thursday
DHaKa : October 29, 2020; Kartik 13, 1427 BS; Rabi-ul awal 11, 1442 Hijri
www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net
Regd.No.Da~2065, Vol.17; N o.206; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00
InternatIonal
Turkish leaders condemn
Charlie Hebdo
cartoon of Erdogan
>Page 7
art & culture
Nicole Kidman
on Big Little Lies
Season 3
>Page 8
sports
Shakib's participation
gives T20 tournament
a new dimension
>Page 9
Provide loans to
small businesses
more sincerely,
PM to pvt banks
DHAKA : Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina on Wednesday asked the private
banks to be more sincere in providing
loans at low interest to small business
enterprises to offset the Covid-19
fallout, reports UNB.
"In our incentive packages, we've
taken measures to extend financial
assistance to various small businessmen
by providing them with loans at
low interest. But I think our private
banks need to be a little more sincere in
this regard," she said while addressing a
function virtually from her official residence
Ganobhaban.
Some 35 commercial banks under
Bangladesh Association of Banks
(BAB) provided 25,95,000 blankets to
the Prime Minister's Relief and Welfare
Fund to help the poor during the
upcoming winter.
On behalf of the Prime Minister,
Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus
received the donations from top representatives
of the banks at the Prime
Minister's Office.
The Prime Minister said though the
beginning may be a little difficult for the
banks due to cost hike, the banks will
ultimately be benefited when the small
enterprises are revived.
Maldives wants to
recruit doctors,
nurses from BD
DHAKA : The Maldives has expressed
its keen interest to recruit more doctors
and nurses from Bangladesh while the
island nation hosts nearly one lakh
Bangladeshi expatriate workers at its
tourism and fishing sector.
The interest was showed while outgoing
Maldivian High Commissioner to
Bangladesh Aishath Shaan Shakir
made a farewell call on Foreign
Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at the
State Guest House Padma in the capital
on Sunday, a press release said.
Dr Momen welcome the interest and
said Bangladesh, with its ready pool of
talented professionals, would be happy
to meet further need for human
resources in the Maldives.
High Commissioner Shakir appreciated
the diligence and sincerity with
which Bangladeshi workers are serving
in the Maldives as the largest expatriate
community in South Asia.
Dr. Momen suggested that all recruitments
need to be made through agencies
nominated by the government of
Bangladesh and duly endorsed by the
Bangladesh High Commission in Male to
protect the workers right and wellbeing.
Zohr
04:48 AM
11:50 PM
03:45 PM
05:25 PM
06:40 PM
6:02 5:22
Turkey wants enhanced
ties with Bangladesh
exceeding $2 bln trade
DHAKA : Turkey wants enhanced trade
relations with Bangladesh to substantially
push up the bilateral trade volume
between the two countries, Foreign
Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said
Wednesday, reports UNB.
"Turkish President (Recep Tayyip
Erdogan) is committed to enhancing
ties with Bangladesh.Trade should
exceed US$ 2 billion," he told reporters
at State guesthouse Padma referring to
his recent discussion with the Turkish
President.
Last year, the bilateral volume stood
at $935.8 million.Turkey mainly
imports jute yarns and twine, jute
manufacturers knitwear, woven garments,
leather and ceramics from
Bangladesh. Its main export items to
Bangladesh include iron and steel
construction material, cotton, milk
and milk products, machines and
their components, textile machinery,
spices, generators.
While receiving a special gift of medical
equipment sent by the Turkish
President through its Ambassador in
Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan,
Foreign Minister Dr Momen said the
relations between the two countries will
grow in the future.
Turkey had previously sent medical
equipment to Bangladesh four more
times during COVID-19 crisis.
Minister Momen said the new
Turkish Mission in Bangladesh is ready
to open and his counterpart Mevlut
Cavusog will visit Dhaka soon to inaugurate
it.
Dr Momen reiterated that the
Turkish President will visit Bangladesh
in person as soon as COVID-19 pandemic
is over either to attend the finale
event of "Mujib Borsho" on March 17
event or the D-8 Summit.
"We remain excited and we're ready
to welcome the Turkish President," said
the Foreign Minister.
The Turkish President accepted
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's invitation
to visit Bangladesh.
If he cannot come to Bangladesh due
to COVID-19 pandemic, he shall participate
through technology.
Bangladesh is celebrating "Mujib
Barsho" marking the birth centenary of
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
WFP reopens fresh food
corners at Rohingya camps
DHAKA : The United Nations World
Food Programme (WFP) has reopened
its fresh food corners at Rohingya
camps in Cox's Bazar, allowing trade
and business activities to resume after
months of closure due to Covid-19 prevention
measures, reports UNB.
By May 2021, WFP hopes to bring the
farmers' market to 30 percent of the population
at the camps in Cox's Bazar, with monthly
transactions touching US$500,000.
An important economic opportunity for
local farmers and traders in Cox's Bazar,
the fresh food corners have benefitted
both the refugees and their host community,
the WFP said on Wednesday.
The fresh food corners are part of the
Farmers' Market initiative where local
smallholder farmers and traders are
engaged in selling their produce at WFP
e-voucher outlets and farmers' market
sites at the camps.
From there, Rohingya families can get a
variety of foods using their WFP
Assistance Card. WFP then transfers the
money directly to the farmers and traders.
"This initiative shows the dual benefits
that can come out of a humanitarian
response. WFP is proud to be supporting
the local community and the
Rohingya families, to improve their lives
and contribute to social cohesion," said
Richard Ragan, WFP Country Director
in Bangladesh.
"WFP plans to take this initiative further
so that more local farmers and retailers
can benefit from this programme."
Before the farmers' market had to be
paused due to the pandemic, around
US$47,000 were transferred to 12
smallholder farmers and traders from
the local community every month.
With the reopening, four market
sites are now active, with a combined
transaction of more than US
$100,000 each month.
Autumn is in full swing. The message of the arrival of winter in the air. The demand for winter clothes as well as
blankets has increased in the markets. Many people have stopped selling their previous products in the hope of
making extra profit. The picture was taken from Narayanganj yesterday.
Photo : Star Mail
The court granted three-day remand to Irfan Selim, son of Haji Selim and sacked councilor of Dhaka South City
Corporation's 30th ward, and his bodyguard Mohammad Zahid. They were produced in the Additional Metropolitan
Magistrate's Court in Dhaka from jail for remand hearing on Wednesday.
Photo : Star Mail
Raihan's death
Constable Titu
lands in jail
SYLHET : A Sylhet court on Wednesday
sent a suspended constable Titu
Chandra Das to jail after conclusion of
eight days of remand in two phases over
the death of Raihan Ahmed at
Bandarbazar police outpost, reports UNB.
Sylhet Additional Chief Metropolitan
Magistrate Court Judge Ziadur
Rahman passed the order after members
of Police Bureau of Investigation
(PBI), produced him before the court.
On Oct 20, Titu was placed on a fiveday
remand and on Oct 25 he was again
put on a three-day remand. A team of
PBI arrested him on October 20 from
Sylhet Police Lines.
On October 11, Raihan, 34, a resident
of Akharia in Sylhet city, was beaten to
death in police custody, said the victim's
family.
His wife Tahmina Akter Tanni filed a
case at Kotwali Police Station the following
day accusing a number of
unidentified people.
Besides, the authorities on October 12
suspended four policemen, including
the then in-charge of Bandarbazar
Police outpost Akbar, in connection
with the death.
Three policemen were withdrawn in
this connection on the same day.
ACC begins probe against
Haji Selim's son
DHAKA : Anti-Corruption Commission
(ACC) on Wednesday started collecting
data on the wealth statements of Irfan
Selim, son of Awami League leader Haji
Selim and suspended councillor of the
30th ward of Dhaka South City
Corporation (DSCC), reports UNB
The anti-graft body started the investigation
after Irfan was arrested for
assaulting a Navy officer.
ACC is investigating the wealth statements
of MP Haji Selim and his son
Irfan Selim, said ACC (Commissioner)
Mozammel Haque Khan.
Legal action will be taken against
them if any irregularity is found in their
wealth statements, Khan said.
Earlier, four separate cases were filed
against Irfan and his bodyguard Zahid
under the Arms Act and Narcotics
Control Act. Each of them were also
placed on three-day remand on
Wednesday in another case filed over
the assault on the Navy officer.
Lieutenant Wasif Ahmed Khan of
Bangladesh Navy filed the case at
Dhanmondi Police Station naming four
Suu Kyi asked to secure
Rohingya repatriation
DHAKA : The United States has urged
the Myanmar government to secure the
voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable
return of Rohingya and other
refugees and internally displaced persons,
reports UNB.
Under Secretary of State for Political
Affairs David Hale spoke to Myanmar
State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi and
discussed the issue. Under Secretary Hale
reaffirmed American support for democratic
reforms and humanitarian relief
efforts in Burma and a credible, transparent,
and inclusive national election in Nov.
"Under Secretary Hale pressed the
Burmese [Myanmar] government to end
conflict across the country and secure the
voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable
return of Rohingya and other refugees
and internally displaced persons," said
Spokesperson at US Department of State
Morgan Ortagus on Tuesday.
Earlier, the United States sought equal
role from Myanmar's all neighbours
with "broad and unified voice" so that
Rohingyas can get the confidence back
to return to their homeland without any
fear of further deportation.
people.
Apart from Haji Selim's son Irfan and
Zahid, the other accused are-AB Siddique
Dipu, 45, and Md Mizanur Rahman,
30.All four are now behind bars.
According to the case statement, a car
hit Wasif's motorcycle near Labaid
Hospital at Dhanmondi around
7:45pm when he and his wife were
returning to their Mohammadpur residence
from Nilkhet.
Some people came out of the car and
physically assaulted the navy official
and verbally abused his wife.
Rab arrested Irfan from his father
Haji Selim's residence on Devdas Lane
in Old Dhaka on Monday afternoon.
Two firearms, 38 walkie-talkies and
liquor were seized from Irfan's house
during the drive. Later, a Rab mobile
court sentenced Irfan and Zahid to one
year in jail for possessing illegal walkietalkies
and drinking liquor.
Rab said they were given six-month
jail sentences each for drinking liquor
and another six months for the illegal
possession of walkie-talkies.
"We need every single one of
Myanmar's neighbours," said US Deputy
Secretary of State Stephen E Biegun while
responding to a UNB question at a roundtable
discussion with a small group of journalists
during his recent visit. Myanmar is
bordered by Bangladesh and India to its
northwest, China to its northeast, Laos
and Thailand to its east and southeast, and
the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal to
its south and southwest.
Biegun made it clear that this is not
simply the responsibility of the government
of Bangladesh, as generous as that
government has been.
"This is a global priority and one that
every major country in the Indo-Pacific
should be speaking with equal outspokenness
to the government of Myanmar
to take the steps necessary to ease this
crisis," he said adding that they need to
find out every possible means.
Biegun laid emphasis on international
cooperation and collaboration staying outspoken
like the US so that Myanmar
ensures that Rohingyas will no longer be
mistreated and they have confidence to
start returning to the Rakhine State.
ThursdAY, OCTOber 29, 2020
2
360 students of Green university have been awarded VC and deans certificates for achieving
meritorious results in the examinations.
Photo : Courtesy
Man cheats wife with fake
divorce certificate
One held 'with
foreign currencies'
at Ctg Airport
CHATTOGRAM : Customs
officials arrested a man
along with 'huge foreign
currencies equivalent to TK
42 lakh' at Shah Amanat
International Airport in
Chattogram on Tuesday
night, reports UNB.
The arrestee was identified
as Rakibul Islam of
Araihazar upazila in
Narayanganj district.
Mohammad Musa Khan,
assistant commissioner of
Chattrogram customs, said
Rakibul was waiting to
board a Dubai-bound flight
at the airport.
Coronavirus cases hits
43.8 mln globally
DHAKA : Coronavirus has infected more
than 43.8 million people globally as of
Wednesday, according to the latest data of
John Hopkins University (JHU), reports
UNB.
The data shows that the total caseload
reached 43,895,968 with 1,165,455 fatalities
across the world.
The US, the worst-hit country in the world,
has reported 66,784 new confirmed cases
and 477 deaths on Tuesday, bringing the
total cases to 8,774,118. The country's total
death toll reached 226,613 till Wednesday
morning.
Brazil's Covid-19 death toll reached
157,946 after 549 more daily deaths were
reported, its Ministry of Health said on
Tuesday.
The single-day fatalities were almost
double the number reported on Monday.
Meanwhile, tests detected 29,787 new
cases of the virus, bringing the total number
of cases since the onset of the epidemic to
5,439,641.
The state of Sao Paulo, the most populous
in the country, has been the worst affected
one by the virus, with 38,885 deaths and
1,098,207 cases.
Meanwhile, the Covid-19 pandemic
continues to spread in Asia-Pacific countries
as India's tally is approaching 8 million on
Tuesday.
staff reporter: Abdul
HannanRatan, the
organizing secretary of
Brahmanbaria district
Awami League, has been
accused of trying to forge a
divorce certificate after he
was accused of smuggling
huge amounts of money
from the country. He has
tried to prove that his wife
has been 'divorced before'
with him by making this fake
divorce certificate.
FarzanaRatan Sonia, exwife
of Abdul HannanRatan,
has filed a case (Section
196/465/48/471/109) in the
Dhaka Chief Magistrate's
Court on September 18 this
year. Another person has
also been charged with
aiding and abetting Ratan's
fraud.
Defendant Abdul
HannanRatan is the son of
Torab Ali of Bagair area of
Sarail in Brahmanbaria
district. The other accused is
SadeqUllahBhuiyan. He is a
'Kazi' by profession. On the
other hand, plaintiff
FarzanaRatan Sonia is the
daughter of Iqbal Hossain of
PaikparaTankerpar area of
Sadarupazila
of
Brahmanbaria district.
According to the case
sources, Sonia and Ratan got
married on September 6,
1996 in Den mohor of 6 lakh
BDT. Ratan had been
torturing Sonia physically
and mentally in various ways
since the marriage.
Meanwhile, the couple has a
son and two daughters. The
plaintiff was concerned with
social status and the future of
the children. On January 8
this year, Sonia filed a
petition in a Canadian court
seeking a divorce from the
accused Ratan. After
receiving the divorce papers
from his wife Sonia, the
accused Ratan with the help
of KaziSadiqUllah, prepared
a divorce certificate and
submitted it to the Canadian
court. A later investigation
revealed that the divorce
decree in the name of 'Kazi'
was illegally made. Upon
learning the matter, a case of
cheating was filed against the
accused Ratan at the Kotwali
police station, Dhaka.
The divorce is applied in
Canada when the level of
torture to the wife increases
in this year. According to the
rules, if there is a divorce, a
part of the property will need
to be handed over to the wife
in Canada. The political
leader took the initiative to
make a fake paper that
indicated the divorced have
been filed before to protect
his property. Where the
victims and the accused were
together from the time of
marriage in 1996 till last year
December.
Meanwhile, Ratan accused
that the divorce letter sent to
Sonia at 2016, through the
Sundarbans courier service.
It is learned that Abdul
HannanRatan is trying to
show that the divorce
certificate was sent through
courier service in 2016 by
collecting a book of 2020
through forgery. To clarify
the divorce procedure, we
asked 6 'Kazi' and they said
that if a divorce is to be
granted, it must be sent by
registered post service and
both parties must confirm
that it has been received. Not
only that, according to the
latest published gazette, a
copy of the divorce granted
must be sent to the arbitral
tribunal in the area where the
girl lives with post registry.
But Abdul HannanRatan is
trying to make a fake receipt
of the Sundarbans Courier
Service to prove a registry for
divorce which was never
received by any other two
parties.
KaziMaulanaSadiqUllah
said, 'the divorce certificate
that was prepared using my
office address and my name
is a completely sorted and
fraudulent forgery. It has
nothing to do with me.'
When the case was filed,
Shamsul Huda, the assistant
of KaziMaulanaSadiqUllah,
appeared at the police station
and told that the divorce
certificate was forged.
Mizanur Rahman, OC of
Kotwali police station said, 'I
know that there has been a
case in the court in this
regard. The case is under
investigation.' Also Dhaka
District Registrar
SabikunNahar said, 'We have
received a complaint. I am
investigating the matter. I
will be able to give details
about this next month.'
