21-09-2022

WEDNESDAY

DHAKA : September 21, 2022; Ashwin 6, 1429 BS; Safar 24, 1444 Hijri www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net Regd. No. DA~2065, Vol. 20; No.125; 12 Pages~Tk. 8.00

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ART & CULTURE

Russia, Ukraine

Everything stacked in

Mehazabien

agree to swap 200

US favor at another

participates in new

prisoners : Erdogan

Presidents Cup

TVC shooting

Zohr

>Page 7

Bangladesh

reports 5 Covidlinked

deaths

Positivity rate rises to 12.73%

DHAKA : Bangladesh reported five deaths

from Covid-19 with 614 more cases in

24 hours till Tuesday morning. With the

new numbers, country’s total fatalities

rose to 29,345 while the total caseload to

2,018,829, according to the Directorate

General of Health Services (DGHS). The

daily case test positivity rate rose to 12.73

per cent from Monday’s 11.60 per cent as

4,825 samples were tested.

Of the deceased, three were men and

two women. Two of them were from Dhaka

division while one each from Chattogram,

Barishal and Mymensingh divisions. The

mortality rate remained unchanged at 1.45

percent while the recovery rate declined to

97.15 per cent.

No shortage

of fertilizer in

country : Sadhan

NAOGAON : Food Minister Sadhan Chandra

Majumder yesterday said that there is

no shortage of fertilizer anywhere in the

country. “A vested quarter is trying to fish

in the troubled water by spreading false

information that there is a shortage of fertilizer.

Thus, the group is creating panic

(among people),” he said.

The minister said these while talking

to the reporters after inspecting the soil

filling work for the proposed rice silo

construction at Mohadevpur upazila of

Naogaon district in the division of Rajshahi.

The food minister said: “Since last

year, the allocation of fertilizer has not

decreased by one ton, but the amount of

cultivated land has decreased. In this situation,

there is no chance of fertilizer shortage.”

He reiterated that there is sufficient

stock of fertilizer in the hands of farmers

as they are getting fertilizer on time.

SSC: Postponed Bangla II

MCQ exam under

Jashore board on Sept 30

JASHORE : The postponed exam of the

Bangla Paper II’s MCQ component under

Jashore Education Board will be held on

September 30, reports UNB.

The 20-minute exam will start at 11am,

according to a notice signed by Jashore

Education Board Chairman Prof Dr Md

Ahsan Habib published on Tuesday. On

Friday, the Jashore Education Board postponed

the Bangla Paper II exam’s MCQ

component that was scheduled to be held

Saturday, as the question paper got leaked

due to the wrong question papers being

sent to three centres during the Bangla I

exam on Thursday.

According to sources, the issue came

notice after exam officials distributed the

question paper of Bangla second paper

MCQ exam instead of Bangla first paper

among the examinees at Narail’s Kalia

Pari Shangkar Pilot Secondary Girls

School center, Baishona Kamshia Secondary

School, Dighalia Nabaganga Degree

College and Itna School and College centers

on Thursday - the day of the paper I

exam. Exam officials claimed that it wasn’t

their mistake, rather it’s the officials of the

BG Press in Dhaka who wrongly labeled

the packets containing the questions.

04:33 AM

11:58 PM

04:15 PM

06:00 PM

07:15 PM

5:46 557

Extra price of LPG won’t

be tolerated

Safiqul Islam (Jami)

There are regular complaints that cylinder

or bottled gas is being sold in the

market at a higher price than the fixed

price. The consumer is losing an additional

TK 200 to 250 per cylinder of gas.

As a result, the consumer’s interest has

been greatly undermined. That’s why this

crime will not be accepted or tolerated.

Apart from this, there are also complaints

of cylinder expiry and cross filling in the

market. Therefore, the National Directorate

of Consumer Protection will conduct

regular operations. No one will be

given a ‘blank cheque’. Director General

AHM Safikuzzaman announced this decision

in a seminar with LP gas producers,

marketers and business representatives

to implement the Consumer Rights Protection

Act, 2009 in the meeting room of

the Directorate of Consumer Affairs in

Karwan Bazar of the capital on Tuesday

(September 20).

AHM Safikuzzaman said, earlier there

was not much problem in this sector.

Now the problem is increasing as the

need is increasing.

That is why Bangladesh Energy Regulatory

Commission (BERC) has a role

to play in setting LPG gas prices. At the

same time, the LPG gas producing companies

complained that BERC is setting

gas prices without taking into account the

increase of LPG price in the world market,

the increase of the dollar price, the

increase of import costs and the increase

of transportation costs due to fuel. Which

is not consistent with the actual price.

But Safikuzzaman said, still when the

government sets the price, it should be accepted.

If the consumer does not get it at the

fixed price, it will be cheating. Your problems

should be explained to the authorities

before fixing the price. You can’t do that, it’s

unbelievable. I will sit with the chairman of

BERC. He was the one who told me about

the price control drive earlier. Now we can

discuss and develop the problems.

At this time, the traders gave information

that they are making losses even

after charging higher prices. In response

to them, the DG of the Consumer Affairs

Department said, I have never heard

of any trader making a profit. You only

make losses. Still we see your business

grow. However, we will make several recommendations.

If it is considered at the

highest levels of the government, the situation

will improve.

Meanwhile, Beximco Gas Chief Commercial

Officer Muntashir Alam said, we

had to take place in the BERC price fixation

meeting after repeated requests. We

were not interested in pricing last month.

Because of the LC settlement rate was

fixed at TK 102 without talking to us in

the meeting.

High court’s directive sought to

ban export of Hilsa to India

DHAKA : A lawyer on Tuesday filed a writ

petition seeking the High Court’s directive

to authorities concerned to permanently

ban the export of hilsa fish to neighbouring

India. Supreme Court Advocate Md

Mahmudul Hasan filed petition saying

that low-priced export of hilsa to India has

made the national fish pricier in Bangladesh.

The writ petition also sought issuance

of a rule as to why the inaction of the

authorities concerned in halting the export

of hilsa to India at a low price should not

be declared illegal.

Besides, the writ sought HC’s directions

on the Tourism Corporation to work on

the development of hilsa-centric tourism.

Commerce secretary, Fisheries and Livestock

secretary, Foreign Secretary, Civil

Aviation and Tourism secretary, National

Board of Revenue (NBR) chairperson,

office of Chief Controller of Imports and

Exports and Tourism Corporation chairperson

were made respondents to the writ

petition.

On September 11, the same SC lawyer

served a legal notice on the government to

halt export of hilsa, a sought-after fish, to

India in next seven days.

According to the constitution of Bangladesh,

ensuring food security for the

public is one of the main duties of the

government. On the other hand, it is the

constitutional duty of the respondents to

always act in the interests of the people,

said the petitioner.

By exporting hilsa to India at a lower

price than in the domestic market, those

concerned, including the Commerce Ministry,

have violated the country’s constitution,

stated in the writ. They have hampered

the food security and acted against

the interest of the people.

According to export policy 2021-24, hilsa

fish is not a freely exportable product, it

added. Poor people in the country cannot

think of buying hilsa from River Padma

while middle class people also struggle due

to its high price as a limited amount of fish

can be harvested from there.

In Bangladesh markets hilsa, known as

silver pride of Bangladesh, is being sold at

Tk 1,600 to 1,800 per kg, while it is exported

to India at $ 10 per kg (Tk 950), said the

writ. The commerce ministry has allowed

the export of hilsa to India ignoring the

public interest, said the SC lawyer.

>Page 9 >Page 10

Bangladesh Ambassador to USA Muhammad Imran receives Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina at John F Kennedy Airport on Monday.

Photo : PID

“Peace is the only

practical pathway

to a better, fairer

world for all people”

DHAKA : UN Secretary-General Antonio

Guterres has renewed the call for

all people to do more than lay down

their weapons re-affirming the bonds

of solidarity they share as human beings

and get down to the business of

building a better, more peaceful world.

“Peace is a noble and necessary pursuit,

and the only practical pathway to

a better, fairer world for all people,”he

said in a message marking the International

Day of Peace that falls on September

21. Yet in too many places, in

too many contexts, the UN chief said,

they are failing the cause of peace. The

theme of this year’s International Day

of Peace - “End Racism, Build Peace” -

reminds them of the many ways racism

poisons people’s hearts and minds and

erodes the peace we all seek.

He said it is a time to observe 24

hours of non-violence and cease-fire.

“Racism robs people of their rights

and dignity. It inflames inequalities

and mistrust,” he said, adding that it

pushes people apart, at a time when

they should be coming together, as one

human family, to repair their fractured

world. Instead of fighting each other,

Guterres said, they should be working

to defeat “true enemies: racism, poverty,

inequality, conflict, the climate crisis

and the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“We should tear down structures

that sustain racism, and lift up human

rights movements everywhere,”

he said. “And we should drown out

the vicious voices of hate speech with

a united and sustained cry for truth,

understanding and mutual respect,”

Guterres added.

Nasrul Hamid urges WB

to expedite funding for

power, energy projects

DHAKA : State Minister for Power, Energy

and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid

has urged World Bank to expedite its

funding to projects in Bangladesh’s power

and energy sector.

He made the request while holding a

bilateral meeting yesterday with visiting

World Bank Vice President for South

Asia Region, Martin Raiser, at the ministry,

said a release of the ministry.

It was noted at the meeting that two

projects for gas meters installation have

been approved by World Bank - implementation

of which will begin from January

2023. There are 6 projects in the power

sector being funded by World Bank.

Both sides discussed various issues of

mutual interest during the meeting.

The state minister focused on achievements,

expectations and challenges in

power and energy at the meeting.

He said electric vehicles and hydrogen

will contribute greatly to the power and

energy sector in the future.

“World Bank can play a major role in

formulating a policy on hydrogen energy

and electric vehicles to encourage the

stakeholders in the sector,” Nasrul Hamid

noted.

He sought World Bank’s cooperation

to turn Bangladesh Power Management

Mortar shells landed on Bangladeshi soil

Myanmar claims mortar shells fired

by Arakan Army, ARSA

DHAKA : Myanmar has claimed that

the Arakan Army and terrorist group

ARSA used the same weapons and

attacked the Taungpyo (Right) Border

Guard Police Outpost at BP-34 on

September 16 and 17, 2022 when nine

mortar shells landed on Bangladeshi

soil.

Zaw Phyo Win, Director-General of

Strategic Studies and Training Department

of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Myanmar met Manjurul Karim Khan

Chowdhury, Ambassador of Bangladesh

to Myanmar, at the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs in Yangon on Monday.

The director-general claimed that

Arakan Army and terrorist group

ARSA have been deliberately carrying

out such attacks to cause “negative

consequences” on the existing “cordial

bilateral relations” between Bangladesh

and Myanmar, according to the

Myanmar Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said Myanmar will cooperate

with Bangladesh to maintain peace in

the border areas and stressed the significance

of full and reciprocal cooperation

from the Bangladesh side.

The director-general stated that

while taking the necessary security

Institute into an organization of international

standard.

Nasrul Hamid said it is necessary to

further strengthen the partnership with

World Bank in capacity building of the

entities in the power sector to deal with

wind power, transmission and distribution

systems.

