30-09-2021

thurSday
DhaKa: September 30, 2021; ashwin 15, 1428 BS; Safar 22,1443 hijri
www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net
Regd.No.Da~2065, Vol.19; N o. 154; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00
international
North Korea says
hypersonic missile
made 1st test flight
>Page 7
Japan ex-diplomat Kishida wins
party vote, to become new PM
TOKYO : Japan's former Foreign
Minister Fumio Kishida won the governing
party leadership election on
Wednesday and is set to become the next
prime minister, facing
the imminent
task of addressing a
pandemic-hit economy
and ensuring a
strong alliance with
Washington to
counter growing
regional security
risks, reports UNB.
Kishida replaces
outgoing party
leader Prime
Minister Yoshihide
Suga, who is stepping
down after
serving only one
year since taking
office last Sept.
As new leader of the Liberal Democratic
Party, Kishida is certain to be elected the
next prime minister on Monday in parliament,
where his party and coalition partner
control the house.
Kishida beat popular vaccinations minister
Taro Kono in a runoff after finishing
only one vote ahead of him in the first
round where none of the four candidates,
including two women, was able to win a
majority.
Results showed Kishida had more support
from party heavyweights who apparently
chose stability over change advocated
by Kono, who is known as something of
High Court dismisses plea for probe
into leaked phone conversations
DHAKA : The High Court on Wednesday
rejected a writ petition seeking an immediate
probe into leaked telephonic conversations.
The petition was dismissed by a
division bench of justices M Enayetur
Rahim and Md Mostafizur Rahman.
Advocate Mohamamd Shishir Monir
appeared for the petitioner while attorney
general AM Amin Uddin and advocate
Khandaker Reza-e-Rakib represented
the state and the Bangladesh
Telecommunication and Regulatory
Commission (BTRC), respectively.
On August 10, a group of 10 Supreme
Court lawyers filed a writ petition in the
High Court seeking an investigation into
leaked telephonic conversations.
Posts and Telecommunications
department Secretary, Information and
Communications department Secretary,
Telecommunications and Information
Technology Secretary, and Bangladesh
Telecommunication Regulatory
Commission chairman were made
respondents to the petition.
UNB has learnt that the petitioners
cited 20 high-profile instances of leaked
telephonic conversations between 2013
and 2021 in their petition.
Zohr
04:36 AM
11:55 PM
04:10 PM
05:52 PM
07:08 PM
5:49 5:48
Fumio Kishida
a maverick.
The new leader is under pressure to
change the party's high-handed reputation
worsened by Suga, who angered the
public over his handling
of the coronavirus
pandemic
and insistence on
holding the
Summer Olympics
in Tokyo.
The long-ruling
conservative Liberal
Democratic Party
desperately needs to
quickly turn around
plunging public support
ahead of lower
house elections
coming within two
months.
Kishida called for
growth and distribution
under his "new capitalism," saying
that the economy under Japan's longestserving
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had
only benefited big companies.
Overall, little change is expected in key
diplomatic and security policies under the
new leader, said Yu Uchiyama, a political
science professor at the University of
Tokyo.
All of the candidates support close
Japan-U.S. security ties and partnerships
with other like-minded democracies in
Asia and Europe, in part to counter
China's growing influence and a threat
from nuclear-armed North Korea.
Conversations between Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina and then Opposition leader
Begum Khaleda Zia, between General
Secretary of Awami League Obaidul
Quader and BNP secretary general Mirza
Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, between late senior
lawyer Barrister Moudud Ahmed and
Assistant Commissioner of Rajshahi
Metropolitan Police Nazmul Hasan were
some of the notable instances cited by the
petitioners.
Privacy of personal communications
has been guaranteed under Article 43 of
the Bangladeshi Constitution and it is a
fundamental right of the citizens,
according to the Supreme Court lawyers.
Besides, Section 30 (f) of the
Telecommunications Regulation Act,
2001, ensures privacy of phone conversations,
they had pointed out. And
according to Section 71 of the same act,
"phone tapping is a punishable offence".
A person convicted of this crime can
be sentenced to a maximum of two years
in jail or fined Tk 5 crore.
SPortS
Messi scores first goal
for club, beats former
boss Guardiola
>Page 9
848 UPs go to
polls in second
phase on Nov 11
DHAKA : The second phase of elections
to 848 Union Parishads (UPs) will be
held on November 11, while the seventh
phase polls to 10 municipalities and
Sirajganj-6 parliamentary by-polls on
November 02, reports UNB.
The election dates were finalised at a
meeting of the Election Commission
(EC), held with Chief Election
Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the
chair.
EC Secretary Humayun Kabir
Khandaker announced the polls schedules
for 848 UPs, 10 municipalities and
Sirajganj-6 constituency after the meeting
at the Nirbachan Bhaban.
According to the schedule announced
for UPs, the deadline for nomination
submission is October 17, while the date
for scrutiny of nomination papers is
October 20 and the last date for the
withdrawal of candidature is October
26. The 848 UPs are located in the country's
63 out of 64 districts.
Polls to 10 municipalities: the 7th phase
polls to 10 municipalities in 10 different
districts will be arranged on Nov 02.
According to the schedule, the deadline
for nomination submission is
October 09, while the date for scrutiny of
nomination papers is October 11 and the
last date for withdrawal of candidature is
October 17.
The municipalities are Ghorashal in
Narsingdi, Kasba in Brahmanbaria,
Chhagalnaiya in Feni, Ramgrarh in
Khagrachhari, Sonatala in Bagura,
Ghoraghat in Dinajpur, Domar in
Nilphamari, Lohagara in Narail, Pakundia
in Kishoreganj and C’nawabganj.
Jhumon Das walks out
of jail after six months
SUNAMGANJ : Jhumon Das walked
out of Sunamganj District Jail on
Tuesday evening after spending nearly
six months following his arrest in a case
filed under the Digital Security Act.
Jail superintendent Nurshed Ahmed
Via said Jhumon left the premises
around 6.30 pm, hours after the High
Court's bail order, issued on Thursday,
reached the jail.
Jhumon expressed his gratitude for all
who have supported him, after walking
out of jail. On September 23, the High
Court granted interim bail for a year to
Jhumon in the case.
Jhumon had been in judicial custody
since March 22, when he was arrested
for posting defamatory remarks about
then Hefazat leader Mamunul Haque on
his Facebook page.
In fact, on March 17, a group of miscreants
carried out an attack on the
houses of a minority community in
Noagaon village of Shalla upazila over
his Facebook post.
On March 16, police detained Jhumon
and produced him in court the very next
day, showing his arrest in a case filed
under Section 54 of the Criminal
Procedure Code (CrPC).
DHAKA : Finance Minister AHM
Mustafa Kamal has said he received no
application from the Padma Bank
Limited for its merger plan with any
state-owned bank, reports UNB.
"I received no application from Padma
Bank so far," he said while talking to
reporters after a meeting of the cabinet
committee on public purchase (CCPP)
on Wednesday.
Mustafa Kamal, however, said now all
the state-owned banks like Janata,
Sonali and Rupali have certain stakes in
the Padma Bank's ownership structure.
He also said a draft has been prepared
for framing a law on the merger and
acquisition. "Hopefully, the law will be
enacted soon to facilitate the process of
merger and acquisition. Once the law is
enacted, we can consider the proposal of
the Padma Bank."
Kamal said the owners of the Padma
Bank failed to run the bank due to corruption
by a section of people. "Punitive
measures were taken against those people.
Now they are in jail after trial," he
said adding, "What else can the government
do?
Responding to another question, the
finance minister said Business Research
International Corporation Inc. (BRIC), a
Panama-based company, which was
given the approval to set up a 50MW
Rab arrested
three people,
including
the chief
operating
officer of
e-commerce
platform
Dhamaka
Shopping
from Tejgaon
area of the
capital on
charges of
fraud.
Photo :
Courtesy
art & culture
Koushani
in Dhallywood
film 'Piya Re'
>Page 10
Although work was supposed to be started to prevent river erosion, it has not actually started
now. This erosion has been going on for ages. As a result of river erosion, the common people
along the river have forgotten to dream anew. Hundreds of families here are now separated
from close relatives due to the demolition. Somehow life goes on in huts, on government
roadsides, in other people's shelters, or in rented places.
Photo: PBA
No application received
from Padma Bank for
merger: Finance Minister
solar power plant in Terkhada in
Khulna, is not a tainted company like
those the names of which were published
in Panama Papers.
He said the company in Joint Venture
with Hero Future Energies Asia Pte. Ltd,
Singapore will set up the plant on its own
and the government does not need to
invest any amount in the project.
State-owned Bangladesh Power
Development Board (BPDB) will purchase
electricity over 20 years at a total
cost of Tk 1328.90 crore.
The finance minister said this company
may be based in Panama, but it is not
among those companies which were
published by Panama Papers for their
corruption.
"Panama Papers companies and a
Panama-based company are not the
same," he said.
Dhamaka Shopping
had no liscence, no
account: Rab
DHAKA : Dhamaka Shopping was operating
its business without any trade liscence
and it used to make transactions
in the name of Invariant Telecom
Bangladesh Ltd.
"Dhamaka Shopping has no trade liscence,
and its transactions were made in
the name of Invariant Telecom
Bangladesh Ltd tactfully. Rab has
detected the transactions of Tk 750
crore," said Commander Khandaker Al
Moin, director of Rab legal and media
wing. He said this at a press briefing held
at Rab's Karwan Bazar office.
Earlier, the elite force arrested three
people, including the chief operating
officer of e-commerce platform
Dhamaka Shopping from Tejgaon area
of the capital on charges of fraud.
The arrestees were identified as
Dhamaka COO Sirajul Islam Rana, 34,
Imtiaz Hasan Sabuj, 31, category head of
mobile fashion and Ibrahim Swapan, 33,
category head electronics of the company.
On September 23, a customer of Tongi
filed a case against chairman, managing
director and COO of Dhamaka Shopping
with Tongi West Police Station.
Dhamaka Digital launched its operation
in 2018 and officially started its
operation as Dhamaka Shopping in
2020, said Commander Khandaker Al
Moin.
Power consumers
increase rapidly
DHAKA : Electricity connections have
been increasing rapidly due to availability
of power across the country, said an
official, reports BSS.
The government has been providing
electricity connections within the shortest
possible time and also encouraging
online applications as part of paperless
office campaign, added the official.
"We have installed power plants having
generation capacity of 25,235 MW
and brought nearly 100 percent people
under electricity coverage," State
Minister for Power, energy and Mineral
Resources Nasrul Hamid told BSS.
He said currently the number of electricity
connections rose to 4.09 crore,
which was only 1.08 crore in 2009 and
the irrigation connections stood at 4.46
lakh, which was 2.34 lakh in 2009.
"Efficient and time befitting initiatives
by the present government also helped
the consumers get electricity connections
easily," Nasrul said. He said now
the ministry has been working unremittingly
for building "Sonar Bangla" as
dreamt by Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is
pledge-bound to make 'Digital
Bangladesh' by ensuring access to power
for all citizens by 2021, he added.
According to the ministry sources, the
number of power plants rose to 146, of
which six are retired, while the number
Pori Moni's multiple remands
HC asks 2 lower
court judges to
explain further
DHAKA : The High Court on Tuesday
asked for further explanation from two
lower court judges by October 24 on why
they remanded actress Pori Moni to
police on multiple times in a narcotics
case, reports UNB.
The HC bench of Justices Mustafa
Zaman Islam and KM Zahid Sarwar
passed the order as the court found the
earlier explanations offered by the two
judges unsatisfactory. The court also
fixed October 24 for next hearing in the
case. The two metropolitan magistrates
in question are Debabrata Biswas and
Atiqul Islam.
Besides, the HC asked the investigating
officer of the case Kazi Golam
Mostafa to submit his explanation in the
case. On September 2, the High Court
asked the two lower court judges to
explain why they had accepted the police
prayer to remand actress Pori Moni for
the second and the third time in the narcotics
case.

THuRSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021
2
A workshop on development of haor region was held at the meeting room
of LGED Habiganj on Wednesday.
Photo: Mamun Chowdhury
Workshop on development of haor region held in Habiganj
MAMUN CHoWdHURy, HABIgANj CoRRESPoNdENT
A day-long workshop on overall
development of Haor region has been
organized in Habiganj by Haor Region
Flood Management and livelihood
development Project (HIMlIP) and
lgEd Habiganj on Progress Review-
2020-21 and Annual Action Plan 2021-
22.
The workshop was held at the meeting
room of lgEd Habiganj on Wednesday.
Md. Abdul Bashir, Executive Engineer,
GD-1435/21 (4x3)
lgEd Habiganj presided over the
function and Saleh Ahmed, Additional
Chief Engineer, lgEd Sylhet division
was the chief guest at the occasion.
Among others, lgEd Sylhet division
Executive Engineer Mohammad Ibrahim
Mia, deputy Project director (HIMlIPdhaka)
Md. Raihan Siddiqui, Monitoring
and Evaluation Specialist (HIMlIPdhaka)
Abdul Hai Chowdhury, lgEd
Habiganj Senior Assistant Engineer Md.
Farhad Afshar Bhuiyan were also present
at the occasion.
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Bit policing rally held in Sariakandi
AzAHAR AlI, BogURA CoRRESPoNdENT
A bit policing rally was held at
Ramchandrapur School and
College ground on Tuesday
organized by the police in
Sariakandi. The chief guest was
Bogura-1 MP Shahdara
Mannan.
The keynote speaker was
Bogura district Superintendent
of Police Sudip Kumar
Chakraborty. Sariakandi Thana
officer-in-Charge Mizanur
Rahman presided over the
function. Among others,
Additional Superintendent of
Police (Administration) Ali
Haider Chowdhury, Senior
Saleh Ahmed, Additional Chief
Engineer, lgEd Sylhet division in his
speech said that the present government
has launched this project to uplift the
living standards of the people of Haor
region. We are working to implement this
project successfully. No negligence will be
accepted in this regard. So you have to
perform your duties efficiently. He further
said that with the launch of this project,
the people of Haor area have returned to
life. Everything has changed, starting with
the medium of communication.
Sheikh Hasina takes
massive steps for
national dev: Noor
RANgPUR : Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina has taken
massive steps for national
development taking the
county on the highway of
development for building a
developed Bangladesh by
2041, reports BSS.
Member of Parliament of
Nilphamari-2 constituency
Asaduzzaman Noor said this
on Wednesday while
inaugurating construction
works of four development
projects at a cost of over Taka
7.21 crore at different places of
Nilphamari Sadar upazila as
the chief guest.
The four projects are
construction of 1.80 km road
from Palashbari Bazar to
Halir Mour spending Taka
92.53 lakh, a 60-meter girder
bridge over the Burikhora
river spending Taka 4.78
crore near Kokoi High School,
two-storey building of Purbo
dangapara government
Primary School spending
Taka 76.44 lakh and twostorey
building of Kukhapara
government Primary School
spending about Taka 74 lakh.
The Nilphamari division of
local government and
Engineering department
(lgEd) is implementing the
development works under
various projects.
later, Noor, a former
Cultural Affairs Minister,
addressed a function
arranged at Palashbari Bazar
by Palashbari union Awami
league (Al) with its President
and Polashbari union
Chairman Mamtaz Uddin
Pramanik in the chair.
Executive Engineer of
lgEd for Nilphamari Sujan
Kumar Kar, Sadar upazila
Chairman Shahid Mahmud,
Assistant Engineer of lgEd
Saiful Islam and general
Secretary of Polashbari union
Al Shanti Pado Roy
addressed.
Asaduzzaman Noor said the
development is happening not
only in Nilphamari, but all
over the country.
Nilphamari remained far
behind in the past. Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina has
taken our area a long way
ahead. We have much more
roads in our area than before.
Electricity has come to all
houses.
"Now, we have the Uttara
Export Processing zone
(EPz), a 250-bed modernised
hospital, a medical college, a
nursing institute, a beautiful
stadium and a technical
training center," Noor said.
Assistant Superintendent of
Police Nandigram Circle
Ahmed Raziur Rahman, MP's
son Sakhawat Hossain Sojol
spoke as the special guest.
The event was moderated by
Sariakandi Police Station SI
Mahmudur Rahman. Fulbari
Union Beat in-charge
Mahabub Hasan, ASI Rezaul
Karim, former commander of
Upazila Muktijoddha
Command Ali Azgar, president
of the managing committee of
Ramchandrapur School and
College Fazlul Karim Nipul,
journalist Sramik Sakhawat
Hossain, Enamul Haque, Coordinator
of Upazila Islamic
Foundation Anamul Haque
and others also spoke on the
occasion.
GD-1431/21 (6x4)
Bogura-1 MP Shahdara Mannan as the chief guest addressed a bit policing
rally at Ramchandrapur School and College ground in Sariakandi
recently.
Photo: Azahar Ali
GD-1430/21 (9x3)
GD-1434/21 (9x4)

THURSDAY, SePTeMBeR 30, 2021
3
Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman on Wednesday addressing a press
conference on the occasion of the 1st year (honors) admission test.
Photo : Courtesy
57 held for selling,
consuming drugs
in city
DHAKA : Members of
Detective Branch (DB) of
Dhaka Metropolitan Police
(DMP) arrested 57 people on
charges of selling and
consuming drugs in the city,
reports UNB.
According to a DMP
statement issued, DMP
police arrested drug
peddlers, abusers and seized
banned and illegal drugs
from the city's various areas.
As part of the anti-drug
campaign, the police raided
different areas under
various police stations and
detained 57 drug abusers
and recovered drugs from
their possession from 6 am
on September 28, 2021 to 6
am on Wednesday, it said.
Police seized 170 grams of
heroin, 17.946 kilograms of
cannabis (ganja), 76 bottle of
phensidyle and 8,639 pieces
of yaba from them,
according to the statement.
Police filed 44 cases
against the arrestees in this
connection with respective
police stations under the
Narcotics Control Act.
Kazi Ibrahim placed
on two-day remand
DHAKA : A court on
Wednesday placed Mufti
Kazi Ibrahim on a two-day
remand in a case filed
against him with
Mohammadpur Police
Station under the Digital
Security Act.
Dhaka Metropolitan
Magistrate Abu Sufian
Noman passed the order as
DB police produced Kazi
Ibrahim before the court
and pleaded for a 10-day
remand in the case.
On Wednesday, Munsi
Abdul Lokman, deputy
inspector of Detective
Branch (DB) North's Serious
Crime Investigation Division
of the Dhaka Metropolitan
Police (DMP), filed a case
under the Digital Security
Act. Earlier on Tuesday
night, a man named ZM
Rana filed another case
against him over
fraudulence.
