06-10-2022

thursday

Dhaka : October 6, 2022; Ashwin 21, 1429 BS; Rabi-ul Awal 9, 1444 Hijri

www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net

Regd.No.DA~2065, Vol.20; N o. 139; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00

InternatIonal

British PM Liz Truss's during

Britain's Conservative

Party's annual conference

>Page 7

Putin signs bills to

annex four regions

of Ukraine

MOSCOW : Russian President Vladimir

Putin on Wednesday signed legislation to

annex four territories of Ukraine, government

documents showed.

The Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and

Zaporizhzhia regions are "accepted into

the Russian Federation in accordance

with the constitution of the Russian

Federation", the documents said.

Putin also signed decrees formally

appointing the current Moscow-backed

heads of the four regions as their acting

leaders.

Earlier, the annexation legislation was

unanimously supported by both Russia's

lower and upper chambers of parliament.

Putin last Friday presided over a grand

ceremony at the Kremlin during which he

signed agreements with the Moscowinstalled

leaders of the four regions to

become subjects of the Russian

Federation, despite condemnation from

Kyiv and its allies in the West.

The four territories create a crucial land

corridor between Russia and the Crimean

Peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow

in 2014. Together, the five regions make

up around 20 percent of Ukraine.

But Russian forces do not have complete

control over Kherson or

Zaporizhzhia and the Kremlin has not yet

confirmed what areas of those regions are

being annexed.

Restriction imposed

on selling rice in

name of 'Miniket'

DHAKA : Cabinet Secretary Khandaker

Anwarul Islam yesterday said no rice can

be sold in the name of 'Miniket Rice' in the

country.

"No rice can be sold under the name of

'Miniket Rice'. The name of the variety

should be written on the sack while bagging

the rice at the rice mill. If anyone tries

to disobey it, legal action will be taken

against him or her," he said.

The cabinet secretary said this to the

journalists while visiting the Bangladesh

Rice Research Institute (BRRI) in

Gazipur. Anwarul Islam also said the

Department of Agricultural Extension

(DAE) has recently issued a circular in this

regard.

Various varieties developed by the scientists

will be certified after being proofed

and a decision will be taken on how to

quickly deliver the varieties to the field

level through the concerned departments,

he added.

He hoped that if the varieties developed

by the researchers can be delivered quickly

to the farmers through better coordination

with various departments, then the

production of the country will be almost

double in the next five-six years.

Senior Secretary of Information and

Communications Technology Division N M

Ziaul Alam, Information and Broadcasting

Secretary Md Mokbul Hossain, Secretary to

the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock Dr

Nahid Rashid, former Secretary of the

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting

Begum Kamrun Nahar, BARC Executive

Chairman Dr Sheikh Mohammad Bakhtiar,

Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Md

Sayedul Islam and Gazipur Deputy

Commissioner Anisur Rahman were present,

among others, on the occasion.

Zohr

04:39 AM

11:55 PM

04:04 PM

05:45 PM

07:52 PM

5:51 5:41

Heavy rainfall

caused landslide

on Sajek-

Khagrachhari

road yesterday.

Vehicular

movement on

the road was

suspended since

Wednesday

morning. Army

members are

working to clear

the road. Around

4000 tourists

remained

stranded.

Photo : Star Mail

sports

Marseille beats

10-man Sporting after

goalkeeper errors

>Page 9

Devotees flocked to Patenga beach in Chattogram to bid farewell of Devi Durga. With the participation

of people of various religions, classes and professions, the idol ablution ceremony has

become a meeting place for thousands of people.

Photo : M. Faysal Elahi

Massive Bangladesh Railway

overhaul schemes in the offing

DHAKA : The government has taken a

massive move to upgrade the country's

railway network as the sector is considered

as the safest, comfortable, affordable and

environment-friendly means for transporting

passengers and goods.

According to an official document, considering

the importance of the railway sector

the government wants to implement

several projects "to ensure a balanced and

integrated development".

All these activities will be done under the

8th Five Year Plan (2021-2025), which

targets to achieve 8.51 percent GDP

growth with yearly 8 percent growth on

average in the next five years. The plan

also envisages reducing the poverty rate to

15.6 percent at the end of the deadline.

Under the 8th Five-Year Plan, comprehensive

steps will be taken for construction

of 798.09 km new railway lines, 897

km of dual gauge/double railway lines

parallel to existing railway lines and renovation

of 846.51 km of railway network.

It also includes construction of nine

important railway bridges and other infrastructural

development schemes including

level crossing gates, construction of domestic

container depos, building and modernisation

of repair and maintenance outlets.

The document says that under the 8th

Five-Year Plan there will be procurement of

160 locomotives, 1,704 passenger coaches,

modern maintenance equipment, improvement

of signaling system at 222 stations and

strengthening of railway management.

Meanwhile, the government is implementing

the 30-year revised Master Plan

(2016-2045) of the Bangladesh Railway.

According to the plan, steps have been

taken for connecting Dhaka with Cox's

Bazar, Mongla Seaport, Tungipara, Barishal,

Chattogram Hill Tracts and other parts of the

country under the railway network.

The initiatives included in the plan are:

establishing Trans-Asian Railway and

Regional Railway Network and connecting

important cities with nearest suburbs

by introducing modern commuter train

service.

The Trans-Asian Railway network, which

was initiated in the 1960s, comprises

114,000 km of rail routes of international

importance. It aims to offer efficient rail

transport services for goods and passengers

within the ESCAP (Economic and Social

Commission for Asia and the Pacific) region

and between Asia and Europe.

Under this master plan, 230 projects

will be implemented in 6 phases at a cost

of Tk. 5,50,000 crore.

The document said that the overall

progress of Padma Multipurpose Rail

Link Project is 58 percent while the overall

progress of construction work of the double

track dual gauge railway bridge on the

river Jamuna is 40 percent.

It also says 71 percent construction work

of the single line dual gauge track from

Dohazari to Cox's Bazar via Ramu and

from Ramu to Gundum, near Myanmar

border, has been completed.

In addition, approximately 90 percent

work of the Khulna-Mongla railway project

has been completed. Construction

work of Rupsha Rail Bridge is nearly completed,

it says.

The govt has also taken initiatives to

build railway line from Bhanga in

Faridpur to Payra port via Barishal and

Patuakhali to connect Payra Port with

Padma Rail Link.

Durga Puja ends

with immersion

of idols

DHAKA : The five-day Durga Puja, the

biggest religious festival of the Bangalee

Hindu community and a few small ethnic

groups, ended on Wednesday with the

immersion of the idols of Goddess Durga

and her children in water bodies across

the country amid festivity.

The idols of goddess Durga and her offspring

- Ganesha, Karitik, Laxmi and

Saraswati - were immersed at 4pm while

the devotees received Shantijol (sacred

water from where deities are immersed).

Before the emersion of the idols, mother

deity Durga was bidden farewell by

Darpan Bisharjan at 8.50am.

Amid tight security, idols of puja mandaps

in the city and its outskirts were

immersed in Buriganga and Turag rivers

and Waisghat.

Earlier, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan

Parishad and Mahanagar Sarbajanin Puja

Committee jointly brought out a 'Bijoya

Shubhajatra' from Dhakeshwari National

Temple.

The five-day annual celebration started

with unveiling of the face of the deity and

Kalparambho on Maha Shasthi on

October 1 at temples across the country

amid festivity and religious fervor.

Earlier, the incarnation (Bodhon) of the

goddess Durga happened in the evening

on September 30 ahead of the puja on the

day of Maha Panchami.

During the five-day celebration, recitation

of verses from the Holy Chandi, blowing

of conch shells and beating of dhakdhols

at temples and pandals were held

while a festive mood was witnessed

among the devotees irrespective of ages

marking the festival.

As per the puja schedule, Maha Nabami

Puja was celebrated on Tuesday across the

country.

art & culture

Shraddha: Actresses

being driving point

in film story

>Page 10

Nobel chemistry prize

awarded to 3 for

attaching molecules

STOCKHOLM : This year's Nobel Prize in

chemistry has been awarded in equal parts

to Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Morten Meldal and

K. Barry Sharpless for developing way of

"snapping molecules together" that can be

used to design medicines.

Their work, known as click chemistry

and bioorthogonal reactions, is used to

make cancer drugs, map DNA and create

materials that are tailored to a specific purpose.

Hans Ellegren, secretary general of the

Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences,

announced the winners Wednesday at the

DHAKA : Awami League (AL)

General Secretary Obaidul Quader

yesterday said speaking of non-communal

Bangladesh does not suit the

leaders of Bangladesh Nationalist

Party (BNP).

"Speaking of non-communal

Bangladesh does not suit those who

had started the journey of their politics

violating Bangladesh's democratic

values and the great War of

Liberation," he said in a statement.

Quader, also the road transport

and bridges minister, said the country's

people know better that BNP is

the centre of communal politics.

Whenever the BNP assumed the

state power, it patronised the communal

evil forces every time, he

said.

Condemning and protesting a

recent statement of BNP secretary

general Mirza Fakhrul Islam

Alamgir, the AL general secretary

said after the assassination of Father

of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman and most of his

family members on August 15, 1975,

BNP founder and military dictator

Ziaur Rahman took Bangladesh

backward to Pakistani ideology.

He said Bangabandhu restricted

religion-centric politics through the

1972 Constitution.

But, Quader said, Zia who seized

the state power unconstitutionally

amended the Constitution and

legalised the misuse of religion in

politics.

He said Fakhrul, who is the leader

of this party, now talks about noncommunal

Bangladesh which is

nothing but crocodile tears.

Karolinska Institute in Stockholm,

Sweden.

Bertozzi is based at Stanford University

in California, Meldal is at the University of

Copenhagen, Denmark, and Sharpless is

affiliated with Scripps Research,

California. Sharpless previously won a

Nobel Prize in 2001. He is the fifth person

to receive the award twice.

Last year the prize was awarded to scientists

Benjamin List and David W.C.

MacMillan for finding an ingenious and

environmentally cleaner way to build molecules

that the Nobel panel said is "already

benefiting humankind greatly."

A week of Nobel Prize announcements

kicked off Monday with Swedish scientist

Svante Paabo receiving the award in medicine

for unlocking secrets of Neanderthal

DNA that provided key insights into our

immune system.

Three scientists jointly won the prize in

physics Tuesday. Frenchman Alain

Aspect, American John F. Clauser and

Austrian Anton Zeilinger had shown that

tiny particles can retain a connection with

each other even when separated, a phenomenon

known as quantum entanglement,

that can be used for specialized

computing and to encrypt information.

The awards continue with literature on

Thursday. The 2022 Nobel Peace Prize

will be announced on Friday and the economics

award on Monday.

The prizes carry a cash award of 10 million

Swedish kronor (nearly $900,000)

and will be handed out on Dec. 10. The

money comes from a bequest left by the

prize's creator, Swedish inventor Alfred

Nobel, in 1895.

Talking of non-communal

Bangladesh doesn't match

BNP leaders: Quader

The road transport minister said

the disguise of Fakhrul for noncommunalism

and democracy is a

mockery with the country's people.

The democratic rights of the people

have been established by the

Awami League, he added.

That is why, he said, the AL is

doing its best to flourish and maintain

democracy in the country.

On the contrary, he said, BNP

never cares about the power of commoners

and always tries to seize

power in undemocratic ways.

Quader said the history testifies

that when BNP came to power,

Bangladesh turned into a sanctuary

of terrorism and militancy.

After assuming power, the BNP

established fascist state by sponsoring

terrorists and extremist groups,

he said.

Apart from carrying out the 21

August grenade attack to oppress

the opinion of differences, the AL

general secretary said, the BNP

institutionalised graft by destroying

all democratic institutions and stifling

accountability and responsibility.

"And today the BNP is hatching a

deep plot to hinder the development

and democracy of Bangladesh," he

said. Quader said Bangladesh is on

the highway of development and

progress under the leadership of

Sheikh Hasina, the daughter of

Bangabandhu.

He said the Awami League government,

led by Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina, is working sincerely

to change the fate of the country's

people.

THuRSDAy, OCTOBeR 6, 2022

2

On World Teachers' Day, 11 teachers-employees, including the recently retired headmaster of Panti Secondary School,

Kumarkhali, Kushtia, were given an official farewell reception. The program was held in the auditorium of Panti Secondary

School on Wednesday morning. The farewell reception was organized by the teachers and staff of the school for the courtesy

of SSC-1986 batch.

Photo: M R Nayan

Bangladesh reports

2 Covid deaths,

549 cases

DHAKA : Bangladesh

reported two more Covidlinked

deaths with 549 fresh

cases in 24 hours till

Wednesday morning.

The country's total fatalities

rose to 29,374 with the new

deaths. The new cases raised

the country's total caseload to

2,028,114, according to the

Directorate General of Health

Services (DGHS).

The daily case test positivity

rate rose to 13.86 per cent

from Tuesday's 13.80 per cent

as 3,961 samples were tested.

The latest deceased were

men from Dhaka and Khulna

divisions.

Man gets 7-yr jail for cyber

crimes in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI: The Cyber Crime Tribunal of

Rajshahi convicted a man and sentenced him

to seven-year imprisonment on charges of his

involvement in cyber crimes in Rajshahi city

around five years back, reports BSS.

The convict identified as Mominul Islam

alias Chanchal, 29, a resident of Munnafer

more area under Boalia Police Station in the

metropolis, was also fined Taka one lakh, in

default, to suffer three months more behind

the bar.

Rajshahi Divisional Cyber Tribunal Judge

Ziaur Rahman found him guilty of the

charges and handed down the verdict here

yesterday afternoon.The convict was present

in the court dock when the verdict was

pronounced. Public Prosecutor of the

tribunal Ismat Ara told the journalists that a

case had been lodged with Rajpara Police

Station against him related to his

involvement in cyber crimes on April 17,

2017.

Referring to the prosecution story, Ismat

Ara said the person was found engaged in

spreading objectionable and obscene photos

of a female school teacher in social media.

Upon completion of investigation police

pressed charges against him.

After examining the recorded depositions

of the enlisted prosecution witnesses and

other relevant evidence, the tribunal

pronounced the verdict.

What the war in

Ukraine means for

Asia's climate goals

NEW DELHI : The queues

outside petrol pumps in Sri

Lanka have lessened, but not

the anxiety.

Asanka Sampath, a 43-

year-old factory clerk, is

forever vigilant. He checks his

phone for messages, walks

past the pump, and browses

social media to see if fuel has

arrived. Delays could mean

being left stranded for days.

"I am really fed up with

this," he said.

His frustrations echo that of

the 22-million inhabitants of

the island nation, facing its

worst ever economic crisis

because of heavy debts.

No 'monga' despite global

crisis in Rangpur

RANGPUR: Despite the global crisis caused

by the Russia-Ukraine War and Covid-19

pandemic, the seasonal lean period of

'monga' is remaining absent for the 14th

consecutive year this time in Rangpur region,

reports BSS.

Officials and experts said the word 'monga'

has factually become a historical term with its

permanent exit from the region following

successful implementation of massive social

safety-net and other special programmes by

the government since 2009.

Even 15 years ago, the seasonal abject

poverty-like situation of 'monga' caused

untold miseries to the poor and farmlabourers

for lack of jobs and farm activities

during 'Aswin' and 'Kartik' months.

Additional Divisional Commissioner

Muhammad Ibrahim Khan said the seasonal

lean period that was locally called as 'monga'

in the past does not exist anymore in

Rangpur region where the poor are leading a

normal life.

"Since the outbreak of the Covid-19

pandemic, the government has expanded the

periphery of massive social safety-net

programmes (SSNPs) and reached increased

assistance and allowances to the beneficiaries

using digital facilities," he said. Following

Elaborate programmes taken on World

Children's Day, Children Rights Week

DHAKA : The government and other

organizations have chalked out elaborate

programmes across the country in

observance of the World Children's Day

tomorrow and the Children Rights Week

from October 4 to 11. Bangladesh celebrates

the World Children's Day every year on the

first Monday of October.

This year the day will be celebrate

tomorrow and at the same time, the Children

Rights Week will be observed from October

4 to 11.

As part of the programmes, the Ministry of

Women and Children Affairs, like every year,

has taken various programmes to celebrate

the World Children's Day and Child Rights

Week with due dignity across the country.

President M Abdul Hamid and Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate

messages today, greeted the children on the

occasion of the World Children's Day and

Children Right Week-2022, urging them to

groom themselves as worthy citizens of the

execution of the massive SSNPs under strict

supervision by local administrations, there is

no 'monga' in Rangpur region where socioeconomic

conditions of the poor have

improved in the last 14 years.

Like in the previous years, farm-labourers

are now earning wages at this lean period of

'Aswin' and 'Kartik' months as harvest of

short duration Aman rice followed by

farming of early winter crops has already

begun creating jobs for them across the

region. Independence Award-2018 (food

security) winner Dr Md Abdul Mazid

appreciated the government for expanding

the periphery of SSNPs to resist

reappearance of the seasonal 'monga' despite

the Covid-19 pandemic and other global

crises. "After assuming power in 2009, Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina put a significant

thrust on expanded farming of short duration

Aman rice for early harvest from 'Aswin' to

'Kartik' months to create jobs for the poor to

eliminate 'monga' permanently," he said.

Alongside expanded cultivation of short

duration Aman rice and early varieties of

winter crops, 'monga' could not recur

following implementation of massive SSNPs

and smooth engagements of the poor with

income generating activities (IGAs).

country. State Minster for Women and

Children Affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira will

attend the inauguration ceremony of World

Children's Day and Child Rights Week at 9.30

am at Bangladesh Shishu Academy Auditorium

tomorrow as the chief guest.The National Girl

Child Day will also be observed on October 4

coinciding with World Children's Day and Child

Rights Week programmes.This year's theme of

the National Girl Child Day is 'Pledge of Time,

Rights of the Girl Child (Somoy er Ongikar,

Konna Shishur Odhikar'. The Ministry of

Women and Child Affairs and the National Girl

Child Advocacy Forum will hold various

programms marking the National Girl Child

Day-2022.The programmes include: holding

discussions, talk shows, rallies, prize

distribution ceremonies and cultural events,

publication of special supplements, poster

printing, girl child journal printing and girl child

message publication, organizing debate

competitions and arranging drawing

competitions.

3708

RAB has arrested three cybercriminals in Naogaon's Dhamoirhat for stealing crores of taka through illegal

online transactions. Last Tuesday they were arrested by RAB after raiding the Haritkidanga market of

the upazila. The arrested accused are the son of Saidul Islam of the same area Morshedul Islam (20), son

of Sekender Ali, Majedul Islam (21) and son of Dulal Hossain, Sumon Hossain (19). Photo: Rejuan Alam

Dengue death toll rises to 63

with two more deaths: DGHS

DHAKA : Two more dengue

patients died in 24 hours till

Wednesday morning, raising

this year's death toll from the

mosquito-borne disease in

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Bangladesh to 63. During this

period, 344 more patients were

hospitalised with the viral fever

as cases keep rising, according

to the Directorate General of

Health Services (DGHS).

The latest deaths were

reported from Dhaka division

raising the death toll in the

division to 32. The dengue

death toll in Chattogram

division remained unchanged

at 26 and in Barishal division at

five. Of the new patients,

270were admitted to different

hospitals in Dhaka and 74

outside it. A total of 2,156

dengue patients, including

1,601 in the capital, are now

receiving treatment at

hospitals across the country.

This year, the directorate has

recorded 18,646 dengue cases

and 16,427 recoveries so far.