A wide range of issues like renewable

energy, captive power, climate change,

global energy crisis, solar irrigation

pumps, lithium batteries, hydropower,

regional power trade, net metering and

rooftop solar, green building, efficient

and cost-effective use of electricity and

energy, oil refineries, land-based LNG

terminal also came up for discussion.

The World Bank Vice President expressed

his satisfaction in working with

Bangladesh and said that the focus on

capacity building, regional cooperation

and implementation of different projects

is very promising.

He said promotion of renewable energy

and the exploration of new areas of

potential investment are putting Bangladesh

in focus.

The World Bank top executive expressed

interest in issues related to efficiency

improvement, renewable energy

and cross border power trade.

measures close to the border with utmost

caution, the Myanmar side always

abides by bilateral agreements

and international norms as well as respects

the integrity and sovereignty of

all nations, including Bangladesh.

He recalled that on September 7,

2022, the Bangladeshi side was notified

of the information of the trenches

and bases of the AA and ARSA terrorists

located “inside Bangladesh”

through diplomatic channel and reiterated

Myanmar’s call to take necessary

and immediate actions to investigate

on the ground and dismantle those

structures and bases.

Later, he handed over a non-paper

containing the Myanmar version of the

incidents to the Bangladesh ambassador.

During the meeting, the director-general

clarified the prevailing onthe-ground

situations regarding the

firing incidents near Myanmar-Bangladesh

border in response to issues

raised by the Bangladesh side at the

meetings between Myanmar ambassador

to Bangladesh and director-general

of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of

Bangladesh.

Despite the

ban of the

High Court

to stop illegal

batterypowered

rickshaws in

Chattogram

city, batterypowered

rickshaw

running is not

stopping in

any way.

Photo :

M. Faysal Elahi

weDNesDAy, sePtemBer 21, 2022

2

Mirsharai Jubo

League man

hacked to death

CHATTOGRAM : Some

unidentified men hacked a

Jubo League man to death in

Chattogram's Mirsharai upazila

Monday night, police said.

The deceased was identified

as Shahidul Islam Akash (28) of

Hinguli union of the upazila,

Noor Hossain Mamun, officerin-charge

of Jorargonj Police

Station, said.

The incident happened at

around 7pm as a group of men

hacked Akash with sharp

weapons, leaving him critically

injured, at the Chinkirhat area.

Locals rushed Akash to

Chittagong Medical College

Hospital where he succumbed

to his injuries at 9pm.

Kamrul Islam, a member of

Ward 8 of Hinguli union

parishad, said: "Akash's

political rivals attacked him to

settle an old score. Earlier, he

was attacked in 2000 and

2018."

"Efforts are underway to find

those involved in the attack.

However, no complaint has yet

been lodged at the police station

over the incident," Noor

Hossain said.

DB Police recovered 80 tonnes of fertilizer looted from two lighter ships anchored at Nawapara port

in Jashore. At the same time, 9 people involved in this incident have been arrested. Photo : Courtesy

2 soap factories fined

in Rangpur

RANGPUR : A mobile court jointly

initiated by the district administration and

Detective Branch (DB) of Rangpur

Metropolitan Police (RpMP) fined two

unauthorized soap factories Taka 24,000

in the city yesterday.

"Led by Executive Magistrate Zannat,

the mobile court conducted two separate

raids at 'Iqbal Soap Factory' and 'Shah

Soap Factory' in Jummapara area under

Kotwali police station in the city," said a

press release.

1136

The factories had been producing soaps

without chemists, no objection certificate

from the Department of Environment,

health certificates and safety materials for

workers amid improper management of

chemicals.

Later, the Executive Magistrate of

Rangpur district administration fined the

owner Md. Kalimullah of 'Iqbal Soap

Factory' Taka 12,000 and owner Zakir

Hossain of 'Shah Soap Factory' Taka

12,000 under section 53 of the Consumer's

wewmAvBwm-133, Zvs-20.09.22

GD-1540/22 (5x4)

Right Protection Act, 2009.

The court also ordered to stop all

activities and production in the two soap

factories until rectifying faults and fulfilling

all necessities for running those legally.

District Sanitary Inspector Md.

Mahbubur Rahman, Inspector of DB of

RpMP Md. Mozammel Haque, Subinspectors

Md. Golam Morshed, Taslim

Uddin, Swapan Kumar Roy and IH Laku

Sarker and other officials participated in

the drives.

PM's security adviser pays

homage to Bangabandhu at

Tungipara

TUNGIPARA : Prime

Minister's security affairs

adviser Major General (retd)

Tarique Ahmed Siddique

Tuesday paid a rich tribute to

Father of the Nation

Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman by placing a

wreath at his mausoleum at

Tungipara, Gopalganj,

reports BSS.

After laying the wreath, he

stood in solemn silence for

some time as a mark of

profound respect to the

memory of the Father of the

Nation.

Later, he offered doa

seeking eternal peace of the

departed souls of

Bangabandhu and other

martyrs, who embraced

martyrdom on August 15,

1975.

A special prayer was also

offered wishing the long life of

Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina and her family

members.

GD-1537/22 (6x3)

cvwb-180/2022-2023

GD-1541/22 (5x3)

GD-1546/22 (8x5)

GD-1535/22 (7x3)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBEr 21, 2022

3

As part of empowering children, a complain box has been established at KAH Ideal School at Mugda

under Dhaka South City Corporation in the capital.

Photo : Courtesy

Complain box

established at city

school to facilitate

students to exercise

their rights

As part of empowering

children, a complain box

has been established at

KAH Ideal School at

Mugda under Dhaka

South City Corporation in

the capital.

Students of the school

from now on will get

chance to express their

constructive opinion

through the box, which has

been set up with the

support of INCIDIN

Bangladesh,

a

development organization

working for promoting the

rights of children, a press

release said.

Any student (male or

female) can submit their

opinion in writing

regarding the violation of

their rights. The school

authorities will take

necessary measures

following receiving their

opinion/complain.

The initiative is in line

with the compliance of the

verdict of the High Court,

which in a landmark ruling

in 2011 asked to take steps

for halting both physical

and mental torture to

children.

It may be mentioned that

a notice aimed at stopping

physical and mental

torture to children had

been unveiled at the same

school on October 26 last

year.

AKM Mustaque Ali,

Executive Director of

INCIDIN Bangladesh;

Naushad Mahboob Mirza,

Project Coordinator of

INCIDIN Bangladesh;

Khandaker

Moniruzzaman, Chairman

of the KAH Ideal School;

Israt Jahan Bristi,

Principal of the school;

among others, were

present on the occasion on

Monday.

Dhaka air quality

remains ‘moderate’

DHAKA : Dhaka's air quality continues to be in the 'moderate'

zone.

With an air quality index (AQI) score of 68 at 9am on Tuesday,

the metropolis ranked 23rd in the list of world cities with the

worst air quality.

An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered 'moderate' with an

acceptable air quality. However, there may be a moderate health

concern for a very small number of people who are unusually

sensitive to air pollution.

Pakistan's Lahore, India's Delhi and Vietnam's Hanoi

occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 164,

162 and 146, respectively.

An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered 'unhealthy',

particularly for sensitive groups.

Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be 'poor',

while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered 'hazardous', posing

serious health risks to residents.

In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants-

Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and

Ozone.

Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air

quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during

the monsoon.

Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for

death and disability worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long

been recognised as increasing a person's chances of developing

a heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung infections and

cancer, according to several studies.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution

kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year,

largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart

disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and

acute respiratory infections.

DMP arrests 43 for

selling, consuming

drugs in city

DHAKA : The members of the Detective Branch (DB) of the

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) in several anti-drug raids

arrested a total of 43 people on charges of selling and

consuming drugs during the last 24 hours till 6am yesterday.

The DB in association with local police carried out the

drives simultaneously at different parts of the metropolis

from 6am of September 19, according to a DMP release. In

separate anti-drug raids, police seized huge drugs from their

possessions.

During the anti-drug raids, police seized 1,618 pieces of

contraband yaba tablets, 4.946 kilograms of cannabis

(ganja), 107 grams of heroin, 20 bottles of phensidyle syrup,

21 liters of locally made liquor and five drug injections from

their possessions, the release added.

Police filed 36 separate cases against the arrestees in these

connections with respective police stations under the

Narcotics Control Act.

BCL activist

injured in Ctg

road crash

dies in Dhaka

CHATTOGRAM : An activist

of Bangladesh Chhatra

League (BCL) of Chattogram's

Sitakundu upazila unit, who

sustained injuries in a

collision between a

motorcycle and a lorry in

Sitakunda upazila six days

ago, died at a Dhaka hospital

on Tuesday.

The deceased was identified

as college student Mehraj

Bhuiyan, 22, a resident of the

upazila and an activist of

union unit BCL.

He succumbed to his

injuries at IBN Sina

Specialized Hospital in the

capital in the morning while

undergoing treatment, said

Barabkunda UP Chairman

Sadakat Ullah Miyaji.

On September 14, Mehraj

was injured as a lorry hit his

motorcycle at Faujdarhat of

the upazila.

He was taken to

Chattogram Medical College

and Hospital (CMCH) first

and then to the Dhaka

hospital, said the UP

chairman.

Ershad

Market fire

doused, no

casualties

DHAKA : A fire that broke out

at a commercial building in

the Wari area of the capital

early on Tuesday morning has

been doused, officials said.

Fortunately, no casualties

were reported.

The fire began around 6am

on the ground floor of a twostorey

building at

Kaptanbazar Ershad Market.

Four fire tenders were

pressed into service and it

took them half an hour to

douse the flames, Shahjahan

Shikder, deputy assistant

director (media cell) at Fire

Service and Civil Defence

headquarters, told UNB.

Dhaka Ahsania Mission organized a press conference titled "Demand for quick passing of the draft

amendments to the Tobacco Control Act made by the Ministry of Health" at National Press Club yesterday.

Photo : Courtesy

DU student

found dead

at Jagannath

Hall

DHAKA : A student of

Dhaka University (DU) was

found dead at Jagannath

Hall of the university on

Tuesday.

Amit Sarkar, 24, was a

post graduate student of

Dhaka University's Institute

of Leather Engineering and

Technology.

Amit, son of Chittaranjan

Sarkar of Baliaghat village of

Jessore, was found

unconscious in the

dormitory around 11:30 am

and taken to Dhaka Medical

College Hospital where

doctors declared him dead.

Amit's roommate Sajib

Mitra said, "We live in room

number 4011 of Jagannath

Hall. Last night Amit fell

asleep around 1.30 am.

When we tried to wake him

up around 10:30 am today,

he did not respond. Later,

with the help of other

roommates, he was taken to

DMCH."

DMCH police camp incharge

Inspector Md.

Bachchu Mia said the

student was brought dead to

the emergency unit of the

hospital and the body has

been kept at the morgue for

post-mortem.

BCL factions withdraw

blockade at CU

CHATTOGRAM : The protesting factions of

Bangladesh Chhatra League's (BCL)

Chittagong University unit withdrew their

indefinite blockade on Tuesday a day after

enforcing it demanding posts in the full

committee of the unit.

Upon assurance from Chittagong City

Awami League General Secretary AJM Nasir

Uddin, the six sub-groups of CU BCL

withdrew the blockade, said CU BCL vice

president Rakibul Hasan Dinar.

Another group, followers of Deputy

Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan

Chowdhoury Nowfel, also withdrew the

blockade, he added.

