09-02-2022

Wednesday

DhAkA: February9, 2022; Magh 26, 1428 BS; Rajab 7,1443 hijri

www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net

Regd.No.DA~2065, Vol.19; N o. 280; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00

international

One dead in Washington

state grocery store

shooting

>Page 7

sports

Under-19 World Cup

wrap: Pakistan through

to fifth place play-off

>Page 9

arts & Culture

Curtain rises on

'Coke Studio Bangla'

>Page 10

Covid-19 in Bangladesh

Daily deaths

hit 43

DHAKA : Bangladesh logged 43 more

Covid-linked deaths with 8,354 fresh

cases in 24 hours till Tuesday morning,

reports UNB.

The daily positivity rate slightly declined

to 20.03 from Monday's 21.07 per cent

after testing 41,879 samples during the

period, according to the Directorate

General of Health Services (DGHS).

The number of deaths is highest in

nearly six months as the country last

recorded 43 deaths on September 19, last

year with 1,383 cases and the daily positivity

rate at 5.62 per cent.

On Monday, Bangladesh reported 38

more Covid-linked deaths with 9,369

fresh cases. The fresh numbers took the

country's total fatalities to 28,670 while

the caseload mounted to 1,879,255.

Among the new deceased, 26 were

men and 17 women. Fifteen of the deaths

were reported in Dhaka division while 13

in Khulna, 11 in Chattogram, two in

Rajshahi, and one each in Mymensingh

and Rangpur divisions.

Meanwhile, the mortality rate remained

static at 1.53 per cent. However, the recovery

rate slightly increased to 86.36 per

cent with the recovery of 10,800 more

patients during the 24-hour period.

On January 28, Bangladesh logged its

earlier highest daily positivity rate at

33.37 per cent reporting 15,440 cases and

20 deaths.

On December 9 last year, Bangladesh

again logged zero Covid-related death

after nearly three weeks as the pandemic

was apparently showing signs of easing.

The country reported this year's first

zero Covid-related death in a single day

on November 20 last year along with 178

infections since the pandemic broke out

in Bangladesh in March 2020.

Sinha murder case

Death references

reach HC

DHAKA : The death references of Maj

(retd) Sinha Mohammad Rashed Khan

murder case reached the High Court on

Tuesday, reports UNB.

The death references reached the

branch concerned of the High Court, said

Mohammad Saifur Rahman, Special

Officer of the Supreme Court.

According to the law, if a convict is sentenced

to death by a lower court, all the

documents of the case are sent to the

High Court for approval of the penalty.

When the case 'Paperbook'-file containing

all documents- is prepared the

hearing on death references is held as per

serial.

On January 31, A Cox's Bazar court

sentenced former OC Pradeep Kumar

Das and police inspector Liakat Ali to

death and six others to life term imprisonment

in the Sinha murder case.

The six lifers are constable Sagar Dev,

sub-inspector Nandolal Rakkhit, constable

Rubel Sharma, Nurul Amin, Md

Nizamuddin and Ayaz Uddin.

The court, however, acquitted seven

other accused.

Zohr

05:22 AM

12:16 PM

04:12 PM

05:53 PM

07:09 PM

6:37 5:49

50 years of ties

Bangladesh, Japanese PMs

pledge to strengthen ties

DHAKA : Prime Ministers of

Bangladesh and Japan have committed

to "strengthen bonds of amity and cooperation"

as the 50th anniversary of the

establishment of diplomatic relations

between the two friendly countries falls

on February 10.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

have issued separate goodwill video

messages on the occasion of the 50the

anniversary of bilateral relations.

Both the Prime Ministers congratulated

the people of the two friendly countries

on this momentous occasion.

Japan officially recognized

Bangladesh as an independent state on

February 10, 1972.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in her

message, expressed the gratitude of the

people of Bangladesh for the precious

support and contributions of Japan and

its people during Bangladesh's War of

Liberation.

She highlighted the historic visit of the

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Japan in

October 1973, which laid the foundation

of a steadfast and lasting friendship

the book fair is

knocking at

the door. the

Bangla academy

premises and

suhrawardy

Udyan are being

adorned with the

tools. Workers

are working day

and night to

construct stalls.

the picture is

taken on

tuesday.

photo : star Mail

between the two countries.

She also expressed her contentment to

carry forward Bangabandhu's legacy

and visit Japan in 1997, 2010, 2014,

2016 and in 2019 to further strengthen

the two countries' relations.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina mentioned

the solid foundation of bilateral

relations between the two countries,

poised to be raised from "Comprehensive

Partnership" to "Strategic Partnership"

in the near future.

She acknowledged the sustained economic

cooperation and support of

Japan and expressed the hope that last

fifty years' enviable cooperation would

remain an inspiration for the coming

fifty years for mutually beneficial gains.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio

Kishida, in his message, reiterated

Japan's commitment to strengthen

bilateral ties with Bangladesh.

He referred the visit of the Father of

the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman to Japan in October

1973 as the solid base in the history of

bilateral relations between the two

countries.

>(Contd. on page-11)

Road accident kills five

in Cox's Bazar

Cox's BazaR CoRREspondEnt

Four brothers of the same family and

another brother undergoing treatment at

Chittagong Medical College Hospital

died on the spot after being hit by a pickup

truck while crossing the road in

Chakaria Malumghat area of Cox's Bazar.

Their recently widowed mother has

become emotionless of mourning for the

death of her 5 children. The accident took

place on the Chattogram-Cox's Bazar

highway in Malumghat area around 5 am

on Tuesday (February 8) on the way back

after performing religious rites on the

tenth day of their father's death.

The four brothers killed on the spot are

Anupam Shil (48), Nirupam (45),

Deepak (40) and Champak (35). Two of

the injured were rushed to Chittagong

Medical College Hospital in critical condition.

A brother named Saran Shil (24)

died in the afternoon. Another brother is

still undergoing treatment at Chittagong

Medical College Hospital. Another is

being treated at Chakaria Christian

Memorial Hospital. Safayat, in-charge of

Chakoria Malumghat Highway Police,

confirmed the information.

He said that in the morning, 9 members

of the same family were going to the temple

for worship. As they were crossing the

road, a pickup van heading towards Cox's

Bazar crushed them. Four brothers died

on the spot. Three were seriously injured.

Two of them have been sent to Chittagong

Medical College in critical condition.

Ringvong Hasinapara, a little north of

the Malumghat Christian Hospital in the

Dulahajra Union of Chakriya, is a property

of the forest department. Suresh

Chandra Shil died of old age complications

on January 28. He was cremated

following all the rules of Hinduism and

Suresh Chandra Sheel's 7 sons and two

daughters started following all the rules

after the funeral.

Father's mourning will be 11 days of

death. As part of this, eight siblings were

sitting on the side of Cox's Bazar-

Chittagong highway on Tuesday morning

doing some formalities. Just then a truck

crushed them. Four brothers died on the

spot. And seeing that, Manu Bala Shil

(60), who lost her husband 11 days ago,

has become speechless.

Poppy Sheel, wife of the deceased

Anupam Sheel, said, "Today my fatherin-law

is to be mourned. Feast preparation

and guest invitations are all done.

But it all ended before Shraddha. The little

ones will sit on the road now. '

prime Minister sheikh Hasina on tuesday gave a video message marking the Golden Jubilee of the

diplomatic relationship between Bangladesh and Japan.

photo : pId

People to vote

AL to power

again, hopes

Hasina

DHAKA : Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina on Tuesday said Bangladesh

Awami League always believes in

democracy and her party has the

trust in the people of the country,

reports UNB.

She expressed her firm optimism that

people would again give their mandate

in favour of Awami League in the next

general election allowing it to continue

to govern the country.

The Prime Minister said this in her

introductory speech at a meeting of the

members of Awami League Presidium

at her official residence Ganobhaban.

She said Awami League has remarkably

changed the country with its more

than one decade's of rule.

She also said the government has

been able to keep the wheel of the country's

economy moving during the Covid-

19 pandemic by providing various stimulus

packages.

The Prime Minister said Bangladesh's

GDP growth rate is now 6.94 percent,

while the per capita income has risen to

2,591 US dollars. "Bangladesh has

already been recognised as a developing

country."

Hasina said the living standard of people

has improved a lot and cent percent

families across the country have been

brought under electricity coverage.

She said all the facilities are now being

taken to the doorsteps of people through

community clinics, Amar Bari Amar

Khamar and Asrayan projects.

The Prime Minister reaffirmed that no

one will remain homeless in Bangladesh

anymore and the government will

ensure it.

Comments/analysis

Covid 19 and the worst public

policy failing in human history

Only 5,712,394 or a little over 5.7 million humans have so far died in the world

from Covid-19according to official data. But to save such a tiny part of the world's

population from dying, a far greater evil of pushing the global economy over the

brink was recommended by a small elite of policy or decision makers round the

world, writes Enayet Rasul Bhuiyan

DHAKA : The High Court on Monday asked

Evaly's jailed executives Mohammad Rassel,

his wife Shamima Nasrin and their close relatives

to explain why their bank accounts

won't be confiscated, reports UNB.

The couple, their siblings, parents, parents-in-law

and daughter have two

weeks to defend them, according to the

court's order. The HC bench of Justice

Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar

passed the order during a hearing on an

appeal from the new board of embattled

e-commerce company Evaly.

The court also assigned a Deputy

Registrar of the Supreme Court to auction

some cars owned by the company on

February 10. The Dhaka Metropolitan

Police commissioner and the Rapid Action

Battalion director general have been asked

to provide security during the auction.

Lawyer Morshed Ahmed Khan

appeared for the new Board of Directors

The advent of Covid-19 has been a very

great tragedy for mankind and completely

unprecedented in causing deaths and havocs

as a whole in human societies across the

world. But if and when the curtain falls on

this global pandemic, finally, and it turns

from a pandemic to only an endemic disease,

it would be quite pertinent at that stage

to question whether the 'response' to Covid-

19 was also the 'greatest folly' in the history of

human experience specially when science

and technology are at their zenith in the first

quarter of this twentieth century.

Who forms public policy and why ? Of

course, this is expressly the task of the government

or authority in charge of governance

of a country, sovereign territory or

having similar status anywhere in the

world. There are 195 countries in the worldtoday

and as far as this writer remembers,

all of them uniquely adopted as their public

policy various forms of restrictions --

instantly or gradually-- such as lockdowns,

forcing their people to stay at homes or

practicing of self quarantine and the like as

response to Covid-19.

Very conspicuously at the heart of such

public policies was forced obedience of populations

to surrender their inherent rights of

travel and pursue vocations. Thus, the

national economies of all countries in varying

degree were deliberately required to suffer

shocks. The economies were deliberately

shut down by decisions made by humans.

The same was not the outcome of natural

disasters or acts of God as these are

described that made performance of economic

activities impossible. In each case, the

cessation of economic activities was ordered

by a government administration or its equivalent.

In every case, such economy crippling

moves were justified as necessary to halt the

gathering pandemic or reverse it after it

became apparent from March, 2020.

There is no need to say that the response

to Covid-19 around the world was from government

leaders. They were helped by a

motley of heath experts, members of the

medical community, virologists, pandemic

experts, etc. thus, the response was

from the brightest or supposedly

fittest minds in national societies with

pedigrees in science, technology and

experience that ordinary people could

not question or doubt as undependable.

But uniquely also, possibly for

the first time in human history, the

efforts or directions given to meeting

a very grave threat to people's life and

existence turned out to be so largely

unproductive, ineffective or futile.

>(Contd. on page-11)

HC moves to confiscate bank accounts

of Evaly bosses and relatives

while lawyer Syed Mahsib Khan presented

the writ petitioner's side.

Lawyer Morshedsaid the court has also

asked Nijhum Majumdar who claimed to

be legal coordinator of Evaly in different

YouTube videos he published, to appear

before court within two weeks.

Otherwise, the court will order his

arrest, the lawyer said.

On last September 22, the High Court

ordered a ban on the sale and transfer of

movable and immovable property after

an application submitted by an affected

customer seeking dissolution of the company

and direction on forming a board of

directors for the company.

On October 18, the High Court

formed a 5-member board, led by former

justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury

Manik, to manage, control and assess

the liabilities of shuttered e-commerce

platform Evaly.

Some areas in Dhaka to

see disruption in gas

supply Wednesday

DHAKA : Gas supply will

remain suspended for 16

hours from 8 am to 12 pm

on Wednesday at different

areas in the south-eastern

part of the capital.

The areas are Manik

Nagar, Dhalpur, Gopibagh,

RK Mission Road,

Abhaynagar Lane, KM Das

Lane, Swamibagh,

Hatkhola Road, Dayaganj,

Tikatuli, Wari, Nawabpur,

Balda Garden, Banagram,

North Kamalapur, South

Kamalapur, and Jasim

Uddin Road, said Titas Gas

Transmission and

Distribution Company.

The distribution

company said that the

consumers in the adjoining

areas may experience low

pressure in their gas supply

as well.

Titas Gas mentioned that

the gas supply in these

areas will remain

suspended to carry out a

tie-in works in the gas

pipelines of areas to

facilitate the rail tracks

construction under the

Padma Bridge project.

Protesting recent death of Md Habibur Rahman (Senior Warrant Officer), a

human chain was formed at the foot of Raju Sculpture yesterday. Photo : TBT

US donates 6mn more Pfizer

vaccine doses to Bangladesh

DHAKA : The United States has donated

additional six million doses of Pfizer's COVID-

19 vaccine to Bangladesh via COVAX.

These are the latest donations of Pfizer

vaccines from the American people and bring

the total U.S. government vaccine

contribution to more than 45 million (4.5

crore) free doses, with millions more

scheduled to arrive over the coming months.

"With this latest wave of donations, the

United States continues to work closely with

Bangladesh to vaccinate as many people as

possible and accelerate efforts to provide

people in hard-to-reach areas of the country

with life-saving vaccines," said U.S. Charge

d'Affaires Helen LaFave on Tuesday.

In addition to vaccine donations, the United

States continues to work closely with

Bangladesh to support the national COVID-19

vaccination campaign and strengthen the

response to the pandemic.?

The United States has provided training to

over 7,000 healthcare providers on the proper

management and administration of vaccines,

along with support for cold-chain storage and

transportation.

To date, the United States has contributed

over $121 million in COVID-related

development and humanitarian assistance

through USAID, the U.S. Department of

Defense, the U.S. Department of State, and

the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention.??

The United States has donated $4 billion to

support the worldwide COVAX effort, which

includes support for ultra-cold chain storage,

transportation, and safe handling of COVID-

19 vaccines, making the United States the

world's largest donor for equitable global

COVID-19 vaccine access.

Two siblings die

in Ctg house fire

CHATTOGRAM : Two siblings were charred to

death while asleep in a fire that gutted their

house in Chattogram on Monday night, officials

said on Tuesday, reports UNB.

The deceased were identified as Minhaz

Uddin (12) and his sister Ruhi Aktar (2.5), both

children of Mohammad Idris Mia.

The fire broke out around 10pm at the house

of Idris in ward- 4 of Saral union in the district's

Banshkhali upazila when the family was fast

asleep, officials said. The fire soon engulfed two

adjacent houses in the locality, according to

officials. 'The fire originated from an electrical

short-circuit and by the time the firefighting unit

reached the spot, both the children were dead,"

said Nuru Bashar, team leader of Bashkhali fire

service.

WedneSdAY, feBRuARY 9, 2022

2

Ctg fire: Two sisters die

of injuries

CHATTOGRAM : Two sisters have succumbed

to the burn injuries they sustained

in a fire that broke out at their flat in the

Bakalia area of the port city Thursday.

The deceased were Sabrina Aktar, a 23-

year-old third-year honours student, and

Samia Khaled, an 18-year-old second-year

HSC student of Government Hazi Mohammad

Mohsin College in Chattogram and

daughters of Alauddin Khaled.

Sabrina succumbed to her injuries on Sunday

and Samia on Monday morning at

Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn

and Plastic Surgery under Dhaka Medical

College and Hospital (DMCH), said their

father. The sisters were at first taken to Chattogram

Medical College and Hospital and

later shifted to DMCH as their condition

deteriorated.

The fire broke out on Thursday at the fivestorey

building in the Rahattarpul area,

where they had their flat. According to fire

service officials, the fire had originated from

the leakage of gas from a cylinder on the fifth

floor of the building followed by an explosion.

oc-3/32

GD-229/22 (10x4)

GD-224/22 (10x4)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2022

3

Former Chairman of the Department of Psychology, University of Dhaka, Prof. Dr.

Mohammad Roushan Ali on Tuesday handed over a check of Tk 25 Lakhs to the current

chairman of the department Dr Md Kamal Uddin for establishing the Prof Dr Mohammad

Roushan Ali Trust Fund'.

Photo : Courtesy

ACC probes wealth

of Ex-MD of Eastern

Refinery Rezaul and

his wife

Dhaka, Feb 8 ( UNB)- The

Anti-Corruption

Commission (ACC) on

Tuesday asked the former

managing director of

Eastern Refinery,

Chattogram Rezaul Alam

and his wife to submit

their wealth statements.

A notice signed by

ACC's director Akter

Hossain Azad has been

sent to the couple,

according to the

commission's public

relations wing.

The notice sought

statement of their all

immovable or movable

property acquired in the

name of the couple and

their dependents.

The source of income

and the detailed

information on how those

were acquired will have to

be submitted to the ACC

within 21 working days of

receiving the notice.

Won't allow

anyone to

destabilise

rice market:

Minister

DHAKA : Food Minister

Sadhan Chandra

Majumder on Tuesday

warned against hoarding of

rice saying no one will be

allowed to destabilise the

rice market.