GD- 1418/20 (4 x 3) GD- 1424/20 (15 x 5)
ThuRsdAY, ocToBeR 29, 2020
3
An opinion exchange meeting titled 'progress of NpA's implementation and submission of regular
report' was held at YWcA auditorium at Mohammadpur in the capital on Wednesday. photo : TBT
'proper evaluation of NpA key to
prevention of human trafficking'
BAB provides 26
lakh blankets for
pM's relief fund
DHAKA : Thirty-five
commercial banks under
Bangladesh Association of
Banks (BAB) at a function
on Wednesday provided
25,95,000 pieces of blankets
to the Prime Minister's
Relief and Welfare Fund to
help the poor during the
upcoming winter, reports
UNB.
Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina virtually joined the
function through a
videoconference from her
official residence
Ganobhaban.
On behalf of the Prime
Minister, Principal
Secretary Dr Ahmad
Kaikaus received the
donations from top
representatives of the banks
at the Prime Minister's
Office.
ex-BpdB engineer Abdul
Motaleb passes away
TBT RepoRT
Abdul Motaleb, former
executive engineer of the
Bangladesh Power Development
Board (BPDB), died at Labaid
Hospital in the capital on
Monday. He was 75 years old.
He had been suffering from liver
complications for a long time.
Abdul Motalebleft behind
his wife, one son, three
daughters and grandchildren.
He is the father-in-law of Samakal's chief
reporter Loton Ekram.
He was buried after the first janaza at Pallabi
Section 12 Mosque in Mirpur after Fajr on
Tuesday and the second janaza at Chiladi
Munshibari premises in Senbagh Upazila of
Noakhali after Joharwith state of honor at this
family graveyard.
During the time, he was given a guard of
honor by the upazila administration. Former
commander of Noakhali district command
Mozzamel Haque Milon,
former commander of
Senbagh Upazila command
Abdul Wahab, Mohammad
Idrisof Senbagh Upazila
selection committee along
with Freedom fighters,
politicians, journalists and
people from all walks of life
including took part.
BNP secretary general
MirzaFakhrul Islam Alamgir
has expressed grief over the
death of Abdul Motaleb. Acting editor of
Samakal family Mustafiz Shafi has expressed
deep grief on behalf of Samakal family.
He expressed his condolences to the bereaved
family and prayed for the forgiveness of the soul
of the deceased. Besides, former acting secretary
general of Muktijoddha Central Command
Council Shafiqul Bahar Majumder Tipu, former
chief whip Joynal Abdin Farooq, other
politicians, journalists and other organizations
expressed their condolences.
Stressing on proper evaluation of
National Plan of Action (NPA) 2018-22
on prevention of human trafficking
and regular submission of its report,
Civil Society activists said it can help
prevent trafficking.
The NPA stipulated that
programmes, projects and strategies
must be taken up for tackling all kinds
of internal and cross-border
trafficking, a press release said.
The NPA also underscored on
building a coordinated protective
system for combating the crime and
making an effective system for its
supervision and evaluation and regular
submission of report on its
implementation to the Home Ministry,
they said.
They remarked while addressing an
opinion exchange meeting titled
'progress of NPA's implementation
and submission of regular report' at
YWCA auditorium at Mohammadpur
in the capital on Wednesday.
Md. Rafiqual Islam Khan Alom,
coordinator, PCTSCN Secretariat,
INCIDIN Bangladesh, while
presenting the key-note paper, said
NPA's evaluation and submission of its
report are not being held regularly,
hampering anti-trafficking activities in
the country. Overall situation of
trafficking can be known and necessary
steps can be taken up to address the
problem through the evaluation.
Hence, the evaluation is important
relating to combating the crime, said
Alom.
Terming trafficking as a national
problem, he called for steps for proper
evaluation of NPA and regular
submission of its report to the ministry
in the interest of eradicating the
problem.Community Participation
and Development (CPD), a consortium
member of Prevention of Child
Trafficking through Strengthening
Community and Networking
(PCTSCN), organized the meeting on
behalf of PCTSCN.
Md. Shahidul Islam, additional
director (Institution), Department of
Social Services, attended as the chief
guest, while Shahidul Islam, executive
director of Bangladesh Rural
Economic Development (BRED),
chaired it.
Moslema Bari, executive director of
CPD; AKM Masud Ali, executive
director of INCIDIN Bangladesh and
chair of PCTSCN consortium; M.
Rabiul Islam, deputy director of
National Human Rights Commission
Bangladesh, among others, spoke at
the event.
GD- 1422/20 (10 x 4)
ThuRSDAY, OCTOBeR 29, 2020
4
A national dialogue
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Thursday, October 29, 2020
Make Bangladesh number
one in global RMG
It is a realistic view that Bangladesh now stands a unique
opportunity of achieving the number one RMG (ready
made garments) band in world market if it can successfully
carry out some ongoing reforms and upgradation in the RMG
sector. It will be another milestone Bangladesh can achieve on
the way of achieving full fledged mid income country status .
Cheap but hard working honest labour, cheaper gas and
power helped develop Bangladesh grow into a preferred brand
of ready Made Garments (RMG) in the world market. In our
usual visits to shopping malls in Northern America, Western
Europe, Middle Eastern countries and even in Australia we
come across made in Bangladesh quality garments products
almost everywhere.
But some incidents of fire and building collapse with special
mention of Tajrin Garments and Rana plaza dented
Bangladesh Garment sector reputation quite a bit. But as far as
competitiveness and quality Bangladesh RMG is still number
two band just behind China in world market. With China
intending moving out of low end RMG products gradually,
Bangladesh stands a huge opportunity of claiming the Number
One band if we can make some very critical reforms and
upgrading of our RMG industry. This prospect has further
heightened with the recent Chinese announcement of
withdrawl of all tariff restrictions on the entry of Bangladeshi
made garments products in the vast China market.
Let us try to assess what are the present challenges and what
needs to be done?
Some quarter believes USA suspending GSP from
Bangladesh RMG will cause major impediments. But the
continued growth of RMG export even after US withdrawal of
GSP proves the apprehension wrong. USA is only part of
Bangladesh market of RMG. Bangladeshi RMG is still enjoying
preferred brand advantage in EU Countries , Canada , Eastern
European countries and in some Middle eastern countries.
The important state visit of PM Hasina to China among other
milestone achievements of potential China Bangladesh
cooperation and collaboration has also achieved a major
stepping stone in RMG sector.
Bangladesh and China have agreed on setting up modern
self-contained garments village on the outskirts of Dhaka city
at Gazaria. In addition to that China will have an exclusive
Chinese industrial zone where Chinese investors will also set
up export oriented RMG factories and products will be
exported as Bangladesh brand. Even the Japan visit has also
opened avenues of Japanese investors making Bangladesh
their preferred locations for setting up industries including
RMG.
There is no denial that enabling environment for RMG and
competitive edge of Bangladesh RMG in world market led to
mushrooming of RMG industry of RMG factories in the city
centers of Dhaka and Chittagong cities and suburbs. Many
foreign nationals working in Bangladesh RMG sector hardly
cared for providing minimum working environment and
facilities of low earning RMG workers. After a few hiccups
present government is desperately trying to address the issues
of RMG sector bringing discipline and creating accountability.
In the recent past high powered committees have conducted
surveys and auditing and implementation process of their
recommendation is in place.
For better control and management all RMG factories from
the heart of the major city centers should be phased out and
relocated to properly planned RMG villages having better
organized and reliable utility services , world class safety and
security arrangements , accommodation , health care facilities
of RMG workers. Minimum wages and fringe benefits must be
reviewed. RMG workers getting at least US$ 250-300 will not
cause much reduction of profits of huge earning of RMG
owners.
For security and safety of RMG workers and the industry a
special police unit as RMG Police or in a larger concept
Industrial police unit can be created. It may have a sub unit
named RMG Intelligence unit for surveillance of possible
subversive activities in our RMG industry. All foreigners
working in RMG must have valid work permits and their
records must be maintained and monitored.
We must appreciate the RMG boom has done a great work in
our poverty alleviation as a special section of village girls are
now self-dependent and supporting their families as well. They
must get due respect from society. Facilities like day care
center, community clinic, adult education etc can be set up in
the special garments village for them.
SajibWazed IT adviser of PM Hasina is in a mission of
digitizing different key sectors of Bangladesh. One of his prime
objectives must be digitizing RMG sector which is major
revenue earner for Bangladesh. Let all RMG factories be
digitalized and reliable database created and preserved of all
RMG related data and information. This will enable centralized
monitoring of all RMG related business and commercial
operations including safety and security. The information
among others must include data base of all workers and
executives working in RMG including their nationality, salary
and benefits. Some officials of each RMG must be trained to
introduce IT facilities in each RMG.
Bangladesh Foreign missions and Ministry of Foreign affairs
must work to promote to expand RMG market access in
countries which may be potential new buyers.
Government may consider a preferential special pricing of
gas and electricity for export oriented RMG factories and Tax
holidays and other benefits for modern RMG units for a given
time. Bank loans of easier terms should be considered as
incentives for owners for relocating the RMG from existing
locations to properly set up RMG villages. Export credits and
other facilities may be thought of. Also government can
encourage investors in setting backward and forward linkages
of RMG industries for achieving more self-reliance.
Opportunities have emerged for Bangladesh in achieving
number one RMG branding now. We must grab it with both
hands. Let China, Korea, Japan be our partners in progress in
achieving this dream.
IT seems as if Prime Minister Imran
Khan's container speeches are coming
back to haunt him as he confronts the
opposition's onslaught. The difference is
that he has little with which to defend his
government's pitiable performance.
Blaming the previous administrations for
everything that has gone wrong in this
country doesn't sound convincing halfway
through his term.
Now he speaks of a 'foreign conspiracy'
- the last refuge of a flailing dispensation.
"It is unfortunate that all the enemies of
Pakistan, including India and Israel, are
with them," the prime minister said in a
recent TV interview referring to the
opposition alliance. This is the typical
response of a leader who is not willing to
face reality.
Obstinacy is reflected in the statement
that he would get Nawaz Sharif deported
from the UK even if it meant talking to
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. We
are constantly reminded by the prime
minister that he has spent a large part of
his life in Britain and knows the West
better than anyone else. He should then
be able to display more knowledge about
the British legal system. The situation will
not be salvaged by making such remarks.
It is evident that the opposition's antigovernment
campaign has gained
momentum. The alliance seems to have
capitalised on the government's
ineptitude and blunders that are never in
short supply. What happened in Karachi
where the entire provincial police
command threatened to go on leave in
protest against the alleged treatment
meted out to their chief by a security
agency has exposed the federal
government's transgressions. The prime
minister nonchalantly dismissed the
incident as a "comedy", when, in fact,
such episodes have serious ramifications
for the federation.
It's not just about the prime minister;
the crisis has also exposed the basic flaw
zAhID huSSAIn
in the existing hybrid power structure that
seems to have developed cracks. The
security establishment is directly under
fire, with the government hiding behind
it. The Karachi saga that allegedly
involved the Rangers and the top
intelligence agency has also put the
military leadership in a defensive
position. The army chief's intercession
may have defused the situation but the
issue is not going to go away. The
comments made by the top leadership of
the ruling party has further inflamed
matters.
It remains to be seen if the army
leadership takes any action against those
responsible for the incident. The clash
between state institutions is a serious
matter and cannot be dismissed as a
"comedy". The perpetual state of tension
between Sindh and the federal
government is disastrous for the whole
system. Predictably, the Pakistan
Democratic Movement has upped the
ante sensing the government's ineptness.
There has been a tangible escalation in the
criticism against both the PTI
government and the military leadership
with each opposition rally. Never before
has an opposition alliance brought
together such a large spectrum of political
forces.
There may be some variance in tone but
not the broad objective of the movement.
The Quetta rally presented a unique array
FAwAz TuRkI
of forces ranging from mainstream
parties to regional and nationalist groups.
Branding them anti-state is self-defeating.
Together, the opposition parties represent
the much larger majority.
In fact, it is the government for whom
the space is fast shrinking. The opposition
coalition not only appears to be
dominating the public space, it also has a
significant presence in the provincial and
federal legislatures. The government's
confrontational policy and relentless
persecution of the opposition in the name
of accountability have cemented that
unity. The one-sided accountability
exercise is nothing but a farce. The prime
minister's mantra of coalition parties
being anti-state has further isolated him.
It is apparent that the survival of the
hybrid dispensation is entirely dependent
on the support of the security
establishment. The crisis has pushed the
security leadership into the storm. It is
becoming increasingly clear that not only
has the establishment's project failed to
deliver but that a manipulated system has
also distorted the entire political system
that will be extremely difficult to correct.
Given the leadership's obstinacy and
incapacity to take a rational approach, the
onus flatly lies on the alleged sponsors. It
is an untenable situation. A domino effect
could start from Punjab where the PTI
government's life is hanging by a thread.
A more serious effort by the PML-N and
the alliance partners could easily bring
down the Usman Buzdar government.
That may also bring a weak coalition
government at the centre to an extremely
precarious point.
All that could push the country towards
further chaos. To stop the fall, there is a
need for a national dialogue among the
political forces and other institutions as
suggested by many opposition leaders.
There is a growing understanding that
this is the only way to prevent further
instability and correct course. The country
has seldom faced such serious internal
and external challenges. There is a need
for a new political charter and a
framework for institutional democracy.
No government can deal with this
situation when institutions and political
forces are in a perpetual state of
confrontation. The prime minister needs
to climb down from his high horse and
realise the gravity of the situation. His
obsession with putting opposition leaders
in jail makes him more vulnerable. His
government has made the accountability
process controversial thus weakening the
legal process.
The real question is: who will take the
initiative in arranging a national dialogue
in such an atmosphere of hostility?
Parliament has virtually become
redundant with reluctance by both sides
to engage in serious debate on critical
issues in the country. The prime minister
has already rejected the idea of making
contact with opposition leaders, let alone
engaging in any serious dialogue with
them.
It leaves us with very few options.
Directly involving the security
establishment in any political process too
has its consequences. The cost of this
continuing political stand-off will be huge.
What is most depressing is the lack of
rational thinking that is needed to take the
country out of the current crisis.
Source: Dawn
uS elections 2020: A polarised America goes to the polls
Americans go to the polls next
Tuesday to cast their votes in the
presidential election, a birthright
first granted in 1776 only to White, male
property owners, and in later decades to
women, Blacks and Native Americans.
Meanwhile, people around the world will
be watching, knowing that what happens in
America often always reverberates globally,
willy-nilly affecting their own individual
destinies. Ya, we all catch cold when
America sneezes, though, having lived in its
own political bubble over the last four years,
this new America has lost its shimmer as
"leader of the free world".
President Trump, evidently, is betting
on a replay of 2016, when, after igniting a
populist surge in the country, he defied
the odds and scored a win. We all
remember those rumbustious rallies that
year where he worked the crowds,
lambasting Nato allies for not paying their
share, slandering Mexicans as "criminals"
and "rapists", reviling Muslims as the
other to be barred from entering the US
and demanding that America come first.
This year, the packed rallies are the
same, as are the tattooed, red-hatted and,
yes, mostly unmasked crowds (seemingly
unperturbed by a harrowing new surge of
Covid cases across the country) where
Trump has hurled unsubstantiated
accusations against Joe Biden, his
Democratic rival, who he claims had,
while in office as Barack Obama's right
hand man, "spied" on his first presidential
campaign. At a rally in Ohio on Saturday,
for example, his frenzied supporters
began a "lock him up" chant, an echo of
"lock her up" calls about Hillary Clinton.
Well, looks like the more things change
around here, the more they stay the same.
The important question now - and not
important just to those who care about or
are engaged in interpreting the
Constitution of the United States - is what
happens if Donald Trump, were he to lose
the election, cries fraud and refuses to
concede defeat, which he has repeatedly
threatened to do in recent months? Will
torch-holding villagers from the red states
march on Washington wielding
pitchforks? Barton Gellman, best-selling
author and journalist who in 2013 led the
Washington Post's coverage of the US
National Security Agency (NSA), based on
top-secret documents provided him by
Edward Snowden, wrote a lengthy article
in Atlantic last month in which he said
this: "This is not going to be a normal
election ... The danger is not that [it] will
just bring discord. Those who fear
something worse take turbulence and
controversy for granted. Students of
election law and procedure are warning
that conditions are ripe for a
constitutional crisis that would leave the
nation without an authoritative result. We
have no fail-safe against this calamity".