No application received
from Padma Bank for
merger: Finance Minister
DHAKA : Finance Minister AHM Mustafa
Kamal has said he received no application
from the Padma Bank Limited for its merger
plan with any state-owned bank, reports
UNB.
"I received no application from Padma
Bank so far," he said while talking to
reporters after a meeting of the cabinet
committee on public purchase (CCPP) on
Wednesday.
Mustafa Kamal, however, said now all the
state-owned banks like Janata, Sonali and
Rupali have certain stakes in the Padma
Bank's ownership structure.
He also said a draft has been prepared for
framing a law on the merger and acquisition.
"Hopefully, the law will be enacted soon to
facilitate the process of merger and
acquisition. Once the law is enacted, we can
consider the proposal of the Padma Bank."
Kamal said the owners of the Padma Bank
failed to run the bank due to corruption by a
section of people. "Punitive measures were
taken against those people. Now they are in
jail after trial," he said adding, "What else can
the government do?
Responding to another question, the
finance minister said Business Research
International Corporation Inc. (BRIC), a
Panama-based company, which was given
the approval to set up a 50MW solar power
plant in Terkhada in Khulna, is not a tainted
company like those the names of which were
published in Panama Papers.
He said the company in Joint Venture with
Hero Future Energies Asia Pte. Ltd,
Singapore will set up the plant on its own
and the government does not need to invest
any amount in the project.
State-owned Bangladesh Power
Development Board (BPDB) will purchase
electricity over 20 years at a total cost of Tk
1328.90 crore.
The finance minister said this company
may be based in Panama, but it is not among
those companies which were published by
Panama Papers for their corruption.
"Panama Papers companies and a
Panama-based company are not the same,"
he said.
Quader asks all to take
lessons from PM's ideology
DHAKA : Awami League General Secretary
Obaidul Quader yesterday urged all to take
lessons from the honesty and ideology of
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman.
He made the call while speaking at a
discussion at the Bangladesh National
Museum here in the capital.
Sheikh Russel Jatiya Shishu-Kishore
Parishad arranged the discussion and
educational equipment distribution
ceremony, marking the 75th birthday of AL
President and Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina.
Quader, also the road transport and
bridges minister, said meritorious people
should join politics, otherwise it would be
devoid of merits.
Predicting that the ruling Awami League
will win in the next general election also due
to honesty and patriotism of Sheikh Hasina,
he said the integrity and courage of the
premier is the magic of development and
achievements of her government. All should
say no to the wrongdoers and corrupt people
in the country's politics, the AL general
secretary said adding, the detained
democracy was unchained in the country
because of the relentless struggle of Sheikh
Hasina.
About the movement threat of BNP, he
said the country's people will not respond to
the BNP's call of movement given from the
bank of Thames River in London.
Noting that the BNP's movement will
not get momentum at all, Quader said:
"Awami League knows what and how
many types of movement. So, it will not
bring any result showing the fear of
movement to Awami League."
Chaired by chairman of Sheikh Russel
Jatiya Shishu-Kishore Parishad Rakibur
Rahman, the meeting was attended,
among others, by AL advisory council
member Mozaffar Hossain Paltu, Parishad
secretary general KM Shahidullah and its
advisers Tarafdar Md Ruhul Amin and
Sirajul Islam Mollah.
Agriculture Minister Dr Md Abdur Razzaque was the chief guest at the unveiling ceremony of the
book titled 'Farm Sector of Bangladesh: Prospects and Challenges' at BARC Auditorium in Farmgate,
Dhaka on Wednesday.
Photo : Courtesy
Boat race in
Buriganga marks
Hasina's birthday
KERANIGANJ : A boat race
was held in the Buriganga
river on Tuesday, marking
the 75th birthday of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina,
reports UNB.
State Minister for Youth
and Sports Zahid Ahsan
Russel inaugurated the boat
race-Nouka Baich, organised
by the Bangladesh Inland
Water Transport Authority
(BIWTA) -- at Barishur
Launchghat in Keraniganj on
Tuesday afternoon.
A cultural function and a
laser show were also held
along the riverbank.
Eleven teams participated
in the boat race from
Kamrangirchar Dhora ghat
to Jamal School Ghat.
Sheikh Bari Sheikh Russel
bagged the first prize in the
60-person boat event while
Barishal Boating Club
secured the first position in
12-person boat event.
Addressing the
participants, Zahid Ahsan
Russel said, "We should be
aware of river pollution and
river grabbing and we are
thinking about how can the
boat race can be expanded
across the country for saving
rivers." The 75th birthday of
Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina was observed across
the country on Tuesday.
USAID hands over 200
cyclone shelters
DHAKA : United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) has
handed over 200 cyclone shelters repaired
under USAID's "Increasing Community
Resilience to Disaster (ICR)" project,
implemented by World Vision in southwest
Bangladesh, reports UNB.
The shelters provide over 100,000
community and project participants across
Koyra, Dacope, Shyamnagar and Kaliganj
sub-districts with access to safe and secure
shelters during disasters such as cyclones
and flooding and are the latest
demonstration of the long-standing U.S.
commitment to the people of Bangladesh.
United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) Mission Director
Kathryn Stevens and Ranjit Kumar Sen,
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Disaster
Management and Relief joined the
programme virtually.
As a result of the renovation work,
communities are now able to access the
shelters with clean WASH facilities,
including safe and potable water sources for
drinking, toilets and hand washing facilities,
which are now more important than ever in
light of the Covid pandemic.
Shelters are also more accessible with
improved access roads and ramps and have
safe spaces for vulnerable groups, including
women, adolescents, children, the elderly,
and persons with disabilities.
Kumar Sen said with USAID and World
Vision support, communities in Koyra,
Dacope, Kaliganj and Shyamnagar have
access to safe cyclone shelters.
"Now these shelters are the joint
responsibility of communities and the
government. We must take care of these
shelters so that they keep our communities
safe during frequent disasters such as
cyclones and floods."
USAID Mission Director Kathryn Stevens
said since 2001, USAID has worked with the
government of Bangladesh to build over 700
multi-purpose cyclone shelters in high-risk
areas that have helped save thousands of
lives all over the country.
"Over the past two years, USAID has
supported refurbishment of these additional
200 shelters. This work included a range of
repairs including water, sanitation, and
electrical systems; painting; improving
access roads and ramps to increase
accessibility-all to provide safe spaces for
women, children, families, and persons with
disabilities."
Through targeted interventions like this
one, USAID is working to increase the
institutionalized capacity, coordination and
infrastructure required to prepare, respond,
and reduce risks related to cyclones and
other environmental shocks.
The US government, through USAID, has
provided more than $8 billion in
development assistance to Bangladesh since
1971.
Since 2020, USAID has provided over
$200 million to improve the lives of people
in Bangladesh through programmes that
expand food security and economic
opportunity, improve health and education,
promote democratic institutions and
practices, protect the environment, and
increase resilience to climate change.
Inspiring Transgender and Hijra Volunteer Award 2021 giving ceremony was held in the capital city
yesterday.
Photo : Courtesy
Environment
Minister off to Milan
to join pre-COP 26
consultation
DHAKA : Environment,
Forest and Climate Change
Minister Md Shahab Uddin
has left here for Italy to
participate in the pre-COP
(Conference of the Parties)-
26 consultation to be held in
Milan from September 30 to
October 3 next.
He departed from Dhaka
at 4.30 am yesterday at the
invitation of Italian Minister
for Ecological Transition
Roberto Cingolani, an
official release said.
Shahab Uddin is leading a
three-member delegation
that includes A Shamim Al
Razi, additional secretary
(Development) of the
ministry and Bangladesh
Focal Point of the Climate
Vulnerable Forum (CVF)
and Md Ziaul Haque,
director of Department of
Environment (DoE).
The environment minister
will also meet the CVF
Secretariat
and
representatives of other
countries to discuss COP-26
preparations.
In the meeting, he will
discuss with the ministers of
different countries the
possible solutions of the
problems related to climate
change, which will be helpful
in taking decisions in COP-26.
Bangladesh being the
President of CVF, Shahab
Uddin will get opportunity
to deliver speeches in the
conference on behalf of
CVF.
After wrapping up the
tour, he is scheduled to
leave Milan for Dhaka on
October 4.
Dengue claims 2 more lives, 217
others hospitalized in 24 hours
DHAKA : Two more people died of dengue
while 217 new patients were hospitalized
across the country in 24 hours till
Wednesday morning, reports UNB.
With this, the death toll from dengue in
Dhaka city reached 62 this year, while two
each died in Chattogram and Khulna
divisions and one in Rajshahi, said the
Directorate General of Health Services
(DGHS).
With the latest figure, the number of
fatalities from the mosquito-borne disease
rose to 67 this year.
Among the new patients, 174 were
undergoing hospital treatment in Dhaka
while the remaining 43 cases were reported
from outside the division, according to
DGHS. Some 983 patients diagnosed with
dengue fever are receiving treatment in the
country as of Wednesday morning.
Of them, 776 patients are receiving
treatment at different hospitals in the capital
while the remaining 207 were listed outside
Dhaka.
Some 17,007 patients have been admitted
to different hospitals with dengue since
January. So far, 16,957 dengue patients have
left hospitals after recovery, said DGHS.
The number of dengue patients
hospitalized in a single day was the highest
with 343 patients on September 7.
In August the country recorded the highest
number of 7,698 dengue cases of the current
year. In July, 2,286 people were diagnosed
with dengue and 12 died while in June 272
cases were recorded with no deaths.
Humiliation of students
Rabindra University teacher
quit internal posts
Sirajganj : Amid student protests, Farhana
Yeasmin Baten, assistant proctor of Rabindra
University, has quit three posts over her
alleged involvement in trimming the hair of its
16 students as punishment and subsequent
'suicide attempt' by one of them, reports UNB.
Farhana quit the three positions of assistant
proctor, head of Cultural Heritage and
Bangladesh Studies Department and
syndicate member-and submitted resignation
letters on Tuesday night. Earlier, the
university authorities formed a five-member
committee to probe the incident, said
treasurer and acting vice-chancellor of the
university Abdul Latif.
According to some students of the
department, Farhana asked the first-year
students of the department to trim their hair.
All but 16 students did not comply with her
instruction as per the advice. On Sunday,
while they were entering the examination
halls to sit for their final exams, the teacher
instructed an office assistant to trim the hair of
the 16 students and he did it accordingly, the
students alleged.
Protesting the incident, the students
boycotted the examination held on Monday
and it went viral on social media following the
student protest.
The students also formed a human chain at
the university's temporary campus-1 in
Shahzadpur Mohila Degree College area on
Monday, where the assistant proctor showed
up and instructed them to wrap up their
protests or get failed in the exams.
Unable to bear the humiliation, Nazmul
Hasan Tuhin, 25, a student of the department
and a resident of Magura district, consumed
sleeping pills on Monday in an effort to take
his own life.

THUrSDAy, SEPTEMBEr 30, 2021
4
Vietnam displays new international clout at UNGA
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Thursday, September 30, 2021
Improving the
health care systems
Over the last decade, Bangladesh has built up layers of
public health services across the country. There are
public hospitals in the big cities and smaller
versions of state run hospitals in the rural areas called
upazilla or thana health complex. There are about 402 such
established complexes in about 460 thanas or districts into
which the country has been administratively divided.
The thana health complexes were built at huge costs and
government took loans from donor agencies like the World
Bank for the purpose and regular massive allocations are
made from the national budget for the maintenance and
functioning of these publicly run rural hospitals.
But any feedback on the state of these health complexes,
after proper surveys, would likely reveal a spectacle of
unmitigated corruption and neglect in varying degrees in
many of them. Usually, the government doctors posted in
the health complexes abstain from their hospital jobs and
are found in many cases even engaging in private practice
within the hospital premises and outside neglecting the
patients who come for free treatment. The government
provided daily food budgets of patients are found
misappropriated considerably by the food contractors in
connivance with hospital staff. Therefore, the diets served
to patients are found lacking in adequate nutrients .Free
life-saving drugs are black-marketed and filth and lack of
hygiene are noted in these hospitals. Valuable machines
are found rusting away with none to run them or, if they
are there, they take salaries uselessly because the machines
remain chronically disabled. It would make a long list if all
the ills in these hospitals are tried to be mentioned. It
would not be feasible within the confines of these column.
Only, it is stressed here that the relevant authorities in the
government must take a hard look at the prevailing state of
affairs in these rural hospitals with a view to deep cleanse
the corruption in them and make their staff truly
accountable. And this must be achieved very soon to make
full sense of the big allocations routinely made for public
health care.
The picture of medical care in the private sector in many
cases are not markedly different . According to a recent
media report , a so called privately run general hospital in
Savar is anything but a hospital. It has no regular doctors
and other medical staff and suffers from other ills. In fact,
such diagnostic centres, private clinics and other forms of
medical establishments are mushrooming in the country.
A large number out of them have no authorization from the
appropriate authority to be in business. The more alarming
is many of the doctors in them are holders of fake degrees
or have no degrees at all. Thus, the very great dangers to
which unknowing people are exposed to, should be
obvious to all concerned.
The deceptions in the sphere of medical care are adding
greatly to suffering of patients all over the country.
Government's regulatory bodies need to be directed from
the highest level to address these issues with the
seriousness the same deserve. The claimed successes of the
government in respect of health care will not be convincing
till these issues are found truly or effectively addressed.
There is a wise saying 'prevention is better than cure'. A
person can go for prevention rather than cure. By taking
preventive measures a person can keep himself or herself
away from various diseases. This can spare families from
spending large sum of money unproductively. Once a
person of modest means is attacked by a fatal disease, it
can play havoc with the resources of his/her family.
Preventive health care is indeed a glimmer of hope in the
health sector. Due to lack of awareness, reckless living,
habit of smoking, absence of physical exercise,
consumption of fatty food items, hundreds of thousands of
people in Bangladesh are being afflicted with serious
diseases every year. The treatment of the growing number
of sick persons is taking a heavy toll on family resources as
well as the state exchequer.
Unchecked diabetes may lead to heart and kidney
ailments. Treatment of heart and kidney diseases is
expensive. A person with a terminal case of kidney disease
has to undergo dialysis. Through this his or her life can be
saved for a few years. But many families do not have the
financial ability to do so ; bearing the dialysis treatment
costs of a kidney patient may push a family into utter
financial distress.
Smoking may cause cancer, TB and other fatal disease.
Despite knowing this bitter truth , people in great number
are seen smoking cigarettes and bidis freely in their homes
and at public places. In rural areas housewives in
increasing numbers are suffering from asthma. Their
asphyxiating exposure to the smokes coming out of the
earthen stoves while cooking food leads to the disease. Use
of a special kind of smoke-free stove can protect them
from the disease. Many other examples can be shown of
how our people can remain in good health by adopting
correct life styles.
In sum, the main advocacy here is : government must
recognize preventive activities against serious diseases as
an important policy prescription to be able to substantially
reduce medical budgets both at the level of the individual
or family as well as of the state. To this end, the government
and non governmental organizations should seek to
motivate people in general to opt for a healthier life style.
People can be kept educated about not smoking, taking
proper diets, observing thoroughly essential hygiene and
maintaining their physical environments safe. From doing
of these things alone, a number of serious diseases can be
warded off and health of people can generally improve.
Furthermore, government should take on major
campaigns to increase nutritional awareness. People may
learn how to cater effectively to nutritional needs from
consumption of cheap but nutritionally rich foodstuffs.
Children at schools and workers in factories can be
supported with free distribution or sale at nominal prices
dietary supplements or nutritious foods.
The global offensive against Covid-
19 took center stage at the recent 76th
Session of the United Nations General
Assembly (UNGA). The UN's urgent
pandemic messaging was
underscored by all nations, but
especially by Vietnamese President
Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who recognizes
that this global health storm has
created obstacles for developments
affecting the economic, political and
social life of the world, especially in
small and developing countries.
"The pandemic sounds a warning
bell of the shocking destruction that
may be caused by non-traditional
security challenges such as diseases or
climate change if they are not
addressed," Phuc said. At the UN
podium, his voice was unwavering
about the global perils associated with
a failure to contain the virus and for
the promotion of fair and equitable
access to vaccines and medications.
While this is an international issue
and not just for a single country,
Vietnam, once a recognized leader in
the early curbing of the transmission
of Covid-19, has been forced to adopt
draconian lockdown measures to
respond to the widening virus spread,
especially in Ho Chi Minh City.
While developed countries are
taking measures to control the virus,
the urgent task of the world currently
is to prevent this health crisis in
developing countries, because as the
United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees has made clear, "No one
is safe until everyone is safe."
Vietnam continues to be in short
supply of available vaccines and has
one of the lowest Covid-19 inoculation
rates in Asia, with just under 2% of its
98 million people fully vaccinated.
It's no wonder that Phuc's speech
reinforced the need for the expansion
of vaccination coverage, the network
and supply of vaccines administered
to small countries, developing
countries, and support for countries
to aid in their recovery postpandemic.
At a virtual Covid summit held
during the UN session, President Joe
Biden committed the United States to
send an additional 500 million Covid-
19 vaccines around the world,
increasing the total doses to more
than 1.1 billion. Global leaders know
that to beat back this pandemic, all
nations, rich and poor, must be
engaged.
This pledge has arrived at a critical
moment, since Hanoi is struggling to
rein in a surge of new cases attributed
to the Delta variant. "For the
pandemic to be repelled, it is essential
that we stand in solidarity, uphold a
Today's children
are the future of
tomorrow.
Mother's lap is the
safest place within
the world for a
toddler. When
children leave
their mother's lap
due to hunger and
leave their parents' house and set foot on
an unknown path, they're identified as
path children. The path is their abode and
address. The battle of their life started
from birth. At the age when they are
supposed to go to school with their books
in hand, they are involved in all kinds of
risky activities. Many times, children are
forcibly involved in these activities. As a
result, many are dying prematurely due to
various physical and mental diseases.
The socio-economic condition of
Bangladesh is one of the main reasons for
child labor. Lack of job opportunities in
villages, social uncertainty, lack of
meeting basic needs are the reasons why
people are moving from villages to cities.
Natural disasters such as river erosion,
floods, droughts, tidal surges and
earthquakes are also responsible. Every
such incident-accident is pushing the
children to manual labor. Due to the low
education, poverty and unawareness of
the parents, the family of the children
consider education as unprofitable.
Today's children will lead the world in
future. So, their proper development is
essential. It is natural and expected that
children will develop mentally and
physically through education,
entertainment and culture in the family,
educational institutions and society.
