24-02-2021

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weDNeSDAY, FeBRuARY 24, 20212Chattogram Divisional Commissioner ABM Azad along with other officialsinaugurated a brand book of Noakhali yesterday. Photo : Manik BhuyanGerman shares lose 0.96 pctat start of trading MondayBERLIN : German stocks were off to a shakystart on Monday, with the benchmark DAXindex losing 134.67 points, or 0.96 percent,opening at 13,858.56 points, reports BSS.The biggest winner among Germany's 30largest listed companies at the start of tradingwas Deutsche Bank, increasing by 0.76 percent,followed by consumer goods companyBeiersdorf and carmaker Volkswagen, decliningthe least by 0.14 and by 0.26 percent.Shares of Continental fell by 3.74 percent.The German automotive supplier was thebiggest loser at the start of trading Monday.Production of Germany's industry declinedby more than 10 percent in 2020 year-onyear,the country's Federal Statistical Office(Destatis) announced on Monday. Thedecline in the automotive sector was "particularlysharp" as car producers and relatedindustries saw production fall 25 percent.Islamic Foundationcalls for special prayerson 'Shaheed Dibosh'DHAKA : Islamic Foundation hascalled for offering special prayersyesterday marking the 'ShaheedDibosh' and International MotherLanguage Day-2021. Imamshave been requested to offer theprayers in all mosques across thecountry, said a press release.Islamic Foundation will arrangeQurankhwani and special prayersat Baitul Mukarram NationalMosque around 11 am on the dayseeking eternal peace of the martyrs,who sacrificed their lives in1952 for mother tongue.E-poster published markingLanguage Martyrs DayDHAKA : An E-poster has beenpublished in print, electronic,online and social media recentlyon the occasion of LanguageMartyrs Day (February 21) andInternational Mother LanguageDay-2021. It was introduced atthe initiative of Father of theNation Bangabandhu SheikhMujibur Rahman BirthCentenary Celebration NationalImplementation Committee,according to a press releasereceived.Speaker opens Shaheed Minar atJS Secretariat residential complexDHAKA : JS Speaker Dr Shirin SharminChaudhury yesterday formally inaugurated anewly built Shaheed Minar on the JatiyaSangsad (JS) Secretariat ResidentialComplex premises here in the memory of theLanguage Movement martyrs.The Speaker opened the Shaheed Minarthrough a videoconferencing as the chiefguest while JS Deputy Speaker Advocate MdFazle Rabbi Miah and Senior Secretary of theJS Secretariat Dr Zafar Ahmed Khanaddressed the inaugural ceremony in personas special guests, said a press release.Addressing the function, Dr Shirin calledfor upholding the true history of theLanguage Movement before the new generation.She thanked and greeted all involved insetting up the Shaheed Minar the JatiyaSangsad (JS) Secretariat ResidentialComplex.Presided over by Jatiya Sangsad (JS)Secretariat Residential Complex AssociationPresident Md Asif Hasan, its GeneralSecretary Rezaul Karim gave welcomeaddress at the function.JS Secretariat Officer-Employee ForumPresident AKMG Kibria Mazumder andVice-President Md Tariq Mahmud alsospoke on the occasion, among others.Chief of the Air staff of Indian Air Force Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauriaplacing floral wreath at Shikha Anirban on Tuesday in Dhaka Cantonment. Photo : ISPRTunisia fires headof national airline,month into jobTUNIS : Tunisia's transportminister on Monday fired theCEO of Tunisair, just over amonth after naming her torevive the ailing national carrier'sfortunes, reports BSS.Olfa Hamdi, an engineereducated in France and the USwith experience in managingmajor enterprises, was dismissedbecause she failed "inher duty to act discreetly" anddid not coordinate with theministry, Transport MinisterMoez Chakchouk said.Hamdi had clashed with thepowerful UGTT union, publishingdetails of union dueson Facebook.The state-owned airline isheavily indebted and subsidisedby the public purse.It employs around 7,800staff, for a fleet of less than 30planes, of which only a maximumof eight are currentlyoperational, according to theministry.Tunisair's accounts werefrozen earlier this month atthe behest of Turkish operatorTAV, a creditor of the airlinewhich operates airports in theNorth African country./BGD-311/21 (6x4)†kL nvwmbvi g~jbxwZMÖvg kn‡ii DbœwZGD-313/21 (7x4)GD-304/21 (13x4)