Less than a week before election day
and the red lights are still blinking ...And it
is not just Trump supporters who may
march in the streets and raise hell. Anti-
Trump activists are also ready to "stand
back and stand by", a colloquialism given
a menacing edge by Donald Trump during
This year, the packed rallies are the same, as are the
tattooed, red-hatted and, yes, mostly unmasked
crowds (seemingly unperturbed by a harrowing new
surge of Covid cases across the country) where Trump
has hurled unsubstantiated accusations against Joe
Biden, his Democratic rival, who he claims had, while
in office as Barack Obama's right hand man, "spied"
on his first presidential campaign.
that night of bluster, insults and hectoring
on September 29 that passed for the first
presidential debate. A coalition called
Stand Up America, for example, has been
preparing its members to take to the
streets if Trump were to contest the
election results.
These are tactics that sound straight out of
a lawless police state rather than a
democratic country like the United States,
accustomed to seeing social change, such as
DR. ABDel AzIz AluwAISheG
civil rights, women's rights, minority rights
and the like, adjudicated in the courts or
debated by the legislative branch of
government. But in a now polarised
America, that's where you go today to be
heard - all the way, as recent events attest,
from Portland, Oregon to Washington, DC.
Imagine, the New Yorker - like the New
York Times a revered and always cautious
publication - last week had an article, by
Lizzi Widdicombe, a level-headed and
respected journalist, that carried the
provocative title "What If Donald Trump
Stages a Coup?"
But what do you do when an incumbent
chief executive in the White House - who
by all accounts has shown himself to be
totally unqualified for the job - tells
reporters, as Donald Trump has been
telling reporters for months, that he
effectively will not concede defeat were he
to lose in November nor commit to a
peaceful transfer of power! "There won't
be a transfer, frankly", he said. "There will
be a continuation".
Never before in American history has
one president enabled such lowbrow,
pedestrian and anti-intellectualist
impulses to insinuate themselves into the
very soul of America's political culture.
All of which invokes that lament by the
late George Carlin (d. 2008), son of
Brooklyn working class Irish immigrants
and in his heyday arguably the most
influential stand-up comedian of all time.
"True, in America anyone can become
president", he deadpanned. "That's the
problem".
Source: Gulf news
Russia’s proposal for Gulf security fails to win support
Russia last week convened a meeting of
the UN Security Council to discuss Gulf
security. Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov presided over the virtual meeting,
which took place during Russia's month-long
UNSC presidency. The hearing's main
objective appeared to be the promotion of an
old idea to establish a collective security system
in the Gulf, in which Russia could play a greater
role. In addition to the UNSC's 15 members,
the meeting was attended by the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab
League, as well as Iran and Iraq, but not
Yemen. UN Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres opened the meeting with a thoughtful
call for the prioritization of confidencebuilding
measures.
Lavrov spoke next, laying down the rationale
for an "effective system of collective security"
It remains to be seen if the army leadership takes any action
against those responsible for the incident. The clash between
state institutions is a serious matter and cannot be dismissed
as a "comedy". The perpetual state of tension between Sindh
and the federal government is disastrous for the whole system.
Predictably, the Pakistan Democratic Movement has
upped the ante sensing the government's ineptness.
and indicating that the US was largely to blame
for the region's troubles. He reiterated the idea
of convening a summit for the leaders of the
five UNSC permanent members, plus
Germany, to discuss security in the region. It
was a curious suggestion, especially singling
out Germany to join this proposed gathering of
the P5.
There was scant support at the meeting for
the setting up of a new collective security
system in the Gulf. Most speakers implied that
the idea was premature because of a lack of
trust between the key players in the region.
Instead, they called for confidence-building
measures to take place first.
China, Russia's closest ally on the UNSC,
suggested a more pragmatic approach.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed an
incremental method, starting with dialogue on
less sensitive topics such as energy, shipping
and trade. Wang said: "No matter how long the
journey might be, step by step we'll eventually
reach the destination. The first step for
dialogue, even a small one, will be one giant
step toward peace."
There are serious reasons behind the
reluctance to endorse Russia's idea of
establishing a new collective security system.
These include its timing and a failure to
recognize the main threats to security in the
Gulf. It also ignores previous attempts at
dialogue between Iran and its neighbors,
including the most recent GCC efforts, led by
the late emir of Kuwait. Those attempts failed
mainly because of Iran's refusal to commit to
universally accepted norms, such as respect for
borders and the political independence of its
neighbors, or renounce the use of force or
threats to resolve disputes. It is difficult to take
dialogue with Iran seriously when its forces
and those of its assorted proxies and allies are
busy destabilizing the region in Yemen, Syria,
Lebanon, Iraq and elsewhere. Tehran has also
launched repeated attacks, directly by its own
forces in the Gulf and indirectly in the Red Sea,
threatening maritime security and
international shipping. And Iran has recruited,
trained and equipped terrorists to carry out
attacks in countries such as Bahrain, Saudi
Arabia and Kuwait. Last year, Iran attacked
ships in the Gulf and launched an attack on
major Saudi oil installations. The Houthi
militia - a key Iranian proxy - has launched
hundreds of ballistic missile and drone attacks
against civilians and civilian
Source: Arab news
THURsDAY, OCTObER 29, 2020
5
Unlocking ancient Egyptian DNA secrets
MouttasemAlbarodi
Are modern Egyptians related to ancient Egyptians? The
country's largest-ever research project is seeking an
answer to this mystery.The Academy of Scientific
Research and Technology has launched a US$64 million
study to build a reference genome for today's Egyptians,
study ancient Egyptians' genes, and look for genomic links
to illnesses.
A human genome includes all of a person's genetic
material, which is made up of DNA and which provides the
instructions for growth and functions. Genetic studies
examine a single gene, while genomics includes all genes
and how they interrelate.
The project will study 20,000 volunteers over five years,
with hopes that this could expand to up to 100,000 people,
while genetic material will be extracted from mummies for
analysis."Understanding dominant and natural patterns
by building a reference Egyptian genome will pave the way
for investigating different genetic variants associated with
prevalent diseases, and Egyptians' risk factors," academy
president Mahmoud Sakr tells.
"This occurs by comparing the reference genome with
patients' genes, which is the basis of personalised
medicine."Personalised, or precision, medicine is the
recent development of specialised treatment, diagnosis
and prevention based on an individual's unique genetic
make-up, lifestyle and environment.
It has grown from genomic research, such as the US-led
Human Genome Project, which revealed in 2003 that
there were about 20,500 human genes. In 2018, the
United Kingdom announced it had sequenced 100,000
genomes as part of a project to create a new genomic
medicine service for its National Health Service (NHS).
But, these reference genomes may not be useful to
medical care in North Africa as they are largely based on
European DNA, says Saleh Ibrahim, a professor of
genetics at the University of Lübeck.Ahmed Sayed,
director of the Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt's
genomics programme, says the major challenges facing
genetic diseases research include delays in importing
chemicals and increasing prices. He says that the Egyptian
reference genome project might entice pharmaceuticals
companies to invest in Egypt, in turn decreasing product
prices and boosting the research process. "Having an
Egyptian reference genome is essential for finding more
competent treatments for intractable cancers and almost
all diseases," says Sayed.Sakr agrees. "Our heavy
dependence on importing medicines can be very risky," he
says. "Future treatments will be designed according to
genetic factors, that's why we cannot delay establishing a
A human genome includes all of a person's genetic material and provides the instructions for growth
and functions.
Photo: MIKI Yoshihito
genetic database for Egyptians. We also need to train staff
on studying this data and use it to develop more relevant
health system."
YasmineAguib, director of life sciences and molecular
research at the Aswan Heart Centre, MagdiYacoub
Foundation, says identifying specific genetic variables that
are exclusive to Egyptians could boost the development of
treatments. Her team established a genetic database using
samples from the hearts of healthy Egyptians, to compare
with samples from people with heart diseases. Studying
the genes of the ancient Egyptians requires extracting
genetic material from mummies. However, much of it is
not well preserved due to the mummification process,
explains Ibrahim, and handling it will require training
from experts.
A lab will be set up at a medical research and
regenerative medicine centre, affiliated to the Ministry of
Defence. The centre will coordinate research groups from
several Egyptian universities and scientific institutes."This
is an historic moment for science in Egypt," Ibrahim tells
SciDev.Net.
It is expected that the project will find that modern
Egyptians have mixed origins, including Arab, African,
Berber and European. But, this does not rule out the
probability that there is a unique dominant genetic pattern
specific to Egyptians, says Ibrahim.
He was part of a team that recently created a reference
genome based on data from 110 Egyptians. The study
proved the need for a national project to build an Egyptian
reference genome based on a much larger group of people,
Ibrahim says.
A bioinformatics group will also be established to create
software for data analysis. Ahmed Moustafa, a
bioinformatics professor at the American University in
Cairo, tells SciDev.Net that accurate recording and data
storage will be vital to ensure reliable results and patterns.
Appropriate oversight will be central to this process, says
Ibrahim. The volume of data that is expected to be
produced will require enormous storage and advanced
computer capacities, as well as stringent security systems,
says Moustafa.All this will provide young researchers with
opportunities for training and experience in the
bioinformatics field, he says.
Inside Crimea's slow-burn water crisis
The Kashmir Himalayas contain plants with properties found nowhere else on earth.
Photo: Collected
Kashmir gradually losing
its medicinal plants
David Axelrod
Water shortages in the Russianoccupied
peninsula are getting worse -
and a real solution is not yet in
sight."We have a large family, three
kids, so of course we don't have enough
water," says Tatyana Mikhalchuk, who
lives in Gresovsky, a settlement near
Simferopol.
A year ago, Tatyana and her husband
Arseny decided to move to the Crimean
capital from Armyansk, a town in the
north of the peninsula. She says that one
of the reasons for their relocation was a
fear of being left without any water.
Northern Crimea is considered the
peninsula's driest area, so towns like
Armyansk would be the first to suffer in
case of trouble.
There's reason to be concerned.
Dried-up rivers, decreasing reservoirs
and a bad harvest - this is what Crimea
has been through in 202,0 the driest
year in the last 150, according to local
officials. To combat the drought, the
Crimean authorities have introduced a
water supply timetable in some areas of
the peninsula, and are even ready to try
cloud seeding to generate artificial
precipitation. Tatyana's husband caught
pneumonia as a result, and several of his
friends were diagnosed with respiratory
burns. "When we moved, we believed
that the authorities would at least
always find a way to provide the capital
with water," Tatyana recalls.
openDemocracy explores how the
population of Crimea is dealing with the
water crisis and how the local
authorities are planning to overcome it.
"It's not water that comes out the tap,
but some kind of brown liquid," Tatyana
tells me. "Every day I get up at six in the
morning and spend thirty minutes
running water into the bathtub, so that
it is at least a bit transparent, and my
husband can take a shower before going
to work and I can wash the floors."
Tatyana says that the acute shortage
of water is not the only problem facing
Simferopol residents as a result of the
drought. Immediately after the
shortages started, the quality of water
also noticeably deteriorated.
Since the end of August, timetables
for water supply have been introduced
in Simferopol and Bakhchysarai.
Authorities restricted water supply in
three steps. Currently, private flats and
houses in Simferopol receive water for
six hours per day (three hours in the
morning, and three in the evening).
Initially, it was assumed that this would
be the strictest possible measure, but
officials now state that if levels at water
reservoirs do not improve, Simferopol
will receive water every other day.
Meanwhile, the authorities have
acknowledged the problem of water
quality in some districts of Simferopol,
and claim it is related to water washing
up metal corrosion from the pipes.
Indeed, Tatyana and
ArsenyMikhalchuk have had to switch
off the water filters installed in their flat
- a company engineer told them that the
filtration system would break in a few
days at this level of contamination.
For cooking and washing her two
young children, Tatyana has to buy
water at special terminals and bring it
home in plastic bottles with her car. This
water costs three-four roubles (£0.03-
0.04) per litre, and her family uses 40
litres per day. Tatyana says that in
theory one can collect water for free:
across different districts of Simferopol,
special plastic barrels with drinking
water have been installed. However,
this service is far from perfect:
sometimes you have to drive around the
city to find water; barrels everywhere
are empty.
Representatives of the Ukrainian
authorities have repeatedly stated that
they would not restart the water supply
to annexed Crimea. This summer, head
of the Ukrainian government Denys
Shmyhal said that "restarting water
supplies via the North Crimean canal is
not on the agenda, and is not the subject
of any kind of negotiations."
Currently, Crimea is home to more
than ten natural drainage water
reservoirs, with an additional one in
Sevastopol - and these reservoirs are the
only source of water supplies in the
region.
Experts have been calling
attention to warning signs of
drought since 2018. For example, at
a session of Russia's Federation
Council, representatives of Crimean
state water company reported that
the regular seven-year water cycle
was coming to an end and that water
levels in local reservoirs would be
substantially lower in the near
future.
In spring this year, meteorologists
noted that an acute shortage of
precipitation had been observed in
Crimea's mountains. In comparison to
the previous year, their level was lower
by 91-96%, while there was no
precipitation at all in some mountain
river basins.
When the volume of water that flows
into Simferopol's reservoirs started
approaching a critically low level,
Crimean authorities took measures to
sustain the water balance in the capital.
For example, they deployed a Russian
military pipeline unit to build a 50-
kilometre water pipe to connect
Simferopol to the Taygan water
reservoir, located in nearby Belogorsk.
MudassirKuloo
In one month, Mohammad Adil, a
research scholar studying the
reproductive biology of medicinal
plants, made two journeys to Afarwat, a
mountain in the north of Jammu and
Kashmir. He intended to collect
samples of Arnebiabenthamii,
commonly known as Kahzaban.
Both times he returned emptyhanded.The
flowers of Kahzaban have
been found to help people with heart
problems. The plant also contains high
levels of antioxidants."Eight years ago
Kahzaban was abundant, but it is rarely
found now," said Adil.
Eventually, in August this year, he
collected his sample in the upper
reaches of Sonamarg, a remote hill
station."If there were 500 plants of any
species at one place a decade ago, now
their number has reached 50. This
shows how much medicinal plants have
been destroyed," he said.
A study published in 2018 identified
50 native medicinal plant species in the
region as in need of "immediate
conservation action", based on
ecological and socioeconomic
factors.The Himalayas are one of the
world's 36 biodiversity hotspots, and
are rich in endemic plants (found
nowhere else on Earth).
OP Sharma, former director of the
State Forest Research Institute for
Jammu and Kashmir, said some of
region's medicinal plants are rarely
found anywhere else.Their uses are
extensive. Saussureacostus, a type of
thistle known locally as kuth, is used to
treat joint and back pain, ulcers,
dysentery and fever. From Aconitum
heterophyllum (paewakh), a lotion is
made to treat headache and cough. A
decoction made from the leaves of
Dioscoreadeltoidea (kraeth) is used as
eyedrops to treat infections and
sharpen eyesight. But their usefulness
has led to exploitation; the plants
described are all endangered.
A resident of Sonamarg told The
Third Pole that in the first week of
September he walked hours to the
upper reaches.There, he spotted a
threatened Trillium govanianum plant,
commonly known as Tripater, and
uprooted it.
"We extract plants from the soil then
sell to people. This is how we make our
living. We get INR 2,500 (USD 34) for
each kilogramme of Trillium," he
said.Trillium govanianum is thought to
cure many sexual disorders, especially
infertility in men. It is also a cancer
treatment, Akhtar H Malik, a botanist
at the University of Kashmir.
A resident of the town of Tangmarg
said locals are paid INR 2,500-3,000
(USD 34-41) per kg of Trillium
govanianum. After that it is sent to
Chandigarh in Punjab in trucks, then to
European countries and China.
"It has a value of INR 70,000 [USD
950] per kg there," he said.Mohit Gera,
principal chief conservator of forests
for Jammu and Kashmir, said many
measures have been taken to preserve
the forests and that "nobody can extract
forest produce without permission".
