02-04-2021

frIday

Dhaka : april 2, 2021; Chaitra 19, 1427 BS; Shaban 18,1442 hijri

www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net

Regd.No.Da~2065, Vol.17; N o. 349; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00

InternatIonal

UN envoy: Myanmar

faces possibility of

major civil war

>Page 7

sports

Tigers all-out in

9.3 overs to suffer

another clean sweep

>Page 9

art & culture

'Baba' the musical film

bags int’l award

>Page 10

50pc passengers in

public transports

Commuters stage

demos in city

DHAKA : Commuters staged demonstrations

after blocking road in the city's

Nilkhet area as they failed to board buses

and other public transports after the government's

directive to carry 50 percent

passengers in public buses to check

Covid transmission, reports UNB.

Sabbir Ahmed, officer-in-charge of

Khilkhet Police Station, said some people

staged demonstrations on the road

around 9 am halting the movement of

some buses as they failed to board

buses to reach their destinations.

However, traffic movement returned

to normal after12 pm.

Sufferings of commuters mounted as

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority

(BRTA) imposed a ban for two weeks on

app-based motorcycle ride sharing services

following the fresh surge of coronavirus.

Ride sharing bikers also staged

demonstrations in the city's Badda area

and in front of the Jatiya Press Club

demanding the government to allow

them to operate the service.

A huge number of people were seen

waiting for buses since morning in different

areas and some of them hired

rickshaws and CNG-run autorickshaw

to reach their destinations.

Hefajat rampage in B’baria

Over 10,000 accused, 18

cases filed, 21 arrested

BRAHMANBARIA : Eighteen cases

have been filed so far and 21 arrested

over clashes and vandalism in

Brahmanbaria for three days until

Sunday, reports UNB.

Fifteen cases were filed with Sadar

Model Police Station, two with

Ashuganj Police Station, and one with

Sarail Police Station on charges of vandalism

and arson attack, police sources

said. Over 10,000 were made accused

in the cases, mostly unnamed.

Of the accused, Sadar police arrested

18 and Ashuganj police three, they said.

Clashes involving Hefajat left nine people

dead in police firing in Brahmanbaria

during anti protests against Indian Prime

Minister Narendra Modi.

On March 28, Hefajat called a countrywide

dawn-to-dusk hartal protesting

police action on their anti-Modi processions

in Dhaka, Chattogram and other

districts.

Hefazat-e-Islam activists attacked a

Chattogram-bound train at Talshohor

Rail Station in Brahmanbaria town

during the general strike. Also, the hartal

supporters carried out vandalism

and arson attacks on government and

private establishments.

Zumma

04:34 AM

01:30 PM

04:30 PM

06:20 PM

07:35 PM

5:49 6:16

Covid-19

BD records highest-ever

daily cases, 59 deaths

DHAKA : For the third time in four

days, Bangladesh recorded its highest

daily coronavirus cases as the health

authorities confirmed 6,469 new infections

on Thursday afternoon, reports

UNB.

The infection rate jumped to 22.94

percent from 19.9 of Wednesday's

when the country recorded 5,358 cases,

the highest in months.

On Tuesday, 5,042 cases were recorded

and the number was 5,181 on

Monday.

Bangladesh had seen a sharp decline

in cases and the daily infection rate

dropped below 5 percent but the sudden

spurt appears to have caught the

health sector unawares. There is hardly

any bed available at hospitals treating

coronavirus patients.

The country's covid caseload soared

to 617,764 after it recorded its highestever

single day case count, according to

a handout issued by the Directorate

General of Health Services (DGHS).

During the 24-hour period until

Thursday morning, 2,539 coronavirus

patients recovered, taking the number

of recoveries to 544,938.

Bangladesh reported its first cases on

March 8 last year and confirmed the

first death from the virus 10 days later.

The country has so far tested

4,698,774 samples, including 28,198 in

the last 24 hours, the DGHS said.

Meanwhile, the fatalities reached

9,105 with 59 new deaths. The mortality

rate slipped slightly to 1.47 percent.

Coronavirus claimed 568 lives in

January this year, 281 in February and

638 in March.

Among the latest victims, 40 people

died in Dhaka division, five in

Chattogram, two each in Rajshahi and

Rangpur, four in Khulna, one in

Barishal and five in Sylhet division.

So far, 5,192 coronavirus patients

died in Dhaka division, 1,645 in

Chattogram, 506 in Rajshahi, 586 in

Khulna, 274 in Barishal, 325 in Sylhet,

376 in Rangpur and 201 in

Mymensingh divisions.

So far 6,847 men (75.20) and 2,258

women (24.80) died of the virus.

2128 more Rohingyas reach

Bhasanchar in 6th phase

Manik BHuiyan

In the first part of the 6th phase, another

2,128 Rohingyas have reached

Bhasanchar in Noakhali.They left

Chattogram at 3 pm in six ships under

the management of the Navy and

reached Bhasanchar.

Among the Rohingyas who reached the

first part of the 6th phase, there are 512

males, 613 females and 1003 children.

Navy and district administration officials

were present at the wharf at the time.

After reachingBhasanchar, the staff of

the public health center checked their

health. Later, the group of Rohingyas

who came in the first part of the 6th step

was taken to the warehouse. There the

members of the navy gave them an idea

about the various rules and regulations

of living in Bhasanchar. They are fed

lunch at the ware house.

Bhasanchar police officer in charge

(OC) said MdMaheAlam said that after

the initial medical examination, the

Rohingyas were unloaded from the ship

and gathered at the ware house by car

and briefed. Later it was transferred to

Bhasanchar cluster.

It may be mentioned that on December

4 last year, in the first phase, 1,642

Rohingyas, including men, women and

children, officially reached Bhasanchar.

They are kept in clusters 6, 7, 9 and 10

prepared for Rohingyas. Among the

Rohingyas who came to Bhasanchar in

the first phase, there are 810 children,

368 males and 464 females.

On December 29, in the second phase,

another 1,704 Rohingya members

reached Bhasanchar from Cox's Bazar.

Among them are more than 130 relatives

of Rohingyas who went to the first phase.

Earlier, last year, 306 Rohingyas were

relocated to Bhasanchar in two stages

floating in Bangladesh waters in the Bay

of Bengal.

Earlier, on April 19, 2019, the construction

of a shelter at a cost of Tk

3,095 crore was completed for the relocation

of Rohingyas to Bhasanchar on

the banks of the Meghna River in Hatia.

Although the work of this project was

supposed to be implemented by

November 30, 2019, the construction of

all the infrastructure was completed

earlier. There are 120 cluster villages in

this shelter project of 13,000 sq km

island about 50 km away from Hatia.

No alternative to

increasing hospital

capacity: Health Minister

DHAKA : Health Minister Zahid

Maleque has said that there is no alternative

to increasing the capacities of

hospitals to tackle the surge in Covid-19

cases, reports UNB.

"There's no alternative to increasing

the number of hospital beds as Covid

cases are increasing day by day. That's

why the government is increasing the

number of beds at all covid-dedicated

hospitals," he said while inaugurating

10 ICU beds at Dhaka Medical College

Hospital at an online event.

He said the number of covid-designated

hospitals are also being

increased. Minister Maleque said that a

market of Dhaka North City

Corporation (DNCC) has been turned

into a Covid-dedicated hospital with

1,250-bed capacity.

"There are 50 ICU beds and 200 SDO

beds," he said. "It also has 1,000 isolation

beds."

Maleque said the number of covid

beds is being increased at government

hospitals in the capital.

In this regard, the minister said that

10 more ICU beds have been added to

Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever

daily coronavirus cases (6,469) on

Thursday. The country registered more

than 5,000 cases for the fourth straight

day. Official data indicated that there is

inadequate ICU and general beds at

hospitals treating covid patients.

Minister Maleque said that hospitals

would run out of space if the number of

infections keep rising.

He urged everyone to put in concerted

efforts to flatten the curve.

in the first part of the 6th phase, another 2,128 Rohingyas have reached Bhasanchar in noakhali. They left

Chattogram at 3 pm in six ships under the management of the navy and reached Bhasanchar. Photo : TBT

Hundreds of

uber drivers

were protesting

at the

Shahbagh

intersection

in the capital

on Thursday

in protest of

banning

passenger on

motorcycles

by the Ride

Sharing

Service.

Photo : Star Mail

Avoid public gatherings, wear

masks to fight Covid surge:PM

Bangladesh bans entry of

passengers from Europe

& 12 other countries

DHAKA : In an effort to contain Covid-19

in the country, the civil aviation regulator

on Thursday banned the entry of passengers

from all European nations, except

the UK, and 12 other countries, to

Bangladesh from April 3, reports UNB.

The twelve countries are Argentina,

Bahrain, Brazil, Chile, Jordan, Kuwait,

Lebanon, Peru, Qatar, South Africa,

Turkey and Uruguay, the Civil Aviation

Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) said in a

release.

The CAAB has issued the circular after

reviewing the ongoing Covid-19 situation

throughout the country and worldwide.

The entry ban will be in force from April

3 to April 18.

Airlines operating scheduled passenger

flights from all the above-mentioned

countries will be allowed to carry

only transit passengers to Bangladesh,

subject to the conditions that they

remain confined inside the terminal

building only.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

DHAKA : Seeking cooperation from all

to check the rapid transmission of coronavirus,

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

on Thursday urged people to avoid

public gatherings,

unnecessary outside

stay and wear

face masks everywhere,

reports

UNB.

"This time the

virus is spreading

very rapidly. This

resurgence is not

only seen in our

country but also

throughout the

world. So, I would

like to tell all that

we'll have to check

the coronavirus

again this time as

we controlled

everything in the

first time," she told

Parliament.

The Prime Minister made the call

participating in the discussion over the

condolence motion placed in the first

sitting of the 12th session of Parliament

at the death of MP Mahmud Us Samad

Chowdhury (Sylhet-3).

She said though coronavirus was

largely controlled in Bangladesh initially,

the sudden surge in the virus infection

has recently been seen as people

ignored hygiene rules after the Covid-19

inoculation programme started.

Sheikh Hasina

said public movement

and gatherings

went up excessively,

though she

repeatedly asked all

to wear masks and

follow the health

rules even after getting

vaccinated.

Noting that the

government has

already issued some

directives to check

the transmission of

Covid-19, she said,

"We're trying to

bring it under control

gradually. But

cooperation from

people is needed in

this regard."

"I would like to request to pay special

attention so that no public gathering

takes place anywhere," she said.

She suggested all to avoid large gatherings

of people in social programmes

like wedding and return home within a

short time after completing their tasks

in shops and markets.

Irrespective of the Covid-19 vaccination,

all passengers coming to

Bangladesh shall mandatorily possess

and show 'PCR-based Covid-19 negative

certificate' during departure from

origin and on arrival at an airport in this

country.

The PCR test shall be done within 72

hours of the flight departure time. If no

Covid-19 symptoms are found on arrival,

passengers shall strictly have to complete

a 14-day home quarantine, the regulator

said.

However, if any Covid-19 symptoms

are detected, passengers shall have to

undergo mandatory 14 days isolation at

government facilities at their own

expenses.

Passengers coming from other countries,

that's except those mentioned earlier,

and exiting from the transit at the airport,

shall have to obtain a fresh Covid-19

negative certificate as the existing one

would be deemed null and void.

firDAY, APril 2, 2021

2

1 killed in Sathia

AL infighting

PABNA : A man was killed

and 11 others were injured in

a clash between two factions

of Awami League over the

formation of a ward-level

committee in Pabna on

Thursday.

Police identified the

deceased as Alhaz Sheikh,

35.

Locals said two factions of

the ruling party, led by

Sharbesh Sheikh and

Moslem Master, were at

loggerheads over the

formation of committee at

ward number 9 of

Gourigram Union in Santhia

upazila.

Sheikh was elected

president of the ward,

prompting Master's

supporters to attack Sheikh's

men. They fought with sticks

and sharp weapons. Several

people, including Alhaz, were

injured during the clash.

Tangail district police, upazlia administration and sadar upazila parishad jointly distributed mask at

free of cost to prevent corona virus.

Photo : Md Nasir Uddin

we`ÿ r/Rb-806(2)31/3/2021

e-Tender Notice

Myanmar's neighbours urged to

protect people fleeing violence

GD-570/21 (5x3)

GD-578/21 (3x3)

DHAKA : UNHCR, the UN

Refugee Agency, has urgently

called on countries across the

region to offer refuge and

protection to all those fleeing

for safety from Myanmar,

reports UNB.

"It is vital that anyone

crossing the border, seeking

asylum in another country, is

able to access it," said Gillian

Triggs, UNHCR's Assistant

High Commissioner for

Protection.

Myanmar is bordered by

Bangladesh and India to its

northwest, China to its

northeast, Laos and Thailand

to its east and southeast, and

the Andaman Sea and the

Bay of Bengal to its south and

southwest.

UNHCR is "appalled by the

escalating violence" in

Myanmar and the resulting

human suffering and

displacement this is causing.

"We are shocked by the

indiscriminate violence

against civilians across the

country, in addition to the

renewed fighting between the

Myanmar military and ethnic

armed groups in some border

areas," Gillian Triggs said.

These events in Myanmar

are driving people to flee

within the country and across

borders, said the UNHCR's

Assistant

High

Commissioner for

Protection.

Gillian Triggs said it is a

proven fact that humane

border practices can be

upheld amid public health

and other border control

measures, to ensure that

people in need of protection

can access territory and

asylum.

"Children, women and men

fleeing for their lives should

be given sanctuary. They

must not be returned to a

place where their lives or

freedom may be at risk. This

principle of non-refoulement

is a cornerstone of

international law and is

binding on all states," said

the UNHCR official.

Gillian Triggs said

Myanmar's neighbours have

a decades-long history of

providing protection and

assistance to refugees. "As

the situation in Myanmar

deteriorates further, we call

on states to continue their

lifesaving humanitarian

tradition of safeguarding the

lives of all those forced to

flee."

GD-574/21 (5x3)

GD-577/21 (4x3)

we`ÿ r/Rb-815(2)1/4/21

GD-571/21 (5x3)

†kL nvwmbvi g~jbxwZ

MÖvg kn‡ii DbœwZ

Mother 'kills self'

after 'killing two

children' in Satkhira

SATKHIRA : A woman

reportedly committed suicide

after 'killing her two minor

children' in Langoljhara village

of Kolaroa upazila in Satkhira

on Wednesday night, reports

UNB.

The deceased are Mahfuza

Khatun, her son Mahfuz

Rahman and daughter

Mohona, 5.

Officer-in-Charge of Kolaroa

Police Station Khairul Kabir

said they are suspecting that

Mahfuza killed herself after

strangulating her two kids.

Police recovered the bodies

on Thursday morning, he said.

"We are investigating the

cause of their deaths, it will be

clear after getting the postmortem

report," he said.

Police are interrogating

Mahfuza's husband Shimul

Hossain to know whether she

killed herself following a family

feud, said the OC.

Mahfuza's father-in-law

Abdar Ali said a local teen

sexually assaulted Mohona on

Monday while Mahfuza sought

justice from UP member

Safijul who assured her of

looking into the matter after a

few days. Later, she went to UP

chairman Nurul Islam who

suggested her to file a case but

Abdar Ali discouraged her to

file any case stating that they

won't be able to bear the

expenses of the case.

"When I went out of home

for work Mahfuza committed

suicide," Abdar Ali said.

Meanwhile, OC Kabir said

they are unaware of any

incident of sexual harassment

but investigating the matter.

UP Chaiman Nurul Islam's

cell phone was found switched

off when he was contacted for

comment.

GD-575/21 (8x4)

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2021

3

Government guidelines are not being followed to prevent corona infection in train. The picture was

taken from Kamalapur railway station in Dhaka on Thursday.

Photo : Star Mail

Covid surge

Tourist spots in

Sylhet closed

for 2 weeks

SYLHET : All tourist spots in

Sylhet district have been

shut down for the next two

weeks to curb the spread of

the deadly coronavirus,

officials said Thursday,

reports UNB.

The directive has come

from the local

administration in the wake

of the sudden surge in

Covid-19 cases in

Bangladesh.

Mohammad Altaf

Hossain, superintendent of

Tourist Police Sylhet Region,

told UNB that all hotels,

motels, resorts and tourist

spots will remain shut for

two weeks as per a

government order.

He also urged people to

wear face masks and follow

other health protocols.

On March 18 last year, all

tourist spots in the district

were shut down to contain

the spread of Covid-19 cases.

The restrictions were

revoked on September 9,

subject to 25 conditions.

In the wake of the fresh

surge in the Covid-19

infections, the Prime

Minister's Office (PMO), on

March 29, issued an 18-

point directive for the next

two weeks in an effort to

restrict the spread of the

coronavirus in Bangladesh.

The directives have taken

immediate effect throughout

the country and will remain

in force for two weeks until

further order, according to a

notification signed by

Principal Secretary Dr

Ahmad Kaikaus.

Multinational

military exercise

"Shantir Ogroshena"

to begin Apr 4

DHAKA : Multinational

military exercise "Shantir

Ogroshena - 2021 (Front

Runner of the Peace) will be

held in Bangladesh from

April 4-12 marking the birth

centenary of Father of the

Nation Bangabandhu

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

and 50 years of Bangladesh's

Independence.

Indian Army contingent

comprising of 30 personnel

including officers, JCOs and

Jawans of a Battalion from

The DOGRA Regiment will

participate in the exercise

along with contingent of

Royal Bhutan Army, Sri

Lankan Army and

Bangladesh Army.

The theme of the exercise

is - Robust Peace Keeping

Operations, according to

Indian Ministry of Defence.

Military observers from

USA, UK, Turkey, Kingdom

of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and

Singapore will also be in

attendance throughout the

exercise.

JS adopts condolence motion on

death of sitting MP Samad, others

DHAKA : Parliament on Thursday

unanimously adopted a condolence motion

expressing profound grief at the demise of a

sitting MP Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury

and some noted personalities, reports UNB.

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury

moved the condolence motion in the House

in the beginning of the 12th session of the

11th Parliament.

As per the tradition, the day's business of

Parliament was adjourned after the

adaptation of the condolence over the death

of sitting Awami League MP Mahmud Us

Samad Chowdhury, who was elected from

Sylhet-3 constituency, in order to pay respect

to him. Samad Chowdhury, 66, died of

Covid-19 in a city hospital on March 12 last.