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Three business

establishments fined

Tk 18,000 in Cumilla

CUMILLA: A team of

Directorate of National

Consumer Rights Protection

(DNCRP) in a drive here

realised Taka 18,000 as fine

from the owners of three

business establishments for

various irregularities in

different areas in Sadar

Dokhhin upazila of the district

yesterday, reports BSS.

Sources concerned said the

team led by assistant director

of Directorate of National

Consumer Rights Protection

(DNCRP) in Cumilla Md

Asadul Islam conducted the

drive at Amania Hotel and

Restaurant in New market

area, fined Taka 5,000, for

violating hygiene rules, at

Minerva Hotel, fined Taka

3,000 for violating hygiene

rules and City Pharmacy in

Sadar Hospital area, fined

10,000 for storing and selling

date expired medicine in

Sadar Dokhhin upazila of the

district today.

GD-1628/22 (9x4)

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

3

Govt working to develop girl

children as worthy citizens’

Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam visited Rice Museum in Gazipur after exchanging views yesterday.

Photo : PID

National Grid Failure: PGCB

committee starts investigation

DHAKA : Investigation committee of

the state-owned Power Grid

Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) has

started its probe to identify the

reasons behind the national power

grid failure that triggered a 7-8 hour

long blackout across most of the

country, starting at 2:04 pm

yesterday (October 4, 2022).

"We started our probe Wednesday

morning to identify the possible

causes behind the national grid

disaster and also the exact point of

the incident," Eakub Ehalhi

Chowdhury, chief of the investigation

body and executive director (P and D)

of PGCB, told UNB.

PGCB initially formed a 5-member

investigation committee, headed by

Eakub Elahi Chowdhury,

representatives from Bangladesh

Power Development Board (BPDB),

Bangladesh University of

Engineering and Technology (BUET)

and also from other power sector

entities, following the national grid

failure.

Later, an experienced individual

who had been working as consultant

with grid systems locally and

internationally, was co-opted in the

committee.

Eakub informed that the committee

will visit substations and power

stations and other relevant facilities

to identify the reasons behind the

grid-collapse.

Official sources said the

investigation committee was given

three days' time to complete the

probe.

"It might take more time to reach a

conclusion, as this involves a lot of

technical issues of the grid system,"

Eakub told UNB.

Meanwhile, State Minister Nasrul

Hamid instructed the ministry of

power, energy and mineral resources

to form two more investigation

committees to identify the cause of

the grid failure and also gave

recommendations to avert any

further disaster in future.

Those two committees are yet to be

formed, said an official of Power

Division.

PGCB and BPDB officials believe

that Tuesday's grid disaster started

from somewhere in Ashuganj-

Sirajganj interconnecting

transmission line that led to a

colossal shutdown of power plants

across the country.

After a relentless effort of 3 hours,

PGCB first became successful in

restoring power in Kalyanpur grid

sub-station and then restored power

supply in the president's official

residence of Bangabhaban and Prime

Minister's official residence of

Ganabhaban at 5 pm.

Gradually, power supply was

restored in other parts of the area and

within 10:30 pm, the entire country

had electricity.

PGCB officials said the country's

power supply demand was relatively

lower at around 8500 MW on

Tuesday as the weather was not hot.

Bangladesh's biggest incident of

national power grid failure happened

on November 1 in 2014 when the

entire country was without power for

17 hours.

Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder visited different Puja Mandaps at Niamatpur upazila of Naogaon

district.

Photo : PID

Dengue death toll

rises to 63 with two

more deaths: DGHS

DHAKA : Two more dengue patients died in

24 hours till Wednesday morning, raising

this year's death toll from the mosquitoborne

disease in Bangladesh to 63.

During this period, 344 more patients

were hospitalised with the viral fever as

cases keep rising, according to the

Directorate General of Health Services

(DGHS).

The latest deaths were reported from

Dhaka division raising the death toll in the

division to 32.

The dengue death toll in Chattogram

division remained unchanged at 26 and in

Barishal division at five.

Of the new patients, 270were admitted to

different hospitals in Dhaka and 74 outside

it.

A total of 2,156 dengue patients, including

1,601 in the capital, are now receiving

treatment at hospitals across the country.

This year, the directorate has recorded

18,646 dengue cases and 16,427 recoveries

so far.

32 held for selling,

consuming drugs

in city

DHAKA : Members of the

Detective Branch (DB) of the

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)

in several anti-drug raids arrested a

total of 32 people on charges of

selling and consuming drugs

during the last 24 hours till 6am,

Wednesday.

The DB in association with local

police carried out the drives

simultaneously at different parts of

the metropolis from 6am of

October 4, according to a DMP

release. In separate anti-drug raids,

police seized huge drugs from their

possessions.

During the anti-drug raids,

police seized 572 pieces of

contraband yaba tablets, 12

kilograms of cannabis (ganja), 52

grams of heroin and 23 bottles of

local made liquor from their

possessions, the release added.

Police filed 19 separate cases

against the arrestees in these

connections with respective police

stations under the Narcotics

Control Act.

Hasan tested positive

for COVID-19

DHAKA : Information and Broadcasting

Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has been

tested positive again for COVID-19.

He felt sick at the ministry office

yesterday after returning from

Panchagarh. He went to Panchagarh to

distribute relief goods and financial

assistance among the family members of

boat capsize victims on behalf of Awami

League President and Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina.

Later, physicians at the Secretariat

Clinic advised the minister to go for

COVID-19 test. As per the advice, he went

for a test under the facility of Institute of

Epidemiology, Disease Control and

Research (IEDCR) and he was tested

positive again, said an official release.

Earlier, the minister had tested positive

for COVID-19 two times and was

admitted to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib

Medical University at the first time of the

infection.

Currently, he is staying at his official

residence at Minto Road in the city.

Hasan sought doa from the

countrymen for his early recovery.

RANGPUR : The government is

working tirelessly to develop girl

children as competent citizens and

empower women to achieve the

sustainable development goals

(SDGs) on time.

The observation came at a

discussion arranged in observance of

the National Girl Child Day-2022 with

the theme 'Samoyer Ongikar:

Kannyashishur Adhikar' at the

Government Shishu Paribar hall room

in the city on Tuesday afternoon.

With assistance of the district

administration, the Department of

Women Affairs organized the

discussion followed by distribution of

prizes among winners of different

competitions arranged for girl

children marking observance of the

day.

Deputy Director of the Department

PM to address

the media on

UK, US visit

Thursday

DHAKA : Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina will address

a press conference on

Thursday afternoon on the

outcome of her recent

official tour of the UK and

the USA.

The press conference will

start at 4pm at her official

residence Ganabhaban,

PM's Press Secretary

Ihsanul Karim said.

PM Hasina returned

home early Tuesday after

completing her 18-day

visit.

She went to London on

September 15, mainly to

attend Queen Elizabeth II's

funeral and a reception

hosted by King Charles llI.

On September 19, she left

London for New York while

on September 24 she went

to Washington DC.

Sheikh Hasina addressed

the 77th session of the

United Nations General

Assembly on September

23. She also took part in

several events on the

sidelines of the UNGA.

16 shops gutted

in Khulna

market fire

KHULNA : At least 16 shops

were gutted in a fire at Boro

Bazar in Khulna Sadar

upazila on Wednesday noon.

Locals said the fire broke

out at a shop in the market

near Bhairab bus stand

around 1pm and it soon

engulfed the adjoining

shops.

On information, six fire

tenders were pressed into

service and it took them

nearly an hour to douse the

flames, said Md

SalahUddin, divisional

deputy director of Khulna

fire service. No casualties

were reported as most shops

were closed yesterday due to

Durga Puja holiday.

"The exact amount of

losses and source of the fire

could not be ascertained

immediately," he said.

of Women's Affairs Kawser Parveen

presided over the event participated

by officials, marriage registrars,

religious leaders, teachers,

adolescents, women rights' activists,

civil society members and journalists.

Additional Deputy Commissioner

(General) Md. Golam Rabbani

attended the discussion and

distributed prizes among winners of

different competitions as the chief

guest.

President of Press Club, Rangpur

Mahabub Rahman Habu addressed

the event as a special guest.

Kawser Parveen said the

government has been implementing

various programmes like tuition-fee

free education, distribution of substipends

and cost-free books and

appointment of more women teachers

in educational institutes for the

welfare of girl children.

"As a result, rights, education,

nutrition and security of girl children

are being ensured and they are being

protecting them from dowry, child

marriage and all sorts of social and

family disparities and repressions for

building a prosperous Bangladesh,

she said.

She said the girl children are getting

scope to study up to higher secondary

free of tuition fees. As a result, literacy

rate of girl children is rising onward

and the rate of child marriage is falling

across the country.

The chief guest said the government

has been ensuring education, health

care, rights, safety and security for girl

children and stopping child marriage

to bring up them as worthy citizens

and achieve the SDGs to build a

developed Bangladesh by 2041 next.

Deputy Minister for Water Resources AKM Enamul Hoque Shamim exchanged

views with the Chairmen and UP members of Naira and Sakhipur upazila yesterday.

Photo : PID

Landslide: Road communication

in Sajek restored after 6.5 hours

RANGAMATI : Communications on Sajek-

Khagrachhari road resumed after six and

half an hour of suspension on Wednesday

afternoon after army personnel and local

administration cleared the road after

landslides.

Rumana Akter, Baghaichhari Upazila

Nirbahi Officer (UNO) said local

administration with the help of army

completed removing the landslide debris

from the road around 2:30 pm.

Earlier, in the day, around 4000 tourists

were stranded after suspension of vehicular

movement on Sajek-Khagrachhari road

Wednesday morning due to landslide

caused by heavy showers in Sajek of

Baghaichhari upazila in the district.

The UNO said a huge portion of a hill

collapsed at Nandaram in the morning,

snapping the road communication.

Deputy Commissioner of Rangamati,

Mizanur Rahman, said local people, local

administration and army worked jointly to

restore the road communication.

Some 5000 tourists are now in Sajek to

see the stunning scenario of the area.

Different tourists spots in the country are

seeing huge flow of tourists due to holidays

for Durga Puja, Eid-e-Miladunnabi and

weekend,

UN chief deeply saddened by death

of 3 Bangladeshi peacekeepers

DHAKA : UN Secretary General Antonio

Guterres has expressed deep shock at the

death of three peacekeepers from

Bangladesh following the detonation of an

explosive ordnance against a convoy of the

United Nations Multidimensional Integrated

Stabilization Mission in the Central African

Republic.

"The Secretary-General is deeply

saddened," Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman

for the Secretary-General, said in a statement

on Wednesday.

One peacekeeper remains in critical

condition.

The Secretary-General expressed his

deepest condolences to the families of the

fallen peacekeepers and to the government

and the people of Bangladesh. "He wishes a

speedy recovery to the injured."

The Secretary-General recalled that attacks

targeting United Nations peacekeepers may

constitute war crimes under international

law.

He called on the Central African authorities

to spare no effort in identifying the

perpetrators of this attack, so that they can be

brought to justice swiftly.

The Secretary-General called upon the

Central African authorities to lift the

restriction on night flights that negatively

impacts the safety and security of

peacekeepers who take considerable risks

daily to support national authorities.

The Secretary-General reaffirmed the

solidarity of the United Nations with the

people and government of the Central

Bangladesh Railway Posso Society organized a dialogue at the National Press Club yesterday on

various issues including outsourcing cancellation.

Photo : TBT

THUrSDAY, OCTOBEr 6, 2022

4

Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam

e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Environmental

decline

The World Environment Day was observed in Bangladesh

sometime ago. But this observance in a ritualistic manner

came at a time when the overall environmental decline of

Bangladesh is seemingly reaching a peak. The latest international

survey on air pollution in the world puts Bangladesh's capital city,

Dhaka, as the second most air polluted city in the world after

India's New Delhi. Indeed, a thorough environmental clean up of

Bangladesh under a well executed comprehensive and

integrated plan, has been long overdue.

Dhaka city ranked as the world's most air polluted city in 2008

. Thus, it appears, it has only slightly improved its status since

that time by pushing the worst air polluting autorickshaws away

from the metropolitan areas of Dhaka. But the air in the city still

remains that of one of the most polluted ones in the world in the

absence of other follow up measures.

Sections of rivers flowing around the big concentrations of

urban population of Bangladesh have turned so polluted from

unregulated discharge of effluents that these are like dark liquids

devoid of oxygen and aquatic life.

Biodiversity of large parts of Bangladesh have been threatened

by a number of man-made factors. One of them is the country's

overpopulation and its consequent impact on the environment.

But compared to the devastating population bomb that is

building up for this small country, the response to it appears to

be hardly a proportionate one against the threat.

Widespread presence of arsenic in underground water, the loss

of soil fertility from mono-cropping without crop rotation,

toxicity of the soil and the threatened food chain from

indiscriminate use of chemical fertlisers and pesticides, etc., are

the other growingly formidable environmental problems.

Deforestation has whittled down to below ten per cent the

country's forests and vegetation cover ; the country's basic

environmental balance has been threatened as a result.

Afforestation programmes may have had only a marginal impact

on these conditions. This is because deforestation activities are

considered to be greater than afforestation ones.

The coastal areas of the country are poorly supervised. Foreign

vessels dump their waste matters too freely in the coastal areas

and perhaps such vessels had dumped on occasions cargoes of

very hazardous wastes in Bangladesh's territorial waters finding

the same an unchallenged zone while indulging in such activities.

There are many sides to the environmental crisis that is

gradually showing up in Bangladesh. Many are in the making

from unregulated human activities within the country. But a very

serious threat to the environment of the country has external

origins. Bangladesh as a low lying country stands to be among

the few countries to be worst hit by the increase of greenhouse

gases in the atmosphere and the consequent earth warming

phenomenon. Although Bangladesh should have long ago

started an all out clamour to sensitize the international

community to its plight and sought adequate international

compensation and assistance to meet the nearing catastrophe,

the leaders of this country remained very surprisingly mum and

unconcerned about it for a long time. Only recently they have

been showing a greater concern but that probably has a lot to do

with external prodding.

The environmental decline has already much eroded the

quality of life in Bangladesh. If it goes on like this, without a

strong enough check and abatement, then this country could

turn into a poisonous hell hole with worse unclean air, water, soil

and surroundings where decent human existence and

happiness would not be possible. Already such existence and

happiness has disappeared considerably from the life and living

of Bangladeshis in many places due to the stressful environment.

The environment related woes are likely to be worse and worse

and, finally the worst, without an environment restoration policy

in place and its proper implementation.

What things the environmental policy must aim for are obvious

: it should set up a system for all polluters to be warned and

identified and made to suffer penalties for their unwillingness or

inability to adhere to the policy. For instance, it should make a

rule that all industries producing hazardous wastes must have a

waste treatment plant for treating such waste before discharging

them on soil, air or water bodies. Violators of the rule should have

the choice of either conforming strictly to the rule or closing

down operation.

Air pollution in the cities can be reduced by requiring

automotive vehicles to compulsorily use catalytic converters and

by fining or not allowing the movement of vehicles that do not

keep clean engines or exhaust systems. Air pollution can be also

reduced by compulsorily producing and distributing lead and

sulphur free fuel for vehicles. Countrywide, air pollution can go

down from strict regulation of the numerous brick kilns that

regularly belch out huge amounts of noxious fumes in the air.

Laws must be very sternly applied against brick kiln operators

who fail to maintain chimney heights at the required level and to

practice other precautionary measures.

Arsenic in underground water can be tackled by spreading the

know-how of inexpensive ways of filtering arsenic from the

water. Similar dissemination of information about the benefits of

crop rotation, regulated use of chemical fertlisers and natural

pest control, can work wonders in preserving the fertility of the

soil or preventing soil from becoming toxic. Even the passing of

laws and their enforcement can be considered to this end.

The environmental policy should lead to environmental laws to

protect and expand the country's forests and vegetation, to

protect and increase the number of its reserved forests, to protect

its bio-diversity, to promote environment friendly urban areas,

etc. Externally, under the environment policy, Bangladesh must

pursue a more strident and vocal role internationally to draw

attention to the plight of Bangladesh from the earth warming.

But the policy will remain ineffectual as long as it remains on

paper and is not enforced. For the environmental policy to bear

fruit, it must go the whole hog with the creation of apparatuses

such as the environmental courts, the environmental police, etc

and their efficient functioning..

Sri Lanka’s unsustainable external debt patterns

To a large extent, Sri Lanka's

economic crisis is an outcome of the

nation's reliance on creditor

nations and multilateral agencies for

managing its chronic fiscal and currentaccount

deficits.

The country's ratio of external debt to

GDP has been above 50% for a long time.

The debt structure is also fragile as shortterm

debt and private creditors who are

susceptible to capital flight and interestrate

volatility account for 45% of the

nation's external debt.

Sri Lanka owes more than US$50

billion to countries such as China and

Japan and to the World Bank. Sri Lanka

had to pay $7 billion in external debt

service this year, but it ran out of foreign

exchange reserves to do so. This led to the

country declaring that it is going to be

defaulting on its external debt payments

to the tune of $51 billion.

Earlier when Sri Lanka was classified

as a low-income county by the World

Bank, it received loans at very liberal

conditions from multilateral agencies

such as the Japan International

Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Asian

Development Bank (ADB) and the

World Bank. These loans were

provided at relatively low interest rates

and the nation had to pay them back

over a course of 25 to 40 years.

Sri Lanka's worries related to external

debt started in the 2000s when the

World Bank upgraded the country's

classification from a low-income to a lowmiddle-income

country. This restricted

the nation's access to concessionary

funding.

Sri Lanka then shifted to accessing

credit from the capital market through

international sovereign bonds (ISBs) that

had interest rates above 6% and had to be

Iran has been stepping up its drone

game and devoting considerable

resources to a domestic drone

program. Some of these drones are

armed, others have only a

reconnaissance role, some - such as the

Mojer-6 drone shot down by an

American fighter jet last week over Iraqi

Kurdistan - can do both.

Tehran also has an inventory of socalled

"suicide drones," such as the

Shahed-136, which are packed with

explosives and crashed into a target

instead of returning to base. The end

result of Tehran's efforts has been an

extensive inventory of drones that has

allowed it to project power across the

Middle East at a relatively low cost. These

drones have also been used by Iran's

proxies across the region, such as the

Houthis in Yemen.

Last week's Iranian drone and missile

strikes in northern Iraq were part of a

growing trend. Other recent strikes have

hit civilian targets in Saudi Arabia and

the UAE, and last month Iranian drones

operated by Tehran's proxies attacked US

forces in Syria. Last October, US and

Syrian opposition forces were targeted by

a drone attack on Al-Tanf base in

southeastern Syria. At least five drones

armed with bombs attacked both the US

side of the base and the side housing

Syrian opposition fighters. Luckily, there

were no casualties.

The Iranian drone threat now extends

Truss U-turned on tax cuts for the super-rich - now she can axe the rest of her disastrous budget

Good news. The lady is for

turning. Liz Truss has had a

nightmare week. She galvanised

her chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng, to

produce a crazily ideological budget

shorn of the normal checks and

balances. The head of the Treasury was

sacked, the Bank of England ignored,

Whitehall's official factcheckers stifled

and the cabinet left in the dark. It was

2012's "omnishambles" budget all over

again. The nation must thank "the

markets" and backbench Tories for

stopping the most gratuitous of

Kwarteng's tax cuts, the 45% band,

albeit saving the Treasury a mere £2bn.