Nawchoo, disagreeing, said, "There
are no exact figures on how much is
being sold in Kashmir as the majority of
medicinal plants are being smuggled
and not recorded." He added that forest
dwellers are not aware that the plants
are being overexploited.Malik said
some plants (Trillium govanianum,
Fritillariaroylei, Saussureacostus,
Arnebiabenthamii) cost INR 50,000-
100,000 (USD 680-1,360) per kg in the
international market.
Water crisis is getting worse in Crimea.
Photo: Dmitry Karyshev
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020
6
Solar table lights have been distributed among 120 meritorious students of 12 educational institutions of
Gobra Union of GopalganjSadarUpazila on Wednesday.
Photo: S M Nazrul Islam
Table lights distributed among 120
meritorious students in Gopalganj
S M Nazrul Islam, Gopalganj
Correspondent: Solar table lights
have been distributed among 120
meritorious students of 12 educational
institutions of Gobra Union of
GopalganjSadarUpazila. The lights
were distributed among 120 first and
second place winners of all classes of 9
primary schools and 3 secondary
2.25 lakh meters
of fishing net
seized in Rajshahi
RAJSHAHI: A team of the
river police seized 2.25 lakh
meters of fishing net worth
about Taka 67.5 lakh from
different areas in the Padma
river under Pabaupazila of
the district on Tuesday,
reports BSS.
The police team
accompanied by other
officials including Upazila
Fisheries Extension Officer
Mahmudur Rahman
conducted frequent raids in
different areas and seized the
huge quantity of nets.
The team also seized one
kilogram of brood Hilsa
fishes during the drives.
However, none could be
arrested as they fled away
leaving behind their nets.
"The fishermen were
catching fish using the
current nets, which are
banned for fishing,"
Assistant Superintendent of
Police Belayet Hossain said,
adding that all the lawviolators
will be brought to
book as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the seized nets
were destroyed instantly.
The seized fishes were
distributed among the
inmates of a nearby
orphanage.
A 22-day ban on catching,
selling, hoarding and
transporting of Hilsa came
into effect from October 14 to
protect the fish with eggs.
The ban will be effective until
November 4. This is the peak
period when the mother
Hilsa releases eggs.
Some 4,000 fishermen
families received 80 tonnes
of rice under special
vulnerable group feeding
(VGF) programme in
Rajshahi city and four
upazilas in the district.
The fishermen families
were brought under a special
VGF programme so that they
remain abstained from
fishing mother Hilsa fish in
the river Padma here.
Abdul Jalil, Deputy
Commissioner of Rajshahi,
said Hilsa has the highest
contribution in the country's
fish production.
Under the special VGF
programme, 1,265 fishermen
will get 25.3 tonnes of rice in
GodagariUpazila, 960
fishermen to get 19.2 tonnes
in PabaUpazila, 825
fishermen to get 16.5 tonnes
in BaghaUpazila, 560
fishermen to get 11.2 tonnes
in CharghatUpazila and 390
fishermen will get 7.8 tonnes
of rice in Rajshahi City
Corporation area.
schools of Gobra Union at Zaman
Advance Center in Gopalganj Sadar
UpazilaGhonapara on Wednesday. The
lights were distributed at the initiative of
Gobra Union Parishad with the funding
of LGSP.
Eliasur Rahman, Deputy Director,
Local Government Department,
distributed the lights among the
students.
During the time, Sadar Upazila
UpazilaNirbahi Officer Sadiqur
Rahman Khan, SadarUpazilaMohila
Vice Chairman Nirunnahar, Upazila
Education Officer Rubaiya Yasmin and
Gobra Union Chairman Shafiqur
Rahman Tutul were among others
present on the occasion.
22,796 infected, 21,495 recover
in Khulna COVID-19
KHULNA: With detection of 16 new positive
cases in all ten districts of the division, the total
number of COVID-19 infected patients now
hit 22,796 till last noon, reports BSS.
A total of 21,495 have been cured from the
lethal virus infection and recovery rate now
stands at 94.29 percent," Assistant Director
(Health) for Khulna division Dr. Ferdousi
Akhter told BSS.
The total number of COVID-19 patients rose
to 22,796 with 16 new positive cases were
reported after testing 76 samples at the
Khulna Medical College Laboratory and two
others COVID-19 laboratories in Khulna
division in the last 24 hours ending last noon.
Of the total new positive cases, five were
detected in Khulna, followed by four each in
Narail and Kushtia, two in Jashore, one in
Satkhira in the division. With the new
Upazila Civil Society Forum'
formed in Taraganj
Biplob Hossain, Taraganj Correspondent:
'Upazila Civil Society Forum' formation and
discussion meeting was held at
Taraganjupazilain Rangpur. The first
meeting of the Upazila Civil Society Forum
was held on Wednesday in the conference
hall of Taraganj O / A Girls School and
College with the financial assistance of
European Union, technical assistance of
CARE Bangladesh and Plan International
Bangladesh and collaboration of JANO
project implemented by ESDO.
The meeting also discussed the activities of
the JANO project as well as the
responsibilities and functions of the Upazila
Civil Society Forum. At the end of the
discussion, a 17-member final committee of
the Civil Society Forum was formed.
With the consent of all the members
detected cases, the district-wise break-up of
the patients are 6,610 in Khulna, 4,080 in
Jashore, 3,435 in Kushtia, 2,053 in
Jhenaidah, 1,506 in Chuadanga, 1,403 in
Narail, 1,109 in Satkhira, 1,011 in Bagerhat,
940 in Magura and 649 Meherpur, she added.
"Among the total 22,796 coronavirus
infected persons, 2,519 are undergoing
treatment at isolation units of different
hospitals as 21,595 have been recovered and
402 died while the rest are undergoing
treatment in isolation at their respective
homes in the division", Dr. Ferdousi
continued.
Talking to BSS yesterday, Divisional
Director (Health) Dr. Rasheda Sultana said
the number of total fatalities stands at 402 in
the division with one more death was reported
in Kushtia in the division on Tuesday.
present at the meeting, former principal of
Taraganj and O/A Degree College lecturer
AbdusSattar Shah has been made president,
Taraganj O / A girls school and college
physical education teacher Laila Sarkar has
been made vice president, Daily Industry
Rangpur bureau chief and daily KholaKagoj
correspondent Biplob Hossain Opu was
elected vice-president and headmaster of
KurshaAdarsha High School was elected
member secretary.
During the time, Daily IttefaqTaraganj
Correspondent and Alampur UP Member
Sabina Akhter, CSG Member Abdul
Wahab, BRAC Upazila Manager Alauddin,
Nutritionist Mukta Begum, Shefali Akhter
and TFD Member Sukumar Chandra Roy
were among others present at the
occasion.
Upazila Civil Society Forum' formation and discussion meeting was held at
Taraganjupazila on Wednesday.
Photo: TBT
Science,
technology
fair begins in
Gaibandha
GAIBANDHA: A three-day
national science and
technology fair began at
Gaibandha Govt. Boys' High
School here on Tuesday
amid much enthusiasm
among the students,
teachers and the visitors,
reports BSS.
District administration
has arranged the fair with
the theme of 'Modern Waste
Management, the Usage of
Science and Technology' at
the directive of the Ministry
of Science and Technology.
The objective of the fair is
to widely spread a message
about the significance of
scientific applications in the
daily life of the people and
display all the activities,
efforts and achievements in
the field of science for
welfare of the people.
The other objectives of the
fair also include giving an
opportunity to the scienceminded
citizens,
encouraging the people as
well as popularizing science
and technology.
A discussion meeting was
also held at the hall room of
the school in the afternoon
with additional deputy
commissioner (ADC)
AlamgirKabirSaikat in the
chair.
DC Abdul Matin attended
the function as the chief
guest and general secretary
of district Awami League
Abu Bakar Siddique was
present as the special guest.
The function was also
addressed among others by
additional police super Abu
Khayer, district education
officer Md. Enayet Hossain,
head teacher of the school
ShahanaBanu, head teacher
of Gaibandha GOVT. Girls'
High School Shushanta
Kumar Dev, while assistant
commissioner of the DC
office ShahinDelwar was the
moderator.
Earlier, the DC formally
inaugurated the fair through
cutting a red tape and
releasing balloons in the sky.
Govt allots Tk 9.61 cr
as incentive for
Jamalpur farmers
JAMALPUR: Agriculture
department under the
government's post flood
rehabilitation programme
has allotted Taka 9 crore 61
lakh 83 thousand as
incentive for farmers to
cultivate 8 kind of crops in
the district during this
season, reports BSS.
Department
of
Agricultural Extension office
sources here said a total of
one lakh 10 thousand small
and marginal farmers will
get the incentives for
cultivation wheat, mustard,
sunflower, ground nut,
lentil, Khesari pulse, tomato
and green chilly.
Each farmer will get
incentive for cultivation one
crop on one Bigha of land,
they said, adding that all of
the farmers will get seeds
but the farmers who will
cultivate mustard, lentil,
Khesari pulse, tomato and
chilly will get fertilizer as
well.
Sources said Tk 3 crore 45
lakh was allotted for
cultivation of wheat on
25000 Bighas of land, Tk
one crore 45 lakh 86
thousand for mustard on
33000 Bighas of land, Tk 84
lakh 24 thousand for
sunflower on 6000 Bighas of
land, Tk one crore 28 lakh
for groundnut on 10,000
Bighas of land, Tk 84 lakh 52
thousand 500 for lentil on
10500 Bighas of land, Tk
one crore one lakh 97
thousand for khesari pulse
on 11000 Bighas of land, Tk
38 lakh 26 thousand 700 for
tomato on 8500 Bighas of
land and Tk 33 lakh 97
thousand 200 for green
chilly on 6000 Bighas of
land.
Matiranga police in a drive arrested smuggler along with 124 pieces of
Indian sari and 26 lakh 40 thousand pieces of Indian medicinesin the
upazila on Tuesday.
Photo: Abul Hashem
Smugglers held with Indian
saris, medicines in Matiranga
Abul Hashem, Matiranga
Correspondent: Matiranga police have
seized 124 pieces of Indian sari and 26 lakh
40 thousand pieces of Indian medicine
brought to Matiranga in Khagrachhari
illegally. Its current estimated market value
is more than 3 crore.
At the same time, a jeep (moon car)
(Chittagong-G-2532) and two others were
detained by Matiranga police.
They were detained around 10pm on
Tuesday (October 28) from the side of
Chairmanpara Cemetery in Ward 5 of
Matiranga Municipality in Khagrachhari.
Matiranga Police Station Officer-in-
Charge (OC) Muhammad Ali confirmed the
arrest to the media around noon on
Wednesday (October 26).
According to police sources, Sub-Inspector
(SI) of Matiranga Police Station Mohammad
Ali on the basis of reliable news came to
know that Indian saris and various
medicines were entering Matiranga through
a jeep. Later the smugglers were arrested
from Matiranga'sChairmanpara area in a
raid led by Saiful Islam.
Matiranga police sub-inspector (SI)
Mohammad Saiful Islam became the
plaintiff in the incident. Shah Alam
(38),Eshaq Mia, 18 including 2/3 of the
accused and helper. A case has been filed
against Miaranga police station under the
Special Powers Act.
Matiranga Police Station Officer-in-
Charge (OC) Muhammad Ali said Indian
goods were often entering Matiranga
illegally through government tax evasion.
Matiranga police have been working from
the beginning to prevent the import of goods
through these illegal routes. He sought the
cooperation of journalists and civil society in
this regard.
Training of the members of BanariparaUpazila Platform, a project to motivate
social organizations to prevent violence against women, has been
completed on Tuesday.
Photo: TBT
Training of platform members
to prevent violence against
women completes
S Mizanul Islam, Banaripara Correspondent: The training of the members of
BanariparaUpazila Platform, a project to motivate social organizations to prevent violence
against women, has been completed on Tuesday. SyedaTaslima Hossain Flora,
UpazilaMohila Vice Chairman and Upazila Platform Convener, presided over the training on
the implementation of AVASH in collaboration with USAID, UK Aid, Counterpart and
Rupantar while maintaining social distance in the cultural organization Natunmukh
Auditorium.
Platform Member Secretary and Senior Journalist S. Mizanul Islam moderatedthe training
while among others, Natunmukh President Moajezz Hossain Manik, Assistant Professor of
Banaripara College Md. Imam Hossain, Hosneara Begum, Training Coordinator
NasrinKhanam, Trainer Ali Ahsan, Municipal Councilor Konika Rani Chanda, journalist
Abdul Awal and other leaders of various organizations were present.
Educational materials and nutritious foods have been distributed to 1311 sponsored
children of Good Neighbors Bangladesh Bochaganj CDP in Bochaganj.
Educational materials and nutritious foods were distributed to the sponsored
children at the office of Good Neighbors Bangladesh Bochaganj CDP on
Wednesday. Bochaganj CDP Project Manager RatanBala presided over the
function whileUpazila Chairman Advocate Md. Zulfiqar Hossain spoke as the
chief guest at the occasion.
Photo: Suman Chandra
THURSdAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020
7
Israel looks to far-right figure to
head Holocaust memorial
Turkish officials on Wednesday railed against French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo over its
cover-page cartoon mocking Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and accused it of sowing "the
seeds of hatred and animosity.
Photo : AP
Turkish leaders condemn Charlie
Hebdo cartoon of Erdogan
ANKARA : Turkish officials on
Wednesday railed against French
satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo over
its cover-page cartoon mocking
Turkish President Recep Tayyip
Erdogan and accused it of sowing "the
seeds of hatred and animosity."
The cartoon could further heighten
tensions between Turkey and France,
which erupted over French President
Emmanuel Macron's firm stance
against Islamism following the
beheading of a teacher who showed his
class caricatures of the Prophet
Muhammad for a free speech class,
reports UNB.
The Prophet cartoons upset many in
the Muslim world. But it was Erdogan
who led the charge against France and
questioned Macron's mental state.
France then recalled its ambassador to
Turkey for consultations, a first in
French-Turkish diplomatic relations.
"We strongly condemn the
publication concerning our president of
the French magazine, which has no
respect to faith, the sacred and values,"
Erdogan's spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin,
wrote on Twitter.
Kalin said: "The aim of these
publications, that are devoid of
morality and decency, is to sow seeds of
hatred and animosity. To turn freedom
of expression into hostility towards
religion and belief can only be the
product of a sick mentality."
The cartoon depicted Erdogan in his
underwear holding a drink and lifting
the skirt of a woman wearing an Islamic
dress.
"I condemn this incorrigible French
rag's immoral publication concerning
our president," Turkish Vice President
Fuat Oktay wrote on Twitter. "I call on
the moral and conscientious
international community to speak out
against this disgrace."
Macron's stance sparked anti-
France protests in Turkey and in
other Muslim countries as well as
calls for the boycott of French good.
Tensions between France and
Turkey have mounted in recent
months over Turkish actions in Syria,
Libya and the Caucasus Mountains
region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
JERUSALEM : Israel plans to
nominate a far-right former general
and Cabinet minister who once called
for the expulsion of Palestinians from
the West Bank to head the Yad Vashem
Holocaust memorial, officials said
Tuesday, reports UNB.
Effie Eitam, a religious nationalist
with a history of harsh rhetoric toward
the Palestinians and Israel's Arab
minority, is also a staunch advocate of
Jewish settlements in the occupied
territories, which are widely seen as a
violation of international law and an
obstacle to peace.
Groups representing Holocaust
survivors have expressed concern his
appointment could tarnish one of the
world's leading institutions for
Holocaust remembrance and open it
up to criticism from the Palestinian-led
boycott movement as well as those who
question or deny the Nazi genocide.
Higher Education Minister Zeev
Elkin, a member of Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party,
selected Eitam for the post, Israel's
Haaretz daily reported. An Israeli
official, speaking on condition of
anonymity to discuss the appointment,
which has not been made public, said
Netanyahu supports his candidacy. A
spokesman for Elkin did not respond to
requests for comment.
In an interview, Eitam said
Netanyahu offered him the job two
months ago but said he has heard
nothing since then. He indicated he
would be interested in the post if the
appointment becomes official and said
he was unaware of any controversy
surrounding his candidacy. A
parliamentary committee would have
to give final approval.
