30-11-2021

tueSday

Dhaka: November 30, 2021; agrahyan 15, 1428 BS; Rabius-Sani 24,1443 hijri

www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net

Regd.No.Da~2065, Vol.19; N o. 209; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00

international

Japan bans entry of

foreign visitors as

omicron spreads

>Page 7

Khaleda can bring any

foreign doctor for

treatment: Momen

DHAKA : BNP leader Khaleda Zia is

allowed to bring any doctor from abroad as

she is free to receive treatment anywhere in

the country, said Foreign Minister Dr AK

Abdul Momen on Monday.

Dr Momen made the remarks while

briefing reporters at State guesthouse

Padma stressing that the government

wants to uphold the rule of law in the

country.

Earlier, he briefed diplomats stationed

in Dhaka on a number of current issues,

including the upcoming World Peace

Conference to be held in Dhaka in the

first week of December.

ACC sues ex-jailer

Sohel Rana for

misappropriating

Tk 2.74 cr

DHAKA : The Anti-Corruption

Commission ( ACC) on Monday filed a

case against former jailer of

Chattogram central jail Sohel Rana

Biswas for misappropriating around Tk

2.74 crore, reports UNB.

ACC deputy director in Chattogram

Abu Sayed filed the case with

Chattogram Coordinated Office, said

Deputy Director of ACC Public Relations

office Muhammad Arif Sadeq.

According to the case statement, the

jailer did not mention about Tk 40

lakh in his wealth statement which

was submitted on September 18, 2019.

ACC in their investigation found

that he had also amassed TK 2. 34

crore through corruption and bribery,

it also said. On October 26 last year,

Sohel Rana was arrested from a

Mymensingh-bound train along with Tk

44.4 lakh cash, over Tk1 crore in cheques

and 12 bottles of phensidyl.

DSA case filed against

suspended GCC

mayor Jahangir

DHAKA : A lawyer yesterday filed a case

under Digital Security Act (DSA) against

suspended mayor of Gazipur City

Corporation (GCC) Jahangir Alam for his

derogatory remarks about Father of the

Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman and Bangladesh Awami

League. Dhaka Bar Council member

Omar Faruk Asif filed the case with the

court of Dhaka Cyber Tribunal Judge

Ash Shams Jaglul Hossain, reports BSS.

"The court after recording testimony of

the plaintiff, ordered Criminal

Investigation Department (CID) to

investigate the matter and file its report

within January 6," public prosecutor Adv

Nazrul Islam Shamim told BSS.

Bangladesh Awami League on

November 19 expelled Jahangir from the

party and the local government ministry

on November 25 suspended Jahangir

Alam as the mayor of Gazipur City

Corporation.

Zohr

05:05 AM

11:50 PM

03:35 PM

05:15 PM

06:35 PM

6:22 5:11

SPortS

Messi sets up PSG

comeback win marred

by Neymar injury

>Page 9

Bangladesh now

investment-friendly

country: Anisul

DHAKA : Law, Justice and Parliamentary

Affairs Minister Anisul Huq yesterday

said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has

built many infrastructures in Bangladesh

to ensure an investment-friendly environment

in the country.

"She has also created a good legal framework,

so that the foreign investors can get

excellent protection. So Bangladesh is now

a very good investment-friendly country,"

the minister said.

Law Minister Anisul Huq came up

with the observations while addressing

a session titled "Legal Infrastructure"

of International Investment Summit

2021 at Radisson Blu Water Garden

Hotel, Dhaka.

Organized by Bangladesh Investment

Development Authority (BIDA), the

session was conducted by Policy

Exchange Chairman Mashrur Riyaj.

The session was also addressed by

Although engine

propelled boats

dominate the

waterways

now-a-days,

some 2,000

courageous

people have

kept alive the

tradition of

boatmen.

They are mostly

found in

Sadarghat,

Waizghat,

Badamtali

ghat, and

Shyambazar.

Photo : PBA

Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs

Division Secretary Md Moinul Kabir,

Senior Secretary Mohammad Shahidul

Haque, Prof Dr Rumana Islam,

Barrister Nihad Kabir and Barrister

Tanjib Ul Alam.

The law minister in his speech said

from a country of fragile economy,

Bangladesh has turned into a middle

income country after 50 years of its independence

and this is a huge achievement

for the development of Bangladesh.

"Even during the recent Covid-19 outbreak,

our GDP growth rate was good

compared to our neighbours. This was

possible due to the time-befitting and

realistic policy of Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina. If Bangladesh can

maintain this success rate, it will

become a high middle-income country

by 2031 and a developed country by

2041," he added.

Police foil students' bid

to block Shahbagh

DHAKA : Police on Monday foiled

an attempt of eight left-leaning student

organisations to block

Shahbagh intersection to press

home their various demands,

including half fare on public transport

for students.

Their other demands include government

steps to control the abnormal

price hike of daily essentials

and reduce fuel prices.

The leaders and activists of the

left-leaning organizations brought

out a procession from Dhaka

University's TSC area at noon, said

Moudud Hawladar, officer-incharge

of Shahbagh Police Station.

When their procession got close to

the National Museum, police

obstructed them, leading to a scuffle

between the students and police.

Police later dispersed the protesters.

They also demanded the withdrawal

of the increased fare of public

transport, stopping the sitting

service system, half fare for students

and workers of different

industries, issuance of a gazette

notification over the half pass for

students, ensuring justice over the

death of Notre Dame College student

Naeem Hasan and road safety.

The students have been staging

demonstrations since November 18

demanding half fare in public transport

for students.

The recent hike in transport fares

following the rise in fuel prices and

the death of a Notre Dame College

student in a road accident caused by

a Dhaka South City Corporation

(DSCC) vehicle prompted the students

to raise their voice against

chaos in the transport sector.

They also claimed that no one has

paid any heed to their demand

though the students have been

harassed in public buses.

The death of Notre Dame College

student Naeem Hasan, who was

killed in an accident in Gulistan

area of the city on November 24,

triggered the movement.

On November 20, students from

two colleges vandalised 10-12 buses

in Science Laboratory area

demanding half fare in the city for

students.

On November 18, hundreds of

students of Dhaka College demonstrated

outside their college to press

home the same demand.

The government on November 3

raised the prices of diesel and

kerosene by Tk 15 per liter and the

Bangladesh Road Transport

Authority (BRTA) increased the

fares for intra-city and inter-district

buses by 26.5% and 27% respectively

following an indefinite strike by

transport owners on November 7.

art & culture

Mim as Sulata

Ray in Masud

Rana's 'MR9'

>Page 10

The University of Dhaka is rolling up with the centenary celebration. Spirals of starlights glittering

from various bricks and mortar establishments are awestrucking the visitors. Photo: Star Mail

Jhenaidah's Ritu becomes

first transgender UP

chairman in Bangladesh

JHENAIDAH : Nazrul Islam Ritu, an

independent candidate, was elected as

the first transgender Union Parishad

chairman at Trilochonpur union of

Jhenaidah's Kaliganj upazila during the

3rd phase UP elections on Sunday,

reports UNB.

Ritu, 43, was elected as a chairman of

the union bagging 9,557 votes with

pineapple symbol while Awami Leaguebacked

candidate Nazrul Islam Sana, got

4,529 votes, said Md Abdus Salek, district

election officer.

Ritu had to leave her village and move

to Dhaka's Demra at the age of five.

However, she frequently visits Jhenaidah

to stay connected with Trilochanpur people.

Locals said Ritu has been providing

financial assistance to the helpless people

of different villages of Trilochanpur

Union for the 15 years and thus she

became popular among local people.

Talking to UNB, Ritu said, "I have won

the election as a transgender person.

Now, I want to serve the people of my

union for the rest of my life."

She said the government has given the

right to vote and various opportunities to the

transgender community members. "I have

no regret for being a transgender person."

"The AL-backed candidate and his supporters

obstructed me in many ways.

However, there has been a fair election

because of the administration," she added.

Earlier, another transgender, Pinki

Khatun, was elected vice chairman of

Kotchandpur upazila in Jhenaidah.

On November 13, Shahida Begum

became the first transgender person to

get elected as member of Maguraghona

Union Parishad-6 in Khulna district.

Tax return submission

Half the TIN holders may miss

the November 30 deadline

DHAKA : At least half the country's TIN

holders are likely to miss the November

30 deadline to submit their tax returns

amid experts' call to the National Board

of Revenue (NBR) to go for a more bold

and people-friendly tax collection campaign,

reports UNB.

Speaking on condition of anonymity a

senior NBR official told UNB that the

pace of manually submitted returns has

been slow. He said he can't disclose how

many people submitted their returns

manually until November 27, 2021.

He, however, said some 33,653 taxpayers

submitted their tax returns until

Saturday (November 27) using the

newly-launched eReturn system and a

total of 71,500 taxpayers have registered

digitally.

The digital system ensured that there is

no harassment, no bribe or no delay in

issuing acknowledgement of tax certificates.

A team of tax officials developed

the system using the board's own

resources.

"The returns submission will take place

on the last two days of November as

usual like previous years and the number

may not be less than the last year," the

official added.

Some regular taxpayers complained

that they did not get timely messages

from NBR.

Talking to UNB Abbas Uddin, a college

teacher said, "I have been paying taxes

for the past 11 years. I did not get any

message from NBR."

When told of this complaint NBR

member (tax policy) Md. Alamgir

Hossain said that tax commissioner

offices are organizing digital campaign in

areas by sending SMS to the taxpayers

Besides, NBR is using several media

outlets to send out the information about

tax return submissions, he said.

He advised people to submit returns

within the deadline otherwise they would

have to explain the delay to the NBR

through applications and pay extra fees

for late submissions.

However, the NBR information shows

that a large number of taxable sections of

people will remain out of the taxation

network also in the current 2021-22 fiscal

year.

According to NBR, the country has

over 6.0 million Taxpayer Identification

Number (TIN) holders, Of which 2.4 million

TIN holders submitted tax returns

last year.

The submission may stay at last year's

level, said NBR sources who can't be

named as they are not authorised to talk

to the media.

Tashnuva Anan Shishir gets featured

in Time's 100 best photos of 2021

DHAKA :Tashnuva Anan Shishir, who

made history in becoming Bangladesh's

first-ever transgender woman news presenter

on a television channel, has been featured

in the prestigious Time Magazine's

top 100 best photos of 2021, reports UNB.

"I am super excited for this global

recognition for myself and my community,

especially as someone who came from

a very root level," said Tasnuva sharing

her joy with UNB.

She started broadcasting the regular news

bulletin at the private satellite television

channel Boishakhi Television on March 8,

marking theInternational Women's Day.

The US-based Time magazine featured

a photo of her clicked by AFP Dhaka photographer

Munir Uz Zaman on March 8

in the Boishakhi TV newsroom, accompanied

by her co-workers wearing the

same themed sarees marking the day.

"Tashnuva Anan Shishir made history

as Bangladesh's first transgender television

news anchor by reading a threeminute

news segment in Dhaka on

March 8, International Women's Day.

Munir Uz Zaman-AFP/Getty Images,"

Time captioned the image on its website.

The image of Tasnuva in the Boishakhi

TV newsroom with her colleagues,

placed alongside moments such as

George Flloyd's family cheering during

the verdict, and the Taliban's walking in

and standing together during evening

prayers near Hamid Karzai International

Airport in Kabul, is now being virtually

displayed in an unranked list covering

the most important and iconic 100

moments of the eventful 2021.

In her reaction she told UNB "I am

super excited for this global recognition

for myself and my community,

especially as someone who came from

a very root level."

"Individuals from my community need

to get the recognition they truly work

hard for, and exposures like this will help

me to work for the development of our

people in the society, to ensure that they

get what they deserve," Tasnuva said.

A joyous rally was held in Morrelganj upazila of Bagerhat on Monday marking the occasion of the second anniversary

of the recognition of Awami Matsyajibi League as an associate organization. Photo: M Palash Sharif

Speaker urges journos to play effective

role for sustainable dev

DHAKA: Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury yesterday

urged the mass media to play more

effective role for making ongoing

development sustainable, reports BSS.

"The role of mass media is obvious to

consolidate the democracy," she said

while addressing as the chief guest at

the opening ceremony of the Dhaka

Reporters Unity (DRU) annual general

meeting at city's Segunbagicha here.

Lauding the role of the DRU, Dr Shirin

Sharmin said the unity has been

playing for professional development

and establishing rights and dignity of

the mass media workers since its

foundation. "DRU is undertaking and

implementing various programmes for

promoting objective and quality

journalism, welfare of the newsmen,

enhancing mutual cooperation and

development professionalism," she

told the inaugural function. Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina's government

has ensured other facilities of the

Journalists including enactment of

Journalists Welfare Trust Act, she said

adding: "Bangladesh today has been

established as a digitalized country for

her [Sheikh Hasina] prudent

leadership.

" The country has been connected

virtually due to spread of digitalized

facilities during the pandemic period,

said the Speaker and urged the social

media, online portal and print media

for constructing a prosperous and

developed Bangladesh through

displaying accurate information. "it is

commendable that the DRU is

patronizing equally the male and

female journalists,' she mentioned.

Formers DRU leaders Shahjahan

Sarder, Rafiqul Islam Azad, Mahfuzur

Rahman, Shafiqul Karim Sabu, Sukkur

Ali Suvo, Elias Hossain, Shakawat

Hossain Badsha spoke the function

while DRU President Mursalin

Nomani chaired. The function was

moderated by its general secretary

Mashiur Rahman Khan.

Police nabs

alleged fraud

in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI: Police yesterday

arrested an alleged fraudster

on charge of his involvement

in cheating people in the

name of giving a job to the

post of police constable,

reports BSS.

The detained person has

been identified as Habib

Rahman, a resident of

Mohammadpur village

under Bagmara upazila in the

district.

Police sources said Habib

signed an agreement with

Abdul Hai, son of Jafar

Hossain of Saidhara village

under the same upazila,

alluring him to give a job in

police constable post against

Taka nine lakh. As part of the

agreement, he received Taka

57,000 in cash, two bank

cheques and three nonjudicial

stamps from Hai.

Later, Abdul Hai wanted to

get back the money and other

goods from Habib when he

was unsuccessful in getting

the job. But, Habib doesn't

pay heed to the request.

In this odd situation, Hai

lodged a case with Bagmara

Police Station in this

connection. Subsequently,

police arrested Habib and

recovered the money and

other goods from his

possession this noon, said

Ifte Khayer Alam, Additional

Superintendent of Police.

tueSDAY, noveMBer 30, 2021

2

Rangpur records 3.83pc Covid-19

positivity Monday

RANGPUR: Rangpur division recorded 3.83

percent Covid-19 positivity rate as seven

fresh cases were reported after testing 183

new samples in the division on Monday,

reports BSS.

Health officials said the Covid-19

pandemic situation continues improving

amid declining positivity rate and rising

recovery rate constantly during the last three

months in the division.

Earlier, the daily Covid-19 positivity rates

were 1.84 percent on Sunday, 5.49 percent

on Saturday, 1.75 percent on Friday, 3.03

percent on Thursday, 2.44 percent on

Wednesday and 7.07 percent on Monday

last.

Seven fresh Covid-19 cases were reported

after testing 89 samples at M Abdur Rahim

Medical College (MARMC) Covid-19

laboratory in Dinajpur at the positivity rate

of 7.87 percent yesterday.

"The seven new Covid-19 patients include

five from Dinajpur and one each from

Nilphamari and Panchagarh districts," said

Principal of MARMC Professor Dr Syed

Nazir Hossain.

"On the other hand, none was tested

positive after testing 94 samples at Rangpur

Medical College (RpMC) yesterday,"

Principal of RpMC Prof Dr AKM Nurunnobi

Lyzu told BSS at 4 pm.

Acting Divisional Director (Health) Dr Abu

Md Zakirul Islam said the total number of

Covid-19 patients rose to 55,561 as seven

new positive cases were reported today from

the division.

"The district-wise break up of total 55,561

patients include 12,507 of Rangpur, 3,823 of

Panchagarh, 4,460 of Nilphamari, 2,747 of

Lalmonirhat, 4,646 of Kurigram, 7,663 of

Thakurgaon, 14,846 of Dinajpur and 4,869

of Gaibandha in the division," he added.

AL-backed 8 chairmen won in C'nawabganj's

Shibganj UP election

CHAPAINAWABGANJ: Awami League (AL)-

backed chairman candidates were elected in

eight Union Parishads (UPs) out of 13 of

Shibganj upazila in Chapainawabganj district

on Monday while completing the third phase

UP elections across the country, reports BSS.

The unofficial results were announced early

today after counting the votes.

The AL-backed elected chairmen are-Md.

Nizamul Hoque (Shahbajpur UP), Md.

Alamgir (Daipukuria UP), Md. Mamun Or

Rashid (Ghorapakhia UP), Md. Golam

Rabbani (Chatrajitpur UP), Md. Anwar Hasan

(Chakkirti UP), Md. Durul Huda (Uzirpur

UP).Besides, Md. Shahdat Hossain Khurram

of AL was elected uncontested in Monakasha

UP and Md. Mostakul Alam Pintu of AL was

also elected uncontested in Nayalabhanga UP.

