25-06-2022

Saturday

DhAkA: June 25, 2022; Ashar 11,1429 BS; Zilquad 24,1443 hijri

www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net

Regd.No.DA~2065, Vol.20; N o. 54; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00

Science & tech

eBay's magic of

turning internet into

a marketplace

>Page 5

SportS

World No. 1 Daniil

Medvedev banned

from Wimbledon

>Page 9

art & culture

Irfan, Sabila Nur in

'Chatgaiya Golmaal'

>Page 10

Much awaited Padma Bridge

to be inaugurated today

DHAKA : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

will open the much-anticipated 6.15 kilometer

Padma Bridge for vehicular movement

today which will bring a massive

progress in road connectivity of 21 south

and southwestern districts with capital

Dhaka and other major cities.

Marking the grand opening of the

bridge, a festive mood is prevailing in the

country, particularly in the southern and

southwestern region which will be directly

facilitated through the major road connectivity.

The premier will join the Padma

Bridge inaugural ceremony at Mawa point

in Munshiganj at 10 am.

As per the premier's programme schedule,

she will also unveil commemorative

postage stamps, souvenir sheets, opening

day cover and seals at 11am at Mawa point

to mark the grand opening of the country's

biggest self-financed mega project which

is likely to boost GDP by 1.2 to 2 percent.

Prior to that, she will leave Tejgaon

Airport, Dhaka at 9.30am by a helicopter

to join the programme at Mawa point.

The Prime Minister will formally open the

Padma Bridge by unveiling the inaugural

plaque and mural-1 after paying toll at the

Mawa point at 11.12am. She will also join a

munajat to be offered there. She will begin

her journey for Jajira point in Shariatpur

from Mawa point by road crossing the

bridge at 11.23am. The premier will reach

Jajira point at 11.45am and unveil the inaugural

plaque of the bridge and mural-2. She

will also join a munajat there.

Sheikh Hasina, also Awami League

president, will join a public rally of the

party marking the opening of the bridge at

Kathalbari under Shibchar upazila in

Madaripur district at 12 noon.

The premier will start for Dhaka from

Jajira point by helicopter at 5.30pm.

Padma Bridge became visible with the

installation of the first span on 37th and

38th number pillars on September 30,

2017. Later, all 41 spans were installed on

42 pillars one after another. The entire

structure of the multi-purpose 6.15 kilometer

Padma Bridge became visible with

installation of its last 41st span on

December 10, 2020.

According to project details, the construction

of the main bridge was carried

out by China Major Bridge Engineering

Company (MBEC), a Chinese contractor

Company, and the river treatment was

done by Sino Hydro Corporation of China.

The self-financed bridge project was

implemented at the total cost of Taka

30,1933.7 crore. The cost of main bridge

construction is Taka 12,133.39 crore

(including Taka 1000 crore for 400 KV

transmission line tower and gas line) and

the cost of river training works (RTW) of

13.8km is Taka 9,4000.0 crore.

Construction cost of the 12km approach

roads with toll plaza and SA- 2 is Taka

1,907.68 crore (Including 2 toll plazas, 2

thana buildings and 3 service areas) while

cost of resettlement is Taka 1,515.00 crore,

acquisition of 2693.21 hectors land Taka

2,698.73 cr, environment Taka 1290.3

crore, consultancy Taka 6783.7 crore and

others (Salary, Transport, CD VAT and

Tax, PoE, Physical and Price Contingency,

Interest etc.) Taka 1,731.17, according to

project details.

The first span of the Padma Bridge was

installed at the Janjira point of Shariatpur

on October 7, 2017.

The construction works began in

December, 2015 as the premier inaugurated

the river training work and main construction

works of Padma Multipurpose

Bridge project at Jajira point in Shariatpur

district on December 12 in 2015.

Zohr

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will open the much-anticipated 6.15 kilometer Padma Bridge

for vehicular movement today.

Photo : Star Mail

Flood claims five

lives in 24 hours;

death toll now 73

DHAKA : At least five people died due to

flooding in different parts of the country in 24

hours till Friday morning, raising the total

flood fatalities to 73. Four of the new deaths

are from the Mymensingh division alone,

according to the Directorate general of

Health services (DGHS). Among the

deceased, four have died by drowning in

floodwater and another died of other reasons.

The deaths were recorded from May 17

to June 23. Among a total of 70 flood-affected

upazilas, 33 upazilas are in Sylhet division,

16 in Rangpur division, 20 in Mymensingh

division and one in Chattogram division.

Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona and

Kurigram are the worst-hit districts where

13, 11, 10 and 9 upazilas were affected by

flood respectively. A total of 1,813 flood shelters

have been opened, while 2,006 medical

teams are working to provide various health

services to the flood-affected people.

03:45 AM

12:05 PM

04:40 PM

06:54 PM

08:20 PM

5:11 6:50

Padma Bridge triggers huge

economic activities in South

DHAKA : Huge economic activities have

been going on in the south and southwestern

districts as the much-awaited Padma

Bridge is set to be inaugurated today.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will open

the much-anticipated 6.15 kilometer

Padma Bridge for vehicular movement

which will bring a massive progress in

road connectivity of 21 south and southwestern

districts with capital Dhaka and

other major cities.

The bridge is expected to create huge

economic opportunities as numerous

public and private industries are being set

up in the vast areas around the bridge.

On the eve of the grand opening of the

bridge, politicians, business leaders,

economists and civil society members

have observed that economic activities

in the south and southwestern part have

already started and as a result, many

industrialists from home and abroad are

purchasing lands in several districts,

especially in Faridpur, Madaripur,

Shariatpur, Bagerhat, Gopalganj,

Barisal and Khulna.

The construction of Sheikh Hasina

Nakshipalli, apparel factories, cold storages,

gas stations and industrial parks are

going on in full swing with promises of

new jobs for the unemployed. Expanding

local business and trade, the bridge is

expected to significantly boost the national

economy.

Experts opined that the Padma Bridge is

going to connect many of the South and

Southeast Asian countries and contribute

immensely to communication, trade,

industry, tourism and many other sectors

in various ways.

For taking the advantage properly, they

urged the government to outline a "proper

strategy" that will be on offer, particularly

for the southwestern region.

Expressing his heartfelt gratitude to

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Deputy

Minister for Water Resources AKM

Enamul Hoque Shameem said the dream

of the country has come true for the visionary

and dynamic leadership of Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"The bridge will contribute to the

increase in the country's GDP growth to

double digit," said Shameem, also a lawmaker

from Shariatpur.

Expert Opinion

The experts observed that the doubledeck

Padma Bridge, with road and rail

tracks, is expected to contribute around 1.3

to 2 percent to the annual GDP growth,

reduce poverty and increase economic

activities of the people of the neglected

southwestern region.

Terming the construction of Padma

Bride as a "tremendous achievement"

for Bangladesh, eminent economist and

former Bangladesh Bank governor

Mohammad Farashuddin said the

bridge has started to play a great role in

employment generation, alleviation of

poverty and industrialization in the

southwestern region as well as the entire

country.

"Tomorrow is the great moment for

Bangladesh. We are going to open a new

era on the way of the country's development,"

he added.

Eminent economist and former

Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Atiur

Rahman said the economic benefits will

flow not only in the southern part but also

throughout the country due to multiple

effects. Estimated national GDP may lift

by 2 percent (some say 1.26 percent) and

the regional GDP may rise by 3.5 percent,

he added.

SATURDAy, JUNE 25, 2022

2

Workshop of faculty members on Outcome Based Education (OBE) curriculum carried was out at Notre Dame University

Bangladesh (NDUB) on Friday.

Photo : Courtesy

Workshop on OBE curriculum

holds at NDUB

Workshop of faculty members on

Outcome Based Education (OBE)

curriculum carried was out at Notre

Dame University Bangladesh (NDUB)

on Friday.

As part of NDUB's commitment to

create a beautiful as well as ideal

educational environment in line with

the curriculum of OBE, the second

workshop was organized after four

months.

Speakers in the program at NDUB

open space titled "Day-long workshop

learning."

"NDUB students are not only

learning in line with the outcome of

their academic knowledge but also they

are preparing themselves for the

challenging world having proper

foundation of ethics, humanity. They

will do their work for mankind," he

added.

He furthered, "During post-Covid-19

time, we come to realize that the OBE

curriculum is essential for our students.

So we initiated the workshop for our

on OBE Curriculum" discussed faculty members."

modernization of curriculum. They also

emphasized on customization of

syllabus as per the demand of present

situation.

While presiding over the session,

Professor Dr Father Patrick Daniel

Gaffney, CSC, Vice-Chancellor (VC) of

the university said, "Our teachers are

encouraging the students in the

classroom regarding their career as well

as achieving an outcome of their

In the previous workshop NDUB VC

said the university was working to

modernize the learning curriculum and

it would be adjusted by January 2023.

Prof Dr M Ashraful Alam, head of

Chemistry department in Shahjalal

University of Science and Technology

(SUST) attended the program as

resource person who conducted the

workshop of teachers.

While delivering his speech to the

India sends team to help

with deadly Afghanistan

earthquake

NEW DELHI : India said it

sent a technical team to

Kabul to coordinate the

delivery of humanitarian

assistance after a powerful

earthquake in eastern

Afghanistan that state media

reported killed 1,000 people,

reports UNB.

India's External Affairs

Ministry said the team has

been deployed to its embassy

in the Afghan capital. The

embassy has been vacant

since the Taliban took

control of Afghanistan in

August.

A ministry statement on

Thursday didn't give details

about the technical team or

any relief material sent to

Afghanistan. It said team

was sent to "closely monitor

and coordinate the efforts of

various stakeholders for the

effective delivery of

humanitarian assistance" as

part of a "continuation of our

engagement with the Afghan

people."

Residents in the hardesthit

district appeared to

largely be on their own in

trying to survive after the

quake, with the Taliban-led

government and the

international aid community

struggling to bring in help.

India was left with no

diplomatic presence in Kabul

after it evacuated its staff

ahead of the U.S. withdrawal

from Afghanistan last year.

But it has sent 20,000 tons

of wheat, 13 tons of

medicines, 500,000 doses of

COVID-19 vaccines and

winter clothing to

Afghanistan to help with

shortages there since then,

according to the External

Affairs Ministry.

Indian officials held talks

with the Taliban in

Afghanistan for the first time

early this month to discuss

the distribution of

humanitarian assistance.

teachers, he said, "Teachers can teach

beyond the traditional education

system. But always keep in mind that

you need to formulate the plan as well

as have to determine the outcome of

your strategy."

"You will be successful once you will

coordinate with the OBE curriculum,"

he suggested.

NDUB teachers among faculty dean

Prof DrAloke Kumar Chakraborty,

respective department heads along

with the teachers took part in the

question-answer session.

Among others Professor Fr Charles B

Gordon, CSC, Treasurer of NDUB Fr

Subas Adam Pereira, CSC, Student

Counselor and Maintenance Director

Fr Edmond Cruze, CSC, Fr Robert R

Nokrek, CSC, Assistant to the Registrar,

General Assistant Human Resources

And Registrar Fr Nitto Ekka were

present. Fr Ashim Theotonius

Gonsalves, CSC, Deputy Registrar of

NDUB voted thanks to all.

Jashore DB police have arrested Ridoy, the main accused in the murder case of Rezaul,

a truck owner from Barishal who was killed in Jashore.

Photo : Shahid Joy

Give us back our moon dust

and cockroaches: NASA

BOSTON : NASA wants its moon dust and

cockroaches back. The space agency has

asked Boston-based RR Auction to halt the

sale of moon dust collected during the 1969

Apollo 11 mission that had subsequently been

fed to cockroaches during an experiment to

determine if the lunar rock contained any sort

of pathogen that posed a threat to terrestrial

life , reports UNB.

The material, a NASA lawyer said in a letter

to the auctioneer, still belongs to the federal

government.

The material from the experiment,

including a vial with about 40 milligrams of

moon dust and three cockroach carcasses,

was expected to sell for at least $400,000, but

has been pulled from the auction block, RR

said Thursday.

"All Apollo samples, as stipulated in this

collection of items, belong to NASA and no

person, university, or other entity has ever

been given permission to keep them after

analysis, destruction, or other use for any

purpose, especially for sale or individual

display," said NASA's letter dated June 15.

It went on: "We are requesting that you no

longer facilitate the sale of any and all items

containing the Apollo 11 Lunar Soil

Experiment (the cockroaches, slides, and

post-destructive testing specimen) by

immediately stopping the bidding process,"

NASA wrote.

In another letter dated June 22, NASA's

lawyer asked RR Auction to work with the

current owner of the material to return it to

the federal government.

The Apollo 11 mission brought more than

47 pounds (21.3 kilograms) of lunar rock back

to Earth. Some was fed to insects, fish and

other small creatures to see if it would kill

them.

The cockroaches that were fed moon dust

were brought to the University of Minnesota

where entomologist Marion Brooks dissected

and studied them.

"I found no evidence of infectious agents,"

Brooks, who died in 2007, told the

Minneapolis Tribune for an October 1969

story. She found no evidence that the moon

material was toxic or caused any other ill

effects in the insects, according to the article.

But the moon rock and the cockroaches

were never returned to NASA, instead

displayed at Brooks' home. Her daughter sold

them in 2010, and now they are up for sale

again by a consignor who RR did not disclose.

It's not unusual for a third party to lay claim

to something that is being auctioned, said

Mark Zaid, an attorney for RR Auction.

"NASA has a track record of pursuing items

related to the early space programs,"

although they have been inconsistent in

doing so, Zaid said. By its own admission,

NASA acknowledged in one of its letters that

it did not know about the previous auction of

the cockroach experiment items.

Two found dead in

Keraniganj:Police

KERANIGANJ : Two people

were found dead at two

separate places at Rohitpur

West Mugarchar and Kolatia

Kaskandi village in

Keraniganj upazila of Dhaka

on Friday.

The deceased were

identified as Sharif

Uddin,44, son of Zamir

Khan of Kaskandi village

and Lal Mia, 60, son of

Abdur Rashid of Gopalpur

Baniatari area of

Nageshwari upazila in

Kurigram district.

Police said Sharif was

found hanging in his house

at Kaskandi around 9am on

Friday.

He was without a job after

recent return from abroad.

He might have committed

suicide out of frustration,

said Abu Salam Miah,

officer-in-charge (OC) of

Keraniganj Model Police

Station.

Fauci says he's

'example' for

COVID-19

vaccinations

WASHINGTON : Dr.

Anthony Fauci, the nation's

top infectious disease expert,

says his COVID-19 recovery

is an "example" for the

nation on the protection

offered by vaccines and

boosters, reports UNB.

Speaking during a White

House briefing, Fauci, 81,

said he began experiencing

virus symptoms on June 14

and tested positive a day

later. He was prescribed the

anti-viral drug Paxlovid,

which has proven to be

highly effective at preventing

serious illness and death

from COVID-19, on June 15.