Meanwhile, CU acting registrar Professor

SM Monirul Hasan said the main gate of the

university and the transport office cannot be

put under lock and key from now on.

The university administration will issue a

notice in this regard. "The administration

will take action if anyone locks the main

gate," he added.

A group of BCL leaders and activists

started protest around 8 am on Monday and

locked the main gate of the university,

halting classes and exams of the university.

Teachers' buses could not leave the

campus for Chattogram in the morning,

university. Besides, the shuttle train service

also came to a halt, he added.

The agitated BCL activists placed a threepoint

demand including posts in the

committee.

Earlier on August 1, BCL activists, who

didn't get any posts in the new committee,

enforced a blockade programme halting

classes and exams of the university following

announcement of the full committee of the

unit.

After three years, the full committee of the

CU unit of BCL was announced on July 31.

Dengue numbers keep rising

1,560 patients undergoing

treatment at hospitals

DHAKA : Another 438 dengue patients were

hospitalised in 24 hours till Tuesday morning

as cases keep rising across the country.

Of the new patients, 315 were admitted to

different hospitals in Dhaka and 123 outside it,

according to the Directorate General of Health

Services (DGHS).

On Sunday, this year's death toll from the

mosquito-borne viral disease rose to 45 with

another death reported from Chattogram

division.

So far 21 deaths from dengue have been

recorded in Dhaka division, four in Barishal

division and 20 in Chattogram division.

A total of 1,560 dengue patients, including

1,191 in the capital, are now receiving treatment

at hospitals in the country.

On June 21, the DGHS reported the first

death of the season from the viral disease.

This year, the directorate has recorded

12,007 dengue cases and 10,402 recoveries so

far.

Farewell reception and debut of Bangladesh Technical Employee Association was held at TSC auditorium

yesterday. DU VC Prof. Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman was present as chief guest. Photo : Courtesy

Khaleda's

appearance

in 11 cases

on Jan 23

DHAKA : A court

yesterday set January 23

for the appearance of

BNP chairperson Begum

Khaleda Zia before it in

11 cases filed against her.

Wednesday was fixed

for the appearance of the

BNP chief before the

court but Dhaka

Metropolitan Sessions

Judge Asaduzzaman

reset the date as Khaleda

Zia failed to appear

because of her "poor

health".

Of the 11 cases, eight

were filed with Darus

Salam Police Station and

two others were filed

with Jatrabari Police

Station for her role in

BNP's vandalism during

its hartal in 2015. These

ten cases were filed by

police, while a sedition

case was filed against the

BNP chief by a person.

Later in 2016, police

submitted a charge sheet

against Khaleda and

others accused.

Along with Begum Zia,

the notable accused in

these cases are BNP

leaders Amanullah

Aman, Habib-un-Nabi

Khan Sohail and Sultan

Salauddin Tuku.

Irregularities in leasing

Egypt Air planes: ACC

questions 7 CAAB officials

DHAKA : Anti-Corruption

Commission (ACC) has

questioned seven officials of

Civil Aviation Authority of

Bangladesh (CAAB) over

two days as part of the

investigation against

allegation of irregularities

over Biman Bangladesh

Airlines processing two

Egypt Air planes in 2009-

14.

Deputy Director of ACC

Public Relations,

Muhammad Arif Sadeq,

told UNB that the CAAB

officials were questioned as

the irregularities cost the

national flag carrier a loss of

Tk1,100 crore.

The Commission quizzed

principal assistant director

of CAAB, Saiful Haque, air

worthness consultant

Golam Sarwar, BFCC

manager Sadequl Islam

Bhuiyan and Kamal Uddin

Ahmed yesterday while

chief

engineer

(maintenance) SM

Siddique, principal

engineer (I and QA) SM

Hanif and principal

engineer (MCC) Devesh

Choudhury were

interrogated yesterday.

However, director of flight

operation and team leader

of inspection team Israt

Ahmed did not face the

interrogation on the first

day of the interrogation.

A team led by ACC Deputy

Director Md Salahuddin

and Assistant Director

Jasmine Akhter is

investigating the allegation.

On April 24, the

Parliamentary Standing

Committee on the Ministry

of Civil Aviation and

Tourism recommended the

investigation.

According to the

Commission, Biman

Bangladesh lost Tk 1,100

crores for leasing aircraft

from Egypt Air in 2014.

The engines of one of the

aircraft were damaged after

operating a flight in

February 2015 while the

national flag carrier Biman

rented another engine from

Egypt Air.

The rented engine was

damaged a year and a half

later while another engine

was rented and the last

engine was sent to another

company in the United

States for servicing without

a timeline.

The Commission said it

will question more officials

if it found the information.

Court stays

Selim Khan's

bail, orders to

surrender

DHAKA : An apex court

yesterday stayed the fourweek

anticipatory bail

granted by High Court to

Laxmipur Model Union

Parishad's chairman Selim

Khan and ordered him to

surrender before it by

September 27.

Justice M Enayetur

Rahim of the Chamber

Court of the Appellate

Division of the Supreme

Court passed the order

yesterday morning.

Defence attorney

Advocate Momtaz Uddin

Fakir and Anti Corruption

Commission (ACC) lawyer

Advocate M Khurshid

Alam Khan were present at

the court.

The High Court on

September 14 granted the

four-week anticipatory bail

to Selim Khan in a case

lodged over amassing

illegal wealth.

The ACC pleaded to stay

the bail proceedings

arguing that the defendant

was not eligible to secure

the bail due to the gravity of

his offence.

On August 1, the ACC

filed the case against Selim

Khan for acquiring illegal

wealth of Taka 34.53 crore.

He is also accused of

concealing information of

the wealth of Taka around

67 lakh.

WeDNeSDAy, SePTeMBer 21, 2022

4

Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam

e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Need to see

bigger picture on

water sharing

Agreat deal of frustration is

noted among people in all

walks of Bangladesh for

the failure on the part of the

governments of both India and

Bangladesh to sign an accord

over the sharing of the waters of

the Teesta river. But there is

need in Bangladesh to look at

the bigger picture.

India and Bangladesh share 54

common rivers out of which a

water sharing agreement exists

in relation to one only, the

Ganges. Thus, the imperative

for Bangladesh should be to set

in motion a process to persuade

India vigorously to come to the

negotiation table at the fastest to

clinch deals regarding all of the

other 53 rivers. Only such a

course would make sense and

bring substantial benefits for

Bangladesh.

Except for the Ganges, India is

now arbitrarily diverting waters

from the rest 53 rivers denying

Bangladesh the share of their

flows. Therefore, only ensuring

that India would be binded to

come to terms with us on

sharing waters of all common

rivers, can bring substantial

relief to Bangladesh in relation

to its scarcity of river waters.

Even after signing accords on

river water sharing, the same

could be rather fruitless if India

is not brought under a

comprehensive agreement that

it would not build any structures

upstream to divert river waters

without first getting consent of

Bangladesh about the same.

Bangladesh presently has a

water-sharing agreement on the

Ganges at Farraka point. But the

availability of water at Farakka

point is seen as becoming less

and less every year during the

dry months from heavier

withdrawl of its water upstream

through various infrastructures

set up by India for such

diversion.

Thus, what Bangladesh must

aim for is working with greatest

concentration to make India

agree to fully revive the Joint

River Commission (JRC)

between the two countries. After

achieving the goal, the two

countries will have to take an

undertaking to share the waters

of all 54 common rivers

equitably and at the fastest.

More significant would be

getting India's agreement in

treaty form that it would

absolutely refrain from building

any more diversionary

structures on common rivers

without

Bangladesh's

permission and even to

demolish many such structures

that exist.

Only from getting India truly

involved, thus, in a framework to

share waters of all common

rivers, Bangladesh can expect to

find substantial relief from its

current waterlessness.

But not every single

one. However,

there is no denying

that a significant number

of people today offer

their time to assist those

who are less fortunate

just for the purpose of gaining fame. They

take out their smartphones, take a photo

with people less fortunate, and then post it

on social media, where they wait to see how

many likes and compliments, they receive.

This is the first and most essential thing

that they do before they do anything to help

others who are less fortunate. It seems like

we have gotten ourselves into a difficult

predicament. The individual who has a

genuine desire to help those who are less

fortunate is not someone who seeks

attention for himself or herself. I am

intrigued to know how many of those will

aid individuals who are less fortunate if

they are not being watched. It really gets

under my skin when people pretend to help

the less fortunate or the needy in order to

get their picture taken while they are doing

it. I don't think someone is doing anything

wrong by burying those memories deep

within a picture they cherish. However,

broadcasting the same item across multiple

social media platforms in order to

demonstrate that they are good is nothing

more than an act of bragging about their

abilities.

I am acquainted with a great number of

people who are always working hard to

make others' lives better behind the scenes,

but they never take the time to gloat about

it. On the other hand, I do not admire

people who help the poor for the sole

purpose of gaining renown for themselves.

Because it brings attention and acclaim to

the individual doing the act, altruism can be

interpreted as a sort of self-promotion in

some circles. On the other hand, altruism is

frequently driven by a sincere desire to

assist others, rather than by a desire to

advance one's own interests. The act of

assisting other people without expecting

anything in return, as is required by

altruism, is known as selflessness. Several

different things, such as a yearning to assist

other people, a sense of duty or obligation,

or a longing to make the world a better

place, might serve as the impetus for this

kind of behaviour. There are times when

people engage in acts of altruism in order to

garner the recognition or appreciation of

others. Nevertheless, this is not the only

reason people might engage in acts of

generosity toward others. People may help

others out of the goodness of their hearts

without expecting any sort of reward or

acknowledgment in certain circumstances.

There can be a fine line between altruism

and self-promotion. On the one hand,

altruism can be seen as a way of promoting

oneself, as it can bring attention and praise

to the individual.

Ultimately, the motivation behind

Evil empire: Let the monarchy die along with Elizabeth

The death of Queen Elizabeth II, the

longest-serving monarch of British

royalty, has sparked global fascination

and spawned thousands of clickbait reports of

the details of her funeral.

Americans, who centuries ago rejected

monarchy, are seemingly obsessed with the

ritualism, bizarrely mourning the demise of

an elderly and fabulously wealthy woman

who was born into privilege and who died of

natural causes at the ripe old age of 96 across

the ocean.

Perhaps this is because popular and longrunning

TV shows about British royalty like

The Crown have convinced us that we know

intimate details about the royals - and worse,

they cause us to believe we should care about

a family that is a symbolic marker of past

imperial grandeur.

But for those who are descended from the

subjects of British imperialist conquest, the

queen, her ancestors, and her descendants

represent the ultimate evil empire.

India, my home country, celebrated its 75th

anniversary of independence from British

rule this year. Both my parents were born

before independence, into a nation still ruled

by the British. I heard many tales while

growing up of my grandfather's absences

from home as he went "underground,"

wanted for seditious activity against the

British. After independence in 1947, he was

honored for being a "freedom fighter" against

the monarchy.

Despite the popularity and critical acclaim

of The Crown and movies and shows like it, I

found a far stronger connection to the new

superhero series Ms Marvel, if for no other

reason than the fact that it tackles the horrors

of partition, a little-known (in the US) legacy

of the evil empire.

