08-04-2021
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thursday
Dhaka : april 8, 2021; Chaitra 25, 1427 BS; Shaban 24,1442 hijri
www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net
Regd.No.Da~2065, Vol.18; N o. 05; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00
InternatIonal
Boat, snowmobile,
camel: Vaccine reaches
world's far corners
Rafiqul held for
'provocative speech'
in Netrakona
DHAKA : Members of Rapid Action
Battalion (Rab) arrested Rafiqul Islam
Madani for delivering 'anti-state and
provocative speech on virtual platform,
reports UNB.
Tipped-off, Rab men arrested
Madani, widely known as "Shishu
Bokta" from Purbatola area of
Netrakona district early Wednesday,
said ASP Imran Khan, Deputy Director
of Media of Rab Headquarters.
Madadi was arrested earlier on
March 25 from Motijheel area during a
demonstration protesting the visit of
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of
Independence and later he was freed.
Zohr
>Page 7
Journalist assaulted
for not apologising
to Mamunul
NARAYANGANJ : A local journalist has
been assaulted by some Hefazat e Islam
supporters 'for not apologising' to Hefazate-Islam
leader Mamunul Haque. Victim
Habibur Rahman works as Sonargaon
correspondent for a private television
channel who covered the Saturday's incident
in Sonargaon, reports UNB.
Habibur was admitted for treatment
at Sonargaon Upazila Health Complex.
On Saturday, Hefazat's general joint
secretary Mamunul Haque was confined
by the locals to a resort room at
Sonargaon with a woman he claimed to
be his second wife.
Meanwhile, some local journalists
shared Facebook lives from the scene
interviewing Mamunul Hauque.
An accusation was raised by the
Hefazat supporters that journalist
Habibur harassed Mamunul.
As the accusation got viral in social
media, Hefazat workers threatened to
beat him. On Monday Habibur was visiting
his Vatir chor village home in
Sonmandi union where local Hefazat
men attacked him.
04:28 AM
12:10 PM
04:30 PM
06:22 PM
07:37 PM
5:43 6:18
sports
France chases two
medals from the
1904 Olympics
>Page 9
Bangladesh shatters its all-time
records of daily Covid cases
DHAKA : Bangladesh registered the
highest number of daily infections with
7,626 new cases and 63 more deaths
during the last 24 hours till Wednesday
morning amid the deteriorating coronavirus
situation, reports UNB.
With Wednesday's figure, over 7,000
new Coronavirus cases were recorded
for the fourth consecutive day, according
to a handout issued by the
Directorate General of Health Services
(DGHS).
With the new 63 deaths, the Covid-19
fatalities rose to 9,447 while the mortality
rate dropped slightly to 1.43 percent
from Tuesday's 1.44 percent.
The infection rate jumped to 22.02
percent from 21.02 percent on
Wednesday.
During the 24-hour period, 3,256
patients recovered, taking the number
of recoveries to 561,639, the DGHS
handout said.
Although the government enforced a
7-day lockdown from Monday restricting
people's movement, shutting
shops, markets and suspending operations
of public transport (bus, train
and domestic flights), people took it
lightly and movingaround freely defying
the restriction, posing risks of more
transmission.
However, the movement of city buses
resumed on Wednesday, two days after
the enforcement of the lockdown, as the
government has allowed public transport
services in city corporation areas.
Coronavirus claimed 568 lives in
Bangladesh in January this year, while
281 in February and 638 in March.
Bangladesh has so far recorded
659,278 coronavirus cases, the DGHS
handout added.
The number of daily cases and infection
rate had dropped below 5 percent
earlier this year but then the infection
rate continued to rise amid people's
reluctance about maintaining health
safety rules.
Hospitals are struggling to provide
treatment to the increasing number of
coronavirus patients with their limited
resources.
The government is increasing the number
of beds and Covid-designated hospitals
to deal with the situation.
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
4,882,565 samples, including 34,630 in
the last 24 hours, the DGHS said.
Among the latest victims, 41 died in
Dhaka division, 10 in Chattogram, 4 in
Rajshahi, two in each Khulna,
Mymensingh, one in Barishal and three
in Sylhet divisions.
So far, 5,439 coronavirus patients died
in Dhaka division, 1,684 in Chattogram,
517 in Rajshahi, 597 in Khulna, 280 in
Barishal, 332 in Sylhet, 381 in Rangpur
and 207 in Mymensingh divisions.
So far, 7082 men (74.97) and 2,365
women (25.03) died of Covid-19.
Myanmar refugees in Bhasanchar
coming under education program
Shafiqul iSlam
The government has taken initiative to
bring the children of displaced
Rohingyas from Myanmar who have
relocated to Bhasanchar in Noakhali
under education. A virtual inter-ministerial
meeting has been called on
Thursday (April 8) to decide in which
language these children will be taught.
The meeting will decide how to educate
these Rohingya children. Concerned
people said that it was a decision of the
government to bring Rohingya children
under literacy. The meeting has been
called to decide which methods and in
which language will be given.
The Minister of Education Dipu Moni
will preside at the meeting.
Representatives of the Chief Secretary to
the Prime Minister, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Department of Public Security of
the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of
Primary and Mass Education, Ministry
of Disaster Management and Relief and
Secretary of the two departments of the
Ministry of Education will attend the
meeting. Besides the concerned people,
institutions, NGO, DC, UNO & others
representatives have been asked to
attend the meeting.
Experts say it will not be right to give
conventional education to Rohingyas in
Bangladesh. According to them, if the
Rohingyas are given mainstream education,
they will be recognized as citizens
of Bangladesh. In this case, their
argument is that many of the
Rohingyas knows Arabic.
According to the Ministry of
Education, about 15,000 displaced
Myanmar nationals have been relocated
from Cox's Bazar refugee camp to
Bhasanchar (Asrayan Project-3) in
Char Ishwar Union of Hatia Upazila in
Noakhali District.
When asked, Additional Secretary
(Secondary-II) Mominur Rashid Amin
told that various foreign organizations
and NGOs are educating Rohingya children.
But officially there was talk of
bringing them under a program. Now
after going to Bhasarchar, the matter
Rohingya children are learning informally. Photo : Collected
has become more intense.
According to the Ministry of
Education, Thursday's meeting in
Bhasanchar will discuss what type of
education can be given to the displaced
Rohingyas of Myanmar. Older
Rohingyas only known Arabic. Not only
adults but also children will be taught
and in which language these issues will
be discussed. There will be no problem
with the teaching infrastructure in
Bhasanchar.
There are plentiful facilities. A related
NGO representative at the Rohingya
camp in Cox's Bazar, said Rohingya
children were taught Burmese, English
and math.
Because when they return to their
country, they can continue their education.
It would not be right to give them the
conventional education of our country
art & culture
Shahnoor in
mega serial
'Jamindar Bari'
>Page 10
The movement of city buses resumed on Wednesday, the 3rd day of the 7-day countrywide lockdown
but the passengers were not seen following the hygiene rules.
Photo : TBT
HC summons PK
Halder, 128 loan
defaulters
DHAKA : The High Court (HC) on
Wednesday summoned 129 loan
defaulters, including Proshanta Kumar
Halder, the disgraced director of
International Leasing and Finance
Service Ltd (ILFSL), to explain how
they would refund the borrowed
money, reports UNB.
They have been asked to appear
before the court on May 24, 25 with
plans so that they can pay the money in
installments within a reasonable time.
The bench of Justice Muhammad
Khurshid Alam Sarkar passed the order
on March 16. Written copy of the order
was presented in the HC on
Wednesday.
Lawyer of ILFSL advocate Mahfuzur
Rahman said the 129 loan defaulters,
including PK Halder, have to pay ILFSC
approximately Tk 1,800 crore.
Among the loan defaulters, 100 were
asked to appear on May 24 and 29 on
the next day, he said.
On January 21, the HC summoned
another 280 loan defaulters to appear
before it on February 23 and February
25. Among the defaulters, 158 appeared
before the court.
The HC asked them to pay the money
or face jail.
The court also imposed restrictions
on foreign visit of 122 loan defaulters as
they failed to appear before the court on
March 9.
Faulty bridge may cause
more accidents on
Shitalakkhya : State Minister
DHAKA : State Minister for Shipping
Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has said
that a faulty bridge on the Shitalakkhya
River may cause more accidents on the
busy waterway in the future, reports
UNB.
Chowdhury said passenger launch
'Sabit Al Hasan' sank after being hit by
a cargo vessel.
"We'll release our statement based on
the investigation report," he said in his
chief guest's speech at the 'River Safety
Week-2021' on Wednesday.
Bangladesh Inland Navigation
(Passenger Transport) Organization
President Mahbub Uddin Ahmed said
the river is narrow where the accident
had occurred. The pillars of the bridge
are hindering the plying of vessels.
"This accident could have been averted
if the Master (skipper) had slowed
down the vessel considering the narrow
channel," he said.
State Minister Khalid said he fears
there could be more accidents on the
Shitalakkhya River because of the narrow
channel and the bridge.
City bus services resume
on day 3 of lockdown
DHAKA : Finance Minister AHM Mustafa
Kamal yesterday said the government is
feeling well over the latest GDP growth
projection by the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) as it has upped its projection.
"Our forecasts are always based on actual
facts and figures. But their (IMF, World
Bank) projections are usually based on
assumptions… yet, they (IMF) have mentioned
well and it's good news for us. The
"feel factor" is good and we all are feeling
well," he said.
The finance minister was responding to
questions from reporters after chairing
virtually two separate meetings on
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
and the Cabinet Committee on
Government Purchase (CCGP).
The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
has raised its projection for the economic
growth of Bangladesh to 5 per cent for 2021,
up from 4.4 per cent it forecast in October.
The Washington-based multilateral
lender came up with the projection in its
World Economic Outlook, which was
published on Tuesday.
According to the IMF, the country will
DHAKA : The movement of city buses
resumed on Wednesday, the 3rd day of
the 7-day countrywide lockdown, as the
government has allowed public transport
services in city corporation areas.
However, the movement of city buses
in different areas of capital Dhaka was
thin due to a small number of passengers,
reports UNB.
"City buses started going back into
operation on Wednesday morning but
the number of buses is low. As the number
of passengers is low, owners are
operating a little number of buses," said
Joint Commissioner (Traffic North)
Abu Saleh Sheikh Russel.
Traffic Inspector (Mohakhali)
Asaduzzaman said "Buses have been
moving since morning within city corporation
areas but the number of buses
and passengers are low. As the government
has suspended the ride-sharing
services, we're filing cases against those
found operating the services."
"We're also monitoring whether people
are following health guidelines," he
said. Talking to UNB, Ashrafuzzaman,
manager of Alif Paribahan, said: "We're
operating 60 percent buses maintaining
health protocols. Usually, 200 vehicles
operate on four routes. As the number
of passengers is poor and long-haul
bus services have been suspended,
we're now operating 60 percent buses."
But the resumption of bus services
has apparently reduced the sufferings
of office-goers and commuters in the
capital.
Although Covid-19 cases and its fatalities
reached a new high on Tuesday
people are found largely reluctant about
obeying health rules and lockdown
restrictions.
However, experts said it will be difficult
to contain coronavirus infections
and deaths if a strict lockdown is not
enforced as the situation is turning
worse day by day.
Many patients are moving from one
hospital to another for beds or oxygen
support as most hospitals are occupied.
Private cars, rickshaws and auto-rickshaws,
microbus and CNG-run autorickshaws
and many ride-sharing services
were seen plying the streets like the
previous two days.
Shopping malls are closed as per the
government instruction but shops were
seen open in many areas.
The UNB correspondent found shops
in lanes and by-lanes open despite the
lockdown.
Govt feels well over IMF's latest
growth projection: Kamal
return to its high growth trajectory next
year, when the gross domestic product
(GDP) is projected to expand by 7.5 per cent.
The GDP will grow by 7.2 per cent in 2026.
According to the IMF's projection,
India's GDP would grow by 12.5 percent in
2021, Sri Lanka by 4 percent, Nepal by 2.9
per cent, and Pakistan by 1.5 per cent.
Earlier on March 31, the World Bank
projected Bangladesh's GDP to grow as
high as 5.6 per cent in the fiscal year 2020-
21. The finance minister said the World
Bank and the IMF makes projections
about the global economies from time to
time while it is a flexible sort of thing as
they often raise and lower those.
But, he said, no matter the lending
agencies give what kinds of projections,
the government would have to accomplish
its own tasks and thus move forward.
"We'll have to accomplish our tasks pursuing
practical aspects instead of theoretical
aspects as to ensure how we can
unleash much more development. Our
goal is to implement the ideas of our policy
perspectives in a timely and nice manner,"
he added.
ThursDAY, April 8, 2021
2
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N‡i N‡i we`ÿ rÕ
Community clinics, a blessing
for grassroots people, amid
COVID-19 pandemic
we`ÿ r/Rb-852 (2)/7/4/21
GD-611/21 (5x3)
DHAKA : When the deadly
novel corona virus (COVID-
19) has created havoc on the
people's life and livelihood as
well as the country's health
system since its outbreak in
March last year, the
community clinics have been
appeared as a blessing for the
grassroots people at that
critical time.
In such a life-threatening
situation, the community
health care providers
(CHCPs) of the community
clinics are continuing to carry
out the mission of providing
medicare services to the
common people at the
grassroots level throughout
the country amid the
pandemic.
Many patients are visiting
the clinics with COVID-19
symptoms though it is
difficult to diagnose. The
CHCPs are rendering health
care services to the patients
risking their life.
The health service
providers said the community
clinics are providing medicare
services to the rural people
regularly when many public
and private hospitals in urban
areas are struggling to keep
up their services due to
various problems like
shortage of doctors, other
staff and necessary health
equipment.
But at that time, the rural
people are getting free
treatment and medicines as
well from the community
clinics across the country. The
clinics have become a blessing
for the people, especially for
women and children.
The common people are
getting 30 types of health
service including awareness
advices about the COVID-19
from the community clinics.
The clinics have become the
only resort for the people near
their houses from where they
receive medical treatment
during the lockdown (general
vacation) across the country.
The countrymen heaved a
sigh of relief when Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina has
taken prompt initiatives to
bring COVID vaccines in the
country at a time when the
rate of infection of the super
contagious disease is surging
alarmingly.
The people are showing
their eagerness to take the
vaccine though they were not
interested in it at the
beginning. Even, many
people are visiting their
nearby community clinics
(CCs) to take the inoculation
though it is provided from
designated facilities.
GD-608/21 (5x3)
Farmers expect bumper Boro
yield in Panchagarh
GD-610/21 (7x3)
PANCHAGARH : Farmers
and Department of
Agricultural Extension (DAE)
officials are expecting bumper
Boro production during the
current season.
The Boro fields now take
greenish look as the tender
paddy plants are growing well
in all five upazilas of the
district.
The farmers are busy and
passing their time for
nurturing Boro plants and
giving fertilizers on the fields
with the hope of bumper
yield.
DAE office sources said
there is no fertilizer and water
supply shortage while no
pests attack took place,
making the agriculture
officers hopeful about
bumper production.
DAE sources said 30,125
hectares of land have been
brought under Boro
cultivation in the district with
the production target of
1,33,750 tonnes of fresh rice
this season.
DAE deputy director Md
Mizanur Rahman told BSS
that Boro cultivation has
exceeded by over 200
hectares of land in the district,
though the department fixed
the target of cultivation on 30,
125 hectares of land.
The Bangladesh Agriculture
Development Corporation
(BADC) distributed high
quality Boro seeds to the
farmers at fair price.
The DAE has also
distributed Boro seeds,
fertilizers and other
agriculture inputs among 200
farmers at free of cost to make
the cultivation programme a
success.
GD-609/21 (5x3)
AvBGmwcAvi/wegvb/40
07/04/2021
GD-612/21 (6x4)
THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021
3
Palak for acquiring technological
knowledge to lead changing world
DHAKA : State Minister for Information and
Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed
Palak yesterday inaugurated Grameen
Phone's Digital Skills Academy "GP
Explorers 2.0" through an online meeting.
At the meeting, addressing the youngsters
of the country he said that, "By only adapting
we can never lead the changing world. We
have to prepare ourselves to create
opportunities of leadership through the
acquisition of technology," said a press
release here.
Terming human resources as crucial and
valuable he said that, "If we can build
efficient human resources, it will be possible
to bring radical change in all fields including
economy."
Mentioning that the youth should acquire
technological knowledge constantly, the
state minister said that, "It would not be
possible to manage one's career for the rest
of one's life by acquiring skills in a particular
subject during the Fourth Industrial
Revolution." He also said that the present
government has been working relentlessly to
establish Bangladesh as a technologically
strong country.
"8,000 Sheikh Russell Digital Labs have
been set up at the secondary and higher
secondary levels at the initiative of the ICT
department to provide basic knowledge in
technology including coding and
programming to the youth of the country,"
Palak said.