"I'm still feeling really quite

fine," Fauci said Thursday, as

the administration

emphasized the protection

offered by vaccines to people

of all ages.

Flood situation improves

in Kurigram

KURIGRAM : Water levels in the flood-hit

Kurigram district have started receding,

officials said on Friday.

While the Teesta and the Dharla are

flowing below the danger mark, the

Brahmaputra is still flowing at 5cm above

the red level at Chilmari point, according to

the Kurigram Water Development Board.

With floodwaters receding, the miseries of

the residents of the char areas in the district

have increased.

According to district administration

sources, 328 educational institutions have

been shut for a week due to the ongoing

floods.

Besides, crops on 15,800 hectares of land

have been damaged due to the floods.

In many areas, the flood survivors are

crying for relief. Apart from facing food

crisis, they need pure drinking water, fuel

and fodder.

Many in remote areas have complained of

not getting relief. People's representatives

said it was not possible to reach everyone as

relief was not commensurate with the

demand.

Sadar Upazila Panchgachhi UP chairman

Abdul Baten said that at least 5,000 poor

families in his union were affected by the

floods, "but so far, they have got nine metric

tonnes of rice as relief. "Only 900 families

can be provided with 10 kgs of rice."

However, Kurigram deputy commissioner

Mohammad Rezaul Karim claimed there

was adequate relief for the flood survivors.

"Everyone will get relief in phases."

2 rape accused held by

Rab in Cox's Bazar

COX'S BAZAR : Rab on Friday arrested two

men in connection with a case over an

attempted rape of a Rohingya girl from

Dulahazara area under Chakaria upazila of

Cox's Bazar.

The arrestees have been identified as Md

Mahbub, 32, of Chakaria's Ringvong area

and Shah Emran, 35,of Rajghat area under

Chattogram's Lohagara upazila.

According to Rab, the girl is a Rohingya

refugee from Kutupalong Camp No 1 in

Ukhia upazila of Cox's Bazar. She fled from

the camp and arrived in Chattogram city in

search of work on February 5, 2022.

Failing to find work, she was returning to

the camp by a bus on February 11, 2022. The

supervisor of the bus ditched her at the

Chakaria Bus Terminal as she couldn't pay

the fare. There, staff from another bus

agreed to take her to the camp. She was

taken to Batakhali Bridge area under

Chakaria municipality in an empty bus and

an attempt was made to rape her by the

driver, the supervisor and the helper of the

bus.

Locals rescued the girl after hearing her

scream and apprehended the helper of the

bus while the driver and the supervisor

managed to flee. Later, the girl lodged a case

with Chakaria police station under the

Women and Children Repression

Prevention Act, based on which today's

arrests were made.

The arrestees have confessed their crimes

and they've been handed over to the local

police for further legal procedures.

Barrister Mohammad Abidul Haque distributed food items among 1,200

families in flood-affected areas of Sunamganj Sadar, Bishambharpur,

Dirai and Shalla upazilas.

Photo : AK Milon

Jamuna gulps 400

houses in Sirajganj

SIRAJGANJ : Around 400 houses across

four villages of Shahjadpur upazila in

Sirajganj have been gulped by the Jamuna

river in the past one week, officials said on

Friday.

"Some 400 houses, including 30 of the

Ashryan project, have tumbled into the river.

Pakurtala Primary School, a mosque and

other buildings on the riverbank are now at

risk," said Nasir Uddin, sub-divisional

engineer of Sirajganj Water Development

Board. "The receding waters of the Jamuna

river are causing erosion," he said.

The WDB engineer said that Shahjadpur,

Chauhali, Belkuchi, Kazipur, and Sirajganj

With the rising flood waters in different upazilas of Tangail, wooden boats

are being sold.

Photo : Nasir Uddin

Sadar upazila's low-lying and char areas still

remained flooded on Friday.

"Many of the important roads also

remained under water, disrupting vehicular

movement. People are also facing drinking

water crisis," he added.

Similarly, around 9,106 hectares of Ropa

Aman, jute, sesame and other crops have

been damaged in the flooded region of the

district, according to an officer of district

agricultural extension department.

Shahjadpur upazila nirbahi officer Tariqul

Islam said he has already informed the WDB

about the extreme erosion and the need for

taking adequate steps.

Man wanted for

triple murder

held in Sherpur

SHERPUR : A man accused

of killing his wife and her

parents was arrested with

local weapons by police

from Khoshalpur Putol

village under Sherpur's

Sribardi upazila on Friday

morning.

The arrestee has been

identified as Mintu Mia,

son of Hai Uddin of

Geramara village under

Sherpur's Sribardi upazila.

According to Biplab

Kumar Bishwas, officer Incharge

(OC) of Sribardi

police station, Mintu

attacked his in-laws' house

around 7:00pm on

Saturday and hacked a total

of six people, including his

wife, his father-in-law, and

his mother-in-law with a

poacher. The three

succummed to wounds

later in the night.

SATURDAY, JUne 25, 2022

3

On Friday, under the supervision of BGB's Sunamganj Battalion (28 BGB),

relief materials were distributed among a total of 600 helpless families in

Baliakandi village of flood-hit Surma union of Sunamganj Sadar upazila

and Birampur village of Rangarchhar union.

Photo : Courtesy

Dengue: 21 new patients hospitalised

DHAKA : Twenty-one more dengue patients were hospitalised in 24 hours until Friday

morning. Among them, 16 patients were admitted to different hospitals in Dhaka during the

period, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

As many as 110 dengue patients, including 102 in the capital, are now receiving treatment

at hospitals across the country. On Tuesday, the directorate reported the first death of the

season from the mosquito-borne viral disease. This year, the DGHS has recorded 885 dengue

cases and 774 recoveries so far. Dengue - a leading cause of serious illness and death in some

Asian and Latin American countries - was first reported in Bangladesh in 2000 and claimed

93 lives. In three years, the fatality number almost fell to zero. However, 105 dengue patients,

including 95 in Dhaka division, died in 2021. Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical

climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. About 4 billion people, almost

half of the world's population, live in areas with a risk of dengue, according to the US Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention.

Security beefed up to

make Padma Bridge

opening programme

successful: IGP

MADARIPUR : Inspector

General of Police (IGP) Dr

Benazir Ahmed has said all

sorts of security

arrangements have been

taken in order to make the

public meetings, attended by

Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina, successful on the

occasion of Padma Bridge

opening programme on

June 25.

He told the newsmen on

Friday afternoon after

visiting the meeting place in

Banglabazar Ghat area at

Shibchar under Madaripur

district. "Steps have been

taken as all the people can

return to their homes safely

from here after the public

meeting," said the IGP.

Officials from all the

government agencies

including SSF, DGFI, NSI,

district police, highway

police and river police are

now being deployed here to

conduct the security

arrangements.

Replying to a query on

whether there is any threat at

the Padma Bridge opening

programme, Dr Benazir said:

"We are collecting update

information just every

moment...

Security

arrangements have been

strengthened not only at the

meeting place of the Padma

Bridge opening programme.

DMP arrests 68 for

selling, consuming

drugs in city

DHAKA : The members of

the Detective Branch (DB) of

the Dhaka Metropolitan

Police (DMP) in several antidrug

raids arrested a total of

68 people on charges of

selling and consuming drugs

during the last 24 hours till

6am yesterday.

The DB in association

with local police carried out

the drives simultaneously at

different parts of the

metropolis from 6am of

June 20, according to a

DMP release. In separate

anti-drug raids, police seized

huge drugs from their

possessions.

During the anti-drug

raids, police seized 272 gram

and 90 puria (small packet)

of heroin, 69.800 kilograms

of cannabis (ganja), 6,018

piece of contraband yaba

tablets, 37 bootle of local

made liquor and 144 bottle

of phensidyle from their

possessions, the release

added. Police filed 45

separate cases against the

arrestees in these

connections with respective

police stations under the

Narcotics Control Act.

Faculty of Fine Art and Printmaking Department of Dhaka University jointly organized a program on

the occasion of birth centenary of renowned artist Safiuddin Ahmed.

Photo : Courtesy

IFAD: Integration of nutrition in

all dev interventions sought

DHAKA : Nutrition interventions

play a crucial role to empower

women, ensure dietary diversity,

build a climate-resilient food system,

and boost the overall economy, said

experts at a seminar in the city.

Jointly organized by the

International Fund for Agricultural

Development (IFAD) and BRAC

James P Grant School of Public

Health on Thursday, the seminar

aimed to provide a platform to share

lessons on nutrition-sensitive

agriculture and food systems, identify

good practices and potential areas of

collaboration with different

government agencies, development

partners, and private sectors.

Bringing together experiences from

IFAD and BRAC University speakers

shared learnings on using

gastronomy as a development tool

and empowering women to achieve

sustainable nutrition impacts that

contribute to overall food systems,

said a media release on Friday.

"When we consider a food system to

be healthy, we tend to investigate and

invest in maximizing profit and

quantifiable indicators. Instead, we

have to start considering an

integrated system where you include

diversity, health, and social factors.

The same applies to nutrition

interventions which can be used as a

tool to transform agriculture and our

food systems," said Arnoud

Hameleers, IFAD Country Director

for Bangladesh.

Drawing further on how IFAD's

investment and work in nutrition

across nations, Joyce Njoro, IFAD

Technical Specialist, Nutrition and

Social Inclusion said, "Nutrition and

food security are at the heart of

IFAD's work through its nutritionsensitive

projects, which address

underlying causes of malnutrition

related to inadequate household food

security, maternal and childcare, and

environmental health."

"IFAD works in food -

horticultural, crops, livestock, fish,

wild foods, bio-fortified crops -

production along with food

processing, preserving, storing, and

marketing, supporting nutrition

education at the community level,

mainstreaming gender equality and

empowerment, and policy

engagement," added Njoro while

underscoring the importance multisectoral

coordination to implement

nutrition-sensitive projects.

Underscoring the importance of the

human and social factors, Barnali

Chakraborty, Associate Scientist,

BRAC James P Grant School of Public

Health said, "Development

intervention alone cannot change the

nutrition status in the country. It is

crucial to improve individual

capabilities to bring impact at the

community and national level by

integrating health, agriculture,

women empowerment, and other

social factors in the development

interventions. Communities'

capabilities need to be enhanced to

achieve children's nutrition."

Participants representing different

government agencies, national

implementors, and development

partners utilized this seminar as a

platform to explore new ways of

strengthening the impact of

nutrition-sensitive development

interventions and leverage nutrition

as a development tool to transform

rural Bangladesh.

sAturDAy, June 25, 2022

4

Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam

e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com

Saturday, June 25, 2022

Padma Bridge :

Dream to Reality

T

he

Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB) is

being officially opened today, June 25. It will

be opened for normal traffic movement the

next day, June 26. The six kilometre long bridge

would be the second biggest in the world and an

engineering marvel. Notably, almost the entire

works on this gigantic infrastructure including

approach roads and other supports have been

already completed in a short period of time that

amply proves the determination of this

government's planners to push ahead with this

flagship project.

The PMB is the biggest infrastructure ever that

has been taken up in Bangladesh's history. Out of

the projected over 30,000 crore Taka estimated

as necessary for the construction of the project,

Bangladesh provided nearly the entire sum. In

fact, it is no overstatement to say that the bridge

is being constructed mainly by spending from the

country's own resources. This development is also

an indicator of the current state of the Bangladesh

economy that enables it to finance such a large

project without external assistance.

When negotiations between Bangladesh and

the World Bank (WB) ceased in 2013 over

financing the PMB and pessimists and even some

experts expressed the view that construction of

the bridge by Bangladesh all by itself was an

impossibility, our Prime Minister (PM)

subsequently declared that Bangladesh would

build the bridge come what may and by its own

efforts and resources. This pledges has now

reached fulfilment no matter that WB by its

highly fictitious objections earlier had delayed the

vital project by about two years.

There are few visionary leaders in the world

today who can be credited for their lifetime

ahievements in changing for the better the

conditions in their country. Joseph Stalin who

won the war against Nazis and made his country

into a socialist superpower, was one of them.

Closer to home in Malaysia. Dr Mahathir

Mohammad with his long innings in power

presided over the transformation of his country

from a poor developing country into a semi

developed one.

Like Dr Mahathir, our Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina continues to be lavished with praises in

the international media and international

organizations. She is seen as a great visionary

leader who, within two decades, rubbed out the

earlier image of her country as an international

basket case to have become an Asian tiger

economy and to be yet stronger in all respects in

the years ahead.

The PMB will likely give a major impetus to the

all round economic development process of the

country. Road travel between 21 southern and

western districts with the rest of the country

including Dhaka will much ease or be facilitated.

In these hitherto underdeveloped districts,

economic enterprises of different types will

become feasible.

As a matter of fact, potential entrepreneurs

are sensed to be in a scramble to buy lands in

these districts with the aim of setting up various

industries there. Thus, the forecasts are that even

in the short term, the country's economic growth

will increase by at least 1.23 per cent as soon as

the bridge becomes usable. Railway, power and

gas lines will also cross into the southern and

western regions by using the bridge. Reportedly,

PMB will also become a part of the Asian

Highway's AAE-1 route. Thus, the PMB's

economic and developmental prospects are

immense.

Padma Bridge's full potentials are not

immediately reflected today but planners are

already anticipating the huge economic boom

which its coming into existence is signalling. The

23 districts or a little over one third of the country

will very likely bloom into new zones of

industrialization and hence ones of development

and prosperity.

Centring on Barisal the entire south eastern

Bangladesh would be sooner than later humming

with all sorts of enterprises. Padma Bridge has

solved completely the communication problems

of these 23 districts. With gas and power

available too, more than one third of the hitherto

backward areas of the country would be pulsating

with myriad of economic activities set in motion

by a bridge that has crossed a mighty river from

end to end. Not only industrialization and

development, the so far neglected Kuakata tourist

zone will develop into a vibrant hub of local and

international tourism with all sorts of associated

economic spin offs. The new Paira port and

Rampal power plant will be further stimuluses in

the economic growth to be experienced by this

region.

We, on the part of this paper, wish to thank the

PM for her gallant leadership in taking forward

the PMB overcoming all odds.