As Pakistani writer Minna Jaffery-

Lindemulder explains in New Lines, "The

British changed the borders of India and

Pakistan at the eleventh hour in 1947 before

declaring both nations independent, leaving

the former subjects of the crown confused

about where they needed to migrate to ensure

their safety."

Altruismand self-promotion

altruistic acts is what matters, not whether

or not the action is motivated by selfpromotion.

Most people would agree that

altruism and self-promotion have pros and

cons. On the one hand, altruism can be

seen as a sign of strength and character,

while self-promotion can be seen as a sign

of confidence and ambition. There are

many benefits to altruism. Altruism makes

people happy, makes them feel good about

themselves, and improves their

relationships with others. Altruism can also

make people feel more connected to the

world and help them feel like they are

making a difference.However, on the other

hand, altruism can be seen as a sign of

weakness, while self-promotion can be seen

as a sign of greed or arrogance.There are a

few reasons why people might argue that

altruism is harmful. First, altruism can

sometimes lead to people making bad

decisions or doing things that are not in

their best interests. Second, altruism can

sometimes lead to people feeling guilty or

bad about themselves or feeling like they

are not good enough. Finally, altruism can

sometimes lead to people feeling like they

are not in control of their own lives or like

they are not in control of their destiny.In

my opinion, the pros of altruism outweigh

the cons. I believe that altruism is a sign of

strength because it shows that a person is

willing to put others before themselves. I

also believe that altruism is a sign of

character because it takes courage and selfcontrol

to resist the temptation to promote

oneself at the expense of others.

On the other hand, the benefits of selfpromotion

are not as straight and dry as its

drawbacks. Self-promotion is something

that I believe may be interpreted as a sign of

confidence as well as ambition because it

demonstrates that a person is willing to

take chances in order to achieve their

objectives. People can progress their

professions, make more money, and go

further along in life by engaging in selfpromotion

and marketing their services

and products to others. Promoting oneself

might give someone the impression that

they are making progress toward their

objectives. However, I am also of the

opinion that self-promotion can sometimes

be a symptom of greed or arrogance

because it is sometimes motivated by a

As a result, 15 million people felt forced to

move from one part of the South Asian

subcontinent to another, a mass cross-exodus

with an estimated death toll ranging from half

a million to 2 million.

Today, those contested borders, callously

and recklessly drawn in 1947 by British

officials acting at the behest of the crown,

remain a source of simmering tensions

between India and Pakistan that occasionally

erupt into full-blown wars.

This is the legacy of British monarchy. The

United Kingdom enjoys a distinction in

Guinness World Records, for the "most

countries [62] to have gained independence

from the same country."

One could argue that Elizabeth, who was

gifted the throne and its title in 1952, did not

lead an aggressive empire of conquest and

instead presided over an institution that,

under her rule, became largely symbolic and

ceremonial in nature. And indeed, many do

just that, referring to her, for example, as an

"exemplar of moral decency."

Rahul Mahajan, author of Full Spectrum

Dominance and The New Crusade, has a

different opinion, referring in an interview to

Elizabeth as a "morally unremarkable person

with a job that involved doing extremely

unremarkable things."

Mahajan explains further, saying that this

was "a highly privileged person, given an

opportunity to influence world events in some

degree, which she had to do nothing to earn,

who never did anything particularly

remarkable, innovative, or insightful."

Dr P r DATTA

SONALI KOLHATKAr

desire for fame or power. For this reason, I

believe that it can sometimes be perceived

as an indication of any of these traits. Both

self-promotion and generosity toward

others are essential components of human

behaviour. The ability to connect with other

people and have the sense that we are

making a difference in the world is one of

the primary benefits that come from

practising altruism.

Self-promotion, on the other hand, is

Self-promotion, on the other hand, is essential

since it enables us to accomplish our objectives

and advance in our careers. It is essential to

keep in mind that we are unable to accomplish

anything without the assistance of other people,

and that we should always be willing to assist

others in achieving their objectives.

essential since it enables us to accomplish

our objectives and advance in our careers.

It is essential to keep in mind that we are

unable to accomplish anything without the

assistance of other people, and that we

should always be willing to assist others in

achieving their objectives. The concept and

practise of showing unselfish concern for

the well-being of other people is known as

altruism. It is a selfless deed done for the

purpose of promoting the well-being of

other people. It is frequently considered to

be the opposite of self-promotion, which

refers to the act of promoting one's own

interests or one's own persona. Being

selfless and helping others without

expecting anything in return is widely

regarded as a morally admirable trait.

However, there are many who contend that

self-promotion is preferable to being

selfless and that altruism leads to more

harm.

Finding a happy medium between selfpromotion

and helping others is something

that is absolutely necessary. Selfpromotion,

on the other hand, can help us

achieve our goals and be more successful

while altruism can improve the quality of

the connections we have and make us more

likeable to others. It is necessary to find the

correct balance, which can take on a variety

of forms depending on the circumstances.

For instance, if you are a physician and a

patient asks you to treat them, you would

most likely prioritise the requirements of

the patient and not worry about advancing

your professional reputation. On the other

hand, if you are a physician and you are

giving a speech to a group of people, you

will most likely want to promote yourself as

well as the work that you perform.

Therefore, even if there are several reasons

why individuals can claim that selfpromotion

is superior to altruism, there are

While Elizabeth's 70 years on the throne

were mostly spent overseeing an ostensible

unraveling of British Empire in a world less

tolerant of occupation, enslavement, and

imperial plunder, just a few months into her

role as queen, the British violently put down

the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya.

According to a New York Times story about

how citizens in African nations today have

little sympathy for the dead monarch, the

squashing of the rebellion "led to the

establishment of a vast system of detention

camps and the torture, rape, castration and

As Pakistani writer Minna Jaffery-Lindemulder explains

in New Lines, "The British changed the borders of India and

Pakistan at the eleventh hour in 1947 before declaring both

nations independent, leaving the former subjects of the

crown confused about where they needed to migrate to

ensure their safety."

killing of tens of thousands of people."

Even if Elizabeth was not responsible for

directing the horrors, they were carried out in

her name. Over the seven decades that she

wielded symbolic power, she never once

apologized for what was done during her rule

in Kenya - or indeed what was done in her

family's name in dozens of other nations in

the Global South.

It's no wonder that black and brown people

the world over have openly expressed disgust

at the collective fawning of such an ugly

legacy.

Professor Uju Anya of Carnegie Mellon

University, who is Nigerian, is under fire for

her frank dismissal of Elizabeth after posting

on Twitter that she "heard the chief monarch

of a thieving and raping genocidal empire is

finally dying. May her pain be excruciating."

Kehinde Andrews, a black-studies professor

at Birmingham City University, wrote on

Politico that he cannot relate to his fellow

Britons' desire to mourn Elizabeth, a woman

also several reasons why people might

declare that altruism is superior to selfpromotion.

Self-promotion and altruism

are both valid points of view. In the end, it

is up to each person to determine for

themselves which option is preferable to

them. The majority of individuals have the

mindset that self-promotion and altruism

are at opposite ends of a scale. On the other

hand, I think that self-promotion and

generosity can be behaviours that

complement one another. A potent

combination and synergy are produced

whenever self-promotion and generosity to

others are brought together. The

combination of these two behaviours

makes it possible to do almost whatever

you set your mind to.

Giving without expecting anything in

return benefits not only the giver but also

the organisation. People who serve others

without expecting anything in return are

typically thought of as generous, kind, and

helpful. This has the potential to endear

them to their fellow employees and assist

them in establishing solid relationships

with others. In addition, acting altruistically

has the potential to make a person more

productive and motivated. People are more

likely to be productive and motivated when

they have the perception that they are a

vital element of a team and that the work

that they do is important. Self-promotion,

on the other hand, is advantageous not just

to the individual but also to the

organisation. When people advertise

themselves, they are frequently considered

to be ambitious and goal-oriented persons.

This has the potential to endear them to

their fellow employees and assist them in

establishing solid relationships with others.

Self-promotion is another strategy that can

help an individual advance in their career.

When people are able to express their

achievements and skills, there is a greater

likelihood that they will be employed,

promoted, and given awards.

In any professional setting, both altruism

and self-promotion are necessary

behaviours. It is important to remember,

however, that they should be used

sparingly. Over-promotion can make

people appear arrogant and selfish, while

over-altruism can make people appear

unambitious and unproductive. However,

when used correctly, altruism and selfpromotion

can be powerful tools for

helping individuals and organisations

achieve their objectives. Altruism is the

selfless concern for the well-being of others,

and it is the polar opposite of selfishness,

which is frequently praised and admired.

Self-promotion is the polar opposite of

humility, and it is frequently criticised and

frowned upon.

The Writer is Educator, author, and

researcher and Executive Chair, Centre for

Business & Economic Research, UK

he considered to be "the No 1 symbol of white

supremacy" and a "manifestation of the

institutional racism that we have to encounter

on a daily basis."

Elizabeth may have appeared a benign,

smiling elder who maintained the propriety

expected from a royal leader, but she worked

hard to preserve an institution that should

have long ago died out.

She was handed the throne as a

consequence of her uncle, the Duke of

Windsor, abdicating as King Edward VIII in

order to marry a twice-divorced American.

Both the marriage to a divorcee and the fact

that the couple turned out to be Nazi

sympathizers marked a low point for the

royals.

"The monarchy was in a really good

position to fade away with this kind of

clowning around," says Mahajan. But it was

Elizabeth who "rescued the popularity of the

monarchy."

Further, Elizabeth quietly preserved the illgotten

family fortune that she and her

descendants benefited from in a postcolonial

world.

"One thing she could, and of course should,

have done and said something about is the

massive royal estate," says Mahajan.

Observers can only estimate the royal family's

worth (Forbes puts the figure at US$28

billion), assets that include stolen jewels from

former colonies, pricey art investments, and

real-estate holdings across Britain.

Britain's new king, Charles III, now inherits

the fruits of the evil empire. According to

Mahajan, Charles "is apparently very bent on

taking his fortune and investing it in such a

way as to make himself as rich as possible."

According to The New York Times, "As

prince, Charles used tax breaks, offshore

accounts and canny real-estate investments to

turn a sleepy estate into a billion-dollar

business."

Sonali Kolhatkar is the founder, host and

executive producer of Rising Up with Sonali,

a television and radio show that airs on Free

Speech TV and Pacifica stations.

WedNesdAY, sePTeMBeR 21, 2022

5

PATRIck BARkHAM

Tom Mustill was kayaking with his friend Charlotte in

Monterey Bay, California, when an animal three times the

size of the largest Tyrannosaurus Rex hurtled from the water

and crashed down on their tiny craft. As the flying

humpback whale fell upon them and their kayak was sucked

beneath the waves, Mustill assumed he would die.

Miraculously he and Charlotte found themselves gasping for

breath, clinging to their capsized kayak. How had they

survived a smash with a creature three times the weight of a

double-decker bus?

What happened next was almost as weird. Mustill and

Charlotte went viral. Passing whale-watching tourists had

videoed the pair's near-death encounter and stuck it on

YouTube. Mustill, a wildlife filmmaker, became what he calls

"a lightning conductor for whale fanatics". Interviewed by

the global media, he was soon quivering with different and

extraordinary stories of whale meetings from around the

world: a submariner told him about whales singing to his

ship; a book publisher reported being apparently scanned by

the sonar-like echolocation of a pregnant female dolphin - a

few days later, she discovered that she too was pregnant. "It

was really addictive finding out all these other stories," says

Mustill, "because each one was like another lens on the

animal and our relationship to them."

