was found dead at

11:30 a.m. Monday by a

housekeeper. There were no

apparent signs of trauma.

SportS deSk:

South Africa captain

Quinton de Kock will take a

'mental health' break and

skip a forthcoming

domestic Twenty20

tournament on medical

advice, reports BSS.

Andrew Breetzke, chief

executive of the SA

Cricketers' Association

(SACA), told the

ESPNcricinfo website De

Kock would take time off

from the game "for a few

weeks".

"SACA and Cricket South

Africa will continue to

support him through this

process," said Breetzke.

De Kock, South Africa's

cricketer of the year in

2020, returned from

Pakistan last week after

leading South Africa in two

losing Test matches during

which he struggled as a

batsman and was criticised

for his captaincy.

De Kock, South Africa's

regular white-ball captain,

agreed to skipper the Test

side in a temporary capacity

during the current season.

He acknowledged last

month he was feeling the

strain of living in bio-secure

'bubbles' which are a reality

for international cricketers

during the Covid-19

Ronaldo returns to Portugal

as Juve battle to keep

among Europe's elite

SportS deSk:

Cristiano Ronaldo returns to his native

Portugal for the first time as a Juventus

player as his side face Porto on Wednesday

with the Italian giants fighting to keep up

with Europe's most powerful clubs in the

Champions League, reports BSS.

On the field Juve are still finding their feet

under novice coach Andrea Pirlo but they

crave European glory more than anything

having lost five Champions League finals

since last winning the trophy in 1996.

Off the pitch, meanwhile, their chairman

Andrea Agnelli is one of the leading figures

behind plans to reform the continent's elite

club competition.

Agnelli, also the influential chairman of

the European Club Association, has long

been one of the main backers of a

Champions League which guarantees access

to an elite few and makes it harder for other

clubs to gain entry.

Amid talk of a breakaway Super League

which would undoubtedly feature his club,

Italy's richest and most successful, the 45-

year-old has given his backing to an

expanded Champions League starting from

2024 onwards, guaranteeing more matches

and, ultimately, more money.

"I think it is our duty to think ahead and

guarantee that football remains the best

sport in the world," Agnelli said recently, as

he pondered the challenges of trying to

ensure Generation Z doesn't lose interest in

the sport.

"Everything should be based on sporting

merit, but we should remember where our

pandemic.

Speaking after captaining

South Africa to a home Test

series win against Sri

Lanka, De Kock questioned

the sustainability of 'bubble'

life which he described as

"unsettling".

He said then that he had

mixed feelings about

touring Pakistan because of

the frustrations of being

confined to a bio-secure

environment.

South Africa's director of

cricket Graeme Smith said

earlier on Monday that all

of the country's contracted

players would play in the

T20 tournament, as well as

the remaining matches in a

four-day competition.

But it later emerged that

De Kock and Faf du Plessis

were not in the squads

announced by the country's

six franchises. The reasons

for Du Plessis' absence was

not known.

All the T20 matches will

be played in Durban

between February 19 and

photo : epA-eFe

fans of the future are. It is our strong view

that more European matches are welcome."

Juventus have dominated Serie A for the

last decade without managing to win the

Champions League. Porto, meanwhile, are

the only club from outside the so-called 'Big

Five' leagues in this season's last 16. Both are

two-time European Cup winners.

For the Turin side, success in Europe this

season appears even more important as

their domestic domination shows signs of

faltering under Pirlo with hopes of a 10th

consecutive Scudetto in peril.

A 1-0 defeat at Napoli on Saturday left

Juventus eight points adrift of leaders Inter

Milan, albeit with a game in hand.

"This defeat will not bring us down,"

insisted Ronaldo.

"Let's raise our heads and think about the

Champions League."

Porto, meanwhile, have drawn their last

four games domestically and are 10 points

behind league leaders Sporting Lisbon.

Ronaldo v Pepe -

Juve's hopes will be on five-time Ballon

d'Or winner Ronaldo, the Champions

League record goal-scorer with 134 goals,

signed from Real Madrid in 2018 to deliver

them the trophy.

Ronaldo faces a Portuguese team for the

first time since 2016 when with Madrid he

beat his former club Sporting 2-1.

But his last Champions League visit to the

Estadio do Dragao dates back to a quarterfinal,

second leg in April 2009 with

Manchester United.

The tie was poised at 2-2 after a tricky first

leg at Old Trafford.