Padma Bridge: The passion of a nation is going to inaugurated

The people of the country

will rejoice on the day of

inauguration of Padma

Bridge in the same way that

the people of the country

rejoiced and rejoiced after the

independence of the country. Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina has proved that the Bengali

Nation cannot and will not bow down to

anyone. By building the Padma Bridge with

own money, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

has proved that no conspiracy could stop the

work of the Padma Bridge. In 1971, under the

leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman, the country became independent

and Bangladesh won. Similarly, the

inauguration of the Padma Bridge on June

25 will be another victory. This day will be

the day of another victory of the Bengali

nation. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,

members of the cabinet, prominent

politicians, foreign diplomats stationed in

Bangladesh are taking impeccable security

measures during the inauguration and stay

of the Padma bridge. Besides, strict security

measures are being taken at various venues

and surrounding areas at the Mawa and

Jajira ends of the Padma Bridge. Regarding

the Padma Bridge, Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina said, "Canadian courts have clearly

stated that there was no corruption. After

this, there is no more talk. But then I will not

build the Padma Bridge with the money of

those who have defamed us - that was my

decision. By the grace of Allah, I have built

the Padma Bridge with the money of the

whole of Bangladesh. All law enforcement

agencies are working through coordination

to ensure security." Besides, there will be

members of other forces including naval

police in naval security. Two banks of Padma

Bridge are being arranged on the occasion of

inauguration. Preparations for the festival

are underway in the districts. However,

Bangabandhu Bridge and Muktarpur Bridge

are not left out of the festivities. These two

bridges are being constructed on the

occasion of inauguration of Padma Bridge.

There are two more bridges in the country

under this division - Bangabandhu Bridge

and Muktarpur Bridge. The Bangabandhu

Bridge is the second largest bridge in the

country after the Padma bridge. And

Muktarpur Bridge is the fifth largest bridge

in the country. It has connected Munshiganj

with Narayanganj. Curious people will be

able to go to Mawa in an alternative way with

this bridge during the inauguration

ceremony. Various roads and structures

including Hatirjheel are also being arranged

on the occasion of inauguration of Padma

Bridge. There is also a laser writing show and

fireworks display in Hatirjheel. There will

also be cultural events. Before this,

discussions are going on about the cost of

construction of Padma Bridge and its various

engineering information. This discussion

has also come up in the cup of tea. The

Padma Bridge is built by bending only for the

sake of beauty. But that's not the case. In the

United States, China, or even Japan, long

highways have been built in this way. This is

mainly done with the drivers in mind. If the

bridge is straight, the drivers get on the

bridge and suffer from bored. Many people

feel drowsy because of holding the steering

wheel in the same way. This increases the

risk of accidents. But if you bend a little, the

drivers have to be careful about it. Through

this their heads are 100% active. Major

accidents can be avoided. Not just to keep

the driver's attention; the engineers also

Syed Faruk Hossain

kept in mind that the headlights of the

vehicles coming from the opposite direction

should not fall directly on the eyes of the

driver. If the bridge is curved, the light will

not catch the eye. This will also reduce the

risk of accidents. It is reasonable to bend any

big bridge, not just the Padma Bridge,

Vehicle weight, the pressure or weight of a

river or natural disaster. Vibration pressure

is created when a car climbs on a bridge.

When curved, it spreads across the bridge,

resulting in less pressure. If straight, it does

not spread over the whole bridge. Extensive

tremors and pressures occur in certain

places. As a result, there is a risk of the

bridge collapsing. When the bridge is made

by bending it, the loads of vehicles are

properly applied on each pillar. In addition,

during the flow of the river, there is a lot of

pressure on the pillars, but when it is bent,

the pressure is less. The ground has equal

pressure all over the place, so bending can

hold all the pillar structures during an

earthquake. Due to these reasons, big

bridges like Padma Bridge have been

constructed by bending. There is no such

thing as beauty. Such intelligence is to keep

the bridge lasting for a long time. Even if the

cost increases, everyone has no objection,

because everyone is aware of security. Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina has proved that,

She has challenged it and decided that we,

the people of Bangladesh, have won the war

of liberation by responding to the call of the

Father of the Nation, so it will not build the

Pro. Dr. Nayeem AKM Islam ZAKir Nibir HossAin

Padma Bridge with the money of those who

have slandered us - that was her decision. By

the grace of Allah, we have built the Padma

Bridge with the money of Bangladesh. It is

our duty to maintain and maintain this

Padma Bridge, to ensure the safety of those

who will use it. Therefore, we have two

police stations for protecting the Padma

Bridge and providing passenger services to

the people in the vicinity. There were

various comments, rumors like beheading.

After overcoming all the rumors and

challenges, a 6.15 km long bridge was built

over the Padma. The capital is connected

with the south.After many ups and downs,

the Padma Bridge connects the two districts

on both sides. The quality of life of the

people around the bridge is also changing.

There are big projects including world class

Olympic Village, Benaresi Tantapalli, Icon

Tower at the initiative of RAJUK, the only

National Judicial Academy in the countr.

Mawa-Bhanga-Jessore-Khulna rail link will

be established from Dhaka. Khulna,

Mongla, Barisal, Kuakata Economic

Corridor will be established from Dhaka.

The southern part of the country will be

connected with Trans-Asian Highway (N-6)

and Trans-Asian Railway. The

establishment of new economic zones and

high-tech parks will attract domestic and

foreign investment and accelerate the

industrialization of the country .According

to the 2010 estimates, if the bridge is opened

at the current 12,000 vehicles crossing the

River Padma daily, the traffic will be

doubled and the number of vehicles will

increase by 7-8 percent per year and by

2050 it will be 67,000 vehicles per day.

However, this number may increase. This is

because before the construction of the

Jamuna Bangabandhu Bridge, the traffic

flow on the bridge was estimated to be

higher than it is now.

The Writer is Deputy Registrar,

Jagannath University

Padma Bridge is the best achievement of Sheikh Hasina's efficient leadership and development

The Padma Bridge, the

dream of the Bengali

nation, will be

inaugurated on June 25. It

will be opened for the travel

of the entire country. Prime

Minister Desaratna Sheikh Hasina's single

effort and courageous initiative in the face of

various evil forces, domestic and foreign

enemies and the various conspiracies of the

opposition, the Padma Bridge is going to be

launched to the surprise of the world and the

emotions of the Bengali nation. It is not just

a bridge or a steel structure. The Padma

Bridge is an emotional name for us and the

people of the South. Another name for pride

and courage is the Padma Bridge. This

bridge is a symbol of development and

capability of Bangladesh.

This bridge symbolizes the sharpness of

skill and talent of Bangladesh Awami

League. This bridge symbolizes the progress

of building the golden Bengal of the dream of

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman. One of the brightest

milestones in our struggle for economic

liberation. As I write this sub-editorial today,

the whole world is watching the Padma

Bridge, a symbol of our self-reliance and the

able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina, with great interest and enthusiasm.

The 6.15 km long bridge would have been

opened long ago if the world had not been

infected with the corona virus. Sheikh

Hasina, the forerunner of the liberation and

development of the Bengali nation, has

taken the work of the Padma Bridge forward

by tackling various challenges and notoriety

since the adoption of the bridge construction

plan.

The present government has had to face

various conspiracies, technical and financial

challenges of the opposition political

organizations from the very beginning of

planning for the construction of the bridge. A

mega project like the Padma Bridge will

show a unique path of economic liberation

for us and the people of the South.

Unemployment rate will come down. The

curse of unemployment in the south will

disappear. Mothers and sisters will become

self-reliant. Under the leadership of

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,

Bangladesh gained independence from

Pakistan on that day with the spontaneous

participation of common people of all walks

of life including leaders and activists of

Bangladesh Awami League. In the same

way, when different people are involved in

various conspiracies over the Padma Bridge,

we have been able to complete such a

challenging project on our own through the

courageous efforts of Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina and the overall participation of the

people of the country without caring about

the conspiracies of the conspirators.

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman has taught us the culture

and courage to overcome adversity and

succeed. On page 234 of Bangabandhu

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's book 'The

Unfinished memories' Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman spoke of building our own

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, members of the cabinet,

prominent politicians, foreign diplomats stationed in

Bangladesh are taking impeccable security measures

during the inauguration and stay of the Padma bridge.

Besides, strict security measures are being taken at

various venues and surrounding areas at the Mawa and

Jajira ends of the Padma Bridge.

country and devoting all our energies

towards the economic and political

emancipation of the people. Bangabandhu

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has dedicated his

life for the independence of our country and

later for the development of Bangladesh.

Bangabandhu devoted himself to the

struggle to transform his country into a

golden Bengal by capitalizing on the vitality

of invincible people. We can see the natural

spread of efficient leadership like

Bangabandhu even in his daughter Sheikh

Hasina. Aiming to build the golden Bengal of

Bangabandhu's dream. Bangabandhu's

daughter Deshratna Sheikh Hasina who is

the builder of modern Bangladesh. Sheikh

Hasina is the epitome of a developed and

prosperous digital Bangladesh. The only

faithful address of the hopes and aspirations

of the Bengalis, the dreamer of the Bengalis'

world conquest.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on her own

initiative on July 4, 2001 officially laid the

foundation stone of the Padma Bridge near

Mawa Ferry Ghat. But the construction of

the bridge came to a halt due to the

inferiority complex of several political

organizations including the BNP. Returning

to power in the 2009 elections, Sheikh

Hasina considered the construction of the

Padma Bridge as nationally important and

took various initiatives, struggles and

programs to implement it again. Initially, the

Asian Development Bank, JICA and IDB

were partners in financing the Padma

Bridge, but later the World Bank was

involved. All these banks also helped in the

construction of Bangabandhu Bridge. In this

context, the Government of Bangladesh, in

good faith, involved the World Bank as a

partner in the construction of the Padma

Bridge.

In the end, the World Bank did not live up

to that trust in financing the proposed 1.2

billion project. The expatriates wanted to

directly help the government in building the

Padma bridge. The efforts of expatriate

workers to do something for the country have

always been remarkable. Therefore, I would

like to express my gratitude and appreciation

to the expatriates on behalf of Hon'ble Prime

Minister Desaratna Sheikh Hasina through

this editorial. At the same time, I am hopeful

that our expatriate brothers and sisters will

surely be overwhelmed, proud and honored

to see the inauguration ceremony of the

Padma Bridge.

On the other hand, the cost of the project

also increased naturally as the work could not

be completed on time due to various

adversities. And many people are confusing

the people about this extra cost. Dear reader,

like you, I have no shortage of passion and

excitement about the inauguration of the

Padma Bridge. Because it's not just a bridge.

It is not just a means of communication. This

Padma bridge is our dream. This bridge is a

sign of self-reliance of our independent

country. Many people have criticized the

construction time of this bridge. Eventually,

with the implementation of the bridge, all

speculations and rumors have faded. Among

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

has taught us the culture and courage to overcome adversity

and succeed. On page 234 of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman's book 'The Unfinished memories' Bangabandhu

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman spoke of building our own country

and devoting all our energies towards the economic and

political emancipation of the people.

the specialties of the Padma Bridge, the fact

that its own financing and performance can

be done alone was beyond our imagination

for so long. But it is no longer an external

object of thought, it is present and real today.

Tomorrow, June 26, the people of

Bangladesh will start getting the benefits of

the bridge. The 6.15 km long road and rail

bridge over the Padma, the second longest

river in Bangladesh, is the main bridge in the

country and one of the largest in the world.

This bridge is a wonder for South Asia. It is

expected that an average of 75,000 vehicles

will pass through the bridge every day when

the activities start in full swing. The bridge

will directly connect the southern region

including Munshiganj, Shariatpur and

Madaripur districts and will connect the

north-eastern part with the south-western

part of the country. In other words, the

construction of the Padma Bridge has created

an opportunity to play a major role in the

overall development of the southern region

by connecting the economic golden future

with other regions of the country.

You also know that the full name of the 11th

longest bridge in the world is 'Padma

Multipurpose Bridge'. 918 hectares of land

had to be acquired for the construction of the

bridge. The construction of this huge bridge

was done by China Major Bridge Engineering

Construction Company Limited and the

English S-shaped bridge was designed by the

American multinational engineering firm

AECOM. The length of the bridge is 6.15 km

(20,2000 ft) and the width is 16.10 m (59.4

ft). After going through many ups and downs,

the construction work finally started on

December 7, 2014 and the work was

completed in June 2022. Which will be open

to all tomorrow. The bridge is being

maintained by the Bangladesh Bridge

Authority and supervised by the Korean

Expressway and the Bangladesh Army.

Implementing such a big project like

Padma Bridge is really a challenge for a

country like Bangladesh. Even then, with the

participation of people from all over the

country under the leadership of Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina, this bridge has

become one of the successes of Bangladesh.

This success was not easily implemented.

For the implementation of Padma Bridge,

financial crisis, financial management,

confidence, morale, etc., as well as various

problems had to be solved. Through the

construction and implementation of the

Padma Bridge, it has been proved that

Bangladesh can take up any challenge and

has the capacity to face the challenge. At the

same time, this bridge has been identified as

an indicator of Sheikh Hasina's strong

morale, courage and ability. The

construction of this multi-purpose bridge

has set a precedent for the Bengalis to use

their own strength, capabilities and

geography as their own. The Padma Bridge

will connect the south-western region of

Bangladesh with other regions and will

bridge the long distance between the districts

of Bangladesh. As a result, there will be

tremendous momentum in education,

health, culture, development, employment

and all other sectors. Today, it has become

the national aspiration, symbol and

consciousness of Bangladesh through the

construction of a huge bridge over the

country's second longest river with its own

funds.

Like her father, Bangabandhu's daughter

Sheikh Hasina, the successor of the

indomitable fighting mind, believes that our

only goal is the people's resilience and

determination and self-reliance in the face of

the war of life. Then none of us can destroy.

The Padma Bridge is a symbol of our

national capacity. A shining example of an

extraordinary dream of self-confidence

created by the combination of our

accumulated self-power. Dear reader, we are

at the very end of the discussion. Finally, I

will throw some questions to you and say

goodbye like today. Dear readers! Just think,

would any other government have been able

to build or implement the Padma Bridge?

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave

us independent territory, gave us freedom,

Bangladesh Chhatra League gave us the

right to speak in Bengali language, Hon'ble

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of

Bangabandhu, is taking the country forward

by developing it with relentless hard work.

In the case of 100% electrification in the

country, Tareq Rahman said it is not

possible. Sheikh Hasina has shown by

implementing. Khaleda Zia said Padma

Bridge is not possible by Awami League. The

Awami League has implemented the Padma

Bridge. Yet guys today you can criticize the

government a lot. As a citizen of an

independent country, you have freedom of

speech.

Ask your conscience for whom this padma

bridge? Who will travel through this bridge

for ages? With whom are you opposing the

Sheikh Hasina government? Why are you

doing this? Whose interest are you doing?

Asking questions.

Nayeem Islam Nibir is a young

generation political leader and columnist

in Bangladesh. He can be reached :

nayemulislamnayem148@gmail.com

SaTurDay, June 25, 2022

5

Ben Tarnoff

One weekend in September 1995, a

software engineer made a website. It

wasn't his first. At 28, Pierre Omidyar

had followed the standard accelerated

trajectory of Silicon Valley: he had

learned to code in seventh grade, and was

on track to becoming a millionaire before

the age of 30, after having his startup

bought by Microsoft. Now he worked for

a company that made software for

handheld computers, which were widely

expected to be the next big thing. But in

his spare time, he liked to tinker with side

projects on the internet. The idea for this

particular project would be simple: a

website where people could buy and sell.

