27-04-2022

wednesday

DhAKA: April 27, 2022; Baishakh 14, 1429 BS; Ramadan 25,1443 hijri

www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net

Regd.No.DA~2065, Vol.20; N o. 03; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00

international

Russia hits faraway

targets; diplomat warns

of risk of WWIII

>Page 7

sports

Late Kean strike gives

Juventus important

win in Serie A

>Page 9

arts & Culture

Mukti moving forward

parallelly with acting

and singing

>Page 10

No one to stay homeless

in Bangladesh: PM

Provides homes to about 33,000 destitute families

gvMwdiv‡Zi `kw`b

Sunamganj farmers

in troubled waters as

paddy fields inundated

SUNAMGANJ : Farmers of the

Sunamganj Haor region are living

in fear of their paddy being

washed away by the Surma

river, reports UNB.

The farmers said that a portion

of the embankment adjacent

to Ahsanpur School collapsed

on Monday night, sending

torrents of water crashing

into the farm land of the haor in

Jamalganj upazila.

According to them, vast tracts

of farm land in the haor could

soon be inundated if steps are not

taken by the authorities concerned

at the earliest.

Ali Nur, a local farmer, said, "I

cultivated paddy after taking a

loan. But now all my hard work

has been washed away."

Some blamed the authorities

for their negligent attitude.

DHAKA : The Asian

Development Bank (ADB)

committed $22.8 billion

from its own resources in

2021 to help Asia and the

Pacific tackle the immediate

Zohr

04:09 AM

12:01 PM

04:31 PM

06:29 PM

07:47 PM

5:27 6:26

DHAKA : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on

Tuesday vowed to ensure houses for all the

homeless people at a programme marking

the handing over about 33,000 governmentbuilt

homes to another batch of extremely

poor families as her Eid gift, reports UNB.

"We've been able to ensure electricity for

100 per cent people. Now 100 per cent

(homeless) people will get the houses. None

will remain landless and shelter-less in

Bangladesh," she said.

The prime minister was addressing the

house distribution function among 32,904

homeless and landless families across the

country under the third phase of the

Ashrayan-2 Project. She inaugurated the distribution

of semi-pucca abodes, joining a virtual

function from her official residence

Ganobhaban in the morning.

Sheikh Hasina exchanged views with beneficiaries

from the four cluster housing places

at Nagarkanda Upazila in Faridpur, Barguna

Sadar Upazila, Sirajganj Sadar Upazila and

Anwara Upazila in Chattogram through a

videoconference.

The PM said she doesn't know whether

such a housing initiative was taken in any

other country across the world.

"To me, power is to serve the people and

work for the people. So, today I've been working

so that not a single person will remain

homeless or shelter-less in Bangladesh," she

asserted.

She said alongside building Digital

Bangladesh with modern technology and

Danish Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth visits Rohingya camps on Tuesday.

ADB operations reach $22.8b in 2021

to boost pandemic response

effects of the coronavirus

(COVID-19) pandemic and

promote a green recovery.

Financial and operational

results were published in

ADB's Annual Report 2021.

The report summarizes how

ADB supported its developing

member countries

(DMCs) through a combination

of finance, knowledge,

and partnerships.

"ADB firmly believes that

addressing the impacts of the

pandemic and supporting

long-term development is not

mutually exclusive," said

ADB President Masatsugu

Asakawa. "Our sustained

COVID-19 response has laid

the foundations for an inclusive,

resilient, and green

recovery, ensuring progress

toward our Strategy 2030

objectives," he added.

The $22.8 billion committed

in 2021 includes loans and

knowledge, the biggest goal of her government

is to change the fate of the destitute people-who

have no future or can't dare to

dream. "We've been working to execute the

goal," she said.

Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh

Awami League, asked her party leaders and

activists to follow the ideology of Father of the

Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur

Rahman to bring smiles on the faces of

unhappy people.

"We have to go forward overcoming all

barriers. Inshallah, we'll build 'Sonar

Bangla' as dreamt by the Father of the

Nation," she said.

The PM said the government rehabilitated

not only destitute people, but also the neglected

communities like leprosy patients, Bede

(water gipsy) and transgender by providing

houses under the Ashrayan project.

She said her government has given recognition

to the transgender community by giving

them with a separate identity. No transgender

child should be separated from the family.

Islam has also ensured their rights in the

family, she added.

Noting that Bangladesh has earned global

dignity, she said no one now can ignore

Bangladesh and dare to term it a disasterand

famine-hit country. "Rather Bangladesh

is a role model for development," said the

prime minister.

Hasina expressed her gratitude to the people

and voters for giving her scope to serve

them by electing her time and again.

Photo : TBT

guarantees, grants, equity

investments, and technical

assistance provided to governments

and the private sector.

In addition, ADB mobilized

$12.9 billion in cofinancing,

said a press release.

Of ADB's 2021 commitments,

$13.5 billion, or 59%, was for

pandemic response, although

many of these commitments,

such as strengthening the

health sector, will also help

the region long after the pandemic

is over.

The bank's pandemic

response support included

$4.9 billion in rapid disbursing

financing for governments

to support structural

reforms and address debt

sustainability. The financing

included $4.6 billion in policy-based

lending and $250

million through the COVID-

19 Pandemic Response

Option. As part of the pandemic

response, ADB committed

$4.1 billion to enable

the procurement and delivery

of safe and effective vaccines

for its DMCs.

The bank also provided

$3.3 billion to the private

sector to keep businesses

open, trade flowing, and

make medical products and

services available. A broad

range of knowledge support

guided COVID-19 response

and recovery plans.

"The battle against climate

change will be won or lost in

Asia and the Pacific. To succeed,

our region needs to accelerate

the transition to a lowcarbon

future," said Asakawa.

To help meet its new elevated

ambition of $100 billion in

cumulative climate financing

by 2030, the bank announced

a series of financing initiatives

to bolster the region's low-carbon

development.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday talking to the beneficiaries after handing over about 33,000

government-built homes to another batch of extremely poor families as Eid gift. Photo : PID

Danish crown

princess interacts

with Rohingyas,

host community

COX'S BAZAR : Danish crown princess

Mary Elizabeth on Tuesday visited

Rohingya camps and interacted with the

refugees and host community members,

reports UNB.

The princess traveled to Rohingya

camps by a car from Cox's Bazar town

and observed soil erosion control and

environmental restoration activities of

the Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

through tree plantation at Camp 5.

Refugee Relief and Repatriation

Commissioner Shah Rezwan Hayat and

other officials welcomed the Danish

princess at Camp 5 who also visited

camps 6 and 8.

The princess arrived in the beach town

Monday afternoon. Shortly after she

arrived in Dhaka on Monday morning,

the princess met Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina at her official residence

Gonobhaban.

She will travel to the Sundarbans

Wednesday to meet the forest officials

and people affected by climate change.

The princes will go to Satkhira on a helicopter

Wednesday morning and visit

village Kultoli to meet climate-vulnerable

people.

The princess will visit the multipurpose

cyclone shelter in the nearby community,

meet its management committee

and learn about its functionality during

a cyclone.

She will avail of a boat ride to the

Sundarbans and interact with the forest

officials during a 15-minute walk through

the natural resource, discussing biodiversity

and saltwater intrusion in the mangrove

area.

Paturia ghat sees huge crowd

Passengers suffer

as 2 ferries remain

inoperative

MANIKGANJ : With five days left before

Eid-ul-Fitr, Paturia ferry terminal authorities

in Manikganj struggle to handle huge

rush of passengers, vehicles heading

towards 21 South-Western districts of the

country, reports UNB.

Amid the mad rush of homebound people,

two of the 19 ferries- Birsreshtha

Ruhul Amin and Enayetpuri- on this route

went out of order, increasing the sufferings

of passengers.

Three other ferries that also went out of

order earlier are now operating again on the

route after temporary maintenance, said

Shahnewaj, Dy General Manager of BIWTA

Aricha sector. He said on Tuesday some 500

trucks, private vehicles, buses remained waiting

in queues for their turn to cross the river.

Private cars, microbuses need to wait for

two to three hours to cross the river,

claimed the passengers. They alleged that

due to excessive goods-laden trucks other

vehicles have to wait for a longer period.

BIWTA DGM Shahnewaj said, "The ferries

went out of order due to relentless services for

the last few days but within the next two days

two more ferries will start operation."

Tetultala playground

land aquired through

legal process:DMP

DHAKA : Amid the ongoing movement

over the Kalabagan Tetultala playground,

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has

clarified their stance in a statement saying

the land was acquired following government

rules for Kalabagan Police Station.

DMP has acquired 0.20 acres of

land under Dhanmondi mouja for

Kalabagan Police Station and it is a

government asset and Housing and

Public Works Ministry is the owner of

the land, said a press release of DMP

issued on Tuesday.

According to the press release, DMP

has received a clearance certificate from

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha

(RAJUK) which said that they have no

problem as it is needed for the government

and public interest.

The local MP also sent a DO letter to

the home minister for establishing a

police station on the disputed land for the

safety of the local people, the release said.

It also said DMP got the no-objection

letter from the Department of

Environment (DoE) too.

The proposed land for the police station,

Tetultala playground is a few yards

away from Kalabagan playground where

children can play.

NEW DELHI : Indian Institute of

Technology (IIT) Delhi has expressed

keen interest in contributing to IT eco-system

in Bangladesh through sharing the

Institute's research facilities and incubation

models.

"IIT Delhi can be a knowledge partner

for the government of Bangladesh, including

for the IT industries and universities,"

said Prof Rangan Banarjee, Director of

IIT, a prestigious Indian public technical

university.

In a meeting with the Bangladesh State

Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak at

the university campus today, Prof

Banarjee also shared his ideas how the IIT

can undertake various collaborative

approaches with the Bangladesh's ICT

division and technical based education

sector including universities.

Palak is now on an official visit to New

Delhi to attend the 7th round of Raisina

Dialogue, a multilateral flagship conference

on geopolitics and geo-economics

that began in New Delhi yesterday. He will

attend the event as a panellist.

During the meeting, State Minister for

ICT Palak highlighted Bangladesh's success

stories in realizing 'Digital

Bangladesh' under the able leadership of

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He also mentioned the remarkable

efforts made by PM's ICT Adviser Sajeeb

DMP is not constructing any building

on the land of any organisation and any

person illegally, said the release.

Earlier, Syeda Ratna and her son were

detained by police when she was livestreaming

the construction of a boundary

wall at the playground on Facebook

around 11am on Sunday.

However, police freed Ratna and her

son, nearly 13 hours after their detention

on charges of "spreading hate speech" as

she protested the construction of a police

station on the playground at Kalabagan.

Different environmental organizations

have demanded an impartial inquiry into

the detention of local resident Ratna and

her son for protesting against the construction

of a police station at Tetultala

playground in the capital's Kalabagan.

The organizations also strongly condemned

the incident and said keeping

anyone in custody for more than 13

hours is a violation of the constitution

and laws of the country.

Meanwhile, Home Minister

Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Monday

said a decision will be taken after discussion

regarding Tetultala playground

which was allocated to build Kalabagan

police station.

IIT Delhi keen to contribute in

Bangladesh's IT eco-system

Wazed Joy towards transforming

Bangladesh into a developed, knowledgebased

and tech-savvy country by 2041.

Besides, Palak requested the IIT

Director to design and arrange some

knowledge sharing exchange programmes

for the Bangladeshi students,

youths, faculties, entrepreneurs and

innovators, particularly in the areas of

artificial intelligence, special robotics,

microprocessor chip design and cyber

security.

He proposed to formularise and sign a

Memorandum of Understanding

(MoU) between ICT Division of

Bangladesh and IIT Delhi in enhancing

collaboration in innovation, research

and entrepreneurship and create a platform

for a week-long training and certification

programme for both students

and professionals.

Dean of International Office Prof.

Naveen Garg and Coordinator of

Nanoscale Research Facility (NRF) Prof.

Neeraj Khare were present at the meeting,

among others, Bangladesh high commission

in New Delhi sources said.

Later, the state minister went round the

various laboratory facilities and Assistech

Lab at the School of Information

Technology, Nanoscale Research Facility

(NRF), 3D Weaving and Structural

Composites at the IIT campus.

weDneSDay, april 27, 2022

2

IC fines two officials for not providing information

DHAKA : The Information

Commission (IC) has fined secretary of

Amin Bazar Union Parishad of Savar

Upazila in Dhaka Taka 1,000 and the

secretary of Kalsakathi Union Parishad

of Bakerganj Upazila of Barisal Taka

2,000 for not providing information

requested under the Right to

Information Act. The IC gave this

decision after holding virtual hearing at

the commission on April 25 and 26.

Chief Information Commissioner (CIC)

Mortuza Ahmed, Information

Commissioner Suraiya Begum and

Information Commissioner Dr. Abdul

Malek held the hearing, said a press

release.Md. Imdadul Haque of Savar

had applied to secretary of Amin Bazar

Union Parishad under the Right to

Information (RTI) Act, seeking

information in details about revenue

income, government grants and

income from other sources (name of

income sectors and amount of money).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's

Eid gifts to the homeless families

Deepak Sen, Mahalchhari Correspondent

Land and houses have been handed

over to 32,904 landless and homeless

families as a gift on the occasion of the

Eid of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

across the country on Tuesday April 26.

The Prime Minister inaugurated the

event through a live virtual ceremony.

As part of this, 27 homeless and

landless families in Mahalchhari

upazila of Khagrachhari district were

handed over land and houses for Eid

gift along with land deeds. On this

occasion, an event was organized at the

local town hall. Chairman of

Mahalchhari Upazila Parishad Bimal

Kanti Chakma, Vice Chairman Md.

Jasim Uddin, Women Vice Chairman

Suinuching Chowdhury, Upazila

Assistant Land Commissioner Md.

Enamul Hasan, Chairman of

Mahalchhari No. 1 Sadar Union

Notable personalities of the area

including Ratan Kumar Shil were

present. Speaking on the occasion, all

the speakers and the chairperson of the

meeting praised the Prime Minister for

his unwavering support and said that

Bangladesh has been included in the

list of developed countries through its

tireless efforts to build a country free

from hunger and poverty. All the

beneficiaries want to see Sheikh Hasina

as the Prime Minister for life and they

pray to Srishti Katar for her longevity

and good health and success.

BB revises post import financing policy

DHAKA : Bangladesh Bank (BB) has

revised its policy for Post Import

Financing (PIF) to give clarification to

banks as importers have faced

complexities to get fund properly, reports

BSS.

According to the previous guidelines

on PIF released in June last year, the

central bank mentioned two sectors for

banks to finance exporters, which were

essential commodities and industrial raw

materials.

The revised policy asked banks two

more sectors, which are trading and

agricultural items, as per a BB circular

issued.

Importers will have to pay back the

loans under the facility within seven

months for essential commodities

instead of six months set by the central

bank in its previous guidelines.

Businesses that import agricultural

products such as fertiliser, seed and

pesticide will be allowed to repay their

loans within six months.

Importers of trading items like

electrical products will be permitted to

refund their loans by four months.

The BB, however, kept unchanged the

repayment rules for essential

commodities as importers have to pay

back their loans within the three months.