He was virtually

exchanging views with

local government officials,

mill owners and traders on

ways to prevent rice

hoarding and market

monitoring at Rangpur

deputy commissioner

office.

Sadhan said the

government is ready to

import rice if it's needed to

keep the market stable. So

those who are thinking of

hoarding the food grains to

manipulate market should

refrain from it, he added.

He said there is no logic

behind hike in the rice

price as this year's harvest

has been satisfactory

unlike last year when

cyclone Amphan damaged

crops.

"We won't tolerate any

manipulation with the

price," he said pointing to

mill owners and traders.

The minister also asked

the authorities concerned

to investigate whether any

licensed rice trader is

involved in storing rice

illegally. Strict action will

be taken against wrongdoers,

he said.

Abdul Hannan, a

spokesperson for mill

owners, said the price of

fine rice can't be reduced as

its demand is high.

He also urged the

government to take steps

in importing rice to

stabilise the market.

Bangladesh, India share best

practices in waste management

Dhaka, Feb 8 (UNB) - Indore Municipal

Corporation in India and Dhaka North City

Corporation have held productive

discussions on how to take forward

cooperation in the field of solid waste

management and other municipal services.

They have shared the best practices in solid

waste management noting that there is

much scope for mutual learning.

A virtual dialogue was organised between

the two sides to that end on Tuesday.

The webinar was facilitated by the High

Commission of India and the Ministry of

Housing and Urban Affairs of India.

Indore ranked as the cleanest city in India

in the Annual Cleanliness Survey (Swacch

Survekshan) carried out by the Govt of India

in 2021.

This city, located in the state of Madhya

Pradeshhas won thisdistinction five

consecutive times since the year 2017 owing

to its laudable mechanisms for waste

management which includes segregation of

waste, door-to-door collection, home

composting by residents, recycling of day

waste, central composting facilities, etc.

From the India side, the webinar was

attended by Roopa Mishra, National Mission

Director and Joint Secretary for Swacch

Bharat Mission, Sandeep Soni, Additional

Commissioner of Indore Municipal

Corporation, officials from Indore Municipal

Corporation handling Solid Waste

Management Operations and

representatives from Central Public Health

and Environmental Engineering

Organization (CPHEEO).

Md. Selim Reza, Additional Secretary and

CEO of Dhaka North City Corporation

(DNCC) led the Bangladesh delegation

which also included Brig. General. Md.

Amirul Islam, Chief Engineer DNCC,

Commodore SM Sharif-ul Islam, Chief

Waste Management Officer, DNCC and

other members of DNCC.

During the webinar, Indore Municipal

Corporation officials shared their waste

collection methods, innovative practices and

technologies adopted by them for efficient

waste management.

The municipal corporation of Indore

detailed the 100% Door-To-Door segregated

waste collection system, bio-metric

attendance system for municipal cleaners,

GPS-tracked waste collection vehicles, etc.

In turn, DNCC officials shared their best

practices.

Speaking at the occasion, Roopa Mishra

said that India was delighted to engage with

Bangladesh on such a topic as there is much

scope for mutual learning.

She welcomed initiatives to take the

cooperation forward.

Selim Reza also welcomed the webinar,

which is the first of its kind held between the

two Municipal bodies.

Govt working to make action

plans for environment-friendly

constructions

DHAKA : Additional Secretary (Climate

Change Wing) to the Ministry of

Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Md Mizanul Hoque Chowdhury yesterday

said the government is working to prepare

an action plan regarding constructions

considering the issues of climate change and

environmental pollution.

"Action plans will be formulated

considering the needs of all places and

people of the country and the issues of

climate change and environmental pollution.

There should be open space and sunlight

around the buildings. All construction

materials including bricks, rods and cement

must be environment-friendly," he said.

He came up with the remarks while

addressing a workshop on construction of

eco-friendly residential and commercial

buildings and factories at a hotel here as the

chief guest, a press release said.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and

Climate Change and the European Union

(EU)-SWITCH-Asia jointly organized it, the

release added.

Bangladesh University of Engineering and

Technology (BUET)'s Environment and

Energy, Department of Architecture

Professor Md Ashikur Rahman Joarder

presented the key note paper at the work

shop.

With Additional Secretary to the Ministry

of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik in the chair, the

workshop was, also addressed, among

others, by Chief Architect of the Department

of Architecture Mir Manzurur Rahman.

Besides, the representatives of EU, World

Bank and various ministries, departments

and agencies concerned attended it.

A meeting of the working committee of Akboria Care Foundation was held

at its office on Tuesday. The meeting was chaired by Mohammad Nurun

Nabi, President of the Working Committee. Vice President Mezbahur

Rahman, General Secretary Azahar Ali, Joint General Secretary Harunar

Rashid, Sabbirul Mostafa Rakib, Organizing Secretary Firoz Ahmed, Office

Secretary Sabina Yasmin, Publications Secretary Sufia Khatun, Public

Relations Secretary Moinul Islam and others were present. Photo : TBT

Youth crushed

under train in city

DHAKA : A 22-year-old year

youth was killed after being

hit by a train at Kamalapur

TT Para rail gate on

Tuesday, reports UNB.

The identity of the

deceased could not be

known immediately.

The train hit him while he

was walking near a rail track,

leaving him dead on the spot

around 6 am, said subinspector

of Bangladesh

Railway Police Anwar

Hossain.

Police sent the body to

Dhaka Medical College and

Hospital morgue for

autopsy.

Newborn's

lifeless body

recovered in city

DHAKA : Police have

recovered the body of an

abandoned newborn from

the city's Hatirjeel

Mohanagar project area on

Monday, reports UNB.

The body was later sent to

Dhaka Medical College

Hospital (DMCH) morgue

for autopsy, police said.

Hatirjheel police subinspector

(SI) Nazrul Islam

said, on information we I

went there and I saw a bag

wrapped in shari. The oneday-old

female newborn's

body was inside the bag.

The local couldn't say who

left the bag there, the SI said.

Nipun moves

Supreme Court

against HC stay

on Zayed's

disqualification

DHAKA : Actress Nipun

Akter Tuesday moved the

Supreme Court against the

High Court's stay on the

cancellation of actor Zayed

Khan's candidacy in the

Bangladesh Film Artistes'

Association election over

vote-buying allegations,

reports UNB.

Nipun's lawyer

Mostafizur Rahman said

her client had filed the

appeal at the appellate

division of the Supreme

Court. "The court is likely

to hear the petition in the

afternoon," thebarrister

said.

On Monday, a division

bench of High Court

justices Mamnoon

Rahman and Khandaker

Diliruzzaman stayed the

decision of the Election

Appellate Board revoking

the candidacy of Zayed.

The order was passed

following a writ petition

filed by Zayed challenging

the validity of the decision

of the Board.

Besides, the High Court

had asked Zayed to

continue with his activities

as the general secretary,

according to advocate

Ahsanul Karim.

The High Court had also

issued a rule, asking the

authorities concerned to

explain by February 15

why the decision to cancel

the actor's candidacy

should not be declared

illegal.

On Saturday, the

Election Appellate Board

decided to remove Zayed

from the post of general

secretary of the

association over

allegations that he had

resorted to impropriety in

the recent election.

Sohanur Rahman Sohan,

chairman of the Board,

announced the decision on

Saturday evening. A day

later, the newly elected

committee of the

Bangladesh Film Artistes'

Association led by Ilias

Kanchan and Nipun Akter

took the oath of office.

The association election

was held on January 28.

Zayed was declared the

winner for the general

secretary post, after he

defeated Nipun in a close

contest. It was his third

consecutive win.

Prize giving ceremony of

'Literature Festival- 5.0'held

at BUP

The Final Round and Prize Giving

Ceremony of 'Literature Festival- 5.0'was

held on Monday at Bijoy Auditorium of

BUP. The Literature Festival- 5.0 was

organized by BUP Literature and Drama

Club under the supervision of the

Department of English, Faculty of Arts and

Social Sciences. The fest started on

03February 2022.The purpose of the fest

was to create a platform for literary

enthusiasts to develop their thinking

power, explore their creativity and to

promote Bengali literature in the world.

In the fest, around 500 contestants from

renowned schools, colleges and universities

participated in 11 different segments. Among

11 segments, Pop Quiz, Literature Quiz,

Recitation, Painting, Digital Art,

Photography and File Festival are

remarkable, a press release said.

Vice Chancellor Major General Md

Moshfequr Rahman, SGP, SUP, ndc, psc was

present as the Chief Guest and distributed

the prizes among the winners. Pro-VC of

BUP Professor Dr. Khondoker Mokaddem

Hossain was present as the Special Guest.

Associate Professor Dr. Md. Mohoshin Reza,

Chairman of the Department of English

moderated the programme.

Among others, BUP Senior Officers,

Faculty Members, Students, and Invited

Guests were present in the ceremony.

The Final Round and Prize Giving Ceremony of 'Literature Festival- 5.0'was

held on Monday at Bijoy Auditorium of BUP.

Photo : Courtesy

DMP arrests 51 for

selling, consuming

drugs in city

DHAKA : The members of the Detective Branch (DB) of the

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in several anti-drug raids

arrested a total of 51 people on charges of selling and

consuming drugs during the last 24 hours till 6am on

Tuesday.

The DB in association with local police carried out the

drives simultaneously at different parts of the metropolis

from 6am on February 7, according to a DMP release.

In separate anti-drug raids, police seized 115 grams of

heroin and 9.435 kilograms of cannabis (ganja), 31,561

pieces of contraband yaba tablets and 40 litres of foreign

liquor from their possession, the release added.

Police filed 37 separate cases against the arrestees in these

connections with respective police stations under the

Narcotics Control Act.

Indian Foreign

Secretary calls on

visiting Lankan FM

NEW DELHI : Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan

Shringla called on the visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister in

Delhi on Tuesday to discuss ways on bolstering bilateral ties

in several areas, reports UNB.

"Foreign Secretary @harshvshringla called on the visiting

Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Prof. G. L. Peiris. Discussed

strengthening of the relationship in multiple spheres

including a people-centric development partnership," Indian

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi

tweeted after the one-to-one meeting.

On Monday, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar held

talks with Peiris in the national capital. Officials said that the

two Ministers discussed investment initiatives and tourism

opportunities to boost Sri Lanka's economy, as well as steps

needed to enhance the island nation's energy security.

Peiris's three-day visit to India comes days after Prime

Minister Narendra Modi government's US dollars 500

million financial assistance to the island nation.

Separated by the Palk Strait, India and Sri Lanka occupy a

strategic position in South Asia and have always sought to

build a common security umbrella in the Indian Ocean. The

two countries are also close on economic terms, with India

being the island's largest trading partner though Sri Lanka is

said to have moved closer to China in recent years.

A teenaged boy's head is

shaved allegedly for stylist

haircut in Jhalakathi

JHALAKATHI : A man has allegedly shaved the head of a 12-

year-old boy for what he said keeping stylist hair at Amirabad

in Nalchiti upazila of Jhalakathi district, reports UNB.

The incident took place on Monday at Amirabad Bazar in

the upazila. Faruk Hawladar, father of the boy lodged a

complaint with Nalchiti Police in this connection, said

officer-in-charge of Nalchiti Police Station, Ataur Rahman.

According to the complaint, the boy went to a barbershop

to cut hair. After seeing his haircut Haidar Hawladar, uncle

of the local chairman forcefully shaved boy's head as

punishment. Enraged by the boy's protest Haidar beat the

boy before allowing him to go home.

Certificate award

ceremony of BAF

Flying Instructors'

course held

DHAKA : The certificate

award ceremony of

Bangladesh Air Force (BAF)

Flying Instructors' course

was held yesterday at the

Flying Instructors' School

(FIS) at Arulia Air Field in

Bogura.

Chief of Air Staff Air Chief

Marshal Shaikh Abdul

Hannan distributed

certificates among the 16

course participants as the

chief guest, said a press

release here.

Squadron Leader

Muhammad Shadman Ali,

GD (P) of No 60 Flying

Instructors' Course was

adjudged as the best all

round student officer and

awarded with the

prestigious 'Mofiz Trophy'.

CDBA election

on Feb 10

CHATTOGRAM : The

annual election of

Chattogram District Bar

Association (CDBA) will be

held on Thursday.

Election commission

sources said all preparation,

including printing of ballot

papers have been completed

and candidates have been

urged to obey the election

rules strictly.

Chief

election

commissioner Advocate

Mohammad Reazaul Karim

Chowdhury told BSS that

they are trying their best to

present a fair election before

the lawyers.

Two panels, Awami League

and pro-liberation forces

backed Chattagram

Sommilito Ainjibi Somonnoy

Parishad and pro BNP-

Jamaat backed Jatiyatabadi

Ainjibi Oikya Parishad are

vying for 19 posts in the

election this year.

NU publishes 2nd,

3rd year honours

exam schedules

DHAKA : The revised

examination schedule of the

honours 2nd and 3rd year of

the academic session 2020-

2021 under National

University (NU) has been

published yesterday.

Examinations of both the

honours 2nd and 3nd year

will begin from 1pm instead

of 9am, said a NU press

release.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 , 2022

4

Is a rift between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban imminent?

Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam

e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Welcome drive must

not slacken

W

e

have been observing with great satisfaction the

crackdown that was initiated from last March with

actions against casino operators. Gradually, the

crackdown spread into other sectors as well. But at that time,

overthinking and undue pessimism was noted in some

quarters that the crackdown would soon peter out and all

would be business as usual. But blissfully the juggernaut

against crime and corruption launched from the highest level

of power in the country has only grown stronger and

stronger.

Day after day the dragnet against the czars of corruption,

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

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

importantly, the drive has shaken off attempts at influence

peddling in favor of identified guilty ones notwithstanding

their political connections or profiles. Indeed, in the entire

history of Bangladesh there is no record of a government

moving so undauntingly or fearlessly against members of its

own political partysuch as the presentanti crime and anti

corruption drive under the leadership of Prime Minister

(PM) Sheikh Hasina.

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

power will be able to prevent the PM from staying the course

all the way. The same have only reaffirmed the reality that in

Bangladesh todaynobody is the above the law and the arm of

the law will grab any one otherwise wrongfully perceivedas

untouchable. While deeply appreciating this fact, there is

one aspect to which the people expect their government's

attention must be directed fully. This is their keen

expectation that not only the sultans of crime and corruption

be caught with their arrests and starting of cases against

them. People expect that simultaneouslythe arrested ones or

their family members must not be allowed to use their

illegally amassed wealth in the slightest to cover up their

misdeeds or to go on enjoying their ill gotten wealth in other

ways. We have seen very recently initiatives taken by a

specialized agency of the government to freeze the bank

accounts of certain crime lords and their family members.

But we believe that such initiatives must not be limited to

tokenism only.

For example, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) has

started a case against an alleged delinquent and murderer in

the police service, one former OC Pradeep on charges of

owning a mere 4 crore Taka in excess of his declared sources

of income. A court has already declared the death penalty

against him for murdering an ex army officer and this is

symbolic of the fact that the present government in

Bangladesh will not be swayed in the least to frustrate the

judiciary from doing its work however influential a person is

perceived to be.

But realistically and according to fair media reports this OC

Pradeep indirectly owns properties worth hundreds of crores

of Taka not to speak of hundreds of crores hemoney

laundered into other countries to be stashed away in secret

accounts or for buying real estate. People want that ACC

should start investigating all such monies and properties in

entirety , gained through crime and corruption and lay claim

to these or make any further sale or use of such properties by

them, impossible.

Media has reported credibly on the great corruption

indulged in by the so called managing director of as non bank

financial institutions. (DFIs). He has allegedly

misappropriated hundreds of crores of Takain this manner

from other DFIs and laundered them abroad to buy

properties and other assets. This man is currently living

comfortably in Canada and the hands of the law cannot

reach him there.

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

starting or investigating cases against them ? Or should we

feel a smug satisfaction that some of them could be arrested

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

appreciation from only knowing that these nabobs of

corruption and crimewill never be in a position to enjoy or

use their ill gotten wealth again, even partly.

Government's relevant agencies and the Central Bank must

track down each and every secret or open bank account of

such individuals within the country and freeze them

instantly. All out efforts must be made in collaboration with

foreign governments and authorities to bring back to

Bangladesh the monies and values of properties of these

persons in foreign territories. The same would then be

deposited in our public treasury for spending as deemed fit

by our government.

No leniency should be tolerated in the process. Any effort

to help the accused in these matters from bribery and other

means, also will have to be sternly investigated, prevented

and punished. Of course the accused may be allowed to

spend with official permission reasonable amounts from the

seized or frozen funds to pay for their allowable legal

expenses and family maintenance. But the seized amounts of

cash and properties to remain on settlement of the cases

against them, the same must be deposited in the public

exchequer for spending on country's development activities

and projects for the welfare of common people.

We believe that doing such things, fully and successfully,

will earn for the government of the day in Bangladesh sky

high recognition for a good deed done and lasting support

from the rank and file of the people.

We also call on the governments and people of those

countries which are proving to be shelter givers of the crime

lords of our country to wake up to their responsibilities.

These front rank countries of the world are regarded as so for

their achievements in so many things. But such profiles are

likely to be tarnished soon as more and more people in

developing countries like ours find out that the

administrations and certain people in these countries do not

mind complicity with law dodgers in our country for

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

authorities in those countries as well.