South Africa captain De Kock takes

'mental health' break

South Africa captain Quinton de kock is taking a 'mental health break'

from cricket.

photo: Ap

29, with players staying in a

bio-secure environment.

Although the country's

Test players have had a

week off since returning

from Pakistan, the national

T20 squad would have to go

straight into the 'bubble'

after arriving from a series

which ended on Sunday.

"We are trying to manage

these bubble lives that the

players are spending time

in, the mental health and

welfare of players," said

Smith.

WeDNesDAY, feBrUArY 24, 2021

10

MoNIr HossAIN sUMoN:

Mishty Matbar, a bright,

talented and busiest actress of

recent times. Apart from

working parallel in the music

videos of the country, this

actress has also acted in

Kolkata films. The talented

actress has acted in the lead

role in the co-production movie

titled Godhuli Bela.

Besides, Mishty Matbar is

currently spending the busiest

time in music videos of the

country's top Audio video

companies including Sangeeta

and CDChoice.

Born and raised in Dhaka

district, this actress had a

childhood dream of

becoming an established

actress. That's why she has

learned dance as well as

acting since childhood.

In 2015, she wrote her name

in the first music video as the

heroine. Later, in addition to

the music video, she has acted

in several dramas.

About twenty music videos

starring Mishty Matbar have

been released so far, beside she

is busy with five dramas and

several music videos.

Mishty Matbar

One of the busiest

actress of recent times

When asked, this talented

actress said, "My childhood

dream and meditation was to

be a successful actress, I

thought one day I will take

place in people's minds through

acting. So I am just trying to

move forward slowly in the

dream path." At present, acting

is my passion and profession. I

want to go ahead with

everyone's love.

6 star-studded Bangladeshi

dramas on ZEE5 Global

TBT reporT

South Asian content ZEE5

Global, the largest OTT

platform, has announced the

addition of 6 star-studded

'dramas' or short films to its

already vast content

repository. In addition to

strengthening ZEE5's local

content repository, this

acquisition will also give a

global platform to local

production houses and talent

in Bangladesh.

The 6 new short films will be

launched on February 26

under ZEE5 Global's brand

new segment, 'ZEE Drama

Time', said a press release

issued by ZEE5 Global on

Monday.

Spread across the genres of

romance, drama, comedy,

satire and thriller, these films

feature popular actors Tousif

Mehbub, Tasnia Farin, Ziaul

Apurba, Shiba Ali Khan, Irfan

Sazzad, Sarika Saba Ohona

Rahman, Musharaf Karim and

Tarin among others.

Given that the dramas are

being launched in February,

the month of spring in

Bangladesh and also the

season of love, ZEE5 has

curated this new content

line-up within two themes of

love, based on local idioms:

Piriti kathaler atha and Hrid

majhare rakhbo, the release

said.

Piriti kathaler atha, meaning

love is as strong an adhesive

like that of a jackfruit. Based

on the popular baul/folk song,

under this theme the platform

will feature three films:

Rahman Aryan's 'Tomar

Tane', Mehedi Hassan's '2521'

and Mohon Ahmed's 'Biye

Shadi'

Based on the popular song,

the second theme Hrid

majhare rakhbo translates to

"will keep you in my heart!" is

a collection of intense love

stories, this theme will feature

the romantic titles Sakhawat

Manik's 'Chena Mukh Ochena

Thikana, Mehedi Hassan's

'High Volume' and Sohel

Hasan's 'No Prem No Biye'.

Archana Anand, Chief

Business Officer, ZEE5 Global,

said, "Our first Bangladeshi

Originals Mainkar Chipay and

WTFry have seen a massive

response in Bangladesh. We're

now very happy to add these 6

Natoks with prominent actors

and directors also to our

library and offer them for free

so everyone across Bangladesh

can enjoy these locally

produced short films. We also

look forward to these films

finding a global audience

through being streamed on

our platform across

international markets."

Rosey with new TV ad

TBT reporT

Rosey Siddiqui is one of the

popular actresses of the country.

She has won the hearts of

millions by her fabulous

performance. He has presented

many popular dramas to the

audience in her 25-year career.

Alongside theatre and

television, Rosey has also

proved her presence on the big

screen.

However, this is the first time

in Bangladesh that an

advertisement has been made

for the promotion of stomach

acid killer Inu. The versatile

actress has completed the

shooting of a new advertisement

recently.