Under the PIF, banks extend loans to

importers to help them pay the cost of the

imported items within the stipulated

time. This gives importers the

opportunity to repay it after selling

products.

Conventional banks earlier used to

treat such financing as loans against trust

receipts, while Shariah-based banks

called it Murabaha trust receipts.

The central bank also instructed banks

not to facilitate PIF to borrowers, who

face overdue debt. Lenders, however,

provide the PIF facility to the importers,

who will be unable to repay their loans

due to the unexpected adversity.

GD-792/22 (7x4)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2022

3

Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) among the Institute of Disaster Management and

Vulnerabilities Studies (IDMVS) of Dhaka University, International Labour Organization and ABF

Investment PLC, UK were signed on Tuesday at DU VC's Lounge for collaboration towards the provision

of employment injury support for workers in the RMC sector in Bangladesh. Vice-Chancellor of DU Prof.

Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman was present on this occasion.

Photo : Courtesy

Two MoUs signed at DU

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between

theInstitute of Disaster Management and Vulnerabilities

Studies (IDMVS) of Dhaka University (DU) and

International Labour Organization (ILO) and another

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between DU and

ABF Investment PLC, UK were signed separately

yesterday at DU VC's Lounge for collaboration towards

the provision of employment injury support for workers in

the RMC sector in Bangladesh. Vice-Chancellor of DU

Prof. Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman was present on this

occasion, a press release said.

Treasurer of DU Prof. Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed, Officer-in-

Charge of ILO Marie La Rosa and Company Secretary of ABF

60th death anniversary

of Sher-e-Bangla today

DHAKA : The 60th death

anniversary of Sher-e-

Bangla Abul Kashem Fazlul

Huq will be observed in the

country in a befitting

manner today.

President Abdul Hamid

and Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina issued separate

messages marking the death

anniversary of Sher-e-

Bangla.

The ruling Awami League

will pay tribute to the great

leader by placing wreaths at

his grave at 8:00am.

The ruling party will also

hold a recitation of Surah

Fatiha and offer prayers for

salvation of the departed

soul at Sher-e-Bangla's

grave in the city.

Abul Kashem Fazlul Huq,

popularly known as Sher-e-

Bangla or Huq Saheb, was

born on 26 October 1873, at

his maternal uncle's house at

Saturia, a prosperous village

in the Southern part of the

district of Bakerganj. But his

ancestral house was at

Chakhar, a village 14 miles

away from Barisal town.

Huq was an eminent

public leader who had held

many high political posts

including the Mayor of

Calcutta (1935), Chief

Minister of undivided

Bengal (1937-1943) and East

Bengal (1954), Home

Minister of Pakistan (1955)

and Governor of East

Pakistan (1956-58).

No COVID-19 death

reported in 24 hours,

19 new cases

DHAKA : Bangladesh

yesterday reported zero

Covid-19 death in the past

24 hours while it recorded 19

coronavirus positive cases

during the same period.

"Bangladesh reported

0.38 percent Covid-19

positive cases as 5,026

samples were tested in the

last 24 hours," Directorate

General of Health Services

(DGHS) sources said.

During the past 24 hours,

the combined figure of

coronavirus infection in

Dhaka city and upazilas of

the district is 13 while no

Covid-19 death was reported

during the period.

The official tally showed

that the virus killed 29,127

people and infected

19,52,602, so far, the

statement added.

The recovery count rose to

18,94,123 after another 364

patients were discharged

from the dedicated hospitals

during the past one day.

Investment PLC Paul Lister signed the MoUs on behalf of

their respective side. Ambassador of Spain in Bangladesh

Francisco Benitez, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) of

Bangladesh Open University Prof. Dr. Mahbuba Nasreen

and Director of IDMVS Dr. Dilara Zahid were, among others,

present on this occasion.

According to these two MoUs, IDMVS of DU, ILO and

ABF Investment will work together for betterment of

RMG workers in Bangladesh. They will jointly conduct

researches on workers safety and security as well as share

data and information. Besides, they will also arrange

training programs for employees of RMG sector in

Bangladesh.

NTRCA recommends recruitment

of 471 teachers

DHAKA : The Non Government Teachers

Registration and Certification Authority

(NTRCA) has recommended recruitment of

471 candidates under a special recruitment

notification.

An official order, signed by NTRCA

chairman Mohammad Enamul Quader

Khan, was issued here last night in this

regard, said a press release.

A total of 591 candidates were initially

selected for the vocational programme of the

Secondary Education Sector Investment

Programme (SESIP), under the special

recruitment notification of the NTRCA.

On April 18, the Department of Secondary

and Higher Education (DSHE) issued

instructions to provide recruitment

recommendations to these candidates while

their police verification is underway.

In the wake of that directive, the NTRCA

on Monday (April 25) recommended 471

candidates. Both the candidates and

concerned educational institutions have

already been informed, the handout added.

However, 120 candidates were not

recommended for recruitment as they did

not submit VR forms for police verification,

MA Khair, public relations officer of the

Ministry of Education told BSS.

Primary selection of the 120 candidates

will be cancelled if they fail to submit their

police verification form (VR) on May 12 and

the concerned managing committee will

appoint 471 candidates who have been

recommended for the recruitment, the

official added.

Attack on Zafar Iqbal: Main

accused Faizul gets life term

SYLHET : A Sylhet court on Tuesday

sentenced prime accused Faizul Hasan

to lifeimprisonment in a case over the

attack on renowned writer Dr

Muhammad Zafar Iqbal on Shahajalal

University of Science and Technology

(SUST) campus in 2018.

Another accused in the case, Faizul's

friend Md Shohag Mia was sentenced

to 4 years imprisonment and four

others were acquitted.

Those acquitted are Faizul's mother

Minara Begum, brother Enamul

Hasan, maternal uncle Md Fazlul

Haque .

Anti-Terrorism Special tribunal

judge Nurul Amin handed down the

judgment.

On March 22, the court fixed Tuesday

for delivering the judgment after

hearing the arguments from both sides.

On March 10, recording of

testimonies in the sensational case was

completed by recording statements of

35 of the 56 witnesses, said PP

Mominur Rahman.

All of them arecurrently in jail, he

said.

On March 3, 2018, Faizul swooped on

Prof Zafar Iqbal and stabbed him with

a knife at the SUST Mukta Mancha

during a celebration programme,

'Robofight,' of the Electrical and

Electronic Engineering (EEE)

department.

SUST registrar Ishfaqul Hossain filed

a casewith Jalalabad policethe

following day.

On March 8, a court placed Faizul on

a 10-day remand for interrogation.

Later Faizul gave confessional

statement before court.

On July 26, police pressed charges

against six people, including Faizul and

Atiqur, in connection with the attack.

On October 4, 2018,the trial in the

case began by framing charges against

the accused.

Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Ismail Hossain distributed deeds of

land among the homeless people at Terokhada upazila parishad hall room

yesterday.

Photo : PID

UGC inaugurates e-

document training

DHAKA : The University

Grants Commission (UGC)

yesterday inaugurated twoday

training on e-documents

as part of its implementation

of e-Governance and

Innovation Action Plan.

Commission Secretary Dr

Ferdous Zaman presided

over the inauguration

ceremony and UGC member

and convener of the

innovation team Prof Dr

Muhammad Alamgir was

present as the chief guest,


Professor Alamgir in his

inaugural speech

highlighted the role of e-

documents saying that it is

very important in

implementing Digital

Bangladesh and introducing

paperless offices.

He then called upon

the UGC and the

country's universities to

implement e-documents

to increase speed,

transparency and

accountability in official

work.

Commission Secretary Dr

Ferdous Zaman in his speech

opined that the use of e-

documents needs to be

increased to make civic

services more dynamic.

The training will focus on

virtual office management,

profile management, postal

upload process, postal

management, presentation

method in postal documents,

document

and

correspondence, management

of documents and use of

document mobile app.

15 officers of different

levels of the commission

participated in the training

conducted by UGC Senior

Assistant Director Rabiul

Islam.

Mobile courts

to prevent

charging extra

fares: Quader

DHAKA : Mobile courts

will remain active to check

charging homebound

passengers extra fares,

said Road Transport and

Bridges Minister Obaidul

Quader on Tuesday.

Necessary preparations

have been taken to ensure

safe journey for

homebound people ahead

of Eid-ul-Fitr as per the

directives of the Prime

Minister, he said.

The condition of the

roads and the highways is

better than any time

before, said Quader

adding, "Directives have

been given in the field

level to take steps to

mitigate sufferings of

travellers during Eid."

The minister said this

while talking to reporters

at the Bangladesh

Secretariat.

He also requested the

transport owners and

workers to refrain from

taking excessive fares from

the passengers.

Besides, taskforce formed

with members of law

enforcement agencies to

ensure discipline on roads

and security of passengers

will remain active at the

terminals in the

metropolitan cities , he said.

Quader also urged the

leaders of Bangladesh

Garment Manufacturers

and Exporters Association

(BGMEA) and Bangladesh

Knitwear Manufacturers

and Exporters Association

(BKMEA) to arrange Eid

leave for the garment

workers in phases to avoid

rush of homebound

people.

He also asked the

highway police, district

police, Ansar members,

local administrations and

upazila administrations to

perform their duties

properly to control traffic

congestions at the exit and

entry points of the city.

Chittagong Customs official

receives IDEAS certificate

DHAKA : Salahuddin Rizvi Mohammad,

Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong

Customs House, has successfully completed

a prestigious training programme of the

institute of Developing Economics Advanced

School (IDEAS) of Japan, organized by IDE-

JETRO, which is research institute of Japan

External Trade Organization (JETRO).

JETRO Dhaka Country Representative,

Yuji Ando handed over the certificate to

Salahuddin Rizvi on April 26 at Chittagong

Customs House in front of Chittagong

Customs Commissioner, M Fakhrul Alam

for successful completion of the four-month

training programme for fiscal year 2021-22,


Salahuddin Rizvi said, "I am very grateful

to be given an opportunity for IDEAS

training, which provides exposures on

subjects that range from basic economic

concepts to contemporary regional and

global issues. I highly appreciate the kind

cooperation of IDEAS and JETRO. Although

it was online training, I've got the exceptional

chance of learning and exchanging

experiences and knowledge. Finally, I would

like to convey my sincere thanks to IDEAS

for this wonderful opportunity."

According to 2021 JETRO Survey on

Business Condition of Japanese companies

operating in Asia and Oceania, 65 percent of

Japanese companies operating in

Bangladesh think they would be able to

make a profit in 2022 as the covid-19

pandemic situation is improving gradually.

Also, 68 percent of Japanese companies in

Bangladesh would expand their business

activities in next one to two years due to

increase in business confidence by Japanese

firms.

JETRO Chief Ando mentioned Bangladesh

has the most competitive wage and potential

domestic market among the Asia and

Oceania areas.

So, this could the time for Japanese

companies to expand in Bangladesh, he

added.

He said expansion in local procurement for

parts and materials would be a factor for

future business success in Bangladesh.

He hoped that this training program for

government officials will help Bangladesh

Government to enhance current business

environment that Japanese companies are

facing especially in Tax and Customs policy

and operation, and ease the way to invite

more Japanese companies in the coming

days.

Japan - Bangladesh friendship is

celebrating 50years anniversary I this year.

Since 1991 by IDE-JETRO more than 25

officials from different ministries including

Finance, NBR, Planning, Post and

Telecommunication, BIDA took part in the

training from Asia and African regions.

IDEAS Training Programme aims to

develop the capacity of the government

officials, who are engaged in the

policymaking related to trade and

investment in the emerging and developing

countries in Asia and Africa. Due to

worldwide pandemic, IDEAS offered the

training second year in a row through online.

The training mode would be changed into

physical mode gradually in the changed

world after pandemic.

A Nepalese delegation met State Minister for Water Resources Zahid

Faruq at his Ministry yesterday.

Photo : PID

Students in distress as

RU closes dorms for Eid

RAJSHAHI UNIVERSITY : With Rajshahi

University authorities deciding to keep the

residential halls closed during the Eid

vacation from April 27 to May 7, many

students are in troubled waters.

These students told UNB that the decision

to keep the residential halls closed has left

them in shock, given the fact that many of

them belong to far-away places and just can't

afford to travel to their homes for such a

short vacation.

Partho Sarothy, a student of RU's theatre

department, said the university authorities

must not take such "drastic steps" during

festivals like Eid.

"My final exams are slated for May 15. The

halls are closed till May 8. It may not be

possible for me to complete my revision

within just seven days of returning to the

hall," said Partho, who stays in Suhrawardy

hall. Delwar Hossain, a master's student of

the applied chemistry and chemical

engineering department, said, "I wanted to

stay on the campus during the festival to

prepare for this year's BCS examination. But

the authorities have made my life miserable

to some extent."

Professor Sultan Ul Islam Tipu, pro-vicechancellor

of the university, said, "Earlier, we

never received any complaints from the

students about the closure of halls during the

Eid vacation. Hope to take into account the

demands of the students next year."

Fortunately, some major public

universities, including Dhaka University,

Jahangirnagar University, Shahjalal

University of Science and Technology,

Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and

Technology University, Begum Rokeya

University, Sher E Bangla Agricultural

University, and Chittagong University of

Engineering and Technology, will keep

their dormitories open during the Eid

vacation.

WEDNESDAy, ApRIL 27, 2022

4

Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam

e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Development's

other side

The above is not to say that this writer is not fully

appreciative of much developmental works

accomplished by the present government in

Bangladesh under its tenures. From timely distribution of

text books to millions of children to augmenting power

production and taking on the dream Padma Bridge project

with country's own resources, one has to reasonably take

note of the wide ranging long list of developmental

achievements under this government.

Nonetheless, the question that looms large in many

minds today is :whether there is a missing element of all

round accomplishments despite the taking on of so many

projects and marking progress on them in varying degrees.

For example, let us see the attainments in relation to the

Mayor Hanif flyover, the country's biggest one so far that

was opened to traffic in 2013. It has played a part no doubt

in easing entry into Dhaka from adjacent townships and

beyond. But is this flagship infrastructure delivering

optimally ?

As it is only about one-fourth of its potential users are

actually using it long after its opening to traffic because the

rest consider the charges or tolls of using it as too high. The

matter has not been solved even though a long time has

passed since its official gala opening.

And the roads on the two sides beneath this flyover leave

a lot desired. Full of potholes or even ditches in some

places, these have practically become an irritant for

vehicles operators whohardly have the choice of an

alternative and only curse any authority they can think of

for their suffering on this score. Following the formal

opening of this flyover, the roads below it were carpeted or

seemingly well paved. But within six months, the roads

started crumbling and the process continues.

Here we have several points to ponder. A major

infrastructure is built at huge costs but instead of its

delivering on large scale to its users, its use remains limited

as a result of lack of decisiveness on the part of its

operators in resolving the toll issue that frustrates

spreading the benefit of using it to the greatest number.

Secondly, the broken down roads under it are regularly

creating exasperating traffic jams .Indeed, this flyover

could be a model, an example of well rounded erecting of

an infrastructure that on completion starts providing all

round sustainable benefits on a lasting basis.