When the Taliban took over the

Afghan capital, Kabul, in August

last year, many in Islamabad

cheered. The collapse of the Westernbacked

Afghan government was seen as an

opportunity to reset relations between the

two countries, which had grown strained

under Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. After

the formation of the Taliban government,

Islamabad became one of its main

supporters on the international scene,

calling for its recognition and for urgent

financial assistance.

In recent months, however, signs have

emerged of cracks in the otherwise amicable

relations between the two. Disagreements

over the demarcation of the Afghanistan-

Pakistan border and Afghan Taliban

support for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan

(TTP) have caused tensions.

If no resolution is reached on these issues,

this could cause a rift in relations with

significant consequences for both Pakistan's

national security and regional stability.

In early September, while the Taliban was

deliberating the makeup of its government,

Pakistan's former intelligence chief

Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed paid a

visit to Kabul. According to Afghan and

Pakistani sources, Hameed was able to

influence the decisions on the final makeup

of the interim cabinet to favour pro-

Pakistani figures from the Haqqani

Network and prevent Mullah Ghani

Baradar from taking the head of

government position.

Bardar, a prominent Taliban leader, is

perceived to harbour hostility towards

Islamabad, given his imprisonment by the

Pakistani authorities between 2010 and

2018. A government headed by him would

not have been as friendly to Pakistan. By

contrast, the Haqqani Network, which took

key cabinet portfolios, including the

ministries of interior, communications,

education and refugee and repatriation, are

considered close to Islamabad. While

Pakistan's ability to sway the Taliban

government formation process reflects the

extent of its influence in Kabul, it has also

caused resentment among certain circles

within the leadership of the group.

This was made apparent in late December

and early January when Afghan border

guards forced Pakistani workers to stop

fencing the border between the two

countries. The incident was followed by an

exchange of public statements by Afghan

and Pakistani officials.

"The issue of the Durand Line is still an

unresolved one, while the construction of

fencing itself creates rifts within a nation

spread across both sides of the border. It

amounts to dividing a nation," Afghan

Information Minister and Chief Spokesman

Zabihullah Mujahid said in an interview for

a Pashto-language YouTube channel,

referring to the Pashtun community, the

biggest ethnic group in Afghanistan and the

second-biggest one in Pakistan.

In response, Pakistan military

spokesman, Major General Babar Iftikhar

said during a press conference, "The blood

of our martyrs was spilled in erecting this

fence. It is a fence of peace. It will be

completed and will remain [in place]."

The Durand Line was demarcated

RAzA KHAN

between British-ruled India and

Afghanistan in 1893 by the then-Afghan

ruler Amir Abdul Rahman and British

Indian Foreign Secretary Mortimer

Durand. Since the establishment of

Pakistan in 1947, Kabul has not only

objected to the border demarcation, but has

also challenged the inclusion of Pashtun

tribal areas within Pakistani borders.

In recent years, the problem has

persisted, with both former Afghan

presidents, Hamid Karzai and Ashraf

Ghani, reaffirming the Afghan rejection of

the Durand Line. The Taliban has stuck to

A ceasefire between the armed group and the Pakistani military

negotiated with the help of the Afghan Taliban government in

November was short-lived. The TTP resumed their attacks in

December against security forces and civilians, even as secret talks

with representatives of the Pakistani government have continued.

the same traditional stance and is showing

no signs of making concessions to Pakistan.

In recent days, engagement between the

two sides failed to make any progress on the

issue. In late January, Pakistan's National

Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf visited Kabul

but was only able to negotiate a bilateral

coordination mechanism to facilitate

border crossing movement and trade; the

border fence issue remained unaddressed.

Another source of tensions between

Kabul and Islamabad has been the TTP. The

armed group fought alongside the Afghan

Taliban against the US and its allies for

years and the two have a strong bond. When

the Taliban took power on August 15, they

set free hundreds of TTP men, including

some prominent leaders, incarcerated in

Afghan jails. Much of the TTP leadership is

based in Afghanistan and many members,

according to Afghan and Pakistanis

journalistic sources, are receiving support.

Since it was founded in 2007, the TTP has

been responsible for deadly violence in

Pakistan, attacking both security forces and

civilians. The Pakistani authorities believe

that the TTP, along with al-Qaeda and some

affiliated groups, has so far killed more than

80,000 Pakistanis and inflicted economic

losses of more than $150bn.

In 2014, the Pakistani army launched a

major offensive against the TTP, forcing

many of its members to flee to Afghanistan.

After an initial lull in violence, the TTP

started to escalate its attacks again in recent

years. In 2021, as the Taliban advanced in

Afghanistan, TTP fighters intensified their

assaults in Pakistan. There were at least two

attacks also targeting Chinese workers and

the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, which

unsettled Beijing, a close ally of Islamabad.

Before the Taliban takeover of Kabul last

year, Pakistani officials repeatedly argued

that the presence of the US and its allies in

Afghanistan fed the TTP insurgency. But

recent events have shown that the victory of

the Afghan Taliban has only emboldened

the TTP.

A ceasefire between the armed group and

the Pakistani military negotiated with the

help of the Afghan Taliban government in

November was short-lived. The TTP

resumed their attacks in December against

security forces and civilians, even as secret

talks with representatives of the Pakistani

government have continued. So far, the

mediation of the Afghan Taliban has not

produced any significant results and its

support for the TTP continues. If violence in

Pakistan escalates, that could put more

strain on Kabul-Islamabad relations. And

such an escalation is quite likely.

Source: Al Jazeera

50 years of Germany-Bangladesh relations

February 4, 2022, marked the 50th

anniversary of Germany-

Bangladesh bilateral relations. For

the last 50 years, the two countries have

maintained sound diplomatic relations

with few significant disputes.

Bangladesh is currently in a transition

phase from Least Developed Country

(LDC) to Developing Country (DC), while

Germany is performing a leadership role

in the European Union. Over the decades,

the two countries have bolstered their

relations in various aspects, including

political, economic, and cultural

exchanges.

At this auspicious moment, assessing

the events of the past 50 years suggests

that they can advance ties to new heights

by addressing mutual interests.

Bangladesh emerged as a sovereign

state on December 16, 1971. West

Germany was the first European country

to recognize Bangladesh, in 1972. West

Germany then started to expand its

cooperation with Bangladesh, starting

with the adoption of "war babies" by many

German families.

The relationship further cemented

when West German chancellor Willy

Brandt and his government played an

instrumental role in brokering peace

between Bangladesh and Pakistan in a

dispute over prisoners of war. In later

years, both countries established

embassies in their respective

counterparts.

As the relationship advanced, high-level

visits took place between the countries,

starting with a nine-member German

parliamentary delegation visiting

Bangladesh in February 2004. In 2011,

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina paid a visit to Germany. In the

same year, then-German president

Christian Wulff also visited Bangladesh.

Even after the Rohingya refugee crisis,

Germany supported Bangladesh

politically and financially to maintain the

refugee camps.

The growing relationship resulted in

growing bilateral trade also. In 2018,

bilateral trade was worth about €6.6

billion (US$7.56 billion). Bangladesh

exports textile products, frozen goods, and

leather products to Germany, while

Germany exports machinery, chemicals,

and electrical goods to Bangladesh.

It is worth mentioning that Germany is

one of the largest textile export

destinations for Bangladesh, and 90% of

Bangladesh's total export to Germany is

textile products. Apart from commercial

relations, the two countries also conduct

development cooperation. Between 1972

and 2020, Germany provided €3.03

billion as a part of a financial and technical

cooperation commitment.

The priorities of German development

cooperation with Bangladesh include

climate and energy, good governance,

displacement and migration, vocational

skill development, sustainable supply

chains, and humanitarian assistance to

Rohingya camps.

During the Covid-19 pandemic,

Germany provided €340 million to

Bangladesh for development projects

including in energy, urban development,

good governance, displacement, and

training. Apart from that, as a part of

MD MUFASSIR RASHIDS

Covid aid, Germany donated 8 million

doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to

Bangladesh.

The two countries have also secured a

trajectory for growing people-to-people

connections over the years. In the Global

Soft Power Index 2021, Germany has

secured the top position. And evidence of

this achievement is visible in Bangladesh.

German non-governmental

organizations including Friedrich

The priorities of German development cooperation with

Bangladesh include climate and energy, good governance,

displacement and migration, vocational skill development,

sustainable supply chains, and humanitarian assistance to

Rohingya camps.

Naumann and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

(FES) are working in Bangladesh, with

visible impacts.

Apart from NGO activities, as the crossculture

connection increases, German

culture and language have gradually

become popular in Bangladesh. The

Goethe Institute and German language

departments in public universities have

facilitated that path. German

philosophies, literature, sports, and music

are also becoming popular among the

youth of Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh's culture is also

finding its way into Germany. The famous

German broadcaster Deutsche Welle

(DW) now hosts programs in Bengali.

Over the past decade, it has also dedicated

many of its programs in the Bengali

language. DW also covers news in Bengali.

The Bangladeshi diaspora community is

also growing in Germany. According to an

unofficial source, 20,000 Bangladeshi

citizens are living in Germany. These

DR. MOHAMED RAMADY

Bangladeshi nationals contribute to

Germany's economy and send back

remittances to their home country.

One of the significant aspects of crosscultural

relations between Germany and

Bangladesh is growing academic

relations. Germany has announced many

scholarships, including DAAD, for

aspiring Bangladeshi students. Every

year, many Bangladeshi students go to

Germany after securing these

scholarships and availing themselves of

the tuition-free German university

system, resulting in know-how exchange

and cross-culture experience.

All in all, it seems that for Germany-

Bangladesh bilateral relations, the

potential is vast, and there are hardly any

significant challenges apart from the

current student-visa problem and illegalimmigrant

problem.

Because of Covid-19, aspiring

Bangladeshi students are currently facing

visa problems at the German Embassy in

Dhaka, which should be solved as soon as

possible. Foreign Minister A K Abdul

Momen recently urged resolution of this

issue at a meeting with German

Ambassador Achim Tröster. Meanwhile

in Germany, illegal migration from

Bangladesh has become an issue.

Both countries should make extra

efforts to address these temporary and

easily solvable concerns.

In conclusion, an assessment of 50 years

of bilateral relations suggests that both

countries are on the right track to achieve

their national objectives. It is hoped that

both countries will understand their

mutual interests and undertake initiatives

to take bilateral ties to new heights in

celebration of this auspicious milestone.

Source: Asia times

GCC corporate tax rates are still attractive to foreign companies

Offshore centers have always

competed with each other to attract

business based on location, the ease

of doing business and the cost of doing

business. The last involves the rate of taxes

levied on profits. The news that the UAE will

introduce a new 9 percent corporation tax

on business profits above 375,000 dirhams

($102,096) effective from June 1, 2023, has

not come as a surprise. However, the UAE's

planned corporation tax will still be lower

than the other five GCC countries, which

range from 10 percent for Qatar, 15 percent

for Oman and Kuwait, and 20 percent for

Saudi Arabia. All these are still below other

tax jurisdictions. The average top corporate

tax rate among EU countries is 21.3 percent,

23.04 percent among OECD countries, and

69 percent in the G7, according to the USbased

Tax Foundation.

UAE authorities seem confident that the

planned corporate tax levy, with its long

implementation time frame, will not

undermine the attraction of the Emirates as

a low-tax haven, and that the move is in line

with the general trend in the Gulf

Cooperation Council countries to diversify

their source of revenues away from

hydrocarbon income dependency, and

follows on the introduction of Value Added

Taxation in Gulf countries.

In fact, it was the UAE along with Saudi

Arabia that first introduced VAT in 2018 on

most goods and services at a standard rate of

5 percent, followed by a 20 percent tax on

branches of foreign banks operating in the

Emirates, along with a significant 55 percent

levied on the concession agreements profits

in the oil and gas sector.

Saudi Aramco does not operate such a

concession agreement with foreign energy

companies. But businesses in the UAE will

still be exempted from paying taxes on

capital gains and dividends from

shareholders. Corporate tax incentives

offered to free zone businesses that do not

conduct business onshore are unaffected.

Withholding taxes on domestic and cross

border payments will not be imposed.

Foreign investors who do not carry on

business in the UAE will not be subject to

the new taxes. Saudi Arabia introduced its

VAT at 15 percent from July 1, 2020.

These two major GCC economies have left

intact the exemption for individual income

tax on foreigners, which is welcomed by the

large expatriate labor force in both

countries, despite those arguing for some

form of tax-on remittances above certain

levels but exempting most lower-level

remittances.

The UAE has extensive double tax treaties

with other countries to ensure that the new

proposed corporate tax is not unfairly levied

and that the UAE remains a world-leading

hub open for business, as the lack of double

tax agreements in some GCC countries had

blunted their attractiveness. But taxation

levels alone will not attract world-class

business to locate to the Gulf as this requires

transparent legal, accounting and regulatory

frameworks in operation, especially if the

aim is to promote this Gulf country as a

world-class financial center. The key for

success for these competing GCC financial

centers is to differentiate themselves instead

of cloning each other.

Some believe that financial centers such as

London have grown because of the innate

skills of its financial labor force, but in

essence, London flourished in recent years

because it attracted the best financial players

from the world, as foreign banks and

financial institutions were drawn to London

as a convenient and cost-effective place to do

business.

Source: Arab news

WEDnESDAy, FEBRUARy 9, 2022

5

Should corporations give paid leave after miscarriage?

CAROlInE BOlOGnA

Miscarriage is incredibly common. In fact, research suggests

that up to 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage.

What's not common, however, is workplace policy that

supports pregnant employees and their partners when they

experience this kind of loss.

In 2019, Michigan state Rep. Kyra Harris Bolden (D)

introduced a bill that would require eligible employers in the

state to provide paid leave to workers if they suffer a

miscarriage or stillbirth (or if their partners do). This

legislation stemmed from her own miscarriage experience at

the beginning of her first term in office.

"It was definitely the greatest sense of loss I'd ever felt, and

I wasn't prepared for that," Bolden told HuffPost. "It's really

hard to explain the highs and lows you go through, and the

hormones. I didn't realize how common miscarriage was,

and I didn't realize how emotionally traumatizing it can be."

Despite how common it is, this sort of loss remains

shrouded in silence and feelings of shame. As a result,

families often don't receive the workplace support they need.

"Experiencing a miscarriage is much like experiencing a

death, and we give people time to grieve if a parent or spouse

passes," Bolden said. "So I started to think about all of the

families and how common this is. But a lot of times they

aren't getting the meals and support they would after other

losses. It's usually very internal. And people should be able to

take that time to grieve."

Miscarriage, like other losses, can impact job performance.

Although the expectant parents didn't get the opportunity to

know their baby, they mourn the loss of the dreams they had

for that child, the future they imagined and the memories

they hoped to create.

"You need that time to reconcile that you thought you were

going to bring a life into the world, and now you aren't,"

Bolden said. "There's also physical trauma. Miscarriages can

be physically painful and require medical appointments. If

you watch TV, you might think it's a one day event, and then

it's over. But that's not the reality."

Maryland-based therapist Julie Bindeman specializes in

reproductive challenges. She believes there are very practical

reasons to provide leave to employees experiencing

pregnancy loss. "Someone who is in mourning is not going to

be productive," Bindeman said. "If I'm the employer, and I

have someone who's suffered any kind of loss, including

pregnancy loss, they're probably going to be forgetful, they

will miss deadlines, they will not be able to attend to projects

in the way they need to be attended to."

Requiring an employee work during the acute stages of

grieving can also create more problems, Bindeman

explained. "It's setting up another layer of failure," Bindeman

Up to 20% of known pregnancies end in miscarriage, but company HR policies don't often

reflect this reality.

said. "They're trying to go to work, take their mind off the loss

and distract themselves with their job ? probably to a degree

that isn't as successful as they wish. When they find they

aren't able to answer questions or solve problems as quickly,

then they feel incompetent on top of their grieving, which can

further reduce productivity and confidence. That's why leave

policies are so important."

Bolden's 2019 bill did not advance in Michigan's

legislature, though she did refile it as part of a larger package

last year. Legislators in other states, as well as local

government officials, have introduced ? and even

implemented ? similar measures to provide paid leave after

pregnancy loss, but these policies remain rare. And they're

sometimes designed in such a way to include miscarriage in

companies' existing leave policies, which not all employers

offer. A Kaiser Health News article last month reported that

35 states and five localities have laws requiring employers to

provide pregnancy-related accommodations "which can

Photo: luis Alvarez

include time off to recover from a miscarriage," and that nine

states and Washington, D.C., have paid family leave

programs, which may cover serious medical complications

related to miscarriage.

The article also noted that 13 states, 20 cities and four

counties have laws in place mandating paid sick leave for

medical needs, which can apply to workers dealing with

mental and physical health issues due to pregnancy loss.

Notably, Oregon is the only state to mandate paid

bereavement leave. And in October, the city of Portland

approved measures to include time off for employees who've

had a miscarriage, stillbirth or other type of pregnancy loss,

including abortion.

On the federal level, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) and

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) introduced the Support

Through Loss Act last year to provide at least three days of

paid leave to workers experiencing miscarriage (as well as

other losses while trying to grow their families, like an

unsuccessful round of in vitro fertilization, a failed adoption

or surrogacy arrangement, or a medical diagnosis that

impacts fertility). "For too long, individuals and families

experiencing pregnancy loss have been left to suffer in silence

due to the cultural stigma and taboo and a lack of awareness,"

Pressley said. "Impacted families deserve to be met with

compassion, care, paid leave and holistic support and

resources."

The Support Through Loss Act "sends a message to those

who have experienced pregnancy loss that they are not alone,

and ensure that they get the resources, workforce support,

and care necessary to recover and heal," Pressley added.