WEDNESDAY, fEBrUArY 24, 20213Vice-chancellor of DU Professor Dr. Akhtaruzzaman addressing a press conference held at his officeon Tuesday.Photo : CourtesyDr Zafrullah slamsBNP for failure towage any movementDHAKA : Criticising BNP forits failure to wage anymovement with public issues,Gonoshasthya Kendrafounder Dr ZafrullahChowdhury on Tuesday saidsenior leaders of the party haveapparently become 'deaf andblind', reports UNB."Though there're many bigleaders in BNP, I think they'vebecome deaf and blind. Thegovernment has been makingmistakes one after another, butthey can't do anything as theycan't see or hear anything," hesaid.Zafrullah, also a freedomfighter, came up with theremarks while speaking at adiscussion arranged by JatiyaParty (Zafar), one of thecomponents of the BNP-led20-party alliance, at the JatiyaPress Club, marking 'AmarEkushey', the LanguageMartyrs' Day andInternational MotherLanguage Day.He said BNP has long beentalking about only one issue ofits chairperson Khaleda Zia'srelease ignoring the publicissues. "Even, they can't speakstraightly about the release ofKhaleda Zia."The freedom fighter saidKhaleda has the right to goabroad for medical treatmentas she is ill. "The rights have tobe realised."He said though all theoffices, courts, madrasas andmaktabs are now open,general educationalinstitutions still remainedclosed. "Because thegovernment's intelligenceagencies have reports that ifthe universities and halls arereopened, an anti-governmentmovement can be waged."Zafrullah slammed theleaders BNP and the 20-partyalliance for not taking positionin favour of the studentsseeking the immediatereopening of the universitiesand dormitories. "What areyou (20-party leaders) doing?Why aren't you taking aposition in favour of thestudents?" Don't you wake youup? People's rights will berestored if students'movement is intensified."He alleged that thebackbone of the nation is beingbroken by keeping theeducational institutions shutas the students are makingteen gangs by watching Hindifilms.Zafrullah said AwamiLeague is often makingmistakes since Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina has become'lonely' as the senior partyleaders like Amir HossainAmu, Tofail Ahmed and MatiaChowdhury are not therebeside her."As the Prime Minister hasremained confined (toGonobhaban), Awami Leagueis going to a wrong direction.The boat of the Awami Leaguegovernment is now in a sodelicate condition that it'll sinkwith just a little push."About the currentvaccination programmeagainst Covid-19, Dr Zafrullahappreciated the governmentfor providing people vaccineon its own initiative.He urged the governmentnot to allow private companiesto import the Covid-19 vaccineto ensure quality jabs forpeople free of charge.DU merges its decision withthe line of governmentDU CORRESPONDENTThe Dhaka University (DU) authoritieshave changed its decision with the line ofthe government on reopening residentialhalls from May 17 and the classrooms fromMay 24.Vice-chancellor of DU Professor Dr.Akhtaruzzaman told reporters in a pressconference held at his office on Tuesday.Classrooms will be open for teaching fromMay 24 and the residential halls will be opena week earlier, on May 17. We will starttaking exams after two weeks of reopeninghalls with the coordination of faculty andrelated department. The exam routine thatfixed on basis of previous decision is nomore, said Akhtaruzzaman.The residential students must have to bevaccinated if there any health issue can beconsidered. The vaccination programme willbe conducted following the heath protocol ofthe related Ministry, VC added.We made the decision as the governmentsaid teachers and students are likely to bevaccinated by May 17. We learned that fourweeks after the first dose of vaccine antibodystarts working for that reason we urged thegovernment to vaccinate teachers, students,staff and employees by April 17, said theVice-Chancellor of DU.It is not possible to make a single decision ona subject in pandemic time. Instead, we haveto move towards a coordinated decisionthat's why we took the decision with the lineof government, he furthered.Akhtaruzzaman said we are grateful to thegovernment as it took the Mass vaccinationfor students. It's a great initiative; manyother governments of the world can't eventhink of it.Being asked about students 72 hoursultimatum he said, I firmly believe that theywill behave responsibly in this regard.8th FYP to expedite country'sdevelopment: MannanDHAKA : Planning Minister MA Mannanyesterday said that the 8th Five Year Planwill take forward the country'sdevelopment trend through theimplementation of different projects andgeneration of more employmentopportunities, reports BSS."Through the 8th Five Year Plan, manyprojects will be implemented. Themembers of the Planning Commission willplay a vital role in this regard. The projectsunder the plan will be reflected in theliving standard of the country's people andwill expedite further the country'sdevelopment," he said.The planning minister said this whilespeaking at a meeting on the '8th Five-Year Plan (July 2020-June 2025)' at theNEC conference room in the city.Through the plan, Mannan said, thewhole system of the country will forwardmore which will be helpful in achievingthe country's development goals, Vision-2041.The planning minister urged all to feelthe Padma