People in ordinary walks of life and they are the majority,

they care or perhaps understand little about gross

increases to the GDP, industrialization of the northern

region and other benefits to accrue from the building of the

Padma Bridge. They form their evaluation of the

administration usually from what handsdown

improvement or otherwise they see and experience in

their immediate surroundings. In this sense, life of the

millions of residents in the capital city today is one of much

helplessness.

Tales of bad roads and growing sufferings of commuters

in the capital city are unending and adding chapters of

further worse conditions every day. Dilapidated roads

extend from Malibagh Rail Gate to Chowdhurypara,

MalibaghMor to Rajarbagh, and from MalibaghMor to

Maghbazar to Hatirjheel. Tattered road condition are

found at Rampura, Tejgaon, Shantinagar, Tejgaon,

Postogola, Wari, Khilgaon, Mugda, Bashabo, Kamalapur,

Syedabad, Jatrabari, Demra, Dholpur, Matuail,

Shyampur, Mohakhali and other parts.

Life on these roads, mostly potholed, bereft of bitumen

cover and unprecedentedly crammed, turns into a new

mess each morning as people come out of homes, going to

work where they routinely fail to arrive on time due to

hours lost on the way due to traffic jams caused by such

battered road conditions.

Dhaka's traffic jams eat up about Tk 550 billion every

year, said experts in this field. The estimated loss is now

50% more than what it was in 2010, said the team leader

of a study carried out to assess the financial loss in traffic

congestion.The study jointly conducted by the

Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry

(MCCI) and Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

Bangladesh, said that the cost of traffic congestion in

capital Dhaka is around Tk 1 billion a day.

Yet, life goes by as usual in this vast city of over16 million

people, as per conservative estimates. The administration

and two city Mayors, meanwhile, keep telling the

exhausted and exasperated residents that remedy is ahead,

just around the corner, and to be patient.

Many crores of Taka have been simply drained away

several times in installing automatic traffic signaling

systems just to be given up and go back to manual

signaling again. Who accounts for such gross misspending

of taxpayers' money? None.

Dhaka acquired the appearance of a flooded city in the

last rainy season pointing to its dysfunctional drainage

system. Water logging on such a scale and intensity was

never before seen in Dhaka pointing to where the priorities

in planning and expenditure should be.

Russia, according to a recent

caustic headline in Bloomberg, is

facing "reverse industrialization"

due to the US-led sanctions regime that

has been imposed upon Russia for its

illegal invasion of its neighbor, Ukraine.

Certainly, the American sanctions

have done much harm in the near term

to Russia's economy (and, therefore, its

political stability at home and its longterm

ability to conduct wide-ranging

military operations).

In the long term, however, the

sanctions have merely hardened

Russian resistance to the West and

intransigence on the Ukraine issue.

More important, the regime of

President Vladimir Putin appears

unwilling to abandon its present course

of action in Ukraine, no matter how

tightly Washington and Brussels

squeeze Moscow economically.

In fact, Western sanctions have forced

Moscow to begin employing new,

dynamic strategies for surviving the

economic assault Russia is being

subjected to.

For example, as the West has enacted

its partial, self-imposed moratorium on

the importation of cheap, important

Russian natural gas as punishment for

the invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has

merely shifted its energy flows away

from Europe to thirsty markets in the

Far East (notably those in India and

China).

Plus, Beijing has become more

amenable to serving as a financial

backstop for Moscow the harder the

West pushes Russia economically.

While neither China's nor India's

economic assistance may be enough to

offset the losses from the Western

sanctions in the near term, in the

medium to long term, Western

sanctions may be empowering Russia to

create the pathways for actual financial

and economic independence from the

West in ways that the Kremlin would

ordinarily not entertain.

On top of Moscow turning more

toward China to assist Russia in its hour

of financial and economic need, both

Germany and France - the strongest

economy in Europe and the most

powerful indigenous military on the

continent, respectively - have created

ingenious ways to circumvent the

Iran-Russia-Israel love triangle trembles under Ukraine tensions

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah

Khamenei's relationship with his

closest superpower ally, Vladimir

Putin, has been going through a

complicated patch. Israeli Prime

Minister Naftali Bennett has also

struggled to retain Russian affections

while not burning his bridges with

NATO states.

It was recently reported that Tehran's

paramilitary allies in Iraq were sending

large quantities of weapons to help

Russian troops struggling in Ukraine. A

Hashd Al-Shaabi commander said

RPGs, anti-tank missiles and rocketlauncher

systems had crossed the

border point he controlled on their way

to Russia. "Whatever is anti-US makes

us happy," he said.

This elicited a predictably animated

response from Ukraine, compelling

Tehran to deny the story. Nevertheless,

Iran's puppet in Damascus is forging

ahead with the deployment of

thousands of Syrian mercenaries in the

Ukraine conflict, including some from

elite regime divisions. Meanwhile, Iran

recently arrested an Afghan politician

and accused him of exploiting Iranian

territory to recruit fighters for Ukraine.

A major reason for Tehran's

discomfort is the outpouring of

sympathy for Ukraine among ordinary

Iranians. Decades of empty rhetoric

about standing up for oppressed and

occupied peoples is returning to haunt

the ayatollahs. As one mother from the

regime's working-class Tehran

heartlands put it: "A bullying power is

killing children and women in Ukraine."

Ukraine's ambassador to Tehran has

welcomed this solidarity. "When I travel

by car carrying the Ukraine flag and we

stop in the street, the public sometimes

shout and gesture their support for the

eventual victory of Ukraine," he said.

However, he added ruefully: "I have

never seen any support from the Islamic

Republic itself."

A jealous Khamenei must live with the

fact that Iran invariably comes second

behind Israel in Moscow's affections. It

galls the ayatollahs that Putin lets Israel

bomb Iranian positions in Syria, while

Bennett and his predecessor Benjamin

Russia becomes an Asian nation

Western sanctions that both nations

claim they support.

In fact, while Germany, which is

disproportionately reliant on Russian

natural gas, may have canceled its

recently completed Nord Stream 2

pipeline, it has yet to cancel its longstanding

Nord Stream 1 pipeline.

For that to occur, E.ON, the German

company that manages Nord Stream 1,

would have to cancel its pipeline with

Russia. And the chief executive of E.ON

has publicly stated that his company will

never cut off its flow of Russian natural

gas.

As this happens, Moscow has turned

to demanding that all payments for

Russian natural gas and oil be made in

the ruble, as a way of propping up and

enhancing Russia's flagging currency

(thanks to the Western sanctions).

Meanwhile, a delegation from Russia

attended the Bengal Global Business

Summit (BGBS) in the final weeks of

April. Despite the Western sanctions

and the hectoring from Western

governments, the organizers of BGBS

2022 insisted that Russia be included.

This, as Russian warships operated

alongside Chinese warships in the

Pacific during a recent US Navy exercise

there.

So, what we are witnessing is not the

total defeat of Russia (though Ukraine

has, with help from the Western

alliance, held its own against the

Russian invader). Instead, what one is

witnessing today is the death of Western

Russia and the birth of an Asian Russia.

Such an outcome, while it will create

difficult burdens for Russia in the near

term, is not necessarily damaging to

Russia's leaders in the long term -

especially the siloviki who purport to

rule Russia.

After all, the siloviki are former Soviet

KGB and Red Army types who

Netanyahu have been feted in Moscow.

Israel is home to the world's largest

number of Russian Jews, comprising 15

percent of the Israeli population, and

the two countries habitually

characterize each other as "fraternal"

states - even "neighbors," given Russia's

presence in Syria. If a wider Israel-Iran

conflagration ever broke out, it's

obvious whose side Putin would take.

However, just as with Iran, the

Ukraine conflict has massively

complicated Israel's relationship with

Russia. Obviously, occupying and

oppressing a sovereign people and

grabbing their land is business as usual

for Israel, but they nevertheless came

under massive Western pressure to

align with NATO. Ukrainian President

Volodymyr Zelensky reduced

parliaments elsewhere to tears, but after

addressing the Knesset he was curtly

told: "How dare you compare your

suffering to how much we have

endured!" While the US hurls charges of

genocide and war crimes at Moscow,

Israel demurs from offending Russia.

Israel has sought to remain in the

Kremlin's favor by not sending weapons

to Ukraine or participating in sanctions,

but still receives snarky diplomatic

missives from Moscow that it isn't

showing enough love to Mother Russia.

When Israel intimated that it could send

helmets to Kyiv, Russia's Ambassador

in Tel Aviv warned that Moscow would

respond "accordingly," and accused

Israel of trying to distract attention from

its Jerusalem crackdown.

Capitalizing on these tensions, an

Iranian trade delegation visited Moscow

last week and signed off on a promise to

increase annual trade to $10 billion,

along with the prospect of Russia selling

Tehran increasingly advanced weapons.

BRANDON J WEICHERT

BARIA ALAMUDDIN

witnessed the collapse of the Soviet

Union and believed it to be the "greatest

geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th

century." This faction of hardliners then

spent the 1990s watching in horror as

Boris Yeltsin and his cadre attempted to

liberalize Russia and make it part of the

West.

But for the siloviki, old habits die

hard; the West was always the enemy.

The economic instability that

dominated Russia in the 1990s, as well

as the various challenges to Russia's

The economic instability that dominated Russia in the 1990s, as well as

the various challenges to Russia's diminished geopolitical standing in

the international system (in places like the Balkans, the former Eastern

European Soviet-bloc states that had been accepted into NATO over

Russian objections, or in Chechnya) were seen by this group as further

proof that Russia had been given a raw deal at the end of the Cold War.

diminished geopolitical standing in the

international system (in places like the

Balkans, the former Eastern European

Soviet-bloc states that had been

accepted into NATO over Russian

objections, or in Chechnya) were seen

by this group as further proof that

Russia had been given a raw deal at the

end of the Cold War.

Russian political theorist Aleksandr

Dugin of Moscow State University then

began publishing his works elaborating

on his theory of "Neo-Eurasianism."

According to Dugin, Russia was not a

part of the West at all. It was something

else entirely. While it had some

similarities, such as Eastern Orthodox

Christianity, the Mongol invasions that

had occurred a thousand years earlier

fundamentally changed Russia; it

became an entity that was only partly a

component of the West but also part of

Asia.

Yet since Peter the Great was czar,

Russian leaders have obsessed over

their Western periphery. The unjust

Russian invasion of Ukraine, however,

is forcing changes in the make-up of

Russian policy. Having been closed off

to the West, rather than admit it erred in

their invasion of Ukraine, Putin's

regime is pivoting to the East.

This is something that both the Neo-

Eurasianists and the siloviki have long

Iran, Israel and Russia profit from

each other's destabilizing actions, with

the Ukraine conflict doing little to deter

Tel Aviv and Tehran from competing to

solicit Putin's affections.

With Russia weakened, the ayatollahs

fear losing their main cheerleader at the

UN Security Council. As analyst

Mohanad Hage Ali from the Carnegie

Middle East Center noted: "If the Putin

regime is destabilized, that has huge

Ukraine's ambassador to Tehran has welcomed this

solidarity. "When I travel by car carrying the Ukraine flag

and we stop in the street, the public sometimes shout and

gesture their support for the eventual victory of Ukraine,"

he said. However, he added ruefully: "I have never seen

any support from the Islamic Republic itself."

implications for Iran, particularly in

Syria."

Yet Iran and Russia's status as fellow

pariah states seeking to evade global

sanctions is a feeble starting point for a

beautiful relationship. Moscow and

Beijing fear the spread of Islamist

militancy throughout Central Asia, and

have most to lose from Iran becoming a

belligerent North Korea-style nucleararmed

basketcase theocracy on their

doorstep.

Likewise, Turkey's complex

relationship with Russia has become

even more convoluted, given its NATO

membership and close ties with

Ukraine, a maritime neighbor. Turkey

has obstructed Russian Black Sea

shipping and closed its airspace to

Russian planes flying from Syria, to

stem the flow of mercenaries. It remains

to be seen how Moscow will respond to

this recent recipient of Russian weapons

systems.

While Iran sees Syria as a bridgehead

for its deranged wars against the

civilized world, Russia wants Syria

stabilized so that it can make returns on

its massive investments. Iran's regionwide

destabilization limits Russia's

aspirations to become a regional power,

while damaging relations with Gulf

states.

In sabotaging recent progress on the

favored. The Russian elite today have no

choice any longer. They must pivot away

from the West or be destroyed by the

Western sanctions and increased

hostilities.

Thus Russia is becoming an Asian

nation - fulfilling the long-delayed

dreams of Czar Alexander III, who had

built the Trans-Siberian Railroad

linking Russia's more developed

"European" side with Russia's "Wild

East" along the underdeveloped Pacific

coastline.

Rather than surrender to the

overwhelming economic and political

pressure that the West is subjecting the

Russians to; instead of overthrowing the

would-be czar, Vladimir Putin, the

Russians are becoming more pro-Putin.

They are entering the classic Russian

pattern of resisting the dreaded outsider

at all costs - even if it means enhancing

the power of the dreaded dictator at

home.

For those Western elites under the

false assumption that there is an end in

sight to the current standoff with Russia

(one that ends with the end of Putin's

reign and either the democratization of

Russia or the breaking down of the

unitary Russian state), be prepared to

be proved wrong.

What's needed, therefore, is a

recognition that there is no going back

to the way things were between the

West and Russia before 2022. Moscow

has reached the point of no return. So,

too, has the Western alliance.

For all the great hope that there was in

2017-18 of flipping Russia to use against

China, those brief days of hope are over.

Washington's leaders, Democratic and

Republican alike, must accept the new

painful reality of a Eurasia that houses

an increasingly aligned Russia and

Chinese anti-American axis of

autocrats.

Strategies must now be developed

accordingly - and those strategies must

recognize that real and severe

limitations will be placed upon

American power projection into Eurasia

henceforth. As the great Russian poet

Alexander Blok once mused in "Are We

Scythians? - Are We Asiatics?":

The writer is

Winning Space.

the author of

nuclear deal, aiming to discountenance

the West, Putin scarcely considered

Iranian strategic interests - leading to a

bout of Russia-bashing from reformist

segments of the Iranian media.

The US appears strangely oblivious to

the fortuitous implications of Russian

isolation weakening Iran. American

signals that it could countenance the

Revolutionary Guard's terrorism

delisting have emboldened Iran to push

for slashing other anti-terrorism

sanctions. Russia's exodus from Syria

skewers Assad and Khamenei's

ambitions for bloodily wresting back

Idlib and eastern Syria, thus banishing

Tehran's hopes for consolidating these

territories within its corridor of control

through to the Mediterranean.

If the West realizes its goal that "Putin

cannot be seen to win in Ukraine," this

sends a message to predatory occupying

states elsewhere that disregard for

international law cannot be allowed to

stand. In Mariupol, courageous

Ukrainians are fighting to the last man -

and woman - to defend every inch of

territory. Their fight is the same as that

of Lebanese, Iraqis, Palestinians and

Syrians in resisting tyranny, occupation

and foreign domination.