That is just a beginning. Truss is living on

borrowed time and capitulated to "the

message" from party backbenchers over the

weekend. Since Kwarteng's budget was

incomplete and lopsided he now has an

opportunity to correct it, and in spades. The

future growth on which it is based depends

on a "supply-side plan", so far undisclosed.

So too is the means by which the plan and

its related tax cuts are to be financed.

It is naive to expect that an instant surge

repaid in five to 10 years. Sri Lanka put

out its first ISB in 2007, then went on to

issue ISBs worth $18 billion in the 2007-

19 period, making up 36.4% of Sri

Lanka's external debt.

ISBs and other financial instruments

form more than 50% of Sri Lanka's total

foreign loans, resulting in

macroeconomic instability.

Sri Lanka's domestic public debt has

remained stable, but the massive increase

in the foreign debt-to-GDP ratio has

caused the total ratio to reach a record

119 by 2022, while the best situation for

emerging economies is 64% according to

the World Bank. Any percentage-point

increase beyond this will reduce the

annual real growth of the economy by

0.02 percentage point.

Sri Lanka stuck to commercial

borrowings without addressing the

structural vulnerabilities of the domestic

economy such as declining trade as a

percentage of GDP and low inflows of

foreign direct investment (FDI). Tax

revenues have also been falling for

several years, with then-president

Gotabaya Rajapaksa's steep tax cuts in

2019 being the final nail in the coffin.

Another issue is that Sri Lanka fell prey

to China's "debt-trap diplomacy." The

beyond the region, and into Ukraine,

where Tehran is now supplying them to

Russia. It is no secret that Russian-

Iranian military cooperation has been

occurring for years. Russia's stockpile of

drones has become increasingly depleted

by surprisingly effective Ukrainian air

defenses. Also complicating matters for

Russia is the impact of international

economic sanctions that make importing

the required component parts to

manufacture drones more challenging.

As it becomes more difficult for Russia to

replace its battlefield loses in Ukraine,

Moscow will lean on Tehran to fill the

gap. Always in need of money, and

forever dependent on Russian diplomatic

support on the global stage, Iran is more

than happy to oblige.

Iranian Mojer-6 drones have already

been shot down in Ukraine, and last week

Ukraine's main port city of Odesa came

under attack by Shahed-136 suicide

drones. According to a Ukrainian

of economic growth will arise from a

mishmash of deregulating planning,

subsidising freeports, reforming childcare,

boosting immigrant visas and digging up

the countryside. All have merit but most

contain red rags to Tory bulls now on the

rampage. To plead the virtue of unpopular

toughness, as Truss did at the weekend,

might work if she meant to stick to it. Now

she merely invites another humiliating

reverse. Truss's predecessor Theresa May

warned against the Tory party being seen as

"the nasty party". The planning changes

alone risk depicting it as the ugly party.

SOUMYA BHOWMICK

SIMOn JEnKInS

value of China's share of Sri Lanka's

external debt may not be significant, but

the hidden tricks that Beijing pulls as part

of its loan agreements are often

problematic and signal economic

imperialism. For instance, Beijing

mandates the use of digital yuan as a

condition for forgiveness if any of the

African nations cannot pay back its loans

to China.

Bangladeshi Finance Minister A K

Abdul Momen also recently pointed to

the example of Sri Lanka to show how

countries will be "thinking twice [before

Sri Lanka has been asking China to explore debt restructuring

options as well as extending a $2.5 billion loan. The United

States Agency for International Development (USAID) has also

asked China to help Sri Lanka with debt restructuring. But

Beijing has still not issued any formal communication saying it

has agreed to do anything in this regard.

LUKE COFFEY

agreeing] to this project," referring to

China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Sri Lanka has been asking China to

explore debt restructuring options as well

as extending a $2.5 billion loan. The

United States Agency for International

Development (USAID) has also asked

China to help Sri Lanka with debt

restructuring. But Beijing has still not

issued any formal communication saying

it has agreed to do anything in this

regard.

Sri Lanka has also been using external

financing to build infrastructure projects

that rarely provide returns. These "white

elephants" have been criticized as being

vanity projects that have played a part in

spokeswoman, "about two dozen"

Iranian drones have been spotted in the

skies above Ukraine in recent weeks, and

at least half were shot down.

The Iranian drone threat will not be

going away soon. To mitigate its impact,

in both the Middle East and Ukraine,

three things must be done.

First, the US needs to increase its air

defense cooperation with the Gulf states.

Not only would this counter Iran's

drones, it could also be an important and

much needed confidence building

Iranian Mojer-6 drones have already been shot down in

Ukraine, and last week Ukraine's main port city of Odesa

came under attack by Shahed-136 suicide drones.

According to a Ukrainian spokeswoman, "about two dozen"

Iranian drones have been spotted in the skies above

Ukraine in recent weeks, and at least half were shot down.

measure between regional countries and

the White House. It could also jumpstart

the proposed Middle East Strategic

Alliance concept. This idea was first

proposed by the Trump administration

as a way to deepen US engagement in the

region while increasing burden sharing.

For a number of reasons, it never got off

the ground. Perhaps the growing aerial

threat from the Iranian drone and missile

strikes will restore it to the agenda.

As for paying the price, never before can a

chancellor have presented parliament with

such an "unbalanced" budget. To take one

example, energy subsidies are in chaos as a

result of Nato's ineffective sanctions on

Russia. In the rest of Europe last week, EU

That is just a beginning. Truss is living on borrowed time

and capitulated to "the message" from party backbenchers

over the weekend. Since Kwarteng's budget was incomplete

and lopsided he now has an opportunity to correct it, and in

spades. The future growth on which it is based depends on

a "supply-side plan", so far undisclosed.

treasuries came together to call energy

companies to order for their massive

windfall profits. An emergency cap was put

on production prices and surplus revenues

are to be siphoned off, to an estimated total

of €140bn (£123bn). The cooperation

steadied European markets, while Ireland's

energy consumers can already look to

the economic crisis. The Lotus Tower

project in Colombo financed by China is

the latest example of this. India recently

pointed out this shortcoming in Sri

Lanka's economy during the 51st session

of the United Nations Human Rights

Council.

The civil war that lasted from 1983 to

2009 crippled the economy, and the

situation was worsened by the 2008

fiscal crisis. Commercial loans required

debt servicing that the weakened

economy could not handle. Sri Lanka has

been asking creditors to restructure its

debt. Japanese Minister of Finance

Shunichi Suzuki stated that Japan will

coordinate with other creditors, mainly

India and China, to help Sri Lanka come

out of the current crisis.

In many countries, the flow of

sovereign capital promotes economic

growth. But Sri Lanka has been using

external debts to resolve its balance-ofpayment

problems. The International

Monetary Fund has bailed out Sri Lanka

almost 15 times, and it has agreed to do so

again with a $2.9 billion credit.

The latest IMF loan is also expected to

boost Sri Lanka's credit rating, enabling

it to pool credit from other

international sources. But we have seen

how the IMF loans have caused

diminishing returns in the Sri Lankan

economy, which shows that the nation

needs urgent credit diversification and

debt restructuring to escape from the

current crisis and be resilient to

external shocks in the future.

Soumya Bhowmick is an associate

fellow at the Centre for New Economic

Diplomacy, Observer Research

Foundation, India.

The Iranian drone threat and how to counter it

Second, more needs to be done to

reduce the Iranian drone threat to

Ukraine. The US and its allies should be

providing more advanced air defense

systems to Ukraine, such as the Patriot

missile system. While some progress has

been made to bolster Ukraine's air

defenses, more can be done. Also, Middle

Eastern countries that have a lot of

experience dealing with Iranian drones,

such as Israel, should be working closely

with Kyiv to share intelligence and best

practices to defeat these drones.

Finally, the Biden administration and

its European allies should pull out of the

talks with Iran in Vienna over its nuclear

program. It is becoming clear that the

Iranians are not really interested in

securing a new deal at this time. Also, due

to Russia's war against Ukraine, and the

increasing role Iranian drones are

playing there, it is inconceivable for the

US and Europeans to think that the talks

can continue in good faith. A return to

robust economic sanctions would also

limit Iran's ability to produce drones.

With the introduction of Iranian drones in

the skies above Ukraine, a regional challenge

is becoming more global. From Ukraine to the

UAE, it is in everyone's interests that regional

air defenses are improved and Iranian

aggression is checked.

Luke Coffey is a senior fellow at the

Hudson Institute. Twitter:

@LukeDCoffey

benefit from up to €2bn (£1.75bn).

In contrast, inert Britain flounders on,

with energy companies free to sting

consumers and pocket the profits. Truss is

right that windfall taxes are in principle

bad, but this is an emergency. One power

station, Drax, has so far received £6bn of

government money to produce "green

energy" by burning wood. Yet Truss will do

nothing to curb energy profits soaring by

tens of billions.

All she and Kwarteng have so far

offered to pay for their fiscal

extravagances is an iron grip on public

spending, including our old friend red

tape. Yet a return to austerity will be

explosive. The result will be hordes of

doctors, nurses, teachers, carers, police,

farmers, small businesses and everyone

else descending in fury on Downing

Street - and with an election in the offing.

The message will be loud and clear. Don't

cut taxes when you can't afford it. U-turn

again, Truss. You have shown us you can

do it.

Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist

thursdAy, oCtoBer 6, 2022

5

CArolIne BolognA

In April 2022, Clea Shearer ? co-founder of the popular

organization company The Home Edit ? announced that she

had breast cancer. The diagnosis came after she discovered

a lump in her breast and called multiple doctors to go in for

a mammogram as soon as possible.

Estimates suggest that one in eight women in the United

States will develop breast cancer at some point in their life.

Shearer had just turned 40 when she discovered the mass in

her breast. Stories like Shearer's highlight the value of

familiarizing yourself with what is normal and abnormal for

your breasts.

Although many cancer organizations no longer

recommend all women conduct monthly breast self-exams

due to concerns about their effectiveness and the sense of

self-blame they can promote, experts do agree that

awareness of how your breasts typically look and feel is

useful for detecting signs and symptoms of breast cancer,

like lumps.

Still, I imagine I'm not alone when I take the time to feel

around that area and wonder, "What exactly am I checking

for? What would a lump actually feel like? Am I even doing

this right?" So, I asked a few experts to answer those very

questions.

"A lump often feels like a round, hard area," said Dr. Arif

Kamal, a chief patient officer at the American Cancer

Society. "It can either be deep or toward the skin itself.

Typically it is not painful. It's typically not easily movable but

oftentimes fixed in a particular space, meaning it doesn't

shift in its location all that easily. In terms of shape, it is

oftentimes round but sometimes it can be a little bit more

irregular than that."

Some experts have suggested the size of a breast lump

ranges from as small as a pea to larger than a golf ball.

Indeed, Kamal noted that many of his patients have

compared it to a pea.

"In my clinical experience, a lot of times patients describe

it like a pea in a pod or a frozen pea ? sort of on the smaller

side, of that texture, and of that hardness," he said. "It's

generally on the smoother side for texture, generally more

firm, generally not painful. And it generally does not feel like

a cyst, which feels like a fluid collection ? although even if a

person feels a fluid collection, they should report that to their

clinical team as well."

Dr. Alyssa Cubbison, an assistant professor of radiology at

the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, similarly

noted that cancerous lumps often feel firm and dense and

can be difficult to move from side to side. However, she

emphasized that all new lumps should be evaluated by a

professional.

"You mainly want to feel around for something discrete in

your breast that's separate from the rest of your breast

tissue," she explained. "Because the textures and densities of

masses can be so varied, you're just feeling for anything

different, as vague as that sounds. You can use your other

breast as a baseline as well."

Of course, feeling a new lump isn't the only indication of a

What a breast lump actually feels like

experts share how breast cancer commonly manifests and the physical signs and changes to

look out for.

Photo: Collected

potential issue. Susan Brown, senior director of health

information at Susan G. Komen, shared a list of eight

warning signs, including visual indicators, that people

should look out for.

"See a doctor if you notice any of these breast changes,"

Brown advised. "Lump, hard knot or thickening inside the

breast or underarm area; swelling, warmth, redness or

darkening of the breast; change in the size or shape of the

breast, dimpling or puckering of the skin; itchy, scaly sore or

rash on the nipple; pulling in of your nipple or other parts of

the breast; nipple discharge that starts suddenly or new pain

in one spot that doesn't go away."

Although there are some common characteristics of lumps

and other warning signs, there's ultimately no one specific

thing to look or feel for when it comes to your awareness of

your breasts. The key is just to understand what is normal

for you so that you recognize something new or different ?

and seek medical attention when you do

Part of the reason many experts no longer recommend

monthly breast self-exams is that there are more organic

situations during everyday life that provide the opportunity

to familiarize yourself with your "normal" and keep you on

alert for signs and symptoms.

"Many women who discover changes in their breast or

underarm area that turn out to be breast cancer don't

actually discover them on the day and time they have set

aside for monthly [self-exam, but rather noticed a change

incidentally at some other time, such as when showering or

dressing, and recognized the change because they knew

what was normal for them ? or a partner noticed it," Brown

explained.

Again, the idea is not to necessarily look for something

specific, just to take note if there's anything new or different.

"If you aren't already checking your own body, I think a

good place to start is after you go in for a regular checkup

with your primary care provider or gynecologist," said Dr.

Janet Yeh, assistant professor at New York University (NYC)

Grossman School of Medicine and site chief of breast

surgical oncology at NYU Langone Hospital?Brooklyn. "If

you recently had imaging or they did an exam and it was

normal, then you can get a good idea of your baseline

because you know there's nothing there. You know the

lumps and bumps you might feel are your regular breast

tissue."

She recommended checking your breasts when you're

doing something comfortable and routine, like lying in bed,

watching TV, standing in front of the mirror, or taking a

shower ("it's two birds with one stone since you have to wash

your body anyway").

"Everyone's going to do it a little differently, and that's

OK," Yeh explained. "Some use the tips of their fingers and

go in little circles. Others might say to make the shape of a

star. I like to feel with my palm and fingers and do a wiping

motion. I think of the breasts as a clock and wipe all around

a center point ? then press in to make sure I'm not missing

anything behind."

Lift your left arm as you check your left breast and your

right arm for the right. Make sure to also check your

underarms, as cancer and other issues can manifest in the

form of swollen lymph nodes in that area.

"Some women have very lumpy breasts, so it's important

for those women to get used to their own lumps and bumps,"

Yeh noted. "That way they can say, 'OK in the upper outer

area, I usually feel a lot of firmness and lumps.' And if there's

something different they're unsure about, it doesn't hurt to

get it checked out, even if it turns out to just be regular breast

tissue."

In addition to seeing a doctor when you detect any change

or abnormality, make sure to schedule regular medical

appointments and screenings. If you have a family history of

breast cancer or personal health factors that increase your

risk, talk to a doctor about that. Discuss which tests are right

for you and the proper age and cadence for screenings like

mammograms.

"Our technology with breast imaging is so good these days

that we really do pick things up early," Yeh said. "If you're

compliant with the guidelines and getting your

mammogram, it'll likely pick up things before you can even

feel them. Fortunately, most of the breast cancer we see is so

early, we can't even feel it ourselves. Still, it remains

important to let a professional know if you feel a new lump

in your breast."

Things to consider before

trying a nonalcoholic drink

MAtthew BoCChI

In recent years, accessibility to

nonalcoholic beverages has

surged, and perhaps for good

reason. The COVID-19 pandemic

alone brought in a new wave of

sober-curious people, amid a rise

in alcohol consumption during

the isolation of lockdowns.

To meet this shift, drinks like

CBD-infused seltzers, zero-proof

liquors, nonalcoholic wines and

more have filled the shelves for

those who are looking for party

options without the buzz.

CBD drinks, for example,

promise to take the edge off after

consumption thanks to the

properties in cannabidiol, a

nonpsychoactive part of a

cannabis plant that may promote

a sense of relaxation.

Nonalcoholic, or "NA," beverages

give sober folks a substitute for

the drinks that many may have

previously relied on in social

settings.

But for those who have a

difficult relationship with

alcohol, are these alternatives

really a solution? Or is the need

for them a sign of something

greater? Speaking to HuffPost,

substance misuse experts and

people who are sober shared a

few questions to consider if

you're turning to these beverages

when you give up drinking.

A recurring topic that occurs in

12-step substance misuse

recovery meetings is motive.

What is your motive for doing X

vs Y? The spectrum of answers

may range from attending a

wedding to visiting a bar with

nonsober friends.

Some may feel uncomfortable

around their peers who still

drink. It is hard to socialize

without booze when you've

become so accustomed to having

a drink in hand to feel normal.

Some may find solace in

nonalcoholic beverages to put on

the facade that they are still

drinking, perhaps because they

haven't fully disclosed the change

to friends. Others may insist that

they are just taking a break from

alcohol for health reasons.

Whatever the case may be, it is

important to acknowledge what

the motive is for wanting to

indulge in nonalcoholic drinks in

the first place and to address

that. Those in recovery need to

examine whether the motive

behind drinking the nonalcoholic

beverage is potentially

detrimental to their sobriety.

"I feel as if you should be fully

abstinent for the first two years of

sobriety," said Ashley Loeb

Blassingame, a co-founder of an

online substance abuse

counseling program named

Lionrock Recovery, noting that

these kinds of problems "aren't

substance-specific."

"Then, check your motives to

see if the desire for an NA

beverage is still there," she

continued.

If the desire is still there and

you decide to try an NA beverage,

think about why you are doing it.

Is something missing in your

sobriety? Is your recovery

checklist in order?

"How much do you like the

taste of a NA beverage? Or do you

like it because it tastes similar to

alcohol?" Blassingame said.

If drinking a beverage that

tastes similar to alcohol could be

triggering, it is important to have

a plan in order. In recovery, the

idea of a true nonalcoholic

beverage is alluring, and with so

many new options becoming

available, it is OK to wonder

about them. Just make sure you

are valuing your sobriety more

than anything and not becoming

a victim of surreptitious

marketing.

If you're sober-curious but not

dealing with an addiction, full

abstinence might not be totally

necessary right now. In those

circumstances, practicing

moderation tactics ? like drinking

NA beverages ? is a good

entryway into the recovery world.

For both those in recovery and

those who are sober-curious, it is

important to have a network in

place - people you can rely on in a

time of need or bounce questions

off without fear of judgment,

according to Blassingame.

The reality is that many

Consider your motive when deciding whether to try a CBdinfused

or nonalcoholic drink.

Photo: Collected

nonalcoholic beverages include

small amounts of alcohol. This is

known as a low alcohol by

volume, or ABV.

A sober-curious individual

partaking in these alternative

beverages is different from

someone in recovery doing so.

The former may look at these

options as healthier choices. The

latter has more at stake, with the

consumption of low-ABV drinks

potentially igniting the craving

for something stronger.

If you're in recovery, be

mindful of the ingredient list for

anything you're consuming,

experts told HuffPost. This does

not mean diligently checking

every household item, but it is

good to be aware of what is in

your food and beverages, as well

as how certain ingredients can

affect you. Beverages like

kombucha have an ABV of 0.5%,

and while that may not be

enough to even remotely affect

some, others may feel a buzz due

to overconsumption.

Check the alcohol volume in

drinks you're choosing. Then ask

yourself why you may want them

- and be radically honest about it.

Sobriety isn't one-size-fits-all,

and this applies to the beverages

people choose to consume,

according to Trey Laird, the CEO

and founder of a sober living

facility in Connecticut known as

The Lighthouse.