He also said that, "Sheikh Kamal IT
Training and Incubation Centers and 300
Schools of the Future were being set up in 64
districts and the Sheikh Hasina Institute of
Frontier Technology was being set up to
enable the new generation to lead the
technology world in future."
"The Global Village and communication
has been reduced by about 70 per cent due to
the pandemic situation. But even in such a
hostile situation, Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina's dynamic leadership and timely
steps have made it possible to keep
Bangladesh's GDP at 5.2 percent.
Bangladesh has been able to gain the status
of a developing country from a least
developed country," Palak added.
He then urged the youth to use their ability
properly to build a prosperous Bangladesh.
Grameenphone CEO Yasir Ajman, Head of
Human Resources Department Aftab Uddin
Mahmud, Human Resource Professionals
Solaiman Alam and Farhana Islam also
spoke, among others.
Clothes traders blocked Shaheb bazar road of Rajshahi city yesterday demanding to open shop.
Photo : Star Mail
Chattogram: AL man
dies days after attack
by Hefazat activists
CHATTOGRAM : A
member of the Awami
League, who sustained
injuries in an attack by
activists of Hefazat-e-Islam
on Saturday, died during
treatment at a hospital in
Chattogram in the early
hours of Wednesday, police
said.
The deceased was
identified as Mohammad
Muhibullah, 54, a member
of Awami League's Kodala
union unit in Rangunia
upazila, reports UNB.
Mahbub Milki, officer-incharge
of Rangunia Police
Station, said that Hefazat
activists brought out a
procession in the Kodal
area on Saturday in protest
against the "illegal
detention" of their leader
Mamunul Haque from a
resort in the Sonargaon
area of Narayanganj
district.
DHAKA : Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul
Momen has said they should now
seriously considerregional or
multilateral
initiativesfor
therepatriation of Rohingyas to
Myanmaras itremains a compelling
priority for Bangladesh, reports UNB.
"Canada, with its global stature and
standing on human rights issues, may
consider taking a lead in such initiatives.
Bangladesh always stands ready to work
with Canada and other partners in this
direction," he said.
Dr Momen made the remarks while
addressing a webinar,"Evolving
Rohingya Crisis and International
Response: Canada's Future Role in
Repatriation and Accountability
Initiatives",held on Tuesday night.
The Foreign Minister said the
DHAKA : US Congressman Ted Deutch
(Democrat- Florida), an influential member
of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee,
has praised Bangladesh Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina for giving shelter to over one
million persecuted Rohingyas, reports UNB.
He emphasized that the House Foreign
Affairs Committee was fully seized with the
Rohingya issue and was willing to do more to
resolve this humanitarian crisis.
Congressman Deutch has expressed his
interest to bolster Bangladesh-US
cooperation on wide-ranging issues,
including climate change, counterterrorism,
and Rohingya issues.
He said this when Bangladesh
Ambassador to the United States, M
Shahidul Islam, met him at latter's Boca
Raton office in Florida recently.
Congressman Deutch also agreed to help
revitalize the Congressional Bangladesh
Caucus, an informal platform of
Bangladesh's friends in the US Congress that
has remained dormant since its Chair,
displaced Rohingyas are also desperate
to return homewithsafety and dignity at
the earliest possible.
"It's our collective responsibility to
help these distressed people materialise
their dreams and aspirations. Only
through our concerted efforts, sustained
repatriation can become a reality," he
said.
Bangabandhu Centre for Bangladesh
Studies in Canada (BCBS)in
cooperation with Conflict and Resilience
Research Institute Canada, organised its
first webinar on Rohingya crisis
resolution.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh in
Canada Dr Khalilur Rahman, Senator
Marilou McPhedran CM, Heather
McPherson,Brad Redekopp,
ProfessorJohn PackerandNeuberger-
PM shocked at
death of Sreepur
AL leader
Mustafizur
DHAKA : Prime Minister
and Awami League
president Sheikh Hasina on
Wednesday expressed deep
shock and sorrow at the
death of convenor of
Sreepur Upazila Awami
League under Gazipur
district Mustafizur Rahman
Bulbul, reports UNB.
She prayed for the eternal
salvation of the departed
soul and expressed
sympathy to the bereaved
family.
Mustafizur
Rahmanbreathed his last at
12amon Wednesday at a
Dhaka hospital. He was 67.
He left behind wife, a son,
two daughters and a host of
relatives and well wishers.
Meanwhile, AL general
secretary and Road
Transport and Bridges
Minister Obaidul Quader
also expressed deep shock
and sorrow at the death
ofMustafizur Rahman.
Congressman Deutch
lauds Hasina's role
over Rohingya issue
former Congressman Joseph Crowley, lost
his reelection bid in 2018.
Earlier, the Ambassador attended a
reception organized by the Bangladesh
Association of Florida.
Five City Mayors of West Palm Beach,
Boynton Beach, Pahokee City, Bele Glade,
South Bay, and two Commissioners of
Broward County and West Palm Beach
County were present.
The City Mayors and County officials
welcomed the opening of a new Consulate
General in Miami, Florida.
The Broward County Commissioner
presented the 'Key to the Broward County' to
the Ambassador.
The Bangladeshi American community of
South Florida expressed gratitude to Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina for opening
Bangladesh's third Consulate in Florida.
Community leaders, professionals, and
leading businessmen, including Mohammad
Zahir, Molla Fazlur Rahman, Junaid Akhter,
and Abdul Wahed Mahfuz were present.
Dhaka seeks serious regional, multilateral
initiatives over Rohingya repatriation
Jesin,Professor of International Conflict
Resolution, alsospokeon the occasion.
Dr Kawser Ahmed,Executive Director,
CRRIC,moderated the session.
The Rohingya crisis might turn into a
broader regional and global security
issue if not resolved sooner, the
speakerssaid.
They said Canada must step up with
pragmatic 'actions' and genuine
'willingness' regarding continuing
humanitarian assistance, imposing
effective economic sanctions and stop
investing in Myanmar, and support the
ICJ case.
A call for urgent multilateral action
would enable like-minded actors to
intervene in actualising safe and
dignified repatriation of Rohingyas to
Rakhine, they said.
DSCC Mayor Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh inaugurated the newly constructed Bashir Uddin
Sardar Park and Malitola Park in Islambagh on Wednesday.
Photo : TBT
1 killed in city
road crash
DHAKA : A man was killed
after an auto-rickshaw
rammed into a bus in the
capital's Nilkhet area on
Wednesday morning,
reports UNB.
The deceased has been
identified as auto-rickshaw
driver Golam Mostofa, 45, of
Rampura.
The accident occurred
when the auto-rickshaw hit
the front wheel of the bus at
the crossroad.
Inspector Bachchu Mia of
Dhaka Medical College
Hospital (DMCH) police
outpost said the driver of
Thikana Paribahan bus,
Jalal Mia, has been arrested
from DMCH area.
The body of the autorickshaw
driver has been
kept at DMCH morgue.
Ex-DUCSU GS
Morshed Ali
passes away
DHAKA : Former Dhaka
University Central Students'
Union (DUCSU) General
Secretary and control
commission member of
Communist Party of
Bangladesh
Bir
Muktijoddha Morshed Ali
passed away at
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib
Medical University Hospital
yesterday morning.
He was 78.
Morshed Ali left behind
his wife, a daughter and a
host of relatives and
admirers to mourn his
death.
Awami League General
Secretary and Road
Transport and Bridges
Minister Obaidul Quader
expressed profound shock
and sorrow at the death of
Morshed Ali.
In a condolence message,
he prayed for eternal peace
of the departed soul and
conveyed deep sympathy to
the bereaved family.
Brac engaging with
communities to build
Covid-19 resilience
DHAKA : BRAC provided
Covid-19 prevention
information to 37.56
million households and
conducted 13,985 safe
deliveries at BRAC
maternity centres in the
last one year.
Over 12 lakh households
in seven districts received
covid-19 prevention
messages between March
2020 and February 2021,
according to a statement on
Tuesday, reports UNB.
So far, BRAC has trained
and deployed 659
Community Support Team
(CST) members under
Dhaka North City
Corporation (DNCC) and
773 CST members under
Dhaka South City
Corporation (DSCC). In
addition, BRAC
community health workers
supported government
teams to track cases and
refer cases to national
facilities.
BRAC community
support team in the field
helping communities build
covid-19 resilience.
Due to upsurge the covid-
19 transmission, BRAC has
stepped up its communitydriven
response to deliver
essential healthcare
services to those most
vulnerable in an
undisrupted manner.
"BRAC will create
community resilience to
prevent transmission,
improve home management
and facilitate testing, taking
other stakeholders alongside
in the hotspots," said
Morseda Chowdhury,
associate director, BRAC's
Health, Nutrition and
Population Programme
(HNPP).
Referring to the
economic hardship novel
coronavirus has brought
upon particularly the low
and lower-middle income
people, she said that
hardware support in terms
of cash or kind nudges
behavioural
improvements.
Currently, community
support teams formed
under the HNPP are
operating in six districts
putting the communities at
the front and centre of the
mitigation strategy.
Funded by UK Foreign
Commonwealth and
Development Office
(FCDO), the project titled
"COVID-19 response
through community
mobilisation and
strengthening of
community clinics" is
operating in 51 upazilas in
Bagerhat, Bhola, Sherpur,
Narayanganj, Kishoreganj
and Bogra districts.
Under a separate project,
BRAC community support
teams are offering health
messages for behavioural
change of its programme
participants in two upazilas
in Gazipur. Implemented
with its own funding since
September 2020, the
initiative
titled
"Community-based Covid-
19 response project" offers
services in Kaliganj and
Kapasiaupazilas of
Gazipur.
In the project being
implemented in the first six
districts, community
support teams, each with
two community health
workers, are visiting doorto-door
to interact with the
households. Community
healthcare workers of the
government are also
involved in the process.
The teams offer
healthcare service
messages, including
maternal and child
healthcare service
packages. The teams try to
find out if any families have
members with covid-19
symptoms and refer them
to upazila health complex,
if found any.
BRAC has also taken
initiative to form COVID-
19 prevention committees
having both influential
figures and common
people from the localities as
members, all of whom
actively engage in
sensitising people on
coronavirus prevention
through awareness
messages.
To ensure treatment of
suspected or covid-19
patients, BRAC is also
offering training and
logistic support to the local
family planning centres
and community clinics.
So far, 27,000 covid-19
suspects have been
identified in these 51
upazilas. These committees
along with BRAC's
community support teams
are relentlessly spreading
awareness messages on
health and hygiene,
including those to prevent
coronavirus to 12 lakh
households in this area.
They also distributed 12
lakh masks and installed
50,000 hand washing
stations in these upazilas.
On the other hand, the
project being implemented
in two upazilas of Gazipur
aims to raise awareness of
the community to
minimise covid-19
transmission in the
Kaliganj
and
Kapasiaupazilas and refer
patients with symptoms to
the nearest healthcare
centres.
Former Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) General Secretary and control commission
member of Communist Party of Bangladesh and valiant Freedom Fighter Morshed Ali has been
awarded the Guard of Honor.
Photo: PBA
THUrSDay, aPrIL 8, 2021
4
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Thursday, April 08, 2021
Role of
remittance
ABangladesh Bank study reports that remittance sent
by expatriates is mostly used for consumption and in
the "non-productive" sectors in the country. The
survey conducted in 2011 found 90% of remittances were
used for meeting basic needs. Seventy-five percent of
households receiving remittance spent those on food, 42%
on loan repayment, 65% on education, 57% on treatment,
49% on marriage and 4% on running legal battles (multiple
responses allowed). Experts described these as failure of
successive governments to act on diverting the remittances
into "productive" sectors instead of consumption.
Nothing could be further from truth even if we assume
for the sake of argument that all remittances go to finance
consumption plus acquisition of assets such as land.
The criticism is flawed for several reasons. Remittances
in Bangladesh are generally a contribution to the family
budget, not capital flows. Given the socio-cultural and
educational background of the majority of migrant
households, they are generally ill-prepared to undertake
risky activities. Evidence from some countries including
Bangladesh shows that the pattern of expenditure is
invariant between remittance-receiving and non-receiving
households when controlled for income and socio-cultural
differences.
Spending remittances on consumption often contributes
to improved health, education and human capital,
enhancing both private and public welfare. It may be that in
many cases a significant part of the remittance-related
investment increases stock of wealth of the migrant
household in the form of land, housing and jewelry. But
these have indirect macro-economic effects on
development. They provide a monetary base for the supply
of credit that can be used as investment capital. Whether or
not the supply of additional credit will actually be used for
investment purposes depends on the efficacy of the banking
system, the government and, more generally, on the overall
investment climate.
In Bangladesh as elsewhere, remittances have a related,
but distinctive type of positive effect on the rural economy
where lack of effective demand is often a serious constraint
on economic growth. A large part of the remittances is
almost invariably spent on locally produced goods and
services. New demands for a variety of goods and services,
largely from a class within society that had previously little
purchasing power, have a powerful impact on production of
both tradable and non-tradable labor-intensive goods and
services, land markets, construction and spread of banking
and commerce. The consequent stimulus given to local
industry, through better utilization of installed capacity or
creation of new productive units, far exceeds the value of the
initial rounds of expenditure. By generating a multiplier
effect they stimulate aggregate demand, output and income.
Analyses of the dynamic macro-economic impact of
remittance induced expenditure show that its multiplier
effect on GNP could be as high as 1:2 or 1:3. In other words,
a remittance of $1 million could increase the country's GNP
by more than $2 to 3 million. Remittances in Bangladesh are
estimated to have a multiplier effect of 1:2.1 on GNP in the
long run.
Some caveats deserve mentioning. When remittances
lead to increased trading of existing goods, such as houses
and land, the expenditure may increase the stock of wealth
and investment of the family, not the country. However,
except in highly implausible cases where the supply of
production inputs is completely inelastic and factors are
immobile, increased demand due to remittance induced
expenditure lead over time to increased growth and
employment, even if it creates inflation in the short term.
Nonetheless, the slow response of input supplies could well
be a real problem, reducing the multiplier effect of
remittance expenditure on income and output. This may be
exacerbated if in the face of rising inflation at the local level
the central bank adopts a tighter monetary policy, thus
offsetting some of the local multiplier effect by stifling
demand elsewhere in the economy.
The nature of linkages between the remittance-receiving
localities and the national economy also influences the
remittances' multiplier effect on the overall economy. When
remittances are concentrated in limited areas, as is the case
in Bangladesh, the growth impulses of the multiplier are not
likely to be transmitted to the national economy. However,
to the extent that the remittance-receiving areas are
integrated with the rest of the economy, a good part of the
benefits of remittances tends to be passed on to other parts
of the country. The overall development effect of remittances
cannot be fully gauged by focusing on the remittancereceiving
communities alone without accounting for the
positive effect of remittances to the other parts of the
economy.
Summing up, remittances can make a positive impact on
output growth and overall economic performance under two
economy-wide conditions. First, the economy has an
integrated productive structure capable of responding
positively to the stimuli of remittances from abroad. Second,
the country has sound macro-economic policies, political
stability, and an investment-friendly environment,
including an efficient financial system and public
administration. Remittances, by themselves, cannot create
these conditions. Absent such conditions, remittance still
increase welfare by supplementing budgets of the recipient
households, providing the foreign exchange needed for
financing imports related to domestic consumption and
investment, and deepening the deposit base as well as the
income sources of the domestic banking system.
Wisdom of Crowds for innovative teaching
The most fundamental contribution
of education is to enable people to
better themselves to engage
themselves in socially productive tasks to
build a stronger nation economically and
otherwise. The assumption is that at the
end of an academic programme, the
learners, i.e., the students, would acquire
capabilities that, in turn, would add to
the competitive advantage of their
respective countries through
technological and also non-technological
means. This fits well in an input-output
model in which the inputs are the
students. They are also the outputs but
having gone through a transformation
system, i.e., an educational process that
makes them professionally more capable
through value addition. The question is
whether any value has been added
during the learning process, and if so,
what is its quantum. This is where the
question of teaching and assessment
comes in.
In recent times, questions have been
raised publicly about education's
effectiveness because it consumes a
substantial national GDP at the national
level. Accordingly, the demand for an
accountable and transparent teaching
and assessment system has been
noticeable. While we have witnessed an
unprecedented level of growth in Higher
education in Bangladesh over the past
three decades, change was mainly within
the private sector. Both the number of
higher educational institutions and the
number of students in this sector
reached an unprecedented level. The
country has already proved it is in a rapid
growth trajectory and is becoming one of
the world's most expanded economies.
Therefore, growth and development
must go hand in hand. Now is the time
for the nation to have a more robust
education policy, and institutions must
be more agile to adapt and change their
Dr P. r. DaTTa
Blended Learning Center (BLC) can be the Role Model for Online Education
The corona virus
(COVID-19)
pandemic is
the defining global
health crisis of our
time and the greatest
challenge we have
faced since the
Second World War. Second wave of
Corona began to hit in Bangladesh as well
as worldwide which effects and paralyzes
our normal life. County is now facing Lock
Down for second time.