Other independent elected chairmen are-

Md. Ruhul Amin in Binodpur UP, Md. Rabiul

Islam in Shyampur UP, Md. Mahmudul

Hoque Haidari in Mobarakpur UP, Md. Abdul

Malek in Panka UP and Md. Abdul Latif in

Dhainagar UP.

6841(50) 29

GD-1748/21 (5x4)

GD-1750/21 (6x4)

GD-1756/21 (12x4)

TUESDAy, nOvEMBER 30, 2021

4

Iran nuclear talks: Preparing for failure

Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam

e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Checking the outflow

of resources

Acountry will experience inflows and outflows of

resources from it and these are to be considered as

legitimate activities in many cases. But when the

outflows to a large extent are the outcome of illegitimate

operations, then the economy of the country stands

threatened. This has been the case in respect of Bangladesh

which should normally aspire to keep within its boundaries

as much resources as possible for its own utilisation when

the realities seem to be considerably different. It is no more

a matter of speculation but a well known fact that huge

resources are being drained away from Bangladesh by a class

of wastrels and parasites who are least motivated by ethical

or patriotic feelings.

In the pre independence days, the entire economic

argument for the establishment of Bangladesh was based on

retention of local resources for the benefit of the local

economy. But to what extent this principle is being applied

now in the free country ? Any impartial assessment would

show up a substantial outflow of resources out of the

country through illegal and unethical means. This flight of

resources from the country, its level and impact on the

economy, calls for an urgent study and if it is carried out the

same would likely establish that the resource flight is on a

large scale.

Specially, one understands from various suggestive media

reports these days that some resourceful persons in the

country are in a scramble to pump out as much resources as

they can outside of Bangladesh. They specially and allegedly

include influential figures inside or outside the government

who have been the ruling elites in the country under the

present incumbents in power. Of course their monies were

largely obtained from all kinds of wheeling-deal or

corruption. According to one rumoured but probably also

dependable estimate, the equivalent of some $ 5 billion

might have been pumped out of the country in the last couple

of years.

Thus, it has become imperative to raise a clamour against

such unconscionable flight of resources . All conscious

people in the country ought to make it their strong demand

so that the ones in power in the country or the powers to be,

all are obliged to pay heed to it or suffer people's collective

wrath for the same at some stage.

Three persons from Bangladesh and also some others

facing the allegations of embezzling thousands of crores of

Taka from different banks, financial institutions and capital

markets are now living abroad in luxury after leaving the

country without any obstacles. Needless to say, people in

Bangladesh are almost one in expressing that these

individuals should not be allowed to enjoy their looted wealth

abroad. People's expectation is that they will be brought back

to Bangladesh to stand trial and that their looted monies will

be recovered by the state to alleviate the grief and miseries of

people who suffered in the hands of these nabobs of atrocious

financial crimes.

State agencies should particularly investigate the alleged

irregularities and loan forgeries committed by these three

individuals. These high-profile individuals are Abdul Hye

Bachchu, Abdul Aziz and Prasanta Kumar Halder (PK

Haldar).

Abdul Hye Bachchu alone left BASIC Bank almost

collapsed. He is now living in London and New York with

family. Sources said he visits Bangladesh when needed.

Abdul Aziz, the owner of Jaaz Multimedia, left the country

allegedly after taking a huge volume of loans from several

banks. PK Haldar allegedly plundered Tk 3,500 million

from the country's capital market and at least four non-bank

financial institutions.

PK Haldar is now living in Montreal, Canada after leaving

Bangladesh at the beginning of January this year. Sources

said Haldar floated several companies in Montreal and

Toronto after laundering money from Bangladesh. His

brother and wife have been made directors of these business

firms. Apart from Canada, PK Halder has huge investments

out of ill gotten wealth in India, Malaysia and Singapore,

sources added.

Abdul Aziz is also living in Canada. Abdul Aziz left the

country after non-repayment of bank loans by his company

Crescent Group. Five companies-Crescent Leather Products,

Crescent Tanneries, Lexco Ltd, Rupali Composite

Leatherwear and Remax Footwear are owned by Abdul Aziz

and his brother Abdul Kader. They owe Tk 3,443 crore (as of

October last year) to Janata Bank alone.

Former chairman of the Association of Bankers

Bangladesh (ABB), Anis A. Khan, said "The culture of fleeing

abroad with money from the banks must be stopped. The

robbers need to have their passports cancelled. At the same

time, action must be taken against them by the countries

where these criminals reside. " If it is possible to cancel their

visas, then the culture of escape from the country will stop

forever. The Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh Bank, Security

Exchange Commission, National Revenue Board and Anti-

Corruption Commission should take joint initiatives in this

regard," he added.

There is hardly disagreement among most quarters in

Bangladesh about the merit side of the move to bring back

huge resources pumped out of Bangladesh by the truly

corrupt and powerful ones under different governments.

The Finance Minister on occasion, in response to queries

from the media, commented that steps would be taken to

bring back the siphoned off wealth. But the finance minister's

comments need to be matched by vigorous activism to raise

hopes that justice would indeed be finally done to bring back

these resources which should belong to the people and spent

or utilized for their well being.

There was one thing everybody

wanted to ask US Secretary of

Defense Lloyd Austin at last week's

Manama Dialogue: Had America

abandoned historic commitments to

Middle Eastern security? No amount of

reassuring platitudes and references to

tens of thousands of troops present in the

region could allay these concerns. Is

America willing and ready to do what it

takes to address regional strategic threats,

especially the likelihood of Tehran

achieving nuclear breakout capacity?

With Iran nuclear talks recommencing

on Nov. 29, I asked every US official I met

in Manama about their expectations. The

problem was that, while none of them

expected any progress, there was a dire

lack of strategic thinking about what

would happen when talks inevitably

failed.

When I pushed one senior US official

about prospects of a military solution

ultimately becoming necessary, he

reluctantly acknowledged: "It might very

well come to that."

Europe, Russia and China remain mired

in denial about the gravity of the threat.

However, there are indications that at

least some of Biden's foreign policy

experts have gazed into the abyss and are

beginning to comprehend that they must

grapple with the consequences of the

failure of these negotiations. Regarding

prospects for a return to the 2015 deal, the

US State Department's Iran envoy Robert

Malley retorted: "You can't revive a dead

corpse!" General McKenzie, commander

of US Central Command, acknowledged

that America was developing "other

options" for the day after talks failed: "Our

president said they're not going to have a

nuclear weapon. Central Command

always has a variety of plans that we could

execute, if directed."

Regarding Iran's proximity to nuclear

capacity, McKenzie said: "They're very

close this time. I think they like the idea of

being able to break out."

Following his failed visit to Tehran, the

IAEA's Rafael Grossi warns that his

institution is "going blind" in Iran as a

result of Tehran's deliberate impediments

upon IAEA inspections, at a moment

when Iran is enriching uranium to 60

percent. Grossi stipulated that this is a

level of purity which "only countries

making bombs have."

Iran's chief negotiator Ali BagheriKani

stubbornly rejects the legitimacy of talks,

saying: "We have no such thing as nuclear

negotiations." Kani merely awaits the

removal of "unlawful and inhuman

BARIA ALAMUDDIn

sanctions." Iran dismissively rejected US

speculation about an interim deal.

Meanwhile, how can there be confidencebuilding

when the two sides won't even sit

in the same room as each other?

Iranian officials tediously parrot their

three impossible conditions: Washington

must immediately lift all sanctions,

guarantee no future administration will

exit the deal, and admit to wrongdoing in

pulling out of the deal. Yet Biden has no

legal means of compelling successors to

abide by his decisions. This can only be

achieved through a deal enjoying

bipartisan US support, by closing down all

Iranian routes to military nuclear

capabilities.

Reporting from within the White House

suggests wholesale policy confusion in the

event of negotiations failing. Non-military

options are likely to be ineffective,

particularly as Trump already imposed

sanctions on every conceivable Iranian

target. Biden and his European

counterparts desperately don't want to

countenance worst-case scenarios. Yet

GRAnT nEWSHAM

this flagrant squeamishness is precisely

what makes the ayatollahs believe they

possess the window of opportunity for

nuclear breakout.

Iranian officials tediously parrot their

three impossible conditions: Washington

must immediately lift all sanctions,

guarantee no future administration will

exit the deal, and admit to wrongdoing in

pulling out of the deal. Yet Biden has no

legal means of compelling successors to

abide by his decisions.

As former British ambassador Sir John

Jenkins said in an excellent Arab News

article: "The issue is not troop numbers. It

is political will. The idea that an

administration that has made clear its

desire to leave Middle Eastern conflicts

behind will seek to put Iran back in its box,

is fantasy. And Tehran knows this."

Despite spectacular Israeli acts of

sabotage, Iranian scientists have gone to

extraordinary lengths to rebuild and keep

nuclear development on schedule, even at

a time when thousands of impoverished

citizens are dying from neverending

COVID-19 outbreaks and much of the

country runs out of water.

According to intelligence officials,

Tehran replaced damaged equipment

with new technology that operates faster

and at higher volumes. Hence, reliance on

cyberattacks and pin-prick sabotage has

only made Iran double-down on its

efforts.

Source: Arab news

It is high time we start preparing for future pandemics

Five million lives worldwide have

already been lost to COVID-19,

and the World Health

Organization Access to COVID-19 Tools

Accelerator (WHO/ACT-A) grimly

predict five million more lives will be lost

to the disease in months to come.

Alarmingly also, COVID-19 cases will

swell from the 260 million confirmed so

far to 460 million by the end of 2022.

The damage from COVID-19 has been

so catastrophic that, when the World

Health Assembly (WHA) meets in a

special session, starting November 29,

and its task is nothing less than

preventing such a tragedy from reoccurring.

The damage from COVID-19

has been so ruinous that we now need an

internationally binding agreement to

prevent future outbreaks from ever

becoming pandemics again.

In the words of WHO Director-

General, TedrosAdhanom Ghebreyesus,

a new agreement should be underpinned

by a high-level commitment to health for

all grounded in equity and solidarity

between nations. Not only should all

people have fair access to what they need

for their health, irrespective of their

wealth or their income, but the

international community should ensure

the equitable use and distribution of

available medical resources. For that to

happen, we need a fully functioning

global surveillance system, the fasttracking

and sharing of support in

emergencies and predictable finance.

Nothing illustrates the need for this

more clearly than our collective failure,

as an international community, to meet

US misses golden opportunity in the Solomon Islands

Anti-government demonstrators in

Honiara, the capital of the Solomon

Islands, last week demanded the

prime minister step down, citing his

government's alleged corruption and its

ties to the People's Republic of China

(PRC). After the police fired teargas at the

up until then peaceful demonstrators,

chaos erupted. An outbuilding at the

parliament caught fire, a police station

was attacked and mobs roamed the town.

Over the next two days, much of Honiara's

Chinatown was burned and looted. One

"Chinese" shop, festooned with Taiwanese

flags, was spared, however.

Americans used to know about the

Solomon Islands and why they matter.

The word "Guadalcanal" was enough.

That's where US Marines and Japanese

forces fought a long, bloody campaign in

World War II.

But the US government has barely paid

attention to the Solomons for decades,

even though they are as important now as

they were in 1942.

The Solomon Islands are "strategic

terrain" in today's contest between the

PRC and the US and its allies. Hold the

Solomons and you can isolate Australia

from the US and the rest of Asia. And you

Europe, Russia and China remain mired in denial about the

gravity of the threat. However, there are indications that at least

some of Biden's foreign policy experts have gazed into the abyss

and are beginning to comprehend that they must grapple with the

consequences of the failure of these negotiations.

our promise to secure the equitable

distribution of vaccines. For while,

thanks to brilliant science and strong

manufacturing performance, we will

have produced 12 billion vaccine doses

by Christmas - enough to vaccinate every

adult in the world - 95 percent of adults

still remain unprotected in low-income

countries. This is perhaps the greatest

public policy failure of our times.

The WHO's internationally agreed

adult vaccination target for every country

- 40 percent by December - is set to be

can further dominate the Southwest and

South Pacific - as Beijing is attempting as

part of its long-term political warfare

strategy.

The Solomons have been in China's

crosshairs for a long time. In 2019, the

government of Prime Minister Manasseh

Sogavare switched the country's formal

diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to

the PRC. Widespread reports and rumors

claimed that Sogavare and other

influential figures took Chinese cash (and

orders) as part of the deal.

Solomon Islands' Prime Minister

Manasseh Sogavare and Chinese

President Xi Jinping. Photo: China Daily

Other reports at the time said the

Chinese planned to build a military base

in the Solomons. The entire island of

GORDOn BROWn

missed by 82 countries. On current

trends, it will take until Easter at least to

get close to the 40 percent, and even

then, dozens of countries may miss out.

In fact, since June's G7 meeting, where

leaders pledged the whole world would

be vaccinated by 2022, the gap between

the vaccine haves and the vaccine havenots

has widened rather than

diminished. In high-income countries,

vaccination rates have risen from 40

percent in June to 60-70 percent now,

but they have moved at a glacial pace in

low-income countries - from 1 percent to

less than 5 percent. Indeed, six adults are

receiving their booster shots in middleand

high-income countries for every one

adult now being inoculated each day in a

low-income country and 90 percent of

African health workers remain

unprotected.

Although important regional initiatives

like the Africa Union's vaccine

purchasing facility AVAT, have taken

steps to address the inequity gap by

purchasing 400 million single-shot

vaccines from Johnson & Johnson and

another 110 million doses from Moderna

- 50 million coming between December

The WHO's internationally agreed adult vaccination target for every country -

40 percent by December - is set to be missed by 82 countries. On current trends,

it will take until Easter at least to get close to the 40 percent, and even then,

dozens of countries may miss out. In fact, since June's G7 meeting, where

leaders pledged the whole world would be vaccinated by 2022.

and March - it is still not enough to meet

the needs of a continent of 1.3 billion

people.

This inequality is simply explained: 89

percent of all vaccines have been bought

by the G20, the world's richest countries,

and today they retain control of 71

percent of future deliveries. Promises

from the Global North to gift vaccines to

the Global South have fallen short: only

22 percent of the donations promised by

America have been sent. Europe, the UK

and Canada have performed

considerably worse and have despatched

only 15, 10 and 5 percent respectively.

COVAX, the global vaccine distribution

Tulagi was indeed under contract to a

Chinese company until the Solomon

Islands government canceled the deal

after it was exposed and provoked public

protests.

Following the diplomatic switch from

Taiwan to the PRC, existing resentments

festered - particularly in the populous

Malaita province. Malaita's Premier

The Solomon Islands are "strategic terrain" in today's contest

between the PRC and the US and its allies. Hold the

Solomons and you can isolate Australia from the US and

the rest of Asia. And you can further dominate the

Southwest and South Pacific - as Beijing is attempting as

part of its long-term political warfare strategy.

Daniel Suidani opposed the shift to

Beijing and claims to have turned down

bribes. Most Malaitans support Suidani

and the province has even considered

seeking independence.

Sogavare was reportedly not amused by

the resistance to his plans, which included

opening up Malaita's vast resources to the

CCP-linked companies of his patrons.

When Suidani needed urgent medical

agency, which had hoped to send out two

billion vaccines by December, now

expects to deliver just two-thirds of that

number. Such is the scale of the

stockpiling of vaccines in the richest

countries that health data research

group, Airfinity, estimate that by the

close of 2021, 100 million unused doses

in the G20 stockpile will pass their "use

by" dates and be wasted.

For G20 countries, to have and to

hoard life-saving vaccines and deny

them to the poorest countries, is morally

indefensible. To allow tens of millions of

doses to go to waste is an act of medical

and social vandalism that may never be

forgotten or forgiven. An urgent,

ongoing, month-by-month delivery plan

and airlifting of vaccines, coordinated by

the G20 countries, is now needed to put

the unused capacity to use where

vaccines are most needed.

But the vaccine inequities show why

more fundamental changes are needed

in the international architecture of

health decision-making. Of course, few

international organisations have been

given the freedom and independence to

make binding decisions that national

governments are obliged to follow. The

discretion available to the Appeal Court

of the World Trade Organization and to

the International Criminal Court, whose

decisions are final, are areas where an

international organisation can overrule

nation-states and because of that, they

are under assault from a coalition of antiinternationalists.

Source: Al Jazeera

treatment earlier this year, the

government attempted to prevent him

from traveling overseas for necessary

treatment - apparently hoping the

"Malaita problem" would die with him.

And the Australians didn't help much

either, though Suidani ultimately

succeeded in getting the help he needed -

in Taiwan.