Buying and selling was still a relatively

new idea online. In May 1995, Bill Gates

had circulated a memo at Microsoft

announcing that the internet was the

company's top priority. In July, a former

investment banker named Jeff Bezos

launched an online storefront called

Amazon.com, which claimed to be

"Earth's biggest bookstore". The

following month, Netscape, creator of the

most popular web browser, held its initial

public offering (IPO). By the end of the

first day of trading, the company was

worth almost $3bn - despite being

unprofitable. Wall Street was paying

attention. The dot-com bubble was

starting to inflate.

If the internet of 1995 inspired dreams

of a lucrative future, the reality ran far

behind. The internet may have been

attracting millions of newcomers - there

were nearly 45 million users in 1995, up

76% from the year before - but it wasn't

particularly user-friendly. Finding

content was tricky: you could wander

from one site to another by following the

tissue of hyperlinks that connected them,

or page through the handmade directory

produced by Yahoo!, the preferred web

portal before the rise of the modern

search engine. And there wasn't much

content to find: only 23,500 websites

existed in 1995, compared to more than

17m five years later. Most of the sites that

did exist were hideous and barely usable.

But the smallness and slowness of the

early web also lent it a certain charm.

People were excited to be there, despite

there being relatively little for them to do.

They made homepages simply to say

hello, to post pictures of their pets, to

share their enthusiasm for Star Trek.

They wanted to connect.

Omidyar was fond of this form of online

life. He had been a devoted user of the

internet since his undergraduate days,

and a participant in its various

communities. He now observed the rising

flood of dot-com money with some

concern. The corporations clambering on

to the internet saw people as nothing

more than "wallets and eyeballs", he later

told a journalist. Their efforts at

aLex hern

Asking people to be nice on

Twitter makes people nicer

on Twitter, the company has

announced, hailing the

success of an experiment

that prompts users to

reconsider tweets that might

be hurtful or offensive. Since

2020, the social network has

tried to encourage users to

be more considerate of

others, by algorithmically

spotting posts that appear

aggressive or mean-spirited

and prompting users to

consider whether they want

to send them, asking: "Want

to review this before

tweeting?"

Now, in a study coauthored

with Matthew

Katsaros at Yale Law School,

Twitter researchers say the

ebay's German headquarters in 2006.

commercialisation weren't just crude and

uncool, they also promoted a zombie-like

passivity - look here, click here, enter your

credit card number here - that threatened

the participatory nature of the internet he

knew.

"I wanted to do something different,"

Omidyar later recalled, "to give the

individual the power to be a producer as

well as a consumer." This was the

motivation for the website he built in

September 1995. He called it

AuctionWeb. Anyone could put up

something for sale, anyone could place a

bid, and the item went to the highest

bidder. It would be a perfect market, just

like you might find in an economics

textbook. Through the miracle of

competition, supply and demand would

meet to discover the true price of a

commodity. One precondition of perfect

markets is that everyone has access to the

same information, and this is exactly

what AuctionWeb promised. Everything

was there for all to see.

The site grew quickly. By its second

week, the items listed for sale included a

Yamaha motorcycle, a Superman

lunchbox and an autographed Michael

Jackson poster. By February 1996, traffic

had grown brisk enough that Omidyar's

web hosting company increased his

monthly fee, which led him to start taking

a cut of the transactions to cover his

expenses. Almost immediately, he was

turning a profit. The side project had

prompts do indeed work to

encourage a change in

behaviour - and that the

change sticks around long

after the prompt was shown.

"We found that out of

every 100 tweets where

users were prompted to

reconsider, the following

actions were taken: 69 were

sent without revision; 9 were

cancelled; [and] 22 were

revised," wrote Twitter's

Kathy Yang and Lauren

Fratamico. Of those 22

revisions, only one was

rewritten to be made more

offensive, and more than a

third were redrafted to be

more palatable.

The effect lasts longer than

simply the initial tweet;

compared with users who

didn't see a prompt, the

incidence of repeat offences

dropped by a fifth among

those who were shown

warnings. "This represents a

broader and sustained

change in user behaviour,

and implies that receiving

prompts may help users be

more cognisant of avoiding

potentially offensive content

as they post future tweets,"

the researchers write.

And the benefit goes both

ways: "reducing the number

of harmful and offensive

tweets that a user sends also

reduces the number that

they receive … When a user

turns a conversation

negative, or when they

extend an already negative

thread, their reply tweet can

become the new root for

other users to contribute

negatively." By encouraging

users to rethink hostile

become a business.

But the perfect market turned out to be

less than perfect. Disputes broke out

between buyers and sellers, and Omidyar

was frequently called upon to adjudicate.

He didn't want to have to play referee, so

he came up with a way to help users work

it out themselves: a forum. People would

leave feedback on one another, creating a

kind of scoring system. "Give praise

where it is due," he said in a letter posted

to the site, "make complaints where

appropriate." The dishonest would be

driven out, and the honest would be

rewarded - but only if users did their part.

"This grand hope depends on your active

participation," he wrote.

The value of AuctionWeb would rely on

the contributions of its users. The more

they contributed, the more useful the site

would be. The market would be a

community, a place made by its

members. They would become both

consumers and producers, as Omidyar

hoped, and among the things they

produced would be the content that filled

the site.

By the summer of 1996, AuctionWeb

was generating $10,000 a month.

Omidyar decided to quit his day job and

devote himself to it full-time. He had

started out as a critic of the e-commerce

craze and had ended up with a successful

e-commerce company. In 1997, he

renamed it eBay.

Ebay was one of the first big internet

Twitter’s niceness prompts

do alter behavior

eBay’s magic of turning internet into a marketplace

approaches, the social

network also helped them

make life more pleasant for

themselves.

The experiment's success

was welcomed by social

media experts. "It turns out

that if you do even the bare

minimum you can sizeably

reduce how horrible Twitter

users treat each other," said

Ryan Broderick, an internet

culture writer who runs the

Garbage Day newsletter.

"The fact Twitter, as a

company, had to come up

with a 'please don't

cyberbully each other'

warning for their users is a

wildly embarrassing

summation of how vicious

they've allowed their website

to become, but, hey, if it

works, it works."

Photo: Sean Gallup

companies. It became profitable early,

grew into a giant of the dot-com era,

survived the implosion of the dot-com

bubble, and still ranks among the largest

e-commerce firms in the world. But what

makes eBay particularly interesting is

how, in its earliest incarnation, it

anticipated many of the key features that

would later define the phenomenon

commonly known as the "platform".

Ebay wasn't just a place where collectors

waged late-night bidding wars over rare

Beanie Babies. In retrospect, it also

turned out to be a critical hinge in the

history of the internet. Omidyar's site

pioneered the basic elements that would

later enable Google, Facebook and the

other tech giants to unlock the profit

potential of the internet by

"platformising" it.

None of the metaphors we use to think

about the internet are perfect, but

"platform" is among the worst. The term

originally had a specific technical

meaning: it meant something that

developers build applications on top of,

such as an operating system. But the

word has since come to refer to various

kinds of software that run online,

particularly those deployed by the largest

tech firms. The scholar Tarleton Gillespie

has argued that this shift in the use of the

word "platform" is strategic. By calling

their services "platforms", companies

such as Google can project an aura of

openness and neutrality. They can

present themselves as playing a

supporting role, merely facilitating the

interactions of others. Their control over

the spaces of our digital life, and their

active role in ordering such spaces, is

obscured. "Platform" isn't just imprecise.

It's designed to mystify rather than

clarify.

A more useful metaphor for

understanding the internet, one that has

guided its architects from the beginning,

is the stack. A stack is a set of layers piled

on top of one another. Think of a house:

you have the basement, the first floor, the

second floor and so on, all the way up to

the roof. The things that you do further

up in a house often depend on systems

located further down. If you take a

shower, a water heater in the basement

warms up the cold water being piped into

your house and then pipes it up to your

bathroom.

The internet also has a basement, and

its basement also consists largely of pipes.

These pipes carry data, and everything

you do further up the stack depends on

these pipes working properly. Towards

the top of the stack is where the sites and

apps live. This is where we experience the

internet, through the pixels of our

screens, in emails or tweets or streams.

The best way to understand what

happens on these sites and apps - on what

tech companies call "platforms" - is to

understand them as part of the broader

story of the internet's privatisation.

The internet started out in the 1970s as

an experimental technology created by

US military researchers. In the 80s, it

grew into a government-owned computer

network used primarily by academics.

Then, in the 90s, privatisation began. The

privatisation of the internet was a

process, not an event. It did not involve a

simple transfer of ownership from the

public sector to the private, but rather a

more complex movement whereby

corporations programmed the profit

motive into every level of the network. A

system built by scientists for research was

renovated for the purpose of profit

maximisation. This took hardware,

software, legislation, entrepreneurship. It

took decades. And it touched all of the

internet's many pieces.

The process of privatisation started

with the pipes, and then worked its way

up the stack. In April 1995, only five

months before Omidyar made the

website that would become eBay, the

government allowed the private sector to

take over control of the network's

plumbing. Households and businesses

were eager to get online, and telecoms

companies made money by helping them

access the internet.

But getting people online was a small

fraction of the system's total profit

potential. What really got investors'

capital flowing was the possibility of

making money from what people did

online. In other words, the next step was

figuring out how to maximise profit in the

upper floors, where people actually use

the internet. The real money lay not in

monetising access, but in monetising

activity. This is what Omidyar did so

effectively when he created a place where

people wanted to buy and sell goods

online, and took a cut of their

transactions.

The dot-com boom began with

Netscape's explosive IPO in August 1995.

Over the following years, tens of

thousands of startups were founded and

hundreds of billions of dollars were

invested in them. Venture capital entered

a manic state: the total amount of US

venture-capital investment increased

more than 1,200% from 1995 to 2000.

Hundreds of dot-com companies went

public and promptly soared in value: at

their peak, technology stocks were worth

more than $5tn. When eBay went public

in 1998, it was valued at more than $2bn

on the first day of trading; the continued

ascent of its stock price over the next year

made Omidyar a billionaire.

Yet most of the startups that attracted

huge investment during these years

didn't actually make money. For all the

hype, profits largely failed to materialise,

and in 2000 the bubble burst. From

March to September, the 280 stocks in

the Bloomberg US Internet Index lost

almost $1.7tn. "It's rare to see an industry

evaporate as quickly and completely," a

CNN journalist remarked. The following

year brought more bad news. The dotcom

era was dead.

Today, the era is typically

remembered as an episode of collective

insanity - as an exercise in what Alan

Greenspan, during his

contemporaneous tenure as chair of the

Federal Reserve, famously called

"irrational exuberance". Pets.com, a

startup that sold pet supplies online,

became the best-known symbol of the

period's stupidity, and a touchstone for

retrospectives ever since. Never

profitable, the company spent heavily

on advertising, including a Super Bowl

spot; it raised $82.5m in its IPO in

February 2000 and imploded nine

months later.

Arrogance, greed, magical thinking and

bad business decisions all contributed to

the failure of the dot-com experiment. Yet

none of these were decisive. The real

problem was structural. While their

investors and executives probably

wouldn't have understood it in these

terms, dot-com companies were trying to

advance the next stage of the internet's

privatisation - namely, by pushing the

privatisation of the internet up the stack.

But the computational systems that could

make such a push feasible were not yet in

place. Companies still struggled to turn a

profit from user activity.

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were among the handsets to receive the power management tool that is the subject of Justin

Gutmann's claim.

Photo: Stephen Lam

Apple to face £750m lawsuit

The company prompts users to consider whether they want to send certain tweets. Photo: chesnot

TechnoLoGy DeSk

Apple is facing a multimillion-pound legal

claim that could reimburse millions of

iPhone owners over a secret decision to

slow down older phones in 2017. An

undocumented battery management

system, released in a software update in

January that year, slowed down the

performance of older iPhones in order to

stop them shutting down without warning.

But Apple didn't give users the option to

disable the setting, and did not warn them

that their phones were being "throttled"

deliberately.

Justin Gutmann, a consumer rights

campaigner, has launched a claim against

Apple over the decision at the Competition

Appeals Tribunal. If he wins, the company

could be forced to pay damages of more

than £750m, spread out between the

approximately 25 million people who

bought one of the affected phones. The

claim relates to the iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S

Plus, SE, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus and iPhone X

models.

Gutmann argues that Apple's decision to

throttle the phones wasn't disclosed to

users at the time, and was introduced to

disguise the fact that older iPhone batteries

were unable to cope with the new demands

placed on them. Rather than introduce a

battery recall or replacement programme,

or admit that the latest software update was

unsuitable for older devices, Apple pushed

users to install the update knowing it would

worsen their devices' performance, he says.

"Instead of doing the honourable and

legal thing by their customers and offering

a free replacement, repair service or

compensation, Apple instead misled

people by concealing a tool in software

updates that slowed their devices by up to

58%," Gutmann said.

"I'm launching this case so that millions

of iPhone users across the UK will receive

redress for the harm suffered by Apple's

actions. "If this case is successful, I hope

dominant companies will re-evaluate their

business models and refrain from this kind

of conduct."

Apple acknowledged the throttling

almost a year after it introduced it, and said

that it slowed down phones that had older

batteries, were running out of energy, or

were cold, which can affect the

performance of a battery. The company

said that when a battery was in a poor

condition it might not be able to supply the

required maximum current demanded by

the phone's processor at full speed. Before

the update, that would simply result in the

phone shutting down, and the update was

intended to instead allow the device to

continue running, but at a slower pace.

"We have never - and would never - do

anything to intentionally shorten the life of

any Apple product, or degrade the user

experience to drive customer upgrades,"

Apple said in a statement on Thursday.

"Our goal has always been to create

products that our customers love, and

making iPhones last as long as possible is

an important part of that." iPhones now

include a report in the settings menu, under

"battery health", that discloses whether the

throttling is in effect.

The UK claim is the latest in a long line of

lawsuits against Apple over the throttling.

In Italy, the company was fined €10m,

alongside Samsung, which was fined €5m

for a similar program. In the US, a classaction

lawsuit saw the company agree to

pay $25 per iPhone, capped at $310m, in a

settlement agreed in March 2020.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2022

8

United Commercial Bank Ltd recently signed an MoU with "SHE" an F-Commerce based women's

organization having more than 2,50,000 members. Through this MoU, members of SHE will be

allowed to open accounts with preferential features. They will also get different banking facilities

through UCB's physical and digital platforms. On behalf of the organizations, Md Shah Alam

Bhuiyan, Deputy Managing Director, UCB; and PromeDey, Founder of SHE exchanged the agreement.