Child labor is a long-term tool of global
economic exploitation. A recent report by
the International Labor Organization
(ILO) and UNICEF entitled 'Child Labor:
Global Estimates 2020, Trends and the
high sense of responsibility, and step
up cooperation," Phuc said. Despite a
resurgence of Covid-19, Vietnam's
self-image was boosted in its rotating
role as a member of the UN Security
Council and presidency in April, and
ability and confidence to steer
signature events and peace-building
efforts. Its expressed leadership
abilities mark the second time that the
emerging nation has served as
president as a non-permanent UNSC
member for the 2020-21 tenure.
The Security Council is the most
powerful UN body, composed of 15
members, five that are permanent -
China, France, Russia, the UK and the
US - and 10 that are non-permanent,
elected every two years.
"Covid-19 is not the sole challenge
that we are facing today. Increasing
tensions among major powers has led
to a divisive and unstable
international system," Phuc said.
He also alluded to China, like Biden,
but without naming Beijing as
contributing to "disputes over
territories and resources in many
areas and in a disregard for
international law." This veiled
irresolute reference plainly ignored
China's assaults on the United
Nations mission.
Vietnam was first elected as a nonpermanent
member for the 2008-09
term, and acted as the council's
president in July 2008 and
October 2009. In 2020, Vietnam
for the second time in history
became a non-permanent
member after securing 192 out of
193 votes. Vietnam's ascendancy in
international security has been
broadly witnessed in its role in
hosting the 2017 Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC)
summit and the 2019 Hanoi Summit,
a meeting bringing together North
Korean leader Kim Jong Un and then-
US president Donald Trump.
Although the summit failed to bridge
any resolution on the disarmament of
a global nuclear threat, Hanoi
emerged as a recognized peacebuilder.
Vietnam's remarkable
JAMES BorToN
repositioning as a middle power and
evolving role as a peace-builder
demonstrates the nation's growing
confidence to play a key mediation
role in the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) on regional
security issues.
Over the past three decades,
Vietnam has garnered recognition as a
responsible member of the
international community. The nation
has successfully adopted market
institutions that have led to more than
two decades of impressive economic
performance.
The nation's successful march to the
UN was accelerated by the remarkable
steps taken from 1995 to 1999,
including the normalizing of
diplomatic and trade relations with
the United States, and cooperation
with multilateral donors like the
World Bank and the Asian
Development Bank.
Notably, Vietnam has leveraged
greater integration with the
international economic system,
including through ascension to the
Vietnam's ascendancy in international security has been broadly
witnessed in its role in hosting the 2017 Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) summit and the 2019 Hanoi Summit, a
meeting bringing together North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
and then-US president Donald Trump. Although the summit
failed to bridge any resolution on the disarmament of a global
nuclear threat, Hanoi emerged as a recognized peace-builder.
World Trade Organization (WTO).
Despite spending a half-century at
war, Hanoi has lost no time in
supporting UN initiatives that
highlight the fundamental principles
of international laws and the Charter
in addressing international conflicts
through peaceful means.
A central part of its openness and
engagement with the world has been
the country's willingness to acquire a
more prominent voice and position in
the United Nations. This has been
most evident in its successful efforts
to join UN peacekeeping operations.
Vietnam recognizes the urgency in
supporting the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, the UN
Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), and the Paris
Climate Agreement (COP21). The
country's leadership faces the present
dangers of climate change seen in the
East Sea (aka South China Sea),
\landslides in the northern
mountains, and rising sea levels in the
Mekong Delta, the rice bowl for its
When life is a curse!
M. SADMAN SAfi ProTiK
Road Forward' states that 'The number of
child laborers worldwide has reached 160
million in the first two decades of the 21st
century.' "In the last four years alone,
about 8.4 million children have been
pushed into child labor," the report said.
Another 9 million children are at similar
risk by 2022 because of Covid-19.
According to ILO statistics, between 2000
and 2016, the number of child laborers
dropped to 94 million. This picture has
changed alarmingly in the last four years.
This estimated number of child laborers is
undoubtedly a warning.
Child labor is observed almost
everywhere in our country. According to
the BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics)
survey, 16 lakh 98 thousand 894 children
are involved in labor in 18 sectors of
Bangladesh. According to the ILO, more
than 1.5 lakh children are involved in
catastrophic activities in Dhaka
alone.[The BBS conducted the survey with
information from 36,242 families]. In
reality, the number of child laborers is
much higher.
In our country, children usually sell
labor in various businesses including
agriculture, mills, public transport,
housing, food shops, brick kilns and
construction. They are often used as a
medium by drug lords. As a result, the
future of these children is lost in the dark.
They are victims of harassment, torture
and human rights violations in the
workplace. They do not even have the
right to get a little medical care when they
are sick. Many girls are sexually abused at
an early age. At one stage, many of these
children became involved in various
crimes, including drug dealing.
According to the 18th International
Conference of Labor Statisticians,
amendments to the Bangladesh Labor
Act, 2006 and 2013, a working child is a
child between the ages of 12 and 18 who
work up to 42 hours a week in light work
or without risk. This labor is permissible.
However, if a child between the ages of 5
The socio-economic condition of Bangladesh is one of the main reasons
for child labor. Lack of job opportunities in villages, social uncertainty,
lack of meeting basic needs are the reasons why people are
moving from villages to cities. Natural disasters such as river erosion,
floods, droughts, tidal surges and earthquakes are also responsible.
and 11 does any kind of risk-free work, it
will also be child labor. They also fall into
the definition of a working child. If
someone between the ages of 5 -18 and
works more than 42 hours a week, it will
be considered hazardous child labor.
The Constitution of the People's
Republic of Bangladesh recognizes the
fundamental rights of all citizens,
including children. Article 11, 14, 15, 16, 17,
18, 19 and 20 of the Constitution, that is,
the principles of governing the state,
emphasize the need to take special
measures for the physically and mentally
handicapped, including compulsory
primary education for children. Article 26,
27, 29, 31, 34, 38, 38, 39, 40 and 41 of the
Fundamental Rights section guarantee
the fundamental rights of all citizens as
human beings. In particular, forced labor
is strictly prohibited and there is a
guarantee of legal redress in case of
violation of rights.
citizens and home to more than 20
million Vietnamese.
Vietnam is in complete accord with
the UN in recognizing that poverty
and environmental issues are
interconnected. Human impact on the
ocean and on coastal communities has
been profound, ranging from the
destruction of marine ecosystems and
lost biodiversity.
"Cooperation in mitigating and
preventing the dire impacts of climate
change has become more crucial than
ever before," Phuc added in his
speech.
Vietnam faces some of the greatest
and most urgent threats of
biodiversity degradation, extreme
weather, and sea-level rise from
climate change of any country in the
world. However, a number of new
initiatives are starting to address
these challenges, ranging from a
national transition to green energy to
a UN-backed push for sustainable
development.
Hanoi's political leaders have
pledged to restructure Vietnam's
economy to reduce its greenhouse-gas
emissions.
Phuc also referenced the lead-up to
toward the Conference of the Parties
(COP-26), a global UN summit on
climate change scheduled to take
place in Glasgow in November. "We
need to make every effort to cut
greenhouse-gas emissions, in which
developed countries should take the
lead," urged the Vietnamese
president.
Along with Covid-19, climate
change ranks among the highest
concerns among all Southeast
Asians. Also, the Philippines and
Vietnam were the countries worst
hit by extreme weather events in
2020, including super-typhoons
Goni (Rolly) and Vamco.
With the dual challenges of
Covid-19 and climate change, the
transition to a new normalcy will
require the cooperation of the
wealthy nations helping the poor
and developing countries.
Vietnam is pledging to stake its own
future on making proactive and
responsible contributions to the
United Nations peacekeeping charter,
to uphold international law and to
achieve sustainable development
goals.
According to President Phuc, "The
prerequisite to fostering recovery and
growth in the post-pandemic era is to
sustain peace, security, and stability
in each country, each region, and the
world at large."
Source: Asia times
After the independence of Bangladesh,
The Children's Act 1974 (Act No. 39 of
1974) was introduced to protect the rights
of children in this country. In this law the
definition of child, age, scope of rights,
juvenile, guardianship, custody of the
child's property, child protection in civilcriminal
cases, etc. have been discussed in
detail. The National Policy on the
Elimination of Child Labor also states that
this law is a significant milestone in the
establishment of child rights.
The ILO and UNICEF call for reversing
the rising trend of child labor:
1.To provide adequate social security for
all including universal child facilities.
2.Increasing the cost of quality
education and bringing all children back
to school, including those who were out of
school before Covid-19.
3.Highlighting the need for appropriate
work for adults so that families do not
have to resort to children to help increase
family income.
4.Eliminate harmful sexual practices
and inequalities that affect child labor.
5.Investing in child protection systems,
agricultural development, rural public
services, infrastructure and livelihoods.
The path to the development of
humanity and the greatest interests of the
nation requires the education of children.
We have to be aware that they should not
be lost at a young age due to social,
political and economic problems.
Everyone should keep an eye on food,
clothes, homeless children so that they do
not become a burden on the shoulders of
the nation in the future. Man is the best
creature of creation. Children are a special
grace of Allah Ta'ala.
We will prevent child labor by building
political, social and cultural movements -
let's make it today's pledge.
The Writer is a Student of Law,
North South University

tHursDay, sePtemBer 30, 2021
5
What happens if you mix COVID vaccine doses?
CatHerIne PearsOn
Now that a Pfizer booster dose has
been approved for Americans 65 and
up, people with underlying health
conditions and people who work in
high-risk settings, many people are
wondering: Can I mix and match
vaccines?
"Things change so quickly as far as
the science, epidemiology, the virus,
people's behavior - it's hard to keep
up," said Dr. Kami Kim, director of
infectious disease and international
medicine at the University of South
Florida Health Morsani College of
Medicine.
According to official guidance from
the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, whenever possible,
people who received the Pfizer
vaccine should get two doses of that
vaccine as well as booster dose if
they're eligible.
Likewise, people who receive the
Moderna vaccine should receive two
doses from that manufacturer.
Federal regulators haven't yet
weighed in on a booster dose for
Moderna, but they have approved a
third dose of the vaccine for people
with weakened immune systems.And
Johnson & Johnson folks should stick
with one dose of their vaccine - for
now.
"It's an area of active research, and
there's no specific guidance for it,"
said Dr. Angela Branche, an
infectious disease expert with the
Can you mix and match vaccine doses?
University of Rochester's School of
Medicine.Last winter, the CDC
somewhat quietly changed its official
stance on mixing and matching
vaccines, from a "don't do it ever"
approach to new guidelines that say
it's OK to mix and match the two
mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and
Moderna) in "exceptional
circumstances." Like if someone
doesn't know what they got for their
first dose. Or if a second dose of the
same vaccine is unavailable for some
reason.
When the CDC OK'd a third dose of
the two mRNA vaccines for people
Photo: Getty
with weakened immune systems
back in August, they also left the door
open to mixing and matching. "If the
mRNA vaccine product given for the
first two doses is not available or is
unknown, either mRNA COVID-19
vaccine product may be
administered," the agency said.
Nearly 15 million people in the
United States got the one-dose
Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which
uses a different mechanism to
produce antibodies than the two
mRNA vaccines. And many have
been feeling like they've been left out
in the cold in conversations around
boosters and mixing and matching.
The CDC does say that people who
received one dose of either Pfizer or
Moderna, but who are unable to get a
second dose, can get a Johnson &
Johnson shot - and they're
considered to just be fully vaccinated
with that shot after two weeks. The
prior shot basically doesn't count.
Johnson & Johnson has recently
released findings suggesting a second
booster dose of its vaccine produces a
strong immune response. It says that
two doses were 94% effective at
protecting against symptomatic
infection, compared to the single shot
being about 72% effective against
moderate to severe disease in the U.S.
But people who received the
Johnson & Johnson vaccine aren't
eligible for boosters at this point. Nor
are immunocompromised people
who received the Johnson & Johnson
vaccine.
Some countries in Europe - which
has different vaccines approved than
here in the U.S. - have recommended
a mixed-dose approach during the
pandemic. And experts like Kim said
we could well be headed that way
here in the U.S.
"There are studies in which people
are looking at all of this. They're
looking at all sorts of different
combinations," Kim said.
"It looks like mixing and matching
is safe. So what a lot of people have
been doing - and informally advising
people - is that it shouldn't harm you
to go and get another dose," she
added, saying that's really only for
people who are at high risk of serious
outcomes, and that's not formal
policy. Everyone else should ideally
sit tight.
Also, it's really important to
remember that vaccines work well
and are continuing to keep people out
of the hospital. Also keep in mind that
the U.S. has plenty of vaccines for
boosters and enough for children, if
and when they get approved. There's
no need to feel like you won't be able
to get your same shot.
"I understand people's anxiety and
concern and really wanting to know
what to do to be as safe as possible
and be protected," Branche said. "But
you know the first rule of medicine is
to not give people what they don't
need."
Experts are still learning about
COVID-19. The information in this
story is what was known or available
as of publication, but guidance can
change as scientists discover more
about the virus. Please check the
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention for the most updated
recommendations.
What not to say to someone who has long-haul COVID
Don't hit the road without these things.
Photo: Collected
The lifesaving items you should
always keep in your car
LInDsay HOLmes
Getting from point A to point B is about to
get a whole lot better ? and possibly
safer.Sure, your car comes with the basic
necessities, but there are a few other
crucial items you should add to your
arsenal. Not only will they help you when
you're in a potentially dangerous
situation, like an accident, but some of
these essentials will also enhance your
drive and just make your life a whole lot
easier.
Getting from point A to point B is about
to get a whole lot better ? and possibly
safer.Sure, your car comes with the basic
necessities, but there are a few other
crucial items you should add to your
arsenal. Not only will they help you when
you're in a potentially dangerous
situation, like an accident, but some of
these essentials will also enhance ysour
drive and just make your life a whole lot
easier.
Turn your phone into a hands-free GPS
device with this handy magnetic holder.
It comes with a mount that goes on your
dashboard and a piece that you affix to
the back of your phone. The ball-andswivel
design allows you to angle your
phone in any direction. It also has a
sturdy grip, so you don't have to worry
about it falling off as you're driving.
How many times did you get to the
store only to realize you forgot to bring a
face mask? Or do you keep one floating
around in your car that probably should
have been tossed or cleaned forever ago?
These disposable KN95 masks offer solid
protection and they come in (more
sanitary) wrapped packages, which are
perfect for stashing in your side door
pocket or glove compartment.
Keep this around for any injuries you
might experience while you're out (or if
you're in the car). It comes with different
size bandages, burn cream packets,
antiseptic wipes, mini scissors and more.
If you've got kids, add these to your
backseat windows and instantly
transform your life. As one of our editors
said, the curtains help "by allowing your
screaming children to watch an iPad
without throwing up from carsickness."
They also provide UV protection and can
make your car feel much cooler.
This handy brush and scraper can help
you get rid of snow or de-ice your
windshield, door handles and roof in a
matter of moments. It has an ergonomic
handle, but it can also separate in case
one person wants to use the brush and
another wants to use the scraper (divide
and conquer). Keep it in your trunk or
backseat for those dreaded winter
months. This handy brush and scraper
can help you get rid of snow or de-ice
your windshield, door handles and roof in
a matter of moments. It has an
ergonomic handle, but it can also
separate in case one person wants to use
the brush and another wants to use the
scraper (divide and conquer). Keep it in
your trunk or backseat for those dreaded
winter months.
Cut through darkness with this bright,
compact flashlight. It has five different
light settings: high, medium, low, strobe
and SOS emergency mode. It's
waterproof, durable and small enough to
store anywhere.
Driving with a purse can be a nuisance
at best and a hazard at worst. Keep your
bag off the floor and make it more easily
accessible with these hooks. They attach
on the headrest and can hold up to 40
pounds.
Sneezing while driving? No thanks. Get
rid of all the dust that's inadvertently
making you take your eyes off the road.
This squishy putty is designed to get in
those tough-to-reach spots, like your air
conditioning vents, and pick up dust and
dirt.
Ever leave the office only to discover
that your lights have been on all day and
suddenly your car won't start? (Please tell
me I'm not the only one.) It's always a
good idea to keep jumper cables on hand
in case you ever get stuck. These come in
multiple sizes and have more than
10,000 five-star reviews on Amazon.
These warning triangles are great if you
have to pull over on the side of the road,
especially at night. They're extremely
reflective and come with stands and a
storage box. Keep them in your trunk just
in case. If you'd prefer to forgo individual
products in favor of one handy car kit,
this one is your winner. It's AAA
approved and comes with useful items
like jumper cables, a poncho, a small
flashlight, a screwdriver and more.
Bring this when you're going
somewhere in case your phone needs a
charge and you can't use your car to do it.
It has fast-charging capabilities, meaning
you don't need to wait forever to get your
smartphone's power back. It also has
multiple charging ports and a slim,
portable design. Not to mention the fact
that it has an awesome battery life.
If you've been storing sanitizer in your
car, ditch that bottle immediately and
order these. The sunlight can make the
active ingredients less effective over time.
These portable sanitizers come with
carriers that can hook on your car keys or
your bag, ensuring that you'll always have
it on hand. (See what I did there?)
Turn your radio waves into a bluetooth
setup with this handy converter. Just plug
it into your car's adapter and set it to an
available FM radio frequency, then
stream away. The display is big enough to
see incoming calls, music and more. It'll
make your driving experience a lot more
hands-free.
KrIssy BraDy
For people with long-haul
COVID-19 (a range of new or
ongoing symptoms that can
last weeks or months
following a COVID-19
infection), navigating the
unrelenting health issues
they're facing is enough of a
challenge. The last thing
they need are words of
support intended to
encourage and motivate, but
that really minimize and
invalidate their experience.
"The majority of people in
my life are supportive of
what I've gone through since
getting COVID," Rachel
Needle, a COVID-19 longhauler
and licensed
psychologist at Whole
Health Psychological Center
in Palm Beach, Florida, told
HuffPost. "But there have
also been a number of
people who have made
hurtful comments and been
dismissive of my fears and
medical issues."
The main reason you
might find yourself saying
unhelpful, even hurtful,
things as you're trying to
support someone with longhaul
COVID-19 is a lack of
understanding.
"Psychologically, the less
able we are to put ourselves
into other people's shoes, the
less able we are to empathize
and therefore offer genuine
support," said Naomi
Torres-Mackie, clinical
psychologist at Lenox Hill
Hospital in New York City
and head of research at The
Mental Health Coalition.
Another reason is fear.
When you feel you don't
have the "right" words to
support someone and you
let that fear get the best of
you, it can become a selffulfilling
prophecy. "Fear
can make you avoid the topic
altogether, blurt things out
without thinking it through
or engage in toxic positivity,"
Torres-Mackie said.
