14-10-2021

thurSday
DHAKA: October 14, 2021; Ashwin 29, 1428 BS; Rabi-ul-Awal 6,1443 Hijri
www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net
Regd.No.DA~2065, Vol.19; N o. 166; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00
international
House sends debt
limit hike to Biden,
staving off default
>Page 7
COVID-19 vaccine
to children
Test run today
DHAKA : The government will conduct
a test run for Covid-19 vaccination for
children at the Colonel Malek Medical
College Hospital in Manikganj today.
"We will inoculate 100 students aged
between 12 and 17 from two government
schools with Pfizer vaccine and will
observe their health condition for 10 to14
days," Director General of Directorate
General of Health Service (DGHS) Prof Dr
Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam
made the announcement virtually.
"If we get positive report from the vaccinated
students, we will launch a large
scale programme for students in Dhaka
city," he added.
According to DGHS officials, a total of
100 children will be inoculated as part of
the test run. Health and Family Welfare
Minister Zahid Maleque is expected to
inaugurate the test run programme for
children at the Colonel Malek Medical
College Hospital in Manikganj.
The health ministry sources said the
government has decided to vaccinate children
aged between 12 and 17 years as the
World Health Organization(WHO) has
agreed on Pfizer jabs for this age group
(12-17) of kids. Children will be allowed to
complete their registration using birth
registration certificate, it added.
Bangladesh set a target to vaccinate the
country's 80 percent population by 2022
under an accelerated inoculation campaign,
expecting receipt of required
COVID-19 jabs within estimated timeline.
Ringleader of human
trafficking syndicate
among 8 held in city
DHAKA : Eight alleged members of a
human trafficking gang, including its
ring leader, were detained by Rapid
Action Battalion (Rab) from city's Badda
area early Wednesday, reports UNB.
Rab identified the detainees as Saiful
Islam alias Tutul, 38 of Meherpur district,
Taiyab Ali, 45 of Rangpur district,
Shah Mohamamd Jalal Uddin Limon,
38 of Gopalganj district, Maruf Hasan,
37 of Patuakhali district, Jahangir Alam,
38 of Meherpur district, Laltu Islam, 28
of Meherpur district, Alamin Hossain,
30 of Shariatpur district and Abdullah Al
Mamun, 54 of Kushtia district.
Tipped off, a team of Rab-4 conducted
a drive in four travel agencies-Tutul
overseas, Limon overseas and Loyal
overseas and detained them with ten
passports, seven files, four seals, 17 cellphones,
five registrar, three mobile
phone SIM, cheque books of four banks,
two computers and cash Tk 10,070.
During investigation, the elite force
found that Tutul used to work as the grocery
shop owner in Gangni upaizla of
Meherpur district and he got involved in
the human trafficking gang and used to
send people to different countries
through travel agencies, said sources at
Rab headquarters.
Later, he opened three travel agencies
and sent people to many countries after
taking several lakh money from them.
Legal steps are underway against the
detainees, said Rab.
Zohr
04:41 AM
11:50 PM
03:58 PM
05:38 PM
06:55 PM
5:55 5:35
SPortS
Morgan, Kohli
target T20 World
Cup title legacy
>Page 9
Govt starts feeling pinch of
price surge of petroleum
on the global market
DHAKA : The global price surge in the
petroleum fuels is forcing the government
to count losses as it has to import both liquid
petroleum and liquefied natural gas
(LNG) at rates much higher than that was
last year, reports UNB.
According to official sources, against the
backlash of price surge of petroleum fuels
the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum
Corporation (BPC) is now importing different
petroleum products at more than
double the rates than the last year's.
As a result, the BPC has been incurring a
loss of over Tk 20 crore per day, said a top
official of the prime government petroleum
marketing entity.
To offset the loss, the petroleum marketing
body is now going to propose the government
to allow it to set a price on a
monthly basis, said a top official at the
BPC.
"Soon, we'll send a proposal to the
Energy and Mineral Resources Division to
allow the BPC to set the petroleum prices
on a monthly basis", Syed Mehdi Hasan,
DHAKA : Information and Broadcasting
Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday
said BNP always looks for secret ways,
instead of elections, to go to power.
"I would like to ask a question to BNP
- what do they mean by the voting environment?
Or, do they want the guarantee
of victory in advance and is that the
voting environment for Mirza Fakhrul
Islam Alamgir?" he said while talking to
newsmen after addressing a function at
Officers Club here. Earlier, the minister
addressed a function on the occasion of
the fifth anniversary of 'Business
Bangladesh' and the first publication of
the Daily Bangladesh Update.
Advocate Abul Hashem Khan, MP, the
daily Jugantar Editor Saiful Alam, additional
secretary and Officers' Club general
secretary Mejbah Uddin, Dhaka Union of
Journalists (DUJ) general secretary Sajjad
Alam Khan Tapu and the daily Somoyer
Alo executive editor Harun Ur Rashid,
among others, addressed the function.
Hasan said voting is taking place fairly as
fair election environment prevails in
Bangladesh. For this, BNP has won in
many polls, he added. He said BNP fears to
take part in the local government elections as
they have become an isolated party. In fact,
those parties boycott the elections which
director (operations and planning), told
UNB.
Currently, the Energy and Mineral
Resources Division sets the fuel price on
an occasional basis considering the global
market price.
According to BPC sources, the refined
petroleum fuel, specially, diesel, is now
selling as much as at $93 per barrel on the
global market this week which was selling
at $43 per barrel in October 2020.
"We've to now buy the diesel from the
world market at a price more than double
the price it was selling last year", said a
BPC official working at the commercial
and operations department of the organization.
He said if the current rates of petroleum
continue or witness a rise, the BPC will
have to incur a loss of Tk 7000-Tk 8000
crore in a year.
According to the annual plan for the fiscal
year 2021-2022, the BPC will import
5.850 million metric tons of petroleum
including refined and crude oils.
BNP looks for secret way to
go to power: Hasan
become isolated from people. And it will be a
suicidal decision for any political party which
does politics for the masses," said Hasan, also
Awami League joint general secretary.
He said the statements of BNP secretary
general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir are
nothing new. In fact, they want a system in
which BNP would go to power, but the countrymen
would never accept this, he added.
The minister said Awami League has
been elected through the mandate of
common people and the party (AL) will
be in power in future if the countrymen
vote for the party. There is no other way
for Awami League, he added.
Replying to a query over a demand of
BNP, Hasan said, "I wish for Begum
Khaleda Zia's early recovery...I would
like to ask the BNP leaders - why they
have contempt about the medical treatment
of Bangladesh and its doctors."
Earlier in the function, the minister said
the number of circulations of newspapers
submitted in the DFP is not realistic.
"We will fix a serial in the basis of circulation.
I would like to extend my thanks to the
newspapers owners, editors, journalists,
Jatiya Press Club, Bangladesh Federal Union
of Journalists, Dhaka Union of Journalists
for standing beside me in bringing discipline
in this sector," he added.
SAU teacher develops
fish vaccine, first of its
kind in Bangladesh
SYLHET : An assistant professor of
Sylhet Agriculture University (SAU) has
developed an oral vaccine for fish, the
first of its kind in Bangladesh, which can
protect different species of fish from
bacterial diseases and boost their production,
reports UNB.
The vaccine will help boost fish production
as it will reduce their mortality
rate, assistant professor of Department
of Marine Fisheries Science Faculty Dr.
Abdullah Al Mamun told UNB.
Dr Abdullah started his research work
on developing fish vaccine in 2016.
A huge number of fish die every year
being infected by a bacteria named
Aeromonas hydrophila that causes sores
in fish , he said. The vaccine developed
by Dr Abdullah has been named as
'Biofilm'. The vaccine will be applied to
the fish after mixing it with their feed.
"During the research, a number of
Pangas fish were given the vaccine at
SAU research centre and we achieved 84
per cent success and now we are thinking
of applying the vaccine at the field
level," he added. The vaccine will be
applied in different ponds in Sylhet from
March and some ponds have been
selected for this purpose, he said. "If we
see success at the field level initiative will
be taken for its commercial production."
"We don't have the capacity of producing
huge vaccine but we can produce 100
milliliters of vaccine every month," he
added. A proposal has been sent to the
Bangladesh Academy of Sciences for
assisting the research work, he said.
District fisheries official Abul Kalam
Azad, said "Fish usually get infected with
bacterial diseases and many fish die
every year.
Tensions erupted among a faction of locals after news broke on social media about the alleged desecration
of the Holy Quran at a Durga Puja mandap on the bank of Nanuar Dighi in Cumilla. Photo : Star Mail
art & culture
Badhon nominated
for APSA Awards
>Page 10
DHAKA : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
on Wednesday urged all to ensure fire and
other safety measures during the construction
of high-rise buildings, reports
UNB.
"During the construction of any highrise
building, it's needed to ensure a fire
extinguishing system. We're also collecting
rescue equipment gradually to reduce
disaster risks," she said while addressing a
virtual programme from her official residence
Ganobhaban.
The Ministry of Disaster Management
and Relief arranged the programme marking
the 50 years of Cyclone Preparedness
Programme (CPP) and International Day
for Disaster Reduction 2021.
The audience was connected from the
Osmani Smriti Auditorium in the capital
and Muktijudda Field in Cox's Bazar.
The government has also been working
on its part to reduce fire and other disaster
risks, she said, adding that it is enhancing
the capacity of the fire service and civil
defence to this end.
"The people of our country will also have
to remain alert about it. They'll have to
take some measures on their own.
Whenever you construct houses, offices or
business establishments, you need to keep
in mind that there might be a fire incident,
DHAKA : Sustainable growth and value
addition can be achieved if the textile and
garment sector of Bangladesh expands
towards the production of Technical
Textiles (TT) and Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE), says a study.
Throughout the years, Bangladesh confirmed
its pioneer position as one of the
leading global suppliers in the textile and
garment sector, it said.
The challenge of the hour is to maintain
the country's position despite the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
These are the observations of the
'Feasibility Study on Scaling up the
Production of Technical Textiles (TT)
including Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) in Bangladesh', commissioned
by the Deutsche Gesellschaft
fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit
(GIZ) GmbH with support of BGMEA.
The study findings were shared on
Tuesday. Werner Lange, Textile Cluster
Coordinator of GIZ Bangladesh said
they are proud to share the results, particularly
critical gaps, key actions and an
overall strategy to support Bangladesh
in entering into this new market and -
most importantly - in succeeding there
Sewerage
pipelines have
been laid in
rows on the side
of the road for
two weeks.
Pedestrians
are suffering
due to slow
down the
work of
the contractor.
The picture
was taken from
Nayabazar area
of the capital on
Wednesday.
Photo :
Star Mail
Ensure fire safety in highrise
buildings : PM
cyclone or flood. So, you've to remain riskfree
and take measures in advance accordingly,"
she said.
Hasina said the Father of Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
undertook the CPP immediately after the
Liberation War as he had witnessed the
public misery during the 1970 devastating
cyclone. It was thought that some 10 lakh
people lost lives in the cyclone as no warning
message and no response had come from
the then Pakistan government, she said.
She criticised the then BNP government
for its delayed and poor response during
the 1991 strong cyclone which claimed
huge lives.
Hasina said she visited the affected
areas immediately after the cyclone and
witnessed the public sufferings and miseries.
It is her party and its leaders who
stood first beside people much before the
government during the 1991 disaster.
She criticised then Prime Minister
Khaleda Zia for her remarks in the Jatiya
Sangsad that the death toll was less than
what was feared earlier.
Hasina mentioned that no man lost
life during the 1998 prolonged flood that
lasted two and a half months due to the
effective measures taken by the AL government.
Bangladesh has huge potential in
technical textiles, PPE : Study
in a sustainable and compliant way.
Ambassador of Germany to Bangladesh,
Achim Troster, BGMEA President Faruque
Hassan, Vice President Shahidullah Azim,
Vice President Miran Ali, Werner Lange,
Textile Cluster Coordinator of GIZ
Bangladesh and Angelika Fleddermann,
Country Director of GIZ Bangladesh, panelists
Abdullah Hil Rakib, Director,
BGMEA; Tariqul Islam, Assistant Director,
Snowtex; Thomas Hubner, Business Scout,
GIZ; and the author of the study, Charles
Dagher, Consultant, GFA, supported by his
study team colleague Dr. Rajesh Bheda;
discussed the challenges and opportunities
that come with the proposed shift towards
the sub-sector.
Faruque Hassan said at this juncture
they need investment and technical
knowhow from the developed part of the
world.
"Our industry is ready to cater the
growing market of the TT and PPE and
demand is also on the rise. We encourage
joint venture in technical textile and
PPE and also need support from the
brands, testing services companies and
technology suppliers to join hands and
take the potential to a reality."

THursDAY, OcTOBer 14, 2021
2
Advice shifting
on aspirin use
for preventing
heart attacks
NEW YORK : Older adults
without heart disease
shouldn't take daily lowdose
aspirin to prevent a
first heart attack or stroke,
an influential health
guidelines group said in
preliminary updated advice
released Tuesday, reports
UNB.
Bleeding risks for adults in
their 60s and up who
haven't had a heart attack or
stroke outweigh any
potential benefits from
aspirin, the U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force said in
its draft guidance.
For the first time, the
panel said there may be a
small benefit for adults in
their 40s who have no
bleeding risks. For those in
their 50s, the panel softened
advice and said evidence of
benefit is less clear.
The recommendations are
meant for people with high
blood pressure, high
cholesterol, obesity or other
conditions that increase
their chances for a heart
attack or stroke. Regardless
of age, adults should talk
with their doctors about
stopping or starting aspirin
to make sure it's the right
choice for them, said task
force member Dr. John
Wong, a primary-care expert
at Tufts Medical Center.
"Aspirin use can cause
serious harms, and risk
increases with age," he said.
GD-1511/21 (6x3)
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Local Government Engineering Department
Office of the Upazila Engineer
Upazila: Birampur, District: Dinajpur
www.lged.gov.bd
MemoNo.-46.02.2710.000.14.016.21-449 Date: 13-10-2021
e- Tender Notice No.: 01/2021-22
e-Tender(OTM) for PEDP-4 is invited in the National e-GP System Portal
(http://www.eprocure.gov.bd) for the procurement of
Sl.
No
Tender ID No.
01 (1).Construction of additional
class room of Chak
Horidashpur ( D: para)Primary
school under PEDP4
Durga festival going on
in full swing at Kalibari
temple in Halishahar
MUNMUN AHMED, CHATTOgRAM METRO-
POliTAN CORRESPONDENT
Mahaostomi, the biggest
festival of the followers of
traditional Hindu religion,
was celebrated with
various arrangements. in
the morning, various
events of Mahaostomi
began with the entry of
Navapatrika, bathing of
Navapatrika, installation of
Navapatrika, Mahasnan,
completion of Saptami Hit
Puja and Anjlidan by the
followers. There are many
more formalities
throughout the day.
On Wednesday (October
13), the followers of
traditional religions
celebrated Mahaostomi in
grand style in different
mandaps of Chattogram
city. There were gatherings
of followers in different
mandaps. Besides praying
to goddess Durga, they
also got involved in
organizing festivals.
Visiting the temple under
Halishahar police station
in city, it is seen that people
of all ages from children to
old people have come there
to participate in the
festival. in the mandaps,
the children get up in a
huddle, the elders fold their
hands and sit on their
Name of
Works
Last Selling
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15.00 PM
mother's lap and pray.
The temple authorities
were seen to take a very
strict stand on the
observance of governmentmandated
hygiene rules.
Hand sanitization was
arranged at the beginning
of the line of devoteesvisitors
entering the
mandaps. Masks are then
distributed to everyone as
soon as they enter.
Volunteers were also
warning everyone to follow
the hygiene rules.
liton Debnath likhan,
president of the puja
celebration committee of
Halishahar police station,
said, The Bangladesh
today"New magazine
entry, new magazine bath,
new magazine installation,
Mahasnan, ostomi Hit
Puja has been completed in
ostomi. Devotees have
worshiped mother Durga
by paying homage.
Everyone prayed that
everyone would be saved
from this Corona epidemic,
that the world would
recover quickly. We have
prayed for the well-being of
all the people of the world,
irrespective of race,
religion and caste. "
Sumon Kanti Nath,
general secretary of
Closing
Date & Time
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16.00 PM
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Opening
Date & Time
04-11-2021
16.00 PM
This is an online Tender, where only e-Tenders will be accepted in the National e-
GP Portal and no offline/hard copies will be accepted.
To submit e-Tender registration in the National e-GP System Portal
(http://www.eprocure.gov.bd) is required.
The fees for downloading the e-Tender Documents from the National e-GP System
portal have to be deposited online through any registered Banks branches up to
03-11-2021, 16.00 PM
Further information and guidelines are available in the National e-GP System
Portal and from e-GP help desk (helpdesk@eprocure.gov.
(Abdullah Al Sadeek)
Upazila Engineer
Birampur,Dinajpur
Ph:0532256464
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ue.birampur@lged.gov.bd
Halishahar Thana Puja
Celebration Committee,
told The Bangladesh today,
about the overall
organization
of
Mahaostomi, goddess
Durga has been invoked
through Manglik Kriya in
the morning. Worship has
been completed through
various rituals and
devotees have paid
homage. Prasad has been
distributed to all. One of
our events in Saptami is:
dance competition, post
drum competition, song
competition, ulu
competition etc. This is
how our Mahaostomi is
organized today. "
He added, "We celebrate
this festival with everyone.
This is the prayer to
mother Durga: May all the
people of the world
prosper, may all be happy,
may be healthy."