After Suidani's return, Sogavare

reportedly pushed suspiciously wellfunded

local cronies to table a noconfidence

resolution against him in the

provincial parliament. However, public

resistance was such that the "sponsors"

had to withdraw the motion and

apologize. Beijing was reportedly behind

it all. A little context is helpful: Recently

arrived ethnic Chinese are regarded

askance by many Solomons locals. The

reasons are familiar wherever the Chinese

diaspora is in the Pacific, where they often

dominate local commerce, bring in

Chinese workers for Chinese-funded

projects and export the profits (and raw

materials) so the locals see few benefits.

And then there's the organized crime and

corruption that comes with it all.

Source: Asia times

TueSDAy, NOveMBer 30, 2021

5

DONNA Lu

It's nearing 10pm, and Dr Kate Quigley is still waiting. Using

red lights to minimise disruption to the animals' behaviour,

she is inspecting corals.

Quigley, who studies reef restoration at the Australian

Institute of Marine Science, is looking for "little red dots all

over the surface". A pimply appearance is a hallmark sign

that a coral is about to spawn, releasing sperm and eggs in

bundles resembling small bubbles.

Depending on the species, they can be vivid pink, purple or

blue. "It's almost like shaking one of those snow globes,"

Quigley says. "You see all the little particles in the water."

Quigley is working at AIMS's National Sea Simulator, a

vast facility in Townsville where more than 3m litres of

filtered seawater is pumped through daily, housing huge

numbers of coral colonies. At the SeaSim, as it is known,

humming tanks are calibrated at specific temperatures and

partial pressures of carbon dioxide - the latter for

experiments on ocean acidification.

Coral spawning, which occurs en masse once a year, is one

of Earth's great biological spectacles. Quigley likens the scale

and grandeur of it to the annual mammal migrations in

Africa.

Up and down the Great Barrier Reef, for several days after

the November full moon (this year on 19 November),

multiple species of corals synchronise the release of their

sperm and eggs. Out in the ocean, billions of these bundles

float to the water's surface, fertilise and develop into larvae

that eventually settle on the reef and form new coral

colonies.

The corals housed at the SeaSim spawn in captivity at the

same time as they do in the wild. For several consecutive

days this week, Quigley and her colleagues have worked late

into the night, carefully collecting spawn bundles for a

selective breeding program.

Each spawning coral is kept in its own separate container,

so its bundles can be isolated. Many are housed in outdoor

tanks, under the moonlight, which is an important cue that

triggers the spawning event. For corals kept indoors, the

SeaSim has finely calibrated facilities that allow scientists to

replicate both the timing and intensity of both sunlight and

moonlight.

"We're now able … to replicate those natural signals that

the corals would need," Quigley says. She and her team

collected hundreds of the spawning corals only in the last

fortnight. Leaving the marine invertebrates in their natural

environments for as long as possible also maximises their

exposure to cues for spawning they would get in the wild,

which includes a rapid rise in temperature around this time

of year.

The Great Barrier Reef comprises more than 3,000

individual reefs, a patchwork of marine life roughly the size

of Italy. There is a natural temperature gradient from north

to south: the waters in the northern part of the reef, closer to

the equator, are warmer.

"Those corals up [north] are better able - just through the

exposure that they've had over their lifetime - at

Producing breed heat-tolerant

corals at Great Barrier Reef

A researcher at the Australian institute of Marine Science coral spawning facility. Photo:

roslyn Budd

withstanding high temperatures," Quigley says. "In the

southern Great Barrier Reef, it's colder down there, so when

[corals] get hit by a heatwave, they're much more

vulnerable."

Natural differences in heat tolerance forms the basis of

Quigley's selective breeding research. Late last year, she

developed a machine learning algorithm that produces GPS

coordinates indicating where the most heat-resilient corals

might be.

Last week, she and her team returned from an expedition

to the far northern Great Barrier Reef, 875km away from the

SeaSim. Using her algorithm, they collected hundreds of

potentially heat-resilient corals, which had survived the high

temperatures of the 2016, 2017 and 2020 mass bleaching

events.

After the spawning in the SeaSim, the scientists will breed

the heat-hardier corals with more vulnerable specimens

collected from the southern Great Barrier Reef. The process

of mixing spawn is "not dissimilar to mixing cocktails in

specific proportions", Quigley says. "We can control who the

mum is and who the dad is … we're able to create baby corals

that have a mixture of these genetics."

The research speeds up a natural process called gene flow.

Research shows that corals' genetic material, including heatadaptive

genes, spreads naturally across the reef. "There is

movement of genes," Quigley says. "However, it's probably

going to happen too slow for the kind of rate of warming that

we're getting now."

Accelerating the spread of genetic material is one of several

techniques being explored to help make the reef more

resilient, says Dr Line Bay, who leads the reef recovery,

adaptation and restoration team at AIMS.

Corals live in symbiosis with microscopic algae, which play

an important role in their growth and survival. "We have

several projects that are looking at how those algae affect the

health of corals and whether we can influence … the heat

tolerance of corals through direct selection of the algae," Bay

says.

In the SeaSim, tank temperatures can be dialled up to test

how well corals - either those that are selectively bred, or that

have heat-tolerant algae - might withstand the heat of

bleaching events.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report

projects that under 2C of global warming, 99% of coral reefs

will decline. "As we move into the future, we know that the

water is going to warm, not only much, much hotter, but also

much faster," Quigley says.

For the first time this year, the team is hoping to selectively

breed a species of Porites coral - massive, slow-growing

corals that resemble boulders. If successful, it will be the

sixth species included in the program.

The Great Barrier Reef contains around 400 different

species of coral, estimates Prof Terry Hughes, an

internationally renowned coral reef scientist at James Cook

University.

The AIMS research sheds light on the characteristics of

wild corals following recent bleaching events, Hughes says.

"It tells us about their heat tolerance, it tells us whether that

heat tolerance is shifting. "We also get badly needed

information on how the Barrier Reef is wired in terms of

movement of larvae from one place to another - gene flow."

Hughes, who directs the ARC Centre of Excellence for

Coral Reef Studies, says a hurdle for coral restoration

projects is the huge scales they must work on to have an

impact.

"If you wanted to improve coral cover [on the Great

Barrier Reef] … by 1%, you'd need 250m large corals," he

says. That would involve rearing fast-growing coral species

for around five years to get them to the size of a dinner plate.

"As a pathway towards intervention, scale will always be the

biggest challenge."

Bay emphasises that reef restoration "is no silver bullet.

Climate change is a very significant threat to coral reefs and

we need strong action on climate change to give ourselves

the best chance of survival into the future," she says.

Quigley agrees. "When you think about the scale of the

ecosystems that are being impacted, like the Amazon, like

the Great Barrier Reef - these are huge, complex ecosystems

that people have been studying for a long time, but we're just

scratching the surface in terms of understanding

fundamentally how they operate."

The number one priority for saving the reef is to curb

carbon emissions, Quigley says. Management practices,

such as regulation of water quality, programs to remove

crown-of-thorns starfish, and managing fisheries, will also

help to alleviate pressure on the ecosystem.

"And then third, we can look at these innovative

restoration concepts," she says. "We can start to think …

what kind of restoration can we develop now, while there's

still time."

Cunning Dutch method of

creating forests for free

SeNAy BOzTAS

In a clearing in the

Amsterdamse Bos, a forest

on the outskirts of the Dutch

capital, is a "tree hub" where

hundreds of saplings,

among them hazelnut, sweet

cherry, field maple, beech,

chestnut and ash, are

organised by type.

The idea behind it is

simple: every day unwanted

tree saplings were being

cleared and thrown away

when those young trees

could be carefully collected

and transplanted to where

they are wanted.

Volunteers have already

collected thousands of

saplings cleared from

woodland paths and those

unlikely to survive in the

forest shade. On Saturday,

on donate a seedling day,

people will be encouraged to

take unwanted saplings or

cuttings from their own

gardens and give them to

200 tree hub locations

across the Netherlands.

This winter, Meer Bomen

Nu (More Trees Now) aims

to give away 1m young trees

to farmers, councils and

landowners. The small

Dutch foundation hopes this

circular practice will become

commonplace across

northern Europe.

"The Netherlands wants to

plant 37,000 hectares

[91,400 acres], which is

about 100m trees," says

Hanneke van Ormondt, the

campaign manager of Meer

Bomen Nu and a member of

the Urgenda climate

activism organisation. "I

don't know how short we are

in getting nurseries in place,

but we don't need them; we

just need more circular

forest management.

Everywhere along the path,

left and right, is always

cleared of shrubs and trees.

Replant it! My dream is that

every council will open a tree

hub where foresters can

bring their stuff, and people

who want a free tree can

come."

A pledge to plant

significantly more trees by

2030 is a key part of the

Netherlands' climate change

agreements, which Dutch

courts have ordered the

government to uphold.

Across Europe, the EU has

promised to plant 3bn trees

by 2030, to help reduce

greenhouse gas emissions by

at least 44%, and there are

strategies to protect, boost

and extend damaged forests,

despite the challenges of

land availability.

But while state forests

typically use certified plants,

there are also plenty of small

landholders, farmers and

the odd council looking to

plant trees but on a tight

budget. This is where Meer

Bomen Nu believes

volunteer organisations can

spring up.

"We need more trees for

climate change and

biodiversity laws," says Van

Ormondt. "Every tree [takes

up] CO2, cools us down, gets

the soil healthier, gives out

oxygen, provides a home for

fauna, birds and insects,

cools the cities down … and

makes us happier."

The Dutch foundation

began partly by coincidence,

after Urgenda won court

cases against the Dutch

government to force it to

honour its climate pledges.

"One of the ministries said

to me that Urgenda has

plans to plant trees but the

tree nurseries can't deliver

them," recalls Van Ormondt.

"I like a challenge, so in

March last year, I went to

visit Franke van der Laan

Hanneke van Ormondt in the tree hub at Amsterdamse Bos in Amsterdam.

Photograph: Judith Jockel/The Guardian

from Stichting MeerGroen.

In the summer, he grows

vegetables; in the winter he

turns the vegetable patch

into a tree hub filled with

saplings from the 160

hectares where he does

forest management. He

started with 10 trees, which

he gave away at the end of

the season, then 100, then

500."

By the time Van Ormondt

visited the tree hub, Van der

Laan had 50,000 saplings,

and through the progressive

farming foundation Caring

Farmers, they found 20

volunteers and had planted

all of the young trees within

three weeks.

Meer Bomen Nu was set

up by summer 2020 and an

unlikely donation from a

fruit nursery that August of

150,000 pear trees garnered

national attention. "We

caused traffic all over the

Netherlands, with people

driving from Limburg to

Breukelen!" she says. "After

that, we had a phone call

with someone saying they

had 80,000 guelder-roses in

pots. By then, everybody

knew us, and a million trees

were pre-ordered on the

website. Last winter, when

we started, it was one big,

logistic nightmare, and we

had a very strict lockdown.

But we did give away

250,000 seedlings and

shoots.

"We did a survey and 80%

survived, which is as good as

regular forest planting.

That's when we decided this

had potential and we would

try for a million this winter,

and to get other countries

interested."

Manou van der Noort, a

volunteer coordinator at

Amsterdamse Bos, says she

always finds it a shame when

paths are cleared of

unwanted shrubs and

saplings to be composted. "I

think [Meer Bomen Nu]

brings more awareness of

what we need to do with

trees and how every tree

counts," she says.

MATT KruPNicK

Facing economic and environmental

pressures, coal plants are closing across

the US, leaving communities to work out

how to keep afloat When the coal-fired

power plant just outside the tiny town of

Nucla, Colorado, closed in 2019, it had

the makings of a disaster.

The plant, which opened in 1959, shut

down three years ahead of schedule when

it ran out of coal, leaving the town

shocked and facing the loss of its largest

employer. The facility provided nearly

half the tax revenue to the region, said

Deana Sheriff, executive director of the

West End Economic Development Corp,

which serves Nucla and the surrounding

area between Telluride and Grand

Junction in western Colorado.

Left without vital funding for its fire

department and school district, the town

was terrified about its future. But despite

the early plant closure, and an

unemployment rate that more than

doubled overnight, Nucla had done

enough to prepare. The town has leaned

on tourism, driven by outdoor activities,

and the recent opening of dozens of small

businesses to survive.

"Initially we saw a lot of frustration and

concern, mostly about selling homes and

folks moving away," Sheriff said. But the

town has adapted fairly well, she said:

"We've diversified

our economy enough

that we're not going

to die because one

industry went away."

Increasingly

outpaced by cheaper

alternatives,

including

renewables, and

under pressure from

climate concerns, at

least two dozen US

coal power plants -

many of them in

small, rural

communities - are

expected to close or

downsize in the next

10 years, as are most

of the coalmines that

supply them,

according to the

Environmental

Protection Agency

and experts. Most

coal communities

face the same

challenges as Nucla:

how to replace the

jobs and tax dollars

Photo: George Hardeen

that have kept these

towns afloat for

decades?

In some cases, such

as in Nucla, local

The trio of concrete stacks at the Navajo Generating

Station.

What happens when

coal plants die?

officials started

planning early. In

others, the closures

appear to have taken

leaders by surprise.

The huge Navajo

Generating Station in northern Arizona,

within the Navajo Nation, also shut down

in 2019. Local leaders complained that

plant operators closed the facility decades

ahead of schedule, although the region

did have two years to prepare after the

announcement. Little planning appears

to have preceded the closure.

"What does 'prepare' mean?" said the

Coconino county supervisor Lena Fowler.

Regional leaders didn't see many options

for replacing the money and jobs as the

closure loomed, she said. The lack of

preparation in Arizona - compounded by

the subsequent pandemic that shut down

tourism in the picturesque region near

the Grand Canyon and a drought that has

devastated the popular boating

destination Lake Powell - has had dire

consequences. Coconino county has lost

$40m a year in property taxes since the

plant, just outside the town of Page,

closed, Fowler said. Families have been

separated as one parent left for a job at

another power plant, and there are

concerns the Navajo Nation could cut

essential services because of the tax

losses.

A second Navajo power plant, Four

Corners, is due to close in the next

decade, as is the Cholla plant just outside

the Nation. A nearby coalmine on the

Hopi reservation, which supplied the

Navajo Generating Station, has also

closed. The Navajo Nation president,

Jonathan Nez, did not respond to an

interview request.

"The Nation didn't do enough

planning," said Nicole Horseherder, a

Navajo water rights activist who leads the

Tó Nizhóní Ániup environmental nonprofit.

"They should have been planning

for this the day the coal plant signed the

leases. We can't just be dependent on

something we knew wasn't going to last

for ever."

Cultural and regional differences have a

huge bearing on how communities

prepare and recover from a coal plant

closure. Secluded towns that have relied

on coal for decades - including power

plant jobs that pay an average of $90,000

or more - can be reluctant to talk about a

coal-free future. And don't even bring up

solar or wind power in some places.

"Renewables, for the workforce there,

are the antichrist," said Clint McRae, who

owns the Rocker Six Cattle Company

near the Colstrip coal power plant in

Montana and is a member of the

Northern Plains Resource Council, an

advocacy group that fights for water

quality protections. Some communities

remain very loyal to coal and consider

energy sources such as solar and wind as

a threat to their way of life.

"It's a very difficult subject to talk about

over there. It's going to take time to

absorb in the community," McRae said.

The Colstrip plant is scheduled to be

retired in 2025, according to its

operator's latest estimates, and McRae

and others worry about the pollution it

will leave behind. Like other plants,

Colstrip has been collecting coal ash - a

toxic byproduct - in ponds. That pollution

has seeped into the groundwater.

Coal ash can often be the most

dangerous legacy of a closed plant. In

2014, 39,000 tons of ash and 27m gallons

of contaminated water from a plant

owned by Duke Energy that had closed

two years earlier spilled into North

Carolina's Dan River.

Duke Energy has two other plants in

North Carolina's Person county that are

expected to close within six years. Among

those who have tried to get the

community to transition its coal-based

economy is state senator Mike Woodard,

who admits it's been a tough hill to climb

in an area that has yet to accept the reality

of coal's future.

"Person county is going to have to

accept that there's a new way of doing

business there," said Woodard, a

Democrat who helped negotiate the

state's recently enacted clean energy law.

Renewable energy, not coal, is the future,

he added. "We're all going to be in the

rowboat together and it would be great if

we were rowing in the same direction."

Some states have done better than

others helping to row the boat. With a

slew of coal closures coming to

Colorado, the state has established an

office to help communities plan for the

transition.

TUeSDAY, NOVeMBeR 30, 2021 6

Covid-19 recovery cases

cross 53,400 in Rangpur

RANGPUR: The number of

recovery cases from Covid-

19 has crossed the 53,400 in

all eight districts of the

division since the beginning

of the pandemic, reports

BSS.

"The number of healed

Covid-19 patients reached

53,409 with the recovery of

10 more patients during the

last 24 hours ending at 8 am

yesterday in the division,"

Acting Divisional Director

(Health) Dr Abu Md Zakirul

Islam told BSS.

The average recovery rate

currently stands at 96.14

percent in the division

where the pandemic

situation continues

improving during the last

three consecutive months.