The bill has not yet advanced in the House or Senate.

Under the federal Pregnancy Discrimination Act, employers

are prohibited from firing, cutting pay or demoting an

employee due to pregnancy or a pregnancy-related medical

condition like miscarriage, but labor rights advocates have

complained that the law leaves much room for

interpretation. Under the Family and Medical Leave Act,

eligible workers can take unpaid leave to deal with serious

health complications resulting from pregnancy loss.

Although legislative efforts targeted at families

experiencing miscarriage have been slow, there's been some

progress in the private sector as more companies update

their leave policies to include these types of losses.

In December, Pinterest announced that the company

would be offering four weeks of paid leave to parents who

experience pregnancy loss.

"We know that these types of situations are happening and

employees are suffering in silence, or they may not feel

empowered to ask their managers or business partners about

it," Alice Vichaita, head of global benefits at Pinterest, told

HuffPost. "We want to be intentional in including this to

normalize pregnancy loss and that people feel empowered to

speak to their managers about this."

Pinterest's new policy is part of an overall effort to look at

leave and fertility-related benefits holistically, as there are

many different ways to grow your family ? and therefore

many different challenges that can arise along the way,

Vichaita noted.

"We really feel that people do their best work when they

feel seen and supported," Vichaita said. "It's such a

challenging time in one's life. We wanted to make sure we're

there for them in life's biggest milestones, including all paths

and stages of parenthood. This kind of loss is often part of

one's journey in trying to become pregnant, so we want to

provide space to grieve the loss." Following her experience

with miscarriage and stillbirth, "The Bachelor" alum Ashley

Spivey started encouraging her Instagram followers to talk to

their companies' HR representatives about including

pregnancy loss in their leave policies.

Don't let these misconceptions deter you from giving.

Photo: Getty

Myths about donating blood

BROOkE knISlEy

With a national blood shortage during

an ongoing pandemic, the United

States is in dire need of people to roll up

their sleeves to spare a vein for an hour.

But many potential donors

inaccurately think they can't donate -

mostly because of notions that may

have once been true but are no longer

relevant, or that weren't accurate in the

first place. There are, however, still

restrictions on queer individuals, which

many advocates are fighting against.

Below are just a few common

misconceptions about blood donation

guidelines. Read through so you can get

to donating, worry-free, if you are

eligible.

Many people with tattoos assume

they can't - or have to wait months ? to

donate blood, but that's not quite

accurate.

"Different states have different

regulations regarding inspection of

the parlors," said Dr. Yvette Miller,

executive medical officer of the

American Red Cross. "If a person

received a tattoo in a state that

performs an inspection of the

facility, then there's no deferral

period. In states where there are no

statutes where the tattoo parlor is

inspected by the state, then it is a

three-month deferral from the date

of the tattoo."So if you received your

tattoo in an inspected parlor, you're

good to go. If your friend gave you a

stick-and-poke, hold off for three

months.

Being an international traveler

doesn't prevent you from giving blood.

Only one specific travel rule exists.

"The travel restrictions are around

malaria," Miller said. "If a person

spends 24 hours or more traveling to or

through a malaria-endemic area, it's a

three-month deferral from when they

return to a non-malaria-endemic area."

If you were born or have lived outside

the U.S., there's a little more to it

regarding Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease,

which is related to "mad cow" disease.

That information is available on the

Red Cross website if it applies to you.If

you've had a COVID-19 vaccine, you

can't give blood.Quite the opposite,

actually. In most cases, you don't even

have to wait.

"COVID-19 vaccines that are

acceptable without any deferral periods

are the ones that have been approved

by the FDA," Miller said.And those not

approved by the Food and Drug

Administration?

There are still vaccine trials occurring

on things like live attenuated vaccines.

So if a potential donor has received

such a vaccine, they must wait 14 days

before donating - but they aren't

disqualified.

There's an age limit on donating

blood.Most individuals 17 years old and

up can donate without parental

consent, as long as they meet the height

and weight requirements. Everyone,

regardless of age, must weigh at least

110 pounds.

"For the American Red Cross, we

don't have an upper age limit," Miller

added. "In terms of the younger age

range, in any state, an individual that is

16 years old can donate" as long as they

have written parental consent.

If you currently have COVID-19 or

are displaying COVID-like symptoms,

do not attempt to donate blood. You

should be resting and isolating.But just

because you've had COVID-19 in the

past doesn't mean you can't donate

blood in the future.

Donors "have to be symptom-free for

14 days from the last day that they had

any type of symptoms," Miller said.And

if you can't remember the last day you

had symptoms?

"We don't want to pressure people

into trying to remember something

that they can't. But let me just say, in

my experience over the last two years,

people definitely know when they start

feeling better," Miller said.

As long as you're taking standard

precautions against COVID-19 (handwashing,

mask-wearing, social

distancing), donating blood will not put

you at a higher risk of infection. And it

won't increase your exposure any more

than the general risk from leaving the

house, nor will it weaken your immune

system.

"There's no evidence that donating

blood has an effect on the immune

system to increase personal

susceptibility to COVID-19," Miller

said.

It does decrease a person's iron,

however. Before donating, a donor's

iron levels are tested, and a person can't

donate if their levels are too low.

Similarly, donors are encouraged to

take a multivitamin after giving blood

to replenish their iron supply.

How to sleep better if you

have a covid infection

SyDnI EllIS

Every muscle in my back, hips and

legs ached. I was shaking and

shivering uncontrollably, despite the

three blankets I was buried under.

My head throbbed, my throat was

scratchy and I felt downright

miserable - my breakthrough

COVID-19 infection was no joke.

But the worst part of all? Despite

how fatigued I felt, sleep seemed to be

just out of reach.

Any time you're sick, sleeping can

be more difficult. A COVID infection

is no different, said Dr. Heather

Moday, an immunologist and author

of "The Immunotype Breakthrough."

"Whether it's a breakthrough

COVID infection or an infection of an

unvaccinated person, either can

cause disruptions of sleep," she

explained. "The issue is the severity of

symptoms. People with breakthrough

infections tend to have milder

symptoms of aches, fever, cough and

fatigue compared to the

unvaccinated. But these symptoms

may still be there to some degree. All

of these symptoms may make it more

difficult to get comfortable and stay

asleep."

How can you cope? If counting

sheep isn't cutting it, try these tips to

get better sleep when you're COVID-

19 positive.Before you go to bed, take

a hot shower, said Dr. Lucy McBride,

an internist based in Washington,

D.C. Get the water warm enough to

create steam. This is a great way to

"loosen up congestion," she

explained.

McBride also suggested managing

symptoms with over-the-counter

cough medications and fever

reducers (like ibuprofen or

acetaminophen), as long as they don't

interfere with any other medications

you're taking.

Beware of using decongestants in

the evening, though, "as these contain

ingredients that have stimulant

properties and may keep you awake

at night," said Dr. Sonya Merrill, a

sleep medicine specialist on the Texas

Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas

medical staff.

Taking a small dose of melatonin at

bedtime might be helpful as well,

Moday said, as it "not only helps

ramp up your immune system

overnight, but also helps improve

circadian rhythm by opposing the

stress hormone cortisol and telling

your body it's time for sleep." Just be

sure to chat with your doctor before

starting any new medication.

Merrill recommended sleeping

with your head and neck elevated, to

"improve breathing and reduce

mucus pooling in the back of your

throat."You can do this by lying on a

few pillows or adding a proper neck

pillow to your sleep arsenal.

Merrill suggested drinking water to

help thin mucus, a byproduct of the

infection that can lead to restreducing

issues like congestion and

nasal drip.

If your symptoms include vomiting

or nausea, it's especially important to

stay hydrated. "You can drink

coconut water or add some

electrolyte tabs, such as Nuun brand,

into very diluted fruit juice," Moday

said. "Commercial electrolyte drinks

like Pedialyte are fine as well, but they

do contain more sugar. Ginger can

help tremendously with nausea, as

can fennel."

Moday also suggested drinking

honey and lemon tea, or tea with

demulcent herbs (like slippery elm

and licorice root).Make sure your

room is an ideal place to rest. Merrill

recommended using a humidifier set

between 40% and 50% humidity "to

improve nasal breathing."

Also, an optimal bedroom

temperature for sleeping is "between

65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit, as it is

all the more important to keep the

bedroom cool when you have a fever,"

Merrill said.

While you may be tempted to sleep

the day away with COVID, chances

are you'll regret it come nighttime.

"It's OK to spend a little more time

than usual in bed at night, as you may

need more sleep while battling a

virus," Merrill said. "However, avoid

Can't drift off thanks to your COVID-19 symptoms?

spending excessive time in bed

during the day and taking long naps.

These behaviors often make it harder

for you to sleep at night."

Instead, Merrill suggested finding a

comfortable place to rest during the

day, such as a recliner or couch

outside your bedroom, and setting a

timer to ensure you don't nap longer

than 30 minutes.

While sharing a bed with someone

may be your norm, it's probably not a

good idea while you're fighting a

COVID infection. Not only may

having a bed partner keep you awake,

but if you test positive for COVID-19,

you should isolate from others for at

least five days until you are fever-free

for 24 hours without the use of feverreducing

medication and your

symptoms are improving.

"Generally, quarantining from your

partner is still recommended with

breakthrough cases of COVID-19

even if they are vaccinated and

especially if they have a negative test,"

Moday said. "Given the highly

transmissible nature of the omicron

variant, they have a very high change

of getting infected if you don't."

McBride acknowledged that

isolating from very young children

may not be possible. "Personally, I

would have a very hard time isolating

from my very young child if he/she

had COVID," she said. "We have to

balance the potential harm of getting

a breakthrough infection from our

child - which for most vaccinated

people is like a cold or a flu - against

the harms of leaving a sick child

alone."

Photo: Franckreporter

WednesdAY, feBruArY 9, 2022

6

One more die of Covid-19

in Rangpur division

Trade licensing saba issuance camps have been launched for traders of digital platforms in 7 union

parishads of Tentulia upazila of panchagarh recently.

photo: Ashraful Islam

Trade license service issuance

camp launched in Tentulia

AshrAful IslAm, TenTulIA CorrespondenT

Trade licensing saba issuance camps

have been launched for traders of

digital platforms in 7 Union

Parishads of Tentulia upazila of

Panchagarh. Upazila Nirbahi Officer

Sahag Chadra Saha is inaugurating

the Shalbahan Hat Licensing Service

Provisioning Camp under the theme

"Your Hat is Your License" to avoid

the business frenzy. So much so that

17 hat-bazaars meet for 1 minute of

trade license.

All these camps would have been

accepted by the trade license as well

as the other citizens given by the

Union Parishad as soon as possible.

Udyag Union Parishads of Upazila

Administration declare current

RMCH

records two

more deaths

in Covid-19

unit

RAJSHAHI: Rajshahi

Medical College Hospital

(RMCH) recorded two

more deaths in its Covid-19

unit during the last 24

hours till 9am yesterday,

reports BSS.

RMCH Director

Brigadier General Shamim

Yazdani said they died with

Covid-19 infections. Both

of them were male.

Meanwhile, six more

patients were admitted to

the Covid-19 unit during

the last 24 hours, taking

the number of admitted

patients to 63, including 46

positive for Covid-19, at

present.

Ten other patients

returned home after being

cured during the same

time.

On the other hand, 116

more patients have tested

positive for Covid-19 after

testing 480 samples in

Rajshahi's two laboratories

on Monday, showing 24.16

percent positivity rate in

Rajshahi district.

February monthly tax collection

month. As part of this, every hatbazaar

will be set up under the

management of Hisab Union

Parishad.

The main objective of this program

is to provide harassment free UP

service. The initiative is aimed at

ensuring that the general candidates

do not face any kind of harassment in

the Union Parishad holding tax,

miscellaneous taxes and other evils.

This camper activity will continue

throughout the month. All the

candidates from here will get the

opportunity to get the new tax trade

license and renew it in 2021 using

Digital Bangladesh Tax Purdah

Inclusive efforts for

development of disabled

people stressed

RANGPUR: Officials and

leaders of different

organisations working for

welfare of disabled people

at a discussion have

stressed on engaging

inclusive GO-NGO efforts

for development of the

physically challenged

people, reports BSS.

The

district

administration,

Department of Social

Services (DSS) and

'Rangpur Protibondhi Seba

O Sahajjo Kendra'

organised the discussion at

a local community centre in

the city in observance of the

Bangla Sign Language Day-

2022 on Monday

afternoon.

Bangladesh National

Federation of the Deaf

(BNFD) and Rangpur

Badhir Sangha (RBS)

extended assistance in

observing the day through

different programs

including a human chain.

A number of physically

challenged, hearing

impaired and intellectually

disabled people and civil

society members

participated in the human

chain abiding by the health

directives in the wake of the

Covid-19 pandemic.

Additional Deputy

Commissioner (Education

and ICT) AWM Raihan

Shah addressed the

discussion as the chief

guest with Disability Affairs

Officer at 'Rangpur

Protibondhi Seba O Sahajjo

Kendra' Taposh Kumar

Barma in the chair.

President of Rangpur

Protibondhi Foundation

and heroic freedom fighter

Akbor Hossain, President

of Society for the Welfare of

the Intellectually Disabled

(SWID), Bangladesh for

Rangpur Shushanto

Bhowmick and President of

RBS Advocate Zobaydul

Islam spoke as special

guests.

Zobaydul Islam discussed

the academic, training and

extracurricular activities

being conducted at RBS for

the physically challenged,

Udyog Digital Union Tax and SABA

system nharrahadhi.mara.naf online

platform.

Traders said that in the past,

people used to pay for this trade

license day after day. It costs time

and money. Now I am getting digital

license very fast in Dargara. Thanks

to the administrator for taking such

an initiative.

On Wednesday, Upazila Nirbahi

Officer Sahag Chadra Saha said, "We

are building a digital platform. All the

citizens of Jat Union get the benefits

of Central Union in a very short time.

He has a trade license. For this,

month-long camp activities have

been started.

disabled, deaf and dumb

and vision impaired

population in the city.

Taposh Kumar Barma

discussed the massive

programmes being

implemented by the

government to ensure

education, training, health

services

and

extracurricular activities

for physically challenged,

disabled, deaf and dumb

and vision impaired

population.

Akbor Hossain stressed

on mainstreaming and

empowering the people

with different types and

extents of disabilities

through GO-NGO efforts to

attain the sustainable

development goals on time.

The chief guest called for

supporting the physically

challenged people to turn

them into human resources

and ensure their

development,

empowerment,

employment,

constitutional rights, social

security and dignity.

The newly elected up members of 7 union parishads out of 8 union parishad elections held in the fourth

phase of dhamoirhat in naogaon have been sworn in on Tuesday.

photo: rejuan Alam

NARSINGDI: Bean cultivation is

gaining popularity in char areas of the

district as its good yield brings smile on

poor people's face, reports BSS.

A large number of farmers in the char

areas are involved in been cultivation in

the recent years considering its

economic aspect.

Farmers usually cultivate bean on

abandoned lands and on the premises

of the house as many used to cultivate

bean on commercial basis.

Department of Agricultural

Extension (DAE) sources said over

1200 hectares of land have been

Bean cultivation brings

smile on Narsingdi char

farmer's face

brought under bean cultivation in the

district as a lot of farmers have changed

their fortune by growing bean.

Farmers are now seen collecting bean

from their fields with much

enthusiasm.

Farmers said they have improved

their livelihoods and economic

condition through homestead

vegetable gardening specially bean

cultivation.

They said five to six maunds of bean

might be plucked from one bigha of

land in a week.

During the season ranging from

Bangla month Kartik to Fulgon, bean

may be plucked 80 to 100 times from a

land.

At the beginning of the season, bean

is sold at exorbitant prices. But,

gradually the price comes down with

adequate supply.

RANGPUR: One more

Covid-19 infected patient

died on Monday in the

division where the

pandemic situation

continues to deteriorate in

recent weeks, reports BSS.

Health officials said the

new casualty reported after

a couple of days from the

division where the number

of Covid-19 positive cases is

still increasing amid a

community spread of the

lethal virus.

"With the report of one

more death from

Panchagarh, the number of

casualties reached 1,261 in

the division," Divisional

Director (Health) Dr. Abu

Md. Zakirul Islam Lenin

told BSS yesterday.

The district-wise breakup

of the 1,261 fatalities stands

at 295 in Rangpur, 82 in

Panchagarh, 90 in

Nilphamari, 70 in

Lalmonirhat, 69 in

Kurigram, 256 in

Thakurgaon, 336 in

Dinajpur and 63 in

320 more test

positive for Covid-19

in Khulna

KHULNA: A total of 320

more people have been

tested positive for Corona

virus in all10 districts of the

division till 8.00am

yesterday climbing the

number of infected patients

rose to1,26,393, reports BSS.

A total of 12 more people

died during last 24 hours, so

total fatalities from the

disease reaches to 528 in

Jashore, 273 in Jhenidah,

190 in Chuadanga, 184 in

Meherpur,145 in Bagerhat,

124 in Narail, 91 in Magura

and 91 in Satkhira, said Dr

Monjur Morshed, Khulna

Divisional Director of

Health.

"Among the infected people,

1, 12,172 have, so far, been

cured from the deadly virus

with 842 new recoveries

found on Tuesday morning,"

he said adding that a total of

19,059 infected patients are

now undergoing treatment

at different designated

hospitals here. Besides, all

the positive cases for Covid-

19 have, so far, been brought

under necessary treatment

while 1, 27,458 were kept in

isolation units of different

hospitals for institutional

supervision.