"I have worked with clients who

have tried both nonalcoholic

drinks and CBD. For some of

them, it has a purpose, and I

don't judge them," Laird said,

adding that people in recovery

who drink them should disclose

this to someone they trust

beforehand.

He warned, however, that these

beverages can become a slippery

slope in some cases. Some of his

clients have reported drinking

one bottle of O'Doul's, which in

turn leads to drinking a six-pack

to feel a slight buzz. In Laird's

personal recovery, he hasn't

found the need to indulge in

nonalcoholic drinks.

"For me, I have been sober

since 2011 and have gone this

long without trying a

nonalcoholic beer or wine," he

said.

Lindsey Metselaar, the host of

the dating and relationship

podcast "We Met at Acme," feels

similar to Laird in terms of her

own recovery. She isn't interested

in trying nonalcoholic drinks,

and she argued that the

consumption of CBD products in

recovery is unnecessary and does

not equal sobriety.

The distinction needs to be

clearly defined for you,

Blassingame said. In her opinion,

the term "sober" implies recovery

in the traditional sense, which

can include meetings, therapy

and more.

"It is the difference between

someone running a marathon

[on occasion] ... versus an

endurance athlete," she said,

noting that to her, sobriety and

recovery imply complete

abstinence from all mood and

mind-altering substances ? even

drinks like CBD-infused

beverages or low-ABV beer

alternatives.

The sober-curious, however,

may think of the change as just

abstaining from drinking, with

the option to either maintain that

or consume alcohol when they

want.

Decide what aligns with your

needs for your relationship with

alcohol, and then make an

informed decision about whether

drinking alternative beverages

will fit into those plans, the

experts said. And no matter what,

make sure you're relying on a

support system to guide you

through it.

The comfiest pillows

for side sleepers

KrIsten AdAwAy

If you're a side sleeper, there's one item on your

bed that may be wreaking havoc on your sleep

quality and neck: your pillow. As someone

who's experienced plenty of flat-tire pillows

over the years, I can say that all pillows are

definitely not created equal. Luckily, there are

ones made specifically for side sleepers that

offer the necessary support.

Pillows are especially important for side

sleepers. To prevent a painful awakening in the

morning, your spine, neck and head all need to

be in proper alignment. There's nothing worse

than waking up with a stiff neck and an achy

back. Luckily, side sleepers are not rare, so if

you prefer facing your wall, window or the

person who snores beside you every night,

there are highly rated pillows that will make

you much more comfortable as you count

sheep.

hough Tempur-Pedic is known for its cushy,

cloud-like mattresses, you shouldn't overlook

the brand's ergonomic pillows. The Tempur-

Neck pillow is made with material that adapts

to your body shape and comes in small,

medium and large sizes for more personalized

sleeping comfort. And if you have allergies,

you'll be glad to know this pillow has a 100%

polyester knit hypoallergenic cover.

Promising review: "This pillow really helped

alleviate chronic neck pain. I find it works best

when side-sleeping, but it's also comfortable

for back-sleeping as long as you don't shift

around too drastically. Love how effective it

was at helping me sleep without pain after so

long!

This set comes with two pillows ideal for all

sleeping styles, but the reviews from side

sleepers are particularly glowing. The pillows

are filled with a soft down alternative. Their

breathability is designed to keep you cool at

night, and they have bounce-back texture to

It's time to support your neck and get cozy.

retain their shape.

Promising review: "I can't tell you how many

pillows I have bought and thrown away. But

this pillow is the BEST! I am a side sleeper and

have struggled w neck pain for years. This

pillow supports my neck perfectly and I woke

up refreshed with no pain!! I'm buying more of

these! They are incredible!"

If you're a side sleeper who frequently suffers

from neck pain, it may be time to consider a

cervical pillow like this one. It's made of

odorless memory foam and has an ergonomic,

butterfly-like shape that has a place for your

head, neck and shoulders to rest comfortably.

And hot sleepers, fear not; the case is made of a

moisture-wicking bamboo and polyester blend.

Promising review: "I bought this pillow at the

time because my pillow then was just not doing

it for me. I'd sleep well, but I'd wake up with

really bad neck pain and it made my day

difficult especially going in to work. Once I got

this pillow however, I haven't had any neck

pain at all! The shape was definitely new to me

as well as the memory foam and it's great for

side sleepers like myself. And if anyone is

wondering, it fits the average pillow case well

enough."

Made of a memory foam blend, this side

sleeper pillow is fully adjustable. You can add

or remove the shredded foam to fit your loft

preference. The pillow is designed with your

body shape in mind, with a concave lower half

to accommodate your head, neck and

shoulders.

Promising review: "I have been trying so

many different pillows and finally found this

one. I'm a side sleeper and have been having

serious neck issues. I wake up in the morning

after sleeping on this pillow and my neck feels

good!!! I love it. I tossed it in the dryer when I

first got it. I did not take any filling out. It's been

perfect as is! I'm very happy with it"

Photo: Internet

tHURSDAY, OCtOBeR 6, 2022

6

Construction of 09 sheds (Wet market and a toilet block (5291.66 square feet)) at Amua Kanda Bazar in Phulpur Upazila of

Mymensingh District was laid by Mr. Sharif Ahmed, MP, State Minister, Ministry of Housing and Public Works and Legendary

Mayor of Phulpur Municipality, Shashadhar Sen. Phulpur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shitesh Chandra Sarkar, Phulpur Upazila

Awami League Senior Joint Convenor Mohammad Habibur Rahman Habib, Phulpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge

Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun and others were also present on the occasion.

Photo: Mohammad Sakander Ali

CU ranked seventh in annual performance

contract evaluation

Junaed Khan, Chattogram

University Correspondent :

Chattogram University (CU ) ranked

seventh by getting 87.67 out of 100

marks in the evaluation of the Annual

Performance Agreement (APA) of

2021-22 fiscal year among the 46

public universities of the country by

the University Management

Commission (UGC).

The University Grants Commission

(UGC) released the APA assessment

results on October 1.

According to the result information,

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman Agricultural University is in

the first place by getting 99.47, Dhaka

University is in the second position,

and they got 94.48. The mark

obtained by Jagannath University in

the third position is 93.75.

Bangladesh Open University is at

the fourth position in the list with

90.49 marks. The score of

Bangladesh University of

Professionals, which is in the fifth

position, is 89.22. Khulna

Agricultural University is in the sixth

position, their score is 88.95. Dhaka

University of Engineering and

Technology is at the 8th position in

the list. Their score is 85.20, Jessore

University of Science and Technology

in ninth position and Chattogram

Medical University in tenth position

is 85.02.

This list has been prepared on the

basis of 100 marks in total six

subjects. Among them, 70 marks are

given in the field of strategic

objectives, 10 marks in the case of

National Integrity Strategy Action

Plan, 10 marks in E-

Governance/Innovation Plan, 4

marks in Grievance Redressal

Management Plan, 3 marks in Service

Delivery Commitment Action Plan

and 3 marks in Right to Information

Action Plan.

Incidentally, the government

introduced Annual Performance

Agreement (APA) in the country from

2014-15 with the objective of bringing

dynamism, increasing efficiency and

ensuring accountability and

responsibility in service delivery in an

institution/organization.

In Gomostapur of Chapainawabganj, 3 robberies happened on 2 roads in one night and one expatriate

was killed.

Photo: Yahia Khan Rubel

Durga Puja ends

amid festivity in

Bogura

BOGURA: The five-day

celebration of Durga Puja, the

biggest religious festival of the

Hindu community, ended

here with immersion of the

Goddess Durga in the

Karatoya river yesterday,

reports BSS.

Marking the Bijoya Dashami

women devotees applied

'Sindur' on the face of goddess

Durga and exchanged among

themselves amid joyous and

festive mood.

The last day rituals of the

festival were celebrated amid

much enthusiasm and

festivity. Prasad and sweets

were distributed among the

devotees.

Before removing the idols of

Durga and other gods and

goddesses from the altar of all

mandaps or makeshift

pavilions for immersion, the

Hindu devotees danced and

sang kirton. Thousands of

devotees joined the colorful

marches as the idols were

being carried to the nearby

river in Karatoya and other

water bodies for immersion.

Dacoits kill 1 in

C'nawabganj

Yahia Khan Rubel, Gomostapur

Correspondent : In Gomostapur of

Chapainawabganj, 3 robberies happened

on 2 roads in one night. The robberies

took place between Tuesday and

Wednesday. However, the police

claimed that the incidents were isolated

robberies. An expatriate named Jewel

Rana (30) was killed in the attack by the

dacoit group. The deceased Jewel Rana

is a resident of Dubai. He is the son of

Rafiqul Islam of Dhumaninagar village

in Mubarakpur union of Shibganj

upazila.

Saddam, the son of Nazrul Islam of the

same village who was with the deceased

expatriate, said that while he and his

friend Jewel were going to an

agricultural farm in Golabari area of

Nachol upazila on Argarahat-Belalbazar

road on Wednesday morning, a group of

robbers stopped them at a place called

Kuichchagara on that road and tried to

take it away. At that time, when the

expatriate tried to stop him, the robbers

cut him and injured him. He died on the

way to Shibganj hospital in critical

condition. On receiving information, the

police recovered the body from his house

and sent it to Chapainawabganj Sadar

Hospital morgue for autopsy.

When visiting the scene, the locals said

that the road gets taken over by robbers

in the evening. Some time before this

incident on Wednesday morning, the

dacoit team snatched some money from

Liakat Ali, a van driver of Udaynagar

village of Chaudala union of the upazila.

At around 9 o'clock on Tuesday night, a

group of robbers tied up the driver and

the passengers and robbed an autorickshaw

in Damus area of Shukrabari-

Ranibari road of the same union.

On receiving the information,

Additional Superintendent of Police of

Sadar Circle of District Police Atwar

Rahman, Additional Superintendent of

Police of Gomostapur Circle Shamsul

Azam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of

Shibganj Police Station Chowdhury

Jobair Ahmad and Officer-in-Charge

(OC) of Gomostapur Police Station

Almas Ali Sarkar visited the spot.

Meanwhile, Gomostapur Police Station

Officer-in-Charge (OC) Almas Ali Sarkar

said that the expatriate was killed in the

attack by the robbers and his body was

sent to Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital

for autopsy. The case is under process in

this incident.

Durga Puja

ends amid

festivity in

Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI: The five-day

celebration of Durga Puja,

the biggest religious festival

of the Bengali Hindu

community, ended here

today with immersion of

the Goddess Durga in the

river Padma, reports BSS.

The last day rituals of the

festival were celebrated

amid much enthusiasm

and festivity. 'Prasad' and

sweets were distributed

among the devotees and

the people belonging to

other communities, who

visited the Puja Mandaps.

Marking the Bijoya

Dashami women devotees

applied 'Sindur' on the face

of goddess Durga and

exchanged among

themselves amid joyous

and festive mood.

Before removing the

idols of Durga and other

gods and goddesses from

the altar of all mandaps or

makeshift pavilions for

immersion, the Hindu

devotees danced and sang

`kirton'.

Thousands of devotees

joined the colorful marches

as the idols were being

carried to the nearby rivers

particularly the river

Padma, ponds, canals and

other water bodies for

immersion.

The Durgousav was

celebrated in 3,563 puja

mandaps in all eight

districts under the Rajshahi

division in addition to 96 in

Rajshahi city amid tight

security measures this year.

Each of the puja

mandaps was given 500

kilograms of rice on behalf

of the respective district

administrations for smooth

celebration of the puja in

the division this year.

Members of police, and

Ansar-VDP were on duty

round-the-clock while

officials, politicians and

leaders of different sociocultural

organizations

visited the mandaps.

Four insurance officers

dismissed for embezzling

customer money

S. Mizanul Islam, Banaripara

Correspondent : Md. Golam Kibria, Chief

Executive Officer of Rupali Life Insurance

Company Limited has dismissed 4 insurance

officers for embezzling customer money in

Banaripara.

Those dismissed on charges of

embezzlement are Banaripara Service Cell

in-charge General Manager Md Mizanur

Rahman embezzled Tk 5 lakh 10 thousand

951, Deputy General Manager Md Inzamul

Haque Pial embezzled Tk 4 lakh 20

thousand 910, Santanu Akhter embezzled Tk

3 lakh 10 thousand 930 and Assistant

General Manager Md Moniruzzaman

Khokon embezzled 2 lakh16 thousand 950

taka. Among them, Shantanu and Khokon

are husband and wife. Rupali Life Insurance

Company Limited has issued a legal notice to

former General Manager Md Mizanur

Rahman in charge of Banaripara Service Cell

to pay Tk 5 lakh 10 thousand 951 to the

company within 7 working days. On the

other hand, the dismissed have taken the

office of Jamuna Life Insurance Company

next to Banaripara office due to the financial

loss of the company. Another complaint

against them is that they joined Jamuna Life

Insurance Company without any clearance

from Rupali Life Insurance.

In Banaripara, the dismissed persons are

causing financial loss to the customers of

Rupali Life Insurance Company Limited by

not depositing their premium regularly in

Rupali. Barishal Divisional Incharge Md.

Shaheen Mahmud Masum has complained

about this to Banaripara Police Station on

behalf of Rupali Company. The Rupali

authorities said that the dismissed

customers are causing financial loss to

Rupali by paying 3/4 of the premium and

installments to one or two Rupali and

depositing the remaining premium in

Jamuna Life.

Meanwhile, there are many other

allegations against the dismissed. Among

these, Md. Mizanur Rahman has

previously closed the upazila cooperative

authority of Nice Samabay Samity on the

complaints of customers of Home Land

Life, Nice Cooperative Society.

Md. Mizanur Rahman, former GM of

Rupali Life Insurance Company Limited

and present Junior Assistant Director of

Jamuna, said that the allegation of money

embezzlement against us is not correct.

The legal notice against me has already

been answered by our lawyer. We have

had customers' premiums for the last two

and a half years. Many customers have

been convinced that their money has been

deposited in Jamuna. At present there are

about 25 customers who have premium

money and we will resolve it soon.

When asked about this, Additional

Director General of Jamuna Life

Insurance Company Limited, Md.

Kamaruzzaman said that those dismissed

from Rupali Life were not appointed to

Jamuna Life. Offer letter has been given

to them. If you are a salaried officer, you

will have to give the previous work

permit. They are working on commission

basis.

Rupali Life Insurance Company Limited has dismissed 4 insurance officers for

embezzling customer money in Banaripara.

Photo: S. Mizanul Islam

Upazila Chairman Kazi Dulal

wants vote on Lock symbol

Syful Islam Syeef, Babuganj Correspondent :

Chairman of Babuganj Upazila Parishad

Alhaj Kazi Imdadul Haque Dulal asked for

vote in favor of Mainul Hossain Parvez

Mridha, candidate of Lock symbol for

membership in Barishal Zilla Parishad

election. He expressed solidarity with all UP

members and chairman of Rahmatpur

Union at the temporary office of Rahmatpur

Union Parishad yesterday and asked for

votes in support of the lock symbol.

At this time Kazi Dulal said, for the sake of

the development of Ward No. 3, vote for the

lock symbol. He said that my fellow political

leader Babuganj Upazila Awami League

President SM Khaled Hossain Swapan in

various elections of the past days put up a

candidate against the party candidate

outside the party decision! We hope he

realizes his mistake and supports Mainul

Hossain Parvez.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of

Babuganj Upazila Awami League and

Chairman of Rahmatpur Union Parishad

Mridha Muhammad Akhter Uz Zaman

Milon, Chairman of Jahangir Nagar Union

Parishad Md. Kamrul Ahsan Khan Himu,

Youth and Sports Affairs Secretary of

Babuganj Upazila Awami League Md.

Mainul Hossain Parvez Mridha, Candidate

of Tala Prateik along with Rahmatpur

Union. All UP members and reserved

women members of the council were

present.

Chairman of Babuganj Upazila Parishad Alhaj Kazi Imdadul Haque Dulal asked for

vote in favor of Mainul Hossain Parvez Mridha.

Photo: Syful Islam Syeef

Ambulance driver giving healthcare in Govt. hospital

Lalpur (Natore) Correspondent:

Ambulance driver Amjad Hossain is

providing health care at the

emergency department of Natore's

Lalpur Upazila Health Complex. He is

measuring the pressure with a

stethoscope in his ear. When such a

picture spread on the social media

Facebook, various discussions and

criticisms started. According to

sources, Amjad's house is in

Ramkrishnapur area of the upazila.

Being local, he has wide influence

throughout the hospital. Apart from

driving an ambulance, he is also a

member of an active broker gang. If

there is a patient, he gets to know

them in advance and takes the patient

to the private clinic.Again, having a

good relationship with the hospital

staff, he solved the patient's problem

and collected money from the

relatives. Despite knowing everything,

the hospital authorities do not take

action against these brokers for

unknown reasons.

Ambulance driver Amjad said that

on Tuesday night around 7:30 pm, a

patient came injured in a fight in the

nearby Mominpur area. Yasmin Apa

(staff) asked me to measure the

pressure of a patient because of the

pressure of patients at that time, so

she measured the pressure of that

patient only. At that time, someone

took a picture through the window

and posted it on Facebook.

Dr. Suruzzaman Shamim, RMO of

the hospital, said that Amjad could not

measure blood pressure properly. He

drives a private ambulance and

brokers patients in the hospital

premises.

THUrSdAy, OCTOBer 6, 2022

7

S. Korea missile crash during

drill with US panics wary city

People hold up a sign in protest during British Prime Minister Liz Truss's speech, during Britain's

Conservative Party's annual conference in Birmingham, Britain, October 5, 2022. Photo : AP

Greenpeace protesters disrupt

UK PM Truss’s speech

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM

: Greenpeace UK protesters on

Wednesday disrupted Prime Minister

Liz Truss's set-piece speech to the

Conservative party conference,

accusing her of backtracking on

election promises.

The environmental campaigners

said their head of public affairs and

policy officer were responsible for

holding up a banner during the

address, asking "Who voted for this?"

The pair-Rebecca Newsom and Ami

McCarthy-were ejected from the

venue in Birmingham, central

England, to cheers and applause from

delegates.

Newsom said in a statement

afterwards that Truss had put most of

the Tories' 2019 election pledges

Iran quake

injures more

than 500 people

TEHRAN : A 5.4 magnitude

earthquake in northwestern

Iran injured more than 500

people early Wednesday,

most of them lightly, state

media reported.

"The quake that hit at a

depth of 10 kilometres (6.2

miles) in West Azerbaijan

province has injured 528

people, 135 of whom have

been admitted to hospital,"

the region's governor

Mohammad Sadegh

Motamedian told state

television.

The quake and its

aftershocks "damaged 500

houses, completely destroying

50 of them, in 12 affected

villages," he added.

"through the shredder".

"People voted for strong action on

climate, a fracking moratorium,

world-leading environmental

protections and tackling poverty and

inequality," she added.

"What they're getting instead is

fracking, a potential bonfire of rules on

wildlife and nature protection, and

now the prospect of benefit cuts."

Truss, who replaced Boris Johnson

just a month ago, wants to boost

sluggish UK growth and tackle soaring

inflation by cutting taxes, spooking the

markets and raising fears about

government debt.

Her revamped climate policy in

particular has enraged environmental

bodies concerned about the

acceleration of North Sea offshore oil

and gas exploration and the end to a

moratorium on fracking.

Greenpeace and others have urged

the government to slap a windfall tax

on energy companies whose profits

have been boosted by the rise in

wholesale oil and gas prices.

Former Shell employee Truss, who

opposes the move, took aim at directaction

protesters and her critics,

accusing them of being anti-growth.