Eitam, 68, served in the Israeli
military during the 1973 Middle East
War and the 1982 invasion of Lebanon.
During the first Palestinian intifada, or
uprising, in 1988, troops under his
command beat up two Palestinian
suspects, one of whom later died. The
soldiers, who were convicted of assault
by a military court, said they were
following orders.
He retired as a brigadier general in
2000 and later entered politics, serving
in the Knesset, or parliament, from
2003 until 2009. He also briefly served
as a Cabinet minister before resigning
in 2005 to protest Israel's withdrawal
from the Gaza Strip. Eitam lives in the
Golan Heights, which Israel seized
from Syria in the 1967 war and annexed
in a move not recognized
internationally.
During the second intifada in the
early 2000s he advocated harsh
measures, saying then-Palestinian
leader Yasser Arafat and his "gang of
murderers" should be put to death. In
2006 he was bloodied in clashes
between settlers and Israeli troops
during the evacuation of a West Bank
outpost. Later that year, in a speech at
a memorial service for a soldier killed in
Lebanon, he reportedly called for the
expulsion of most Palestinians from the
West Bank and for the removal of
Israel's Arab citizens from the political
system, referring to them as a "fifth
column" and a "group of traitors."
Arabs make up 20% of Israel's
population.
Eitam told The Associated Press he
did not recall making the remarks,
which were widely reported by Israeli
media.
Eitam described himself as a "unifier"
and consensus builder, and said his full
record would be fairly reviewed.
"Those people who will have to make
the decision, no doubt they will
consider all the aspects of the
nomination and they will come to a
decision," he said.
Eitam would replace Avner Shalev,
81, who announced his retirement
earlier this year after leading Yad
Vashem for 27 years. A spokesman for
Yad Vashem declined to comment.
Yad Vashem is a non-political and
almost sacred institution in Israel.
Before the coronavirus pandemic it
regularly hosted visits by students,
soldiers and other tour groups, as well
as the country's annual Holocaust
remembrance day ceremony. Visiting
world leaders nearly always pay their
respects at Yad Vashem for the 6
million Jews murdered by Nazi
Germany and its collaborators during
the Second World War.
Colette Avital, a former Israeli
diplomat and lawmaker who heads the
Center of Organizations of Holocaust
Survivors in Israel, expressed concern
over Eitam's nomination, saying Yad
Vashem should be led by someone with
a background in Holocaust research
and education.
Strong typhoon
leaves 1 dead, 12
missing as it
nears Vietnam
HANOI : Typhoon Molave
roared closer to Vietnam
with destructive force
Wednesday, leaving one
villager dead and causing
two boats with 12 fishermen
to sink as the country braced
for the most powerful storm
in 20 years, state media said,
reports UNB.
A man died after winds of
up to 150 kilometers (93
miles) per hour knocked
him off his roof while trying
to reinforce it in southcentral
Quang Ngai
province, where the typhoon
was forecast to make landfall
later Wednesday, the official
Vietnam News Agency
reported.
The navy deployed two
rescue boats to search for the
fishermen in rough waters
off Binh Dinh province,
according to state-run VTV
network.
At least 40,000 people
have been evacuated to
emergency shelters farther
inland from coastal villages.
Prime Minister Nguyen
Xuan Phuc has ordered
provincial authorities to
prepare to move up to 1.3
million people in regions
lying on the typhoon's path.
VTV showed displaced
villagers huddled in
classrooms that were
converted into an
evacuation center, where
they spent the night.
Provincial authorities shut
down offices, factories and
schools and asked people to
remain indoors to prevent
casualties. Vietnam is still
recovering from severe
flooding and landslides that
killed 136 people and left
dozens missing in three
provinces.
At least five airports were
closed as the typhoon
approached, with more than
200 flights canceled. Train
services were also
suspended Wednesday and
will resume when the
weather improves, the VTV
network reported.
Pompeo brings anti-China roadshow
to Indian Ocean islands
COLOMBO : U.S. Secretary of State Mike
Pompeo on Wednesday brought the Trump
administration's anti-China campaign to two
Indian Ocean island nations considered
particularly at risk for what American
officials allege is Chinese exploitation,
reports UNB.
Pompeo is visiting Sri Lanka and the
Maldives to press the two countries to be on
guard against potential predatory lending
and investment by China. He was making
the case less than a week before the
American election in which President
Donald Trump is seeking to paint his rival,
former Vice President Joe Biden, as weak on
China and beholden to it.
Even before Pompeo arrived in Sri Lanka,
China had fired back at the U.S. message,
accusing Washington of bullying smaller
nations. In Sri Lanka, the Maldives and then
in Indonesia on Thursday, Pompeo plans to
press each nation to push back against
increasing Chinese assertiveness in the Indo-
Pacific, which U.S. officials complain is
highlighted by development and
infrastructure projects that benefit China
more than the presumed recipients.
Earlier this month, Beijing announced it
would provide Sri Lanka with a $90-million
grant to help rural development, after
President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa sought help
from a visiting Chinese delegation in
disproving a perception that China-funded
megaprojects are "debt traps."
China considers Sri Lanka to be a critical
link in its massive "Belt and Road" global
infrastructure building initiative and has
provided billions of dollars in loans for Sri
Lankan projects over the past decade. The
projects include a seaport, airport, port-city,
highways and power stations.
Critics like the U.S. say that the Chinesefunded
projects are not financially viable and
that Sri Lanka will face difficulties in
repaying the loans.
In 2017, Sri Lanka leased out a Chinesebuilt
port located near busy shipping routes
to a Chinese company for 99 years to recover
from the heavy burden of repaying the
Chinese loan the country received to build it.
Ahead of Pompeo's arrival in Colombo, the
Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka denounced
his visit, accusing one of his top aides of
making unacceptable threats against the
country. In those comments, the top U.S.
diplomat for South Asia, Dean Thompson,
warned Sri Lanka of the dangers of allowing
China to get a foothold on the island.
Qatar apologizes, investigates
forced airport examinations
DUBAI : Qatar apologized Wednesday after
authorities forcibly examined female
passengers from a Qatar Airways flight to
Australia to try to identify who might have
given birth to a newborn baby found
abandoned at the airport earlier this month,
reports UNB.
Under pressure after Australia condemned
the searches, Qatar's government said it had
begun an investigation into the treatment of
the women who were taking Qatar Airways
Flight 908 to Sydney on Oct. 2.
Qatar offered no immediate explanation of
how officials decided to perform invasive
vaginal examinations on the women. Human
rights activists describe such examinations
conducted under duress as equivalent to
sexual assault. The small, energy-rich country
on the Arabian Peninsula is a major hub for
East-West travel and host nation for the 2022
FIFA World Cup. Hamad International
Airport is the main hub for state-owned longhaul
carrier Qatar Airways.
In Qatar, like much of the Middle East, sex
outside of marriage is a criminal act. Migrant
workers in the past have hidden pregnancies
and tried to travel abroad to give birth, and
others have abandoned their babies
anonymously to avoid prison.
Qatar's Government Communications
Office issued a statement early Wednesday
that authorities discovered the newborn
"concealed in a plastic bag and buried under
garbage" at the airport. It called the discovery
an "egregious and life-threatening violation of
the law." The statement said officials searched
for the baby's parents, "including on flights in
the vicinity of where the newborn was found."
"While the aim of the urgently decided
search was to prevent the perpetrators of the
horrible crime from escaping, the state of
Qatar regrets any distress or infringement on
the personal freedoms of any traveler caused
by this action," the government said.
Israel plans to nominate a far-right former general and Cabinet minister who once called for the
expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank to head the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, officials
said Tuesday.
Photo : AP
Trump to appeal to
Nevada voters from
neighboring Arizona
LAS VEGAS : President
Donald Trump will make a
crunch-time appeal to voters
in Nevada. But he'll do so
from Arizona.
The president is under
pressure Wednesday to
prevent a repeat of a
September rally in Nevada
that attracted thousands of
people. The airport that
hosted that event was fined
more than $5,500 for
violating crowd restrictions
aimed at preventing the
spread of the coronavirus.
Rather the curb the
crowds as virus cases spike
across the U.S., Trump is
simply shifting his event
across the banks of the
Colorado River to Bullhead
City, Arizona. The move is
the latest example of
Trump's efforts to downplay
the virus and condemn
Democratic leaders in states
such as Nevada who have
imposed limits on
gatherings to combat the
worst public health crisis in
more than a century.
That was a message
Trump emphasized on
Tuesday as he campaigned
in Michigan and Wisconsin,
critical battlegrounds with
Democratic governors who
have set restrictions to
address the pandemic.
"Speaking of lockdowns,
let's get your governor to
open it up," Trump said in
West Salem, Wisconsin.
Biden faces challenges in quickly
combating the pandemic
WILIMINGTON : If Joe Biden wins next
week's election, he says he'll immediately call
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top
infectious-disease expert. He'll work with
governors and local officials to institute a
nationwide mask-wearing mandate and ask
Congress to pass a sweeping spending bill by
the end of January to address the
coronavirus and its fallout, reports UNB.
That alone would mark a significant shift
from President Donald Trump, who has
feuded with scientists, struggled to broker a
new stimulus deal and reacted to the recent
surge in U.S. virus cases by insisting the
country is "rounding the turn."
But Biden would still face significant
political challenges in combating the worst
public health crisis in a century. He will
encounter the limits of federal powers when
it comes to mask requirements and is sure to
face resistance from Republicans who may
buck additional spending.
"There are no magic wands," said Dr.
Joshua Sharfstein, vice dean for public
health practice at Johns Hopkins University
and former Maryland state health
department chief who recently briefed Biden
on reopening schools during the pandemic.
"It's not like there's an election, and then the
virus beats a hasty retreat."
Biden's handling of the coronavirus is
taking on new urgency as cases spike around
the country. Average deaths per day
nationwide are up 10% over the past two
weeks, from 721 to nearly 794 as of Sunday,
according to data from Johns Hopkins
University. Confirmed infections per day are
rising in 47 states, and deaths are up in 34.
Meanwhile, a fresh outbreak of cases at the
White House among Vice President Mike
Pence's staff has revived concerns about the
impact of the virus on the government.
The early days of a Biden administration
would be consumed by a pandemic
response. "I'm here to tell you we can and
will get control of this virus," Biden said
Tuesday during a campaign stop in Georgia.
"As president, I will never wave the white flag
of surrender."
A $3 trillion spending package that cleared
the Democratic-controlled House has stalled in
the Senate, where Republicans currently hold
the majority. Biden has called the Senate GOP
"so damn stupid" for not passing that measure,
but has failed to propose a single
comprehensive package of his own.
Instead, he has said Congress should
approve $30 billion to help schools reopen
and has proposed a $700 billion economic
plan. But that plan isn't solely focused on the
coronavirus and includes provisions to boost
industries like manufacturing to create jobs
and help revive the economy when the
pandemic begins to subside.
Biden also wants to declare reopening
schools a "national emergency" and access
potentially billions more dollars in Federal
Emergency Management Agency disaster
response aid. He'd seek a national system for
tracing the exposure path for those
diagnosed with the virus - part of a larger
public health corps that Biden suggests
might function like the civilian-led
conservation corps that President Franklin
Delano Roosevelt created during the New
Deal. And he's vowed to increase testing
capacity in every state until the U.S. is
screening daily the 7.5 million people it
currently tests per week, according to the
Covid Tracking Project.
THURSDAY, oCToBER 29, 2020
8
Musician Arnob ties knot with
long time girlfriend
TBT REpoRT
Musician Shayan Chowdhury
Arnob has tied knot with his
long time girlfriend Rabindra
Sangeet singer Sunidhi Nayak
in Kolkata.
Their marriage took place in
Asansol, West Bengal on
Wednesday. Arnab's cousin
and actress Rafiath Rashid
Mithila's younger sister
Missouri Rashid confirmed the
matter to media.
She said, "Arnab's registry
marriage took place yesterday
in Asansol, West Bengal."
Meanwhile, producer and
Mithila's husband Srijit
Mukherjee had earlier posted
a post on Facebook
congratulating Arnob-Sunidhi.
"It's important news that
Actor Jacqueline Fernandez has gifted a car to a
member of her staff. She was spotted in
Mumbai, handing him the keys of his new car
and also performing a puja with him.
The video shows Jacqueline in a traffic
cop's costume. She is asked to step back
as her staff member breaks a coconut
on the road, next to the new car.
Others around them cheer as the
coconut spills water in first stroke.
The source shared, "On the
auspicious occasion of Dussehra,
Jacqueline surprised a member of her
staff who has been with her
since she made her
debut in Bollywood,
she gifted the member
a car but didn't know
when it would've
delivered hence
Jacqueline can be
seen donning the
uniform of a
traffic police
inspector
because she
was on the
sets of her
film.
Previously,
Jacqueline
had also
gifted a
car to
her
makeup artist
and is known for
being very kind
hearted and loving
towards everyone in
life."
Jacqueline also shared a
picture from the sets of the
movie on Instagram. "How
was everyone's Sunday?? Fun
project coming up soon!
#myhappyplace," she wrote along
with a picture in which she is also
seen holding a coffee mug. The Kick
actor also shared a few Instagram
stories of her getting ready for the
you're lost," he wrote.
Congratulations. Arnob wrote
in reply, "Thank you." Sharing
the post, Sunidhi wrote,
'Alright'.
Earlier, Arnob married
Indian-Bangladeshi musician
Sahana Bajpaie in 2001. They
divorced in 2008 after 7 years
of marriage.
After that Sahana married a
citizen of London but Arnob
remained bachelor till
yesterday.
Jacqueline gifts swanky new
car to her staff member
upcoming project.
Recently, she extended gratitude to
her fans as her follower count on
Instagram hit the 46 million
mark. She shared three nearlytopless
pictures in which she
was seen holding a bunch
of yellow and pink roses
against herself. "Love
you, thank you," she
wrote in the
caption of
one of the
pictures.
Jacqueline
will be seen in
Kick 2 with
Salman Khan
and in Cirkus
with Ranveer
Singh. She also has
Bhoot Police with
Saif Ali Khan, Yam
Gautam and Arjun
Kapoor. She also
has a film with
John Abraham
called Attack. Her
podcast Feels
Good with
Amanda Cerny
was also released
recently.
Souerce: indiatvnews.com
TBT REpoRT
Launch of a dark-comedy thriller - 'Mainkar
Chipay' announced on ZEE5 Global, the first
Bangladeshi Original, at a virtual press
conference on Tuesday. The announcement
was made by Archana Anand, Chief Business
Officer, ZEE5 Global.
She also announced the development and
production of three new Bangladeshi content
projects over the next few months, with more
in the pipeline. The announcements were
made at a star-studded event attended by the
likes of Ziaul Faruq Apurba, Nusraat Faria,
Afran Nisho, Bidya Sinha Mim, Arifin Shuvoo
and many more. Mr. Asaduzzaman Noor, the
former Minister of Cultural Affairs of
Bangladesh, Vice Chairman of Asiatic 360,
and a legendary veteran actor himself, also
graced the event with his presence. The event
also saw the trailer of the upcoming venture
being unveiled. All these shows will be
available to ZEE5 Global subscribers in over
190 countries.
The film is set to release on 9th November
and will mark the beginning of ZEE5's
Bangladeshi Original Content chapter.
"We're super excited to shoot the first
Bangladeshi original on Zee 5. The film was shot
in record time and we wrote the script in a way
that didn't require a large crew or a lot of
equipment. It's a crime thriller comedy and we
really hope people have as much fun watching it
as we did making it," said Director Abrar Athar.
Amit Goenka, President - Digital Businesses
& Platforms, ZEE Entertainment said,
"Investing in local content that resonates with
global audiences and building out strong local
Actor Faruk
to land Dhaka
today
TBT REpoRT
Bangladeshi veteran actor cum politician Akbar
Hossain Pathan (Faruk) will land to Dhaka
today from Singapore.
He is set to fly in on an evening flight after
being diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB) in
Mount Elizabeth Hospital.
Faruk, along with his wife Farhana Faruk, was
flown to Singapore by a special flight on
September 13 amid Covid-19 pandemic as
doctors could not identify his disease here after
several tests were conducted on him.
