02-12-2021

thurSday
DhAKA: December 2, 2021; Agrahyan 17, 1428 BS; Rabius-Sani 26,1443 hijri
www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net
Regd.No.DA~2065, Vol.19; N o. 211; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00
international
South Korea's daily
virus jump exceeds
5,000 for first time
Zohr
>Page 7
Avoid unnecessary
travel, Dhaka urges
expats in Africa
DHAKA : The government on
Wednesday urged Bangladeshi expatriates
in Africa to avoid unnecessary travel
to their home country, amid a global
scare over the new Omicron variant of
coronavirus, reports UNB.
"In case of any emergency, they can
come to Bangladesh, but will have to
undergo a 14-day mandatory institutional
quarantine as part of the government
measures to deal with the new African
variant," Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul
Momen said. He was responding to a
question at a media briefing on the
World Peace Conference to be held in
Dhaka from December 4-5.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md
Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary
Masud Bin Momen were also present at
the event.
Don't leave your
workplaces
Maleque to expats
DHAKA : Amid the global scare over
the new 'Omicron' variant of coronavirus,
Health Minister Zahid Maleque
on Wednesday urged the expatriates,
especially those who are living in Africa,
to avoid travel and stay in their respective
workplaces, reports UNB.
"People coming from Africa must
undergo a14-day quarantine. If 20,000
people from Africa come to the country
at a time then it won't be possible to put
them under institutional quarantine,"
he said.
The minister came up with the
remarks while talking to reporters after
a programme at the auditorium of
Bangladesh Public Service Commission
(BPSC) in the city.
If anyone comes to Bangladesh he or
she must show his or her Covid negative
report done 48 hours before departure
which was 72 hours earlier, he
said.
If anyone fails to show Covid test
report, then the travellers must stay in
an institutional quarantine for 48
hours, he added.
The hotels which were used for institutional
quarantine before have
resumed their normal activities but
now they have been requested to
rearrange quarantine centers, said
Maleque.
Omicron has spread in different parts
of Africa and the new variant has been
detected in some European countries,
including the UK.
The World Health Organization
warned Monday that the global risk
from the omicron variant is "very high"
based on the early evidence, saying the
mutated coronavirus could lead to
surges with "severe consequences."
The assessment from the UN health
agency, contained in a technical paper
issued to member states, amounted to
WHO's strongest, most explicit warning
yet about the new version that was
first identified days ago by researchers
in South Africa, reports AP.
05:05 AM
11:50 PM
03:35 PM
05:15 PM
06:35 PM
6:22 5:11
SPortS
Ronaldo in explosive 'liar'
rant at France Football
editor over Messi claims
>Page 9
Bangladesh to generate
electricity from waste
Shafiqul iSlaM (JaMi)
Bangladesh will generate electricity from
wastes. In this issue an agreement has
been signed with a Chinese company to
generate electricity from waste. This electricity
will be generated by incineration
method i.e. by burning waste. The 42.5
MW power plants will be set up at Amin
Bazar in Dhaka. This marked the beginning
of a new chapter in Bangladesh. On
Wednesday (December 1), an agreement
was signed between the local government
department, power department, Dhaka
North City Corporation and China
Machinery Engineering Corporation to set
up the power plant at hotel Sonargaon in
the capital. The project will cost about 15
thousand 325 crore. This power plant will
require three thousand tons of waste per
day. The price of electricity per kilowatt
will be 18.295 TK.
Local government minister Tajul
Islam on the occasion said that if the
incineration system i.e. the amount of
garbage required for power generation
by burning waste is provided, there will
be no problem of dirt in the city.
Electricity is being generated by maintaining
the balance of the environment
and ensuring health protection.
The Chinese company will start generating
electricity within 18 months of the start
of operations. All kinds of preparations
have been instructed in this regard. He
said the Chinese company would set up,
operate and maintain the plant at its own
risk. The City Corporation will provide the
necessary land and regular waste. The
power department will purchase the generated
electricity.
The Minister said that not only Dhaka
North City Corporation but also South City
Corporation, Gazipur, Narayanganj and
all city corporations of the country including
Chittagong, divisional and district
cities and even municipalities are working
to generate electricity from waste. The
divisional or district cities or municipalities
which can supply 600 tons of garbage
per day will be able to generate electricity
directly from the waste in coordination
with the power department.
He said that the process of power generation
from the waste of those countries
was observed by visiting different countries
including Thailand, Singapore and
India. Tajul Islam further said that incineration
is the best way for Bangladesh to
generate electricity by following the model
followed by Japan and other European
countries. This method does not harm the
environment. Therefore, with the consent
of the Prime Minister, it has been decided
to generate electricity by burning waste.
Power Secretary Habibur Rahman
Presided over the event and State
Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral
Resources Nasrul Hamid, Dhaka North
City Corporation Mayor Atiqul Islam,
Senior Secretary for Local Government
Helaluddin Ahmed and Chinese
Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jimming
were present.
an agreement was signed on Wednesday between the BpdB,
the dnCC and Chinese firm CMeC to develop the country's
first ever waste-based power plant in dhaka. photo : pid
CHT after two decades of
signing peace accord
Md Shafayet hoSSain, BandarBan CorreSpondent
The debate has not yet ended even after
24 years of implementation of the
Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord. The
government says that most of the clauses
of the agreement have been implemented.
According to the JSS, the government
is violating the agreement instead of
implementing it. After the peace agreement,
the hill based organizations have
been engaged in conflict with each other.
An agreement was signed between the
present government and Jana Sanghati
Samiti on December 2, 1997.
According to the UPDF democratic
leaders, the peace agreement is not just
for the hill people, but for all the people
living in the hills. Many changes have
taken place since the peace agreement in
the mountains.
The village leaders also said that if the
land dispute is implemented, the ethnic
minorities and Bengali people will be able
to live peacefully.
According to the leaders of the Bengali
organizations, terrorist activities are still
rampant.
However, the Bengali leaders think that
the violence will stop if temporary army
camps are set up in the hills to maintain
peace in the hills. With the implementation
of the peace agreement, development
is taking place in all areas of the hill
areas, but still some miscreants are trying
to disrupt the peace agreement by creating
unrest in the hill areas. In 1997, Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina signed the peace
agreement to resolve the country's internal
problems through bilateral talks.
Most of the provisions of the peace
agreement have been implemented
because the government is sincere in
implementing the agreement. The
remaining clauses will also be implemented.
The government has promised
to implement the agreement but the JSS
has not kept its word.
Meanwhile, Kazi Mujibur Rahman,
central president of the Chittagong Hill
Tracts Citizens' Council, said the peace
agreement had not benefited the people
of the hills for twenty-four years. Most of
the peace agreements have been implemented,
but the withdrawal of army
camps there has led to an increase in violence
in the mountains.
He further said that after the JSS rescued
their interests in the peace agreement,
Awami League leaders and
activists were being selectively killed in
the hills to nullify the leadership of
Awami League.
>(Contd. on page-11)
art & culture
Bubly to join
Dhallywood Film and
Music Awards in USA
>Page 10
president hamid addressing the inaugural ceremony of dhaka university's 16-day programme in celebration
of the centenary of its founding.
photo : pid
Return to classrooms,
says Hasina to students
DHAKA : Asking the students staging
demonstrations on the streets to return to
their educational institutions, Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said it is not
their duty to damage vehicles, reports UNB.
"Please don't do this, please get back to
your respective educational institutions,
engage in your studies, those who are
responsible (in recent deaths on the roads)
must face punishment, they have been
found out," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said this while inaugurating
a mural of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on
the premises of Bangladesh Shishu Academy
and the laying foundation of Joyeeta
Foundation tower in Dhanmondi area.
The programme was arranged at
Osmani Memorial Auditorium while the
Prime Minister joined it virtually from
her official residence Ganobhaban.
"A new wave of Coronavirus is coming. If
it (new wave) hits (the country), the educational
institutions will be closed. So, go
back to your educational institutions and
concentrate on your studies," she said.
Hasina said those who are responsible
for ransacking and torching vehicles will
also be identified and punished.
"If anyone dies in such a vehicle (ransacked
and torched), if anyone is burnt,
tough punishment will be meted out. We
need to keep this in mind," she warned.
About the recent road accidents, the Prime
Minister said law enforcement agencies are
very much aware and alert and the culprits
have been captured already taking help from
the video footage and modern technologies.
Inward remittance
fell by 21% in 5
months of FY22
DHAKA : Bangladesh received (USD)
$1553.70 million inward remittance in
November, which is considered lowest in
18 months, reports UNB.
Bangladesh Bank (BB) data shows that
the expatriates sent $1553.70 million
remittance in November 2021 compared
to $2078.74 million in November 2020
amid the Covid-induced lockdown in
almost all their host countries.
According to the BB, in the first five
months (July-November) of the fiscal
year (FY) 2021-22, Bangladesh received
remittance of $8.61 billion down from
$10.89 billion in the FY 2020-21. It
means the expatriates' income has
decreased by 21 per cent to $2.28 billion
in five month in the current fiscal year.
The expatriate income shows fall for
last five months in the current fiscal year
despite renewed economic activities in
the Middle Eastern and European countries
and the USA. The sector insiders say
money transactions on illegal channels
(hundi) have increased since the pandemic
related restrictions were lifted.
Besides, the rate of new employment
has been lower than the job loss.
The inward remittance inflow of last
five months of FY22 saw decreasing
trend compared with the same period in
the FY21.
Degrees not enough, achieve
global standards:President
DHAKA : President Abdul Hamid on
Wednesday asked every student to
achieve international standards along with
academic degrees, reports UNB.
"As the number of students in Dhaka
University has increased over time, so has
the scope of its infrastructure and educational
activities," the President said.
"Competition has also been internationalised
for the benefit of modern science
and information technology. So, every student
has to obtain international standards
along with degrees," he said.
President Hamid was addressing the
inaugural ceremony of Dhaka University's
16-day programme in celebration of the
centenary of its founding. The programme
will also mark the golden jubilee of the
country's independence.
Hamid, who virtually attended the inaugural
ceremony as the chief guest from his
official residence, said that the university
authorities also need to consider world
standards in determining curriculum and
teaching. The President said that parents
and guardians send their children to university
with high hopes and aspirations.
"Besides, the country and the people
invest for educating them. The students
have to acquire the ability to fulfill the
hopes and aspirations of the family, the
country and the people," he added.
Hamid said that the expansion of infrastructure,
faculty members, students,
departments and institutes contributes to
the development of a university but the
quality of education and research is the
key indicator.
"Higher education institutions, including
universities, have to come forward to
enhance the quality of education and the
capacity of students, taking into account
the needs and qualifications of the national
and international labour market."
He hoped that Dhaka University will
play a leading role in this journey.
The country's oldest public university,
the highest seat of education and a cradle
of democratic movement which began its
journey on July 01, 1921, is celebrating its
100th founding anniversary.
>(Contd. on page-11)
Khaleda's treatment in abroad
Govt is barrier, not law:Fakhrul
tBt report
BNP on Wednesday alleged that the Awami
League government, not the law, is a barrier
to sending its chairperson Khaleda Zia
abroad for advanced treatment.
"We all know
Khaleda Zia is seriously
ill. She's now
fighting for life in a
hospital. Why doesn't
the government
let her go abroad?
They talk about the
law!" BNP Secretary
General Mirza
Fakhrul Islam
Alamgir said at a
protest rally.
As per the law, he
said, the government
can send the
BNP chief abroad anytime if it wants. "The
barrier is not the law, but the current illegitimate
government."
The BNP leader said the government
wants to stun Khaleda, gag her voice and
remove her from politics as she is a prodemocratic
leader.
Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal arranged the
programme in front of BNP's Nayapaltan
central office demanding the BNP chairperson's
treatment abroad.
As part of their prescheduled programme,
around two hundred leaders and
activists of Mohila Dal gathered in front of
BNP's central office to take out a 'silent procession'
at 10am amid huge presence of law
enforcers.
As law enforcers did not allow them to
Mirza fakhrul islam alamgir
bring out the procession, Mohila Dal staged
a demonstration and a brief rally there.
Enamul Haque Mithu, Dhaka
Metropolitan Police (DMP) Additional
Deputy Police Commissioner, told
reporters that Mohila Dal was not allowed
to bring out the procession
as it did not
take prior permission.
"We've taken
this measure to
ensure public safety,
maintain law and
order and keep traffic
normal. "Even
though, they (Mohila
Dal) staged a rally in
front of their party
office."
Speaking at the
p r o g r a m m e ,
Fakhrul urged the
Mohila Dal to unite and organise women to
restore democracy and people's rights
through a movement.
"Mothers and sisters have to be awakened
going from home to home. The government
is depriving people of their right to
vote, the right to speak and all other fundamental
rights," he observed.
The BNP leader alleged that the government
wants to establish a one-party governing
system under a different cover by
destroying the achievements of the
Liberation War.
He urged BNP leaders and activists to get
ready for carrying out a tough struggle to
restore democracy and force the government
to allow Khaleda Zia to go abroad for
advanced treatment.

THUrSDAY, DeCeMBer 2, 2021
2
Professor Dr. Md. Sadequl Arefin Vice-Chancellor of the University of Barisal visited the dining halls
of the university. On Wednesday, he paid a surprise visit to Bangabandhu Hall, Sher-e-Bangla Hall
and Sheikh Hasina Hall of the University. The Vice-Chancellor checked the quality of food in the dining
hall and inquired about the students in the hall.
Photo : Courtesy
Khaleda's treatment not
possible in Bangladesh
with foreign doctors: DAB
DHAKA : Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) on
Wednesday said it is not possible to treat BNP Chairperson
Khaleda Zia, diagnosed with liver cirrhosis, with foreign
doctors in Bangladesh for lack of equipment and expert
medical team, reports UNB.
The pro-BNP platform of physicians, addressing a press
conference, also called upon the government to give Khaleda
a scope to receive treatment abroad at the earliest on
humanitarian grounds.
"Some people are advising to fly in doctors from abroad to
treat Khaleda Zia only to buy time and justify the
government's position (not allowing her to go abroad)," said
DAB president Harun-al-Rashid.
He said a trained medical team and supportive equipment
are needed for the treatment of Khaleda Zia. "So, it's not
possible to treat her by bringing in doctors from another
country."
Dr Harun said the BNP chief's illness has reached such a
level that there is no scope to waste any more time as she bled
several times. "A complete teamwork is necessary for her
treatment. This treatment is available in one or two centres,
but not everywhere, in the USA, the UK and Germany."
He said if a doctor is hired from outside, he or she alone
cannot work without trained nurses, ward boys and
equipment. "Even, one person's mistake can ruin the whole
thing."
About Khaleda's latest health condition, Dr Harun said her
hemoglobin level has dropped a bit after her rebleeding on
Monday night. "She underwent various tests, but the reports
are still not available."
As his attention was drawn to the statement of Bangladesh
Medical Association (BMA) that Khaleda's treatment is
possible in Bangladesh, the DAB president said the BMA
leaders took a position in favour of the government and
against the BNP chief's basic rights of treatment. "It's very
regrettable."
"We hoped that the leaders of doctors would tell the truth
at this difficult time of Khaleda Zia and express solidarity
with Khaleda Zia's medical board. As physicians, we
shouldn't lie about the treatment and we need to work for the
benefit of patients," he said.
Referring to Khaleda's medical team members, Dr Harun
said her treatment is not only possible in Bangladesh but also
in the subcontinent.
Sirajganj:
Woman dies
after being
hit by train
SIRAJGANJ : A woman
Tuesday died after being
hit flush by a moving train
at the Matikora Rail
Crossing area on the
Sirajganj- Ishwardi route
as it crosses Ullapara
upazila, reports UNB.
The deceased was
identified as Dalim Begum,
26, wife of Liton Hossain of
Matikora Uttarpara village.
Sirajganj GRP police SI
Amirul Islam said the
woman was on her way to
the paddy fields where her
husband was toiling since
dawn. She was carrying his
afternoon meal.
But before she could
reach him, a Dhaka-bound
service of the Banalata
Express crushed her with
its unstoppable force at the
Matikora rail crossing.
Police could only confirm
she died on the spot,
although they did recover
whatever they could of the
body, and in the absence of
any complaints, simply
handed it over to family
members, the SI added.
ȳ §viK bs- 51.01.5974.000.41.004.21-168
DHAKA : The mayor of
Rajshahi's Katakhali
Municipality, Abbas Ali, was
detained by the Rapid Action
Battalion (RAB) from a hotel
in Dhaka on Wednesday
morning, reports UNB.
The detention comes days
after he was booked under
the Digital Security Act (DSA)
over his alleged derogatory
remarks on Bangabandhu
and announcement to stop
the construction of a mural of
the Father of the Nation in
the city.
A RAB team conducted a
drive at Razmoni Ishakha
hotel in Dhaka and detained
Abbas in the morning, ASP
Katakhali mayor
Abbas Ali detained
in Dhaka
Imran Khan, assistant
director (legal and media
wing) at RAB HQ told UNB.
UNB
Rajshahi
Correspondent reports:
Mayor Abbas, in his second
term as mayor, came under
fire after an audio clip of his
remarks on Bangabandhu
went viral on social media
recently.
"The Katakhali city gate
will be built soon but the
private contractor has
submitted a design of
Bangabandhu's mural to be
installed at the gate," Abbas
was heard as saying in the
clip.
"It will be a sin if I allow
construction
of
Bangabandhu's mural... it is
not right as per the Islamic
Shariah laws."
Abdul Momin, councillor
of ward no 13 of Katakhali
Municipality, lodged a
complaint against Abbas
under the Digital Security Act
(DSA) at the Boalia police
station, following which an
FIR (first information report)
was filed on that day.