About this project, Rosey

said," I've completed the work of

a commercial for a

multinational company.

Through this ad I've modeled

for a medicine product for the

Action film 'Attack', starring John Abraham, is

slated to be released in theatres on August 13,

the makers announced on Sunday.

Based on a true story of a hostage crisis,

"Attack" also features Jacqueline Fernandez

and Rakul Preet Singh. Written and helmed

by debutant director Lakshya Raj Anand, the

film stars Abraham as a lone ranger who leads

an attack team during a counter operation.

"Attack" is a joint collaboration between

Abraham's production banner JA

Entertainment, Jayantilal Gada's Pen Studios

and Ajay Kapoor Productions. The actor said

"Attack" aligned with his vision to make

Hollywood stars Julia Roberts and

Sean Penn will be headlining

Gaslit, an upcoming anthology

series based on award-winning

podcast Slow Burn. Set up at Starz,

the first season of Robbie

Pickering-created show will focus

on the Watergate scandal that

brought down the presidency of

Richard Nixon in 1974.

Described as a modern take on

Watergate, the show "focuses on

the untold stories and forgotten

characters of the scandal - from

Nixon's bumbling, opportunistic

subordinates, to the deranged

zealots aiding and abetting their

crimes, to the tragic

whistleblowers who would

eventually bring the whole rotten

enterprise crashing down", Starz

said in a press release.

Roberts will star as Martha

Mitchell, a celebrity Arkansan

socialite and wife to Nixon's loyal

Attorney General, John Mitchell

(to be played by Penn).

first time. Shamiul Sami and his

team have made this ad with

utmost care. The ad will go on

air soon."

Besides, Rosey started

shooting of Naim Imtiaz

Niamul-directed drama serial

'Hawai Mithai' again on Monday

and the actress will also busy

with the shooting of the drama

serials 'Bou Shashuri', 'Maan

Obhimaan' till February 28.

In the meantime, Rosey

completed the shooting of

Raihan Rafi's film 'Poran'.

Audience will see her portraying

a negative character in the

movie. She also acted in the

Ananya Mamun directed

'Psycho', which is waiting for its

release.

Rosey will also return to the

stage with the play 'Panchanari

Akkhyan' next month. Directed

by Shahiduzzaman Selim this is

one of the popular theater

productions of Dhaka Theatre.

On TV screens, viewers first

saw Rosey as a model in hair oil

commercial. Before starring in

the TV drama, viewers first saw

her in that oil commercial on

BTV in 1990. Since then, she has

acted in many dramas and

movies, but she has also acted as

a model in advertisements at

different times.

entertaining and high-on-content films. "At

JA Entertainment, it is our endeavour to push

the envelope and produce films that entertain

and have something significantly different to

show to our increasingly discerning audience.

"Releasing the film in theatres this

Independence weekend, adds to my

excitement," Abraham said in a statement.

The "Satyameva Jayate" star described the

film as a "taut action entertainer" and said it

ticked all the boxes for him.

"Attack" was originally announced for an

August 2020 release but was delayed due to

the coronavirus-induced nationwide

Despite her party affiliation,

she's the first person to publicly

sound the alarm on Nixon's

involvement in Watergate,

causing both the Presidency and

her personal life to unravel.

As Attorney General, Mitchell is

Nixon's most trusted advisor and

She came into limelight

through the popular TV serial

'Jonmobhumi'. During that

time she was familiar in the

name of Bizly. Rosy-acted first

movie is 'Padma Nodir Majhi'

directed by Goutam Ghosh.

Rosey-acted only commercial

movie is Kazi Hayat-directed

'Love Story'.

John Abraham's

'Attack' set for an

Independence

Day release

lockdown. Gada said the the team's decision to

release the film in theatres is an extension of

their support to film exhibitors and cinema

hall owners who suffered losses last year due

to the pandemic. "By planning to bring it to

theatres on 13th August 2021, we are standing

by film exhibitors and theatre owners who

have survived a very difficult year during the

COVID-19 crisis.

"John and his production house have

conceived a phenomenal film and people will

flock to watch it on the big screen!" the

producer said. Kapoor said "Attack"

chronicles an "engaging and important story".

"It's a pleasure to release the film on

Independence (Day) weekend when its story

will resonate with people even more," he said.