These stories alone could fill a book, but Mustill first made

a BBC documentary about humpback whales, before writing

his book, How to Speak Whale, which is a thrilling

exploration of past, present and future scientific endeavours

to communicate with animals and better understand

cetaceans in particular. What begins with questions about

his own brief encounter soon plumbs profound scientific

and philosophical depths.

As Mustill explains when I meet him beside a watery realm

- a reservoir close to his home in east London - his

wondering about how he survived became a bigger question.

Professor Joy Reidenberg, a whale scientist, told him the

footage suggested the whale veered away from Mustill's

kayak mid-breach, as if it didn't want to hit them. "It made

sense because I couldn't figure out how it hadn't smashed us

to bits," he says. "More spiritual friends said, 'Ah well, the

whale didn't want to hurt you.' I felt it was more like walking

into a cellar at night, hearing a rat squeak and not wanting to

tread on it - it's not necessarily out of compassion. The whale

might have thought, 'Urgh, what's that?'"

Did the whale mean to spare Mustill? "You can't just ask a

whale," said Reidenberg. But perhaps we will soon. "This is

the beginning of augmented biology," he says, "where our

human deficiencies - what we can't sense, where we can't go,

what we actually have the time to find patterns in - all seem

to be falling down." We're at a moment in time, he argues,

comparable to Antonie van Leeuwenhoek's mid-17thcentury

invention of the modern microscope and

microbiology. Today, big data and machine learning could

probe an impenetrable frontier - the chasm between our

consciousness and those of other animals. Can we

communicate with whales? If so, what will we say? And what

will they say back?

The history of human relations with whales is mostly

bloody and exploitative, but Mustill argues that science and

technology helped change it for the better. One of many

scientific heroes in his book is American researcher Roger

Payne. In 1967, when commercial whaling was at its peak,

Payne received recordings of whale sounds from the US navy,

whose underwater listening stations were eavesdropping on

Soviet submarines. Payne was haunted by the beauty of the

sounds, and by the fact that they repeated themselves. His

1971 Science paper on whale "song" was a blockbuster; Payne

also released albums of humpback whale song, which moved

millions of people. His science - and the power of song -

chimed with the nascent environmental movement and Save

the Whales became a sound of the 70s. Whale hunting was

banned in US waters in 1972 and a decade later came a global

moratorium on commercial whaling.

Nevertheless, scientific attempts to communicate with

animals are also fraught with gimmicks, eccentrics - the

researcher who injected LSD into one of his study dolphins

discredited the field for years - and heated debates over

whether animal communication can ever be "language".

Mustill believes these old struggles will be ended by new

technology. After graduating in natural sciences at

Cambridge University, he began his own scientific career by

taking a fieldwork post in Mauritius, where he was tasked

with monitoring the pink pigeon, working for Carl Jones, an

inspirational biologist who defied scientific orthodoxies to

ALex HeRN

In the fight for theme park

visitors the battle lines have

been drawn - monster trucks,

virtual reality zombie warfare

and "smellscaping", just

thankfully not all at the same

time.

And while there was a sombre

atmosphere around parts of

London as tens of thousands

lined up to pay their respects to

the Queen, there were 10,000

more gathered in a convention

centre in East London

experiencing the future of the

theme park.

The convention centre's hall

was dominated by a monster

truck on hydraulics rocking

riders and a nine-foot-tall alien

3D-printed in a matter of hours.

Alongside that were several

full-size bowling lanes and more

soft play areas than you could fill

with a whole primary school's

worth of birthday parties.

Pinball manufacturers Stern

did, however, delay the launch

of its James Bond pinball

machines as a mark of respect

for the Queen.

Anyone taking a walk down

the cavernous hall couldn't help

but notice the vast quantity of

virtual reality headsets. Through

VR, riders on the monster truck

experienced being thrown about

as though they were being

driven around a real arena,

while

rollercoaster

manufacturer Mack Rides could

demonstrate some of its own

rides without needing to ship

Can AI bridge the gap between

interspecies communication?

captive-breed species on the brink of joining the dodo,

saving them from extinction.

Jones is a hero, but Mustill's fieldwork was ill-fated - there

was a cyclone and the pigeon pairs he watched failed to rear

any young. Mustill concluded he could do more for

conservation by becoming a filmmaker. Today, he's excited

that new technology is vastly improving the efficiency of

conservation fieldwork. Tiny audio recorders are used to

detect rare birdsong in Hawaiian forests, for instance. "The

machine never gets distracted. It's much better than me at

doing that job, which is a bit galling."

Computers flicking through vast reams of biological data

learn to recognise patterns that would take humans

Fluke shot of a tail slap by Tom Mustill.

centuries to detect. Recognition programmes are now

widespread in popular apps that identify plant species or

birdsong.

Mustill discovered the power of big nature data when he

met Ted Cheeseman, founder of the Happywhale website,

which collects people's whale snaps to identify individual

animals. When Cheeseman replaced the laborious human

study of each whale tail, or fluke, with an algorithm, they

exponentially increased the number of flukes they could

identify. "They have now identified almost every whale in the

Pacific, which would once have been a pipe dream for any

team of biologists," says Mustill. Cheeseman also helped him

discover the individual whale that may have spared his life:

it was named Prime Suspect.

Recognising individual whales is one thing, but Mustill

then met Aza Raskin and Britt Selvitelle, two Silicon Valley

entrepreneurs leading efforts to communicate with animals

via the Earth Species Project (ESP), a not-for-profit mission

billed as Google Translate for whales. AI successfully

translates human languages; ESP's AI experts backed by a

multimillion-dollar budget are working on other species.

"ESP is looking at every technological bottleneck across all

animal communication and trying to design solutions that

everybody can use," says Mustill.

They are creating tools, not new information, but just after

Mustill handed his book into his publisher, Roger Payne -

still championing whale research aged 87 - rang him at 11pm

on Christmas Eve with some new facts. "He was like, 'I'm

really sorry to say your book's not finished.' I'm so glad he

did call because he loops back into the book like a human

boomerang."

Payne led Mustill to the Cetacean Translation Initiative

(CETI), a supergroup of scientists with an awesome target:

VR and the future of theme parks

attendees out to the company's

own Europa Park in Germany.

The technology also helps

provide interactivity, something

that Mark Beumers, chief

executive of Dutch "dark rides"

vendor Lagotronics Projects,

thinks is going to become

increasingly crucial to the

experience.

"Visitors expect more and

more, since they grew up with

Bumper cars with VR headsets, at the IAAPA expo in London. Photo: Linda Nylind

technology, nowadays, and they

want to experience technology

in a theme park in a different

and better way than they can do

it at home. And since they

already have a lot of technology

at home that they experience in

a good way, a theme park needs

to be the extra step."

But, Beumers says, virtual

reality has its limits. Simply

getting headsets on and off

riders can add unacceptable

delays to loading up rides, and

the technology limits one of the

best aspects of going to a theme

park: sharing the experience

with the friends and family you

visit with.

And while the technology was

just starting to be installed in

parks towards the beginning of

2018, the impact of Covid in the

last couple of years has given

operators a chance to consider,

and shift their approach.

"In 2019, people were

thinking, this is the new thing,

this is going to take off," says

Emily Popovich, of theme park

design agency Outdoor Factory.

"But then Covid hit, and

everyone sort of forgot about

that.

"And then, after Covid,

everyone is calm and developing

new awesome things, there's so

many geniuses in this industry.

So we come out of Covid and

everything is better than it was

in 2019 and nobody cares about

that any more."

In its place, says Maximilian

Roeser, Mack Rides' head of

marketing, is a new push for

augmented reality that lets

riders experience all the benefits

of VR without being stuck in a

bubble that shuts them off from

the real world.

In the company's latest

creations, riders even put the

headsets on long before they get

on the rollercoaster itself, with

the queue, boarding and

to communicate with a whale well enough to exchange ideas

and experiences. By 2026. Led by marine biologist David

Gruber, CETI is throwing everything at a well-studied

population of sperm whales off the island of Dominica:

multiple underwater listening stations; drones carrying

hydrophones; whales tagged by drones; soft robotic fish

swimming among the whales gathering audio and video.

Will they converse with a whale by 2026? "Everything that

David Gruber has done before he has nailed," says Mustill.

"It's going to be the biggest animal behaviour data set ever

recorded. The voyage of [Darwin's] Beagle didn't just require

loads of specimen cases and somebody who could capture

these species, it needed people back home ready to

catalogue, compare and preserve these specimens. The data

version of that is data centres, formatting, and they're

making it open source so other people can do it."

There's a long history of scientific breakthroughs used for

ill. If we begin conversing with other animals, it's easy to

imagine them being manipulated: pigeons could carry

diseases to enemies or migratory turtles instructed to deliver

drugs to a distant shore. But Mustill is heartened by the fact

that both ESP and CETI are run on open-source principles -

their data and tools are free for others to use. "That's both a

way of fostering collaboration and allowing scrutiny,

because one of the only protections against exploitation is

being open," he says.

For all the fears of abuse, when - and if - we learn to

communicate with other animals, it seems likely to trigger

profound changes in inter-species relationships. Selvitelle,

says Mustill, has described ESP as "a machine for making

vegans". Imagine subtitles from footage of abattoirs. Animal

rights will be revolutionised if animals can advocate for

themselves. "In the history of people being mean to lesspowerful

people, who controls the story, whose voice is

heard and who is considered to have a voice is one of the key

things that allows manipulation," says Mustill.

Of course, if we can hear animals, we might not like what

they have to say. Facial-recognition apps translating what

our pets are "saying" is an obvious commercial innovation,

but what if they reveal that our pets hold us in contempt?

Mustill sees conversations with whales as potentially

comparable to missionaries meeting indigenous people.

"We unwittingly transfer things aside from good vibes when

we make contact with previously separate worlds. If sperm

whales talk to each other and transmit information that

shapes their culture and actions, and we're ready to speak to

alighting experience all having

virtual additions.

But Roeser says the biggest

changes are likely to be those

behind the scenes that such

technology enables. "Theme

parks will develop in a way that

you'll have more and more

interactivity.

"More and more

customisation to your

customers as well: all the parks

will know who is coming in,

their name, their age, probably

what they like and what they

dislike, and therefore they can

transform the park for each

guest. And each guest

experience will be different and

probably fitted directly to that

guest.

"We already worked with

that, because we have some

alpha options for our coaster

ride so that you can choose your

own experience: one person

that is sitting on the lefthand

side could see another movie

than the person on the

righthand side."

The classic experiences aren't

going anywhere, though. For

many, like Julie Rice-Witherell

of conference organiser IAAPA,

the global association for the

attractions industry, there's still

nothing that matches the thrill

of riding a new rollercoaster for

the first time.

"Every time they build a new

one anywhere near me, it's like -

it's just something different. I

wouldn't say it's better, but it is

faster, or it has more turns or

you know, hits higher G forces,

whatever. It's always something

new that you've never

experienced."