In their bizarre three-way marriage of

convenience, the planet's three principal

occupying powers - Iran, Israel and

Russia - profit from each other's

destabilizing actions, with the Ukraine

conflict doing little to deter Tel Aviv and

Tehran from competing to solicit Putin's

affections. The world's increasing

willingness to act on the side of justice,

freedom and national sovereignty may

have the paradoxical effect of welding

these belligerent pariah states even

closer together.

Baria Alamuddin is an awardwinning

journalist and broadcaster

in the Middle East and the UK. She is

editor of the Media Services

Syndicate and has interviewed

numerous heads of state.

weDNeSDaY, aPril 27, 2022

5

Negative emotions have

much to teach

Jamie waTerS

Eight years ago, when

Whitney Goodman was a

newly qualified therapist

counselling cancer patients,

it struck her that positive

thinking was being "very

heavily pushed", both in her

profession and the broader

culture, as the way to deal

with things. She wasn't

convinced that platitudes

like "Look on the bright

side!" and "Everything

happens for a reason!" held

the answers for anyone

trying to navigate life's

messiness. Between herself,

her friends and her patients,

"All of us were thinking,

'Being positive is the only

way to live,' but really it was

making us feel disconnected

and, ultimately, worse."

This stayed with her and,

in 2019, she started an

Instagram account,

@sitwithwhit, as a tonic to

the saccharine inspirational

quotes dominating social

media feeds. Her posts

included: "Sometimes

things are hard because

they're just hard and not

because

you're

incompetent…" and "It's OK

to complain about

something you're grateful

for." It took off: the

"radically honest" Miamibased

psychotherapist now

has more than 500,000

followers.

Goodman's new book,

Toxic Positivity, expands on

this thinking, critiquing a

culture - particularly

prevalent in the US and the

west more broadly - that has

programmed us to believe

that optimism is always best.

She traces its roots in the US

to 19th-century religion, but

it has been especially

ascendant since the 1970s,

when scientists identified

happiness as the ultimate

life goal and started

rigorously researching how

to achieve it. More recently,

the wellness movement -

religion for an agnostic

generation - has seen fitness

instructors and yogis preach

about gratitude in between

burpees and downward

dogs. We all practise it in

some way. When comforting

a friend, we turn into dogged

silver-lining hunters. And

we lock our own difficult

thoughts inside tiny boxes in

a corner of our brains

because

they're

uncomfortable to deal with

and we believe that being

relentlessly upbeat is the

only way forward. Being

positive, says Goodman, has

become "a goal and an

obligation".

Toxic Positivity is among a

refreshing new wave of

books attempting to redress

the balance by espousing the

power of "negative"

emotions. Their authors are

hardly a band of grouches

advocating for us to be

miserable. But they're

convinced that leaning into -

rather than suppressing -

feelings, including regret,

sadness and fear brings

great benefit. The road to the

good life, you see, is paved

with tears and furrowed

brows as well as smiles and

laughter. "I think a lot of

people who focus on

happiness, and the allimportance

of positive

emotions, are getting human

psychology wrong," says

Paul Bloom, a psychology

professor at Yale and the

author of The Sweet Spot,

which explores why some

people seek out painful

experiences, like running

ultra marathons and

watching horror movies. "In

a life well lived, you should

have far fewer negative than

positive emotions, but you

shouldn't have zero negative

emotions," adds Daniel

Pink, the author of The

Power of Regret. "Banishing

them is a bad strategy."

The timing of these new

works - which also include

Helen Russell's podcast

(following her book of the

same name) How To Be Sad

- is no coincidence. In light

of the pandemic and now the

conflict in Ukraine, it seems

trite to suggest a positive

outlook is all we need.

Strong negative emotions -

fear, anxiety and sadness -

are a natural response to

what's happening around

the world right now and we

shouldn't have to deny them.

These authors want you to

know that "negative"

emotions are, in fact,

helpful. Russell talks about

sadness being a "problemsolving"

emotion. Research

from the University of New

South Wales shows that it

can improve our attention to

detail,

increase

perseverance, promote

generosity and make us

more grateful for what we've

got. "It's the emotion that

helps us connect to others,"

she adds. "We're nicer,

better people in some ways

when we are sad."

leaning into difficult feelings can help you find the way forward.

Photo: Collected

It's tougher making an

argument for regret, which

might be the world's most

maligned emotion, but Pink

is game. From a young age

we are instructed to never

waste energy on regrets. The

phrase "No regrets" is inked

into arms and on to bumper

plates and T-shirts.

Seemingly every famous

person has a quip about

living without regrets (I

would know: as someone

who tends to linger on

thoughts of what might have

been, I've read them all).

Pink says we're getting it all

wrong. "A 'No regrets' tattoo

is like having a tattoo that

says 'No learning'," says Pink,

who was also a speechwriter

for Al Gore, speaking from

Dallas, Texas. He became

interested in this topic

because he couldn't shake his

own regrets about the fact

that, while a university

student, he wasn't kind to

fellow pupils excluded at

social events. "If it has

bothered me for a month, a

year, or in this case 20 years,

that's telling me: 'Hey, you

might not realise it, but you

care about kindness,'" he

says. "Regrets clarify what

matters to us and teach us

how to do better. That's the

power of this emotion - if we

treat it right."

The problem? We're not

taught how to effectively

process these difficult

emotions. A good starting

point is to familiarise

ourselves with these feelings

by acknowledging them and

sitting with them for a beat.

That takes practice, says

Goodman. "It can include

learning how your emotions

feel in your body, and what

to call them. When we're

able to put a name to a

feeling, it makes it less scary.

And when something is

known, we can figure out

what we want to do with it."

Telling others about it

lightens the weight.

Complaining is perfectly

natural, says Goodman. And

articulating it helps us

pinpoint what it is that's

bothering us, because

language converts this

"menacing cloud" into

"something concrete", says

Pink. That disclosure could

be to a friend, therapist or

total stranger. In his Regret

Survey, 18,000 people

anonymously shared their

biggest regrets, while Russell

suggests a "buddy" system,

in which you make a

reciprocal agreement with

someone to talk about your

worries

without

interruption. (A note, if you

are comforting a friend:

listen and ask questions

rather than immediately

reaching for pick-me-ups.)

Your next step will likely

depend on the nature - and

severity - of the emotion. To

help us sit with sadness,

Russell advocates being in

nature. Cultural pursuits can

help, too. "It sounds a little

'woo', but there are lots of

studies about the

effectiveness of reading

therapy and looking at a

piece of art - and how music

can change our moods," she

says. "Sad music can act as a

companion when we're

feeling sad, rather than

making us feel lower. I do

think it's liberating when

you finally kind of surrender

to it all."

Julia HobSbawm

The world of work was

already quite sick before

the coronavirus took hold,

but the pandemic put

rocket boosters on cultural

change.

We can see the impact of

this in every metric around

work: during the Great

Resignation of 2021,

millions of American

workers resigned en

masse. Workers worldwide

have declared that they

would quit their jobs if not

provided with flexibility.

The reduction in

corporate property rents

last year as high as 10%,

with huge changes in the

use of office space and coworking

space. And the city

has a new competitor: the

suburb. The flight to

suburbia during the

pandemic has accounted

for a rise in the property

market for residences

outside city centers. For

downtown districts to

attract and retain people as

places to live and work, city

centers will need to be

redesigned completely.

These developments

come as no surprise: the

McKinsey Global Institute

estimates that up to a

quarter of workers in

advanced economies will

work permanently on a

hybrid basis, ie partly from

home, several days a week.

Discussions about RTO

(returning to the office) are

increasingly fraught and in

flux. There is no uniform

model or agreement.

The case for going into an

office regularly is having to

be made to the workforce -

and many are rejecting it.

Meanwhile, CEOs have to

grapple with employees

who want more flexibility,

the ability to work remotely

and even the ability to

choose their working hours

- and this without a paycut.

The degree of agency

workers will be given - to be

able to choose your place

and hours of work - might

well define us far more

than

previous

classifications in the future.

Being labeled a "whitecollar"

or a "blue-collar"

worker could be replaced

by being a "hybrid have" or

"hybrid have-not" worker

instead.

In addition, up to half of

America's jobs are

projected to be freelance by

2030 and two-thirds of

employers now regard

some form of remote work

or hybrid work as "the new

norm". Many companies

are declaring themselves

"fully remote", giving them

a competitive edge over

those requiring

presenteeism.

As more of us can now

choose how to manage the

time we spend working in a

way that suits us rather

than the traditional nine to

Work from an office

or remote office?

five, discussions around

the four-day week have

reached an intensity never

seen before. We are not yet

anywhere near to the

famous 15-hour working

week John Maynard

Keynes predicted in the

1930s, but his prediction

seems newly relevant.

People recognize that their

work, and therefore their

time, is a valuable

commodity and they want

to have a greater say in

when and where they sell

it.

In spite of those changes,

considerable ambivalence

remains among some

leaders. In one camp, you

get the hardliners who

believe working from the

office is best. Many feel that

those who work from home

are to some extent workshy.

At the very least, they

wish to penalize people

who prefer to work hybrid.

Take the bombastic

internal memo sent by

James Gorman, chair and

CEO of Morgan Stanley, to

his staff: "If you want to get

paid New York rates, you

work in New York. None of

this 'I'm in Colorado … and

getting paid like I'm sitting

in New York City,'" echoing

an equally robust

statement from David

Solomon of Goldman

Sachs that working from

home was "an aberration".

Similarly, the veteran

Wall Street observer

William Cohan simply said

this: "Here's my advice to

you, fellow Wall Street

drones: Get back to the

office."

In another camp are the

more emollient hybrid

softliners such as Kevin

Ellis, London-based chair

of consultancy firm PwC

with 285,000 employees in

155 countries around the

world, who said "we want

to enshrine new working

patterns so that they

outlast the pandemic".

Regardless of which

camp employers are in, it is

obviously true that an

awful lot of social capital

resides in the office. I

talked to Kevin Ellis, who

said, "My worry is that

we're going to create a glass

ceiling for people whose

careers will be stunted

because they're working

from home and not

realising what they're

missing out on."

Nevertheless, all these

comments reflect a

wistfulness on the part of

big business, which can no

longer magically attract the

same kind of worker

prepared to work in the

same way they did before

the pandemic. Hybrid

working reflects the fact

that mobility and freedom

are the new prizes for the

professional working class.

The shift to a placeless and

timeless dimension for

work means the fixed HQ

will have to work a lot

harder to attract and retain

talent.

Smart leaders today are

thinking the unthinkable

and asking whether they

need an office in the same

way again, not because

they are following the

hybrid herd, but because

they are keeping their eyes

and ears open to what is

going on in their own

businesses.

Joanna Swash, CEO of

outsourcing reception, PA

and communications

provider Moneypenny, was

frank that her perceptions

had been challenged by the

pandemic when everyone

had to go fully remote

overnight. "Before Covid-

19 I thought we've got

amazing offices, and that

they are this space that

everybody loves," she said.

"What I learned was that

our culture was so strong

that it wasn't just based on

the office or on the physical

environment, but it was

based on that whole

community feel, and how

people trust each other. It

should have been obvious

to me, but that was a really

big lesson at the start of the

pandemic."

A similar point was made

by Chris Thurling, chair of

Armadillo, a digital design

firm which went fully

remote during the

pandemic, who expanded

his business during this

period:

The case for going into an office regularly is having to be made to the

workforce.

Photo: Nuthawut Somsuk

"I want to remain

completely open-minded

about whether we ever

need to have a traditional

office again. If you look at

the performance of our

business since March

2020, we are performing

really well and our clients

are not saying there's been

a drop-off in quality. Our

profitability as a business

has gone up and we're

growing. Why would we

change too much?"

Bruce Daisley, an

authority on the future of

work and presenter of the

podcast Eat Sleep Work

Repeat, watches the hybrid

work trend closely. He told

me, "Probably the most

farsighted approach I have

seen was Dropbox, which

said late in 2020 that

getting people into the

office for a certain number

of days or specific days

doesn't work. Because

people think, why am I

going in to the office on

Wednesday? Just because

it's Wednesday doesn't

make any sense. People

will come in to the office

when they need to and they

will come into the office for

experiences."

Development hindered of child under five during lockdowns

DoNNa FerguSoN

Parents spent less time reading, chatting and playing with

their children during the pandemic, according to new

research by the National Literacy Trust. A quarter said they

did not chat with their child every day in 2021, compared

with just 10% in 2019, and only half (53%) of parents said

they were reading to their child daily, compared with twothirds

in 2019.

And the proportion of parents who said they played with

their child at least once a day in the previous week also fell

from 76% in 2019 to 72% in 2021. The Trust surveyed more

than 1,500 parents with children under five.

Overall, the research found that fewer parents of young

children engaged in "home learning activities" - reading,

chatting, playing, singing or painting and drawing - in 2021,

compared with 2019, despite spending more time in the

home with their child due to the pandemic.

Spokesperson Alison Tebbs said she thinks many parents

struggled during the lockdowns to juggle full-time work with

caring for children and supervising their learning.

"It was such a difficult time for people," she said. "There

was less support for families, there was less socialisation

happening, and beneficial activities like going to the park or

library were often unable to take place."

Even parents who viewed early learning activities as

important were only slightly more likely to do these activities

than other parents, she said, suggesting some parents were

constrained by their circumstances or a lack of stimulation.

Reading with children and having conversations is vital for

helping their brains develop, Tebbs said:

"One of the reasons two-year-olds act out is because they're

trying to communicate feelings which they can't explain

verbally. That's why you get tantrums. The more words they

have, and the more support they get when they

communicate, the more in touch they will be with their

Crystal robinson and her two-year-old, Heidi, at home in Swindon.

emotions and with the wider world."

Crystal Robinson, 29, and her two-year-old daughter Heidi

live in a top-floor flat with no garden in Swindon. With her

partner, Nick, at work, and no opportunities to go outside to

playgrounds or outings, she relied on TV and toys. There

sometimes seemed to be little need for Robinson to chat to

her daughter.

Photo: Karen robinson

"I didn't really know what to say to someone so small," she

said. "I'd speak to her about what I was doing. Like if I was

doing some housework, I'd pick her up and say right, we're

going to wash the plates. But then I'd think: I don't know why

I'm saying this because she's not listening."

Heidi rarely heard her mother talking to other people, since

they weren't socialising, and although Robinson did try

reading a couple of books to her energetic toddler, "she

seemed really uninterested".

When Heidi started nursery shortly after she turned two

in September last year, she wasn't speaking much at all.

She and her mother were invited to participate in a

programme called Early Words Together, developed by

the National Literacy Trust to improve children's

communication and literacy development. A further rollout

of the programme is taking place this week, sponsored

by the children's channel Nick Jr.

After weekly sessions with other parents, Robinson gained

confidence communicating and reading with Heidi: "I'm

constantly talking to her now.Heidi loves books now. And

she never stops asking questions. She just doesn't stop

talking."

Vanessa Dooley, founder of Jigsaw Early Years

Consultancy, carries out mock Ofsted inspections at

nurseries and thinks "an absolutely massive" crisis is

looming for schools following the pandemic. "I've seen some

children who, instead of turning the pages of a book, swipe as

if it's an iPad. Others, at the age of three, are unable to put

two words together in a sentence. By the time they get to

school, they are going to be so behind."