Besides, the House expressed deep shock

at the death of PM's political adviser Hossain

Toufique Imam (HT Imam), former Prime

Minister Moudud Ahmed (Six-time MP

from Noakhali-5 and Bogura-7), former state

minister Mohammad Aman Ullah (fourtime

MP from Mymensingh-11) and three

other former MPs.

The three other ex-MPs are Toabur

Rahim (ex-member of Ganoparishad and

also member of 1st parliament from the

then Sylhet-14), Abdul Majid Mandal (MP

in 10th Parliament from Siranganj-5) and

Monsur Ahmed (two-time MP from

Satkhira-4).

Parliament also expressed deep shock at

the death of noted personalities, including

Editor of the daily Janakantha and freedom

fighter Atikullah Khan Masud, Chairman of

Sikder Group of Industries Zainul Haque

Sikder (who is also the father of Parveen

Haque Sikder), Language Movement

veteran Ali Taher Majumdar, noted

columnist and journalist Syed Abul Maksud,

senior journalist and former president of

Projonmo-71 Shahin Reza Noor, Awami

League's advisory council member Abul

Hasnat and former deputy governor of

Bangladesh Bank Khondkar Ibrahim

Khaled.

Besides, the House expressed profound

grief at the death of those who lost being

affected the coronavirus in home and

abroad, the 17 people of Pirganj who were

killed in the recent road accident at Katakhali

in Rajshahi, and the lives lost in accidents in

other places at home and abroad.

A one-minute silence was observed and a

munajat offered seeking the eternal peace to

the departed soul. Deputy Speaker Md Fazle

Rabbi Miah conducted the munajat.

Before passing the condolence motion,

Leader of the House and Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina and a number of MPs took

part in discussions.

The Prime Minister said Samad

Chowdhury was a good organiser and

politically a very conscious man.

She said Samad got involved with Chhatra

League in his student life and he always was

engaged in the Awami League's politics.

"He had a great interest in working for

people," she said, adding that the politics of

Sylhet has incurred a huge loss with his

death.

Dhaka for expediting BIMSTEC process

with enhanced trade, investment

DHAKA : Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul

Momen on Thursday urged Member States

to expedite BIMSTEC process noting that an

enhanced trade and investment in this

region will facilitate income and

employment generation. "Seamless multimodal

connectivity is a precondition for

trade and investment promotion and people

to people contact," he said, reports UNB.

The Foreign Minister made the remarks at

the 17th BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting

virtually held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on

Thursday. The meeting approved/endorsed

several BIMSTEC agreements, conventions,

MoUs and other important documents

/instruments envisaged to be

signed/adopted at the fifth BIMSTEC

Summit. The Foreign Ministers and Senior

Officials of all the seven BIMSTEC Member

States joined the meeting.

Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary)

Masud Bin Momen accompanied the

Foreign Minister in the meeting

The 5th BIMSTEC Summit is expected to

be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka this year

subject to the COVID situation.

Dr Momen said BIMSTEC is a member

driven organization and members organize

the meetings and events to build consensus

on cooperation and undertake programme

of action in various sectors.

"We need to work simultaneously on a

faster pace in all priority sectors to bring

synergy in our cooperation to make

BIMSTEC a result oriented regional forum,"

he said.

Crowds of people at Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in the capital on

Thursday for corona test.

Photo : Star Mail

Covid 19:

Movement of

tourist ships on

Teknaf-St Martin's

route suspended

COX'S BAZAR : Movement

of all tourist ships on

Teknaf-Saint Martin's

Island route has been

suspended in the wake of

fresh surge in Covid-19

cases, reports UNB.

However, movement of

other vessels carrying

regular passengers and daily

essentials will remain

normal, subjected to

maintaining health

guidelines.

Cox's Bazar district

administration issued a

directive in this regard on

Thursday.

Cox's Bazar Deputy

Commissioner Md

Mamunur Rashid said that

tourist ships usually operate

till March 31 every year.

This period was extended

by 15 days but due to the

corona situation tourist

ships movement has been

stopped from Thursday.

Amjad Hossain,

coordinator of the Teknaf

station of the Bangladesh

Inland Water Transport

(BIWTA), said eight ships

were approved to carry

tourists on Teknaf-Saint

Martin's route from

November 12 last year.

But the service has been

suspended due to the recent

hike in coronavirus cases.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi

Officer (UNO) Parvez

Chowdhury said strict legal

actions will be taken if this

decision is disobeyed.

BNP leader

Mosharraf, wife

infected with

Covid-19

DHAKA : BNP Standing

Committee member

Khandaker Mosharraf

Hossain and his wife Bilkis

Akhter have been infected

with coronavirus, reports

UNB.

The couple was admitted

to Square Hospitals in the

city on Wednesday night,

their son Barrister

Khandaker Maruf Hossain

told UNB on Thursday.

He said his parents have

been receiving treatment for

the virus infections at the

isolation centre of the

hospital.

Maruf said Moshharf and

Bilkis underwent Covid tests

on Tuesday and their report

came out positive on

Wednesday. "As they're

suffering from fever, cough

and some other

complications, we took them

to the hospital for proper

healthcare."

President for checking cheating

in e-commerce sector

DHAKA : Mentioning e-commerce as an

important sector, President Abdul Hamid

stressed the need for strong monitoring and

control to prevent cheating by a handful of

people so that the expansion of the sector

does not stop in any way, reports UNB.

He came up with the observation while

delivering speech at the virtual opening

ceremony of Digital Device and Innovation

Expo 2021.

The expo is being held

for the second time with

theme of 'Make here, Sell

everywhere' at Bangladesh

Film Archive Complex.

"The interest of buyers

towards e-commerce is

growing day by day. In

order to keep this interest

unhurt, buyers need to

gain trust and confidence.

But some people are

cheating in the name of e-

commerce. They are

delivering low quality or other products

instead of the displayed products online," he

said.

Cheats also close their Facebook page or

website without delivering the products after

getting the payment and thus shoppers are

being deceived and losing interest in online

shopping, he said.

Expressing his concern over increase in

cybercrimes with the development of

Information Technology, Hamid said these

also instigate social unrests on various

issues. "Skilled human resources must be

built in addition to the development of

advanced technology in controlling

cybercrimes."

He hoped that all concerned including

the IT entrepreneurs will take effective

steps in this regard. Referring to various

steps of the government to create

entrepreneurs in the ICT sector, President

Hamid said necessary financial support is

being provided for

startups and innovations

and 'Start Up

Bangladesh' company

has been established in

addition to taking up

various projects to

institutionalize startup

and innovation culture.

He also hoped that all

these initiatives will create

new entrepreneurs in the

IT sector as well as huge

employment

opportunities.

"Digital Device and Innovation Expo-

2021" which was inaugurated on April 1 will

continue until April 3 virtually and

physically.

Chairman of Parliamentary Standing

Committee on Ministry of Posts,

Telecommunications and Information

Technology A.K.M Rahmatullah MP was

present as special guest along with Senior

Secretary of ICT Division N M Zeaul Alam,

Managing Director(Secretary) of

Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority

Hosne Ara Begum.

50th Anniversary

UK's 2nd tallest skyscraper

lit up in red, green

DHAKA : High Commissioner for

Bangladesh to the UK and Ireland Saida

Muna Tasneem along with Canary Warf

Group Chairman and CEO Sir George

Iacobescu CBE have inaugurated the special

lighting of the UK's second tallest building in

London's high-profile business district

Canary Warf in red and green, marking the

50th Anniversary of Bangladesh's

Independence, reports UNB.

The national anthems of Bangladesh and

the UK were played and the podium and

nearby waterfront were magnificently

illuminated in red and green, marking the

occasion, said a media release on

Wednesday night.

While lighting up the 'One Canada Square,

the Canary Warf Group's headquarters

recently, High Commissioner Saida Muna

Tasneem said, "I am delighted to illuminate

the most important building in the historic

borough of Tower Hamlets where Father of

the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman made several visits, including his

historic visit in 1969. Tower Hamlets is also

the home to the largest British-Bengali

community in the UK."

She said the Bangladesh flag was raised at

the Westminster Abbey, Tower Hamlets

Mayor office known as Town Hall and

Bromley Public Hall at Tower Hamlets at the

initiative of the London High Commission

on the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh's

independence.

Speaking on the occasion, Canary Warf

Group Chairman Sir George Iacobescu

highly commended Bangladesh's

spectacular successes in the socio-economic

fronts in the past decade and achievements

of the British-Bangladeshi community in the

UK.

He chanted the historic 'Joy Bangla' slogan

in Bangla to express solidarity with the spirit

of the War of Independence of Bangladesh.

Canary Warf Group Managing Director

Howard Dawber, Tower Hamlets Mayor

John Biggs, Speaker Councillor Mohammed

Ahbab Hossain and Cabinet member for

Culture Councillor Sabina Akhtar attended

the inaugural ceremony and paid their

deepest tributes to Father of the Nation

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and

the martyrs of 1971 War of Independence.

Lighting up of the Canary Warf is a part of

Bangladesh High Commission's nine-month

celebration of the 50th Anniversary of

Bangladesh's Independence that began in

London on 26 March.

Canary Warf Group is the UK's largest

corporate group that employees many

British-Bangladeshis and promotes charity

and sports between Bangladesh and the UK.

Earlier on 26 March, the iconic London

Eye was lit up, marking the Golden Jubilee of

Bangladesh's Independence.

The High Commissioner along with Tower

Hamlets Mayor John Biggs and Speaker

Councillor Mohammed Ahbab Hossain

launched a nine-month celebration of

Bangladesh's 50 years of independence by

raising the Bangladesh's flag at the Altab Ali

Park in East London known as Bangla Town.

Bangladesh reached unique height

in last 50 years: Indian Minister

DHAKA : Indian Railway, Commerce

and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal

has said Bangladesh has come a long

way and reached a unique height since

its independence five decades ago,

reports UNB.

Speaking as the chief guest at a

reception hosted by the Bangladesh

High Commission on the occasion of

the Golden Jubilee of Independence

on Wednesday evening, he said

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is

leading the wonderful success of

Bangladesh.

"When Sheikh Hasina last visited

India, I talked to her. Then I realised

that Sheikh Hasina thinks deeply

about the welfare of the country and

the people," Goyal said.

The Railway Minister said that this

time on the centenary of Father of the

Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman's birth, the government of

India has rightly bestowed on him

Gandhi award.

Because, he said, Bangabandhu did

not only establish peace and nonecommunal

politics for the people of

Bangladesh, he did struggle to

establish peace in the sub-continent.

The Indian Minister said that the

India-Bangladesh Friendship will

remain intact and will become

stronger in the years to come. He

hoped that after 50 years, the two

countries will celebrate the 100 years

of Bangladesh's Independence as

developed nations.

High Commissioner of Bangladesh

to India Muhammad Imran and his

wife Zakia Hasnat Imran welcomed

the guests.

The High Commissioner recalled

with deep gratitude the contribution

of the people of India for their moral

and material support during the

Liberation War and difficult days.

He said Bangladesh is going to build

a memorial at Ashuganj - the

foundation stone of which was

unveiled by the two Prime Ministers

last weekend during the visit of Indian

Prime Minister to Bangladesh.

Imran said the nine-month

Liberation War not only ravaged the

economy but also completely

destroyed the physical infrastructure

of the country. But during the last five

decades, the people of Bangladesh

succeeded to rise from the ashes to

bring vibrancy to the economy.

He said over the last decade, the

relations between Bangladesh and

India have reached a golden chapter

having a comprehensive partnership

covering all possible area of

cooperation under the leadership of

Prime Minister Hasina.

In the recent year, Bangladesh and

India have been working together to

reestablish the old connectivity and to

open new routes to connect the distant

areas of India through Bangladesh, he

said.

He said people to people contact

between Bangladesh and India has

increased manifold due to better

connectivity and flexibility in visa

regime of both sides.

At the beginning of the programme,

the Band Team of Bangladesh Army

played the melody of the national

anthem of musical instruments.

On the occasion of the golden jubilee

of independence, the mission also cut

cake and organised a cultural

programme.

The reception followed by dinner

was attended by diplomats, high

government officials, military

attaches, war veterans, elites,

journalists' academics and friends of

Bangladesh.

FrIDAy, APrIL 02, 2021

4

What to achieve by shedding each other's blood in this way?

Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam

e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com

Friday, April 02, 2021

PM is expected to

stay the course

We have been observing with great satisfaction the

crackdown that was initiated from last March

with actions against casino operators. Gradually,

the crackdown spread into other sectors as well. But at that

time, overthinking and undue pessimism was noted in

some quarters that the crackdown would soon peter out

and all would be business as usual. But blissfully the

juggernaut against crime and corruption launched from

the highest level of power in the country has only grown

stronger and stronger.

Day after day the dragnet against the czars of corruption,

fraud, illegal amassing of wealth, bribery, misuse of official

power, etc. has ben rolling on sparing nobody. Most

importantly, the drive has shaken off attempts at influence

peddling in favour of identified guilty ones notwithstanding

their political connections or profiles. Indeed, in the entire

history of Bangladesh there is no record of a government

moving so undauntingly or fearlessly against members of

its own political partysuch as the presentanti crime and anti

corruption drive under the leadership of Prime Minister

(PM) Sheikh Hasina.

Indeed, people of the country are one in hoping that no

power will be able to prevent the PM from staying the

course all the way. The same have only reaffirmed the

reality that in Bangladesh todaynobody is the above the law

and the arm of the law will grab any one otherwise

wrongfully perceivedas untouchable.

While deeply appreciating this fact, there is one aspect to

which the people expect their government's attention must

be directed fully. This is their keen expectation that not only

the sultans of crime and corruption be caught with their

arrests and starting of cases against them. People expect

that simultaneouslythe arrested ones or their family

members must not be allowed to use their illegally amassed

wealth in the slightest to cover up their misdeeds or to go

on enjoying their ill gotten wealth in other ways. We have

seen very recently initiatives taken by a specialised agency

of the government to freeze the bank accounts of certain

crime lords and their family members. But we believe that

such initiatives must not be limited to tokenism only.

For example, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC)

has started a case against an alleged delinquent and

murderer in the police service, one former OC Pradeep on

charges of owning a mere 4 crore Taka in excess of his

declared sources of income. But realistically and according

to fair media reports he indirectly owns properties worth

hundreds of crores of Taka not to speak of hundreds of

crores hemoney laundered into other countries to be

stashed away in secret accounts or for buying real estate.

People want that ACC should start investigating all such

monies and properties in entirety , gained through crime

and corruption and lay claim to these or make any further

sale or use of such properties by them, impossible.

Media has reported credibly on the great corruption

indulged in by the so called managing director of as non

bank financial institutions. (DFIs). He has allegedly

misappropriated hundreds of crores of Takain this manner

from other DFIs and laundered them abroad to buy

properties and other assets. This man is currently living

comfortably in Canada and the hands of the law cannot

reach him there.

Our point is : should our legal process be limited to only

starting or investigating cases against them ? Or should we

feel a smug satisfaction that some of them could be arrested

? No, certainly not. There would be people's satisfaction

and appreciation from only knowing that these nabobs of

corruption and crimewill never be in a position to enjoy or

use their ill gotten wealth again, even partly.

Government's relevant agencies and the Central Bank

must track down each and every secret or open bank

account of such individuals within the country and freeze

them instantly. All out efforts must be made in

collaboration with foreign governments and authorities to

bring back to Bangladesh the monies and values of

properties of these persons in foreign territories. The same

would then be deposited in our public treasury for

spending as deemed fit by our government.

No leniency should be tolerated in the process. Any effort

to help the accused in these matters from bribery and other

means, also will have to be sternly investigated, prevented

and punished. Of course the accused may be allowed to

spend with official permission reasonable amounts from

the seized or frozen funds to pay for their allowable legal

expenses and family maintenance. But the seized amounts

of cash and properties to remain on settlement of the cases

against them, the same must be deposited in the public

exchequer for spending on country's development

activities and projects for the welfare of common people.

We believe that doing such things, fully and successfully,

will earn for the government of the day in Bangladesh sky

high recognition for a good deed done and lasting support

from the rank and file of the people.

We also call on the governments and people of those

countries which are proving to be shelter givers of the crime

lords of our country to wake up to their responsibilities.

These front rank countries of the world are regarded as so

for their achievements in so many things. But such profiles

are likely to be tarnished soon as more and more people in

developing countries like ours find out that the

administrations and certain people in these countries do

not mind complicity with law dodgers in our country for

pecuniary gains. So, it needs to be wake up time for the

authorities in those countries as well.

Golden Jubilee of

Independence.

One of the most

emotional moments in

the life of a nation. In the

life of the Bengali nation,

for sure. Because 50 years

back on this day this

nation jumped into the war of

independence with an uncertain future

ahead. After a long nine-month war, the

Pakistani invaders were finally forced to

concede a humiliating defeat. However,

this nation had to pay a high price for this -

-- a sea of blood had to be shed and

innumerable mothers and sisters had to

lose their dignity. Even then, the nation

forgot all its sufferings and rejoiced in

victory which marked the end of more than

200 years of subjugation that started with

the defeat of Nawab Sirajuddaula at the

mango grove of Plassey in 1757.

This independence bought with blood is

always something special in the life of this

nation. The greatest and most glorious

achievement. It is an inexhaustible source

of eternal inspiration for all, especially for

the youth --- the future of the nation. So, is

it any wonder that the golden jubilee of

independence will be a unique moment in

the life of this nation with a blend of

emotion and joy? The birth centenary of

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,

the architect of the independence of this

country, just a year ago, had added a new

dimension to the nation's excitement. An

initiative was taken to celebrate the year as

'Mujib Year' through various colorful

events throughout the year starting with

the events of birth anniversary program on

March 17 last year. Unfortunately, when

Dr MOHAMMAD DIDArE ALAM MUHSIN

the nation was heading towards the

beginning of this celebration with great

enthusiasm, the terrible claw of Corona

pandemic thwarted all the plans.

Nevertheless, the celebration of Mujib Year

continued on a limited scale with various

events throughout the year --- finally tying

up with the Golden Jubilee ceremony this

year through a 10-day program starting

from 17 March this year, the 101st birth

anniversary of Bangabandhu.

As the long-awaited golden jubilee of

independence draws to a close, the country

has already coped with the initial blow of

Corona pandemic. Bangladesh has been

able to start vaccinating against Corona

before many countries in the world. The

country's economy has begun to turn

around after overcoming the effects of

floods and the cyclone last year. Thus,

when the stage was supposed to be set for

the celebration of the golden jubilee of

independence in a relatively safe

environment, a new wave of Corona began

to strike. While, on the one hand, there

arrived this new calamity, on the other

hand, the bitter controversy over the

participation of the Prime Minister of India

Narendra Modi in the Golden Jubilee

celebrations began to poison the mood of

joy.