Photo: Ru Mahoney

ToRsTeN BeLL

Scrolling Twitter or refreshing Facebook

definitely feels like it's bad for you, as our

attention spans rot and meaning is drained

from our lives. Despite those strong feelings,

we're usually told the evidence isn't yet there to

prove social media damages our mental health.

The evidence of surging mental ill health is

strong, with 30% of 18- to 24-year-olds

reporting a common mental disorder in 2018-

19, up from 24% at the start of the millennium,

so it's hard not to worry that this debate echoes

the mid-20th-century arguments that we

hadn't absolutely proved cigarettes cause

cancer. Despite the strong correlation between

smoking and dying, many doctors didn't

believe the link had been proved even by the

1960s.

Reinforcing my prejudices is new research

examining the staggered introduction of

them, are they ready to be spoken to?"

Mustill remains convinced that, if possible, conversations

with animals will engender new human respect and,

potentially, new consciousness. It would certainly become

less comfortable sitting on a sofa made from animal skins if

those beasts could speak. But will we listen? Pleas from

indigenous Amazonians to halt the destruction of the

natural world fall on deaf ears in the west. "Industrialised

western society hasn't listened to them, but some of us have,

and ideas from those cultures - such as the idea that a river

can be alive - changes how you look at a river," says Mustill.

Suzanne Simard, the professor who discovered trees'

subterranean exchanges and communications via fungal

networks, was recently asked what she would ask a tree if

they could talk. "What do you think of us?" she replied. What

would Mustill ask a whale? "'What do you think of us?'

would be really interesting from their perspective because

they'd sense us in such a different way, but I'd also be

interested in 'How are you?' Because the answer to that

question would reveal both what is important to them and

whether they have a sense of the individual," he says. "One

of the biggest problems we have is individualism and the

feeling that we're supposed to get as much out of our lives as

we can. Perhaps other social animals offer us more collective

ways of looking at our lifespan and relationship to the

world."

What if you could design a mission to record a data set of

whale communications perfectly optimised for the latest

machine-learning and language-processing tools to scan?

What if you could capture not just whole conversations but

hundreds of thousands of them, from scores of different

whales totalling millions, perhaps billions, of vocalisation

units? Would you then have a chance at speaking whale?

This is the plan of the Cetacean Translation Initiative, or

CETI.

CETI is an interdisciplinary A?team of badass scientists:

marine robotics specialists, cetacean biologists, AI wizards,

linguistics and cryptography experts and data specialists.

They were all brought together at a meeting of academics at

Harvard in 2019, which was chaired by David Gruber.

Gruber is a marine biologist and inventor, crafting cameras

that can capture the glow of sea turtles and soft, robot

graspers to gently handle fragile deep-sea animals.

The team is huge, with scholars from Imperial College,

MIT, Harvard and other universities and help from among

others Twitter, Google and Amazon. Their goal, Gruber told

me, was: 'To learn how to communicate with a whale well

enough to exchange ideas and experiences'. CETI's plan is to

throw everything they've got at the population of sperm

whales off the island of Dominica in the Caribbean.

CETI will rig the seafloor with multiple listening stations.

They will cover a 12.5?mile radius and form the Core Whale

Listening station, recording 24 hours a day. Alongside will

be drones and 'soft robotic fish' equipped with audio and

video recording equipment, able to move among the whales

without disturbing them.

CETI hopes to place tags on mothers, grandmothers,

teenagers and great bull males from different pods. There

will be weather sensors and other contextual data, and they

will link vocalisations to behaviour and what they know of

each individual whale: was it hungry, fishing, pregnant, or

mating?

All of these data will be available for the open-source

community, so that everyone can get stuck in. Then the AIs

will really be unleashed. They will analyse the coda click

patterns that whales use to communicate, distinguishing

between those of different clans and individuals. They will

seek the building blocks of the communication system. By

listening to baby whales learn to speak, the machines and

the humans guiding them will themselves learn to

speak whale.

All of the machine-learning tools will be part of an attempt

to build a working model of the sperm whale

communication system. To test this system, they will build

sperm whale chatbots. To gauge if their language models are

correct, researchers will test whether they can correctly

predict what a whale might say next, based on their

knowledge of who the whale is, its conversation history and

its behaviours. Researchers will then test these with

playback experiments to see whether the whales respond as

the scientists expect when played whale-speak.

Finally, they will try to speak, back and forth, with the

whales. What do they expect to say? I asked David. 'The

important thing to me,' he said, 'is to exhibit that we care and

we are listening. To show the other beautiful life-forms that

we see them.'

Evidence that proves the negative

impact of social media

Facebook across US universities, launching in

Harvard in 2004 and then spreading across the

country. Using surveys of students, it shows the

platform's arrival saw them being more likely to

report poor mental health with increases in

depression and anxiety of 7% and 20%

respectively. We're talking about the negative

impact of Facebook being around 22% of that of

losing a job - this is big. The authors argue the

impact is from increasing social comparisons.

Seeing everyone else having a great time isn't

good if you're not. The research shows that

Facebook's arrival increased students'

perceptions of how much other students were

drinking - a fairly good proxy for how much fun

you think others are having at that age - but had

no effect on actual drinking levels.

The youth of today might not smoke but it's

hard to believe newer forms of addiction are

completely harmless.

The negative impact of Facebook is about a fifth of that of losing your job.

Photo: Pixellover RM

TUESdAy, SEPTEMBER 20 , 2022

6

despite the ban of the High Court to stop illegal battery-powered rickshaws in Chattogram city, the

crime of battery-powered rickshaws is not reducing in any way. Although an operation is ongoing

from the traffic department of Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP), after the operation, the auto

rickshaw was seen again. The photo was taken on Tuesday from the Tigerpass Ambagan area of

Chattogram city.

Photo: M. Faysal Elahi

Autistic School opens

in Bishwambarpur

AK MILON, SUNAMGANJ

CORRESPONdENT:

In Sunamganj, a newly

constructed building has been

inaugurated as autistic and

intellectual disability school at

a cost of about 5 lakh taka.

Bishwambarpur Upazila

Nirbahi Officer Md. Sadiur

Rahim Jadid inaugurated the

building in Gazir Gao village

of Bishwambarpur Upazila in

Palash Union on Tuesday at

noon.

Autistic and intellectual

disability

School

Inauguration Ceremony was

chaired by M Tajul Islam

Tarak, president of the

organization and national

youth organizer. Freedom

Fighter Abdur Rauf, Awami

League leader Saiful Islam,

UP member of Palash Union

Ward No. 9 Amir Hossain,

donor of the school Abdur

Rahman, local people of the

area, school teachers,

guardians and disable

students spoke at the

occasion. After the

inauguration of the school,

the chief guest, Upazila

Nirbahi Officer Md. Sadiur

Rahim Jadid, was greeted by

a group of students with

autistic and intellectual

disabilities with bouquets of

flowers.

Youth held with

huge cannabis in

Brahmanbaria

BRAHMANBARIA: Police,

in a drive, arrested a youth

with 50 kilograms of

cannabis from Kasba upazila

in the district on Monday

night, reports BSS.

The detainee was

identified as Md Rabbi

Khan, 28, hailed from

Aksina area of the upazila,

said a press release of Kasba

Thana Police yesterday

afternoon.

Being informed, a team of

the police conducted a raid

in Lakshmipur Eidgah

ground area last night and

nabbed Rabbi with the

contraband cannabis, the

release added.

One held with 15

gold bars in Jashore

JASHORE: Border Guard

Bangladesh (BGB) in a drive

arrested a man with 15 gold

bars weighing 1 kg 652

grams from Goga frontier

area in Sharsha upazila of

the district yesterday,

reports BSS.

The detained was

identified as Jalal Uddin, 35,

son of Ali Kadom hailed

from Putkhali in Benapole

port thana of the upazila.

On a tip-off, a BGB team

conducted a raid in the

frontier area at around

11am, arrested Jalal and

recovered the gold bars after

searching his motorbike,

said commander of BGB-21

Lieutenant Colonel

Muhammad Tanvir

Rahman. A case was filed in

this connection, he said.

A newly constructed building has been inaugurated at autistic and

intellectual disability school on Tuesday.

Photo: Ak Milon

2 soap factories fined in Rangpur

RANGPUR: A mobile court jointly

initiated by the district administration and

Detective Branch (DB) of Rangpur

Metropolitan Police (RpMP) fined two

unauthorized soap factories Taka 24,000 in

the city yesterday, reports BSS.

"Led by Executive Magistrate Zannat, the

mobile court conducted two separate raids at

'Iqbal Soap Factory' and 'Shah Soap Factory'

in Jummapara area under Kotwali police

station in the city," said a press release.

The factories had been producing soaps

without chemists, no objection certificate

from the Department of Environment,

health certificates and safety materials for

workers amid improper management of

chemicals.

Later, the Executive Magistrate of Rangpur

district administration fined the owner Md.

Kalimullah of 'Iqbal Soap Factory' Taka

12,000 and owner Zakir Hossain of 'Shah

Soap Factory' Taka 12,000 under section 53

of the Consumer's Right Protection Act,

2009.

The court also ordered to stop all activities

and production in the two soap factories

until rectifying faults and fulfilling all

necessities for running those legally.

District Sanitary Inspector Md. Mahbubur

Rahman, Inspector of DB of RpMP Md.

Mozammel Haque, Sub-inspectors Md.

Golam Morshed, Taslim Uddin, Swapan

Kumar Roy and IH Laku Sarker and other

officials participated in the drives.

Durga Puja to be celebrated at

816 mandaps in Naogaon

NAOGAON: Durga Puja, the biggest

religious festival of the Bangalee Hindu

community, will be celebrated at 816

mandaps in eleven upazilas of the district

this year, reports BSS.

The five-day long festival will begin on

October 1 with due respect and religious

fervor across the country and end on October

5 with immersion of the idols of goddess

Durga and other deities.

President of District Puja Udjapon

Parishad Nirmal Krishna Saha said, 119

mandaps will be erected in Sadar upazila, 52

in Raninagar, 51 in Atrai upazila, 154 in

PM's security adviser pays

homage to Bangabandhu

at Tungipara

TUNGIPARA: Prime Minister's security affairs

adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique

today paid a rich tribute to Father of the Nation

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a

wreath at his mausoleum at Tungipara, Gopalganj,

reports BSS.

After laying the wreath, he stood in solemn silence

for some time as a mark of profound respect to the

memory of the Father of the Nation.

Later, he offered doa seeking eternal peace of the

departed souls of Bangabandhu and other martyrs, who

embraced martyrdom on August 15, 1975.

A special prayer was also offered wishing the long life

of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family

members.

Ayesha Siddika, Superintendent of Police (SP) of

Gopalganj, Tungipara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO)

Md Al Mamun, mayor of Tungipara Municipality

Sheikh Tozammel Haque Tutul, among others, were

present.

Mohadevpur upazila, 106 in Badalgachi

upazila, 117 in Manda upazila, 64 in

Niamatpur upazila, 18 in Porsha upazila, 17

in Sapahar upazila, 86 in Patnitala upazila

and 32 in Dhamoirhat upazila of the district.

In order to ensure overall security during

the upcoming Durga Puja, the monitoring

team will work at the district and upazila

level on behalf of the District Puja Udjapon

Parishad as well as the administration, he

said.

The artisans are now passing busy time,

making the clay images of Goddess Durga,

he added.