Meanwhile, on the
occasion of Puja, people of
different ages are going to
the puja mandaps in
different colored clothes.
On the occasion of Saptami
Puja, in the evening there
will be various programs
including devotional
music, Ramayana Pala,
Arti in different puja
mandaps.
A water lily
lake draws
(From Back Page)
Every year at the beginning of the Bengali
month of Shravan, water lilies start blooming
in this lake. The duration of which varies from
3 to 4 months. However, there is much water
in the lake for 6 months of the year. The water
opens the way for the people of the region to
earn income. Tourists, especially those who
come to enjoy the beauty, pick up the plant
and sell it, cultivate fishand when the water
dries up, they produce crop. Ujjal Biswas, a
local resident, said he was employed in other
occupations throughout the year but sailed on
the bill during the tourism season. About 50-
60 boats ply on the bill for tourists. Each boatman
earns an average of BDT 500 to 600. And
on the closing days, everyone earns about a
thousand taka.
Afzal Habib, the head of a 10-member
tourist group from far-flung Chittagong, said
he had brought a motorcycle to enjoy the
beauty with his own eyes after watching a documentary
on YouTube. However, as there is
no residential hotel, good quality restaurant or
rest house near this lake, he has moved to a
hotel in Barisal city. He came here 5 am in the
morning so that he can relax and enjoy.
The newly elected chairman of Satla Union,
Md. Shahin Hawlader said that MP Shah
Alam of Parliamentary Constituency-2
(Banaripara-Wazirpur) has given DO letter for
road and infrastructural development. Moreover,
restrooms and washrooms for tourists
will be set up here soon. He said if Satlalake
can be converted into tourism, employment
opportunities will be created. Moreover, a
huge fishing center has been set up around
this lake, he said.
Wazirpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Pranati
Biswas told Bangladesh Today that the beauty
of the lake lasts for a maximum of 3 months.
As a result, no decision or proposal is being
made to develop it as a tourist destination.
However, considering the issue of tourists,
contrary to the project proposal, the Ministry
of Tourism has allocated Tk 4 million for infrastructural
development. Development work
includes construction of rest houses and construction
of decks in the bill. From where
tourists can enjoy the beauty of the entire lake.
The public tender has been floated. Development
work will start as soon as the water level
of the lake will go down.
AFFIDAVIT
To inform all concern that in My
Daughter LO SHUK LING'S NID
Card # 2353505973 issued by the
Bangladesh Government, My
name written as RAFIQUL ISLAM,
which is wrong and in correct. Due
to correction that error I Performed
an affidavit before the Court of
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate,
Chattogram on 30.09.2021 being
serial No. 2205/21 and amended
my actual name LO NAI CHUEN
instead of RAFIQUL ISLAM. For
now & future My Daughter LO
SHUK LING'S NID Card #
2353505973; my name will be
treated as LO NAI CHUEN instead
of RAFIQUL ISLAM. This is published
for do the need full by all
concern
LO NAI CHUEN
261 Teribazar, Chattogram.
Durga Puja the biggest festival of the followers of Hindu religion is being celebrated in grand style at Kalibari
temple in Halishahar.
Photo: Munmun Ahmed
GOvERNMENT OF THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH
Local Govt. Engineering Department
Office of the Upazila Engineer
Debiganj,Panchagarh.
www.lged.gov.bd.
Memo No. 46.02.7734.902.14.021.21-794, Date: 12/10/2021.
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THURSDAY, OCTOBeR 14, 2021
3
State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Dr Murad Hasan briefed the journalists on the
occasion of Durga puja.
Photo : PID
DB questioning: The
eccentric businessman
and the fake addl secretary
DHAKA : Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka
Metropolitan police (DMP) on Tuesday
evening interrogated the chairman and chief
executive officer of DATCO Group Musa bin
Shamser for his alleged involvement with the
arrested fake additional secretary Abdul
Quader Chowdhury, reports UNB.
Musa along with his family went to the DB
office in the afternoon and he was
interrogated for more than three hours.
Briefing reporters afterwards, its Joint
Commissioner (DB-North)Harun-ur-
Rashid said that businessman Musa Bin
Shamsher cannot avoid responsibility for the
offences of fraudster Abdul Quader.
He allegedly appointed Quader as his legal
adviser and also gave him a cheque of Tk 20
crore. Evidence of Abdul Quader's frequent
contact with him has been found, he said.
Though the detectives had asked Musa bin
Shamser to meet in the DB office on Sunday,
he did not go there on the day. Instead, his
son lawyer Jubi Musa went to the DB office
and gave information responding DB's
query. As the detectives were not satisfied
over his answers, they called Moosa Bin
'Robber' killed
in 'gunfight' in
Chattogram
CHATTOGRAM : A
suspected robber was killed
in a 'gunfight' with Rab
members in Banshkhali
upazila of Chattogram early
Wednesday, reports UNB.
The deceased was
identified as Md Alamgir
alias 'Alam Dakat', 45, a
member of a robber gang in
Bashkhali upazila.
Rab sources said when a
team was patrolling
Gondamara village in the
upazila in the early hours of
Wednesday some
miscreants suddenly opened
fire on them, forcing them to
fire back.
At one stage, Alam was
caught in the line of fire
while the gang members
managed to flee the scene.
Later, he was later taken to
a local hospital where
doctors declared him dead.
Shamsher and his family members to visit
DB office on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters after his
questioning was over, Musa Bin Shamsher
told reporters that Abdul Quader went to his
office and presented himself as an Additional
Secretary and gave him a printed fake card.
"He took pictures with me at different
times and he would occasionally sit with me
and talk to high government officials. I
believed that he (Abdul Quader) was an
additional secretary. But later it was proved
that he is not an additional secretary, he is a
fake," the business tycoon said.
"If someone wants to take a picture, I can't
say no to him," he added. "If someone cheats
showing my picture, I can't take the
responsibility for that."
Replying to a question, he said that the
detectives questioned him about Abdul
Quader and he clarified everything he knew.
He also claimed that the DB was satisfied
with his statement.
With regards to appointing Quader as a
legal adviser, Musa flatly denied it: "Abdul
Quader lied. He was not my legal adviser."
‘Desecration of holy Quran’
in Cumilla, govt urges calm
DHAKA : State Minister for Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haque
Khan has urged the people of the country to exercise restraint
and not to take law into their own hands over the reported
desecration of the holy Quran in Cumilla, reports UNB.
"Don't take law into your own hands. Everyone should
maintain religious harmony and peace," he said in an
emergency announcement on Wednesday evening.
"We're closely monitoring the situation in Cumilla. The
local administration has been instructed to investigate what
really happened [there]." he said. "Anyone involved in
destroying religious harmony [in the country] must be
brought under the ambit of law and arrangements be made
to give proper punishment," the state minister added.
Covid-19: 17 more die
DHAKA : Covid-19 claimed 17 more lives in Bangladesh and
infected 518 others in 24 hours till Wednesday morning,
reports UNB.
With the fresh numbers, the Covid-19 fatalities reached
27,730 in the country while the caseload mounted to
15,64,019, according to the Directorate General of Health
Services (DGHS). Of the latest deceased, nine were women
and eight men.
Thirteen of them died in Dhaka division, one in
Chattogram, two in Khulna and one in Barishal divisions.
Bangladesh logged seven Covid-19 deaths on October 8,
the lowest since March 17 this year when the country
recorded 11 such deaths.
39 held for selling,
consuming drugs
in city
DHAKA : Members of
Detective Branch (DB) of
Dhaka Metropolitan Police
(DMP) in separate anti-drug
drives arrested 39 people on
charges of selling and
consuming drugs in the city.
According to a DMP
statement issued on
Wednesday, DMP's police
arrested 39 drug paddlers
and abusers and seized
banned and illegal drugs
from the city's different
areas.
As part of the anti-drug
campaign, the police
conducted raids in different
areas under different police
stations and detained 39
drug abusers and peddlers
and recovered drugs from
their possession from 6 am
on October 12, 2021 to 6 am
on Wednesday, it said.
Police also seized 150
grams and 110 puria (Small
Packet) of heroin, 1.895
kilograms of cannabis
(ganja) and 2,541 pieces of
yaba tablets, according to
the statement.
Police filed 32 cases
against the arrestees in these
connections with police
stations concerned under
the Narcotics Control Act.
Woman 'kills self'
jumping under
moving train in
Gazipur
GAZIPUR : A 26-year-old
woman allegedly committed
suicide by jumping under a
running train along with her
two-year-old child at
Katapool in Sreepur
municipality area of Gazipur
district on Wednesday,
reports UNB.
However, the victim's twoyear-old
girl survived luckily
and was admitted to Sreepur
Upazila Health Complex
with injuries.
Harunur Rashid, station
master of Sreepur Railway
Station, said the woman was
crushed
under
Mymensingh-bound 'Balaka
Express'
The Chittagong Union of Journalists held a rally in front of the Chattogram Press Club on
Wednesday protesting conspiracy against the CUJ.
Photo : Star Mail
World
Standards
Day today
Today is 52nd World
Standards Day. The theme of
World Standards Day this
year is 'Shared vision for a
better world - Standards for
SDGs. This day will be
celebrated all over the world
as well as in Bangladesh.
Regarding this day President
Md. Abdul Hamid, Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina,
Industry Minister Nurul
Majid Mahmud Humayun
M.P, State Minister, Ministry
of Industries Kamal Ahmed
Majumder M.P and Industry
secretary Zakia Sultana have
given separate messages, a
press release said.
On the purpose of the
World Standards Day 2021
Bangladesh Standards and
Testing Institution (BSTI) has
organized several
programmes as a national
standards body. BSTI has
organized discussion meeting
of its head office, regional and
district offices as a part of this
programme. Bangladesh
Television and Bangladesh
Betar will telecast special
programme about this
purpose. On the other hand
different important places of
capital city are being
decorated by banner, festoon
and placard.
Considering the day BSTI is
going to organize a discussion
meeting on Today at its Head
Office at Tejgaon Industrial
Area. Industry Minister Nurul
Majid Mahmud Humayun
M.P Will be present as chief
guest of the programme.
Honorable State Minister,
Ministry of Industry Kamal
Ahmed Majumder M.P,
Industry Secretary Zakia
Sultana and President of The
Federation of Bangladesh
Chambers of Commerce and
Industry (FBCCI) Md.
Jashim Uddin will be present
as special guest of the
Programme. Director General
(Grade-1) of BSTI Dr. Md
Nazrul Anwar will presided
over the discussion meeting.
Cosmos Foundation Award
at Dhaka DocLab
DHAKA : The 5th edition of Dhaka DocLab,
an international documentary production
project in Bangladesh, concluded with an
online award-distribution ceremony on
September 27, crowning 'Devi', produced by
SubinaShrestha of Nepal, with the Best
South Asian Project Award, reports UNB.
Cosmos Foundation, the philanthropic
arm of the Cosmos Group, sponsored the
Best South Asian Project Award.
"We're very happy to support Dhaka
DocLab since its inception. This is going to
be a powerful platform to initiate positive
changes in our community and in our
country," said Enayetullah Khan, Chairman
of the Cosmos Foundation. The fifth edition
of this unique international workshop-cummarket
pitching programme provided a total
of six awards.
The Best Project Bangladesh Award,
supported by Bangladesh Shilpakala
Academy, went to 'First Fairytale Book' by
ABM Nazmul Huda and an Award for a
Social Impact Film by Global Film and
TANGAIL : Agriculture Minister and Awami
League (AL) presidium member Dr Md
Abdur Razzaque yesterday said the biggest
strength of the AL is the people of this
country.
He said this while addressing a function to
distribute corrugated tin and cheques among
the poor, helpless and destitute people at the
Upazila Parishad auditorium at Dhanbari in
Tangail as the chief guest, said a press
release.
Criticizing BNP Secretary General Mirza
Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the minister said:
"The people are the base and strength of
Awami League. Awami League has been
working and struggling for the welfare of the
people."
He said that BNP is always a fugitive party.
Media Initiative went to 'Trap' by M.
Nipunika Fernando from Sri Lanka.
The Doc Edge New Zealand Award, an
invitation to pitch at Doc Edge was won by
both 'Land of Despise' from Bangladesh and
'Devi' from Nepal. The International
Emerging Film Talent Association (IEFTA)
mentorship prize was secured by 'Field
Marshal' from Bangladesh and Docedge
Kolkata Award was received by 'Land of
Despise' from Bangladesh.
This year, the Dhaka DocLab was held
between 28th August - 27th September in
three phases. A total of 21 projects from
Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, India,
Indonesia, Jordan, Nepal, New Zealand,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka were pitched in front
of the esteemed decision makers from
around the world.
NasiruddinYousuf, an eminent cultural
activist and Dhaka DocLab chair, presided
over the concluding event and extended
heartfelt gratitude to all the partners,
sponsors and participants.
People are biggest strength
of AL: Razzaque
Whenever any trouble came, BNP did not
came forward rather they left the people of
the country, he said, adding that it has no
relationship with the people of the country as
the party was formed at gunpoint in the
cantonment.
Razzaque further said that Father of
Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman never escaped despite extreme
torture and imprisonment by the Pakistani
government.
Bangabandhu faced the dictator Ayub
Khan and Yahya Khan very bravely, he
added.
About Prime Minister and Bangabandhu's
worthy daughter Sheikh Hasina, he said the
premier also always stands by her people
and never leave them.
The head of the Vagne Tushar group, an armed, drug dealer and top terrorist of Khilgaon and
Rampura areas of the capital city Mohammad Ibrahim Khan Tushar was arrested from Bhatara
area in the RAB operation.
Photo : Courtesy
Serbian President lauds Bangladesh’s
development journey
DHAKA : Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic
has highly lauded the development journey of
Bangladesh despite challenges posed by Covid
pandemic, reports UNB.
Vucic shared his deep appreciation while he
received Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul
Momen at the Palace of Serbia, Belgrade on
the sidelines of the NAM meeting in Belgrade
on Wednesday.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister attended the
high level commemorative meeting to mark
the 60th anniversary of the Non-Aligned
Movement held on October 11-12 in Belgrade
which was attended by over 40 Ministers and
around 70 countries.
During the meeting, Dr Momen mentioned
cordial and traditionally close relationship
between Dhaka and Belgrade which is rooted
in history. He specially touched on the
personal friendship between Father of the
Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman and President of former Yugoslavia
Josip Broz Tito.
Serbian President was enthused to learn that
Bangladesh is currently celebrating the birth
centenary of the Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and
the Golden Jubilee of Independence of
Bangladesh.
Observing that Serbia's on-going and
ambitious development programmes will
require vast human resources, Dr Momen
offered skilled and semi-skilled workers
including IT professional, electrician, plumber
etc. which are of high demand in Serbia.
Serbian President warmly welcomed his
offer and stressed on devising an institutional
mechanism for collaboration in respect of
labour and manpower from Bangladesh.
While stressing on forging stronger trade
and economic links between the two friendly
countries, Bangladesh Minister urged Serbian
investors to import from Bangladesh and
invest in the country utilizing excellent
investment climate offered by the
Government.
While mentioning that Bangladesh is
currently hosting 1.2 million forcefully
displaced Myanmar nationals known as
Rohingya refugees, Dr Momen sought support
of the friendly countries like Serbia in putting
pressure on Myanmar junta for the volunteer,
safe and sustained repatriation of the
Rohingyas sheltered in Bangladesh.
Vucic appreciated the generosity of
Bangladesh in this regard.
Dr Momen invited the Serbian President to
visit Bangladesh on behalf of the President of
Bangladesh which he gladly accepted. He also
invited the President and the Prime Minister of
Bangladesh.
He is scheduled to meet a few other
dignitaries during his current visit.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Serbia with
residence in Rome, senior officials of the
Bangladesh Foreign Ministry were present
while Serbian senior officials were in
attendance.
Rain likely in
5 divisions
DHAKA : Bangladesh
Meteorological Department
(BMD) forecast light to
moderate rain and
thundershowers
accompanied by temporary
gusty wind at many places
over five divisions in 24 hours
from 9 am on Wednesday,
reports UNB.
"Rain or thunder showers
accompanied by temporary
gusty wind are likely to occur
at many places over Barishal
and Chattogram divisions at a
few places over Khulna and
Dhaka divisions and at one or
two places over Sylhet
division, said a Met office
bulletin.
Weather may remain
mainly dry with temporary
partly cloudy sky elsewhere
dry over the country.
South-west monsoon has
withdrawn from northern
part of the country. Monsoon
is less active elsewhere over
the country and weak to
moderate over North Bay.
Trough of low lies over North
Bay.
Day and night temperature
may fall slightly over the
country.

THURSDAy, OCTObeR 14, 2021
4
Race against time to avert Afghan catastrophe
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Thursday, October 14, 2021
Costs of living are
painfully higher
Upward movement of prices or charges by a small amount
may be bearable to consumers. But not when prices shoot
up all on a sudden within a week's time. For example, a
basic cooking item, onion, is selling for Taka 60 per kg in
unregulated markets whereas its price was Taka 40 about a week
ago. Surely, nothing could have happened so abruptly in the
supply chain to justify such a development. Reportedly, there has
been a bumper production of onions locally that should offset any
pressure on the supply chain.
Even price of the basic staple, rice, is strangely moving up when
the recent Boro rice harvest yielded the highest ever recorded
2 crore metric tons. But the basic staple of the common man,
coarse rice, has increased by Taka one or two per kg within a
week. This price spurt of rice, if it continues, will definitely add to
hardships in the life of the likes of day labourers.