Source: The Economic Times

Julia Roberts, Sean Penn

to lead Gaslit for Starz

best friend. Temperamental,

foulmouthed and ruthless - yet

hopelessly in love with his

famously outspoken wife - he'll be

forced to choose between Martha

and the President.

According to The Hollywood

Reporter, actors Armie Hammer

and Joel Edgerton were also set to

star in the project. However, they

both have exited it over scheduling

conflicts. Captain Fantastic

director Matt Ross will helm the

series, which will be produced by

UCP, a division of Universal

Studio Group, for Starz.

Source: The Indian

H o r o s c o p e

ArIes

(March 21 - April 20) : Watch out for

the green-eyed monster today, Aries. It

can rear up before you can say

"jealousy." Most situations that cause

these feelings are born out of insecurity. If you aren't

secure in your job, relationship, or family, and feel

threatened by someone, it's time to take a look at the

cause. Why you don't feel as solid as you could?

What's causing the insecurity? Look for the answers.

TAUrUs

(April 21 - May 21) : You may feel

insecure about your appearance today,

Taurus. This can be a vicious cycle to

get into. The result is almost always

negative. Rather than pick yourself apart, consider

finding ways to accept your looks. Whether it's your

weight or age or anything else, if you can't accept

yourself, you will always find something wrong no

matter how many changes you make.

GeMINI

(May 22 - June 21) : Jealousy might rear

its head today, Gemini. The key to it all is to

understand where and why you feel

insecure. If you're jealous of a mate, what's

going on in the relationship? Is trust an issue? If this

comes up at work, is it because you don't feel recognized

for your contributions? Examine the cause of jealousy.

It's almost always a symptom of a deeper problem.

cANcer

(June 22 - July 23) : Arts and crafts

may interest you today, Cancer. Even

if you lean more toward sports, an

artistic streak will likely run pretty

strong in you. The process of creating can be

richly satisfying, both in the process and in the

satisfaction of a finished product. Allow yourself

the opportunity to explore this, as the day's energy

will lend much to your abilities.

Leo

(July 24 - Aug. 23): Getting along

with others may prove challenging

today, Leo. The influence from the

planetary aspects can have you

preferring to withdraw and isolate. You might feel

impatient and annoyed. If so, and being alone is an

option, go for it. If it isn't, you will need to curb the

tendency to be argumentative or confrontational.

Exercise patience and avoid conflict.

VIrGo

(Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): Don't be surprised if

you're a little weepy today, Virgo. The

influence from planets can enhance your

sensitivity to almost everything, including

your own feelings. Take heart. It's bound to be shortlived.

Cry if you need to, since it can be cleansing. Try

not to wallow too much. Chances are good that things

will look better tomorrow. Take care of yourself today.

LIBrA

(Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): Fanaticism or

obsessive thinking may be something you

need to look at today, Libra. Common

areas for such behaviors are in the pursuit

of money, power, success, and romance. There's a fine

line between ambition and obsession. If you find that

you think of nothing else but one fixation, it may be time

to talk with someone about it. He or she may see what

you don't want to see.

scorpIo

(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) : Don't act

impulsively today, Scorpio. It could be

easy to confuse this with spontaneity.

One has more thought put into it than

the other. With this day's influence, be certain to

look before you leap. Think everything through,

from decisions to projects to contracts. Read the

fine print more than once. When it comes to

relationships, be careful not to trust too quickly.

sAGITTArIUs

(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): Is it time to take a more

drastic approach to a problem, Sagittarius? If

you've made several attempts to resolve your

trouble but to no avail, you might consider it.

As long as "drastic" doesn't mean "destructive," you may

find success trying something far more forward and

insistent. Be careful, however. Think things through

carefully first. Run any ideas you have past a trusted friend.

cAprIcorN

(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): Tap into your creativity

to unblock the emotional flow today,

Capricorn. This can be a powerful tool.

Creativity is a big part of who you are,

almost as big as communication. Your emotions link

to these two aspects and constantly interact beneath

the surface. If one gets blocked, release it by focusing

on the other. Express yourself through creativity and

consider talking to someone close.