District Superintendent of Police Sudip Kumar Chakraborty (BPM) distributed
winter clothes among the disabled students of Muk Bodhir School
organized by Bogura District Police yesterday afternoon. Photo : Star Mail
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ThURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2021
3
A contract signing, presentation of preliminary report and review of the overall progress of the
'Amar Gram Amar Shahar' project was held at the LGED headquarters on Wednesday. The meeting
was presided over by LGED Chief Engineer Md. Abdur Rashid Khan.
Photo : Courtesy
DDM to procure rescue
equipment to fight
natural disasters
DHAKA : The Cabinet Committee on
Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday "in
principle" approved a proposal to purchase 11
aerial platform ladders, some rescue items,
primary treatment accessories and personal
safety gears for conducting rescue operations
during earthquakes and other disasters.
The Department of Disaster Management
(DDM) under the Ministry of Disaster
Management and Relief will purchase the
equipment from suppliers through direct
procurement method (DPM) without following
the open tender process.
These items, which will be procured under
different packages, also include vests,
raincoats, hardhats, gumboots and lifejackets.
However, the cost and suppliers' names were
not disclosed at this stage as the proposal will
again be placed in the Cabinet Committee on
Public Purchase (CCPP) for final approval, said
the concerned officials.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal
presided over the meeting while members of
the committee attended it.
Meanwhile, a total of 13 procurement
proposals of different departments were
approved by the CCPP at a separate meeting.
These proposals include setting up of an
114,300 mt capacity Steel Silo for wheat storage
in Chattogram at a cost of Tk 537.57 crore
under "Modern Food Storage Facilities Project
(MFSP)" of the Food Ministry.
Joint Venture of 1. Confidence Infrastructure
Limited, Bangladesh and 2. The GSI Group
LLC, USA won the contracts of the project.
Another 76,200 mt capacity Steel Silo for
wheat will also be built in Khulna which was
awarded to Joint Venture of 1. Max
Infrastructure Limited, Bangladesh and 2.
ALTUNTAS of Turkey at Tk 355.91 crore.
The committee also approved proposals for
appointment of consultants for Rajshahi
WASA water treatment projects, awarding Tk
2,877.93 crore contract to TAEYOUNG
Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd., South
Korea for underground sewerage project in
Chattogram, construction of high-rise multistorage
apartment building at Mirpur by the
Public Works Department.
Students being used
to destabilize country:
Information Minister
DHAKA : A vested quarter is trying to
destabilize the country using students, said
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on
Wednesday, reports UNB.
"A vested quarter is trying to make gains
taking advantage of the student movement," he
said while talking to reporters at the
Bangladesh Secretariat.
"Those who aren't students carried out arson
attacks on buses after the death of a student in
the city's Rampura area. Is it an accident or a
preplanned incident? Everything will be clear
after investigation and legal steps will be taken
against those involved in the incident," said
Hasan.
Terming the death of a student in Rampura
unfortunate, the minister said, "The incident
occurred around 10:45 pm and it was found
live on many Facebook pages, including
Nirapad Sarak and Basher Kella. How did they
stream live reaching the spot within 11-12
minutes? Were they present at the spot before
the incident occurred?"
Dengue: 121
more
hospitalized
in 24 hrs
DHAKA : As many as 121 new
dengue patients have been
hospitalised in 24 hours until
Wednesday morning, health
authorities said, reports
UNB.
The number of fatalities
from the mosquito-borne
disease remained unchanged
at 98 in the current year as no
fresh death was reported
during the period, according
to the Directorate General of
Health Services (DGHS).
Ninety people died in
Dhaka division alone, two
each in Chattogram,
Mymensingh and Khulna
divisions and one each in
Rajshahi and Barishal
divisions.
Thirty-nine new patients
are undergoing treatment in
hospitals in Dhaka while the
remaining 82 cases have
been reported from outside
the division.
Some 321 patients
diagnosed with dengue are
receiving treatment in the
country as of Wednesday.
Of them, 288 patients are
receiving treatment at
different hospitals in the
capital while the remaining
77 were listed outside Dhaka.
Since January, some
27,343 patients have been
admitted to different
hospitals with dengue in the
country. So far, 26,924
dengue patients have left
hospitals after recovery, said
DGHS.
BUET becomes the Champion in 5th National Girls Programming Competition held at Daffodil
International University yesterday.
Photo : Courtesy
KOICA celebrates 25 years of
its presence in Bangladesh
DHAKA : Korea International
Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has
celebrated 25 years of its operations in
Bangladesh recalling how KOICA's
projects helped the country grow and
establish the pillars of Digital
Bangladesh, reports UNB.
State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed
Palak, South Korean Ambassador to
Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun, Country
Director, KOICA Bangladesh Office
Young-Ah Doh, Additional Secretary,
Economic Relations Division Md.
Shahriar Kader Siddiky and
Representative of the World Food
Programme Richard Ragan spoke at the
function held on Tuesday night in a city
hotel.
The occasion showcased KOICA's
successful projects and milestones in its
25 years of journey in priority sectors of
ICT governance, health and education
aligned with KOICA's three programs,
namely, Enhance Efficiency of Public
Service by establishing Digital Public
System, Enhance Public health by
providing Quality of Health and Medical
Service and Develop Skillful Human
Resource for Sustainable Development.
Speaking on the occasion, State
Minister Palak recalled KOICA's projects
in the ICT sector since its operation which
helped Bangladesh to establish the pillars
of Digital Bangladesh.
Ambassador Lee emphasized on how
the Korean government recognizes
Bangladesh as an important partner and
endeavors to increase exchanges between
the two countries.
Shahriar Kader congratulated KOICA
for its achievements over the 25 years and
hoped that it would exceed the previous
history of mutual development
assistance.
Richard Ragan thanked KOICA for
contributing to build resilience and
achieve zero hunger in Bangladesh since
2013.
Japan to cooperate
Bangladesh in setting
up automobile
factory: envoy
DHAKA : Japanese
Ambassador in Dhaka Ito
Naoki yesterday said his
country will provide all sorts
of cooperation to Bangladesh
in setting up new fertilizer
factory and automobile
factory.
He said this while meeting
with Industries Minister
Nurul Majid Mahmud
Humayun at the Industries
Ministry in the city, said a
press release.
In his speech, Humayun
said Japanese entrepreneurs
are making significant
contribution to the socioeconomic
development and
industrialization of
Bangladesh.
He drew the attention of the
ambassador to make specific
proposals by identifying areas
for bilateral cooperation in the
industrial sector.
If a specific proposal is
received, the Bangladesh
government will consider it
with due importance, he
added.
Besides,
Danish
Ambassador to Bangladesh
Winnie Estrup Petersen paid
a courtesy call on the
industries minister..
PM’s ICT Adviser Joy to
inaugurate 5G Dec 12
DHAKA : The Prime Minister's Information
and Communication Technology (ICT) Affairs
Adviser Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed will inaugurate
the 5G technology services in the country in on
December 12.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ICT Affairs
Adviser Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy will
inaugurate the 5G technology services in the
country in the month of victory," Awami League
General Secretary and Road Transport and
Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said.
He said that Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's
'Sonar Bangla' will enter 5G era in the month of
victory, as the state-run mobile operator
Teletalk initially is going to launch 5G on a trial
basis to gain experience.
Quader joined a seminar on "5G: the frontier
technology" virtually and said that the
government has pledged in 2018 election to
launch the latest mobile technology service 5G
in the country from 2021 to 2023.
Awami League's Science and Technology
Affairs Sub-Committee organised the seminar
with its chairman Professor Dr Hossain
Monsur in the chair. Following the promise,
Teletalk Bangladesh Limited, has made
preparations to launch 5G in a limited scale
next December by connecting to the existing 4G
network at initial stage as per the directions of
Posts and Telecommunications Division and
BTRC, he said.
"First, limited 5G services will be introduced
in some important government offices and
business establishments in Dhaka city. It is
planned to extend this service to other
divisional cities and industrial establishments
of the country in phases by 2023," the minister
added. The Awami League general secretary
said that the 5G technology services will not be
limited to customer's mobile broadband and
voice calls.
"Through use of this technology, industry,
government and enterprise and utility service
providers will be able to take advantage of
Critical Mission Service, Smart Grid, Smart
City, Smart Factory using IoT, Human to
Machine, Machine to Machine devices," he said.
Quader said, "This is a milestone initiative in
the year of Mujib Borsho. With 5G technology,
mobile subscribers will be able to use better
quality voice calls and users will be able to get
20 times faster mobile internet access that 4G."
He said driverless vehicles will run on road
through 5G, adding, "We hope that the number
of call drops will decrease with introduction of
5G. Zero distance connectivity will be
established between people and devices. 5G will
play an important role in the development big
data and artificial intelligence."
Member Secretary of the Sub-Committee
Engineer Md Abdus Sabur delivered the
welcome speech, while Vice-Chancellor of
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital
University Prof Dr Munaz Ahmed Noor and
Teletalk Bangladesh Limited Managing
Director Engineer Md Sahab Uddin were
present as discussants. Vice Chancellor of
Canadian University of Bangladesh Professor
Dr Muhammad Mahfuzul Islam presented the
keynote speech.Sub-committee member
Engineer Ranak Ahsan moderated the seminar.
Photo Session of the opening ceremony of 'Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT-
2021)' between Bangladesh USA Navy at BN headquarters, Chattogram.
Photo : ISPR
Covid-19
Positivity rate
rises to 1.5pc
DHAKA : Bangladesh
logged two more Covidlinked
deaths along with 282
fresh cases in 24 hours till
Wednesday morning,
reports UNB.
With the latest cases, the
daily-case positivity rate
rose to 1.50 per cent from
Tuesday's 1.38 per cent, said
the Directorate General of
Health Services (DGHS).
With the fresh numbers,
the total fatalities rose to
27,983 while the caseload
mounted to 15,76,566 amid
the growing concern over
the new 'Omicron' variant of
coronavirus.
Among the latest
deceased, one was a woman
and another man. The
deaths were reported from
the Dhaka and Khulna
division.
However, the mortality
rate declined to 1.77 per cent.
The fresh cases were
detected after testing 18,928
samples, the DGHS added.
Besides, the recovery rate
increased to 97.77 per cent
with the recovery of 383
more patients during the 24-
hour period.
On November 20,
Bangladesh logged this
year's first zero Covid-linked
death with 178 cases.
Bangladesh logged the
highest number daily fatality
at 264 on August 5 this year.
Besides, the highest daily
caseload was 16,230 on July
28 this year.
So far, 3,69,63,122 people
have fully been vaccinated in
the country while
6,17,32,437 received the first
dose as of Tuesday,
according to the DGHS.
Taliban-ruled Afghanistan
stares at major humanitarian
crisis: Speakers
DHAKA : The situation in
Afghanistan remains fluid and
Bangladesh should exercise
"extreme caution" especially
in regard to countering violent
extremism, speakers have said
at a discussion, reports UNB.
With 100 days of the Taliban
in power, Afghanistan seems
to be on the brink of yet
another major humanitarian
crisis having implications on
regional countries, they said,
adding that the ripple effect of
the Taliban takeover will be
felt all across the region,
including Bangladesh.
The Taliban took over
Afghanistan in mid-August
sparked tensions regarding
the possible implications
regional nations will face, they
observed.
The aforementioned
sentiments were echoed by
Major General ANM
Muniruzzaman, President of
Bangladesh Institute of Peace
and Security Studies (BIPSS)
and Zafar Sobhan, Editor of
Dhaka Tribune in their
opening remarks at the BIPS-
Dhaka Tribune Roundtable
titled, 'Taliban Takeover in
Afghanistan: Regional and
International Implications.'
The discussion, held in a city
hotel on Tuesday, was
attended by ambassadors,
scholars, security experts, and
youth representatives from
various disciplines.
Muniruzzaman emphasized
the dire situation in Kabul
with the ongoing economic
meltdown.
He said, "The coming winter
months are going to be the
toughest with a high chance of
mass starvation, among other
complications."
Zafar Sohban said it had
been 100 days since the
Taliban took over in
Afghanistan, and it was
important to take a deeper
look at the impact of this
situation, including how it
may affect Bangladesh.
Muniruzzaman discussed
how a failed Afghanistan state
will bear consequences not
just for the region but
international security as well.
"Therefore, an economically
stable Kabul is in the best
interest of the region," he
added.
When discussing the effect
of the takeover for
Bangladesh, Muniruzzaman
discussed how the Afghan
Taliban's influence is very
prominent in the violent
extremism in Bangladesh and
that the new takeover has
inspired a new wave of people
in the country, especially the
youth.
The first keynote speaker,
Major General Muhammed
Firdaus Mian (retd), former
chairman of Bangladesh
Institute of International and
Strategic Studies (BIISS), laid
emphasis on impact on violent
extremism and its possible
spillovers for the region.
He highlighted whether
Afghanistan will now once
again become a sanctuary for
regional terrorism.
"All major financial
assistance has been stopped
and the people are suffering.
This is exactly the landscape
where extremism and
terrorism thrives."
Highlighting the role of
regional powers, second
keynote speaker Dr. Lailufur
Yasmin, Professor of the
Department of International
Relations at the University of
Dhaka, narrated how
historically no one has been
able to centrally control
Afghanistan and whether this
was possible right now.
"Will the new government
be on the basis of democratic
ideals or something else? she
posed a question.
Dr Yasmin talked about the
role of regional powers like
India, Pakistan, Iran and
China.
She mentioned the
importance of Kabul to India
and concluded her remarks by
emphasizing China's interest
in Afghanistan.
The third and final keynote
speaker, Parvez Karim Abbasi,
Assistant Professor of the
Department of Economics at
East-West University
explained the geo-economic
implications of the Taliban
Takeover in his speech.
He said the poverty in
Afghanistan is astounding and
before the pandemic, poverty
rates were at around 70 per
cent while it is projected to be
97 per cent around next year.
He also noted that even
though Afghanistan had large
reserves of strategic minerals,
these have not translated to
economic growth.

ThURSDAY, DEcEMBER 2, 2021
4
An ode to train travel
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Thursday, December 2, 2021
Need for ethical
medical care
T
he
contribution of various professionals towards
society and country should be obvious. But not all
professional activities can be put on the same footing
although the services rendered by all professionals entail
a high degree of responsibilities. For example, the medical
profession is an outstanding case where flawless and very
dedicated discharge of their duties by medical
professionals are expected by people because the same
involve their heath and lives, the most precious of human
possessions.
Unfortunately, ethical conditions in the area of medical
services continue to leave a lot desired in our country. This
was stressed by a former President of the country on the
occasion of the eleventh International Surgical Congress
where he said that doctors in many cases prescribe
unnecessary tests and take also unreasonable fees from
patients. The President's observations would be generally
shared by a large number of people who fall ill and are
exploited, thus, by members of a profession who are
otherwise described as belonging to a noble profession of
caring for sick persons.
It is seen that many doctors have an understanding with
the numerous diagnostic centres that have cropped up in
the country during the last couple of decades. Many of
these so called diagnostic centres are not even properly
registered or have licenses. Even some of the ones who
have registration and licenses can be found on close
examination to be seriously deficient in having
appropriately trained and qualified doctors, technicians
and other support staff. But incredibly they are successful
in evading any kind of oversight actions from authorities
whose job should be to regulate such deceitful and risky
operations.
What is more concern raising is the often underhand
relations between these centres and doctors. The doctors
are prone to recommending such centres of their choice
to patients. For every recommendation a part of the fee
charged is reserved for the recommending doctor.
Therefore, the temptation on the part of the doctors is to
recommend a long list of tests for a single patient though
only a few tests could be required. The patients can be
doubly harmed from taking out tests in diagnostic centres
of dubious value in the first place or even if they are
recommended to centres with acceptable standards, from
the compulsion to carry out unnecessary tests there.
The fee of a doctor with the basic MBBS degree for
consultation in ordinary cases of cold, influenza, etc.,
should not be more than 200 taka. But the MBBS doctors
in most cases are seen charging for writing out a
prescription for say, common cold, not less than 500
hundred Taka. Some take a greater amount whilst the
minimum consultation fee for a specialist doctor these days
is 1000 Taka. Hardly there are regulations in this field and
doctors' consultation fees are rising higher and higher all
the time at the cost of their hapless patients.
The state of the public medical care system is not up to
the expectation or need of many medical care seekers. It is
shot through with corruption, lack of care and
accountability. In these circumstances, patients have no
other choice but to turn to ones who render medical
services privately in the expectation of more dependable
and effective treatment.
It is true that in recent years, world class private hospitals
have been established in Dhaka. But these can be accessed
by a limited number of the seekers of their services due to
high costs. For the greatest number of ill persons of modest
means, the reliance on the country's less impressive
privately run medical care facilities is total. But they remain
prey to highly unethical activities of the above sort and do
not get their money's worth in many cases.
Thus, the challenge for the government is two-fold : to
further improve services in the public medical system and,
no less importantly, to engage in harder regulatory and
supervisory activities to also much improve in all respects
the privately offered medical care systems.
It is relevant to mention here that complaints are
frequently made these days about production and
marketing of sub standard drugs, completely fake drugs
and about so called doctors practicing who never passed
out from any proper medical institutions. The dangers
posed to them for public health persuaded government's
health authorities to launch a crackdown against such
offenders. A number of medical shops in the Mitford area
of the city who indulge in such grave offences were raided
by RAB, police and members of the government's
regulatory agency.
Indeed, their action could not have come any sooner
because people's lives and health were at stake. But in
retaliation the owners of medical shops enforced shut
downs of their shops pressing the government to pay
compensation. So, they wanted the government to
compensate them for its right actions and also to give a
message that government must not attempt to punish
them for their misdeeds and if it does then helpless users
of medicines would be punished by denying them access to
medicine as was done .