Trainging workshop

on Young Faculties

for Quality Education

begins in BU

A training workshop on

Young Faculties for Quality

Education has been

inaugurated at the

initiative of Barisal

University Institutional

Quality Assurance Sol

(IQAC). The workshop

was held online on 08

February 2022 at 10 am

and was inaugurated by the

chief guest Vice Chancellor

of Barisal University Prof.

Dr.Md Sadequl Arfin, a

press release said.

Barisal University IQAC

Director Prof. Dr Md

Mohsin Uddin chaired the

occassion while the

Research person's account

was attached to the

training workshop was

Rajshahi University

Professor of Statistics Dr.

Md. Jahanur Rahman.

On the first day of the

two-day training

workshop, 42 honorable

teachers of 11 departments

of Barisal University and

on the second day, 36

honorable teachers of 13

departments will receive

training.

Gaibandha of the division.

The average casualty rate

stands at 2.03 percent in

the division.

Meanwhile, 269 fresh

Covid-19 cases were

diagnosed after testing 814

samples at the 33.05

percent positivity rate on

Monday in the division.

Earlier, the daily Covid-

19 positivity rates were

31.73 percent on Sunday,

36.90 percent on Saturday,

26.10 percent on Friday,

38.80 percent on Thursday

and 38.98 percent on

Wednesday last in the

division.

"With the diagnosis of

269 fresh Covid-19 cases,

the total number of

infected patients has

reached 62,056 in the

division," Dr. Islam said.

The district-wise break

up of total 62,056 patients

include 14,397 in Rangpur,

4,255 in Panchagarh, 5,209

in Nilphamari, 3,117 in

Lalmonirhat, 4,887 in

Kurigram, 8,436 in

Thakurgaon, 16,417 in

Dinajpur and 5,338 in

Gaibandha in the division.

Since the outbreak of the

pandemic, a total of

3,26,168 collected samples

were tested till Monday,

and of them, 62,056 were

found Covid-19 positive

with an average positivity

rate of 19.03 percent.

At the same time, the

number of healed Covid-19

patients reached 56,142 in

Rangpur division with the

recovery of 261 more

patients on Monday.

The average recovery rate

currently stands at 90.47

percent.

"Earlier, the average

recovery rate of Covid-19

patients reached 97.12

percent on January 14 last

and the same sharply

dropped by 6.65 percent in

only 24 days to 90.47

percent on Monday," Dr.

Islam said.

Among the total 62,056

patients, 128 are under

treatments at isolation

units, including 17 critical

patients at ICU beds and

eight at High Dependency

Unit beds, after recovery of

56,142 patients and 1,261

deaths while 4,525 are

remaining in home

isolation.

"Meanwhile, the number

of citizens who got the first

dose of the Covid-19

vaccine rose to 1,08,65,352

and among them,

66,63,965 got the second

dose and 2,09,164 got the

booster dose till Monday in

the division," Dr Islam

added.

Principal of Rangpur

Medical College Professor

Dr. Bimal Chandra Roy

said the number of Covid-

19 cases is still increasing

amid its community

spread.

"All people should abide

by the health directives to

prevent further community

spread of the lethal virus,"

he said.

finally, the helpless and landless shupchan-reema family of Borochak daulatpur area of

ward 3 of shibganj municipality of Chapainawabganj is going to get government house. dr.

samil uddin Ahmed shimul, member of parliament for Chapainawabganj-1 shibganj

constituency visited the landless and helpless family on monday morning and assured to

arrange a government house for the landless given by prime minister. photo: habibul Bari

A training workshop on Young faculties for Quality education has been inaugurated

at the initiative of Barisal university Institutional Quality Assurance

sol (IQAC) on Tuesday.

photo: Courtesy

661 more patients recover from

Covid-19 in Rajshahi division

RAJSHAHI: With the

healing of 661 more

patients from the Covid-19

on Monday, the total

recovery count in the

division rose to 1,02,631

since the pandemic began

in March, 2020, reports

BSS.

A total of 553 more

people have tested positive

for the deadly virus in all

eight districts of the

division on the day, raising

the caseload to 1,15,665 so

far.

The new positive cases

are showing a significant

falling trend compared to

the previous day's figure of

672, Dr Habibul Ahsan

Talukder, divisional

director of Health, said.

The death toll reached

1,723, including 700 in

Bogura, 332 in Rajshahi

with 212 in its city and 176

in Natore as two new

fatalities were reported

during the last 24 hours, he

said.

Besides, all the positive

cases of Covid-19 have, so

far, been brought under

treatment while 25,306

were kept in isolation units

of different dedicated

hospitals for institutional

quarantine. Of them, 21,012

have been released.

Meanwhile, 255 more

people have been sent to

home and institutional

quarantine afresh while

203 others were released

from isolation during the

same period.

Of the 553 new infected

cases, 162 were detected in

Pabna, followed by 136 in

Rajshahi, including 112 in

its city, 89 in Sirajganj, 67 in

Bogura, 32 in Natore, 31 in

Chapainawabganj and 23 in

Joypurhat districts.

With the newly detected

patients, the district-wise

break-up of the total cases

now stands at 33,319 in

Rajshahi including 27,393

in its city, 6,311 in

Chapainawabganj, 7,565 in

Naogaon, 9,443 in Natore,

5,484 in Joypurhat, 24,602

in Bogura, 13,152 in

Sirajganj and 15,789 in

Pabna districts.

A total of 1,22,828 people

have, so far, been kept

under quarantine since

March 10, 2020 to prevent

community transmission of

the deadly COVID-19.

Of them, 1,17,586 have,

by now, been released as

they were given clearance

certificates after completing

their quarantine.

7

WednesdAY, februArY 9, 2022

Authorities are searching for a man who opened fire on Monday at a grocery store in Washington

state, killing one person and injuring another.

Photo : Internet

ozens killed as

fighting rages

around Yemen city

DUBAI : Dozens of Yemeni

pro-government fighters

have been killed in a new

offensive to take a rebel-held

city, loyalist sources said on

Tuesday, following a surge

in violence including missile

attacks on the United Arab

Emirates.

Thirty-two soldiers have

died and at least 100 have

been wounded in three days

of fighting to drive the Iranbacked

rebels from Haradh,

north of the capital Sanaa

and near the Saudi border,

the sources said.

Yemen has been

embroiled in a civil war

between the governmentsupported

by a Saudi-led

military coalition-and the

Iran-backed Huthis, who

control much of the north,

since 2014.

The latest clashes come

after the Huthi rebels, after

suffering territorial defeats

to UAE-trained troops,

killed three oil workers in a

series of drone and missile

attacks on Abu Dhabi.

Fighting was still raging

around Haradh on Tuesday,

the pro-government sources

said, adding that the

loyalists have besieged the

area but are yet to seize the

city.

One loyalist source said at

least 56 rebels were killed in

the fighting and

accompanying coalition air

strikes. The Huthis rarely

Police: 1 dead in Washington

state grocery store shooting

RICHLAND : Authorities are searching for a

man who opened fire Monday at a grocery

store in Washington state, killing one person

and injuring another.

The suspect in the shooting at a Fred

Meyer store in Richland is Aaron

Christopher Kelley, 39, police said late

Monday. The suspect fled the store after the

shooting, though it was not known he left by

foot or in a vehicle, Richland police

Commander Chris Lee said. The suspect has

had contact with law enforcement in the

past, police said.

Dispatchers received a call reporting

yelling and possible gunshots in the store at

11:03 a.m. The first officers responding

arrived just one minute later, police said.

Richland interim Police Chief Brigit Clary

said responding officers found the two

victims in close proximity to one another in

the store and said although life-saving

measures were tried, one had already died.

The other, a store employee, was taken to a

hospital, she said. He had undergone surgery

and was listed in critical condition, police

said Monday afternoon. Both were described

as white males. Their names haven't been

GD-228/22 (7x4)

released. "What happened in our city today

was a senseless and tragic act," Clary said.

The suspect and the victim who died had

an interaction before the shooting, according

to store video footage seen by police. Police

said they don't know what the apparent

conversation entailed and don't know if the

two people knew each other. The person who

died was not a store employee, according to

police.

Screenshots from store surveillance

footage showed the suspect was wearing a

plaid shirt with a dark-colored down vest, a

black gaiter or scarf pulled over his nose,

light-colored pants and athletic shoes, the

Tri-City Herald reported.

Employees and customers were escorted

out of the store to a parking lot while officers

went aisle by aisle searching for the shooter

or other victims. No other victims were

found, nor was the shooter, police said.

"We feel very confident that we will locate

the suspect sooner than later," the police

chief said Monday afternoon, adding that

multiple law enforcement agencies were

helping the police department search and

investigate.

US approves support

deal with Taiwan for

Patriot missiles

WASHINGTON : The Biden

administration has

approved a $100 million

support contract with

Taiwan aimed at boosting

the island's missile defense

systems as it faces

increasing pressure from

China.

The State Department

announced the engineering

and maintenance

agreement on Monday as

China plays host to the 2022

Winter Olympics, an event

filled with nationalist fervor

that some fear could

escalate after the Games

into an attempt to take

Taiwan by force.

Beijing regards Taiwan as

a renegade province, has

not ruled out the use of force

to unify the island with the

mainland and has in recent

months escalated fighter jet

flights over Taiwanese

airspace.

cvwb-558/2021-2022

GD-230/22 (6x3)

GD-231/22 (5x3)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2022

8

Mercantile Bank Training Institute organized a virtual Training on 'Cash Management : Detection

and Disposal of Forge and Mutilated Notes' recently. Respective cash officers from various branches

across the country participated in the online program. Shamim Ahmed, Deputy Managing

Director & CAMLCO of the bank inaugurated the virtual training. In his speech, Shamim Ahmed

advised participating officers to be strictly compliant with the central bank circulars and guidelines

related to cash management in discharging their assigned responsibilities. Md. Sahadat Hussain,

Joint Director of Department of Currency Management of Bangladesh Bank and Muhammad

Khorshed Alam, Vice President & Head of General Banking Division of MBL Head Office conducted

the virtual sessions. Javed Tariq, Principal of MBTI moderated the online program. Photo: Courtesy

Stocks waver as traders

eye rate hikes, Ukraine

NEW YORK - Global stocks were mixed

Monday while oil prices dipped as markets

mull over expected interest rate hikes and

Ukraine tensions, reports BSS.

While US stocks flirted with positive

territory, two of the three major indices ended

up lower as markets await critical US

consumer price data later in the week that will

help determine how aggressively the Federal

Reserve responds to inflation.

Earlier, European indices rebounded from

Friday's losses, while Asian bourses were

mixed.

"Stocks remain under pressure," said a note

from US Bank Wealth Management's Terry

Sandven. "Near-term, equity price

stabilization is unlikely to occur until

certainty around the timing and magnitude of

Federal Reserve interest rate increases

become better known."

A forecast-busting US jobs report Friday

reinforced optimism that the world's top

economy was well on the recovery track, but

also ramped up expectations of an interest

rate hike by the US Federal Reserve in March.

It comes as surging global inflation resulted

in the Bank of England last week hiking its

main interest rate for the second meeting in a

row, while the European Central Bank

signaled for the first time that it may raise

borrowing costs this year.

"Volatility is likely to remain as the global

markets adjust to the prospect of tighter

monetary policies, as well as geopolitical

tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and a

mixed (fourth quarter) earnings season,

which will continue to roll on this week,"

investment bank Charles Schwab said in a

note.

On the geopolitical front, investors are

nervous over Western fears that Russia plans

to invade Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron met

with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in

Moscow, while US President Joe Biden met

with Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the

impasse in Eastern Europe.

Traders are also watching for more

corporate earnings statements this week after

a disappointing report from Facebook parent

Meta last week caused the company's shares

to sink.

This week's earnings calendar includes

results from Pfizer, Disney and Coca-Cola.

Elsewhere Monday, oil prices continued

their retreat after European benchmark

contract, Brent North Sea crude, hit $94 a

barrel-the highest level for more than seven

years.

National Bank Ltd has signed an agreement with Northern Electricity Supply Company Ltd

(NESCO) recently. As per the agreement, National Bank Ltd will facilitate the collection of electricity

bills from the customers of Northern Electricity Supply Company Ltd through their 28

branches, NBL iPower app, Online Banking System and other channels. Md. Mehmood Husain,

Managing Director and CEO of National Bank Limited and Engineer Zakiul Isalm, Managing

Director and CEO of NESCO Ltd. signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations

at National Bank Head Office.

Photo: Courtesy

JAKARTA : Indonesia's

economy returned to

growth last year as surging

commodity prices helped

drive a recovery from a

coronavirus-triggered

recession, data showed

Monday, though officials

warned the outlook

depended on how well the

fast-spreading Omicron

variant is managed, reports

BSS.

Southeast Asia's biggest

economy expanded 3.69

percent on-year, the

country's statistics agency

said, having contracted in

2020 for the first time

since 1998 during the

region's financial crisis.

The healthy rebound

came largely on the back of

declining coronavirus cases

and robust exports, as

prices for key commodities

such as palm oil, coal and

nickel rose significantly,

Central Statistics Bureau

head Margo Yuwono told a

news conference.

And in an optimistic sign,

the economy grew a

forecast-beating 5.02

percent on-year in the final

three months.

"We hope the

momentum of the

economic recovery will be

maintained in 2022 as long

as we all agree that health

protocols are critical so

daily cases will decline and

mobility will get better,"

Yuwono said.

The country's trade

surplus for 2021 reached

$35.34 billion, its highest

in 15 years, the statistics

agency reported earlier.

Indonesia was hit hard in

July as the Delta variant

swept the country, forcing

the government to impose

tighter social-distancing

restrictions that hobbled

businesses.

A subsequent easing of

those restrictions as cases

declined in the fourth

quarter allowed for a

bounceback in some

sectors, including

transportation.

But daily caseloads are

once again surging owing

Arm sale to

Nvidia

scrapped over

regulator

challenges:

SoftBank

TOKYO : Japan's SoftBank

confirmed Tuesday the

collapse of a $40 billion deal

to sell chip business Arm to

Nvidia over regulatory

challenges, as it reported a

net profit in the third

quarter, reports BSS.

In a statement, SoftBank

said the sale had been

scrapped after "significant

regulatory challenges"

arising from concerns the

deal would undermine

competition.

The announcement came

as the telecoms firm-turnedinvestment

giant reported a

net profit of 29.0 billion yen

($251 million) in the third

quarter, a sharp drop from

the 1.17 trillion yen logged in

the same three-month

period in the previous

financial year.

Commodities drive Indonesia

economic recovery in 2021

to Omicron, with the

country reporting 30,000

cases a day compared with

fewer than 1,000 in

December, forcing officials

to reimpose containment

measures in Jakarta,

Bandung and Bali.

The government expects

daily cases to peak by late

February or early March.

Despite worries over

Omicron, the Central Bank

of Indonesia has projected

the economy to grow 4.7-

5.5 percent this year, while

the International Monetary

Fund has projected a 5.6

percent expansion in 2022

and 6.0 percent in 2023.

BP swings

into $7.6b

annual

profit after

huge loss

LONDON: BP returned to

profit in 2021 as oil and gas

prices surged following a

huge loss the prior year

when the pandemic struck,

the British energy giant

revealed Tuesday, reports

BSS.

BP posted a net profit of

$7.6 billion (6.7 billion

euros) last year, compared

with a loss after tax of $20.3

billion in 2020, the company

said in a statement.

"2021 shows BP doing

what we said we wouldperforming

while

transforming," said BP chief

executive Bernard Looney.

The company also

announced plans to

accelerate its target to

reduce operational carbon

emissions.

"We are accelerating the

greening of BP," Looney

said.

"This allows us to raise our

low carbon ambitions, and

we are now aiming to be net

zero across operations,

production and sales by

2050 or sooner-unique

among our peers."

BP also said it would

return $4.15 billion to

shareholders via a share

buyback thanks to a surplus

cash flow.

Group revenue ballooned

49 percent last year to $157.7

billion, with oil and gas

prices rocketing thanks to

rebounding demand for

energy as economies

reopened from lockdowns.

The partnership between

Dana Fintech and Merchant

Bay is set to facilitate end to

end digital lending for SME

RMG factories covering

digital working capital

financing and invoice

financing and also to offer

financial wellness solutions

for worker for same factories

through lending partners, a

press release said.

Dana Fintech and

Merchant Bay announced a

partnership to extend

embedded digital lending for

SME RMG factories. Under

this partnership, Merchant

Bay will use Dana's

embedded lending engine to

generate business credit

score of SME RMG factories

to enable them for digital

financing through partner

banks on same platform for

instant end-to-end digitally

originated digital SME loan

and invoice finance

applications. Merchant Bay

is a B2B tech-enabled

Asian markets mostly rise

but inflation data, Fed

plans in focus

HONG KONG : Asian markets mostly rose

Tuesday as investors await key US inflation

data later in the week, though the volatility

that has characterized the year so far is

expected to continue as central banks bring

an end to the era of cheap cash, reports BSS.

After a slow start to the week, the region

shifted higher in early trade thanks to

bargain-buying and following Friday's biggerthan-expected

surge in US jobs for January,

which reassured on the state of the economic

recovery.

But the big event is the inflation reading-to

be announced on Thursday-that is tipped to

see another painful rise in prices for last

month, having come in at a four-decade high

in December.

The spike has forced central banks around

the world to wind back the ultra-loose

monetary policies put in place two years ago

to guard against the economic impact of

Covid and while many have lifted rates

already, all eyes are on the Fed's first move in

March.