The 53,409 recovered

patients include 11,608 of

Rangpur, 3,686 of

Panchagarh, 4,363 of

Nilphamari, 2,625 of

Lalmonirhat, 4,527 of

Kurigram, 7,369 of

Thakurgaon, 14,446 of

Dinajpur and 4,795 of

Gaibandha districts.

"Meanwhile, the number

of Covid-19 cases reached

55,554 as four fresh cases

were diagnosed after testing

217 new samples at the

positivity rate of 1.84

percent on Sunday in the

division," Dr Islam said.

Earlier, the daily Covid-19

positivity rates were 5.49

percent on Saturday, 1.75

percent on Friday, 3.03

percent on Thursday, 2.44

percent on Wednesday and

7.07 percent on Monday last

in the division.

The district-wise break up

of total 55,554 patients

include 12,507 of Rangpur,

3,822 of Panchagarh, 4,459

of Nilphamari, 2,747 of

Lalmonirhat, 4,646 of

Kurigram, 7,663 of

Thakurgaon, 14,841 of

Dinajpur and 4,869 of

Gaibandha.

Since the beginning of the

Covid-19 pandemic, a total

of 2,99,831 collected

samples were tested till

Sunday, and of them, 55,554

were found positive with an

average infection rate of

18.53 percent in the

division.

Islam said the total

number of casualties

remained steady at 1,245 as

no new death was reported

during the last 24 hours

from the division. The

district-wise break up of the

1,243 fatalities stands at 293

in Rangpur, 81 in

Panchagarh, 89 in

Nilphamari, 68 in

Lalmonirhat, 69 in

Kurigram, 254 in

Thakurgaon, 328 in

Dinajpur and 63 in

Gaibandha. The average

casualty rate currently

hovers at 2.24 percent in the

division.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer Chanda Pal addressed the preparatory meeting

to celebrate Victory Day at Bochaganj in Dinajpur on Monday.

Photo: Sumon Chandra

Preparatory

meeting marking

Victory Day held

in Bochaganj

SUMON CHANDRA,

BOCHAGANJ CORRESPONDENT

A preparatory meeting

has been held in

Bochaganj of Dinajpur

on Monday to celebrate

the great Victory Day.

During the time,

Setabganj Municipality

Mayor Aslam, Upazila

Awami League President

Abu Syed Hossain,

General Secretary Afshar

Ali, Bochaganj Police

Station OC Mahamudul

Hasan, Upazila Vice

Chairman, Nur Alam

and Putul Rani Roy,

heroic freedom fighter

Jafrullah, heroic

freedom fighter Shamsul

Alam, teacher

representative, NGO

representative and other

dignitaries of the upazila

were present at the

meeting chaired by

Upazila Nirbahi Officer

Officer Chanda Pal.

95,757 patients recover

from Covid-19 in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI: With the recovery of twenty more patients from

Covid-19 on Sunday, the total recovery count in the division

rose to 95,757, since the pandemic began in March last year,

reports BSS.

Seventeen more people have tested positive for the deadly

virus in six districts of the division during the same period,

raising the caseload to 99,352 so far.

The new positive cases show a gradual rising trend

compared to the previous day's figure, said Dr Habibul

Ahsan Talukder, divisional director of Health, adding that a

total of 15 people were infected on Saturday.

The death toll remained steady at 1,680, including 685 in

Bogura, 323 in Rajshahi with 204 in its city and 175 in Natore

as no new fatality was reported during the last 24 hours, Dr

Talukder added.

Besides, all the positive cases of Covid-19 have, so far, been

brought under treatment while 23,091 were kept in isolation

units of different dedicated hospitals for institutional

quarantine. Of them, 19,741 have been released. Meanwhile,

fifty more people have been sent to home and institutional

quarantine afresh, while twenty-seven others were released

from isolation during the same period.

Of the 17 new cases, seven were detected in Rajshahi city,

followed by four in Pabna, two each in Bogura and Sirajganj

and one each in Natore and Joypurhat districts.

With the newly detected patients, the district-wise breakup

of the total cases now stands at 28,223 in Rajshahi

including 22,780 in its city, 5,687 in Chapainawabganj, 6,445

in Naogaon, 8,413 in Natore, 4,680 in Joypurhat, 21,711 in

Bogura, 11,419 in Sirajganj and 12,774 in Pabna.

A total of 1,14,585 people have, so far, been kept under

quarantine since March 10 last year to prevent community

transmission of the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19).

Of them, 1,13,420 have, by now, been released as they were

given clearance certificates after completing their 14-day

quarantine.

Free rice seeds and chemical fertilizers have been distributed in Narail

on Monday.

Photo: Humaun Kabir

Among the total 55,554

Covid-19 patients, 39 are

undergoing treatments at

isolation units, including 11

patients at ICU and six at

High Dependency Unit

beds, after recovery of

53,409 patients and 1,245

deaths while 861 are

remaining in home

isolation.

"Meanwhile, the number

of citizens who got the first

dose of the Covid-19 vaccine

rose to 67,71,937, and

among them, 37,61,003 got

the second dose of the jab till

Sunday in the division," Dr

Islam added.

Chief of Divisional

Coronavirus Service and

Prevention Task Force and

Principal of Rangpur

Medical College Professor

Dr AKM Nurunnobi Lyzu

urged all to abide by the

health directives despite the

Covid-19 situation is

improving in the division.

AL-backed candidates

win 8 UPs in Manikganj

MANIKGANJ: Awami

League (AL) backed

chairman candidates were

elected in eight Union

Parishad (UP)'s out of 10 of

district's Sadar Upazila in

the third phase UP elections

across the country held on

Sunday, reports BSS.

Sadar Upazila Election

Officer Muhammad Shahid

Hossain announced the

unofficial result last night

after counting the votes.

The AL-backed elected

chairmen are - Gazi Hasan

Al Mahedi Suhas

(Nabagram UP), Mohidur

Rahman Mohid (Putail UP),

Abdul Jalil (Bhararia UP),

Golam Monir Hossan

(Hatipara UP), Selim

Hossain Biplob (Krishnapur

UP), Nur- E Alam (Atigram

UP), Afsar uddin Sarker

(Garpara UP-unopposed)

and Zakir Hossain (Jagir

UP-unopposed).

RAB seizes

arms, ammo

in Benapole

SHAHID JOY, JASHORE

CORRESPONDENT

A team of Jashore RAB on the

basis of secret information

recovered and seized 3 rounds

of ammunition including 1

foreign pistol, one shooter gun

from inside the ground floor

room of Badsha Mallick's

building in Durgapur village

of Benapole of the district

recently.

At that time Badsha Mallick

(50) escaped. A case has been

filed in this regard at

Benapole Port Police Station.

It has been known that he has

been committing various

crimes including drug dealing

in Badshah area for a long

time. There are many cases in

his name.

Free fertilizers,

seeds distrubted

in Narail

HUMAUN KABIR, NARAIL

CORRESPONDENT

Free Bara hybrid rice seeds

and Ufshi rice seeds and

chemical fertilizers have been

distributed in Narail on

Monday.

Deputy Commissioner

Muhammad Habibur

Rahman was the chief guest at

the distribution ceremony

held at Narail Sadar Upazila

Parishad premises. Deputy

Director of District

Agriculture Extension

Department Deepak Kumar

Roy presided over the

occassion while among others

Upazila Extension Officer Md

Zahidul Islam Biswas,

Assistant Commissioner

(Land) Krishna Roy and

others were present on the

occasion.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission recently held a distribution program of foamy chicken and turkey among 50

farmers in the Khajura Bazar,Jashore sadar,Jashore.

Photo: Courtesy

DAM distributes foamy chicken

and turkey among 50 farmers

Dhaka Ahsania Mission is implementing

the project ''Improving Livelihoods for

covid affected households'' with the

financial support of Reed Foundation from

June 1, 2021 in 7 unions of Sadar upazila of

Jashore district with the aim of

compensating the affected households of

covid-19, a press release said.

To provide input / cash assistance to a

total of 500 beneficiaries involved in 150

vegetable farmers, 100 paddy farmers, 150

goat farmers, 50 poultry farmers and 50

small businesses through this project. In

continuation of this, a distribution

program was organized in the Khajura

Bazar,Jashore sadar,Jashore to distribute

foamy chicken and Turkey among the

beneficiaries under this project.

Sirajul Islam, Chairman,Ichali

Union,Jashore sadar,Jashore was present

as the chhief guest at the occasion.

Agriculturist Md. Niamul Kabir,

Coordinator (Agriculture) was also present

as special guest. Project Coordinator,

Project Field Staff and Beneficiaries were

also present.

Through the project, out of 50

beneficiaries, each was given 20 pcs

Foamy chicken and 2 Tarkey. The chief

guest said that this chicken of Dhaka

Ahsania Mission will help increase the

production of farmers to overcome the loss

of covid. He thanked the Read Foundation

through the DAM. He hopes DAM will

receive more of this in the future.

The chief guest said that this chicken of

Dhaka Ahsania Mission will help increase

the production of farmers to overcome the

loss of covid. He thanked the Reed

Foundation through the DAM. He hopes

DAM will receive more of this in the future.

Members of RAB in a drive seized 3 rounds of ammunition including 1 foreign

pistol, one shooter gun from Badsha Mallick's building in Durgapur village of

Benapole recently.

Photo: Shahid Joy

RMCH Covid-19

unit sees another

day of zero fatality

RAJSHAHI: Rajshahi

Medical College Hospital

(RMCH) recorded zero

fatality in its Covid-19 unit

in the last 24 hours till 6am

yesterday for the second

consecutive day yesterday,

reports BSS.

RMCH Director

Brigadier General Shamim

Yazdani told newsmen that

the hospital also recorded

zero deaths on November

17, November 7 and

October 31.

With Saturday's fatality

figure of two, the death toll

stands at 33 due to Covid-

19 and its symptoms so far

this month.

Earlier, the number of

casualties was 100 in

October, 167 in September,

340 in August, 566 in July

and 405 in June in the

Covid unit of RMCH,

sources said. Meanwhile,

thirty-four more patients,

including seven tested

positive for Covid-19, are

undergoing treatment in

the designated unit at

present.

Three other patients

returned home after being

cured during the same

time.

GD-1746/21 (6x3)

AL backed

candidates

win 12 UPs

in Jamalpur

JAMALPUR: Awami League

(AL) backed candidates won

12 chairman posts and

independent got 2 posts in

the Union Parishad (UP)

elections in Islampur and

Melandah Upazila of the

district held on Sunday,

reports BSS.

Election Office sources

said AL backed candidates

won three chairman posts

and independent candidates

got two in Islampur Upazila.

The election commission

also postponed the result of

chairman post in Char

Putimari union due to

unavoidable reason.

The elected chairmen

from AL in Islapmur Upazila

are - Md Habibur Rahman

Chowdhury (Islampur Sadar

UP), Md Maksudur Rahman

Ansari (Gaibandha UP) and

Md Shahidullah (Char

Goalili UP).

The elected chairmen as

independent candidates are

- Md Mostafizur Rahman

(Palbandha UP) and Md

Abdur Rahim (Goalerchar

UP).

On the other hand, in

Melandah Upazila, AL

candidates won all the nine

chairman posts. They are -

Khalekuzzaman Juberi

(Durmuth UP), Abdus

Salam (Kulia UP), Abu Syed

(Shyampur UP), Shahadat

Hossain Bhuttu (Char Bani

Pakuria UP) and Md

Shahabuddin (Nayanagar

UP).

Taiwan sends jets after 27 Chinese

planes enter buffer zone

TAIPEI : Taiwan said 27

Chinese aircraft entered its

air defense buffer zone on

Sunday, the latest in a long

series of incursions as part of

Beijing's pressure on the

self-ruled island.

The Defense Ministry said

Taiwan scrambled combat

aircraft to "warn" the

Chinese planes to leave. It

also deployed missile

systems to monitor them,

reports UNB.

Sunday's incursion

included 18 fighter jets and

five H-6 bombers, as well as

a Y-20 aerial refueling

aircraft, according to

Taiwan's Defense Ministry.

The Chinese aircraft flew

into Taiwan's air defense

identification zone near the

southern part of the island

and out into the Pacific

Ocean before returning to

China, according to a map by

Taiwan authorities.

Over the past year, the

frequency of Chinese

incursions has increased,

with about 150 aircraft over

a period of four days.

China's air force mission

toward Taiwan came as

Taiwan said 27 Chinese aircraft entered its air

defense buffer zone on Sunday, the latest in a

long series of incursions as part of Beijing's pressure

on the self-ruled island. Photo : AP

Chinese President Xi

Jinping met with officers at a

military conference, where

he called for military talent

cultivation to support and

strengthen the armed forces,

according to state-owned

news agency Xinhua.

Xi said that talent is

imperative in achieving

victory in military

competition and gaining the

upper hand in future wars,

according to Xinhua.

China

claims

democratically ruled Taiwan

as its own territory, to be

brought under its control by

force if necessary. It refuses

to recognize the island's

government and has

increasingly sought to

isolate the independenceleaning

administration of

President Tsai Ing-wen.

Taiwan and China split

during a civil war in 1949,

and Beijing opposes

Taiwan's involvement in

international organizations.

Researchers try producing potato

resistant to climate change

BANGOR : University of Maine researchers

are trying to produce potatoes that can better

withstand warming temperatures as the

climate changes, reports UNB.

Warming temperatures and an extended

growing season can lead to quality problems

and disease, Gregory Porter, a professor of

crop ecology and management, told the

Bangor Daily News.

"The predictions for climate change are

heavier rainfall events, and potatoes don't

tolerate flooding or wet conditions for long

without having other quality problems,"

Porter said. "If we want potatoes to be

continued to be produced successfully in

Maine, we need to be able to produce

varieties that can be resistant to change."

Around the world, research aimed at

mitigating crop damage is underway. A

NASA study published this month suggested

climate change may affect the production of

corn and wheat, with corn yields projected to

decline while wheat could see potential

growth, as soon as 2030 under a high

greenhouse gas emissions scenario.

Maine is coming off of a banner potato

crop thanks in part to the success of the

Caribou russet, which was developed by

UMaine researchers. But Porter fears that

even that variety isn't as heat tolerant as

necessary to resist the future effects of

climate change.

Pests are another factor. The Colorado

potato beetle and disease-spreading aphids

have flourished with the changing climate,

said Jim Dill, pest management specialist at

the University of Maine Cooperative

Extension. Breeding seemingly small

changes like hairier leaves that make it

difficult for insects to move around on the

plant can cut down on pests' destruction and

also the need for pesticides, he said.

Breeding such characteristics into potatoes

is a long process of cross-pollinating

different potato varieties. The process is well

underway. They're in a research testing

phase right now at sites throughout the

United States. Test potatoes in Virginia,

North Carolina and Florida are testing high

temperature stress.

US becomes "increasingly

antidemocratic," blog writer says

WASHINGTON : The

United States is "becoming

an

increasingly

antidemocratic country,"

Ja'han Jones, a writer for

The ReidOut Blog, a digital

extension of an MSNBC

program, has recently

written.

Jones reached the

conclusion based on what he

described as "conservative

attacks" on the country's

elections.

The writer cited a recently

published report, in which

the United States has been

added to a list of

"backsliding democracies."

The report, according to

Jones, pointed to former

U.S. President Donald

Trump's refusal to accept his

2020 election loss as a

"historic turning point" in

American democracy.

The report also said

Trump's actions were a sign

of America's "democratic

backsliding."

Russia jails 5 people over coal

mine disaster that killed 51

MOSCOW : A Russian court

on Saturday ordered five

people to remain in pre-trial

detention for two months

pending an investigation

into a devastating blast in a

coal mine in Siberia that

resulted in dozens of deaths,

reports UNB.

Russian authorities

reported 51 deaths after a

methane explosion rocked

the Listvyazhnaya mine in

the Kemerovo region in

southwestern Siberia on

Thursday - 46 miners and

five rescuers. The tragedy

appears to be the deadliest

in Russia since 2010.

The Central District Court

in the city of Kemerovo ruled

to jail the director of the

Listvyazhnaya mine, Sergei

Makhrakov, his deputy

Andrei Molostvov and

section supervisor Sergei

Gerasimenok. They are

facing charges of violating

industrial

safety

requirements for hazardous

production facilities that

resulted in multiple deaths.

If convicted, they may be

imprisoned for up to seven

years.

Two officials of the local

branch of Rostekhnadzor,

Russia's state technology

and ecology watchdog -

Sergei Vinokurov and

Vyacheslav Semykin - have

also been jailed for two

months on the charge of

negligence that led to two or

more deaths, punishable by

up to seven years in prison

as well.

Law enforcement officials

said Friday that miners had

complained about the high

level of methane in the mine.

Russia's top independent

news site, Meduza, reported

that this year authorities

suspended the work of

certain sections of the mine

nine times and issued fines

of more than 4 million

rubles (roughly $53,000) for

safety violations.