The veteran actor, also a Member of
Parliament from Dhaka-17 constituency, was
under treatment and observation for a month
under four doctors including Li Ching.
The actor said to media from Singapore,
"After few tests the doctors found TB in my
blood and later I recovered after going through
treatment for a month. Now the doctors
permitted me to return to Bangladesh after
completing important heath check-up."
Faruk said, "By the grace of Almighty and
prayer of all loved one and well wishers I am
now in good health condition. I will be returning
to Bangladesh today in a flight at 3:30 pm of
Biman Bangladesh Airlines."
Launch of 'Mainkar Chipay'
on ZEE5 Global announced
partnerships is high on our agenda this year.
Bangladesh is a high priority market for us and
we're very glad to be rolling out our first set of
Originals in this market today as a first step
towards our vision for strong collaborations
with this market."
Announcing the line-up, Archana Anand,
Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 Global, said:
"Bangladesh has an immense pool of talented
directors and artistes and rich cultural stories.
In line with our vision of creating rich local
narratives with the local talent, and giving
them a global audience, we're thrilled to be
announcing a slate of multiple projects, and
the launch of our very first Bangladeshi
Original - Mainkar Chipay. We have brought
together the best of talent from Bangladesh to
create these unique narratives which are sure
to resonate with viewers, not just in this region
but across the globe."
Nicole Kidman on Big
Little Lies Season 3
The third season of the criticallyacclaimed
series Big Little Lies is being
actively developed by writer Liane
Moriarty, Oscar winner Nicole Kidman
has revealed.
The show's first season, which debuted
in 2017, was based on Moriarty's novel of
the same name. The second season came
out in 2019. Kidman, 53, featured in the
David E Kelley-created series alongside
the likes Reese Witherspoon, Shailene
Woodley, Laura Dern, and Zoe Kravitz.
In an interview with Jam Nation,
Kidman was asked about the status of
season three and the actor shared that its
story is being "concocted".
"There's a story being concocted. Liane
Moriarty is working on a book. Our group
of women all wants to do it. It's more the
kernel of ideas that just need to be
solidified," the actor said.
Earlier this month, Kidman told Marie
Claire Australia that the makers have
come up with a "really good idea" for
season three.
"Reese and I talk or text once a week.
She's just moved back to Nashville and
we're really close. We all just want to work
together again. I texted Zoe and Laura
and they're in. David and Liane have a
really good idea for it," she had said.
Kidman, Witherspoon, Kelly, and
Moriarty also serve as executive
producers.
Kidman currently stars in the HBO
miniseries The Undoing, which
premiered on October 25.
The Hollywood star will also be seen in
Nine Perfect Strangers, a miniseries from
Hulu which reunites her with Kelley and
Moriarty.
Source: indianexpress.com
H o R o S C o p E
ARIES
(March 21 - April 20) : Today you
could complete a creative project that
you've been working on for a while,
Aries. You will be more than happy
with the results and inspired to move on to bigger
and better things. You will feel strong enough to
take on just about any type of project. It's possible
that you might get started on the next one right
away. Don't wear yourself out!
TAURUS
(April 21 - May 21) : Things seem to be
returning to normal after the hectic
pace of late, Taurus. Life has slowed
down, and the energy is lower but
more peaceful. There's also no rush to get anything
done. The deadlines can be postponed to another
day. You might take whatever spare time you have
to just lie back and enjoy the quiet. Don't feel guilty.
You can work hard again tomorrow!
GEMINI
(May 22 - June 21) : Have you been
waiting for a letter or call from a
business or romantic partner for a long
time, Gemini? If so, you will probably
receive it today. Don't be surprised if it's long! News
and useful information could be exchanged. You will
feel energized and determined once the
communication is completed. The partnership's
future goals will be more strictly defined as a result.
CANCER
(June 22 - July 23) : Your time finally
seems to be your own, Cancer. There
are probably no rush jobs to finish, no
urgent phone calls to make, and no
one looking over your shoulder. This causes a
significant release of stress, and you're better able
than usual to focus on what you have in front of you.
In the evening, relax at home, order delivery, and
watch a movie.
LEo
(July 24 - Aug. 23): A love relationship
seems more stable than usual today, Leo.
The security wraps itself around you like
a blanket as you consider the events
leading up to this new sense of commitment. You and
your partner may spend the evening doing nothing
more than being together, which feels great! Mark this
day in your memory so you can recall it whenever your
insecurities get the better of you.
VIRGo
(Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): Today you may
not feel much like working, and you
might even decide to play hooky from
your responsibilities, Virgo. If you have
nothing urgent to do, consider indulging this whim.
Relax with a good book and a cup of tea. Watch a
favorite movie. Take a long walk in a beautiful park.
In the evening, cuddle with a love partner. Savor the
day's gentle energy.
LIBRA
(Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): A community issue
may come up today concerning you
and your neighbors, Libra. Perhaps a
virtual meeting will be held. Something
requires change in your neighborhood, and most of
you are probably firmly united behind it. This bodes
well for your future, so you will probably feel good
about the entire situation after the gathering breaks
up. Onward and upward!
SCoRpIo
(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22): A new
opportunity could come your way
today, Scorpio. There's no promise or
guarantee, but there is an indication
that if you devote yourself thoroughly, your chances
of progress are pretty good over the next month for
any activity that you begin today. Keep up the good
work and keep smiling! The latter action is as
important as the former.
SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): Have you wanted
to take a certain online course or
workshop, Sagittarius? If so, this is a
good day to consider all the details, make
some phone calls, or enroll. As far as your educational
goals go, you're very focused. You're apt to stick with
any program you decide to tackle. You're also apt to
learn more quickly and retain more. Think about it,
read the pertinent literature, then make some calls!
CApRICoRN
(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): Decisions regarding
investments, savings, or other financial
matters might need attention today,
Capricorn. Don't panic. You're in the right
frame of mind for this. Your business sense is at an alltime
high, as is your ability to focus on the task at hand.
Intuition plays a strong role. Even if you don't feel like it,
it's important to get this done. Tomorrow you might not
be quite as focused as you are today.
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) : Have you and a friend
been discussing the possibility of going
into business together? If so, Aquarius, the
two of you might want to have some
serious discussions now about the nature of the
business, how it should be structured, and what the
financial arrangements may be. You're both sharp
enough to see both the promise and the downside of
your enterprise. Get some paper and pens and go to it!
pISCES
(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) : Has a certain
project been a drag for you lately,
Pisces? Don't be surprised if today you
get your second wind. You're looking
at your tasks in a practical manner, your interest in
them is up, and you're able to accomplish them
quickly and efficiently with minimal stress.
Relationships should also be going well. Make the
most of this while you can!
THURSDAY, OCTOBeR 29, 2020
9
Shakib had to stay out of the field for a year due to the ban imposed by the International Cricket
Council (ICC).
Photo: BCB
Shakib’s participation gives T20
tournament a new dimension
Sports Desk: The Bangladesh Cricket
Board (BCB)-organized Twenty20
tournament is set to get a new
dimension because of the participation
of the ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan,
reports BSS.
The Poster Boy of Bangladesh cricket
is set to return to competitive cricket
with the tournament, which BCB would
organize in mid-November.
Shakib had to stay out of the field for
a year due to the ban imposed by the
International Cricket Council (ICC).
It is believed Shakib's 'comeback' T20
tournament has already got an extra
importance.
It is not yet to be sure whether the
T20 tournament will be a Corporate
T20 tournament but some corporate
houses and some individuals had
already expressed interest in
sponsoring the tournament and buying
'Worst time to resign'
says under-fire Barca
president
Sports Desk; Underpressure
Barcelona
president Josep Maria
Bartomeu suggested
Monday that "now would be
the worst time" to leave his
post, reports BSS.
Bartomeu faces a vote of
no confidence after
turbulent times at the Camp
Nou, not least the stand off
with club legend Lionel
Messi who was blocked from
leaving this summer.
Speaking after a board
meeting Bartomeu said:
"There are lots of issues. I
believe that it would be the
worst time to leave Barca to
an interim management
board". A caretaker board
would assume control until
new elections should
Bartomeu stand down.
A petition against him
passed the required 16,250
signatures last month.
In the referendum which
Bartomeu wants to be held
on November 15/16, his
opponents will need two
thirds of the votes cast to
remove him.
Presidential elections
would likely be held in
January or February,
slightly ahead of the
scheduled date in March.
Bartomeu is not running.
His departure could affect
the future of Messi, who
explained in September how
the way the club is run had
been a key reason for his
attempt to leave.
Victor Font is one of the
leading candidates to
succeed Bartomeu and has
linked his campaign to the
arrival of Messi's former
teammate Xavi Hernandez
as coach, although Font
suggested this week Ronald
Koeman could also continue
with Xavi taking up a
different role. Joan Laporta,
the president who appointed
Pep Guardiola coach in
2008, is also in the running.
Bartomeu's opponents
want to stage the
referendum next week, but
coronavirus.
a team. After the BCB President's Cup
final on Sunday, BCB president
Nazmul Hassan Papon also said, "It is
not yet certain what kind of
tournament the T20 will be. However,
the five-team T20 tournament will start
on November 15."
The BCB president informed that
Shakib Al Hasan will play in the
tournament. Because, the best allrounder
in the world will be free from
ban before that.
"We have already talked to him and
he said he would play the tournament.
He will return to the country from the
USA before the tournament," Papon
informed.
The BCB president also added,
"There are some sponsors who want to
be with us (BCB) in this tournament.
However, they are not a sponsor of
BPL. Everyone is new. Now, if
sponsorship is available for five teams,
it could be a corporate league."
Meanwhile, the BCB has started
looking for a sponsor after seeing the
interest of various corporate houses to
take part in the T20 tournament.
BCB chief executive Nizam Uddin
Chowdhury said: "BCB is looking for
sponsors for the T20 tournament. For
this, advertisement will be given
officially. Those who are interested will
be asked to sponsor the team. '
The BCB CEO added, "It's not just
about being an established or large
corporate house, any person or entity
who can fulfill the conditions of the
BCB can also be a sponsor if they show
interest." The Players Draft will be held
if the T20 tournament gets corporate
houses and it is believed most of the
houses will chase Shakib Al Hasan to
have him in the team.
Mbappe has already decided
to leave PSG amid Real
Madrid links, says Rami
Sports Desk: Kylian Mbappe's days as a
Paris Saint-Germain player are numbered,
according to the striker's former France
team-mate Adil Rami, reports AP.
The 21-year-old has been repeatedly linked
with Real Madrid, while Premier League
champions Liverpool have also been touted
as having an interest in his future.
Mbappe is contracted to PSG until the end
of the 2021-22 season, and if he holds off
signing a new contract then the prospects of
him leaving before then may increase.
He could join fellow World Cup winner
Zinedine Zidane at the Santiago Bernabeu,
and Rami is convinced Mbappe is planning
for a future away from the Parc des Princes.
Speaking on RMC Sport show Top of the
Foot, Rami said the lack of news about a new
deal for Mbappe at PSG makes his exit an
inevitability. "I think it's done, especially
since it's not moving forward in the
[contract] discussions," Rami said when
quizzed on the possibility of the Frenchman
signing for Madrid. "You have the
impression that it annoys him to talk about
it, he does not talk about it with the club, his
entourage.
"And from the moment where it annoys
him, it means he does not want to hear it. It
is awkward for him. "His future is all
mapped out and it's sad for the Parisians,
even for Ligue 1. I love this player."
Rami, who was a member of France's 2018
World Cup-winning squad alongside
Mbappe, is now playing in Portugal with
Boavista. Mbappe has shown startling form
in the early years of his career, following up
his 33 Ligue 1 goals in 2018-19 with 18 from
20 games in the truncated subsequent
campaign. This season he has begun with six
goals and three assists in four starts and an
appearance off the bench for PSG in their
domestic campaign.
He will be back in contention for a place in
Thomas Tuchel's starting XI when the
reigning Ligue 1 champions take in a trip to
Istanbul Basaksehir in the Champions
League. PSG will arrive at the Fatih Terim
Stadium on Wednesday looking to bounce
back from a 2-1 home defeat to Manchester
United in their opening Group H fixture,
with Mbappe confident of a strong response.
"It's not the first time that we've lost the
first match of the group stage. We know how
to react," he told PSG's official website.
"The matches succeed each other quickly
and we'll try to win in Istanbul in order to
honour the shirt and the club."
The French forward has been tipped to seal a move away from Parc des
Princes by a former international team-mate.
Photo: AP
Nadal nets
sixth place in
Mallorca golf
tournament
Sports Desk: Two weeks
after his 13th French Open
title Rafael Nadal proved his
prowess in another sporting
arena when he finished tied
sixth in the Balearic Golf
Pro-Am Championships on
Monday, reports BSS.
The 34-year-old, who
boasts a handicap of 0.3,
came in 10 shots behind the
winner after the three day
tournament in Llucmajor on
his native Mallorca, Marca
reported.
The world number two in
his chosen sport of tennis
followed up 74s in the
opening two rounds with a
77 on Monday in the
combined Pro-Am event
won by Sebastian Garcia.
Nadal swops clubs for
rackets when he returns to
the court for the Paris
Masters at Bercy starting
next Monday.
At the French Open, Nadal
beat world number one
Novak Djokovic in a onesided
final to move level with
Roger Federer on 20 Grand
Slam titles.
Aguero out
for up to a
month says
Guardiola
Sports Desk: Manchester
City striker Sergio Aguero
will be out for perhaps as
much as a month, coach Pep
Guardiola told a press
conference in Marseille on
Monday, reports BSS.
City will be without the
Argentine on Tuesday
against Marseille in the
Champions League.
Aguero, who had just
returned from injury,
suffered a muscle problem
in the Premier League draw
at West Ham on Saturday.
"We knew he wasn't in the
best condition," Guardiola
said. "When you are out four
or five months for a knee
injury you always have the
risk when you come back of
injuries."
"It will be 10-15 days
minimum. If it is longer it
will be three weeks to a
month. I don't know."
Guardiola said he wants
"Sergio to come back when
he has fully recovered. We
miss him a lot. What he has
done for this club is
extraordinary, he is a City
legend."
Injured Rohit left
out of India's squad
for Australia tour
Sports Desk: Senior
batsman Rohit Sharma was
left out of India's upcoming
tour of Australia due to injury
when the country's cricket
board announced the Test
and limited-overs squads on
Monday, reports BSS.
Paceman Ishant Sharma
also misses out of the highlyanticipated
series that
includes four Tests, three
one-day internationals and
three Twenty20 matches in
the coming months.
"The BCCI Medical Team
will continue to monitor the
progress of Rohit Sharma
and Ishant Sharma," the
Board of Control for Cricket
in India said in a statement.
Rohit, captain of Indian
Premier League defending
champions Mumbai
Indians, injured his
hamstring in a game on
October 18 and missed his
team's next two matches.
Ishant was ruled out of the
T20 tournament after
playing just one match for
Delhi Capitals following a
muscle tear during training
session earlier this month.
Opening batsman KL
Rahul has returned to the
18-member Test team after
his prolific scoring in the IPL
being held behind closed
doors in the United Arab
Emirates.
Ibrahimovic strikes twice
but Roma level three
times in Milan stalemate
Sports Desk: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored
twice but AC Milan dropped their first points
of the Serie A season as Roma came from
behind to draw 3-3 at the San Siro on
Monday, reports BSS.
In a game played in an empty stadium
after the imposition of a coronavirus curfew,
Milan were without goalkeeper Gianluigi
Donnarumma and young Norwegian striker
Jens Petter Hauge, who the club announced
earlier on Monday had tested positive for
Covid-19.
Veteran Romanian goalkeeper Ciprian
Tatarusanu, who joined Milan in September,
made his debut in place of Donnarumma,
and was twice caught on his line from
corners and also spilled a shot in the build up
to Roma's second-half penalty.
Ibrahimovic struck after just two minutes,
running onto a diagonal pass behind the
defence from Rafael Leao and poking the ball
past goalkeeper Antonio Mirante.
Milan's problems at corners were not
entirely the fault of Tatarusanu. Edin Dzeko
was unmarked in front of goal when he
headed his team's first equaliser after 13
minutes.