Md Mohsinur Rahman, SVP and Head of SME Banking Division along with other Head of

Branches of UCB; and Joyanta Sen Gupta, spokesperson, SHE were present among others in the

event at UCB Regional Office of Chattogram.

Photo: Courtesy

Major US banks can

weather severe economic

downturn: Fed

WASHINGTON : The

largest banks operating in

the US market have

sufficient resources to

withstand a severe economic

downturn and continue

providing financing to

American families and

firms, the Federal Reserve

said Thursday, reports BSS.

The Fed subjected 33

banks to its annual "stress

test" exercise, to gauge

whether they would be able

to weather a steep global

recession.

In the hypothetical crisis,

financial markets plummet,

commercial real estate and

corporate debt markets face

substantial strain, US

unemployment reaches 10

percent and the economy

contracts by 3.5 percent.

The results "showed that

banks continue to have

strong capital levels,

allowing them to continue

lending to households and

businesses during a severe

recession," the Fed said.

The scenario for this year's

test was even bleaker than

the one used last year, but

the outcome was the same,

showing all the banks would

maintain a sufficient

"cushion" despite total

projected losses of $612

billion, according to the

report.

"Despite the larger poststress

decline this year...

capital ratios remain well

above the required

minimum levels

throughout the projection

horizon" of nine quarters,

the report said.

The stress tests,

implemented in the wake of

the 2008 global financial

crisis, apply to banks with at

least $100 billion in total

assets, including the top tier

designated as "global

systemically important

banks."

Japan inflation

stays at seven-year

high in May

TOKYO: Japan's core

consumer prices jumped 2.1

percent again in May, the

second consecutive monthly

jump of a level not seen in

seven years, official data

showed Friday, reports BSS.

The core consumer price

index, which excludes fresh

food, jumped 2.1 percent

year-on-year in May,

according to figures released

by the internal affairs

ministry.

The rise follows a 2.1

percent jump in April, the

first time since March 2015

that the figure breached the

2.0 percent set by the Bank

of Japan (BoJ) as its longterm

inflation target.

The reading, in line with

market expectations, comes

after the Japanese central

bank last week stuck to its

monetary easing policy even

as other central banks raise

interest rates to tame

inflation.

The BoJ did, however, said

it would "pay due attention"

to forex markets after the

yen hit a 24-year low.

India rushes food, medicine

to bankrupt Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka accepted a rice and

pharmaceuticals shipment from

neighbouring India Friday as the island

nation battles an unprecedented economic

crisis that has left supermarket shelves and

pharmacy cabinets empty, reports BSS.

A critical shortage of foreign currency has

left Sri Lanka unable to pay for enough

imported food, fuel and medicines to meet

demand since the end of last year, causing

widespread hardship.

Its 22 million people have also been forced

to endure prolonged daily blackouts and

galloping inflation that has strained

household budgets.

India has extended $1.5 billion in credit

lines to allow Sri Lanka to keep meeting a

portion of its food and energy needs, and

Friday's shipment followed a visit by Indian

experts for aid talks. "Both parties discussed

at length the future course of action of the

Indian aid programme to stabilise and revive

the Sri Lankan economy," Sri Lankan

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office said

after the meeting.

An acute lack of petrol has immobilised Sri

Lanka this week, with parliament cancelling

two days of sittings to help conserve fuel.

The United Nations last week appealed for

emergency food aid after a survey showed

that four out of five Sri Lankans were

skipping meals to cope with the crisis.

A US Treasury delegation is expected in

the capital Colombo next week to assess the

crisis, with Prime Minister Ranil

Wickremesinghe telling lawmakers

Wednesday that the nation's economy had

reached the point of "complete collapse".

Sri Lanka has already defaulted on its $51

billion foreign debt and is in bailout talks

with the International Monetary Fund,

which could take months.

Bangladesh celebrates 'World Business

Angels Investors Week 2022'

The World Business Angels Investors Week-

2022https://angelsweek.org/celebrated in

Bangladesh with a gorgeous event based on

the global theme is Business Transformation

for Post -Pandemic Economics recently. The

Week is coordinated globally by the World

Business Angels Investment Forum - an

affiliated partner of the G20 Global

Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI), a

press release said.

Professor Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam,

Chairman, Bangladesh Securities and

Exchange Commissionwas the Keynote

Speaker and Chief Guest where Dr. Md.

Sabur Khan, Chairman, Board of Trustees,

Daffodil International University was the

distinguished speaker at the ceremony.

Mohammad Nuruzzaman, Bangladesh Chair

of World Business Angels Investors Week-

2022 and CEO of Daffodil Family delivered

welcome speech on the occasion. Baybars

Altuntas, Executive Chairman World

Business Angels Investment Forum greeted

the event through a video message.

After the inauguration, a roundtable

discussion titled 'Role of Angel Investors in

the Development of Startup Ecosystem' was

held on. Munir Hassan, Chief Coordinator of

Digital Transformation and Youth

Program,Prothom Alo, Nirjhar Rahman,

CEO, Bangladesh Angels, A K M Fahim

Mashrrur, Co-Founder and CEO,

bdjobs.com, M Asif Rahman, CEO, ArComm,

WPdeveloper, Serial Entrepreneur and Angel

Investordiscussed at the roundtable as the

speakers. The roundtable was moderated by

Asif Iqbal, Senior Lecturer, Department of

Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Daffodil

International University and Bangladeshi

Coordinator, WBAW.

While presenting keynote paper, Professor

Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam said, Angel

Investment is very important in different

aspects likeAngel Investors' contribution

viatime, expertise, knowledge &connections

to the business; Empirical strong

correlationbetween national GDP &

thenumber of entrepreneursactively engaged

in enterprisecreation activity and Angel

Investors be the parentsof SMEs providing

more than money in return for a stake inthe

startups' success.

Dr. Md. Sabur Khan said, Covid-19 has

created both new challenges and as well as

opportunities for the young entrepreneurs

and new Start Ups. For initiating 'Digital

Bangladesh' program in earlier, Bangladesh

is growing fast and set an example of role

model of development even in global

pandemic situation. He urged all to be doer

and make friendship with the technologies

like 'Internet of Thinking', Artificial

Intelligence and work smartly.

It is to be mentioned that 'World Business

Angels Investors Week-2022' has started

worldwide from last 20th June 2022. This

special week is being celebrated in 132

countries across 5 continents, the World

Business Angel Investors Week 2022

welcomes more than 200,00 participants

from around the world. These include 320

keynote speakers, 765 distinguished panel

speakers, speeches by 12 presidents, 6 prime

ministers, and 32 ministers.World Business

Angels Investors Week-2022' will end on

June 26, 2022.

Dr. Md. Sabur Khan, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Daffodil International

University and Professor Shibli Rubayat Ul Islam, Chairman, Bangladesh

Securities and Exchange Commission, Mohammad Nuruzzaman, Bangladesh

Chair of World Business Angels Investors Week-2022 and CEO of Daffodil Family

are seen at the Bangladesh Chapter Program.

Photo: Courtesy

Huawei MateBook D to bid Upgraded

& Seamless AI Life Experience

Huawei makes its PCs smarter than ever with the new 11th

Gen Intel Core i5 Processor, which will significantly improve

performance and cross-device communication. The most

recent models of Huawei's MateBook D series, the MateBook

D14 and MateBook D15, are designed to meet the needs of

young people at all stages of online education, remote

employment and multimedia entertainment, a press release

said. The Huawei MateBook D14 & D15 also offered a highcapacity

battery and other cutting-edge features like Super

Device, Fingerprint Power

Button, Dual Antenna Wi-

Fi 6, and reverse charging

for smartphones. For

young people in all kinds of

educational and everyday

settings, the HUAWEI

MateBook D series is now

more than just a

productivity tool. The new

MateBooks are powered by

an 11th Generation Intel i5

Processor built on 10nm

SuperFin technology. The

quad-core, eight-thread

processor handles

common usage scenarios

with ease thanks to quicker performance than its

predecessors. It also has integrated Intel® Iris® Xe

Graphics, which provides graphics performance comparable

to entry-level discrete competitors. Additionally, the Huawei

MateBook D provides a high-speed 512GB NVMe PCle SSD

and 8GB of memory for improved read and write

performance and a more streamlined operating experience.

The Huawei MateBook D14 features a 14-inch 1080p Full

Swisscontact Bangladesh has recently

teamed up with Geocycle Bangladesh,

the waste management wing of

LafargeHolcim Bangladesh Limited, to

implement a green initiative in micro,

small and medium enterprises

(MSMEs) in the leather goods sector of

Bhairab, Kishoreganj. The agreement is

also endorsed by the Bhairab

Municipality and Bhairab Paduka

Karkhana Malik Somobay Somity

Limited. Under this multi stakeholder

agreement, Swisscontact will deploy

innovative solid waste management

solutions as initiatives of B-SkillFUL

Phase II and Prabriddhi, two

programmes funded by Switzerland, a

press release said.

A Memorandum of Understanding

(MoU) was signed on 23rd June 2022

at theHotel Amari, Dhaka between the

Bhairab Municipality, Bhairab Paduka

Karkhana Malik Somobay Somity

Limited, Geocycle and Swisscontact.

Representations from the Embassy of

Switzerland in Bangladesh and all

parties concerned attended the event.

This initiative addresses

environmental pollution, caused by the

enormous volume of solid waste

generated by Bhairab's leather goods

sector, by establishing a safe and

environment-friendly process of waste

collection, disposal and recycling. As a

result, this initiative will create multiple

impacts in improving working

conditions within MSMEs, reducing

environmental hazards and promoting

cost effective and green production

processes.

HD IPS anti-glare screen, whereas the Huawei MateBook

D15 has a 15.6-inch 1080p Full HD IPS anti-glare screen. It

also keeps the FullView design of its predecessors with an up

to 87 percent screen-to-body ratio and a 16:9 aspect ratio for

a more immersive viewing experience.

The Huawei MateBook D series results in a seamless and

exquisite overall appearance with a simple metal body and

refined lines, weighing just 1.38kg and measuring only

15.9mm at their thickest point for MateBook D14, and

weighing 1.56kg and

measuring 16.9mm for

MateBook D15. The 65W AC

adapter can be used to

charge some Huawei

smartphones that support

the Huawei SuperCharge

technology. Furthermore, it

supports reverse charging of

mobile phones from the

notebook, when the

notebook is switched off.

Users may enjoy a new

smart office experience

thanks to its ability to

seamlessly collaborate with

other Huawei products

(including phones, tablets, and monitors). Consumers will

soon be able to try out the beta version of AppGallery, which

will allow them to use specific mobile applications from the

AppGallery that are supported by the Mobil App engine.

Huawei MateBook D14 and Huawei MateBook D15 are

available for order and sale at Huawei Stores, Huawei

Experience Stores and authorized retail stores for BDT

71,999, respectively.

LafargeHolcim signs agreement with

Swisscontact Bangladesh

This partnership further strengthens

Switzerland's increased focus on

climate change and environment in

Bangladesh.

Implemented by Swisscontact, the B-

SkillFUL program me is a four-year

skills and enterprise development

programme of Swisscontact not only

aims to improve the productivity and

competitiveness among workers by

creating better jobs but also promotes

more environmentally sustainable

practices among participating MSMEs.

And the Prabriddhi programme

focuses on building the capacity of

urban or rural territories to create a

competitive advantage for their

enterprises through a broad set of

activities and improve the economic

well-being of its people and workers.

World leaders seek united front for

Ukraine as war rages on

BERLIN: World leaders including US President Joe Biden

will seek to close ranks at back-to-back summits from

Sunday on offering emphatic support to help Ukraine repel

Russian invaders as the relentless war puts international

unity to the test, reports BSS.

In the face-to-face talks, the allies will take stock of the

effectiveness of sanctions imposed so far against Vladimir

Putin's Russia, consider possible new military and financial

aid for Ukraine, and begin turning their eye to longer-term

reconstruction plans.

But they will also be struggling to maintain a united front

as the fallout from the war-from soaring inflation to looming

food shortages to fears over energy supplies-tug at their

resolve. Ahead of the summit of G7 most industrialised

nations which will be hosted from Sunday at the Bavarian

mountain resort of Elmau Castle, German Chancellor Olaf

Scholz warned that allies would need stamina in shoring up

Ukraine.

"The truth is, we are still far from negotiations between

Ukraine and Russia" because Putin "still believes in the

possibility of a dictated peace", Scholz said on Wednesday.

"It is therefore all the more important that we stay firmly

on course-with our sanctions, with internationally

coordinated arms deliveries, with our financial support for

Ukraine." Scholz will be arriving in Elmau from an EU

summit in Brussels, where the 27-member bloc on Thursday

agreed to grant "candidate status" to Ukraine.

After the G7 summit closes on Tuesday, the leaders will

head to a gathering of NATO powers in Madrid.

There, cracks are already apparent over Sweden and

Finland's bids for accession, after Turkey blindsided the 30-

member defence alliance in opposing the applications.

Western allies have supplied Ukraine with billions in

financial aid and armaments, with the US leading the charge

with $5.6 billion worth of weapons alone.

But as the war drags into its fifth month, Ukraine has

repeatedly warned that it needs far more support to

withstand the grinding Russian assault.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky will participate in

the G7 and NATO summits in separate video-link sessions,

but he has made his agenda abundantly clear with his

repeated pleas for more pressure on Russia and more

weapons for his troops.

Washington said leaders at the G7 plan to "roll out a

concrete set of proposals to increase pressure on Russia".

Yet allies' coordinated unprecedented action to shut down

Russia's economy has failed so far to work.

Instead, it has exposed the Achilles heel of energy reliance

that continues to crimp the ability of major players like

Germany or Italy to go all out in punishing Moscow.

SATURDAY, JUnE 25, 2022

9

Summer McIntosh at World swimming championships

Photo: AP

Gold for teenage stars Summer McIntosh,

David Popovici at swimming worlds

SPORTS DESK

The kids are all right. Canadian

teenager Summer McIntosh won the

women's 200-meter butterfly for her

first title at the world swimming

championships on Wednesday before

17-year-old Romanian David Popovici

claimed his second, reports UNB.

They still have some way to go to

match Katie Ledecky, who claimed her

18th gold at a worlds by helping the

United States win the women's 4×200-

meter freestyle relay. The 25-year-old

Ledecky now has 21 medals, extending

her record for the most among female

swimmers in the competition.

Popovici won the mens 100 freestyle

to add to the 200 freestyle he won on

Monday. He is just the second man to

achieve the double at a worlds, after

American swimmer Jim Montgomery

in 1973, and he's the first Romanian

swimmer to win two golds at a worlds.

"The airport is going to be chaotic but

I am ready for it," Popovici said of his

return to Bucharest. "For Romania it

Trans cyclist and two-time

world champion Victoria

Ivy slams FINA's 'Open'

category proposal

SPORTS DESK

World swimming's governing

body FINA is setting up a

working group to look into

creating an 'open category' to

ensure inclusivity after voting

to restrict transgender women

from competing in elite

women's competition, reports

UNB.