At this pandemic the sector which is
facing lockdown in Bangladesh for more
than a year is education. Schools, colleges,
universities or even their residential halls
are still locked down. Online activities are
gaining momentum day by day.
Educational institutions for their survival
are also trying to continue academic
activities through online platform. Due to
lack of previous practice and incorporation
of well equipped modern facilities
maximum institutions are facing lot of
troubles and obstacles for smooth
operation of online academic activities.
But there is an institution, and that's not
in any developed country, rather in this
developing Bangladesh, which hasn't
waited much even for a single day to
continue its all sorts of academic and
administrative activities. That is Daffodil
International University (DIU). The
greatest weapon that DIU is currently
using is its own Blended Learning Center
(BLC), Learning Management System
(LMS) and Go Edu platform. DIU started
using online platform BLC from the day
one it faced lockdown. Not only that DIU
recognized as Digital University has the
earlier experience of conducting classes
through online platform since 2013.
100% academic activities of the
university are going on in full swing
smoothly using the BLC platform which
DIU started in 2013. As the teachers and
students have earlier experience and are
habituated with online platform for the
last 8-10 years, so it becomes very easy for
them to conduct academic and
administrative activities. As a part of
complete automation and digitalization,
the university has combined the strength
of its BLC platform for performing
academic activities and Smart Edu for
administrative purposes".
Blended Learning Center (BLC) is the
unique digital teaching and learning hub
of Daffodil International University. The
platform aims to connect teachers and
students effectively allowing teachers to
track progress of individual students and
better facilitate their learning.
Daffodil International University has
reputation as the pioneering digital
university in Bangladesh. As the process of
its digitalization DIU has been developing
BLC from 2013 and equipping students
and teachers compatible to work with this.
An efficient and active team is working for
the continuous development and training
of teachers and students. Apart from that
approaches to align with current needs.
To address global dynamism,
institutions must move with the trends
and time. Innovative teaching and
assessment are essential to provide
adequate scaffolding for knowledge and
develop a moral citizen. However, it
seems we are losing day by day the true
meaning of educational philosophy that
knowledge is an internal manifestation,
and all educational system must
recognise and discover this. Independent
learning is not the current norm of our
education; instead, it is tutors driven in
which students are bombarded with
information in a mechanical way.
Innovative teaching approaches are
imperative to enhance learners' learning
experiences. Assessment should not be a
one-time exercise at the end of a
programme but needs to be continuous.
As a course progresses, there should be a
diagnostic exercise to identify students'
strengths and weaknesses so that there is
definite progress in the students'
achievement - that weaknesses are
minimised, and their strengths are
maximised. Periodically, therefore, there
should be home tasks, class tests and
group assignments throughout the
programme. This assessment phase,
referred to as formative assessment, is
meant to enhance the students' learning
process, mainly through feedback. There
is another aspect to it that should not be
missed the sight of. In this phase, if
MD. aNowar HaBIB KazaL
the academic departments also poured
their heart and soul to equip themselves
with the tools and technologies available in
the BLC platform within the shortest time
possible. As a result, Daffodil
International University (DIU) had been
successfully conducting online classes
from the start of Covid-19 pandemic using
the BLC platform, LMS, and Go Edu
platform
At the beginning of the transformation
to fully online class, there were some
problems with the poor internet
connection for the students located in
remote locations of the country. However,
because of the low data functionality of
BLC, DIU has overcome the problem
within a very short time. Along with it,
DIU also worked on collaborating with
Grameen Phone and Robi to bring in a low
price data package for its students.
At this pandemic, the university has
been successfully completing all academic
and administrative activities through
online and served the majority of its
students located in remote locations of the
country. Presently the university could
successfully accommodate over 29000
users including students, teachers and
administrators, Over 7154 courses in the
BLC platform with a strong cloud based
infrastructure.
BLC is a well structured & robust e-
Learning Management System and is a
one stop solution to create, organize,
communicate & manage courses. BLC is
very simple to use & manage for teachers &
students with incredibly powerful plug-ins
and integrations. The platform comes with
a drag and drop Course Builder that helps
teachers to publish courses with ease. It is
convenient to add or create (link or
embed) course materials, new lessons
videos, audio, PowerPoint, drive
resources, any files from desktop, and
even interactive contents. The platform
contains over 25 inbuilt features along
with hundreds of plug-ins and integrations
that extends the possibilities for the
teachers to engage their students in
multiple and flexible ways.
Quizzes, assignments, forums and
online workshops provoke curiosity and
make students participate in courses
more. It comes with the most advanced
quiz creator allowing teachers to set any
kind of questions with ability to set timed
quiz and track the attempts of the
students. With this, the teachers can
maintain the quiz quality and integrity of
the quiz or examinations. The platform
also is integrated with Turnitin Plagiarism
checker to present teachers with the
properly conducted, the students,
through participation and contribution
to completing their group assignments,
can learn the outstanding contribution
that group culture/teamwork makes to
managerial effectiveness- an important
factor in organisational performance
often underestimated. Students are
examined and receive marks and grades
for their performance in the final phase
of assessment, referred to as summative
assessment.
The main thrust of teaching and
assessment is to establish the
effectiveness of teaching and learning as
it seems we are losing day by day the true meaning of educational philosophy
that knowledge is an internal manifestation, and all educational
system must recognise and discover this. Independent learning
is not the current norm of our education; instead, it is tutors driven in
which students are bombarded with information in a mechanical way.
such. A properly executed diagnostic and
formative assessment will show their
impact on how far the participants have
moved along the path of higher-order
skills as propounded by Bloom (Bloom's
Taxonomy). The summative assessment
will be the ultimate test to show how far
the transformation process has enriched
the students. If properly conducted, the
students will now be that much more
confident to face the world of
employment. If this were to happen at a
national level, society would be that
much stronger. But its impact does not
end here. As alumni, it is well known,
and students significantly influence their
alma maters in curriculum formation to
take their universities/colleges further
ahead. In turn, this will have its effect on
the teaching faculty as well. Assessment
is, thus, holistic and should not be seen
originality report of the students'
submissions.
With these many options, teachers are
able to set questions to assess the students
following Bloom's Taxonomy so that the
teachers can easily identify what level of
understanding they (students) are at
present and accordingly provide them
further guidelines. All assessment results
are accumulated automatically to a highly
customizable grade book which gives the
teachers an overview of how each student
is performing in the course. Students can
also see their records anytime from there
so that they can plan and prepare better
for the next assessments. In a word the
platform has increased the transparency
and integrity for both the students and
teachers. The examination section of the
university can also track and check these
records that allow them to ensure the
examination quality and integrity.
The BLC Platform also supports
multiple instructors for a single course.
This is helpful for teachers to collaborate
with one another in preparation for the
course and also improve the content
The greatest weapon that DIU is currently using is its own Blended
Learning Center (BLC), Learning Management System (LMS) and Go Edu
platform. DIU started using online platform BLC from the day one it faced
lockdown. Not only that DIU recognized as Digital University has the earlier
experience of conducting classes through online platform since 2013.
quality. Departments can also keep course
repositories separately in the platform so
that teachers can update their courses
from time to time before offering the
courses for the new semester.
Departments can also check these
repositories and provide guidelines to
teachers on the improvement scopes.
Moreover, the BLC platform has its own
analytics tool with three separate
dashboards: Teacher Dashboard, Student
Dashboard and Admin Dashboard. With
it, the teachers can check the performance
of their students and their courses from a
single dashboard and get a detailed report
on their courses with a few clicks.
Similarly, the students can also get insight
on their present performance from various
courses so that they can prepare well and
get organized or take help from their
teachers. The Admin Dashboard let the
university management gain insight and
report on the overall performance and
activities of the platform allowing them to
ensure teacher and student success. The
reports are segmented into useful insight
points like active teachers, course
completion, teacher engagement,
abnormal grades, innovative teachers,
active students, at risk students and so on.
These reports can also be sorted according
to the Faculties, Departments and
Semesters. Also it is possible to get reports
of a custom period of time.
One of the greatest upsides to teaching
online through BLC is that the classes can
as bureaucratically burdensome if it is
properly conducted and is weighed in
cost-benefit terms.
However, sadly, teaching, learning and
assessment paradigms in Bangladesh
seems in its fixed mindset and does not
want to move from their primitive nature
to a large extent. It still lacks a coherent
approach to provide a heuristic and
robust nature of learning experiences to
students. Most assessments are based on
rigorous examinations at the end of the
semester, while teaching is till one-way
communication and tutors driven. To
make teaching and assessment students
centric the institutions and educators
should focus on innovative practices that
are only possible when collective
intelligence is given consideration. The
wisdom of crowds in teaching and
assessment will enhance learners
learning experiences and knowledge.
The introduction of flipping classroom
& collaborative teaching will enable
learners to change active users'
knowledge from passive learners. That
will help them to become more confident
and master of their field. In the age of
globalisation & unprecedented
technological advancement, we must
focus on students' teaching experience
and create a growth mindset with the
multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary
understanding that makes compound
knowledge. Today's students are more
prone to social media network and
technological platforms. These become
an indispensable tool for many students
and educators to gather information and
communicate to the broader audience.
Many organisations and social network
users use crowds' wisdom to collect data
for the decision-making process.
The Writer is Executive Chair,
Centre for Business & Economic
Research, UK
be easily made visually appealing, with
videos from multiple sources like
YouTube, google, drive, edpuzzle, H5P
interactive content. To create courses for
the students, teachers can upload a variety
of multimedia files, images, PDFs, docs,
excel sheets and so on. Teachers also can
assign custom badges based on the
activities in the courses. Students find it
very encouraging and rewarding to engage
in the course activities to earn those
badges.
Students can interact freely with the
problem discussion forum sections, where
they can comment and ask questions to
the teachers, students can also review, rate
and give feedback on their courses.
Teachers also take periodic feedback and
surveys from the students from within the
BLC platform.
The BLC platform is currently based on
an intellectually designed cloud
infrastructure suggested by both locally
and internationally recognized experts
which enables the students to learn
regardless of their remote location or
internet connectivity and makes learning
interactive and lively. In the recent
semester DIU teachers have initiated a
total of 1647 courses through the BLC
platform where over 16000 active
students are engaged and continuing their
studies online. The university also has the
technology to conduct various learning
webinars aiming to develop both teachers
and students and through which students
get the opportunity to have classes with
world's renowned professors.
It is Daffodil International University
(DIU), relentlessly striving for the
betterment of higher education in national
and international levels. One of the
challenges that private universities face is
regarding credibility, transparency and
validity. The university is continuously
excelling in world rankings with its
education and researches. Even at this
pandemic situation, still Daffodil
International University is running with
its usual pace, even faster.
Lots of students fear about session jam
in the coming future. But, DIU has
inspired other institutions to run the
operations even in this crisis. Not only the
academic, any institution can be
encouraged by its effort like SmartEdu. In
the next challenging New Normal world,
where even survival might be a big factor,
Daffodil International University is
committed to build its students as fully
fitted with entrepreneurial mindset and
technological expertise. The University is
indeed leading the country's education
from the front during the pandemic. DIU
is now getting ready to contribute in
Udemy, CourseEra etc. famous online
learning platforms. It is therefore
progressing beyond national boundary
and to contribute worldwide.
Md. Anowar Habib Kazal, Senior
Assistant Director (Public Relations),
Daffodil International University
THurSdAY, APrIl 8, 2021
5
China-Iran relations and the issue of massive investment
William Figueroa
On March 26, Iran and China signed an agreement
expressing a desire to increase cooperation and trade
relations over the next 25 years. This Strategic Cooperation
Agreement, as it is officially known, has been hailed as a
massive overhaul of Sino-Iranian relations that will see China
invest anywhere from $400 to $600 billion in Iran, with
some estimates running as high as $800 billion.
Proponents of the deal hail the onset of mutually beneficial
relations between two influential Asian countries with a
shared desire to reduce and resist U.S. influence in the
region. China is seen as a vital lifeline for a country weakened
by sanctions and diplomatic isolation. After eight years of
courting the West with nothing to show for it, many Iranians
across the political spectrum are hungry for a new way
forward. China represents a change of course - whether as a
new potential partner or a "China Card" for leverage in Iran-
U.S. negotiations.
Opponents paint a much bleaker picture. Some analysts
have expressed concerns that the deal threatens U.S. goals in
the Middle East, or the fundamental stability of the region
itself. Others have gone further and explicitly called China
and Iran "the new Axis of Evil." On social media, Iranians
have decried rumors that the deal will lead to nuclear waste
dumped in the desert and islands in the Gulf sold to China.
The agreement has been called a "New Treaty of
Turkmanchay," referring to the 19th century treaty that saw
Qajar Iran cede territory to the Russian Empire. Others claim
that Iran will be flooded with Chinese workers and crimeridden
Chinatowns.
Between the clashing narratives of the agreement "selling
Iran to China" and "America defeated," what is the truth of
the matter? The text of the agreement has not yet emerged,
and likely will not be published, so all analysis must be
tempered with caution. However, a draft of the agreement
leaked last summer, and it is unlikely the text substantially
changed in the intervening six months. Furthermore,
multiple outlets report that their sources have said there is
little changed from the leaked agreement. What can be said
about the deal based on this leaked draft?
First off, nowhere in the text of this or any other official
document or pronouncement is any numerical figure
mentioned. There are also no provisions whatsoever for the
sale of islands, military bases, occupation, or anything that
would sustain the other alarmist claims. This has been
thoroughly debunked by multiple scholars, and a quick
glance at the text will confirm their claims. While the draft
itself appears to be genuine, the claims of $400 billion of
Chinese investment and massive military concessions can be
Why the 25-Year China-Iran Strategic Cooperation Agreement isn't a "big deal," literally or
figuratively.
Photo: Ebrahim Noroozi
traced to a poorly sourced Petroleum Economy article from
2019, which has since been taken offline.
First off, nowhere in the text of this or any other official
document or pronouncement is any numerical figure
mentioned. There are also no provisions whatsoever for the
sale of islands, military bases, occupation, or anything that
would sustain the other alarmist claims. This has been
thoroughly debunked by multiple scholars, and a quick
glance at the text will confirm their claims. While the draft
itself appears to be genuine, the claims of $400 billion of
Chinese investment and massive military concessions can be
traced to a poorly sourced Petroleum Economy article from
2019, which has since been taken offline.
hinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the
day after that the China-Iran Strategic Comprehensive
Agreement "neither includes any quantitative, specific
contracts and goals nor targets any third party, and will
provide a general framework for China-Iran cooperation
going forward."
he same day, Reza Zabib, head of East Asia at Iran Foreign
Ministry, called the agreement a "non-binding document." In
response to why the text has not been published, he claimed
that "there is a legal requirement to publish agreements;
however, the publication of non-binding documents is not
common." Both sides have now admitted that the plan
contains no "quantitative, specific contracts" and is a "nonbinding
document." In my view, this confirms what was
signed was little changed from the leaked agreement last
summer. The agreement can best be described as an
aspirational document. It is a signal that Iran may grow
closer to China, but not a guarantee. It provides no methods
for enforcement, measurable goals, or specific programs. It
calls for vague "cooperation" through "enhancement of
contacts" in several areas. China also pledged to increase
investment in Iran tenfold in 2016, with little progress to
show for it five years later. In fact, Chinese investment has
decreased substantially since then.
It is notable that both pledges came in the wake of a new
U.S. president with a new foreign policy. This does not mean
that China-Iran ties are driven by U.S. policy, but the tendency
to trumpet them, and exaggerate them, is partly driven by the
desire to project strength internationally.
Whether the agreement would be "mutually beneficial"
depends on what perspective one takes. For the Iranian state,
it provides several benefits: a stable partnership with China
means a stable market for oil at a time when U.S. sanctions
have seriously hurt its revenues. It also projects an image of
strength and represents an attempt to break out of the
diplomatic isolation imposed by the United States. For China,
it provides similar benefits - a stake in a major source of oil
(although Iran provides a tiny fraction of China's overall oil
imports), a large foreign market for Chinese goods (although
one that requires a lot of investment), and both real and
symbolic progress toward the realization of the Belt and Road
Initiative and the expansion of China's global reach.
From the perspective of the Iranian people, things look
very different. Questions of "selling Iran" aside, closer
relations with China remain unpopular with many segments
of the Iranian population, who often object to the flood of
cheap, low-quality Chinese goods, which wreak havoc on the
local economy and cause a "race to the bottom." Some do not
consider China a stable partner, pointing to the fact that it
has pulled out of many deals with Iran in the past. Rather
than asking if the agreement is mutually beneficial to China
and Iran, it would be better to consider a different version of
that question: "Who in Iran and China does it benefit?"
Reports in the Iranian media have reflected this hesitation.