Already, similar tendency towards price spurts are noted in
relation to other essential edibles like cooking oil, flour, lentils,
etc. which could increase the costs of living of non affluent
people. If the price of a good or service rises by, say, 2 or 3 per cent
in a year's time that should be bearable by common consumers.
But not rises like 20 or 25 per cent in a two or three week period.
So, what is at the root of it all ? Reliably, it was reported in the
media that unjustified price rises are the handiwork of a section
of businesses. They have formed syndicates to ensure that prices
at retail level can be dictated and controlled by them. Needless to
say, it is so important to bust these syndicates at the soonest to
provide sustainable relief to common people. It is noted that
officials from the Commerce Ministry now and then have
meetings with business leaders and even fix prices of goods.
But seldom such fixation works. Businesses, specially under
syndicated conditions, act arbitrarily. Often the syndicate
operators sell imported products at substantially increased
prices when actually prices of the same in international markets
have increased by a small margin.
The budget document for 2021-22 spells out the philosophy of
the government which is it seeks to boost 'productive forces'
through various stimuluses to meet the needs of higher
production and hence adequate availability of goods and services,
creation of more jobs and more income and in this way to pave
the ground for expansion of the taxation base to be able to garner
greater amounts of revenues for the government to spend on
developmental purposes.
All of these goals read fine on paper . But the policy planners
need to realize early in the day that this budget philosophy will
deliver in a situation where the great many number of people
who have been hard hit by the pandemic are actually cushioned
from further erosion in their purchasing power by untamed rise
in the prices of goods and services.
If they are too stressed out by an unregulated price situation,
the same will not only prove politically unfavorable for the
government. The same happening will also add to the liability of
the government to provide for their bare sustenance.
The present rate of inflation in Bangladesh is, officially, some
5.36 per cent . But, unofficially, the rate is found to be
significantly higher. Whether it is inflation in the economic sense
or the outcome of unethical businesses practices, people's
experience is that the value of their savings have been eroding
continuously without a pause.
The loss of Taka's value used to be not so quick in the past. The
only difference now is that this loss has been accelerating in
recent years that has created a specter of a vast number of people
getting declassed and actually going down in the class hierarchy.
One hears plenty of inspirational rhetoric from government
leaders to the effect that people's income are growing and people
in increasing number are escaping to an existence above the
poverty line. This is true for people who could make it good
through various types of wheeling-dealings, unethical ways of
supernormal profiteering in the name of business, amassing
huge amounts of money through corruption, influence peddling
and other ways of unearned income.
But such climbing up the ladder in the sense of tripling,
quadrupling or more of their income in a short period of time has
not been the lucky outcome for a large number of people who
have had only fixed incomes throughout the years.
Thus, the truly searching eyes may see many middle class
people who turned into lower middle class ones and a notable
number of the latter who joined the ranks of the poor. The story
is also one of a significant number of the poor turning poorer
from living costs fast outpacing earnings and buying powers of
non affluent sections of people decreasing dramatically from the
lower purchasing power of the currency as such or the lowered
value of their savings.
This process must stop to make any sense out of the talks of
'sustainable' poverty reduction and to this end it is supremely
important to stabilize the value of the Taka. In a country like the
United Kingdom, for instance, the annual inflation rate seldom
rises above 2 or 3 per cent and, if it does, it creates a great hue and
cry for bringing the same down at the fastest.
People there are found to be very disagreeable to compromise
their present and future living standards by passively allowing
their living standards to decline from losses in the value of the
Pound or in their savings.
No such concern is amply seen in Bangladesh where it matters
to really fight inflation, price rise or irrationally higher living costs
- whatever the name or the ills that lead to erosion in the value of
the currency. But the greatest number of people in the country
are paying through their nose for such unconcern.
So, the challenge for the government is essentially creating
conditions for retention of the value of the currency or its
purchasing strength. Otherwise, all these talks of the growing
foreign currency reserve, major growth in export earnings,
increasing revenue collection, etc., would be devoid of meaning
or relevance in the lives of common people.
Afghanistan is on the brink of a
humanitarian catastrophe. The end
of the 20-year war may have
silenced the guns for a while, but the wartorn
country is at serious risk of imploding
due to the worsening conditions it faces.
This could have grave consequences for
regional stability and international
security in the form of mass migration and
refugee influx, as well as a renewed proxy
war and transnational terrorism.
The current humanitarian crisis was in
the making before the Taliban takeover in
August. According to the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
about 18.4 million people, nearly half of
the population, were already in need of
humanitarian and protection assistance in
2021. A third of Afghans were facing acute
food insecurity and more than half of all
under-fives were expected to face acute
malnutrition. Moreover, violence had
displaced half a million Afghans.
However, with the Taliban in power,
humanitarian relief efforts suffered a
setback, as the staff of UN agencies and
other organizations were evacuated. The
World Bank stopped its developmental
activities. Under US pressure, the
International Monetary Fund also
suspended Afghanistan's access to $440
million of emergency aid allocated in
response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Consequently, on Aug. 31, UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
warned that "a humanitarian catastrophe
looms" in Afghanistan and urged donor
governments to "dig deep" to fund an
emergency appeal. The UN needed $606
million to provide relief to 11 million
suffering Afghans by the end of 2021.
Donor nations responded beyond
expectations by pledging $1.2 billion at an
Afghan aid conference in Geneva last
month.
However, almost a month later, only a
third of the requested amount has been
handed over to the UN. Of the $300
million sought by the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees, for instance,
only 18 percent has been received, with its
chief Filippo Grandi warning again on
Friday of a "potential humanitarian
catastrophe owing to delay in the
disbursement of UN-sought funds for
Afghanistan."
The evidence of such a catastrophe lies
in the staggering scale of the food, health
and displacement crisis in Afghanistan
under the Taliban. The World Food
Program says only 5 percent of
households in the country now have
enough to eat, and the country may face
"universal poverty" in 2022 if the
international community does not come
to its rescue.
According to the World Health
Organization, the Afghan healthcare
system is "on the brink of collapse," as lack
of funding has left thousands of health
facilities struggling to buy medical
supplies and pay staff. It forecasts that
Afghanistan's coronavirus and poliovirus
response will also suffer.
The number of internally displaced
persons in Afghanistan since August has
also risen significantly. The UNHCR
anticipates that 750,000 people will be
internally displaced due to conflict and
insecurity throughout 2021, an increase of
250,000 from the year-start projections.
Moreover, the number of Afghans
deported by Pakistan and Iran during this
year may top the 1 million mark. Iran is
particularly hard in repatriating Afghan
refugees, despite having a lower refugee
ISHTIAQ AHmAD
population than Pakistan. Tajikistan is the
only Afghan neighbor that has agreed to
accommodate 100,000 refugees. As for
the stance adopted by the rest of the world
on the Afghan refugee issue, the less said
the better.
Thus, the chance that people of the
landlocked state will escape the
impending misery has significantly
eroded. The least they can expect from the
neighborhood is the limited supply of
staple food items through various border
crossings. Pakistan has established an air
corridor for the purpose, in addition to
acting as a hub for humanitarian supplies
from UN agencies or some countries that
have pledged humanitarian assistance,
including China and Russia.
However, it is a race against time, with
winter fast approaching. This means
that if the donor nations, especially the
US and European countries, fail to
follow up on their respective pledges for
the UN humanitarian relief effort, the
food, health and displacement crisis in
this hapless nation is likely to worsen
until next spring.
Drought, coupled with the pandemic,
will also play its part in the process, unless
the World Bank resumes its
developmental operations and the IMF
restores Afghan access to its emergency
assistance.
Before the Taliban takeover, almost
two-thirds of development assistance for
Afghanistan came from outside sources,
amounting to between $4 billion and $6
billion annually. In 2012, the NATO
summit in Chicago and the donor
conference in Tokyo also pledged to
provide security and economic assistance
to Afghanistan during the transition
decade, from 2014 through 2024.
The erosion of these international
commitments, largely due to the US
defeat, has put the lives of ordinary
Afghans at the mercy of a regime that has
neither the knowledge nor skills to
effectively manage public services. The
UN and nongovernmental organizations
have managed to resume operations, but
they cannot make a difference on the
ground due to limited international
funding.
Two other constraints include America's
unwillingness to unfreeze $9.4 billion of
Afghan foreign exchange reserves, as well
as the lack of consensus among the
permanent five members of the UN
Security Council on lifting UN sanctions
on the Taliban. These constraints have
persisted largely due to the refusal of the
Taliban regime to heed international
concerns regarding human rights and
inclusive government. Hence, it is again
the ordinary Afghans who are on the
receiving end of the current deadlock
between the militants and the
international community.
In the face of this impasse, the current
crisis will most likely turn into a full-scale
humanitarian catastrophe, with
devastating consequences, first and
foremost, for the people of Afghanistan.
This is the worst-case scenario, where we
can expect the revival of Afghan civil war,
and the accompanying mass migration
and refugee outflow, as well as the
renewed proxy war among regional rivals,
especially India and Pakistan. In such an
eventuality, the wider world will also face
a growing security threat as turmoilridden
Afghanistan may once again
become a haven for Al-Qaeda or Daesh.
Source: Arab news
Vaccine equality has to start at home
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought
immeasurable challenges across the
world. As of early October, there
have been more than 238 million
confirmed cases and 4.8 million deaths
globally, with the number of infections
rapidly rising - particularly among the
unvaccinated.
The emergence of new, more contagious
variants, such as the Delta one,
underscores the urgency of vaccine
rollout. Studies have shown that low
vaccination coverage is a major driver of
the current rapid increase in the number
of COVID-19 cases.
As the pandemic rages on, wealthy
countries continue to hoard vaccines,
ignoring criticism and warnings from the
World Health Organization. Whereas
developed nations such as the United
States, the United Kingdom, Germany,
France, etc have vaccinated more than 50
percent of their populations, developing
ones in Africa have vaccinated less than
two percent of their populations. As rich
countries start to give COVID-19
"booster" shots to persons already
vaccinated, poorer countries still struggle
with vaccine supplies, and the global
inequity of vaccine access is becoming
ever more apparent.
And while this is one of the most
pressing challenges we face in the global
response to COVID-19, we cannot turn a
blind eye to what is happening locally. In
many countries that face shortages of
vaccines, inequity of access on a national
level is also a major problem. Just as rich
countries have a higher chance of
accessing vaccines, so too do wealthier
Afghanistan crisis India's biggest diplomatic failure
Any country's foreign policy is
determined by its geography." -
Napoleon Bonaparte
In the case of South Asian countries, as
well as foreign policy, domestic policy is
affected by geography. The unfolding
events in Afghanistan and the Taliban's
return to power in August changed the
dynamics of internal politics of all South
Asian countries, especially India and
Pakistan. For Pakistan, the resurgence of
the Taliban in Afghanistan offers
significant opportunities, while for India,
it's a serious challenge to its national
security. In New Delhi, the Taliban's
ascendancy in Kabul is seen through the
lens of the India-Pakistan conflict and the
increase of China's influence in South
Asia. New Delhi's strained ties with
Beijing and Islamabad have seriously
impacted its prospects in Afghanistan.
Thus, the chance that people of the landlocked state will escape the impending
misery has significantly eroded. The least they can expect from the neighborhood
is the limited supply of staple food items through various border crossings.
Pakistan has established an air corridor for the purpose, in addition to acting
as a hub for humanitarian supplies from UN agencies or some countries that
have pledged humanitarian assistance, including China and Russia.
individuals and communities in poorer
countries. While most countries have
prioritised certain high-risk populations
for the vaccine - including healthcare
workers and other front-line service
providers, the elderly and those with
significant underlying health issues -
many have not kept track of who is
actually receiving a shot.
As an infectious disease specialist
advising the Kenyan Ministry of Health on
appropriate COVID-19 management and
control measures, I have often been called
upon by healthcare facilities to advise on
issues related to the vaccination
campaign.
My colleagues and I have observed that
many COVID-19 vaccine queues have
been dominated by people who are not on
these priority lists. In Nairobi, for
example, the majority of those lining up
for vaccinations are from more affluent
neighbourhoods of the city, while dwellers
of informal settlements have received very
few vaccines. This scenario has been
replicated in many other towns across the
India is currently one of the region's
most disadvantaged players. An unofficial
alliance among the Taliban, China and
Pakistan is going to play a central role in
Asia's geopolitics centered in post-
American Afghanistan. Both China and
Pakistan have welcomed the Taliban back
to power.
The Taliban takeover in Afghanistan
may feed a long-simmering insurgency in
the disputed region of Kashmir. There is a
strong notion in the Indian establishment
that the Taliban could be used as a proxy
for organizing militants' attacks in
Kashmir. As well, the policies of China
and Pakistan on Taliban-run Afghanistan
are broadly aligned with each other.
But one gray area where interests clash
is the specter of the Taliban allowing
Afghanistan to be a platform for
international terrorism. Separatist
LOICe OmbAJO
RAVI KANT
country as official prioritisation is not well
enforced.
Even though 3,990,500 vaccine doses
have been administered and 967,553 in
Kenya as of early October, it is notable
that only about 0.5 percent of people in
some of the poorest areas of the country
are fully vaccinated compared with 12
percent for Nairobi. As the country aims
to vaccinate 10 million people in the next
year, a lot more thought will have to be put
into how the vaccines will be distributed.
This is a situation that is not unique to
African countries. In the US, it has been
And while this is one of the most pressing challenges we face
in the global response to COVID-19, we cannot turn a blind eye
to what is happening locally. In many countries that face
shortages of vaccines, inequity of access on a national level is
also a major problem. Just as rich countries have a higher
chance of accessing vaccines, so too do wealthier individuals
and communities in poorer countries.
observed that individuals living in poorer
counties and in more vulnerable
households were less likely to have been
vaccinated. Therefore, this is not just an
issue of the rich elbowing the poor out of
vaccine queues, it is about the state
authorities removing any barriers to
vaccination that the poor may face, such
as inadequate access to information,
misinformation, difficulty reaching
vaccine centres, difficulty scheduling a
vaccine appointment, etc.
movements in China, especially in
Xinjiang, could get a major boost in that
case. It would also test the longtime
friendship between China and Pakistan,
which is always quoted as higher than
mountains and deeper than the ocean.
Recently Pakistan launched a global
campaign to legitimize and garner
support for the Taliban-led government,
with senior officials making a pitch for
engagement through speeches, op-eds
and interviews. Pakistan has called for
immediate development assistance to the
country as well as sanctions on the regime
to be removed. But the Taliban haven't
indicated that their fundamental ideology
has changed. The civilian casualties that
took place after the Taliban took over in
Afghanistan are a clear testimony.
Meanwhile, violence has increased in
the South Asia region. There has been a
Some may argue that the vaccine is
available to all and individuals must take
personal initiative to seek it out. But the
challenges the poor experience cannot be
resolved on an individual basis - they have
to be tackled systematically.
In the case of Kenya, poor access to
information and health advice can be
addressed through the greater
involvement of community health
workers (CHWs). They are trusted voices
and are able to dispel vaccine myths,
identify the vulnerable in the community
and encourage vaccination.
The active deployment of CHWs also
needs to go hand in hand with the spread
of information on vaccines in a clear,
accessible format and on platforms that
the poor actually use. It is important to
gain public trust by not only keeping the
Kenyan society well informed but also
ensuring government transparency on the
inner workings of the vaccination
campaign and the decisions made in this
regard.
Delivering vaccines to the poor - those
who live in crowded dwellings with
inadequate access to sanitation and health
services - can go a long way in helping to
tackle the spread of the virus. After all,
these are the communities that are most
at risk of contracting COVID-19, but also
spreading it. Vaccines should be urgently
made available to poor nations for the
same reason they should be administered
in poor communities. It is because no one
is truly safe from COVID-19 until we are
all safe.
Source: Al jazeera
rise in militant attacks in Kashmir
recently, especially against minorities.
Last Thursday, two teachers were killed in
Kashmir, both of whom belonged to
minority communities in the region, one
Hindu and one Sikh.
The police did not identify the attackers
but the Resistance Front, a little-known
militant group operating in Kashmir, has
claimed responsibility. These incidents
could be just the beginning of a new
insurgency in the region. India has long
aspired to play a bigger role in world
affairs but the Taliban takeover in
Afghanistan has put into serious question
its influence in South Asia. Much of the
blame must be given to India's top
leadership and Foreign Ministry, which
were not quick to evaluate the situation.
Source: Asia times

ThurSDaY, oCTobEr 14, 2021
5
Can African nations abolish
capital punishment?
Dior KonaTé
In July, Sierra Leone became
the 23rd African country to
abolish the death penalty.
Although its use across the
continent has dwindled -
thanks to concerted efforts
from human rights
organisations and
governments - the death
penalty remains on many
more countries' statute books
due to its strong colonial
legacy.
During the colonial period,
punishments that were being
abandoned in Europe found
fertile ground in Africa.
Among them was the death
penalty, which was deployed
as a key element in the
mechanism of colonial
repression.
While
imprisonment became the
most common response to
crimes in colonial Africa, the
death penalty was at the heart
of the colonial project, its
practice deeply woven into
the fabric of state formation
and citizenship building.
The 1890s were a formative
time for the death penalty in
Africa. It had been introduced
in British Africa, in the
Belgian Congo and in
German Africa. But it was
mainly practised in French
Africa around this time,
which corresponded with the
end of the military conquests
in the region and France's
early efforts to consolidate its
rule through an established
politico-legal administration.
The death penalty was first
introduced in the region in
Senegal, France's oldest
colony in west Africa, as early
as 1824, soon after the French
took possession in 1817. But it
was not enforced until 1899.