There is probably no such parallel of inhumanity to be
noted elsewhere of the sort which the medicine shop
owners showed through their most unconscionable
behavior . Hundreds of thousands of people or patients
with serious diseases suffered awfully for their most
unconscientious attitude.
So, proper conduct in the entire realm of medical care
must be ensured from end to end .
At the end of September, I took an
overnight train called the Do?u
Ekspresi - or Eastern Express - from
the Turkish capital Ankara to the city of Kars
in the northeast, close to the Armenian
border.
I cannot say precisely how the journey
came about, or what sort of neuronal firing
must have transpired in my brain the
previous month as I lay sweating in between
the oscillating fans on either side of my bed
on the Oaxacan coast of Mexico - the
position in which I had undertaken to plan
my first transatlantic trip since December
2019.
Prior to the onset of the pandemic, I had
led a pathologically itinerant existence for
nearly 20 years, flitting continuously
between countries and continents and
harbouring an existential aversion to
settling down.
Coronavirus had put an abrupt end to the
arrangement, converting what was meant
to be a two-week stay in Oaxaca into a
heretofore inconceivable year and a half. As
the southwestern Turkish town of Fethiye
had been a regular stop on my international
circuit since 2004, I decided to stage a trip
there for the 18-month anniversary of my
sedentary existence - and felt immensely
relieved that I had not totally lost the urge to
move.
Once I had sorted the details from my
bed-office for a two-week stay in Fethiye -
thanking the universe, as I did all day every
day on the Oaxacan coast, for the invention
of the oscillating fan - there emanated from
my cerebral depths a recollection of a train
that ran from Ankara to Kars.
Shortly thereafter, I was booking all four
spots in one of the sleeper cabins, using my
parents' names and that of a friend, for a
total of approximately $45. Clichéd visions
of romantically chugging through the
Turkish countryside surged through my
head alongside obligatory flashbacks to
Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient
Express.
I had traveled on plenty of trains before,
from the old-school Uzbek train that runs
from Tashkent to Samarkand and Bukhara
to the decidedly unromantic high-speed
trains of Western Europe to the Sri Lankan
train that traverses mountainside tea
plantations.
There was also the delightfully shabby
Tbilisi-Yerevan overnight between the
countries of Georgia and Armenia, and the
Cuban cargo train that my friends and I
somehow finagled ourselves onto for free in
2006. The crew accommodated us in their
sleeping quarters and grinned as we spent
what seemed to be various hours lurching
BElEN FERNANDEz
DAOUD KUTTAB
forward and backward before finally
advancing definitively.
When I arrived at the train station in
Ankara on the afternoon of September 22, I
was still not entirely convinced that an
entire sleeper cabin for a journey of more
than 24 hours cost merely $45.
As it turned out, I had nothing to worry
about on that front. I did, however, have to
worry about the train conductor's refusal to
believe that there was a coronavirus vaccine
that consisted of a single dose - the Johnson
& Johnson vaccine that I had received in
August - as well as his refusal to Google it.
In the end, my suspicious vaccination
card and I were permitted to remain on the
train, and the conductor dealt with the issue
of my three fellow non-passengers by
simply giving me four pillows.
The Do?u Ekspresi lurched into motion
and my clichéd thoughts resumed,
presumably the result of a combination of
conditioned nostalgia - and the traditional
romanticisation of train travel - plus actual
nostalgia plus the physically soothing
sensation of moving along train tracks.
Reclining against my four pillows, I spent
the next 28.5 internet-free hours staring out
the window in between napping. While the
act of prolonged motion was reassuringly
liberating after having been still for so long,
the lack of the option to even think about
getting online was acutely therapeutic in
itself, as I felt humanness slowly seep back
into my being.
To employ further cliché, it was like
coming back to life - and yet it was
simultaneously a shutting down, as body
and mind retreated from a state of constant
alertness and dependence on digital stimuli.
This hibernation of sorts evoked a return
to a simpler era in which it was normal to
just be, well, bored, without feeling the need
to be consulting one screen or another at all
times - a normalised behaviour that
happens to benefit the powers that be that
profit from the conversion of human beings
into technologically addicted automatons.
But I was not bored at all. Or perhaps
boredom had become a novelty.
Not that the 28.5 hours' worth of scenery
left much to complain about, as the scenery
on this not-yet-dead planet tends to do. And
as Orientalist as it may be in this case, there
is a certain imagined intimacy that
accompanies chugging through farmers
toiling in a field or men smoking cigarettes
at a train station.
More than 12 hours into my trip,
somewhere between the stations of
Çetinkaya and Demirda?
Source: Al Jazeeras
What is driving Russia and China together
The Russian and Chinese militaries
have in recent times conducted joint
bomber flights and military
(especially naval) drills and coordinated a
somewhat united front against shared
geopolitical challenges in the Asia-Pacific
region. Although much of the international
attention is focused on the Indo-Pacific
littoral and the South China Sea, the Sea of
Japan and the approaches to the Pacific
have seen tensions rise as well. Japan's
willingness to accommodate the United
States' Pacific Deterrence Initiative, which
is aimed at positioning precision-strike
missiles against China, has implications for
Russia too. Because of their intermediaterange
and area-denial role, there is no
reason the same missiles can't target the
Russian Far East.
The presence of US forces and USsupplied
advance hardware like the
prospective Aegis air defense ships, F-35s
belonging to both Japanese and US forces
prospectively operating from Japanese
Izumo-class ships, inspires not unfounded
anxiety in Russia.
It is no surprise that Russia sees Japan as
less than an adversary, and the Russian
ambassador to Japan, Mikhail Galuzin, has
in no uncertain terms said that Russian
military activity in the region is aimed at
deterring US forces in Japan and the
region and not against Japan itself.
Similarly, India's increasing closeness
with Washington is a major thorn in
Moscow's side. New Delhi signing a series
of strategic agreements gives it access to
many data streams from US
reconnaissance, imaging, search, targeting
How to show genuine solidarity with the Palestinian people
The world on Monday celebrated the
International Day of Solidarity with
the Palestinian People. The date of
Nov. 29 is marked every year as the
anniversary of the UN General Assembly's
1947 adoption of the "Partition Plan for
Palestine," or Resolution 181, which
intended to establish an Arab state and a
Jewish state.
The day of solidarity traditionally provides
an opportunity for the international
community to focus its attention on the fact
that the question of Palestine remains
unresolved and that the Palestinian people
have yet to attain their inalienable rights as
defined by the UNGA. These are: The right
to self-determination without external
interference, the right to national
independence and sovereignty, and the
right to return to their homes and property
from which they were displaced.
The often-repeated question by many
supporters is how? How can they show
solidarity with the Palestinian people? Here
are some practical ideas for showing
solidarity. On the political level, we need to
move governments from lip service to actual
forceful decisions. Parliaments in most
European countries have voted to recognize
the Palestinian side of the two-state
As the southwestern Turkish town of Fethiye had been
a regular stop on my international circuit since 2004, I
decided to stage a trip there for the 18-month anniversary
of my sedentary existence - and felt immensely
relieved that I had not totally lost the urge to move.
and logistics infrastructure, which is an
unprecedented boost for India's
capabilities. However, the boost comes at
the cost of an increasingly anxious Moscow
that sees its long-standing partner and ally
India realign with Washington, its main
geopolitical adversary.
The US since the collapse of the Soviet
Union has missed no opportunity to
weaken Russia and further its own
influence in the post-Soviet space. With
extending NATO membership to former
Soviet countries and enacting regime
change and supporting color revolutions,
the game of geopolitical intrigue and
orchestrated crises is relentless.
The response to these perceived
provocations has been true to the brand of
long-standing Russian foreign policy,
realistic and pragmatic above all else.
Moscow feels that for the time being the
only way to counterbalance US hegemony
is to throw its weight behind China
selectively, on issues of converging
interests. As it is within the Northeast Asia
region and is a perceived junior partner
and treaty ally of the US, Japan seems like
the perfect target for such a policy.
solution, yet only Sweden has been brave
enough to officially do so. If countries are
afraid of the likely Israeli backlash, they can
see that Tel Aviv has renewed its warm
relations with Stockholm despite initially
breaking all ties. The message is clear and
the Israelis know they cannot live without
international relations for too long. Some
European countries prefer to make the
recognition in unison. This would be great,
but with the current Israeli government on
record as opposing any negotiations with
the Palestinians, there is no added value to
waiting. They must recognize Palestine on
the borders of 1967 or on the borders that
the UN approved in 1947. On the public
level, it is important to strengthen solidarity
with the Palestinian people by encouraging
twinning agreements between cities and
ADITYA PAREEK
The highly pragmatic and tentative
nature of Russia's so-called alliance with
China means Moscow can selectively use
its cooperation with Beijing as a bargaining
chip or tool of mild coercion against shared
challenges and adversaries.
A recent visit by Russian Navy
submarines and warships to Sri Lanka can
also be seen as a strategic signaling move
by Moscow.
Similarly, India's increasing closeness with Washington is a major
thorn in Moscow's side. New Delhi signing a series of strategic
agreements gives it access to many data streams from US reconnaissance,
imaging, search, targeting and logistics infrastructure,
which is an unprecedented boost for India's capabilities.
The move has the dual implication of at
the same time reassuring New Delhi that
Sri Lanka is not in effect a Chinesedominated
unsinkable aircraft carrier in
the Indo-Pacific littoral and to remind all
interested in the region that Russia has the
sea legs and the wherewithal for its Pacific
Fleet to project power in the region if the
need arises.
The recent Russian test of a direct-ascent
anti-satellite (ASAT) weapon created
thousands of pieces of debris in orbit that
could threaten the International Space
Station and the Chinese space station
Tiangong. The test brought widespread
disapproval from many countries, private
companies and individuals alike, but the
lack of comment from the Chinese
organizations, by visiting Palestine, and by
adopting a sector of Palestinian life and
economy.
On the economic level, there is much that
can be done both with Palestine and with
those who support Palestinians. Investing in
Palestine, buying Palestinian, and staying at
Palestinian hotels and visiting Palestinian
eateries are a must for anyone, whether on
On the political level, we need to move governments
from lip service to actual forceful decisions. Parliaments
in most European countries have voted to recognize the
Palestinian side of the two-state solution, yet only
Sweden has been brave enough to officially do so.
touristic or pilgrimage visits to the region.
Furthermore, organizations and
companies that have dared to challenge the
powerful pro-Israel lobby must be
supported. Unilever, which owns Ben &
Jerry's, has lost 6 percent of its stock value
since the ice-cream brand's July decision to
stop selling in illegal Israeli settlements.
Anyone with a stock portfolio can simply
advise their brokers to buy Unilever, thus
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is indicative of
at least some desire to accommodate
Russia, unlike a lot of other spacefaring
nations. The Russia-China entente, while
strengthening both, also has its limitations,
for example the lack of significant progress
on joint high-tech projects like the
International Lunar Research Station.
The ILRS project seems to be a
competitor to the US-led Artemis
Program, which aims to return humans to
the moon's surface. However, for the
moment the Russian part of the ILRS
doesn't seem to have any plans for a
human element but will likely rely on
uncrewed platforms.
While China and Russia have announced
the technical scope of the ILRS and have
kept the door open for cooperation with
other countries, they have not yet laid out a
legal or guiding framework akin to
America's Artemis Accords.
The Artemis Accords are a set of
principles largely derivative of the Outer
Space Treaty. A Russian and Chinese
counterpart was expected to be unveiled
during this year's International
Astronautical Conference in Dubai, but to
the disappointment of many, nothing
substantive was mentioned about ILRS
during the event.
The mixed bag of pragmatic abstentions,
selective cooperation and asymmetric
responses is likely to continue until Japan,
the US and India reconsider their
respective attitudes to Russia and its
anxieties.
Source: Asia times
negating efforts to economically damage
any company that dares to challenge the
pro-Israeli narrative.
On the faith-based level, much can be
done to improve relations with the faithful
in Palestine, both Muslim and Christian. As
we approach the Christmas season, it is
important to remind the world that the
birthplace of Jesus is under Israeli
occupation and that Palestinian Christians
are a vibrant element in the Palestinian
national movement. One group of
Palestinian Christians, Kairos Palestine, has
put out a call for action with specific
activities. They can be seen at
cryforhope.org.
Finally, while Palestinians need political
support to end the ugly and illegal
occupation and colonial settlement, much
needs to be done to correct the narrative of
Israeli and pro-Israeli propagandists, who
continuously shake off criticism of their
occupation, house demolitions and human
rights abuses by blaming Palestinians for
not being forthcoming in negotiations.
Organizations and companies that have
dared to challenge the powerful pro-Israel
lobby must be supported.
Source: Arab news

ThurSday, deceMber 2, 2021
5
Barbados becomes world’s
MIchaeL SafI
After 396 years, the sun has
set on the British monarchy's
reign over the Caribbean
island of Barbados, with a
handover ceremony at
midnight on Monday
marking the birth of the
world's newest republic.
As the clock struck 12, the
Royal Standard flag
representing the Queen was
lowered over a crowded
Heroes Square in Bridgetown
and Carol Roberts-Reifer,
chief executive officer of the
National
Cultural
Foundation, made the
declaration of Barbados'
transition to its new
constitutional status.
Guests in the square
applauded as Dame Sandra
Mason was sworn in as
president by the chief justice
and took the oath of
allegiance to her country.
Hundreds of people lining
Chamberlain Bridge in the
capital cheered and a 21-gun
salute was fired as the
national anthem was played.
Barbadian singer Rihanna
also attended the ceremony
and was declared a national
hero.
"Republic Barbados has set
sail on her maiden voyage,"
Mason said in her
inauguration speech as the
first president of the country,
recognising the "complex,
fractured and turbulent
world" it would need to
navigate.
"Our country must dream
big dreams and fight to realise
them," the former governorgeneral
told those gathered
for the ceremony. A solemn
Prince Charles was on hand to
witness the transition. "The
creation of this republic offers
a new beginning," he said in a
speech to the ceremony.
"From the darkest days of our
past and the appalling
atrocity of slavery, which
forever stains our history,
people of this island forged
their path with extraordinary
fortitude."
"Full stop this colonial
page," Winston Farrell, a
Barbadian poet said in a
reading at the ceremony.
"Some have grown up stupid
Lucy chaPPeLL
under the Union Jack, lost in
the castle of their skin."
"It is about us, rising out of
the cane fields, reclaiming our
history," he said. "End all that
she mean, put a Bajan there
instead."
Announcing the decision to
cut ties with the monarchy in
2020, prime minister Mia
Mottley, who led the
ceremony, said the time had
come for Barbados to "fully
leave our colonial past
behind", though some in the
country said the moment had
been long overdue.
"It cuts into your dignity as
a citizen," Sir Hilary Beckles,
the country's most renowned
historian and vice-chancellor
of the University of the West
Indies, said of the ongoing
role of the monarchy in the
country.
"It reduces you
psychologically in terms of
being a citizen of your nation,
and then you have public
officials who have to swear
allegiance to this sovereign
who is not a part of their
reality." A comprehensive
survey of Barbadian attitudes
to the royal family - the early
results of which were shared
with the Guardian - suggested
that more than 60% of
Barbadians were in favour of
becoming a republic, half of
them enthusiastically, while
about one in 10 people
preferred to keep the status
quo.
"A significant number of
persons were not interested
one way or the other," said
Cynthia Barrow-Giles, a
professor at the University of
the West Indies and a lead
investigator for the poll,
which is yet to be released.
On an island whose
anglophile tendencies once
led it to be dubbed "little
England", where people still
drive on the left, play cricket
at Kensington Oval and bathe
at Brighton beach, the
Sandra Mason, the president of barbados.
republic is part of a wider
agenda building steam across
the Caribbean to forge a
future outside a British
framework.
The last time a spate of
former colonies in the region
cut their ties with the
monarchy was the 1970s at
the peak of the black power
era. It was amid another
reckoning on race last year,
after the killing of the African
American George Floyd, that
Barbados flagged its own
breakaway from the Queen.
Barbadian leaders have
mooted a republic since the
run-up to independence in
1966, when the country's first
prime minister, Errol Barrow,
told a British minister his
nation would "not loiter on
colonial property past closing
time".
But in a world still shaped
by colonialism, that has
proved to be a fraught task
that successive Barbadian
governments have avoided,
seeing it either as divisive, a
distraction or a source of
potential disquiet in Britain -
from where more than a third
of tourists to the country hail.
It took until independence
day in November 2020 for
Mottley's government to
announce the transition,
shortly before she presided
over a ceremony to remove a
statue of the British naval
hero Horatio Nelson from a
city square, over his defence
Photo: Tim rooke
of the colonial slave trade.
A planned protest in
Bridgetown over the presence
of Prince Charles at the
handover ceremony was
denied permission on
grounds of avoiding the
spread of Covid-19.
Other than Black Lives
Matter protests, questions
over the role of the Queen in
Barbados may have grown in
light of the Windrush scandal
that saw thousands of people
of Caribbean heritage living in
Britain facing potential
deportation, said Guy Hewitt,
a former Barbadian high
commissioner in London.
"Windrush would have
been one of those significant
events that showed the
divergence between where
the Queen, as the queen of the
United Kingdom, and her role
as the queen of Barbados,
may have been
irreconcilable," he said.
Pregnant women should get
vaccine and stay safe
As an obstetrician, I know
first-hand the highs and
lows that women experience
when having a baby. It can
be hugely rewarding for
many and a daunting
experience for some. Over
the past months, the
pandemic has added a great
deal of uncertainty to the
experience of pregnant
women and those
considering becoming
parents.