To help break this cycle,
HuffPost spoke with people
experiencing long-haul
COVID-19 to find out which
shows of support have the
opposite effect, as well as
therapists for advice on what
to say instead, so you can
forge a legitimately
supportive bond.
This kind of statement
conveys both toxic positivity
and false reassurance.
"Comments like this often
minimize what the person is
experiencing," said Nicholas
Hardy, a licensed therapist
based in Houston. It also
doesn't acknowledge "the
reality of their fears and
worries," he added.
Opening the door for
someone to share their
worries and fears normalizes
their feelings. It gives them
the opportunity to
outwardly express what they
may be holding in.
"When we're unable to
express ourselves in a safe
environment, we either
conceal our own thoughts
and feelings or express them
in an unhealthy way," Hardy
said. "In either case, the
impact on our social and
emotional well-being is
damaging." Not only is a
statement like this unhelpful
and minimizing, it
communicates a lack of
understanding about the
disease.
"Long-haul COVID is an
ongoing set of symptoms, so
there is no recovery - rather,
there's an unknown and
unpredictable impact on
various aspects of health,
marked by points in time
where symptoms are less
and perhaps more
manageable," said Shemiah
Derrick, a COVID-19 longhauler
and licensed
professional counselor in
Chicago. Something like this
is steeped in empathy and
acknowledges the past,
present and potential future
impact COVID-19 will have
on them. Meanwhile, "the
curiosity in the question
demonstrates a desire to
understand and learn
more," Derrick said.
Similarly, statements that
emphasize all of the
wonderful things the person
does have going for them
can be invalidating,
ultimately minimizing what
they're going through
instead of perking them up.
"Focusing on gratitude can
be helpful, but when you're
too quick to jump to that, it
can come off like you're
downplaying the
importance of the difficulties
they're experiencing,"
Torres-Mackie said.
"We're all guilty of trying
to establish connection by
using ourselves as an
example," Hardy said.
"However, this often shifts
the focus towards us instead
of the person currently
experiencing long-haul
COVID."
You might feel like you
helped the other person by
attempting to relate, but it
was actually you who
benefited most from the
interaction.
"When we use ourselves
as the example,
subconsciously, they may
compare their experience to
ours or question their own
thoughts and feelings,"
Hardy said. "If you truly
desire to be there for
someone, be there for them
entirely.
This focuses our attention
and allows them to assess
their experience on their
own terms.
"By gently reminding
yourself it's not about you,
you proactively protect
yourself against unhealthy
responses, such as
overtalking, internalizing or
subconsciously minimizing
their experience," Hardy
said. This can feel like there's
an attempt to understand,
but that attempt quickly gets
eclipsed by a description of -
and comparison to -
someone else's experience
with COVID-19 over actually
listening to the person who's
trying to open up to you.
"When you round things
out with something like
'they're doing fine now,'
that's great news for them,
but a lot of people aren't -
and with long-haul COVID,
you don't know what new
challenges are around the
corner," Derrick said.
This communicates some
facts, an attempt to build an
understanding bridge, and
stays connected to the
person you're speaking to.
Keeping your focus on the
difficult symptoms and
emotions your friend is
experiencing now, rather
than a potential positive
outcome or "end" to their
symptoms that may not
happen, shows "you see
their experience as valid and
will be there for them to
address the hard stuff, not
just the easy stuff," Torres-
Mackie said.
She still has an oximeter in
her purse (and every other
room in her house) and still
uses a spirometer to
improve her lung function.
"I'm wearing a heart
monitor as we speak," she
said. Sure, there are days she
feels well, but there are also
days she doesn't. "I don't
always share that with
others," she said. "It's
important not to make
assumptions."
These assumptions can
result in pushing your friend
or loved one into doing
Want to help someone struggling with their long COVID symptoms?
Photo: Getty
things they're either
uncomfortable with -
especially given their
experience with long-haul
COVID-19 - or straight-up
don't have the bandwidth
for, ultimately saddling
them with feelings of guilt
and isolation when they
have to turn you down.
Because each person's
experience with long-haul
COVID-19 symptoms is
different and ever-evolving,
ask them first if they'd feel
up to making plans, then let
them decide what those
plans might look like.

THURSDAY, SePTeMBeR 30, 2021
6
Farmers in different unions of Belabo upazila of Narsingdi are happy to cultivate winter vegetables in advance and sell
them at double the price.
Photo: Pradeep Kumar Debnath
early winter vegetable cultivation brings
smiles on the faces of farmers in Belabo
pradeep kuMar deBNath, BelaBo CorrespoNdeNt
Farmers in different unions of Belabo
upazila of Narsingdi are happy to
cultivate winter vegetables in advance
and sell them at double the price as
compared to the season. a smile
appeared on their faces.
the local farmers are benefiting
several times more than the cost by
cultivating winter vegetables in the
upazila this season. Going to the area,
you can see pumpkins, beans, patal,
cucumber and karla hanging on the
platform. somewhere again, eggplant,
coffee, various vegetables and a variety
of new winter vegetables are cultivated.
Now the scene of this green vegetable
field in Belabat in advance seems to be
very common.
along with the farmers, many
farmers are cultivating vegetables next
to the house, in the yard and next to the
house.
there is no need for much space to
cultivate these vegetables around the
homestead. Moreover, there is no cost
in these products. at present, the
vegetables produced by them are also
being sold to meet the demand of the
family.
a farmer from Baroica Nur Mia said,
"i have grown cauliflower and cabbage
on 19 kathas of land this season. 15-16
thousand taka has been spent. due to
untimely rains, it took a lot of effort to
make the crop. Cauliflower is suffering
from putrefaction disease.
i am selling cauliflower from land at
50 taka per kg.
Faridpur, a farmer from Narayanpur,
said he was facing losses due to
unseasonal rains and inclement
weather a farmer from Binnabaid said,
"i have cultivated early varieties of
beans and tomatoes." production has
also been good. i have raised capital by
selling a little. i hope i can earn very
good money this time.
osman Gani, a farmer from Bhavla,
said, "i am happy to be able to produce
early varieties of pumpkins and
eggplants and sell them at high prices. i
will get enough money for the amount
of pumpkins and eggplants still in the
field." Visiting different hats and
bazaars of the upazila, fresh winter
vegetables like brinjal 50 takas,
cauliflower 60 takas, cabbage 40 takas,
radish 40 takas, beans 80-100 takas,
sweet pumpkin 40 takas, spinach 40
takas, ganja 100 takas, tomato 120-150
takas. Cucumbers are being sold at tk
60 per kg.
upazila agriculture officer Nazim ur
rauf khan said the cultivation of early
winter vegetables has increased this
time as compared to other years.
however, in order to make this
cultivation successful through the
upazila agriculture office, the supply
of improved varieties of seeds,
fertilizers and pesticides has been
ensured among the farmers. Moreover,
the farmers are becoming more
interested in cultivating this advance
variety of vegetables by getting
agricultural loans from various banks
including krishi Bank.
1287 kg of fish fries were released in various open water bodies and canals in Gournadi on Wednesday.
Photo: Gias Uddin Mia
rMCh records two more deaths at Covid-19 unit
raJshahi: rajshahi Medical College
hospital (rMCh) recorded two more
fatalities at its Covid-19 unit in the last
24 hours till 6am yesterday, raising the
death toll to 164 so far this month,
reports Bss.
however, the previous day's fatality
figure was six, while on thursday the
death figure was just one which was the
lowest-ever in the hospital since the
second wave of the pandemic hit the
country around six months back.
earlier, the number of casualties was
340 in august, 566 in July and 405 in
June, health officials said.
rMCh director Brigadier General dr
shamim yazdani told newsmen that one
of the deceased was the resident of
Chapainawabganj and other is from
Natore. among the new fatalities, both
were suffering from symptoms of Covid-
19. ten more patients were admitted to
the designated Covid-19 wards of the
hospital in the last 24 hours, taking the
total number of admitted patients to
100.
twenty-one other patients returned
home from the rMCh Covid-19 unit
after being cured during the time.
Meanwhile, 22 more people were
diagnosed with Covid-19 after testing
270 samples in rajshahi's two
laboratories on tuesday, showing 8.19
percent positivity rate, which was 5.68
percent on Monday.
adoption of scientific methods to
boost tea production stressed
raNGpur: agriculturists at an onfield
practical training workshop have
stressed on adopting scientific methods
in farming tea on plain lands to boost
production of high quality tea, reports
Bss.
they made the call at a workshop
titled "tea cultivation management in
scientific methods" held at village
aziznagar in tetulia upazila of
panchagarh district on tuesday
afternoon, a press release said yesterday.
Bangladesh tea research institute
(Btri), a subsidiary organisation of
Bangladesh tea Board (BtB) under the
Ministry of Commerce, organised the
event under its expansion of small
holding tea Cultivation in Northern
Bangladesh project.
the event was arranged following the
'Camellia open sky school Model' to
enhance knowledge of tea growers
through the availability of latest
scientific methods, technologies and tea
related services for boosting quality tea
output in five northern districts.
senior scientific officer
(entomology) of Bangladesh tea Board
(BtB) and its project director for the
Northern Bangladesh project
agriculturist dr Mohammad shameem
al Mamun moderated the training
workshop.
development officer at BtB's
panchagarh regional office
agriculturist Md amir hossain and its
assistant Farm superintendent
agriculturist Mohammad sayedul
haque conducted different sessions in
the workshop as resource persons.
the resource persons discussed the
selection methods of tea varieties,
planting of saplings, plucking, tipping,
pruning and application of fertilizers,
control of pests and diseases and latest
technologies on tea farming on the plain
lands.
dr shameem said plain lands on the
kartoa Valley ecological zone
comprising five northern districts of
panchagarh, thakurgaon, dinajpur,
Nilphamari and lalmonirhat are highly
fertile and favourable for tea cultivation.
"tea cultivation on a small-scale
basis on plain lands has already become
popular and a highly profitable venture
unveiling a new horizon of economic
prospect for farmers in the northern
region," he said.
discussion meeting
on violence against
women held in
Mirzaganj
uttaM Golder, MirzaGaNJ
CorrespoNdeNt
a discussion meeting was
held with the local
journalists of Mirzaganj, on
the issue of violence against
women and girls and
preventing child marriage
under the project to increase
the rights and security of
women and girls.
the meeting was held at
Mirzaganj press Club on
Wednesday. Mirzaganj
press Club president
advocate Mohammad
Mujibur rahman was the
chief guest at the discussion
meeting chaired by
samsunnahar, executive
director of anirban samaj
unnayan sangstha.
among others, upazila
academic supervisor Md.
Mostafizur rahman,
subidkhali Government roi
pilot secondary school
headmaster abdul Jalil,
assistant teacher Md.
lutfur rahman were also
present at the occassion.
20 teachers, judges and
journalists participated in
the discussion.
Fish fries
released in
Gournadi
Gias uddiN Mia, GourNadi
CorrespoNdeNt
in the financial year 2021-
2022, under the Gournadi
revenue budget of Barishal
and ten species of fish and
conservation and
development project, 1287
kg of fish fries has been
released in open water
bodies and canals.
at the initiative of
upazila Fisheries
department on
Wednesday morning, fish
fries were released in
various ponds including
uttarmadra and
dakshinmadra,
purbadumuria, Barthi
open water bodies and
Barthi Bhalukshi canal,
saudar canal.
upazila parishad
Chairman syeda Monirun
Nahar Mary, upazila
Nirbahi officer Bipin
Chadra Biswas, upazila
agricultural officer M
Mamunur rahman,
upazila animal resources
officer (acting) dr
Mashum Billah, upazila
project implementation
officer ahsan habib,
upazila Fisheries officer
abul Bashar among others
released the fish fries.
Workshop on
children and
women
development
held Noakhali
MaNik BhuiyaN, Noakhali
CorrespoNdeNt
an orientation workshops
have been held in Noakhali
for the development of
children and women.
Begumganj upazila
parishad organized the
workshop at its meeting
room on Wednesday
morning.
additional deputy
Commissioner israt
sadmin chaired the
workshop while among
others district senior
information officer
abdullah al Mamun,
upazila Chairman
shahnaz Begum Naju,
upazila Nirbahi officer
shamsun Nahar, upazila
health officer dr. asim
kumar,
adv
akhtaruzzaman ansari,
Vice Chairman Nur
hossain Masud, Female
Vice Chairman abida
sultana were also present
at the occassion.
A discussion meeting was held with the local journalists of Mirzaganj, on the
issue of violence against women and girls and preventing child marriage on
Wednesday.
Photo: Uttam Golder
19 meritorious and ultra poor students
get financial aid in Magura
rokiBul hoque dipu, MaGura CorrespoNdeNt
19 meritorious and ultra poor students have
got financial support with assurance to
continue their learning .
each of the 19 students was provided with
tk 12 thousand for brilliant result in s.s.C
examination . these 19 students will also get
tk 24 thousand as sub stipend to continue
their intermediate level learning .after
passing hsC examination those who will get
chance in public university will be provided
with tk 6 thousand per month turning the
Cheque distribution among ultra poor and meritorious students by Rova foundation
with the financial assistance of PKSF was held in Magura on
Wednesday.
Photo: Rokibul Hoque Dipu
raNGpur: some
7,25,291 citizens were
inoculated with the first
dose of Covid-19 vaccine in
rangpur division on
tuesday, as the nationwide
mass vaccination
campaign began marking
the 75th birthday of prime
Minister sheikh hasina,
reports Bss.
health officials said the
Covid-19 mass vaccination
campaign began on
tuesday at all unions,
municipality and city level
in all eight districts of the
division as elsewhere
across the country.
"among the 7,25,291
first dose recipients,
7,11,149 people were
inoculated with the
sinopharm Covid-19 jab
and 14,182 others with the
astrazeneca Covid- 19 jab
on tuesday," divisional
director (health) dr Md
Motaharul islam told Bss
yesterday.
With the inoculation of
7,25,291 citizens on
tuesday, the total number
of first dose recipients rose
to 36,21,890 in all eight
districts of the division.
"of the total first dose
recipients, 24,27,011
people were inoculated
with the sinopharm Covid-
19 vaccine, 10,63,434 with
the astrazeneca Covid-19
vaccine and 1,31,445
people received the
Moderna Covid-19 vaccine
in the division," he said.
Meanwhile, 19,707
citizens were vaccinated
with the second dose of the
jab. of the total, 19,259
were inoculated with the
sinopharm Covid-19
receiving of higher education smooth .
rova foundation disbursed the checque
with the financial support of palli karma
shahaok foundation on Wednesday
.additional deputy commissioner ( education
) Julia shukyna distributed cheque among
the students in Magura deputy commissioner
conference room on Wednesday.
among others rova foundation executive
director kazi kamruzzman and directorate of
non formal education , assistant director
sharoz kumar dash were present .
7.25-lakh get Covid-19 vaccine in
rangpur marking pM’s birthday
vaccine, 279 with the
astrazeneca Covid-19
vaccine and 169 with the
Moderna Covid-19 vaccine
on tuesday in the division.
With the inoculation of
19,707 new citizens with
the second dose of the
Covid-19 vaccine on
tuesday, the total number
of second dose recipients
rose to 16,93,781 in all eight
districts of rangpur
division.
"the second dose
recipient 16,93,781 citizens
include 10,29,610 people
inoculated with the
sinopharm Covid-19
vaccine, 5,40,551 with the
astrazeneca Covid-19
vaccine and 1,23,620
inoculated with the
Moderna Covid-19 vaccine
in the division," dr islam
added.
An orientation workshops have been held in Noakhali for the development
of children and women on Wednesday.
Photo: Manik Bhuiyan

ThUrSDAY, SePTemBer 30, 2021
7
North Korea said Wednesday it successfully tested a new hypersonic missile it implied was being
developed as nuclear capable, as it continues to expand its military capabilities and pressure
Washington and Seoul over long-stalled negotiations over its nuclear weapons.
Photo : AP
North Korea says hypersonic
missile made 1st test flight
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA : North
Korea said Wednesday it successfully
tested a new hypersonic missile it
implied was being developed as nuclear
capable, as it continues to expand its
military capabilities and pressure
Washington and Seoul over longstalled
negotiations over its nuclear
weapons, reports UNB.
The missile test early Tuesday was
North Korea's third round of launches
this month and took place shortly
before North Korea's U.N. envoy
accused the United States of hostility
and demanded the Biden
administration permanently end joint
military exercises with South Korea
and the deployment of strategic assets
in the region.
A photo published in North Korea's
state media showed a missile mounted
with a finned, cone-shaped payload
soaring into the air amid bright orange
flames. The official Korean Central
News Agency said the missile during its
first flight test met key technical
requirements, including launch
stability and the maneuverability and
flight characteristics of the "detached
hypersonic gliding warhead."
The North's announcement came a
day after the South Korean and
Japanese militaries said they detected
North Korea firing a missile into its
eastern sea. The U.S. Indo-Pacific
Command said the launch highlighted
"the destabilizing impact of (North
Korea's) illicit weapons program."
North Korea last week made offers to
improve relations with the South if
certain conditions are met, apparently
returning to its pattern of mixing
weapons demonstrations with peace
overtures to wrest outside concessions.
Negotiations over its nuclear
program have been in a stalemate since
February 2019. North Korea has
demanded the lifting of U.S.-led
sanctions while insisting it has the right
to a nuclear weapons program. U.S.
officials have made it clear the
sanctions will stay in place until the
North takes concrete steps toward
denuclearization.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in
recent political speeches has vowed to
bolster his nuclear deterrent in the face
of U.S. pressure. His government has
so far rejected the Biden
administration's offer to resume talks
without preconditions, saying that
Washington must abandon its "hostile
policy" first, a term North Korea mainly
uses to refer to sanctions and joint U.S.-
Lava from a volcano on Spain's Canary Islands has reached the sea after 10
days of wiping out hundreds of homes and causing the evacuation of thousands
of residents.
Photo : AP
North African migrants, adrift,
tell of last-minute rescue
ABOARD GEO BARENTS : The small
fiberglass boat had begun to take on water not
long after the engine stopped working. Its six
passengers started bailing it out, not knowing
how long they could keep the sea at bay, reports
UNB.
Waleed, a Tunisian man who, along with five
others, was hoping to cross the Mediterranean
for a better life in Europe, estimates they
removed water from the boat for roughly five
hours. "We were so desperate," he said.
Then, at first daylight on Sept. 20, the crew of
a rescue vessel spotted them through
binoculars. They saw Waleed and the others
waving and directing a laser light at them.