In the past year, she has also seen many children having

"outbursts" and biting and hitting other children. "Children

are flipping their lids. They're frustrated because they don't

know how to communicate what they're feeling." As a result,

she worries children aren't being taught how to regulate their

emotions and that is going to have a knock-on effect when

they start school. "They don't know how to cope."

Demand for speech language therapists is very high at the

moment, she says, and some children are being put on ninemonth

waiting lists. "Communication and language in

children has taken a massive nosedive. And children are

struggling."

In Babuganj upazila, a homeless family was given a house with land by the Bangladesh Police on the

occasion of Mujib year.

Photo: Syful Islam

Homeless family gets house with land at

the initiative of police in Babuganj

SyFUl ISlaM, BaBUGaNj CoRReSPoNdeNT

In Babuganj upazila, a homeless family

was given a house with land by the

Bangladesh Police on the occasion of

Mujib Year. As a result of such a great

initiative on the part of Bangladesh

Police, a helpless poor family has found

a place to go today.

Police have taken humanitarian

initiative to build houses for a homeless

family in every police station of the

country in Mujib Borsho.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

declared in Mujib's year, "No one in

Tea workers-student

organization

distributes iftar

items in Rajnagar

FoRHad HUSSaIN, RajNaGaR

CoRReSPoNdeNT

Iftar has been distributed at

the initiative of workers and

students of Mathiura Tea

Garden in Rajnagar Upazila

of Moulvibazar. The Iftar

was distributed at Mathiura

Tea Garden in Tengra Union

on Monday afternoon.

At that time, Iftar packets

were distributed among the

fasting tea workers by Gaur

Youth President Samlal

Gowda, NGO worker Hari

Gowda, businessman Kanai

Gowda, garden student Joy

Gowda, tea worker Uttam

Gowda, Rubel Mia, Gopal

Ravi Das, garden student

Emon Kanu, Shubh Gowda

and others.

2 fresh Covid-19

cases diagnosed in

Rangpur division

RANGPUR: Two fresh Covid-

19 positive cases were

diagnosed after testing 23 new

samples at the 8.70 percent

positivity rate in Rangpur

division on Monday, reports

BSS.

Health officials said one new

patient was diagnosed in

Rangpur district of the division

on Sunday for the first time in

the previous 14 consecutive

days since April 10 last in the

division.

"With the diagnosis of the

two fresh cases in Rangpur

alone on Monday, the total

number of Covid-19 patients

rose to 64,134 in the division,"

Divisional Director (Health) Dr

Abu Md Zakirul Islam told BSS

yesterday.

The total number of

recovered Covid-19 patients

remained steady at 62,782 as

no more patients healed during

the last 24 hours ending at 8

am yesterday.

The total number of

casualties also remained steady

at 1,284 in the division as no

new death was reported during

the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, more 16,657

doses of Covid-19 jabs were

administered on Monday

raising the number of

inoculated vaccines to two

crore 76 lakh five thousand and

106 doses in Rangpur division.

Bangladesh will be homeless". As a

help to implement the promise of the

Prime Minister for the homeless in 450

police stations across the country, at

the initiative of Inspector General of

Police Dr. Md. Benazir Ahmed PPM,

BPM (Bar), one house is being

constructed by Bangladesh Police.

Following this, a house with land has

been constructed and handed over to

Mosharraf Hossain of Chhanikedarpur

village in Kedarpur union of Babuganj

of Barisal. The house provided is 415

square feet on 3 acres of land.

RAJSHAHI: The sweeping heat weather has

been affecting the normal life of people,

particularly the low-income and labour-class

ones, in the city along with its adjacent area for

the last couple of days, reports BSS.

Local Meteorological Office recorded the

highest temperature of 40.6 degrees Celsius at

3pm on Monday against 40.3 degrees Celsius

on Sunday.

The dismayed people are thronging

marketplaces to buy glucose, oral saline,

watermelon and other fruit to get relief to some

extent as an uneasy situation is prevailing

everywhere. Kamal Uddin, Senior Observatory

Officer of Rajshahi Meteorological Office, said

a mild heat wave hit most of the region and the

situation may continue for the next couple of

days.

Mostly, people whose livelihood depends on

manual labour are the worst sufferers. Their

daily income has reduced as they are compelled

to take rest during the working hours at day

time, creating a negative impact on their life

and livelihood.

Meanwhile, demand for seasonal fruits like

pineapples, watermelons and coconut has

increased in the city because of hot weather.

Doctors at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital

have advised everyone to drink plenty of water

to avoid dehydration.

The unexpected sultry weather due to change

in climate caused mangoes to drop

immaturely, said agriculturist Dr Saifur

Rahman adding, "It eventually affects the

expected yield of mangoes."

Homeless and helpless Mosharraf

Hossain and his family are

overwhelmed by the police.

Meanwhile, Kedarpur UP Chairman

Noor Alam Bepari expressed his

gratitude to the police force for such a

great initiative.

Babuganj police OC said in a

response after the transfer. According

to Mahabubur Rahman, not a single

person in Bangladesh will be homeless

in the centenary of Mujib's death. The

house has all kinds of living facilities

including electricity connection.

Iftar has been distributed at the initiative of workers and students of Mathiura

Tea Garden in Rajnagar Upazila on Monday.

Photo: Forhad Hussain

Heat weather hinders public

life in Rajshahi badly

He said mango trees in his area had initially

blossomed well, but many of the mangoes had

become victims caused by prolonged sultry

weather.

"We are cursed with the devastating

Norwester early this month," said Abul

Hossain. The mango growers of

Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi are worried as

the number of trees bearing fruits is adequate.

Expressing apprehension a number of

growers said despite massive sprouting in the

very beginning of the season, production of

mango might fall this year due to scanty rainfall

coupled with norwester and hailstorm which

caused massive dropping of growing mangoes.

The mango growers and traders here have

become frustrated and they are concerned as a

large number of green mangoes have been torn

from the trees by the prolonged drought-like

condition and recent norwesters and

hailstorms. The unfavourable weather follows

the earlier unexpected rainfall accompanied by

hailstorm which had caused many green

mangoes to fall before ripening properly.

Farmers told BSS that the dropping of green

mangoes would reduce production,

particularly in the two districts if the adverse

situation prolongs for the next couple of weeks.

Professor Rezaur Rahman of the Department

of Geography and Environmental Sciences in

Rajshahi University (RU) opined that the

prolonged rainless condition has created a

detrimental condition on overall public health

in terms of drinking water as well as ecosystem

and biodiversity.

206 distressed

people get

zakat money

in Rajshahi

RAJSHAHI: A total of 206

distressed and helpless

people were given zakat

money worth Taka 13 lakh

aimed at bringing some

happiness to their family

life through mitigating the

financial crisis, reports

BSS.

Rajshahi Divisional

Office of the Islamic

Foundation (IF)

distributed the money on

behalf of the government

Zakat Fund of 2021-2022

fiscal year at the office

conference hall of Deputy

Commissioner (DC) here

on Monday.

Each of them was given

Taka 6,000. Of the

beneficiaries, 77 were from

Rajshahi city areas, while

129 others from nine

upazilas of the district.

Commissioner of

Rajshahi division GSM

Zafarullah attended the

distribution ceremony as

the chief guest, while DC

Abdul Jalil was in the chair.

Divisional Director of IF

Jalal Ahmed and

Additional DC Kolyan

Chowdhury were present.

Speaking on the

occasion, GSM Zafarullah

attributed that zakat can

help reduce income

disparity with economic

growth as a poverty

reduction tool.

Zakat is also considered

one of the unique

instruments for poverty

alleviation as wealth is

transferred from well-off

people to worse-off people.

Zakat can be administered

by both government and

volunteer organisations.

He also mentioned that

adjustment between

income tax and zakat can

ensure greater collection.

Tax rebates for zakat

payers should be there to

increase the volume of

collection.

Zakat can reduce

pressure on the

government's spending on

social safety net and

foreign borrowing, the IF

Director Jalal Ahmed

observes, suggesting

advocacy support of the

nation's economists to this

effect.

Bangladesh Expatriate

International Unity

Council holds iftar and

doa mahfil

NazMUl Molla, SIRajdIkHaN

CoRReSPoNdeNT

Iftar and doa mahfil has

been held on behalf of


International Unity Council

at Sirajdikhan in

Munshiganj. The Iftar and

Doa Mahfil was organized

by the Bangladesh

Expatriate International

Unity Council on Monday 25

April at the premises of

Hafizul Uloom Jamia

Islamia Madrasa, the new

Bahanchar of Latbdi Union

of the upazila.

Mohtamim Hazrat

Maulana Mufti Ehsanul

Haque of Hafizul Uloom

Jamia Islamia Madrasa

conducted the prayers and

supplications in Iftar and

Doa Mahfil.

Former chairman of

Latabdi Union Parishad SM

Sohrab Hossain was present

as the chief guest. Also

present were Latabdi Union

Awami Organizing Secretary

Md. Nur Zaman Nur,


International Unity Council

Vice President Iman

Hossain, Publicity Secretary

Yasin, Relief and

Rehabilitation Secretary

Jasim Uddin Sheikh,

Finance Secretary Moktar

Hossain, Md. Iman Hossain

Member, Md. Ratan, Md.

Raihan and many other

fasting worshipers of the

area were present

WedNeSday, aPRIl 27, 2022

6

24 homeless families receives

PM's Eid gift in Akkelpur

aTIUR RaBBI TIaSH, akkelPUR CoRReSPoNdeNT

Houses have been distributed among 24

homeless and landless families in Akkelpur of

Joypurhat.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday

gifted houses to 24 homeless families in

Akkelpur as an Eid gift by virtually connecting

them from Ganobhaban. In the third phase

under the Asrayan-2 project, these houses were

handed over to the homeless and landless

families.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has

announced on the occasion of Mujib Year that

no people of Bangladesh should be landless or

homeless. That is why he is giving away a

house with two rooms on two hundred acres of

land. The design of these houses has been

prepared by the Prime Minister herself. Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina gave the house gift

with electricity connection.

As part of this, Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina on the occasion of Mujib Year at the

Akkelpur Upazila Parishad Conference Room

in Joypurhat on Tuesday on the occasion of the

inauguration of the 3rd phase of land and

housing distribution program to 24 landless

and homeless families.

During the time, Joypurhat Additional

Deputy Commissioner (Former) Md. Anwar

Parvez, Upazila Chairman Alhaj Abdus Salam

Anand, Upazila Nibarhi Officer SM Habibul

Hasan, Municipal Mayor Md. Shahidul Alam

Chowdhury, General Secretary of Upazila

Awami League Md. Ahsan Kabir, Local

people's representatives, political leaders,

heroic freedom fighters, Officers and staff of

different departments, different print media

journalists and beneficiaries were present.

Houses have been distributed among 24 homeless and landless families in

akkelpur of joypurhat on Tuesday.

Photo: atiur Rabbi Tiash

‘Getting a shelter of my own

is biggest gift in this Eid’

FARIDPUR: Physically challenged Zakir

Hossain, 45, a father of two off springs, had no

home of his own. He used to live in houses of

others or his relatives by building a small

makeshift room at Kaichail union under

Nagarkanda upazila in the district. He had no

permanent shelter of his own for living, reports

BSS.

"I used to live in houses of others since my

childhood. Sometimes owners of house forced

us out from their residences. We had to take

shelter to other places. But this time, our Prime

Minister Sheikh Hasina is giving us a

permanent shelter," Zakir told BSS in an

interview.

Dream of owning a home of 32,904 more

homeless and landless families has turned into

a reality as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

today virtually handed over houses to them at

the government expenses, totalling the number

of beneficiaries at 150,233.

Zakir is one of the beneficiaries who received

a tin-shed semi-pucca two-room house on two

decimal land at Poradia Balia Ashrayan Project

which was built on the bank of river Kumar at

Kaichail union under Nagarkanda upazila in

the district.

"Getting a permanent shelter of my own is

the biggest gift in my life on the occasion of the

Eid. Now I can celebrate this Eid in my own

house," he said holding of two sketches of

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina in his hand. Zakir, who has hobby to

draw picture, drew the sketches.

Septuagenarian Tulshi Rani, a mother of four

daughters and a son, also got a roof above their

heads at the Poradia Balia Ashrayan Project

which offered shelter to 110 homeless and

landless families. Her husband Manmoto, a

member of Hindu 'Jele' community, was a

fisherman. They used to stay in their relative's

house. Now, he has been ill for several years

and couldn't earn. His only wage-earning son

also left them. Tulshi Rani and her husband

used to live in their daughter's in-laws's

residence. "We were leading a very miserable

life as we have no home for our own. We didn't

get any dignity as we had to stay in my

daughter's in-laws house. Now we are very

happy as we got a shelter of our own.

Another beneficiary Sirina Begum, 60, has

also almost same story of life. She became

widow for long ago."I lost my husband for long

ago. After losing my husband, I led a very

distressed life. I also lost my home in river

erosion. I had no shelter. Now I got a home of

my own. I am very happy. I am praying for our

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," she said.

Deputy Commissioner of Faridpur Atul Sarker

said 110 houses have been distributed at

Poradia Balia Ashrayan Project under

Nagarkanda upazila.

He said the government has a target to

provide houses to 4,994 landless and homeless

families in three phases in the district under the

Ashrayan-2 Project. In first phase, 2035

families were given houses while 1,572 families

got shelters in the second phase in the district,

he said, adding that keys of 696 houses were

handed over to homeless and landless families

as Eid gifts yesterday under the third phase.

A total of 1,387 families will get shelters

under the third phase, he mentioned. Earlier,

Senior Secretary of Prime Minister's Office

(PMO) Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah at a press

briefing said ownership of land and house is

being given in the joint names of husband and

wife of landless, homeless, miserable and

uprooted families under the project.

He said at the third phase of Ashrayan-2, the

government has raised the cost and brought

changes in design to make the houses more

sustainable and climate-resilient.

Now the landless and homeless people will

get better quality tin-shed semi-pucca houses

on two decimals of land, he added. Tofazzel

Hossain said the cost against each house has

been increased to Taka 2,59,500 from Taka

1,91,000 to make the houses more sustainable.

He said the government is constructing the

houses having strong great-beam, lintel and

Reinforced concrete column (RCC) pillar for

making the houses more sustainable.

According to the project details, a total of

1,17,329 single houses were constructed under

first and second phases of the project while

1,83,003 houses have been allotted till the

current fiscal year of 2021-2022, he added.

On January 23 in 2021, 63,999 homeless and

landless families received houses under the

first phase and 53,330 families got a roof over

their heads under second phase of the

Ashrayan-2 Project on June 20 last year.

Iftar and doa mahfil has been held on behalf of Bangladesh expatriate International

Unity Council at Sirajdikhan in Munshiganj recently.

Photo: Nazmul Molla

7

WednesdAy, APRIl 27, 2022

Russia hits faraway targets; diplomat

warns of risk of WWIII

KYIV : Russia unleashed a string of

attacks Monday against rail and fuel

installations deep inside Ukraine, far from

the front lines of Moscow's new eastern

offensive, as Russia's top diplomat

warned against provoking World War III

and said the threat of a nuclear conflict

"should not be underestimated."