Needy people

get wheelchairs

and hearing aids

in Bheramara

SHAMSUL ALAM SwAPON,

KUSHTIA CORRESPONdENT:

With the help of Upazila

Education Office assistive

devices like wheel chairs and

hearing machines were

provided to 5 and 3 people

respectively in Bheramara.

Alhaj Aktaruzzaman

Mithu, Upazila Nirbahi

Officer Dinesh Sarkar,

Upazila LGD Officer

Hashem, Upazila Secondary

Education Officer Faruk

Ahmed, Upazila Education

Officer Ahsan Ara, Assistant

Education Officer Shahidul

Islam and others were

present in the award

ceremony.

Two business

establishments

fined Tk 70,000

in Bhola

BHOLA: A team of

Directorate of National

Consumer Rights Protection

(DNCRP) here today realized

Taka 70,000 as fine for

manufacturing counterfeit

goods and various

irregularities from the owners

of two business

establishments in Charfashion

upazila of the district, reports

BSS.

The team led by assistant

director of Directorate of

National Consumer Rights

Protection (DNCRP) Md.

Mahmudul Hasan

conducted the drive at

Zamzam Food Products,

fined Taka 20,000, for

manufacturing counterfeit

goods and Riaz Ice Cream

Factory, fine Taka 50,000

for various irregularities in

Charfashion upazila of the

district.

The business establishments

were fined Taka 70,000 for

various irregularities and

violation of the Consumer

Rights Protection Act-2009.

Members of the law

enforcement agencies

assisted the team. The

campaign will continue,

Hasan added.

Agricultural

incentives

distributed

in Birol

TAJUL ISLAM, BIROL COR-

RESPONdENT:

In the current financial year

2022-23, free seeds and

chemical fertilizers have

been distributed among the

beneficiary small and

marginal farmers under the

Agricultural Incentive

Program to increase the

production of Vigna mungo

(Mash kalai) during the

Kharip season.

Birol Upazila Nirbahi

Officer Afsana Kawsar

inaugurated the agricultural

incentive distribution

program at the Upazila

Agricultural Extension

Directorate premises on

Tuesday afternoon.

Upazila Awami League

President, Municipal Mayor

Alhaj Sabujar Siddique

Sagar, Joint Secretary

Mosharraf Hossain, Upazila

Agriculture Officer Mostafa

Hasan Imam, Deputy

Assistant

Plant

Conservation Officer

Shahjan Ali and other

Deputy Agriculture Officers

and beneficiary farmers

were present.

Upazila Agriculture

Officer Agriculturist Mostafa

Hasan Imam said that 75

farmers of the upazila were

given free seeds and

chemical fertilizers as an

agricultural incentive to

increase the production of

mash kalai. 5 kg of seed, 10

kg of DAP fertilizer and 5 kg

of MOP fertilizer have been

distributed to each farmer

for each bigha of land.

Harmony rally held in Rajoir

SUJON HOSSAIN RIFAT, RAJOIR CORRESPONdENT:

To counter religious extremism, militancy,

violence and terrorism, a harmony rally was

held at Rajoir in Madaripur on Tuesday in

Ashmat Ali Khan Auditorium. It was

organized by Rajoir Upazila Administration.

Under the chairmanship of Upazila

Nirbahi Officer Md. Anisuzzaman, the chief

guest, Member of Parliament for Madaripur

2 Constituency, Shajahan Khan said in his

speech, Muslims are the ones in whose

hands all people are safe. People were not

safe in the hands of "Razakar" and "Bodor".

Muslims, Hindus, Baidyas, Christians

created Bangladesh together. Everyone will

follow their religion here. No one should

create a controversy about someone's

religion. We all will unitedly move

Bangladesh towards development under the

leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Sheikh Hasina is making Bangladesh a

wonder in the world. Upazila Parishad

Chairman Rezaul Karim Shaheen, Rajair

Awami League Convener Sahabuddin Saha,

Madaripur 2 constituency local

representative Afam Fuad, wartime

commander brave Freedom Fighter Kaiyum

Mir and UP Chairman Sajahan Mia among

others spoke in the rally.

A harmony rally organized by Rajoir Upazila Administration was held at

Rajoir in Madaripur on Tuesday in Ashmat Ali Khan Auditorium on

Tuesday.

Photo: Sujon Hossain Rifat

RAB arrests accused rapist

from Sirajganj

RANGPUR: Rapid Action Battalion

(RAB)-13 arrested an accused rapist on

charge of gang raping a girl of Narsingdi

from Salonga police station area in Sirajganj

on Monday, reports BSS.

"The arrested man is Md. Apan, 25, of

village Prasad Khawa in Boda upazila of

Panchagarh district," a press release said

yesterday.

As per a case filed by the victim with Boda

police station on September 12 last, a love

affair developed between the victim and

prime accused, Abdul Malek of Boda Upazila

in Panchagarh after talking on a mobile

phone nine months ago.

The girl came to Boda upazila on

September 9 last from Narsingdi as Malek

promised to marry her.

Malek in connivance with his friend

Alamgir Hossain tactfully took the girl to an

abandoned house in village Prashad Khawa

in Boda upazila when their other friends

Ashraful and Apan came there. Later,

Malek, Apan, Ashraful and Alamgir forcibly

raped the girl in a nearby mango orchard on

the same night.

On the next day, the victim filed a gang

rape case against Malek and his three friends

with Boda police station and police

subsequently arrested prime accused Malek

and Ashraful from the area.

Alongside the police, the elite force

enforced intelligence activities and started a

shadow investigation into the case to nab the

two other absconding rapists Apan and

Alamgir. On a tip off, an operational team of

RAB-13 conducted a raid at Salonga police

station area in Sirajganj and arrested Apan

on Monday.

"During interrogation, the arrested man

admitted that he along with his three other

friends raped the victim girl forcefully," the

release said, adding that efforts were on to

nab other absconding rapist Alamgir.

For taking further legal actions against the

arrested rapist, the elite force handed him

over to Boda police station in Panchagarh

yesterday.

Free seeds and chemical fertilizers have been distributed among the

beneficiary small and marginal farmers under the Agricultural

Incentive Program on Tuesday in Birol.

Photo: Tajul Islam

Assistive devices like wheel chairs and hearing machines were provided to 5 and 3 people respectively in

Bheramara on Tuesday.

Photo: Shamsul Alam Swapon

WEdNESdAy, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

7

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to swap 200 prisoners in one of the largest exchanges of the sevenmonth

war, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told US television.

Photo : Internet

Russia, Ukraine agree to swap

200 prisoners: Erdogan

ISTANBUL : Russia and Ukraine have

agreed to swap 200 prisoners in one of

the largest exchanges of the sevenmonth

war, Turkish President Recep

Tayyip Erdogan told US television.

Erdogan made the announcement

after talks last week with Russian

President Vladimir Putin on the

sidelines of a regional summit in

Uzbekistan.

Erdogan did not provide full details

about the swap, calling the people

being exchanged "hostages" and not

saying how many there were from each

side.

"Two hundred hostages will be

exchanged upon agreement between

the parties. I think a significant step will

Zimbabwe growth

to drop by half in

2022: IMF

HARARE : Zimbabwe's

economic growth is projected to

slump to around half of last

year's levels due to growing

fiscal instability and a drop in

agricultural output, the

International Monetary Fund

(IMF) said Monday.

"After rising to about seven

percent in 2021, real GDP

growth is expected to decline to

about three-and-half percent in

2022" Dhaneshwar Ghura,

head of a visiting IMF team,

said in a statement.

GD-1538/22 (4x3)

GD-1545/22 (4x3)

be taken forward," Erdogan told PBS

television late Monday.

NATO member Turkey has tried to

stay neutral in the conflict, supplying

combat drones to Kyiv and shying away

from Western-led sanctions against

Moscow.

Erdogan said he had the

"impression" that Putin was willing to

end the war.

"We had very extensive discussions

and he is actually showing me that he is

willing to end this as soon as possible,"

Erdogan said.

"That was my impression because the

way things are going right now are

quite problematic."

Erdogan said Russia's return of

captured lands would be an important

part of any lasting truce.

"If peace is going to be established in

Ukraine, of course returning the land

that was invaded will become

important," he said.

Asked repeatedly if Putin should be

held responsible for invading Ukraine,

Erdogan said there was no benefit in

taking sides.

"We are not going to defend a single

leader. Instead, we have to look for a

solution that will satisfy all the parties

involved."

Erdogan has repeatedly tried to bring

Putin and Ukrainian President

Volodymyr Zelensky together in

Turkey for truce talks.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock vowed to support countries

hardest hit by the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine as she headed

to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

Photo : Internet

†kL nvwmbvi g~jbxwZ

MÖvg kn‡ii DbœwZ

Germany stresses

Ukraine global impact

before UN summit

BERLIN : German Foreign

Minister Annalena Baerbock

vowed to support countries

hardest hit by the fallout from

Russia's invasion of Ukraine

as she headed to the UN

General Assembly on

Tuesday.

"The brutality of Russia's

war of aggression and its

threat to the peace order in

Europe have not blinded us to

the fact that its dramatic

effects are also clearly being

felt in many other regions of

the world," Baerbock said.

"We are not only

responsible for Europe, but

together for the whole world,"

she said.Some 150 leaders

from around the world will

gather in New York from

Tuesday for the United

Nations' massive annual

summit, returning in person

after two years of pandemic

restrictions and video

One person dying of

hunger every four

seconds: NGOs

GENEVA : One person is

estimated to be dying of

hunger every four seconds,

over 200 NGOs warned

Tuesday, urging decisive

international action to

"end the spiralling global

hunger crisis".

In an open letter

addressing world leaders

gathering in New York for

the United Nations

General Assembly, 238

organisations from 75

countries, including

Oxfam, Save the Children

and Plan International

expressed outrage at

skyrocketing hunger levels.

"A staggering 345 million

people are now

experiencing acute hunger,

a number that has more

than doubled since 2019,"

they said in a statement.

"Despite promises from

world leaders to never

allow famine again in the

21st century, famine is

once more imminent in

Somalia. Around the

world, 50 million people

are on the brink of

starvation in 45 countries,"

they said.

Pointing out that as

many as 19,700 people are

estimated to be dying of

hunger every day, the

NGOs said that this

translates to one person

dying of hunger every four

seconds.

"It is abysmal that with

all the technology in

agriculture and harvesting

techniques today we are

still talking about famine

in the 21st century,"

Mohanna Ahmed Ali

Eljabaly from the Yemen

Family Care Association,

one of the letter's

signatories, said in the

statement.

"This is not about one

country or one continent

and hunger never only has

one cause. This is about the

injustice of the whole of

humanity," he said.

"We must not wait a

moment longer to focus

both on providing

immediate lifesaving food

and longer-term support

so people can take charge

of their futures and

provide for themselves and

their families."

addresses.

The leaders should take the

opportunity to "focus on the

issues and concerns of our

partners in Africa, Asia, Latin

America and the Arab world",

Baerbock said.

The focus will also be on

"how the horrific crimes

committed in the name of

Russia in Ukraine can be dealt

with and prosecuted", she

added.