But before the working

group has even begun to

consider exactly how an

open category would work,

the concept has already been

dismissed by trans athletes.

Details of who would be

eligible to compete in an

'open category' and what

events such a division would

feature in have yet to emerge

with FINA giving itself six

months to formulate a plan.

So far FINA has said that

the open category would

offer opportunities for

athletes "without regard to

their sex, their legal gender,

or their gender identity"

But Veronica Ivy, trans

cyclist and twice UCI

Masters world champion,

said the proposal was an

"extreme indignity".

"FINA's choice to force

trans women into an 'open'

category with cisgender men

is an unethical non-starter,"

she told Reuters in an

interview.

"It is the very definition of

'separate but equal' and an

extreme indignity to the

women affected. Trans

women are legally, socially,

and medically women; we

are legally, socially, and

medically female.

"We ought to race with

women and international

sports federations need to

cease placing limits on who is

'woman' or 'female' enough,"

she said.

So far, the only idea floated

for swimming has come

from the World Swimming

Coaches Association, which

produced a position

statement before FINA's

congress on Sunday.

means a lot and I love the feelings, even

though I cannot explain it really well, I

am very happy." The 15-year-old

McIntosh clocked 2 minutes, 05.20

seconds in the 200 butterfly to beat

three Olympic medalists to the title.

"It's one of my biggest dreams in the

swimming world to become world

champion, and especially to do it in 200

fly is something I have always wanted

to do because this is one of my favorite

events," said McIntosh, who finished

0.88 seconds ahead of American Hali

Flickinger. China's Zhang Yufei was

third and American Regan Smith was

1.59 seconds behind in fourth.

Popovici had to fight hard to edge

France's MaximeGrousset by 0.06

seconds in the final with a time of 47.58

seconds. Canada's Joshua Liendo

Edwards, who was leading at the

halfway stage, took the bronze. Twotime

defending champion

CaelebDressel didn't race after

withdrawing from the rest of the

competition with an unspecified

medical condition earlier Wednesday.

Paul Pogba is set to return to Juventus as a free agent.

The Americans had to wait until the

women's 4×200-meter freestyle relay

for their 11th gold of the championships

as Claire Weinstein, Leah Smith,

Ledecky and Bella Sims. Australia was

second and Canada third. "I am so

proud," Ledecky said. "I think I realized

when we were on the medal podium it

had been a while since we had all been

up there singing the national anthem

together; trying to hit those highpitched

notes together. So that was a lot

of fun." Only the U.S. (11 gold, six silver,

nine bronze) and Australia (two gold,

five silver, one bronze) have won at

least one medal on each of the five

nights of the swimming competition.

Kylie Masse claimed Canada's second

gold of the night by winning the

women's 50-meter backstroke ahead of

American Katharine Berkoff and

Analia Pigree of France.Masse became

the first swimmer from Canada, male

or female, to win three golds at a

worlds.

"I was a little tired this morning,"

Marchand said.

Paul Pogba returns to Juventus on free

transfer after Manchester United exit

SPORTS DESK

Manchester United signed Paul Pogba for

a then-world-record fee of £89.3 million

from Juventus in 2016. Six years down

the line, the French mid-fielder is

returning to Juventus on a free transfer

after leaving Manchester United, reports

UNB.

Pogba is moving to Juventus for the

second time in his career - he previously

joined the Italian giants in 2012 from

United.

Pogba enjoyed a successful four-year

first stint in Turin, winning four

consecutive league titles and two Coppa

Italia trophies. He will also be reunited

with manager Massimiliano Allegri as the

club look to win their first Serie A title

since 2020.

Pogba won three trophies in his debut

campaign, but he fell out with then-

United manager Jose Mourinho and

struggled to find consistency under

successive bosses Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

and Ralf Rangnick. Pogba endured an

uneasy relationship with the United fans,

and they booed him in his final two

appearances against Norwich City and

Liverpool.

It is understood that Pogba will now

commit to a three-year deal through to

2025, with those terms worth around

€7.5m-per-season (£6m/$8m). Paul

Pogba is expected to officially sign the

contract at the start of July.

Pogba has complained United offered

him "nothing" despite the midfielder

reportedly being offered two contracts

worth more than £290,000 a week.

In the new Amazon Prime documentary

titled - The 'Pogmentary', it is revealed

how the failed negotiations transpired

between the player and the club.

The Athletic, which had access to

preview material, reported how the

Frenchman dismissed United's second

offer with his late agent Mino Raiola,

describing it as 'nothing' as he sat in his

Rolls Royce.

"Paul, you are in a situation which is

very particular. You have no idea. You

have no idea," Raiola tells Pogba as he is

driving in Miami.

Pogba then asks: "Did Manchester

(United) make a second offer?" To which

Raiola replies: "Yes. They absolutely want

you to stay. For me, the offer doesn't

reflect that. I told them, "If you want him

to stay, don't make that offer".

"I will make them understand that if

they really want you to stay and they want

to build a project around you, this time

they have to act differently and put the

money on the table."

"They're bluffing," Pogba replies. "How

can you tell a player you absolutely want

him and offer him nothing? Never seen

that." At the end of the documentary,

Pogba pledges to "show Manchester that

they made a mistake in waiting to give me

a contract. And show other clubs that

Manchester made a mistake in not

offering me a contract."

Photo: File

Saif moves to 3rd

with exciting win

in BPL

SPORTS DESK

Saif Sporting Club moved to

the third position inthe points

table in the TVS Bangladesh

Premier League football

defeatingChittagong Abahani

Limited by exciting 4-3 goals

held on Thursday atShaheed

DhirendranathDatta

Stadium in Cumilla, BSS.

In the day's match, striker

Faisal Ahmed Fahim scored a

brace while Nigerianforward

EmekaOgbugh and Rwanda

midfielder Emery Bayisenge

supported him witha lone goal

each for Saif who led the first

half by 1-0 goal.

Afghan midfielder Omid

Popalzay, Nigerian forward

Candy Augustine and

hiscompatriot Peter

Ebimobowei netted one goal

apiece for Chittagong

AbahaniLimited.

EmekaOgbugh opened an

account scoring the first goal

for Saif in the 43rdminute

while after the breather

Omid Popalzay restored the

parity forChittagong

Abahani Limited in the 57th

minute of the match.

Candy Augustine put

Chittagong Abahani Limited

ahead scoring the second

goalin the 65th minute, but

Fahim brought back Saif in

the match scoring the

twogoals in span of two

minutes. He restored the

parity scoring his first

andsecond goal for Saif in

the 72nd minute and put

Saif SC ahead again

scoringhis second and third

goal for his team in the 74th


Peter Ebimobowei

reduced the margin scoring

the third goal for

ChittagongAbahani Limited

in the 87th minute while

Emery Bayisenge sealed the

victoryscoring the fourth

goal for Saif in the 90+1st


The day's win saw Saif SC

secured 30 points from 16

matches while the portcity

team Chittagong Abahani

Limited remained at their

previous credit of 26points

playing the same number of

matches.

Earlier, in the first phase,

Saif SC played out to a 3-3

goal draw withChittagong

Abahani Limited held at

Bir Flight Lieutenant

Matiur RahmanStadium in

Munshiganj.

Organisers in fix

on where to host

shooting at the

2024 Games

SPORTS DESK

Paris Olympics organisers

are in a fix over where to

host shooting at the 2024

Games. The organisers have

confirmed that shooting will

now be moved from Seine-

Saint-Denis, reports UNB.

Chateauroux, which is 170

miles from Paris has now

been a preferred venue for

shooting at 2024 Olympics.

Shooting, which was

originally planned for the La

Courneuve range in Seine-

Saint-Denis is moved due to

concerns over the size of the

site.

"This is one of the options

but we need exchanges with

local elected officials and

federations," said Michael

Aloisio, the Paris 2024 chief

of staff was quoted as saying

by L'Équipe.

"We know that the

International Federation is

pushing for this option but

we are cautious."

In January, Stéphane

Troussel, the President of

the General Council of

Seine-Saint-Denis, appeared

blindsided by the reports of

the shooting's possible move

to Châteauroux.

"You have to work with us

and not behind our backs,"

he told Agence France-

Presse.

Paris 2024 said that this

switch was due to "technical

and not political" reasons,

however, including "heat,

light and noise" conditions

on Suzanne Lenglen.

World No. 1 Daniil Medvedev

banned from Wimbledon

SPORTS DESK

Daniil Medvedev finished his tennis season

on grass after a straight-set loss to Roberto

Bautista Agut in the quarterfinals of the

Mallorca Championships on Thursday,

reports UNB.

The Russian international lost 6-3, 6-2

after entering the match with an 8-2 record

on the surface this year, with his losses

coming in consecutive finals in Germany and

the Netherlands.

Medvedev, the defending champion in

Mallorca, had only one break opportunity

against the 20th-ranked Bautista Agut, who

had advanced without having to play in the

last 16 because Nick Kyrgios withdrew with

an abdominal injury. It was the fourth win

against a No. 1 player for the Spaniard, with

his three previous victories coming against

Novak Djokovic.

"I had to play very good to beat Daniil,"

Bautista Agut said. "He's the No. 1, the last

champion here in Mallorca. He just beat me

a few days ago. I played a really complete

match."

Medvedev, who will not play at

Wimbledon because of the ban on Russians

Russia's Daniil Medvedev plays a shot..

over the war in Ukraine, needed to come

from behind to get past Aslan Karatsev in the

round of 16 on Wednesday. The Russian had

also beaten Bautista Agut in two sets in the

quarterfinals in Germany last week.

Bautista Agut will play in the semifinals

against Antoine Bellier, a 303rd-ranked

Swiss qualifier who got past

TallonGriekspoor of the Netherlands 5-7, 7-6

(5), 6-2. Bellier became the lowest-ranked

semifinalist since then-No. 335 Juan Manuel

Cerundolo triumphed in Cordoba in 2021.

Second-seeded StefanosTsitsipas had

cruised into the quarterfinals but needed

three sets against American Marcos Giron to

make it to the last four on Thursday. His 7-6

(5), 4-6, 6-3 victory came in more than 2½

hours.

"It was a lot of work today. It was not easy,"

Tsitsipas said. "I had to deal with the heat,

had to deal with my opponent playing great.

It was a big physical effort. I had the fighting

spirit."

The sixth-ranked Greek, who leads the

tour with 38 wins this season, will next face

Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who defeated

Germany's Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 6-4.

Photo: File

Russia says 'happy to help' India

bid for 2036 Olympics

SPORTS DESK

WHILE IT continues to be ostracised from

world sport following the invasion of

Ukraine, Russia has offered to help India in

hosting the 2036 Olympics if the bid receives

backing from the International Olympic

Committee (IOC), reports UNB.

Russia's Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin

said his country's "specialists will be happy to

help in organising the Olympic Games in

India".

Although no concrete official move has

been made, India has repeatedly expressed

interest to host the 2036 Games with

Ahmedabad as the central city.

Last year, Indian Olympic Association

(IOA) president NarinderBatra proposed a

unique multi-city bid that will be

centredaround Ahmedabad as the key

destination. Two months ago, Gujarat's

Advocate General Kamal Trivedi told the

Gujarat High Court that "we are preparing

for the Olympics of 2036" and that the

"Olympic Committee will visit in 2025".

On Wednesday, during his visit to India,

Matytsin told RIA Sport that Russia was

"very happy" that India is hoping to host the

Games.

"If such a dream as hosting the Olympic

Games comes true, then this will be another

criterion for the stable development of the

country. We are always open to interaction

and ready to share our experience of hosting

the Olympic Games, and we have done this

many times, so if a decision is made, then

Russian specialists will be happy to help in

organising the Olympic Games in India,"

Matytsin was quoted as saying.

Russian state media also reported

that Matytsin put forward the proposal

of a friendly football match between

Russia, ranked 35 in the world, and

104-ranked India if the latter

expressed interest.

The Minister is leading a Russian

delegation to the International Convention

Against Doping in Sport in New Delhi and

held a meeting with Sports Minister Anurag

Thakur on Wednesday. Russian

Ambassador Denis Alipov was also present

at the meeting.

Sports Ministry sources said the ministers

explored areas of cooperation in sports,

including the exchange of technical

knowledge between players and coaches.

Former Croatia president Kolinda Grabar-

Kitarovic heads the IOC commission that

will select the host city for the 2036 Games,

with a decision to be taken between 2025

and 2029.

Incidentally, Russia was one of the

countries that showed interest in hosting the

2036 Olympics. However, after its invasion

of Ukraine, the country has been shunned by

the world's sporting bodies.

Matytsin told RIA Sports that "as of May

25, international sports organisations

cancelled/ postponed 186 international

sporting events planned in Russia in 2022-

2023, including 36 major international

sporting events".

Orlando Magic select Paolo

Banchero as No 1 pick

SPORTS DESK

Orlando Magic took Paolo Banchero as their

first overall pick in the NBA Draft on

Thursday, reports BSS.

After leading the Blue Devils to the Final

Four in coach Mike Krzyzewski's final season,

the 6-foot-10 forward was called first by NBA

Commissioner Adam Silver to begin the

draft, beating out fellow first-year forwards

Chet Holmgren or Jabari Smith Jr.

Banchero, who averaged 17.2 points, 7.8

rebounds and 3.2 assists in 39 starts in his

one year at Duke, will look to turn around a

lackluster Magic after their 22-win and 60-

loss season. "I had a feeling from the

information I was being told is that it was just

kind of up in the air," Banchero said.

"Orlando wasn't really sure yet, and just to be

ready for whatever." "I didn't find out,

though, that I was actually getting picked

until about 20 seconds before the

commissioner got on the stage. I didn't even

have time to really think about it or anything.

It just kind of happened. I can't believe it, but

I'm ready. I'm ready." In the weeks leading up

to the draft, Smith had been widely expected

to be the top selection. But the Magic turned

things upside down by taking Banchero. The

order had been debated throughout the

process, with Smith often considered the

player who would go No. 1. Instead, he wasn't

even second, falling behind Holmgren to

Houston at No. 3.

"Definitely added a chip, but God makes no

mistakes, so I'm happy to be here," Smith

said. "I'm happy to be where I'm wanted. I'm

happy to get to Houston and just show them,

give them what they picked. Just happy to be

here." While Banchero was a surprise at No.

1, Holmgren was always expected to go to

Oklahoma City with the second pick.

SATURdAY, JUnE 25, 2022

10

Irfan, Sabila Nur in 'Chatgaiya Golmaal'

TBT REPORT

A special drama has been made in

Chattogram regional language to

entertain the audience on the

occasion of upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.

The title of the drama is 'Chatgaiya

Golmaal'. Popular actors Irfan

Sajjad and Sabila Nur will be seen

playing lead roles in the drama.