The U.S., meanwhile, moved to rush

more weaponry to Ukraine and said the

assistance from the Western allies is

making a difference in the 2-month-old

war.

"Russia is failing. Ukraine is

succeeding," U.S. Secretary of State

Antony Blinken declared, a day after he

and the U.S. secretary of defense made a

bold visit to Kyiv to meet with President

Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Blinken said Washington approved a

$165 million sale of ammunition - non-

U.S. ammo, mainly if not entirely for

Ukraine's Soviet-era weapons - and will

also provide more than $300 million in

financing to buy more supplies.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin

took his comments further, saying that

while the U.S. wants to see Ukraine

remain a sovereign, democratic country,

it also wants "to see Russia weakened to

the point where it can't do things like

invade Ukraine." Austin's comments

about weakening Russia appeared to

represent a shift in broader U.S. strategic

goals. Previously, the U.S. position had

been that the goal of American military

aid was to help Ukraine win and to defend

Ukraine's NATO neighbors against

Russian threats.

India's COVID-19

tally rises to

43,062,569

NEW DELHI : India's

COVID-19 tally rose to

43,062,569 on Tuesday with

2,483 new cases registered

during the past 24 hours in

the South Asian country,

showed the federal health

ministry's latest data.

This is the seventh

consecutive day when the

number of daily new cases

has surpassed the 2,000-

mark, after lower tallies were

reported in recent weeks.

Russia unleashed a string of attacks Monday against rail and fuel installations

deep inside Ukraine, far from the front lines of Moscow's new eastern

offensive, as Russia's top diplomat warned against provoking World

War III and said the threat of a nuclear conflict "should not be underestimated."

Photo : AP

†kL nvwmbvi g~jbxwZ

MÖvg kn‡ii DbœwZ

263

GD-794/22 (5x3)

GD-788/22 (10x3)

GD-784/22 (16x5)

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2022

8

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited organized a view exchange meeting and Iftar program in honor of

representatives of Bangladesh Liaison office of the Foreign Exchange Houses' at a hotel of Dhaka

recently. Mohammed Monirul Moula, Managing Director & CEO of the Bank was present in the program

as the chief guest. J Q M Habibullah, FCS, Md. Mostafizur Rahman Siddiquee & Md. Altaf

Hossain, Deputy Managing Directors, Mohammad Ali, Chief Risk Officer and Taher Ahmed

Chowdhury, CAMLCO of the bank attended the program as special guest. Miftah Uddin, Executive

Vice President & Head of International Services Wing chaired the session while Mohammad Jamal

Uddin Mazumder & Md. Maksudur Rahman, Senior Executive Vice Presidents and ANM Siddiqur

Rahman, Executive Vice President of the bank also attended the program. Senior executives of the

bank as well as Country Heads & other executives of the 31 Foreign Exchange Houses' Liaison Office

in Bangladesh attended the program.

Photo: Courtesy

UK borrowing

halves on

withdrawal of

Covid support

LONDON : UK annual

borrowing tumbled by more

than half after costly

emergency Covid measures

were withdrawn, official data

showed Tuesday, reports BSS.

Public sector net borrowing

sank to o151.8 billion ($193.4

billion, 180.5 billion euros) in

the year to the end of March,

the Office for National

Statistics said in a statement.

That was still the third

largest amount on record and

overshot Britain's official

forecast of o128 billion.

And analysts warned of

other troubles as the UK

battles decades-high inflation.

"Risks... remain for the

months ahead, notably

stemming from the mounting

cost-of-living crisis, which is

set to weigh on confidence

and economic activity in the

coming year," noted

economist Karl Thompson at

the Centre for Economics and

Business Research.

Emergency pandemic support

measures had sent borrowing

rocketing in the prior 2020-2021

financial year to a record o317.6

billion. Britain has pumped

hundreds of billions of pounds

into the economy during the

pandemic, including a costly

furlough scheme that kept

millions of private sector

workers in jobs. As a result, total

government debt topped o2.3

trillion at the end of March, or

more than 96 percent of GDP.

Asian markets mixed

but China, Fed keep

confidence in check

HONG KONG : Asian

markets were mixed

Tuesday as investors

scrabbled to recover from

the previous day's rout but

fears over the impact of

China's Covid-induced

lockdowns and the Federal

Reserve's plan to hike

interest rates quickly

continue to drag on

sentiment, reports BSS.

The Omicron flare-up

across China has led

authorities to impose strict

containment measures in its

biggest cities, shutting off

millions of people and

threatening to deal a

hammer blow to the world's

number two economy.

While Shanghai-the

largest city-has been in

lockdown for weeks, Beijing

has launched mass testing

for nearly all its 21 million

residents with many in the

capital now fearing the same

fate as the financial hub.

The measures have dealt a

severe blow to the economy,

leading to concerns about

the likely knock-on effects

for the rest of the world

owing to its reliance on

goods from China.

The China crisis comes as

traders grapple with a

hawkish Fed, which is

struggling to control

inflation, which is sitting at a

more than 40-year high.

"For the time being, the

spectre of more severe

restrictions in China is not

being traded from the

inflationary side, but rather

as a detriment to the global

recovery and as a demandnegative

shock," said BMO

Capital Markets strategists

Benjamin Jeffery and Ian

Lyngen.

They added that they were

"less convinced that the

situation will be enough to

materially shift" the Fed's

plans to aggressively hike

interest rates to tame

runaway inflation. US

central bank policymakers

have said they are keen to lift

rates several times this year

to get a grip on prices, with

boss Jerome Powell

indicating a half-point rise

next month followed by

more before January.

The Fed and China issues

are being compounded by

the war in Ukraine and all

the uncertainty that has

brought, while investors are

nervously awaiting results

and forecasts from the

world's biggest companies,

hoping for an idea about the

impact on their bottom

lines.

While Asia suffered a

torrid day Monday, Wall

Street managed to end on a

positive note, helped by

news of Elon Musk's $44

billion purchase of Twitter.

But buying remained weak

in Asia again Tuesday.

Hong Kong and Shanghai

edged up but made only

small dents in the massive

losses suffered the day

before.

Tokyo, Seoul and Jakarta

also ticked higher, though

Sydney, Singapore,

Wellington, Taipei and

Manila fell.

Crude prices were slightly

higher but were unable to

recover fully from the hefty

drop seen Monday caused

by concerns about demand

from China.

"Given Omicron's lesslethal

footprint, traders had

expected some easing of

lockdowns before the

Golden Week" holiday next

week, said Stephen Innes at

SPI Asset Management.

"And with this unlikely to

happen, traders were then

forced to revalue oil prices

lower on a more protracted

consumption slump than

expected."

GD–786/22 (8x4)

†kL nvwmbvi gyjbxwZ


Walton launches ‘Budget Boss’ handset

GH11 with triple rear camera

Bangladeshi handset maker

Walton Digi-Tech Industries

Limited has launched its

new affordable smartphone

'Primo GH11'. The

attractively designed phone

has many attractive features

including large V-notch

display, triple rear cameras,

powerful RAM, ROM and

battery, Android 12

operating system etc.

Considering

the

configurations and price, the

Primo GH11 has been

recognized as the 'Budget

Boss' smartphone by tech

lovers, a press release said.

SM Rezwan Alam, Chief

Business Officer of Walton

Mobile, said: The design and

configurations of the

smartphone have been set

considering the demand and

affordability of entry-level

customers. Though the price

of the smartphone is Tk.

9,099 but customers are

getting the device at only Tk.

7,599. The smartphone is

available with three different

colors of grass green, night

blue and grey blue.

Habibur Rahman Tuhin,

Marketing In-Charge of

Walton Mobile, said the new

device features a 6.52 inch

V-Notch HD+ IPS display

with 1600X720 pixel screen

resolutions. It sports a 2.0

GHz Helio A22 SoC ARM

Cortex-A53 processor,

PowerVR Rogue GE8300

GPU, Android 12 (Go

Edition), 2GB LPDDR4x

RAM, 32GB internal storage

(expandable up to 256GB)

and 4,200 mAh high

capacity li-polymer battery.

Primo GH11 features AI

triple rear auto focus

cameras with LED flash. The

main camera of the device is

13MP with 1/3.06" large

sensor for sharp and colorful

photos. The device sports

another 5MP front facing

selfie camera. Some

attractive camera features

are 5p lens, normal mode,

pro mode, panorama, time

lapse, beauty, AR sticker,

portrait, filter, QR code, face

detection, digital zoom,

touch focus, self-timer,

volume capture, smile

capture, mirror reflection,

facial information etc.

The dual 4G VoLTE

supported phone has many

other features including face

unlock, fingerprint sensor,

separate slot for micro SD

card, OTA, OTG, full HD

video playback, screen

record, smart controls, Wi-

Fi, Bluetooth, WLAN

hotspot, GPS with A-GPS,

accelerometer (3D), light

(brightness), proximity etc.

Customers will get instant

replacement warranty for 30

days for the phone along

with one-year regular

service warranty.

GD–789/22 (10x4)

WeDneSDAY, AprIL 27, 2022

9

Moise kean's late goal gave Juventus a hard-fought 2-1 win at Sassuolo in Serie A on Monday. photo: Ap

Late Kean strike gives Juventus

important win in Serie A

SportS DeSk

Moise Kean's late goal gave

Juventus a hard-fought 2-1

win at Sassuolo in Serie A on

Monday, allowing them to

close the gap on third-placed

Napoli to one point, reports

BSS.

Sassuolo had done more

than enough to claim a share

of the points when Kean

struck two minutes from

full-time.

A long ball out of defence

from Leonardo Bonucci

ended with Kean, a 67th

minute substitute for Alvaro

Morata, turning Vlad

Chiriches and firing the ball

between goalkeeper Andrea

Consigli's legs at the near post.

The last-gasp win keeps

Juve in fouth place, eight

points adrift of leaders AC

Milan but, perhaps more

significantly, eight points

clear of Roma, who are

chasing them for the final

Champions League spot.

It was a frustrating loss for

Sassuolo who were the

better team for most of the

game, posing problems

from the outset when

Davide Frattesi's header at

the near post from a

Domenico Berardi corner

kissed the crossbar on its

way over.

Gianluca Scamacca was

also sharp, forcing Juventus

keeper Wojciech Szczesny

into a fine save.

Juve's first real attack

almost brought reward

when Paulo Dybala thought

he had found the net, only

for Frattesi to block at the

last moment.

Sassuolo broke the

deadlock for a deserved lead

in the 39th minute.

Morata lost possession in

midfield and Berardi

produced a delightful

backheel to send Giacomo

Raspadori clear.

Raspadori's powerful shot

gave Szczesny no chance,

but Juve were level on the

stroke of half-time.

Dybala made light of an

awkward angle to thrash

the ball into the roof of the

net despite Sassuolo's

claims that Morata fouled

Giorgos Kyriakopoulos in

the build-up.

That set the stage for

Kean's last-gasp heroics as

Juve consolidated their

place in the top four.

Palace stalemate

keeps Leeds in

relegation danger

SportS DeSk

Leeds held on for a 0-0 draw

at Crystal Palace that did little

to ease their fears of being

dragged deeper into the

Premier League relegation

battle on Monday, reports

BSS.

Jesse Marsch's side

survived a second half barrage

from a Palace team inspired

by Wilfried Zaha after he was

accused of diving by the

visitors. Leeds are five points

clear of the relegation zone,

but third bottom Everton

have a game in hand to close

the gap to two points.

With Leeds' next three

games coming against

Manchester City, Arsenal and

Chelsea, there could yet be a

nerve-jangling conclusion to

the season for the Yorkshire

club. Leeds have taken 11

points from seven games

since hiring American boss

Marsch to replace the sacked

Marcelo Bielsa.

But despite that solid run,

Burnley's second successive

win, against Wolves on

Sunday, has lifted them out of

the relegation zone above

Everton, in the process

dragging Leeds into the scrap

for survival.

"It wasn't our best night, but

it's a recipe of not losing and

finding a way to pick up

points.

Dhawan hits 88 as Punjab

prevail in tense IPL finish

SportS DeSk

Shikhar Dhawan smashed an unbeaten

88 for Punjab Kings who withstood a

batting blitz from Chennai Super Kings'

Ambati Rayudu to seal an 11-run victory

in a hard-fought IPL match on Monday,

reports BSS.

Dhawan, playing his 200th match in

the Indian Premier League, smashed

nine fours and two sixes in his 59-ball

knock to guide Punjab, who were put in

to bat first at Mumbai's Wankhede

Stadium, to 187-4.

Holders Chennai slipped to 40-3, but

Rayudu took on the chase in his 39-ball

78, studded with six sixes, before being

bowled by Kagiso Rabada who returned

figures of 2-23.

Rayudu smashed three straight sixes

and a four off Sandeep Sharma to raise

hopes of a victory in a 23-run 16th over.

Skipper M.S. Dhoni attempted to

repeat his pyrotechnics of the previous

match when he scored 16 off the final

four balls but this time 27 runs from the

20th over proved too big as Chennai

closed 11 short.

"I think he (Rayudu) was batting

brilliantly but we could have restricted

them under 170-175," said Chennai

skipper Ravindra Jadeja.

"I think not getting a good start in the

first six (overs), we're not putting runs

on the board in the first six. So we need

to improve on that and come back

strong."

Medium-pacer Rishi Dhawan,

wearing an unusual mask to protect his

face in the event of getting hit by the

ball, kept his nerve in the final over to

have Dhoni caught at midwicket by

Jonny Bairstow.

Punjab bounced back from two

straight losses while four-time

champions Chennai slumped to their

sixth loss in eight matches.

Earlier Shikhar Dhawan lost his

opening partner and skipper Mayank

Agarwal for 18 after a slow start before

adding 110 for the second wicket with

fellow left-hander Bhanuka Rajapaksa,

who made 42.

Sri Lankan Rajapaksa survived two

dropped chances on one and five and

finished with two fours and two sixes in

his 32-ball knock.

Dhawan put his patchy IPL form

behind him, turning up the heat by

smashing Mukesh Choudhary for three

boundaries in one over. Shortly after he

swept Dwaine Pretorius for another

boundary to raise his 46th IPL halfcentury

and second of the season.

England's Liam Livingstone joined

Dhawan to keep up the charge as the

costliest overseas buy of this IPL

auction-Punjab picked him for $1.52

million-hit Pretorius for one four and

two sixes in another big over.

He fell in the next over to Choudhary

but his seven-ball 19 boosted what

turned out to be a winning total.

"Livingstone the way he played some

gentle strokes out of the park, that set

us up nicely and we got a winning total,"

said Rabada.



e-Tender Notice No.: 02/2021-22

Limited Tendering Method (LTM)

GD–790/22 (5x3)



GD–783/22 (5x3)

GD–785/22 (12x5)

WednesdaY, aPRiL 27, 2022

10

Mukti moving forward parallelly

with acting and singing

Munaseeb Hossain

Despite gaining popularity in the

media through acting, Mahmuda

Akhter Mukti is basically very weak

towards music. That is why she is

currently involved in music as well

as acting, this model actress is

appearing with some original songs

in her voice on the coming Eid.