That year the first public
guillotine execution took
place in Saint-Louis, the
colony's administrative
capital, at a time when the
Third French Republic turned
away from public executions.
Senegal was the only
country in French West Africa
to use the guillotine. In
French Equatorial Africa,
French Togo and French
Cameroon, the firing squad
remained the main execution
method until 1957.
The death penalty in
French Africa was an
institution with a complex,
messy and layered history. It
moved beyond legal justice
and was shaped in many ways
by political and social factors.
Alongside its role to mete out
punishment and maintain
law and order, the death
penalty in French Africa was
also displayed as an
instrument of state authority
and legitimacy. From its
institutionalisation in the
1890s until the 1960s, when
France withdrew from most
of its colonies in the region,
the politics of the death
penalty navigated between
imperial ideas and local
practices.
Crimes such as gang
attacks, armed pillage,
rebellions, conspiracy to rebel
against the colonial
administration - all threats to
the colonial economy and the
protection of French assets in
French West Africa - were
punished by death.
But numerous legislations
that reflected cultural
assumptions about Africans -
such as their natural savagery
and barbarism, primitive
character and natural instinct
for violence - continuously
reshaped how the death
penalty was put into practice.
Capital crimes were
constantly redefined to
respond to growing concerns
over any kind of criminal act
or behaviour, which led to an
expansion of the categories of
capital crimes throughout the
colonial period. Colonial
judges, most of them
administrators with no
judicial training, were
bestowed with discretionary
powers to define what
constituted a crime and
handed down death
sentences based on African
customs that they knew
nothing about or had limited
understanding of.
The death penalty was
deeply rooted in racism. It
was politicised and
weaponised as colonial
administrators targeted and
profiled particular ethnic,
religious or political groups as
potential capital criminals or
suspects. Colonial judges built
their prosecutions on the
characters of African
defendants rather on the
circumstances of the crimes
they had committed. Racist
stereotypes and prejudice
created the ground for the
criminalisation of activities
such as witchcraftand
cannibalism. Colonial judges
severely prosecuted these
crimes, which stood as
evidence of the so-called
"savagery" of Africans,
legitimising the necessity of
the French's "civilising
mission" in Africa.
The death penalty did not
end with the demise of
European colonialism in
Africa - Senegal did not
abolish the death penalty
until 2004. Instead, the
continuity of colonial
legislation and traditions
surrounding the death
penalty shaped its practice in
countries long after
independence.
Today, many African
countries are still reckoning
with this gloomy inheritance
from colonialism. But with
the growing momentum of
the anti-death penalty
movement across the
continent and the world,
there is good reason to think
more countries will do away
with the ultimate sentence.
The death penalty in africa was displayed as an instrument of state authority
and legitimacy.
Photo: Gianluigi Guercia
Women with tablets in Ghatagaon, a town in odisha, india.
Photo: amrit Dhillon
Digital gender gap should be
narrowed down
Sarah JohnSon
A failure to ensure women
have equal access to the
internet has cost low-income
countries $1tn (£730bn) over
the past decade and could
mean an additional loss of
$500bn by 2025 if
governments don't take
action, according to new
research.
Last year, governments in
32 countries, including India,
Egypt and Nigeria, lost an
estimated $126bn in gross
domestic product because
women were unable to
contribute to the digital
economy. The digital gender
gap - the difference between
the number of women and
men who can access the
internet - cost $24bn in lost
tax revenues in 2020, which
could have been invested in
health, education and
housing, said the report.
Phumzile Mlambo-
Ngcuka, former executive
director of UN Women and
founder of the Umlambo
Foundation, said: "We will
not achieve gender equality
until we eliminate this digital
gap that keeps so many
women offline and away from
the opportunities the internet
provides."
The study, conducted by
the World Wide Web
Foundation and the Alliance
for Affordable Internet
(A4AI), looked at 32 low- and
lower-middle-income
countries, where the gender
gap is often greatest.
In those countries, a third
of women were connected to
the internet compared with
almost half of men. The
digital gender gap has barely
improved since 2011,
dropping just half a
percentage point from 30.9%
to 30.4%. Globally, men are
21% more likely to be online
than women, rising to 52% in
the least developed countries,
said the report.
Various barriers prevent
women and girls from going
online, including expensive
handsets and data tariffs,
social norms that discourage
women and girls from being
online, fears around privacy,
safety, and security and a lack
of money - globally, women
earn around 77 cents for each
dollar a man earns.
Few governments have
implemented specific policies
to give women easier access
to the internet, added the
report. According to the
A4AI's 2020 Affordability
Report, more than 40% of
countries had no meaningful
policies or programmes to
expand women's access to the
internet.
Catherine Adeya, director
of research at the World Wide
Web Foundation, said: "As
the internet becomes a more
potent enabler for education,
business, and community
mobilisation, a failure to
deliver access for all means
failing to realise everyone's
potential to contribute."
As well as limiting
opportunities for women and
girls, digital exclusion of
women has broader societal
and economic impacts that
affect everyone; with
hundreds of millions fewer
women able to use the
internet, the world is missing
out on the social, cultural,
and economic contributions
they could make, the report
said.
Boutheina Guermazi,
director of digital
development at the World
Bank, added: "Investing in a
more inclusive digital future
gives leaders a tremendous
opportunity to promote
economic growth while
creating healthier societies by
addressing inequalities in
education and earning
power.
"For governments looking
to build a resilient economy
as part of their Covid-19
recovery plans, closing the
digital gender gap should be
one of the top priorities."
Story of a Kashmiri village
abandoning dowries
aaKaSh haSSan
Babawayil, in the foothills of
the Zabarwan mountains by
the Sind River, is a typical
village in Indianadministered
Kashmir.
Groups of men and women
sit on their lawns breaking
open green husks of walnuts,
freshly gathered from the
giant trees shading the sleepy
hamlet. Other villagers are
busy in the paddy fields
bringing in the harvest.
Harud, the harvest season, is
usually busy.
Most of the 150 households
make their living from
farming and weaving
pashmina shawls. The village,
however, is one of the rare
places in south Asia that has
banned dowries and
abandoned the custom of
throwing lavish weddings.
Weddings in this part of the
world are usually expensive
and can cost a family's life
savings. Money is spent on
elaborate meals served to
hundreds of guests - relatives,
friends and neighbours. As
part of the dowry, the bride's
family gives gifts - household
appliances, jewellery, cash
and sometimes even a car for
the groom. Often, the
wedding happens only after
the dowry is fixed.
Dowries have been illegal
in India for the past six
decades, but the custom is
deeply entrenched. An
estimated 20 women a day
are murdered or kill
themselves in the country
because of dowry demands.
Every year there are more
than 8,000 "dowry deaths".
"The stories reaching here
about dowry and expensive
weddings were disturbing,"
said Bashir Ahmad, imam of
the village mosque. "I would
always wonder how we would
be able to marry our children
with these traditions."
Ahmad was among 20
village elders who met in the
winter of 2004 to discuss
how these "evil customs"
could be stopped. After days
of deliberation, the elders
presented their ideas to
villagers.
They proposed that the
bride's family would not pay
anything towards the
wedding. The groom's family
would pay 900 Indian rupees
(£9) as mehr - an Islamic
obligation that the groom has
to pay to the bride in the form
of money or possessions
when they marry - and
15,000 rupees (£150) to the
bride's family. The groom
would arrange for 50kg
(110lb) of meat and 40kg of
rice for the wedding feast,
and only 40 people from the
groom's side were allowed to
attend.
Previously, hundreds of
guests could sit down to the
wazwan, a multicourse feast
of Kashmiri cuisine served at
a traditional dance at a Kashmiri wedding. The ceremony and marriage feast could
once have cost a family its life savings.
Photograph: altaf Qadri/EPa
weddings, and dowries could
reach hundreds of thousand
of rupees.
Villagers were quick to
accept the new rules. Since
then, there have been no
expensive weddings held in
Babawayil and no dowries
have been given.
Last year, villagers updated
the regulations: the groom's
family now has to pay 50,000
rupees (£500) to the bride's
family, which includes
20,000 of mehr, to account
for inflation. There is no
wedding feast - only dates
and tea can be served - and
just three people are allowed
to accompany the groom.
"I am proud that everyone
in the village is following
these laws," said Ahmad,
whose two sons and two
daughters have married in
the last few years.
The villagers say there has
not been a single reported
case of violence or abuse
against a woman since the
rules were introduced, and
there have been no divorces.
There is also peer pressure
to follow the rules. Ahmad
says anyone who does not
abide by them is ostracised in
the community. "Our
inspiration comes from our
religion," says Iqra Altaf, 25, a
postgraduate student who
recently got married.
"Customs like dowry and
lavish weddings are only
making the life of women
difficult," she said. "It is
leading to crimes and
discrimination against
women, even people do not
want to have a girl child
because of these issues. We
Remove the barriers for developing
world scientists
LuiSa MaSSarani
Open access publishing is
excluding many developing
world scientists as complex
fee waiver systems fall short,
say leading researchers. The
models, which make research
free to read by charging
authors to publish their work,
have been promoted by
funders as a way to give more
people access to scientific
research.
The European Union's Plan
S demands that, as of 2021,
the results of publicly funded
research must be published in
open access journals or open
repositories. The prestigious
scientific publisher Springer
Nature recently announced it
will join the movement.
Yet for many researchers in
the developing world, who do
not have a grant or an
institution to cover the fees,
the open access system can
lock them out of top tier
academic journals.
Bonaventure Tetanye Ekoe,
honorary dean of the Faculty
of Medicine and Biomedical
Sciences at the University of
Yaoundé I in Cameroon, says
the open access model means
African researchers are
penalised twice.
"The first time they are
penalised because there is no
money to fund their research.
A second time because even
when they manage to do their
research, they are asked to
pay to publish a paper.
"So that means that, since
they don't publish, they will
perish," he tells. The cost of
submitting a paper can be
many times a researcher's
salary. For example, the
a model that charges researchers to publish their work in open access
journals hurts many researchers in the global South. Photo: Collected
monthly salary of a PhD
assistant researcher in
Cameroon is estimated at just
over US$350.
The initial cost of
submitting a paper to Nature
for editorial assessment
under the guided open access
model is US$2,690, while the
monthly salary of a PhD
assistant researcher in
Cameroon is estimated at just
over US$350.
From January, Nature is
trialling the guided open
access model as a pilot for
Nature Physics, Nature
Genetics, and Nature
Methods. At PLOS journals,
the fees start from about
US$800 and can reach
US$4,000, while The Lancet
charges an article processing
fee of up to US$5,000 for gold
open access - which makes
final versions of articles freely
and permanently accessible
while authors retain
copyright.
Mohamed Hashem, head of
the National Research Centre
in Egypt, believes that
imposing fees to publish
research would increase the
burden on researchers in lowand
middle-income countries
as they search for less
prestigious journals to
publish in.
"The size of the gap in
scientific publishing between
the developing and the
developed countries will
increase," says Hashem. He
says that research institutions
in the Middle East and North
Africa region usually offer
researchers bonuses for
publishing their work, but the
value of these bonuses can
vary.
"In Egypt we consider
several criteria in
determining the value of the
reward, including the value of
the journal, the importance of
the research and the value of
the results concluded in the
research," Hashem says.
Halima Benbouza, founder
of Algeria's National
Biotechnology Research
Centre, also says publishing
fees will greatly affect
researchers in the region,
especially with the weak
funding allocated to cover
publishing costs.
"In Algeria, the Directorate
General for Scientific
Research and Technological
Development funds the costs
of publishing in scientific
journals, including Nature,
and encourages that, but if
sufficient funds will not be
available, this will inevitably
affect the presence of the
work of researchers from our
region in the high indexed
peer-reviewed scientific
journals," says Benbouza.

THURSDAY, OCTOBeR 14, 2021 6
‘Roles of union parishads vital to
turn villages into towns’
RANGPUR: Union parishads (UP) are
playing vital roles in reaching urban
services to rural people to turn every
village into town to attain the sustainable
development goals (SDGs) by 2030 and
build a developed Bangladesh by 2041,
reports BSS.
High officials and public
representatives expressed the view at a
mass public hearing on 'Activities of
Union Parishad and its Services' held at
Chandanpat union parishad premises
under Sadar upazila in the district on
Tuesday.
The event was arranged under the
auspices of the Efficient and Accountable
Local Governance (EALG) Project of the
Local Government Division.
The UNDP, Swiss Agency for
Development and Cooperation and
Danish International Development
Agency extended support in arranging
the occasion.
National Project Director of the EALG
Project and Additional Secretary of the
Local Government Division Mustakim
Billah Faruqui attended the event as the
chief guest.
With Chandanpat union Chairman Md
Amenur Rahman in the chair, Deputy
Director (Local Government) for
Rangpur Syed Farhad Hossain and Sadar
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Most Nur Nahar
Begum attended the occasion as special
guests.
Members, Secretary and entrepreneur
of the Union Digital Centre, heads of
educational institutions, civil society
members, service recipient citizens,
women, students, youths and common
people of Chandanpat union were
present.
Syed Farhad Hossain narrated the
activities being conducted by the upazila
and union parishads with the EALG
project assistance in two upazilas and 30
unions of six upazilas in Rangpur to
strengthen the local government systems.
"Along with enhancing the capacity of
local government institutions in planning
and implementing development projects,
public awareness is also being created to
change heath practice to tackle the Covid-
19 pandemic," he said.
In observance of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction a rally was brought out in
Islampur upazila on Wednesday.
Photo: Osman Harunee
International Day
for Disaster Risk
Reduction observed
in Islampur
OSMAN HARUNEE, ISLAMPUR
CORRESPONDENT
International Day for Disaster
Risk Reduction has been
celebrated in Islampur upazila
Jamalpur on Wednesday.
A rally was organized by the
upazila administration to mark
the International Day for Disaster
Risk Reduction 2021 and the 50th
anniversary of the CPP. The rally
paraded the main streets of the
city and ended at the Upazila
Parishad premises.
Later a discussion meeting was
held in the Upazila Parishad hall.
Newly appointed Upazila Nirbahi
Officer Zahidur Rahman presided
over the meeting while Upazila
Parishad Chairman SM Jamal
Abdun Naser Babul was the chief
guest at the occasion. Among
others, Upazila Assistant
Commissioner (Land)
Roknuzzaman Khan, Upazila
Parishad Women Vice Chairman
Rozina Akter China, Islampur
Thana Officer-in-Charge Majedur
Rahman Majed, Fire Service
Station Officer Khairul were
among others also present at the
occasion.
Tube wells have been distributed among 33 helpless people in Nangla Union of Melandaha Upazila
on Wednesday.
Photo: Rohulamin Razu
CHAPAINAWABGANJ: One more person was
tested positive for Covid-19 during the last 24
hours raising the total number to 5,905 in
Chapainawabganj district, reports BSS.
During the last 24 hours, 13 samples were
tested. Of them, one person detected as positive
for COVID-19 showing the infection rate 7.69
percent, Civil Surgeon Office sources
confirmed.
The newly detected patient is from sadar
upazila.
A total of 99 patients are undergoing
treatment in the district. Of them, 14 patients
are getting treatment in dedicated Covid
hospital and others at home.
Meanwhile, 157 patients have died of
COVID-19 and 5,649 patients have recovered
from the disease here, the sources added.
Covid-19 cases reach 55,163 in Rangpur
division
RANGPUR: The number of Covid-19 cases
reached 55,163 with the diagnosis of 12 new
patients on Tuesday in Rangpur division where
the pandemic situation continues improving
during the last two months, reports BSS
"The 12 new Covid-19 cases were reported
after testing 327 samples at the positivity rate
of 3.67 percent on Tuesday in the division,"
Rangpur Divisional Deputy Director (Health)
Dr Abu Md Zakirul Islam told BSS yesterday.
RAKUB disburses Tk 572.57cr
agri-loan in NW region
RAJSHAHI: Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan
Bank (RAKUB) has disbursed
agricultural loans of TK 572.57 crore
during the first three months of the
current 2021-2022 fiscal year, reports
BSS.
The loans were disbursed through 383
branches in all 16 districts under
Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions aimed at
increasing crop production and boosting
rural economy through recouping the
losses being caused by the Covid-19
pandemic.
Besides, the specialised commercial
bank also recovered loans of Taka 603.91
crore including classified loans of Taka
40.55 crore. It has collected deposits of
Taka 139.10 crore during the same
period.
Headquartered in Rajshahi, the bank
has set a target of disbursing agricultural
loans of TK 3,000 crore during the
current fiscal year, said Ismail Hossain,
Managing Director of RAKUB.
Target has also been set to recover
loans of TK 2,800 crore, including
classified loans with TK 450 crore, and
raise deposit collection to TK 500 crore,
he said.
As the largest development partner in
the two divisions, RAKUB has been
One more test positive for
Covid-19 in C'nawabganj
Earlier, the daily Covid-19 positivity rates
were 2.16 percent on Monday, 2.87 percent on
Sunday, 3.48 percent on Saturday, 2.47 percent
on Friday, 6.11 percent on Thursday and 6.85
percent on Wednesday last in the division.
"The district-wise break up of total 55,163
patients include 12,434 of Rangpur, 3,792
Panchagarh, 4,430 of Nilphamari, 2,736 of
Lalmonirhat, 4,633 of Kurigram, 7,581 of
Thakurgaon, 14,704 of Dinajpur and 4,853 of
Gaibandha in the division," he added.
"Meanwhile, no more Covid-19 infected
patient died during the last 24 hours ending at
8 am today in Rangpur division where the total
number of casualties remained steady at
1,238," he said.
The average casualty rate currently stands at
2.24 percent in the division.