We know how dangerous
the virus can be for pregnant
women. The data published
over recent months has
been heartbreaking.
Between July and October
in England, one in five Covid
patients receiving NHS
newest republic
treatment through a special
lung-bypass machine were
pregnant women who had
not had their first jab.
Around one in five women
who are hospitalised with
the virus need to be
delivered preterm to help
them recover - and one in
five of their babies need care
in the neonatal unit. New
data from England shows
that of those pregnant
women in hospital with
Covid, 98% are
unvaccinated.
Senior doctors and
healthcare professionals
from across the health
system, including the Royal
College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists and the
Royal College of Midwives,
have been clear that the
Covid vaccines are the best
possible way pregnant
women can protect
themselves from the virus.
Real-world data from the
United States, where the
vaccines have been given to
more than 177,000
pregnant women, has also
been reassuring that they're
safe for this group.
Now, we have even more
evidence to back the safety
of the vaccines - with new
data from the UK Health
Security Agency showing
there is no impact on
newborns. The rate of
stillbirths, low baby-birth
weights and premature
births is very similar for
vaccinated women as it is for
all women.
It's also incredibly
It's incredibly reassuring to see the proportion of women giving birth who had
received the vaccine increasing steadily over time.
Photo: Getty
reassuring to see the
proportion of women giving
birth who had received the
vaccine increasing steadily
over time - from 3% in May
to 22% in August. Given that
most pregnant women
would have become eligible
for the vaccine around June,
in line with advice from our
independent experts, this
shows that more and more
pregnant women are taking
up the offer. Vaccine
coverage at birth is expected
to increase even further over
the coming months.
Boosters are also available
six months after a second
dose to pregnant women
who are aged 40 and over,
are health or social care
workers or are in an at-risk
group.
We know there is more to
be done, though -
particularly to make sure
that we reach pregnant
women from all ethnic
groups and from all
backgrounds, as vaccine
uptake varies by ethnicity
and deprivation area. The
government and the NHS
are continuing to work
closely with experts from
medical organisations and
community and faith
leaders to provide
information and advice at
every possible opportunity
to those in these groups, as
well as pregnant women
more widely. Every contact
counts between a pregnant
women and a healthcare
professional.
Toby KIerS
If we want to tackle the
climate crisis, we need to
address a global blindspot:
the vast underground fungal
networks that sequester
carbon and sustain much of
life on Earth.
Fungi are largely invisible
ecosystem engineers. Most
live as branching, fusing
networks of tubular cells
known as mycelium. Globally,
the total length of fungal
mycelium in the top 10cm of
soil is more than 450
quadrillion km: about half the
width of our galaxy. These
symbiotic networks comprise
an ancient life-support
system that easily qualifies as
one of the wonders of the
living world.
Through fungal activity,
carbon floods into the soil,
where it supports intricate
food webs - about 25% of all of
the planet's species live
underground. Much of it
remains in the soil, making
underground ecosystems the
stable store of 75% of all
terrestrial carbon. But climate
change strategies,
conservation agendas and
restoration efforts overlook
fungi and focus
overwhelmingly on
aboveground ecosystems.
This is a problem: the
destruction of underground
fungal networks accelerates
both climate change and
biodiversity loss and
interrupts vital global nutrient
cycles. These networks should
be regarded as a global public
good to be mapped, protected
and restored as a matter of
urgency.
Fungi lie at the base of the
food webs that support much
of life on Earth. About 500m
years ago, fungi facilitated the
anGeLIque chrISafIS
Josephine Baker, the French-
American civil rights activist,
music hall superstar and
second world war resistance
hero, is set to become the first
Black woman to enter
France's Panthéon
mausoleum of revered
historical figures - taking the
nation's highest honour at a
moment when tensions over
national identity and
immigration are dominating
the run-up to next year's
presidential race.
The elaborate ceremony on
Tuesday - presided over by
the French president,
Emmanuel Macron - will
focus on Baker's legacy as a
resistance fighter, activist and
anti-fascist who fled the racial
segregation of the 1920s US
for the Paris cabaret stage,
and who fought for inclusion
and against hatred.
Members of the French air
force will carry a coffin
containing handfuls of soil
from four places where Baker
lived: the US city of St Louis
where she was born; Paris,
where her music hall
performances subverted
racial and sexual stereotypes
and made her the highestpaid
performer of her time;
the Château des Milandes,
where she lived, in southwest
France; and Monaco,
her final home. The coffin will
be placed in a tomb reserved
for her in the Panthéon's
crypt. Her family has
requested that her body
remain buried in Monaco,
where she died aged 68 in
1975.
A vast projection on the
outside of the hallowed
Parisian monument will
recall scenes from Baker's
life, which the Élysée Palace
called "incredible",
describing her as an
exceptional figure who
embodied the French spirit.
Macron's office said this was
recognition that Baker's
"whole life was dedicated to
the twin quest for liberty and
justice".
Baker was born in Missouri
in 1906, left school at 13 and
as a child had witnessed
terrifying riots and violence
against Black people that
resulted in thousands being
displaced. She later said her
birth city "had a terrible effect
on me". Like other Black
American artists arriving in
Paris at the time, she moved
Fungi: an ally in the
climate crisis
Globally, at least 5bn tons of carbon dioxide are sequestered within mycorrhizal
networks each year.
Photo: Stephen r Johnson
movement of aquatic plants
on to land, fungal mycelium
serving as plant root systems
for tens of millions of years
until plants could evolve their
own. This association
transformed the planet and
its atmosphere - the evolution
of plant-fungal partnerships
coincided with a 90%
reduction in the level of
atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Today, most plants depend
on mycorrhizal fungi - from
the Greek words for fungus
(mykes) and root (rhiza) -
which weave themselves
through roots, provide plants
with crucial nutrients, defend
them from disease and link
them in shared networks
from the US to escape racial
segregation. "I just couldn't
stand America, and I was one
of the first coloured
Americans to move to Paris,"
she told the Guardian in
1974.
"The simple fact to have a
Black woman entering the
Panthéon is historic," the
Black French scholar Pap
Ndiaye, an expert on US
minority rights movements,
told the Associated Press.
"When she arrived, she was
first surprised like so many
African Americans who
settled in Paris at the same
time ... at the absence of
institutional racism. There
was no segregation ... no
lynching. [There was] the
possibility to sit at a cafe and
be served by a white waiter,
the possibility to talk to white
people, to [have a] romance
with white people," Ndiaye
said.
"It does not mean that
racism did not exist in
France, but French racism
has often been more subtle,
not as brutal as the American
forms of racism," he added.
Baker was 19 when she
arrived in Paris and became
famous for her music hall
appearances including
dancing the Charleston at the
Folies-Bergère cabaret hall
wearing a skirt made of fake
bananas. France was a
colonial power and Baker's
routines are hailed now for
the way she subverted
colonial fantasies about Black
women and the stereotypes
they had to face.
With the rise of Nazism and
the outbreak of the second
sometimes referred to as the
"wood wide web". These fungi
are a more fundamental part
of planthood than leaves,
wood, fruit, flowers or even
roots. We are destroying the
planet's fungal networks at an
alarming rate. Based on
current trends, more than
90% of the Earth's soil will be
degraded by 2050. Modern
industries, from agriculture to
forestry, have failed to take
account of the life in the soil.
Despite the fact that
mycorrhizal fungi supply as
much as 80% of a plant's
nutrients, intensive farming
practices - through a
combination of ploughing
and application of chemical
world war, Baker was quick
to join the anti-fascist fight.
In 1938 she had already
joined the group known
today as Licra, a prominent
antiracist league. From 1939,
she worked for France's
counter-intelligence services
against the Nazis, joining the
resistance and notably
collecting information from
German officials she met at
parties. As a spy for France's
wartime leader-in-exile, Gen
Charles de Gaulle, she
obtained information on the
Italian dictator Benito
Mussolini and sent reports to
London written in her music
sheets in invisible ink. She
had a pilot's licence at a time
when this was exceptional for
women, and became a
lieutenant in the French air
force's female auxiliary corps,
gaining military decorations.
"France made me who I
am," she later said. "Parisians
gave me everything ... I am
prepared to give them my
life."
Later, as a civil rights
activist, she was the only
woman to speak at the 1963
March on Washington before
Martin Luther King's "I have
a dream" speech. She was
wearing her French military
uniform. In France, she also
waged a fight against
discrimination, adopting 12
children from different ethnic
backgrounds and countries
across the world to form what
she called a "rainbow" family,
who she raised at her chateau
in the Dordogne region. She
said she hoped their lives
would show that "racial
hatred is not natural. It's an
fertilisers, pesticides and
fungicides - severely reduce
the abundance, diversity and
physical integrity of fungal
networks. Logging wreaks
havoc below ground,
decreasing the abundance of
mycorrhizal fungi by as much
as 95%, and the diversity of
fungal communities by as
much as 75%. A large study
published in 2018 suggested
that the "alarming
deterioration" of the health of
trees across Europe was
caused by a disruption of their
mycorrhizal relationships,
brought about by nitrogen
pollution from fossil fuel
combustion and agricultural
fertiliser.
First black woman enters Panthéon
The Panthéon mausoleum for revered historical figures in Paris.
Photo: Siegfried Modola
invention of man."
Baker will be just the sixth
woman to be honoured in the
secular temple to the "great
men" of the French Republic.
She is the fourth person of
colour to be commemorated
in the Panthéon, following
three men: Félix Éboué, the
governor general of French
Equatorial Africa, who
entered in 1949; the author
Alexandre Dumas, who
entered in 2002; and the poet
and politician Aimé Césaire,
who entered in 2011.
The Guardian view on
Josephine Baker: a timely
addition to the Panthéon
Read more
The ceremony is being held
on 30 November because
that was the date Baker chose
to take French nationality
through marriage, on the day
of her wedding. The process
to gain French nationality has
been made more difficult
since then.
The ceremony - led by
Macron, who chose to give
Baker France's highest
honours after her supporters
and families had petitioned
for years - is seen as a move of
political symbolism
regarding France's role as an
inclusive society. The debate
ahead of next spring's
presidential election has been
dominated by hard-right
rhetoric over national
identity and immigration.
The far-right TV pundit Eric
Zemmour, who holds
convictions for inciting racial
hatred, declared he would
run for president to "save"
France from being destroyed
by immigration.

THuRSDAY, DeCeMBeR 2, 2021 6
Civil Surgeon Dr Manisar Chowdhury addressed a discussion marking World AIDS Day in Pabna on
Wednesday.
Photo: TBT
TK 32.72cr income taxes
collected in Rangpur zone
RANGPUR: Taxes zone Rangpur has collected
Taka 32.72 crore income taxes during the
month-long 'Income Tax Return Receipt and
Tax Information Services 2021' that ended here
on Tuesday night, reports BSS.
Officials said the collected amount of Taka
32.72 crore during the month long services is
higher by over Taka nine crore against Taka 23
crore collected last time in the zone.
Talking to BSS, Tax Commissioner for the
Zone Abu Hannan Delwar Hossain said 85,386
taxpayers have submitted returns alongside
paying Taka 32.72 crore as income taxes this
time. A record number of 2,50,072 taxpayers
have taken various services from income tax
officials in a tax-friendly environment during
the month-long services.
Some 50,800 taxpayers have paid income
taxes through automated challen (a-challen),
5,250 through pay-order and 500 taxpayers
through normal challen during the period.
Besides, 6,225 taxpayers have submitted e-
returns using digitised online facilities and
13,772 more taxpayers submitted prayers
online or offline during the time for time
extension to pay income taxes in the zone.
"In addition, we received returns from
taxpayers and instantly provided
acknowledgement receipts, arranged mobile
banking facilities for paying income taxes,
provided booklets, assistance and helped
taxpayers in filing e-returns," Hossain said.
Taxpayers like females, senior citizens,
freedom fighters, physically disabled citizens,
transgender citizens were provided special
services at special booths.
Besides, special booths were arranged for the
income tax lawyers to assist the taxpayers in
filling their income tax returns and paying
income taxes easily.
"We provided services to taxpayers abiding
by the health directives, ensured wearing face
masks and hand sanitisers for them at the
entrances of all booths," he added.
Hossain said a target of collecting Taka 850-
crore income taxes as revenue has been fixed
for the current 2021-2022 FY for Taxes Zone-
Rangpur.
Orange campaign
against women abuse
held in Tahirpur
JAHANGIR ALAM BHUIYAN, TAHIRPUR CORRESPONDENT
A rally and discussion meeting has been held
in Tahirpur upazila of Sunamganj on the
occasion of 16-day Orange Campaign against
women abuse.
Sunamganj DDLG Zakir Hossain
addressed the meeting as the chief guest
under the chairmanship of Upazila Nirbahi
Officer Md. Raihan Kabir. Among others,
FLGD Md. Manjurul Alam, Upazila
Assistant Land Commissioner Md.
Alauddin, Upazila Women Vice Chairman
Khaleda Begum, Upazila Engineer Md. Iqbal
Kabir, Upazila Press Club President
Ramendra Narayan Boishakh, Upazila
Agriculture Extension Officer Abu Md. Saleh
Uddin, Upazila Election Commissioner
Manzur Alam, Upazila Ansar VDP Officer
Shahidul Islam, Tahirpur Sadar Union
Parishad Chairman Borhan Uddin, Dakshin
Sreepur Parishad Chairman Biswajit,
Dakshin Baradal Union Parishad Chairman
Azhar Ali, Journalist Abul Kashem, Rokon
Uddin, teachers of various educational
institutions, students and local dignitaries
were present.
At this time, various important guidelines
were presented for the prevention of violence
against women and in what ways it is
possible to prevent it, and the oath was read
to all those present.
UCEP arranges
job fair in
Rajshahi
RAJSHAHI: A job fair was
arranged here with
participation of many
employing organizations and
job seekers on Tuesday. The
daylong fair paved the way of
getting job for over 100
graduates enriched with
technical knowledge, reports
BSS.
Rajshahi Regional office of
UCEP Bangladesh hosted the
fair at its Paba Santashpur
complex.
Commissioner of Rajshahi
division Dr Humayun Kabir
addressed the ceremony as
chief guest with Deputy
Director of UCEP Bangladesh
Shahriar Alam in the chair.
General Manager of
Bangladesh Bank Mahtab
Uddin, Paba Upazila Nirbahi
Officer Lashmi Chakma,
Director of Shobhon Group of
Industries Ziaul Haque and
Relationship Manager of
Standard Chartered Bank
Tahiya Shamsul also spoke.
More than 35 companies
including famous ones offered
jobs after taking curriculum
vitae from students and
interviewing them on the
spot.
In his remarks, Dr
Humayun Kabir said
expansion and promotion of
technical and vocational
education and training among
the youths both male and
female is critically important
for transforming them into
skilled human resources.
He attributed technical
education to build competent
and skilled human resources.
He added that the present
government under the
dynamic and visionary
leadership of Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina has attached
top priority on technical
education.
A rally was brought out in Tahirpur upazila of Sunamganj on the occasion of 16-day Orange
Campaign against women abuse on Wednesday.
Photo: Jahangir Alam Bhuiyan
World AIDS
Day observed
in Pabna
ABDUL HAMID KHAN, PABNA
CORRESPONDENT
World AIDS Day has been
celebrated in Pabna with due
dignity. Marking the occasion,
a rally was organized by the
Pabna Civil Surgeon's Office
on Wednesday in accordance
with health rules and
regulations.
Later a discussion meeting
was held at the CS office
auditorium. Civil Surgeon Dr
Manisar Chowdhury chaired
the occasion while among
others, Deputy Civil Surgeon
Anwar Ullah, Journalist
Abdul Hamid Khan, Medical
Officer of CS Office Khairul
Kabir, General Secretary of
Pabna YWCA Hena Goswami,
District EPI Officer Robiul
Islam were also present at the
occasion.
Pabna Civil Surgeon Dr
Manisar Chowdhury in his
speech said that "we will try to
stay free from all these viral
diseases through the
awareness of all. "We have a
lot of room to look forward to,
but little space to receive," He
added that 3 million people of
Pabna have come to the
health department for health
services from time to time. He
stressed that in order to
ensure self-care in Pabna, a
500-bed hospital should be
started in Pabna Medical
College.
Motive behind Khaleda’s
treatment abroad
doubtful: RCC Mayor
MEHADI HASAN, TUNGIPARA CORRESPONDENT
AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, mayor of Rajshahi
City Corporation and presidium member of
Awami League, said, "What is the motive
behind such insistence that Khaleda Zia must
be taken out of the country?" Khaleda Zia's
eldest son Tariq Zia is a culprit of many
incidents inclucing murder conspiracy in
Bangladesh. He is in London. It cannot be said
that he will not open another platform of antipolitics
by taking his mother to London. It's
just an attempt to get her out of the water.
He further added that at a time when visible
development was taking place in the country, a
section was trying to provoke the people of the
country by politicizing Khaleda Zia's illness.
The mayor called on all to be vigilant in
thwarting all the conspiracies of the reactionary
clique.
He said this while paying homage to Father
of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj on
Wednesday. Later, he took part in Fateha
recitation and special munajat seeking the
blessings of Bangabandhu and the martyred
members of his family. Leaders and activists of
Rajshahi district and metropolitan Awami
League were present at the time.
AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, mayor of Rajshahi City Corporation and presidium
member of Awami League paid homage to Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj on
Wednesday.
Photo: Mehadi Hasan
Youthful enthusiasm still
working inside me:
Shafiul Alam
STAFF REPORTER
Italian expatriate Shafiul
Alam Siraj said that
youthful enthusiasm is
working in the middle of
my heart. Even though I
am an expatriate, the love
for my village and my
golden Bengal is immense.