AQUArIUs

(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) : You may need to deal

with someone's disapproval today,

Aquarius. This will likely come from

someone you see as either a superior or

authority figure, perhaps a parent. While it's important

to listen to this person, if what they say involves your

job, personal life, or how you choose to live, it's no one's

concern but yours. No matter how you do things,

someone will disapprove somewhere.

pIsces

(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) : Time alone is

essential for everyone, Pisces, but make

sure you recognize when you're isolated to

the point where it's unhealthy. If you

realize you're alone because you're avoiding something,

you might consider your alternatives. Things will only

fester under these conditions. Face whatever it is that's

upsetting you so you can begin to work things out.

11

weDneSDAY, februArY 24, 2021

A delegation of Dhaka Ahsania Mission paid a courtesy call on Sadeq Khan

MP on Tuesday.

Photo : Courtesy

Sadeq Khan MP will work to

implement the PM's declaration

Alhaj Md. Sadeq Khan, Member of

Parliament for Dhaka-13, Member of the

Standing Committee on Expatriate Welfare

and Overseas Employment of Bangladesh

National Parliament and General Secretary

of Dhaka Metropolitan Awami League North

said, I fully support the announcement of

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to make the

country tobacco free by 2040. He also said

that he will be involved in all the related

works.

This was stated by the MP while paying a

courtesy call on a delegation of Dhaka

Ahsania Mission's Tobacco Control Project

at his office in Rayerbazar of the capital

Dhaka on Tuesday.

Media Manager Rezaur Rahman Rizvi and

Project Officer Adut Rahman Emon were in

the delegation led by Md. Shariful Islam,

Tobacco Control Project Coordinator of

Dhaka Ahsania Mission. The delegation

briefed Md. Sadeq Khan, MP on various

activities of Dhaka Ahsania Mission on

Tobacco Control.

Meanwhile, Md. Shariful Islam,

Coordinator, Tobacco Control Project,

Dhaka Ahsania Mission, said that the

Government of Bangladesh enacted the

Smoking and Use of Tobacco Products

(Control) Act, 2005 in the light of the

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control

(FCTC). In 2013, several important amendments

were made to the Tobacco Control Act

and in 2015, the Smoking and Tobacco Use

(Control) Rules were formulated. However,

the existing tobacco control law is largely

consistent with the FCTC, but there are

weaknesses in some areas. And so the tobacco

companies are taking advantage of the

weakness of the law. This requires necessary

amendments to the law. The delegation

wants the support of Md. Sadeq Khan, MP to

amend the necessary laws in this regard. Md.

Sadeq Khan, MP thanked the delegation for

their activities and assured necessary cooperation.

Facebook says it will lift its

Australian news ban soon

CANBERRA : Facebook said on Tuesday it

will lift its ban on Australians sharing news

after a deal was struck with Australia's government

on legislation that would make

digital giants pay for journalism.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and

Facebook confirmed in statements that

they had reached agreement on amendments

to proposed legislation to require the

social network and Google pay for

Australian news that they feature, reports

UNB.

Facebook blocked Australian users from

accessing and sharing news last week after

the House of Representatives passed the

draft law late Wednesday. The Senate will

debate amended legislation on Tuesday.

Australian Ambassador

pays courtesy call on

CAAB Chairman

Australian

High

Commissioner

to

Bangladesh,H E Jeremy Bruer

along with two diplomats from

the High Commission paid a

courtesy call on Chairman of

Civil Aviation Authority of

Bangladesh (CAAB), Air Vice

Marshal M Mafidur

Rahman,at the headquarters

on Tuesday, a press release

said.

During the meeting, the

High Commissioner informed

the Chairman that a decision

has been taken to amend the

existing policy of the Australian

Government to completely lift

the ban imposed by the

Australian Government on

direct air cargo transport from

Bangladesh to Australia. It is to

be noted that in 2016, the

Australian government

imposed a partial ban on direct

air cargo transport from Egypt,

Somalia, Syria, Turkey, Yemen

and Bangladesh.

The Civil Aviation Authority

of Bangladesh has been maintaining

effective liaison with the

Australian Government since

2018 under the overall supervision

of the Ministry of Civil

Aviation and Tourism of the

Government of the People's

Republic of Bangladesh and

the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

to lift the ban.

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GD-310/21 (8x3)

Wednesday, Dhaka, February 24, 2021, Falgun 11, 1427 BS, Rajab 11, 1442 Hijri

Vaccination in Bangladesh

Journalist,

columnist Syed

Abul Maksud dies

DHAKA : Journalist and noted

columnist Syed Abul Maksud died

in the capital on Tuesday evening.

He was 74, reports UNB.