The migrants were a few miles away from the
Geo Barents, a rescue vessel operated by the
charity Doctors Without Borders. It had been
patrolling the Central Mediterranean off
conflict-wracked Libya since earlier that
month. A team from the charity, known by its
French acronym MSF, was immediately
dispatched.
They found six men: three Libyans, two
Tunisians and a Moroccan. The group had
embarked a day earlier from Libya's coastal
town of Zawiya, a major launching point for
migrants attempting the dangerous voyage. All
six say they were fleeing difficult or threatening
situations in Libya, where three of them had
relocated years before due to economic
troubles at home. North African Arabs
represent a large and seemingly growing
proportion of the migrants who are trying to
reach Europe via the Mediterranean.
According to recent numbers published by
Italy's Interior Ministry, three of the top 10
countries of origin for migrants arriving in the
country in 2021 were North African. Tunisians
alone accounted for 29% of the migrants,
followed by Egyptians with 9% and Moroccans
with 3%.
South Korea military drills the North
considers to be an invasion rehearsal.
In a separate report, KCNA said the
North's rubber-stamp parliament
opened a session on Tuesday and
discussed domestic issues such as
economic policies and youth education
and that the meetings would continue.
Some experts speculate the North
might use the session to address the
deadlock on nuclear diplomacy, but the
state media report did not mention any
comments made toward Washington
and Seoul.
At a ruling party meeting in January,
Kim named hypersonic glide vehicles,
which are launched from a rocket
before gliding into a target, among a
wish-list of sophisticated military
assets. KCNA described the new missile
as an important addition to the
country's "strategic" weaponry,
implying that the system is being
developed to deliver nuclear weapons.
The report also said the test
confirmed the stability of the missile's
fuel capsule, indicating a technology to
add liquid propellant beforehand and
keep it launch-ready for years. And a
North Korean official said the North
planned to expand the system to all its
liquid-fuel missiles.
Lava from
La Palma
eruption
reaches the
Atlantic
LOS LLANOS DE
ARIDANE : Lava from a
volcano on Spain's Canary
Islands has reached the sea
after 10 days of wiping out
hundreds of homes and
causing the evacuation of
thousands of residents.
Columns of steam that
experts had warned could
contain toxic gases shot
upward when the bright red
molten rock tumbled into
the Atlantic Ocean at 11 p.m.
on Tuesday, reports UNB.
The area had been
evacuated for several days as
authorities waited for the
lava to reach the water. Its
erratic flows and changes in
the terrain had slowed its
progress.
Lava flows from the Sept.
19 eruption on La Palma
have destroyed at least 589
buildings, mostly homes on
the island's southwestern
side that were caught on a
slope below the volcano.
No deaths or serious
injuries have been reported,
thanks to the prompt
evacuations of over 6,000
people in the first hours after
last week's eruption.
La Palma, home to about
85,000 people, is part of the
volcanic Canary Islands, an
archipelago off northwest
Africa. The island is roughly
35 kilometers (22 miles)
long and 20 kilometers (12
miles) wide at its broadest
point.
5 killed in
attack on
Malian army
convoy
BAMAKO : Five people were
killed and four others
wounded in an attack on an
army-escorted convoy in
western Mali, the Malian
Armed Forces (FAMa) said
Tuesday on their official
website, reports UNB.
At about 8:30 am local
time (0830 GMT) Tuesday,
the terrorist attack targeted
the convoy of a mining
company secured by FAMa
members on National Road
N.1 near Didieni town, the
forces said, without
indicating the identities of
the victims.
On Sept. 11, two drivers of
Moroccan origin were killed
and another injured on their
way to Mali's capital
Bamako by armed men in
the same area.
Since 2012, Mali has been
facing deep and multifaceted
crises in security, politics
and economy. Local
insurrections, jihadist
incursions and intercommunal
violence have
caused thousands of deaths
and hundreds of thousands
of displacements.
China hopes Biden turns
statement on no Cold
War into action
UNITED NATIONS : China's U.N.
ambassador expressed hope Tuesday that
President Joe Biden will translate his
statement that the United States has no
intention of starting a "new Cold War" with
China into actions, saying he should avoid "a
confrontational approach" and "provocative
attacks against China."
"We sincerely hope the U.S. will walk the
walk by truly abandoning the Cold War
mentality," Zhang Jun said in a virtual press
conference following the annual meeting of
world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly,
which ended Monday, reports UNB.
"I believe that if both sides walked towards
each other, they will be able to see a healthy
and stable China-U.S. relationship," he said.
"Otherwise, the concerns will remain there."
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
warned just ahead of the week-long meeting
that the world could be plunged into a new
and more dangerous Cold War if China and
the United States didn't repair their
"completely dysfunctional" relationship.
In his speech delivered to leaders in the
vast assembly hall a week ago, Biden decried
military conflict, insisted the U.S. is not
seeking a new version of the Cold War, and
stressed the urgency of working together.
Hours later, in a recorded speech, Chinese
President Xi Jinping reiterated his nation's
longtime policy of multilateralism.
"One country's success does not have to
mean another country's failure," Xi said.
"The world is big enough to accommodate
common development and progress of all
countries."
The Cold War between the Soviet Union
and its East bloc allies and the United States
and its Western allies began after World War
II and ended with the breakup of the Soviet
Union in 1991. It was a clash of two nucleararmed
superpowers with rival ideologies -
communism and authoritarianism on one
side, capitalism and democracy on the other.
Zhang called the China-U.S. relationship
"extremely important:" China is the largest
developing country and the U.S. is the largest
developed country, and they are the world's
largest economies and permanent members
of the U.N. Security Council.
The world benefits from a good China-U.S.
relationship, and it "will also suffer from a
confrontation between China and the United
States," he said.
Zhang said Beijing has always called for
relations between the two countries to be
based on "no conflict, no confrontation,
mutual respect and win-win cooperation" as
well as equality.
China's U.N. ambassador expressed hope Tuesday that President Joe Biden will translate his statement
that the United States has no intention of starting a "new Cold War" with China into actions, saying he
should avoid "a confrontational approach" and "provocative attacks against China.
Photo : AP
Brazil doctors accuse
health company of
forcing chloroquine
BRASILIA, Brazil : A Brazilian
health care provider focused on
elderly people has been targeted
by a Senate investigation for
allegedly obliging its doctors to
prescribe drugs that aren't
effective in treating COVID-19,
reports UNB.
Lawyer Bruna Morato, who
represents 12 whistleblowing
doctors currently or previously
employed by the company
Prevent Senior, told lawmakers
on Tuesday her clients were
repeatedly told to choose between
prescribing chloroquine to
COVID patients, along with other
dubious substances, or else lose
their jobs.
Prevent Senior owns several
hospitals in Sao Paulo. The
doctors remained anonymous
due to fears of retribution.
"Some were warned, and that
happened in front of others. Other
professionals were fired," the
lawyer said. "There was also a
punishment that was common:
they had their shifts reduced. If
you didn't show loyalty to the
company and obedience to those
protocols, you got punished."
Brazil's President Jair
Bolsonaro and his allies have
highlighted Prevent Senior as a
role model in the fight against
COVID-19 due to its advocacy for
chloroquine as treatment, even as
mounting evidence showed it to
be ineffective. As recently as Sept.
21 at the U.N. General Assembly,
Bolsonaro has insisted upon socalled
"early treatment " with
hydroxychloroquine, a less toxic
version of the same anti-malarial.
Morato said Prevent Senior
gave doctors a kit with a total eight
drugs and supplements, known as
a "COVID kit."
Prevent Senior said in a
statement to The Associated Press
that the lawyer's testimony was
false, and based upon messages
that were either hard to
understand or edited so they
could then be leaked to the press.
Last week, a director from
Prevent Senior told senators that
patients had agreed to take their
COVID kits, and argued doctors
were free to make their own
prescriptions.
Sao Paulo state's prosecutors'
office said Monday it is
investigating Prevent Senior for
allegedly researching chloroquine
effects on COVID-19 patients
without clearly letting them know
they were part of a trial.
Bolsonaro praised Prevent
Senior's studies on chloroquine
on his social media channels in
April 2020. He suggested the
trials by the health care company
had shown patients taking
chloroquine were spending seven
days on ventilators, as compared
to 14 days among those who
didn't.
His son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a
lawmaker, compared Brazil to
Afghanistan under the Taliban
regime Friday, saying there is too
much outrage directed at those
who admit they are using the
COVID kit. A frequent advocate of
Prevent Senior on social media,
he tested positive for the
coronavirus last week.
4 share ‘Alternative
Nobel’ for empowering
communities
COPENHAGEN : The Right Livelihood Award
- known as the "Alternative Nobel" - was
awarded Wednesday to three activists and an
organization working across the globe to
empower communities in areas ranging from
child protection to environmental defense.
The Swedish Right Livelihood Foundation,
which awards the prize, said that "in the face
of the worsening climate crisis, powerful
governmental and corporate interests, and
even a terrorist threat, the 2021 Laureates
prove that solidarity is key to a better future
for all."
The winners include Marthe Wandou, a
gender and peace activist who has worked to
prevent sexual violence against girls since the
1990s in the Lake Chad area of Cameroon, and
to care for its victims.
The foundation also honored Russian
environmental campaigner Vladimir Slivyak,
for helping to ignite grassroots opposition to
the coal and nuclear industries in the country.
He co-founded Ecodefense, which it described
as one of Russia's leading environmental
organizations, reports UNB.
Indigenous rights campaigner Freda Huson
of the Wet'suwet'en people in Canada receives
her award "for her fearless dedication to
reclaiming her people's culture and defending
their land against disastrous pipeline
projects."
Finally, the India-based Legal Initiative for
Forest and Environment, or LIFE, uses the
law and legal processes to empower often
vulnerable communities and help them stand
up against powerful interests and have a voice
in the decision-making process, the
foundation said.
In a statement, Ole von Uexkull, head of the
Right Livelihood, said the four laureates "are
courageous mobilisers who show what
peoples' movements can achieve."
Created in 1980, the annual Right
Livelihood Award honors efforts that the prize
founder, Swedish-German philanthropist
Jakob von Uexkull, felt were being ignored by
the Nobel prizes.
The winners will each receive prize money
of 1 million kronor ($115, 520) and will be
honored during a virtual award ceremony
on Dec. 1.

THURSDAY, SEpTEMBER 30, 2021
8
Asian markets mostly down on
taper worry, eyes on debt limit
Union Bank Ltd and Software Shop Ltd (SSL Wireless) have signed an agreement for utility bill payment
solutions and mobile airtime recharge services. Union Bank Managing Director A.K. B. M
Mokammel Haque Chowdhury. Additional Managing Director of the Bank Md. Habibur Rahman,
Deputy Managing Director Hasan Iqbal, Group Advisor of Software Shop Ltd (SSL Wireless) Ahmed
Kamal Khan Chowdhury and Chief Executive Officer Rezaul Islam were present as the special guests
and other senior executives were also present of both the organizations.
Vietnam's economy suffers
record contraction in Q3
HANOI : Vietnam's
economy suffered its
heaviest contraction on
record in the third quarter,
officials said Wednesday,
after a devastating wave of
Covid-19 forced the
widespread suspension of
manufacturing in the
export-reliant country,
reports BSS.
Gross domestic product
shrunk 6.17 percent on-year
in the July-September
period, with the general
statistics office (GSO) saying
it was the sharpest since the
Southeast Asian nation
began recording quarterly
figures- reportedly in 1986.
Vietnam was last year
among the best performing
economies in Asia and one
of the few in the world to
expand after it kept virus
numbers low and businesses
largely open.
LONDON: Stock markets tumbled on
Tuesday as traders tracked a strengthening
dollar, high oil prices, political impasse in
Germany and US debt concerns, reports BSS.
Brent crude oil jumped above $80 per
barrel for the first time in almost three years
on expectations for surging demand and
concerns about tight supplies as the world
slowly emerges from the pandemic crisis.
Wall Street opened lower, with tech shares
hit hard as Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen
urged Congress to quickly raise the debt
ceiling to keep the US government operating.
Analysts attributed the disproportionate
declines in tech names to rising treasury
yields. Higher interest rates generally hit tech
companies more than some other businesses
because of their greater reliance on debt to
fund growth.
"Technology stocks came under heavy
selling pressure early Tuesday as investors
looked at a combination of uncertainty on
Capitol Hill coupled with all but certainty that
borrowing costs will increase," said JJ
Kinahan, chief market strategist at TD
Ameritrade.
Republicans have blocked a Democrat
move to raise the US borrowing limit,
meaning the government will likely run out of
cash at the end of the week.
The country could default on its debt
obligations next month, which most
observers say would spark a massive financial
crisis, with Republicans saying they will
refuse to pay for Democrats' spending plans.
The brewing crisis comes as Democrats
fight to pass President Joe Biden's
multitrillion-dollar infrastructure and social
spending bills, with party infighting fuelling
concerns that the president's agenda could
But the latest coronavirus
wave, which began in April
in its northern industrial
parks and rapidly spread
south to business hub Ho
Chi Minh City, "caused
serious impact" to the
economy, the GSO said.
State-run news outlet
VNExpress said it was the
first time Vietnam had
recorded negative quarterly
growth since 2000.
A third of the country's
100 million population faced
stay-at-home order for
months this summer, with
factories closed and supply
chains seriously disrupted.
There have been more
than 770,000 infections and
nearly 19,000 deaths.
"The fourth round of the
pandemic... has directly hit
many enterprises, breaking
the supply chain," deputy
investment minister Nguyen
Thi Bich Ngoc was quoted as
saying on the government's
official website. "Business
and production plans were
overturned with some
partially or fully suspending
operations."
But she added: "The
contemporary difficulties
and troubles are temporary.
"The country is starting to
ease widespread lockdown
orders in an effort to ease the
problem, but rail and air
links across the country
remain largely suspended."
Less than 10 percent of the
population has been fully
vaccinated.
Despite the latest figures,
the World Bank has forecast
Vietnam's economy to grow
4.8 percent in 2021,while
Vietnam has said it is
targeting a 6.5 percent
expansion.
Stocks dip as oil tops $80 mark
NEW YORK : Wall Street
stocks opened mostly lower
early Monday as markets
monitored key talks in
Washington to keep the
government open and avoid a
debt default and digested
better-than-expected
economic data, reports BSS.
Facing Republican
opposition, congressional
Democrats are struggling to
navigate a path for President
Biden's ambitious agenda for
infrastructure and social
spending.
Their most immediate
concern will be to avoid a
government shutdown.
Lawmakers have until
September 30 to pass a
funding bill, even a temporary
one, to keep the government
US stocks open
mostly down
amid government
shutdown risk
operating.
In economic news, a surge
in civilian aircraft purchases
sparked a surprise jump in
sales of big-ticket
manufactured US goods in
August, according to
government data.
This week's calendar also
includes reports on consumer
confidence and personal
income and spending.
About 20 minutes into
trading, the Dow Jones
end up dead in the water.
Bond yields were also up in Europe, with
stock markets in London, Frankfurt and Paris
all down in afternoon trading.
Germany, Europe's biggest economy, was
in focus as it headed for weeks, if not months,
of protracted coalition haggling following
weekend elections.
Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives
have insisted on trying to form a government
even after losing to the Social Democrats in a
tight race.
In Britain, army tanker drivers were put on
standby to deliver petrol as the country battles
a fuel crisis.
The British pound dipped more than one
percent against the dollar to to $1.3531, the
lowest level since January.
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey
hinted Monday that the central bank would
refrain from aggressive monetary policy
tightening despite elevated inflation.
"The pound took a pounding after governor
Bailey implied that the BoE will not
aggressively tighten its belt, as the UK is
facing stagflation risks," ThinkMarkets
analyst Fawad Razaqzada told AFP.
China was also facing an energy crunch,
with Goldman Sachs lowering its annual
growth forecast for the world's second biggest
economy.
"While each country appears to be
struggling with their own mix of issues, the
ongoing squeeze on energy supply has helped
drive fuels sharply higher across the board,"
said Joshua Mahony, senior market analyst at
IG trading group.
China has also been in the spotlight over
concerns about the possible collapse of
troubled Chinese developer Evergrande.
Industrial Average advanced
0.6 percent to 34,990.13.
The broad-based S&P 500
shed 0.3 percent to 4,441.75,
while the tech-rich Nasdaq
Composite Index fell 1.0
percent to 14,894.72.
Among individual
companies, MGM Resorts
International rose 1.8 percent
after reaching agreement to
acquire "The Cosmopolitan"
resort in Las Vegas from
Blackstone. Blackstone fell 2.2
percent.
Facebook dropped 1.2
percent as it announced it is
suspending development of a
version of its Instagram
photo-sharing app for
children aged under 13, after
widespread criticism of the
plan.
EU unlocks
Brexit funds
for hard-hit
member
states
BRUSSELS : EU
governments on Tuesday
gave final approval to 5.4
billion euros ($6.3 billion) in
emergency funds to member
states punished by the
economic fallout of Brexit,
with the biggest payouts
going to Ireland and France,
reports BSS.
Ireland, which shares the
EU's only land border with
the United Kingdom, will get
1.1 billion euros from the
fund to help cover the major
setbacks due to the divorce.
France will receive 735
million euros, with a big
chunk for the country's
fishing industry, which has
seen access to UK waters
limited by 25 percent under
the terms of the split.
London and Brussels
reached a last-minute post-
Brexit trade deal on
December 24 last year that
ensures zero tariffs on most
goods flowing between the
UK and EU.
But new customs
regulations have brought
added costs and paperwork
for firms on both sides.
The British government
has also introduced its own
support programmes for UK
businesses affected by the
shocks of leaving the EU.
Tokyo stocks open
lower following
mixed US shares
TOKYO : Tokyo stocks
opened lower on Tuesday
following a mixed close on
Wall Street, where investors
were eyeing the risk of a US
government shutdown,
reports BSS.
The benchmark Nikkei 225
index was down 0.28 percent
or 83.64 points at 30,156.42
in early trade, while the
broader Topix index slipped
0.23 percent or 4.73 points to
2,083.01.
"Falls in US shares are
weighing on the Japanese
market while expectations
that the virus state of
emergency will be lifted is
prompting some purchases,"
Mizuho Securities said in a
note.
The Japanese government
is widely expected to
announce later in the day that
the ongoing virus state of
emergency across areas
including Tokyo and Osaka
will be lifted after the current
period ends on September 30.
Among major shares in
Tokyo, Sony was down 1.50
percent at 12,770 yen,
Panasonic was off 0.32
percent at 1,421.5 yen and
Toyota was down 0.44
percent at 10,285 yen.
Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries was up 0.50
percent at 3,024 yen,
shrugging off reports that a
South Korean district court
ordered the company to sell
assets over war-time
compensation.