Multipurpose Bridge fromheart. "I sometimes look with surprise -there will be a bridge, and a span will siton the river. For this, 16 crore people arestanding there to watch. Even, thechildren often rent cars to go there. I alsosaw it myself. They tried to feel withhands. This is a very important matter.There may be some emotion. Those whodo not realize will lag behind," he added.He said the country will witness moremega projects during this new Five-YearPlan period while the implementation ofthe existing mega projects would get a'pick-up' and many of those would witnesscompletion during this 8th Plan period.He said this expansionary Plan would behelpful in attaining growth, furtheralleviating poverty, further strengtheningthe rural economy, addressing incomeinequality, expanding and furtherdeepening the coverage of the social safetynets.Among others, Planning Commissionsecretary, IMED secretary and membersof the Planning Commission were presenton 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 GDPgrowth on average per year and also toachieve various economic and socialtargets during the five-year period asenvisioned under the country's 2ndPerspective Plan (2021-2041).Missing army person'sbody recovered fromSangu RiverCHATTOGRAM : The body of an armyperson who went missing while taking bathin the Sangu River was recovered onTuesday afternoon, reports UNB.The deceased was identified as AsifHossain Nishan, 21, a resident of Halisaharin Chattogram.Anowara Upazila Nirbahi Officer SheikhJobayer Ahmed said a team of new armymembers came to Anawara upazlia for awinter training programme.Fire Service and Civil Defence DeputyAssistant Director Farid Ahmed said Nishanwent missing while taking bath in the SanguRiver on Monday afternoon. The body hasbeen handed over to Bangladesh Army, headded.Led by Mahbub Alam Badsha, Tati League president of 50 no Ward of Jatrabarithana of the capital city paid tribute to language hero by placing wreath at CentralShaheed Minar on Sunday.Photo : CourtesyJapan with Bangladesh to enhance regionalstability, boost connectivity: OfficialDHAKA : Japan will have a strongercooperation with Bangladesh,especially for enhancing regionalstability and connectivity in the region,as the development of Bangladeshcontributes to the stability of Indo-Pacific region, says a senior official atthe Japanese Ministry of ForeignAffairs, reports UNB."Bangladesh is achieving a higherrate of economic growth. We'll furtherpromote comprehensive partnershipwith Bangladesh," Senior RegionalCoordinator at Southwest Asia Divisionof the Japanese Ministry of ForeignAffairs (MoFA) Hitomi Sato told UNBin an interview.Bangladesh and Japan are currentlyfocusing more on infrastructuredevelopment and business partnershipunder "BIG-B" initiative.The two countries have deepenedfriendship and partnership in anumber of areas, including Matarbarideep seaport, Dhaka Metro andTerminal 3 of the international airportin Dhaka.The Japanese, the MoFA official said,both the leaders (Prime Ministers)affirmed that the development ofBangladesh through regionalconnectivity would contribute to theoverall stability of the Indo-PacificRegion.Under the Bay of Bengal IndustrialGrowth Belt (BIG-B) initiative, shesaid, Japan and Bangladesh wouldcontinue collaborating towardsdevelopment in the SouthernChattogram area, including the highlyefficient coal-fired power station, aswell as bolstering cooperation whichcould contribute to long-termdecarbonisation through supportingthe application of renewable energy.Sato said Japan will continue itssupport and cooperation withBangladesh in accelerating theeconomic growth which brings benefitsfor all the people of Bangladesh andbeyond.Responding to a question, she saidinvestment and trade also need to bepromoted further for the fastereconomic growth of Bangladesh."In order to invite more Japaneseprivate companies to operate inBangladesh, the issue of improving thebusiness environment will remainimportant," said the senior Japaneseofficial adding that Japan will continuesupporting Bangladesh's efforts to thatend. Sato said Japan will continue tosupport Bangladesh to overcome socialvulnerabilities in various fields,including health and education,disaster management so thatBangladesh can achieve the status of amiddle-income country by 2021,sustainable development goals by 2030and the status of a developed countryby 2041. Responding to a question,Sato said the concept of free and openIndo Pacific aims to promote peace,stability and prosperity in the region.She said they are focusing onensuring the international order basedon rule of law and promoting freedomof navigation and free trade."This concept targets neither anyspecific country nor any agenda againstany framework. In this context, Japanintends to cooperate with countries inthe region and beyond," said theJapanese MoFA