The official Fars News agency described the agreement as
"somewhat ambiguous, and on the other hand, in some
cases, Iran has had bitter experiences in dealing with other
countries. It has pros and cons." The report discusses general
plans for cooperation between banks and infrastructure
projects related to the "New Silk Road" and the Belt and
Road Initiative, but acknowledges the agreement is a
"roadmap." Discussing technology transfer, it urges that "if
Iran wants to make progress… it should not wait for the other
side" and needs to develop "a long-term plan" before
entering into specific agreements. Chinese investors are
"encouraged" to invest in Iran's various free economic zones,
such as Maku along the Turkish border, Qeshm island in the
Strait of Hormuz, and the strategic Arvand Free Zone near
that Shatt al-Arab.
The Huawei factor in US-India relations
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Japanese Foreign Minister MotegiToshimitsu meet the press
in Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 29, 2020.
Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Is the China-Japan thaw over?
Shannon Tiezzi
Ahead of Japanese Prime Minister
Suga Yoshihide's first trip to
Washington, D.C. - and after an
inaugural 2+2 meeting with Biden
administration officials in Tokyo -
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi
warned his Japanese counterpart not to
be "misled by some countries holding
biased view against China."
"The two sides should cherish and
safeguard the hard-won overall
situation of improvement and
development of China-Japan
relations… and ensure that bilateral
relations do not flip-flop, stagnate or
backpedal, and do not get involved in
the so-called confrontation between
major countries.," Wang told Japanese
Foreign Minister MotegiToshimitsu in
a phone call on April 5, according to a
read-out from China's Foreign
Ministry.
The call between Wang and Motegi
was aimed at calibrating China-Japan
relations in the midst of early outreach
from the Biden administration in the
United States. Beijing was alarmed by
unusually stern language regarding
China during foreign and defense
minister talks in Tokyo in March, and
wants to warn Japan against similar
signaling during Suga's visit to the
United States, starting on April 16.
After a Japan-U.S. 2+2 meeting in
Tokyo on March 16, the two countries'
foreign and defense minsters issued a
joint statement that "acknowledged
that China's behavior, where
inconsistent with the existing
international order, presents political,
economic, military, and technological
challenges to the Alliance and to the
international community." The second
paragraph of the statement was
essentially a list of shared concerns
about Chinese behavior, from "China's
unlawful maritime claims and activities
in the South China Sea" to the need for
"peace and stability in the Taiwan
Strait" to human rights concerns in
Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
As Yuki Tatsumi commented in an
analysis for The Diplomat Magazine,
"the degree of specificity with which the
joint statement lays out the two
countries' concerns vis-à-vis China is
unprecedented." The inclusion of a
reference to the Taiwan Strait in the
statement was a particularly notable
first, given Japan's reluctance to
mention Taiwan in the past.
"We urge the United States and
Japan to immediately stop interfering
in China's internal affairs, stop forming
the anti-China clique, and stop
undermining regional peace and
stability," Zhao added.
Wang's phone call, while more
diplomatic in tone, conveyed a similar
message: Beijing is unhappy with
Tokyo's new forward-leaning stance, in
concert with the United States. "China
hopes that Japan, as an independent
country, will look at China's
development in an objective and
rational way, instead of being misled by
some countries holding biased view
against China," Wang said. He
acknowledged Japan's alliance with the
United States, but pointed out that
"China and Japan have also signed the
Japan-China Treaty of Peace and
Friendship, so Japan also has the
obligation to fulfill the treaty."
For his part, Motegi repeated the
Japanese insistence that "the Japan-
U.S. alliance does not target any
specific third party." He continued:
"Japan attaches great importance to its
relations with China and remains
committed to ensuring the steady
development of Japan-China
relations."
At stake is a fragile thaw in China-
Japan relations that began under
former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.
China-Japan relations were in a deep
freeze throughout much of Abe's nearly
eight-year stint at prime minister,
thanks to his flirtation with historical
revisionism (including a controversial
visit to Yasukuni Shrine in 2013). Yet
even while Abe became a champion of
the resurrected Quad and the Trans-
Pacific Partnership - both seen in
Beijing as "anti-China" - he
simultaneously managed a tentative
warming in relations with Beijing.
ArindrajitBasu
Uncertainty and speculation on
Huawei's future role in India continues,
with journalists and pundits
attempting to predict the government's
decisions on future engagement with
the Chinese telecommunications giant.
Major business relief for the firm came
on March 6 when mobile carrier Bharti
Airtel awarded Huawei a telecom
infrastructure contract worth $41.12
million to expand its National Long
Distance Network (NLD), which is
presently run by Huawei. However, just
five days later, on March 11, a media
report quoted two anonymous
government officials claiming that the
center is likely to block mobile carriers
in the country from using telecom
equipment made by Huawei amidst
security fears.
Huawei, which was forced to lay off a
majority of its local staff in July 2020
due to sidelining by the Indian
government, remains resolute in its bid
to remain in the Indian market.
Speaking with the Business Standard
on January 16, Huawei India CEO
David Li made it clear that "Whenever
there's a chance, we make our point
that we have a good record and we
create value… Also, we are here as a big
contributor and are fully compliant."
He further stressed that while the road
map of the 5G auction is uncertain, they
will continue to engage with
stakeholders.
Since the breakdown in Sino-Indian
relations following the Galwan Valley
border clashes in June 2020, Chinese
technological presence and
investments in India have been facing
the heat. A slew of restrictions on
Chinese tech including the banning of
several Chinese apps and a press note
placing cumbersome restrictions on
foreign direct investment in India
(indirectly aimed at China) give the
impression that Huawei's inroads into
India may be faltering at the hands of
regulatory intervention, even though
India is yet to articulate a clear official
stance on the company's future.
All the while, there are many open
questions about how the Biden
administration in the United States will
maintain or alter the Trump
administration's decisions on Huawei
and on Chinese technology writ large,
from entity list export controls to
broader diplomatic engagement on the
security risks of Chinese technology
and Beijing's influence over the
Chinese tech sector.
The two countries' decisions around
Huawei thus have implications not just
for the future of Sino-Indian relations
or U.S.-China relations, but for
relations between India and the United
States as well. Huawei first entered
India as far back as 1999 when it set up
a research and development (R&D)
center in Bangalore focusing on
telecom hardware. This remains its
largest overseas R&D center. Since
then, it has made inroads both into the
retail market segment, where it sells
consumer goods like smartphones, and
into the telecom segment selling
equipment and software to network
carriers. While Huawei could easily be
replaced in the consumer segment (for
example, Huawei only has a 2.5 percent
share of the mobile phone market
across India), shunting Huawei out of
the telecom segment throws up more
complexities.
Several major network carriers rely
on Huawei for 4G network equipment,
including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone
Idea, which together hold just under a
55 percent share in the wireless telecom
market in India.
Despite oscillations around Huawei's
inclusion in the 5G sector, Bharti Airtel
went ahead with India's first 5G
network trial using Huawei equipment
in 2018. Vodafone Idea also announced
a partnership with Huawei, ZTE,
Ericsson, and Nokia for its 5G trials.
Experts believe that Huawei's inroads
into the market have been made
through deft negotiations - low prices
and long-term repayment schemes
combined with a challenging phase in
the market for Airtel and Vodafonet.
Mukesh Ambani (India's richest man),
who owns telecom giant Reliance Jio,
has provided tough competition to both
these players. This is the same man
who proudly claimed in a February
2020 meeting with former U.S.
President Donald Trump that Reliance
uses no Chinese equipment - a stance
that had been robustly endorsed by
then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo.
Vodafone Idea posted a loss of
around $600 million for the October-
December 2020 quarter, while Bharti
Airtel was able to post a consolidated
net profit for the quarter only due to a
one-time gain after the merger of a
subsidiary Bharti Infratel Ltd. with
Indus Towers. Further, both these
giants have huge outstanding dues to
the government, which increases the
necessity for financial thrift. Analysts
believe that any ban on Chinese
vendors, including Huawei and ZTE,
could push up procurement costs by 15-
20 percent as the European
alternatives, Ericsson and Nokia, are
more expensive and have limited gear
availability in India.
Huawei equipment is also considered
superior to that of its European
counterparts by industry players.
Speaking at the World Economic
Forum in 2019, Bharti Enterprise
(Airtel) Chairman Sunil Mittal was
quick to dismiss the notion that 5G
should be politicized, and further stated
that "[Huawei's] products in 3G and 4G
are significantly superior to Ericsson
and Nokia. I use all three of them."
It is no surprise, therefore, that the
Cellular Operators Association of India
(COAI) - which counts Airtel and
Vodafone as its members - have come
out in support of Huawei many times.
In December 2018, after the Telecom
Equipment and Services Export
Promotion Council argued for a ban on
the grounds of national security, COAI
sent a letter to the Department of
Telecommunication (DoT) arguing that
Huawei was "suitably equipped" to
A man walks past a billboard advertising Chinese technology firm
Huawei.
Photo: Mark Schiefelbein
build 5G capabilities in the ecosystem
and comply with government
requirements. In December 2020,
there was another letter to the DoT
asking for country-of-origin based
restrictions and import duty to be
waived for equipment vendors,
indicating that the department wants
Chinese vendors, including Huawei
and ZTE, to be a part of India's.
THuRSDAY, APRil 8, 2021
6
Six residences were destroyed by fire at Hazirtek area of Kadirur union under Begumganj upazila
yesterday.
Photo : Manik Bhuyan
Jute cultivation
going on in full
swing in
Jamalpur
JAMALPUR : Jute
cultivation this current
Kharip-1 season is
progressing in the district
amid much enthusiasm to
the farmers.
According to Department
of Agriculture Extension
(DAE) office till Wednesday
farmer cultivated jute on
1780 hectares of land in
seven upazilas of the district.
The Agriculture office
sources said target of jute
cultivation was fixed on
31,400 hectares of land in
the district this year which is
1250 hectares more than the
last year with the production
target of 3,78,474 bells of
jute.
The DAE office sources
said farmers cultivated four
varieties of jute this year and
the varieties are local, Tosha,
Mesta and Kenaf.
One held with
21.50 kg ganja
in Rangpur
RANGPUR : Rapid Action
Battalion (RAB)-13 seized
21.50 kg of smuggled ganja
and arrested a presumed
drug trader from Kadamtala
Bazar area in Kawnia upazila
of Rangpur on Tuesday
night.
"On a tip off, an
operational team of RAB-13
set up a check post there,
searched the suspected truck
bus and arrested the man
with the ganja one mobile
phone set and cash money
from a truck,," a press
release said.
The arrested drug trader
was identified as Md Rana,
22, of Pabna district.
During primary
interrogation, the arrested
person admitted that he had
been involved in drug
trading for a long time.
Initiative taken to produce quality
Boro seed in Gaibandha
GAIBANDHA : Department of Agriculture
Extension (DAE) has taken up an initiative
to produce quality seed of Boro paddy at
farmers' level in all the seven upazilas in the
district during the current Boro season.
The initiative is being implemented under
the project of production of quality seed of
paddy, wheat and jute at farmers' level
through the modern agriculture
technologies.
A total of 58 demonstration plots had been
set up in the field of the enthusiastic farmers
this year aimed at inspiring the fellow
farmers so that they are interested to
produce seed at their own initiative on their
land in coming seasons.
Of the total some 10 plots had been set up
in Sadar upazila, Gobindaganj upazila and
Sundarganj upazila each, 9 in Sadullapur
upazila, 7 in Palashbari and Shaghata upazila
each, 5 in Fulchhari upazila of the district.
DAE's Sub assistant agriculture officers
working in the field level are also assisting
the owners of the demonstration plots to
make the seed production in the plots
successful.
Besides this, district seed certification
agency officer agriculturist Showkat Osman
is also giving advice and technological
support to the owners of the plots to attain
the cherished goals of the plots.
The crops grew well in the plots that are
showing the growers to get desired output
against the crop.
Deputy director (DD) of the DAE
agriculturist Masudur Rahman said he was
monitoring the works of the SAAOs closely
to produce quality seed production in
farmers' level through setting up
demonstration plots.
The DD is also visiting the plots and
encouraging his departmental officers and
the growers to make the seed production in
the land a grand success, he added.
Coronavirus: 16,594 infected, 15,704
cured in Rangpur division
RANGPUR : A total of 16,594 people have
been infected with coronavirus (COVID-19),
and of them, 15,704 cured so far since the
outbreak of the pandemic in Rangpur
division.
Health officials said the number of
COVID-19 cases rapidly rose to 16,594 as 88
more patients, the highest number in the last
seven months, were reported after testing
378 samples at the infection rate of 23.28
percent on Tuesday in the division.
"The coronavirus infection rate continues
to show a hastily rising trend in recent weeks
amid a declining recovery rate in the
division," Focal Person of COVID-19 and
Assistant Director (Health) for Rangpur
division Dr. ZA Siddiqui told BSS.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, a total
of 1,16,819 collected samples of Rangpur
division were tested till Tuesday, and of
them, 16,594 people were found COVID-19
positive with an average infection rate of
14.20 percent.
The district-wise break up of total 16,594
patients stands at 4,236 in Rangpur, 811 in
Panchagarh, 1,434 in Nilphamari, 987 in
Lalmonirhat, 1,054 in Kurigram, 1,564 in
Thakurgaon, 4,953 in Dinajpur and 1,555 in
Gaibandha of the division.
The number of total recovered COVID-19
patients rose to 15,704 with the healing of 15
more infected people on Tuesday in the
division.
The average recovery rate currently stands
at 94.64 percent in the division.
"The 15,704 recovered patients include
4,024 of Rangpur, 776 of Panchagarh, 1,349
of Nilphamari, 959 of Lalmonirhat, 980 of
Kurigram, 1,489 of Thakurgaon, 4,666 of
Dinajpur and 1,461 of Gaibandha districts in
the division," Dr Siddiqui added.
Talking to BSS, Divisional Director
(Health) Dr Md Ahad Ali said the number of
fatalities remained steady at 318 with no
more death reported from anywhere in the
division on Tuesday.
The district-wise break up of the 318
fatalities stands at 73 in Rangpur, 115 in
Dinajpur, 34 in Thakurgaon, 32 in
Nilphamari, 15 in Kurigram, 20 in
Panchagarh, 18 in Gaibandha and 11 in
Lalmonirhat districts of the division.
Police have arrested a youth for allegedly beating up a member of the Harijan community (sweeper)
and snatching money from him in Jhikargachha, Jessore.
Photo : Rezowan Bappy
Record 24.86 lakh tonnes potato
produced in Rangpur region
RANGPUR : Braving the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic, farmers
produced an all-time record 24.86 lakh
tonnes of potato in all five districts of
Rangpur agriculture region during the
current Rabi season.
Officials of the Department of
Agricultural Extension (DAE) said a
target of producing over 23.67 lakh
tonnes of potato was fixed from 93,350
hectares of land for the region this
season.
"However, farmers finally cultivated
potatoes on 97,315 hectares of land
exceeding the fixed farming target by
3,965 hectares or 4.25 percent,"
Additional Director of the DAE for
Rangpur region Agriculturist Khandker
Abdul Wahed, told BSS.
After completing harvest of potatoes
last week, farmers produced 24 lakh 86
thousand and 182 tonnes of the crop
exceeding the fixed production target by
one lakh 18 thousand and 492 tonnes or
five percent in the region this season.
Meanwhile, farmers are happy with
the excellent prices of potatoes since the
Bangladesh Coast Guard Station Mawa conducted a special operation in Kandipara Mawa Old Ferry
Ghat area and arrested Md. Mamun (24) along with huge quantity cannabis. Photo: Courtesy
BCG arrested drug
smuggler with
huge quantity of
cannabis
Bangladesh Coast Guard
Station Mawa conducted a
special operation in Kandipara
Mawa Old Ferry Ghat area and
arrested 01 drug smuggler
along with approximately 24 kg
of cannabis. It is learned on the
basis of secret information that
cannabis will be smuggled from
Mawa Old Ferry Ghat to Kathal
Bari area.
Based on the information
received, a special operation
was conducted by Station
Mawa and a few sacks were
found hidden under a life jacket
in a passenger trawler. After
searching the bags, the found
around 24 kg of cannabis and
arrested one person.
The arrested person is Md.
Mamun (24) Village: Mallick
Kandi, Post: Char Janaza,
Police Station: Shibchar,
District: Madaripur. Later, the
arrested person and the seized
cannabis was handed over to
Louhjong police station.
Following the Coast Guard's
Zero Tolerance Policy to
control law and order, public
safety as well as piracy, robbery
and drug control in the areas
covered by the Bangladesh
Coast Guard, regular
operations continue and will
continue in the future.
Three Panel Mayor
Selection in Bogura
Pourashova
MD. AZAHAR ALI, BOGURA
CORRESPONDENT
Three panel mayor selection
in Bogura pourashova on
Wednesday morning.
Twenty One general
councillors and seven
conserved women
councillors were present
there. They are Parimal
Chandra Das (1st) Alhaj
Sheikh (2nd) and Mst.
Shirin Sultana (3rd).
Parimal Chandra Das has
selected previous time as a
panel mayor. While
selecting the panel mayor all
the councillors and Mayor
Rezaul Karim Badsha
present there.
beginning of the harvesting season and
its record production at an average yield
rate of 25.55 tonnes per hectare of land
this season.