He was pronounced dead after

being taken to the Squire Hospital

around 7:15pm, Brac's Head of

Migration Programme Shariful

Hasan said.

The journalist was rushed to the

hospital after he had suddenly fallen

sick. He was suffering from breathing

complications in the evening, he

said.

Abul Maksud left behind his family

members and a host of relatives to

mourn his death.

The journalist, known for his critical

and research works, was born on

Oct 23, 1946. He was a regular contributor

to the Daily Prothom Alo.

His essays on literature, society,

culture and politics were much

appreciated by the readers for his

clear view, lucid language and simple

style.

His Journal of Germany is a popular

travel book.

In 1995, he was given Bangla

Academy Literary Award for his

contributions to Bengali Literature.

Covid-19 in Bangladesh

Daily death toll,

new cases rise

DHAKA : Bangladesh witnessed a rise

in Covid-19 related deaths and new

cases in the last 24 hours until Tuesday

morning, reports UNB.

Eighteen coronavirus-related deaths

and 399 new cases were reported during

the period while seven deaths and 366

fresh cases were confirmed on Monday.

The daily infection rate stood at 3.13

%, according to the Directorate General

of Health Services (DGHS). With these,

the Covid-19 fatalities climbed to 8,374

and fresh infections to 544,116.

According to the latest figures, the

overall infection rate stood at 13.70%

which was 13.73 % percent on Monday.

The mortality rate remained steady at

1.54% for past few days, the DGHS

handout said.

So far, 492,887 patients (90.58%)

including 828 in past 24 hours have

recovered from Covid-19.

The authorities have so far tested

3,971,524 samples including 12,748 in

the past 24 hours.

Bangladesh reported its first cases

on March 8 and the first death on

March 18.

Administering 2nd dose

to begin on Apr 7

DHAKA : The administering of the

second dose of Covid-19 vaccine in

Bangladesh will begin on April 7 as

per the guideline of the World

Health Organisation (WHO), said

Health Minister Zahid Maleque on

Tuesday, reports UNB.

The minister made the disclosure

while talking to reporters at the

Secretariat.

"Some eight crore doses will be

needed for four crore people above

40. As per the procurement deal,

we've received 50 lakh doses of the

vaccine -- 20 lakh came from India

as gift and 20 lakh doses arrived on

Monday night," he said.

"Though we were scheduled to

receive 50 lakh doses of Covid-19

vaccine from the Serum Institute

this month, we've got only 20 lakh

doses. We've talked to the authorities

concerned and they said they'll

increase the supply next month,"

the minister added. The vaccination

drive is going on at 3,000

booths of 1,010 centers across the

country.

As per the Prime Minister's directive,

all the teachers will soon be

vaccinated against Covid-19, said

the minister adding that the teachers

between 18 to 40 years of age

will be allowed to receive the vaccine.

On January 25, Bangladesh

received the first consignment of 50

lakh doses of Covishield, the Covid-

19 vaccine developed by Oxford-

AstraZeneca and manufactured by

Serum Institute of India (SII).

The vaccine doses were imported

from India by the government

through Beximco Pharmaceuticals

Ltd.

On January 21, Dhaka received 20

lakh doses of Covid vaccine as the

Indian government sent the jabs as

a gift to Bangladesh.

In November last year, the government

of Bangladesh, Beximco

Pharmaceuticals, and India's Serum

Institute entered into a tripartite

agreement to buy 30 million doses

of Covishield, The vaccine was

developed by Oxford University and

British-Swedish pharma giants

AstraZeneca.

Under the agreement, the

Bangladesh government will pay SII

for the 30 million doses of the vaccine

while Beximco Pharma will

receive a separate fee for its distribution

role.

Beximco Pharma is the exclusive

distributor of the vaccine in

Bangladesh and it will be responsible

for maintaining the cold chain,

import, storage, and delivery of the

vaccine.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19

vaccine was proven to be safe with

no major side-effects reported

throughout human trials. It generates

strong antibody and T-cells

response for long-term immunity

against the novel coronavirus

SARS-CoV-2.

In June 2020, SII signed an agreement

with AstraZeneca, the Gates

Foundation and GAVI to produce 100

crore doses of AZD1222 under the

brand name Covishield, mainly for

supply to developing countries.

Anti-crime

elite force

Rapid Action

Battalion

(RAB)

yesterday

arrested a

fugitive convict

in the August

21 grenade

attack case

from city's

Diabari area.