The district-wise break up of the 1,238
fatalities currently stands at 293 in Rangpur,
80 in Panchagarh, 88 in Nilphamari, 68 each
in Lalmonirhat and Kurigram, 252 in
Thakurgaon, 326 in Dinajpur and 63 in
Gaibandha of the division.
"Since the beginning of the Covid-19
pandemic, a total of 2,87,653 collected samples
were tested till Tuesday, and of them, 55,163
were found Covid-19 positive with an average
positivity rate of 19.18 percent in the division,"
Dr Zakirul added.
operating its banking activities targeting
its agricultural sector and all its subsectors,
including small and medium
enterprises.
The bank has attained around hundred
percent targets in all parameters under
the Prime Minister's stimulus package.
Its training institute has set an
unprecedented instance in terms of
competent human resource development
through operating online training amid
the Covid-19 pandemic.
Around 7,000 officers and employees
were imparted training on various
banking issues, including online and
green banking, for successful operation of
the branch level banking activities during
the last 14 months since July 2020.
Subrata Kumar Sarker, Principal of the
training Institute, told BSS that RAKUB
has been operating online banking in all
its 383 branches, including 333 in rural
areas, for the last couple of years.
Various modern banking services are
being reached among the rural people
through the competent workforces for
successful implementation of the
government's agendas, including
achievement of sustainable development
goals and innovation in civic services.
Tube wells distributed
among helpless people
in Nangla Union
ROHULAMIN RAZU, MELANDA-
HA CORRESPONDENT
Tube wells have been
distributed among the
helpless people in Nangla
Union of Melandaha Upazila
through the grant of Sheikh
Ibrahim of Kuwait through
expatriate Abul Kalam Azad
Kalu under the overall
supervision of Alhaj Kismat
Pasha, valiant freedom
fighter and chairman of
Nangla Union on Wednesday.
Tube wells were distributed
among 33 helpless families in
premises of Pasha family.
During the President of
Melandaha Upazila Jatiya
Sramik League, former
chairman of Nangla Union
Bir Muktijoddha Alhaj
Kismat Pasha, expatriate
Abul Kalam Azad Kalu's
eldest son Russell, former UP
member Faruk Lal Mia,
president of Nangla Union
Jatiya Sramik League Md
Kamruzzaman were among
others also present at the
occasion.
New UNO holds view
exchange meeting with
journalists in Nakla
SHAHAJADA SWAPAN, NAKLA
CORRESPONDENT
Newly-appointed Upazila
Nirbahi Officer Mostafizur
Rahman held a view
exchange meeting with
journalists at Nakla in
Sherpur.
UNO Mostafizur Rahman
presided over the meeting
held at the Upazila Parishad
hallroom on Tuesday
afternoon. During the time
he sought the cooperation of
the journalists for the overall
development of the upazila.
Among others, Upazila
Parishad Chairman Shah.
Borhan Uddin, Harunur
Rashid, Muhammad Hazrat
Ali, Shah Mohammad
Fawad Hossain, Shahajada
Swapan, Shafiul Alam Lavlu,
Shafiuzzaman Rana, Yusuf
Ali Mandal and other
journalists spoke.
Mariam Khatun
joins as UNO im
Baraigram
SHEIKH TOFAZZAL HOSSAIN,
NATORE CORRESPONDENT
Mst Mariam Khatun joins as
an Upazila Nirbahi Officer
(UNO) at Baraigram.
According to the service rule,
she joined at the office of
Natore Deputy Commissioner
on last Tuesday and it was her
first work day in Baraigram
upazila.
Before joining, she was an
Executive Magistrate at the
office of Tangail District
Administration. She is an
officer of the 33th cadre of
Bangladesh Civil Service
(BCS). She was an inhabitant
of Roygang Upazila under
Sirajgang district. Additional
Deputy Commissioner,
Natore confirmed her joining
at a new work place
Baraigram on Tuesday.
Newly-appointed Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mostafizur Rahman held a view exchange
meeting with journalists at Nakla Upazila on Tuesday. Photo: Shahajada Swapan
Mechanizing cultivation
process stressed to face
Barind agri challenges
RAJSHAHI: Scientists and
researchers yesterday
underlined the need for
mechanizing farming process in
larger scale to decay agriculture
related challenges and boost
production in the droughtprone
Barind area in the
division, reports BSS.
They put the importance
while focusing on challenges in
the region including climate
change, labour shortage,
irrigation water scarcity and
increasing cost in crop
cultivation.
They were addressing the
closing session of the two-day
long training for farmers and
mechanics here.
Farm Machinery and
Postharvest Process
Engineering Division (FMPED)
of Bangladesh Agriculture
Research Institute (BARI)
organized the training at On
Farm Research Division
(OFRD) in association with the
'More Profitable through
Innovation of Agricultural
Machinery and Appropriate
Technology' project.
FMPED Senior Scientific
Officer Dr Arshadul Hoque,
OFRD Principal Scientific
Officers Dr Majharul Anwar
and Dr Jagadish Chandra
Barman, Senior Scientific
Officer Dr Shakhawat Hossain
and Scientific Officer Dr
Jahidul Islam conducted the
training sessions as resource
persons.
The trainees were told that
the cropping intensity can
increase to 250 percent even
400 percent from the existing
200 percent after the best uses
of the farm mechanization.
They were given practical
knowledge and ideas on
handling, repairing and
maintaining agricultural
machinery, particularly bed
planter, seeder, maize sheller,
power thresher, potato
harvester, solar pump based
solar home system and reaper.
Dr Arshadul Hoque said forty
percent labourers are involved
innagricultural activity at
present which is decreasing day
by day. Serious labour crises are
being found during the planting
and harvesting season in the
region, he added.
Importance of mechanization
in agricultural is being
perceived by all policy makers
and stakeholders to overcome
the labour crisis, reduce the
production cost and improve
productivity through timely
planting, he said.
So, the government is trying
to popularize agri machinery
among the farmers and has
been giving subsidies to the
farmers for farm
mechanization.
BARI has developed 50
different agricultural machines
which are suitable for the small
scale farming community of
Bangladesh.
Simultaneously, FMPED has
been implementing a project to
meet the national demand for
increasing mechanization level
in agriculture.
"We are focusing on
development of entrepreneurs
of agricultural machinery
besides increasing the number
of manufacturers and adoption
level of agricultural machinery,"
he added.
Ctg records ever
lowest 0.63pc
Covid-19
positivity rate
CHATTOGRAM:
The district recorded
the lowest Covid- 19
positivity rate of 0.63
percent while only 10
fresh cases were
reported after testing
1,526 samples during
the last 24 hours till
Wednesday
morning, reports
BSS.
The Covid-19
situation is
improving
consistently during
the last few weeks,
Civil Surgeon Dr Ilias
Chowdhury told BSS.
With the newly
infected cases, the
number of
coronavirus (COVID-
19) patients stands at
102,062 in the
district.
"The number of
cured patients from
the lethal virus stood
at 87,183 in the
district with the
recovery of 43 more
patients in the last 24
hours," Dr Ilias said,
adding that the
percentage of
recovery rate is
85.39.
With one more new
death in the last 24
hours, the death toll
stood at 1,313 in the
district.
A total of 1,987
infected patients are
now undergoing
treatment at
designated hospitals
here.
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2021 and 50th anniversary of CPP have been celebrated
in Mirzaganj on Wednesday. Marking the occasion, a rally was brought out by the Upazila
Administration and Disaster Management Committee. During the time, Upazila Parishad Chairman
Khan Md. Abu Bakar Siddiqui, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mst Tania Ferdous, Vice Chairman
Zahirul Islam Jewel were among others also present at the occasion.
Photo: Uttam Golder

ThUrSDAY, OcTOber 14, 2021
7
Two U.S. Postal Service workers were fatally shot Tuesday at a postal facility in Memphis and a third
employee identified as the shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot, authorities said. It was the
third high-profile shooting in or near that west Tennessee city in week.
Photo : Internet
Advice shifting
on aspirin use
for preventing
heart attacks
NEW YORK : Older adults
without heart disease
shouldn't take daily low-dose
aspirin to prevent a first heart
attack or stroke, an influential
health guidelines group said
in preliminary updated advice
released Tuesday, reports
UNB.
Bleeding risks for adults in
their 60s and up who haven't
had a heart attack or stroke
outweigh any potential
benefits from aspirin, the U.S.
Preventive Services Task
Force said in its draft
guidance.
For the first time, the panel
said there may be a small
benefit for adults in their 40s
who have no bleeding risks.
For those in their 50s, the
panel softened advice and
said evidence of benefit is less
clear.
The recommendations are
meant for people with high
blood pressure, high
cholesterol, obesity or other
conditions that increase their
chances for a heart attack or
stroke. Regardless of age,
adults should talk with their
doctors about stopping or
starting aspirin to make sure
it's the right choice for them,
said task force member Dr.
John Wong, a primary-care
expert at Tufts Medical
Center. "Aspirin use can
cause serious harms, and risk
increases with age," he said.
3 employees killed in
shooting at postal
facility in Memphis
MEMPHIS : Two U.S. Postal Service
workers were fatally shot Tuesday at a
postal facility in Memphis and a third
employee identified as the shooter died
from a self-inflicted gunshot, authorities
said. It was the third high-profile shooting
in or near that west Tennessee city in
weeks.
U.S. Postal Inspector Susan Link said the
three postal workers were found dead after
the shooting at the East Lamar Carrier
Annex in a prominent Memphis
neighborhood. FBI spokeswoman Lisa-
Anne Culp said the shooting was carried
out by a third postal service worker, who
shot him or herself.
No identities or motive were released by
Link or Culp at a brief news conference late
Tuesday afternoon.
The shooting occurred at a post office
facility in the historic Orange Mound
neighborhood, southeast of downtown
Memphis. The carrier annex is only used by
employees.
The street leading to the complex was
blocked by police Tuesday afternoon
following the shooting, and the FBI, the
U.S. Postal Inspection Service and other
federal authorities went to investigate.
Bystanders watching the police activity
talked near a convenience store at an
intersection.
Nearby, officers had blocked the street
with yellow crime scene tape and
barricades. Some cars slowed down as they
drove past police and reporters.
A white four-door car was towed from the
scene, but it was not clear who it belonged
to. "The Postal Service is saddened at the
events that took place today in Memphis,"
USPS said in a statement.
"Our thoughts are with the family
members, friends and coworkers of the
individuals involved. The Postal Service will
be providing resources to all employees at
the East Lamar Carrier Annex in the
coming days and weeks."
The violence follows other shootings in
the Memphis area in recent weeks. The
franchise owner of a sushi counter inside a
Kroger grocery store in the suburb of
Collierville fatally shot one person and
wounded 14 others before killing himself on
Sept. 23, investigators said. A week later, a
teenage boy was shot and critically
wounded inside a Memphis school and
police detained a second boy believed to be
the shooter.
U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, a Memphis
Democrat, called the post office "the latest
site of gun violence" in the Memphis area.
"Today's shooting at the postal facility in
Orange Mound is yet another example of
why I am concerned that too many guns are
out there and in possession of people who
aren't able to control their anger," Cohen
said in a statement. "I express my profound
condolences to all those affected by this
terrible event."
Tuesday's incident comes 11 years after
another fatal post office shooting in West
Tennessee. On Oct. 18, 2010, two mail
workers were fatally shot during a robbery
at a post office in the rural town of Henning,
located about 50 miles (80 kilometers)
north of Memphis. That post office was
named in honor of slain employees Paula
Robinson and Judy Spray last week.
GD–1516/21 (20x4)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2021
8
IMF reaffirms ‘full confidence’
in head Georgieva
Bank Asia has been developing Banking Trainers through frequent training to Digital Post Office
(DPO) entrepreneurs. Such 10 Entrepreneurs are conferred Banking Trainer Award as a recognition
of their outstanding performance. Md. Siraz Uddin, Director General, Directorate of Post, was the
Chief Guest of the Award Giving Ceremony which was held at Dak Bhaban, Agargaon, Dhaka. Md.
Afran Ali, President & Managing Director, chaired the program where Quazi Mortuza Ali, Head of
Post Office Banking along with other high officials from Bank Asia and Directorate of Post were present.
Photo: Courtesy
Macron hails global
tax agreement as
'major advance'
PARIS : French President
Emmanuel Macron on
Saturday hailed the "historic"
agreement of 136 countries on
setting a minimum tax rate for
multinationals as a major
advance in fiscal justice,
reports BSS.
The OECD-brokered deal,
which sets a global tax rate of
15 percent, is aimed at
stopping international
corporations from slashing
tax bills by registering in
nations with low rates.
The international push for a
minimum international tax
on big corporations moved
closer to reality on Friday as
one of the last holdouts,
Hungary, agreed to join a
reform that now counts 136
countries.
Hungary's announcement
came a day after another key
opponent, Ireland- whose low
tax rate has attracted the likes
of Apple and Google-relented
and agreed to join the global
effort.
Estonia also joined the
reform on Thursday.
The 136 nations now on
board represent 90 percent of
global gross domestic
product.
Under the deal they will be
able to generate around 150
billion euros $175 billion) in
additional revenue from
2023.
"For four years, we have
been working for fair taxation
of multinationals and digital
giants," Macron said
Saturday.
"The tax agreement reached
at the OECD is historic. Every
multinational company will
have to pay a minimum of 15
percent tax. This is a major
step forward for tax justice,"
the French president tweeted.
Nigeria tax
spat reignites
federalism
debate
LAGOS- A legal battle between
Nigeria's government and
states over sales tax is fueling
fierce debate about federalism
in Africa's most populous
country as politicians jockey for
position before 2023 elections,
reports BSS.
The spat-whether federal or
state governments have the
right to collect value-added tax
(VAT) -- may be about money,
and the sum at stake runs into
billions of dollars.
But the squabble also reflects
long-standing questions about
how Nigeria is governed and
how wealth is shared in the
continent's top oil producer.
How the dispute ends may
open up more state autonomy,
analysts say, as wealthier
southern regions test federal
management of issues from oil
resources and security policing
to cattle grazing rights.
In August, a court in
southern Rivers State, Nigeria's
petroleum heartland, ruled
states should be responsible for
collecting VAT and not the
Federal Inland Revenue
Service or FIRS.
Rivers State Governor
Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, a
staunch opposition Peoples
Democratic Party leader,
pushed through a law
authorising local collection of
VAT, warning FIRS against any
"sabotage."
Tokyo shares under pressure
after Wall Street losses
TOKYO : Tokyo stocks
opened lower on Tuesday
after Wall Street slipped, as
investors looked for fresh
news with inflation worries
continuing to weigh, reports
BSS.
The benchmark Nikkei 225
index lost 0.13 percent, or
35.84 points, to 28,462.36
yen. The broader Topix index
fell 0.25 percent, or 5.06
points, to 1,991.52.
The dollar stood at 113.45
yen, rising from 113.31 yen in
New York Monday as the
Japanese currency continued
to lose momentum. Soaring
energy prices were placing
heavy pressure on the market,
stoking worries about
inflation.
"The rise in energy prices is
fuelling concerns that the
transitory lift in inflation seen
in the wake of the pandemic
may prove to be longer
lasting," Tapas Strickland of
National Australia Bank said
STOCKHOLM - Canadian
David Card, Israeli-American
Joshua Angrist and Dutch-
American Guido Imbens on
Monday won the Nobel
Economics Prize for insights
into the labour market and
"natural experiments", the
jury said, reports BSS.
The researchers were
honoured for providing "new
insights about the labour
market" and showing "what
conclusions about cause and
effect can be drawn from
natural experiments", the
Nobel committee said in a
statement.
Half of the 10-millionkronor
($1.1 million, one
million euro) prize went to
Abu Noman Md. SALEH selected
as Regional Manager of Southeast
regions of Asia of TESY
One of the leading European
producers of electric storage
water heaters, indirectly
heated water tanks, heat
pump water heaters and
electric heating appliances,
TESY, announced Abu
Noman Md. SALEH as their
Regional Manager for South
and Southeast Asia.
This stated that Abu Noman
Md. SALEH has taken over
this position and has been
leading their brand since the
later part of the year of 2020.
A proud and worthy initiation
for TESY and SALEH, as a
Bangladeshi, to represent
their brand, it said in this
statement, a press release said.
TESY has been a global
brand operating and
expanding its business in 56
countries and gaining its
reputation in water heating
solutions for over three
decades. Redefining luxury,
innovation, and modern living
in a note.
All three major Wall Street
indexes closed with losses as
West Texas Intermediate oil
for delivery in November
traded at $80.52 a barrel late
Monday in New York, its first
time above $80 since October
2014, while London's Brent
oil jumped to a three-year
high at $84.59.
In Tokyo, investors were
seen returning to buying, but
the weak Wall Street
performance reversed the
sentiment for now.
"Investors are turning wary
after continued falls on Wall
Street, which is pouring cold
water on just as Tokyo was
expected to rebound," Okasan
Online Securities said after
the Nikkei surged 1.60
percent on Monday.
"The yen's depreciation
against the dollar and rising
oil prices should serve as the
main cues for the day," with
energy shares likely to be
and securing the trust of their
customers and partners, it's
added. "Annually, TESY
produces over one million
water heaters for households
and industrial purposes and
distributes them all around
the world. In the last decade,
TESY showed a rapid
development and introduced
to the world a wide range of
cutting-edge products and
patented solutions that meet
the current requirements for
buoyant for now, Okasan said.
Among major shares,
energy developer INPEX
firmed 1.97 percent to 984
yen. Energy plant maker JGC
Holdings added 1.12 percent
to 1,079 yen.