The DAE, Bangladesh Agriculture
Development Corporation, Bangladesh
Agriculture Research Institute and
related agencies and institutions
provided quality potato seeds to farmers
to make the potato farming programme
a success.
"The field level DAE officials provided
latest technologies to farmers to assist
them in ensuring proper nursing of their
growing potato plants to get better yield,
also braving the cold wave," Wahed
added.
Potato grower Alhaj Khwaja Ahmed of
Rangpur said farmers got excellent yield
rate with all-time high prices of all
varieties of potato following huge
increase in export of potato from
Rangpur region this season.
Potato trader Hafizur Rahman at
Rangpur City Market farmers are selling
each sac containing 84 kilogram of
'Diamond', 'Cardinal', 'Raja', 'Granula',
RAJSHAHI : Large-scale
promotion of diversified
crops farming can be the
best ways of ensuring water
security in the droughtprone
Barind area, said
experts and development
workers.
Since the ancient time,
the Barind area is droughtprone
due to its geographic
location but the farmers
used to cultivate diversified
crops to cope with the
water-stressed condition.
They also meet up their
water demands from the
natural water bodies like
rivers, canals and ponds.
Prof Niamul Bari of the
Department of Civil
Engineering in Rajshahi
University of Engineering
and Technology said the
natural surface water
resources are facing an
endangered condition at
present due to multifarious
reasons.
In this situation, farmers
have become dependent on
groundwater for irrigating
the farming fields,
especially the Irri-Boro
paddy which is the highly
irrigation-consumed crop.
Prof Bari, however,
opined that water is being
adjudged as one of the vital
sources in the
transformation process of
development of the present
barind area besides
making it green during the
last couple of decades.
Lifting of underground
water must be reduced to
the minimum as the future
of agriculture depends on
availability of water amid a
formidable threat of
climate change when there
is an alternative to keeping
food production rate
increasing.
He said there should be
nature-based solutions for
water challenges in the
region. Emphasis should
be laid on the need for
integrated solutions in
water development plans
considering political, social
and local realities.
Apart from this,
emphasis should be given
to the cultivation of
drought-tolerant crops
instead of depending on
only Irri-Boro farming in
the area to lessen the
gradually mounting
pressure on underground
water.
Large-scale promotion of
less-water consuming
indigenous crops could be
the effective means of
mitigating water-stress
conditions in the droughtprone
Barind area.
Narrating the sufferings
caused by the abnormal
lowering of groundwater
National Agriculture
Award Winning Farmer
Nur Muhammad
mentioned that there are
enormous scopes of
increasing the acreage of
various low-water
consuming crops like
gram, wheat, maize, lentil,
burley and chickpea in the
Barind tract.
He mentioned that the
ongoing climate change at
alarming rates has severely
affected indigenous crops
farming and its diversity
creating a real threat to
food production.
There is no alternative to
encourage the farmers to
promote various cereal
crops and vegetables
instead of only Irri-Boro
paddy on the dried land to
face the water stress
condition as its
groundwater table has
gradually been declining.
Muhammad said
legitimate rights of the
farmers and others
concerned should be
protected for encouraging
them towards boosting
agricultural productions to
meet up its gradually
mounting demands.
Shahidul Islam,
and 'Astarisk' varieties of potato at Taka
1,050 to Taka 1,200 to earn excellent
profits this year.
Potato retailers Fazlur Rahman,
Zahidul Islam and Hamidul Haque at
different kitchen markets in Rangpur
city said they are selling potato at rates
between Taka 14 and 30 per kg
depending on the varieties and qualities.
President of Rangpur Chamber of
Commerce and Industry Mostafa
Sohrab Chowdhury Titu expressed
happiness over excellent potato output
and its better market prices this season
in Rangpur agriculture region.
He put importance on establishing
potato-based agro-industries and
preservation facilities of potato and
some other vegetables and enhancing
exports of those to ensure fair price for
farmers.
Talking to BSS, potato farmer
Shamsul Haque, Arman Hossain,
Mostafizur Rahman and Manik Mian of
different villages in Rangpur expressed
happiness over the super bumper potato
yield and its market price this season.
Diversified crops can ensure
water security in
drought-prone Barind area
Coordinator (Barind
Region) of Bangladesh
Resource Centre for
Indigenous Knowledge
(BARCIK) said utmost
emphasis should be given
on practicing sustainable
agriculture to attain the
sustainable development
besides achieving the
sustainable development
goals.
Simultaneously, species
of diversified crops needs
to be protected which is the
precondition to sustainable
development.
Ensuring water security
is very important to ensure
food security and
biodiversity and
sustainable culture.
Existing adverse impacts
of climate change and
other natural catastrophes
are posing a serious threat
to biodiversity, health
security and water security
in the Barind area.
Meanwhile, more than
12.58 lakh community
people of 2.66 lakh
households are being
motivated and encouraged
towards promotion of lesswater
consuming crops to
reduce the pressure on
underground water under
the 'Integrated Water
Resource Management
(IWRM)' project.
The project is being
implemented by DASCOH
Foundation in around
1,280 drought-hit villages
under 39 union parishads
and three municipalities of
eight upazilas in Rajshahi,
Naogaon
and
Chapainawabganj districts
since 2014, said Akramul
Haque, chief executive
officer of DASCOH
Foundation. The existing
adverse impact of climate
change is putting local
people into trouble since
the hand-driven tube-wells
are not functioning here in
dry season, he added.
ThursDAY, APril 8, 2021
7
indonesian women walk past a house damaged by flood in Waiwerang, on Adonara island, East Nusa
Tenggara province, indonesia, Tuesday.
Photo : AP
Indonesia landslides
death toll rises to 119,
dozens missing
INDONESIA : The death toll from mudslides
in eastern Indonesia has risen to 119 with
scores still missing, officials said Wednesday,
as rain continued to pound the region and
hamper the search.
The village of Lamanele on Adonara island
suffered the highest losses with 60 bodies
recovered so far and 12 missing. Mud
tumbled down from surrounding hills early
on Sunday, catching people at sleep, reports
UNB.
On nearby Lembata island, the downpour
triggered by Tropical Cyclone Seroja sent
solidified lava from a volcanic eruption in
November to crash down on more than a
dozen villages, killing at least 28 and leaving
44 unaccounted for, according to the National
Disaster Mitigation Agency.
Hundreds of police, soldiers and residents
dug through the debris with their bare hands,
shovels and hoes searching for those buried.
On Tuesday, relatives wailed as they watched
rescuers pull out a mud-caked body, place it
on a bamboo stretcher and take it away for
burial.
In all, landslides and flooding have killed at
least 119 across several islands in Indonesia as
well as 27 people in neighboring East Timor.
Thousands of homes have been damaged and
thousands of people displaced by the weather,
which is expected to continue until at least
Friday as the storm moves south toward
Australia.
Rescue efforts were being hampered by the
rains and the remoteness of the area, where
roads and bridges were damaged in many
places.
Rescue personnel with excavators and tons
of food and medicine were being deployed
from Makassar city on Sulawesi island, but
were hindered by a lack of sea transportation.
National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief
Doni Monardo called on the private sector to
support relief efforts.
Three helicopters began reaching isolated
areas of the islands on Tuesday, and President
Joko Widodo held a Cabinet meeting in
Jakarta to speed up the operation.
Wearing of mask
while driving alone
mandatory during
pandemic: HC
NEWDELHI : The Delhi
High Court on
Wednesday held that
wearing of a mask while
driving alone in a private
vehicle was mandatory
during COVID-19,
noting that the face
covering is like a
'suraksha kavach' amid
the pandemic. Justice
Prathiba M Singh also
refused to interfere with
the Delhi government's
decision to impose
challans for not wearing
a mask while driving a
private vehicle alone and
dismissed the pleas
challenging the same.
The court said the
mask was like a
'suraksha kavach'
(protective shield)
during the prevailing
pandemic.
Iran ship serving as Red Sea troop
base near Yemen attacked
DUBAI : An Iranian cargo ship believed
to be a base for the paramilitary
Revolutionary Guard and anchored for
years in the Red Sea off Yemen has been
attacked, Tehran acknowledged
Wednesday.
Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed the
attack on the MV Saviz, suspected to
have been carried out by Israel. The
assault came as Iran and world powers
sat down in Vienna for the first talks
about the U.S. potentially rejoining
Tehran's tattered nuclear deal, showing
that challenges ahead don't rest merely
in those negotiations, reports UNB.
The ship's long presence in the region,
repeatedly criticized by Saudi Arabia,
has come as the West and United
Nations experts say Iran has provided
arms and support to Yemen's Houthi
rebels amid that country's yearslong
war. Iran denies arming the Houthis,
though components found in the rebels'
weaponry link back to Tehran.
Iran previously described the Saviz as
aiding in "anti-piracy" efforts in the Red
Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a
crucial choke point in international
shipping. A statement attributed to
Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed
Khatibzadeh described the ship as a
commercial vessel.
"Fortunately, no casualties were
reported ... and technical investigations
are underway," Khatibzadeh said. "Our
country will take all necessary measures
through international authorities."
In an earlier state TV statement, an
anchor cited a New York Times story,
which quoted an anonymous U.S.
official telling the newspaper that Israel
informed America it carried out an
attack Tuesday morning on the vessel.
Israeli officials declined to comment
about the incident when reached by The
Associated Press, as did the Saviz's
owner.
However, Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday
brought up Iran in a speech to his Likud
party after being asked to form a
government following the country's
recent election. "We must not go back to
the dangerous nuclear deal with Iran,
because a nuclear Iran is an existential
threat to the state of Israel and a great
threat to the security of the entire world,"
Netanyahu said.
Iran's semiofficial Tasnim news
agency, believed to be close to the Guard,
reported the attack late Tuesday, saying
explosives planted on the hull of the
Saviz exploded. It did not blame anyone
for the attack and said Iranian officials
likely would offer more information in
the coming days.
In a statement, the U.S. military's
Central Command only said it was
"aware of media reporting of an incident
involving the Saviz in the Red Sea."
"We can confirm that no U.S. forces
were involved in the incident," the
command said. "We have no additional
information to provide."
The Saviz, owned by the state-linked
Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines,
came to the Red Sea in late 2016,
according to ship-tracking data. In the
years since, it has drifted off the Dahlak
archipelago, a chain of islands off the
coast of the nearby African nation of
Eritrea in the Red Sea. It likely received
supply replenishments and switched
crew via passing Iranian vessels using
the waterway.
Briefing materials from the Saudi
military earlier obtained by the AP
showed men on the vessel dressed in
camouflage, military-style fatigues, as
well as small boats capable of ferrying
cargo to the Yemeni coast. That briefing
material also included pictures showing a
variety of antennas on the vessel that the
Saudi government described as unusual
for a commercial cargo ship, suggesting it
conducted electronic surveillance. Other
images showed the ship had mounts for
.50-caliber machine guns.
The Washington Institute for Near-
East Policy has called the Saviz an
"Iranian mothership" in the region,
similarly describing it as an intelligencegathering
base and an armory for the
Guard. Policy papers from the institute
don't explain how they came to that
conclusion, though its analysts routinely
have access to Gulf and Israeli military
sources.
Boat, snowmobile, camel: Vaccine
reaches world's far corners
PORTLAND : After enduring 40-knot
winds and freezing sea spray, jostled
health care providers arrived wet and
cold on two Maine islands in the North
Atlantic late last month to conduct
coronavirus vaccinations, reports UNB.
As they came ashore on Little
Cranberry Island, population 65,
residents danced with excitement.
"It's a historic day for the island," said
Kaitlyn Miller, who joined a friend in
belting out "I'm not giving away my shot!"
from the Broadway show Hamilton when
the crew arrived.
Around the world, it is taking extra
effort and ingenuity to ensure the vaccine
gets to remote locations. That means
shipping it by boat to islands, by
snowmobile to Alaska villages and via
complex waterways through the Amazon
in Brazil. Before it's over, drones,
motorcycles, elephants, horses and
camels will have been used to deliver it to
the world's far corners, said Robin
Nandy, chief of immunization for
UNICEF. "This is unprecedented in that
we're trying to deliver a new vaccine to
every country in the world in the same
calendar year," he said.
Although the vaccination rollout has
been choppy in much of the world and
some places are still waiting for their first
doses, there's an urgent push to inoculate
people in hard-to-reach places that may
not have had COVID-19 outbreaks but
also may not be well equipped to deal
with them if they do.
"It's a race against the clock," said
Sharon Daley, medical director of the
Maine Seacoast Mission, which is
providing shots on seven islands off the
Maine coast.
And though coronavirus vaccinations
can present unique challenges, including
adequate refrigeration, health care
providers are fortunate to have an
infrastructure in place through the
systems they use to conduct childhood
vaccinations for measles and other
diseases, Nandy said.
In the rough and roadless terrain of
southwestern Alaska, the Yukon-
Kuskokwim Health Corp. chartered
planes and used snowmobiles this winter
to deliver the vaccine to nearly four dozen
villages spread out over an area the size of
Oregon.
The vaccination effort there began in
December, when temperatures still
hovered around minus 20 or minus 30
Fahrenheit (minus 20 to minus 34
Celsius) and workers had to ensure the
vaccine didn't freeze in the syringes'
needles. Despite the challenges, the
health corporation delivered thousands
of doses to 47 villages in a month. In one
village, residents were anguished after
COVID-19 killed one person and sickened
two others, including the local health
worker. "People were just really
desperate to get vaccinated there, and it
was pretty emotional to just kind of be
able to bring something to them, to
protect them," said Dr. Ellen Hodges, the
health corporation's chief of staff.
After enduring 40-knot winds and freezing sea spray, jostled health care providers arrived wet and cold on
two Maine islands in the North Atlantic late last month to conduct coronavirus vaccinations. Photo : AP
This Oct. 1, 2020, satellite photo from Planet labs inc. shows the iranian cargo ship MV saviz in
the red sea off the coast of Yemen. The iranian cargo ship, believed to be a base for the paramilitary
revolutionary Guard that has been anchored for years in the red sea off Yemen, has been
attacked, iranian state television acknowledged Wednesday, Wednesday, April 7, 2021. Photo : AP
Talks to save
Iran nuclear
deal get off
to good start
VIENNA : Iran, Russia and
the United States reacted
positively Tuesday to the
opening exchanges in a first
day of talks in Vienna aimed
at rescuing an international
agreement on Tehran's
nuclear programme.
US President Joe Biden has
said he is ready to reverse the
decision of his predecessor
Donald Trump to withdraw
from the landmark 2015
agreement, negotiated to
ensure that Iran never
developed a military nuclear
programme.
And after Moscow gave a
positive assessment of the
opening of the talks earlier
Tuesday Washington's
reaction a little later was also
upbeat. Iran too, described
the opening talks as
constructive.
"I can say that overall, the
meeting was constructive,"
the head of the Iranian
delegation, Abbas Araghchi,
said in a video on Iranian
broadcaster Irinn.
The United States was not
present at those discussions
because Iran has refused to
meet the US delegation so
long as its sanctions against
Tehran remain in place. The
European Union is acting as
an intermediary.
Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's
Vienna-based envoy to
international organisations,
said Tuesday's meeting
between those parties still in
the deal - Iran, China, Britain,
France, Germany and Russia -
had been "successful".
It would take time to restore
the agreement, he said.
Biden makes all adults
eligible for a vaccine
on April 19
WASHINGTON : President Joe Biden said
he's bumping up his deadline by two weeks for
states to make all adults in the U.S. eligible for
coronavirus vaccines. But even as he expressed
optimism about the pace of vaccinations, he
warned Americans that the nation is not yet
out of the woods when it comes to the
pandemic, reports UNB.
"Let me be deadly earnest with you: We
aren't at the finish line. We still have a lot of
work to do. We're still in a life and death race
against this virus," Biden said Tuesday in
remarks at the White House.
The president warned that " new variants of
the virus are spreading and they're moving
quickly. Cases are going back up,
hospitalizations are no longer declining." He
added that "the pandemic remains
dangerous," and encouraged Americans to
continue to wash their hands, socially distance
and wear masks.
Biden added that while his administration is
on schedule to meet his new goal of
distributing 200 million doses of the vaccine
during his first 100 days, it will still take time
for enough Americans to get vaccinated to slow
the spread of the virus.
But he expressed hope that his Tuesday
announcement, that every adult will be eligible
by April 19 to sign up and get in a virtual line to
be vaccinated, will help expand access and
distribution of the vaccine. Some states already
had begun moving up their deadlines from the
original May 1 goal.
"No more confusing rules. No more
confusing restrictions," Biden said.
Biden made the announcement after visiting
a COVID-19 vaccination site at Immanuel
Chapel at Virginia Theological Seminary in
Alexandria. During his visit, he thanked
everyone for administering the shots and for
showing up to receive them.
"That's the way to beat this," Biden said. "Get
the vaccination when you can."
The president also said no one should fear
mutations of the coronavirus that are showing
up in the U.S. after being discovered in other
countries. He acknowledged that the new
strains are more virulent and more dangerous,
but said "the vaccines work on all of them."