Milan started the second half as they had
the first. Portuguese winger Leao outpaced
his fullback and laid the ball back to Belgian
Alexis Saelemaekers who guided a shot in
from 10 yards.
French midfielder Jordan Veretout
levelled from the penalty spot after 70
minutes following a clumsy challenge by
Ismael Bennacer.
Ibrahimovic completed his third double in
three league appearances with a penalty after
78 minutes, but had an unwitting assist as
Roma levelled for a third time.
The Swede jumped to meet an 83rd
minute corner but only deflected it to the far
post where Roma's Albanian defender
Marash Kumbulla slid in to volley Roma's
third equaliser from close range with
Tatarusanu stranded. Milan, with 13 points,
remain at the top of the standings, two points
ahead of Napoli who have won all four games
they have played, and Sassuolo. Roma
remained ninth.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice but AC Milan dropped their first points of
the Serie A season as Roma came from behind to draw 3-3 at the San Siro
on Monday.
Photo: AP
Saha, Warner and Rashid
demolish Delhi Capitals
Sports Desk: Sunrisers Hyderabad kept
their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs alive
with a dominant victory over Delhi Capitals.
Playing stellar roles were Wriddhiman Saha,
David Warner and Rashid Khan as they
completed a 88-run victory giving their Net
Run Rate a fillip, reports Cricbuzz.
All thanks mainly to Warner, who could do
little wrong on his 34th birthday. At the toss,
he got what he wanted (to bat first) despite
losing. To top it off, the surprise move of
dropping Jonny Bairstow (for Kane
Williamson) and opening with Saha seemed
to pay off just in the first couple of overs.
Saha outscored Warner comfortably in the
first half of the powerplay. But the innings
really picked up momentum when Warner
too got stuck into Delhi's attack, particularly
their lead pacer and Purple Cap Holder
Kagiso Rabada. After picking up 12 from an
Anrich Nortje over, Warner opened his front
leg to smash Rabada off his lines, and picked
up 22 of his second over. Within the blink of
an eye, he had notched up a 25-ball fifty
within the powerplay. And with that also
racked up 77/0 in the powerplay,
BCB President's Cup hero Sumon
Khan now eying top level cricket
Sports Desk: After hogging the limelight
through BCB President's Cup, fast bowler
Sumon Khan now sets his target to play at
International level and shifts his focus now
solely on that, reports BSS.
Sumon Khan finished the tournament
with nine wickets, including 5-38 in the final
that earned him the best bowler of the
match. He is also one of the five players to get
the President's Special Award.
The BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon
particularly singled out his name as one of
the findings of the tournament. However
Sumon Khan's didn't follow the path to what
others follow as a cricketing journey.
While most of the cricketers go the path of
aged-level cricket, Sumon Khan didn't come
from there. In fact he was studying in BBA in
comfortably the highest of IPL 2020.
He'd played only one game all season and
scored a run-a-ball 31 but today, he made the
difference for SRH with a brilliant 45-ball 87.
Delhi's extra pace played into his strengths
quite well and Saha responded with aplomb,
using the glides and drives along with a few
pulls too. The spinners were read expertly to
be lofted, and no one was spared of his clean
striking. If the 107-run opening stand was
not enough, Saha would also add 63 with
Manish Pandey who came in next. By the
time Delhi went to a more effective ploy of
taking the pace off, the damage had been
done, and was severe.
The attack had the look of a deer caught in
the headlights after the initial onslaught. But
Delhi did not waver from their original plans
despite the caning. Apart from not taking the
pace off against Saha, the biggest setback came
through an expensive Rabada, who went for 54
in his four overs. Tushar Deshpande was
unable to provide any relief either during
Rabada's off day while R Ashwin continued to
be lacklustre for the second game running
despite picking the wicket of Warner.
North South University but such was the
passion for cricket that he left the university
after his fourth semester to pursue study in
BKSP as he wants to play cricket.
His passion is key to what position he
reaches at this moment. But Sumon Khan's
goal is bigger.
"In fact, from the day I left my studies in
North South and went to cricket, all my
attention has been on cricket. I will go ahead
with cricket, I hope to play at the top level.
One day I will play," Sumon Khan said here
today.
"The tournament (BCB President's Cup)
went very well for me as I got the opportunity
to give my best. It's a short tournament, I
have tried to do well, by the grace of Allah I
have done well, the feeling is really good."
THURSDAY, OCTOBeR 29, 2020 10
Premier Bank : Bank of mass people
MD. TAReq UDDIN
Banking has become the main driving
force of any country's economy. The
Premier Bank Limited, one of the
major private sector banks, has been
playing a similar role in the country's
economy. This third generation top
bank is not only contributing to the
development of business but also
playing a commendable role in
alleviating poverty and creating selfemployment
for the poor and the
destitute at the grassroots level.
The main reason behind this is the
founder of this bank, the heroic
freedom fighter, former MP Dr. H. B.
M. Iqbal. The philosophy that is
constantly stirred in this heroic
freedom fighter is that we fought the
war of liberation under the direction of
Bangabandhu, with the aim of
establishing a happy, prosperous, selfreliant
and exploitation-free
Bangladesh. Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman has spoken in every one of his
speeches about changing the destiny of
the poor and miserable people.He
spoke of the creation of their selfemployment,
the establishment of a
happy and prosperous self-reliant
Sonar Bangla. In that light he has
added these to the basic policy of the
state.He said that Premier Bank
Limited is the product of this
ideological thinking. The bank is not
only investing in the development of
industry and commerce, but is also
directly helping the poorest to change
their fortunes by providing interest /
low interest loans, which is bringing
huge benefits to the economy of
Bangladesh.
The third generation bank has 120
branches. In fact, this bank is a bit
different than other banks. Because
this bank is not only giving importance
to profit making, it is also giving
important initiatives and role in
poverty alleviation.
Efficient and experienced leadership
is the main condition for the smooth
running of any organization. No
organization can move forward
without visionary and efficient
leadership. From that point of view,
Premier Bank has a skilled and
experienced board of directors and
management authority. The bank's
advisor is the renowned banker,
economist Mohammad Ali, and the
managing director and CEO is the
eminent banker M.S. Reazul Karim,
FCMA.In their overall management,
the Bank has made unprecedented
progress in massive infrastructural
development, enhanced human
resource excellence and diversification
of customer service and products to
make the best use of modern
information technology.
Premier Bank Limited has come out
of the traditional conventional banking
system of the country. A few years ago,
this bank used to conduct traditional
banking like ten other banks. The bank
has made many changes in this regard.
As per the instruction of valiant
Freedom Fighter and Bank Chairman
Dr. H. B. M. Iqbal, Premier Bank has
now reached out to the masses.In
particular, the bank is working to bring
a large number of customers, including
cottage, small, medium, agricultural
and women entrepreneurs, under
banking. Not only have that, for the
last three years, more importance has
been given to alternative banking
channels than the conventional ones.
Digital apps have already been
launched. Customers get better service
through these apps.
ATM booths, agent banking, subbranches
have been introduced as
alternative channels. The number of
accounts has also increased. RMG is
making a huge contribution in the
sector. The growth of this bank in
import and export is better than many
other banks.
Premier Bank Limited continues to
make significant contributions to the
country's garment industry. The bank
has accounts of more than 260 exportoriented
garments industries. From
this it can be realized that this bank is
making important contribution in the
development of garment industry of
the country. Apart from this, the bank
is also providing grassroots banking
services in other sectors of industrial
trade. The bank's chairman Dr. H. B.
M. Iqbal believes that today's child is
the citizen of tomorrow and has the
potential entrepreneurial mentality
hidden in him or her. That is why he
has introduced school banking.
Premier Bank is a pioneer in school
banking in Bangladesh. So far 53,743
student accounts have been opened in
different branches of the bank. The
amount of their deposit is also above
Tk 11 crore 15 lakh. This deposit saves
their tiffin money they are
depositing.It is through the initiative of
this bank that children and adolescents
have become accustomed to the
banking system and have not been able
to develop themselves as worthy
citizens of the future. Even during the
coronavirus epidemic, the bank has
been able to contribute to the country's
economic activities and continues to
do so.
The government has tasked the
banking sector with disbursing Tk
5,000 crore as an incentive for the
export sector, including garments, to
cope with the economic crisis caused
by the coronavirus infection. Premier
Bank has opened accounts for about
40,000 garment workers and
distributed salaries for the three
months of April-May-June through
those accounts. These employees are
now involved in the banking system
and have access to modern banking.
The bank has also opened a bank
account of Tk 10 in the light of
government directives and farmers are
getting government assistance through
this account. Farmers now have
deposits of around Tk 1.5 crore in
4,000 accounts.
Premier Bank Limited has given
more importance to the SME sector.
Mohammad Ali, an advisor to the
bank, thinks that today's successful
SME borrowers will emerge as the
biggest corporate customers of the
future. At the same time, the country's
economy will expand, employment
will grow and it will have a positive
impact on national production.
Premier Bank has been leading the
digital banking business since its
inception. At present, that trend has
accelerated, resulting in increased
customer service. Customers are able
to enjoy a variety of benefits, including
transactions, from the comfort of their
own home. It is integrating the
country's banking sector with
international banking and has been
able to establish itself on a par with
banking in developed countries.
Premier Bank Managing Director
and CEO, eminent banker personality
M. Reazul Karim, FCMA said, "With
the foresight of our Board of Directors,
we have moved forward with our
duties and in continuation of this,
Premier Bank has come forward with
an exceptional work plan during
coronavirus pandemic." We have
deployed manpower where it is needed
and all kinds of facilities including
annual increment of all officers and
employees as per rules continue.We
are working to cut the coronvirus
recession and make an effective
contribution to the domestic economy
through other banking activities,
including state debt incentives. "
This private sector bank is operating
with utmost care and confidence. It
has been able to set an example of
consistent financial results, corporate
good governance, ethics, transparency,
accountability and proper
performance in social responsibility.
The main person behind these
achievements is the efficiency of the
chairman of the board of directors Dr.
H. B. M. Iqbal. He guarded the bank
like a guardian angel.
He said, "It is true that we are the
founders of the bank and we have
established the bank. But we do not
own this bank. Owners are the
customers who have deposited here. It
is our responsibility to protect the
deposited money. He constantly
reminds the bank executives about
this". He further said, "Father of the
Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman has made the country
independent and we have become
entrepreneurs of the bank. You can
become officers of the bank including
MD and DMD." If the country was not
independent, then one would have
been a clerk. So much development, so
many banks, so many industries could
not have been possible if the country
did not get freedom".
So everyone has to work with
honesty and dedication. Under his
guidance, Premier Bank has been
able to establish itself as a people's
bank. Rural farmers and even the
poorest of the poor have been able
to join the bank and improve their
quality of life through micro-credit.
The modern bank of the time
Premier Bank Limited is entering
its 22nd year of establishment.
Marking this great occasion we
wish good luck to all and constant
love to everyone.
The writer is Md. Tareq Uddin,
SVP, Head of Brand Marketing
and Communication, The
Premier Bank Limited.
Premier Bank celebrates 21 years of growth
The Premier Bank Ltd celebrated their 2 decades of successful operations
at a spectacular event held under the banner of "Celebrating 21 years of
Growth Together" recently. The event, held at the bank's head office, was
inaugurated by the Premier Bank's founder Chairman, Freedom Fighter
Dr. H.B.M.
Photo: Courtesy
The Premier Bank Ltd
celebrated their 2 decades of
successful operations at a
spectacular event held under
the banner of "Celebrating 21
years of Growth Together"
recently. The event, held at the
bank's head office, was
inaugurated by the Premier
Bank's founder Chairman,
Freedom Fighter Dr. H.B.M.
The event rejoiced all the
significant milestones of their 21
year journey with special
emphasis on how they are
proud and humbled to have
played an important role in
transforming the economic
sector and facilitating the
development of the country as a
key financial player. It is this role
that has contributed to earning
the trust, appreciation and
respect of the people and other
organizations solidifying their
position as one of the leading
private banks now-a-days, a
press release said.
Dr. H.B.M. Iqbal, who is a
renowned Freedom Fighter
and one of the pioneers of the
country's financial sector, led
the celebrations of the day as the
events Chief Guest. Joining him
as special guests were M. Reazul
Karim (FCMA), the Managing
Director and CEO of the
Premier Bank; Golam Awlia,
Additional Managing Director
of the bank. In his speech at the
celebration, Chairman Dr.
H.B.M. Iqbal stated, "Ever since
we started way back in 1999, we
strived every single day to
perform our best and keep our
promise of "Service first" which
has helped us rise to a position
of trust while earning the love
and respect of the people. Our
bank has been playing an
important role in the
development of various sectors
of the country and we have
garnered massive success in
many different areas. However,
without your continuous help
and support for the last 20
years, we would not have
reached recent position."
The Managing Director and
CEO of the bank M. Reazul
Karim (FCMA) thanked
everyone and said, "Despite
the effect of pandemic, our
deposit has grown by 9.67%
from the year end of 2019
(from BDT 20,977.62 crore as
on 31.12.2019 to BDT
23,005.41 as on 25.10.2020).
During the same time, our
loans and advances has grown
by 10.01% (from BDT
18,824.74 crore as on
31.12.2019 to BDT 20,709.73
crore as on 25.10.2020). We
hope that within the next five
years, premier bank will
achieve all the parameters and
become one of the top most
profitable banks in the
country."
The Horishchar Bazar Sub-branch of First Security Islami Bank Ltd. recently started its operation
recently at Hanif Tower, Horishchar Bazar, Lalmai, Cumilla with a view to providing shariah based
modern banking services to its clients. Syed Waseque Md Ali, Managing Director of First Security
Islami Bank inaugurated the sub-branch through Video Conference. Among others, Abdul Aziz and
Md. Mustafa Khair, Additional Managing Director(s), Md. Zahurul Haque, Deputy Managing
Director along with other officials were present at the occasion. A Doa Mahfil was organized in this
regard.
Photo: Courtesy
Jamuna
Bank gets its
New DMD
Md. Fazlur Rahman
Chowdhury appointed as the
Deputy Managing Director
recently. Chowdhury will
take the role of the Head of
Corporate Banking Division
as well as the Regional Head
Md. Fazlur Rahman
of Chattogram Zone, a press
release said.
Prior to joining Jamuna
Bank, Chowdhury was the
Additional Deputy Managing
Director & Head of
Chattogram Zone leading 27
(twenty seven) branches.
Chowdhury has around 25
years of experience in
banking service and has held
senior management
positions in different
capacities mainly focused in
Corporate Banking, Credit
Management and Branch
Banking. He started his
banking career in 1995 as
Probationary Officer (2nd
Batch) with Eastern Bank
Ltd and joined ONE Bank
Ltd, Agrabad Branch as AVP
& Branch Credit Head in
2000. He worked as
Agrabad Branch Manager
for seven years and was
honored with "Best Manager
Award" during his tenure.
Chowdhury completed his
Masters in Accounting from
University of Chittagong. He
completed CA Article ship
from Rahman Rahman
Huq. He was awarded as one
of the Top Class Deputy
Governors of the Year 2017 -
18 in Rotary International
under Rotary District 3282.
He attended many training
and workshops in home and
abroad.
Standard Bank Ltd donated 75,000 pcs blankets for the cold stricken
people to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. Prime Minister & Leader of the
People Sheikh Hasina joined the program through video conferencing.
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Standard Bank Ltd. Kazi Akram
Uddin Ahmed handed over the blankets to Dr. Ahmad Kaikaus, Principle
Secretary of Prime Minister.
Photo: Courtesy
Trumps says will pass 'best
stimulus' after election
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump
said Tuesday that Republicans will approve a
pandemic rescue package for the US
economy after the November 3 election,
seeming to concede defeat on efforts to reach
a deal this week, reports BSS.
He also improbably predicted Republicans
would regain control of the lower house of
Congress, and blamed House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi for the impasse in talks over steps to
help counteract the devastating impact that
the health crisis has had on households and
businesses.
"She's not interested in helping the
people," Trump told reporters at the White
House.
"But after the election we will get the best
stimulus package you've ever seen because I
think we're going to take back the House,"
said Trump, who is trailing well behind
former vice president Joe Biden in the polls.