A total of 285 miners were

in the Listvyazhnaya mine

Thursday morning at the

time of explosion, which

quickly filled the mine with

toxic smoke. A total of 239

people were rescued shortly

after the blast, and more

than 60 sought medical

assistance for an assortment

of injuries.

Officials on Thursday said

11 miners and three rescuers

perished while searching for

others in a remote section of

the mine.

Thirty-five miners were

still trapped in the mine

when rescuers were forced

to halt their search several

hours into it because of a

buildup of methane and

carbon monoxide gas.

Three more rescuers went

missing and had been

presumed dead along with

the trapped miners by

Thursday might. However,

on Friday morning, search

teams found one rescuer in

the mine who was still alive

and conscious. He has

suffered shock and carbon

monoxide poisoning of

moderate severity and is

undergoing treatment at a

hospital.

Officials have described

his rescue as a "miracle" and

said that finding any other

survivors at that point was

highly unlikely.

TueSDAY, NoveMBer 30, 2021

7

Japan bans entry of foreign

visitors as omicron spreads

TOKYO : Japan announced

Monday it will suspend entry of

all foreign visitors from around

the world as a new coronavirus

variant spreads, prompting an

increasing number of countries

to tighten their borders, reports

UNB.

"We are taking the step as an

emergency precaution to

prevent a worst-case scenario

in Japan," Prime Minister

Fumio Kishida said. He said

the measure will take effect

Tuesday.

The decision means Japan

will restore border controls that

it eased earlier this month for

short-term business visitors,

foreign students and workers.

Kishida urged people to

continue with mask wearing and

other basic anti-virus measures

until further details of the new

omicron variant are known.

Many countries have moved

to tighten their borders even as

scientists warn it's not clear if the

new variant is more alarming

than other versions of the virus.

The variant was identified

days ago by researchers in South

Africa, and much is still not

known about it, including

whether it is more contagious,

more likely to cause serious

illness or more able to evade the

Japan announced Monday it will suspend entry

of all foreign visitors from around the world as a

new coronavirus variant spreads, prompting an

increasing number of countries to tighten their

borders.

Photo : AP

protection of vaccines. But many

countries rushed to act,

reflecting anxiety about

anything that could prolong the

pandemic that has killed more

than 5 million people.

Israel decided to bar entry to

foreigners, and Morocco said it

would suspend all incoming

flights for two weeks starting

Monday - among the most

drastic of a growing raft of travel

curbs being imposed by nations

around the world as they

scrambled to slow the variant's

spread. Scientists in several

places - from Hong Kong to

Europe to North America - have

confirmed its presence. The

Netherlands reported 13

omicron cases on Sunday, and

both Canada and Australia each

found two.

Noting that the variant has

already been detected in many

countries and that closing

borders often has limited effect,

the World Health Organization

called for frontiers to remain

open.

Dr. Francis Collins, director of

the National Institutes of Health

in the United States, meanwhile,

emphasized that there is no data

yet that suggests the new variant

causes more serious illness than

previous COVID-19 variants.

"I do think it's more

contagious when you look at

how rapidly it spread through

multiple districts in South

Africa. It has the earmarks

therefore of being particularly

likely to spread from one person

to another. ... What we don't

know is whether it can compete

with delta," Collins said on

CNN's "State of the Union."

Collins echoed several experts

in saying the news should make

everyone redouble their efforts

to use the tools the world already

has, including vaccinations,

booster shots and measures

such as mask-wearing.

"I know, America, you're

really tired about hearing those

things, but the virus is not tired

of us," Collins said.

GD-1751/21(8x4)

3289

†kL nvwmbvi g~jbxwZ

MÖvg kn‡ii DbœwZ

28.11.21

Leftist claims victory

in Honduran vote,

setting up showdown

TEGUCIGALPA : Leftist

opposition candidate

Xiomara Castro claimed

victory in Honduras'

presidential election Sunday,

setting up a showdown with

the National Party which said

its candidate had won a vote

that could end the

conservative party's 12 years

in power.

"We win! We win!" Castro,

Honduras' former first lady

who is making her third

presidential run, told cheering

Liberty and Re-foundation

party supporters. "Today the

people have made justice. We

have

reversed

authoritarianism."

Preliminary results released

late Sunday by the Electoral

Council showed Castro with

53% of the votes and Asfura

with 34%, but with just 16% of

voting stations counted. The

council said turnout was more

than 68%, reports UNB.

Honduras' long-ruling

National Party announced on

its Twitter account that its

candidate, Tegucigalpa Mayor

Nasry Asfura, had won.

The competing claims of

victory came just hours after

the National Electoral Council

reminded parties that such

announcements were

prohibited and violators

would be fined. The claims

raised fears of street protests

and violence and some

businesses on Tegucigalpa's

main boulevard boarded over

their windows as a precaution.

In 2017, after a protracted

election filled with

irregularities, protesters filled

the streets and the

government imposed a

curfew.

GD-1749/21(4x3)

cvwb-312/2021-2022

GD-1752/21(7x3)

TuESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021

8

Asian markets extended losses but

oil bounces after Omicron rout

Recently, a Business Review Meeting-2021 was held on Virtual Platform with the participation of 27

branches and sub-branches of Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited (BCBL). Managing Director and

CEO Omar Farooq presided over the Meeting. Dr. Engineer Rashid Ahmed Chowdhury was the Chief

Guest and Additional Managing Director Zafar Alam was the Special Guest. Kazi Md. Rezaul Karim,

Deputy Managing Director delivered the welcome address on the meeting. Among others all the

Divisional Head of Head Office also present the meeting. The meeting also evaluates and analyzes the

progress of business activities of the participating branches and sub-branches and discusses future work

plans. With this, the end of BCBL's Business Review Meeting-2021 was announced. Photo: Courtesy

Laos hopes for economic boost

from Chinese-built railway

BANGKOK : A new $6

billion Chinese-built railway

line opens in Laos this week,

bringing hopes of an

economic boost to the

reclusive nation, but experts

are questioning the benefits

of a project that has seen

thousands of farmers evicted

from their land, reports BSS.

The 414-kilometre (260-

mile) route, due to open on

December 3, took five years

to construct under China's

trillion-dollar Belt and Road

Initiative, which funds

infrastructure projects

aimed at increasing Beijing's

clout globally.

Struggling strawberry

farmer Anouphon

Phomhacsar is hoping the

new railway will get his

business back on track.

His farm usually produces

up to two tonnes of the red

heart-shaped fruits a year,

but the pandemic has hit the

2021 harvest hard.

It currently takes

Phomhacsar three to four

hours to send his

strawberries to Vientiane by

road, but he hopes the new

railway will cut this delivery

time in half.

And he says it will also be

easier for tourists to travel to

camp under the stars and

pick berries.

"In the future, foreign

tourists coming to the farm

could be in the tens of

thousands," he told AFP.

The train route will

connect the Chinese city of

Kunming to the Laos capital,

with grand plans for highspeed

rail to ultimately snake

down through Thailand and

Malaysia to Singapore.

Infrastructure-poor Laos,

a reclusive communist-run

country of 7.2 million people,

previously had only four

kilometres of railway tracks.

But now sleek red, blue

and white bullet trains will

speed along the new line at

up to 160 kmh (100 mph),

passing through 75 tunnels

and across 167 bridges,

stopping at 10 passenger

stations.

Economic boost -

Despite registering only

dozens of Covid cases until

April, Laos' economy took a

pandemic batteringeconomic

growth declined to

0.4 percent in 2020, the

lowest level in three decades,

according to the World

Bank. Hopes for a 2021

rebound were dashed-Laos

locked down as it clocked up

roughly 70,000 infections in

the past eight months.

And while the railway

could boost tourism, freight

and agriculture, according to

a World Bank report, the

government needs to

undertake substantial

reforms, including

improving border clearance

processes.

"The new railway is a

major investment that has

the potential to stimulate the

Lao economy and allow the

country to take advantage of

its geographical position at

the heart of mainland

Southeast Asia," Sombath

Southivong, a senior World

Bank infrastructure

specialist, told AFP.

The tourism industry is

desperate for a pick-me-up

after the pandemic caused

an 80 percent downturn in

international traveller

numbers in 2020 --

4.7 million foreign tourists

visited the previous year.

Pre-pandemic young

nomads crammed on to

buses at Vientiane for the

four-hour ride to adventure

capital Vang Vieng-a journey

that will now take about an

hour by train.

The town, which has a

former CIA airstrip, was

notorious for backpackers

behaving badly at jungle

parties before it re-branded

as a eco-tourism destination.

But the kayaks, river rafts,

ziplines and hot air balloons

have been empty of late.

Inthira-a boutique hotel

nestled on the banks of the

Nam Song River- shifted

from a full occupancy rate to

only a trickle of domestic

travellers on weekends, says

general manager Oscar

Tality.

Tality hopes the railway

and reduced travel times will

give the industry a shot in the

arm.

"Along the way people will

see magnificent views of the

mountains and will cross

over bridges and tunnels. It

will be a wonderful trip for

those on the train," Tality

told AFP.

Despite local optimism,

some Laos watchers are

concerned about the longterm

viability of the project.

"The issue for Laos though

is whether their economy ...

their private sector is

positioned to take advantage

of this transport system,"

Australian National

University lecturer Greg

Raymond told AFP.

China's Twitter-like

Weibo plans $547m

Hong Kong listing

BEIJING : US-listed Chinese

microblogging platform

Weibo is seeking to raise up to

$547 million in a share offer in

Hong Kong, documents

showed Monday, the latest

China tech company to list

closer to home as tensions

with the United States rise,

reports BSS.

Several US-listed Chinese

tech firms such as Alibaba

have held initial public

offerings in Hong Kong over

the past two years as the

United States has stepped up

scrutiny of Chinese

companies.

Listing in Hong Kong is

seen as a hedge against the

risk of being removed from

US exchanges and a way of

accessing an investor base

closer to their home markets.

China also has been

encouraging its big tech

players to list either in Hong

Kong or Shanghai.

On Monday, Nasdaq-listed

Weibo-China's answer to

Twitter-said in a filing that it

plans to sell 11 million shares

for as much as HK$388

($49.75) each.

Shares are expected to start

trading on December 8.

Weibo, which launched in

2009 and is among the

earliest social media

platforms in China, had 566

million monthly active users

as of June, it said in a filing.

Its shares have traded on

the Nasdaq since 2014.

Weibo is among the most

widely-used social media

platforms in China, where

authorities have blocked

major international players

such as Facebook.

Weibo said it plans to use

the funds raised from its

Hong Kong listing to grow its

user base and for research and

development.

Southeast Bank launches 5 Agent Banking outlets

Southeast Bank Limited

launches 5 (five) Agent

Banking outlets for the

unbanked people across the

country specially at the

rural and semi-urban area.

Southeast Bank formally

launches 2 (Two) 'Tijarah'-

Islamic Agent Banking

outlets at Kamartek Bazar,

Shibpur, Narsingdi and

Baruna Bazar, Dumuria,

Khulna and 3 (Three)

Conventional Agent

Banking Outlet at

AwliaBazar, Mukundapur,

Bijoynagar, Brahmanbaria;

Joymontop Bazar, Singair,

Manikganj and Charigram

Bazar, Singair, Manikgang

respectively. Its main

objective is to uphold the

trend of financial inclusion

and spread banking

services at every corner of

the country, a press release

said.

M. Kamal Hossain,

Managing Director of

Southeast Bank Limited

inaugurated the formal

operation of 2 Islamic and 3

Conventional Agent

Banking outlets as the Chief

Guest. Other officials of the

Bank and Proprietors of the

5 Agent outlets were also

present.

All kinds of modern and

technology backed

Conventional and 'Tijarah'-

Islamic Banking Services

will be provided from

Southeast Bank Agent

Banking "Shagotom".

Customers can get many

more facilities from

Southeast Bank Agent

Banking "Shagotom" like

they may open an account

(savings/current); Cash

Deposit/ Withdraw; Fund

transfer; Cash transfer

through BEFTN at any

Bank account; Foreign

Remittance; Processing of

Cheque Book, Debit Card

and Credit Card; BO

Account opening and Share

transactions facilities; Free

digital health service;

Micro, Medium and Krishi

loan; Attractive health

insurance benefit; Utility

bill; Loan installment;

Government allowance,

Regular Customers Loan

and also get internet

banking service facilities.

Customers will also be able

to perform necessary

banking services round the

clock at Recycler ATM at

the Agent outlet.

HONG KONG : Asian markets fell

again Monday but oil rebounded

strongly as investors try to assess the

threat of the new Omicron Covid strain

on the global economic recovery,

reports BSS.

Equities around the world went into

freefall Friday on news of the heavily

mutated variant, which some fear could

evade vaccines, as it forced several

governments to throw up flight bans

from southern Africa where it was

discovered and introduced fresh

containment measures.

The crisis added to an already jittery

mood on trading floors caused by

surging inflation and central banks

starting to roll back their ultra-loose

monetary policies to prevent prices

from running out of control.

"Omicron's uncertainty has triggered

a rethink on the global economic

outlook," said National Australia

Bank's Rodrigo Catril. "A new Covid

wave may or may not be more

infectious or deadly, but until we know

more markets are likely to remain

jittery."

Some traders were taking solace in

comments from two South African

health experts who said symptoms of

Omicron appeared to be mild so far,

though the World Health Organization

has urged caution.

And analysts warned markets would

remain on edge until more was known

about the variant.

"So perhaps we have a highly

contagious, yet mild strain," said Matt

Simpson of StoneX Financial. "And if

that is the case, markets could very well

rally through December (as original

fears recede) and markets refocus on

Fed tightening and of course Santa's

rally.

But Priya Misra, at TD Securities,

added: "We really need some more

answers to figure out the impact on

growth. "Risk assets are pricing in

uncertainty." All three main indexes on

Wall Street ended more than two

percent down, while London, Paris and

Frankfurt were also pummelled at least

3.6 percent lower.

But even those losses were dwarfed

by crude, which fell off a cliff on its

worst day since WTI went below $0 at

the outset of the pandemic, with

dealers fretting over the possible

impact on demand if more lockdowns

are introduced.

And Asian equities, which also

suffered hefty selling pressure,

extended losses on Monday, though the

selling was a lot lighter.

Tokyo and Hong Kong flirted with

TEHRAN : Two leading

Iranian banks have welcomed

a decision by a Hague-based

tribunal to order Bahrain to

pay them more than $270

million in compensation for

its 2015 closure of a bank they

had supported, reports BSS.

The November 9 ruling

from the Permanent Court of

Arbitration found that

reporting failures that

Bahrain alleged showed

Future Bank was a front for

sanctions-busting were

insufficient grounds for

effectively expropriating the

Iranian banks' money.

It found that Bahrain's

motives had been primarily

political, reflecting Gulf Arab

anger at the nuclear

agreement world powers had

struck with Iran a few weeks

earlier.

The private award was not

published by the tribunal but

has been disclosed by the

Iranian banks which sought

its arbitration.

Reacting to the award's

disclosure, Bahrain charged

that it contained "serious

procedural, evidential and

legal deficiencies".

Even though the tribunal's

awards are generally final,

Bahrain vowed to mount an

appeal through the Dutch

courts.

Iran's state-owned Bank

Melli and Bank Saderat

sought arbitration in the case

in 2017, citing the terms of an

investment agreement signed

by Tehran and Manama at a

time of less strained relations

in 2002.

The banks' lead counsel

Hamid Gharavi said he was

"very satisfied with the

tribunal's decision, because of

the size of the compensation,

the finding that international

law has been violated, and the

court's conclusion that the

expropriation was not based

on alleged breaches by Future

Bank but motivated by a

deliberately political agenda

positive territory in the morning but

remained in the red, while Shanghai,

Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei,

Wellington, Manila and Jakarta also

retreated.

But crude enjoyed a bounce, with

WTI up more than five percent and

Brent more than four percent higherhaving

cratered 13.1 percent and 11.5

percent, respectively, on Friday.

The gains came as reports said OPEC

and other major producers were

considering whether or not to continue

their plan of raising output each month,

in light of the latest rout and with the

prospect of new shutdowns if Omicron

becomes a major problem.

In Hong Kong, casino operators

plunged after police said the head of

gambling enclave Macau's largest

junket operator had confessed to

running illegal betting activities.

The arrest of Alvin Chau at the

weekend marks the first of such a highprofile

figure from the city's gaming

industry and comes as Beijing embarks

on a crackdown, with plans announced

in September to increase government

regulation of the sector.

MGM China lost more than nine

percent, while Galaxy Entertainment,

Wynn Macau and Sands China all shed

more than seven percent.

DU's Management FBS Club Ltd

Celebrates its 1st Anniversary

Management FBS Club

Limited (MFBSCL), the

social club and the alumni

association of the graduates

of the Department of

Management, University of

Dhaka, has celebrated its 1st

year anniversary recently.

In the celebration of its

successful 1st year, a gala

event was organized in the

ballroom of Pan Pacific

Sonargaon Dhaka on

Saturday evening, a press

release said.