Biden also announced that 150 million doses
of COVID-19 vaccine have been shot into arms
since his inauguration on Jan. 20. That puts
the president well on track to meet his new
goal of 200 million shots administered by his
100th day in office on April 30.
Biden's original goal had been 100 million
shots by the end of his first 100 days, but that
number was reached in March.
Still, he acknowledged Tuesday that his
administration fell short of its goal to deliver at
least one shot to every teacher, school staff
member and childcare worker during the
month of March, to try to accelerate school
reopenings. Biden announced the target early
last month and directed federal resources
toward achieving it, but said Tuesday that the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
estimated that about 80% of teachers, school
staff and childcare workers had received a
shot. Vice President Kamala Harris and her
husband, Doug Emhoff, also spent the day
Tuesday focused on promoting the COVID-19
vaccine, each touring a vaccination center,
Harris in Chicago and Emhoff in Yakima,
Washington.
Harris praised the workers and those
receiving their vaccine at a site set up at a local
union hall, and spoke of spring as "a moment
where we feel a sense of renewal." "We can see
a light at the end of the tunnel," she said.
Some states are making plans to ease their
health restrictions, even as the country is
facing a potential new surge in virus cases.
On Tuesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's
top infectious disease expert, warned that the
country is in a "critical time" because "we could
just as easily swing up into a surge."
"That would be a setback for public health,
but that would be a psychological setback,
too," he said during an interview with the
National Press Club. He noted that Americans
are experiencing "COVID-19 fatigue" after
more than a year of lockdowns and restrictions
to public life aimed at slowing the spread of the
virus.
THuRSDAY, APRiL 8, 2021 8
Brothers Furniture, one of the furniture brands, opened a showroom in Shylet Mira bazar.
Chairman of Brothers Furniture Limited Al-hajj Habibur Rahman Sharkar inaugurated the showroom
recently. Associate Elephant Road outlet Tanvir Ahmed, Assistant Manager Abdul Hi and other
officials of the organisation, among others, were present at the ceremony. Customers can avail 5 to
15 percent discount on all furniture purchases on the occasion of happy inauguration. The discount
offer will be available till 10 April 2021.
Photo : Courtesy
New small business
coalition targets Amazon
on antitrust
SAN FRANCISCO : A new
coalition of small business
groups on Tuesday launched
a campaign for tougher US
antitrust enforcement,
specifically calling for the
breakup of online commerce
titan Amazon, reports BSS.
The Small Business Rising
group includes the American
Booksellers Association,
National Grocers Association
and a number of local and
regional business
organizations.
The coalition website said
its goal is to "stop tech
monopolies, such as
Amazon, from cornering the
online market by breaking
them up and regulating
them."
The move comes amid a
growing backlash against
large technology firms which
have dominated key
economic sectors and seen
their influence grow during
the pandemic.
The new small business
group said it supported the
conclusions of a recent US
congressional report
highlighting the power of
tech platforms and calling for
tougher
antitrust
enforcement and new
legislation to make it easier
to dismantle some firms.
"By restoring competitive
markets, we can unlock the
potential of Americans to
grow successful businesses
and build an economy that is
more prosperous, equitable
Daraz set to carry on deliveries
with heavy protective measures
The new surge in the number
of COVID-19 cases has
confined the nation to
undergo a week-long
lockdown once again, with
much ambiguity regarding the
decision for the forthcoming
days. As this situation
continues to pose many
difficulties for all businesses,
the country's leading online
marketplace Daraz
Bangladesh
(https://www.daraz.com.bd/)
has prepared itself to continue
to serve its customers-this
time under heavier and more
responsible protective
measures, a press release said.
The exemplary e-commerce
platform faced obstacles
during the early phases of
and innovative," the group
said.
It specifically named
Amazon, saying the
company's "stranglehold
over online commerce is one
of the top threats facing
independent businesses."
The group said the
congressional investigation
"found that Amazon has
exploited its gatekeeper
power over online shopping
traffic to impose exorbitant
fees, demand oppressive
terms and extract valuable
data from independent
manufacturers and retailers
that depend on its platform."
Amazon pushed back at
the claim that it stifles
competition, arguing in a
statement that "self-serving
critics are pushing misguided
interventions in the free
market that would kill off
independent retailers and
punish consumers."
A company statement said
that "Amazon empowered
small and medium-sized
businesses to generate
hundreds of billions of
dollars in sales last year, and
their sales are growing
significantly faster than
Amazon's first-party sales."
Danny Caine, owner of the
independent Raven Book
Store in Lawrence, Kansas,
said Amazon was "writing
the rules of the game, and
they're playing the game at
the same time."
Caine supports moves by
COVID-19 but managed to
hang on through obtaining
timely recovery measures.
With a better understanding
of crisis management, this
time Daraz has already started
to implement preventive
measures like - ensuring the
use of protective equipment
like masks, gloves, and hand
sanitizers at all the DEX
facilities; consistent social
distancing by 6S; disinfectionbooth
at the entrance of the
facilities; measuring
employees' temperatures at
the entrance; carrying out
operations in shifts with 50%
HR capacity; cleaning the
entire facilities at 2-hour
intervals and more. Team
leaders at Daraz are strictly
President Joe Biden's
administration to rein in the
tech titans, and is hopeful
that legislation can receive
bipartisan support.
"It's like, neither party
particularly loves big tech
monopolies. And so I see an
opportunity there," Caine
told AFP.
According to Stacy
Mitchell, co-director of the
Institute for Local Self-
Reliance, five years ago
Amazon was taking an
average of 19 percent of
sellers' revenue - an amount
that has now risen to around
30 percent.
"That's a pretty big
increase in the small margin
world of retail," Mitchell said.
According to the group's
figures most sellers can't
make enough profit to
remain on Amazon for more
than five years.
Since a vast amount of
online shopping traffic starts
on Amazon, they "get to pick
winners and losers," she said.
"So it's really important
that we have regulations that
require that e-commerce
platforms be neutral and deal
fairly with the many
businesses that depend on
that infrastructure."
Gina Schaefer, who owns
13 hardware stores in the
greater Washington DC area,
is upset that when it comes to
online shopping it's "not a
level playing field."
monitoring the health
conditions of the
teammembers and are taking
actions with a slight display of
any COVID-19 symptoms in
anybody. No individual is
allowed to enter the workplace
premises without wearing
protective equipment.
Besides, the Daraz riders are
also trained and monitored to
maintain proper protective
equipment while on the roads
and completing deliveries.
For the pandemic to not
hamper regular consumption,
especially with Ramadan
around the corner, Daraz has
made sure there is a sufficient
supply of food and grocery
items, like - rice, lentil, flour,
TCB starts sale of
essentials in
Rajshahi division
RAJSHAHI : The Trading
Corporation of Bangladesh
(TCB) has been selling
essentials in open markets in
the city and eight other
districts under Rajshahi
division for keeping the
essentials' prices stable ahead
of the upcoming month of
Ramadan since the initial day
of this month.
The state-run trading is
selling at 30 important in
Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj,
Natore and Pabna districts.
The TCB launches the
selling operation ahead of the
holy month of Ramadan every
year to help the low-income
people deal with possible hike
in the prices of daily
commodities.
Senior Executive of TCB
Rajshahi Regional Office
Rabiul Murshed told BSS that
the government has been
giving essential commodities
to mark the month of
Ramadan. Sugar, Soybean,
lentil, date, gram and onion
are being sold.
An individual can buy a
maximum of two kilograms of
each of the goods from the
TCB sale centres. Rahima
Begum, who came for buying
TCB goods in Ranibazar area
today, terms the government
initiative as good. This step
will benefit many low-income
group people.
The dealers are selling
sugar, lentil and gram at Taka
55 per kg each, soybean oil at
Taka 150, date at Taka 80 and
onion at Taka 20 per kg.
Rabiul Murshed said that
they are selling different types
of consumer goods at fixed
prices through the appointed
dealers.
sugar, soap, sanitizer, etc. - for
its customers. Every
package is instructed to be
disinfected at the
customer's doorstep so that
a germ-free delivery is
confirmed. Besides, Daraz
is also encouraging
touchless delivery and
touchless transaction
among the customers for
their safety.
On occasion, Syed
MostahidalHoq, Managing
Director, Daraz
Bangladesh, said, "At
Daraz, we always put
people before profit. We
have declared Work-from-
Home for as many of our
employees as possible so
that they can lessen the
risks of COVID-19
contraction. But being the
most relied-on online
marketplace, we are also
compelled to caterto the
customers who have no
alternative. Hence, our
deliveries will continue
with hundred percent
disinfection precautions
safeguarded for each
package".
BB relaxes
private
importers
deferred
payment rules
DHAKA : The privatesector
businesses involving
foreign loan or supplier
credit would now get
deferred payment time
limit beyond one year.
"Any eligible importer
might submit an
application to the BIDA
(Bangladesh Investment
Development Authority)
for extension of usance
period or refinancing to be
allowed by suppliers or
lenders against permissible
deferred imports with
credit exposure to the
importers beyond one
year," as per a Bangladesh
Bank (BB) circular issued
on Tuesday.
Applications will have to
submit to BIDA (formerly
Board of Investment) at
least one month before
maturity of the deferred
imports concerned, the
circular added.
Earlier, importers used to
get such facility up to one
year.
High Commissioner of
Pakistan to Bangladesh
Imran Ahmed Siddiqui
hoped to work jointly with
BEPZA to increase more
Pakistani investment in the
EPZs. He made the remark
today (7 April 2021) during
his visit at BEPZA Complex,
Dhaka. The High
Commissioner wished more
success of BEPZA under the
visionary leadership of the
Honourable Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina. He praised
the management of EPZ and
BEPZA's contribution to
overall development of the
country.
Executive Chairman of
BEPZA Major General Md
Nazrul Islam, SPP, ndu,
afwc, psc, G welcomed the
High Commissioner at his
office and briefed on overall
activities of EPZs, workers
rights & benefits including
other operational issues.
BEPZA always provides its
best services to the investors
to run their business
smoothly, he added.
The Executive Chairman
of BEPZA informed that
BEPZA Economic Zone,
Samsung Electronics forecasts 44.19pc
jump in Q1 operating profit
SEOUL : South Korean tech
giant Samsung Electronics
flagged a 44.19 percent rise in
first quarter operating profit
Wednesday, largely driven by
robust sales of smartphones
and the launch of its flagship
Galaxy S21 series.
The company said in an
earnings estimate that it
expected operating profit of
9.3 trillion won ($8.3 billion)
for January to March, up
from 6.45 trillion won a year
earlier.
Samsung Electronics is the
flagship subsidiary of the
giant Samsung group, by far
the largest of the familycontrolled
empires known as
chaebols that dominate
business in South Korea, the
world's 12th largest economy.
It is crucial to the country's
economic health - the
conglomerate's overall
turnover is equivalent to a
fifth of the national gross
domestic product.
The coronavirus has
wreaked havoc with the world
economy, with lockdowns
and travel bans imposed
around the globe for many
months.
currently being developed at
Mirsharai of Chattogram, is
expected to be operational
by this year. He also
informed the High
Commissioner that BEPZA
is going to establish three
more EPZs at the different
parts of the country. He
requested Pakistani
investors through the High
Commissioner to come
TOKYO : Toshiba has received
a buyout offer from a British
private equity fund and will
consider the proposal, it said
Wednesday, with reports
suggesting the deal could be
worth about $20 billion.
Trading of Toshiba shares
was temporarily halted on
Tokyo's stock exchange at the
open, after the Japanese firm
confirmed the offer first
reported hours earlier by local
media, reports BSS.
In a statement, Toshiba said
it "received an initial proposal
yesterday" by CVC Capital
Partners for a buyout deal.
"We will request detailed
information and carefully
discuss" the offer, the firm
added.
The Nikkei newspaper said
CVC was considering a 30
percent premium over the
Japanese industrial group's
current share price, valuing the
deal at nearly 2.3 trillion yen
($20.8 billion) based on
Tuesday's close. The financial
daily said CVC would consider
recruiting other investors to
participate in the deal.
The proposal would take
Toshiba private, with delisting
intended to produce faster
decision-making by Toshiba's
But the pandemic - which
has killed more than 2.8
million people worldwide -
has also seen many tech
companies boom.
Analysts say the the
company has had a particular
boost from rolling out its
Galaxy S21 series in January,
more than a month ahead of
the flagship product's usual
forward and explore the
investment potentiality of
Uttara, Ishwardi, Mongla
EPZ and BEPZA Economic
Zone as well to invest in
diversified products.
Among others, Member
(Investment Promotion) of
BEPZA Md. Mahmudul
Hossain Khan, General
Manager (Public Relations)
Nazma Binte Alamgir,
management, which has
clashed with shareholders
recently, reports said.
The move, if successful,
would allow the firm to
concentrate resources on
renewable energies and other
core businesses, reports added.
Toshiba CEO and President
Nobuaki Kurumatani told
reporters Wednesday that "we
received the proposal but we'll
discuss it in a board meeting."
Reports suggested the
discussions would begin on
annual launch schedule.
"Key to the success of this
latest flagship has been its
lower $799 starting price,"
tracker Counterpoint
Research said in a report.
"Lower cost coupled with
trade-in offers that essentially
make the S21 device free, is
helping increase demand for
these 'entry-level' flagships."
Pakistan eager to work jointly with
BEPZA: High Commissioner
German shares
almost unchanged at
the start of trading
on Wednesday
BERLIN : German stocks
were almost unchanged at the
start of trading on
Wednesday, with the
benchmark DAX index
growing by 8.55 points, or
0.06 percent, opening at
15,221.23 points.
The biggest winner among
Germany's 30 largest listed
companies at the start of
trading was carmaker
Daimler, increasing by 0.94
percent, followed by
automotive supplier
Continental with 0.91 percent
and Deutsche Bank with 0.70
percent.
Shares of Delivery Hero fell
by 0.75 percent. The German
online food delivery company
was the biggest loser at the
start of trading on
Wednesday.
Germany recorded a deficit
of 189.2 billion euros (224.7
billion U.S. dollars) in 2020,
the country's Federal
Statistical Office (Destatis)
announced on Wednesday. It
was the highest deficit since
the country's unification in
1990 and clearly showed the
"consequences of the corona
crisis for the public budgets."
China's forex reserves
fall in March
BEIJING : China's foreign exchange reserves shrank to 3.17
trillion U.S. dollars at the end of March from 3.205 trillion
dollars at the end of February, official data showed
Wednesday.
The amount fell by 35 billion dollars, or 1.09 percent, from
the end of February, according to the State Administration of
Foreign Exchange (SAFE). In March, China's forex market
functioned stably with supply and demand of foreign
exchange basically in balance, said SAFE spokesperson
Wang Chunying.
Affected by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the
development of COVID-19 vaccine and expectations of major
countries' fiscal and monetary policies, the dollar index saw an
increase while bond prices of major countries fell last month,
Wang added. The spokesperson attributed the decline in forex
reserves to the combined effects of currency translation and
changes in asset prices. Wang, however, expects the scale of
China's forex reserves to remain generally stable, despite
uncertainties in the international financial market and global
economic recovery amid virus-induced risks.
General Manager
(Investment Promotion)
Md. Tanvir Hossain and
General Manager
(Enterprise Services) Md.
Khorshid Alam of BEPZA
and Commercial Secretary
of Pakistan High
Commission in Bangladesh
Muhammad Suleman Khan
were present during this
time.
Toshiba to weigh buyout
offer from UK fund
Wednesday, though Toshiba
did not immediately specify.
Toshiba has been hit by false
accounting scandals and huge
losses linked to its US nuclear
unit.
It was forced to sell its profitmaking
chip sector to make up
for huge losses.
Following painful
restructuring, its earnings
rebounded and the company in
January returned to the
prestigious first section of the
Tokyo Stock Exchange.
VAT realization: NBR
turns down Dhaka
Club's request
DHAKA : The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has turned
down the request of Dhaka Club Limited to stop activities of
realising Tk 33.74 crore as Value Added Tax (VAT) and
Supplementary Tax.
The revenue collecting authority in a letter recently
informed that there is no scope of waiver of VAT and
Supplementary Duty as per the VAT Law 1991 once it has
issued the demand notice following all legal procedures.
Second secretary of VAT Law and Policy Kazi Rezaul
Hasan issued the letter on March 29.
Earlier, the Dhaka Club requested the NBR to stop the
process to realise Tk 16,69,82,573 as VAT and Tk 7,04,53,658
as Supplementary Duty.
ThuRSDAy, APRil 8, 2021
9
Bangladesh Navy emerge top in
Bangladesh Games swimming
SPORTS DESK
Bangladesh Navy maintained their
supremacy by dominating the medal tally in
Bangabandhu 9th Bangladesh Games
swimming event at Syed Nazrul Islam
National Swimming Complex in the city's
Mirpur, reports UNB.