While US finance chiefs have not given a

timetable for their increases, speculation is

swirling over how many it will announce this

year-with forecasts ranging from three to

seven-and by how much.

That uncertainty has weighed on global

markets this year and commentators have

warned further ructions are to be expected.

However, a feeling that recent selling may

have been overdone has attracted some

investors back into the fray.

"Markets will get used to the tightening

regime at some point," Chris Iggo, chief

investment officer for core investments at

AXA Investment Managers, wrote in a note.

"The growth and earnings forecast revisions

in the next few months will be key."

platforms created as a critical

channel for sales, marketing

and order management of

apparel. Merchant Bay's

multisided platform as a

service creates supply chain

visibility and make factories

take data driven decision to

increase efficiency. Merchant

Bay is now connected to

300+ SME RMG factories.

Dana Fintech is an

embedded lending platform

for banks and network

partners to offer digital loans

and BNPL to SMEs and

individuals through digital

credit scoring API, BNPL

engine and digital

underwriting engine.

On Tuesday, Tokyo was in positive territory

helped by news that the United States will

ease tariffs on steel imported from Japan that

were imposed by Donald Trump, while

Sydney, Singapore, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei,

Manila and Jakarta were also up.

But Hong Kong dropped more than one

percent with already-troubled Alibaba under

pressure from reports that major shareholder

SoftBank was planning to offload at least a

part of its huge stake in the firm.

Shanghai was also down.

Traders are also keeping a close eye on

events on the Ukraine border as Russia

masses troops, with Western nations warning

it is planning an invasion.

The threat of a war has kept upward

pressure on oil prices in recent weeks, though

the main driver has been expectations for a

surge in demand owing to economic

reopenings, tight supplies and a cold snap in

the United States.

And OANDA's Edward Moya said signs of

progress in US-Iran nuclear talks-which

could see Tehran sell internationally againwould

likely not have much long-term impact

on the rally towards $100 a barrel.

"Energy traders locked in some profits over

optimism that the US and Iran might be able

to salvage a nuclear deal," he said in a note.

"A quick revival of the Iran nuclear deal still

seems unlikely, so any relief from additional

barrels of crude from Iran should not be

priced in. The oil market still remains heavily

in deficit and whatever weakness happens to

prices will likely be short-lived."

Both main contracts were slightly down

Tuesday but remain locked around highs not

seen since 2014.

Dana Fintech and Merchant Bay team up to offer

embedded digital lending for SME RMG factories

Argentina

pays IMF

$370m in

debt interest

BUENOS AIRES : Argentina

on Friday paid $370 million

to the IMF as interest on a

$44 billion debt that was

rescheduled late last month,

officials said, reports BSS.

The Central Bank's

bulletin

showed

international reserves of

$37.18 billion at the end of

the day, a difference from

the day before

corresponding to the

amount paid out Friday. It

was the second payment of

the year by Argentina, after a

transfer of approximately

$700 million last Friday, the

day that the rescheduling

announcement was

announced.

Argentina and the IMF

announced a week ago an

agreement in principle on a

renegotiation of the

country's $44 billion debt in

return for economic

reforms.

Currently, Dana is working

with three network partners

and two leading commercial

banks.

This tie-up will bring SME

RMG factories under digital

financial inclusion leveraging

data-driven insights and

digital lending capabilities

for lenders.

Bank Asia Ltd has been awarded "Remittance Award 2021 & 2022" by

the Center for Non Resident Bangladeshi (NRB) recently at an event

titled "World Conference Series 2022 - Branding Bangladesh". Head of

Foreign Remittance Department of Bank Asia, Golam Gaffar Imtiaz

Chowdhury, received the award on behalf of the bank from Honorable

Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen MP. M.S. Shekil Chowdhury,

Chairperson of the Centre for NRB presided over the ceremony where

Economic Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr. Mashiur Rahman,

State Minister for Planning, Dr. Shamsul Alam, Chief of Army Staff,

General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, NDU, PSC, PhD, Professor Emeritus of

BSMMU, Dr A.B.M. Abdullah, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of

Expatriate Welfare, Shahidul Alam and Mayor of Croydon, London,

Sherwan Chowdhury, were present among others. Photo: Courtesy

WeDNeSDAY, FebruArY 9, 2022

9

paris Saint-Germain have been knocked out of the Coupe de France at the last-16 stage after

Nice won on penalties following a 0-0 draw after 90 minutes at the parc des princes. photo: Ap

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Australian Open

champion Barty

extends lead in

rankings

SportS DeSk

Ashleigh

Barty's

achievement in becoming

the first Australian woman

in 44 years to win the

Australian Open title has

seen her consolidate her

place atop the WTA

rankings.

The 25-year-old has

increased her lead over

Aryna Sabalenka of Belaruswho

exited in the fourth

round of the Australian

Open-to over 2,600 points.

Danielle Collins's

consolation for losing to

Barty in Saturday's final is

the highest ever ranking for

the 28-year-old American as

she soars 20 places to 10th.

Poland's Iga Swiatek-who

Collins beat in the Australian

Open semi-finals-has also

risen to her highest ever

ranking, moving up five

spots to fourth.

The Czech Republic's

French Open champion

Barbora Krejcikova moves

up one place to third.

There are differing

fortunes for two second

round losers in Melbourne.

Spain's Garbine Muguruza

drops four places to seventh

whereas Britain's US Open

champion Emma Raducanu

rises five to her best ever

ranking of 13th.

Under-19 World Cup wrap: Pakistan

through to fifth place play-off

SportS DeSk

Despite Ariful Islam's 119-ball 100,

Bangladesh Under-19 slipped to a six-wicket

loss against Pakistan Under-19 in the Super

League Play-Off semi-final in the Under-19

World Cup. Pakistan will now take on Sri

Lanka in the fifth place play-off game,

reports AP.

Bangladesh, who opted to bat, were in early

trouble at 23 for 3. At that stage, Iftakher

Hossain and Ariful joined hands to share a

timely stand of 50 before the former was run

out. Despite not getting much support from

the other end, Ariful continued to play with

freedom and was only the ninth man

dismissed. The significance of his knock can

be further illustrated by the point that only

two batters crossed the 20-run mark.

Eventually, Bangladesh were bowled out for

175 in the final over. For Pakistan, Mehran

Mumtaz and Awais Ali shared three scalps

each. Top order batter Haseebullah then

followed it up with a 107-ball 79 to anchor

Pakistan's chase. Muhammad Shehzad, his

opening partner, also made a useful 36.

Despite losing three wickets in quick

succession after the 35-over mark, Pakistan

comfortably overhauled the target with more

than three overs to spare. Brief scores:

Bangladesh Under-19 175 in 49.2 overs (Ariful

Islam 100; Mehran Mumtaz 3-16) lost to

Pakistan Under-19 176/4 in 46.3 overs

(Haseebullah Khan 79) by six wickets.

Punya Mehra (48*) and Kai Smith (49)

made useful contributions while the bowlers

shared wickets between them as UAE Under-

19 registered a comfortable eight-wicket win

over Ireland Under-19 in the Plate final. UAE's

batters took just 26 overs to take their side

past the modest total of 122.

For Ireland, Jack Dickson, batting at the top

of the order, top-scored with 40 while Jash

Giyanani and Dhruv Parashar returned

impressive figures of 2 for 12 and 2 for 15

respectively. In pursuit of the paltry target,

Smith and Mehra shared a stand of 59 for the

second wicket to put UAE on course. After

Smith was dismissed, Mehra took the side

home in the company of Nilansh Keswani.

Brief scores: Ireland Under-19 122 in 45.3

overs (Jack Dickson 40; Jash Giyanani 2-12)

lost to UAE Under-19 128/2 in 26 overs (Kai

Smith 49, Punya Mehra 48*) by eight wicket.

Teddy Bishop (112 not out) and Kevin

Wickham (104) essayed brisk hundreds to

ensure West Indies Under-19 would overhaul

the competitive target of 257 set by Zimbabwe

Under-19 in the final over and with eight

wickets left in the shed in their 11th place playoff

game.

Gm (22) (43)

GD-232/22 (7x4)

GD-227/22 (7x4)

Djokovic remains

number one

despite Australian

Open absence

SportS DeSk

Rafael Nadal's recordbreaking

21st Grand Slam

singles title in winning an epic

Australian Open final

frustrated Novak Djokovic's

hopes of being the first to do

so, but the Serb remains

world number one in the

rankings released Monday,

reports BSS.

The 34-year-old was unable

to play in the first Grand Slam

of the year after being

deported from Australia over

Covid-19 vaccination issues

but he extended his recordbreaking

run as number one

to 358 weeks.

Nadal's beaten opponent in

the Melbourne final, Daniil

Medvedev, stays second but

the Russian moves to within

1,000 points of Djokovic.

Djokovic will keep the

points he earned from

winning his ninth Australian

Open title last year till

February 21 as last year's

tournament was played at the

later dates of February 8-21.

Nadal remains fifth in the

rankings despite his recordbreaking

title and the only

movement in the top 10 sees

Italy's Matteo Berrettini-who

lost to the Spaniard in the

semi-finals in Australia-rise

one place to sixth.

Spain's Pablo Carreno and

Taylor Fritz of the United

States enter the top 20 in 17th

and 20th respectively.

SportS DeSk

A fine all-round effort helped pakistan post a comfortable six-wicket

win.

photo: Ap

Eriksen signs for Brentford months

after cardiac arrest at Euro 2020

SportS DeSk

Defending Olympic women's halfpipe

champion Chloe Kim, one of the

standout stars of the last Winter

Olympics, travels to Beijing with a new

perspective and triumphs in all five

events since ending a layoff of nearly

two years, reports BSS.

The 21-year-old American

snowboarder of South Korean heritage

has been stunning since returning last

January after interrupting her career

when she broke her right ankle and also

attended Princeton University.

In a rich vein of form, she says she is

raring to defend her title in China.

"I have a very clear picture what I

need to do as an athlete and going into

the Olympics I'm very well prepared,"

Kim told the Olympic Channel.

"I'm going to go in with the same

mindset as the last one, just no pressure.

I'm going to do the best I can and we'll

see what happens." Kim extended her

win streak at last month's event in

Copper Mountain, Colorado. After

Christian Eriksen on Monday completed a

remarkable return to the Premier League,

signing for Brentford just seven months after

suffering a cardiac arrest at last year's

European Championship, reports BSS.

The Denmark international left Inter

Milan in December by mutual consent as the

implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or

ICD, he had fitted meant he was not allowed

to play in Italian football. But the Premier

League does not have the same rule and

Brentford issued a statement on Monday

confirming they had signed the former

Tottenham playmaker until the end of the

season, subject to international clearance.

Eriksen, 29, who has been training with

young players at another of his former clubs,

Ajax, said he was raring to go in a short video

on Brentford's Twitter feed. "Hi everyone, it's

Christian Eriksen," he said. "I'm happy to

announce that I've signed for Brentford

Football Club and I can't wait to get started

and hopefully I'll see you all very soon."

Brentford manager Thomas Frank, who

worked with Eriksen while in charge of

Denmark's Under-17s squad early in his

coaching career, welcomed his compatriot,

falling in her first two runs, she

unleashed two of her trademark threerotation

1080 spins to win the title.

"With the Olympics right around the

corner, this is a great way to start the

season," Kim said.

"I'm so happy to have landed it. I don't

want to leave myself in that position

again. It was horrible." Kim, whose

parents are from South Korea, became

the first woman to land a 1080 in

halfpipe competition in 2016 as a 15-

year-old. She won halfpipe and

slopestyle gold at the 2016 Winter

Youth Olympic Games.

At the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter

Olympics, she captured halfpipe gold at

age 17, becoming the youngest woman

to win an Olympic snowboard title.

Kim won world halfpipe titles in 2019

and 2021 and owns six Winter X Games

SuperPipe crowns, the most recent

coming last year in Aspen.

But Kim's life out of the competitive

arena has proven more challenging.

In a recent interview she revealed how

she had struggled to relax during the

saying it was an "unbelievable opportunity"

to bring a world-class player to the club.

"He is fit but we will need to get him

match-fit and I am looking forward to seeing

him work with the players and staff to get

back towards his highest level," he said.

"At his best, Christian has the ability to

dictate games of football. He can find the

right passes and is a goal threat.... I expect

him to have an impact in the dressing room

and at the training ground."

Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest in

Denmark's opening game at Euro 2020

against Finland in Copenhagen on June 12

and had to be resuscitated on the pitch.

Denmark then rode a wave of emotion at

the delayed tournament, reaching the semifinals,

where they were knocked out by

England. The midfielder spent several days

in hospital and had the ICD implanted to

regulate his heartbeat.

Brentford's director of football, Phil Giles,

said that although the club would not divulge

any of Eriksen's private medical information,

"Brentford fans can rest assured that we

have undertaken significant due diligence to

ensure that Christian is in the best possible

shape to return to competitive football."

US halfpipe star Kim seeks golden repeat at Beijing

Covid-19 pandemic.

"My boyfriend had to make me stop

watching the news, because I would

literally sit in front of the TV and cry,"

Kim told the New York Times. "I didn't

really know what the symptoms of

depression were-I just thought it meant

you were sad, which is not the case.

"But I had other symptoms. I was

really tired all the time. I slept a lot. I

wasn't motivated to do anything. It was

hard for me to get out of bed and go take

care of myself." It didn't help that Kim

received an Instagram message from a

top snowboarder meant for someone

else, a text calling her an obscene name.

"I just felt like everyone is out to get

me or something," Kim told the Times.

"So I was like, OK, if I'm going to be the

villain in the story, then I don't know if I

want to do it. It's just not fun.

"It's definitely one of those things that

I wish I didn't see, but I'm also grateful.

If I didn't see it, I would have been, like,

'Oh, cool, we're still all good.' It's helpful

for me to know. It definitely made me

put my guard up a little more."

WEDNEsAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2022

10

'Moshari' to be premiered

at SXSW film fest

Curtain rises on 'Coke Studio Bangla'

State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid said on

Monday that music was one of the main and influential

sources of inspiration for the Bengali nation in various

democratic movements, including the Language

Movement of 1952 and the great Liberation War of

1971,reports UNB.

The minister was speaking as the special guest at the

launching ceremony of 'Coke Studio Bangla,' which will

be the local adaptation of the widely-acclaimed platform

for fusion music that started in Pakistan.in the early

2000s. Monday night's launch was organized by Coca-

Cola Bangladesh in the ballroom of the Radisson Blu

Dhaka Water Garden.

"February is the month of our glorious Language

Movement, and our enriched musical heritage is widely

revered by music enthusiasts around the world. I believe

Coca-Cola Bangladesh's debut of the 'Coke Studio

Bangla' platform, the Bengali version of 'Coke Studio' for

Bengali speakers in many nations across the world,

including Bangladesh, is an amazing initiative in this

glorious month," the minister said at the event.

Highlighting the popularity of Coke Studio for its fusion

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra will soon be seen

opposite Anthony Mackie in 'Ending Things'. Anthony

is known for essaying several popular roles in Marvel

films, such as 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier',

'Ant-Man', Captain America: Civil War', 'Avengers:

Infinity War' and 'Avengers: Endgame'.

Priyanka Chopra garnered much appreciation for

playing Sati in the recently released 'The Matrix

Resurrections'. The actress is all set to impress her fans

with yet another big Hollywood film, 'Ending Things'.

While in 'The Matrix Resurrections', she was seen

opposite Keanu Reeves, in 'Ending Things', helmed by

Kevin Sullivan, she will star with Marvel fame Anthony

Mackie, reported Deadline.

The same report also shed light upon the storyline of

'Ending Things'. The upcoming film is about a hitwoman

who struggles with her job and personal

relationship. "A hit-woman who wants out of the

assassin business tells her 'business' partner that she's

songs, he added, "I believe that 'Coke Studio Bangla' will

become more popular worldwide than the way 'Coke

Studio' has gained popularity in different countries of the

world, including our neighbouring country India. We are

hopeful that this wonderful platform will further uphold

the glory of our diverse collection of songs."

State Minister for Information and Communication

Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak also spoke as the

special guest on the occasion, while Coca-Cola

Bangladesh Managing Director Ta Duy Tung delivered

the welcome speech. Popular singer-composer and

music producer of 'Coke Studio Bangla' Shayan

Chowdhury Arnob, singer-actor and Coca-Cola

Bangladesh's brand ambassador Tahsan Khan, folk-icon

and Member of Parliament Momtaz Begum, and other

popular music stars including BappaMazumder, Ankhi

Alamgir and others also joined the gala launching event

of the world-famous musical fusion programme.

The 'Coke Studio Bangla' Season 1 theme song "Ekla

Cholo" was also premiered at the event, simultaneously

released at Coke Studio Bangla's Facebook and YouTube

platforms.

Priyanka

to act

opposite

Mackie in

'Ending

Things'

ending their personal relationship as well. But she

comes to realise she doesn't want to end that part of

their bond. In order to survive the breakup and their

last job together they must join forces for one last night

out (sic)," read the report.

Priyanka Chopra had been away from social media

ever since she announced becoming a mother via

surrogacy. The actor had welcomed her first child with

her husband, Nick Jonas, last month. Now, Priyanka

has treated her fans and followers to the first post since

she embraced motherhood. PeeCee dropped her new

pictures on Instagram and it's all about self-love.

Besides 'Ending Things', Priyanka Chopra will also be

seen in the Amazon thriller series, 'Citadel', Jim

Strouse-directed romantic-comedy, 'Text For You' and

Farhan Akhtar's directorial 'Jee Le Zaraa', with Katrina

Kaif and Alia Bhatt.