Photo : Courtesy

Deal signed for $200m

to ensure safe water

in 98 upazilas

DHAKA : The government recently

signed a loan agreement with Asian

Infrastructure Investment Bank

(AIIB) Development Project for

$200 million to ensure safe water in

arsenic and iron prone areas in the

country.

Department of Public Health

Engineering (DPHE) under the Local

Government Division and Palli

Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF)

under the Financial Division will

implement the proposed project,

said an official release.

Secretary of Economic Relations

Division Fatima Yeasmin and DJ

Pandian, vice-president, Investment

Operations, Region-1 of AIIB, signed

the agreement on behalf of their

respective sides.

The loan agreement has a provision

of repaying the amount within

35 years, including five years grace

period. The project will be implemented

from January 2021 to

December 2025 in 98 upazilas of 30

districts.

Following implementation of the

project, arsenic and iron prone areas

will get safe water through pipelines.

Hygienic latrines will be installed for

the extreme poor people at project

areas and ensure washing system at

schools and community clinics and

increase its practices.

The project will include awareness

building programmes on hygiene

among selected people and training

the hygiene workers. The project will

construct hand washing centers at

schools and places of mass gatherings

during the Covid-19 pandemic.

24 Bangladeshi

nationals

imprisoned in

Myanmar

returns home

As a result of the effective initiative of

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), 24

Bangladeshi nationals imprisoned at different

times in Myanmar have returned

to the country through the responsible

border area of Teknaf Battalion in Cox's

Bazar, a press release said.

A flag meeting was held between the

Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB) and the 4th

Border Guard Police Branch in

Maungdaw at the 1st Entry / Exit Point

inside Myanmar on Tuesday. Through

the flag meeting, the Myanmar Border

Security Force (BGP) handed over 24

Bangladeshi nationals imprisoned in

Myanmar to the Border Guard

Bangladesh (BGB). Lt. Col. Mohammad

Faisal Hasan Khan, BGBM, PSC,

Commander, Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB)

led the 09-member Bangladesh delegation

and Police Lieutenant Colonel Zaw

Lin Aung, led the 06-member Myanmar

delegation, No. 4 Border Guard Police

Branch, Myanmar.

Arrangements have been made to

keep 24 Bangladeshi nationals returning

from Myanmar in the institutional

quarantine of the UpazilaNirbahi

Officer and the Upazila Health Officer.

It is to be noted that under the direction

of the Ministry of Home Affairs and

the diplomatic activities of the Ministry

of Foreign Affairs, with the overall cooperation

of the Head of Mission of the

Bangladesh Consulate in Sittwe,

Myanmar, Border Guard Bangladesh

(BGB) established effective liaison with

the Myanmar Border Guard Police.

ADB praises

Hasina's leadership

in Covid fight

DHAKA : The Asian Development Bank

(ADB) on Tuesday highly praised Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina's dynamic and

successful leadership in fighting the

Covid-19 pandemic and rolling out a

nationwide vaccination programme,

reports UNB.

ADB Country Director in Bangladesh

Manmohan Parkash came up with the

appreciation when he met Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official

residence Ganobhaban.

The ADB will provide US$ 940 million

as assistance to Bangladesh to procure

the Covid-19 vaccines, said

Parkash.

PM's Assistant Press Secretary MM

Emrul Kayas told UNB after the meeting.

"To help expedite the economic

recovery from the pandemic, ADB is

discussing with the government about a

proposal for US$ 940 million in assistance

from ADB's APVAX Facility for

Bangladesh's vaccine programme," the

ADB country director was quoted as

saying.

During the meeting, the Prime

Minister said her government has been

attaching priority in constructing

Dhaka-Barishal-Patuakhali-Payra rail

line.

Prakash appreciated Sheikh Hasina's

timely decision to relax Covid-driven

shutdown in all the sectors of the economy

in phases saying that the normalcy

in Bangladesh's economy, its GDP

growth and remittance has been

restored due to the timely decision.

24 Bangladeshi

nationals

imprisoned in

Myanmar have

returned to the

country

through the

responsible

border area

of Teknaf

Battalion in

Cox's Bazar

on Tuesday.

Photo:

Courtesy

Tk 9,000cr electricity bills

pending since Covid-19

outbreak: Nasrul

DHAKA : Indian High Commissioner to

Bangladesh Vikram Kumar Doraiswami

on Tuesday said Bangladesh can export

edible oil to India with at 20 percent

value addition to the product, reports

UNB.