I have grown up in a rural
area since my childhood. I
did not speak against the
love of the people.
Shafiul Alam Siraj loves
the country, the soil, the
map, the people and the
father of the nation
Bangabandhu. Recalling
his childhood, he told that
he had been associated
with Chhatra League since
his student life. I am still
holding and cherishing the
ideals of Bangabandhu.
Efforts will continue to be
made in the future. Even
though I am out of country,
I am constantly
researching the faces of the
people who work hard in
my village. The light of a
drug free society and
education and the hope of a
terror free society is my
dream.
Shafiul Alam Siraj was
born in 1961 at the house
Covid-19 cases reach 99,381 with
12 new in Rajshahi division
RAJSHAHI: Twelve more people have
tested positive for Covid-19 in five districts
of the division on Tuesday, taking the
caseload to 99,381 since the pandemic
began in March last year, reports BSS.
However, the new positive cases show a
falling trend compared to the previous
day's figure, said Dr Habibul Ahsan
Talukder, divisional director of Health,
adding that a total of seventeen people
were infected on Monday. Meanwhile, the
recovery count rose to 95,784 in the
division after 11 patients were discharged
from the hospitals on the same day.
The death toll remained static on 1,680,
including 685 in Bogura, 323 in Rajshahi
with 205 in its city and 175 in Natore as no
new fatality was reported during the last 24
hours span, Dr Talukder added.
Besides, all the positive cases of Covid-19
have, so far, been brought under treatment
while 23,102 were kept in isolation units of
different dedicated hospitals for
Shafiul Alam Siraj
traditional Bahi Sikder of
North Damudya in Darul
Aman Union under
Damudya upazila of
Shariatpur district. His
father's name was Abdul
Mannan Sikder. After
completing his studies
from Damudya Muslim
Pilot High School up to 8th
grade, he was admitted to
Narayanganj High School.
From there he passed SSC
with distinction. Later,
after completing his higher
secondary education from
Narayanganj Tolaram
College, he came to
Europe. He first settled in
Germany in 1985. In
addition, these amateur
people get the opportunity
to work in the countries of
the European Union.
Shafiul Alam Siraj is
currently living in Italy. He
has one child. Siraj is
associated with a wellknown
organization of
Bangladeshis living in Italy.
The name of the
organization is Bangladesh
People's Association.
Shafiul Alam Siraj is the
elected president of this
organization. During his
stay abroad, he was the
organizing secretary of the
reputed organization
Bangladesh Krishak
Sramik Awami League.
In response to a question,
he said that due to living in
Italy, I have extended my
hand of cooperation to
many Bangladeshi's all the
time. He stood by them in
times of danger. Besides,
we have extended a helping
hand to various helpless
sick and indigent people of
Darul Aman Union,
through the organization. I
have the support of
expatriate brothers and
sisters to motivate me in
this work. People are not
permanent in the world
and from ones position we
have to do various kinds of
service work.
institutional quarantine. Of them, 19,753
have been released.
Meanwhile, 22 more people have been
sent to home and institutional quarantine
afresh while 18 others were released from
isolation during the same time.
Of the 12 new cases, four were detected in
Bogura, followed by two each in Rajshahi
city, Natore, Joypurhat and Sirajganj
districts.
With the newly detected patients, the
district-wise break-up of the total cases
now stands at 28,233 in Rajshahi including
22,790 in its city, 5,687 in
Chapainawabganj, 6,446 in Naogaon,
8,415 in Natore, 4,684 in Joypurhat,
21,720 in Bogura, 11,421 in Sirajganj and
12,775 in Pabna.
A total of 1,14,634 people have, so far,
been kept under quarantine since March
10 last year to prevent community
transmission of the deadly coronavirus
(COVID-19).
5,500 farmers get
agri-incentives
in Cumilla
CUMILLA: The Department
of Agriculture Extension
(DAE) today distributed seeds
and fertilizers free of cost as
agricultural incentives among
5,500 small and marginal
farmers of Chauddagram
upazila of the district
yesterday, reports BSS.
Upazila Chairman Abdus
Sobhan Bhuiyan handed over
the fertilizers and seeds
among the farmers under the
agricultural incentive as the
chief guest at a function held
at the Chauddagram upazila
parishad auditorium this
morning.
The chief guest said the
present government is
farmer-friendly one as it has
taken various steps for
development of agriculture.
Upazila Agriculture Officer
Nasir Uddin told BSS that
5,500 farmers of the
municipality and 12 unions,
were given 5-kg of paddy
seeds (hybrid), 10-kg of DAP,
10-kg of MOP fertilizer and 3-
kg of hybrid paddy (ufshi)
each free of cost.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer
(UNO) SM Manjurul Haque,
Municipal Mayor GM Mir
Hossain Meeru, Upazila Vice -
Chairman ABM A Bahar,
Women Vice-Chairman
Rasheda Akhter, Upazila
Health Officer Dr. Hasibur
Rahman, District Krishka
League leader Mominur
Rahman Fatik, , Agriculture
Extension Officer Subrata
Roy, Assistant Officer Abdul
Halim, Deputy Assistant
Agriculture Officer Arif
Solaiman, among others, were
present on the occasion.
Youth development department
makes 35,000 people
self-reliant in Narsingdi
NARSINGDI: Department of
Youth Development made
35000 people self-reliant by
providing train and necessary
loan in last 28 years in the
district, reports BSS.
Deputy Director of the
department here Abul Hossain
told BSS that during the last 28
years, institutional training was
imparted to 17800 youths and
non- institutional training to
42500 youths (both male and
female) on different trades in
the district.
The training course includes
dress making, block-batik,
printing, dairy and poultry
farming, pisciculture,
computer literacy, electronics,
electrical and house wiring,
refrigerator and air condition
repairing, plumbing, nursery
and agriculture.

South Korea's daily jump in coronavirus infections exceeded 5,000 for the
first time since the start of the pandemic, as a delta-driven surge also
pushed hospitalizations and deaths to record highs.
Photo : AP
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164
South Korea's daily
virus jump exceeds
5,000 for first time
SEOUL : South Korea's daily jump in coronavirus infections
exceeded 5,000 for the first time since the start of the
pandemic, as a delta-driven surge also pushed
hospitalizations and deaths to record highs.
With the spread threatening to overwhelm hospital
capacities, health experts have called for officials to reimpose
stricter social distancing rules that were eased last month to
soften the pandemic's impact on the economy, reports UNB.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said
most of the new 5,123 cases reported Wednesday came from
the capital Seoul and its surrounding metropolitan region,
where officials earlier said more than 80% of intensive care
units designated for COVID-19 patients were already
occupied.
More than 720 virus patients were in serious or critical
condition, also marking a new high. The country's fatalities
reached 3,658 after seeing between 30 and 50 deaths a day
in recent weeks.
The KDCA also said health workers are conducting genetic
sequencing tests on a couple who arrived from Nigeria to
determine whether they have been infected with the new
coronavirus variant omicron. The country has yet to confirm
a case of omicron, which is seen as potentially more
infectious than previous strains of the virus.
The government had eased social distancing rules at the
start of November and fully reopened schools starting Nov.
22 in what officials described as the first steps toward
restoring some pre-pandemic normalcy. In allowing larger
social gatherings and longer indoor dining hours, officials
had hoped that the country's improving vaccination rates
would help keep hospitalizations and deaths down even if the
virus continues to spread.
However, health workers are now wrestling with a rise in
serious cases and deaths among people in their 60s and
older, who had either rejected vaccines or whose immunities
have waned after being inoculated early in the mass
immunization campaign that began in February.
Authorities: Student kills 3,
wounds 8 at Michigan school
OXFORD TOWNSHIP : A 15-year-old sophomore opened
fire at his Michigan high school on Tuesday, killing three
students and wounding eight other people, including at least
one teacher, authorities said.
Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said at a news
conference that investigators were still trying to determine a
motive for the shooting at Oxford High School in Oxford
Township, a community of about 22,000 people roughly 30
miles (48 kilometers) north of Detroit.
McCabe said he was aware of allegations circulating on
social media that there had been threats of a shooting at the
roughly 1,700-student school before Tuesday's attack, but he
cautioned against believing that narrative until investigators
can look into it.
He also downplayed the significance of an incident in early
November when a deer head was thrown off the school roof,
which he said was "absolutely unrelated" to the shooting. The
vandalism prompted school administrators to post two
letters to parents on the school's website this month, saying
they were responding to rumors of a threat against the school
but had found none.
Authorities didn't immediately release the suspect's name,
but McCabe said deputies arrested him within minutes of
arriving at the school in response to a flood of 911 calls about
the attack, which happened shortly before 1 p.m. He said the
deputies also recovered the semi-automatic handgun and
several magazines used to store ammunition that the suspect
used in the attack.
thurSDAY, December 2, 2021
7
Australia creates its first mRNA
COVID vaccine candidate
SYDNEY : Research institutes and
pharmaceutical company in Australia's state
of Victoria have created a new mRNA
COVID vaccine candidate, with clinical trials
to begin early next year.
The vaccine candidate, developed by
Monash University researchers,
pharmaceutical manufacturer IDT Australia
and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection
and Immunity, is expected to provide
protection against future COVID variants,
reports UNB.
Professor Colin Pouton from Monash
University, who led the team that developed
the vaccine, said on Tuesday that this
vaccine has the ability to rapidly adjust its
composition in response to emerging virus
mutations, which is particularly important
as new strains continue to emerge.
Compared with the existing vaccines, the
new candidate focuses on a small part of the
spike protein, known as the receptorbinding
domain (RBD), which mediates the
virus's ability to attach and enter the cell.
Through targeting the RBD region, the
vaccine candidates focus the immune
system on blocking virus attachment and
infection.
Pouton said this approach makes it a more
focused vaccine with the important ability to
rapidly adjust its composition in response to
emerging mutations, including the new
variant Omicron-if the virus mutates, a new
vaccine can be tested within a few weeks.
"The new variant Omicron has an
unprecedented number of mutations in its
receptor-binding domain. How concerned
we should be about this variant remains to
be seen, but our RBD mRNA vaccine
program is perfectly suited to producing a
specific vaccine to protect against this new
variant," he said.
Associate Professor Archa Fox, an mRNA
researcher at the University of Western
Australia and president of the RNA Network
of Australia, said the vaccine candidate is a
significant step forward towards Australia's
first home-grown mRNA vaccine, as the
country cannot always rely on the global
supply.
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ThUrsDAY, DeCemBer 2, 2021
8
Authorities are inaugurating the 'Walton Laptop Bijoy Ullash' campaign.
WASHINGTON : The World Bank will
consider a compromise plan to release
humanitarian aid for Afghanistan by
shifting funds intended for rebuilding
efforts, reports BSS.
The bank's management will discuss
the proposal at an informal board
meeting on Tuesday to re-direct funds
from the Afghanistan Reconstruction
Trust Fund (ARTF) "to support
humanitarian efforts through UN and
other humanitarian agencies with
presence and logistic capabilities in the
country," the source said, without
providing further details.
The United Nations has warned that
around 22 million Afghans, or more
than half the country, will face an
"acute" food shortage in the winter
months due to the combined effects of
drought caused by global warming and
an economic crisis aggravated by the
Taliban takeover in August.
The financial crunch worsened after
Washington froze about $10 billion of
the country's reserves and deteriorated
further after the World Bank and
International Monetary Fund halted
Afghanistan's access to funding.
The World Bank move is part of a
compromise struck with the United
Nations and the US government, and
could shift up to $500 million from the
ARTF to humanitarian groups,
Photo: Courtesy
Up to 50opc discount on Walton
laptop, computer accessories
Walton has announced up to
50 percent discounts on
various models of its laptop,
desktop and computer
accessories to celebrate the
50 years or golden jubilee of
Bangladesh's Independence.
The special discount
facilities are being provided
under 'Walton Laptop Bijoy
Ullash' campaign and is
available throughout the
month of victory
(December), a press release
said.
Recently
the
announcement was made at
a launching ceremony held
at Walton's corporate office
in Dhaka. Senior Secretary
of Information and
Communication Technology
Division N M Zeaul Alam
was chief guest while
Hussain Fakrudeen,
Country Business Manager
of Intel, and Kennedy Goh,
representative of Microsoft,
were special guests. All of
them virtually joined the
faction. Mentionable,
Walton Digi-Tech Industries
Limited (WDTIL) has
official partnerships with the
two global tech giants Intel
and Microsoft.
WDTIL Chairman SM
Rezaul Alam presided over
the program where
Managing Director and CEO
of Walton Hi-Tech
Industries Limited (WHIL)
Golam Murshed was present
as another special guest.
Managing Director and CEO
of WDTIL SM Monjurul
Alam Ovee virtually joined
the function as special guest.
N M Zeaul Alam said that
Walton is playing a big role
in building Digital
Bangladesh. Walton is a
major partner in the 'Made
in Bangladesh' campaign.
The government is utmost
importance to the
technology products made
in the country and
formulated separate policy
for them. Walton is playing a
big role in the domestic IT
products market and its
share is constantly growing.
SM Rezaul Alam said that,
as per demand of customers,
Walton has the capacity to
manufacture and market 15
lakh units of digital devices
every year. Walton is
exporting those products
after meeting local demand.
The government has
included Walton products
for the Sheikh Russel Digital
Lab and we have
successfully overcome this
challenge.
Golam Murshed said that
nowadays a laptop or a
mobile phone is playing an
important role in making
people self-educated and
self-reliant. Walton is
silently serving people in this
field.
WDTIL's DMD Engineer
Liakat Ali gave a brief
overview of the goals of
Walton Digi-Tech. Chief
Business Officer of
Computer Product Touhidur
Rahman Rad presented
details of the campaign. He
informed that under the
campaign, customers can
enjoy 5 to 50 percent
discount subject to product
and model on cash payment
from all Walton showrooms
and their online shop E-
Plaza.
WHIL's Deputy Managing
Director Nazrul Islam
Sarker and Amdadul Hoque
Sarker, Walton Plaza Trade's
CEO Mohammad Rayhan,
Head of Human Resources
SM Zahid Hasan, Executive
Directors Azizul Hakim and
Zeenat Hakim were among
others also present on the
occasion.
Italian Lubricant Brand ‘Pakelo’
now available in Bangladesh
Italian Lubricant Brand
Pakelo hits Bangladesh
market. Recently, through
their Exclusive Distributor,
Manoshi Automobiles Ltd,
customers will be able to
collect Pakelo Oil from all
over the country. High
performance lubricants,
coolants, greases, gear oils,
additives for cars,
motorcycles, heavy vehicles,
earth moving machinery,
agriculture, marine,
industrial and food industries
are manufactured by Pakelo
in their only factory in
Verona, Italy. The Launching
Ceremony was held in Hotel
Radisson Blu Dhaka Water
Garden and Leepu Awlia
known as the Car Magician
was the Chief Guest of the
Event, a press release said.
Pakelo started its journey in
1930 and the company has
maintained uncompromising
quality since then. With
customers in mind, the
company offers specialized
technical advice systems, inhouse
engineering
departments, problemsolving
skills and technical
training opportunities for
partners. Pakelo always uses
100% virgin base oil.
Moreover, the company has
come up with eco-friendly
products thinking about the
environment. In addition,
Pakelo is constantly coming
up with new innovations in
line with the new engines that
are coming in the market with
the innovations of updated
technology.
Managing Director of
Manoshi Group, Masrur
Ahmed said, "Pakelo
manufactures high
performance lubricants,
coolants and greases for
automobiles, motorcycles,
heavy vehicles, earth moving
machinery, agriculture,
marine, industrial and food
industries. Pakelo is also
working with racing teams
participating in racing
competitions at different
stages such as Formula 1,
Formula 2, Formula 3, GT
Series, Formula E, DTM,
Moto GP, Endurozip,
European Le mans 24, Risi
Competizione etc. Pakelo has
advanced technology labs for
direct advice to OEMs and
professionals. The elite
quality of Pakelo products
protects the engine in all
kinds of challenging
situations. We are the first to
bring Pakelo products in
Bangladesh. Hopefully, the
people of the country will put
Pakelo's products at the top of
their list for their favorite
vehicle."
World Bank considers releasing humanitarian aid for Afghanistan
according to a report by the Reuters
news agency citing people familiar with
the plan.
That would unlock aid but bypass the
Taliban.
The next steps and timing of the
release would be up to the ARTF
donors, the source told AFP.
The fund currently has 34 donors and
was "the largest single source of
funding for Afghanistan's
development, financing up to 30
percent of Afghanistan's civilian
budget, and supporting core functions
of the government," according to the
website.
China factory
activity edges up
in November as
power shortage
eases
BEIJING : Manufacturing
activity in China edged up in
November on the back of an
easing in power shortages and
a drop in some raw material
costs, official data showed
Tuesday, reports BSS.
The Purchasing Managers'
Index (PMI) -- a key gauge of
manufacturing activity-in the
world's second-biggest
economy rose to 50.1,
returning above the 50-point
mark separating growth from
contraction after two months.
The latest data from the
National Bureau of Statistics
was also better than a 49.7
reading expected by a
Bloomberg poll of analysts.
"A series of recent policy
measures to strengthen the
guarantee of energy supplies
and stabilise market prices
has shown results," said NBS
senior statistician Zhao
Qinghe in a statement.
He added that a "tightness"
in power supplies eased this
month,
allowing
manufacturing capacity to
pick up, while prices of some
raw materials "dropped
significantly" as well.