Around 200 CEOs of

different national and

multinational

organizations, Managing

Directors of several Banks,

Senior officials of the

Government, Bankers,

Faculties, Ex-Chairman of

University Grants

Commission, Vicechancellors

of different

public and private

universities, the Dean of

Faculty of Business Studies

and Senior teachers of

Department

of

Management gathered

together to celebrate this

auspicious occasion.

The club members and

the executive committee of

the club desire that the club

will not only facilitate its

members but will also work

for society and become one

of the most prestigious

social clubs in the country.

During the event, senior

members of the club

Nissan plans 50pc

electric vehicle

sales by 2030

TOKYO : Automaker Nissan

wants half its global sales to be

electric or hybrid vehicles by

2030 and plans to plough

billions of dollars into the

effort, it announced Monday,

reports BSS.

The move follows in the

footsteps of other major

global automakers, which

have increasingly signalled a

move towards electric and

hybrid vehicles as concern

about climate change grows.

Unveiling its new long-term

plan, Nissan said it will launch

23 new models, including 15

new electric vehicles, in a bid

to reach the 2030 goal.

Last year, only around 10

percent of Nissan's global

sales were EVs or hybrids, and

the firm said the new target

would help it achieve carbon

neutrality across the lifecycle

of its products by 2050.

Nissan has been battered by

a series of problems in recent

years, ranging from weak

demand even before the

pandemic, to the fallout from

the arrest and subsequent

escape of former boss Carlos

Ghosn.

unveiled the official website

of the club,

"managementfbsclub.com"

by cutting a cake.

Among the senior

members, former Chairman

of University Grants

Commission and Vice-

Chancellor of Chittagong

University Professor Abdul

Mannan, Vice-Chancellor of

World University and

former Chairman of

Department

of

Management Prof. Dr.

Abdul Mannan Choudhury,

Managing Director of Palli

Sanchay Bank Khondoker

Ataur Rahman, Managing

Director of Rupali Bank

Limited Md. Obayed Ullah

Al Masud, former Captain

of Bangladesh National

Cricket Team Gazi Ashraf

Hossain Lipu and Dean of

Faculty of Business Studies,

University of Dhaka

Professor Dr. Muhammad

Abdul Moyeen gave

greeting speech.

Senior Secretary to the

Government, Shah Kamal

gave a concluding speech

during the ceremony. It is

said to be the first club

formed by a department of

any university.

The dinner was followed

by an exquisite cultural

program where one of the

leading contemporary

bands "Joler Gan" and

cultural organization

"Dhriti Nartanalaya"

performed on the occasion.

The club was formed in

2020, at the outset of the

Golden Jubilee of the

department to serve the

alumni of the Department

of Management, University

of Dhaka, with advanced

club premise facilities. The

club aims to be equipped

with indoor and outdoor

sports facilities, a

resourceful library,

gymnasium, swimming

pool, restaurant service, and

other world-class amenities.

Iran banks hail arbitration

panel win over Bahrain

in the context of tensions

between Iran and Saudi

Arabia".

Future Bank was set up in

Bahrain with tacit Saudi

blessing in 2004 as a joint

venture between the two

Iranian banks and Bahrain's

Ahli United Bank.

Gharavi said the bank had

been a success, right up to its

abrupt closure by the Bahraini

authorities. In 2014, the bank

had become the kingdom's

largest and the seventh largest

in the six Gulf Arab states.

But everything had changed

with the announcement of the

Iran nuclear agreement,

which was fiercely opposed by

Saudi Arabia and its allies, on

April 2, 2015.

Bahrain confiscated Iranian

assets worth more than $1

billion and placed both Future

Bank and the local branch of

Iran Insurance Company

under administration on April

30.

tUeSDAY, NoveMber 30, 2021

9

Pressure on West Indies

as another spin test awaits

SportS DeSk

West Indies have lost their last five tosses in

Sri Lanka, but the statistic that will worry

them more is how they haven't been able to

win a Test in all their years of travelling to

these shores, going as far back as 1993,

reports AP.

In that sense, their defeat last week in Galle

wasn't something out of the ordinary, but

what will be is the venue for the second Test.

It will be the dry, spinning, beautiful Galle

once again - the first time West Indies will be

playing back to back Tests at the same venue

in Sri Lanka - and how handy the learnings

from last week come in could shape the

series for the visitors as well as the hosts.

West Indies, even in a loss last week, might

have come across what exactly is needed on

these Sri Lankan pitches.

They were wobbling at 18 for 6 in the

second innings when Nkrumah Bonner and

Joshua Da Silva put on a stubborn

rearguard, playing out 220 and 129 balls

respectively and making Sri Lankan bowlers

mount spell after spell in the heat.

Even with the ball, Rahkeem Cornwall hit

better lines and lengths in the second innings

and his partnership with Roston Chase, who

picked five wickets in the first innings, will be

crucial to West Indies's chances.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, sit

comfortably with a 1-0 series lead and stand

buoyed by the form of Dimuth Karunaratne,

their captain who made 147 and 83 and was

adjudged Player of the Match.

The bowling attack looked in good rhythm,

especially the spin attack which picked 19 of

the 20 wickets in the first Test, and the trick

for the team will be to keep doing more of

what they did last week.

The Test will also be Mickey Arthur's last

as head coach for Sri Lanka before he joins

Derbyshire, and the team will look to

farewell him on a victorious note.

Another dry, spinning track in Galle like

we have been used to at this venue.

Intermittent rain showers are expected on

the first three days although the forecast is

unlikely to impact the match result.

West Indies, even in a loss last week, might have come across what exactly

is needed on these Sri Lankan pitches.

photo: Ap

Napoli honour Maradona by crushing

Lazio and going clear at top

SportS DeSk

Napoli paid the perfect tribute to Diego

Maradona on Sunday by thumping Lazio 4-

0 to move three points clear at the top of

Serie A, reports BSS.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino was

among those present in Naples as the

southern Italian city honoured one of its

adopted sons, who led Napoli to their only

two league titles and the 1989 UEFA Cup

and died a year ago on Thursday.

Fans chanted Maradona's name as a

statue, which depicts their idol in full flight

atop the number 10, was carried around the

pitch.

A tribute from Pele was shown on the

stadium's big screens, while players came

out for their pre-match warm-up to the

sound of "Life Is Life" by Opus, the song to

which Maradona does keepie-uppies in one

of the most beloved pieces of footage of the

Argentine in his pomp.

Inspired by the emotional ceremony,

Napoli took full advantage of AC Milan

crashing to a 3-1 home defeat against

Sassuolo to go it alone at the summit with an

at times electrifying performance.

Kitted out in shirts which bore Maradona's

face, Luciano Spalletti's table toppers came

out like a team possessed and blew Lazio out

of the water with three superb first half goals.

In almost perfect synergy with the occasion

it was another adopted Neapolitan in Dries

Mertens who led the charge, the Belgian

nicknamed 'Ciro' scoring a brilliant brace of

which Maradona himself would have been

proud.

Piotr Zielinski got the ball rolling in the

seventh minute by almost ripping a hole in

the net with his rocket opener, and just three

minutes later Mertens took the roof off the

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona when he

ended a brilliant move by dumping Patric on

the deck with a feint and slotting home a cool

finish.

After Luis Alberto and then Francesco

Acerbi went close for Lazio in the space of a

minute, Mertens effectively sealed the win

with more than an hour to play with another

wonderful goal, clipping a first-time strike

that sailed over a despairing Pepe Reina and

increased his club-record goal tally to 139.

The 34-year-old's three superb strikes in

his last two Serie A matches will also give

Spalletti hope that he can get by without star

striker Victor Osimhen, out for up to three

months with facial fractures.

Fabian Ruiz capped a perfect night when

he lashed home the fourth from distance.

Salt Lake stun Kansas City to advance

in MLS Cup, Philadelphia move on

SportS DeSk

Bobby Wood came off the bench to

score a stoppage-time goal and lift Real

Salt Lake to a 2-1 victory over favored

Sporting Kansas City Sunday and into

the MLS Cup Western Conference

final, reports BSS.

Salt Lake, who shocked the Seattle

Sounders in a penalty shootout in the

opening round, erased an early deficit

to gain another upset and book a

conference title clash with the Portland

Timbers, who ousted Western

Conference top seeds Colorado on

Thursday.

In Eastern Conference action, the

Philadelphia Union edged Nashville 2-

0 in a penalty shootout after the teams

played to a 1-1 draw after extra time.

Pablo Mastroeni, who took over as

interim manager of Real Salt Lake after

the sudden departure of Freddy Juarez

in August, said he wasn't surprised to

see his team pull off the comeback.

Perhaps he shouldn't have been,

since it was the eighth second-half

stoppage-time goal of 2021 for the club.

Those goals included Damir

Kreilach's stoppage-time winner

against Sporting on the final day of the

regular season.

"The way things have gone this year,

the way we got into the playoffs, the

fight in these guys, the resilience ... I'd

like to say I'm surprised but honestly

when we scored that (first) goal I knew

we were going to get a second one,"

Mastroeni said. "These guys believed

they were going to get a second one."

Sporting's Johnny Russell opened

the scoring in the 24th minute with a

crisply taken penalty after Aaron

Herrera tripped Gadi Kinda in the area.

Kansas City almost doubled their

lead in the second half when Pablo Ruiz

Rangers win in Van

Bronckhorst's first

league game in charge

SportS DeSk

Rangers held off Livingston as

Giovanni van Bronckhorst's

first league match in charge of

the Scottish champions

ended in a 3-1 away win on

Sunday, reports BSS.

The victory kept Scottish

Premiership leaders Rangers

four points clear of Celtic,

with their Glasgow arch rivals

defeating Aberdeen 2-1 later

in the day.

Scott Arfield and Joe Aribo

were on target in the first 16

minutes for Rangers before

Bruce Anderson pulled a goal

back before half-time.

Fashion Sakala, however,

put the result beyond doubt

12 minutes from time as

Bronckhorst celebrated a first

league victory since

succeeding Steven Gerrard.

"I think we controlled the

game," Van Bronckhorst told

Sky Sports.

"We had a great start in the

first 20, 25 minutes and

scored two goals. First goal

was excellent, second goal

was also really good.

"I think after that we lost a

little bit of the intention of

playing and also the speed of

play.

"We were a bit sloppy and

of course the 2-1 made it a real

game. I think second half we

controlled more, we didn't

give any chances away."

Livingston manager David

Martindale questioned the

thinking of Rangers fans who

delayed the start of the second

half by pelting home

goalkeeper Max Stryjek with

snowballs.

England cricket

director pleads for

'second chances'

in racism scandal

SportS DeSk

England managing director

Ashley Giles says cricket has to

do much better in tackling

racism but pleaded for those

who had made "mistakes" to

be given a second chance,

reports BSS.

English cricket has been

rocked by damaging

revelations of racism from

Pakistan-born former

Yorkshire player Azeem Rafiq,

who made a number of

allegations against highprofile

figures in the sport.

One allegation is that former

England captain Vaughan told

Rafiq and other Yorkshire

players of Asian origin that

there were "too many of you

lot" during a county match.

Vaughan, who has

"categorically denied" the

allegation, was subsequently

left out of the BBC

commentary team for the

Ashes to avoid a "conflict of

interest".

Giles, speaking to British

reporters from the team's base

in Australia on Sunday, said

the England squad had

reflected on the Rafiq issue

and hearing his story had been

"hard to listen to".

headed a free-kick from Kinda off the

post.

The tenor changed, however, when

Mastroeni brought in Anderson Julio,

Justin Meram and Wood, and Julio

grabbed the equalizer in the 72nd

minute when he headed in a ball served

up by Andrew Brody from just outside

the box.

Finally Wood found the winner in

the first minute of stoppage time,

sliding forward to collect a low cross

and firing it past Sporting keeper Tim

Melia.

"It's amazing," Wood said. "We were

down 1-0 but we kept going. I'm happy

we got the goal and I'm happy I got to

score the game-winning goal."

In Philadelphia, the Union reached

their first Eastern Conference final with

an emphatic shoot-out win in which

Nashville failed to find the net in four

attempts.

paris Saint-Germain overturned an early deficit to beat 10-man Saint-etienne 3-1 away in Ligue 1 on

Sunday, with Lionel Messi setting up all three goals.

photo: Ap

Messi sets up PSG comeback win

marred by Neymar injury

SportS DeSk

Paris Saint-Germain overturned an

early deficit to beat 10-man Saint-

Etienne 3-1 away in Ligue 1 on Sunday,

with Lionel Messi setting up all three

goals, reports BSS.

The match also featured the longawaited

PSG debut of Spanish defender

Sergio Ramos, while Neymar left the

pitch sobbing in agony, stretchered off

with an ankle injury.

Still in November, the result leaves

PSG on 40 points, 12 clear of secondplaced

Rennes, who beat Lorient 2-0

for their sixth win in seven matches.

"I'm happy with the performance of

the whole team and the effort from all

the players, especially Lionel Messi

who helped us win the match," said

PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Saint-Etienne took a surprise lead

when Denis Bouanga beat the offside

trap to fire a shot past Gianluigi

Donnarumma on 23 minutes. A flag

went up but a VAR review awarded the

goal.

The hosts, languishing in the bottom

two but on the back of two straight

league wins, held their own against

PSG, who appeared more affected by

the freezing cold and gusting snow.

All that changed with a red card.

There was no VAR to save the hosts

on the stroke of half-time when backtracking

defender Timothee

Kolodziejczak was sent off for a flailing

challenge on Kylian Mbappe.

PSG then levelled when Marquinhos

scored with a towering header as Messi

floated in the subsequent free-kick,

sending in the sides level, but with the

hosts hanging their heads.

"At best that was too harsh," said

Saint-Etienne coach Claude Puel. "It

changed the match, we were leading

and doing well."

The second half was one-way traffic

with further goals coming from Angel

Di Maria on 79 minutes and centreback

Marquinhos with his second in

time added on -- Messi again providing

Rangnick influence shows

as Man Utd make a point

SportS DeSk

Michael Carrick was

adamant Ralf Rangnick had

no role in Manchester

United's gameplan for their

1-1 draw at Chelsea, but the

club's impending interim

manager would have taken

heart from the way they

frustrated the Premier

League leaders, reports BSS.

Rangnick, currently

working as Lokomotiv

Moscow's director of sports

and development, is

expected to be installed this

week as United boss until the

end of the season. The

German has been in talks

with United since Ole

Gunnar Solskjaer was

sacked, leaving Carrick to

take the reins for the

Champions League win

against Villarreal and

Sunday's gritty performance

at Stamford Bridge.

Former United defender

Gary Neville said Carrick's

decision to drop Cristiano

Ronaldo and pick a defensive

4-3-3 formation with no

recognised striker against

Chelsea was a sign that

Rangnick was already having

an influenced.

"I've a feeling the incoming

manager has picked that

team as it's a huge departure

from midweek," Neville

tweeted. There were also

suggestions United technical

director Darren Fletcher was

sitting on the bench with an

earpiece that may have been

linked up to Rangnick.

Carrick refuted Neville's

claim, saying: "No, that's not

the case."

Asked if he knew when

Rangnick would arrived,

Carrick added: "As of now I

haven't got any more news

for you really. "I was purely

focused on the game, so there

was enough in my head to

prepare the boys for this.

"I'm sure I'll be updated

and aware and see what

happens in the next few

days."

Regardless of Rangnick's

role in United's defiant draw,

the 63-year-old will surely

arrive at Old Trafford

encouraged by the way they

held firm against in-form

Chelsea.

Beaten in five of their prior

seven league games and

languishing 12 points behind

Chelsea, it would have no

surprise if United had rolled

over in the same manner

Michael Carrick was adamant ralf rangnick had no role in Manchester

United's gameplan for their 1-1 draw at Chelsea.

photo: Ap

they were thrashed 4-1 at

Watford in Solskjaer's last

match.

But United held off the

Blues using the kind of

workaholic approach which

is mandatory in Rangnick's

'gegenpressing' scheme.

Bruno Fernandes, Jadon

Sancho and Marcus

Rashford worked hard to

deny Chelsea midfielders

Jorginho and Ruben Loftus-

Cheek the time to start their

team's attacks.

inch-perfect passes.

But there was bad news for PSG late

on as Neymar fell in full flight after

treading on a defender's leg and

twisting his ankle in a way that made

his teammates wince.

"Right now there's nothing to say.

There's pain. He's going to have tests on

Monday to find out a bit more about his

injury," said Pochettino.

"That's life," Neymar said on

Instagram. "I'll be back better and

stronger."

The result means Saint-Etienne slip

to the foot of the table, behind Metz on

goal difference.

Rennes replaced Nice in second as

Gaetan Laborde and Jeremy Doku,

making his first start since August after

injury, struck late away to Lorient.

Marseille are two points behind

Rennes with a game in hand after

beating Troyes 1-0 at the Velodrome in

a match played behind closed doors as

punishment for crowd trouble during

last month's clash with PSG.