Playwright Mezbah Uddin Sumon

has written the play while Rubel

Hasan has directed it. The shooting

of the drama has already been

completed at different locations in

Chattogram.

About the drama, Irfan Sajjad

said, 'I'm from Chattogram and I'm

always proud to be a child of

Chattogram. I'm an actor by

profession. My job is to play

different types of characters. I have

acted under the direction of Rubel

Hasan before. Making plays in

Chattogram regional language is

quite challenging for a director.

Everyone, including Sabila and me,

has worked with utmost sincerity. I

hope the audience will like the

drama." Actors Tanvir, Nabila and

many others will also be seen in

'Chatgaiya Golmaal'. The drama will

be released on theoccasion of Eidul-Azha.

Meanwhile, Irfan Sajjad

recently took part in the shooting of

the drama 'Mon Bapari' based on

Jamal Hossain's story. Sarika Sabah

has acted opposite him in the

play.On the other hand, SabilaNur

has completed the work of the play

'Nijossho Protibedok' opposite

Manoj Pramanik. She also

completed the shooting of the play

'Ridika' directed by Mahmudur

Rahman Himi. In this drama, Sabila

will be seen in a completely different

look.

Padma Bridge Theme song to release today

TBT REPORT

Official theme song of Padma Bridge is

going to releasetoday on BTV after the

inauguration of the Padma Bridge.

The song is sung by ten eminent

singers including Sabina Yasmin, Rafiqul

Alam, Kumar Bishwajit, Rezwana

Choudhury Bannya, Momtaz Begum,

Dilshad Nahar Kona, Bappa Mazumder,

Imran Mahmudul and Nishita Barua.

Kishore Das composed the song on the

lyrics by Kabir Bakul. The music video of

the song was made by the initiative of the

Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges,

and the Bangladesh Shilpakala

Academy.

The theme song goes like: "Tumi

obichol, dreero protiggo - tumi

dhumketu, Bangabandhu diyechhen

desh, tumi dile Padma Setu."

Thanking lyricist Kabir Bakul for

writing the lyrics of the song, Kishore

said, "The biggest appreciation goes to

the lyricist of this song, Kabir Bakul -

under whose supervision this huge task

was successfully completed. We all

witnessed and explored this

extraordinary emotion, standing on the

Padma Bridge for this historic creation."

The lyrics of the song are available on

Kishore's official Facebook page.

Another song titled 'Padma Setu' is sung

by Ankhi Alamgir, Kishore, Rajib, Sabbir

Zaman, Konal and Zhilik. This song is

also an initiative from BTV. The song was

written by Mokam Ali Khan and

composed by Milton Khandakar.Apart

from this, Momtaz Begum also sung a

solo song titled 'Padma Setu'. The song

was written by Hasan Motiur Rahman

and composed by Emon Chowdhury.

'Mortal Kombat 2' tease sets up more

of the character Scorpion

The forthcoming Mortal

Kombat 2 could see the

beloved character Scorpion

return with a very gamesaccurate

Fatality, offering

audiences a tease of what

they really want to see. The

big-screen reboot of Mortal

Kombat arrived in theaters

and on HBO Max in April

2021, with its sequel

officially being greenlit

earlier this year. While it's

still in the writing stage,

some elements, such as

Johnny Cage being

recruited by Cole Young

(Lewis Tan) to fight for

Earthrealm, can be

expected to be part of

Mortal Kombat 2's story.

In a Mortal Kombat 2

update, screenwriter

Jeremy Slater described the

writing process of building

the Mortal Kombat

universe, stating, "This is

Mortal Kombat. We have

guys who are ripping off

their faces and breathing

fire-it's a weird universe,

let's embrace some of that

weirdness, and let's make a

Mortal Kombat sequel that

no one is expecting and that

can kind of sneak in and

blow everyone away."

Slater's comment is a clear

reference to Scorpion's

signature "Toasty" Fatality,

and this could hint to the

return of Scorpion in

Mortal Kombat 2 and his

greater involvement in the

sequel, along with it really

indulging in his trademark

abilities from the games.

Scorpion was portrayed

by Hiroyuki Sanada in

Mortal Kombat, though his

role contained him to the

beginning and end of the

film. First shown in his

human life as Hanzo

Hasashi in feudal Japan,

the movie shows Hanzo

and his family being killed

by the future Sub-Zero, Bi-

Han (Joe Taslim), Hanzo

returns in the climactic

showdown as Scorpion,

teaming up with Cole to

defeat Sub-Zero. Scorpion

ultimately finished Sub-

Zero with one half of his

famed Fatality, breathing

fire to immolate him

without ripping his own

face off. Slater's comment

on Mortal Kombat 2 could

indicate that Scorpion's full

Fatality will be in the

sequel, however.

Releasing with an R-

rating, Mortal Kombat had

many gory Fatalities that

are the game's stock and

trade. Several characters

even got to utilize some of

the most famous ones, such

as Kano (Josh Lawson)

executing a heart rip and

Kung Lao (Max Huang)

using his buzzsaw hat

Fatality on Nitara (Mel

Jarson). Still, Scorpion

peeling back his face to

roast his defeated enemy

was a missed opportunity

in his fire-breathing victory

over Sub-Zero.

Source: Collider

'Bandhu' honours directors for

making films on transgender

TBT REPORT

Bandhu Social Welfare Society has

given award to four young directors for

making thematic films on transgender

and gender diversity people. The award

ceremony was held at the Sufia Kamal

Auditorium of National Museum in the

capital on Tuesday.

Noted cultural personality

Nasiruddin Yousuff Bachchu, BTV's

Former Director General M Hamid

and Bandhu Social Welfare Society

Chairman Anisul Islam Hero were

present at the programme as the guests

of honour. Seven films on transgender

peoples' human rights, social

acceptance and gender-based violence

were also screened at the award

ceremony.

Through the 'Short Film Competition

2022', Bandhu Social Welfare Society

provided financial support for seven

directors to make thematic films on

transgender people. At the

programme, prizes were handed over

to the best directors.

Debasish Kishore won the first prize

in the competition for the film 'Daak

Diye Jay' while Jannatul Ferdous

Neela placed the 2nd position for the

film 'Pratiti'. Mahfuzur Rahman and

Ahmed Sabbir have jointly received the

3rd prize for the films 'Manush' and

'He She or Them' respectively.

Léon Marchand won the men's

200-meter individual medley in 1

minute, 55.22 seconds. The 20-

year-old Marchand finished

ahead of American Carson Foster

and Japan's DaiyaSeto. It was

Marchand's second gold at these

worlds after the men's 400

medley on Saturday, when he

almost broke Michael Phelps'

world record, and his third medal

after silver in the 200 butterfly on

Tuesday.

Bhumi starts shooting for 'Afwaah'

Bhumi Pednekar kicks off the shoot of her

next film 'Afwaah'. The film has gone on

floors in Jodhpur and will be shot on an

elaborate schedule in Alwar, Rajasthan.

Taking to her Instagram, Bhumi shared a

video from Jodhpur where she confirmed

she had begun the

shoot.

Bhumi will co-star

a l o n g s i d e

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

in the film as the lead

character.

Directed by Sudhir

Mishra the film is

produced by

Bhushan Kumar,

Krishnan Kumar, and

Anubhav Sinha.

While Gulshan

Kumar's T-Series

&Anubhav Sinha's

Benaras Media works

present the film 'Afwaah'.

While announcing the film director Sudhir

said, "It's a story I have lived with for a long

time and I have only worked each day to

make it quirky and twisted. Beneath all of

the quirkiness lies a crucial message which I

want my viewers to take back home with

them. Bhumi and Nawaz are both such

powerhouse performers and together they

bring fresh chemistry. I can't wait to be on

set with them."

Apart from this, Bhumi Pednekar recently

wrapped up 'The Lady

killer' starring

alongside Arjun

Kapoor. She will also

be seen in 'Bheed' with

Rajkummar Rao.

Bhumi will be seen in

the film 'Raksha

Bandhan' with Akshay

Kumar. The trailer of

this film has been out

on June 22 and

portrays Akshay as a

person, who is willing

to sell even his kidneys

to marry off his four

sisters, played by

Sadia, Sahejmeen, Deepika and Smrithi and

decided only when he carries out his

'brotherly duties' will he marry his childhood

sweetheart, played by Bhumi. The film will

hit theatres on August 11.

Source: Bollywood Hangama.

SATuRDAY, June 25, 2022

11

N. Korea approves new frontline

army duties amid tensions

SEOUL : North Korean leader Kim

Jong Un doubled down on his nuclear

arms buildup to overwhelm "hostile

forces" at a key meeting where military

leaders approved unspecified new

operational duties for frontline army

units, reports UNB.

Members of the ruling Workers'

Party's Central Military Commission

decided to supplement an "important

military action plan" on the duties of

frontline troops and further strengthen

the country's nuclear war deterrent,

state media said Friday.

North Korea hasn't specified the new

operational duties for frontline army

units, but analysts say the country could

be planning to deploy battlefield nuclear

weapons targeting rival South Korea

along their tense border.

While North Korea's pursuit of

nuclear-capable ballistic missiles that

could reach the U.S. mainland gets

much of the international attention, it is

also developing a variety of nuclearcapable,

short-range missiles that can

target South Korea. Experts say its

rhetoric around those missiles

communicates a threat to proactively

use them in warfare to blunt the

stronger conventional forces of South

Korea and the United States. About

28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in the

South to deter aggression from the

North.

Kim during the military commission's

three-day meeting that ended Thursday

called for his entire army to "go all out"

in carrying out the plans to bolster the

nation's military muscle and

consolidate "powerful self-defense

capabilities for overwhelming any

hostile forces and thus reliably protect

the dignity of the great country."

The commission's members

discussed ways to strengthen the party's

leadership over the entire armed forces

and ratified plans for unspecified

changes in "military organizational

formations," North Korea's official

UN chief warns of

'catastrophe' from

global food shortage

Berlin : The head of the

United Nations warned

Friday that the world faces

"catastrophe" because of the

growing shortage of food

around the globe, reports

UNB.

U.N. Secretary-General

Antonio Guterres said the

war in Ukraine has added to

the disruptions caused by

climate change, the

coronavirus pandemic and

inequality to produce an

"unprecedented global

hunger crisis" already

affecting hundreds of

millions of people.

"There is a real risk that

multiple famines will be

declared in 2022," he said in

a video message to officials

from dozens of rich and

developing countries

gathered in Berlin. "And

2023 could be even worse."

Guterres noted that

harvests across Asia, Africa

and the Americas will take a

hit as farmers around the

world struggle to cope with

rising fertilizer and energy

prices.

"This year's food access

issues could become next

year's global food shortage,"

he said. "No country will be

immune to the social and

economic repercussions of

such a catastrophe."

Guterres said U.N.

negotiators were working on

a deal that would enable

Ukraine to export food,

including via the Black Sea,

and let Russia bring food

and fertilizer to world

markets

without

restrictions.

He also called for debt

relief for poor countries to

help keep their economies

afloat and for the private

sector to help stabilize global

food markets.

The Berlin meeting's host,

German Foreign Minister

Annalena Baerbock, said

Moscow's claim that

Western sanctions imposed

over Russia's invasion of

Ukraine were to blame for

food shortages was

"completely untenable."

Russia exported as much

wheat in May and June this

year as in the same months

of 2021, Baerbock said.

Korean Central News Agency said.

Some analysts say North Korea's

possible plans to deploy tactical nuclear

weapons to frontline artillery units may

require command-and-control changes

as the country's nuclear-capable

weapons have so far been handled by

the army's strategic force.

State media reports of the meeting did

not include any direct criticism toward

Washington or Seoul amid a prolonged

stalemate in nuclear negotiations.

The meeting came amid signs that

North Korea is preparing to conduct its

first nuclear test explosion since

September 2017, when it claimed to

have detonated a thermonuclear

weapon that could be tipped on its

intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Experts say North Korea may use its

next nuclear test to claim that it has

acquired the ability to build a small

nuclear warhead to fit its short-range

missiles or other weapons it recently

tested, including a purported hypersonic

missile and a long-range cruise missile.

Smaller warheads would also be

necessary for the North's stated pursuit

of a multiwarhead ICBM.

While North Korean reports of the

meeting didn't mention plans for a

nuclear test, a South Korean

government spokesperson said Seoul is

keeping a close watch for related

developments.

"As North Korea said it discussed and

ratified important plans to expand and

strengthen its war deterrent, (our)

government will prepare for all

possibilities while carefully monitoring

related trends," said Cha Duck-chul

from Seoul's Unification Ministry,

which handles inter-Korean affairs.

North Korea has already set an

annual record in ballistic testing

through the first half of 2022, firing

around 30 missiles, including its first

tests involving intercontinental ballistic

missiles in nearly five years.

Kim has punctuated his recent tests

with repeated comments that North

Korea would use its nuclear weapons

proactively when threatened or

provoked, which experts say portend

an escalatory nuclear doctrine that may

create greater concerns for neighbors.

South Korea has been spending

heavily to expand its conventional arms

in recent years, but some analysts say

the country has no clear way to counter

the threat posed by Kim's growing

arsenal of nuclear weapons and

missiles.

While the Biden administration has

reaffirmed U.S. commitment to defend

allies South Korea and Japan with its

full range of military capabilities,

including nuclear, there are concerns

in Seoul that Kim's ICBMs could make

the United States hesitant in the event

of another war on the Korean

Peninsula.

Opinion polls show growing support

among South Koreans for a

redeployment of U.S. tactical nukes

that were withdrawn from the South in

the 1990s or even the South's pursuit

of its own deterrent, which some

experts say would increase pressure on

Pyongyang and create conditions for

mutual nuclear disarmament.

North Korea's apparent push to

deploy battlefield nuclear weapons at

frontline units had been predicted since

April, when Kim supervised a test of a

new short-range missile that state

media said would "drastically" improve

the firepower of frontline artillery units

and "enhance the efficiency in the

operation of tactical nukes."

Experts say North Korea's unusually

fast pace in testing activity this year

underscores Kim's dual intent to

advance his arsenal and pressure

Washington over long-stalled nuclear

diplomacy. Talks have stalled since

early 2019 over disagreements in

exchanging the release of crippling U.S.-

led sanctions against the North and the

North's disarmament steps.

73rd founding anniversary of Bangladesh Awami League has been

observed in Dhobaura on Thursday.

Photo : Azharul Islam

North Dakota farmland purchase

tied to Gates stirs emotion

FARGO: The sale of a couple thousand acres

of prime North Dakota farmland to a group

tied to Bill Gates has stirred emotions over a

Depression-era law meant to protect family

farms and raised questions about whether the

billionaire shares the state's values, reports

UNB.

Gates is considered the largest private

owner of farmland in the country with some

269,000 acres across dozens of states,

according to last year's edition of the Land

Report 100, an annual survey of the nation's

largest landowners. He owns less than 1

percent of the nation's total farmland.