Asian markets mostly up as
traders edge back after rout
HONG KONG - Asian investors began edging
back into the market on Tuesday after a twoday
sell-off fuelled by fears about the impact of
Omicron on the global recovery, while oil
extended its rebound, though uncertainty
continues to hang over trading floors, reports
BSS.
The gains followed an advance on Wall Street
and Europe, which started the week by making
some inroads into Friday's worldwide rout that
came on the back of news about the new Covid
strain that has forced numerous countries to
throw up fresh travel bans.
Observers said that the reaction last week
may have been overdone as there was still a lot
to find out about Omicron, while the billions of
people now vaccinated should offer some
protection.
Meanwhile, major drugs firms have said they
are already working on a jab specific to the new
strain. The slightly less negative mood helped
most Asian markets higher Tuesday, with
Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Wellington, Taipei
and Jakarta up.
However, Hong Kong was dragged by fresh
selling in the tech sector while casinos extended
Monday's steep losses following news that the
head of gambling enclave Macau's largest
junket operator had been arrested.
Seoul was also lower.
There was little reaction to news that China's
factory activity picked up more than expected
last month thanks to an easing of power
shortages in the country.
There remains a lot of uncertainty among
traders, and experts said it would
take weeks before the full effects of the virus
ANKARA : Turkish President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
defended Wednesday his
"risky but correct" economic
policy of low interest rates as
the central bank intervened
in markets to prop up the
falling lira, reports BSS.
Turkish households are
under acute pressure with a
currency crisis diminishing
Turks' purchasing power as
inflation remains high and
the lira keeps hitting record
lows.
Under pressure from Erdogan,
who has sacked three
governors since 2019, the
central bank made a series of
rate cuts since September
despite double-digit inflation.
The Turkish leader goes
against conventional economic
thinking to claim high
interest rates cause high
inflation, and vowed again to
keep the main rate low.
"What we are doing is right.
We have made and are making
a politically risky but correct
plan," Erdogan told ruling
party lawmakers in parliament
in Ankara.
"The world knows how
uncomfortable I am with
high interest rates. I have
never been pro-interest rates.
are known, while the World
Health Organization warned it poses a "very
high" risk globally
And Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell
warned the latest emergency posed "downside
risks to employment and economic activity,
and increased uncertainty for inflation".
In prepared comments ahead of an
appearance in front of the Senate Banking
Committee later Tuesday, he also said the virus
could "intensify supply-chain disruptions" that
have been a major cause of the spike in
inflation this year.
The surge in prices this year has forced
several central banks in recent months to raise
interest rates or tighten the ultra-loose
monetary policies put in place at the start of the
pandemic, and analysts said that continued to
play on investors' minds.
"We'll get a new variant, we'll get new waves
but the market, and we all as investors, will see
how that might play out," Jason Brady,
president at Thornburg Investment
Management, told Bloomberg Television.
"I'm much more interested in inflation and
potentially rising rates causing some of the
market leaders of 2020 and 2021 to falter a
little bit more."
On oil markets, both main contracts built on
Monday's gains but still have a long way to go
to regain the losses of more than 10 percent
suffered Friday on fears about demand.
Focus is now on OPEC and other key
producers, which are due to decide on whether
to press on with their plan to lift output each
month in light of the new travel restrictions and
the threat of Omicron.
China unveils new rules on ride-hailing drivers' rights
BEIJING : Beijing has
unveiled fresh rules on
workers' rights in the ridehailing
industry-including
better pay and breaks-as
officials tighten oversight of
China's embattled tech
sector and its gig economy,
reports BSS.
The announcement comes
on the heels of a wideranging
regulatory
clampdown on homegrown
tech behemoths including e-
commerce titan Alibaba and
ride-hailing giant Didi
Chuxing over issues
including consumer rights,
data security and
monopolistic behaviour.
Under new guidelines, the
transport ministry said
drivers at ride-hailing firms
must not earn less than the
local minimum wage and be
given access to social
insurance.
They should also not be
"induced to work overtime"
by chalking up orders to
meet targets, the statement
said, and ride-hailing
companies must monitor
employees' working hours
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. After falling behind
rivals during the pandemic, it
has begun clawing back
performance, tripling its fullyear
net profit forecast earlier
this month despite the impact
of a global chip shortage.
and labour intensity.
It did not give more
specifics on what counted as
overtime or adequate break
times.
However the rules could
hit earnings for companies
in the billion-dollar industry,
which is a go-to service for
many commuters in China's
densely populated cities.
China's gig economy now
accounts for almost a
quarter of its workforce-
200 million people are in
"flexible employment",
according to government
figures.
New York-listed Didi's app
dominates China's local
ride-hailing market and
claims to have more than 15
million drivers with nearly
500 million users.
Didi has come under fire
on multiple fronts with
Chinese regulators
reportedly asking executives
last week to draw up a plan
to delist from the United
States over data concerns.
The guidelines also came
after a ramp-up in labour
protections for food delivery
workers announced in July.
President Xi Jinping has
this year embarked on a
campaign of "common
prosperity" designed to
tackle wealth inequality and
tighten oversight of business
giants.
Erdogan defends 'risky but
correct’ economic policy
I wasn't today and I won't be
tomorrow," the president
added.
He said Turkey had moved
away from a policy based on
high rates and instead
switched to a growth strategy
based on investments,
employment, production and
exports.
The focus on growth is paying
off as the economy
recorded growth of 7.4 percent
year-on-year in the third
quarter of 2021, official data
published on Tuesday
showed.
Turkey's economy is
expected to grow by nine percent
this year and 3.5 percent
in 2022, according to the
European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development.
Shortly before Erdogan's
address, the central bank
intervened to support the
embattled lira which has lost
nearly 30 percent in value
against the dollar in a month.
The bank said in a statement
it "started to conduct
transactions at Borsa Istanbul
Derivates Market (VIOP)
due to unhealthy price formations
in exchange rates." The
lira rallied following the
announcement, gaining nearly
three percent in value to
reach 13.02 lira for one dollar.
It has lost over 43 percent
in value against the dollar
since the start of 2021.
After the 2018 currency crisis,
the central bank's foreign
exchange reserves-worth
$128 billion according to the
opposition-were used to support
the lira.
But the Turkish leader last
month hailed the bank's
strong reserves, which he
said had grown to $127 billion.
Before the intervention,
"there was a growing chorus
of concern around the imposition
of capital controls,"
emerging markets economist
Timothy Ash said in a note to
clients.
"If people think capital controls
are coming then the next
step is a risk of a run on bank
deposits. We have not seen
that yet, but any hint of capital
controls and risks there
would increase," Ash added.
Minimum wage debate -
The net monthly Turkish
minimum wage is 2,825.90
liras. That is worth $214
today but was worth around
$380 in January this year.

thUrSDAY, DeCeMBer 2, 2021
9
Carey 'given nod'
as Australia keeper
but rain ruins
Ashes build-up
SportS DeSk
Alex Carey looks poised to
replace Tim Paine as
Australia's wicketkeeper for
the Ashes against England
and is set to make his Test
debut, as more bad weather
Wednesday wrecked
preparations for both teams,
reports BSS.
Paine quit as Test captain
and then last week stepped
away from cricket over a textmessage
scandal, leaving
selectors seeking an
alternative ahead of the
December 8 first Test.
Carey and fellow gloveman
Josh Inglis were widely seen
as in a showdown for the role
and a decision was expected
after a scheduled three-day
intra-squad match featuring
both of them in Brisbane.
But day one was washed
out on Wednesday and
reports said Inglis had
returned home to Perth.
The Sydney Morning
Herald said the 30-year-old
Carey had been "given the
nod", sentiments echoed by
broadcaster ABC, which said
he was "expected to be named
Australian wicketkeeper".
Carey has played limitedovers
cricket for Australia, but
never a Test match.
Inglis is set to return to
Brisbane after his trip to see
family -- but for an Australia A
tour match rather than the
first Test at the Gabba
ground.
Persistent rain has badly
hampered both teams'
preparations for the five- Test
series, with Australia also
needing to decide between
Usman Khawaja and Travis
Head after incumbent
number five Matthew Wade
was axed from the squad.
The warm-up match had
been billed as a chance for
them to impress selectors.
England have also suffered
from the weather with a
three-day practice match
washed out last week, bar 29
overs.
No play was possible on the
opening day of their final
four-day clash on Tuesday,
and the rain again meant only
an optional indoor session
was possible on Wednesday.
Ronaldo in explosive 'liar'
rant at France Football
editor over Messi claims
SportS DeSk
Cristiano Ronaldo has hit out at France
Football's chief editor over claims the
Manchester United star said he wants to win
more Ballons d'Or than Lionel Messi, reports
AP.
The Portugal international also dismissed
the suggestion that he did not attend the
Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday because
he must go into quarantine due to Covid-19.
The 36-year-old took to Instagram to
refute the comments by editor-in-chief
Pascal Ferre, insisting he is not against any
player winning the trophy.
Ronaldo wrote: "Pascal Ferre said last
week that I confided in him that my only
ambition was to finish my career with more
Golden Balls than Lionel Messi.
"Pascal Ferre lied, he used my name to
promote himself and to promote the
publication he works for. It is unacceptable
that the person responsible for awarding
such a prestigious prize could lie in this way,
in absolute disrespect for someone who has
always respected France Football and the
Ballon d'Or. And he lied again today by
justifying my absence from the Gala with an
alleged quarantine that has no reason to
exist.
"I always want to congratulate those who
win, with the sportsmanship and fair play
that has guided my career since the
beginning, and I do it because I'm never
against anyone. I always win for myself and
for the clubs I represent, I win for myself and
for those who love me. I don't win against
anyone.
"The biggest ambition of my career is to
win national and international titles for the
clubs I represent and for the national team in
my country. The biggest ambition of my
career is to be a good example for all those
who are or want to be professional
footballers. The biggest ambition of my
career is to leave my name written in golden
letters in the history of world football.
"I will end by saying that my focus is
already on Manchester United's next game
and on everything that, together with my
team-mates and our fans, we can still achieve
this season. The rest? The rest is just the
rest."
The France Football editor said in an
interview last week that Ronaldo told him of
his desire to be crowned the world's best
footballer m ore times than Paris Saint-
Germain star Messi.
Ferre said: "Ronaldo has only one
ambition and that is to retire with more
Ballons d'Or than Messi and I know because
he told me."
Ronaldo has won the prestigious award
five times over the course of his career.
Germany knock out Britain to
reach Davis Cup semi-finals
SportS DeSk
Kevin Krawietz and Tim
Puetz beat British doubles
pair Joe Salisbury and
Neal Skupski in two tight
sets to send Germany
through to the Davis Cup
semi-finals on Tuesday,
reports BSS.
The Germans saved four
set points in a tense
opening tie-break in the
decisive rubber in
Innsbruck before edging
in front.
Salisbury and Skupski
looked destined to force a
third set after surging 5- 0
ahead in another tiebreak,
but Krawietz and
Puetz won the final seven
points to book a clash with
Russia or Sweden in
Madrid on Saturday.
"It's great, it's an
unbelievable feeling," said
German captain Michael
Kohlmann.
"We had super team
chemistry. We had a tough
loss today and on Sunday
and this team is capable of
getting over these
unexpected things."
Dan Evans had swatted
Peter Gojowczyk aside 6-
2, 6-1 in just 55 minutes to
give Britain, playing
without brothers Andy
and Jamie Murray, the
lead.
But Jan-Lennard Struff
defeated British number
one Cameron Norrie 7-6
(8/6), 3-6, 6-2 to pull
Germany level at 1-1.
World number 51 Struff
saved two set points in the
the Manchester United star has denied claims that his career ambition is to
win the award more times than the paris Saint-Germain attacker. photo: Ap
opener and broke the
12th-ranked Norrie twice
in the decider to set up a
winner-takes-all
showdown in the doubles.
"I'm very happy the way
I played today, Cam
Norrie is a very tough
competitor, who is
fighting very hard," said
Struff.
"It's tough - I had the
feeling I had to put the
pressure on him - I made
it today."
Norrie fell 4-1 behind in
the first set but broke
twice and was serving for
it at 6-5. Struff, Germany's
top singles player in the
absence of Alexander
Zverev, promptly hit back
to take the set to a tiebreak.
Indian Wells champion
Norrie led 6-4 only to see
Struff reel off the final four
points to snatch the first
set.
A single break earned
Norrie the second set, but
Struff kept Germany in the
competition by closing out
victory with four games in
a row.
Earlier, world number
25 Evans won the first
four games of the match
against Gojowczyk and
broke five times to
complete a convincing
victory.
Gojowczyk, ranked 86th,
was given the nod ahead
of Dominik Koepfer for
the opening rubber but
struggled badly on serve
and double-faulted four
times in two games as
Evans raced into a 4-0
lead.
Evans broke three more
times in a one-sided
second set, rebounding
well from a shock loss to
Czech world number 143
Tomas Machac in the
group stage on Sunday.
Croatia became the first
team to reach the semifinals
on Monday by
defeating Italy 2-1. They
await the winner of
Wednesday's quarter-final
between Novak Djokovic's
Serbia and Kazakhstan.
kevin krawietz and tim puetz beat British doubles pair Joe Salisbury and
Neal Skupski in two tight sets to send Germany through to the Davis Cup
semi-finals on tuesday.
photo: Ap
Revolution overthrown as New
York advance in MLS
SportS DeSk
Goalkeeper Sean Johnson was the hero
as New York City FC upset the topseeded
New England Revolution in a
penalty shoot-out Tuesday to advance
to Major League Soccer's Eastern
Conference finals, reports BSS.
Johnson produced a superb stop
from New England's Polish striker
Adam Buksa before Alex Callens lashed
home the winning spot-kick to
complete a 5-3 shoot-out win after the
sides finished extra time locked at 2-2.
The win means fourth-seeded New
York will face the Philadelphia Union
on Sunday for a place in MLS's
championship game against either the
Portland Timbers or Real Salt Lake,
who meet in the Western Conference
final on Saturday.
An enthralling game went to
penalties after a dramatic period of
extra- time, which saw Argentine
striker Valentin Castellanos fire New
England women rewrite
record books in 20-0
thrashing of Latvia
SportS DeSk
Ellen White broke England
Women's all-time scoring
record as the Lionesses
recorded their biggest ever
victory by crushing Latvia
20-0 in World Cup
qualifying on Tuesday,
reports BSS.
White scored twice early
on to take her level with and
then past Kelly Smith's mark
of 46 goals, before
completing her hat-trick
shortly after the break.
The Manchester City
striker was one of four hattrick-scorers
on the night.
Lauren Hemp netted four
times, while Beth Mead and
substitute Alessia Russo also
registered trebles.
Beth England notched a
brace, and there were also
goals from Ella Toone,
Georgia Stanway, Jess
Carter, Jill Scott and Jordan
Nobbs on a historic evening
in Doncaster.
The result smashed the
Lionesses previous record
win of 13-0 against Hungary
in 2005.
England also hit double
figures last month when the
sides met in Riga with a 10-0
win.
It was a sixth win from six
Group D games for England,
their first six fixtures under
Sarina Wiegman - a
sequence in which they have
registered 53 goals and
conceded none.
They lead Austria and
Northern Ireland by five
points with four qualifiers
remaining.
Club World Cup to
be held in UAE
in February
SportS DeSk
The FIFA Club World Cup,
initially set to be held inJapan
in December, will now be held
in the United Arab Emirates
in February, world football's
governing body announced
Monday, reports BSS.
The Club World Cup will
run from February 3-12,
featuring eight matches
between the champions of the
six
continental
confederations along with the
top team in the host nation.
Emirati club Al Jazira and
Auckland will play in the
opening game, with Chelsea
set to face the winner of that
tie or Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia
in the semi-finals. Egyptian
giants Al Ahly take on
Mexico's Monterrey for the
right to play Copa
Libertadores champions
Palmeiras of Brazil for a place
in the final.
Japan pulled out as host
because of the Covid-19
pandemic.
The Club World Cup is
usually played in December,
but this is the second
successive year in which it has
been delayed -- the 2020
edition in Qatar was played in
February this year.
Behind the non-retention of
Rashid Khan and KL Rahul
rashid khan is now in the free pool for the two new franchises to pick
from.
photo: Ap
SportS DeSk
York into a 2-1 lead in the 109th minute
to put his side seemingly on course for
victory.
But the game changed just four
minutes later when Castellanos was
sent off after earning a second yellow
card for a mistimed lunge on Revs
defender Brandon Bye -- a red card that
means he will miss Sunday's game in
Philadelphia.
That flashpoint changed the
complexion of the contest, and as New
England poured forward searching for
an equalizer, Canadian international
Tajon Buchanan lashed home a 118thminute
volley to tie it at 2-2.
There was still time for New England
to almost grab victory, but Johnson
tipped over a shot from Buksa to ensure
the game went to penalties.
Earlier, the match had gone to extra
time after both sides finished 90
minutes level at 1-1. New York
dominated possession throughout
regulation, with the movement of their
That Sunrisers Hyderabad couldn't retain
Rashid Khan and Punjab Kings couldn't
retain KL Rahul were two of the major
talking points coming out of Tuesday
evening. Both non-retentions, first
reported by Cricbuzz, have much more to
them than what meets the eye, reports
AP.
Having to release Rashid Khan, one of
the leading bowlers in T20 format, was
indeed a difficult negotiation. As one
franchise insider said, letting go of Rahid
is akin to Royal Challengers Bangalore
releasing Virat Kohli, or Mumbai Indians
releasing Rohit Sharma. However, it
didn't seem this straightforward when
agents from both parties were involved in
an intense back and forth.