Source: Bollywood Hungama

TBT REPORT

Director Nuhash Humayun's upcoming short horror film titled

'Moshari' to have its world premiere at the SXSW (South by

Southwest) Film Festival 2022. The news was confirmed by

the director himself on his Facebook account captioned: 'Our

horror short-film titled 'Moshari' will have its World Premiere

at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival'. The short film 'Moshari'

features 'No Dorai' famed actress Sunehra Binte Kamal and

Onora. 'Moshari' follows two sisters trying to survive the end of

the world. But can they survive each other, starring Sunerah

Binte Kamal and my niece Onora in her film debut. So, proud

of everyone who's worked on this, it's been years in the

making!" wrote Nuhash.

The story of the short film revolves when the world is

overrun with bloodthirsty creatures, the last of mankind

persevere in Dhaka, Bangladesh by spending their nights

inside the 'Moshari' - the only known shelter from the

unknown threat.

Two sisters, Apu and Ayra, must navigate this strange new

world to survive. However, their strained relationship is

becoming as much of a threat as the dangers outside.

Regarding the context Sunehra said, "We shot this film in

2019 in just five days. The story is so intriguing and engaging

that we shot day and night without even taking a rest. Nuhash

Humayun is one of my favourite directors.

'Scream' 2022 screenwriter, James Vanderbilt, has revealed

that the latest installment in the slasher franchise wasn't

intended to set up a new trilogy. After over 25 years, fans of

Wes Craven and Kevin Williamson's horror series have

moved into a new era. The death of Craven in 2015 at the age

of 76 considerably

challenged the notion that

any further installments

could be made, with many

regular cast members

concerned that without

Craven, the series simply

wouldn't feel right anymore.

After much speculation

and some convincing on the

part of directing duo Matt

Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler

Gillett, the actors who play

the surviving characters

from the original Scream

films returned for a fifth

installment. The key challenge was being true to what

Craven had established with the series, while also providing

some leg room for potential growth in future installments.

At one point prior to Scream 2022's release, Gillett stated

Orsha's 'Sahos' finally

gets clearance

TBT REPORT

Popular television actor Nazia Haque Orsha starrer film titled

'Sahos' directed by young producer Sajjad Khan finally gets the

clearance after re-submitting as a new film. Earlier the film was

rejected by both Bangladesh Film Censor Board (BFCB) and the

Appellate Division.

After many ups and downs, the film is preparing for its release on

March. Confirming the matter to media the first poster of the film

came out on Monday February 7.

Regarding the context Sazzad said, 'it's my first film and only

Orsha has been included in the poster. She is the main influencer of

the film and we want to bring it in the middle of March probably by

the second week. The film stars Nazia Haque Orsha and Mostafizur

Nur Imran in the lead roles. The film is being produced by Shapla

Media shot in Bagerhat in November and December 2020 and was

censored in September 2021.

It is to be mentioned actress Nazia Haque Orsha enters the media

world through LUX Channel I Superstar competition. The actress

has created a strong position in media through her talent and acting

skills. She is working regularly in TV dramas.

'Scream 5' wasn't meant to set up a new trilogy

that "there is more gas in the tank" with regard to expanding

the franchise - an extremely encouraging sign that despite

Craven no longer being here, the possibility existed to keep

what he had started going. Of course, as with any film series,

subsequent sequels depend on the success of the current

entry, but so far, 'Scream

2022' is indeed satisfying

fans and critics alike.

As it turns out,

however, 'Scream' 2022

wasn't written with

setting up a new trilogy

in mind. During an

exclusive interview with

a source, Vanderbilt

explained that when

making the film, the idea

was not to make "a two

hour trailer for Scream

6". Instead, the process

was a more natural one,

ensuring that fans were able to be taken back to Woodsboro,

meet up with familiar cast favorites and get introduced to

new characters along the way.

Source: Variety

H O R O s c O P E

ARIEs

(March 21 - April 20) : Today you might learn

something about a friend that could be rather

disconcerting, Aries. There could be a dark

side to this person that you weren't previously aware of, and

this could cause you to want to withdraw for a while and

reevaluate your involvement with this individual. When

considering it, remember that we all have our dark sides.

Could what you've discovered simply be this factor, or does

this go too far beyond it for you? Think about it!

TAURUs

(April 21 - May 21) : Outside responsibilities

might temporarily interfere with your love

life, Taurus. You may feel a strong desire to

get together with a love partner early in the

evening, but circumstances may necessitate your working

odd hours. This can be frustrating, as you've been looking

forward to this for a long time, but you could meet your

friend later in the evening. Don't be afraid to ask. Most

people understand when situations like this crop up.

GEMINI

(May 22 - June 21) : Today you're likely to find

your routine too boring for words, Gemini,

and may have a sudden powerful urge to cut

loose and play some serious hooky. Still, you

may feel the pull of obligation. This conflicted feeling should

pass. If it persists beyond today, however, you might need to

reevaluate certain areas of your life. There are lots of

opportunities out there, and life is too short to be stuck in a

situation that doesn't allow you to grow.

cANcER

(June 22 - July 23) : You could be feeling

especially sensual and passionate today,

Cancer, and you'll want to get together

with a love interest. However, other responsibilities

could get in your way. This could provide you with the

perfect excuse to sink into gloom, but don't fall into this

trap. Get whatever business you're facing handled and

out of the way. Or perhaps you can arrange to finish it

tomorrow. Then set up that hot date!

LEO

(July 24 - Aug. 23): You may feel a bit of

disappointment today, Leo. You might

tend to view whatever snags you've hit on

the path to accomplishing your goals as

personal failures, and if you let it, this idea could persist

with you throughout the day. Try to remain objective,

and don't lose sight of the big picture. You haven't even

lost a battle - at worst, it's a minor conflict! Chances are

that if you continue working hard you'll still win the war!

VIRGO

(Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): A rather disheartening

phone call could come to you today, Virgo.

This might bring news of a setback in one

of your projects that is only temporary but

nonetheless frustrating. You'll probably have to deal with

some trivial little details you'd rather not bother with,

and this could take up too much valuable time. Hang in

there - you're still doing well! Don't let your frustrations

get the best of you.

LIBRA

(Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): After the rush of

energy over the past few days, Libra,

today you may feel a powerful letdown.

Not every day can be filled with

adventure and excitement. For now, you just need to

take care of the routine matters that are a byproduct

of life on Earth. However, keep in mind that there are

many weekends coming up, and with the right kind

of planning you can get excitement back into your life.

scORPIO

(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) : A goal that you've been

trying to reach may be temporarily

stalled, Scorpio, and you could be

tempted to slip into despair, wondering

if it will ever really happen. Remember that the

keyword for today is "temporary." Whatever obstacles

are in your way will eventually be overcome and your

goal should be to continue to advance in the direction

you want. In the meantime, take care of your chores.

sAGITTARIUs

(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): Today you might realize

that you need to make a certain purchase,

Sagittarius. Perhaps your home or car

requires some important repairs, or maybe

some new equipment is necessary for your work. This could

prove rather disheartening, as it might involve spending

money that you'd rather use for something more exciting.

Think of the trouble this expenditure should save you,

however, and you'll see the value of it all.

cAPRIcORN

(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): The weight of too many

responsibilities, perhaps involving family, a

job, or group affiliation, could be very much

on your mind today, Capricorn. You may feel like Atlas,

carrying the world on your shoulders! You're tired. Perhaps

you need to reevaluate your commitments - your innate

kindness may have caused you to make too many. Fulfill the

ones you have, but think twice before making any new ones.

You're important too, after all.

AQUARIUs

(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) : You may have your

ups and downs today, Aquarius. You

could get at least one phone call of the

"good news, bad news" variety, and this

could have your moods swinging back and forth like a

pendulum. Try to stay centered. Take the good news

as encouragement, and as for the bad news, try to

consider it objectively and figure out ways to turn it to

your advantage. There's always a way. Hang in there!

PIscEs

(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) : Normally you tend to be a very

spiritually oriented person, Pisces, but today you

might find metaphysical concepts of all kinds

rather baffling. Whether these are ideas you've

embraced for a long time or new ones you've just discovered, you

may find nagging little doubts creeping in, temporarily causing

your faith to waver. This is a healthy development, however. A

little doubt now and then can weed out concepts that don't work

for you and reaffirm your belief in others.

wedNeSdAY, FeBRUARY 9, 2022

11

Bangladesh, Japanese PMs

KSRM in a press release said that recently, misinterpretations of the unfortunate incident organized

by Kabir Steel Limited have been published in some news outlets.

Photo: S M AKash

Recent incident at Kabir Steel Limited unfortunate,

published news is misleading: KSRM

SM Akash, Chattogram Bureau Chief

Recently, misinterpretations of the

unfortunate incident organized by Kabir

Steel Limited have been published in

some news outlets. The irrelevant,

misleading and purposeful news

coverage has created a fog in various

quarters and in the international arena

about the organization, which is

unpredictable and misleading. KSRM

feel the need to dispel these

misconceptions.

Kabir Steel Limited (KSRM) said in a

press release on Tuesday, February 8

that the real incident is that Md. Arif

Hossain Sujan, a worker working in the

contracting company of our yard, started

vomiting on the floor of cutting zone-3 of

the yard on February 1, 2022 at around 1

am (during tea break). Immediately our

safety inspector, foreman and other

workers brought him to the medical

center of the yard and after giving first

Covid 19 and the worst public policy failing in human history

[From page-1]

Such public policies have become so useless today that the scene round

the world is the opposite of what has been the norm for the greater part

of last eighteen months. First, the rich countries and even the poor ones

that usually ape solutions hatched in so called advanced countries tried

with feeding their population for free and awaited an end to the pandemic.

When this just did not happen and the much touted economy shut

down as a cure proved to be useless, they are now fast turning to easing

restrictions on the economy like shut downs and associated measures. In

fact the opposite enthusiasm to let the wheels of the economy to churn

again is far greater today. In many countries or national territories even

deployment of riot police is failing to enforce curbs due to Covid-19 and

normal life is fast returning due to peoples' sheer very acute desire for the

same come what may.

We can now sayironically echoing outstanding British orator, statemen

and World War II hero, Winston Churchill, who said that never

before in history so many (meaning the entire British people) owed so

much to so few (meaning the military) that never before in human history

so few (meaning the public policy makers) have so massively disillusioned

and misled the entire people in relation to Covid-19.

The basic rationale for the economy ruining public policies

was saving of human lives through restrictions. Now, let us see

how many lives were at stake and how great was the extent to

which the world's economies had to suffer to reduce that risk .

First of all, please note that only 5,712,394 or a little over 5.7

million humans have so far died in the world from Covid-19

according to official data. This means that so far a very small

part of the total global human population was affected. But to

save such a tiny part of the world's population from dying, a far

greater evil of pushing the global economy over the brink was

recommended by a small elite of policy or decision makers

round the world.

How very great was the effect of the Covid-19 induced shut down of

national economies can be seen from the fact that the pandemic caused

the '2nd largest global recession in history, with more than a third of the

global population at the time being placed on lockdown.

Global stock markets fell on 24 February 2020 due to a significant rise

in the number of COVID-19 cases outside mainland China. By 28 February

2020, stock markets worldwide realized their largest single-week

declines since the financial crisis of 2007-2008. This culminated in the

2020 stock market crash.'

Another sign of the looming worldwide economic collapse was seen

from dangerous decline in the price of crude oil. Crude oil price started

dipping with fall in the number of users reflecting big and small players

in the global economy having no need for buying oil. The crash in oil

price started in mid-February 2020. On 20 April 2020, 'prices dropped

below zero for the first time in recorded history.'

The International Labour Organization estimated that an

equivalent of 400 million full-time jobs were lost across the

world from Covid-19 related shocks and income earned by

workers globally fell 10 percent in the first nine months of

2020, equivalent to a loss of over US$ 3.5 trillion. Cambridge

University research put the cost to the global economy at $82

trillion over five years. How many millions make a billion dollars ?

100 million dollars make a billion. How many billions make a trillion dollars

? 1000 billion dollars make a trillion dollars.

These are but conservative estimates. The real economic costs from

keeping economies paralyzed could very probably be counted as far

greater if the pandemic ends and fresh research shows up much higher

figures of losses than the above.

History shows that far more than 5.7 million humans died from large

scale pandemics in the past.The 1918 Spanish flu pandemic was the

deadliest outbreak of the virus in history. An estimated 500 million people

across the globe caught the illness, throughout the pandemic. While

there are no official figures documenting the exact number of deaths, it is

estimated that between 20 million and 50 million people were killed as a

result of the deadly virus. The flu was first seen in Europe, then the US

and parts of Asia, before it rapidly spread throughout the entire world.

Therefore, human fatalities from Covid-19 has been peanuts like in

comparison. The policy makers at that time had not much medical

capacities to stop or slow down the Spanish flu. It ran its course and naturally

ended. But they did not at least deliver a double whammy of

an uncontrolled pandemic and the agonies thereof made much worse

by introducing willfully economy crushing measures. At least no one can

aid there he was rushed to the

emergency department of Chittagong

Medical College Hospital in his own

ambulance. The doctor on duty later

pronounced him dead.

According to the information obtained

from the initial investigation of the yard,

the probable cause of death is cardiac

arrest. Investigations are underway by

various government agencies to

determine the exact cause of death. Yard

authorities are in the process of paying

all the dues for the slain workers.

Financial assistance is being provided to

the families of the workers killed on

humanitarian grounds. Ismail Hossain's

employment has been arranged in this

industrial establishment.

However, in some media reports,

incorrect and partial information has

been spread, somewhere it has been

mentioned that he fell from the ship and

died. Somewhere at night unauthorized

activities are conducted on board the

ship. Somewhere again I have died from

an iron blow which is not true in the true

sense but misleading.

"Our company Kabir Steel Limited is

strictly prohibited from working on

ships at night (after sunset)," the

statement said. The yard has the

approval of the Department of Factory

and Establishment Inspection to work in

two shifts day and night. In addition,

Yard Paramedic did not see any thorns

or blood stains on the body of the slain

worker during first aid. If he was hit by

any kind of iron, he must have had the

slightest thorns or blood stains on his

body. In addition, all workers and

employees of Kabir Steel Limited are

allowed to work only after obtaining the

required PPE (Personal Protective

Equipment) as per the type of work to

ensure necessary training and health

protection.

blame the great economic depression of the thirties that happened much

later after Spanish flu from economic reasons as caused by the flu.

Policy makers today base their concern entirely on cutting down risks

to human life from Covid -19. But where was that concern during World

War I and World War II ?The total number of military and civilian casualties

in World War I was about 40 million.World War II was the deadliest

military conflict in history. An estimated total of 70-85 million people

perished, or about 3% of the 1940 world population (estimated 2.3

billion). Was this very extraordinarily big number of deaths in the two

world wars at all inevitable.? Diplomats, statesmen and all other sensitive

and humanistic people around the world could concert together and

raise barriers to such deaths.

Specially after World War I and in the background of its horrific experience

of deaths and destructions like never before in human history. was

it not on obligation for civilizedsegments of mankind to show that they

were determined to resist repetition of such senseless barbarities. The

founding of the League of Nations and subsequently the United Nations

were seen as deliberate and conscious attempts of so called civilized

humanity to prevent mindless deaths and destructions.

But how many died from military conflicts in the post World War periods.

How many died in the Vietnam war and how many in the Afghan

wars. According to reliable data, 13.5 million died in the course of the

Vietnam war, 2.4 million in the Afghanistan wars and 6.5 million in the

Iraq conflict. The architect of the Unted Nations system to frustrate war

and keep the peace, superpower United States, did hardly anything to

uphold its professed objectives. USA carried on the carnage in Vietnam

even after realizing they were perpetrating an unfair war on a far weaker

and vulnerable people who were spirited mainly by ideology in their

struggle against a far superior power. The same was the position of the

USA in the Afghanistan wars.

In Iraq, the USA started a war that could not be justified later because

it was proved that Saddam Hossein was not illegally producing weapons

of mass destruction violating agreements. The point is :the same USA

hypocritically adopted a stance of saving human lives to contain the

spread of Covid-19 though all considerations for human lives mattered

little or nothing to it in the past when it could practically stop the loss of

human lives through its conscious decisions.

Rather, the USA helped to set a standard for most countries to follow

that shutting down economies would be the ideal way to stop Covid-19's

spread. From doing this, the USA was not only setting the stage for

harming its own economy but more importantly the global economy as

well. Now, the same USA is feeling obliged to recant its monumental

Covid-19 related policy errors and reopen its economy to the fullest

extent.

The unwillingness of some countries not to stretch lockdown, restrictions,

etc. period or periods too long or too far , ignoring the global trend,

was seen rewarded in significantly higher economic growth trends there,

comparatively. A shining example is in our own neighborhood, South

Asia. Bangladesh economy grew 4.50 percent in 2021 notwithstanding

the pandemic with only one three months long relaxed phase of lockdown

whereas in the same period India that enforced four phases of

strict lockdowns or the like experienced its economy's 'contraction' by 7.3

per cent. Clearly, our battling of Covid-19 has been a lot better than India's

as our leadership executed Covid-19 related policies with greater insight

or hindsight.

Out of a total global population of nearly 8 billion human beings or

8,000 million people some 5.7 million only have died from Covid-19 .

That means less than 1 percent of the infected ones worldwide died from

Covid-19. But the world's peoples are still not fully hedged from the Corona

virus. To tell the plain truth, many are dying regularly from Corona

virus even after taking two vaccine shots and the booster dose. They

would have very probably died with or without vaccination and lockdown/restrictions.