"We would like to establish a unique

mechanism to allow Bangladesh's BSTI

certification, especially for the food

products as well as other products,

including steel, in a reciprocal manner,"

he said. The cost of transportation and

time between Delhi and Chattogram

Port is unendurably high, the High

Commissioner said.

He urged the business community of

both the countries to convince the government

to upgrade goods transportation

facilities.

Doraiswami also urged for infrastructure

development and technological

advancement of all the land ports of

Bangladesh to expedite faster export and

import processes. There are five railway

crossings that are connected between

the two sides now.

He said for goods export and import,

railway can be the best cost-effective

option and he renewed his call for railway

infrastructure and capacity development.

"We're also very keen to expedite the

use of Bangladesh's existing river ports

for goods transportation, but this needs

a few regulatory things to be done,

including river dredging," said the High

Commissioner.

Regarding Indian investment in

Bangladesh, he said: "It would be great if

we could jointly work to stimulate more

Indian businesses to come to

Bangladesh and invest in SEZs [Special

Economic Zones] as Bangladesh has

DHAKA : State Minister for Power,

Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul

Hamid has said that about Tk 9,000

crore electricity bills have been pending

with consumers since the coronavirus

outbreak in March last year, reports

UNB.

Of these, about Tk 2,000 crore is with

household consumers while the

remaining is with industrial consumers,

he said at a meeting with executive

body of the Forum for Energy

Reporters Bangladesh (FERB) at

Power Division conference room on

Tuesday.

He said that as per a list forwarded by

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers

and Exporters Association (BGMEA),

over 250 apparel factories were forced

to shut down as their buyers cancelled

orders following the Covid-19 outbreak.

But the Power Division is not taking a

hard stance against these pending bills

considering the national interest, he

said adding that steps will be taken to

realise outstanding bills when normalcy

returns.

"Still no sign is visible that a big

demand will be coming from the industrial

sector to raise power consumption,"

he said.

The junior minister said he is expecting

the overall electricity demand will

go up to 14,000MW while the country's

electricity generation capacity is over

20,000MW.

Currently, the electricity generation is

8,2000MW, he noted adding that a big

load should come from the industrial

consumers to fully utilise the country's

power generation capacity.

Nasrul Hamid said the import of liquefied

natural gas (LNG) will go up this

year as the power sector will require

1,400 million cubic feet per day

(MMCFD) to meet the power sector's

demand.

He said the share of coal use in electricity

generation will be lowered in the

coming review of power system master

plan (PSMP) as Bangladesh targets to

reduce carbon emission to a substantial

level by 2050 as part of its commitment

to the Climate Vulnerable Nations'

Forum as its chair.

FERB Chairman Arun Karmaker,

Executive Director Shamimn Jahangir

and other leaders of the executive body

of the organisation were present in the

meeting.

Doraiswami for infrastructure

dev to boost BD-India trade

huge potentials.

The High Commissioner paid a courtesy

visit to Dhaka Chamber of

Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and

had a bilateral trade talk with the

President of DCCI Rizwan Rahman.

During the discussion, DCCI

President Rizwan Rahman said that the

bilateral trade between Bangladesh and

India was US$ 6.9 billion in FY 2019-20

where Bangladesh's export to India was

USD 1.10 billion against the import of

USD 5.79 billion.

The total FDI Stock from India to

Bangladesh as of September, 2020 was

USD 645.54 million.

Since 2017, Bangladeshi jute products

have been facing anti-dumping duties

ranging between USD 19 and USD

351.72 per ton while exporting to India,

he added.

Besides, India has enacted Customs

Rules 2020 which may create problems

in claiming preferential duty for

Bangladeshi goods in the Indian market

under SAFTA and APTA.

The cost of transporting goods from

Dhaka to Delhi is significantly higher

than those from Dhaka to European and

US ports, he mentioned.

Rizwan Rahman requested India to

expedite the implementation of Indian

Line of Credit promised to Bangladesh.

He also urged to review Custom Rules

2020 of India pertaining to Rules of

Origin and mutual recognition of quality

certification given by both the countries.

The DCCI President said the private

sector needs to be included in the Joint

Economic Commission to address the

non-tariff barriers and trade related

disputes.

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

24-02-2021

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