Bangladesh Navy secured 33 gold, 24 silver
and 14 bronze medals while Bangladesh
Army finished behind them by securing nine
gold, 17 silver and an equal number of bronze
medals. Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan
(BKSP) placed the third position in the medal
tally with one silver and four bronze medals.
Following the ten new national records in the
last three days, one more national record was
set on the fourth and last day of the meet.
Kajol Mia of Bangladesh Navy set the new
national mark in the men's 200m individual
medley clocking 2:13.49 seconds erasing the
old record of 2:14.94 set by Ariful Islam in
2019. Jewel Ahmed of Bangladesh Army and
Polash Chowdhury of Bangladesh Navy
bagged the silver and bronze medal
respectively in his event.
Meanwhile, in the men's 400m individual
medley, Jewel Ahmed of the Bangladesh
Army won gold clocking 4.48.53 seconds.
Kajol Mia and Polash Chowdhury of
Bangladesh Navy bagged the silver and
bronze medals respectively in this event.
In the women's 400m individual medley,
Sonia Akter of Bangladesh Navy won gold
with a time of 5:49.16 seconds while Naima
Akter Sonali and Moriom Akter of Army
bagged the silver and bronze medal
respectively.
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In the men's 50m backstrokes, Ariful Islam
of Bangladesh Navy won gold clocking
00:30.07 second. Sukumar Rajbongshi and
Kamal Hossain of the Bangladesh Army
secured silver and bronze medal respectively
in this event.
In the women's 50m backstrokes, Mahfuza
Khatun of Bangladesh Navy won gold
clocking 00:35.84 second while Moriom
Akter of Bangladesh Navy and Irfana Khatun
of Munshiganj district sports association
bagged the silver and bronze medal
respectively in this event.
In the women's 200m individual medley,
Sonia Khatun of Bangladesh Navy won gold
clocking 2:40.54 seconds while Moriom
Akter of Bangladesh Navy and Naima Akter
of Sonali of Bangladesh Army bagged the
silver and bronze medal respectively in this
event. In the men's 100m freestyle, Asif Reza
of Bangladesh Navy won gold clocking
00:53.33 while Mahfizur Rahman of
Bangladesh anvy and Sifat Ullah of
Bangladesh Army bagged the silver and
bronze medal respectively in this event.
In the women's 100m freestyle, Sonia
Khatun of Bangladesh Navy won gold
clocking 1:04.79 seconds while Junoyona
Ahmed of Bangladesh Navy and Sharmin
Sultana of Bangladesh Army bagged the silver
and bronze medal in this event.
In the men's 4x100m medley relay,
Bangladesh Navy comprising Nore Alom,
Shofikul, Mahmudunnobi Nahid and
Mahfizur Rahman won gold clocking 4:00.74
seconds while Bangladesh Army and Vati
Bangla Swimming Club bagged the silver and
bronze medal respectively in this event.
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BCB to announce squad
for Lanka series soon
SPORTS DESK
Minhazul Abedin Nannu and Habibul Bashar, two selectors of
the Bangladesh national cricket team, are busy and conducting
offices even during the lockdown. On the first day of the
lockdown on Monday, they spent several hours at the Sher-e-
Bangla Stadium in Mirpur. Two selectors were also present at
the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) office on Tuesday morning,
reports UNB.
Amidst lockdown, all the matches are called off. The national
team also has o activities. So, what is the reason for going to the
BCB office in the morning for two days in a row during the
lockdown? Chief selector Minhazul Abedin Nannu's said that
they are busy to finalise the Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka.
On Tuesday morning, Nannu on a phone conversation told
that the work of sorting out the roster for the Sri Lanka series was
nearing completion. They will either submit the team to the
board on Tuesday and if they do so then they will announce the
squad on Wednesday. There are doubts whether a net bowler
will be available in practice in Sri Lanka and whether local
cricketers will be available to play practice matches. So, a few
days ago, the chief selector told that the team will be comprised
of 18 to 20 people. However, on Tuesday he has moved away
from that stance. Nannu said, we are thinking of sending a team
comprised of 16-17 people.
The Bangladesh team has recently returned to the country
after a three-match ODI and T20 series in New Zealand. About
half of the cricketers in that team were present in the last Test
team against the West Indies. Besides, there were 8-9 more
players from that series, who remained in the country and did
not take part in the New Zealand tour. Now it remains to be seen
whether there will be major changes or not from Test squad of
the West Indies series.
Meanwhile, two rounds of the National Cricket League (NCL)
have been conducted. Will anyone be considered for doing well
there? Cricket analysts are raising such questions. The chief
selector did not say a word about it. However, he explained that
they will not go for a big experiment with the team now. The idea
of sorting out the team with established and tested performers is
going on, which gives us a hint that there might not be any major
changes from the West Indies series to the test squad, that will
travel to the island nation.
Vinicius double puts Real Madrid
on top against Liverpool
SPORTS DESK
Vinicius Junior scored twice
as Real Madrid made
Liverpool pay for more
defensive errors on Tuesday,
a 3-1 victory putting them in
sight of the Champions
League semi-finals, reports
BSS. Vinicius and Marco
Asensio both profited in the
first half after darting behind
Liverpool's makeshift backline
before a simple move
from a throw-in gave Vinicius
a simple finish in the second.
Mohamed Salah's strike
shortly after the interval
briefly made it a contest at
Valdebebas, with an away
goal certainly a significant
consolation for Liverpool to
take into the second leg at
Anfield next week.
But without fans and with a
miserable recent record at
home, Jurgen Klopp will
know his side have it all to do
to avoid his team's season
becoming solely about
scraping into the Premier
League's top four.
"We didn't play well
enough, that's my first
concern," said Klopp. "We
didn't deserve to win tonight,
but the good news is that
there is another match.
"We are going to fight, 3-1 is
not good, but we have a
chance." Except for two spells
after half-time and at the
finish, when their opponents
were holding on to what they
had, Liverpool were
overpowered by Real Madrid,
whose only disappointment
might be missing out on a
clearer margin ahead of the
return in eight days' time.
Before then, they go up
against Barcelona on
Saturday and this result, their
fifth consecutive victory,
should be another huge boost
to morale going into what will
be a crucial fixture in La
Liga's title race.
"Nothing is close, nothing
is won," Madrid coach
Zinedine Zidane said. "We
are alive in two competitions
and we will keep fighting. We
will start the second leg like
it's 0-0 because it will be
another very difficult game."
Madrid were without
Sergio Ramos, who
throughout was bellowing at
his team from the stands,
while Raphael Varane testing
positive for Covid-19 on
Tuesday morning meant
both sides were fielding
patched-up back fours.
The last time these two
clubs met, Ramos dislocated
Salah's shoulder and Madrid
went on to win their 13th
European Cup but Klopp
insisted there was no desire
for revenge in the minds of
his players.
They could have done with
some extra fire because
Madrid were superior in the
first half, more controlled in
possession and more
aggressive out of it. Liverpool
seemed caught between
trying to match Madrid's
intensity and slowing the
game down to gain a
foothold.
Kroos runs the show -In the
end they did neither, as the
openings came early. Luka
Modric wanted a penalty afer
being clipped just outside the
box and Trent Alexander-
Arnold was beaten too easily
by Ferland Mendy, whose
cross was headed just wide by
Vinicius. The excellent Toni
Kroos was given space at the
base of midfield to dictate the
tempo and it was a pair of
arrowed balls forward from
the German that put Madrid
in charge.
The first he fired between
Alexander-Arnold and Nat
Phillips for the scampering
Vinicius, who did brilliantly
to chest the ball beyond his
opponents and shoot low into
the Liverpool net.
Seven minutes later, Kroos
did it again, this time with the
aid of a badly misguided
Alexander-Arnold header,
locating Asensio, who lifted
over Alisson Becker to leave
himself with an open net.
A full stadium would have
sent a surge of momentum
through Madrid but there
was still a simmering buzz, as
their substitutes were
cheering louder and the
players pressed quicker and
passed harder.Liverpool.
Clement Genty has been researching the story of Albert Corey and here
holds up a photograph of the French marathon runner. Photo: Collected
France chases two medals
from the 1904 Olympics
SPORTS DESK
It has taken 117 years, but long-distance
runner Albert Corey may finally be nearing
home, bringing his two Olympic silver
medals with him, reports BSS.
Corey was declared an American by the
organisers when he won silver in the
marathon at the 1904 Olympics in St Louis,
Missouri. But now the French want him,
and his medals, back.
A local councillor in his home town of
Meursault is seeking to correct the record,
asking the French Olympic Committee to
press the issue with the International
Olympic Committee.
Clement Genty, a councillor, engineer
and amateur historian holds up a faded
black and white photo, in which Corey
looks like the archetypal amateur in his
oversized sleeveless vest, crumpled shorts
and laced leather shoes.
Yet this penniless son of Burgundian
winegrowers collected what should have
been France's only Olympic medals of the
1904 Games.
"A beautiful story," says Genty. "I learned
of his existence in a newspaper and did
some research."
Absent without leave -
Corey was born in Meursault in 1878, the
year that the village became the first in the
Cote d'Or area to be hit by phylloxera,
which ravaged the vines.
Etienne Corey, Albert's winemaker father
moved to the Paris suburbs and in 1896,
Albert enlisted in the French army.
There he discovered a talent for
endurance running. He broke the 160km
record in 1899 but on January 2, 1903, he
went absent without leave. A year later, he
turned up as a strike-breaker in the huge
Chicago slaughterhouses.
Getting into local athletics was not easy
for a man with broken English who had
arrived in Chicago, The Washington Times
wrote in 1905, "practically a tramp".
When he learned that the Olympics were
going to be held on American soil, he said
he had run the "Paris Marathon" in 1900.
This was true, but he played on the
confusion with the Olympic Marathon of
the same year to make people believe that
he had participated in a much more
prestigious event. Strychnine -
The ploy worked and he went to St Louis
representing the First Regiment Athletic
Association of Chicago.
Because the St Louis Games were so hard
and expensive to reach from outside North
America, they attracted few international
entrants. Corey would have been the only
Frenchman. "But he belonged to an
986
American club. He was therefore
considered American, according to the
rules of the time," Genty told to AFP.
These were the first Olympics at which
gold, silver and bronze medals were
awarded. The marathon was run in the
hottest part of a sweltering late August day
over a hilly, dusty course that, because the
race distance had not yet been
standardised, was 40km long.
With only one water stop along the
course, more than half of the 32
participants dropped out.
Corey, on the other hand, boasted "I
could have done one more lap".
He crossed the line third but the 'winner',
Fred Lorz, was disqualified for hitching a
lift in a car.
Gold instead went to British-born
American Thomas Hicks who, fuelled by
strychnine mixed with brandy, completed
the course in 3hrs 28min 53 sec to beat
Corey by six minutes. Corey was almost 13
minutes ahead of the bronze medalist.
Corey also won a silver with four
Americans in a team that won a 20-mile
relay - although he is not referred to as
American in the records for this one and the
medal was assigned to a 'mixed' team.
'Funny story' -
The US media was under no illusion that
Corey was anything other than French.
They hailed the "success story" of this
"Frenchman", a "slaughterhouse worker",
who became the "New Star for Marathon".
In October, 1908, the Buffalo Evening
Times wrote: "It must be nice to train like
Corey. The Frenchman who won the
Marathon race declared that he owed his
success to having trained on champaigne
(sic)."
Olympic historians have long classified
Corey as French but his marathon medal is
credited to the United States and the IOC
appears unwilling to change that.
"There is no question of changing the
country to which these medals are
awarded," its press office told AFP.
Corey's bid to win another medal at the
1908 Olympics in London failed, however,
when he declined France's invitation to
represent them in favour of opting to run
for the US, who then proceeded not to
invite him. He won the 1908 Chicago
Marathon but the following year, Corey was
hit by a car and never regained his former
level of performance.
He returned to France in the summer of
1910 and resumed a military career. He
died in 1926 in Paris, probably of
tuberculosis.His great-grandson Serge
Canaud, 69, learned of Corey's unknown
past, thanks to a phone call from Genty.
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THUrsDAY, AprIL 8, 2021
10
Bhabna
furious
about ugly
comments
TBT reporT
Ashna Habib Bhabna is an actress and dancer. She
is best known for these two identities. But she is also
a writer. She has already published several books.
Bhabna's new novel 'Golapi Zamin' has been
published at this year's book fair. Various media
outlets have published news about this novel.
Netizens have made comments in various vulgar
and obscene language in the comment room of
those news.
Bhabna was upset to see those ugly
comments. She shared her thoughts on
screenshots of some of the comments and
wrote, 'So much nonsense! Where are we
really? If you insult people on the internet, you
must be ugly on the inside. Could there be such
ugly people? Is it slowly becoming a very funny
thing? People who love themselves do not hurt
another person. The more we hate ourselves,
the more we laugh at others. Does that mean
we're so idle that our only job is to make bad
comments all the time? '
By the way, a book of poems by Bhabna has also
been published in this year's book fair. The name of
the book is 'Raster Dharer Gashter Kono Dhormo
Silo Na'. A total of 50 poems have been included in
the book.
Shahnoor in
mega serial
'Jamindar Bari'
TBT reporT
Shahnoor, a Bangladeshi actress and
model began her journey in Dhallywood
with Fasir Adesh. This film was an
unreleased film. Her first released film was
Jiddi Sontan which was released in
2000.
Recently this actress has joined the
cast of Boishakhi TV's mega serial
'Jamindar Bari'. She has been acting
in the role of Shampa Reza's elder
daughter Shane Noor in the drama.
About the serial, Shahnoor said,
"Director Sazzad Hossain Dodul
and Tipu Alam Milon's story has
made me interested for this serial.
My role is quite interesting. For
the first time, I've acted in a
wicked character. In the
'Jamindar Bari', I will dominate
everyone and they will get
jealous of me."'Jamindar Bari'
is being aired on Boishakhi TV
every Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday at 09:20pm. Directed
by Sazzad Hossain Dodul, the
other cast of the play included
Monoj Sengupta, Shampa Reza,
Shilpi Sharkar Apu, Aa Kha Ma
Hasan, Momena Choudhury,
Subrata Chakraborty, Nadia
Mim and Milon Bhattacharya.
Shahnoor has been seen
from the 70th episode of the
serial. 'Kuashar Shesh Chithi'
was Shahnoor's first TV
drama.
9th Liberation DocFest postponed
as covid cases surge
The 9th edition of Liberation DocFest has been postponed because
of the recent surge in COVID-19 cases around the country, reports
UNB.
Organisers of the event, originally
scheduled for April 6-10, recently
announced the postponement on
Facebook.
"Due to Bangladesh Government's
decision to go to nationwide
lockdown because of escalation of
covid pandemic again, Liberation
War Museum, the organiser of
Liberation DocFest decided to
temporarily postpone the festival,"
the post reads.
DocFest is an annual initiative
dedicated to the documentary
cinema to highlight the struggle
for liberation and human rights of
people in various parts of the
world and its contemporary
significance.
A new schedule for the event will
be announced soon, the organisers
said.
However, the 'Exposition of
Young Film Talent 2021', a storytelling lab for documentary
filmmakers will take place on Wednesday and conclude on April
10, as per its schedule. "We had to postpone this year's Liberation
DocFest at the very last moment due to the recent surge of
With release of films like
Sooryavanshi being pushed
indefinitely and top stars Akshay
Kumar, Vicky Kaushal and
Bhumi Pednekar testing positive
for COVID-19, the danger of
halting ongoing shootings of the
projects looms large and so does
the fear of many daily wage
earners losing employment amid
the surge in coronavirus cases in
Maharashtra.
As year 2021 appears to be a
repeat of 2020, industry insiders
say they are amping up safety
measures, including regular
RTPCR tests, to control the
spread of COVID-19 on the sets
of the on-ground productions as
they cannot afford to suspend
filming activities.
Not just Kumar, who was
shooting for Ram Setu, as many
as 45 members of the film's crew
have also tested positive. As a
precautionary measure, the actor
was admitted to a city hospital on
Monday.
On the other hand, Kaushal
and Pednekar were reportedly
shooting for filmmaker
Shashank Khaitan's Dharma
Productions film Mr Lele.
"It is a stressful time for all of us.
Major productions have been
affected, from Akshay's Ram Setu,
Dharma Productions' Mr Lele to
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai.
The entire shooting slate has been
affected. Everyone is now cautious
but clueless," Dubey told PTI.
Seema Pahwa, Govinda, Ritwik
Bhowmik, Rupali Ganguly,
Aditya Narayan, and Abhijeet
Sawant have also tested COVID-
19 positive. Aamir Khan and R
Madhavan are currently on the
road to recovery from the virus.
On March 30, 18 unit members
of reality show Dance Deewane
had contracted COVID-19,
forcing the makers to halt the
shoot for a week.
According to Dubey, one of the
reasons for the rising numbers in
film crews is extensive testing
COVID-19 and the subsequent nationwide lockdown. This
prompted the trustee members to postpone the festival but the
storytelling lab will continue online
as per its schedule," Md Shariful
Islam Shaon, Festival Programmer
at Liberation Docfest Bangladesh,
told UNB.