Last-gasp victory

for Chan as Asian

Tour returns

SportS DeSk

Taiwan's Chan Shih-chang

sealed a gripping last-hole

victory in the Blue Canyon

Phuket Championship on

Sunday as golf's Asian Tour

made a dramatic return after

a 20-month Covid break,

reports BSS.

Chan bagged his third Tour

victory with a last round 68 to

finish 18 under par for the

tournament, a shot clear of

Joohyung Kim of South

Korea and Thailand's Sadom

Kaewkanjana.

Sadom was neck and neck

with Chan going into the par

four 18th but he could not

make home advantage count,

sending his tee shot into the

rough to drop a shot at the

crucial moment.

"It's impossible, it's

amazing!" said Chan, whose

last win on the Asian Tour

came in the 2016 Asia-Pacific

Diamond Cup in Japan.

"I am so happy to be back

after the problems everyone

has had with Covid. My front

nine was not very good but an

eagle on nine turned things

around."

Chan was joint overnight

leader with Sihwan Kim, but a

pedestrian start on Sunday

left him three shots adrift of

the American at the turn,

even after eagling the ninth.

But the 35-year-old proved

his mettle with a blistering

back nine featuring four

successive birdies to set up the

last-hole shoot-out with

Sadom. "I was first to go on

the tee and I thought if I can

hit it on the fairway, I can put

some pressure on Sadom,"

Chan said. "I hit it to the left

rough but Sadom was even

more left in the rough."

The Thai missed a 12-foot

putt for par, leaving Chan to

nervelessly sink his own and

claim the $180,000 winner's

cheque.

TUesDAY, NoVeMBeR 30, 2021

10

Mim as Sulata Ray in

Masud Rana's 'MR9'

TBT RepoRT

Toffee to premiere Pori Moni

starrer 'Sphulingo' for free

TBT RepoRT

Toffee, the top digital streaming platform in

Bangladesh, will exclusively premiere 'Sphuligno' on

December 3, 2021 for the first time on any streaming

platform. The movie is made to mark the occasion of

Bangabandhu's birth centenary and uphold his

ideology to the younger generation.

Toffee streamers can enjoy the entire film digitally

exclusively on the platform, absolutely free of charge

using any network.

'Sphulingo' is directed by Taukir Ahmed and

produced by Shopner Bangladesh Foundation. It

features some of the most talented actors and actresses

of the current time, such as Shamol Mawla, Pori Moni,

Rawnak Hasan, and Zakia Bari Momo, in the lead

roles. The film's cast also includes renowned actors

TBT RepoRT

Celebrated folk singer Momtaz Begum has lent her

voice to a song for director Aronno Anwar's

upcoming film 'Ma'. The title of the song is yet to be

disclosed.

Written by Mahi Flora and jointly composed by

CloseUp1 star Mahadi and MuntasirTusher, the

song was recorded at a studio in the capital city on

Abul Hayat, Mamunur Rashid, and Shahidul Alam

Sachchu. Android and iOS users can download Toffee

for free by visiting Google Play Store, App Store, or this

website: https://toffeelive.com/

Abdul Muqit Ahmed, Digital Services Director,

Toffee said, "As part of our commitment to making

Toffee a one-stop-place of entertainment contents, we

have been regularly bringing new content for our users.

We want Toffee to become the platform that actively

promotes our culture and history of Bangladesh,

especially to the young generation. We will be

introducing our exclusive range of local contents from

now on, and I believe 'Sphulingo' is the right choice to

begin with."

Toffee is the top free digital streaming app in the

country, and it will continue to bring in high-quality

contents for users.

Momtaz

lends voice

for upcoming

film 'Ma'

Wednesday. MuntasirTusher has also directed

music for the song.

Based on true events, the script of 'Ma' is written

by director Aronno Anwar. The plot of the film

revolves around the death of a baby boy and the

mother's agonies during the 1971 Liberation War.

Dhallywood actress Pori Moni is expected to join

the shooting of 'Ma' in January 2022. It also has

Azad Abul Kalam, Saju Khadem, Farzana Chobi,

Rebena Karim Jui, Shilpi Sarker Apu, Shahadat

Hossain and Labonno in various roles.

Aronno Anwar, who is mostly famed for directing

TV productions, will mark his directorial debut on

the silver screen with 'Ma'. The film was shot in

various locations of Gazipur in its first schedule

earlier this month. It is jointly produced by Pulak

Kanti Barua and Aronno Anwar.

As for Momtaz, the singer-turnedparliamentarian

is scheduled to perform at an

event in Jeddah of Saudi Arabia on December 24.

Before that, she will perform at an event in Dubai

on December 16 and another event in Sharjah on

December 18, marking the 50 years of Bangladesh's

independence.

Earlier this year, Momtaz lent her voice for a

song in Raihan Rafi directed film 'Damal'

starring an ensemble cast that includes Siam

Ahmed, Bidya Sinha Mim, Sariful Raz and Sumit

Sengupta, which is yet to be released. Momtaz

collaborated with Rasel Mahmud and Arafat

Mohin Nidhi for the song.

Actress Bidya Sinha Mim has joined the cast of 'MR9', the highlyanticipated

adaptation of the novel 'Dhongsho Pahar', the first

episode of the popular spy thriller series 'Masud Rana' authored

by Qazi Anwar Hussain.

In 'MR9', Mim will be seen playing the role of Sulata Ray, a spy

and also the love interest of Masud Rana, which will be portrayed

by ABM Sumon.

Earlier on November 20, the actress was roped in for director

Abu Raihan Jewel's upcoming romantic film 'PatheHolo Dekha'.

She will be essaying the role of a rich family girl named Prarthana

in it. It is not decided yet who will be appear alongside her as the

male lead in the upcoming love story.

Jaaz Multimedia along with Hollywood's Avail Entertainment

will produce 'MR9'. The film will have its versions in both Bengali

and English languages. The ensemble cast of 'MR9' has Tariq

Anam Khan, Sazzad, Sanj John, Jessia and Hollywood's Michael

J White and Louis Stant, among others. 'MR9' is expected to

The first 'Resident Evil: Welcome to

Raccoon City' reactions are rolling in and

are generally favorable on the faithful

video game adaptation. The latest film in

the franchise centers on Chris and Claire

Redfield, Albert Wesker, Jill Valentine and

Leon S. Kennedy as they investigate the

deadly zombie outbreak in the titular

Midwestern town and its ties to the

malevolent pharmaceutical giant

Umbrella Corporation. The movie serves

as a more faithful adaptation on Capcom's

franchise, directly pulling from the stories

of 'Resident Evil 1' and 2. The cast for

'Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City'

includes Kaya Scodelairo as Claire,

begin shooting in February in 2022. After the first schedule in

Bangladesh, it will be shot in the US. Former Lux Channel i

Superstar Bidya Sinha Mim got engaged with banker Soni Podder

on November 10 in a private ceremony after being in love with

him for around six years. After that, she was named as one of the

top taxpaying individuals of the year, for the second consecutive

time. Currently, the actress has films like 'Antorjal', 'Damal' and

'Poran' in her hands.

Priyanka, Nick 'grateful' for each other

Star couple Priyanka Chopra

and Nick Jonas dismissed all

the speculations about their

separation by sharing a few

photos from their

Thanksgiving celebrations.

After the actress dropped her

surname Chopra and her

husband Nick Jonas'

surname Jonas from her

social media handle recently,

speculations about the

couple's split started

surfacing on social media.

The couple shut all the

reports on Thanksgiving by

posting the mushy pictures.

"So much to be grateful for.

Friends, family.. I love you

Nick Jonas. Happy

Thanksgiving to everyone

celebrating," wrote Priyanka

Chopra. Nick too posted the same picture on Instagram and he

wrote: "Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Grateful for you."

Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas met at the grand fashion

event Met Gala 2017, where they represented designer Ralph

Lauren. The singer had shut down an entire Tiffany's store in

New York to pick out Priyanka Chopra's ring. He had proposed

New 'Resident Evil'- too

obsessed with the game?

to Priyanka on her birthday while

vacationing in London. They got

married at the Umaid Bhawan

Palace in 2018, according to a

report of NDTV.

Priyanka Chopra's next project

Citadel, it is a multi-series with

productions from India, Italy and

Mexico and it also stars Richard

Madden and it will be directed by

the Russo Brothers. Citadel is

Priyanka Chopra's second project

with Amazon Prime Video after

announcing the Sangeet Project, a

sangeet-themed dance reality

show, which she will host with

Nick Jonas. Priyanka Chopra was

last seen in Netflix's The White

Tiger, based on Aravind Adiga's

Booker Prize winning novel. She

will also be seen in Matrix 4.

Nick Jonas and Priyanka

Chopra recently made waves after they appeared in the Jonas

Family Roast on Netflix. Priyanka was hilarious as she took the

stage during the roast and was applauded by the audience.

On the work front, Priyanka Chopra has Matrix 4, Citadel,

Text For You and Jee La Zaraa among others in her kitty.

Source: Indian Express

Hannah John-Kamen as Jill, Robbie

Amell as Chris, Tom Hopper as Wesker

and AvanJogia as Leon. The reboot hails

from 47 Meters Down writer/director

Johannes Roberts, who took over the

position from Greg Russo, who departed

and went on to adapt Mortal Kombat for

Warner Bros. 'Resident Evil: Welcome to

Raccoon City' is currently gearing up for

release and now audiences are getting

their first word on how the film is

standing.

With less than a week remaining until

the film's release, the first 'Resident Evil:

Welcome to Raccoon City' reactions have

begun rolling in from recent press

screenings. The reactions are generally

mixed-to-positive, with most citing the

film as an entertaining effort fans of the

video games will love while reviewers are

divided on the film's performances and

effects. Roberts' decision to make the film

a more faithful adaptation of the 'Resident

Evil games' has been welcomed by

longtime fans of the franchise, which may

see the first 'Resident Evil: Welcome to

Raccoon City' reactions come as exciting

for said players. However, for those

generally unfamiliar with the source

material, the early reactions point towards

the film being a little too reliant on fan

service, overloading the movie with Easter

eggs and events that those who have never

gotten their hands on a game can

appreciate.

Source: IANS

H o R o s c o p e

ARIes

(March 21 - April 20) : It may be

difficult to focus on household chores

today. Your mind is on more exalted

matters, such as spiritual and intellectual

interests and you feel lazy. It's OK to do nothing.

You don't have to knock yourself out every day!

Relax at home, read, watch TV, and cook if you

must do something. Your chores can wait until

you feel more energetic.

TAURUs

(April 21 - May 21) : Creative ideas may

elude you today. You may have a

hankering to do something artistic but

with only a few vague notions, and you

may not like those. This is a good day to work with

others' ideas. Read, play music by a great composer,

copy a painting by a master. This way you'll keep the

impulses going without trying to force new ideas that

won't come.

GeMINI

(May 22 - June 21) : Something

may be distracting a close friend

or love partner so much that this

person isn't very good company.

Nor will your friend want to share the source

of their preoccupation. Don't try to have a

long conversation about it. Back off and let

your friend come to terms with it alone.

Sometimes that's all you can do.

cANceR

(June 22 - July 23) : Your thoughts and

feelings may be vague today, and you

could be preoccupied. People might

talk to you but you won't hear much of what they

say, and you'll remember even less. This is a

temporary condition. Don't worry that people think

you're rude. The ones that count know you're not.

Spend the day reading escapist novels. It won't

matter if you can't remember those!

Leo

(July 24 - Aug. 23): Romantic matters

should be going very well now,

although today you might have some

doubts. Your loved one may be quiet

and preoccupied. Don't let your insecurities get

the better of you! What's probably going on with

your friend has little if anything to do with you

and more to do with money matters. Your partner

will tell you when the time is right.

VIRGo

(Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): Today you may have

so much to do around the house that you

don't know where to start. Family

members aren't much help. Don't throw

up your hands and let it all go. Look around the room,

find something that needs to be done, and handle it.

Keep doing this and then stop when you're tired.

There's no need to work yourself to exhaustion even if

you expect visitors. Their homes get messy, too!

LIBRA

(Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): Today the

paranormal could be on your

mind. Books on related subjects

may capture your interest, so you'll

probably want to spend the day reading. Some

of the concepts might seem strange even to you,

but don't write them off yet. The important

thing now is to keep an open mind. Strange

things are discovered every day.

scoRpIo

(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) : A strong bond of

loyalty that you feel for a friend might

propel you into a touchy situation

today. Your friend may ask you to do

a favor that's difficult if not impossible. Look into

the situation and see if there's some way you can

help. If not, you'll have to try to make it up later.

Sometimes that's all you can do.

sAGITTARIUs

(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): Confusion may

reign today, particularly if you're

intuitive. You may pick up strange

vibes that could be unsettling. Don't

try to make sense of them. Your ESP may be a bit

off, or those people whose feelings you're sensing

are stressed and lacking direction. Or it could be

both. Either way, you should be back to normal

tomorrow.

cApRIcoRN

(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): Some bizarre

dreams or visions could come to you

today. Don't put too much stock in

them. You might find that the images

are partly scenes from your past, partly information

you've received lately, and partly your own fears

about the future. If you view them this way, you

should be able to see what they're telling you. They

aren't prophesies for the future.

AQUARIUs

(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) : Information you

receive from friends could have you

worrying a little about your financial

security. You may be trying to reach a

goal that seems to be in jeopardy - if the news you've

heard is true. It may not be! Check the facts before

jumping to conclusions and panicking. You could

find that there's nothing to worry about.

pIsces

(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) : Usually you

have a strong intuitive bond with

those close to you, but today you

might feel like that part of your

brain has shut down. You could get

confusing messages, or you could pick up

nothing at all. You haven't lost your gift so

don't worry about it. You'll have to rely on

words for now!

TUESDAY, noVEMbER 30, 2021

11

In Greece's tough job market,

non-profits offer refugee lifeline

RENTIS :Bowed over a large workbench with

a dozen classmates, asylum-seeker Fazle

Rabbi is learning how to construct a network

cable, hoping to boost his job prospects in

Greece, reports BSS.

"If I get good marks from this academy, I

think I will get (a job) as an IT technician," the

18-year-old Bangladeshi said, pliers in hand.

Rabbi is among dozens attending vocational

and entrepreneurship courses at Odyssea, a

non-profit that is one of Greece's leading job

advisers to refugees and other vulnerable

persons.

In an upstairs classroom, another group is

learning how to operate wood-carving

machinery software.

Based in the industrial district of Rentis near

Piraeus, Odyssea since 2016 has assisted

around 2,500 beneficiaries either through

courses or follow-up support, with another

3,000 applicants currently seeking to join.

Founded soon after over a million Syrians,

Afghans, Iraqis and other persons fleeing

conflict arrived in Europe, the group-named

after Homer's epic of adversity-helps to

prepare job seekers for the arduous task of

finding employment in post-crisis Greece.

Odyssea focuses on "people who feel they

don't have equal opportunities to socially

integrate, who feel discriminated against,"

said Thodoris Kostoulas, a mechanical

engineer and programme manager in the

evsjv‡`k we`ÿ r Dbœqb †evW©

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www.bpdb.gov.bd

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GD-1755/21 (5x3)

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e

group. After a decade-long crisis,

unemployment in Greece is still officially 13

percent -- 28 percent among those aged under

25.

And while over 6,000 refugees in Greece

have followed six-month integration courses

supervised by the International Organization

for Migration, tens of thousands of asylum

seekers are not eligible for such support.

"Integration in Greece is not at all easy," said

Yannick Carlos Wafo, a 27-year-old asylum

seeker from Cameroon, who says he was an

assistant naval mechanic at the Douala

shipyard before coming to Greece.

Unable to join the IOM support programme

known as Helios because of his non-refugee

status, and dismissing Greek government

integration promises as "false", Wafo followed

an electrician course at Odyssea and is

currently employed as a plumber.

"Every employer knows there are certain

jobs that Greeks won't do (such as)

construction... so they need to find

alternatives, and we are one of the best choices

for that," Kostoulas said.

A professional kitchen offers courses in line

cooking and bartending, while other on-site

equipment affords training in 3D printing,

wood carving, electrical work and plumbing.

Courses are adjusted every few months to

meet evolving job market requirements.

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N‡i N‡i we`ÿ rÓ

ZvwiL : 28/11/2021 Bs

A preparatory meeting to celebrate Victory Day was held in Savar on Monday. The meeting was held

in the hall of Savar Upazila Parishad where State Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Dr.

Enamur Rahman was present as the chief guest.

Photo: Zahin Riaz

Telecom Italia CEO

resigns after KKR

buyout bid: report

ROME - Telecom Italia

Chief Executive Luigi

Gubitosi has resigned, news

reports said Friday, amid

increasing pressure on the

top management by

shareholders, including

France's Vivendi, reports

BSS.

The departure of Gubitosi,

who has been at the helm of

the struggling telecom

company since May 2018,

comes in the wake of a

nearly 11 billion euro buyout

offer from US private

equity firm KKR.