Mahmuda Akter Mukti was born

and raised in Fulchhari Ghat upazila

of Gaibandha district. At the age of

six, while studying in the class one,

her mother Asma Akhtar got her

involved in music for the first time.

Later, Mukti was admitted in the

music department of Panchbibi

upazila branch of Bangladesh

Shilpakala Academy, Joypurhat

district. There he learned music

from Ustad Swapan. As a child,

Mukti used to sing regularly in

various programs of school as well

as perform and perform on stage.

Mukti made her acting debut in

2018 with the first Bangladesh

Television's popular documentary

'Ekti Bari Ek Khamar'. She has also

acted in a documentary titled 'Aane

Mukti Alo Aane' of BTV. Later she

acted in Boishakhi TV's popular TV

serial 'Chapabaj', Asian TV regular

serial 'Astapagal', Jamuna

Actor Chris Hemsworth has shared a new set video

from Extraction 2 that teases a riot scene. Hemsworth

returns to the sequel as Tyler Rake, a mercenary that

was last seen severely injured and left for dead by the

end of the first film, which was released on Netflix in

2020. Also returning for the sequel is director Sam

Hargrave, former stunt coordinator turned director,

who previously worked on films like Avengers:

Endgame, Atomic Blonde, and Suicide Squad.

Extraction 2 is once again written by Joe Russo, with

a cast that includes Tinatin Dalakishvili, Adam Bessa,

Patrick Newall, Rayna Campbell, and Armen Grayg.

Details are sparse on the film's plot, but Hemsworth

has shared multiple set videos thus far, with the actor

teasing that Extraction 2 will be "bigger and badder"

than the original in terms of stunts and action, which is

the centerpiece for the burgeoning franchise. At the

time of its debut, Extraction was the biggest Netflix

movie ever, a crown that continues to be handed over

as Netflix releases more and more original features.

Filming on Extraction 2 has been underway for

several months and Hemsworth has shared a new

video from the set, which shows Tyler Rake in what

appears to be a prison-like structure with a large group

of people behind him engaging in a riot, complete with

stunts and pyrotechnics. The fiery scene is humorously

Television's crime fiction program

'Fand' and ATN Bangla's single

drama 'Lekhak', Bangla Vision's

single drama 'A Journey by

Relation' Part Two, Ekushey

Television Mukti acted in the drama

'Bicycle'.

The model actress has worked in

various advertisements including

Saudagar Detergent Powder, Mitali

Sari, Hipru Bangladesh, Khoka

Babu Tari. She also continued to

practice singing. Several original

songs are awaiting release.

Mukit also sang various songs

written by Jewel Bappi, titled,

Hotath Kore Dekha Holo l,

Bhalobashte Toke Chai and Mon

Boleche, has already finished work

on two original songs with vocalist

Mamun and a duet with popular

vocalist SM Sohel.

When asked, Mukti said, "I want

to do good deeds, I want to work in

harmony with acting and singing. As

long as I am alive, I want to be with

the media. I want to go ahead with

everyone's love."

‘Extraction 2’ set video teases riot scene

labeled "just another day on Extraction" by

Hemsworth, who proceeds to watch the action, instead

of taking part. Of course, it's likely that Hemsworth

isn't just there to watch and will almost certainly be a

part of the action when his name is called.

Extraction 2 is expected to debut sometime in 2022,

but does not have a firm release date as of yet. However,

Hemsworth has a busy year ahead regardless, as he'll

next appear on the big screen in Thor: Love & Thunder,

the fourth sequel to his popular MCU solo series, as the

titular character. From there, the actor will take on his

first big villain role in Furiosa, director George Miller's

prequel to Max Max: Fury Road, which he'll star in

alongside Anya Taylor-Joy.

The stuntwork in the first Extraction was the highlight

of the film, which blended the same high-octane battles

that Hargrave excelled at with films like Captain America:

The Winter Soldier and Deadpool 2, but in an R-rated

environment. Extraction 2 will almost certainly up the

ante in that department, as most sequels do, and the scale

of the film is already looking to be bigger with scenes like

the riot sequence teased here. If all goes well and

Extraction 2 delivers, it could solidify the franchise series

the filmmakers are setting up, which could last as long as

all parties are interested and audiences are receptive.

Source: Collider

Actor Shimul Sharma plans

to debut as a director

TbT RePoRT

Shimul Sharma, the actor who portrayed

the role of Kabila's brother in Kajal

Arefin Ome's eminent comedy drama

series Bachelor Point, has been in the

limelight since the third season of the

drama series was released.

Bachelor Point is one of the most

famous comedy drama series that could

successfully grab the attention of a huge

number of audiences. Shimul started his

journey as an actor with the first season

of the series. He played the role of

Kabila's younger brother in the first

season. But the actor is basically popular

for his performance in the third season

as 'Shimul from Noakhali'. The third

season began on October 10, 2020 and

came to an end on April 13, 2021. Shimul

went famous overnight with the first

episode of the third season being

released on the youtube channel of

Dhrubo TV.

Within a short period of time Shimul

I want to be immersed in

music until death: Najak

TbT RePoRT

From a young age, I was very weak towards music. I am

singing from that dream, I want to be immersed in music

until death. The words belong to Najak, a well-known

vocalist of the time.

Born and raised in Lakhpur village in Shibpur upazila of

Narsingdi district, the artist is currently busy with his own

YouTube channel. More than ninety original songs sung by

him have been added to the collection of songs. Several

songs have already been praised by audience. At the age of

thirteen, the singer Najak got his first chance. He got his

first song from Ustad Bachchu Mia at the local Banalata

Cultural Council. Later in the Shitalakshya Cultural Council

he took the talim of the song from Ustad Nurul Islam.

Najak used to sing regularly in school and college cultural

programs from an early age. That's why many people in the

area know him as a music crazy man.

Najak's first original song began with the the mixed

album 'Mon Kharaper Golpo'. The album was released in

early 2014. Since then, about ninety original songs have

been released in the market. There are twenty more songs

in his hand. The songs will be gradually released on Najak's

Sachin’s daughter to

make her Bollywood

debut soon

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar's daughter Sara may soon

make a foray into Bollywood.

Already into modelling, the 24-year-old University College of

London graduate with over 1.8 million followers on Instagram

is keen on making a career in Bollywood. This is according to

leading entertainment news portal 'Bollywood Life'.

"Sara might make her Bollywood debut soon. She has been

very much interested in acting and she has even taken a few

acting lessons as she does some brand endorsements," an

unnamed source was quoted as saying by the portal.

However, her brother Arjun is a cricketer, having followed in

the footsteps of their father to take the legacy ahead.

Sachin retired in October 2013 after playing his 200th Test

match against West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in his

hometown of Mumbai. It was a 24-year-long stint since his

Test debut in November 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi at

the age of 16.

with his exquisite acting quality has

created a strong fanbase. His works are

being appreciated by a large portion of

young audiences. More people know

him now. Even whenever he goes

somewhere, fans come out of nowhere

and instantly recognise him as 'Shimul

bhai from Bachelor Point'. Sometimes

fans don't even let him pay his bill after

eating something somewhere. In gist,

the young talent is enjoying these

random fan moments. Life has definitely

changed a lot for the actor after the

release of Season 3 of the sitcom but

nothing has impacted his inner self. He

prefers to remain ordinary as he was

before.

The actor was the chief assistant of the

Bachelor Point director Kajal Arefin

Ome in 2017. Basically Ome offered

Shimul to perform the role of Kabila's

brother in Bachelor Point. However,

despite being applauded for amazingly

portraying his due character in the

sitcom, the actor is planning to see

himself as a director in the coming days.

As per Shimul, acting is not easy at all.

Even his mind does not go for acting all

the time. He contemplates that his fanfollowers

are going to shower exactly the

same kind of love and support upon him

when he begins his career as a director.

Meanwhile, under the supervision of

own YouTube

channel AN

Entertainment,

the artist said.

Among the

notable songs

released by

Najak are Kabar

Nabbar written

by Ibrahim

Khalil Ibu, the

melody of the

song is

composed by

famous artist

Sujan Ahmed

and the music is

directed by

Zahid Bashar

Pankaj.

Najak also garnered much acclaim from the audience,

including the media, with the song "Morilay Kisue Jabay

Na" by National Film Award winning composer Plabon

Qureshi" and written by Ibrahim Khalil Ibu.

An excellent song titled Krishnachura has also got a good

reputation. The lyrics, melody and music of the song have

been composed by popular singer and music director

Shamim Ashiq.

Finally, Najak added, "Song is my dream, song is my

pursuit, I find my peace through song." I will sing as long as

I live. I seeks everyone love and blessings.

The 49-year-old former Indian batsman, who captained

India twice during his career, is the highest scorer of all time in

international cricket, having more than 30,000 runs in his

kitty. Sachin is also the only cricketer in the world to play 200

Tests and score as many as 100 international hundreds. He

has amassed 18,426 runs from 463 ODIs at an average of

44.83 and 15,921 runs from 200 Tests.

He was also conferred India's highest civilian award, the

Bharat Ratna, in 2014 by then President Pranab Mukherjee. In

2010, Time magazine included Sachin in its annual Time 100

list as one of the 'Most Influential People in the World.

Since his retirement, 'The God of Cricket' has garnered fans

in the startup community also-playing the role of an ideal

civilian mentor to the young minds of India.

Source: Hindustan Times

H o R o s c o P e

aRies

Freedom is a key aspect of life today,

Aries. You might find that your

brain wants to break free and

pursue more independent ways of thinking.

Don't worry if such ways of thinking lead you

into unknown territory. This is a sign that this is

probably where you need to be. Your witty

banter could take a sudden twist that surprises

both you and the people you're talking to.

TauRus

People are apt to be as stubborn as you in

their thinking today, Taurus. This could

be a recipe for disaster if you aren't

careful. Open the floodgates a bit wider

and take in more of the opinions of others. Don't

automatically assume that other people have to

conform to your viewpoint to resolve an issue. More

than likely, there needs to be some give and take from

all involved.

GeMini

You could find yourself staring at a

stranger for just one extra second as you

pass on the street today, Gemini. Your

tendency toward the new and bizarre is

stronger than usual, and you're being pulled into

different mental directions. Go ahead and introduce

yourself to that stranger. Perhaps he or she will

become a business partner or new best friend. You

never know until you ask.

canceR

As you work slowly and steadily toward

your goals, realize that there are apt to

be unexpected obstacles along the way,

Cancer. You can't possibly plan for

everything, so don't get discouraged today when

some crazy variable pops out of nowhere. Your

mental process may be thrown for a loop, and you

might find that you go into a frenzy. There's a

valuable lesson to be learned here - patience.

Leo

Leo: It's generally quite clear that you

aren't afraid to tell people what you

think, Leo. Maybe it's time to be more

expressive about how you feel. It could

be that your mental process is a bit off today, jolted

by an unexpected situation or person. Make sure

you incorporate some of your instincts and

emotions into your reaction to the situation. Don't

rely on your brain alone to have all the answers.

ViRGo

Today could be filled with unexpected

twists, turns, and bends in the road that

you may not be prepared for, Virgo.

Apparently someone forgot to install the

sign that warns of sharp curves ahead. Be on the

lookout for unexpected forks in the road. When you get

to them, take them, to coin a phrase. Your brain could

receive a jolt from an outside source that reminds you

to keep things real.

LibRa

You could be thinking some bizarre

thoughts today, Libra. They might lead

you in a direction that doesn't quite

pertain to your current situation. Don't

be afraid to explore these strange realms, because they

could give you some important insight that you

wouldn't have realized otherwise. Wisdom can be

found in the unlikeliest of places, so don't discount

something because it seems a bit off the wall at first.

scoRPio

Your thinking is solid and clear today,

Scorpio, but other people could

challenge your mental power. Don't

let others put seeds of doubt in your

head about the way you approach a problem. Keep

your mind open to alternative solutions, but don't

beat yourself up for your current mental track. You

might need to modify your strategy, but don't

sacrifice your principles or values.

saGiTTaRius

You could get the feeling that something is

wrong today when it isn't, Sagittarius. It's

probably just your perspective that needs

some adjusting. Pull out your binoculars and focus a bit

more so you can stand back yet have the power to

examine the details closely. Don't automatically assume

there's a clear distinction between right and wrong.

There are likely a great many shades of gray, too.

caPRicoRn

Your sensitive nature is likely to pick

up a disturbance in your thinking

today, Capricorn. Suddenly, a blast of

unexpected information could come

your way and throw a monkey wrench in your

mental process. Try not to get thrown off balance by

the sudden jolt. You'll find that you can incorporate

some of this new knowledge in a way that gives you

a greater advantage.

aQuaRius

You might experience some mental

distractions that pull you in different

directions today, Aquarius. There could

be a stubborn internal/ external battle

brewing. Realize that being in the middle is to your

advantage. Look at the situation as a way to learn

something about yourself and others. Understanding

your opposition's viewpoint will help you. Incorporate

the old and the new into your way of thinking.

Pisces

It could be difficult for you to think

straight today, Pisces. Your brain is

probably working in short, erratic bursts

that keep you guessing about which way

to proceed. Avoid confusion during the day by

periodically centering and separating yourself and your

feelings from the drama around you. Don't pretend you

understand something if you don't. If a situation

doesn't make sense, go ahead and question it.

weDNeSDAy, APRIL 27, 2022

11

Obituary

The retired Professor of

Fisheries Department of

Dhaka University, former

Chairman of Zoology

Department and Founder

Chairman of Fisheries

Department, Prof. Dr.

Mohammad Shafi died at a

hospital in the capital on

Tuesday. He was 85 years old.

Professor Dr. Mohammad

Shafi was a renowned,

dedicated teacher and

researcher, a press release said.

Dhaka University Teachers'

Association prayed to the

Almighty Allah for the eternal

peace of his departed soul.

The first namaz-e-janaza of

the deceased was held at

10.30 am on Tuesday in front

of the Fisheries Department

and the second namaz-ejanaza

was held in the

afternoon at the mosque

ground adjacent to Mirpur

Intellectual Graveyard.

Land and houses were handed over to 69 homeless families of Joypurhat Sadar upazila on

Tuesday. Deputy Commissioner Md Shariful Islam, Superintendent of Police Masum Ahmed

Bhuiyan PPM, District Awami League President Arifur Rahman Rocket, Sadar Upazila

Parishad Chairman SM Solaiman Ali, Upazila Nibahi Officer Arafat Hossain, District Awami

League General Secretary Zakir Hossain Mandal and District Freedom Fighter Commander

Amjad Hossain handed over land and houses to homeless families under Ashrayan-2 project

in Joypurhat.

Photo : Masrakul Alam

Regional cooperation can help increase

renewable energy production

DHAKA : State Minister for Power, Energy

and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid

yesterday informed Nepalese delegates that

renewable energy generation would be

increased through regional cooperation.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's vision is for

ensuring 50 percent electricity from renewable

energy and clean energy sources by 2040," he

told a bilateral meeting with Nepalese

delegates at his ministry conference room.

Nasrul Hamid said that power division has

been working towards the goal of generating

electricity 50 percent renewable energy and

clean energy by 2040."In this case,

cooperation of neighbouring countries Nepal

and Bhutan will play a vital role to generate

renewable engery," he added.