As previously reported, the SRH team,
which had first bought Rashid in 2017
auction for Rs 4 crore and then used the
Right To Match (RTM) card in the 2018
mega auction, wanted to keep the spinner
as their No 2 retention. It would have
meant that Rashid would be entitled to a
fee of Rs 11 crore, which is Rs 2 crore
more than his current salary.
After initially refusing to be the second
retention, Rashid apparently relented but
later reneged. SRH say they still have a
good equation with the player but not as
much with a London-based agent who
SportS DeSk
India A made a bright start to the second
unofficial Test against South Africa A at
Bloemfontein by putting up an excellent
performance with the ball. It was completely
in contrast to their efforts in the first game
where the home side made merry with the
bat, reports BSS.
Skipper Pieter Malan, who made a century
in the first unofficial Test, was dismissed
first ball for a duck by Arzan Nagwaswalla
and that set the tone for the visitors. Even
though Raynard van Tonder and Sarel
Erwee put on 72 for the second wicket, India
A clawed their way back with regular
wickets.
Ishan Porel gave India A two vital
skillful all South-American forward line
of Santiago Rodriguez, Maxi Moralez,
Jesus Medina and Castellanos causing
problems for the New England defence.
City's incisive attacking play was
rewarded after just three minutes,
when a deft pass from Paraguay
international Medina released teenager
full-back Tayvon Gray down the right
hand side. The 19-year-old's cross
found Rodriguez in space and the
Uruguayan swept home an emphatic
finish.
But New England equalized barely
five minutes later, when Buksa slipped
his marker to head home Carles Gil's
free-kick from the right.
New York dominated the remainder
of the game for long periods though,
and cranked up the pressure in the
second half.
Castellanos should have won it in the
90th minute but mis-controlled a pass
from Medina with the goal at his mercy
to send the game into extra time.
was playing hardball with the franchise.
The franchise might not have heard
back from Rashid after that but they still
hope to buy him in the auction - that is, if
one of the two new teams, Ahmedabad
and Lucknow, don't rope him in first.
PBKS, in turn, failed to hold on to KL
Rahul, whom they had appointed captain
keeping long-term goals in mind. The
franchise co-owner Ness Wadia did not
hide his disappointment.
"He was our captain, we tried our best
(to retain Rahul). We wanted him to stay
but he wanted to go into the auction. He
had different plans," Wadia told Cricbuzz
on Tuesday night (November 30). Rahul
is understood to be headed for Lucknow.
"We have retained Mayank and
Arshdeep who were part of our strategy.
In terms of bowling, we are confident
Arshdeep will represent India soon. It is
too early to say if Mayank will be captain
but he is a talented and committed
player.
"Our first step was the retention and we
will decide what is best for the franchise
in terms of captaincy," Wadia said
adding, "Punjab Kings have not done as
well as it should have done. We have
plans for the next season to ensure better
performance.
Whatever we need to do we will do to
improve and we are looking forward to
having a right balance for the side."
India A seamers shine
on opening day
breakthroughs in successive overs to remove
the two well-set batters and Navdeep Saini
too opened his wickets column soon after.
The Indian pace trio made life difficult for
the home side and if not for a late resistance
from the lower order, South Africa A would
have crumbled.
Sinethemba Qeshile fought hard for a
valiant 102-ball 32 whereas George Linde
struck a breezy 44 to keep the scorecard
moving. Eventually, Baba Aparajith and
Saini accounted for those players in the final
session but Marco Jansen's gutsy unbeaten
38 gave South Africa A some hope of putting
up a fighting first-innings total.
Brief scores: South Africa A 233/7 (George
Linde 44, Marco Jansen 38*; Ishan Porel 2-
26, Navdeep Saini 2-54) vs India A.

THURsDAY, DEcEMBER 2, 2021
10
Bubly to join Dhallywood Film
and Music Awards in USA
TBT REPORT
President inaugurates trailer
of 'Chironjib Mujib'
President Abdul Hamid inaugurated the trailer of the
feature film titled 'Chironjib Mujib' based on
'Ausamapta Atmajiboni' (The Unfinished Memoirs),
an autobiography of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reports UNB.
An inaugural ceremony was organised on the
occasion at the darbar hall of Bangabhaban on Sunday.
President's Press Secretary Joynal Abedin told that
President Hamid enjoyed the show of the feature film.
Hamid said this type of film will help the young
generation know about the life and works of
Bangabandhu. The film highlighted his boldness and
integrity which will inspire the new generation, he also
said. He hoped that new and young filmmakers will
produce more movies like this.
On the other hand, the director of the film Nazrul
Islam, also the Prime Minister's Speech Writer,
highlighted the background of the film in his speech
during the programme. Press Secretary Joynal
conducted the inaugural programme while the
producer of the film Liton Haider delivered the
Actor KritiSanon has started shooting for the Delhi
schedule of her film 'Shehzada', which also stars
Kartik Aaryan in the lead role, reports ANI.
On Tuesday, Kriti took to Instagram Story and
shared a boomerang featuring the film's
clapperboard.
"Shehzadi in the house," she captioned the clip.
Kartik reached the capital a few days ago only for
welcome speech. Secretaries concerned to the
President and family members also enjoyed the show
while Education Minister Dipu Moni, Information and
Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud along with
military and civil officials also were present during the
screening.
Ahmed Rubel played the role of Bangabandhu in the
film while Purnima played the role of Begum
Fazilatunnesa. Kahirul Alam Sabuj and Dilara Zaman
played the role of Bangabandhu's father and mother
respectively. Jewel Mahmud is the screenplay writer
and creative director of the film. The film also features,
among others, late SM Mohsin, Azad Abul Kalam,
Swatabdi Wadud, Somu Chawdhury, Arman Parvez
Murad, Shahjahan Samrat, late Selim Ahmed and
Jewel Mahmud. Earlier on June 23 last, Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina released three posters of the
feature film through signing from her official
Ganabhaban residence while Minister Hasan Mahmud
launched the teaser of the movie on October 18. Hasina
made the corrections and revisions of the dialogue.
Kriti starts
shooting for
'Shehzada'
the new schedule of 'Shehzada'.
This is Kriti's second film with Kartik after 'Luka
Chuppi'. Rohit Dhawan is helming the project,
which will hit the theatres on November 4 .
Kriti had been in the UK for about a month to
shoot for her actioner set in a dystopian world,
'Ganapath Part 1', that sees her reunite with her
debut co-star Tiger Shroff. Four days ago, she
treated her fans with a beautiful goodbye video
from London, promising to return there during
Christmas. And now right after coming back to
India, she has flown to Delhi to start work on
RohitDhawan'sShehzada with KartikAaryan.
Since her debut with 'Heropanti', Kriti Sanon has
risen the ranks in Bollywood, becoming one of the
most sought-after actresses in the recent times.
Kriti Sanon has many films lined up. She was last
seen in 'Hum Do Hamare Do'. Kriti's next release
will be 'Bhediya' with Varun Dhawan. The actress
also has 'Adipurush' with Prabhas and Saif Ali
Khan, 'Bachchan Pandey' with Akshay Kumar and
'Ganapath' with Tiger Shroff, in her kitty.
Source: Indian Express
Dhallywood superstar Shakib Khan is currently in New York, USA. The
actor flew from Dhaka and took part in the Channel I Music Awards as
a guest on November 12.
This time popular heroine Shobnom Bubly is also going to the United
States. It is learnt that she will leave Dhaka in a day or two, to participate
in the Dhallywood Film and Music Awards, which is going to be held on
December 4 in New York.
Shakib Khan is also waiting for this event along with them there are
other stars of the country who can be seen at the event. The list includes
Moushumi, Chanchal Chowdhury, Bappy Chowdhury, Bidya Sinha
Mim, Faria Shahrin and many more. However, they have not confirmed
that most of the visa process has not been completed yet.
Meanwhile, Bubly said that even if she goes to New York for the event
on December 4, she will stay there for a week and will travel around the
United States. Then the actress will return to Bangladesh.
Recently, Bubli took part in the shooting of a movie titled 'Koyla'
opposite Nirab Hossain directed by young producer Saif Chandan under
Simplex International. In the film, Bubly will be seen in a completely
new character that will surprise the audience.
The story of film 'Koyla' is about a less-inhabited remote forest area. It
was announced by its makers in 2019 which faced delay for to Covid-19
situation. The story and dialogue of 'Koyla' are written by Abdullah Zahir
Babu while its screenplay is done by director Chandan.
Promotional item song 'Tikatuli 2' released
TBT REPORT
'Pantha Pather Moore', the sequel of the popular item song
'Tikatulir Moore' has been released on YouTube. This is a part
of the promotional campaign of the much-anticipated film
'Mission Extreme', directed by Faisal Ahmed and Sunny
Sanwar, which is scheduled to release in theatres on December
3. The song is sung by Motin Chowdhury and penned by Sunny
Sanowar while Meer Masum has done its music composition.
'Pantha Pather Moore' premiered on Sunday during the
promotion of 'Mission Extreme' on the campus of
Jahangirnagar University. Afterwards, the song was released
on YouTube under the banner of Cop Creation on Monday.
The song is getting a very positive response from the
audience after its release. The music video of the song,
featuring Sanj John and Mou Marma, was choreographed by
Ruhul Amin.
Regarding the song, Sunny Sanwar said, "The original song
'Tikatulir Moore' is around 23 years old. We bought the rights
from the original owner of the song and remade it with the
original singer for the film 'Dhaka Attack'. That remake version
gained a huge response from the audience. This time I thought
of writing a sequel of the song about the modernisation of the
cinema halls in the present time. Keeping the singer and music
composition the same, I have released the song as a
promotional song for 'Mission Extreme'."
The film Mission Extreme's plot is based on some of the
operations of Bangladesh Police's Counter-Terrorism and
Transnational Crime unit, a specialised branch designed to
combat terrorism and transnational crimes. The film has its
story, screenplay and direction done by Sunny Sanwar.The
film has an ensemble cast of Raisul Islam Asad, Fazlur
Rahman Babu, Shatabdi Wadud, Majnun Mizan, Iresh Zaker,
Manoj Pramanik, Aref Syed, Sudip Biswas Deep, Rashed
Mamun Apu and Ehsanul Rahman.
'Super Mario Bros' will address Mario's catchphrase
Nintendo's upcoming
animated adaptation of
'Super Mario Bros.' will
reportedly address Mario's
catchphrase without
focusing on it. The beloved
video game character has
been a Nintendo staple ever
since he first appeared in
1981's 'Donkey Kong'. Along
the way, Mario has taken on
a wide variety of personas
and appeared in countless
games, comics, cartoons and
merchandise associated with
the 'Super Mario' franchise
and Nintendo as a whole.
Yet, despite the success of the character and the extended
family of characters seen in the 'Super Mario' games, it's
somewhat surprising that the games haven't given way to a hit
film franchise. The reasons for this are arguably two-pronged
in that Nintendo is famously strict about how their licensing
rights are granted, but also because the previous time a 'Super
Mario Bros'. film was released outside of Japan, it brought
disaster. The 1993 liveaction
'Super Mario
Bros'. is still reviled by
many even today, and its
cast was notoriously
critical of the film in the
years following its
release. But as awful as
the film was, it did
succeed in making it clear
that the next time the
game franchise was
adapted, the best option
would be to tackle the
world of Mario and his
brother Luigi through
animation.
And so, the upcoming 'Super Mario Bros.' film will mark the
first time that Mario and co. will appear as animated
characters in a theatrically released feature film outside of
Japan. However, given that Mario is a somewhat stereotypical
caricature of an Italian man, the use of his famous catchphrase
"It's-a-me, Mario!" was bound to be a challenge.
Source: Screen Rant
H O R O s c O P E
ARIEs
(March 21 - April 20) : Are you one of
those people who thinks that your
bank account can't be overdrawn as
long as you still have checks in your checkbook?
As bad as you think your financial situation is,
your problems are easily reconciled. It's not that
you're spending more money than you have, but
that you're not keeping track of what you spend.
Better recordkeeping will help ease your anxiety.
TAURUs
(April 21 - May 21) : Today is good for
relationships. Regardless of whether it's
personal or professional, you can expect
good things to happen. You may be called
upon to participate in an unusual group project and
strike up some potentially beautiful friendships. At
home your mate may be especially thoughtful and
demonstrative. You radiate an aura of love and
warmth, and people respond in kind.
GEMINI
(May 22 - June 21) : You deserve a day
off. Why not play hooky from your
duties and surround yourself with
beautiful works of art? Better yet, try
to create some yourself. Admit it, you've been
hankering to try a creative endeavor. Why not
begin today? Your creativity and intuition are at
an all-time high. The combination might produce
something of real merit.
cANcER
(June 22 - July 23) : You have an
exciting, intense day in store. Your curiosity
is at a peak, and today it combines with a
vivid imagination. This makes you ideally suited for
medical research projects, as it gives you the ability to
make connections among seemingly disparate themes.
Regardless of your profession, you can expect to see the
world in an entirely new way today.
LEO
(July 24 - Aug. 23): It's likely that
you've been working too hard and too
long. Don't you think the time has
come for a bit of a break? Even if you
manage to drag yourself out of bed, you're
unlikely to accomplish much. When your heart
isn't in it, it's difficult for your mind to work. A few
days of rest and relaxation will rejuvenate you.
Perhaps you should take a short jaunt out of town.
VIRGO
(Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): It's time to
expand your horizons. No more
waiting around for events to change
of their own accord. You've grown
up enough to realize that if change is going to
happen, you have to make it happen. As a
result, today is busier than most as you begin to
execute all those ideas you've been thinking
about.
LIBRA
(Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): As much as you
want to change your financial
situation, don't act rashly. If there
are several options to choose from,
you're advised to refrain from making any
decision until your thoughts have crystallized. If
you feel in a hurry to make progress, you can
record your options so you have them to review
in the light of a clearer day.
scORPIO
(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) : Try as you might,
you may spend the better part of the
day with your foot in your mouth. It's
one of those days when anything you
say to clear up the confusion only confuses
matters more. You want to spend a fun evening
with friends but fear you'll only make matters
worse. Your friends love you even on days when
your social skills aren't at their peak!
sAGITTARIUs
(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): Just because
you're stressed now doesn't mean
that you need to be stressed
tomorrow, or the rest of the day for
that matter. There are steps you can take to
soothe your troubled soul. Stop, close your eyes,
and relax into some deep breaths. You'll be
surprised by how refreshing these few moments
can be. Why not try it?
cAPRIcORN
(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): Your tendency is to
rush headlong into a new project. Not
everyone is caught up in your
enthusiasm. Be careful not to steamroll
over those you care about most. Your partner,
especially, feels a bit miffed and left out at the
moment. Do what you can to soothe any ruffled
feathers. It might be time to set aside your project in
favor of a romantic outing.
AQUARIUs
(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) : Out with the old
and in with the new! That seems to be
your mantra for the day, especially
where your home is concerned. Your
energy and motivation are high. If anyone can
execute a complete one-day redecoration, you can.
But even you can get hurt when trying to move a
sofa by yourself. Enlist help, but be careful not to
work them too hard. Not everyone has your energy!
PIscEs
(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) : Don't look a
gift horse in the mouth, as the
saying goes. You're likely to
receive some good news today.
Don't second-guess it, or worry if you're
worthy of it. Accept it for what it is, though
it might be worth taking some time to
consider why you feel unworthy in the first
place.

THURSDAY, DeceMBeR 2, 2021
11
Secretary to the Prime Minister's Office Tofazzal Hossain Mia visited the
Asrayan Project at Taraganj in Rangpur. He visited Faridabad Asrayan
Project of Upazila Sayar Union on Wednesday. Photo: Biplob Hossain Opu
Degrees not enough, achieve
>(From page-1)
the celebration has been delayed by five
months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Jatiya Sangsad speaker Shirin Sharmin
Chaudhury joined the programme as a
guest of honour.
the president also unveiled special
books, photography albums and websites
on the centenary of the university.
the six books are Bangabandhu and
Dhaka university, Dhaka university:
History and traditions, the university
of Dhaka and the Making of Shaping
Bangladesh, Celebrating Hundreds
Years of the university of Dhaka -
reflection from alumni national and
international inaugural Speech, Dhaka
university Convocation Speech, and
Dhaka university Centennial illuminations.
a documentary and a theme song on the
centenary were also released on the opening
day of the celebrations, while a greeting
message from prime Minister of
Bhutan lotay tshering was also played
during the programme.
Vice-Chancellor of the university Dr
Md akhtaruzzaman presided over the
inaugural programme.
education Minister Dr Dipu Moni,
Foreign Minister aKM abdul Momen,
university Grants Commission Chairman
professor Dr Kazi Shahidullah and
GD-1767/21 (3x3)
GD-1771/21 (4x3)
president of Dhaka university alumni
association aK azad spoke on the occasion.
on December 3, students of the theatre
and performance Studies and Dance
Department, and members of Dhaka university
teachers' association will perform
in the cultural programme while the
Dolchut Band led by popular musician
Bappa Mazumder will perform in the programme.
Home Minister asaduzzaman Khan
Kamal, industries Minister nurul Majid
Mahmud Humayun and educationist
rasheda K Chowdhury will attend a discussion
meeting on December 4, while
former pro-vice- chancellor prof Dr Shahadat
ali will preside over the session. a
cultural programme will also be held on
the day.
a victory procession with the participation
of teachers, students, officials and
employees will be held from the premises
of aparajeyo Bangla to Shahid Minar on
the morning of December 12. a discussion
programme will be held in the afternoon.
teachers, students, officials and
employees will place wreaths at the
national Martyrs' Memorial at Savar on
December 16.
the 16-day festivities will end on Victory
Day, with a concert and laser show on
the central playground of the university.