Another major energy firm
ENEOS Holdings rose 1.42
percent to 463.8 yen after it
announced its planned
purchase of a renewable
energy company.
The falling yen lifted
exporters, including
automakers.
Toyota added 0.83 percent
to 2,003.5 yen, Nissan
climbed 1.52 percent to 573
yen and Honda rose 0.84
percent to 3,462 yen.
Construction equipment
maker Komatsu firmed 1.23
percent to 2,710.5 yen.
But Sony Group slipped
0.24 percent to 12,355 yen.
Tech investor SoftBank Group
dropped 2.81 percent to 6,236
yen.
Trio win Nobel Economics Prize
for 'natural experiments’
Card, a professor at the
University of California,
Berkeley, who was born in
Canada in 1956, "for his
empirical contributions to
labour economics."
Card's work has focused on
labour market effects of
minimum
wages,
immigration and education.
The other half went jointly
to Angrist, 61, a professor at
the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT), and
Imbens, 58, a professor at
Stanford, "for their
methodological contributions
to the analysis of causal
relationships."
They demonstrated how
precise cause and effect
conclusions can be.
The three laureates "have
revolutionised empirical work
in economics. They have
shown that it's indeed
possible to answer important
questions, even when it's not
possible to conduct
randomized experiment,"
Nobel Comittee member Eva
Mork told reporters in
announcing the prize.
The trio was honoured for
their work using so-called
"natural experiments", in
which "chance events or
policy changes result in
groups of people being treated
differently, in a way that
resembles clinical trials in
medicine."
energy efficiency and
environmental protection."
Reflecting on his experience
of leading TESY in the region
for the last year, SALEH said,
"The market growth in
Bangladesh, where demand
for home appliances is
skyrocketing, is very robust
with the increasing number of
new residential units and
improvement in the overall
standard of living among our
population. All of these
conditions make it a very
compelling market for TESY
to grow in."
Abu Noman Md. SALEH
has been a pioneer in global
business development,
operation management, sales,
and cost projection. He has 16
years of impressive experience
in driving up businesses from
scratch to leading positions
and accomplishing absolutely
astounding results for
business to grow.
WASHINGTON : The IMF
Executive Board
reaffirmed on Monday its
"full confidence" in the
Washington-based crisis
lender's chief, Kristalina
Georgieva, keeping her on
as managing director after
she was hit with allegations
of data tampering, reports
BSS.
"Having looked at all the
evidence presented, the
Executive Board reaffirms
its full confidence in the
Managing Director's
leadership and ability to
continue to effectively
carry out her duties," the
institution's governing
body said.
An investigation by law
firm WilmerHale has
concluded that the
Bulgarian economist
manipulated data in favor
of China while in a senior
role at the World Bank.
WilmerHale's
controversial findings
center on the drafting of
the 2018 and 2020
editions of the World
Bank's report ranking
countries according to
their ease of doing
business.
The push came while
bank leadership was
engaged in sensitive
negotiations with Beijing
over increasing the bank's
lending capital.
The IMF board said it
"considered that the
information presented in
the course of its review did
not conclusively
demonstrate that the
Managing Director played
an improper role regarding
the Doing Business 2018
Report when she was CEO
of the World Bank."
Georgieva welcomed the
decision, saying the
allegations were
"unfounded."
"This has obviously been
a difficult episode for me
personally," said the 68-
year-old, who took the
DUBLIN : Ireland on Monday accused the UK
of undermining European efforts to resolve
problems with post-Brexit trading
arrangements in Northern Ireland, warning
patience in Brussels was wearing thin, reports
BSS.
The UK government at the weekend said it
would heap pressure on the EU to agree to
overhaul the Northern Ireland protocol
governing the movement of goods to and from
the British province.
Brexit minister David Frost will use a speech
on Tuesday to say the UK wants to remove the
European Court of Justice (ECJ) from its role
as arbiter of the scheme.
But the speech comes just a day before the
European Commission outlines its own
proposals to iron out difficulties in its
implementation.
"The British government is deciding to ...
undermine that package before it's even
published," an exasperated Coveney told RTE
state radio.
He said the European Commission teamheaded
by vice president Maros Sefcovic-is
focused on solving trade issues highlighted by
London and Belfast.
"The British government seems to be
shifting the playing field now away from
solving those issues, which they presume they
have compromise on," he said.
"The negotiating strategy that Lord Frost has
adopted so far this year has been effectively to
wait for the EU to come forward with
compromise proposals, to bank those
compromise proposals, to say they're not
enough and to ask for more.
"At some point in time the EU will say
enough," he warned. "I think we're very close
to that point now."
Coveney said he spoke to Sefcovic on Sunday
night and his opinion was "the exact same".
He said the EU "can't move" on the issue of
ECJ involvement as the bloc's single market
relies on the court to act as its "final arbiter".
Britain voted to leave the EU in a landmark
referendum in 2016.
When ties were severed at the start of 2021
the Northern Ireland protocol came into effect.
It has kept the British-ruled province inside
elements of the EU customs union and single
helm of the International
Monetary Fund in October
2019 after Christine
Lagarde departed to lead
the European Central
Bank.
"I want to express my
unyielding support for the
independence and
integrity of institutions
such as the World Bank
and IMF; and my respect
for all those committed to
protecting the values on
which these organizations
are founded," she said in a
statement.
"I am pleased that after a
comprehensive, impartial
review of the facts, the IMF
Board agrees that the
allegations were
unfounded. I want to
thank the Board for
expressing its full
confidence in my
leadership," she added.
"Trust and integrity are
the cornerstones of the
multinational
organizations that I have
faithfully served for more
than four decades."
The investigation has
deeply divided the 24
members of the IMF's
Executive Board.
While France, Britain
and other European
countries expressed their
support for Georgieva, the
United States has been
more reluctant to keep her
in post. It was only at the
end of nearly four weeks of
discussions that
Washington joined the
Europeans in agreeing to
retain Georgieva.
A native of Sofia, she
taught economics there for
26 years, and built up
environmental experience
with a focus on agriculture
and sustainable
development.
Her main priorities at the
IMF have been fighting
inequality and climate
change, as well as better
integrating women into the
economy.
Dhaka Central Zone, South Zone & Corporate Branches of Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd organized
Business Development Conference at Islami Bank Tower recently. Mohammed Monirul Moula,
Managing Director and CEO of the bank addressed the program as the chief guest. Muhammad
Qaisar Ali, Additional Managing Director, J Q M Habibullah, FCS, Deputy Managing Director, Md.
Altaf Hossain, Md. Jamal Uddin Mazumder, Abu Naser Mohammed Nazmul Bari & Mahmudur
Rahman, Senior Executive Vice Presidents and Abu Sayed Md. Idris, Mohammed Sirajul Alam, A. K.
M. Shahidul Hoque Khandaker, Md. Anisul Haque, A. T. M. Shahidul Haque, A. K. M. Kawsar Alam,
Md. Gakir Hossain & Miftah Uddin, Executive Vice Presidents and Khaled Mahmud Raihan, Senior
Vice President also addressed the conference. Head of Branches under Dhaka Central Zone & South
Zones attended the conference.
Photo: Courtesy
No power crunch,
says India over
blackout fears
NEW DELHI: India has
ample coal stocks to meet the
demand of its power plants,
the government said Sunday,
seeking to allay fears of
imminent blackouts in New
Delhi and other cities, reports
BSS.
The current fuel stock at
coal-powered plants is about
7.2 million tons, sufficient for
four days, the ministry of coal
said.
Government-owned
mining giant Coal India also
has a stock of more than 40
million tons which is being
supplied to power stations.
"Any fear of disruption in
power supply is entirely
misplaced," the ministry said
in a statement.
The clarification came a day
after Delhi Chief Minister
Arvind Kejriwal warned of a
looming power crisis in the
megacity which is home to
over 20 million people.
Several regions across India
have been hit by supply
shortages in recent months,
with utility providers
resorting to unscheduled
power cuts.
India's coal-fired power
stations had an average of
four days' stock at the end of
September, the lowest in
years.
The shortage in India, the
world's second-largest coalconsuming
country, follows
widespread power outages in
China that have shut factories
and hit production and global
supply chains.
Coal accounts for nearly 70
percent of India's electricity
generation and around threequarters
of the fossil fuel is
mined domestically.
Dublin says UK 'undermining'
search for N.Ireland deal
market in order to prevent a hard border with
EU-member Ireland.
The border was a former flashpoint in "The
Troubles" sectarian conflict between pro-UK
unionists and pro-Ireland nationalists, which
wound down in 1998. But the protocol has
required new checkpoints at ports in the
region to stop the risk of goods coming from
England, Scotland and Wales getting into the
EU by the back door.
Pro-UK unionists in Northern Ireland say it
has created a border in the Irish Sea that
undermines the province's place in the wider
UK, and strengthens pro-Irish republicans'
case for a united Ireland.
Supply bottlenecks hitting
US economy and prices,
but don't panic: Yellen
WASHINGTON : Snarls in transportation and
supply chains have led to rising prices and
shortages of some goods, but US Treasury
Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday urged
Americans not to panic, reports BSS.
Price increases are not likely to last, and
there should be plenty of products available for
the holiday shopping season, Yellen said in an
interview with CBS News.
"I believe it's transitory," Yellen said about
the recent run up in prices.
"But I don't mean to suggest that these
pressures will disappear in the next month or
two. This is an unprecedented shock to the
global economy."
Markets on Wednesday will be watching for
the latest government inflation report for
September, after consumer prices hit an
annual rate of 5.3 percent in August.
Policymakers, including at the Federal
Reserve, have said they expect inflation to
ease, but a recent spike in oil prices to
multiyear highs above $80 a barrel has further
fueled worries the increases could be longlasting.
Yellen said the shift in demand has "created
huge bottlenecks in supply chains" and noted
the lines of ships at US ports waiting to unload
goods.

thurSDAY, october 14, 2021
9
postponed and moved twice because of the pandemic, the tournament's seventh edition kicks off on
17 october. photo: Ap
Morgan, Kohli target T20
World Cup title legacy
SportS DeSk
Five years after losing a heart-stopping
T20 World Cup final to the West
Indies, Eoin Morgan's England start as
narrow favourites in their bid to
become double world champions
despite the absence of Ben Stokes,
reports BSS. Not far behind though are
Virat Kohli's India, an ever-lethal West
Indies and World Test champions New
Zealand -- not to mention South Africa,
Australia, former winners Pakistan, Sri
Lanka, Bangladesh and fairytale
outsiders Afghanistan.
Postponed and moved twice because
of the pandemic, the tournament's
seventh edition kicks off on October 17
with Oman -- joint hosts with the
United Arab Emirates -- taking on
Papua New Guinea in a first qualifying
round.
The top nations will join the event --
played in stadiums 70-percent full -- on
October 23 with Australia and South
Africa playing the opener of the Super
12 stage and England up against
holders West Indies.
England, ranked as the world
number one nation in T20 cricket, beat
New Zealand to win the 50-over title at
Lord's in 2019 and victory in the
shortest format's showpiece event will
further cement their white-ball
dominance.
Morgan's team will, however, be
without Stokes and Jofra Archer, who
played a key part in their one-day
World Cup triumph, but vice-captain
Jos Buttler insists the team is "certainly
one of the favourite teams."
"I know we are missing Ben and
Jofra, who are two superstars of the
game, but I still look down that list and
see some real match-winners in our
side." England had to defend 19 runs in
the last over of the 2016 final at
Kolkata's Eden Gardens but Carlos
Brathwaite hit Stokes for four straight
sixes, giving the Caribbeans their
second world T20 title.
Many of that winning team will be
back, led by Kieron Pollard and old war
horses Dwayne Bravo, 38, and 42-yearold
Chris Gayle.
Asian giants India will begin their
campaign against arch rivals Pakistan
on October 24 with Kohli looking to go
out with a bang before stepping down
as captain of the T20 side after the
tournament. Kohli will look to repeat
India's triumph in the inaugural
tournament in 2007 with the then
skipper M.S. Dhoni joining the team as
mentor.
Swashbuckling opener Rohit Sharma
is widely tipped to be Kohli's successor
and will be key to the team's chances
along with yorker king Jasprit Bumrah.
KL Rahul, meanwhile, hit the most
sixes -- 30 -- in the Indian Premier
League, which wraps up just before the
T20 World Cup and which has allowed
many stars the chance to get used to the
UAE pitches. Glenn Maxwell, for
example, scored 513 runs including six
half-centuries in the world's most
popular cricket league, a performance
that will boost Australia's hopes of a
maiden T20 title.
Australia's white-ball captain Aaron
Finch said he and David Warner will
open the batting despite his left-handed
partner twice being dropped by
Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.
Trans-Tasman neighbours New
Zealand, led by Kane Williamson, will
also be eyeing two successive world
crowns after they won the inaugural
Test championship, beating India in
the final in June.
"We're in a tough pool, I genuinely
think there are six, seven teams that
could win this tournament and I guess
that's good for world cricket as well,"
said Kiwi coach Gary Stead.
New Zealand are clubbed with India,
Pakistan and Afghanistan in Group 1.
England, Australia, South Africa and
West Indies make up Group 2.
South Africa and former champions
Pakistan remain underdogs while Sri
Lanka and Bangladesh need to fight it
out with associate nations to join the
heavyweights in the Super 12s.
Composed Zverev slips past Murray,
women's top seeds fall in Indian Wells
Alexander Zverev won the clash of the two most recent olympic
gold medallists at the Atp Indian Wells on tuesday, holding off a
fierce challenge from Andy Murray despite an equipment malfunction.
photo: Ap
SportS DeSk
Alexander Zverev won the clash of the
two most recent Olympic gold
medallists at the ATP Indian Wells on
Tuesday, holding off a fierce challenge
from Andy Murray despite an
equipment malfunction, reports BSS.
The 24-year-old German advanced
to the fourth round, coming from
behind in both sets to beat two time
Olympic gold medal winner Murray 6-
4, 7-6 (7/4) in the combined women's
and men's tennis tournament in the
California desert.
"I'm happy about the match, how
everything went," said Zverev. "I think
it was a very entertaining match. It was
pretty high level."
Zverev won the Olympic gold medal
at the recent Tokyo Games and former
world No. 1 Murray won gold at both
the 2012 London Olympics and in
2016 in Rio. Third-seeded Zverev
moves on to play Gael Monfils of
France who rolled over hard-hitting
South African Kevin Anderson 7-5, 6-
2.
"You got to enjoy what you're doing.
You got to enjoy being out on the court.
You got to enjoy playing tennis,"
Zverev said. "After Wimbledon I really
enjoyed every second that I was on
court."
Murray tossed his racquet several
times Tuesday after missing easy shots.
The outbursts were in contrast to
Zverev, who maintained his
concentration in the seventh game of
the second set when the laces on his left
shoe snapped.
He continued to play with the wobbly
shoe but then had to take an extra long
break between games so he could swap
out the laces. Murray seized the
opportunity for a bathroom break.
Zverev then won three of the next
five games which set up the tiebreaker.
Zverev went up 3-0 in the second set
tiebreaker, but Murray fought back to
get to 4-5 before Zverev finished him
off at the net.
"I'm disappointed because I
obviously want to be winning these
matches," Murray said. "I haven't in
the last few months. Something needs
to change." In the night match, second
seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece came
from behind to defeat Italian veteran
Fabio Fognini 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the
fourth round.
Tsitsipas will next face Australia's
Alex De Minaur, who defeated Chile's
Cristian Garin in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.
The 23-year-old Tsitsipas was
runner-up in the French Open this year
becoming the first Greek Grand Slam
finalist ever.
In the WTA side of the draw,
unseeded Shelby Rogers upset US
Open runner- up Leylah Fernandez in
a marathon three-setter on a day when
more top seeds tumbled out.
Rogers outlasted Canadian teenager
Fernandez 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4) in two
hours and 34 minutes to reach the
quarter-finals.
"It was a matter of who was able to
dictate the points," Rogers said. "Who
could get control of the points first.
"She has a bright future. Luck was on
my side today, and I look forward to
the quarter-finals."
Rogers moves on to play 24th-seeded
Jelena Ostapenko, who upset second
seed Iga Swiatek of Poland in straight
sets.
After they split the first two sets,
Rogers hit a backhand winner to
break a 4-4 deadlock in the
tiebreaker then won the next two
points to clinch the match.
Aussie women
cricketers get
pay rise but 'big
gap' remains
SportS DeSk
Australia's women cricketers
will get a pay rise this year,
administrators said, while
admitting that wages will
still fall well short of the
men's game, reports BSS.
Retainers for Big Bash
League players will increase
about 14 percent, Cricket
Australia said, and players in
the domestic cricket league
will see a 22 percent rise.
Australia captain Meg
Lanning said it was
vindication.
"When you properly invest
in female sport the results
follow and everyone benefits
-- the game, the fans and the
players," she said.
Cricket Australia CEO
Nick Hockley said the
increase was a step forward.
But he admitted that
"there's still a gap, there's
still a really big gap, as
compared to their male
counterparts".
In total, the new package is
worth Aus$1.2 million
(US$880,000).
The average retainer for
men playing all formats is
said to be about $200,000
per person not including
salary.
"We want to keep striving
to make it a really attractive
and credible full-time
professional career for our
up-and-coming
female
cricketers," Hockley said.
The dispute about equal
pay has come into focus in
several sports.
But it has become a highprofile
and bitter dispute in
United States soccer, where
the women's game is
extremely popular.
The United States Soccer
Federation last month said it
had offered "identical"
contracts to its men's and
women's national teams as
part of efforts to end the
dispute.