A nine-member delegation led by Nepalese

Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation

Minister Pampa Vusal held the meeting with

Bangladesh's seven-member team comprising

Nasrul Hamid.

600 acres of khas land re-occupied

in Companiganj

MANIK BHUIyAN, NOAKHAlI CORRESPONDENT

Illegal occupancy has resumed after the

eviction of illegal structures built on 600

acres of government khas land in front of

Musapur Closure at Musapur Union,

Companyganj in Noakhali. The Companiganj

upazila administration carried out a regular

operation earlier but has become virtually

inactive now. The role of the concerned

upazila administration in this incident is

questionable due to various reasons.

The evictees have started constructing

houses on the evicted khas land again just

after five days. It is known that on April 6

during the eviction drive, the evictees

attacked the people of the land office in the

presence of the police. 3 people of the land

office were injured in this incident. At one

stage, the Upazila Assistant Commissioner

(land) Al-Amin evicted the houses in two

steps of eviction drive.

Atiur calls for

increasing

health budget

DHAKA : Former Governor

of Bangladesh Bank Professor

Dr. Atiur Rahman yesterday

said health budget must be

increased to reduce 'out of

pocket health expenditure'.

"Of the total health

expenditure, 73 percent

comes from the pockets of the

citizens and the remaining 27

percent is from the health

budget of the government.

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Wednesday, dhaka: april 27, 2022; Baishakh 14, 1429 Bs; ramadan 25, 1443 hijri

BNP's movement means protest

of 200 people : Hasan Mahmud

DHAKA : Information and

Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan

Mahmud yesterday said the poor presence

of party activists in BNP's rallies

proves their ability of demonstration.

"BNP staged demonstrations with

200 activists out of two crore people in

Dhaka city and it proves their ability of

movement. We want the BNP would

raise the mistakes of the government.

And we want that the politics of BNP

would not be limited to the issues of

Tarique Rahman's punishment and

Khaleda Zia's health," he said.

The minister was talking to reporters

after addressing a function of distribution

of cheques of Bangladesh

Journalists Welfare Trust (BJWT)

among journalists at the meeting room

of his ministry at Secretariat here.

Bangladesh Federal Union of

Journalists (BFUJ) president Omar

Faruque, secretary general Dip Azad

and Dhaka Union of Journalists

(DUJ) general secretary Aktar

Hossain addressed the function as

special guests with the trust managing

director Subhash Chanda Badal

presiding.

Principal Information Officer Md

Shahenur Mia, joint secretary of the

ministry Md Mahfuzul Haque, DUJ vice

president Manik Lal Ghosh and trust

member Sebika Rani, among others,

were present in the function.

Hasan said, "We want that they (BNP)

would talk over the issues of people and

raise the mistakes of the government.

They called such movement many

times."

Replying to a query over the recent

New Market violence, the minister said

BNP's local leaders fueled the incident

and police have the information. The

owners of two shops, from where the

incident had spread, are BNP leaders, he

said, adding it should be found out

whether there is any malice or not.

However, actions would be taken

against those culprits who were involved

in the incident, said Hasan, also Awami

League joint general secretary.

Replying to another query over the

circulation of the daily newspapers, the

minister said the circulation of English

dailies has been updated and it has been

brought closer to reality. The circulation

of Bangla dailies will also be updated

soon, he added.He said the ministry has

taken a decision of not giving any supplement

to those newspapers which didn't

implement the eighth wage board

award till now. "And we are thinking

what actions would be taken in the

future against those newspapers which

would not implement the ninth wage

board," he added.

Earlier in the function, Hasan said the

Welfare Trust was formed at the behest

of the Prime Minister and the trust is

now a place of hope for the journalists.

The activities of the trust are being run

very smoothly and transparently, he

said, adding the journalists' leaders are

involved with the trust management

which helps to select beneficiaries.

The minister said the policy on education

assistance to the insolvent journalists'

children is also finalized.

A total of 8,156 journalists and their

family members got Taka 22.79 crore as

assistance from the trust from 2014 till

now. Besides, Taka six crore has been

distributed among the journalists from

the Taka 10 crore given by the premier

for the COVID-19 assistance.

Later, the minister exchanged views

with members of Bangladesh Sangbad

Sangstha (BSS) Board of Directors and

discussed various activists of BSS.

New Market clashes

14 BNP leaders,

activists granted

anticipatory bail

DHAKA : The High Court on Tuesday

granted six-week anticipatory bail to

14 BNP leaders and activists in a case

over clashes between New Market

shop keepers and Dhaka College students.

Amir Hossain Alamgir, convener of

New Market Thana Jubo Dal, was

among the BNP leaders.

The HC bench of Justice Mustafa

Zaman Islam and Justice Md Salim

passed the order after the accused

appeared before the court and sought

bail.

The court also asked the accused to

surrender before the concerned judicial

court before the six-week bail

period expires.

Barrister Kayser Kamal stood for

the bail petitioners at the court while

Deputy Attorney General Shaheen

Ahmed Khan represented the state.

On April 20, police filed two casesone

for attacking police and another

under the Explosive Substances Act

against around 1,200 people .

Of the two cases, Yeamin Kabir,

inspector (investigation) of New

Market Police Station lodged an FIR

against 24 identified people and 900

unidentified ones.

The main accused in the case,

Advocate Makbul Hossain, former

president of New Market Thana BNP,

has been arrested.

Two people died and more than 30

people, including journalists and students,

were injured as the students of

Dhaka College clashed with the shopkeepers

of New Market at the Nilkhet

intersection from midnight on April

18-19.

Shopkeepers, however, alleged that

the students were beaten up as they had

refused to foot the bill at an eatery.

about half of the road is occupied by hawkers. as a result, at the busy area of Gulistan in the capital,

there is only one lane for vehicles movement.

photo : tBt

Bangladesh-India border haat at

Lauwaghar-Balat reopened after 2 yrs

DHAKA : After a span of two years,

Bangladesh-India border haat at

Lauwaghar-Balat reopened on

Tuesday.

Balat is a town in the Indian state of

Meghalaya (East Khasi Hills District)

while Lauwaghar is at Dalora under

Sunamganj district, Bangladesh.

The joint border haat management

committee decided to re-open this

border haat in a joint meeting held on

April 19, according to Indian High

Commission in Dhaka.

The committee has also decided to

open re-open two more border haats -

Ryngku (East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya)

- Bagan Bari (Duara Bazar,

Sunamganj) on May 12 and Nalikata

(South West Khasi Hills, Meghalaya) -

Saydabad (Tahirpur, Sunamganj) on

May 16.

At present, Bangladesh and India

have seven established border haats

and nine more new border haats are

in pipeline.

Border haats between the two countries

are ready markets that have been

established to enable local residents

on both sides of the border to market

and consume their 'local produce'.

They are adding new dimensions in

cross border trade and people to people

connectivity.

According to studies and on-ground

reviews, border haats have created

employment opportunities for the

local community, especially for

women and youth, who have emerged

as providers of various services: transporters,

vendors, workers and food

stall owners.

It has also provided additional

source of disposable income for the

border community and enhanced

people to people connect.

Border haats are vibrant centers

promoting people to people connectivity,

where local community from

Bangladesh and India gets an opportunity

to sell locally produced agricultural

and horticultural products,

small agriculture and household

goods, minor forest products, fresh

and dry fish, cottage industry items,

wooden furniture, handloom and

handicraft items, etc.

Severe heat wave

may continue in

four districts

DHAKA : The ongoing severe heat wave is

likely to continue in four districts and mild

to moderate heat wave in parts of the

country, a Bangladesh Meteorological

Department (BMD) release said.

Severe heat wave is sweeping over the

regions of Rajshahi, Pabna, Jashore and

Chuadanga, also mild to moderate heat

wave is sweeping over Dhaka division and

remaining part of Rajshahi and Khulna

divisions and the regions of Barishal,

Patuakhali, Dinajpur, Nilphamari and

Rangamati and it may continue, said a

weather bulletin issued for the next 24

hours commencing at 9am yesterday.

Rain or thundershowers accompanied

by temporary gusty wind is also likely to

occur at one or two places over

Mymensingh and Sylhet divisions.

Weather may remain mainly dry with

temporary partly cloudy sky elsewhere

over the country.

However, day and night temperature

may remain nearly unchanged over the

country. Country's maximum temperature

on Monday was recorded 41.0

degrees Celsius jointly at Rajshahi,

Ishurdi and Chuadanga and today's

minimum temperature was 20.6

degrees Celsius at Sylhet.

halir haor is one of the big haors of sunamganj. there are about eight thousand hectares of crop land

in this haor. the haor sank around 9:30 pm on Monday. Farmers of both Jamalganj and tahirpur

upazilas of the district have land in this haor.

photo : star Mail

Narsingdi farmers expecting

bumper yield of Boro paddy

Masiur rahMan seliM, special correspondent

Dense greenery spreads over the vast

plains of Narsingdi. As far as the eye can

see the rice husks swaying in the air. In the

current season, Boro paddy has been

planted in 150 hectares of land in 8 upazilas

of the district which is more than the

target. The green wave of Boro paddy in

the wind is filling the minds of all the farmers

of the district. The dream of the farmer

is swaying on the sheaf of Irri-Boro paddy.

The farmer's mind is filled with joy seeing

the raw sheaf of paddy.

The Department of Agriculture is

expecting bumper yields due to favorable

weather conditions and timely application

of fertilizers and pesticides on the land during

the current Boro season. However, the

farmers know that the yield would have

been better if it had rained on time.

After a few days, the green paddy plants

and the raw sheaf will turn yellow. Then

field after field of golden paddy will shine.

The dream of a field full of crops will bring

a touch of joy to the eyes of the farmers.

Farmer's empty field will be filled with

golden paddy. Many farmers in the region

dream about the Boro season.

The power supply was good at the beginning

of this season. There was no shortage

of fertilizers, seeds and pesticides.

Everything has been applied to the land in

a timely manner. Vigorous seedlings and

sheaf are emerging in the land. So this time

there is a possibility of bumper yield of

paddy. Farmers are expecting bumper

yields of Boro paddy in the current Boro

season unless there is a natural disaster.

According to the Narsingdi District

Agriculture Extension Department, Boro

paddy has been cultivated in 8,050

hectares of land in 6 upazilas this year, but

the target has been exceeded in 8,200

hectares. This year's borough production

target is 35,248 metric tons.

Dhaka calls for increased funding to support

peace-building in conflict-torn countries

Hossain Ali, a farmer from Ganergaon

village of Sadar upazila and Abdul Baten, a

farmer from Shukundi village of Manohardi

upazila. They said that so far Boro paddy is

looking good in the land. If there is no natural

disaster, they are expecting a bumper

harvest in Borough this year.

Narsingdi District Agriculture Extension

Department Deputy Director Md Saidur

Rahman said, "We are working at the field

level with the aim of increasing the production

of Boro paddy. The condition of paddy

in the field is good. We are constantly

advising farmers. Hopefully this year Boro

paddy will have bumper yield."

Detained Bangladeshis

in Libya to be

brought back : FM

DHAKA : Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul

Momen on Tuesday said the government

would bring back Bangladeshis who were

detained by Libyan security forces off the

coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

He said this while responding to a question

at his office at the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs. Dr Momen, however, did not tell the

number though media reported that over

500 Bangladeshis have been detained.

They were detained on Saturday while

preparing to cross over to Europe from Libya's

capital Tripoli. Bangladesh Ambassador to

Libya Major General SM Shamim Uz Zaman

and his team are in touch with the Libyan

authorities to rescue all of them.

Local media - The Libya Observer -

tweeted claiming that security forces in

Misrata have "arrested" more than 600

Bangladeshi migrants who were preparing

to cross the Mediterranean Sea to the

EU shores.

DHAKA : Bangladesh has called for

increased funding to support peacebuilding

and ensure inclusive community

engagement in conflict-affected

countries, a key to lasting peace.

Ambassador-at-large Mohammad

Ziauddin made the call while speaking

at the round-table discussion

titled 'Flexibility of funding for peacebuilding,

including in transition settings'

on Monday.

Bangladesh, Ireland and the UN

organized the session held at the

ECOSOC Chamber, UN

Headquarters in connection with the

high-level meeting of the General

Assembly on Financing for

Peacebuilding, according to a message

received here from Bangladesh

Mission on Tuesday.

Ziauddin said when peacekeeping

mission closes, and the national

authorities assume greater responsibilities,

it is critical that the international

community's support continues.

This needs to be done by building

capacity of national institutions and

supporting initiatives to advance

socio economic development in those

countries, he said.

"Fostering partnerships, including

through engagements with

international and regional financial

institutions, and promoting South-

South and Triangular cooperation

can contribute significantly to

advancing sustainable development",

said Ziauddin.

He mentioned that Peacebuilding

Commission could play a critical

role through its convening, bridging,

and advisory role in mobilizing

support for the nationally owned

peacebuilding priorities of the

countries in transition.

Delhi's support sought

after US sanctions

on Rab, says FM

DHAKA : Foreign Minister DR AK

Abdul Momen on Tuesday said

Bangladesh sought India's support

to withdraw the US sanctions

imposed on elite force Rab and individuals,

reports UNB.

"We sought their help after the US

imposed sanctions on Rab. They've been

very nice to us. They (Indian side) said

they would raise it," Momen told

reporters at his office at the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Minister said

the Indian community of around 45 lakh

members in the United States also

requested the government. "They (Indian

community in US) are very influential."

Indian External Affairs Minister S.

Jaishankar, who is scheduled arrive here

on Thursday, visited Washington DC

earlier this month. Regarding law

enforcement, US Ambassador to

Bangladesh Peter Haas recently said there

is no scope for repeal of sanctions against

the Rapid Action Battalion without concrete

action and accountability.

"We want to see a RAB that remains

effective at combatting terrorism, but

that does so while respecting basic

human rights," he said while addressing

a seminar in which Minister Momen

spoke as the chief guest.

Responding to a question Momen said

the US talks about accountability but

there is in-built accountability in the Rab.

"We do have accountability. That might

not reach to them (US)."

Asked whether the US side is convinced

on what the Bangladesh side says,

he said may be they are not satisfied yet

but in the future they will be satisfied.

Ambassador Haas said RAB sanctions

do not mean they cannot enhance the

strong law enforcement security cooperation

between the two countries.

"We will continue to work with

Bangladesh to combat transnational crime

and terrorism, enhance border security, and

prevent violent extremism," he said.

"The Secretary General's

Peacebuilding Fund has also been an

important catalyst," the ambassador

said.

He urged all stakeholders, including

regional and international actors, to

support the UN transition plans, including

peacebuilding priorities, through

adequate, predictable, and sustained

financing.

Earlier, Ambassador Ziauddin had

separate bilateral meetings with the

President of the General Assembly

(PGA) Abdulla Shahid, and the

Kamina Johnson Smith, Minister of

Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of

Jamaica, where they discussed issues

of mutual interest.

He is expected to represent

Bangladesh at the first-ever high-level

meeting of the General Assembly on

Financing for Peacebuilding to be

held on Wednesday.

27-04-2022

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