After months of negotiations between
Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven
Mnuchin, and despite signs of recent
progress, there appears to be no time left to
get the deal approved before Trump and
Biden go before voters next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Republican Senate Majority
Leader Mitch McConnell adjourned the
upper house of Congress after rushing
through confirmation of a conservative
Supreme Court justice, Amy Coney Barrett,
late Monday. And though he could still call a
vote, he has opposed another massive
stimulus package.
The two sides are looking at a package of
measures that would total around $2 trillion,
but remain divided over provisions to
combat the coronavirus and help struggling
state and local governments.
But Trump again indicated he opposes
providing aid to Democratic-led cities and
states.
With Covid-19 cases on the rise
nationwide, the need for stimulus has taken
on a new urgency, especially as many
support programs have expired or are about
to, including a moratorium on foreclosures
and evictions as well as loans for small
businesses. This threatens to spark a wave of
bankruptcies and homelessness.
Whether a measure can be approved in the
"lame duck" session before the new Congress
is seated in January is unclear.
THurSDAY, OCTOBer 29, 2020
11
gywRee‡l©i A½xKvi
moK n‡e ms¯‹vi
ShasthoBatayon is the largest telehealth center in Bangladesh which is being run under the auspices
of MIS, DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and under the overall supervision of the
country's first tier of ICT and digital healthcare providers Synesis IT.
Photo: Courtesy
"ShasthoBatayon- 16263" provided services
to 1 crore people during Covid-19
"ShasthoBatayon" has provided
services to more than 1 crore people
during the corona period. From March
1 to October 20, about 1,01,75,080
people received various services from
the telehealth center run by Synesis IT
at the initiative of the Ministry of
GD- 1420/20 (6 x 3)
Health and Family Welfare, of which
86,48,818 people called for
coronavirus issue. One out of every 16
people of the country has availed of
this telehealth service, a press release
said.
A total of 1 crore 52 lakh people have
received the service since 2015.
ShasthoBatayon is the largest
telehealth center in Bangladesh which
is being run under the auspices of MIS,
DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, and under the overall
supervision of the country's first tier of
ICT and digital healthcare
providers Synesis IT.
In this regard, Chief
Executive Officer of Synesis
Health and Public Health
Specialist, Dr. Nizam Uddin
Ahmed,
said,
"Multidimensional services
are being provided through
the 'ShasthoBatayon' call
center during the corona
period and the service has
played a huge role in the
welfare of the people. 200
doctors are providing this
service every day and
Shastho Batayon-16263 can
provide services to about 3
lakh people every day. In
addition to medical
treatment and counseling
services, emergency
ambulance services, health
information services,
complaints about public and
private medical services,
accidental medical services,
etc. are provided through
ShasthoBatayon. Besides,
there is an arrangement to
transfer the phone calls to
the specialist call center of
Bangabandhu Medical
Hospital for specialist
services. As well as
providing mental health
services by psychiatrists,
providing services through
maternal and child
specialists, etc., significant
services are provided from
ShasthoBatayon
Synesis Health.
and
GD- 1423/20 (7 x 4)
GD- 1421/20 (6 x 4)
GD- 1419/20 (10 x 4)
Thursday, Dhaka, October 29, 2020, Kartik 13, 1427 BS, Rabi-ul Awal 11, 1442 Hijri
‘Always be ready for
facing any threat’
Gazipur workers
block road,
vandalise factory
GAZIPUR : Workers of a sweater factory
in Gazipur blocked the road protesting
the factory authority's decision to
retrench workers, reports UNB.
Vehicular movement on the Dhaka-
Tangail Highway remained halted for
more than an hour on Wednesday
morning as agitated workers blocked
the road. Rafiqul Islam of Basan Police
Station said the workers of Diganta
Sweater Factory have been demonstrating
demanding an end to minimising
workers from the factory.
On Wednesday morning, when the
workers went to the factory they noticed
some lights and machinery of different
sections were broken. They alleged the
authorities concerned vandalised them
to falsely implicate workers.
Later, they demonstrated inside the
factory and vandalised valuables.
They also blocked the Dhaka-Tangail
Highway, disrupting vehicular movement
on the busy road. At one stage, they brought
out a procession and broke into the 'Coast to
Coast' factory and carried out vandalism.
The window panes, computers, and
machines were vandalised. The protesters
also damaged 10 vehicles in the area.
Ten people, including a number of
passers-by, were injured during the
incident. On information, police went
to the spot and brought the situation
under control.
DHAKA : Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina on Wednesday asked the
Bangladesh Army to be always ready for
facing any threat from home and abroad
to protect the sacred Constitution and
sovereignty of the motherland, reports
UNB.
"For protecting the sacred
Constitution and sovereignty of the
motherland, you have to be ever ready to
face any threat from inside and outside
keeping the unity intact," she said.
The Prime Minister said this while
delivering her speech in a programme
raising flags of eight units and organisations
of Bangladesh Army. She joined
the programme, which took place at
Sheikh Hasina Cantonment, Lebukhali
in Patuakhali, virtually from her official
residence Ganobhaban.
She said that Bangladesh Army is the
symbol of confidence and trust and they
have to step forward through gaining
the trust of the people.
She mentioned that as the members
of the Army, the first need for army personnel
is professionalism and training.
"And to attain this desired standard of
this professionalism, you all have to be
skilled professionally, imbued with religious
and social values, maintain honest
and benignant life," she said.
The Prime Minister hoped that members
of the Army will sincerely discharge
their responsibilities maintaining the
key driving forces of the Army including
confidence in upper leadership, mutual
trust, compassion, brotherhood, dutifulness,
responsibility and above all, maintaining
discipline.
She said that the government wanted
that members of the armed forces would
perform their duties towards the country
and its people with responsibility,
dutifulness and affection to the motherland.
Reiterating the foreign policy of the
country, which was introduced by
Father of the Na tion Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, 'Friendship to
all, malice to none', she said that
Bangladesh does not want war with anyone,
rather it wants friendship with all.
"With these friendly relations, we
want to develop Bangladesh socioeconomically,"
she said.
But she firmly said that if Bangladesh
is attacked at any time, the government
wants to maintain its preparation for
facing that attack.
"We want to be ready like that way, we
want peace and friendship, we don't
want enmity and war, because we've
already witnessed the destructiveness of
war, we're the victims of war, we don't
want to engage in that type of conflict
DHAKA : Attorney General AM Amin
Uddin yesterday said that the people's
confidence in the judiciary is increasing
due to speedy disposal of cases and
announcement of verdicts.
Referring to the drug and child rape
cases disposed in Khulna and
Bagerhat courts, the Attorney General
said, "The settlement of these case
ensuring proper facilities to the parties
as per the law is a milestone for us.
This is increasing people's trust in the
judicial service."
He also said that measures will be
taken to expedite the hearing of all the
cases pending in the High Court, including
Rifat murder case.
"As soon as Paper Book is ready, steps
will be taken to ensure that the appeals
and death references of the accused in
the Rifat murder case are heard expeditiously
on priority basis," he added.
On October 4, the death reference of
six accused, including Ayesha Siddika
Minni, reached the High Court.
On September 30, the Barguna
District and Sessions Judge's Court convicted
six accused and gave them death
sentence, and acquitted four others.
The convicts were Rakibul Hasan
again," she said.
She said that Bangladesh wants to go
through the path of prosperity keeping
its journey on the path of peace.
Sheikh Hasina said that economic
development and prosperity of the
country are the main goals of the government
and it has been working restlessly
towards that direction.
The Prime Minister said the government
has taken all necessary steps to
develop Bangladesh Army as capable of
facing geo-political and military challenges
of the 21st century.
In this regard, she mentioned that the
government has been implementing
forces goal-2030 that was formulated
following the Defense Policy of the
Father of the Nation.
Praising members of the army for
their integrity and responsibility in facing
various natural disasters and
humanitarian crises, she asked them to
continue their efforts in the days ahead.
The Prime Minister also appreciated
the role of the army in facing the
COVID-19 pandemic and said members
of the army are lauded for creating mass
awareness on coronavirus.
About the national standard, the
Prime Minister said, it is a matter of dignity
and pride for any battalion or unit of
the forces to receive the national flag.
Railway authorities have started a drive to evict illegal establishments in Narsingdi. The drive started at 10 am on
Wednesday after the rescue drive was halted due to the Corona crisis.
Photo: PBA
Speedy disposal of cases
increasing people's
confidence in judiciary : AG
alias Rifat Faraji, Al Qayyum alias
Rabbi, Mohaiminul Islam Sifat, Rezoan
Ali Khan Hridoy alias Tiktak Hridoy,
Mohammad Hasan and Ayesha
Siddique Minni.
Mohammad Musa, Rafiul Islam
Rabbi, Mohammad Sagar and Kamrul
Hasan Saimun were given acquittal
from the case.
The Attorney General said that on
October 28, for the first time in the country's
judicial administration, a district
court in Khulna announced verdict in a
drug case within three working days.
The verdict sentenced the only accused
in the case, Mohammad Samrat, to six
months' rigorous imprisonment for keeping
Marijuana and another six months'
rigorous imprisonment for possession of
contraband Yaba tablets.
Besides, the accused has been sentenced
to one more month rigorous
imprisonment for non-payment of a
fine of Tk 10,000, he added.
AM Amin also said that a district court
has sentenced a rapist to life imprisonment
in a child rape case at Mongla in
Bagerhat on October 19. The trial of the
case has been completed in seven working
days.
Children and teenagers are risking their lives at Patenga beach in Chittagong to serve travel enthusiasts. Accidents
can happen at any time.
Photo : Star Mail
Covid-19 infected
Habiganj-3 MP Zahir
airlifted to Dhaka
DHAKA : MP of Habiganj-3 Advocate
Md. Abu Zahir, who was infected with
Covid-19, was brought to Dhaka on
Wednesday by MI-helicopter of
Bangladesh Air Force, reports UNB.
The MP was undergoing treatment in
Habiganj . He has been airlifted to
Dhaka following deterioration of his
condition, said a press release of ISPR.
Later, he was taken to Combined
Military Hospital, Dhaka for better
treatment. Bangladesh on Wednesday
announced the detection of 1,493 new
coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours
and 23 more deaths.
The country's caseload stands at
403,079 with 5,861 fatalities.
With the recovery of 1,610 patients,
the total number of recovered patients
jumped to 319,733. The current recovery
rate is 79.32 percent.
The fatality rate in Bangladesh is 1.45
percent, the Directorate General of
Health Services (DGHS) said.
Dhaka-M’singh
rail link restored
GAZIPUR : Train communication on the
Dhaka-Mymensingh route remained
suspended for nearly two hours after a
derailment at Dhirasram Station in
Gazipur on Wednesday, reports UNB.
Dhirasram Railway Station Master
Helal Uddin said the engine of the Dhakabound
'Commuter Express' train from
Jamalpur veered off the track around
10:30am, snapping train communication
on Dhaka-Mymensingh route.
Arelief train from Joydebpur went to
the spot and salvaged the train around
noon. A number of trains were stranded
at Joydebpur and Tongi stations after
the derailment. Train communication
resumed on the route around noon.
Govt forming policy
to safeguard poultry,
dairy industries
DHAKA : Fisheries and Livestock
Minister SM Rezaul Karim on
Wednesday said that the government is
formulating a policy to safeguard the
poultry and dairy industries of the country,
reports UNB.
He made the remarks at a meeting
with the Animal Health Companies
Association of Bangladesh (AHCAB)
and Bangladesh Agro Feed Ingredients
Importers and Traders Association
(BAFIITA) at the secretariat. Poultry
and dairy industries will be provided
with the highest benefits in the policy, he
said, adding that the government will do
its best to help the sector develop.
"Covid-19 has damaged many industries
of the country. There is no alternative
to the advancement of the poultry
and dairy industries to run the rural
economy and alleviate poverty," he said.
He urged AHCAB and BAFIITA representatives
to operate trade activities
with responsibility after making the
market economy stable.
Trump makes frenetic election
push in states that highlight
his Covid denial
President Donald Trump's final sprint to
shore up states he won four years ago
led him Tuesday into the epicenter of
America's quickening viral surge in
Wisconsin, as the state's record single
day spikes in Covid-19 cases and deaths
crystalized his administration's failures
that could end his political career.
A week from the night when
America could learn the identity of its
next President-depending on prolonged
mail-in voting counts and possible
legal challenges-Trump greeted a
crowd, packed together, with few
masks worn. He did so as Badger State
hospitals are critically understaffed
and facing the threat of being overwhelmed
by Covid-19 patients. But on
a chill fall night, the President wove an
alternative reality he bets will win him
reelection, reports CNN.
Trump's three-state swing Tuesdayhe
also visited Michigan and Nebraskareflected
the sleight of hand he's using a
week from Election Day, creating a false
impression that the pandemic is all but
over as it gets worse each day.
"We are turning the corner. We are
rounding the curve, we will vanquish the
virus," Trump said in West Salem,
Wisconsin, as the US piles up record
numbers of new infections that have
added half a million new cases in the last
week alone.
More than 226,000 Americans have
died. The current death rate is 800 per
day, and experts warn the trend is only
increasing ahead of a grim winter.
But in his closing election pitch,
Trump is denying the disastrous impact
of the gravest challenge facing the country,
holding potential superspreader
events that put his own supporters and
anyone they meet at risk and yet again
prioritizing his political survival above
his duty to guard public health.
While Trump complained in
Wisconsin that all the media talks about
is "Covid, Covid, Covid," the state's
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers warned
Tuesday: "There is no way to sugarcoat
it, we are facing an urgent crisis and
there is an imminent risk to you and
your family."
Andrea Palm, Secretary-designee of
Wisconsin's Department of Health
Services, warned: "The increasing cases,
and our increase in deaths today are the
largest single day increases we've seen
throughout the course of this pandemic.
We must take significant and collective
action."
Public disquiet about the
President's handling of the worst
public health crisis in 100 years has
contributed to a situation in which
Trump appears to be struggling to
hang on to states like Wisconsin,
which he won in 2016, and is seeking
to shore up Michigan, Pennsylvania,
North Carolina and Iowa.
With more than 68.5 million
Americans having voted so far -- surpassing
half the total votes four years
ago -- time is running out to change the
dynamics of a race in which he is trailing
Democratic nominee Joe Biden in key
battlegrounds.
Cabinet body okays Dhaka Wasa's supply
network improvement proposal, 3 others
DHAKA : The Cabinet Committee on
Public Purchase has approved 4 procurement
proposals of Tk 428.98 crore including
a contract awarding for Dhaka
WASA's network improvement project.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal
presided over the meeting, reports UNB.
According to a proposal placed by the
Rural Government Division, a contract
of Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage
Authority (WASA) was awarded to
Germany's Ludwing Pfeiffer Hochund
Tiefbau GmbH and Co. KG, as lowest
bidder for rehabilitation of 163.95 km of
water supply pipe in Mods Zone-7 at a
contract value of Tk 164.09 crore.
The contractor will also do the job of
operation and maintenance for one year
under the contract with commissioning
of 7 District Metered Area (DMA).
Another proposal of the LGED
approved by the Cabinet body is
appointment of a project implementation
consultant for Rural Connectivity
Improvement Project.
A joint venture of 1. Development
Design Consultants Ltd. Bangladesh, 2.
GITEC-IGIP GmbH, Germany, 3. Dev
Consultants Limited, Bangladesh and 4.
Resource Planning and Management
Consultants (Pvt.) Ltd. Bangladesh won
the contract at a cost of 88.75 crore.
The committee gave its nod to a proposal
to award a contract to a bidder for the
civil works of New Dhaleswari-Pungli-
Turag-Bangshi-Buriganga River System
Project (2nd amendment) of Lot-3 under
the Buriganga River Restoration project
for at a contract value of Tk 50.62 crore.
A tender proposal of the Roads and
Highways Department to award a contract to a
joint venture of 1. Ataur Rahman Khan Ltd.,
and 2. Mahabub Brothers (Pvt.) Ltd., for upgradation
of existing road from Monihar to Murali
to 4-lane at Palbari-Daratana-Manihar-Murali
Highway received nod from the committee.
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