Tennis Grand Slams are
among the sports that now
offer equal prize money for
men and women.
Athletics, swimming to be
only compulsory sports at
Commonwealth Games
SportS DeSk
Athletics and swimming will
be the only compulsory sports
at future Commonwealth
Games in a move to give hosts
greater flexibility and attract
new audiences, reports BSS.
The "2026/30 Strategic
Roadmap" approved by the
Commonwealth Games
Federation (CGF) on Monday
recommends an optimum
number of about 15 sports
from 2026.
Sports that have been
optional in the past such as
Twenty20 cricket and 3v3
basketball have now been
moved onto a 22-strong list of
core sports.
Bidders will also be able to
propose the inclusion of
sports of cultural relevance
such as lacrosse and wall
climbing. Co-hosting across
multiple cities, regions and
countries will be an option
and the roadmap makes a
recommendation to "explore
e-sports including potential
pilot events".
CGF president Louise
Martin said the plans mark
"the start of an exciting new
era for the Commonwealth
Games". "Our Games need to
adapt, evolve and modernise
to ensure we continue to
maintain our relevance and
prestige across the
Commonwealth," she added.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics
featured skateboarding, sport
climbing and surfing for the
first time, partly in a bid to
attract younger audiences.
Breakdancing has been
approved for the 2024 Paris
Olympics and e-sports will be
a medal event at the 2022
Asian Games in China.
Birmingham, in central
England, is staging the 2022
Commonwealth Games, with
19 different sports on the
programme, but no host
has yet been secured for
the 2026 event.
Silva sends Neymar emotional
support as Brazil team-mate
admits mental health struggle
SportS DeSk
Thiago Silva has offered his emotional
support to Neymar, his close friend and
Brazil team-mate who earlier this week
admitted he doesn't know if he has the
"strength of mind to deal with football"
much longer, reports AP.
Silva has played alongside Neymar for the
Selecao for a decade and also competed
alongside the forward at Paris Saint-
Germain. As a world-renowned centre-back,
Silva said he can relate to the feelings
Neymar has expressed - and acknowledged it
was hurtful to be publicly labelled "a crybaby,
weak, very weak, mentally" when speaking
out on his struggles.
So, the defender is determined to provide
public backing to his countryman in hopes of
helping him regain his love for football.
"Here at the national team, I have gone
through some moments that are very similar
[with what Neymar is going through],
especially after 2014 World Cup," Silva told
reporters. "I was called a crybaby, weak, very
weak, mentally. These are things that hurt
you and you know that you are not what you
Shakib's IPL performance a
boost for Tigers in T20 WC
SportS DeSk
While Shakib Al Hasan's performance
against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
in the Eliminator game of IPL was pivotal in
keeping Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) final
hope alive, it also came as a relief for
Bangladesh, reports BSS.
The Tigers were practicing in a different city
of United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the
upcoming Twnety20 World Cup when
Shakib was playing for the KKR's crucial
game. Shakib made sure his performance
would not only bolster his confidence but also
gave Bangladesh team management a reason
to cheer ahead of the World Cup.
He gave away 24 runs in his four overs and
remained wicket-less while with willow he
made just 9 not out - a performance that
should not be praiseworthy in normal sense
but still its worthy because of its impact in the
low-scoring high-profile game.
Shakib in fact stemmed the runs flow to set
up game for Sunil Narine who ended with 4-
21,which included the key wickets of Virat
Kohli, AB de Villiers and Glenn Maxwell.
have been called. "I hope he doesn't lose his
joy, continue to be happy the way he always
is. He is a very special kid and, when he's
happy, doing what he loves, he delivers."
In an Instagram story, Silva added: "If you
need someone strong to be by your side,
know that I will always be there. The Silva
family love you."
"I think it's my last World Cup [in 2022],"
the Paris Saint-Germain star said on DAZN.
"I see it as my last because I don't know if I
have the strength of mind to deal with
football anymore.
"So I'll do everything to turn up well, do
everything to win with my country, to realise
my greatest dream since I was little. And I
hope I can do it."
Mental health has become a key
conversation in football in recent years as
players have started to open up about their
personal struggles, helping normalise the
importance of asking for help rather than
keeping emotions inside.
Neymar has joined the likes of Jack
Wilshere, Tyrone Mings and Christian
Pulisic in speaking out about mental health
this year.
the Selecao players have forged a tight friendship having also competed
together at club level.
photo: Ap
Narine later blasted 15 ball-26 to keep the
KKR's nose as they were chasing a target of
139 to win the game.
After Narine's dismissal, it needed
someone to finish it off but no onenlooked
capable to go after against RCB bowling
attack, which looked pumped up towards the
end. Nevertheless, it was Shakib's audacious
scoop in the first ball of the last over, when
KKR needed seven off six balls, did the
magix. Shakib's scoop went for boundary and
changed the complexion of the game
completely. RCB would have the chance to
win the game, if Shakib couldn't hit the first
ball boundary. But the scoop proved Shakib's
innovative mind, considering the match
scenario for which even Virat Kohli heaped
praise on Shakib along with Narine.
This little contribution of Shakib,
however, is massive for Bangladesh as the ace
all-rounder was not in his usual form, much
to the concern of the team management. His
off-form even forced KKR drop him in some
matches of the UAE part. Only Andre
Russell's injury brought him back into the
team fold and now he made sure.
Chris Gayle: 'I have no respect
for Curtly Ambrose whatsoever'
SportS DeSk
Chris Gayle had stern words for Curtly
Ambrose after the former West Indies fast
bowler said that the batter wouldn't be his
automatic pick in the West Indies XI for the
upcoming T20 World Cup, which begins on
Sunday in UAE, reports AP.
Gayle hit back at Ambrose saying he has
"no respect" for the former player and that
he is "finished" with him.
"I am speaking about Curtly Ambrose. I
am singling out Curtly Ambrose, one of your
own. I highly respected him when I came
into the West Indies team," Gayle told The
Island Tea Morning Show, a radio station in
St Kitts, on Tuesday.
"When I just joined the team, I looked up
to this man. But I am now speaking from my
heart. I don't know what, since he retired,
what he had against Chris Gayle. Those
negative things he has been saying within the
press, I don't know if he is looking for
attention, but he is getting the attention. So I
am just giving back the attention which he
requires and which he needs.
"I can tell you personally, and you can let
him know that Chris Gayle, the Universe
Boss, have no respect for Curtly Ambrose
whatsoever."
Gayle, who was part of the 2012 and 2016
World Cup-winning teams, added that if
former West Indies players "continue to be
negative" and not support the team, then the
'Universe Boss is going to be disrespectful,
disrespectful verbally in their face".
"I am finished with Curtly Ambrose,"
Gayle, 42, said. "I have no respect, any time I
see him I will tell him as well -- 'Stop being
negative, support the team ahead of the
World Cup.' This team has been selected and
we need past players to support us. We need
that, we don't need negative energy. In other
teams, their past players support their
teams, why can't our own support us in a big
tournament like this?
"We have won the tournament twice, and
we will be going for the third title. The team
has seen what is happening. It is going to
reflect on the team.

THURsDAY, ocToBeR 14, 2021
10
Shooting of movie 'Bangabandhu'
to start in November
Badhon nominated
for APSA Awards
TBT RepoRT
The movie titled 'Bangabandhu' is
being produced jointly by
Bangladesh and India. The film
based on the biography of Father of
the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman, directed by
renowned Indian filmmaker Shyam
Benegal.
The biopic will feature actor Arifin
Shuvoo in the title role of
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman. In the meantime, few shots
of the film has been shot in India.
However, for a long time due to the
Corona situation, the shooting was
stopped. Director Shyam Benegal and
his team to srtart shooting again after
the situation came under control.
A source has revealed the news that
the last phase of Bangabandhu's
shooting will take place in Bangladesh
in coming November. Line Producer of
the Bangladesh part of 'Bangabandhu'
Mohammad Hossain Jamie, said that
the film would be shot in different areas
of Dhaka.
Regarding the context Jamie said,
"We will start shooting next month".
This time we will complete the
shooting. A delegation from India,
including film-casting director
Shyam Rawat, has already arrived in
Dhaka ahead of the shooting. They
have toured in different locations and
made some preparations.
It is learnt that scenes will be
filmed in several areas of Dhaka
including the old airport at Tejgaon
in the capital. The shooting was
scheduled to start in Bangladesh in
September. However, it was delayed
due to Covid.
Parineeti
Chopra joins
Sooraj Barjatya's
Uunchai
Bollywood star Parineeti Chopra took to Instagram
to announce that she will be starring in Sooraj
Barjatya's upcoming directorial titled 'Unnchai'
which will also star Amitabh Bachchan, reports
Indian Express.
Sharing a picture with the director, Parineeti
captioned, "Thrilled and honored to be a part of the
iconic cinematic universe of Sooraj Barjatya sir."
"Sooraj sir has defined, and is the torchbearer of
India's family entertainers and I can't wait to work
under his tutelage; alongside this stellar and
incredible cast," she added.
Parineeti said it is a special day and a special
moment for her as it is also Amitabh Bachchan's
birthday. She said she is extremely excited to be
collaborating with Anupam Kher, BomanIrani,
Neena Gupta, Danny Denzongpa and Sarika.
As the film goes on floors in Nepal, some
interesting details have emerged with regards to the
film.
The star cast, comprising Amitabh Bachchan,
Anupam Kher, BomanIrani, Danny Denzongpa,
Parineeti Chopra, Neena Gupta and Sarika, has also
added to the hype.
Parineeti Chopra will be seen in the role of a Nepali
tourist guide in 'Uunchai'. She will be helping and
accompanying the quartet of Amitabh Bachchan,
Anupam Kher, Boman Irani and Danny Denzongpa
on their adventurous trip.
'Unnchai' is being shot in Nepal. Anupam Kher has
been sharing details of the project on Instagram.
Earlier this month, Kher shared picture of the
director and wrote, "Friends! The journey of my
520th film #Uunchai begins.
On the work front, Parineeti was last seen in
'Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar'. She is also a part of
Ribhu Dasgupta's untitled film. She will share
screen space with Ranbir Kapoor in his Sandeep
Vanga's 'Animal'.
'Venom 2' used
footage of 'The
Matrix 4' filming
The helicopters seen in 'Venom 2: Let There Be
Carnage' are not actually hunting Venom and Eddie,
but were part of the nearby 'The Matrix 4' filming in
San Francisco. The city has long been a filming
magnet and February of 2020 was no exception-both
'Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage' and 'The Matrix 4'
had cameras rolling simultaneously. 'The Matrix 4'
began filming first though; leaving 'Venom 2' to work
around them after 'The Matrix 4' had essentially
taken over the city.
In the scene from 'Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage',
Eddie Brock and 'Venom' have fled to the top of San
Francisco's iconic Coit Tower. Helicopters are seen in
the background, scouring the city, and 'Venom' and
Eddie mention the police pursuit, so it is assumed the
helicopters are searching for them. The helicopters,
however, were part of the forthcoming 'Matrix' film.
'Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage' Location Manager
Christopher Kusiak discusses how having two major
blockbusters filming in the city at the same time did lead
to some issues. Specifically, Venom 2 missed some
locations simply because 'The Matrix 4' was filming
there first. In the case of the helicopters, though, having
'The Matrix 4' in town was actually a benefit.
As The Matrix 4's release date is set for December
22, it is unclear what scene from the franchise's
newest edition was being filmed at the time. Various
alerts were issued from AlertSF over the course of
filming that included helicopters conducting
flyovers. Additionally, the filming of 'The Matrix 4'
has spurred dozens of videos on social media with
stunt doubles flying off buildings and working their
way through the city on motorcycles, so it is unclear
exactly which elaborate 'Matrix 4' stunt is seen in the
background during the scene in 'Venom 2: Let There
Be Carnage'.
Source: Deccan Chronicle
Popular Bangladeshi Actor
Azmeri Haque Badhon has
scored a nomination in the
14th Asia Pacific Screen
Awards (APSA) in "Best
Actress" category for her
performance in Abdullah
Mohammad Saad's second
venture "Rehana Maryam
Noor."
Winners of each category
will be declared on 11
November at the 14th
ASPA Ceremony on
Australia's Gold Coast.
The programme will be
streamed across the globe.
Badhon, who stepped
into the limelight after
winning 2nd runner up
prize in Lux Channel I
Superstar in 2006, reached
the peak of popularity after
portraying the lead in
"Rehana Maryam Noor."
Alena YIV for "Asia",
Valentina Romanova
Chyskyyray, for Scarecrow,
Leah Purcell, for "The
Drover's Wife the Legend
of Molly Johnson" and
Sisimpur season 14 to aired
on three channels
TBT RepoRT
The new season of children's favorite show
'Sisimpur' is returning with new
adventures and lessons from favorite
friends like Halum, Tuktuki, Ikri, and
Shiku. The upcoming episodes of Season
14 of Sisimpur will premiere on Duranto
TV on Friday, October 15th, with episodes
Essie Davis, for "The
Justice of Bunny King",
has also been nominated
in the 'Best actress'
category alongside
Badhon.
Among the 25 Asia
Pacific countries
represented in the
nominations are
Afghanistan, Australia,
Bangladesh, Egypt, Hong
Kong, India, Iraq, Iran,
Israel, Japan, Lebanon,
New Zealand, Qatar, South
Korea, Russian Federation,
Saudi Arabia, Thailand,
Turkey and, for the first
time, Vietnam.
APSA celebrates cinema
from over 70 countries,
with an enhanced focus on
content that reflects the
region's diversity, reports
Deadline.
Earlier, "Rehana
Maryam Noor" became the
first Bangladeshi film to be
selected for the Un Certain
Regard section of the
Cannes Film Festival.
following on BTV and Masranga TV.
The new season, which is based on the
subject of empathy, is full of laughter and
excitement from favorite Sisimpur
characters including Moyra, Asha,
Khushi, and Bahadur. Ikri is back to assist
youngsters learn to write by using sound
and visual cues to create letters from the
Bangla alphabet. Shiku's quiz program
"Can You Tell?" is back for another season
of fun learning through games with
Sisimpur friends.
Young viewers will learn new methods
to creatively solve issues with Grover and
Raya in the 'Problem Solver Grover'
segment, which includes Grover's
distinctive humour.
Made possible through the support of
the American people through the
United States Agency for International
Development (USAID), the Early
Childhood Development Mass Media
Activity, Sisimpur, has been helping
children across Bangladesh grow
smarter, stronger, and kinder since
2005. The Ministry of Women and
Children Affairs is providing support in
airing of the Sisimpur programs and
the Ministry of Primary and Mass
Education is supporting in schoolbased
programs.
H o R o s c o p e
ARIes
(March 21 - April 20) : A number of
interesting visitors could come to your
home today. At least one could be from
a foreign country, and some could be
in the educational field. You can expect some
interesting conversations, and you might learn
some fascinating facts on a subject that's new to
you. You could enjoy learning this so much that you
look for books on the subject tomorrow.
TAURUs
(April 21 - May 21) : Some
fascinating new neighbors may
move in. They could be in law,
education, or travel, they could be
from a foreign land - or they could be both. A
friend could introduce you to these people.
An impromptu welcome party could result,
so you and everyone else have a chance to get
to know each other.
GeMINI
(May 22 - June 21) : Have you been
looking for some new ways to earn
extra money? Today might find you
studying all the latest statistics and
economic trends to point you in the right
direction. Research online could be beneficial,
although you might not know where to look. You
should still make some inroads that sound
interesting.
cANceR
(June 22 - July 23) : Passion is on your
mind today. You'll want to get
together with a romantic partner.
Don't be surprised if the evening turns
into a long, involved, and very intimate
conversation, revealing secrets that you thought
you'd never repeat to anyone. You could learn some
rather surprising things as well, though nothing
that changes your feelings.
Leo
(July 24 - Aug. 23): Do you want to
surprise your partner with a gift?
Perhaps there's something that
your beloved has wanted for a long
time but hasn't bought. This would make a
wonderful surprise, and should be greatly
appreciated. Expressions of gratitude could be
followed by a long conversation that brings you
closer together.
VIRGo
(Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): A group
activity, perhaps a festival of some
kind, could bring new information
and people into your life. You could
meet people from all over the world and lifestyles.
You might also discover some new products you
want to try. This experience could transform you
in a profound way, so don't expect to go back to
your routine immediately.
LIBRA
(Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): Discussions of
spiritual or psychic matters could
result from exposure to an author on
such subjects. You might attend a
lecture by this person or perhaps see a documentary
on the topic. You might not be convinced about what
this person has to say and want to check it out with
research of your own. But isn't that the point - to get
you to learn on your own?
scoRpIo
(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) : A long-awaited
letter or call might come today from a
friend who lives in another state or a
foreign country. This could open the
lines of communication to a degree they haven't
reached for a long time. You and your friend have
grown considerably since you were last close, so it's
almost like a whole new friendship. Enjoy getting to
know each other again.
sAGITTARIUs
(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): Are you
interested in investing? This is a
good day to read financial pages,
study stock reports, and consult
with people who know about these things.
You're probably considering a number of
possibilities. Learn about them in detail before
taking any action. This is a great day to collect
information.
cApRIcoRN
(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): Communication
with business and romantic partners
should be more warm, open, and
honest than usual. Take advantage of
this to get misunderstandings out of the way,
explain things that might seem confusing, and
develop empathy with those around you. You
could come out of this more united in all of your
relationships.