One of the highlights of the Golden

Jubilee celebrations was the participation

of world leaders, especially the Heads of

State / Government of the neighboring

South Asian countries. Many of them have

glorified the event by physically

participating in the event. While others

have not been able to do so, they sent

messages praising Bangladesh's progress

over the past 50 years and wishing it

further progress and prosperity. Given

India's great support and active

participation in the War of Independence,

it was expected that India's participation in

the event would be of special importance.

When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)

conquered Makkah, he generously forgave all those who had

persecuted him so much for so long and wanted to wipe him

out of the earth. He did not think of taking any revenge. If he

wanted, he could have flowed a canal of blood in Makkah that day.

Despite Bangladesh's tense relations with

India on various issues after independence,

India is our born friend and closest

neighbor. Naturally, they claim this

importance. There was no room for

disagreement. However, because of Indian

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's extremist

sectarianism, anti-Muslim sentiments and

seemingly anti-Bangladesh stance in the

form of recently proposed NRC, his

participation in historically important

national events like the Golden Jubilee of

Independence drew strong objections from

various quarters.

The issue created a difficult problem for

the government. On the one hand, the

JyOTSNA MOHAN

Prime Minister of an important

neighboring country like India, which has

played a huge role in the country's war of

independence, had accepted the invitation

of the program and was eagerly awaiting its

participation. On the other hand, various

organizations, sharply critical of Narendra

Modi's past and present, declared that they

are determined to prevent his arrival at any

cost. Eventually, some organizations

announced that they would not hold any

program on 26 March, which seemed to

have somehow settled the matter.

However, some other organizations

remained steadfast in their position.

A group of people took out an anti-Modi

procession from Baitul Mukarram. Law

enforcement agencies tried to control it

and apparently some political activists also

took a stand against them along with the

law enforcement agencies. Massive

shelling took place at the point. In this age

of Facebook and Internet, obviously it did

not take long for this news to spread across

the country. In some places, especially in

Hathazari and Brahmanbaria, protest

marches turned into bloody clashes. As a

result, many young lives have been lost

prematurely in the last few days. Many

resources have been reduced to rubble. A

program, that supposed to have been a

portrait of the indescribable joy of the

people of this country, had to witness

blood-stained highways. Worryingly, in

some cases, people of high rank and

position have been alleged of taking part in

direct clashes.

The Writer is Professor of

Pharmacy Jahangirnagar

University.

India Elections 2021: Sexism is alive and kicking

There is an image that has been doing

the rounds recently. The US Vice-

President Kamala Harris walking

the walk as she boards a plane. She owns it

and she flaunts it, no questions asked, not

an inch given. Cue now to West Bengal

where the country's only woman Chief

Minister has been given unsolicited male

advice on her clothes - to ditch her sari for

a pair of bermuda shorts.

In the election season the more Mamata

Banerjee has pushed back against the full

might of the BJP machinery, the quicker

the barbs have kept coming and she has

been ridiculed at every step, less and less

for her politics and more because male

politicians even today think it's absolutely

normal to mock a woman rival for what

she is, a woman.

So, the West Bengal BJP chief Dilip

Ghosh has taken umbrage that Didi's sari

isn't covering her injured leg but the only

thing this statement has exposed is

Ghosh's only misogynist mentality. If

there has been one constant in 66- yearold

Mamata's life it has been her starchy

white saris with a dash of forgettable

colour pencilled into the border.

Such is the arrogance of gender that

Ghosh refused to back down from his

statement while ironically asking women

voters who make up a large chunk of the

Bengal votes to support his party. There is

dystopia and then there is patriarchal

politics.

West Bengal has almost 3.5 crore

women voters, roughly half of the state's

total electorate of 7.32 crore and they can

make or break this year's extremely high

stakes election. Yet the discourse has

increasingly centred on Mamata as a

woman rather than Mamata the politician.

From the Prime Minister mocking her to

not fall from a scooty to former singer

turned loudmouth Babul Supriyo who

seldom has anything melodious to say

calling her 'paraya dhan', the barrel has

been scraped, by many.

Bengal though hasn't had the monopoly

on politicians openly displaying their

political hierarchy during these assembly

elections. Tamil Nadu has had its own

Dilip Ghosh moment when DMK leader

Dindigul Leoni announced that by

drinking milk from foreign cows, women

become like balloons and their hips like

barrels.

Women voters are a necessity - they

were almost at par with the men during

the 2019 elections, but every now and then

the mask of appeasement slips.

This is not the only controversy the

DMK was embroiled in. Lyricist

Vairamuthu who is accused of sexually

harassing more than one woman in the

#MeToo movement shared the stage to

support DMK chief MK Stalin's

candidature as the chief minister, the party

seems to be ahead in the polls for both

seats and crass act.Its leader A Raja has

apologised to a crying Chief Minister

Palaniswami for saying that he was "born

from an illegitimate affair as a premature

baby." A Raja says his intention was only

to compare their political careers. And, we

have never seen an election before!

Kerala has the best sex ratio in the

country and although campaign rhetoric

may be in control, the numbers are not.

Women outnumber men in the electoral

rolls yet, from a total of 240 candidates,

less than 40 are women, that is roughly

16.6%.

Bengal though hasn't had the monopoly on politicians openly

displaying their political hierarchy during these assembly elections.

Tamil Nadu has had its own Dilip Ghosh moment when DMK

leader Dindigul Leoni announced that by drinking milk from foreign

cows, women become like balloons and their hips like barrels.

Health minister Shailaja Teacher who

has been the face of Kerala's fight against

Covid has urged for more women

representation in the assembly elections

and looking at the distorted discourse of

socioeconomic power only more women

in politics will show female voters when

they are being played or that

empowerment is not mere election

tokenism.

Woman and Child Development

Minister Smriti Irani seems an unlikely

candidate for that, else she would have

outright condemned Dilip Ghosh's

The Pope and the Grand Imam: The friendship our world needs right now

The unique friendship and

collaboration between Pope Francis

and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar is

an inspiration and model for all people

pursuing peace in our world today, which

is mired in conflict, violence and division.

In my new book, "The Pope and the

Grand Imam: A Thorny Path," I explore

the lives of these two great religious figures

and their close friendship, giving a behindthe-scenes

look at how the Grand Imam

and Pope navigated troubled waters to

reach the human fraternity finish line.

As a former adviser to the Grand Imam

and the first Arab Muslim to receive the

Pope's highest honor - the Order of Pope

Pius IX Knight Commander - I witnessed

how this initially delicate relationship was

kicked off by the Grand Imam's first visit

to the Vatican, to which Pope Francis

responded with a visit to Al-Azhar

headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

The fraternal bond subsequently

deepened through several joint meetings,

including an intimate dinner at Pope

Francis' home, Casa Santa Marta, where I

was in attendance.

As I write in "The Pope and the Grand

Imam," at the dinner "the Pope picked up

a piece of bread and cut it in two halves. He

took one half and gave the other half to the

JUDGE MOHAMED ABDELSALAM

Grand Imam, so each of them ate his

share, in a symbolic act of coexistence and

human fraternity."

In one of these joint meetings, the idea of

signing a document on human fraternity

was conceived. I can attest that the birth of

what would eventually be called the

Document on Human Fraternity was

fraught with challenges that were only

overcome by the persistence of the two

great religious figures and their firm belief

in the significance of such a document and

its translation into action.

The document, signed in 2019 in Abu

Dhabi under the patronage of His

Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-

Nahyan, has caught the attention of the

world and has been lauded as providing a

framework for global peace.

Both His Holiness Pope Francis and His

Eminence the Grand Imam have

supported the efforts of the Higher

Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF)

- where I serve as secretary-general -

which aims to put the values of the

document into practice through various

initiatives including the Zayed Award for

Human Fraternity and the Abrahamic

Family House.

Both the Pope and the Grand Imam

Both His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam have

supported the efforts of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity

(HCHF) - where I serve as secretary-general - which aims to put the values

of the document into practice through various initiatives including the

Zayed Award for Human Fraternity and the Abrahamic Family House.

have spent many years serving the causes

of the needy, the poor, the sick, and

refugees around the world, out of their

sincere sympathy to the pains of the most

vulnerable.

His Holiness Pope Francis and His

Eminence the Grand Imam are an

inspiration to all of us at the HCHF, and

the entire world. Their acts of human

fraternity began long before the signing of

the document - for instance, the Grand

Imam established the Egyptian Family

remarks. Like on Hathras, once again she

chose politics rather than using her

position to peel off a layer of thick sexism.

Irani who was more vocal when LPG

was hiked by Rs7 than when petrol prices

are 100/litre continues to give the

impression that she runs the Ministry of

Rahul Gandhi rather than any attempts to

genuinely make women count.

Meanwhile, once there was Tripura

Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, who

will someday hopefully make the

headlines for getting some facts correct -

has claimed that internet existed before

the Mahabharata and couldn't understand

the beauty of former Miss World Diana

Hayden, not that anyone was asking.

Today he has many clones, each trying to

outdo the last, like Tirath Singh Rawat.

Uttarakhand is not going to the polls, but

its Chief Minister is on his own campaign,

to showcase his class or rather the lack of

it. When you eavesdrop, you may not

always hear what you like. When you ogle,

it's worse, as he learnt.

On a flight, Rawat didn't like the knees of

a woman - a mother as he insisted on

specifying - exposed through her

distressed jeans. So, while covid cases

increased and mutations entered India,

Rawat was more preoccupied with how

someone else's clothes maketh man.

Today there are 78 women MPs in Lok

Sabha (out of 716 women candidates who

contested in 2019) and their percentage

remains a miserable 14.3% - still behind

Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Source: Gulf news

House to support Muslim-Christian

relations in 2011 and Pope Francis brought

12 Syrian Muslim refugee families from

the Greek island of Lesbos to Rome in

2016. Both the Pope and the Grand Imam

have spent many years serving the causes

of the needy, the poor, the sick, and

refugees around the world, out of their

sincere sympathy to the pains of the most

vulnerable.

Through their several meetings together,

they have shown the world the beauty of

cooperating instead of fostering

repudiation and disunity, displaying

humility and joy instead of arrogance and

haughtiness, and expressing love and

friendship instead of hatred and

aggression.

At a time when extremism, violence and

hate threaten to plague our world, we can

reveal the secret behind such top-level

friendship between the Pope and Grand

Imam: Their unique friendship lies in their

faithfulness, their modesty, and their

mutual agreement that the seeds of peace

must be sown under all circumstances and

in spite of all challenges and barriers that

often come across the way of great leaders

in all ages.

Source: Arab news

FridAy, APriL 2, 2021

5

A Pfizer vaccine trial at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine’s high efficacy in adolescents

ACHievemeNT desk

The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine is

extremely effective in adolescents 12 to

15 years old, perhaps even more so

than in adults, the companies reported

on Wednesday. No infections were

found among children who received

the vaccine in a recent clinical trial;

they produced strong antibody

responses and experienced no serious

side effects.

The findings, if they hold up, may

well speed a return to normalcy for

millions of American families.

Depending on regulatory approval,

vaccinations could begin before the

start of the next academic year for

middle school and high school

students and for elementary school

children not long after.

The companies announced the

results in a news release that did not

include detailed data from the trial,

which has not yet been peer-reviewed

or published in a scientific journal. The

good news arrives even as the country

records an alarming rise in infections

and health officials renew calls for

Americans to heed precautions and get

vaccinated. On Monday, Dr. Rochelle

Walensky, director of the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, said

that rising caseloads had left her with a

sense of "impending doom." President

Biden urged Americans to keep

wearing masks, whatever state officials

might say.

Vaccination efforts are accelerating

throughout the nation. As of Tuesday,

29 percent of adults had received at

least one dose of a coronavirus

vaccine, and 16 percent had been fully

inoculated, according to the C.D.C.

But the country cannot hope to reach

herd immunity - the point at which

immunity becomes so widespread that

the coronavirus slows its crawl

through the population - without also

inoculating the youngest Americans,

some experts say. Children under 18

account for about 23 percent of the

population in the United States.

The trial included 2,260 adolescents

ages 12 to 15. The children received

two doses of the vaccine three weeks

apart - the same amounts and

schedule used for adults - or a placebo

of saltwater. The researchers recorded

18 cases of coronavirus infection in the

placebo group, and none among the

children who received the vaccine.

Still, the low number of infections

makes it difficult to be too specific

about the vaccine's efficacy in the

population at large, said Angela

Rasmussen, a virologist affiliated with

Georgetown University.

The adolescents who received the

vaccine produced nearly twice the

levels of antibodies on average,

compared with participants 16 to 25

years of age in an earlier trial of adults.

They experienced the same minor side

effects as older participants, although

the companies declined to be more

specific.

Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at

Yale University, said she had expected

antibody levels in adolescents to be

comparable to those in young adults.

"But they're getting even better levels

from the vaccines," she said. "That's

really incredible."

She and other experts cautioned that

the vaccine might be less effective in

children, and adults, against some of

the variants that are circulating in the

United States. Pfizer and BioNTech

have begun a clinical trial of the

vaccine in children under 12 and

started inoculations of children ages 5

to 11 just last week. Company scientists

plan to start testing the vaccine next

week in even younger children, ages 2

to 5, followed by trials in children ages

6 months to 2 years.

Pfizer and BioNTech plan to request

from the Food and Drug

Administration an amendment to the

emergency use authorization for their

vaccine, in hopes of beginning

vaccinations of older children before

the start of the next school year.

Precaution in the use of growth

hormones for children

JANe e. Brody

An 8-year-old boy I know is small for his

age, shorter and slighter than his friends,

even smaller than his 5-year-old sister.

Concerned about the increasing use and

possible risks of growth hormone, I

asked his mother if she'd considered

treating him with it. She replied, "Not

really. He's built like his father, who was

short and slight as a boy and didn't shoot

up until college."

Their son, she said, has no sign of a

hormone deficiency. "He's in the third

percentile for height and has maintained

the same growth trajectory for years, so

there's no reason to do something about

it," she said. "He's very athletic,

physically capable and can keep up with

his friends in other ways."

His father, at 41, is now 6 feet tall,

though still very slender. He recalls being

a reasonably athletic child but without

the physical power of his friends, making

up for what he lacked in mass with speed

and agility. "I enjoyed competitive sports

and worked on skills others didn't have,"

he told me, and said he encourages his

son to recognize and capitalize on the

skills he has.

If only every parent with a short but

healthy child approached the matter as

sensibly. Experts estimate that 60

percent to 80 percent of children who are

short for their age do not have a growth

hormone deficiency or other medical

condition that limits growth. But

knowing there's a therapy available to

increase height, some parents seek a

medical solution for a perceived

problem, even when there is no medical

abnormality. They should also know,

however, that new research has linked

growth hormone treatment to serious

adverse health effects years later.

Undue shortness may have many

causes in addition to a deficiency of

growth hormone, including

malnutrition, Crohn's disease or celiac

disease, and potential medical conditions

should be ruled out or, if present, treated.

But height is most often related to the

child's genetics. Like father or mother,

like son or daughter. Given the height of

my parents - a 5-foot-1 mother and a 5-

foot-6 father - I was not likely to become

a forward for the Knicks at 4 feet 11.

Dr. Adda Grimberg, a pediatric

endocrinologist at Children's Hospital of

Philadelphia, recalled that "20 years ago,

families were focused on health. They

came in with a child who was not

growing right and wanted to know if

there was an underlying disease. Now,

more and more, they're focused on

height. They want growth hormone,

looking for a specific height. But this is

not like Amazon; you can't just place an

order and make a child the height you

New research has linked growth hormone treatment to serious

adverse health effects years later.

Photo: Gracia Lam

Photo: Cincinnati Children's Hospital

want."

Originally, growth hormone was used

to treat children with an established

deficiency, which can result in a host of

serious health problems. Cadavers were

the initial limited source of the hormone

until 1985, when scientists succeeded in

producing recombinant human growth

hormone in the laboratory, greatly

increasing the supply and its use to treat

growth hormone deficiency.

Estimates of the incidence of this

deficiency range from one in 3,000 to

one in 10,000 children. According to the

Pediatric Endocrine Society, those

affected are usually much shorter than

their peers - well below the third

percentile - and over time fall

increasingly behind.

In 2003, the Food and Drug

Administration approved use of

recombinant human growth hormone

for the condition known as "idiopathic

short stature," or short stature of

unknown cause, which is not a disease.

But it has prompted a growing number of

parents to consider using the hormone to

boost the height of their children. The

resulting rush to therapy reflects

concerns about a widespread societal

bias against shortness, rather than a true

medical need, Dr. Grimberg said.

Parents considering treatment for this

otherwise medically benign condition

should know what it entails: daily

injections for years until the child's

growth is completed, rotating injection

sites in the body to minimize scarring.

Although few children experience side

effects, which can include severe

headaches and hip problems, treatment

requires repeated doctor visits, X-rays

and blood work and, Dr. Grimberg said,

"gives the child a powerful message that

there's something wrong with him that

needs fixing."

According to the Pediatric Endocrine

Society, the decision to administer

growth hormone for idiopathic short

stature should be made on a case-by-case

basis in which benefits and risks are

carefully considered for each child.

What, then, are the benefits and risks?

Although manufacturers have supported

monitoring drug safety beyond the 10

years mandated by the U.S. government,

reporting is voluntary and necessarily

What is to be done after getting vaccinated?

TArA HAeLLe

Americans have entered a

new phase of the pandemic

where a large part of the

U.S. population is

vaccinated and most is not.

That leads to a big question:

What can you do after

you're fully vaccinated? The

Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention recently

issued new guidelines, and

other experts have weighed

in with their thoughts.

But when it comes to what

you personally should or

shouldn't do, you will need

to do your own risk

assessment. I spoke to

experts to develop a

science-backed framework

for post-vaccination

decision-making. Here are

important factors to keep in

mind that, when paired

with your own appetite for

risk, can help you navigate

this next stage of the

pandemic.

These questions do not

take into account every

possible factor relating to

risk of infection, but they're

a place to start. How long an

activity is and how

ventilated the space will be

play the biggest roles in

safety. Even if you don't

know the ventilation system

used in an indoor space, you

can see if there's an attempt

to increase it, such as

opening doors and

windows.

New C.D.C data suggests

that the authorized Covid-

The rising sun over Lake Baikal.

19 vaccines reduce the risk

of getting and spreading the

coronavirus. There is still a

small chance after

vaccination that you can get

the virus and spread it.