The dollar fetched 110.93
yen in early Asian trade,
against 110.01 yen in New
York late Monday.
HONG KONG : Most
Asian markets slipped
Tuesday with investors
contemplating the
prospect of rising US borrowing
costs as inflation
spikes, while US lawmakers'
struggle to raise the
debt ceiling is also agitating
nerves on trading floors,
reports BSS.
Fears over the possible
collapse of troubled Chinese
developer Evergrande
have abated for now, however,
though developments
on the crisis are being
closely followed.
With the US economy
back on track-and several
Federal Reserve officials
saying their goals of high
inflation and tackling
unemployment are close to
being met-the US central
bank is expected to begin
tapering its ultra-loose
monetary policy within
months.
The policy committee
essentially signalled such a
move at its meeting last
week, while a closely
watched guide to its interest
rate plans suggested a
rate hike could even come
One of the largest
sportswear manufacturer
PUMA has opened their
2nd flagship store in
Bangladesh's capital Dhaka
after its first outlet in
Banani. PUMA's exclusive
franchising partner DBL
Group launched this
flagship store, a press
release said.
For the past 70 years,
PUMA's ambition is to
create modern, fast and
performance driven
products for the world's
fastest athletes. Focusing
on sports, PUMA also
consider bringing
sportswear, activewear and
other style goods and
products under one roof.
With this motto in mind,
different categories of
athletic and casual
footwear, apparel and
accessories, and sportwear
are available at this new
outlet. A vast range of
lifestyle products such assneakers,
bags, running
shoes, walking shoes, t-
shirts, running & training
fitness lineups are also
Asian markets start week with gains
but eyes on Evergrande
HONG KONG : Equity
markets rose Monday
following a broadly positive
lead from Wall Street,
while investors kept a
nervous eye on
developments in the crisis
at troubled Chinese
property giant Evergrande
as it teeters on the brink,
reports BSS.
Hong Kong was among
the best performers on
bargain-buying after
suffering a blow-out last
week, though traders were
still none the wiser about
whether Evergrande paid
interest on an offshore
bond that was due last
Thursday.
While concerns about an
economically disastrous
collapse of the firm have
abated for now, analysts
warned there was a long
way to go before markets
were out of the woods.
Reports at the weekend
said Chinese authorities
had ordered local housing
chiefs to put the company's
cash in ringfenced
before the end of next year.
"Central bankers have set
out how they want to 'normalize'
monetary policy for
some time. That process
could start soon," Chris
Iggo, of AXA Investment
Managers, said.
"The realisation of this
has the potential to provoke
some volatility in
rates and equities."
The Dow on Wall Street
edged up but the S&P and
Nasdaq fell into the red,
with tech firms more susceptible
to higher interest
rates.
And the selling filtered
through to Asia, where
Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore,
Wellington, Taipei
and Manila followed suit.
However, Hong Kong
piled on more than one
percent, having taken a
battering in recent weeks
from China's crackdown on
a range of industries- particularly
tech firms and
Macau-based casinos-and
the Evergrande crisis.
Shanghai eked out a gain.
Initial fears that the collapse
of the embattled firm
could spill into the global
available at the new
Dhanmondi 27 outlet.
Like the Banani outlet,
the Dhanmondi outlet has
also been decorated
following all the guidelines
of PUMA Global.
PUMA's endeavor is to
provide the taste of
worldwide stylish and
cutting-edge products to
accounts to make sure it is
used to pay to complete
construction projects.
Observers said the move
showed homeowners were
taking priority for the
government as it tries to
temper social anger.
However, Beijing has
remained largely silent on
the crisis, leaving many to
guess what its plans are.
In early trade, Hong
Kong, Sydney, Seoul,
Singapore, Wellington,
Manila and Jakarta were
all in positive territory,
though Shanghai dipped.
Tokyo rose, days ahead of
a leadership election in
Japan's ruling party to
replace Prime Minister
Yoshihide Suga, with
optimism that the winner
will push for a huge new
stimulus package for the
stuttering economy.
Still, Shane Oliver, at
AMP Capital, warned:
"Global fears around
contagion from
Evergrande have receded a
bit but it's too early to
economy has eased but
there are still fears that if
the issue is not handled
properly the Chinese property
sector, which accounts
for a huge part of the economy,
could take a massive
hit.
The People's Bank of China
on Monday said it
would ensure a "healthy
property market" and protect
buyers' rights, as it
looks to temper anger
among investors about
Evergrande failing to complete
their properties,
despite taking their money.
The central bank's comments
come after a tightening
of rules around the real
estate sector by Beijing
strangled firms' ability to
invest and construct buildings,
a major reason for
Evergrande's woes.
"There may be fine-tuning
of policies, even though
a systemic relaxation of
property curbs is unlikely,"
Zhong Linnan, of GF Securities,
said in a report.
Adding to the sense of
unease among investors is
the drawn-out debt limit
saga in Washington, where
the consumers of our
country. PUMA has plans
for more stores in Dhaka to
transcend the culture of
business and sports along
with PUMA's rich heritage
and cultural authenticity to
facilitate best experience
towards the consumers of
our country.
During the launch, DBL
sound the all clear.
"Shares remain
vulnerable to short-term
volatility."
The upbeat start to the
week followed gains for the
S&P 500 and Dow in New
York, where dealers have
taken in stride the Federal
Reserve's plan to start
tapering its ultra-loose
monetary policy.
However, there is
growing concern about US
lawmakers' failure to lift
the debt limit to pay its
bills, putting in danger of a
default that several people,
including Treasury
Secretary Janet Yellen,
warn would cause an
economic catastrophe.
The row comes as
Republicans digging in
against Joe Biden's multitrillion-dollar
Build Back
Better program that would
invest in climate change
policy, lower childcare and
education costs for
working families and
create millions of jobs.
The euro was barely
Republicans have blocked
a Democrat move to raise
the US borrowing limit,
meaning the government
will likely run out of cash at
the end of the week.
But more worryingly, the
country could default on its
debt obligations next
month, which most
observers say would spark
a massive financial crisis,
with Republicans saying
they refuse to pay for
Democrats' spending
plans.
Several top officials
including Treasury Secretary
Janet Yellen and Fed
chief Jerome Powell have
urged politicians to step
back from the brink and lift
the limit.
The brewing crisis comes
as Democrats fight to pass
President Joe Biden's multi-trillion-dollar
infrastructure
and social spending
bills, with party infighting
fuelling concerns that the
president's agenda could
end up dead in the water.
PUMA launches flagship store at
Dhanmondi Road 27
Group's Chairman, Abdul
Wahed; Vice Chairman, M.
A. Rahim; Deputy
Managing Director &
Group CEO, M. A. Quader
and other high officials
were present during the
launch. A crowd base of
PUMA Fanatics of
Dhanmondi were also
noticed during the launch.
moved against the dollar as
a general election in
Germany-Europe's biggest
economy-ended with both
main parties battling to
form a government,
putting the country into a
period of uncertainty and
leaving the question of who
will succeed Angela Merkel
wide open.
And bitcoin was sitting
around $44,000, having
largely recovered over the
weekend from a plunge
below $40,000 that came
in reaction to news that
China now deemed all
financial transactions
involving cryptocurrencies
illegal, sounding the death
knell for the country's
digital trade.
Meanwhile, Brent oil
prices jumped to around
three-year highs just short
of $80 a barrel on concerns
about tightening supplies
as demand recovers owing
to the reopening of
economies from the
pandemic.

Messi scores first goal for club,
beats former boss Guardiola
SportS DeSk
It had to be him. The occasion had
called for it. The crowd had come to see
it and they had spent most of this box
office Champions League tie willing it
to happen. And then it did.
When Lionel Messi picked up
possession and scuttled in from the
right at pace, swapping passes with
Kylian Mbappé, Manchester City had
been carved apart.
The chance was on. Paris Saint-
Germain were 1-0 up, despite City
having had the better of the previous 73
minutes. Now could the maestro pick
out the top corner from the edge of the
area to secure the win?
It was a silly question, not least for
Pep Guardiola, who has seen this movie
before - over and again. Of course
Messi could. It seemed to happen in
slow motion, a swing of the left boot
and the ball flying unerringly beyond
Ederson before the explosion from the
home support.
Out came the phones as the PSG fans
captured the I-was-there moment on
camera. Guardiola's shoulders sagged.
No player has scored more goals
against his teams than Messi, his
former protege at Barcelona. It is now
seven in five games.
This was Messi's Champions League
bow at the Parc des Princes and how he
had delivered.
It was cruel on City, who had
conceded early to an Idrissa Gueye
rocket and asked plenty of questions
thereafter. PSG had reason to be
thankful to another new signing, the
goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma,
for a string of saves. In the end, though,
the tie would be defined by Messi's
moment of magic.
City's focus had been on managing
the occasion, on trying to impose their
quality as they had done on their
previous visit to this stadium. That was
in the first leg of last season's semi-final
when they won 2-1 to take a significant
stride towards the final.
One big difference. The Parc was
empty back then. Now it pulsed with
noise and colour. The benchmark for
the intensity of European football
atmospheres remains Istanbul, Athens
and Glasgow. Paris is simply an eclectic
kind of raucous, down to the detail of
the pre-match music. Was that really
the Village People?. The occasion was
liberally sprinkled with star dust, with
glamour match-ups and none was
bigger than Messi versus Guardiola,
pupil and teacher from the old
Barcelona days. There was never any
doubt about Messi going straight back
into the PSG lineup after two games out
with knee trouble.
There was a buzz whenever Messi got
on the ball, as he did in the buildup to
the breakthrough goal, although the
energy to the move was provided by the
ever-dangerous Mbappé. Having
played a give-and-go with Messi,
Mbappé popped the ball off to Achraf
Hakimi and darted for the byline,
getting it back and with no City
defender having tracked him.
Mbappé cut back low for Neymar,
who fluffed the shot but, when Kyle
Walker could not clear, Gueye nipped
in, getting the ball out of his feet and
crashing an unstoppable drive into the
far top corner.
City responded. Confidence in
possession was not restricted to those
in the dark shirts and Jack Grealish was
prominently involved off the left. He
did not care when it did not come off for
him; he was always back for more,
running at Hakimi, teasing him. City
were also quick to switch the play
across to Riyad Mahrez.
It remains a mystery as to how City
did not equalise in the 27th minute
after Kevin De Bruyne picked out
Raheem Sterling in the middle with the
outside of his boot. It was a sumptuous
cross and Sterling had to score only to
head against the crossbar. Then
Bernardo Silva really had to score and
yet, from point-blank range and with
an open goal gaping, he somehow lifted
the ball up and against the crossbar.
Presnel Kimpembe cleared.
City had more than enough of the
first half to have been level at the end of
it. João Cancelo and Rúben Dias
extended Gianluigi Donnarumma and
there were other nervous moments for
PSG. It felt as though City could spring
men in behind them.
PSG's threat came to be measured on
the counter but that is where Mbappé
comes in. He blasted around the back
on 38 minutes to tee up Ander Herrera
only for Ederson to tip over. Should
City have finished the first half with all
11 players on the pitch?
Root 'desperate' for success in Australia,
but can't yet commit to tour
SportS DeSk
Joe Root says he cannot yet
commit to captaining
England in Australia this
winter, or taking part in the
series at all, even though he
is "desperate" to carry his
formidable run of form into
the Ashes, and so improve
his record in one of the few
countries where he has yet
to score a Test century,
reports AP.
Root, 30, has been named
as the cinch PCA Men's
Player of the Year after a
stellar 2021 in which he has
scored six of his team's
seven centuries in 12 Tests,
including four scores of
180-plus. With a total of
1455 runs at 66.13 for the
calendar year so far, he still
has a realistic chance to
overhaul Mohammad
Yousuf's record haul of 1788
runs, set back in 2006.
However, with one Test
postponement already this
Lionel Messi has for the first time in his illustrious career, scored
a goal in club football that was not for FC Barcelona. photo: Ap
year, following India's
withdrawal from last
month's series decider at
Old Trafford, the prospect
remains that Root and
England will not play
another Test in 2021, as
negotiations continue
between the ECB and
Cricket Australia over the
team's impending
quarantine arrangements.
Although the ECB is
understood to have received
an updated brief from CA
with "better than expected"
guidelines - including an
ability to train and move
freely within their hotel
during their 14-day
quarantine period and
some flexibility thereafter -
the details have yet to be
shared with the players.
Their confidence in the
arrangements is unlikely to
have been improved by the
overnight news that
Tasmania's Sheffield Shield
fixture against Queensland
has been postponed
indefinitely after four new
Covid cases were reported
in the state. Brisbane is due
to host the opening Ashes
Test on December 7.
"We are still waiting for
some information," Root
said. "Hopefully that will be
with us soon. It's a little bit
root captained england to a 4-0 defeat in 2017-18, but is keen to put the record
straight.
photo: Ap
frustrating but it's where we
are at. It's so hard to know
until we find out what the
conditions are going to be
like. Hopefully it'll be
coming shortly and we can
start moving forward."
Root has toured Australia
twice in his career, as a
rookie in 2013-14 during
England's ill-fated 5-0
whitewash, and again as
captain four years later,
when he made five halfcenturies
in as many Tests
but a highest score of 83
in the final Test at Sydney,
as Australia wrapped up
another comprehensive 4-
0 win.
Given England's stated
aim at the start of the year,
of winning back the Ashes
in Australia, and Root's own
decision to stay on as
captain after the 2-2 home
draw in 2019, his conflict is
palpable ahead of a series
that ought to be a careerdefining
moment.
However, with the squad
determined to present a
united front, particularly
given the likely restrictions
on families joining the tour,
Root insists it's hard to
make a "definite decision"
on whether he will be able to
lead the tour. "It's really
important everyone makes
a decision that they're
comfortable with," Root
said.
"There's so many different
factors that fall into it, so we
just have to be patient, and
wait until we know what's
happening and then make a
decision on the back of
that.Regardless of whether
the tour goes ahead or not,
England's preparations for
the Ashes have already been
severely hampered by the
ongoing uncertainty -
including the likelihood that
the Perth Test, currently
due to start on January 14.
, will be have to be
relocated given that
Western Australia's border
is unlikely to be reopened
until February at the
earliest.
"You look at the last two
years, nothing's really been
normal, in terms of
planning for anything,"
Root said. "You just want to
make the best of everything
you can. From our point of
view, everything we've done
has been about being ready
for when we are due to get
to Australia, making sure
that we're as ready as we
can be, that we are
organised and clear on what
we need to do..
Tigers to leave for
T20 WC on Oct 3
SportS DeSk
Bangladesh Cricket Team
are all set to leave the
country on October 3 for
their mission in the
Twenty20 World Cup to be
held in Oman and the
United Arab Emirates
(UAE), reports BSS.
The Tigers will first board
a flight for Oman where they
will have a practice camp
before they move to Dubai
for two official practice
matches for the World Cup,
organized by the
International Cricket
Council (ICC).
They will then again travel
to Oman for their first round
matches where they are
drawn with Scotland, cohost
Oman and Papua New
Guinea. Mahmudullah
Riyad's side will start their
mission, taking on Scotland
on October 17. If they
qualify, they will be drawn
with India, Pakistan, New
Zealand, Afghanistan and
other team, qualifying from
first round in Super 12s.
As per the schedule
released by the Bangladesh
Cricket Board (BCB)
yesterday, the team will start
their preparation for the
World Cup journey with a
video shoot with Daraz on
October 1.
They will then remain in
strict home quarantine and
will undergo a Covid-19 test
on October 2 before
boarding the flight for
Oman's city Muscat in the
following day.
After arriving in Muscat,
Bangladesh will have a oneday
room quarantine and
then they will practice for
four straight days after
which they will fly for Dubai
where after a day of practice,
they will play two office
warm-up games, scheduled
for October 12 and 14.
Bangladesh will then fly
to Muscat again for their
first round game. They will
take on Scotland on October
17 and play against Oman
and Papua New Guinea on
October 19 and 21.
Home hero Matsuyama
to headline US PGA
Tour event in Japan
SportS DeSk
Masters champion Hideki
Matsuyama will play in the
US PGA Tour's Zozo
Championship in Japan next
month, organisers said
Tuesday, headlining a strong
field including Olympic gold
medallist Xander schauffele
and Collin Morikawa, reports
BSS. Home favourite
Matsuyama finished runnerup
to Tiger Woods in 2019 in
the inaugural edition of the
tournament -- Japan's first
US PGA Tour event -- which
was moved to California last
year because of coronavirus.
Matsuyama will be joined at
Accordia Golf Narashino
Country Club in Chiba, east of
Tokyo, by Tokyo Olympic
champion Schauffele and
twice major winner
Morikawa, as well as
Tommy Fleetwood and
Rickie Fowler among the 78-
man field. The $9.95 million
Zozo Championship, to be
held October 21-24, is the
only tournament surviving on
this year's US PGA Tour
"Asian Swing" after events in
China and South Korea fell
victim to the pandemic.
"Playing at home is always a
treat as I'm competing in the
US for most parts of the year,"
Matsuyama, who became
Japan's first Masters
champion in April, said.
"Being the only PGA Tour
tournament in Japan, I hope
to become the first Japanese
golfer to win this event and I
will give everything that I've
got to challenge for a victory."
The Zozo Championship
was launched to great fanfare
in 2019, with Woods thrilling
huge crowds. The 15-time
major winner finished three
strokes clear of Matsuyama,
with Rory McIlroy third. Last
year's winner, at Sherwood
Country Club, Thousand
Oaks, was Patrick Cantlay,
who finished one stroke
ahead of Jon Rahm and
Justin Thomas.
thurSDAY, SepteMBer 30, 2021
9
Sheriff take down Real Madrid
in incredible Bernabeu upset
SportS DeSk
Moldovan champions Sheriff managed one
of the most remarkable results in Champions
League history on Tuesday as they upset 13-
time winners Real Madrid 2-1 at the
Santiago Bernabeu, reports AP.
The competition newcomers showed that
they would be no pushovers in their debut
group match two weeks ago by defeating
Shakhtar Donetsk in Tiraspol.
But even the players themselves seemed
barely able to believe it as they celebrated
their triumph over the Spanish giants.
Madrid had also kicked off their
Champions League quest with three points,
on the road against Inter, and could have
been forgiven for expecting a
straightforward evening in front of their own
fans. But despite dominating possession
Carlo Ancelotti's men failed to impress,
and spent much of game losing to their
unheralded rivals in Madrid's first-ever
game against Moldovan opposition.
Striker Jasurbek Yakhshiboev sounded
the first alarm for the Merengue when he
headed Sheriff ahead 25 minutes into the
first half.