Memo No: JP/Eng.Dept./2021/3441 Date: 30/11/2021
CORRIGENDUM NOTICE NO: 01
This is inform to all concerned that the following correction is made for the invitation of
e-tender notice no: 2021-2022/13, Memo No. JP/Eng.Dept./2021/3440, Dated: 29/11/2021.
Closing & Opening Old Date: 28/11/2021 Replace by New Date: 28/12/2021 and all other
date and time are remaining same as per e-GP notice available in e-GP web.portal.
GD-1770/21 (3x3)
Ò†kL nvwmbvi g~jbxwZ
MÖvg kn‡ii DbœwZÓ
Sd/-
(Subrata Tarafder)
Executive Engineer
Jamalpur Pourashava
Dist: Jamalpur.
CHt after two
decades
>(From page-1)
on the other hand, lakshi
pad Das, joint secretary of
district awami league and
member of Bandarban parbatya
zila parishad, said
that as a result of the peace
agreement, huge development
has taken place in the
hill tracts region.
there have been schools,
colleges, multiple universities,
medical colleges. Medical
sector, communication
system, mosque-temple,
and other facilities have
been built. above all, infrastructure
development and
people's financial empowerment
have increased
manifold. the sons and
daughters of poor farmers
in the Chittagong Hill
tracts are getting education
opportunities and government
jobs. 24 years ago
today there was a ruined
Chittagong Hill tracts.
after 24 years, a prosperous
Chittagong Hill tracts
has been formed. today the
Chittagong Hill tracts are
flowing with the tide of
huge development, this is
the benefit of the peace
agreement. Most of the
clauses and sub-clauses of
the peace agreement have
been implemented. But
even after the peace agreement,
a group continues to
use terrorism, extortion,
kidnapping, murder and
disappearance to disrupt
development. However, if
the illegal activities are
hacked by conducting a
special operation in the
mountains, the peaceful
atmosphere of the neighborhood
will return.
15 injured in
narayanganj
post-poll violence
naraYanGanJ : at least 15
people were injured,
including one with bullet
wounds, in post-poll violence
in naura under Kayetpara
union of narayanganj's
rupganj upazila on tuesday
night, reports unB.
the youth who sustained
bullet injuries, has been
identified as Yeakub, 17.
police said that around 8pm
on tuesday, armed
supporters of defeated
chairman candidate Mizanur
rahman swooped on the
houses of the supporters of
newly elected chairman Jayed
ali and opened fire.
a chase and counter chase
followed, leaving 15 people
injured. Yeakub was hit by a
stray bullet during the clash.
He was sent to Dhaka for
better treatment.
the attackers also set on fire
five houses, a private car and
four motorbikes and
vandalised 8-10 houses in the
area.
tokyo stocks
wobble on worries
over virus, inflation
toKYo:tokyo stocks
wobbled between positive and
negative territory in
directionless trade
Wednesday as investors
remained cautious about a
new virus strain and uS
monetary policy moves over
inflation, reports BSS.
after opening higher, stocks
dipped before recovering
slightly by an hour into trade,
with the benchmark nikkei
225 index up 0.23 percent, or
64.77 points, to 27,886.53.
the broader topix index
was up 0.20 percent, or 3.92
points, to 1,932.27.
the erratic movement
followed a global market rout
after Moderna's chief warned
current vaccines might be less
effective at fending off the
omicron variant, and the uS
Fed chief warned of higher
inflation for longer than
expected.
"uncertainties over the
prospects for uS monetary
policy and concerns over the
new strain of the coronavirus
are seen prompting.
A human chain was held at Banaripara bus stand on Wednesday to demand punishment for the miscreants
who tried to kill 8th grade student of Hasina Morshed Girls Secondary School. Photo: TBT
S Mizanul iSlaM, Banaripara CorreSponDent
a human chain was held at Banaripara
bus stand on Wednesday to demand
punishment for the miscreants who
tried to kill 8th grade student of
Hasina Morshed Girls Secondary
School. abu Bakar Siddique, president
of the Secondary teachers 'association
and Headmaster of Banaripara Girls'
Secondary School, gave a short speech
at the protest organized by the
students of different educational
institutions of human chain and
demanded severe punishment of the
Iqvmv Rt Zt 327/2021
GD-1773/21 (5x4)
GD-1772/21 (8x4)
Human chain demands
punishment of
miscreants in
Baparipara
miscreants.
During the time, Hasina Morshed
Girls Secondary School Headmaster
Shahina Begum, Banaripara Girls
Secondary School Managing
Committee Member atM Mostafa
Sardar, assistant Headmaster
Makshuda akter, Senior Journalist S
Mizanul islam were among others
present at the occasion.
it is to be noted that on Saturday,
Miraj Dakua and laden Dakua, two
talented 8th class meritorious
students, tried to kill nirma Jahan
Sraboni by forcing her to eat poison.
the student's father nayan Chokdar
filed a case under the Women and
Child abuse prevention act. police oC
Md Helal uddin conducted an
immediate operation and arrested the
accused Miraj Dakua and sent him to
Barisal Court.

thursday, Dhaka: December 2, 2021; agrahyan 17, 1428 BS; rabius-Sani 26, 1443 hijri
Overdue HSC exams to be
started from today
Dipu Moni for strict
health restrictions
CHANDPUR : Education Minister Dr
Dipu Moni has called upon the people to
follow the necessary health guidelines
strictly so that the scheduled Secondary
School certificate
(SSC) should not
be hampered due to
the COVID-19 pandemic
as South
African Omicron
variant is posing a
new threat of rising
infections.
"Most people are
not wearing masks
publicly ...so everyone
should have to
follow the COVID-
19 health guidelines
in the interest
of the SSC and HSC exams scheduled to
be held from December 2-30," she said.
The minister made the comments
while attending a programme at
Chandpur press club auditorium here
last night.
Terming the exams as the landmark
for the students, the education minister
said "We must have to follow the COVID-
Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni
Home Minister
inspects Swatch
of No-Ground
Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan
Kamal MP inspected the Swatch of
No-Ground, which is rich in marine
resources of the Bay of Bengal, located
in the waters of Bangladesh on
Coast Guard ship Kamruzzaman and
under the management of
Bangladesh Coast Guard on
Wednesday, a press release said.
During the time, Mostafa Kamal
Uddin, Senior Secretary, Department
of Public Security, IGP Dr. Benazir
Ahmed, BPM (Bar), BGB Director
General Major General Md. Safinul
Islam, BGBM (Bar), NDC, PSC and
Director General of Bangladesh Coast
Guard Rear Admiral Ashraful Hoq
Chowdhury, ndu, afwc, psc were also
present at the occasion.
This information was given by Lt.
Commander Khandaker Munif Taki,
Media Officer of Bangladesh Coast
Guard Headquarters on Wednesday
noon.
He added that along the way, Home
Minister and senior officials also
inspected the various operational
activities of the Coast Guard.
He further said that the visit of Home
Minister to the sea area would further
inspire the members of Bangladesh
Coast Guard at all levels to play a direct
role in building the golden Bengal of
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's dream
including conservation of marine
resources.
Students are checking the papers of a driver of vehicle at Motijheel Shapla Chattar in the
capital city yesterday.
photo : Star Mail
SSC examinee death
300 booked
for torching 8
buses in city
DHAKA : A police case has been filed
against 250-300 unidentified people in
connection with the recent torching of
buses in the city's Rampura Bazaar area
over the tragic death of an SSC examinee in
an accident, reports UNB.
Sub-inspector AKM Niazuddin Mollah of
the Hatirjheel police station, filed a complaint,
based on which an FIR (which marks
the beginning of a criminal probe) under the
Explosive Substances Act was lodged on
Wednesday.
The case has been filed against the accused
for vandalising and torching vehicles, beating
up some pedestrians, and creating panic
among local people, as per the FIR.
On Monday, Mainuddin Islam Durjoy, an
SSC examinee, was run over by a bus around
10.45 pm in the Rampura Bazaar area near
Better Life Hospital.
Mainuddin's death triggered violence,
leading to the torching of as many as eight
buses by an angry mob.
Students from different educational institutions
blocked Rampura Road on Tuesday,
protesting the death of Mainuddin.
Moreover, in the wake of student protests
over a hike in bus fares over the past week,
Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association
on Tuesday announced a 50% discount on
tarrif in the Dhaka metropolitan area from
Wednesday.
However, the discounted fares for students
will be allowed only from 7am to 8 pm and
not be applicable on government holidays,
weekly holidays and other holidays.
19 health restrictions considering the
infections of the virus."
The government led by Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina must prefer the peoples'
health safety, she
said, adding that the
livelihood and the
education also will
continue.
"We have to be
careful on pursuing
health guidelines
during the pandemic,
our negligence
should never be a
cause of danger for
our relatives and the
country," she told
the function.
The programme
was attended, among others, by former
senior land secretary Maksudur Rahman
Patwary, Deputy Commissioner of
Chandpur Anjana Khan Majlish,
Municipality Mayor M Zillur Rahman
Juwel, Faridganj Upazila Chairman
Advocate Zahidul Islam Roman and
District Awami League Organizing
Secretary Tafazzal Hossen Patwary.
JU students leave dorm
to avoid physical torture
ShEikh tajul iSlaM, ju CorrESponDEnt
Sophomore year residential
students from Biswa Kabi
Rabindranath Tagore Hall of
Jahangirnagar University have
been found tortured to maintain
"Gono Room Culture" by
their seniors, such allegations
coming repeatedly against third
year students of that dormitory.
Meanwhile, some students
left their respective dormitory
being unable to accept this
unbearable torture, continuing
for years by their so called
immediate senior batches, at
Jahangirnagar University locally
known as "Guest Room" culture.
Students from 48th batch as
said, regularly "Guest Room "
continues at this dorm starting
from 10:30 pm and continues
till late night by their immediate
seniors, 47th batch in the
campus.
They are also being rebuked,
insulted so badly against their
so called "Discourtesy" and
unwillingness to participate
any political processions that
it sometimes becomes a mental
trauma for most students.
Allegations came from 48th
batch against their seniors who
are also involved in the politics
of ruling party. Besides, friends
of the accused who were also
from 47th batch, were being
tried frequently to stay forcibly
at "Mini Gono room".
A victim, left the dorm earlier,
said, "as new batch, the 49th,
entering campus, to rule over
them this guest room may be
considered not illegal rather
justified by the accused."
" we are also being rebuked if
found unwilling to join any procession.
Our exam is knocking
at the door. We don't have
enough space in the dorm too
and this suffering are getting
worse day by day. So, we are
forced to left hall unwillingly
but necessarily." he added.
Wishing anonymity, an
accused told, "guest room
occurs frequently but we don't
have any torture cell. I personally
oppose this guest room culture
and I also want such system
not to be continued."
As per information, while trying
to connect with Avijit, a
political leader of respective
hall, his phone found switched
off.
While asked Dr. Abdullah Hel
Kafi, Provost of University's
Rabindranath Tagore Hall said,
"I don't know about this guest
room culture. But, I'll inquire
about it. I'll take action if the
accused found guilty."
Some 18.55 lakh
taxpayers submit
returns till
Nov 30
DHAKA : Around 18.55 lakh
Taxpayer's Identification Number
(TIN) holders submitted their
return till November 30 in this fiscal
2021-22.
Around Taka 2,456 crore has been
collected from the returns.
The National Board of Revenue
(NBR) has extended the deadline for
submitting income tax returns by a
month to 31 December considering
problems faced by many taxpayers
because of Covid-19.
According to the NBR, some 17.48
lakh individual taxpayers submitted
their returns till November 30 at the
last fiscal.
Talking to BSS, a senior official of
the NBR said the number of return
submissions is increasing as return
submission has been made compulsory
for all TIN holders.
As per responses of the taxpayers,
he hoped that return submission
will be stood at around 30 lakh till
December 31.
Plane hits cows
Four Ansar guards
suspended at Cox's
Bazar Airport
Shafiul alaM, CoxS Bazar
CorrESponDEnt
Authorities formed a four-member
probe committee and suspended four
Ansar guards on Wednesday, a day
after a Biman Bangladesh flight
struck and killed two cows grazing at
Cox's Bazar airport.
Cox's Bazar Airport Manager
Golam Mortuza confirmed this on
Wednesday afternoon.
The incident occurred on Tuesday
when the Biman flight BG 434 was
taking off from the airport on way to
Dhaka. The plane with 94 passengers
and crew members landed at Dhaka
airport safely at 7.05 pm, airport
sources said.
The collision happened at 17 Delta
Post of the runway, the authorities
said. It was not clear how the cows got
into the runway.
home Minister
asaduzzaman
khan kamal Mp
inspected the
Swatch of
no-Ground on
Wednesday.
During the time,
Director General
of Bangladesh
Coast Guard rear
admiral ashraful
hoq Chowdhury
was also present.
photo : Courtesy
I've no mechanism to gather
money-laundering info:Kamal
DHAKA : Finance Minister AHM
Mustafa Kamal has said he does not
have any mechanism to glean information
about money laundering.
"I don't have any mechanism of my
own. I've received some information
from newspapers. I believe the
Bangladesh Bank has been working on
it," he told reporters while briefing them
on the outcomes of the Cabinet
Committee on Public Purchase and
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs
on Wednesday.
The Finance Minister, however, said
there are some other government bodies
responsible to collect information and
bring the perpetrators to justice. "We're
taking legal action against them and
they're being punished as per law."
Mustafa Kamal said he has a plan to
brief journalists soon about how many
people have been brought under the law
and tried and what kind of improvement
made in this regard.
"I'll inform you about the steps I've
taken and how many people have been
tried," he said.
Responding to another question, the
finance minister said he supports the
state minister for power and energy
statement that petroleum prices need to
be adjusted downward if and when the
international market gets stable.
"Now the market is flexible, the prices
of fuels are fluctuating frequently', he
said. On November 27, Finance Minister
AHM Mustafa Kamal said he has no idea
who are actually siphoning off money
from the country and asked the opposition
MPs to provide him with a list of
money launderers.
"I don't siphon off money. I believe you
(MPs) also don't. How will I be able to
know of those who're siphoning off
money if you don't provide me with a
list!" he said.
During the passage of Bankers' Book
Evidence Bill 2021, the minister came
under fire by the opposition MPs for his
"failure" to stop money laundering.
Death of a student in Rampura
road accident was not merely
an accident : Quader
DHAKA : Awami League general secretary
and road transport and bridges minister
Obaidul Quader yesterday said killing
of a student in a road accident in Rampura
is not merely an accident because at least
15 buses were set on fire within 10 minutes
after spreading of the accident news.
"It is a question to the conscience of the
nation whether it was a repetition of BNP-
Jamaat's past violent activities . . . is it a
merely an accident or it is a pre-planned
incident," said Obaidul Quader while
speaking virtually from his residence at a
seminar here.
AL's science and technology sub-committee
organised the seminar on "5G: the frontier
technology" with committee chairman
Prof Dr Hossain Munsur in the chair.
Expressed deep shock and sorrow at the
death of a student in Rampur road accident,
Quader said according to eye-witnesses
the incident took place at 10.45pm
and within 12 minutes of the incident, live
presentation was made in the facebook
page of 'Nirapad Sarak Chai' from the spot.
Immediately after it, 15 vehicles were set
on fire and a number of vehicles were vandalized,
he added.
He said the accident news was published
in Jamaat-run telegram channel at
11pm which was immediately spread in
different social media.
"How the news was made live presentation
in the page of Nirapad Sarak Chai,
were they taken preparation prior to the
incident to do it? How Bansherkella got all
the news within 15 minutes and 15 vehicles
were set on fire within the next 10 minutes,"
Quader questioned.
He said how so many people gathered at
the accident spot at 11pm. Law enforcement
personnel, including police and firefighters,
could not reach the spot so quickly
like the anarchists who reached there. It
is also a question how a few number of students
reached the spot, he added.
Petrobangla to appoint foreign consultants
towards amending Model PSC
DHAKA : As many as eight foreign consulting
firms with experience of having
worked and brokered deals in the oil
and gas industry, are interested to bag a
role advising Petrobangla and its need to
amend its Model Production Sharing
Contract (PSC), if it really wants to attract
the international oil companies to
the country's offshore gas blocks, reports
UNB.
According to official sources, five of the
eight firms which submitted their respective
Expressions of Interest (EOI) to
Petrobangla are from the United Kingdom
while one each from India, Singapore and
the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They
said Petrobangla received their proposals
on November 21, the deadline of submission
of the EOI.
"Now we will scrutinise their proposals to
pick one of them to do the job," said
Shahnewaz Parvez, General Manager
(Contract) of Petrobangla. He said the consultant
will mainly help the state-owned
hydrocarbon corporation further amend the
Model PSC 2019, in order to attract international
oil companies (IOCs) amid the volatile
international fuel market.
He noted that the principal upstream
energy body will appoint an experienced
foreign consultant to draw up the amendments
that would convince the IOCs to
invest in Bangladesh's offshore gas fields.
Official sources said the recent excessive
hike in petroleum fuel, especially that of
the liquefied natural gas (LNG) has
prompted the government to go for further
amending the existing PSC, to attract
the IOCs to invest in Bangladesh's offshore
gas blocks. The country has a total of 48
blocks of which 26 are located in offshore
areas and 22 onshore.
Of the 26 offshore blocks, 11 are located
in shallow sea (SS) water while 15 are
located in deep sea (DS) water areas. Of
these, 24 offshore gas blocks remain
open for IOCs while two blocks -SS-04
and SS-09-are under contract with a
joint venture of ONGC Videsh Ltd and
Oil India Ltd where drilling works have
recently started.