Young children cannot

receive the vaccines yet, but

they also are less likely to

require hospitalization or

die from Covid-19, unless

they have an underlying

condition or are high risk.

They can still spread the

virus, though. People with

immune-compromising

conditions (like cancer,

H.I.V., organ transplants,

etc.) can receive the

vaccines, but scientists don't

yet know how well the

vaccines protect them.

The transmission rates

where you live and where

you're headed are helpful

data points, though not the

whole story. Other people

may be traveling from areas

with different rates, and

transmission and test

positivity rates more

broadly depend on testing

availability and frequency.

Regardless, knowing the

rates offers a rough

benchmark for thinking

about the infection risk

within the community.

All the vaccines

authorized by the F.D.A.

have been found to fully

protect you from death

from Covid-19, and they

nearly completely protect

you from severe disease and

hospitalization. Still, the

risk of infection is not zero.

Now comes the tricky

part: You have to weigh this

knowledge against your

own personal tolerance for

risk. Are you a big risk taker

or more conservative? It

probably depends on the

particular situation.

Only you can determine

this risk-benefit calculation:

Is a given activity worth the

levels of risk based on the

questions above? Are the

risks primarily to you, or do

they extend to others you

care about? Some people

may find that the activity is

generally low risk, but

having just one high-risk,

unvaccinated person in

their circle might dissuade

them from participating. Is

this a once-in-a-lifetime

experience? Some events,

like weddings, for example,

will never happen again.

Others, like travel to a

foreign country, are easier

to delay.

As has been the case since

the pandemic began, be

prepared to change your

plans if the situation or

science changes. As time

goes on, for example,

researchers will learn more

about how long immunity

from the vaccines last, and

how effective the vaccines

are against new variants

that arise. In the meantime,

as you come to understand

the biggest factors that

make any situation more or

less safe, as well as your own

personal risk threshold,

post-vaccination decision

making becomes easier -

and life more enjoyable.

Exploring Baikal to find ghost particle

ANToN TroiANovski

ON LAKE BAIKAL, Russia - A glass

orb, the size of a beach ball, plops into a

hole in the ice and descends on a metal

cable toward the bottom of the world's

deepest lake.

Then another, and another. These

light-detecting orbs come to rest

suspended in the pitch-dark depths

down as far as 4,000 feet below the

surface. The cable carrying them holds

36 such orbs, spaced 50 feet apart.

There are 64 such cables, held in place

by anchors and buoys, two miles off the

jagged southern coast of this lake in

Siberia with a bottom that is more than

a mile down. This is a telescope, the

largest of its kind in the Northern

Hemisphere, built to explore black

holes, distant galaxies and the

remnants of exploded stars. It does so

by searching for neutrinos, cosmic

particles so tiny that many trillions pass

through each of us every second. If only

we could learn to read the messages

they bear, scientists believe, we could

chart the universe, and its history, in

ways we cannot yet fully fathom.

"You should never miss the chance to

ask nature any question," said Grigori

V. Domogatski, 80, a Russian physicist

who has led the quest to build this

underwater telescope for 40 years.

After a pause, he added: "You never

know what answer you will get."

It is still under construction, but the

telescope that Dr. Domogatski and

other scientists have long dreamed of is

closer than ever to delivering results.

And this hunt for neutrinos from the far

reaches of the cosmos, spanning eras in

geopolitics and in astrophysics, sheds

light on how Russia has managed to

preserve some of the scientific prowess

that characterized the Soviet Union - as

well as the limitations of that legacy.

The Lake Baikal venture is not the

only effort to hunt for neutrinos in the

world's most remote places. Dozens of

instruments seek the particles in

specialized laboratories all over the

planet. But the new Russian project will

be an important complement to the

work of IceCube, the world's largest

neutrino telescope, an American-led,

$279 million project that encompasses

about a quarter of a cubic mile of ice in

Antarctica.

Using a grid of light detectors similar

to the Baikal telescope, IceCube

identified a neutrino in 2017 that

scientists said almost certainly came

from a supermassive black hole. It was

the first time that scientists had

pinpointed a source of the rain of highenergy

particles from space known as

cosmic rays - a breakthrough for

neutrino astronomy, a branch that

remains in its infancy.

The field's practitioners believe that

as they learn to read the universe using

neutrinos, they could make new,

unexpected discoveries - much as the

lensmakers who first developed the

telescope could not have imagined that

Galileo would later use it to discover the

moons of Jupiter.

"It's like looking at the sky at night,

and seeing one star," Francis L. Halzen,

an astrophysicist at the University of

Wisconsin, Madison, and the director

of IceCube, said in a telephone

interview, describing the current state

of the hunt for the ghostly particles.

Early work by Soviet scientists helped

inspire Dr. Halzen in the 1980s to build

a neutrino detector in the Antarctic ice.

Photo: Collected

Now, Dr. Halzen says his team believes

it may have found two additional

sources of neutrinos arriving from deep

in space - but it is difficult to be certain,

because no one else has detected them.

He hopes that will change in the

coming years as the Baikal telescope

expands.

"We have to be superconservative

because nobody, at the moment, can

check what we are doing," Dr. Halzen

said. "It's exciting for me to have

another experiment to interact with

and to exchange data with."

In the 1970s, despite the Cold War,

the Americans and the Soviets were

working together to plan a first deep

water neutrino detector off the coast of

Hawaii. But after the Soviet Union

invaded Afghanistan, the Soviets were

kicked out of the project. So, in 1980,

the Institute for Nuclear Research in

Moscow started its own neutrinotelescope

effort, led by Dr. Domogatski.

The place to try seemed obvious,

although it was about 2,500 miles

away: Baikal.

The project did not get far beyond

planning and design before the Soviet

Union collapsed, throwing many of the

country's scientists into poverty and

their efforts into disarray. But an

institute outside Berlin, which soon

became part of Germany's DESY

particle research center, joined the

Baikal effort. Christian Spiering, who

led the German team, recalls shipping

hundreds of pounds of butter, sugar,

coffee and sausage to sustain the

annual winter expeditions onto the

Baikal ice. He also brought to Moscow

thousands of dollars' worth of cash to

supplement the Russians' meager

salaries.

FRIDAY, APRIl 2, 2021

6

Zeal Bangla Sugar Mill Akh Chashi

Kalyan Samity holds meeting

State Minister for Water Resources Zahid Faruk MP inaugurated the Bangabandhu 9th

Bangladesh Cricket Games organized by Bangladesh Olympic Association in Barishal on

Thursday.

Photo: Zihad Rana

Bangabandhu 9th Bangladesh Cricket

tournament inaugurated in Barishal

ZIHAd rAnA, BArISHAl CorreSpondent

State Minister for Water resources

Zahid Faruk Mp inaugurated the

Bangabandhu 9th Bangladesh Cricket

Games organized by Bangladesh

olympic Association at Shaheed Abdur

rob Serniabat Stadium in Barishal on

thursday.

deputy Commissioner of Barishal

Jasim uddin Haider presided over the

function. Among others, Barishal

divisional Commissioner Md Saiful

Hasan Badal, Barishal Metropolitan

police Commissioner Md

Shahabuddin Khan-BpM (Bar),

rAJSHAHI: Farmers have been

harvesting wheat in full-swing amidst

satisfactory yield everywhere in the region,

including its vast Barind tract, reports BSS.

the growers are delighted as they are

getting good yield at the initial stage of

harvesting this year. the plants have grown

well due to favourable weather conditions.

they are also expecting fair prices of their

produce this season.

Muktar Ali, 42, a farmer of Hatibandha

village under Godagari upazila, has

cultivated wheat on three bigha of land and

got 14 mounds of yield from per bigha of

land. He's happy over the obtained yield.

He said many of his co-villagers have

harvested 14 to 16 mounds of wheat and

most of them are happy over this year's

yield because they cultivated high-yielding

varieties. Ali continued that many farmers

are getting three to four mounds more

wheat from per bigha of land this season in

comparison to the previous season.

"Acreage of wheat farming has been

enhanced to a greater extent in the barind

area in the recent years as the farmers are

getting profit from the food grain farming,"

said Atanu Sarker, Sub assistant agriculture

officer.

He said timely sowing of seeds

Bangladesh Cricket Board director

Alamgir Khan Alo, Additional deputy

Commissioner (education and ICt)

and district Sports organization

Member Secretary prashant Kumar

das, Barishal district Awami league

Vice-president Md. Hossain

Chowdhury, Sheikh Basir Ahmed,

Vice-president of Bangabandhu 9th

Bangladesh Games and Chairman of

the Steering Committee, Ashikur

rahman Miku, deputy Secretary

General of Bangabandhu 9th

Bangladesh Games and Member

Secretary of the Steering Committee

were present along with various guests

accompanied by the cold spell, has been

considered as a positive sign for attaining a

bumper production of the cash crop.

Meanwhile, more than 5.26 lakh tonnes

of wheat are expected to be produced from

around 1.44 lakh hectares of land during

the current season in all eight districts

under rajshahi division.

department of Agricultural extension

(dAe) has set the target of producing 3.76

lakh tonnes of wheat from 1.03 lakh

hectares of land in four districts of rajshahi

Agricultural Zone while 1.50 lakh tonnes

from 41,065 hectares in four districts of

Bogura Agricultural Zone.

the dAe has disbursed seeds and

fertilizers free of cost among 36,500

flood-affected farmers for wheat farming

under the government's agricultural

incentive programme so that they can

recoup their losses caused by the flood in

the division, said Sirajul Islam, additional

director of dAe.

Besides, the department has distributed

seeds and fertilizers free of cost among

23,000 other poor and marginal farmers

for wheat farming under the government's

agricultural incentive programme in the

division.

rajshahi regional office of Bangladesh

and players.

After a brief discussion at the

beginning, the guests flew balloon

festoons and inaugurated the 9th

Bangladesh Cricket Games. From

today, April 10, Bangabandhu 9th

Bangladesh Games one day 50 overs

game has been divided into 4 zones of

6 divisions of the country. 1st South

Zone Barisal Khulna 2nd Zone Central

Zone dhaka BKSp 3rd north Home

rangpur rajshahi Sylhet Zone Sylhet

Chittagong. In the opening match,

South Zone Chandra deep Saud Zone

and Barindra South Zone started

playing.

Farmers happy over wheat yield as

harvesting goes on in rajshahi

Wheat and Maize research Institute

(BWMrI) has developed 320

demonstration plots on farmers' fields.

dr Ilias Hossain, principal scientific

officer of BWMrI, told BSS that they are

promoting some high yielding, heat and

drought tolerant and blast disease resistant

varieties like Barigom 28, 29, 30 and 33

among the farmers.

He added that the Barigom 33 is the ever

latest variety which is blast disease

resistant, zinc-enriched, large grain size

and high yielding (20 maunds per bigha).

Various other government and nongovernment

entities adopted diversified

steps to make farming a total success in the

region as it is suitable for the crop for its

water-saving and drought tolerant features.

Barind Multipurpose development

Authority (BMdA), an ever-largest

irrigation providing state-run organization

in the country's northwest region, adopted

an all-out measure to make the wheat

farming a total success.

More than 12.58 lakh community people

of 2.66 lakh households are being

motivated towards promoting wheat like

water-saving crops with intervention of the

'Integrated Water resource Management

(IWrM)' project.

Former Joint Secretary and Bancharampur Upazila Parishad Chairman Md. Sirajul Islam, Upazila

Nirbahi Officer Md. Nasir Uddin Sarwar, Upazila Engineer Md. Jahangir Hossain, Upazila Project

Officer Pabitra Chandra Mandal and Upazila Agriculture Officer Md. Jamal Hossain inspected various

sunflower cultivation lands in Salimabad village and Krishnanagar village in Bancharampur

upazila on Thursday.

Photo: Ataur Rahman

oSMAn HArunee, ISlAMpur CorreSpondent

A general meeting of Zeal

Bangla Sugar Mill Akh

Chashi Kalyan Samity has

been held at dewanganj in

Jamalpur. the meeting was

presided over by Alhaj

Faridul Haque Khan dulal,

president of Akh Chashi

Kalyan Samity and Minister

of State for religious Affairs,

Government of the people's

republic of Bangladesh on

thursday.

Ashraf Ali, managing

director of the mill,

Anwar Hossain, general

secretary of Jibasumi Akh

Chashi Kalyan Samity,

Abdul Mannan Molla,

Jibasumi Akh Chashi

Kalyan Samity,General

Secretary raihanul

Haque raihan and

veteran sugarcane farmer

dalilur rahman and

many others spoke.

At the meeting,

discussions were held on

increasing sugarcane

yield, payment of arrears

to sugarcane growers,

Khorshed, Ariful elected

Shibpur press Club

president, secretary

SM KHorSHed AlAM,

SHIBpur CorreSpondent

the election of Shibpur

press Club has been

completed in a festive

atmosphere. Voting was

held at the upazila

parishad conference room

on Wednesday from 11

a.m. to 1 p.m. SM

Khorshed Alam, Shibpur

upazila representative of

the Bangladesh today

has been elected as the

president while Shibpur

upazila Correspondent of

daily Jai Jain din SM

Ariful Hasan has been

elected as the General

Secretary.

Shibpur upazila

Correspondent of daily

Ajkal Khabar Sohel Mia

has been elected as the

Vice-president and

Momen Khan has been

elected as the General

Secretary and Ajmal

Hossain Bhuiyan has been

elected as treasurer. on

the other hand, Ilias

Haider, Shibpur upazila

Correspondent of Weekly

Janata Chinta has been

elected as the Sports

Sreepur CorreSpondent

Harun-ur-rashid Badal alias Bagh

Badal has filed a baseless written

complaint against Zahirul Islam,

general secretary of 'Barmi Bazar

Banik Samiti' in Sreepur upazila of

Gazipur district, and one other on the

basis of business and political revenge.

In the complaint filed with the

Gazipur deputy Commissioner, he

mentioned that the two accused were

illegally in charge of the Barmi Bazar

Banik Samiti. the association has no

license. At the same time, he is

embezzling around two lakh taka from

the traders every week.

According to sources, many markets

in the country do not have licenses.

even if they do not have a license, they

are elected responsibly through the

association's own rules and

regulations. Barmi Burmese market

merchants' association is similar.

In this regard, the president of the

Barmi Market Merchants Association.

Abul Hashem said the association was

formed in 1982 and has maintained its

reputation till date by maintaining

organizational discipline. our

association has a total of 652

members. Withdrawals range from a

minimum of rs 20 to a maximum of

tk 100. the maximum number of

people who are paying tk 100 rupees

is 5. one of them is paying 300 taka. In

fact, not two lakh a week, but a

maximum of 16-18 thousand rupees is

withdrawn.

A general meeting of Zeal Bangla Sugar Mill Sugarcane Farmers' Association has

been held at Dewanganj in Jamalpur on Thursday. Photo: Osman Harunee

SM Khorshed Alam has been elected as the

President while SM Ariful Hasan has been elected

as the General Secretary of Shibpur Press Club

recently.

Photo: TBT

Secretary, Swapan Khan,

Shibpur upazila

Correspondent of Weekly

narsingdi tottho has been

elected as the publicity

Secretary and russell Mia,

daily Shibpur upazila


narsingdi Saradin has

been elected as the office

Secretary. Md. enamul

Haque Shahin, Shibpur

upazila representative of

Saptahik Janapad, has

been appointed as the

literary and Culture

Secretary, Habibur

rahman, Shibpur upazila


narsingdi Bani, Habibur

rahman and dalim Khan,

Shibpur upazila


Morning Glory have been

appointed as executive

Members.

provision of fertilizers and

pesticides and provision

of scholarships to

sugarcane farmers.

Covid-19 cases

cross 40,000

marks in Ctg

CHAttoGrAM: the

number of coronavirus

(CoVId-19) positive cases in

the district crossed 40,000

marks as 287 new cases

were diagnosed with the

lethal virus after testing 1915

samples in seven CoVId-19

laboratories in the last 24

hours. the infection rate is

14.99 percent, reports BSS.

Among the newly detected

patients, 267 are from

Chattogram city and 20 from

different upazilas of the

district, hospital sources said.

"the total numbers of

CoVId-19 patients now stand

at 40283 only in Chattogram

district till today," dr Sheikh

Fazle rabbi, civil surgeon of

Chattogram, said yesterday.

Civil surgeon dr Sheikh

Fazle rabbi told BSS that

among the total 40,283

coronavirus infected persons,

32,062 are the residents of the

port city and the rest 8221 are

residents of different upazilas

of the district.

"the number of cured

patients from the lethal virus

infection has reached at

34,089 in the Chattogram

district with the recovery of 75

more patients on thursday,"

dr rabbi said, adding that the

percentage of recovery rate

stands at 84.63.

A total of 1189 infected

patients are now undergoing

treatment at designated

hospitals here, the health

official mentioned.

Bagh Badal lodges baseless complaint

against Barmi Bazar Banik Samity

A written complaint has been recently filed against 'Barmi Bazar

Banik Samiti' in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur district. Photo: TBT

not a penny of this money goes into protest this baseless allegation.

the pocket of the general secretary. In Complainant Harun-ur-rashid

fact, the money goes to those who are

guarding the market at night. there

are a total of nine guards in this

market. the complainant is a sand

trader and secretary Zahirul Islam

does the same business. Businesses

may have made such sorted allegations

out of revenge. the allegations made

by Harunur rashid Badal alias Bagh

Badal against the two including the

secretary of the association are

Badal alias Bagh Badal said, "I have

written about two lakh taka in the

complaint." Whatever the amount of

money, extortion without registration

means extortion. dC has assigned

AdM to investigate the allegations

made by me. the allegation is

currently under investigation.

In this regard, the secretary of the

merchant association Zahirul said, I

will vote in the future. He may have

completely false, fabricated and made such a sort of accusation for the

baseless. I strongly condemn and purpose of humiliating me.

FrIDAY, APrIl 2, 2021

7

The U.N. special envoy for Myanmar warned Wednesday that the country faces the possibility of civil

war "at an unprecedented scale" and urged the U.N. Security Council to consider "potentially significant

action" to reverse the Feb. 1 military coup and restore democracy.

Photo : AP

UN envoy: Myanmar faces

possibility of major civil war

UNITED NATIONS : The U.N. special

envoy for Myanmar warned Wednesday

that the country faces the possibility of

civil war "at an unprecedented scale" and

urged the U.N. Security Council to

consider "potentially significant action"

to reverse the Feb. 1 military coup and

restore democracy.