It should be noted that the overwhelming number

that contracted corona viruses (including their mutated forms) survived

or recovered.

The deaths from among them were too few or less than one per cent

only in contrast to the total number that got the disease. Therefore, in

what way it has been pragmatic or sensible to impose such crushing

blows on the global economy (with varying degrees of negatives for the

world's countries) by insisting that these countries should make lockdowns,

restrictions, etc. as the main plank of their public policies to save

such limited number of lives of people ?

[The writer is former Associate Editor of The Independent]

[From page-1]

Highly appreciating the socio-economic progress of

Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina, he reaffirmed Japan's commitment to

stand beside Bangladesh for the mutual benefits of

the two peoples.

He assured Japan's continued support to resolve

the Rohingya crisis.

At a ceremony jointly organized on this occasion by

the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka and the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh this afternoon at the

Foreign Service Academy, Foreign Minister Dr AK

Abdul Momen; Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary)

Masud Bin Momen and Ambassador of Japan to

Bangladesh Ito Naoki spoke at the celebration event.

Video messages of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,

Japanse Prime Minister Fumio Kishida were played.

Message of President of the Japan-Bangladesh Parliamentary

Friendship League Taro Aso was also read

out.

As the chief guest of the ceremony, Dr Momen

recalled with gratitude moral and material support

provided to us by the Government and people of

Japan to our War of Liberation.

He also paid deep respect to the "Friends of

Bangladesh" from Japan, whom Bangladesh has

awarded for their invaluable contributions to the

GD-226/22 (9x4)

independence of Bangladesh. Foreign Secretary

Momen highlighted the historical kinship between

the two countries.

He said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman's visit to Japan in 1973 sealed the

relationship between the two friendly countries for

eternity.

Mentioning that Bangladesh is progressing under

the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina to achieve the dream of Bangabandhu's

Sonar Bangla, he stressed on the instrumental role

of Japan as a key development partner in this

endeavour.

Ambassador of Japan Ito Naoki highlighted the

robust multifaceted cooperation between the two

countries, especially in the areas of infrastructure

development, trade, investment and people-to-people

contacts.

He assured Japan's continued cooperation for the

socio-economic development of Bangladesh as well

as repatriation of Rohingya people.

Colorful dance performances at the courtesy of

Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy were also presented

at the ceremony.

Chairmen of BIDA, BEPZA, BEZA and high-level

representatives from Japanese business community

in Bangladesh, among others, attended the event.

Wednesday, Dhaka: February 9, 2022; magh 26, 1428 bs; rajab 7, 1443 hijri

information and broadcasting minister Dr hasan mahmud addressing a press briefing at the conference room

of Chattogram circuit house.

photo : star mail

Moulvibazar court asks for

report scrutining cruelty

against elephant cubs

AmAl KAnti Deb, moulvibAzAr CorresponDent

Moulvibazar Chief Judicial Magistrate Judge

Muhammad Ali Ahsan directed the concerned

department to take legal action after seeing the

video of physical abuse of baby elephants on

social media. Muhammad Ali Ahsan issued the

order (as per Section 25 of 1898) directing the

concerned to immediately stop the inhuman

and cruel treatment of elephants in the name

of training. According to the Wildlife

(Conservation and Security) Act, 2012 and

Animal Welfare Act, 2019, the inaction of Juri

Thana Officer-in-Charge and Divisional Forest

Officer, Department of Wildlife Management

and Nature Conservation, Moulvibazar has

been instructed to provide show cause by

March 15. The inquiry report and show cause

reply are scheduled to be submitted within the

mentioned date.

Both the investigating officers in their

report mentioned the names and

addresses of those involved in elephant

poaching, the number of elephants that

have died in brutal torture in the name of

training since independence, how the

elephants were collected And how many

have been licensed for training. And to

inform the court in detail what steps have

been taken in accordance with the law to

prevent such cruelty to elephants.

Note that in the ancient method called

'Hadani', wild elephants are kept in the training

center. At the tender age, elephants are

tied to ropes and the tree poles, mother elephants

are kept away, baby elephants are

brutally tortured and not given enough food.

In this way, after giving training for 2

months, these elephants are taken to perform

in the circuses and tree shifting. In the

Goalbari union of Juri upazila of

Moulvibazar district, deep into the hills, the

work of domestication is going on like beating

a four-year-old elephant cub to subdue it.

Sometimes an instrument named 'Kuku'

made of iron is being used for torture. The

mother elephant's name is Nurjahan, she

has two children. The owner wants to use the

two four- and five-year-old elephants for

business. A group of people who do not have

institutional knowledge has been brought in

the name of training. Locally this training is

called 'Hadani'.

Cruel physical torture is the main weapon

of this two to three month long training technique.

At this point, the elephant insists on

being chained, and in agony, they lift their

trunk up and groan. At intervals, the elephant

is fed sweets mixed with straw. Then

they are pulled out of the wooden logs and

dragged with ropes to various places. Then it

is tied again. Elephant cubs also fell to the

ground at this time. But this torture in the

name of training does not stop. The seven

cuckoos in the hands of the seven trainers,

with which the endless sting goes. Half of the

elephants trained under that method died.

In spite of the existence of customary law in

the country for taming elephants, in this illegal

and ancient way and elephants are subjected

to cruel torture.

As a result, many elephants die in infancy.

Human beings are forced to succumb to

this painful process. As a result, many elephants

become mentally ill. Which is commonly

called crazy elephant. Most of the

time people fall to their deaths due to the

attack of that mad elephant.

Nasir's dream cattle farm

in Jashore

shAhiD Joy, JAshore

Nasir Uddin, a successful cattle farmer

from Putkhali village bordering Benapole

in Jashore, has been building his dream

cattle farm for 15 years. Many people are

building small cattle farms after seeing

him. The largest cattle congregation sheds

are now empty as cattle smuggling from

India has stopped. Two thousand cattle

traders associated with cattle walks are living

unemployed lives.

Some of the cattle traders are now van

drivers, some are easybike drivers and some

are working as day laborers. One of them is

cattle trader Nasiruddin, starting with a

small cattle farm with only five cows.

Nasir Uddin is a successful farmer from

Putkhali, a village on the border of Benapole.

Nasir started his journey with only 5 cows of

Nepali breed in 2013. Later he bought 5

more cows with a loan of Tk 3 lakh from an

NGO and some of his own capital. From 10

cows, the breed has reached today's farm

through phased breeding.

Now just move forward. He is working

tirelessly. Hard work has given him the news

of success. At present the annual income is

about two crore taka.

It is learned that at present his farm has

120 dairy cows. He gets up to 500-600 liters

of milk per day from these cows. He provides

this milk daily to various dairy processing

companies and sweet shops. At present his

farm has 120 cows, 550 bulls and 120 calves.

Its estimated market value is about 1 crore

taka. In addition to the cattle dairy farm

there is a goat farm. Where there are about

125 goats of local and improved breeds. At

present 65 workers are working in his farm.

The workers are getting their salary from 8

thousand to 12 thousand taka.

The farmer, Nasir Uddin, said that every

year, after deducting expenses, an income

of BDT 1.5 to 2 crore is earned. He added

that the success of his farm was due to the

cooperation of the local livestock officer.

Cattle farms can be a recourse to eliminate.

With the help of the government, it is

possible to eliminate 30% unemployment

in this sector. Following him, many people

in the area are now farming cows, goats

and poultry. People in the border areas in

particular have been inspired by Nasir's

success to become self-reliant.

Hadiuzzaman, former chairman of

Putkhali Union, said, "I saw Nasir Uddin

come to this place today with a lot of

effort." Seeing Nasir, many men and

women of the union have changed their

fortunes by running small cattle farms.

Jashore District Animal Resources

Department official Rashedul Haque said,

'Nasir's farm is a big cattle farm. He is a

skilled farmer. Seeing him, others in the village

are being encouraged to keep cows.

Mirza Fakhrul's

great quality is

that he can lie

confidently: Hasan

CHATTOGRM : Information and

Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud

said that the great quality of BNP Secretary

General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is

that he can lie frequently with confidence.

"When we said that Mr. Fakhrul had

written a letter to the foreigners to stop aid

to the country, he had committed anti-state

acts," he said.

"Fakrul then told a press conference that

he didn't write any letter. When we showed

the copy of that letter to journalists and

handed it over to the media representatives

then BNP did not give any reply," he added.

"As a politician, I am really ashamed to

see and hear that a party secretary general

can lie in this way," Hasan said.

The minister stated these as the chief

guest while addressing the Bangladesh

Journalists' Welfare Trust cheque distribution

ceremony yesterday at

Bangabandhu Hall of Chattogram

Press Club (CPC) in the city.

Chattogram Union of Journalists (CUJ)

President Mohammad Ali presided over

the function while Managing Director of

Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust

Subhash Chandra Mondol, CPC President

Ali Abbas, Member of Bangladesh

Journalist Welfare Trust Kalim Sarwar,

Vice President of BFUJ Shahidul Alam,

General Secretary of CPC Chowdhury

Farid and General Secretary of CUJ

Shamsul Islam, among others, addressed

the function.

Hasan said that the political party which

believes in changing of power with the verdict

of the people through elections or the

political party which has to sustain with the

support of the people cannot last without

elections. "The mistake that the BNP is

making like their suicide, that's all I can

say," he added.

Hasan also joint general secretary of the

Awami League said the government had

formed a search committee to form a

strong election commission.

"When mangoes are ripen in the trees

people throw stones. But criticism should

not be like the blind and the deaf. As well as

criticism and good work should also be

praised. We need to consider what this government

has done for journalists, what it is

doing and whether it has happened in the

past," he said.

Dhaka, Tokyo to work together to

build prosperous future for all:FM

Complete automation of bond

facility by 2023:NBR chairman

DHAKA : National Board of Revenue (NBR)

chairman Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem

said that the bond facility will be completely

automated by 2023 so that no one can gain

illegal benefit from the system.

He made the remarks yesterday at a prebudget

discussion with the members of the

Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) at the

NBR office in the capital.

The NBR chairman urged the concerned

officials to be careful so that foreign nationals

cannot join any job by arriving here in tourist

visas aiming to evade the tax.

He also sought cooperation from other

ministries and government agencies so that

the local employers feel discouraged to

employ foreign nationals, those who come

here with tourist visas.

At the programme, ERF President

Sharmeen Rinvy and General Secretary SM

Rashidul Islam placed a set of recommendations

for the next budget for fiscal 2022-23.

DHAKA : The Executive Committee of

National Economic Council (Ecnec) on

Tuesday okayed the first revision of the

4th Health, Population and Nutrition

Sector Programme (4th HPNSP) raising

its cost by Tk 30,448.62 crore and

extending the project deadline by one

year till June 2023, reports UNB.

Ecnec approved a total of 11 development

projects with the overall estimate

cost of Tk 37,507 crore (counting only

additional costs of four revised projects).

The approval came from the virtual

Ecnec meeting, which was presided over by

Encec chair and Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina from her official residence

DHAKA : Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul

Momen on Tuesday said the relations

between Bangladesh and Japan have steadily

grown from strength to strength with

accelerated pace in recent years since

Bangabandhu's visit to Japan, reports UNB.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman paid the historic visit to

Japan in October 1973.

"As we cross the milestone of 50 years of

friendship, I'm confident that together we

can build a peaceful and prosperous future

for all," Dr Momen said.

The Foreign Minister made the remarks

while addressing a function on the occasion

of the 50th anniversary of the establishment

of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh

and Japan that falls on February 10.

Dr Momen said since the government led

by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to

power in 2009, the two countries have consolidated

close cooperation to new heights

through trade, investment, development

cooperation, education and cultural

exchange, and a broad spectrum of peopleto-people

contacts. The Embassy of Japan

and Ministry of Foreign Affairs cohosted the

event at the Foreign Service Academy.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and

Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito

Naoki also spoke at the event.

Bangladesh and Japan are now working

to elevate the current "comprehensive

partnership" into a "strategic partnership"

on the basis of shared interests, targets

and priorities. Dr Momen acknowledged

the continued support and cooperation

from Japan towards the humanitarian crisis

concerning the forcibly displaced

Myanmar nationals.

"We seek Japan's continued support and

understanding for an early, safe, sustainable

and dignified return of more than a million

of these forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals,

known as Rohingya, who are temporarily

sheltered in Bangladesh, to their homeland

in the Rakhine State," said the Foreign

Minister.

He said the prolongation of this crisis will

adversely impact the safety and security of

The NBR chairman expressed interest in

protecting local industries in the forthcoming

budget. He said that support for local

industries, especially for those who produce

consumer goods, would be in consideration

in the next budget like previous years.

"We don't want consumer goods to be

imported from China, Taiwan, or any other

country," he said adding, "It's a shame that

these products sometimes have to be

brought from Pakistan."

However, noting that support does not

always yield good results, the NBR chairman

said, "It often makes one dependent and

weak. Therefore, impact analysis will be

done after facilitating necessary support."

When asked about backing sectors outside

of the RMG, he said, "We are struggling to

cope with what has already been offered.

People are misusing our bond facilities. This

will be hard to eradicate." Among others,

senior NBR officials also spoke at the event.

Ganobhaban. The other ministers and officials

concerned were connected with the

meeting from the NEC conference room.

"Today's meeting approved 11 projectsseven

fresh and four revised ones- and

the total estimated cost of Tk 37,507.22

crore," said Planning Minister MA

Mannan while briefing reporters after

the meeting. Of the cost, Tk 36,023.91

crore will be drawn from government

funds, while Tk 33.33 crore from Dhaka

South City Corporation's fund and the

rest Tk 1,449.98 crore will come from foreign

sources as project loans, he said.

According to the Planning Commission,

the cost of the 4th HPNSP has now

soumitra majumder shubh, a young man, has returned to commercial cultivation of mushrooms for the first time

in Kalapara, patuakhali. however, his relatives are proud to see this success. he started mushroom cultivation with

50 spoon packets at his aunt's house in nawabganj village of nilganj union of the upazila. photo: pbA

not only Bangladesh and Myanmar but also

the entire region and that may affect development

aspirations of this region.

Dr Momen conveyed his heartiest congratulations

and warmest felicitations to

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan

Hayashi Yoshimasa, and the friendly people

of Japan on this historic occasion in

bilateral relations.

He also expressed his deep admiration

and respect to the Emperor and Empress of

Japan and also Prime Minister of Japan

Fumio Kishida on this auspicious occasion.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of

bilateral relations, the Embassy of Japan in

Dhaka is going to publish a photo-book with

50 original photos on Father of the Nation

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's

historic visit to Japan in 1973.

The Japanese Embassy in association with

Bangladesh Bank is going to release a commemorative

coin while Bangladesh Embassy

in Tokyo in association with Japan Post is

going to release commemorative postage

stamp.

Revoke decision

to hike in LPG

prices:BNP

DHAKA : BNP on Tuesday demanded the

government to immediately revoke its decision

of hiking the prices of liquefied petroleum

gas (LPG) sold by private companies.

"The prices of essential commodities,

including fuel oil, gas, rice, pulses, edible oil

are being continuously increased, cussing

serious misery to low-income people," said

party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul

Islam Alamgir.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP

chairperson's Gulshan office, he said their

party thinks the prices of fuel oil and other

essentials are being increased for creating a

scope of corruption by the government and

the unethical profits by the ruling-partybacked

businessmen. He urged the government

to take steps to lower the prices of

essential items at the consumer level.

"Especially, we demand the cancellation

of the decision to increase the LPG

prices and restore its previous prices,"

Fakhrul said.

4th HPNSP getting costlier by

Tk 30,449cr; Ecnec clears

increased to Tk 145,934.99 crore from Tk

115,486.36 crore from the original layout.

Among the new seven projects, the

largest one is 'Construction of Primary

Infrastructures for Sheikh Hasina

Institute of Frontier Technology Project'

involving Tk 1503.32 crore, which will be

implemented in Shibchar in Madaripur.

Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority

under ICT Division will execute the project

by December 2026 in order to develop

the country's first frontier technologybased

specialised institute.

The major project operations include

acquisition and development of 70.34

acres of land, providing higher trainings

on different essential matters including

IOT, big data or data science, forensic or

cyber security, machine learning, block

chain and chip design, construction of

7,742-sq metre administrative Bhaban,

43,287-sq metre research development

Bhaban and also Business Centre, and

9,760-sq metre dormitory and 8,800-sq

metre football ground with gallery.

The six other fresh projects include

'Infrastructural Development of Mongla

Commander Flotilla West (Comflot West)' with

estimated cost of Tk 699.94 crore; 'Integrated

Sanitation and Hygiene (Integrated Solid and

Human Waste Management) in 10 Priority Cities

of Bangladesh' with Tk 559.68 crore; and 'Waste

Removal and Management in Dhaka South City

Corporation Affiliated Area, Collection of

Modern Vehicles used for Road Repairs and

Easing traffic congestion through installation of

Mechanized Parking' with Tk 333.32 crore.

The remaining new projects are

'Modernisation of Chattogram, Cumilla and

Mymensingh (Trishal) Military Farms' with

the cost of Tk 263.83 crore; 'Smart Agriculture

Card and Digital Agriculture (Pilot)' with Tk

107.92 crore; and 'Construction of Hostels/

Dormitories for Doctors, Officers, Senior Staff

Nurses and Trainees working at Azimpur

Maternal and Child Health Training Institute,

Dhaka' with Tk 64.34 crore.

09-02-2022

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