TIM's current president,

Salvatore Rossi, will take on

Gubitosi's duties in the

interim, reported Italian

news agency AGI.

A former executive of Fiat

and Alitalia, Gubitosi in

recent years has not been

able to reverse the declining

share price of Italy's largest

telecom firm.

The move came nearly a

week after the "friendly"

public tender offer by New

York-based Kohlberg Kravis

Roberts, for the entire share

capital of TIM.

KKR said its offer would

be for an initial .505 euros

per share, valuing the Italian

operator at around 10.8

billion euros ($12.2 billion).

TIM's board met on Friday

for six hours, AGI said, after

calling an emergency

meeting Sunday. It said then

that KKR's proposal was

subject to about four weeks

of due diligence and would

require the backing of a

majority of shareholders.

Any buyout of TIM would

need the approval from

Italian government

stakeholders, as TIM's

network is considered a

national strategic asset.

Lebanese currency

drops to new low

BEIRUT : The Lebanese

pound sank to a new low on

the black market Friday, with

no end in sight to the

economic and political crisis

plunging ever growing

numbers into poverty,

reports BSS.

According to websites

monitoring the black market

rate, the pound was trading

at 25,000 to the dollar, or

nearly 17 times less than its

official peg value of 1,500.

The new record, topping a

previous low of more than

24,000 earlier this week,

adds to the troubles of the

newly-formed Lebanese

government, which has failed

to meet for more than a

month amid a festering

diplomatic crisis with Gulf

countries.

Lebanon's much-reviled

political barons are also

divided over the fate of the

judge probing the deadly

August 2020 Beirut port

blast, which was widely

blamed on government

negligence and corruption.

With the currency losing

more than 90 percent of its

value in two years on the

black market, the purchasing

power of Lebanese is

plummeting, and the

minimum monthly wage of

675,000 pounds is now

worth just $27.

According to the United

Nations, four in five Lebanese

are now considered poor.

AL-backed panel sweeps

Khulna Bar election

KHULNA: Awami League backed

Bangabandhu Ainjibi Parisad has swept the

Khulna Bar Association election, bagging 12

posts out of 14, reports BSS.

Bangabandhu Ainjibi Parishad's candidates

Saiful Islam and SM Tarique Mahmud Tara

have been elected president and general

secretary (GS) respectively in the polls held on

Monday at the district bar auditorium.

Among 1,375 registered voters, 1,231 cast

their votes in the election. Chairman of the

three members' election conducting committee

advocate Liakat Ali Molla announced the result

this morning after counting votes.

GD-1745/21 (4x4)

GD-1747/21 (8x4)

According to the results, Saiful won the

president post, bagging 811 votes and Tara won

the general secretary post, getting 662 votes.

BNP-Jamaat backed all-party united council

Sarbodoliya Ainjibi Oikkya Parishad president

candidate Sheikh Nurul Hasan Ruba got 398

votes and GS candidate Molla Moshiur

Rahman Nannu got 508 votes. AL backed

other elected executive members are - G M

Amanullah and Md Nazrul Islam (Vice

Presidents), Ashraful Alam Raju (Library

Secretary), Tamima Latif Snighdha (Literature

and Cultural Secretary) and members Ashok

Kumar Golder, Nowshin Rahman Barsha.

Oil tanks 10% on

demand fears over

new Covid variant

LONDON : World oil prices

slumped more than 10

percent Friday, slammed by

demand fear after the

emergence of a new variant

of Covid-19, reports BSS.

In late afternoon London

trade, New York's WTI

crude tumbled 11.3 percent

to $69.53 per barrel, while

European benchmark Brent

North Sea oil retreated 10.2

percent to $73.81.

The two contracts briefly

sank as low as $68.75 and

$73.03 respectively-levels

last seen in mid-September.

"Crude oil prices have

slumped sharply over

concerns that this new

mutation could add to the

pressure on demand," said

CMC Markets analyst

Michael Hewson.

Traders are on edge after

the B.1.1.529 variant of

Covid-19 was detected in

southern Africa.

Scientists warn the latest

variant could be more

infectious than Delta and

more resistant to vaccines,

potentially dealing a heavy

blow to the global economic

recovery.

Major US stock indices

also dropped at the open of

Friday's holiday-shortened

session as investor alarm

spread over the new strain.

Tuesday, Dhaka: November 30, 2021; Agrahyan 15, 1428 BS; Rabius-Sani 24, 1443 Hijri

A farmer brought a youngster to work with him in the paddy field.

Income tax

day to be

observed today

DHAKA :The national income tax day

will be observed today with the slogan

"Mujibborsher Ongikar, Sobai Mile

Dibo Kor".

The Natioal Board of Revenue (NBR)

will observe the day across the country

with the theme "Implementation of the

pledge of the Mujibborsho through

ensuring voluntary participation of the

taxpayers in paying taxes".

Marking the day, the NBR will hold a

seminar at its conference room in the

capital's Segunbagicha area with the

title "Implementation of vision and the

role of income tax in building future

Bangladesh".

Law, Justice and Parliamentary

Affairs Minister Anisul Huq will speak

at the seminar as the chief guest.

Besides, seminars will be held in other

divisional cities highlighting the role of

the income tax.

People from all walks of life especially

the businessmen, income tax lawyers,

writers, cultural activists, sports personalities,

celebrities, media personalities will

remain present in these seminars.

Meanwhile, the submission of

income tax returns ends today. Tax fair

like environment prevailed in all the tax

zones of the country throughout this

November to provide tax related services

to the valued taxpayers. The taxpayers

have also submitted their returns

voluntarily in those tax zones.

Fire breaks out

at Gulshan

building

DHAKA : A 12-storey building in

the city's Gulshan area caught fire

on Monday, reports UNB.

Farhad Abdul Momin, duty officer

at the Fire Service and Civil Defence

control room, said the fire broke out

on the 9th floor of the building near

DNCC Market around 4 pm and it

spread around soon.

He said seven units of firefighters

extinguished the blaze around

4:40 pm. But he could not say

what actually caused the fire.

However, there was no report of

any casualty till the filing of the

report around 5:45 pm.

Bangladesh needs ample investment

to fuel growth:Dr Mashiur Rahman

DHAKA : Prime Minister's Economic

Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman yesterday

said that Bangladesh needs ample

investments to fuel growth.

"Bangladesh is at the juncture of a significant

transformation of its economy

which needs ample investments to fuel

the growth. It also offers opportunity to

the investors," he said.

The Adviser was speaking at a session

titled "Bangladesh: Discover Limitless

Opportunities and Capital Market: The

Rising Tiger" as the chief guest on the

closing day of the two-day International

Investment Summit 2021 held in a city

hotel. The Adviser also listed the economic

development of the country in various

sectors.

Dr. Shaikh Shamdsuddin Ahmed,

Commissioner, Bangladesh Securities

and Exchange Commission (BSEC), in

his keynote speech, said the country's

capital market has been performing very

well even in the pandemic and it demonstrates

a long-term uptrend since 2000.

He said a diversified range of investment

instruments have been introduced

here including bonds, alternative

investment funds, many mutual

funds on top of equity shares of hundreds

of companies.

The government offers tax incentives

to the capital market investors, while the

technology-dependent market infrastructure

offers ease to invest in the market

from any part of the world.

"These all together opened the avenues

for non-resident Bangladeshi and foreign

investors to get benefitted from investing

in the high-return market", he added.

Panel Speaker Tarique Amin Bhuiyan,

Managing Director, Dhaka Stock

Exchange (DSE), said the premier bourse

of the country has opened its international

desk to serve the foreign investors and

it is increasing partnerships with market

intermediaries across the world to attract

investors.

Cumilla councillor's murder case

2 more accused arrested

CUMILLA : Police on Sunday night

arrested two more accused in the murder

case of Cumilla ward councillor Syed

Mohammad Sohel, reports UNB.

The arrestees are Jishan Mia, age

unknown, and Md Rabby Islam Antu

Prakash,19, said Md Sohan Sarkar,

additional superintendent of Cumilla

sadar circle police.

A special team of police arrested

accused Jishan from Pachthubi area

under the Kotwali police station around

11pm Sunday, Sohan Sarkar said.

Later, Antu, an accused found in the

case investigation, was arrested from

Debidwar police station around 11:45

pm, said the Superintendent of police.

So far, a total of five people have been

arrested in connection with this murder.

Earlier on Saturday Rapid Action

Battalion (Rab) members arrested Md

Ashikur Rahman Rocky and Md Alam

Mia, and on Wednesday arrested another

accused Sumon in connection with

the murder.

Police on Sunday sought seven-day

Photo: TBT

remand for each arrestee producing

them before court but the appeal got

rejected, said Md Sohan Sarkar.

Sohel, Cumilla City Corporation

(CCC) councillor of Ward-17, and one of

his aides were shot dead while four others

sustained injuries when gunmen

opened fire at his office in the

Pathuariapara area on Monday.

Based on his younger brother Syed

Rumon's complaint, as many as 21 people,

some 10 of them unidentified, were

booked by the Kotwali police.

Haircut humiliation: Rabindra

University teacher Farhana retains job,

suspended for 3 academic years

Sirajganj, Nov 29 (UNB)- Rabindra

University authorities suspended

teacher Farhana Yeasmin Baten from

academic and administrative activities

for three academic years for trimming

the hair of its 14 students.

An office order on the final decision of

the university authorities, signed by registrar

Sohrab Hossain, was hanged on

the notice board on Sunday.

Makeshift

dumps are

popping out

in the busy

streets of

Dhaka.

Passersby and

people living

around it

suffer a lot due

to the bad odor

they emit. The

photo is taken

from the

capital's

60 feet

boulevard.

Photo:

Star Mail.

Tigers staring

a defeat in 1st

Test against

Pakistan

CHATTOGRAM: Bangladesh are on

course of a defeat in the first Test after

Pakistan openers kept them unscathed

on day four to reach 109 for loss at Zahur

Ahmed Chwodhury Stadium here yesterday,

reports BSS.

Pakistan got a target of 202, wrapping

up Bangladesh for 157 in the second

innings, thanks to a 5-32 of fast bowler

Shaheen Shah Afridi.

The visitors are now just 93 runs away

to seal the deal on fifth and final day

tomorrow. Openers Abid Ali and

Abdullah Shafique played smartly against

a bowling attack that looked penetrative

throughout the day.

Ali who scored 133 in the first innings

was batting on 56 and debutant Shafique

followed his 52 with 53 at stumps, owing

to bad light for the fourth consecutive day.

Bangladesh had a 44-run first-innings

lead after posting 330 and then bowling

Pakistan out for 286. Ali and Shafique

brought up their second consecutive

100-plus partnership in the match, frustrating

Bangladesh bowlers for one and

half session.

Ali completed his third half-century

off 92 balls, flicking left-arm spinner

Taijul Islam for three runs. Shafique

joined him in the penultimate over for

his twin 50 on debut in style, lofting offspinner

Mehidy Hasan for the lone six

of the innings over deep mid-wicket.

Earlier, Liton Das, who hit 114 in the

first innings battled lonely for

Bangladesh, making 59 off 89. But the

wrecker-in-chief was Pakistan fast bowler

Shaheen Shah Afridi who claimed his

fourth five-for in the Test to dash

Bangladesh's hope of taking big lead.

Yasir Ali, who had to leave the ground

after being struck on his helmet by a

sharp bouncer of Shaeen Afridi, was on

36. Yasir's unfortunate incident indeed

ruined the momentum Bangladesh

gained after the early loss of Mushfiqur

Rahim who was dismissed for 16.

Omicron

DGHS recommends

enforcement of 15 instructions

DHAKA : Amid the growing concern over

the new 'Omicron' variant of coronavirus,

the Directorate General of Health Services

(DGHS) on Monday suggested the implementation

of 15 instructions to prevent

the spread of the new variant, reports

UNB.

The DGHS issued a notice signed by

Prof Nazmul Islam, Director of Disease

Control, on Sunday night, putting forward

the instructions.

The World Health Organisation (WHO)

has also asked all countries to stay alert

about the new variant.

The UK and other countries have

imposed a travel ban on South Africa,

Namibia, Zimbabwe and other countries

as the new variant is more contagious

than the Delta variant.

The DGHS urged all concerned to take

measures to enforce those instructions.

The instructions are:

* To strengthen screening and testing

at airports and land ports,

especially for the passengers coming

from South Africa, Namibia,

Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini

and Lesotho

* Discouraging all forms of public

gatherings (political/social and

religious)

* Ensuring the use of masks and

health guidelines

* Making arrangements to dine at

hotels and restaurants with half of

their capacities

* Allowing people at tourist spots,

recreation sites, resorts, community

centers, theatres and social programmes

also at half capacities

* Ensuring health guidelines at worship

places

* Ensuring the use of mask in public

transport

* Fourteen-day mandatory quarantine

for the passengers coming

from the countries of infections

* Ensuring health guidelines in all

Recognition as freedom fighter

educational institutions and coaching

centers.

* Health service seekers, health service

providers and health workers

must wear mask and follow health

guidelines

* Continuing vaccination progamme

by maintaining health guidelines

* Ensuring isolation of Covid positive

patients and people showing

Covid symptoms and quarantining

those who come in close contact

with Covid positive patients

* Keeping people showing Covid

symptoms in isolation and collecting

samples with the help of the

local authorities concerned

* Ensuring the use of mask while

entering and staying in offices

* Creating awareness among people

for maintaining health guidelines

through loudspeakers at community

level engaging public representatives.

Besides, the National Technical

Advisory Committee (NTAC) on

Covid-19 recommended a ban on travelling

to Bangladesh from the countries

where the new variant of the

virus Omicron has spread.

The recommendation was made at

the 47th meeting of the committee on

Sunday, said Dr Mohammad

Shahidullah, president of the NTAC.

Nearly two years into the Covid-19

pandemic, the world races to contain a

new coronavirus variant potentially

more dangerous than the one that has

fueled relentless waves of infection on

nearly every continent.

A WHO panel named the variant

"omicron" and classified it as a highly

transmissible virus of concern, the

same category that includes the predominant

delta variant, which is still a

scourge driving higher cases of sickness

and death in Europe and parts of

the United States.

50 years have gone, but painter Haider

Ali's wait continues

CHUADANGA : Haider Ali, whose job is

now to paint walls and doors, put his life

on the line every day during the ninemonth

liberation war of Bangladesh as his

country called. Fast forward to November

2021, as the country is celebrating the

golden jubilee of its independence. But

things have not changed for Haider, the

father of two daughters, for whom tomorrow

means another fight for survival.

The man from Darshana, Damurhuda

upazila is yet to be gazetted as a freedom

fighter even after 50 years. That means he

is not able to avail the benefits given to

freedom fighters. He now has to struggle

to put food on the table.

Then twenty-year-old Haider from

Darshana's Paranpur joined the

Liberation War in 1971 in sector 8. The

young gun went to India to complete his

training as a freedom fighter. He joined

the group of ten freedom fighters, led by

late Chabdar Ali, in the Bishoykhali area

of Kaliganj upazila, Jhenaidah.

Freedom fighters Tamsher Ali, Anisur

Rahman, Akkas Ali, Sirajul Islam,

Nowsher Ali were the other people from

Haider's area who directly fought the war.

These 10 freedom fighters had to retreat

and return to their camp when the

Pakistani forces launched airstrikes.

Haider broke his left wrist while practising

drilling with a .303 rifle at the freedom

fighter's camp in Majhdia of Nadia district

in the state of West Bengal, India. He was

first treated at a hospital in Ranaghat of the

district. But the incident could not crush

Haider's spirit. He never backed down.

"With my hand bandaged and arm in a

sling, I was tasked with doing recce of the

India-Bangladesh border area for four

months to get information about Pakistani

forces or their positions," said Haider.

At the end of the war, Haider collected a

certificate signed by Commander-in-

Chief of the Bangladesh forces Colonel

MAG Osmani, testifying to his participation

in the war, from the Majhdia camp.

Liton Das,

who hit

114 in the

first innings

battled

lonely for

Bangladesh,

making

59 off 89

against

Pakistan

at Zahur

Ahmed

Chwodhury

Stadium on

Monday.

Photo: BCB

"Even though I have the evidence [certificate]

that I fought in the Liberation

War, I did not get any recognition as a

freedom fighter even after 50 years of

independence," Haider said.

"Although it is very difficult for me to

keep my head above water, I borrowed

Tk20,000 to go to Dhaka with Asir Uddin,

former Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad

Damurhuda unit commander, to get my

recognition. But everything went in vain."

"I also met with Liberation War Affairs

Minister AKM Mozammel Haque. After

going through my documents, he asked

Asir Uddin to include me to the list of freedom

fighters."

"I feel like money is the real issue here.

My name could have been on the list of

freedom fighters if I had put money into

the effort. I am hardly making ends meet

with my work as a painter. How would I

afford this much money? Although I

directly fought the war, I am still not a

freedom fighter."

30-11-2021

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