Christine Schraner Burgener didn't

specify what action she considered

significant, but she painted a dire picture

of the military crackdown and told the

council in a closed briefing that

Myanmar "is on the verge of spiraling

into a failed state."

"This could happen under our watch,"

she said in a virtual presentation

obtained by The Associated Press, "and

failure to prevent further escalation of

atrocities will cost the world so much

more in the longer term than investing

now in prevention, especially by

Myanmar's neighbors and the wider

region."

Schraner Burgener urged the council

"to consider all available tools to take

collective action" and do what the people

of Myanmar deserve - "prevent a

multidimensional catastrophe in the

heart of Asia."

A proposed press statement from the

council was not issued after the meeting

because China, a close neighbor of

Myanmar, asked for additional time to

consider its contents, likely until

Thursday, several council diplomats said,

speaking on condition of anonymity

because the meeting was closed.

Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun

warned the council in remarks

distributed by China's U.N. Mission that

"one-sided pressure and calling for

sanctions or other coercive measures will

only aggravate tension and confrontation

and further complicate the situation,

which is by no means constructive."

He urged all parties to find a solution

through dialogue that de-escalates the

situation and continues "to advance the

democratic transition in Myanmar,"

warning that if the country slides "into

protracted turbulence, it will be a disaster

for Myanmar and the region as a whole."

The coup reversed years of slow

progress toward democracy in

Myanmar, which for five decades had

languished under strict military rule that

led to international isolation and

sanctions. As the generals loosened their

grip, culminating in Aung San Suu Kyi's

rise to leadership in 2015 elections, the

international community responded by

lifting most sanctions and pouring

investment into the country.

In the virtual meeting, Schraner

Burgener denounced the killing and

arrest of unarmed protesters seeking to

restore democracy. She cited figures

from Myanmar's Assistance Association

for Political Prisoners that as of

Wednesday, some 2,729 people have

been arrested, charged or sentenced

since the coup and an estimated 536

have been killed.

The Security Council adopted a

presidential statement-one step below a

resolution-on March 10 calling for a

reversal of the coup, strongly

condemning the violence against

peaceful protesters and calling for

"utmost restraint" by the military. It

stressed the need to uphold "democratic

institutions and processes" and called for

the immediate release of detained

government leaders including Suu Kyi

and President Win Myint.

The statement is weaker than the

initial draft circulated by the United

Kingdom, which would have condemned

the coup and threatened "possible

measures under the U.N. Charter"-U.N.

language for sanctions-"should the

situation deteriorate further."

Stressing the urgency of action,

Schraner Burgener told council

members she fears that serious

international crimes and violations of

international law by the military "will

become bloodier as the commander-inchief

seems determined to solidify his

unlawful grip on power by force."

"Mediation requires dialogue, but

Myanmar's military has shut its doors to

most of the world," she said at the virtual

meeting. "It appears the military would

only engage when it feels they are able to

contain the situation through repression

and terror."

Johnson & Johnson COVID-19

vaccine batch fails quality check

WASHINGTON : A batch of

Johnson & Johnson's COVID-

19 vaccine failed quality

standards and can't be used,

the drug giant said

Wednesday, reports UNB.

The drugmaker didn't say

how many doses were lost,

and it wasn't clear how the

problem would impact future

deliveries.

A vaccine ingredient made

by Emergent BioSolutions -

one of about 10 companies

that Johnson & Johnson is

using to speed up

manufacturing of its recently

approved vaccine - did not

meet quality standards, J&J

said.

J&J said the Emergent

BioSolutions factory involved

had not yet been approved by

the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration to make part

of the vaccine. Emergent

declined to comment.

J&J had pledged to provide

20 million doses of its vaccine

to the U.S. government by the

end of March, and 80 million

more doses by the end of May.

Its statement on the

manufacturing problem said it

was still planning to deliver

100 million doses by the end

of June and was "aiming to

deliver those doses by the end

of May."

President Joe Biden has

pledged to have enough

vaccines for all U.S. adults by

the end of May. The U.S.

government has ordered

enough two-dose shots from

Pfizer and Moderna to

vaccinate 200 million people

to be delivered by late May,

plus the 100 million shots

from J&J. A federal official

said Wednesday evening the

administration's goal can be

met without additional J&J

doses.

A J&J spokesman said

earlier Wednesday that the

company met the end-of-

March goal, but did not

respond to questions about

whether the Emergent plant in

Baltimore, known as Bayview,

had been cleared by FDA.

As of Wednesday, J&J had

provided about 6.8 million

doses to the U.S. vaccine

effort, according to the

A batch of Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine failed quality standards

and can't be used, the drug giant said Wednesday.

Photo : AP


and Prevention's online

vaccine tracker. Some

additional doses may not yet

have been recorded as

delivered, and federal health

officials said Wednesday that

another 11 million doses of the

vaccine would be available for

shipments starting on

Thursday.

It was not immediately clear

where those 11 million doses

originated, but J&J has been

shipping finished vaccines

from its factory in the

Netherlands to the U.S.

Emergent, a little known

pharmaceutical company

granted a major role in the

federal government's response

to coronavirus pandemic, has

been repeatedly cited by the

FDA for problems ranging

from poorly trained

employees to cracked vials

and mold around one of its

facilities, according to records

obtained by The Associated

Press through the Freedom of

Information Act.

The records cover

inspections at Emergent

facilities, including Bayview,

since 2017. Following a

December 2017 inspection at

an Emergent plant in Canton,

Massachusetts, the FDA said

the company hadn't corrected

"continued low level mold and

yeast isolates" found in the

facility. Nearly a year later,

agency investigators

questioned why Emergent had

"an unwritten policy of not

conducting routine compliance

audits" at a separate plant in

Baltimore, known as Camden,

where an anthrax vaccine is

filled into vials.

Pakistan

lifts TikTok

ban for

second time

PESHAWAR : Pakistan on

Thursday lifted a second ban

imposed on TikTok over

"immoral and unethical"

content after the video

sharing app again offered to

moderate uploads.

A court in the

northwestern city of

Peshawar last month

ordered

the

communications regulator

to block the app over videos

that it deemed contrary to

the deeply conservative

country's moral values.

"The app has assured us it

will filter and moderate

content," Jahanzeb Mehsud,

a lawyer for Pakistan

T e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s

Agency, told AFP.

The Chinese-owned

platform - wildly popular

among Pakistani youth,

particularly in rural areas -

had also agreed to moderate

content after the first brief

ban in October.

One of Prime Minister

Imran Khan's advisers has

previously blamed it for

promoting the "exploitation,

objectification and

sexualisation" of young girls.

TikTok welcomed the

removal of the ban.

Freedom of speech

advocates have long

criticised the creeping

government censorship and

control of Pakistan's internet

and printed and electronic

media.

Last year Pakistani

regulators had asked

YouTube to immediately

block all videos they

consider "objectionable"

from being accessed in the

country, a demand criticised

by rights campaigners.

France to ban

outdoor drinking

under new virus

restrictions

PARIS : Alcoholic drinks will

be prohibited in French

parks and other outdoor

public spaces as part of the

new limited nationwide

lockdown to stem the Covid-

19 crisis, Prime Minister

Jean Castex announced

Thursday.

Addressing the National

Assembly, Castex also said

authorities would be quick

to disperse groups of more

than six people on

riverbanks or squares after

the new restrictions unveiled

by President Emmanuel

Macron late Wednesday.

Castex said he

"unreservedly" condemned

people who had not been

respecting the rules, after

images of beer-swigging

crowds on riverbanks under

spring sunshine in cities

including Paris and Lyon.

Meanwhile, prosecutors

should "systematically"

probe organisers of

clandestine parties for

putting the lives of others in

danger, he added.

By decreeing school

closures and systematic

work-from-home protocols,

Macron hopes to ease

pressure on hospitals facing

a new surge in coronavirus

cases that are overwhelming

intensive care units.

But he refrained from

demanding that people stay

in their homes or avoid

socialising completely, and

authorised travel between

regions over the coming

Easter weekend.

The measures were met

with a mix of resignation

and anger, despite Macron's

suggestion that France could

begin envisioning a return to

normalcy by mid-May.

"Lockdown, the sequel…

and the end?" Le Figaro

headlined its front page

Thursday, while massmarket

Le Parisien said

Macron was defending his

strategy of "slowing without

shutting down" even though

"the situation has never

been so dangerous or

complicated."

France to close schools,

ban domestic travel as

virus surges

PARIS : French President Emmanuel Macron

on Wednesday announced a three-week

nationwide school closure and a month-long

domestic travel ban, as the rapid spread of the

virus ramped up pressure on hospitals.

In a televised address to the nation, Macron

said new efforts are needed as "the epidemic is

accelerating."

It's a departure from the government's policy

in recent months, which has focused on

regionalized restrictions. School closures in

particular had been seen as a very last resort.

"We're going to close nursery, elementary

and high schools for three weeks," Macron

said, adding that a nationwide 7 p.m.- 6 a.m.

curfew will be kept in place.

Macron said restrictions already applying in

the Paris region and elsewhere will be

extended next week to the whole country, for

at least one month. Under these restrictions,

people are allowed to go outside for leisure, but

within a 10-kilometer (6 miles) radius from

their homes - and without socializing. Also,

most non-essential shops are closed down.

In addition, Macron promised to speed up

the vaccination campaign by giving access to

all people aged 60 and over in mid-April, those

aged 50 and over in mid-May and the rest of

the population a month later. So far, France

has prioritized people living in nursing homes

and those aged 70 and over, as well as health

care workers and people with serious health

conditions.

"If we stay united in the coming weeks ...

then we will see light at the end of the tunnel,"

Macron said.

He said the school closures aimed at

avoiding major disruption by bringing forward

the date of scheduled Easter holidays. All

children will get online teaching next week,

Macron said. Then they will go on vacation for

two weeks.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced a threeweek

nationwide school closure and a month-long domestic travel ban, as

the rapid spread of the virus ramped up pressure on hospitals. Photo : AP

Pfizer says its COVID-19 vaccine

protects younger teens

WASHINGTON : Pfizer

announced Wednesday that

its COVID-19 vaccine is safe

and strongly protective in

kids as young as 12, a step

toward possibly beginning

shots in this age group before

they head back to school in

the fall, reports UNB.

Most COVID-19 vaccines

being rolled out worldwide

are for adults, who are at

higher risk from the

coronavirus. Pfizer's vaccine

is authorized for ages 16 and

older. But vaccinating

children of all ages will be

critical to stopping the

pandemic - and helping

schools, at least the upper

grades, start to look a little

more normal after months of

disruption.

In the vaccine study of

2,260 U.S. volunteers ages

12 to 15, preliminary data

showed there were no cases

of COVID-19 among fully

vaccinated adolescents

compared to 18 among those

given dummy shots, Pfizer

reported.

It's a small study, that

hasn't yet been published, so

another important piece of

evidence is how well the

shots revved up the kids'

immune systems.

Researchers reported high

levels of virus-fighting

antibodies, somewhat higher

than were seen in studies of

young adults.

Kids had side effects

similar to young adults, the

company said. The main side

effects are pain, fever, chills

and fatigue, particularly after

the second dose. The study

will continue to track

participants for two years for

more information about

long-term protection and

safety.

Dr. Philip J. Landrigan of

Boston College said the

results are encouraging.

"It's hard to get kids to

comply with masking and

distancing, so something

that gives them hard

protection and takes them

out of the mix of spreading

the virus is all for the good,"

said Landrigan, who was not

involved in the study.

It's another positive

development in the race

against the virus even as U.S.

cases, at 66,000 new

infections a day, are rising

again and deaths are

averaging nearly 1,000 a day.


and Prevention director Dr.

Rochelle Walensky warned

Americans again Wednesday

that "we can't afford to let

our guard down."

Pfizer and its German

partner BioNTech in the

coming weeks plan to ask the

U.S. Food and Drug

Administration and

European regulators to allow

emergency use of the shots

starting at age 12.

"We share the urgency to

expand the use of our

vaccine," Pfizer CEO Albert

Bourla said in a statement.

He expressed "the hope of

starting to vaccinate this age

group before the start of the

next school year" in the

United States. Pfizer isn't the

only company seeking to

lower the age limit for its

vaccine. Results also are

expected by the middle of

this year from a U.S. study of

Moderna's vaccine in 12- to

17-year-olds.

But in a sign that the

findings were promising, the

FDA already allowed both

companies to begin U.S.

studies in children 11 and

younger, working their way

to as young as 6-month-old.

"We are longing for a

normal life. This is especially

true for our children,"

BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin

said in a statement.

AstraZeneca last month

began a study of its vaccine

among 6- to 17-year-olds in

Britain. Johnson and

Johnson is planning its own

pediatric studies. And in

China, Sinovac recently

announced it has submitted

preliminary data to Chinese

regulators showing its

vaccine is safe in children as

young as 3.

While most COVID-19

vaccines being used globally

were first tested in tens of

thousands of adults,

pediatric studies won't need

to be nearly as large.

Scientists have safety

information from those

studies and from subsequent

vaccinations in millions

more adults.

One key question is the

dosage: Pfizer gave the 12-

and-older participants the

same dose adults receive,

while testing different doses

in younger children.

HK to resume Pfizer/

BioNTech vaccine roll-out

on Monday

HONG KONG : Hong Kong will resume administering the

Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus jab on Monday after the

pharma giant said a packaging flaw that temporarily halted

its use did not affect its safety, officials said.

The financial hub suspended use of the German-made

vaccine last month when Fosun, its China distributor,

informed authorities that some vial caps were defective.

It was a blow to the roll-out of mass vaccination

programmes against a deadly virus that has killed more than

2.7 million people around the world and hammered the

global economy.

"BioNTech told us that the batch of vaccines concerned did

not have quality and safety problem," Hong Kong's civil

service chief Patrick Nip, who has been leading the

government's cross-department anti-virus initiative, said

Thursday.

"Administration of the BioNTech vaccines will resume on

Monday," he said, adding that a new batch of 300,000 doses

would arrive in the city on Friday.

FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2021 8

Mercantile Bank Limited donated Tk.9.50 lac to Feni Diabetes Hospital for purchasing a Dialysis

Machine on 25 March 2021. Md. Quamrul Islam Chowdhury, Managing Director & CEO of Mercantile

Bank joined the program virtually and spoke as the chief guest. Mahfuzul Karim, Zonal Head of MBL

Cumilla-Noakhali Zone handed over the cheque to Abdul Motaleb, Vice President of Feni Diabetic

Samity at a ceremony arranged in the hospital premises. Md. Shahadat Hossain, Head of Feni

Branch, HOBs of MBL Dagonbhuiyan, Chhagalnaiya, Koraish Munshi, Munshirhat and Rajnagar

branch, Shusen Chandra Shil, General Secretary of Feni Diabetic Samity, Osman Harun Mahmud,

Vice President of Feni Diabetic Samity along with other officials from both the organizations were

present on the occasion.

Photo : Courtesy

BEZA gets 4,835.91

acres 'khas' land to set

up Noakhali EZ

DHAKA : With the approval of the

Prime Minister Office (PMO), the Land

Ministry has allotted 4,835.91 acres of

'khas' land in favour of Bangladesh

Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) for

setting up Noakhali Economic Zone

(EZ) at Companiganj upazila under

Noakhali district.

District Administration of Noakhali

has already sent a proposal to BEZA for

setting up an economic zone near the

Noakhali EZ at Subarnacharupazila

under the district.

Talking to BSS, BEZA Executive

Chairman Paban Chowdhury said there

is immense potential to connect

Noakhali and Subarnachar economic

zones with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib

Shilpa Nagar (BSMSN).

Expressing gratitude to Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said this is a

significant step towards planned

industrialization in the country.

He said BEZA is endeavoring to

establish economic zones in potential

areas of the country with a view to

encouraging rapid economic

development through diversification of

industries and augmentation of

employment, production and export.

Chowdhury informed that the BEZA

governing board has already approved

the location and amount of land in 97

economic zones, of which 68 are public

economic zones and 29 are private

economic zones.

Out of the economic zones, he said,

nine zones have already gone into

production while the development of 28

zones is progressing fast.

He informed that 26 industries have

gone into production while construction

work of 35 industries is ongoing.

The economic zones have already

created 39 thousand employment

opportunities, he said.

BEZA chief added that BEZA has, so

far, received investment proposals

amounting to around US$27.07 billion

from local and foreign business entities,

thanks to various steps of the

government to attract new investments.

The proposed investments may create

over 10 lakh job opportunities in the

country, he said. Out of the total

amount, he said, around $23.97 billion

investment proposals have come for the

government EZs while $3.1 billion for

private EZs.

Of those, he informed, around $1.62

billion proposals have been come as

foreign direct investment (FDI) from

different companies of China, India, the

UK, the USA, the Netherlands, Japan,

Singapore, Australia, South Korea,

Malaysia and Germany.

World-famous companies like

Jiangsu Yabang Dyestuff Co Ltd, Honda

Motors, Sumitomo Nippon, Asian

Paints, Barger Paints, Adani Group,

Wilmar, Siam Group, TIC Group,

Unilever, Sakata Inch, Jiehong Medical

Products (BD) Co Ltd, CCECC

Bangladesh Limited, HAS Tech

Limited, RamkyEnviro Services Private

Limited Fortis Group, Lizard Sports BV,

Inter-Asia Group Limited and Chain

Harbour are the major foreign

investors.

The local companies - Metro Spinning

Limited, Maksons Spinning and

Textiles, Samuda Food Products

Limited, Uttara Motors Limited,

Bangladesh Garment Manufactures and

Exporters Association (BGMEA),

Sayeman Beach Resort Limited, Maf

Shoes Limited, Bangladesh Garments

Accessories and Packaging

Manufacturers and Exporters

Association (BGAPMEA), Runner

Motors, Saif Powertec, Delta Pharma

Limited and Asia Composite Mills

Limited - are the major local investors.

Paban Chowdhury said BEZA has also

introduced the One Stop Service (OSS)

center for providing all necessary

services to the investors of the country at

a single window.

Election of Executive

Committee of BAPI

held

The election of the Executive Committee of

the Bangladesh Association of

Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI)for the

period 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 was held

on 31st March 2021, at the Association's

50th Annual General Meeting, a press

release said.

All the elected members unanimously

elected, Mr. NazmulHasan, MP, Chairman

of Pharmatek Chemicals Ltd. re-elected as a

President, Mr. Abdul Muktadir, Chairman

and Managing Director of Incepta

Pharmaceuticals Ltd. re-elected as senior

vice-president,Globe Pharmaceuticals

chairman and managing director Mr.