"They prefer protesting to doing,"

she told the conference. "They prefer

talking on Twitter to taking tough

decisions."

On Tuesday, Home Secretary Suella

Braverman, whose brief includes

policing, vowed to give officers more

powers to crack down on disruptive

protests.

US national debt surpasses

$31 trillion: Treasury report

WASHINGTON : The nation's gross

national debt has surpassed $31

trillion, according to a U.S. Treasury

report released Tuesday that logs

America's daily finances.

Edging closer to the statutory

ceiling of roughly $31.4 trillion - an

artificial cap Congress placed on the

U.S. government's ability to borrow

- the debt numbers hit an already

tenuous economy facing high

inflation, rising interest rates and a

strong U.S. dollar.

And while President Joe Biden

has touted his administration's

deficit reduction efforts this year

and recently signed the so-called

Inflation Reduction Act, which

attempts to tame 40-year high price

increases caused by a variety of

economic factors, economists say

the latest debt numbers are a cause

for concern.

Owen Zidar, a Princeton

economist, said rising interest rates

will exacerbate the nation's growing

debt issues and make the debt itself

more costly. The Federal Reserve

has raised rates several times this

year in an effort to combat inflation.

Zidar said the debt "should

encourage us to consider some tax

U.S. President Joe Biden in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington,

U.S., September 16, 2022.

File Photo

policies that almost passed through

the legislative process but didn't get

enough support," like imposing

higher taxes on the wealthy and

closing the carried interest loophole,

which allows money managers to

treat their income as capital gains.

"I think the point here is if you

weren't worried before about the

debt before, you should be - and if

you were worried before, you should

be even more worried," Zidar said.

The Congressional Budget Office

earlier this year released a report on

America's debt load, warning in its

30-year outlook that, if

unaddressed, the debt will soon

spiral upward to new highs that

could ultimately imperil the U.S.

economy.

In its August Mid-Session Review,

the administration forecasted that

this year's budget deficit will be

nearly $400 billion lower than it

estimated back in March, due in

part to stronger than expected

revenues, reduced spending, and an

economy that has recovered all the

jobs lost during the multi-year

pandemic.

In full, this year's deficit will

decline by $1.7 trillion, representing

the single largest decline in the

federal deficit in American history,

the Office of Management and

Budget said in August.

Maya MacGuineas, president of

the Committee for a Responsible

Federal Budget said in an emailed

statement Tuesday, "This is a new

record no one should be proud of."

"In the past 18 months, we've

witnessed inflation rise to a 40-year

high, interest rates climbing in part

to combat this inflation, and several

budget-busting pieces of legislation

and executive actions," MacGuineas

said. "We are addicted to debt."

A representative from the

Treasury Department was not

immediately available for comment.

Sung Won Sohn, an economics

professor at Loyola Marymount

University, said "it took this nation

200 years to pile up its first trillion

dollars in national debt, and since

the pandemic we have been adding

at the rate of 1 trillion nearly every

quarter."

Predicting high inflation for the

"foreseeable future," he said, "when

you increase government spending

and money supply, you will pay the

price later."

SEOUL : A South Korean ballistic

missile malfunctioned and crashed

into the ground early Wednesday

during a live-fire drill with the United

States, panicking confused residents of

a coastal city already uneasy over

increasingly provocative weapons tests

by rival North Korea.

The sound of the blast and

subsequent fire led many in

Gangneung to believe it could be a

North Korean attack, concern that only

grew as the military and government

officials provided no explanation about

the explosion for hours.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff

said no injuries have been reported

from the accident, which involved a

short-range Hyumoo-2 ballistic missile

that crashed inside an air force base in

the outskirts of the city.

The military said it was investigating

what caused the "abnormal flight" of a

missile that is a key weapon in South

Korea's preemptive and retaliatory

strike strategies against the North.

The military said the test was meant

UN General Assembly

to meet Monday on

Russia 'annexation' in

Ukraine: official

UNITED NATIONS : The

United Nations General

Assembly called an urgent

meeting next Monday to

discuss Russia's declared

annexation of four partlyoccupied

regions of

Ukraine, a UN

spokesperson said.

At the meeting the 193

UN member states will

weigh a resolution now

under preparation on the

annexation, after Russia

vetoed a condemnation in

the Security Council last

week, diplomatic sources

said Tuesday.

General Assembly

spokesperson Paulina

Kubiak said the body will

meet at the request of

Ukraine and Albania on

the issue at 3:00 pm (1900

GMT) Monday.

On Friday Russian

President Vladimir Putin

announced that Moscow

had taken over four areas

of Ukraine which held

K r e m l i n - o r g a n i z e d

referendums on land

seized by Russia's military.

Putin immediately drew

near-global condemnation

for the land grab, which

came after more than

seven months of

devastating warfare

following Moscow's

February 24 invasion of

Ukraine.

Hours later the UN

Security Council met to

discuss the development

but Russia's ambassador

vetoed a US-Albania

resolution labelling the

referendums "illegal" and

urging all states to refuse to

recognize the seized lands.

The resolution had also

called on Russia to

withdraw troops

immediately from

Ukraine.

After the veto the United

States said it would take

the issue to the General

Assembly, where each

country has a single vote

and none has veto power.

Diplomatic sources said

a resolution was being

drafted by the European

Union together with

Ukraine and other

countries.

If the resolution is voted

through it would make

clearer the degree of

Moscow's isolation on the

global stage, even as some

developing countries have

expressed annoyance that

Western powers are hugely

focused on Ukraine.

Earlier this year the

General Assembly passed

three resolutions

concerning Russia's

invasion, with the third, at

the end of April, revealing

some erosion of

international unity against

Moscow.

to be a show of strength by South

Korea and the United States, following

North Korea's firing of a nuclearcapable

ballistic missile that crossed

over Japan early Tuesday in North

Korea's most provocative weapons

demonstration in years.

The launch extended a record

number of North Korean launches this

year as the country pushes to develop a

fully fledged nuclear arsenal capable of

threatening the U.S. mainland and its

allies with the goal of being recognized

as a nuclear state and wresting

concessions from those countries.

The South Korean military's

acknowledgement of the missile

malfunction came hours after internet

users raised alarm about the blast and

posted social media videos showing an

orange ball of flames emerging from an

area they described as near the air

force base.

Officials at Gangneung's fire

department and city hall said

emergency workers were dispatched to

the air force base and a nearby army

base in response to calls about a

possible explosion but were sent back

by military officials.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff

said Tuesday's joint drills with the U.S.

also involved firing four Army Tactical

Missile Systems missiles and another

Hyumoo-2 missile that successfully

flew. The allies earlier on Tuesday

launched fighter jets that fired

weapons at a target off South Korea's

west coast.

North Korea has fired nearly 40

ballistic missiles over about 20

different launch events this year,

exploiting Russia's war on Ukraine and

a deepened division in the U.N.

Security Council to accelerate arms

development.

The United States, Britain, France,

Albania, Norway and Ireland called for

an emergency meeting of the U.N.

Security Council over the latest North

Korean launch. Diplomats said it is

likely to be held Wednesday, but it's

not certain whether it will be open or

closed.

A South Korean ballistic missile malfunctioned and crashed into the

ground early Wednesday during a live-fire drill with the United States,

panicking confused residents of a coastal city already uneasy over increasingly

provocative weapons tests by rival North Korea. Photo : Internet

Can Biden save

democracy one US

factory job at a time?

WASHINGTON :

President Joe Biden is

working to create a

manufacturing revival -

even helping to put factory

jobs in Republican territory

under the belief it can

restore faith in U.S.

democracy.

The latest development

came Tuesday, when

chipmaker Micron

announced an investment

of up to $100 billion over

the next 20-plus yearsto

build a plant in upstate

New Yorkthat could create

9,000 factory jobs. It's a

commitment made in a

GOP congressional district

that Biden and the

company credited to the

recentlyenacted $280

billion CHIPS and Science

Act.

"Today is another win for

America, and another

massive new investment in

America spurred by my

economic plan," Biden said

in a statement. "Together,

we are building an

economy from the bottom

up and the middle out,

where we lower costs for

our families and make it

right here in America."

Biden has staked his

presidency on what he has

called "a historic

manufacturing boom,"

hoping to succeed where

past presidents, governors

and hordes of other

politicians have struggled

for a half-century. His goal

is to keep opening new

factories in states such as

Ohio, Idaho, North

Carolina and Georgia -

where Democrats'

footholds are shaky at best.

Administration officials say

they want to spread the

prosperity across the entire

country, rather than let it

cluster in centers of

extreme wealth, in a bid to

renew the middle class and

a sense of pride in the

country itself.

The push comes at a

precarious moment for

theglobal economy.High

inflationin the U.S. has

hurt Biden's popularity and

p r o m p t e d r e c e s s i o n

concerns. Much of Europe

faces a possible downturn

due to the jump in energy

prices after Russia's

invasion of Ukraine, while

the International Monetary

Fund just downgraded

growth in China. The world

economy is defined by

uncertainty just as Biden

has called for investments

in clean energy and

technology that could take

years to pay off.

The president is hopeful

that whatever good

manufacturing can do for

the U.S. economy also

turns out to yield political

benefits for himself and

other Democrats in 2022

and beyond. He told

Democratic donors on

Friday that the

manufacturing and

technology investments

mean "we have an

opportunity" to strengthen

the U.S. if Democratic

governors and lawmakers

are elected this year.

Going into the midterm

elections, Biden is telling

voters that a factory

renaissance has already

started because of him. The

administration sees its

infrastructure spending,

computer chip investments

and clean-energy

incentives as helping

domestic manufacturing in

unprecedented ways.

Recent academic studies

suggest that decades of

layoffs due to offshoring

contributed to the rise of

Republican Donald

Trump, with his opposition

to immigration and global

trade. But many of the

authors of the studies

doubt that Biden can make

these demographic trends

disappear through the

promise of jobs for skilled

workers.

Democratic Rep. Ro

Khanna of California

would like to see the

president make a national

tour of factory openings, so

that his policies could stick

better in voters' minds.

Khanna recently attended

the groundbreaking of a

$20 billion Intel plant in

Ohio and laid out his belief

that factory job losses

helped cause today's

political schisms.

The Silicon Valley

congressman reasons that

too many Americans have

lost faith in a government

that seemed indifferent to

their own well-being,

leading them to embrace

hucksters

and

authoritarians who thrive

by exploiting and widening

divisions in society.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2022

8

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited inaugurated its 388th Branch at Askar Dighir Par Branch in

Chattogram on 4 October 2022, Tuesday. Major General (Retd.) Engr. Abdul Matin, Chairman of

Risk Management Committee of the bank inaugurated the Branch as chief guest. Presided over by

Mohammed Monirul Moula, Managing Director & CEO, Mohammed Shabbir, Deputy Managing

Director, Md. Maksudur Rahman & Miftah Uddin, Senior Executive Vice Presidents were present as

special guest. Meah Md. Barkat Ullah, Head of Chattogram South Zone of the bank addressed the

welcome speech and Kazi Md. Alamgir, Head of Askar Dighir Par branch thanked the audience.

Mohammed Gias Uddin, Panel Mayor of Chittagong City Corporation, Shaibal Das Sumon and

Anjuman Ara, Counselor, Sucharu Bikash Barua, Ex Principal of Chittagong College, Principal

A.N.M Delwar Hossain Al- Qaderi & Prominent business person Iftekarul Alam attended the program.

A.M Shahidul Amran, Senior Assistant Vice President along with Executives & employees of

the bank, clients, well wishers and local elites were present on the occasion. Photo: Courtesy

UK's Truss rejects ‘drift

and delay’ in defiant

speech to Tories

BIRMINGHAM: Britain's

Prime Minister Liz Truss is

set Wednesday to close her

party's tumultuous annual

conference with an

unabashed defence of

"disruption" to counter

economic "drift and delay".

Just a month since she

succeeded Boris Johnson,

Truss has alienated voters,

financial markets and many

in the Conservative party

with a crash programme of

debt-fuelled tax cuts to

revitalise growth, reports

BSS.

Former minister Grant

Shapps, who supported

Truss's leadership rival Rishi

Sunak, said she could face a

no-confidence vote by MPs if

her keynote speech to the

Tory conference in

Birmingham does not start

reviving the party's dismal

standing in opinion polls.

"In the end, I don't think

members of parliament,

Conservatives, if they see the

polls continue as they are, are

going to sit on their hands,"

he told Times Radio.

"A way would be found to

make that change."

But in her speech, expected

from 1005 GMT, Truss will

argue that the status quo is

not an option, according to a

preview released by the

party.

"The scale of the challenge

is immense," she is to say,

stressing Russia's invasion of

Ukraine and the economic

crisis in the wake of the

Covid-19 pandemic.

"That is why in Britain we

need to do things differently.

Whenever there is change,

there is disruption. Not

everyone will be in favour.

"But everyone will benefit

from the result-a growing

economy and a better

future," she will say, vowing a

"clear plan" to end the "hightax,

low-growth cycle".

Truss is set to defy critics,

including allies of Johnson,

who have accused her in

Birmingham of lacking a

national mandate for her

unpopular reforms after she

won the Tory leadership with

the votes of 81,326 party

members.

"We have huge talent

across the country. We're not

making enough of it. To

deliver this, we need to get

Britain moving," Truss is

expected to say.

"We cannot have any more

drift and delay at this vital

time."

Whether the speech has

the effect 10 Downing Street

wants remains to be seen.

Truss is a wooden speaker,

and her media interviews in

the build-up to Wednesday

have focussed unrelentingly

on the U-turn she was forced

to stage on a signature

element of her reform

overhaul.

Truss and Chancellor of the

Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng

reversed course on their plan

to cut income tax for the

richest, as ordinary Britons

suffer a painful cost-of-living

crisis.

Cabinet splits emerged in

Birmingham on indications

that despite the impact of the

crisis on the poor, the pair

will next cut welfare benefits.

Truss denied that she had

lost control of her cabinet

after putting on a show of

unity with the beleaguered

Kwarteng on a visit Tuesday

to a construction site in

Birmingham.

"We are working with our

MPs, this is a team, this

Conservative team, putting

forward our policies for the

country and delivering for

the country," she told ITV.

But there was little team

spirit on display from Home

Secretary Suella Braverman,

who accused party critics of

seeking to stage a "coup"

against Truss.

Dissident ringleader

Michael Gove was one of

Braverman's targets. But he

kept up his running criticism

of Truss, stressing all

Conservative MPs had been

elected on Johnson's

manifesto of 2019.

"We've got to keep faith

with what Boris wanted,"

Gove said, underlining the

point that Truss has yet to

face the UK electorate

herself.

But asked by reporters if

Truss would survive beyond

the end of the year, the

former minister said: "Yes."

Opinion polls have shown

the main opposition Labour

party breaching 50 percent

as the Tories slump under

Truss, fraying nerves in

Birmingham over the four

days of the conference.

"Polls do move up and

down," Kwarteng said

Tuesday on the conference

fringes, stressing the two

years remaining to the next

election was an "eternity in

politics".

"I never predict victory, but

I do think we can be very

competitive and have a

compelling story to tell."

BOE acted

‘appropriately’

quickly to UK

budget proposal:

IMF chief

WASHINGTON: IMF chief

Kristalina Georgieva said

Tuesday the Bank of England

correctly moved swiftly in

reaction to Britain's budget

proposal late last month-a

plan which included a nowscrapped

tax cut for the

wealthy and send the pound

dramatically lower, reports

BSS.

She said it is important to

avoid a contradiction between

government and central bank

policies.

"We cannot have fiscal

policy working against

monetary policy by providing

untargeted policy support. It

has to go to the most

vulnerable segments of

society," she said in an

interview with Al Arabiya.

"In UK we have seen that

contradiction between

monetary and fiscal policy,"

she said, but "The Bank of

England acted very

appropriately quickly."

And she noted that

authorities are "taking

measures to ensure that there

is consistency (and) now there

are changes in how the

package is going to be

pursued."

UK Finance Minister Kwasi

Kwarteng on September 23

announced the debt-driven

mini-budget, which slashed

taxes and sparked market

turmoil.

In response, the BOE began

buying government bonds to

prop up the currency.

Prime Minister Liz Truss on

Sunday conceded she should

have better prepared Britain

for her plan, which went

further than many had

expected.

Padma Bank Limited has signed a memorandum of understanding with Momo Inn, a

renowned hotel and resort in Bogra, with various attractive discount offers for customers.

The MoU was signed in a brief ceremony at Momo Inn's head office in Banani

on Monday, October 3. Jabed Amin, Deputy Managing Director and COO of Padma

Bank and Jewel Khan, Additional Managing Director of Momo Inn signed the agreement

on behalf of their respective organizations. Head of Retail and SME Banking

Rokibul Hasan Chowdhury and Head of Segments Nafisa Ara were also present in the

occasion. Under this agreement, Padma Bank cardholders can avail lucrative discounts

on rooms and hotel services.

Photo: Courtesy

How China's civil society collapsed under Xi

BEIJING: Human rights activist

Charles remembers a time when civil

society was blossoming in China, and

he could dedicate his time to helping

improve the lives of people struggling

in blue-collar jobs, reports BSS.

Now, 10 years into President Xi

Jinping's rule, community

organisations such as Charles's have

been dismantled and hopes of a

rebirth crushed.

Charles has fled China and several

of his activist friends are in jail.

"After 2015, the whole of civil

society began to collapse and become

fragmented," he told AFP, using a

pseudonym for safety reasons.

Xi, on the brink of securing a third

term at the apex of the world's most

populous country, has overseen a

decade in which civil society

movements, an emergent

independent media and academic

freedoms have been all but destroyed.

As Xi sought to eliminate any

threats to the Communist Party,

many

non-governmental

organisation workers, rights lawyers

and activists were threatened, jailed

or exiled.

AFP interviewed eight Chinese

activists and intellectuals who

described the collapse of civil society

under Xi, though a few remain

determined to keep working despite

Tokyo shares

open up after

US gains

TOKYO : Tokyo stocks

opened higher Tuesday after

Wall Street shares rebounded,

with the rises coming despite

a North Korean missile test

shortly before the opening

bell, reports BSS.

The benchmark Nikkei 225

index was up 2.59 percent, or

679.77 points, to 26,895.56 in

early trade, while the broader

Topix index added 2.68

percent, or 49.54 points, to

1,897.12.

The strong start came after

US blue chip shares staged a

broad rebound as soft

economic data fuelled hopes

that Fed officials may soften

their resolve to hike interest

rates to fight inflation.

The Dow surged 2.7

percent, while Nasdaq

advanced 2.3 percent.

The dollar stood at 144.59

yen, nearly flat from 144.66

yen on Monday in New York.

"The Tokyo market is

expected to start higher after

US shares advanced,"

brokerage house Monex said

in a note. The global market

perked up after the UK

government reversed course

and shelved controversial

plans to cut income tax rate

for the wealthy.

The about-face "is a sign

that the government is

responding to market

concerns and also to polling

which may mean the new

government is not as cavalier

as some had feared", said

Tapas Strickland of National

Australia Bank.

the risks.

Some face harassment from

security officers who summon them

weekly for questioning, while others

cannot publish under their own

names.

"My colleagues and I have

frequently

experienced

interrogations lasting over 24 hours,"

an LGBTQ rights NGO worker told

AFP on condition of anonymity,

adding that psychological trauma

from the repeated questioning has

compounded his woes.

"We've become more and more

incapable, regardless of whether it's

from a financial or operational

perspective, or on a personal level."