official.She said Japan does not see the BIG-B initiative conflicting with any otherglobal initiatives.Referring to the telephoneconversations of the two PrimeMinisters, Sato said both leaderswelcomed the fact that the exchange ofnotes had been signed earlier underwhich an ODA Loan Agreementprovided in response to the ongoingcoronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis inBangladesh.Bangladesh expressed its gratitudefor the support from Japan and the twocountries agreed to firmly cooperatetowards containing the spread of theCovid-19 pandemic.Reinstatement of 30% quotaFFs' descendants block ShahbaghDHAKA : Bangladesh Muktijoddha Santan Sangsad, anorganisation of freedom fighters' descendants, aredemonstrating at Shahbagh intersection in Dhaka to presshome their 7-point demand, including revival of 30 percentquota in government jobs. Traffic movement in and aroundthe area has come to a complete halt due to their sit-inprogramme.Hundreds of members of the organisation from across thecountry, carrying posters and placards, gathered in front ofthe National Museum around 10:00am.Later, they moved to the Shahbagh intersection and startedthe sit-in programme around 12:00pm. Additional policehave been deployed in the area to avert any untowardincident. The demonstrators chanted slogans like "No placefor Razakars in this Bangla of Freedom Fighters", "WeaponsProf. Dr. S M Mahabub Ul Haque Majumder, Acting Vice Chancellor of Daffodil InternationalUniversity handing over the Champion Trophy to winning team members of Martyred JobbarEkadosh organized by Daffodil International University Sports Club. Photo : CourtesyWHO calls for prioritising vaccinecontracts with COVAXDHAKA : The head of the World HealthOrganization (WHO) has called onCovid jab manufacturers to prioritisecontracts with the UN-led equitablevaccines initiative, COVAX, saying "it'snot a matter of charity, it's a matter ofepidemiology", reports UNB.Director-General Tedros AdhanomGhebreyesus was speaking at WHO'sregular bi-weekly briefing forjournalists on the UN health agency'slatest efforts to curtail the pandemic,reports UN News.He began by praising Friday's pledgefrom leaders of G7, to intensifycooperation and increase their overallcontribution to the international effortunder the ACT Acceleratorprogramme, to around $7.5 billion.COVAX is working to ensureequitable distribution of vaccines,diagnostics and therapeutics to end thecrippling march of coronavirus, Tedrossaid, expressing his thanks to the EUnations for committing an extra $4.3billion last week."These funds and donations moveus one step closer to meeting ourtarget to start vaccination of healthworkers and older people in allcountries, within the first 100 days ofthe year," said Tedros.But all countries needed to step up,he said, adding that money was farfrom the only challenge: "If there are novaccines to buy, money is irrelevant.Currently, some high-income countriesare entering into contracts with vaccinemanufacturers that undermine thedeals that COVAX has in place, andreduce the number of doses COVAXcan buy."Even if we have the funds, we canonly deliver vaccines to poorercountries if high-income countriescooperate in respecting the dealsof '71 roar once again" and "We want 30 percent quota".Their other demands include giving VIP status to freedomfighters and their descendants everywhere, includinghospitals, government offices, enacting a law to protect thefreedom fighters' families, and exclusion of names of antiliberationpeople from the government list of freedomfighters.Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sontan Sangsad vice chairmanMizanur Rahman said, "We won't leave the place until ourseven demands are fulfilled."Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sontan Sangsad foundingpresident Soleman Miya, vice chairman Sojib Serker,Mijanur Rahman, Yeasin Akand, Toslim reza, organisingsecretary Nazmul Huda, Titumir, among others, joined theprotest programme.COVAX has done and the new deals it isdoing. This is not a matter of charity,it's a matter of epidemiology."The WHO chief said that there wasstill a funding gap of nearly $23 billionto "fully finance" the entire ACTAccelerator vaccine initiative.To make sure the most at risk in lowandmiddle-income countries get theirshots first, "we need more funding, weneed countries to share dosesimmediately, we need manufacturersto prioritise contracts with COVAX,and we also need a significant increasein the production of vaccines", Tedrossaid."More vaccines are being developed,approved and produced. There will beenough for everyone," he noted. "Butfor now, and for the rest of this year,vaccines will be a limited resource. Wemust use them as strategically as wecan."
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24-02-2021

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