Harunur Rashid re-elected as vicepresident,

Mr. SM Shafiuzzaman, Managing

Director, Hudson Pharmaceuticals Ltd., has

been re-elected as General Secretary, and

Mr. Muhammad Halimuzzaman, Deputy

Managing Director and CEO, Healthcare

Pharmaceuticals Ltd., has been re-elected as

Treasurer. The election took place at the

Association's office on March 31, 2021,

during the 50th Annual General Meeting.

Besides, Managing Director of Beacon

Pharmaceuticals Limited Mohammad

EbadulKarim MP, Vice Chairman of Incepta

Vaccine Limited HasninMuktadir,

Managing Director of Drug International

Limited MA HaiderHussain, Managing

Director of JMI Industry Gas Limited Md.

AbdurRazzaq , M MosaddekHossain,

Managing Director, UnimedUniHealth

Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Md. ZakirHossain,

Managing Director, Delta Pharma Ltd.,

Kaiser Kabir, Managing Director and CEO

of Renata Ltd.Dr. MostafizurRahman,

Managing Director & CEO of Popular

Pharmaceuticals Ltd, M Mohiuzzaman,

Managing Director, ACI Health Care

Limited, Mujibul Islam, Managing Director,

Amico Laboratories Ltd, Managing Director

of Novartis (Bangladesh) Ltd. Dr.

Mohammad RiyadMamunPradhani,

Managing Director of One Pharma Ltd.

KSM MostafizurRahman, Managing

Director of Veritas Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

SharitaMilat, The ACME Laboratories Ltd

Director Mr. TasneemSinha, Md.

MizanurRahman, Executive Director,

Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Chemical

Division) were elected as members of the

Executive Committee for the period of 2021-

2022 and 2022-2023.

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited organized a Doa program on the occasion of its 38th founding anniversary

on 31 March 2021, Wednesday at Islami Bank Tower. Prof. Md. Nazmul Hassan, PhD, Chairman of

the Bank addressed the function on virtual platform as Chief Guest. Presided over by Mohammed

Monirul Moula, Managing Director & CEO of the Bank, the program was attended by Muhammad Qaisar

Ali and Md. Omar Faruk Khan, Additional Managing Directors, Abu Reza Md. Yeahia, Taher Ahmad

Chowdhury, A.A.M. Habibur Rahman & Md. Mosharraf Hossain, Deputy Managing Directors,

Executives and officials of Head office. Prayers were offered for the overall progress of the bank, well

being of all the Directors, executives, officers, employees, clients-well wishers and safety of the country

people from the Corona pandemic.

Photo : Courtesy

Obstacles could not deter Huawei

3.8pc growth in 2020

Huawei released its 2020

Annual Report today,

closing the year with a

business performance in

line with forecast. The

company's global sales

revenue in 2020 rounded

off at BDT 11 lakh 53

thousand crore, up 3.8%

year-on-year, and its net

profit reached BDT 83

thousand 500 crore, up

3.2% year-on-year. "Over

the past year we've held

strong in the face of

adversity," said Ken Hu,

Huawei's Deputy

Chairman. "We've kept

innovating to create value

for our customers, to help

fight the pandemic, and to

support both economic

recovery and social progress

around the world. We also

took this opportunity to

further enhance our

operations, leading to a

performance that was

largely in line with forecast.

Despite a challenging

business environment, we

remained committed to a

globalized and diversified

supply chain - one that

doesn't rely on any single

country or region, but

instead makes use of global

resources to ensure supply

continuity."

In 2020, Huawei's carrier

business continued to

ensure the stable operations

of more than 1,500

networks across over 170

countries and regions

throughout COVID-19

lockdowns, which helped

support telework, online

learning, and online

shopping for people around

the world. Working

together with carriers, the

company helped provide a

superior connected

experience. According to 5G

experience tests conducted

by multiple third-party

Union Bank Limited celebrates successfullystepping into9 yearson 1st April 2021.A celebrating program

was held in its Head Office,Gulshan-1, Dhaka.A. B. M. MokammelHoque Chowdhury,

Managing Director of the bank inaugurated the program by cutting a Cakeas the chief guest.

Additional Managing Director Md. Habibur Rahman, Deputy Managing Directors Hasan Iqbal, Md.

Nazrul Islam and SEVP Golam Mostafa were present as special guests.Besides, Head of Divisionals

&Senior Officers of Head Officewere presentat the ceremony.In this regards, A Doa-Mahfil was also

organized and pray to almighty Allah for well-being of the bank.

Photo : Courtesy

OPEC+ expected

to stay cautious

in face of market

jitters

LONDON : Oil producing

countries grouped together

under the OPEC+ alliance

led by Saudi Arabia and

Russia are expected to

agree an extension to their

current output cuts at a

meeting on Thursday.

Their third ministerial

meeting of 2021 will be

held via videoconference

and is scheduled to start at

1200 GMT.

"The producer alliance is

virtually guaranteed to

extend current oil cuts into

May," according to

Stephen Brennock of PVM,

reflecting a widespread

view among analysts. "It

may even go a step further

and prolong supply curbs

into June," he added, with

the possibility that Russia

and Kazakhstan may be

given some small leeway to

increase output as

happened earlier in the

year.

Under its current

agreement, the OPEC+

group - made up of the

Organization of Petroleum

Exporting Countries and

its allies - is enforcing

drastic cuts in production,

meaning seven million

barrels that could be

shipped to markets every

day are being left in the

ground.

Biden sets out

‘once-in-a-generation’

$2 tn infrastructure plan

PITTSBURGH: President

Joe Biden on Wednesday

unveiled a $2 trillion

infrastructure plan aimed at

modernizing America's

crumbling transport network,

creating millions of jobs and

delivering a "once-in-ageneration"

investment that

will enable the country to best

China on the global economic

stage.

Biden compared his

"transformational" plan to the

ambitious US space program

of the 1960s, saying it would

boost the livelihoods of poor

and middle-class Americans,

take aim at global warming,

and be funded by increased

taxes on large companies and

the rich.

"Today I'm proposing a

plan for the nation that

rewards work, not just

rewards wealth. It builds a

fair economy that gives

everybody a chance to

succeed. It's going to create

the strongest, most resilient,

innovative economy in the

world," Biden said.

"It's a once-in-a-generation

investment in America,

unlike anything we've seen or

done since we built the

interstate highway system

organizations in major cities

around the world, Huaweibuilt

5G networks ranked

first for user experience on

carrier networks. The

company also worked with

carriers worldwide to

implement more than

3,000 5G innovation

projects in over 20

industries like coal mining,

steel production, ports, and

manufacturing.

Over the past year,

Huawei's enterprise

business stepped up efforts

to develop innovative

scenario-based solutions

and create a digital

and the space race decades

ago."

The plan called for

sweeping upgrades to

transportation,

telecommunications and

energy infrastructure, which

the US leader said was both

about revitalizing an

economy weakened by the

Covid-19 pandemic and

restoring its global

competitiveness.

"We can't delay another

minute. It's long past due," he

said in Pittsburgh.

"The rest of the world is

closing in and closing in fast -

we can't allow this to

continue."

Biden's infrastructure plan

- the second massive

spending initiative of his 10-

week old administration,

after the $1.9 trillion shortterm

Covid rescue bill passed

earlier this month - faces

tough tests in a Congress

worried about soaring

deficits.

But it also seeks to address

crumbling bridges, roads and

other public works around

the country that successive

administrations have failed to

take on.

In doing so, it would

ecosystem "of all, by all, and

for all". During the

pandemic, Huawei

provided technical expertise

and solutions that proved

vital in the fight against the

virus. One example is an AIassisted

diagnostic solution

based on HUAWEI CLOUD

that helped hospitals the

world over reduce the

burden on their medical

infrastructure. Huawei also

worked with partners to

launch cloud-based online

learning platforms for more

than 50 million primary

and secondary school

students.

expand the role of the

government in the US

economy to levels not seen in

decades.

"In fact, it's the largest

American jobs investment

since World War II. It will

create millions of jobs, goodpaying

jobs," Biden said.

Biden also stressed that it

would reward "hardworking"

Americans instead

of the wealthy of Wall Street,

countering an economy that

had become "distorted and

unfair," particularly under his

predecessor Donald Trump.

"When Trump's tax bill

passed, 83 percent of the

money went to the top one

percent," he said.

"This is not to seek

retribution. This is about

opening opportunities for

everybody else. Here's the

truth: We all do better when

we all do well."

He proposed to fund it by

raising taxes on companies

and rich Americans whom he

said don't pay their fair share.

Taxes will rise on

Americans earning more

than $400,000 a year, and

the corporate tax ceiling will

rise to 28 percent from 21

percent.

FRIDAy, AFRIL 02, 2021

9

New Zealand's Tim Southee and Devon Conway (C) celebrate the wicket of Bangladesh's Soumya

Sarkar during their third Twenty20 match in Auckland on Thursday.

Photo: AP

Tigers all-out in 9.3 overs to suffer

another clean sweep

SPORTS DESK

While chasing a huge total of 141 runs

in 10 overs in the third T20I against

New Zealand, Bangladesh got all-out

for 76 in 9.3 overs on Thursday at

Auckland, reports UNB.

This is the first time for Bangladesh

to lose all 10 wickets in less than 10

overs in any format of international

cricket. And with losing this game by 65

runs, Bangladesh losing-streak against

New Zealand in New Zealand reached

32 international games- the longest

losing streak in International cricket

against a team in their backyard.

Soumya Sarkar started well hitting

two fours off the first three balls he

faced but got out of the fourth delivery

of the first over bowled by the New

Zealand captain Tim Southee. Off the

last ball of the first over, Liton Das,

captain of Bangladesh in this game as

the regular captain Mahmudullah

Riyad was ruled out due to an injury,

tried to scoop off the first ball but

Southee shattered his stumps.

Bangladesh were never in a position

in this game to offer some challenge to

the hosts who won the T20I series 3-0.

They had also won the sealed ODI

series by the same margin.

Mohammad Naim smashed some

watchful sixes and one four, but that

was not enough to run for the win in the

game which was reduced to 10-over a

side due to rain before the match.

Naim was the highest runs getter in

this game for the visitors with 19 off 13

balls with two sixes and one four while

Mosaddek Hossain scored 13 and

Soumya posted 10.

For the hosts, leg-spinner Todd Astle

bagged four wickets conceding 13 runs

in two overs while Tim Southee took

three wickets giving only 15 runs away

in three overs. Earlier, Bangladesh won

the toss and opted to bowl first under

the overcast condition.

In the three-over powerplay, New

Zealand smashed 43 for none. Nasum

Ahmed started bowling conceding nine

runs in the first over. In the second

over, Taskin Ahmed conceded 14 runs,

and Nasum came in the third over and

gave away 23 runs with three fours and

one six.

New Zealand continued to smash

boundaries as Finn Allen completed his

first T20I fifty off 18 balls with eight

United States won the FIFA Women's World Cup for the fourth time in

2019. Photo: AP

FIFA Women's World Cup 2023: Auckland

to host opener, final in Sydney

SPORTS DESK

The 2023 Women's World Cup will be

spread across nine cities in Australia and

New Zealand, reports UNB.

The opening match will take place at Eden

Park in Auckland, with Sydney's Stadium

Australia hosting the final. The two semifinal

matches will be split between Australia and

New Zealand.

That format is similar to other World Cup

tournaments in other sports, including most

recently in 2015 when Australia and New

Zealand shared hosting of the cricket World

Cup.

It will be the first-of-a-kind World Cup, cohosted

by members of different

confederations. Australia joined the Asian

confederation after qualifying for the 2006

men's World Cup, leaving New Zealand as

the largest member of the Oceania

confederation.

This World Cup will also be the first to

feature 32 teams, up from the 24 that

participated in the 2019 women's

tournament in France. The U.S. women's

national team is the defending champion.

The schedule for the event will be

announced later this year, FIFA said in

announcing the host cities Wednesday in

Zurich. The selection follows an eight-month

process with the member federations from

each country.

"Building on the incredible success of

France 2019 both on and off the pitch, the

FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 and nine

host cities across Australia and New Zealand

will not only showcase the world's very best

players, but will also provide a powerful

platform to unite and inspire people,

transform lives and create a lasting legacy for

women's football in Australia and New

Zealand and around the world," FIFA

President Gianni Infantino said in a

prepared statement.

The host cities and stadiums are: Adelaide,

Hindmarsh Stadium; Auckland, Tamaki

Makaurau-Eden Park; Brisbane, Brisbane

Stadium; Dunedin, Otepoti-Dunedin

Stadium; Hamilton, Kirikiriroa-Waikato

Stadium; Melbourne, Melbourne

Rectangular Stadium; Perth, Perth

Rectangular Stadium; Sydney, Stadium

Australia and Sydney Football Stadium;

Wellington, Te Whanganui-a-Tara-

Wellington Stadium.

fours and two sixes.

Finn got dismissed by Taskin in the

last over as the substitute fielder

Mehdiy Hasan Miraz took a tough

catch at the boundary in the third man

area. Finn ended up on 71 off 29 balls

with 10 fours and three sixes.

Bangladesh got the first wicket when

Martin Guptil skied off Mahedi Hasan

to the deep area and Afif Hossain took

an easy catch. Guptil ended up on 44 off

19 balls with five sixes and one four.

Eventually, New Zealand ended up

141 for four with Finn hitting the

highest score of 71.

For Bangladesh, Mahedi, Taskin and

Shoriful bagged one wicket each while

the other wicket fell prey to runout.

Before coming into the T20Is series,

the Tigers have lost the three-match

ODI series 3-0. Bangladesh played a

total of 31 international matches in

New Zealand but failed to come up

victorious in any of them.

Bangladesh made three changes in

this game as Najmul Hossain Shanto,

Mosaddek Hossain and Rubel Hossain

came in to replace Mahmudullah

Riyad, Mohammad Mithun and

Mohammad Saifuddin.

Ring-rusty South

Africa begin march

on 2023 World Cup

SPORTS DESK

South Africa return to oneday

international cricket for

the first time in a year

against Pakistan from

Friday with a historymaking

new captain at the

helm and their sights set on

the 2023 World Cup, reports

BSS.

The Proteas have not

played an ODI since

completing a 3-0 home

series win against Australia

in March 2020.

Following that series,

South Africa went to India

but the tour was aborted

because of the Covid-19

pandemic.

A planned series against

England last December was

then postponed after two

members of the touring

party tested positive for

coronavirus - results which

later were declared as false

positives.

Naomi Osaka's 23-match

win streak ends against

Sakkari in Miami

SPORTS DESK

As Naomi Osaka's 23-

match winning streak

neared an end, she paused

before serving to crane her

neck and study the sky, as if

seeking intervention from

above, reports UNB.

Then she carried on, and so

did No. 23-seeded Maria

Sakkari, who upset Osaka

6-0, 6-4 in the

quarterfinals of the Miami

Open.

"The more stuff like this

happens, the more I'll learn

from it," the No. 2-ranked

Osaka said.

Tennis events of

Bangabandhu

Games to be

held in Rajshahi

SPORTS DESK

All the tennis events of

Bangabandhu 9th

Bangladesh Games 2021 will

begin at Advocate Abdus

Salam Tennis Complex in

Rajshahi city from today

(April 2), reports BSS.

The events is going to be

held here from today (April

2 to April 9) like other

divisional headquarters as

per decision of the

government.

Tennis Complex authority

revealed this at a press

conference held at the

complex conference.

Complex Chairman Prof

Golam Sabbir Sattar Tapu,

General Secretary Ehsanul

Huda Dulu, Joint Secretary

Hasinur Rahman and

Tournament Director

Muhammd Khashru

addressed the press

conference.

They told the journalists

that some 124 players

including 25 females from

different parts of the country

will take part in five events of

the tournament.

"We have already

completed all sorts of

preparations to conduct the

tournament successfully,"

said Prof Sattar Tapu.

Bangladesh Olympic

Association has given

assurance of providing a

budget of TK 12 lakh for

conducting the tournament.

He said a six-member

doctor's team has been

formed with requisite

instruments and devices

including thermal scanner to

tackle the situation caused

by COVID-19 pandemic.

Prof Sattar added that all

the players and officials have

been asked to submit Covid-

19 negative certificates

before taking part in the

tournament.

Rajshahi Mayor AHM

Khairuzzaman Liton, Fazley

Hossain Badsha, MP, and

other high officials are

expected to join the

inaugural ceremony on

Friday afternoon.

Germany stunned by North Macedonia in

rare World Cup qualifier home defeat

SPORTS DESK

Germany suffered their first home defeat in a

World Cup qualifier in 20 years when they

were stunned 2-1 by unheralded North

Macedonia in Group J on Wednesday,

reports UNB.

Armenia are the surprise group leaders

after they struck two goals inside the final

four minutes for a 3-2 victory over Romania

in Yerevan to make it three wins out of three.

The results mean that coach Joachim

Loew, who is quitting after the European

Championship, will be leaving Germany in

third place on six points, behind 65th-ranked

North Macedonia after they scored an 85thminute

winner through Eljif Elmas.

Armenia's win was also impressive and the

hosts, ranked 99th in the world, celebrated

wildly in front of a crowd of more than 4,000

-- an oddity in COVID-19 times.

They had beaten Liechtenstein and Iceland

before taking on a Romania side viewed as

strong candidates to make the play-offs

behind group favourites Germany, who had

not lost a World Cup qualifier at home since

a 5-1 loss to England in 2001.

Before the start of the game the German

players unfurled a banner supporting

human rights.

World champions France struggled to beat

Bosnia 1-0 away to open up a four-point gap

at the top of Group D.

Antoine Griezmann netted his 35th goal

for France with a header from Adrien

Rabiot's cross on the hour to put Les Bleus

on seven points from three games.

Italy, who failed to qualify for the 2018

World Cup, continued their perfect start as

goals by Stefano Sensi and Ciro Immobile in

their third match earned them a 2-0 victory

over Lithuania.

Italy are now unbeaten in 25 matches

under Roberto Mancini, the joint-second

longest run without losing, level with

Marcelo Lippi, among Italian coaches.

The Azzurri lead Switzerland, who have a

game in hand, by three points in Group C.

England also maintained their perfect start

in Group I although they were made to wait

to subdue Poland, who were without the

injured Robert Lewandowski, in a 2-1 home

victory. Maguire smashed home a knockdown

from a corner in the 85th minute to

give England all three points as they were

rewarded for their domination.