The collapse of China's civil society

has been a long process riddled with

obstacles for activists.

In 2015, more than 300 lawyers

and rights defenders were arrested in

a sweep named the "709 crackdown"

after the date it was launched-July 9.

Many lawyers remained behind

bars or under surveillance for years,

while others were disbarred,

according to rights groups.

Another watershed moment was

the adoption in 2016 of the so-called

foreign NGO law, which imposed

restrictions and gave police wideranging

powers over overseas NGOs

operating in the country.

"In 2014, we could unfurl protest

banners, conduct scientific fieldwork

and collaborate with Chinese media

to expose environmental abuses," an

environmental NGO worker told AFP

on condition of anonymity for fear of

reprisal.

"Now we must report to the police

before we do anything. Each project

must be in cooperation with a

government department that feels

more like a supervisory committee."

Today's landscape is markedly

different from even a few years ago,

when civil society groups were able to

operate in the relatively permissive

climate that started under previous

president Hu Jintao.

"At universities, several LGBTQ

and gender-focused groups sprung

up around 2015," said Carl, an

LGBTQ youth group member,

although he felt a "tightening

pressure".

By 2018, the government's zerotolerance

of activism came to a head

with the authorities suppressing a

budding #MeToo feminist

movement and arresting dozens of

student activists.

"Activities quietly permitted before

were banned, while ideological work

like political education classes

ramped up", said Carl.

DCCI President meets Turkish Trade Minister

The President of Dhaka

Chamber of Commerce &

Industry

(DCCI)

RizwanRahman met the

Turkish Minister for Trade

Dr. Mehmut MUS at his

Ministry in Ankara, Turkiye

on 02 October, 2022.

During the meeting,

RizwanRahman said that the

bilateral trade between

Bangladesh and Turkiye is

around USD 900 million

which is not satisfactory at all.

The existing bilateral trade

can be enhanced over USD 2

billion through more trade

diversification. He also said

that the progress in publicprivate

and B2B partnership

between the two countries

remain low. He said that

Turkish investors can

consider Bangladesh's 100

economic zones and 28 hightech

parks as their preferred

investment destination. He

also requested the Minister to

allow extend the current duty

free quota free tariff line

facility to Bangladesh which

is now 79.9% for trade

growth. Moreover, Joint

Economic Commission

meetings should be held

regularly to arrange effective

joint exhibitions and

seminars on bilateral

economic issues and address

trade issues. Furthermore,

Bangladesh and Türkiye can

work and advocate together

to form an effective D-8

economic bloc. Bangladeshi

ceramic products do not get

duty free quota free access to

Turkish market rather 19%

tariff is imposed on this

product. Turkiye added an

extra 17% tariff for

Bangladeshi RMG products.

He then requested the

Equities extend rally on

rate hopes, traders

await OPEC decision

HONG KONG : Asian

investors joined their Wall

Street and European

counterparts in an equity

buying spree Wednesday as

more data pointing to

weakness in the US economy

further fanned hopes the

Federal Reserve could temper

its rate hike campaign, reports

BSS.

The much-needed dose of

optimism has also put

pressure on the dollar,

pushing it down against most

of its peers and adding to the

upward march in oil prices

fuelled by expectations OPEC

will announce a massive

output cut later in the day.

The mood on trading floors

was lightened Monday by

data showing US factory

activity slowed more than

forecast in September to a

two-year low, suggesting the

Fed's rate hike campaign

against decades-high inflation

could be kicking in.

That was followed Tuesday

by news that US job openings

had also dropped by almost

10 percent in August, its

fastest fall since April 2020.

"Rate hikes are really

beginning to take a bite out of

the US employment

numbers," said Matt

Simpson, of City Index.

Minister to relax these tariffs

on RMG and ceramic

products for Bangladesh's

export growth, a press release

said.

Turkish Minister for Trade

Dr. Mehmut MUS agreed

that the bilateral trade

between these two countries

is not up to the expected level.

He also termed Bangladesh

as an attractive investment

destination. Both the

countries should work

He added that the figures

put more emphasis on jobs

reports out later in the week,

with weak readings likely to

provide more support to

stocks as investors bet the Fed

will temper its tightening

campaign.

However, officials at the

central bank continue to flag

their determination to crush

inflation, even if that means

sparking a recession.

"For the market to continue

higher, the jobs data will have

to be in-line with, or short of

expectations," said Lindsey

Bell, of Ally Financial.

The market is currently

anticipating a "Goldilocks"

labour market report that's

"not too hot and not too cold".

All three main indexes on

Wall Street rallied Tuesday,

with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq

up more than three percent,

while European markets also

thundered higher.

And Asia continued the run,

with Hong Kong rocketing

more than five percent as

investors there returned from

a one-day break, while there

were also healthy

performances in Tokyo,

Singapore, Sydney, Taipei,

Jakarta and Manila.

The gains were also helped

by a smaller-than-expected

together to enhance this

trade volume. He said that

few Turkish companies are

already doing their

businesses in Bangladesh

and they are doing very well.

And this success will be an

example for others to invest

in Bangladesh.

Ambassador of Bangladesh

in Ankara Mosud Mannan,

ndc was also present during

the meeting.

rate hike by the Reserve Bank

of Australia.

That came after the Bank of

England last week pledged to

pump billions of dollars into

supporting financial markets

after they were hammered by

the UK government's bigborrowing

mini-budget.

The BoE pivot "seems to

have convinced investors that

the Fed now must give more

weight to financial stability,

which means that the current

monetary tightening cycle

might end sooner rather than

later", Ed Yardeni, president

of Yardeni Research, said.

Focus is now on the meeting

later Wednesday of OPEC and

other major producers, who

are reportedly considering a

two million barrels cut in

output-double what had

earlier been flagged-after

prices plunged to their

January lows owing to

recession concerns.

Both main contracts have

bounced this week on talk of

the reductions, while the

weaker dollar makes the

commodity cheaper for

buyers using other currencies.

While WTI and Brent

dipped slightly, analysts said

they may have more road to

run up as supplies tighten and

the dollar softens.

tHUrSDAY, oCtober 6, 2022

9

olympique de Marseille's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring their first goal with Amine Harit

and Cengiz Under during their Champions League against Sporting Cp at orange Velodrome,

Marseille on tuesday.

photo: Ap

Marseille beats 10-man Sporting

after goalkeeper errors

SportS DeSk

Marseille recovered from going behind

in the first minute to rout Sporting

Lisbon 4-1 Tuesday in the Champions

League, thanks in part to visiting

goalkeeper Antonio Adan making two

costly errors before getting sent off,

reports UNB.

After not scoring a goal in two

opening losses in Group D, Marseille

ended Sporting's perfect record with

goals from Alexis Sanchez, Amine

Harit, Leonardo Balerdi and Chancel

Mbemba.

Adan had a night to forget, as he

gifted Sanchez the equalizing goal after

dawdling on the ball, made another

mistake for the second and then was

handed a red card in the 23rd minute

after handling the ball outside his area.

The kickoff was delayed by more than

20 minutes after the bus carrying the

visiting team's players was caught in

traffic and arrived late at the

Velodrome stadium. The delay had

been set to 15 minutes by UEFA and as

Marseille players waited in the tunnel,

coach Igor Tudor looked furious and

complained to match officials that their

opponents were late to come out of the

locker room.

But Sporting wasted no time once the

game got started, needing less than 60

seconds to break the deadlock.

With Marseille defenders letting him

move forward unopposed, Francisco

Trincao went down the right flank and

cut inside to fire a left-footed shot into

the net.

Marseille needed a blunder from the

Sporting goalkeeper to get back in the

match in the 13th minute.

Under pressure from Sanchez, Adan

kicked the ball straight at the Chile

striker as he tried to clear, and it

bounced back into the net.

Adan looked destabilized and was

again at fault on Marseille's next goal

three minutes later after another poor

kick landed at Matteo Guendouzi's feet.

The midfielder was quick to pass the

ball to Jonathan Clauss, who crossed it

for Harit to finish off the move with a

fine header.

Adan then rushed out to clear a ball in

the 23rd, only to mistime his run and

handle outside the area. Forward

Marcus Edwards came off to make way

for goalkeeper Franco Israel, who made

his Champions League debut.

Israel's lack of experience was on

display on Marseille's next chance,

when he misjudged a free kick from

Harit and could not stop Leonardo

Balerdi's powerful header in the 28th.

Sporting could not recover and were

repeatedly sanctioned four fouls as

Marseille controlled the remainder of

the match, with Mbemba adding luster

to the win in the 85th minute from

close range.

The game was played without fans

following the crowd trouble during

Eintracht Frankfurt's 1-0 win at

Marseille last month.

Yankees star Judge hits 62nd homer to break Maris’ AL record

SportS DeSk

Aaron Judge hit his 62nd home run of

the season Tuesday night, breaking

Roger Maris' American League record

and setting what some fans consider

baseball's "clean" standard, reports

UNB.

The 30-year-old Yankees slugger

drove a 1-1 slider from Texas righthander

Jesus Tinoco into the first row

of seats in left field when leading off the

second game of New York's day-night

doubleheader.

After No. 99 took a smooth, mighty

swing, he had a wide smile on his face

as he rounded the bases and his

Yankees teammates streamed out of

the dugout to celebrate with him. They

stayed away from home plate, letting

Judge step on it before sharing hugs

and high-fives.

Judge's mother and father were in

the stands to see Judge end a five-game

homerless streak, including Game 1 of

the doubleheader when he was 1 for 5

with a single.

The ball was caught by a fan in

Section 31, who was then taken with

security to have the ball authenticated.

Another fan was escorted away after

leaping out of the seats into a gap

between the seats and the left-field

wall.

Maris' 61 for the Yankees in 1961 had

been exceeded six times previously, but

all were tainted by the stench of

steroids. Mark McGwire hit 70 for the

St. Louis Cardinals in 1998 and 65 the

following year. Barry Bonds hit an

MLB-record 73 for the San Francisco

Giants in 2001, and the Chicago Cubs'

Sammy Sosa had 66, 65 and 63 during

a four-season span starting in 1998.

McGwire admitted using banned

steroids, while Bonds and Sosa denied

knowingly using performingenhancing

drugs. Major League

Baseball started testing with penalties

for PEDs in 2004, and some fans -

perhaps many - until now have

considered Maris as holder of the

legitimate record. A Ruthian figure

with a smile as outsized as his body, the

6-foot-7 Judge has rocked the major

leagues with a series of deep drives that

hearken to the sepia tone movie reels of

his legendary pinstriped predecessors.

"He should be revered for being the

actual single-season home run champ,"

Roger Maris Jr. said Wednesday night

after his father's mark was matched by

Judge. "I think baseball needs to look at

the records and I think baseball should

do something."

Judge had homered only once in the

past 13 games, and that was when he

hit No. 61 last Wednesday in Toronto.

The doubleheader nightcap in Texas

was his 55th game in row played since

Aug. 5.

Judge was 3 for 17 with five walks and

a hit by pitch since moving past the 60

home runs Babe Ruth hit in 1927,

which had stood as the major league

record for 34 years. Maris hit his 61st

off Boston's Tracy Stallard at old

Yankee Stadium on Oct. 1, 1961.

Judge has a chance to become the

first AL Triple Crown winner since

Detroit's Miguel Cabrera in 2012. He

leads the AL with 131 RBIs and began

the day trailing Minnesota's Luis

Arraez, who was hitting .315.

The home run in his first at-bat put

him back to .311, where he had started

the day before dropping a point in the

opener.

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge follows through on a solo home run, his 62nd of the season, as

texas rangers catcher Sam Huff, left, and umpire randy rosenberg, rear, look on. photo: Ap

Taste of Qatari

hospitality:

traditional

Arabic coffee

SportS DeSk

With its strong aroma of

cardamom and its yellowy,

tea-like consistency, Arabic

coffee is a ubiquitous symbol

of hospitality across Gulf

countries, not least in World

Cup host Qatar, reports BSS.

Prepared by roasting coffee

beans then boiling them with

cardamom and saffron, the

traditional "gahwa" is usually

enjoyed in the Qatari majlisthe

all-male gathering that

forms the centrepiece of social

life in the country.

"I didn't know it has coffee

in it," said Lanka Perera, 29, a

Sri Lankan expatriate who has

lived in the tiny, gas-rich Gulf

emirate for three years,

adding that it doesn't taste like

"the coffee that we know".

As custom dictates, the hot

drink is prepared in front of

guests by the head of the

household and served by his

eldest son.

But in more recent years,

the beverage has spilt beyond

its traditional confines,

making its way into

commercial establishments

and cultural houses, offering a

taste of Qatari culture to

residents and visitors alike.

One such independent

cultural centre is Embrace

Doha, where Perera attended

a session on the coffee and its

origins.

"Gahwa is something that

we drink almost every day...

we see it in our office because

there are lots of Qataris, so

they bring it and then we taste

it," she told AFP after the

session.

"But... I didn't know what's

in it and the story behind it,

the origin behind it," she

confessed.

Ritual and ceremony -

Since the introduction of

coffee to the region around

600 years ago, it has acquired

its own ritual and ceremony,

now integral to the culture of

the country and region.

Poured out of golden or

silver "dallah" pots, it is

consumed out of little cups

that are only ever partially

filled to avoid burning

drinkers' fingers.

Bayern routs Plze?

5-0 to set CL

group-stage

unbeaten record

SportS DeSk

Leroy Sané scored twice as

Bayern Munich set a

Champions League record

by extending their unbeaten

run in group play to 31

matches with a 5-0 win over

Czech champion Viktoria

Plze? on Tuesday, reports

UNB.

Bayern maintained their

perfect start to this season's

campaign to break Real

Madrid's mark of 30 straight

group-stage matches

without a loss, a streak

stretching back to

September 2017.

Bayern also haven't lost at

home in Europe's premier

competition since a 3-2

defeat to Manchester City in

December 2013. Since then,

the Bavarian powerhouse

has won 25 games and

drawn one in Munich.

Bayern recorded 2-0

victories over Inter Milan

and Barcelona already in

Group C, but they had to face

Plze? without Thomas

Müller and Joshua Kimmich

due to coronavirus

infections.

No matter.

Sané opened the scoring in

the seventh minute when he

coasted past several

defenders before unleashing

a shot inside the top left

corner, and Leon Goretzka

pushed the ball through for

Serge Gnabry to make it 2-0

in the 13th.

Adam Vlkanova had just

tried his luck for Plze?, but

Manuel Neuer safely

gathered the shot. It was the

visitors' only real chance in

the first half.

Andrey Rublev to defend his

Mubadala World Tennis

Championship crown

SportS DeSk

Andrey Rublev will return to

Abu Dhabi in December to

defend his Mubadala World

Tennis Championship title,

organizers have confirmed,

reports UNB.

He is the latest star to join

the six-player male lineup at

the MWTC from Dec. 16 to

18 that includes world No. 1

Carlos Alcaraz and regular

Slam finalist Casper Ruud,

with three more big-name

players expected to be

unveiled soon.

The 24-year-old, who has

reached a career-high

ranking of No. 5, secured his

first MWTC title with a

straight sets victory over

Andy Murray at the

International Tennis Center

in Zayed Sports City last

December.

Rublev has 11 ATP Tour

singles titles and three

doubles titles to his credit.

He won the mixed doubles

gold medal at the 2020

Tokyo Olympics alongside

compatriot Anastasia

Pavlyuchenkova, and has

reached the quarterfinals of

a Grand Slam five times,

including at this year's

French and US Opens.

Fans will have the chance

to catch two of the best

women's players on the

tournament's first day, with

world No. 2 US Open finalist

and defending MWTC

champion Ons Jabeur

taking on 2021 US Open

Champion and British No. 1

Emma Raducanu.

"Last year's event was

memorable, firstly to see the

return of the championship

after the rebound of live

events and, secondly,

because of the top-class

tennis on display. Andrey

was a worthy winner so it's

great that we have secured

his return alongside the next

generation of superstars

Carlos, Casper, Ons and

Emma. The 14th edition is

shaping up to be a very

exciting three days of action

on and off the court," said

John Lickrish, CEO, Flash

Entertainment.

The Arabian Gulf's leading

tennis experience will also

bring its traditional mix of

interactive activities, and

player meet-and-greets.

Tickets start from AED95

for adults and AED45 for

children. Three-day

packages offer a 20 percent

saving, guaranteeing

spectators a seat for the

entire championship.

Premier hospitality tickets

also offer fans a special

menu and courtside seating.

More details are available at

www.mubadalawtc.com.

Andrey rublev will be back to defend his Mubadala World tennis

Championship crown in December.

photo: Ap

Tri-nation series will

give us best preparation

for T20 WC: Siddons

SportS DeSk

Bangladesh batting

coach Jamie Siddons

believes the tri-nation

series is the best

preparation platform for

his side for the

upcoming T20 World

Cup as they will be

playing against two

strong opponents in

challenging condition in

this series, reports BSS.

He thinks if

Bangladesh can do well

here, this will benefit

them in the Australian

condition, which mostly

resembles New Zealand

wicket.

"Playing here is really

very good, we can't ask

for anything better. New

Zealand is the finalist of

the last world cup and

Pakistan is obviously a

fantastic T20 side. The

wickets are challenging

and that will help us

ready to go all the way to

the World Cup," Siddons

said in a video message

sent by the Bangladesh

Cricket Board (BCB)

today.

After reaching New

Zealand, Bangladesh

practiced in Lincoln in

Christchurch. The likes

of Nurul Hasan Sohan,

Liton Das, Mosaddek

Hossain Saikat excelled

in batting-bowling and

fielding as shown in the

video sent by the BCB.

Siddons said that

Bangladesh are able to

adapt to the conditions

here even though

Bangladesh have no

success in New Zealand

apart from a historical

Test win against hosts

early in this year.

"We have come out

from 40 degrees, it's nice

to be in some cooler

weather. We have a

couple of Aussie guys in

the group, the conditions

are pretty similar.

Wickets out there in the

center are very nice,

hagley oval is pretty

much like Australia I

think. Early season

Australia is pretty

similar to what we have

here," Siddons added.

Bangladesh have still

been a vulnerable team

in T20 cricket as they are

yet to compete with the

big teams. However,

before going to New

Zealand, Bangladesh

played two matches

against United Arab

Emirates (UAE) and

won those two which

boosted their confidence

to some extent.

Siddons feels this

winning streak will come

handy here in tri-nation

series. He is also very

excited about the young

team.

"We are going right,

just coming from Dubai,

after playing a couple of

good games against UAE

and a week's practice at

their facilities which

were fantastic. We are

pretty young team, some

of the seniors are retired

or not on this tour. It's a

young team and we are

very excited about them,

they got a bit of learning

curb, let's see how they

do against two pretty

strong teams here."

Australia's Paine

set to play first

match since

sexting scandal

SportS DeSk

An "emotionally sound" Tim

Paine is set to play his first

top-level game since a

sexting scandal ended his

international career, with

the former Australia captain

included Tuesday in

Tasmania's squad for a

Sheffield Shield tie, reports

UNB.

Paine quit as Test skipper

last November on the eve of

the Ashes campaign against

England when lewd text

messages he sent to a female

colleague in 2017 were about

to be made public.

The bombshell

announcement was followed

a week later by Paine taking

leave from all forms of

cricket for the "foreseeable

future" amid concerns about

the mental well-being of a

player previously seen as

squeaky-clean. But he never

retired and was named in

Tasmania's 13-man squad

for their Shield match

against Queensland in

Brisbane from Thursday.