AQUARIUs
(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) : Your tasks should
go smoothly and quickly today,
particularly paperwork. Others are
willing to lend a hand if you need it,
and you might be called upon to assist another with
a task beyond his or her ability. The atmosphere is
unusually pleasant, so the day could just fly by. In
the evening, go to a bookstore that's holding a
lecture or book signing.
pIsces
(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) : A rush of communication
heightens love and romance today.
Feelings and memories are willingly
shared. Either you or your partner could
reveal something that the other didn't know, which
could strengthen the bond between you. Some of what's
exchanged might be a little surprising, but your
relationship should be much better for all the open,
honest, and loving communication.

ThURSDAY, OCTOBeR 14, 2021
11
A joint operation by Shibchar Upazila administration has been conducted in
the Padma river of Charjanajat and Kathalbari union part to protect mother
hilsa. About 10 lakh meters of illegal current nets were destroyed and 50 fishing
trawlers were seized in the operation conducted from 9 am to 4 pm on
Tuesday. The operation was carried out by the Upazila Administration, Police,
RAB, Coast Guard and Fisheries Department. Photo: Md Rafiqul Islam
Plans taken for education, research and
infrastructural development : BRUR VC
BRUR CoRResPondent
Vice-chancellor of Begum
Rokeya University,
Rangpur (BRUR)
Professor dr Md Hasibur
Rashid has said a master
plan is being prepared for
education, research and
infrastructural development
of the university.
"Although desired
developments of the
university could be
achieved due to various
limitations in the last 13
years, we have taken steps
to resolve all issues on
priority basis to achieve
the goals," he said. He was
addressing a virtual
discussion arranged on
tuesday in celebration of
the thirteenth founding
anniversary of BRUR with
limited scale programmes
in the wake of the Covid-19
pandemic as the chief
guest.
Professor Rashid said
the students' community is
the life of the university.
Considering the future of
students, all kinds of
academic
and
administrative activities,
including classes and
examinations are
continuing online at the
university despite the
outbreak of the global
Covid-19 pandemic.
"By continuing this
trend of academic
activities, the university
will be free from session
jams in the shortest
possible time with the help
of teachers and students
and all concerned," he
said.
Vice-Chancellor said the
university will be
reopened as soon as
possible even though
online education activities
are continuing and
preparations are on to
open residential halls.
Greeting teachers,
students, officers and
employees on the
occasion, Professor Rashid
said students have left
marks of success at
different stages at the end
of their education at the
university established on
this day in 2008.
"the university would
contribute to maintain
harmony and equality with
the advancing world in
various fields of higher
education and create and
expand opportunities for
higher education, research
and modern knowledge at
the national level," he
hoped.
Presided over by Pro Vicechancellor
of University
Professor dr sarifa salowa
dina, its students' Advisor
Md nuruzzaman Khan
moderated the virtual
discussion.
dean of the Faculty of
Arts Professor dr Abu saleh
Mohammad Wadudur
Rahman (tuhin Wadud)
participated in the event as
the keynote discussant
while Proctor of the
university Md Golam
Rabbani delivered a
welcome speech.
deans of different
faculties, heads of
departments, teachers,
students, officials and
student leaders also
participated in the
discussion.
Assistant director
(public Relations)
Mohammad Ali said that,
the celebrations of the 13th
founding anniversary of
BRUR began at 10 am with
the hoisting of the national
flag and the flag of the
university by the Vicechancellor.
Later, he paid homage
to the mural of Father of
GD-1517/21 (4x3)
the nation Bangabandhu
sheikh Mujibur Rahman
and the portrait of the
great woman Begum
Rokeya on the campus.
Pro Vice-chancellor
Professor dr sarifa salwa
dina also paid homage.
to make the day
memorable, the Vicechancellor
planted a
sapling on the campus. A
doa mahfil was also
organised at the Central
Mosque on the campus
after the Johr prayers.
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
A Garments Buying House is looking for highly ambitious, careerist,
experienced to work in apparel division for the following positions:-
1) General Manager Operation 1(One) Person
Qualification: HSC or Diploma or Equivalent (Educational
Qualification may be relaxed for experienced candidate)
Experience: 8 Years.Type of Job: Factory Infection, Quality,
Production, Shipment,Technical Support Development and buyer
requirement etc. Having experience speaking English. Please
send your CV with contact Telephone no, recent photograph two
copies & Salary expectation to the address: Roverco (HK) Ltd.
(Liaison Office) : House # 150, 1st & 2nd Floor, Road # 10, Block
# E, Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh within 10 days. E-mail: prabhakar.baidhar@rpl-saga.com
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
A Trading Business is looking for highly ambitious, careerist, experienced
to work in apparel division for the following positions:-
1) Sales & Marketing Executive 01(One) Person
Qualification: SSC or Diploma or Equivalent (Educational
Qualification may be relaxed for experienced candidate)
Experience: 5 Years. Type of Job: Sales, Marketing, Co-ordinator
and Head Office requirement etc. Having experience speaking
English. Please send your CV with contact Telephone no,
recent photograph two copies & Salary expectation to the
address: SPG MINING PTE. LTD. (Liaison Office): Flat # 3A,
House # 92, Block # A, Road # 23, Banani, Dhaka, Bangladesh
within 10 days. E-mail: spgminingpteltd@gmail.com
GD-1509/21 (6x4)
GD-1514/21 (6x4)
GD-1513/21 (6x4)

thursday, dhaka: october 14, 2021; ashwin 29, 1428 BS; rabi-ul awal 6, 1443 hijri
Bangabandhu's brilliant,
far-racing Foreign Policy makes
things easier: speakers
DHAKA : Speakers at a discussion said the
foreign policy formulated by Father of the
Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman after the independence of
Bangladesh was far-reaching as he maintained
friendly relations with all countries
even from a neutral position to all the
alliances.
"Due to Bangabandhu's realistic and
brilliant diplomacy, it was possible to send
back Indian troops very soon after independence
and to quickly gain the recognition
of all countries which reflects his farreaching
thinking," they added.
Speakers made the remarks while
addressing the sixth lecture of
Bangabandhu Lecture Series titled
'Bangabandhu's foreign policy: the struggle
to protect the sovereignty and national
interest of the new state' held virtually on
Tuesday, said a press release.
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Research
Institute for Peace and Liberty (BSM-
RIPL) and The Center for Advance
Research in Arts and Social Science
(CARASS) organised the lecture series
marking the birth centenary of
Steps sought for
re-skilling, upskilling
of RMG workers to
face 4IR challenges
DHAKA: Bangladesh Garment
Manufacturers and Exporters
Association (BGMEA) President
Faruque Hassan has requested
the Ministry of Labour and
Employment to consider ways of
how the central fund could be
effectively used to ensure more
welfare of garment workers,
reports UNB.
Leaders of BGMEA led by
President Faruque Hassan met
Ehsan-E-Elahi, secretary, the
Ministry of Labour and
Employment at the secretariat on
Tuesday and discussed relevant
issues.
BGMEA Vice President
Shahidullah Azim and Vice
President Miran Ali were also
present at the meeting.
They had discussion on the
overall situation of the RMG
industry including workplace
safety, workers' welfare and skills
development.
The BGMEA leaders thanked
the government for providing
support in carrying out skills
development programs for the
RMG industry.
They also stressed on the need
for taking more initiatives to
equip garment workers and
employees with re-skilling,
upskilling and knowledge to cope
up with changing trends in the
global apparel industry, especially
brought by the Fourth Industrial
Revolution (4IR).
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Jagannath University History
Deportment Professor Mohammad Selim
presented keynote speech in the discussion
while Chairman of CARASS also former
Bangladesh Bank Governor Professor
Atiur Rahman attended as the chief guest
with BSMRIPL director Professor Fakrul
Alam in the chair.
Terming the ideological basis of
Bangladesh's foreign policy as reflection of
Bangabandhu's long political experience,
Mohammad Selim said the foreign policy
formulated by Bangabandhu after the independence
of Bangladesh was far-reaching.
He said soon after ending the Liberation
War in 1971, another war of consolidating
country's sovereignty began in 1972 which
was vital to mobilize foreign aid for the
reconstruction of the country and to get
the recognition as an independent country
in the international arena.
In the face of such hostile national and
international situations, Bangabandhu
gradually and patiently achieved enviable
success in formulating a realistic foreign
policy prioritizing national interest,
'AL men' behind
e-commerce scams:BNP
including the socio-economic and political
restructuring of the country, he furthered.
Speaking as the chief guest, Atiur
Rahman said, "Bangabandhu, in his balanced
foreign policy, has promised to
maintain friendly relations with all countries.
Bangabandhu knew that after losing
to Bangladesh, Pakistan had started
spreading misinformation to America,
China and other Middle Eastern countries
presenting misinterpretation of
Bangladesh's constitution.
In such a situation, Bangabandhu's visit
to the Algiers Conference in 1973 and later
to the OIC Conference were very time
befitting and brilliant steps, he said
adding: "In the two places, he managed to
change the mindset and views of world
leaders on Bangladesh by explaining the
country's past, present, future, socio-culture
situation and religious flexibility."
CARASS director, also provost of Bijoy
Ekattor Hall of Dhaka University
Professor Abdul Basir and Rajshahi
University History Department Prof Md
Abul Kashem also addressed the programme,
among others.
DHAKA : BNP on Wednesday
alleged that the 'ruling party men'
are involved in swindling money
from online shoppers in the name of
e-commerce, reports UNB.
"Huge money has been swindled
from people in the name of e-commerce.
Who're the looters in e-commerce?
Who're pampering the looters
and who're giving them protection?
The ruling party men are
involved in it," BNP Secretary
General Mirza Fakhrul Islam
Alamgirsaid.
The BNP leader made the allegation
while speaking at a discussion
arranged by Afsar Ahmed Siddiqui
Smrity Foundation at Dhaka
Reporters' Unity marking the 20th
death anniversary of former BNP
leader Afsar Ahmed Siddiqui.
Stating that he 'saw the photograph
of a CEO of an e-commerce
company with the Prime Minister',
Fakhrul said some people are cutting
deep into the pockets of people
and plunder money with the 'patronage
of the government and the
ruling party'.
He said the 'ruling men' also shattered
the banking system and
depleted the banks through widespread
plundering.
"Every bank is now at stake. If you
talk to bankers you'll have an idea
about the real scenario. I've a friend
who happens to be a very big economist.
He knows this system very
well. He says those who keep money
in banks or are involved in the banking
system are the worst affected
ones as every bank is in a state of
bankruptcy," the BNP leader said.
He also alleged that general people
except the ruling party leaders
are now denied loans by banks as all
bank directors belong to Awami
League. "For a loan of Tk 10 crore,
one has to pay a bribe of Tk 5 crore
while the rest Tk 5 crore is hardly
needed to be returned."
Fakhrul said it is pity that some
people are plundering public money
and making their fortunes in this
country where many people live
alongside roads and footpaths as
they have no shelter.
"Today we see many people building
new houses of their own and
buying cars though had they had
lived a very ordinary life 10 years
back and this has been possible
because of their involvement with
the ruling party. This is the reality
everywhere, even at the upazila
level," he observed.
Criticizing Awami League General
Secretary Obaidul Quader for his
commitment that BNP's plan to create
another mass uprising like the
90s is a daydream, Fakhrul said the
ruling party has in fact got unnerved
with the possibility of losing power.
He called upon BNP leaders and
activists to get united to ensure
the fall of the government through
a movement. "We've to unite and
give a push and then the regime
will fall apart. We've no other
alternative to it."
a vast char area adjoining moynaguri in debnagar union bordering tetulia upazila of panchagarh is covered
with Catkin garden (kashbon). the scenic beauty of white catkin flowers in the char area cannot be found anywhere
else in the district. during the Covid-19 epidemic, the Catkin garden is spreading the magical obsession
of peace by removing the fatigue of the villagers and city dwellers.
photo: md anamul haque
uS ambassador to Bangladesh earl miller pays courtesy call on Chattogram City Corporation mayor
rezaul karim Chowdhury at the latter's office in the port city on Wednesday.
photo: S m akash
DNCC's campaign to
control mosquitoes:
fine around 5 lakh TK
Shafiqul iSlam (Jami)
In addition to preventing the spread of
mosquitoes, Dhaka North City
Corporation (DNCC) has conducted a
campaign to control Aedes-Culex mosquitoes.
A total of TK 4 lakh 82 thousand
has been collected in 11 cases in the
mobile court operation. These operations
were conducted in different areas
of DNCC on Wednesday (October 13).
The raid involved a mobile court case
filed by Executive Magistrate
Zulkarnain in Area No. 1 of the DNCC
for TK 11,000. In a case of a mobile
court headed by Executive Magistrate
ASM Safiul Azam in Zone 2, TK 10,000
has been recovered and in a case of
three, mobile courts headed by
Executive Magistrate Persia Sultana
Priyanka in Zone 3, TK 350,000 has
been recovered.
Besides, in the two cases of the mobile
court conducted by the executive magistrate
Abed Ali in the 4th area, 1 lakh 5
thousand TK and in the 9th area the
executive magistrate a fine of TK 6,000
was levied in four cases by a mobile
court headed by Md. Ziaur Rahman.
Thus, the total amount of fines collected
in 11 cases is TK 4 lakh 82 thousand.
Zihad rana, BariShal Bureau
The waterways of Barishalcan reminisce
anyone with the spiral waterways of
Venice of Italy. The waterways consist of
rivers, lakes, ponds have sprawled this
land since the ancient times. Recently
several villages of Uzirpurupazilla made
headlines with its eye-catching lake of
water lily. The visitors are awe struck by
the beauty of the water lilies. As a result,
the fame of this particular lake has now
spread to beyond the borders of the
country. During the season, a lot of
tourists come from far-away places to
enjoy this natural beauty. Therefore, the
people of the region find a way to earn
some income during this season.
However, as the evanescence of beauty
lasts for only three months of year, no
tourist center or any standard hotel or
motel has been established permanently.
Considering the various inconveniences
of the visitors, the Ministry of
Tourism has recently allocated BDT 4
million for an infrastructural development
project.
The locals are hoping that if this is implemented,
the number of tourists will
increase as well as the socio-economic
development of the local residents.
North Satlais a village of Satla union in
the remote area of Uzirpurupazila, about
60 km from Barisal city. Here, lake Satla
is known as the kingdom of water lilies.
Tourists will catch a glimpse of red and
green lilies of about 10 thousand acres of
wetlands from afar. Water lily is highly
valued not only for its beauty but also for
its delicious food. The local inhabitants
of the area have chosen to pick water
Chattogram inching towards taping
new possibilities : US Envoy
S m akaSh, Chattogram CorreSpondent
lilies as a way of earning a living. They
set out in small boats before dawn to
pick up water lilies. Hundreds of families
are making a living by picking water
lilies from the water and selling them in
the market. Water lilies have been growing
on this lake for almost two hundred
years. About 50 per cent of the indigenous
people in the area are involved in
water lily cultivation and marketing. In
the past, the plantused to grow in water
and rot in water as there was no such
demand. As the demand for rhizome of
the plant as a food increased day by day,
day laborers started selling it in the market.
Water lily is now available almost all
year round. Especially the people of this
region are giving priority to this plant in
their food list.
Besides, the income from fish farming
in this huge wetland is more than crores
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Earl
Miller, said "I am fascinated by the geographical
diversity and features as well as
the aesthetics of the city of Chattogram,
which is surrounded by mountains, rivers
and seas, and one of the oldest commercial
seaports in Asia. For this reason, merchants,
tourists and traders from different
parts of the world have come to
Chattogram in the distant past. Therefore,
since then, the identity, appreciation,
importance and fame of Chattogram has
been appreciated all over the world. The
next steps will be taken after investing and
feasibility study, especially in education,
health, ICT and tourism.
He said this during paying a courtesy
call on Chattogram City Corporation
Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury at the
latter's office in the port city on
Wednesday. Various matters on mutual
interest of Bangladesh-America were discussed
in the meeting.
During the time, He further added that,
"We believe that Chattogram will soon be
integrated as an effective link of regional
and global connectivity in the way big projects
have been and are being implemented.
If the participation of the world's major
economic powers is ensured in all the economic
zones that have developed here, its
positive impact will be reflected not only in
Bangladesh or the region, but globally.
At the occasion, US Ambassador discussed
about the situation and problems
of the deported Rohingyas from Myanmar
and the current situation and level of
Covid-19 infection with CCC Mayor.
Chattogram City Corporation Mayor
Rezaul Karim Chowdhury welcomed US
Ambassador Earl Miller and said that
Chattogram is now becoming a global
asset due to the sincere interest of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina. The tunnel built
through the Karnafuli bottom is going to
turn Chattogram into a 'One City to Town'.
If the railway is extended to Cox's Bazar, it
will open the door of communication to
China through Myanmar. The economic
zones of Mirsarai and South Chattogram
will show signs of industrialization. The
whole of Chattogram will shine in the
tourism industry. Therefore, our big task
and responsibility now is to create a favorable
environment for domestic and foreign
investment.
A water lily lake draws capital for
socio-economic dev in Barishal
of taka every year. The member of local
constituency, Md. Abul Kalam Biswas
said that different species of fish:Ruhi,
Katal, Boal, Chital, Grasscarp and silver
carp are cultivated in this lake every
year. He also said that about Tk 1.5 crore
worth of fish was sold from the lake last
year. However, there are also complaints
from local landowners about fish farming.
Several residents, who did not want
to be named, said that even though the
influential people enjoy the benefits of
fish farming, the poor are being
deprived. Hawlader, a member of the
ward 7 of the local constituency, said
that after the water receded as a result of
fish farming, the farmers here get a lot of
benefits in paddy cultivation. Moreover,
the yield of paddy is also higher.
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