They had taken the lead after 19 minutes

when Harry Kane fired home from the

penalty spot, only for Jakub Moder to level in

the second half following a John Stones

error. Spain lead Group B with seven points

from three games after claiming a 3-1 home

win against Kosovo, who were gifted a goal in

the 70th minute when keeper Unai Simon

lost the ball after rushing out of his box and

Besar Halimi ruthlessly pounced and scored

from a distance.

Spain were, however, already 2-0 up after

goals by Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres and

they put the result beyond doubt when

Gerard Moreno headed home the third.

In Group F, substitute Andreas Skov Olsen

scored twice in a scintillating second half as

Denmark made it three World Cup

qualifying wins out of three with a 4-0

demolition of Austria. They lead Scotland,

who beat the Faroe Islands 4-0, by four

points.

North Macedonia's forward Goran Pandev scores the opening goal with a tap in past

Germany's goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen during their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

qualification match in Duisburg, western Germany on Wednesday.

Photo: AP

Detectives find cause of Tiger Woods

crash but won't reveal

SPORTS DESK

The Los Angeles County sheriff says

detectives have determined what

caused Tiger Woods to crash his SUV

last month in Southern California but

would not release details, citing

unspecified privacy concerns for the

golf star, reports UNB.

Woods suffered serious injuries in

the Feb. 23 crash when he struck a

raised median around 7 a.m. in Rolling

Hills Estates, just outside Los Angeles.

The Genesis SUV he was driving

crossed through two oncoming lanes

and uprooted a tree on a downhill

stretch that police said is known for

wrecks. Woods is in Florida recovering

from multiple surgeries.

Sheriff Alex Villanueva has been

criticized for his comments about the

crash, calling it "purely an accident"

and saying there was no evidence of

impairment. Woods told deputies he

did not know how the crash occurred

and didn't remember driving. He was

unconscious when a witness first

approached the mangled SUV. But a

sheriff's deputy said the athlete later

appeared to be in shock but was

conscious and able to answer basic

questions.

Investigators did not seek a search

warrant for Woods' blood samples,

which could be screened for drugs and

alcohol. In 2017, Woods checked

himself into a clinic for help in dealing

with prescription drug medication after

a DUI charge in his home state of

Florida.

Detectives, however, did obtain a

search warrant for the data recorder of

the 2021 Genesis GV80 SUV, known as

a black box. Villanueva would not say

Wednesday what data had been found

in the black box.

"A cause has been determined, the

investigation has concluded,"

Villanueva said during a live social

media event Wednesday in response to

a question posed by The Associated

Press.

But Villanueva claimed investigators

need permission from Woods, who

previously named his yacht "Privacy" to

release information about the crash.

"We have reached out to Tiger Woods

and his personnel," Villanueva said.

"There's some privacy issues on

releasing information on the

investigation so we're going to ask them

if they waive the privacy and then we

will be able to do a full release on all the

information regarding the accident."

Woods' agent at Excel Sports, Mark

Steinberg, did not immediately

respond to an email.

"We have all the contents of the black

box, we've got everything," Villanueva

said. "It's completed, signed, sealed and

delivered. However, we can't release it

without the permission of the people

involved in the collision."

Greg Risling, a spokesperson for the

Los Angeles County district attorney,

said in an email Wednesday that no

felony or misdemeanor complaints

against Woods had been filed through

their office regarding the crash.

Villanueva's statement about privacy

issues did not make sense to Joseph

Giacalone, a professor at the John Jay

College of Criminal Justice and a

retired New York City Police

Department sergeant, who has

criticized the sheriff's response to the

Woods incident from the start.

"I don't think I've ever seen a

department ever ask for permission

like that," he said.

"What happens if his lawyers say 'no,

you can't send it out now.' And then

where does that leave us?"

Giacalone said it's unlikely that

deputies would have sought the

permission of non-celebrity victims in

similar crashes to release information.

If the sheriff's hesitancy stemmed from

a potential medical episode behind the

wheel, Giacalone said authorities could

simply say it was a medical emergency

without giving additional details.

"I don't think they would have asked

any family member of us if they can

come out with it," he said.

Woods is from the Los Angeles area

and was back home to host his PGA

tournament, the Genesis Invitational at

Riviera Country Club, which ended two

days before the crash. He was driving

an SUV loaned to him by the

tournament.

Woods has never gone an entire year

without playing, dating back to his first

PGA Tour event as a 16-year-old in high

school.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputies inspect the vehicle of golfer

Tiger Woods, who was rushed to hospital after suffering multiple

injuries, after it was involved in a single-vehicle accident in Los

Angeles, California, U.S. February 23, 2021. Photo: REUTERS

FrIDAY, AprIL 2, 2021

10

'Baba' the musical film bags

international award

TBT reporT

The musical film 'Baba', set against the backdrop of

the brutal assassination of Father of the Nation

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, has won an

award at the India International Film Festival 2020.

The film was selected as the best musical film at

the India International Film Festival 2020, said

director Raymond Salomon. Nafisa Shama was a

vocalist in the film's song. Raymond studied

management at the Australian Film Radio and

Television School. He is overjoyed that a film

directed by him has won an award at the India

International Film Festival.

"I wanted Bangladeshi artists to work in the

international arena," he told the press from Sydney

on Tuesday. "I have been discussing it with

Bangladeshi artists for a decade and a half. Then I

taught myself production. I have pursued formal

education on production while pursuing a career

and education as an immigration lawyer. Now I

want to tell the world all the wonderful stories and

history of Bangladesh through my films," the

director added.

Raymond said that he chose the topic of

Bangabandhu's brutal assassination on August 15

because there is a demand for the story of

Bangladesh in the western market. "We need to

improve the quality of production," he said.

The six minute and two second long musical film

'Baba' was released on YouTube in August last year.

Raymond said 'Baba' was submitted to more than

60 film exhibitions around the world. He has won

10 honours since then.

Raymond is hopeful that he will be able to bag

some more awards in the future.

Abul Hasnat Milton supervised the making of the

musical. Raymond, who grew up in Bangladesh, has

been living in Australia for 18 years. At one time, he

worked as an aviator in the Bangladesh Air Force,

which he later left and moved to Australia in 2003.

When asked about the story behind Baba's

creation, he said, "There is another humanitarian

aspect to Bangabandhu's brutal assassination -

the story of surviving children who lost their

relatives on August 15. No one has the ability to

understand their pain."The two main characters

in the film are Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and

her younger sister Sheikh Rehana. "Often the

question arises in my mind: How are they

surviving after losing their relatives to such

cruelty? In the musical, I have tried to tell the

painful story of a grieving daughter growing up in

the absence of a father," Raymond said.

Kendall hires armed guards

after death threats

Kendall Jenner has been granted a temporary

restraining order against a man who she claimed has

threatened to shoot her.

According to TMZ, a judge signed off on the order

against Malik Bowker on Monday (29Mar21), after

the 25-year-old model was informed by an LAPD

detective that the 24-year-old man allegedly intended

to buy an illegal firearm and shoot both of them. The

legal documents obtained by the news outlet state that

Bowker has been placed on a psychiatric hold at a

local hospital and is due to be released, which is said

to be causing the Keeping Up With the Kardashians

star "severe emotional distress and anxiety".

Kendall - who has 24-hour security at her home -

has claimed to have never met Bowker before and is

petrified that he will cause her harm, leading her to

apply for the restraining order, which means he has to

stay 100 yards away from her at all times by law. It's

not the first time the catwalk beauty has been forced

to apply for a restraining order.

In 2018, Kendall was awarded a five-year

restraining order against an alleged stalker. John Ford

was arrested after he was found sitting outside her

home for the second time in a week, and after Kendall

was originally given a temporary document ordering

Ford to stay 100 yards away from her and her home

at all times, she was later granted a more permanent

protective order.

Source: Indian Express

Bangladesh Film Directors

Assoc election begins today

TBT reporT

The election of Bangladesh Film

Directors' Association is going

to start today (April 2) at

Bangladesh Film Development

Corporation.

Around 400 members of the

organisation is going to cast

their votes in the election. This

time, leaders of the association

will fight through three panels.

This year, 48 candidates are

contesting against the 19 posts

of the committee, including the

president and secretary-general.

These 48 candidates will contest

the election in three panels- Kazi

Hayat-SA Haque Alik, Sohanur

Rahman Sohan-Shahin Sumon

The closing ceremony of twoday

long BUP Film Fest 2021

organized by the Department of

Mass Communication and

Journalism, Faculty of Security

and Strategic Studies (FSSS) of

Bangladesh University of

Professionals (BUP) was held on

01 April 2021 at Bijoy

Auditorium, says a press

release.

The aim of the fest was to

give opportunities to the young

film makers to develop their

interpersonal skills on

different issues of films. In the

fest, a number of participants

from government and private

universities participated in the

five categories namely Short

Film, Making Character

Recreation, Script Writing,

Poster Presentation and Cine

Quiz Competition.

Pakistan-born American actor Somy Ali

is back in the news. Somy Ali's film with

Salman Khan, Buland, never got released

but their off-screen love story is well

known. In a recent interview, the actor

spoke about her relationship with

Salman Khan in the early 1990s and what

led to its end. Somy and Salman dated for

eight years.

Somy Ali, in an interview with Zoom

Digital, revealed, "It's been 20 years since

I broke up with him. He cheated on me

and I broke up with him and left. It's as

simple as that." The actor added that they

both have moved on in their lives and she

hasn't spoken to Salman in five years.

Somy added, "I never went there

(India) initially to be a part of Bollywood.

Once I broke up with my ex, there was

nothing keeping me there." Somy has

called herself a 'misfit' in Bollywood a

number of times and shared she has no

plans for a comeback.

Somy Ali had a short-lived career in

Bollywood. In an earlier interview, she

had said that she saw Salman Khan for

the first time in Maine Pyar Kiya, and

decided to marry him. She said she came

to India and joined Bollywood only for

Salman and after doing a few modelling

assignments and a couple of movies she

finally met him.

Somy Ali also mentioned Salman's

parents, especially his mother Salma.

Somy revealed that she didn't learn a

single thing from Salman, but many good

things from his parents. "The biggest

thing I learned is that they never saw

and Shah Alam Kiran-Safi

Uddin Safi. The candidates have

been vigorously campaigning to

attract voters. The BFDC has

taken on a festive mood as

candidates and voters roam

inside the premises from

morning till night. They are

gathering in small groups

around the association's yard,

canteen and garden.

However, one of the

candidates, eminent director

Kazi Hayat, has been admitted

to the hospital due to Covid-19.

He was infected by the virus

soon after he submitted his

nomination papers. When his

condition worsened, he was

taken to the ICU. However, he

tested negative for the virus

recently, said SA Haque Alik,

the general secretary candidate

of Kazi Hayat's panel.

SA Haque Alik said,

"Directors are much more

aware now. They will think

before voting for a candidate

this time. They want to

strengthen the association. And

we will continue to work from

religion and treated every human being

equally. Their home was open to

everyone and love permeated throughout

their house especially from Salma

(Salman's mother) aunty," she shared.

Somy Ali is happily settled in Miami

our panel to strengthen the

association." Shah Alam Kiran,

president candidate for Shah

Alam-Safi Uddin panel, said,

"We did not field candidates for

all the posts from our panel.

However, we think all our

candidates are qualified."

Meanwhile, the Sohanur

Rahman Sohan-Shaheen

Sumon panel has candidates for

Closing Ceremony of BUP

Film Fest 2021 Held

BUP VC Major General Md

Moshfequr Rahman, SGP,

SUP, ndc, psc joined virtually

as the chief guest while

Mostofa Sarwar Farooki,

Bangladesh Film Director,

producer and screenwriter

virtually joined as the special

guest. Lecturer Nadia Nahrin

Rahman moderated the

programme.

Among others, BUP high

officials, faculty members and

students also attended the

programme at the online and

offline platform.

Somy says Salman

cheated on her: 'I broke

up with him and left'

and runs a non-profit organisation

named, No More Tears. Its mission is to

assist and empower survivors of human

trafficking and domestic violence.

Source: Hindustan Times

H o r o s c o p e

ArIes

(March 21 - April 20) : There's an

emotional intensity inside you today that's

squirming to find a way out, Aries. Sudden

outbursts are likely, so take care to hold

your temper in check. Surround yourself with good

friends who can support your erratic feelings. Don't be

clingy. Seek friends who are thoughtful listeners, not

permanent crutches. They may be feeling the same strong

tension and don't need an extra burden.

TAUrUs

(April 21 - May 21) : Today may have

some crazy emotional ups and downs,

Taurus. There seems to be an intense

cloud seeping into every part of your day.

Don't try to fool people. They will see right through

you. Bursts of positive energy will pop out of nowhere

to remind you of your more important purpose. Try

not to get so bogged down in the heaviness of the day

that you fail to spot opportunities that arise.

GeMINI

(May 22 - June 21) : This day will be filled

with many exciting surprises for you, Gemini.

Approach it with gratitude and you will be

amazed at the number of things that just

naturally seem to flow your way. Your generous heart will be

rewarded in unexpected ways. Old friends are likely to show

up. Open yourself up to conversations. Act spontaneously

and with a great deal of passion.

cANcer

(June 22 - July 23) : There's a larger

trend operating in your life, Cancer. It's

asking you to break the rules and enter a

new realm - a new mindset or way of

living. Today that trend comes into focus, as emotional

outbursts call attention to the changes. Your heart may

want to go one way while your brain wants to go

another. Take deep breaths and infuse a wave of calm

into the situation before you proceed.

Leo

(July 24 - Aug. 23): Pour yourself a

comforting cup of tea today, Leo. Take

a hot shower or a long bath. In short,

pamper yourself. You may be picking

up on the extra tension of the people around you.

Be conscious of this and make a mental note to

strip away the garbage that others dump on you.

You're a sensitive individual. Pat yourself on the

back and look out for sudden moves from others.

VIrGo

(Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): It may be that people

are a bit upset by some of your recent actions or

words, Virgo. The offhand remark you made a

couple weeks ago is catching up to you. What

you may consider friendly, lighthearted sparring may actual do

a bit of damage to someone's sensitive emotions, especially

today. Think before you speak. Others might not have as tough

a skin as they seem to have.

LIBrA

(Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): This is an exciting

day for you, Libra. You can accomplish

quite a bit. Your intuition is especially

acute and your sensitivity is strong.

Computers might irritate you today. It's possible to

get all worked up if your laptop crashes. Save your

work often. Keep in mind that it's just a machine.

Don't let it get the better of you.

scorpIo

(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) : You might be a bit

jittery, even without caffeine,

Scorpio. Sudden actions may cause

people to freak out, since people will

be on edge in general today anyway. Save the

surprises for another time. If you need to tell your

boss that you're going on vacation for a little

while, now isn't the time. There's a rough edge to

the astral energy. Relax to soothe your soul.

sAGITTArIUs

(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): Things may be

coming at you from all angles today,

Sagittarius. Sooner or later you will be

forced to take action. It may seem like

the walls of the room are slowly caving in. The

pressure is building and the air is getting stagnant.

Go out for a run. Exercise will help you release some

of that pressure you feel.

cAprIcorN

(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): You may be excited

about an idea today, Capricorn, but

unfortunately no one else may be. You

spring up with enthusiasm only to

smack into a brick wall. One side of you may be

communicative and witty while the other is

confused. The two sides aren't really connecting well,

so perhaps you should just lay low. Hold on to your

ideas, and save their presentation for a later day.

AQUArIUs

(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) : Much of today will

be a continuation of yesterday, but

with perhaps a bit more intensity for

you, Aquarius. There's an added buzz

in the air, like static on a radio. This background

noise may not provide the best environment to

work in, but you should be able to navigate with no

problem. Tune out the chatter and move on.

pIsces

(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) : Today is one of those

days when you might feel like four people

have a hold of each of your limbs, Pisces. The

people are tugging and you're getting

stretched in every direction. Someone wants you to go there,

someone wants you to come here. Take some time out for

yourself and clearly state your needs to others. Make it known

what the best situation for you would be.

FirDAY, APril 2, 2021

11

Europe vaccine rollout

'unacceptably slow', case

surge 'worrying': WHO

COPENHAGEN : The World

Health Organization on

Thursday slammed Europe's

"unacceptably slow" vaccine

rollout and said the region's

surge in coronavirus

infections was "worrying".

"Vaccines present our best

way out of this pandemic…

However, the rollout of these

vaccines is unacceptably

slow" and is "prolonging the

pandemic", WHO director

for Europe Hans Kluge said

in a statement.

"We must speed up the

process by ramping up

manufacturing, reducing

barriers to administering

vaccines, and using every

single vial we have in stock,

now," he added. The

organisation said that

Europe's virus situation was

"more worrying than we have

seen in several months."

GD-573/21 (10x2)

Bumper production of pepper witnessed Bogura in this year. Farmers are busy drying

peppers.

Photo: PBA

PM opens Bangabandhu

9th Bangladesh Games

DHAKA : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

opened multi-sport extravaganza

Bangabandhu 9th Bangladesh Games on

Thursday at the Bangabandhu National

Stadium in the capital.

She joined the inaugural ceremony from

her official residence Ganobhaban virtually in

the evening.

Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) is

organising the Bangladesh Games at 29

separate venues across the country, reports

UNB.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Prime

Minister Hasina urged all athletes of 31 sports

disciplines of the Games to make themselves

fit enough to compete in the Olympics in the

future.

"Alongside showing your skills in (9th

Bangladesh Games), make yourselves

properly fit to participate in the Olympic

Games anywhere in the world in the future,"

she said.

She said the government will take steps to

arrange international training to make

sportspersons prepared so that they can take

part in some events of the Olympic Games.

"We want to develop our athletes in such a

way," she said.

The PM urged all the athletes to follow the

health protection rules as it is being held amid

the Covid-19 pandemic.

She also asked the organiser to pay

attention so that health rules are maintained

during the Bangabandhu 9th Bangladesh

Games.

Sheikh Hasina said sports are absolutely

needed, particularly for our small children

and youths.

A total of 5,300 athletes from 31 different

disciplines will compete for 1,271 medals in

378 events in the Games that will take place

till April 10 next.

Over 8,000 Mozambique attack

survivors find refuge: UN

PEMBA, Mozambique : More

than 8,100 people have

reached safety outside the

northern Mozambican town

of Palma a week after it was

besieged by jihadists, the UN

said Wednesday, as

thousands others remained

stranded, reports UNB.

Armed militants raided the

coastal town on March 24,

ransacking buildings and

beheading residents as

thousands fled into

surrounding forest.