"He has been training with

us the last couple of

months," Tasmania coach

Jeff Vaughan told reporters.

"And it was quite

unanimous that everyone

wanted one of the world's

best wicketkeepers in our

side."

Paine is expected to take

the gloves from Matthew

Wade who is on Australian

duty ahead of the Twenty20

World Cup later this month,

and will face a Queensland

team boasting former Test

colleagues Usman Khawaja

and Marnus Labuschagne.

The 37-year-old has been

training as an uncontracted

player with the Tasmanian

state team, and made a

return in lower-level cricket

last weekend with his club

side.

THURsdAY, OcTOBER 6, 2022

10

Shakib to star

in Raihan

Rafi's new film

TBT REPORT

Dhallywood superstar Shakib Khan

has announced that he will star in an

upcoming film directed by 'Poran'

famed filmmaker Raihan Rafi. This

will be the first collaboration between

them. Both of them announced it

from their verified Facebook profiles

yesterday. The name and plot of the

film are still under wrap.

This will mark Raihan Rafi's

second major project with Shakib's

production company SK Films after

'Damal'. The film will be jointly

produced by OTP Khan and

Moniruzzaman.

Raihan Rafi said, "Yes, finally I'm

going to make a film with Shakib

Khan. I can't disclose anything about

the film yet but one thing I can say for

sure is that it will be a totally different

one. The audience will see Shakib in a

completely new type of role which he

never played before. The film will be

a new genre for Shakib too".

"However, who will be acting

opposite of Shakib is yet to be

decided and I can't say about it right

now," he added.

The director is currently busy with

the promotional campaigns for his

upcoming hyped film 'Damal',

starring Sariful Razz, Bidya Sinha

Saha Mim and Siam Ahmed. The

second song of the film will be

released soon.

"Our whole team is very busy with

the promotional campaigns for

'Damal'. I am really hopeful about the

success of the film. I think 'Damal'

will be able to create more hype than

'Poran'," said the director.

'Damal' is slated to hit theatres on

October 28. Also, Rafi's next film

'Nur,' which stars Arifin Shuvoo in

the lead role, recently wrapped its

shoot. Media industry insiders are

already saying that it will be a

comeback film for Shuvoo after

receiving major backlash for his

performance in the 'Mujib' trailer.

On the other hand, after a tenmonth

hiatus, Dhallywood film star

Shakib Khan returned in front of the

camera by shooting a commercial

alongside Nusraat Faria. After

making headlines by revealing that

he has a two-and-a-half-year-old son

named Shehzad Khan Bir with

Dhallywood actress Shobnom Bubly,

Shakib joined her in the shoot of

'Leader, Ami E Bangladesh' on

October 1 at the capital's Pan Pacific

Sonargaon hotel.

However, when asked about the

ongoing controversies about Shakib,

Rafi denied making any comment on

that.

Amazon forges ‘Lord of the Rings’

prequel hype at Comic-Con

Nomadic hobbits, bearded female

dwarves and enslaved elves-Amazon

finally lifted the lid on its highly

anticipated "Lord of the Rings: The

Rings of Power" TV series at Comic-

Con on Friday.

The enormously ambitious smallscreen

saga set in the world of J.R.R.

Tolkien's books has been in the works

since Amazon Prime bought the rights

for $250 million almost five years ago.

Fans, many of whom camped in line

overnight at the world's most famous

pop culture gathering, were treated to

a first look at footage, plus interviews

with the creators and a 21-strong cast

of hobbits, dwarves and elves in a

packed presentation hosted by

comedian and Tolkien-enthusiast

Stephen Colbert.

"As fans and as viewers and lovers of

Middle Earth and Tolkien, we didn't

want to do a side thing, or a spin off, or

the origin story of something else,"

said co-creator Patrick McKay.

"We wanted to find a huge

Tolkienian mega epic. And Amazon

were, wonderfully, crazy enough to

say 'yes, let's do that.'"

Amazon is reportedly spending

more than $1 billion to make five

seasons-each running for 10 hoursthe

first of which launches on its

streaming platform September 2, and

which "reintroduces" Tolkien's world

of Middle Earth, said McKay.

Younger versions of elves Galadriel

and Elrond-familiar characters to fans

of Peter Jackson's Oscar-winning

"Lord of the Rings" trilogy-will be

played by Morfydd Clark and Robert

Aramayo.

But with the new TV show set 4,000

years before Jackson's trilogy, in a

fictional "Second Age"-a historical

period sketched out in less detail by

Tolkien's writings-the creators had

license to create many new characters.

"The field was wide open," said cocreator

J.D. Payne.

"Amazon bought the rights to

basically 10,000 years of Middle

Earth history and said, 'Alright guys,

let's take all comers and see what you

have to say.'

"We felt that the Second Age is

freaking awesome. It's Tolkien's

amazing, untold story, that is so iconic

with the forging of the Rings of

Power."

Source: Collider

Shampa Reza

in Western

outfit

Shampa Reza is one of the top

model icons of Bangladesh. She is

also a singer as well as actress. After

a colorful life of six decades, her

voice, personality and acting style

are still etched in the mind. The

latest example of this happened on

social media Facebook. This star

appeared in an eye-catching getup.

Here she appeared with white open

hair in a western outfit.

She was wearing jeans dungarees

and a jacket made of jamdani

fabric. Netizens are floating in joy

and wonder after seeing the

pictures on social media.

Shampa Reza said, 'Everyone is

appreciating the pictures. I don't

use any social handles though. But I

am getting a lot of positive

comments on mobile and

WhatsApp. This is my excitment.'

In 1975, this actress achieved

success by acting in the drama

called ' Ostrotogandha ' directed by

Salim Al Deen. She is now busy

'Raagi' choreographed by Michael

Babu to release on October 14

TBT REPORT

Ending all speculations, the movie

'Raagi' directed by Mizanur Rahman

Mizan is coming to shake the cinema

screens on October 14. Michael Babu

Ratan, the busiest choreographer of

the time, was the choreographer of the

film. Besides directing, the story and

screenplay of this movie has been

written by the director himself.

The director of the film expressed

optimism that this action-oriented

movie will give a different taste to the

audience of Bangladesh.

He said, Raagi is a full action film,

which I believe will give our audience a

taste of Tamil cinema. Kamal

Mahmud, Delwar Hossain Dilu and

Armaan directed the action scenes of

the movie.

The director also said - After a long

time, the once heartthrob heroine

Munmun will be seen on the screen

again through this movie, but not as a

heroine, she has worked in a

challenging role, the audience will find

a new Munmun through this movie, I

believe. Apart from Munmun, Abir

Chowdhury, Achal, Moumita and

many other famous artists have acted

in this film.

The film Raagi produced by Zakira

Khatun Jaya features songs by Imran,

Kona, Shawon Gaanwala and Kornia

with music direction by Ahmed

Humayun, and one of the current film

dance choreographers, Michael Babu

Ratan, was the choreographer for the

filming of these songs.

When asked, Michael Babu said,

"The lyrics of the song were excellent

and the singing style of the artists was

also excellent. There was a good

budget for the song of this movie. The

with Sajjad Hossain Dodul's serial

'Musa'. The drama is based on the

underworld.

Regarding acting, Shampa Reza

said, 'There is no hesitation to say,

the condition of screenplays here is

very bad. I want to work, but when I

read the script, I don't like it

anymore.

song of this movie was filmed by

making sets as required in the

beautiful locations of Cox's Bazar, Film

Valley and Five Star Hotel. I hope this

movie and movie songs will touch the

heart of the audience.

Raagi movie is releasing on October

14 under the banner of Astha

Kathachitra from Rangmanch.

Shraddha: Actresses being driving point in film story

Shraddha Kapoor's 12 year long

career started with Teen Patti, and a

few films later, she met with stardom

courtesy Aashiqui 2.

Shraddha Kapoor's 12 year long

career started with Teen Patti, and a

few films later, she met with stardom

courtesy Aashiqui 2. And the one

change she has observed ever since, is

that female actors have it better now.

"A lot of things have changed since

I started off, especially for female

actors. Now we see films made from a

female gaze, with the actress being

the driving point of the story. Not

only are women headlining many

films and stories but they are also

written in a deeply layered manner,

which can create an impact. It's a

great time for women in Indian

cinema," says the 35-year-old.

Kapoor will be seen next in Luv

Ranjan's directorial opposite actor

Ranbir Kapoor. While she says that

there is nothing at all she would want

to change about her career, her

biggest learning so far has been this,

"One lesson that I hold close to myself

is - change is the only constant. As an

actor, one has to always keep

changing, evolving, learning and

unlearning. As an actor, I just want to

keep bettering myself as a person,

keep bettering myself from who I was

yesterday, and want to make the

world a wee bit better."

But since we are talking about

being an actor, social media is an

inseparable part of her job, and that's

also a pretty big change in the course

of her career. Kapoor has aced the

same, and how. Her Instagram

boasts of a whopping 75 million

strong following. Doesn't it put a lot

of pressure on her? "I don't like to see

it as pressure as much as the

humangous love that's being

showered on. My fanclubs, my

babudis, my gems, are my most

precious ones. I regularly go through

all their reels, videos, posts and edits

that they make with so much love

and I get so overwhelmed and

grateful. I am here all because of

them," she says.

Source: Times of India

H O R O s c O P E

ARIEs

You'll do some serious soul searching

today. Which goals have you achieved

and which ones have gone

unattained? Be honest as you reflect

on past months. Could you have done things

differently? Would you like to do things differently

in the future? You'd be well advised to write down

your successes and regrets. Use the list to keep you

on track. It's bound to be a great help to you.

TAURUs

Expect your romantic relationship to be

better than ever today, Taurus. You're

communicating well and in touch with

one another's feelings. How wonderful

to be able to maintain an inspiring, rewarding bond

with someone who loves you. There is much to be

grateful for. This could be a good time to take your

relationship to the next level. Your partner won't

mind discussing this.

GEMINI

This could be a banner day, Gemini.

Your spiritual and career goals come

together so both are enhanced, and

neither is compromised. It's a neat

trick. You can expect the opportunity to practice

what you preach to come to you through a friend or

colleague. Don't discount any ideas presented to you,

as one will contain the key to meshing two of the

most important parts of your life.

cANcER

Be your most charming self tonight,

Cancer. You're likely to talk with

someone who can help your career.

Your intuition is strong, so you may

know who this person is the minute you begin your

conversation. If the chemistry is good, too, so much

the better! Whether this person impacts your life in

a romantic or business capacity, you'll remember

this night as when your life changed for the better!

LEO

You have an introspective nature, Leo.

For the last few weeks, you've been

reflecting on and assessing what does

and doesn't work in your life. It's likely

that you're ready for some kind of major change.

Either your relationship is in a rut or you need a

complete career overhaul. Follow your instincts as

you plan how to develop and grow from here. You

are your own best guide.

VIRGO

You're ready for something new and

different, Virgo. What better time than

during the current transits to put into

practice what has only been a dream?

You may decide to work for yourself or ditch one

relationship in favor of another. You want the

changes you implement to be brash and farreaching!

If not, you may have to wait a long time to

feel this energetic and optimistic again.

LIBRA

You'll do some serious soul searching

today. Which goals have you achieved

and which ones have gone unattained?

Be honest as you reflect on past

months. Could you have done things differently?

Would you like to do things differently in the future?

You'd be well advised to write down your successes

and regrets. Use the list to keep you on track. It's

bound to be a great help to you.

scORPIO

Today you'll realize that a clean slate

brings with it the chance for a new

beginning. You feel excited and

optimistic about the future. Your

goals are clear, and your mind is sharp. How can

you not succeed? Take care not to let your fantasies

run away with you. Keep your eyes on your

attainable goals rather than waste time and energy

chasing pipe dreams.

sAGITTARIUs

You may be ready for some major

career changes, Sagittarius. You could

be fed up with the stress and long

hours of the corporate environment.

Surely in this age of technology there's a way to

spend more time at home without sacrificing the

quality of your work. Think about it for a few days. If

you propose a feasible alternative to your boss, the

positive response may surprise you.

cAPRIcORN

Your intuition is working overtime

today, Capricorn, making you sensitive

to others' deepest emotions. It may be

that the celestial atmosphere has

everyone feeling open and honest, eager to grow

into his or her most authentic self. Certainly, that's

how you feel. Take some time out of your busy

schedule to reflect on your regrets and successes. Be

as true to yourself as possible.

AQUARIUs

No pressure, Aquarius, but as things

are now, you might want to evaluate

your career. Is it working out well?

What are your latest achievements?

What goals haven't been reached? If the answers

aren't satisfactory, it's time to make some dramatic

changes. If your work doesn't make your heart sing,

it's time to find some that does. Life isn't a dress

rehearsal. Get going!

PIscEs

The time is right for all things

financial, Pisces. If you've been

thinking of signing a contract to

accept a job or purchase a piece of

property, go ahead. Strategize ways in which you

can be even more financially successful in the

future. You have a lot of skills, but you don't

always apply them as carefully as you could.

Correct this and you'll be unstoppable!

THURSDAy, OCTOBER 6, 2022

11

Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University Prof. Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman visits Jagannath Hall Puja Mandap

yesterday.

Photo : Courtesy

Indonesia police chief, others

removed over soccer disaster

MALANG : An Indonesian police chief

and nine elite officers were removed

from their posts Monday and 18 others

were being investigated for

responsibility in the firing of tear gas

inside a soccer stadium that set off a

stampede, killing at least 125 people,

officials said, reports UNB.

Distraught family members were

struggling to comprehend the loss of

their loved ones, including 17 children,

at the match in East Java's Malang city

that was attended only by hometown

Arema FC fans. The organizer had

banned supporters of the visiting team,

Persebaya Surabaya, because of

Indonesia's history of violent soccer

rivalries.

The disaster Saturday night was

among the deadliest ever at a sporting

event.

Arema players and officials laid

wreaths Monday in front of the

stadium.

"We came here as a team asking

forgiveness from the families impacted

by this tragedy, those who lost their

loves ones or the ones still being

treated in the hospital," head coach

Javier Roca said.

On Monday night, about a thousand

soccer fans dressed in black shirts held

a candlelight vigil at a soccer stadium

in Jakarta's satellite city of Bekasi to

pray for the victims of the disaster.

Witnesses said some of the 42,000

Arema fans ran onto the pitch in anger

on Saturday after the team was

defeated 3-2, its first loss at home

against Persebaya in 23 years. Some

threw bottles and other objects at

players and soccer officials. At least

five police vehicles were toppled and

set ablaze outside the stadium.

But most of the deaths occurred

when riot police, trying to stop the

violence, fired tear gas, including in the

stands, triggering a disastrous

stampede of fans making a panicked,

chaotic run for the exits. Most of the

125 people who died were trampled or

suffocated. The victims included two

police officers.

At least 17 children were among the

dead and seven were being treated in

hospitals, the Ministry of Women's

Empowerment and Child Protection

said. Police said 323 people were

injured in the crush, with some still in

critical condition.

National Police spokesperson Dedy

Prasetyo said Malang police chief Ferli

Hidayat had been removed along with

nine members of an elite police mobile

brigade and face possible dismissal in a

police ethics trial.

He said 18 officers responsible for

firing the tear gas, ranging from

middle- to high-ranking, were being

investigated.

Police are questioning witnesses and

analyzing video from 32 security

cameras inside and outside the

stadium and nine cellphones owned by

the victims as part of an investigation

that will also identify suspected

vandals, he said.

The parents and other relatives of

Faiqotul Hikmah, 22, wailed Monday

when an ambulance arrived at their

home with her body wrapped in white

cloth and a black blanket. She died

WTO slashes 2023 global trade

forecast as recession looms

GENEVA : The World Trade Organization

on Wednesday dramatically lowered its

global trade forecast for 2023, as Russia's

war in Ukraine and other shocks take their

toll on the world economy.

Presenting a revision of their annual trade

forecast, WTO economists said they

expected the volume of global merchandise

trade to grow 3.5 percent this year, which is

slightly higher than their expectations in

April.

But they forecast it would grow by only one

percent in 2023 -- dramatically down from

their expectations of 3.4-percent growth six

months ago.

"The picture for 2023 has darkened

considerably," WTO Director-General Ngozi

Okonjo-Iweala told reporters in Geneva.

"Today the global economy faces multiprong

crises. Monetary tightening is

weighing on growth across much of the

world."

As for the global economy as a whole, WTO

economists stuck with their April forecast of

2.8-percent GDP growth this year, but said

growth in 2023 was now expected to be just

2.3 percent-down a full percentage point

from the previous forecast.

By way of comparison, the Organisation

for Economic Co-operation and

Development has maintained its 2022

forecast at three percent, and expects 2.2

percent growth next year.

The International Monetary Fund

meanwhile forecasts growth at 3.2 percent

this year and 2.9 percent in 2023.

On the occasion of Mujib Shotoborsho, the construction work of 35 more

houses has started in Morrelganj of Bagerhat. Upazila Nirbahi officer

Jahangir Alam inaugurated the construction work at Kumarkhali village of

Khaulia Union yesterday on Wednesday. Assistant Commissioner (Land)

Md. Abdul Malek, Upazila Engineer Ariful Islam, Union Chairman Saidur

Rahman was present at this time.

Photo: M Palash Sharif

while fleeing to exit 12 at Kanjuruhan

Stadium.

A dozen friends had traveled with

her to see the match, but Hikmah was

one of only four who were able to enter

the stadium because tickets were sold

out, her friend, Abdul Mukid, said

Monday. He later bought a ticket from

a broker after hearing of the chaos

inside the stadium in order to search

for Hikman.

"I have to find her, save her," Mukid

recalled thinking.

Mukid found Hikmah's body laid at a

building in the stadium compound,

with broken ribs and bluish bruises on

her face. He learned that a second

friend had also died from other friends

who called him while he was in an

ambulance taking Hikmah's body to a

hospital.

"I can't put into words how much my

sorrow is to lose my sister," said Nur

Laila, Hikmah's older sibling. "She was

just a big Arema fan who wanted to

watch her favorite team play. She

shouldn't die just for that," she said,

wiping away tears.

President Joko Widodo ordered the

premier soccer league suspended until

safety is reevaluated and security

tightened. Indonesia's soccer

association also banned Arema from

hosting soccer matches for the rest of

the season.

Arema FC President Gilang Widya

Pramana expressed his sadness and

deepest apologies to the victims and

the Indonesian people, and said he is

ready to take full responsibility for the

tragedy at his team's stadium.

Amid Ukraine war,

US set to fly Russian

cosmonaut to ISS

WASHINGTON : The

United States will on

Wednesday carry a Russian

to the International Space

Station aboard a SpaceX

ship, in a voyage that carries

symbolic significance amid

the Ukraine war.

Anna Kikina, the only

female cosmonaut in service,

is part of the Crew-5 mission,

which also includes one

Japanese and two American

astronauts.

Blast-off is set for noon

from the Kennedy Space

Center, with the weather

forecast so far promising.

Two weeks ago, an

American astronaut took off

on a Russian Soyuz rocket

for the orbital platform.

The long-planned

astronaut exchange program

has been maintained despite

soaring tensions between the

two countries since

Moscow's invasion of

Ukraine in February.

Ensuring the operation of

the ISS has become one of

the few remaining areas of

cooperation between the

United States and Russia.

"When you each are flying

other's crew members, you

know that you have a huge

responsibility that you're

promising to the other

country," NASA associate

administrator Kathy Lueders

told reporters in a recent

press conference.