The hosts racked up no less than 13
shots in the opening 45 minutes, but
could find no way past Georgios
Athanasiadis who had a night to
remember between the posts.
Just past the hour mark it seemed
nevertheless that Madrid would recover
from that early scare, as Karim Benzema
converted from the penalty spot to level at
1-1. But there was still time for one more
twist, courtesy of Luxembourg international
Sebastien Thill.
The midfielder smashed home a brilliant
half-volley in the 90th minute to restore
Sheriff's advantage, and they were able to see
out the final nerve-wracking moments to
claim victory.
Located in the de facto independent
Transnistria region of Moldova, Sheriff have
taken the long way to Champions League
success.
The club entered the competition way back
in the first qualifying round, and played no
fewer than eight games in order to book their
place in the group stage.
They have also made a strong start to their
domestic campaign, winning six of their
opening eight fixtures as they seek to win
their seventh consecutive Moldovan
National Division title.
the hosts failed to take advantage of their chances and fell to their opponents
from Moldova, who are playing their first-ever group stage campaign.
photo: Ap
England World Cup winner
Roger Hunt dies aged 83
SportS DeSk
England World Cup winner and Liverpool's
record league goalscorer Roger Hunt has
died at the age of 83, the Premier League
club announced on Tuesday, reports BSS.
Hunt, who played in the 1966 World Cup
final against West Germany at Wembley,
which England won 4-2, scored an
unsurpassed 244 league goals for the Reds.
"We are mourning the passing of
legendary former player Roger Hunt," the
club said in a statement posted on their
official Twitter account.
"The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool
Football Club are with Roger's family and
friends at this sad and difficult time. Rest in
Japan name squad for
World Cup qualifiers
SportS DeSk
Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu warned
his players to get on the same page straight
away after naming his squad for World Cup
qualifiers against Saudi Arabia and Australia
on Tuesday, reports BSS.
Japan travel to Jeddah to face the Saudis
on October 8 before taking on Australia in
Saitama four days later, having made a
mixed start to their Group B campaign.
Moriyasu's side slumped to a shock 1-0
opening home defeat to Oman earlier this
month, before beating China 1-0 in an away
match played in Doha because of the
pandemic.
Moriyasu blamed the Oman loss on his
players' inability to adapt quickly to his team
after spending time with their club sides.
"We don't have much time, but the players
need to switch from what they do with their
clubs and get their heads around our team
concept," the manager said.
"We didn't do that last time and we have to
make sure we sort that out."
Moriyasu named a 25-man squad
featuring only five home-based players, with
star midfielder Takefusa Kubo of Spanish
side Real Mallorca missing through injury.
New Arsenal defender Takehiro
Tomiyasu, who has impressed since joining
the Gunners from Bologna in the summer,
peace, Sir Roger Hunt 1938 - 2021." Hunt
joined Liverpool, then a tier-two team, as a
20-year-old in 1958 and played his last game
for the club in 1969, before going on to play
for Bolton Wanderers for three seasons. The
forward's overall Liverpool record of 285
goals was broken by Ian Rush in 1992, but
no-one has scored more league goals for the
club. Hunt, known as 'Sir Roger' to
Liverpool fans despite the absence of an
official knighthood, won two English topflight
titles and the FA Cup under celebrated
manager Bill Shankly.
He scored three goals in six appearances
for Alf Ramsey's England team during the
1966 World Cup on home soil and 18 goals in
34 games overall for his country.
was included alongside Liverpool attacker
Takumi Minamino.
Both Saudi Arabia and Australia have
taken maximum points from their opening
two games in Group B, and Moriyasu is wary
of facing the Saudis in the heat of Jeddah.
"Europe and Japan are quite cool at the
moment, so it will be difficult playing in hot
conditions in Saudi Arabia," he said.
"We have to think about how to play in that
heat." Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima
(Strasbourg/FRA), Shuichi Gonda (Shimizu
S-Pulse), Kosei Tani (Shonan Bellmare)
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo),
Maya Yoshida (Sampdoria/ITA), Hiroki
Sakai (Urawa Reds), Sei Muroya
(Hannover/GER), Naomichi Ueda
(Nimes/FRA), Kou Itakura (Schalke/GER),
Yuta Nakayama (PEC Zwolle/NED),
Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal/ENG), Daiki
Hashioka (Sint-Truiden/BEL)
Midfielders: Genki Haraguchi (Union
Berlin/GER), Gaku Shibasaki
(Leganes/ESP), Wataru Endo
(Stuttgart/GER), Junya Ito (Genk/BEL),
Takuma Asano (Bochum/GER), Takumi
Minamino (Liverpool/ENG), Hidemasa
Morita (Santa Clara/POR), Daichi Kamada
(Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Koji Miyoshi
(Antwerp/BEL), Ritsu Doan (PSV
Eindhoven/NED), Ao Tanaka (Fortuna
Dusseldorf/GER.

THUrsDAY, sepTeMBer 30, 2021
10
TBT reporT
Koushani in Dhallywood
Music is my passion and
profession, I dreamed of
singing since childhood,
people all over the world
will know me through
music, I have kept myself
busy in that dream path
today, which is selfishness,
said M. A. Rahman, the
busiest composer and
vocalist of the time.
M.A. Rahman is currently
a successful, well-known
and popular music director
in Bangladesh. He is also
working as a composer and
musician parallely.
His full name is
Mohammad Ashikur
Rahman. He was born on 6
February 1993 in Dhaka. He
started his journey as a
musician in 2009.
He later moved to
Chennai, India to study on
music. He started his
career as a music director
in Bangladesh in
2013.Rahman has directed
more music than singing,
and so far more than three
hundred songs have been
released in his
compositions with the
voices of all the popular
artists of the country.
He sees AR Rahman and
Habib Wahid as idols in
the music arena. Besides
directing music, he is also
an instrumentalist whose
first musical initiation
started by learning tabla.
Later he learned
harmonium and
TBT reporT
Music is my passion and
profession : M. A. Rahman
film 'Piya Re'
Popular Tollywood actress Koushani
Mukherjee started shooting of her new
Bangladeshi film 'Piya Re' in Chandpur on
Tuesday. In the movie, Koushini will be seen
opposite Shanto Khan, the new
sensation of Dhallywood.
Under the banner of Shapla Media,
the film is being directed by Pujan
Majumder. Shanto's father Selim Khan
is the producer of the movie. Selim is
also the owner of Shapla Media.
Currently, the shooting of the
movie is going on in Chandpur.
The film will also be shot in
Pubail of Gazipur district.
Earlier, Koushani Mukherjee
arrived in Bangladesh on
Monday.
According to producer Selim
Khan, apart from Shanto and
Koushani, the film will also
feature two veteran actors from
Kolkata, Rajatava Dutta and
Kharaj Mukherjee.
He also said that a work permit
has been obtained from the
Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting to bring foreign
artistes to work in the country's
film industry.
Koushani is playing the lead in yet
another Bangladeshi film directed by
Shamim Ahmed Roni, opposite Bonny
Sengupta of Kolkata and to shoot for
the song and dance sequences for this yetuntitled
film, they were parked in Kashmir earlier
in June.
Koushani Mukherjee is an Indian film actressturned
to politician. She mainly appears in Bengali
films. Koushani began her film career in 2015
with Raj Chakraborty's movie 'Parbona Ami
Chartey Tokey'. In 2016, she appeared in 'Kelor
Kirti', a romantic comedy directed by Raja
Chanda. In 2017, she was cast in a new release by
Ravi Kinnagi.
keyboard.He also
practiced the piano for a
long time.
M.A. Rahman released
his first audio album in
2009, and later worked
regularly in the jingle
sector from 2012 to 2013.
In 2013, he worked as a
music director under the
banner of Laser Vision. In
the middle of 2014, five
mixed albums were
released under the banner
of CD Choice, composed
by M. A. Rahman.
In 2016, the song 'Papa
Chick Chick' became very
popular with his music
under the banner of Laser
Vision.Besides, Rahman
has garnered wide acclaim
for his songs in films and
several music videos.
As a music director, M. A.
Rahman has worked with
renowned musicians of
Bangladesh, among them
Belal Khan, KaziShuvo,
Nasir, Atiq Hasan, Fakir
Alamgir, Meherin, Rezana
Chowdhury Bonya, Ankhi
Alamgir, Pintu Ghosh,
Fazlur Rahman Babu,
Salma, Emon Khan ad
Shahid.
Finally, when asked, M.
A. Rahman said, I am with
music, will be until death,
because music has given
me a lot, I want to go
ahead with everyone's
love.
Besides music, M. A.
Rahman is a successful
businessman.
TBT reporT
Not a domestic worker, the child
helpes at home chores also has the
right. They don't want to be
tortured. Actress, dancer and
choreographer Nadia Ahmed wants
to convey such a message to
everyone in society. She recently
acted as an NGO activist for
children's rights in a TV drama titled
'Notun Aloy'.
Filming took place in
Mohammadpur Boatghat Slum,
ASD's Drop-in Center at
Mohammadia Housing Limited and
Development of Children at High
Risk Project office of ASD and in
Uttara.
Nadia Ahmed has played the role
of Tania and child artist Lamia
Akhter has played the role of Arifa in
this play based on true events. This
drama is produced by Action for
Social Development (ASD) and
made by Cabin Soul.
Apu Ahmed, Tonmoy Sohel, Dolon
Dey, Rakib Hasan Bappy, Riaj Raj,
Samiha Akter Sorna, Roksana Akter
Popi and 30 beneficiaries of ASD
have also acted in the drama. 'Notun
Aloy', the TV drama is written and
directed by Md. Ishaque Faruquee.
The drama was directed by Razzak
Raz, directed by Ahmed Orko and
'Juggernaut vs Hyperion'
Who's stronger in
MCU Comics?
When it comes to physical durability, 'Juggernaut' and
'Hyperion' rank near the top of Marvel's list, but who would
triumph if they went head to head? The answer isn't merely
a matter of strength, thanks to the magical nature of
Juggernaut's abilities and Hyperion's wide range of powers,
but looking at each character's comic history offers a solid
answer on which is mightier.
Originally created by Roy Thomas and Sal Buscema,
there have been multiple versions of Hyperion in Marvel
Comics, often from alternate realities. Hyperion is generally
treated as a pastiche of 'Superman' - often an evil version of
DC's 'Man of Steel' set on conquering alien worlds - and the
leader of the 'Squadron Supreme'.
Meanwhile, 'Juggernaut' is a sometime-villain,
sometime-anti-hero created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby,
often facing off against the 'X-Men' with the powers
granted to him by the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak - a demon
lord who feeds on the destruction he causes.
Hyperion and Cain Marko's 'Juggernaut' have clashed at
least once in a decisive battle - in Jeff Parker, Kev Walker,
Jason Gorder and Frank Martin's Thunderbolts #153 - but
Hyperion's nature as a multiversal traveler means they've
actually fought countless times. While Juggernaut won their
Thunderbolts face-off, the fight only ended due to Ghost,
Moonstone, and Man-Thing joining the battle and setting
off an Argonite fail-safe that disabled this version of
'Hyperion'. Up until being confronted with his version of
kryptonite, the battle suggested that 'Hyperion' was
stronger than Juggernaut, though it was a closer match
than many might have assumed, and Marvel's 'Superman'
even injures his hand punching Juggernaut without his
helmet.
Juggernaut's ace in the hole in any powerhouse match-up is
the specific nature of his powers. Juggernaut is granted magic
momentum by Cyttorak, meaning that once he begins
running, he quickly becomes impossible to stop.
Nadia in new drama
'Notun Aloy'
edited by Apu Monwar. The director
himself wrote the song for the
drama, 'Grihokormi Noy
Grihokorme Niyojito Shishu Tara'
song is tuned and music produced
by Ahmed Rifat Kabir, Sung by
Source: Screen Rant
Sadman Saquib Pranto and Maisha
Ahsan Momo.
The drama will be aired on a
private television channel on
October 4 on the occasion of World
Children's Day.
Kangana attacks
Bollywood for not
appreciating Thalaivii
KanganaRanaut's latest outing, J Jayalalitha biopic Thalaivii, has
largely been received warmly by film critics and audiences. Now the
film is streaming on Netflix and the actor has penned a note of
gratitude for her team. Taking to Instagram stories, Kangana wrote,
"Rarely a film loved passionately and unanimously… And Thalaivii is
one such film… I am glad people getting to know Purchai Thalaivi Dr
J. Jayalalithaa's story, also big thanks to my team for making a film
which is a shining diamond in my filmography. #gratitude."
Thalaivii is based on the life of former actress and Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. The film features Kangana as
Jayalalithaa and South superstar Arvind Swami as M. G.
Ramachandran. The film explores the relationship between
Jayalalithaa and MGR and the former's rise as an actor and a
politician.
However, now that the film is streaming on Netflix, more people
are able to watch it. Even as the movie released in theatres on
October 10 in several parts of the
country, it did not see a theatrical
release in Mumbai. Now,
Kangana, who often targets
Bollywood and refers to a
"Bollywood Mafia" has
urged the the
Hindi film
fraternity
to come
forward
and show
support by
appreciating her
film.
She wrote, "Meanwhile
waiting for Bollywood
Mafia to keep our political
and ideological differences aside
just how I don't find it difficult
to appreciate genuine art may
be they can also rise above
petty human emotions and
for once let art win
#Thalaivii."
Thalaivii is directed by
A. L. Vijay and written by
K. V. Vijayendra Prasad,
MadhanKarky (Tamil), and
Rajat Arora (Hindi). The
film also features Nassar,
Bhagyashree, Raj Arjun,
Madhoo, Jisshu Sengupta,
Thambi Ramaiah, Shamna
Kasim and Samuthirakani
in supporting roles.
Source :
Deccan
Chronicle
H o r o s c o p e
ArIes
(March 21 - April 20) : Family values
that you've embraced could be
challenged today. You might
consider some friends to be your
true family, or think that an unconventional
household works better for you than a
traditional one. So what if you prefer a
commune to a nuclear family? Don't let the
concerns of relatives cause you to hold back.
TAUrUs
(April 21 - May 21) : Some books that
you find fascinating are changing
your life in subtle ways. They may
involve new lifestyles or ancient
mysteries coming to light or new scientific
discoveries. This isn't likely to be just a passing
interest. What you're learning could well become
part of your being. You'll want to read everything
pertaining to the subject.
GeMINI
(May 22 - June 21) : Usually you trust
your instincts about money, but today
you should believe even more strongly
in your financial sense. Unconventional
ideas for increasing your income might come up.
While your instincts might say go for it, your logic
could tell you no. Help yourself by consulting
professionals who know what's happening. If they
agree with your instincts, go for it!
cANcer
(June 22 - July 23) : A friend or
group could be transforming not only
your personality but also your life.
The changes could be taking place at
a very deep level, so you might not be aware of
them. You could be surprised, but don't be upset.
Everyone changes. For you, this transmutation
will prove positive. You may not have planned it,
but it's happening.
Leo
(July 24 - Aug. 23): Have you been
thinking about changing jobs or taking
up a new profession? If you have, now's
the time to lay the groundwork. If you
haven't considered it, a new opportunity may take
you by surprise. You may go from a behind-thescenes
career like banking to a very public
profession like acting. Don't hesitate because of
insecurity. If you like what's happening, go for it.
VIrGo
(Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): A radical
transformation of your daily routine is
definitely in the wind. You may decide to
get an advanced degree or move to a
foreign country or become more involved with a
group. Even for someone as adventurous as you, this
particular change might seem outrageous. Don't
worry about it. Follow your heart. Such opportunities
often arise only once in a lifetime!
LIBrA
(Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): Your values might
be under attack. Perhaps someone
connected with your job is doing
things that seem unethical and you
don't want to be associated with him or her.
Whatever the situation, dealing with it may be too
difficult. You might even consider leaving your
field. Think carefully first! Whatever you decide,
you'll want to be sure that it's right for you.
scorpIo
(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) : Expect to channel
a lot of energy into partnerships today.
Whether the partnership is new or
long term, business or personal, it
requires extra effort to maintain now. Perhaps you
and your partner need to communicate more.
Share your concerns or brainstorm some plans for
the future that are a bit different from what you
usually do. Make the effort.
sAGITTArIUs
(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): Delving into the
more obscure areas of your work could
be your focus today. This could involve
some in-depth research, exploring
possibilities for new enterprises, or something as
mundane as cleaning out files. Intense conversations
concerning these matters could take place. Don't be
surprised at anything you turn up. Strange objects or
information are definitely in the wind.
cAprIcorN
(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): Are you currently
involved in a creative enterprise with a
partner? If so, expect a burst of energy
to be directed to completing that
project. You might make more progress today than
you have in several weeks, though you may be
surprised at the direction the enterprise takes. In
the evening, schedule a date with a love partner.
You'll have a lot to report!
AQUArIUs
(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) : Some work on your
house's infrastructure might be
needed today. The plumbing or
electricity might be giving you
problems, but you'll be glad when the repairs are
done. Your house will probably run more
efficiently. For this reason, it's best not to try to
make the repairs yourself. Even if you're somewhat
skilled in this area, call a professional.
pIsces
(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) : Creative writing
or speaking projects might take up a
lot of your time today. You could
channel not only your mind but also
your very being into your work. You'll probably be
so caught up in what you're doing that you have
difficulty returning to the real world when you're
done. Never mind. You'll probably be pleased
with the results.

ThuRSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2021
11
Payra bridge modernising
FROM BACK PAGE
It was jointly funded by the Kuwait Fund
for Arab Economic Development, OPEC
Fund for International Development and
the Government of Bangladesh. The
bridge was built by the Chinese
contractor Longjian Road and Bridge
Construction. It has been constructed in
the style of the third Karnafuli Bridge in
Chattogram. Only one pillar is used on
the river side as the bridge is connected
on both sides by extra dose cable. It is
built on four spans of 630 meters box
girders on the main part of the Payra
River.
Two spans of 18.30 m vertical
clearance of 200 m have been laid in the
main part for the movement of goods
and fuel vessels at Payra seaport. A 130-
meter-long pile has been placed at the
bottom of the river, which is the largest in
the country. The main bridge of 32 spans
is built on ten piers, piles and pier caps
with 55 test piles of different sizes. It also
has 167 box girder segments. As a result,
the bridge seems to be hanging from a
distance. Besides, the bridge will be 18.30
meters high from the river during high
tide. A total of 1,268 meters of approach
road has been constructed on both sides
of the four-lane bridge. Work on toll
plaza, administrative building,
electrification, river governance project
has also been completed.
However, it took more than 5 years to
build the bridge. Thousands of people
have had to wait for years for the bridge
due to major changes in the design of the
bridge, delays in land acquisition,
lengthy tender process and problems
caused by the recent global epidemic.