Dozens have been killed and

many more are still missing in

a coordinated attack seen as

the biggest escalation of an

Islamist insurgency that has

battered Cabo Delgado

province since 2017.

"Many more people remain

displaced inside of Palma,

including thousands who have

reportedly gathered near the

Afungi complex, where the

security situation remains

volatile," the UN agency for

humanitarian assistance

OCHA said.

Up to 10,000 are estimated

to be around the Afungi

peninsula gas site, according

to sources involved.

The fighting had already

displaced nearly 700,000

people in the gas-rich

province, more than 43,000

of which were staying in

Palma before the attack.

Hundreds more were still

seeking to leave Palma, while

thousands were making their

way out by foot, boat and road,

the UN said.

Palma is around 10

kilometres (six miles) away

from a multi-billion-dollar

liquified natural gas (LNG)

project led by French firm

Total and involving other

international companies.

But President Filipe Nyusi

on Wednesday downplayed

the latest attack as "not the

biggest", despite its

unprecedented proximity to

Africa's single biggest

investment project.

The last edition of Bangladesh Games took

place in April 2013. State Minister for Youth

and Sports Md Zahid Ahsan Russel and

President of Bangladesh Olympic Association

(BOA) and Chief of Army Staff General Aziz

Ahmed also spoke at the opening ceremony,

while Secretary General of BOA Syed Shahed

Reza delivered the welcome speech.

An audio-visual presentation was made

highlighting the country's sports in the

function. The 9th edition of Bangladesh

Games was initially scheduled to take place in

April last year but was postponed due to the

COVID-19 outbreak.

Facebook virus lies 'biggest challenge'

to PNG vaccine drive: minister

PORT MORESBY : Papua New Guinea's

health minister on Thursday called

disinformation spread on Facebook the

"biggest challenge" to efforts to curb the

rampant spread of Covid-19 in the poor Pacific

nation.Jelta Wong said "dangerous" posts and

anti-vax conspiracy theories were hampering

the drive to get people to seek treatment and

testing for the disease as infection numbers

soar.

"When Facebook hit Papua New Guinea

everybody became an expert," Wong told an

online event organised by Sydney's Lowy

Institute think tank.

"Everybody had a PhD, even sitting under a

coconut tree they became a PhD," he said in

describing the spread of faulty information

about coronavirus by users of the platform.

PNG, a poor nation of more than eight million

off Australia's northeast coast, reported

around 1,000 Covid-19 cases in the first year of

the pandemic, but saw more than 4,000 new

infections last month alone.

GD-572/21 (4x3) Chattogram WASA Chattogram GD-579/21 (7x4)

Diplomatic allies Taiwan and Palau

begin coronavirus travel bubble

TAOYUAN : Taiwan and Palau launched

what is being billed as Asia-Pacific's first

coronavirus travel bubble on Thursday as the

two diplomatic allies try to kickstart their

battered tourist industries after successfully

keeping infections at bay.

Around 100 excited Taiwanese tourists

arrived at Taoyuan international airport near

Taipei on Thursday morning, checking in

five hours before their afternoon flight in

order to be tested for the coronavirus.

"I am really excited but also feeling a bit

sentimental because it's been a long, long

time since I last went abroad," tourist Andy

Yang told AFP.

"I am really, really looking forward to it. I

have been waiting a long time, it's been a

year already," echoed fellow traveller Choyce

Kuo.

"I packed many clothings for water sports,

and things I might need for Palau's

sunshine," she said, adding she was looking

forward to discovering more about the

"history and culture" of Palau.

Both sides have marketed the bubble as a

"historic" first for the region.

Governments across Asia-Pacific have

struggled to launch travel corridors. A long

awaited bubble between Australia and New

Zealand is still in the works.

And a bubble between Singapore and

Hong Kong had to be scrapped late last year

GD-576/21 (6x3)

after the latter witnessed a sudden spike in

infections.

Among those taking the same flight as the

first batch of tourists on Thursday is Palau

President Surangel Whipps, who made a five

day visit to Taiwan ahead of the launch.

Taiwanese authorities announced at noon

that all tourists on the inaugural holiday

flight tested negative for the coronavirus.

Palau lies about 1,000 kilometres (600

miles) east of the Philippines and is one of

the few places on Earth never to have

recorded a Covid-19 case.

It is also one of only 15 nations that still

recognises Taiwan over China, despite

intense pressure from Beijing to switch sides.

Beijing has poached seven of Taiwan's

diplomatic allies, including two in the Pacific,

since the 2016 election of President Tsai Ingwen,

as she rejects its stance that the selfruled

democratic island is part of China.

Taiwan was hit early by the coronavirus

when it spread from China last year.

But it defeated its own outbreak and has

managed to keep infections controlled

thanks to strict border controls, quarantine

and tracing. "It takes so long for the (launch)

of the travel bubble and a lot of long-term

efforts by everyone," Taiwanese health

minister Chen Shih-chung told reporters.

"Both sides are pandemic-safe so the

journey can begin," he added.

gywRe e‡l©i Aw½Kvi MYc~Z©

†UKmB Dbœq‡bi iƒcKvi

friday, dhaka, april 2, 2021, Chaitra 19, 1427 bs, shaban 18, 1442 hijri

Covid surge in bangladesh

Experts for tightening the

grip with nighttime curfew

DHAKA : As Bangladesh is experiencing

record-breaking Covid cases, experts

think 'health emergency', 'nighttime

curfew' and area-based lockdown can be

the right measures to slow down the

virus transmission.

They think the 18-point directive

issued by the government on Monday is

not enough as the coronavirus situation

is going from bad to worse with both

high infection and mortality rates in the

country.

The experts warned that Bangladesh

may experience an 'explosive' Covid situation

in the coming months, breaking

down the already overwhelmed medical

system, if unnecessary public movements

and mass gatherings cannot be

controlled with the strict enforcement of

laws.

They also suggested ramping up contact

tracing, mass testing, expanding

ICU capacity and ensuring necessary

treatment facilities and equipment in

every hospital, including upazila health

complexes, since the Directorate

General of Health Services (DGHS) has

identified 31 districts as risky for the

virus outbreak with a high infection rate.

Public health expert MH Chowdhury

(Lenin), chairman of the medicine

department at Health and Hope

Hospital, the government's directives

are inconsistent with the coronavirus

transmission pace.

"When it's necessary to stop all the

social and political gatherings right now,

it was said to be discouraged in the

directives. When a nighttime curfew

should be enforced from 6pm, people

are only asked not to come out of their

homes unnecessarily. The shopping

malls should be allowed to remain open

for at best six hours on a limited scale,

but the government said both sellers

and buyers in shopping malls must follow

the health rules," he said.

MH Chowdhury said all types of mass

gatherings should be controlled strictly,

but the government asked to hold public

exams maintaining health hygiene

rules, which is not possible.

"People are discouraged to go to

tourist and recreation spots, movie

houses and theatres, and all kinds of

fairs. But the Ekushey Book Fair is going

on in full swing," he pointed out.

Dr Lenin said the government has

instructed all to maintain health safety

rules in public transport, but people do

not do that for lack of monitoring.

"Strong enforcement of law is necessary

to force people to abide by those rules."

Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed, former director

(disease control) of the DGHS, said,

"The directives are not time-befitting

and consistent with the current pandemic

situation.

Ctg Metropolitan Swecchashebok

League to get new committee soon

s M akash

The conference of Chattogram

Metropolitan Swecchashebok League is

going to be held in the port city after much

discussion and much expected by the

grassroots leaders. The first conference of

Metropolitan Swecchashebok League will

be held on April 11, 2021 at the Institution

of Engineers in the presence of the

leaders of Central Awami

League, Metropolitan AL and

Swechchhasebak League.

Organizers said preparations

were in full swing,

fearing that the ongoing

Corona epidemic would be

hampered by so many events.

They are looking at the central

decision in the government's ban

on health regulations.

It is learned that a new committee

will be formed at the first conference of

Chattogram Metropolitan Swecchashebok

League after 21 years in the presence of

central leaders. The committee was

formed through a conference of allied and

fraternal organizations in the long-expired

Chattogram metropolis, but the idea that a

new committee could be formed or

announced from the center if the conference

is postponed due to the ongoing

Corona epidemic has sparked controversy.

It was decided by the Central Awami

League that immediately after the

Chittagong City Corporation election, the

expired committees of Awami League,

Jubo League, Chhatra League, Sramik

League, Swecchashebok League and

Krishak League would be dissolved and a

new committee would be formed.

In its continuation, some of the party

leaders want a new committee to be

formed through the conference.

The 21-member convening

committee of Chattogram

Metropolitan Swechchhasebak

League was formed

in July 2001

KBM Shahjahan, senior

joint convener of

Chattogram Metropolitan

Swecchashebok League

and former BCL leader, told

The Bangladesh Today, "We have

formed grassroots committees after

being given the responsibility." Although

there was a strong attempt to convene a

conference of the city committee, it did not

happen due to various reasons. This time

there is no one in the new committee

including me and the rest of our conveners.

Asked about the same, Chattogram

Metropolitan Awami League general secretary

and former city mayor AJM Nasir

Uddin told The Bangladesh Today, "I am

aware of the 11th Swecchashebok League

conference.

Water vessel's

passenger fares

have been

rescheduled

tbt report

Only deck class and seating class passenger

fares have been rescheduled for passenger

launches. As per the government

notification, the deck class and seating

class fares of domestic passenger launches

have been increased by 60% to implement

the directive to transport 50% passengers

in public transport. Passenger

fares have been rescheduled for the period

specified in the official notification. The

rent will be effective from today.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid

Mahmud Chowdhury MP said this at a

briefing in the conference room of the

ministry today. Among others,

Secretary of the Ministry Mohammad

Mezbah Uddin Chowdhury and BIWTA

Chairman Commodore Golam Sadeq

were present on the occasion.

Earlier, the Ministry of Shipping had

today approved BIWTA's proposal to

reschedule passenger fares.

The existing fare for inland passenger

launch is BDT 1.70 per km for a distance

of 100 km; For a distance of more than

100 km i.e. for every 100 km thereafter,

the passenger fare is BDT 1.40 per km and

the minimum fare is BDT 18 per person.

Rising commodity

price afflicts suffering

among the poor

shafiqul islaM

Exactly one year ago, a low wage earner

were able to buy 1 kg of thick rice at 34

to 40 taka. The costs now rose to 44 to

52 taka per kilogram at present market

rate. Rice prices have risen by more than

29 percent in one year.

Similarly, the price of soybean oil has

gone up by 50 percent from Tk 95 to Tk

105 per liter. Bottled soybean oil now

costs MRP 135 to 140 per liter. Not only

rice and oil but also other daily commodities

are on the rising. Besides,

prices of fish, chicken and vegetables

also increased. As a result the poor peoples

are in crisis.

It is a evident that the low-income

people have come under pressure from

rising prices of a few daily commodities,

including rice, oil, flour, sugar, broiler

chicken, beef, powdered milk, and garlic.

In the last three months, the prices of

daily necessities have gone up. The

country has been in trouble due to the

spread of Covid-19 for the last 11 months

or so. Many have lost their jobs. Many

have lost their salaries. The new job

market is also volatile. On the other

hand, small traders could not make up

for the loss. All in all, low-income and

poor people are having a hard time.

Mostafa Kamal, a private employee,

came to the Karwan Bazaar in the capital

last Wednesday afternoon. He was

bargaining with the seller to buy chicken.

He said that the price of Sonalika

chicken has exceeded three hundred

and fifty taka per kg. Soybean oil costs

139 taka per liter. One kg of flour costs

35-39 taka. Lemon is 40 taka. The price

of most vegetables is 40-50 taka per kg.

As soon as it comes in the market, the

pocket is getting empty.

the corona virus is killing many people every day. even then there was no full awareness among the

people. still they are wandering around without Mask. the photo was taken from the sayedabad bus

terminal in the capital on thursday.

photo: pba

JnU pleas for a Pro

Vice-Chancellor

Nakibul ahsaN Nishad, JNu CorrespoNdeNt

Jagannath University (JnU) Act does

not rule for the university to have a Pro

Vice-Chancellor. Although the university

has passed 15 years since its establishment,

the university is still running

without a Pro Vice-Chancellor. As a

result, academic, administrative, financial

and various developmental activities

of the university have been hampered

since establishment.

Teachers and students have urged the

administration for a long time to amend

the law, but the university administration

has not responded.

They say that if there is a Pro Vice-

Chancellor, the administrative complexity

of the university will be removed and

there will be no slowdown in academic

activities. Besides, various problems of

the campus including session jam will

be decrease very easily.

The former Dean of the Faculty of Life

and Earth Sciences, Professor Kazi

Saifuddin said in this regard, the work of

Pro Vice-Chancellor in our university is

being done by the treasurer. But the work

of the treasurer and the Pro Vice-

Chancellor is different. Due to the absence

of Pro Vice-Chancellor, our administrative

work has also come to a standstill. Despite

repeated appeals to the university administration,

our former vice-chancellor did

not take any steps to amend the law.

He also said when I was the president

of the teachers' association, there was no

step to include the clause of the Pro Vice-

Chancellor in the university law. Then I

took the signature on a petition from the

chairman of each department and submitted

it to the register. But the administration

did not submit it to the concerned

authorities and they delayed it.

Professor Noor Alam Abdullah,

President of Jagannath University

Teachers' Association said, "We need a

Pro Vice-Chancellor in our university." I

agree with the teachers and students on

this issue. We have been trying since 2016

and have also given a letter of recommendation

to the Vice-Chancellor on this

issue. We are still trying to get a Pro Vice-

Chancellor appointed to the university.

University NIL DAL President Prof.

Md. Zakaria Mia said, "We have applied

to the university more than once to

amend the law on the issue of vice-chancellor."

But the university did not submit

these applications to the government.

University authorities also did not

show any activity on the matter.

Other public universities in the country

have two vice-chancellors each. There is

no provision in our law to appoint it.

"We have Pro Vice-Chancellors in

many of our contemporary established

universities, we don't have them here,"

he added. Our university has more than

600 teachers. There are 106 professors

and 26 first grade professors. If the concerned

authorities want, they can

amend the law and appoint a Pro Vice-

Chancellor from our university.

When asked In this regard, the running

vice-chancellor of the university

Professor Kamaluddin Ahmed declined

to comment.

Sunflower cultivation in Khulna

Foreign envoys

to visit Bhasan

Char on April 3

DHAKA : Envoys representing Australia,

Canada, the European Union, France,

Germany, the Netherlands, the United

Kingdom, and the United States of

America will visit Bhasan Char on April

3 to see the facilities in place for

Rohingyas, reports UNB.

The Ambassadors and the High

Commissioners of the diplomatic missions

were invited to participate in a government-led

visit to Bhasan Char. This

visit by resident diplomatic envoys follows

the UN team's first visit to Bhasan

Char that took place from 17 - 20 March.

During this first visit to Bhasan Char

by some of the heads of mission whose

countries are contributing to the

Rohingya response, participants will

have an opportunity to see some of the

facilities and services on the island.

They will have a chance to meet with

relocated Rohingyas, authorities, and

others living and working there.

COVID-19 protocols will be followed in

accordance with the regulations and guidelines

of the Government of Bangladesh, said

a joint media release on Thursday.

Envoys look forward to continuing the

dialogue with the Government of

Bangladesh on its Bhasan Char project,

as well as with the UN and other relevant

partners following the visit.

Further conversations are needed,

especially between the Government of

Bangladesh and UN to discuss the policy

and technical issues in detail, it said.

The government has planned to relocate

1 lakh Rohingyas to Bhasan Char to decongest

the overcrowded camps in Cox's Bazar

that have temporarily been accommodating

nearly a million of Rohingyas with

many more thousands born each year.

Salinity no longer a barrier

severe water crisis has occurred in different parts of the capital. Women, children and the elderly from shanir

akhra, donia and Jatrabari areas were also seen standing in long lines to collect water. photo : star Mail

KHULNA : Salinization of soil is a serious problem in the

coastal areas of Bangladesh as it has adverse effects on crop

production. Despite the challenge, farmers in Khulna's coastal

areas have shown success in cultivating sunflower in fallow

saline land, reports UNB.

New possibilities have been created to meet the demand for

high quality sunflower oil. Farmers are also expecting bumper

yields at low cost.

Research is underway on sunflower cultivation

in the Robi season in the Salinity Management

and Research Center of Batiaghata upazila

of Khulna under Gopalganj-Khulna-

Bagerhat-Satkhira-Pirojpur Agriculture

Development Project (SRDI Organ).

Sunflower seeds have been sown in

wet soil here by 'dibbling method' after

harvesting Aman paddy in mid-

November. Then the roots of the

seedlings were tied and fertilizer was

applied. Three varieties have been used in

the study- Local, Bari Suryamukhi-2 and

Haisan-33. Of these, the yield of Haisan-33

variety has been good.

According to the chief scientific officer of the

Center for Salinity Management and Research, sunflower

is salinity-tolerant crop. As a result, there is huge potential

for sunflower cultivation in coastal areas.

Vast tracts of land remain unused in the south, after harvesting

aman paddy. It is difficult to grow any other crop easily as there

is salinity in the soil and water.By cultivating sunflower through

dibbling method, the fallow land will come under cultivation.

As it is an excellent oil crop, it will meet the demand of sunflower

oil which is very beneficial for human health. This technology

needs to be spread across the southern region to

encourage farmers to cultivate sunflower, he added.

According to the Khulna District Agriculture Extension

Department, 36 mts of sunflower was produced on 19 hectares

of land in the district in the 2016-2017 fiscal year.

In 2016-2017 , 9 metric tons of sunflower was

produced by cultivating 5 hectares of land in

the district while 2 metric tons was produced

on 1 hectare of land in the district

in 2018-19 FY. 32 metric tons of Kharif-

1 variety of sunflower was produced

on 14 hectares of land 2019-20 FY.

This year, sunflower have been cultivated

on more than 14 hectares of

land, they said.

Batiaghata Upazila Agriculture

Officer Rabiul Islam Janan said sunflower

is a salinity-tolerant crop. Its seeds

contain 40-45 percent linoleic acid. Also,

since this oil does not contain harmful erosic

acid, it is beneficial for heart patients.

As most of the land in the coastal area remains fallow

after planting paddy in the aman season, this crop will reduce the

amount of uncultivated land as well as meet the demand for sunflower

oil. Farmers' interest in cultivating this crop at low cost has

increased, he said adding seeing good yield, other farmers in the

area have also shown interest in sunflower cultivation.

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

02-04-2021

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?