North Korea sends

missile soaring over

Japan in escalation

SEOUL : North Korea on

Tuesday fired a ballistic

missile over Japan for the

first time in five years,

forcing Japan to issue

evacuation notices and

suspend trains during the

flight of the nuclear-capable

weapon that could reach the

U.S. territory of Guam and

possibly beyond, reports

UNB.

The launch was the most

provocative weapons

demonstration by North

Korea this year as it ramps

up missile tests to build a

full-fledged nuclear arsenal

that viably threatens U.S.

allies and the American

homeland with the goal of

wresting

outside

concessions, some experts

say.

The missile's estimated

4,500 kilometer (2,800

mile) flight was the longest

by any North Korean

missile, though the North

has previously launched

other potentially longerrange

weapons at high

angles to avoid neighboring

countries.

The United States strongly

condemned North Korea's

"dangerous and reckless

decision" to launch what it

described as a "long-range

ballistic missile" over Japan.

"The United States will

continue its efforts to limit

(North Korea's) ability to

advance its prohibited

ballistic missile and

weapons of mass

destruction programs,

including with allies and

U.N. partners," National

Security

Council

spokesperson Adrienne

Watson said in a statement.

Traffic on Sajek Road has returned to normal after eight long hours. As there are no settlements in the landslide

area, no casualty has been reported so far. Due to heavy rains on Tuesday night this situation occurred when

landslide happened on the road in Shukna Nandaram area of Baghaihat-Sajek road along with Khagrachari. As

a result, traffic stopped in Sajek from Wednesday morning.

Photo: Md Sohanur Rahaman

GD-1627/22 (6x4)

Three business establishments

fined Tk 18,000 in Cumilla

CUMILLA: A team of Directorate of

National Consumer Rights Protection

(DNCRP) in a drive here realised Taka

18,000 as fine from the owners of three

business establishments for various

irregularities in different areas in Sadar

Dokhhin upazila of the district yesterday,

reports BSS.

Sources concerned said the team led by

assistant director of Directorate of

National Consumer Rights Protection

(DNCRP) in Cumilla Md Asadul Islam

conducted the drive at Amania Hotel and

Restaurant in New market area, fined Taka

5,000, for violating hygiene rules, at

Minerva Hotel, fined Taka 3,000 for

violating hygiene rules and City Pharmacy

in Sadar Hospital area, fined 10,000 for

storing and selling date expired medicine

in Sadar Dokhhin upazila of the district

today.

The business establishments were fined

Taka 18,000 for various irregularities and

violation of the Consumer Rights

Protection Act-2009.

Members of the law enforcement

agencies assisted in the operation team. All

are instructed to buy and sell at the rates

set by the government in accordance with

the Consumer Rights Protection Act.

The drive would continue in the district,

Islam added.

Detained American leaves Iran removing

one hurdle to nuclear deal

TEHRAN : Baquer Namazi, one of four US

citizens whose release Washington had

demanded in the context of any revived

nuclear deal with Tehran, left for neutral Oman

Wednesday, Iranian state television said.

Namazi, a former UNICEF official, was

detained in February 2016 when the 85-yearold

travelled to Iran to press for the release of

his son Siamak, who had been arrested in

October of the previous year.

"Mohammad Baquer Namazi, who had been

released from prison a few days ago, left Iran

today (Wednesday)," the state broadcaster

said, posting footage of Namazi boarding a

plane in Iran.

The United States has been pressing for the

release of the Namazis and two other

Americans amid efforts to revive the 2015

nuclear deal between Iran and major powers.

"Wrongfully detained US citizen Baquer

Namazi has been permitted to depart Iran, and

his son Siamak, also wrongfully detained, has

been granted furlough from prison," a State

Department spokesperson told AFP.

The spokesperson said that previously the

older Namazi was "not permitted to leave the

county after serving his sentence, despite his

repeated requirement for urgent medical

attention."The United Nations said last week

that the pair had been allowed to leave Iran,

after an appeal from Secretary General

Antonio Guterres.

Both were convicted of espionage in October

2016 and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Baquer Namazi was released on medical

leave in 2018 and had been serving his

sentence under house arrest.

At least two other American citizens are

currently held in Iran.Businessman Emad

Sharqi was sentenced last year to 10 years in

prison for espionage, and environmentalist

Morad Tahbaz, who is also a British national,

was arrested in 2018 and released on bail in

July. A drive to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal

began in April last year, with the aim of

returning the United States to the accord

through the lifting of sanctions reimposed by

president Donald Trump in 2018 and Iran's

return to full compliance.

The signing of the original deal was

accompanied by the release of detained

Americans and Namazi's departure has been

seen in Iran as a move that should be mirrored

by the other side.

Thursday, Dhaka : October 6, 2022; Ashwin 21, 1429 BS; Rabi-ul-Awal 9 , 1444 Hijri

A covered van lost control and hit an electricity pole on the capital's Rampura-Bansree road.

Photo taken on Wednesday.

Photo: Star Mail

Govt services to be ensured at

people's doorsteps: Shamim

DHAKA : Deputy Minister of Water

Resources AKM Enamul Haque Shamim

yesterday said that all quality services of the

government would have to be ensured at

doorsteps of the people.

"Father of the Nation Bangabandhu

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had a dream to

build a Sonar Bangla. And the country is

moving forward under the leadership of

Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina. We all have to work on this.

Good governance must be established in all

sectors," he said.

He was speaking as the chief guest at a

view exchange meeting with chairmen and

members of 24 Union Parishads (UP) of

Naria and Sakhipur upazilas at his residence

at Charbhaga at Sakhipur in Shariatpur yesterday

morning.

The deputy minister said the activities of

the UPs should be made more effective and

quality of all services including old age

AL picks candidates for a constituency,

7 upazilas, 4 municipalities

DHAKA : Ruling Awami League (AL) has

finalized candidates for a constituency,

seven upazila parishads, four municipalities

and 29 union parishads.

The decision was taken in a meeting of the

parliamentary nomination board and local

government representatives' nomination

board of the Awami League at the

Ganabhaban on Tuesday, said a press release

here. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also

chairperson of Awami League parliamentary

and local government representative nomination

board, presided over the meeting.

AL has given final nomination to Shahdab

Akbar Chowdhury Labu as its candidate for

Faridpur-2 constituency by polls scheduled

to be held on November 5.

Md Rezaul Islam was given nomination

for Rowmari Upazila Parishad ,Md

Solaiman Ali Sarker was given nomination

for Chilmari Upazila Parishad of Kurigram

district, Md Babul Akhtar was nominated

DHAKA : A new report by the Qatar

Foundation, World Innovation Summit for

Health (WISH), in collaboration with the

World Health Organization (WHO) finds

that at least a quarter of health and care

workers surveyed reported anxiety, depression

and burnout symptoms.

Our duty of care: A global call to action to

protect the mental health of health and care

workers examines the impact of the COVID-

19 pandemic on the mental health of the

health and care workforce and offers 10 policy

actions as a framework for immediate

follow-up by employers, organizations and

policy-makers.

The report found that 23 to 46 percent of

health and care workers reported symptoms

of anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic

and 20 to 37 percent experienced depressive

allowance and widow allowance should be

increased, according to a message received.

"Concerned departments should be

accountable. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

thinks about common people. Under her

leadership, Bangladesh is progressing fast

with the motto 'Village will be city'," he said.

Shamim said, "We see development everywhere.

It is the contribution of Sheikh Hasina.

If the pace of development continues,

Bangladesh will be the best country in Asia."

He said that Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman built Bangladesh his honesty

and talent. And his daughter Sheikh

Hasina with her honesty, wisdom and political

foresight has uplifted the country.

"So, we have to work with integrity from

our own position to move forward the country.

Bangladesh is progressing fast under

Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina and

she will come to power for the fifth time in

the next election as well," Shamim said.

for Khoksa Upazila Parishad of Kushtia

district, Md Ataur Rahman was nominated

for Netrokona Sadar Upazila Parishad

of Netrokona district, Md Shamim Ahmad

was nominated for Osmaninagar Upazila

Parishad of Sylhet district, Md Akmal

Hossain was nominated for Jagannathpur

Upazila Parishad of Sunamganj district

and Faruk Chowdhury was nominated for

Karnaphuli Upazila Parishad of

Chattogram district.

The candidates who were given party ticket

for the four municipalities are: Md Amzad

Hossain for Parbatipur Municipality in

Dinajpur, Samsuzzaman for Hajrabari

Municipality in Jamalpur, Faruk Ahmed for

Bishwanath Municipality in Sylhet, and

Alhajj Md Ismail Hossain for Fatikchhari

Municipality in Chattogram. Nominated

candidate for union parishad in Rangpur

District is- SM Ashraful Haque Mithu for

Barabari union in Lalmonirhat Zila.

World failing to protect mental health of health

care workers, says report on impact of Covid

symptoms. Burnout among health and care

workers during the pandemic ranged from

41 to 52 percent in pooled estimates.

Women, young people and parents of

dependent children were found to be at

greater risk of psychological distress-significant

considering that women make up 67

percent of the global health workforce and

are subject to inequalities in the sector, such

as unequal pay. The higher risk of negative

mental health outcomes among younger

health workers is also a concern.

"Well into the third year of the COVID-19

pandemic, this report confirms that the levels of

anxiety, stress and depression among health

and care workers has become a 'pandemic within

a pandemic,'" said Jim Campbell, WHO

Director of Health Workforce.

This report follows landmark decisions at

25 killed in India's

Uttarakhand

bus accident

NEW DELHI : At least 25 passengers,

aged between four and 51, were killed

after a bus carrying 45 people for a wedding

party fell into a 500-metre-deep

gorge in India's Uttarakhand state,

police said.

The accident took place at Simri in

Pauri Garhwal district in the Indian

state of Uttarakhand late on Tuesday,

police said adding that an overnight rescue

operation is continued.

The bus was on its way from Haridwar

to Kadagaon in Pauri when it lost balance.

The toll from the accident was

feared to go up as some of those injured

were critical.

"Twenty people have been rescued

and rushed to medical facilities but

some of them are seriously injured," The

Hindustan Times quoted Uttarakhand

Police chief Ashok Kumar as saying.

District magistrate Vijay Kumar

Jogdande said the rescue operation was

on and that they were pulling out the

bodies with the help of ropes.

Earlier, Haridwar police chief

Swantantra Kumar Singh had said that

the wedding party had left from Laldhang

in the district, about 122 km from the site

of the accident in Pauri Garhwal.

State Disaster Response Force

(SDRF) commandant Manikant Mishra

said only six bodies have been taken

away from the accident site. "...the operation

to bring the rest of the bodies to

the nearby road is on. Of the 20 rescued,

two-three are badly injured."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's

office called the accident "heart-rending"

and promised all help.

"The bus accident in Pauri,

Uttarakhand is heart-rending. In this

tragic hour my thoughts are with the

bereaved families. I hope those who

have been injured recover at the earliest.

Rescue operations are underway. All

possible assistance will be provided to

those affected," the Prime Minister's

Office tweeted, quoting PM Modi.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister

Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed his

condolences for the deaths in the

tragedy and said the state government

stands with their families.

the World Health Assembly and

International Labour Conference in 2022

that reaffirmed the obligations of governments

and employers to protect the workforce,

ensure their rights and provide them

with decent work in a safe and enabling

practice environment that upholds their

mental health and wellbeing. Protecting and

safeguarding this workforce is also an

investment in the continuity of essential

public health services to make progress

towards universal health coverage and global

health security.

"The increased pressure experienced during

the COVID-19 pandemic has clearly had

a detrimental impact on the health and wellbeing

of health and care workers," said

Sultana Afdhal, Chief Executive Officer of

WISH.

Brunei Sultan's first state

visit to Bangladesh carries

special significance

DHAKA : Brunei Darussalam Sultan Haji

Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah

is scheduled for a state visit to Bangladesh

from October 14 to 16.

"This is going to be the first state visit by

the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam to

Bangladesh," Bangladesh High

Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam

Nahida Rahman

Shumona told

UNB on

Wednesday. She

said the three-day

visit carries special

significance.

He will hold

meetings with

President Md

Abdul Hamid and

Prime Minister

Sheikh Hasina

apart from other

engagements during

the visit. The two countries are planning

to sign a number of bilateral cooperation

documents during the visit.

The two sides are working on the upcoming

state visit of the Brunei Darussalam

Sultan, said an official at the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs.

Asked about likely MoUs to be signed during

the visit, the official said, "We are still

negotiating in a number of areas - labor relations,

energy cooperation, seafarers training

and safety and air services."

The two sides are also in discussion to

Theft in power sector behind grid failure:Fakhrul

DHAKA : BNP on Wednesday blamed the

government's overall 'failure' and theft in the

power sector for Tuesday's long power

blackout in most areas of the country caused

by a national grid failure.

"We feel that this (national grid failure)

happened due to a total failure of the government,

and the problem relating to planning,

structural and technical matters, and widespread

theft in the power sector," he said.

The BNP leader also said the power sector

is not alone facing such problems. "These

are happening everywhere. I think the main

reason behind it is taking various unplanned

development projects by the government

only for indulging in corruption."

He made the remarks while talking to

reporters at BNP standing committee member

Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku's Asad Gate

residence in the city.

Fakhrul along with another BNP standing

committee member Amir Khosru

Mahmud Chowdhury went to Tuku's

DHAKA : The government is going to

impose a 22-day ban on hilsa fishing

from October 7. Hilsa catching, selling

and transportation will remain prohibited

during the periodto ensure the safe

spawning of the popular fish during its

peak breeding period.

The ban will remain in place till October

28, Public Relations Officer of the Fisheries

and Livestock Ministry, Iftekhar Hossain

told UNB.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM

Rezaul Karim will inform in details over the

restrictionat a press briefing on Thursday at

the Secretariat, he said. The objective of the

restriction on fishing is to save the mother

hilsa which lays eggs during the period.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries and

Livestock, hilsa production jumped from 3

lakh mts in 2008-09 to 5 lakh mts in 2017-

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah

Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah

have direct flights between Bangladesh and

Brunei. Bangladesh and Brunei are stressing

the importance of facilitating air and shipping

connectivity for giving the bilateral

trade, investment and people-to-people

contact a boost.

The two countries at the second Foreign

Office Consultations (FOC) held in Bandar

Seri Begawan in

August this year

agreed to facilitate

a greater collaboration

and synergy

between the private

sectors and

entrepreneurs of

the two countries

to fully harness the

untapped potentials.

The consultations

were cochaired

by Foreign

Secretary Masud

Bin Momen and Permanent Secretary of

Brunei Darussalam Pengiran Norhashimah

binti Pengiran Mohd Hassan.

The issue of energy cooperation prominently

featured in the bilateral discussions in

context of the severe supply chain disruptions

owing to the volatility and uncertainties

caused by the pandemic and conflicts in

different parts of the world, said the Ministry

of Foreign Affairs.

The two sides acknowledged the valuable

contribution made by Bangladeshi migrant

workers to both the countries.

house as he fell sick.

Earlier on Tuesday, power supply

across the country was disrupted for

nearly seven hours, plunging most areas

into a blackout following the failure of

the national power grid.

Fakhrul said the government used to brag

about attaining self-sufficiency in electricity

and having the capacity to produce more

power than the country's demand, but people

are regularly facing power outages.

"Yesterday's (Tuesday's) case was unusual.

There was no power in most parts of the

country for about 8 hours. It's like a total

blackout," he observed.

The BNP leader said the blackout has

manifested that the ruling party leaders

made huge money by taking various projects

in the power sector, but failed to ensure

real and sustainable development. "It

(blackout) threw the country into a great disaster.

As a result mobile network and internet,

all factories and filling stations were

22-day ban on hilsa fishing

begins tomorrow

18 and its production touched 5.33 lakh mts

in 2019 thanks to the government for its various

steps taken to give a boost to its output.

Bangladesh's over 12.0 per cent fish production

comes from hilsa, posting the highest

contribution to the country's fish output

as a single fish species.

Hilsa, the national fish of Bangladesh, is

recognized as a certified patented product of

Bangladesh. The marine fish flies to rivers in

Bangladesh to lay eggs. The fish is very popular

both in Bangladesh and West Bengal.

About 75 percent of the world's hilsa is netted

in Bangladesh.

Chandpur is considered one of the

largest trading hubs of hilsa in Bangladesh

as the fish from the Padma River is much

more popular than the ones that come

from other rivers because of its extremely

pleasing taste.

RAB arrests 24

robbers, two

fugitive convicts

from capital

DHAKA : Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)

arrested 26, including two fugitive

accused and a snatchers' gang leader

from different areas of the capital on

Tuesday.

Lieutenant Colonel Arif Mohiuddin,

Commanding Officer (Captain) of RAB-

3 told BSS that on a tip off, a team of

RAB-3 arrested fugitive accused

Shukkur Ali, 50, and his companion

Didar Mia, 40 from Fatulla thana area of

Narayanganj.

Both were sentenced to life and are

accused in multiple robbery and murder

cases under Sunamganj's Shalla thana.

RAB-3 officials said that process is

underway to hand them over to Shalla

Thana Police.

In separate operations in city's

Shajahanpur, Motijheel and Paltan

Model Thana yesterday, 24 including a

snatchers' gang leader were held by

RAB-3 members.

The miscreants were planning to

commit an organized robbery during

the black-out in the city on Tuesday,

said RAB-3 Assistant Police Super

(Media), Farzana Haque, in a press

briefing at the RAB head office in city's

Karwan Bazar.

Mobile phone sets, sim cards, switch

gears, sharp weapons, and Taka 4,595 in

cash were recovered from their possessions

during the drive.

The arrestees will be handed over to

the police today. Cases were lodged

against them with respective police stations,

RAB-3 sources said.

shut down."

He said the current government is taking

unplanned projects and plundering public

money as there is no accountability anywhere.

"There is not an elected parliament. Since

this government has no accountability to

people, we're facing many problems and disasters

in every sector. This incident (national

grid failure) is a proof of it. That's why we

are saying repeatedly that this government

has become a burden on the country,"

Fakhrul said.

He said it will be difficult for the nation to

survive if this government is not removed

immediately.

The BNP leader said the current regime

must resign by handing over power to a nonparty

caretaker government for holding a

credible national election and to establish a

government of people. "There's no other

alternative left for us to get rid of the current

situation of the country."

JaPa extends

preparatory

committee for

national council

DHAKA : Jatiya Party (JaPa) has

extended its National Council

Preparatory Committee incorporating

12 leaders in the committee as

members to make the party's 10th

council a success on November 26

next.

A press conference will be held at

the party office here in this regard at

11am, Thursday, said a press release.

Member Secretary of the 10th

National Council Preparatory

Committee and JaPa Chief Patron's

Political Affairs Secretary Golam

Masih and other central leaders will

speak at the press conference.

Earlier, JaPa Chief Patron and

Opposition Leader in Parliament

Raushon Ershad called the party's

10th National Council on November

26, 2022.

The newly included members of the

committee are - former lawmaker

Abdul Gaffar Bishwash (Khulna),

Muktar Uddin Masum (Dhaka),

Khandoker Nurul Anwar Belal

(Dhaka), Mustakur Rahman Mustak

alias VP Mustak (Dhaka), Mizanur

Rahman Dulal (Patuakhali), Saiful

Islam Pitu (Dhaka), Md Nazrul Islam

(Brahmanbaria), Jahir Uddin

(Dhaka), Hasnahena (Bhola), Dr

Selina Begum (Dhaka), Manwara

Taher Manu (Dhaka) and Sheikh

Runa (Khulna).

06-10-2022

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