The whole southern region is waiting for
the end of that wait next month.
Payrabridge construction project
director Abdul Halim said the special
feature of the bridge is that a help
monitoring system has been set up on
the bridge. This monitoring system will
provide forecasts to avoid damage due to
various natural calamities or overloaded
vehicles including earthquakes and
thunderstorms. Moreover, it is the
second bridge in the country to be built
with extra dose cable system.
He added that it would be opened to
traffic at any time next month through
the official inauguration of the Prime
Minister. As part of this, Secretary of
Road Transport and Highways
Department Md. Nazrul Islam and
Barisal Divisional Commissioner Saiful
Islam Badal visited the bridge on
Monday afternoon and exchanged views
with the locals. Barisal Deputy
Commissioner Jasim Uddin Haider,
Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner
Mohammad Kamal Hossain, Payra
Bridge Project Director Mohammad
Abdul Halim, Barisal District
Superintendent of Police Mohammad
Maruf Hossain, Patuakhali District
Superintendent of Police Mohammad
Shahidullah and other project officials
were present. The meeting discussed
preparations for the inaugural event,
setting up of the inaugural stage and
ensuring overall security of the event.
Dhamaka
COO
arrested
for ‘fraud’
DHAKA : The chief operating
officer of e-commerce
platform Dhamaka Shopping'
and two other persons have
been arrested in Dhaka on
charges of fraud, reports
UNB.
Members of the Rapid
Action Battalion (RAB)
nabbed the trio-including
Dhamaka COO Sirajul Islam
Rana-in the capital on
Tuesday night, ASP (media) at
RAB HQ, Imran Khan, told
UNB on Wednesday.
Earlier, a case was filed
against the e-commerce
platform at Gazipur's Tongi
West Police Station for fraud
and embezzlement, on a
complaint from a customer.
The story is developing.
KHULNA : The authorities of
Khulna University (KU) on
Wednesday decided to reopen
dormitories of the university on
October 18.
Students of masters and
fourth-year honours have been
asked to take their seat on
October 18 while remaining
dormitories students will take
AvBGmwcAvi/wewea/327
29/09/21
GD-1432/21 (3x3)
KU halls reopen
on October 18
their seat on October 26
gradually. The decision was
made Wednesday afternoon at
the 215th emergency syndicate
meeting of KU held at the
Shaheed Tajuddin conference
room with the syndicate
president and vice-chancellor
Professor Dr Mahmud Hossain
in the chair. Following the
direction of the Ministry of
Education and University Grant
Commission (UGC), the
meeting took the decision after
analysing the entire preparation
to reopen dormitories.
GD-1433/21 (7x3)
State Minister for Water Resources Zahid Faruk, MP paid
a courtesy call on the officials of the Engineering
Institution at the meeting room of Pani Bhaban on
Tuesday. During the time, Additional Director General of
the Bangladesh Water Development Board Md. Mizanur
Rahman and other officials were present.Photo: Courtesy
Notice
A meeting of M/s. RMG Associates duly convened and
held on 28-09-2021 at the Registered office of the
Partnership Firm at Office Address House-4, Road-17,
Sector-13, Uttara, Dhaka-1230, Bangladesh at 10.00
A.M. Md Reazur Rahman Bhuyian, Gazi Solyman
Kabir and Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman Partners of
the Firm were present in the meeting. According to the
decision of Board of partners, the transfer of 33.33%
share capital (of the Partnership Firm) owned by
Mohammed Mahbubur Rahman to Mohammad
Mostafizur Rahman have been approved. `Mohammad
Mostafizur Rahman has been appointed as new partner
of the Firm. A reconstitution of the partnership agreement
has been approved for execution. The firm M/s.
RMG Associates which is registered with Registered of
Joint Stock Companies and Firms, Dhaka (RJSC) bearing
Reg. No. P- 44165 Date: 25-09-2019 has been
reconstituted on 28-09-2021. Now 33.33%, 33.33%,
and 33.33% share capital (of the partnership firm) are
being held by Md Reazur Rahman Bhuyian, Gazi
Solyman Kabir and Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman
respectively.
All concerned are therefore, requested to contact henceforth
with the Managing Partner in respect of any
affairs of the Firm.
Md Reazur Rahman Bhuyian
Managing Partner
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Office of the Executive Engineer, RHD
Road Division, Bagerhat
Phone: 0468-62485
Fax : 0468-63224
E-mail: eebegrhd@gmail.com
Reference No. 761 Date: 27.09.2021
Covid-19
positivity rate
continues
declining in Ctg
e-Tender Notice
GD-1436/21 (7x4)
gywRe e‡l©i A½xKvi
MYc~Z© †UKmB Dbœq‡bi iƒcKvi
CHATTOGRAM: The
Covid-19 positivity rate
continues decreasing in the
district as the infection rate
of 1.43 percent was recorded
during the last 24 hours till
last morning here, reports
BSS.
Seventeen persons were
diagnosed with Covid-19
positive after testing 1,185
samples during the time,
said civil surgeon Dr Sheikh
Fazle Rabbi.
Earlier, the district
recorded the positivity rate
of 1.98 percent on Tuesday
and 2.02 percent on Friday.
With the new infection,
the number of Covid-19
cases reached 101,680.
"The number of cured
patients from the lethal virus
stood at 86,836 in the
district with recovery of 62
more patients in the last 24
hours," Dr Rabbi said.
The recovery rate hovers
at 85.45 percent at present,
he added.
With one more fatality in
the last 24 hours, the death
toll stands at 1,296 in the
district.
A total of 2437 infected
patients are now undergoing
treatment at the designated
hospitals here.
No Covid-19 death
reported in Manikganj for
19th consecutive days.
GD-1429/21 (10x3)

Thursday, dhaka: September 30, 2021; ashwin 15, 1428 BS; Safar 22, 1443 hijri
UAE approves RT-PCR
lab for Covid-19 test at
Dhaka airport
Shafiqul iSlaM (Shafiq)
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has
agreed to set up an RT-PCR lab to test
for corona virus samples at Dhaka's
Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The decision came into effect on
Wednesday (September 29) at 12 noon.
The decision was announced in a letter
from the UAE embassy in Dhaka yesterday
afternoon. The letter was sent from
the Embassy of the United Arab
Emirates to Air vice Marshal M Mofidur
Rahman, Chairman of the Civil Aviation
Authority (CAA).
The letter said the embassy in Dhaka
was informed by the UAE Civil Aviation
Authority that tests of the Corona RT-
PCR labs at Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport had been approved.
A request has been made to start flights
from Bangladesh to the UAE.
On September 15, the Ministry of
Expatriate Welfare selected seven nongovernment
organizations to set up RT-
PCR laboratories for corona test at
Shahjalal International Airport. Of
these, six companies submitted
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Sheikh Hasina does politics
for distressed, hard-working
people : Hasan
DHAKA : Information and
Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan
Mahmud on Wednesday said the politics
of Awami League is for common
people as its (AL) President and Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina is doing politics
for poor, distressed and hard-working
people.
"Smiles have been appeared on the
faces of poor and hard-working people
for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina . . .
She is doing politics for mass people," he
said, addressing a discussion held at AL
Office in city's Bangabandhu Avenue.
Bangladesh Awami League Hawkers
League organised the discussion, marking
the 75th birthday of Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina. Hasan said the Premier
has taken a number of initiatives for striven
people, hawkers, labours and farmers
after taking charges. "We think that the
hard-working people are the lifeline of
Awami League. The commoners keep
Awami League alive ... the party has
turned into the biggest party of the country,"
he added.
The party (AL) now has turned into a
party of mass people, said Hasan, also
AL joint general secretary.
The minister said people who do politics
sitting in drawing rooms are not lifeline
of AL. The activists of root-level are
the lifeline of the party since the Prime
on 16 September. These SOPs are sent to
the UAE for verification. The UAE
authorities gave their consent yesterday.
Last August, the UAE imposed an
RT-PCR test on the corona virus six
hours before the trip to the country.
Due to this, the expatriates have not
been able to go to work for a long time.
Meanwhile, expatriates have been
demanding the establishment of
Rapid RT-PCR laboratories at the
country's international airports for
rapid detection of corona virus. They
also staged demonstrations and issued
memorandums to demand this.
The cabinet meeting on September 6
directed the concerned persons to set up
RT-PCR test for corona detection at
three international airports of the country
including Hazrat Shahjalal
International Airport in Dhaka.
Although arrangements have been
made for corona testing at Hazrat
Shahjalal International Airport and consent
has been obtained, no initiative has
been taken yet to install RT-PCR devices
at Shah Amanat International Airport in
Chittagong and Osmani International
Airport in Sylhet.
Minister is doing politics for mass people,
including hawkers, labours and
farmers, he added.
He said, "I would like to see a new
committee of Awami League Hawkers'
League through a conference. And then,
they will form sub-committees all over
the country."
The minister said it is not appropriate
to evict the hawkers without taking
alternative measures. There is a directive
of the Premier to take alternative
step for hawkers, he added.
He said it would be an advantage for
the hawkers if the authority concerned
can arrange weekly markets at different
wards in big towns across the country.
The minister said Bangladesh is
marching forward indomitably under
the dynamic and farsighted leadership
of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The
country has already left behind Pakistan
in every index, he added. "It is only possible
for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's
leadership," said Hasan.
Joint conveners of the conference
preparation committee Md Anowar
Hossain and Taslim Ahmed, and former
general secretary Md Jahed Ali, among
others, addressed the discussion with AL
Hawkers League founding president and
convener of the conference preparation
committee SH Zakaria Hanif in the chair.
DU admission tests
at all divisional
cities from Oct 1
TBT RepoRT
Dhaka University (DU) will begin
admission tests for the 2020-21 academic
session at eight divisional cities
including Dhaka from October 1.
The admission tests will be held in
Dhaka and in seven public universities in
the other divisional cities, aiming to save
time and money of the admission seekers.
Vice-Chancellor Professor M
Akhtaruzzaman made the announcement
at a virtual press briefing.
"We have taken all the preparations to
hold the admission tests smoothly. We
will bring all the centres under strict surveillance
to prevent any forgery this
year," he said.
On average, 45 students will fight for a
seat as a total of 3,24,030 admission
seekers applied for 7,148 seats this year.
Of them, 1,17,956 seekers applied for
'Ka' unit (Science group) against 1,815
seats; 47,632 for 'Kha' unit (Humanities
group) against 2,378 seats; 27,347 for
'Ga' unit (Commerce group) against
1,250 seats; 115,881 applied for 'Gha'
unit (Combined group) against 1,570
seats and 15,496 for 'Cha' unit against
135 seats.
There are now 60,000 seats in 39 public
universities across the country.
President for enhancing,
exploring job market of
Bangladeshi seafarers
DHAKA : President Md Abdul Hamid
yesterday extended his sincere thanks
and felicitation to the shipping community
and hoped the authorities concerned
would take proper and effective
action to enhance and explore the job
market of Bangladeshi seafarers.
"I hope all concerned government
authorities and stakeholders will take
proper and effective action to facilitate,
enhance and explore the job market of
Bangladeshi seafarers," he said in a message
on the eve of the 'World Maritime Day
2021'.
The World Maritime Day will be
observed in the country today like elsewhere
in the globe with the theme
"Seafarers: at the core of shipping
future", seeking increase in the visibility
of seafarers by drawing attention to their
invaluable role.
"On the auspicious occasion of the
'World Maritime Day 2021', I extend my
sincere thanks and felicitation to the shipping
community, authorities and organizations
related to maritime industry," the
President said.
He this year's theme of the day -
"Seafarers: at the core of shipping future"-
highlighted the unprecedented hardship
of the seafarers due to COVID-19 pandemic
to keep the world's supply chain
alive and their invaluable role towards the
world's economy.
Noting that the maritime industry
facilitates the international transportation
of goods and carries forward the
world's economy, Hamid said the world
relies on shipping to transport more
than 90 percent of the trade by volume
including food, medical goods, fuel, raw
materials and manufactured goods
across the globe.
Various roads in Khulna metropolis have been submerged due to light rain. ordinary people have to
suffer in knee-deep water. Various vehicles including Mahindra and easybike have been found to be
disabled. The picture is taken from Royal Junction in Khulna city on Wednesday. photo : Star Mail
View of payra bridge.
Payra bridge modernising
the people’s dream of
southern Bengal
Zihad Rana, BaRiShal BuReau
The long-cherished dream of the people
of the southern region of Bangladesh
"Padma and Payra Bridge" is no longer a
dream. The dream has now come true.
The last span of Padma bridge was
installed on Thursday, December 10,
2020. The entire structure of the 6.15 km
long Padma Bridge has been visible.
Immediately after this, the bridge over
the river Payra is visible. Recently the
construction work of Payra Bridge has
been completed. However, the bridge
construction project is three and a half
times more than the original cost, which
means that the project has cost 1,447.24
crore. And the project took more than 5
years to complete.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will
inaugurate the bridge anytime next
month. On the occasion of inauguration
of the bridge and arrival of the Prime
Minister, Secretary of Road Transport
and Highways Department Md. Nazrul
Islam and Barisal Divisional
Commissioner Md. Saiful Hasan Badal
have already inspected the bridge and
exchanged views with local administration
and dignitaries.
Although the opening date has not been
fixed yet. Meanwhile, various political, social
and cultural organizations in Patuakhali
DHAKA : The country will need to
accelerate structural transformation
of the economy by building strong
industrial and manufacturing sectors
if it wishes to become a higher middle
income country by 2031, reports
UNB.
"To maintain its position among the
developing countries and become a
higher middle income country by
2031, we will need strong industrial
and manufacturing sector, which will
help maintain high economic growth.
For this, we will need to accelerate the
structural transformation of the economy,"
according to an official
Financial Ministry document.
It said that the country has been
gradually moving from an agro-based
economy to a manufacturing-based
economy as a result of the pursuit of
effective government policies and
action plans during the last 12 years.
Therefore, it said, the contribution
of agriculture to the GDP has been
gradually declining and the desired
structural transformation is taking
place in the economy.
Bangladesh has already qualified
for graduation from the list of Least
Developed Countries to a developing,
or lower middle-income country.
have demanded that the bridge be named
after Alauddin, the native son of Patuakhali,
the first martyr of the independence movement.
On the other hand, there has already
been a mixed reaction through social media
to the toll set by the Road Transport and
Highways Department for crossing the
bridge. Although, the toll has been fixed at
the high-level meeting of the concerned ministry.
Besides, many small and big industries
including hotels and motels are being set
up in Barisal and the entire southern
region around the Padma and Payra
bridges. With the resumption of traffic on
the two bridges, there will be a radical
change in the communication system of
various departments including the capital
Dhaka with the south and a revolution in
socio-economic development. It is hoped
that this will open the door to the fate of
the people of the south.
According to sources, the project was
approved by the government at the
ECNEC meeting on May 8, 2012. In
2016, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid
the foundation stone of the Lebukhali
Bridge over the Payra River. The length
of the Pigeon Bridge on the 39-kilometer
Barisal-Patuakhali-Kuakata Highway
over the Payra River at a cost of Tk 1,170
crore is 1,470 meters and the width is
19.76 meters. >(Contd. on page-11)
Model villages with modern
facilities to lead economic
transformation
According to the United Nations
Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
recommendation, Bangladesh's transition
will be effective in 2026. It
means until 2026, Bangladesh will be
able to enjoy all the benefits applicable
to LDCs.
However, under the current rules,
Bangladesh will be able to enjoy dutyfree
and quota-free market access for
another three years, i.e. until 2029, to
overseas markets that offer
favourable trade terms to LDCs.
The document said that in future
the government will give priority to
accelerating the structural transformation
of the economy.
To this end, the government will
provide necessary financial assistance
for the implementation of some activities
that aid this transformation.
These are-mechanisation of agriculture,
development of the agro-processing
sector, skill development and
productivity enhancement, expansion
of training and education related to
4th industrial revolution, encouragement
of online-based outsourcing
work, self-employment/creation of
new entrepreneurs and encouragement
of basic and practical research
at the university level.
photo : TBT
HC refuses to grant
anticipatory bail
to Bashundhara
MD Anvir
DHAKA : A High Court bench on
Wednesday denied to grant anticipatory
bail to Bashundhara Group managing
director Sayem Sobhan Anvir in connection
with a case filed over the rape and
murder of college student Mosarat
Jahan Munia in a flat at Dhaka's
Gulshan in April this year.
The bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman
Islam and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar
deleted the name of Sayem Sobhan
Anvir from the bail petition.
However, the HC bench granted anticipatory
bail to Anvir's wife Sabrina
Sayem for six weeks.
The HC bench passed the order after
holding a hearing on the petition filed by
Sayem Sobhan Anvir and his wife
Sabrina Sayem seeking anticipatory bail
in the case. Anvir and his wife appeared
before the HC bench during the hearing
of the bail petition.
Senior lawyer Yusuf Hossain
Humayun appeared in the bench for the
accused petitioners while Deputy
Attorney General Abu Yahiya Dulal and
Assistant Attorney General Mizanur
Rahman argued on behalf of the state
during the hearing on the matter.
On April 26, police recovered the body
of the 21-year-old college student
Mosarat Jahan Munia hanging from
ceiling fan of her bedroom in a Gulshan
flat. Munia's elder sister filed the case on
September 6 with a Dhaka court against
Anvir over the rape and murder of her
sister.
At least 100 killed
in clashes for
Yemen's Marib:
military sources
DUBAI : At least 100 Yemeni rebels and
pro-government troops have been killed
in the past 48 hours as fighting intensifies
for the key city of Marib, military
and medical sources said Wednesday.
A string of air strikes from the Saudiled
coalition targeted the Iran-backed
Huthi rebels, who have stepped up their
assault on Marib, the government's last
northern stronghold.
Sixty-eight Huthis and 32 loyalists
were killed in the latest clashes, military
sources told AFP. The tolls were confirmed
by medical sources.
The rebels rarely announce casualties
among their own ranks, but their Al-
Masirah channel reported around 60
coalition air strikes in Marib governorate
in the past two days.
Hundreds of fighters have been killed
this month after the Huthis renewed
their campaign for the capital city of the
oil-rich province.
The Huthis initially escalated their
efforts to seize Marib in February, hoping
to gain control of the region's oil
resources and strengthen their position
in peace talks.
Marib, about 120 kilometres (75
miles) east of the rebel-held capital
Sanaa, sits at a crossroads between the
southern and northern regions and is
key to controlling Yemen's north.
Tens of thousands of people have been
killed and millions have been displaced
in the war that erupted in 2014, after the
Huthis seized Sanaa.