The workshop and pitching
session, in association with Dhaka
DocLab, will cater to 10 projects from
Bangladeshi documentary
filmmakers which were selected for
this year's workshop.
Marking the occasion of the
Golden Jubilee of Independence, the
festival is scheduled to introduce a
series of new screening sessions and
special ceremonies in a hybrid
format, due to the ongoing
pandemic.
A total of 1,900 films from 112
countries have been submitted to the
organisers this year. Among them,
110 documentaries will be screened
at the festival.
This year is also marking the
occasion of the Silver Jubilee of Liberation War Museum, which will
be observed with the screening of 12 documentaries from the last
five decades along with a special exhibition of 25 one-minute short
films when the festival will take place in the future.
Alarmed by rising COVID-19
cases during productions,
Bollywood takes safety measures
before a shoot. Producers are
ensuring the daily wage workers
are paid, even if they have tested
positive and are under home
quarantine, he added.
"The federation will step in to
help too, along with Junior
Artistes association if the need
arises," Dubey said.
The Mumbai Police on
Monday issued prohibitory
orders under section 144 of the
CrPC banning the assembly of
five or more people at public
places in the city from 7 am to 8
pm from Mondays to Fridays till
April 30.
The order also imposed a night
curfew on weekdays and a strict
lockdown on weekends
beginning from 8 pm on Friday
till 7 am on Monday.
For now, the show seems to be
going on as filming of two
movies, produced by Balaji
Telefilms - Goodbye starring
Amitabh Bachchan and
Rashmika Mandanna and Mohit
Suri's Ek Villain Returns, is on
track with more stringent safety
protocol.
Ruchikaa Kapoor Sheikh,
Creative Producer, Balaji
Telefilms, said the health of the
cast and crew is paramount for
the banner.
"Ever since the COVID-19
breakout happened, we've cut
down on the crew strength and
have strictly been adhering to the
safety norms prescribed by the
government for shooting," she
told PTI.
Victorian D'Souza, Health and
Safety officer, Momentum India,
has been on sets of some projects
for streamers like Netflix and
Disney+ Hotstar since the
pandemic broke out last year.
"We are well versed with every
kind of risk management. We
ensure the location is safe and
worthy of operational, SOPs are
met without compromising on
anything," D'Souza told PTI.
As per protocol, the health
officer said it is mandatory for
everyone who enters the set to
have an RTPCR (Reverse
Source: Indian Express
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.
ThursDAY, April 8, 2021
11
73 people fined for breaching
Covid safety rules in Bhola
BHOLA : Seven mobile courts of the
district administration fined 73 people
Taka 36,900 in different upazilas,
including the district headquarters,for
breaching Covid-19 safety rules.
According to the district
administration sources, seven teams
conducted the raids in seven upazilas
including the district town and fined 73
people Taka 36,900 for not wearing
masks, keeping business
establishments open and moving
outside without any reason.
Executive Magistrate of the district
administration Yusuf Hasan and
upazila executive magistrates of the
seven upazilas led the operation teams
from morning to 10 pm on Tuesday.
The mobile courts also distributed
masks free of cost among the poor and
helpless people.
Executive Magistrate of the district
administration Yusuf Hasan told BSS
that the number of corona infected
people is increasing each day as people
are reluctant to maintain health
guidelines. The district administration
is conducting mobile courts to create
awareness among the people about the
spread of COVID-19.
The mobile court will continue to
prevent anti-lockdown activities,
executive magistrate of the district
administration Yusuf Hasan added.
Six fined for violating
lockdown in C'nawabganj
CHAPAINAWABGANJ : A mobile court of
the district administration yesterday fined
six shopping centres for violating lockdown
and COVID-19 health rules.
Executive magistrate of the district
administration Rawshon Ara conducted
the mobile court in association with the
Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-5) in various
areas of the district town, including new
market area, from 11:30 am to 1pm and
fined six business establishments and
shopping centres different amounts of
money for not wearing masks and keeping
business establishments open in violation
of the lockdown rules, RAB-5 sources said.
The shopping centres which were fined
included Walton showroom, Nawab
Mistannya Bhandar, Nasir Hardware, Al
Nasir Machineries, Saidur Traders and
Sayad Reksin House, the sources added.
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Thursday, Dhaka, April 8, 2021, Chaitra 25, 1427 BS, Shaban 24, 1442 Hijri
Biden ‘committed to strengthening’
ties with Bangladesh
DHAKA : US President Joe Biden and
Secretary Antony J.?Blinken?are "committed
to strengthening" the Dhaka-
Washington relationship as the two
countries address common challenges,
says a senior US official, reports UNB.
The two countries address some of
the most pressing regional and global
challenges together, including the
Rohingya humanitarian crisis and global
challenge to tackle climate change,
said the official.
"Bangladesh's impressive economic
sector provides a solid platform on
which to expand and deepen our relationship,"
said Marcia Bernicat, senior
official for economic growth, energy
and the environment. She made the
remarks while addressing virtual
launching of the U.S.-Bangladesh
Business Council on Tuesday.
Bernicat said the United States is
proud of the partnership that they have
built with the Bangladeshi people since
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman led a proud
and determined people to achieve their
independence 50 years ago.?
"How fitting that we honor that
important anniversary today by launching
the U.S.-Bangladesh Business
Council," she said.
She said the US continues to look for
ways to help make Bangladesh more
attractive for investment, which in turn
provides for the transparency and rule
of law that all companies thrive in.???
Similarly, Bernicat said, they look forward
to welcoming Bangladeshi investment
into the United States from the
country's increasingly internationally
competitive companies.
She said President Biden has emphasized
the challenge of climate change,
stating that "the United States and the
world face a profound climate crisis"
and by placing climate change at the
center of our foreign policy, diplomacy,
and national security.?
The US official said Bangladesh's
leadership in addressing climate change
offers the United States - and the world
- a great partner to tackle this climate
crisis.?
Pragmatic efforts to
make D-8 "more vibrant,
active, effective"
DHAKA : Foreign Minister Dr AK
Abdul Momen on Wednesday said
Bangladesh will take all pragmatic initiatives
to open new avenues of cooperation
among the D-8 Member States
with the aim of making this Group even
more vibrant, active and effective,
reports UNB.
In order to minimise the worsening
effects of Covid-19 on the world economy,
Dr Momen said, Bangladesh wants
to explore all avenues for economic
recovery through collaboration among
the D-8 Member States.
"Bangladesh believes in a free and
equitable access to markets for not only
products but also services. It would
obviously facilitate D-8 governments
and private sectors to come together to
highlight how D-8 Member States can
deepen connectivity, networking and
collaboration in light of experiences of
the Covid-l9 era," he said.
The Foreign Minister was addressing
the D-8 19th Council of Ministers
(COM) as Chair of the COM.
Foreign Ministers of D-8 Member
States including immediate past chair
and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut
Cavusoglu and D-8 Secretary General
Ambassador Ku Jaffar Ku Shari joined.
Since the overall objective of the global
organisation is to improve Member
States' life and livelihood situation
through multiple approaches, Dr
Momen hoped to create a D-8 digital
marketplace, and create a suitable-forall
resilient post-pandemic cooperation
model to ensure the common interests
of all member states.
"As the whole world is experiencing an
unprecedented global public health and
economic crisis caused by the COVID-19
pandemic, I personally feel the urge
that, we, the D-8 Member States need to
stand together more than ever," he said.
After chairing the D-8 Organisation
for Economic Cooperation for two years
during the period of 1999 - 2001,
Bangladesh is going to hold the
Chairmanship of the D-8 for the second
time after two decades.
"This is happening at a time when we
are celebrating the birth centenary of the
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and we are
also observing the Golden Jubilee of our
independence," he said.
Moreover, Dr Momen said, recently
Bangladesh has fulfilled the UN criteria
for graduating from the LDC Group of
countries.
"We are indeed honoured and happy
for having the opportunity of chairing
the D-8 at this historic moment," he
said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will
lead the Bangladesh delegation at the
10th D-8 Summit on Thursday to be
participated by the leaders of Egypt,
Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria,
Pakistan and Turkey.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan will hand over the
Chairmanship of the D-8 to Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina.
As president of the Climate
Vulnerable Forum and the Vulnerable
Twenty Group of Finance Ministers,
Bangladesh has a leading voice and can
make irreplaceable contributions
toward a successful COP26, she said.
As a climate vulnerable country,
Bangladesh will require significant climate
adaptation and resilience, especially
in view of its increasingly ambitious
climate goals, Bernicat said.
The?US companies are well placed to
deliver many of the solutions
Bangladesh will need to sustainably
grow its economy, she said.
Bernicat said this is an exciting time in
U.S.-Bangladesh relations, and it is a
particularly timely moment to inaugurate
this organization to support closer
US-Bangladesh economic cooperation.
The US-Bangladesh Business
Council and the American private sector
will be invaluable partners to help
Bangladesh reach the ambitions laid
out in its Bangladesh Vision 2041,
including to become a high-income
country, she said.
Accidents on
waterways in
Bangladesh
declining: Minister
DHAKA : Home Minister Asaduzzaman
Khan on Wednesday said accidents on
waterways are declining in the country
because of changes in vessel designs,
implementation of necessary measures
and stronger monitoring, reports UNB.
"We used to see major accidents during
holidays every year. Now such accidents
have decreased. But I would not
say these have totally gone," he said
while addressing the inauguration of the
River Security Week 2021.
He virtually joined the inaugural function,
held at the conference room of the
Shipping Ministry, as the chief guest.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid
Mahmud Chowdhury was present as
the special guest.
Asaduzzaman said the main reasons
behind the fall in waterway accidents
are the changes in vessel designs and
stronger monitoring in addition to other
necessary measures.
He mentioned that the importance of
the shipping sector in the graduation of
a riverine and coastal country like
Bangladesh from a least developed
country to a developing one is immense,
and put emphasis on consolidation of
this achievement.
The minister said one of the major
responsibilities of the Shipping
Department is to develop an accidentfree
shipping system. "The department
has taken a number of effective measures
for the safety of public life and
property."
An online digital database containing
vessel survey data, registration reports
and all the information related to vessels
and sailors in the inland sector of
Bangladesh is being maintained, he
said.
Power workers are risking their lives by climbing high poles to keep the uninterrupted power supply in
the capital. The picture was taken from Rampura area on Wednesday.
Photo: PBA
Long-route passengers are reaching their destination in this way.
Cabinet purchases body
approves LNG, rice import
DHAKA : The Cabinet Committee on
Public Purchase approved seven proposals
including the import of liquified
natural gas (LNG) from a Swiss
company and rice from an Indian
company.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa
Kamal presided over the meeting.
State-owned Petrobangla, under
the Energy and Mineral Resources
Division, will import the 3.360 million
MMBtus of LNG from AOT
Trading AG, Switzerland at a cost of
Tk 243.3 crore with per MMBtu price
at $7.2855, reports UNB.
The Directorate General of Food
under the Food Ministry will import
50,000 metric tonnes of non-bashmoti
parboiled rice from PK Agri
Link Private Ltd, India, at cost of Tk
174.65 crore, with per MT price at
$411.93.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet committee
approved a proposal of the Roads and
Highways Department to award Tk
103.37 crore contract to the Joint
Venture of Reliable Builders Ltd, Md
Moyenuddin (Bashi) Limited
andOrient Trading and Builders Ltd,
for implementing package No-WP-
02 of the project on Improvement of
Shariatpur (Monohar Bazar)-
Ibrahimpur Road upto Ferry Ghat.
The committee approved awarding
Tk 106.84 crore contract to the Joint
Venture of Md Badrul Iqbal Ltd,
Hassan Techno Builders Ltd, and
Oyster Construction and Shipping
Company Ltd, for implementing the
works of the package WP-03 of the
Lockdown unproductive due
to mismanagement: BNP
same project.
Another project of the Roads and
Highways Department received
approval of the committee to award a
contract of Tk 788.38 crore to Afcons
Infrastructure Limited, India, for
implementing the package No-WP-
03 for upgrading Ashuganj
Riverport-Sarai's-Dharkhar-
Akhawra Highway into four lanes
and its maintenance work.
The committee approved a proposal
of Tk 243.18 crore of the Bridge
Authority under the Bridges Division
to award a contract for appointing
consultant for conducting feasibility
study about construction of bridges
on Shariatpur-Chandpur Highway
and Gazaria Munshiganj Road for
crossing the Meghna River to connect
Chandpur and Shariatpur districts.
A Joint Venture of Tecnica Y
Proyectos SA (TYPSA), Spain,
Nippon Koei Co Ltd, Japan,
DOHWA Engineering Co Ltd, South
Korea, Development Design
Consultants Ltd Bangladesh, BCL
Associates Ltd, Bangladesh and Dev
Consultants Ltd, Bangladesh, won
the contract.
The committee approved a proposal
of Public Works Department
for re-evaluation of the tender proposal
for the work package of WD-
01 of the Khulna Development
Authority's Khulna Shipyard Road
Widening and Development Works
by cancelling the recommendation
of Tender Evaluation Committee
(TEC).
DHAKA : BNP on Wednesday alleged
that the weeklong lockdown, enforced
by the government, is only causing public
sufferings instead of yielding any positive
outcome to contain Covid transmission
due to mismanagement,
reports UNB.
"The reality is that neither lockdown
nor the restrictions are being implemented
at the field level due to mismanagement
of the government," said BNP
acting office secretary Syed Emran Saleh
Prince.
Speaking at a press conference at
BNP's Nayapaltan central office, he also
said people remain at a high risk of coronavirus
infection because of the government's
contradictory moves.
"Everything is in a mess everywhere,
putting people in limitless troubles."
The BNP leader also alleged that the
government has enforced the lockdown
without any prior preparation.
He said long traffic jams on roads and
highways are the proof that the lockdown
has been ineffective. "People are
waiting in long queues for transports at
different places in the city. Basically,
everything is going on as before."
The BNP leader said the government's
policy makers took such a decision of
enforcing a lockdown sitting in air-conditioned
rooms without proper planning
as they do not need to think about
salary utility bills and money for managing
food. "But people have to ensure sufferings
as a result of this unplanned and
unprepared move."
Prince, also a BNP organising secretary,
said the government's response to
tackling the second wave of coronavirus
is uncoordinated, unplanned, shortsighted
and irrational as happened last
year. "This time the government got a lot
of time. But due to lack of prior preparation,
the situation turned chaotic as it
was last year."
He also said corona-infected people
are struggling to receive treatment for
lack of sufficient vacant seats, ICUs, ventilators
and oxygen supply at the hospitals
in the cities and different district
towns.
"Patients with corona infections are
dying on the streets as they are running
from one hospital to another for treatment.
"The government has to shoulder
the responsibility for this," the BNP
leader said.
Prince demanded the government
take effective steps to ensure adequate
healthcare facilities, ICUs, ventilators
and oxygen at hospitals and conduct
free Covid tests.
Photo : Star Mail
Indramohan Rajbongshi
Folk singer
Indramohan
Rajbongshi dies
DHAKA : Prominent folk singer,
researcher and Swadhin Bangla Betar
Kendra vocal artiste Indramohan
Rajbongshi died of Covid-19 at a hospital
in Dhaka on Wednesday, reports UNB.
Indramohan, who had tested positive
for Covid-19, breathed his last at
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical
University (BSMMU) around 10:20 am.
The Ekushey Padak recipient was
admitted to the hospital on Monday
with multiple health complications.
In the early 1950s', Rajbongshi started
to learn music from his grandfather
Krishna Das Rajbongshi.
In 1998, Rajbongshi established a folk
organisation, Bangladesh Lok Sangeet
Parishad (Folk Song Council).
He wrote about 100 folk songs for
children, songs on the Liberation War
and the Language Movement.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
expressed deep shock and sorrow at the
death of Indramohan Rajbangshi.
In a condolence message, she said that
the contribution of the Ekushey Padak
winning brilliant singer in flourishing the
country's folksongs will be remembered.
She prayed for the eternal salvation of
the departed soul and expressed sympathy
to the bereaved family.
Ridesharing bikers,
shop owners block
Dhaka roads in protest
DHAKA : App-based ridesharing bikers
and shop owners brought traffic movement
to a grinding halt in parts of Dhaka
Wednesday, protesting the government's
restriction order on their services
amid a record surge in Covid-19 cases,
reports UNB.
The pedestrians said bikers of
ridesharing services gathered at
Moghbazar intersection at noon and
staged a protestdemandingan end to the
ban on their servicesduring the weeklong
restriction on movement of people
and transport.
Traffic came to a standstill at that time
as the angry bikers began to
protest.Later, they tried to take position
in front ofDhaka Metropolitan Police
Headquartersbut failed as police gave
chase to disperse them.
Earlier, the bikers gathered at the
Mohakhali area at around 11am and
demonstrated on the streets,causing
traffic congestionfrom Mohakhali to
Bangladesh Navy Headquarters in
Banani.
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.
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