The state's attorney general has asked the

trust that acquired the North Dakota land to

explain how it plans to use it in order to meet

rules outlined in the state's archaic anticorporate

farming law. It prohibits all

corporations or limited liability companies

from owning or leasing farmland or

ranchland, with some exceptions.

"I don't know that it's quite as volatile a

situation as some have depicted," North

Dakota Republican Attorney General Drew

Wrigley told The Associated Press Thursday.

"It's taken off, it's all over the planet, but it's

not me sticking a finger in the eye of Bill

Gates. That's not what this is."

Meanwhile, the state's Agriculture

Commissioner, Republican Doug Goehring,

told a North Dakota TV station that many

people feel they are being exploited by the

ultra-rich who buy land but do not

necessarily share the state's values. About

2100 acres (849.84 hectares) of land were

sold in the deal, AgWeek reported.

Goehring, who is currently on a statesponsored

trade mission to the United

Kingdom, did not immediately respond to a

list of questions emailed by the AP.

"I've gotten a big earful on this from clear

across the state, it's not even from that

neighborhood," Goehring told KFYR-TV.

"Those people are upset, but there are others

that are just livid about this." Charles V.

Zehren, a spokesman for Gates' investment

firm, declined Thursday to comment to the

AP.

Wrigley said the corporate farming inquiry

goes out "as a matter of course" when his

office is notified of farmland sales, in this case

Red River Trust's $13.5 million purchase of

property in two counties from wealthy

northeastern North Dakota potato growers

Campbell Farms. Phone calls to Campbell

Farms went unanswered.

"It's meant to get everybody up to speed on

what the ownership arrangement is and what

their intentions are for the land," Wrigley

said. "If it complies with state law, the matter

goes forward. If not, they're informed they're

going to have to divest of the land."

Corporations are exempted from the law if

the land is necessary "for residential or

commercial development; the siting of

buildings, plants, facilities, industrial parks,

or similar business or industrial purposes of

the corporation or limited liability company;

or for uses supportive of or ancillary to

adjacent non agricultural land for the benefit

of both land parcels," the law reads.

It's not the first test for a statute that was

passed in 1932. A federal judge in 2018 ruled

the law constitutional after a conservative

farm group argued that it limits business

options for producers and interferes with

interstate commerce by barring out-of-state

corporations from being involved in North

Dakota's farm industry.

North Dakota Republican Gov. Doug

Burgum, a former Microsoft executive whose

campaign received $100,000 from Microsoft

co-founder Gates when Burgum first won in

2016, declined to comment on the farmland

sale. The Republican governor stayed down

the middle when asked his opinion of the

anti-corporate farming law, which he and the

Legislature expanded in 2019 to allow second

cousins in the mix of ownership.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Zahid Ahsan Russel, MP distributing relief among the flood hit

people in Sylhet.

Photo : PID

Death toll from

Afghanistan's quake

rises to 1,150 people

GAYAN : The death toll from

a devastating earthquake in

Afghanistan continued to

climb days after it turned

brick and stone homes into

rubble, killing 1,150 people

and wounding scores more,

according to the latest

figures carried in state

media on Friday, reports

UNB.

The country of 38 million

people was already in the

midst of a spiraling

economic crisis that had

plunged millions deep into

poverty with over a million

children at risk of severe

malnutrition.

The magnitude 6 quake

has left thousands without

shelter. State media

reported that close to 3,000

homes were destroyed or

badly damaged in

Wednesday's earthquake.

Aid organizations like the

local Red Crescent and

World Food Program have

stepped in to assist the most

vulnerable families with

food and other emergency

needs like tents and sleeping

mats in Paktika province,

the epicenter of the

earthquake,

and

neighboring Khost province.

Ukrainians cheer

nation's EU candidacy

amid wartime woes

Kyiv: The European Union's

decision to make Ukraine a

candidate for EU

membership offered warweary

Ukrainians a morale

boost and hope of a more

secure future Friday as the

country's military ordered

its fighters to retreat from a

key city in the eastern

Donbas region, reports

UNB.

Ukrainian President

Volodymyr Zelenskyy hailed

the decision of EU leaders as

vindication for his nation's

fight against Russia's

aggression and said he was

determined to ensure

Ukraine retained the ability

to decide if belonged in

Europe or under Moscow's

influence.

"This war began just when

Ukraine declared its right to

freedom. To its choice of its

future. We saw it in the

European Union,"

Zelenskyy told the nation in

a televised address late

Thursday. "That is why this

decision of the EU is so

important, motivates us and

shows all this is needed not

only by us."

Others recalled the 2014

revolution that ousted

Ukraine's pro-Moscow

president, sparked in part by

his decision not to complete

an association agreement

with the EU. Russian

President Vladimir Putin had

opposed the agreement, just

as he demanded before he

sent troops into Ukraine on

Feb. 24 that Ukraine never be

allowed to join NATO.

6 die in crash of Vietnam-era

helicopter in West Virginia

LOGAN: A Vietnam-era helicopter

showcased in action movies crashed on a

rural West Virginia road, killing all six

people on board, during an annual

reunion for helicopter enthusiasts,

reports UNB.

The Federal Aviation Administration

said the Bell UH-1B "Huey" helicopter

crashed along Route 17 in Logan County

about 5 p.m. Wednesday.

All six people on board were killed, said

Ray Bryant, chief of operations for the

Logan County emergency ambulance

service authority. The helicopter crashed

in clear weather on a road near the local

airport, he said.

"The entire cab of it was on fire,"

Bryant said in a phone interview

Thursday.

"It was recognized by the first

responders as being a helicopter from

this area because we see it a lot," he said.

The crash occurred during an annual

reunion for helicopter enthusiasts at

MARPAT Aviation in Logan. It was

scheduled to begin Tuesday and end

Sunday, according to MARPAT's website.

During the event, visitors could sign up

to ride or fly the historic helicopter,

described by organizers as one of the last

of its kind still flying.

The helicopter was flown by the 114th

Assault Helicopter Company, "The

Knights of the Sky," in Vinh Long,

Vietnam, throughout much of the 1960s,

according to MARPAT. After the Huey

returned to the U.S. in 1971, the website

says, it was featured in movies like "Die

Hard, "The Rock" and "Under Siege:

Dark Territory."

Neither reunion organizers nor

MARPAT officials returned requests for

comment Thursday.

Patty Belcher, who lives nearby, was

driving to the store when she came upon

the crash.

"There was smoke so thick that you

couldn't hardly see nothing but smoke

and flames," she said by phone Thursday.

"It was coming down the ditch line on the

righthand side, and I said, 'My God, I

better turn around. It might catch this

truck on fire.' So I turned around and

came back."

The crash was near the Battle of Blair

Mountain historic sites, where a deadly

clash erupted a century ago as thousands

of coal miners marched to unionize in

West Virginia.

Bobbi Childs saw smoke and flames

and got close enough to see a man who

was trapped.

"I saw that there was a guy trapped, I

guess the captain. I tried to get down to

the door where he was at. You could see

him plain as day. I tried to get to him, but

the fire was too hot. I couldn't get to

him," Childs told WOWK-TV.

The road was expected to remain closed

for at least 24 hours. The FAA and the

National Transportation Safety Board

will investigate.

Bogura district Awami League brought out a joyous rally on the occasion of

73rd founding anniversary of Bangladesh Awami League. Photo : Azahar Ali

UK's Johnson faces test in 2 special

parliamentary elections

LONDON: Polls opened Thursday in Britain

for two special elections that could deliver a new

blow to scandal-tainted Conservative Prime

Minister Boris Johnson, reports UNB.

Wakefield in northern England and the

southwestern constituency of Tiverton and

Honiton are both electing replacements for

Conservative lawmakers who resigned in

disgrace. One was convicted of sexual assault;

the other was caught looking at pornography in

the House of Commons chamber - an episode

he explained by saying he was searching for

pictures of tractors on his phone.

Defeat in either district would be a setback for

the prime minister's party. Losing both would

increase jitters among restive Conservatives

who already worry the ebullient but erratic and

divisive Johnson is no longer an electoral asset.

"For the Conservatives to lose one by-election

on Thursday might be regarded as

unfortunate," polling expert John Curtice of the

University of Strathclyde wrote in the

Independent newspaper. "However, to lose two

might look like much more than carelessness -

but a sign of a government that is at risk of

losing its electoral footing." Johnson was 4,000

miles (6,400 kilometers) away at a

Commonwealth summit in Rwanda as voters

went to the polls. He told reporters he would

not step down if the Conservatives lose both

elections, replying to the suggestion with: "Are

you crazy?"

"Governing parties generally do not win byelections,

particularly not in mid-term," he said.

"That's just the reality."

The electoral tests come as Britain faces the

worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, with

Russia's war in Ukraine squeezing supplies of

energy and food staples at a time of soaring

consumer demand while the coronavirus

pandemic recedes. Johnson won a big majority

in a 2019 general election by keeping the

Conservatives' traditional voters - affluent,

older and concentrated in southern England -

and winning new ones in poorer, postindustrial

northern towns where many

residents felt overlooked by governments for

decades, Thursday's elections are a test on both

fronts. Rural Tiverton and Honiton has voted

Conservative for generations, while Wakefield

is a northern district that the Tories won in

2019 from the left-of-center Labour Party.

Opinion polls suggest Labour is likely to

regain Wakefield, which would be a boost to a

party that has been out of office nationally

since 2010.

Saturday, Dhaka : June 25, 2022; Ashar 11, 1429 BS; Zilquad 24, 1443 Hijri

Covid-19

BD reports 1,685 more cases,

positivity declines to 12.18 pc

DHAKA : Bangladesh reported 1,685 new

cases of Covid infection in 24 hours till

Friday morning taking the total caseload

to 19,62, 213, said the health authority .

The country's total fatalities, however,

remained unchanged at 29,135 as no death

was reported during the period, according to

the Directorate General of Health Services

(DGHS). On Thursday the country recorded

one death and 1,319 cases from Covid-19.

The country recorded over 1000 Covid

cases (1409 cases) with 11 deaths last on

February 25. The daily-case positivity rate

declined to 12.18 per cent from Thursday's

14.32 per cent as 13,833 samples were

tested during the period, said the DGHS.

The mortality rate also declined to 1.48

per cent. The recovery rates declined to

97.16 per cent from Thursday's 97.23 per

Japan seeks stronger cultural ties with

Bangladesh engaging younger generation

DHAKA : Japan's Ambassador to

Bangladesh Ito Naoki has laid emphasis on

engaging the younger generation in promoting

cultural bondage through Ikebana, a traditional

Japanese art of flower arrangement.

"I hope Ikebana will be loved by young

people in Bangladesh," he said on Friday

while speaking at a function organized by

Bangladesh Ikebana Association (BIA).

The ambassador said there is a strong interest

among the young students in Bangladesh

about Japan, its language and culture. He

urged the BIA to continue playing its role to further

promote the friendship through better

cent as185 patients recovered during this

period. In May, the country reported only

four Covid-linked deaths and 816 new

cases, while 7,356 patients recovered from

the disease, according to the DGHS.

Among the four deaths during the period,

one was vaccinated with a single dose of

Covid vaccine while three were vaccinated

with two doses.

The country reported its first zero Covid

death in a single day on November 20 last

year, along with 178 cases, since the pandemic

broke out here in March 2020.

On January 28, Bangladesh logged its

previous highest positivity rate of 33.37

per cent. The country registered its highest

daily caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last

year and daily fatalities of 264 on August

10 in the same year.

understanding of Japanese culture. "I hope the

activities of BIA will further be increased. We

will be very happy to provide further moral support

to BIA," said ambassador Naoki. Life

patron and BIA founder Prof Dr AKM

Moazzem Hussain, life patron and BIA CEO

Masud Karim, BIA President Shahinoor Baby

and BIA Assistant General Secretary Salma

Akter, among others, were present.

Apart from Ikebana demonstration on stage,

a short documentary on Ikebana in Bangladesh

was screened at the function which was hosted

marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic

relations between Bangladesh and Japan.

Flood situation

worsens in

parts of Sylhet

SYLHET : The flood situation in some

parts of Sylhet has worsened, with the

rise in water levels of the Kushiara river

in the past 48 hours, officials have said.

According to the local Water

Development Board, the Kushiara was

flowing above the danger level at various

points on Friday morning.

Zakiganj, Beanibazar, Gopalganj,

Phenchuganj, Osmaninagar, Biswanath,

South Surma of Sylhet, Borolekha,

Kulaura, Rajnagar, Juri, and

Jagannathpur of Sunamganj have been

inundated by the waters of the Kushiara.

On the other hand, flood waters have

receded in many areas of the district,

including Sylhet city, officials said.

Although the water levels in the Surma

river have decreased in the last four days,

it was still flowing above the danger mark

till Friday morning.

Sylhet City Corporation chief engineer

Nur Azizur Rahman said that relief materials

have been distributed among the

flood-hit people. "Ward councillors are

coordinating the distribution."

Meanwhile, a sexagenarian went missing

in floods in Jagannathpur of

Sunamganj on Friday.

Jagannathpur police station officer-incharge

Mizanur Rahman said, "Efforts

are on to rescue the elderly citizen."

The record-breaking floods were

caused by the onrush of hilly waters from

neighbouring India and heavy downpours

that inundated several areas of the

district, affecting over 50 lakh people.

The flood survivors have been shifted

to more than 1,000 shelters across

Sylhet.

Some 48 people have died in flood-hit

Sylhet so far, said the Directorate

General of Health Services (DGHS).

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) has installed a replica of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge

at the foot of Raju Memorial of Dhaka University.

Photo : Star Mail

Flood water receding in Sunamganj, clogged

wastes pollute municipal area air

SUNAMGANJ : As Surma river was

flowing 13 cm below the danger level

in Sunamganj on Friday morning,

flood water started receding but smell

of rotten clogged wastes made the

municipal area air heavy.

The UNB reporter visited the municipal

area and saw wastes that remained

clogged in flood water at North Arpin

Nagar, Shaheb bari Ghat, Moddho bazar,

Surma Market, Alfat Square Point,

Kalibari, old bus stand, jamai Para, Hazir

Para and many other areas. Residents of

the area are struggling to go out to run

daily errands even after the water began

receding.

"The area was stinking so much that I

couldn't step out from the house since

morning," said Ruhul Amin , a resident

of the North Arpin nagar area. "The

flood water has receded but our sufferings

did not end due to this rotten

waste," said Ashim Ray from Natun

Para area.

However, Sunamganj municipal

mayor Nader Bakht said, "We have

started cleaning the city immediately

after the water started retreating."

Sunamganj Civil Surgeon Dr

Ahmmed Hossain said," No one fell ill

with water borne diseases yet and 123

medical teams are ready to provide

services."

25-06-2022

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