"We stand firmly by

Ukraine and we will continue

to support it-with everything it

needs-so that the war and the

immeasurable suffering of the

people in Ukraine come to an

end."German Chancellor Olaf

Scholz is due to speak in New

York on Tuesday, along with

Brazilian President Jair

Bolsonaro, Turkish President

Recep Tayyip Erdogan and

Japanese Prime Minister

Fumio Kishida.

Four feared dead after

typhoon hits Japan

TOKYO : Two people were confirmed dead and another two

were found "without vital signs" after Typhoon Nanmadol

slammed into Japan over the weekend, a government

spokesman said Tuesday.

The storm system made landfall by the southwestern city of

Kagoshima on Sunday night, and dumped heavy rain across

the Kyushu region before moving along the west coast.

By Tuesday morning, it was downgraded to an

extratropical cyclone as it crossed to the northeastern coast

and headed out to sea.

The storm toppled trees, smashed windows and dumped a

month's worth of rain in a 24-hour period on parts of

Miyazaki prefecture, where the two deaths were confirmed.

Government spokesman Hirozaku Matsuno said another

two people had been found "without vital signs," a term often

used in Japan before a death has been officially certified by a

coroner.

Palestinian Authority arrest raid

sparks West Bank clashes

NABLUS, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES :

A rare operation by the Palestinian Authority

security forces to arrest a Hamas member

sparked clashes in the West Bank city of

Nablus on Tuesday, multiple sources said.

There were reports that a bystander, 53-

year-old Firas Yaish, was killed in the

crossfire but the Palestinian health ministry

had not yet confirmed the death. A tweet,

purportedly from Yaish's cousin Kawther,

said it was "mourning" Firas's death.

Unrest persisted through the morning,

with hundreds of youths hurling rocks at PA

armoured vehicles and the sound of gunfire

ringing out across the city centre, AFP

correspondents reported.

Hamas, historic rivals of the secular Fatah

movement that controls the PA, condemned

the arrest of 30-year-old Musaab Shtayyeh,

calling it a "kidnapping... a national crime"

A rare operation by the Palestinian Authority security forces to arrest a

Hamas member sparked clashes in the West Bank city of Nablus on

Tuesday, multiple sources said.

Photo : Internet

GD-1539/22 (6x3)

GD-1536/22 (6x3)

and a "stain" on the PA's image.

It demanded the immediate release of

Shtayyeh and Ameed Tbaileh, who was

arrested with him, and blasted the PA for

keeping up security coordination with Israel.

"The authority has positioned itself as an

exclusive agent of the occupation (Israel) in

the face of our Palestinian people," the

statement said.

While Palestinian president Mahmud

Abbas's forces maintain security ties with

Israel, which has occupied the West Bank

since 1967, PA raids targeting Hamas

members are not common.

Fatah and Hamas have made various

reconciliation attempts in recent years but

relations remain tense. Hamas has

controlled Gaza since 2007, when it ousted

PA forces from the coastal enclave in deadly

street battles.



WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022

8

First Security Islami Bank Limitedinaugurated34th&35thFoundation Course on 20 September 2022

at FSIBL Training Institute for newly recruited Trainee Assistant Cash Officers with a view to building

skilled human resources for providing better banking services. Mr. Abdul Aziz, Additional

Managing Director of the Bank inaugurated the training program. In his inaugural speech, he has laid

emphasize on building the bank as a modern Islami Bank, wished probationers bright career, advised

all to be careful, honest and sincere in banking activities. Among others, Mr. A. K. M. Amjad Hussain,

Principal along with Faculty Members of Training Institute were present in the program. There are

70newly recruited Trainee Assistant Cash officers of the bank in two batches participating in the

course.

Photo : Courtesy

Benjamin Hung, Chief Executive Officer, Asia,

Standard Chartered, visits Bangladesh

Benjamin Hung, Chief Executive Officer,

Asia, Standard Chartered, arrived in the

capital city of Dhaka earlier this week for

his first official visit to Bangladesh.

Benjamin's visit marks the second recent

visit by a member of the Bank's global

senior leadership team, following a twoyear

pause during the height of the

pandemic.

As part of his two-day visit, Benjamin

met with regulators,senior government

officials, economists, the Bank's clients,

and with other key stakeholders. The

core agenda of Benjamin's visit was to

get a first-hand perspective on one of the

fastest growing markets in the world and

to gain an insight on how Bangladesh

contributes to Asia's resilience,

dynamism, and growth. Throughout his

visit, Benjaminexplored how the Bank is

driving greater digital innovation,

accelerating sustainability, and placing

an emphasis on greater prosperity and

progress nationwide.

Benjamin dedicated some of his time

in Bangladesh to exploring the Bank's

far-reaching community engagement

initiatives by visiting Ispahani Islamia

Eye Institute and Hospital

(Islamia).Islamia is the birthplace of

"Seeing is Believing (SiB)" - which ran

from 2003 to 2019 and was one of the

Bank's global flagship communityoriented

initiatives for over 15 years.

Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive

Officer, Standard Chartered Bangladesh,

said, "Bangladesh's resilienceenables us

to bounceback time and time again,

which is a portent of the growth and

development opportunities that the

future holds. As we forge stronger

connections and continue to harness

Bangladesh's immense potential, we

look forward to creating avenues for

greater collaboration - locally, regionally,

and globally. Ben's first official visit to

Bangladesh showcasesthe commitment

that the Bank's senior management has

on our Bangladesh operations."

Benjamin Hung was appointed as

Standard Chartered's Chief Executive

Officer for Asia in January of 2021. He

sits on the Group's Management Team

and is the Chairman of Standard

Chartered Bank (China) Limited. Since

joining Standard Chartered in 1992,

Benjamin has held a number of senior

management positions spanning

corporate, commercial, and retail

banking. Prior to his current role,

Benjamin was Regional Chief Executive

Officer for Greater China & North Asia,

and Chief Executive Officer of Retail

Banking, and Wealth Management

SEBPO donated Medicine (Chemotherapy) to the "ASHIC, Foundation for

Childhood Cancer" as a part of CSR program for the terminally ill cancer children.

September is recognized as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and gold is the

color to commemorate the event. This is an Annual International Awareness

Month to raise support, fund raising and awareness of childhood cancers and the

impact for sufferers and families. In order to raise awareness of cancer sufferers

and survivors and also support them SEBPO donated Medicine (Chemotherapy) to

the "ASHIC, Foundation for Childhood Cancer" as a part of CSR program for the

terminally ill cancer children. High officials from SEBPO and ASHIC, Foundation

for Childhood Cancer were present in the CSR program. Photo : Courtesy

globally. Benjamin is currently based in

Hong Kong and has international

banking experience in both the United

Kingdom and Canada.Benjamin is also a

member of the Hong Kong Chief

Executive's Council of Advisers on

Innovation and Strategic Development,

the Exchange Fund Advisory

Committee, the Hong Kong Exchanges

and Clearing Limited's Board of

Directors, and the General Committee of

the Hong Kong General Chamber of

Commerce. He was previously the

Chairman of the Hong Kong Association

of Banks, a member of the Financial

Services Development Council, a board

member of the Hong Kong Airport

Authority and the Hong Kong Hospital

Authority, and a Council Member of the

University of Hong Kong.

Standard Chartered is the only

multinational universal Bank in

Bangladesh, with over 117 years of

uninterrupted presence in the nation.

The Bank is a committed partner in

progress to Bangladesh, facilitating major

investments in power, energy,

transportation, and urban development.

The Bank accounted for a major share of

all export and import financing,

respectively, last year, as well as power

generation financing and SME lending by

foreign banks. At the same time, the Bank

commands a leading position in the retail

finance space. Standard Chartered's

commitment to support Bangladesh's

continued journey of prosperity even in

the face of a global pandemic saw the

bank secure 30 major international

awards in 2021.

European stocks

advance at open

LONDON : Europe's main

stock markets opened

higher Tuesday after earlier

Asian gains, but looming

interest rate hikes remain in

focus.

London's benchmark

FTSE 100 index won 0.8

percent to 7,295.40 points

after a holiday closure on

Monday for the state funeral

of Queen Elizabeth II.

In the eurozone,

Frankfurt's DAX index

added 0.5 percent to

12,869.10 points and the

Paris CAC 40 rose 0.6

percent to 6,096.06.

Global central banks are

lifting interest rates in an

attempt to cool red-hot

inflation, but this also

weighs on economic activity.

The US Federal Reserve is

forecast Wednesday to hike

its key interest rate by

another 0.75 percentage

points.

Japan inflation at highest level since 2014

TOKYO : Inflation in Japan hit 2.8

percent in August, the highest level

since 2014, government data showed

Tuesday, as soaring energy prices bite.

The last time such figures were seen,

prices had been artificially bolstered by

an increase in VAT. Excluding years

when tax hikes impacted the rate,

August's inflation was the fastest pace

in nearly 31 years.

Data from the internal affairs

ministry showed electricity, gas and

petrol were among the key contributors

to rising prices.

The figure for August was slightly

above the 2.7 percent consensus

forecast by experts, and comes on the

heels of a 2.4 percent rise in July.

It comes ahead of this week's meeting

of the Bank of Japan, which has bucked

the trend of peers elsewhere and stuck

with its ultra-loose monetary policy.

Other central banks have opted to

hike interest rates to fight soaring

inflation, but the BoJ views the current

price increases as temporary and linked

to exceptional events such as the war in

Ukraine.

The growing gulf between the bank's

policy and rate hikes elsewhere has

caused the yen to slump, reaching a

decades-low level against the dollar.

The BoJ's longstanding target is for

sustained two percent inflation, which

it views as necessary to turbocharge the

world's third-largest economy.

WE summit in

October, Dhaka

to encourage

women

entrepreneurs

DHAKA : 'Women and E-

commerce' Platform (WE)

will organize a

womenentrepreneurs'

business summit at the

Bangabandhu International

Conference Center (BICC) in

October.

The organizers said the

summit will be held on

October 14 and 15 as the

largest conference in the

country, where the WE

entrepreneurs can discuss

problems and potentials of

e-commerce business.

State Minister for

Information and

Communication Technology

Junaid Ahmed Palak will

preside over the inaugural

ceremony. On this day, 30

guests will participate in the

discussion.

Apart from this, there will

be workshops by local and

foreign guest speakers on

various topics including easy

and uninterrupted Internet

access for entrepreneurs,

adapting themselves with

the logistics ecosystem and

financing for business

expansion, Facebook

marketing,

and

photography. Eight sessions

will be conducted online on

these issues.

On the second day, there is

a 'fashion show' on various

products and services made

by the WE entrepreneurs.

Again, these entrepreneurs

will host the event with

cultural performances.

In the closing session, the

best 20 women

entrepreneurs will be

awarded with the Joyee

(winner) award. Among

them, 10 will be WE

members and the remaining

10 will be from other sectors.

WE President and E-CAB

Joint General Secretary

Nasima Akhter Nisha,"We

have been organizing

various workshops and

training to improve the skills

of local women

entrepreneurs for a long

time. At the same time, we

are working to establish

links with entrepreneurs on

various public and private

platforms."

1000 tree saplings have been distributed to more than 200 people at Lalkhan Bazar area of the port

city of Chattogram under the initiative of 'Touch of green in your own garden'. Abul Hasnat

Mohammad Belal, Councilor of Lalkhan Bazar Ward No. 14 of Chattogram City Corporation was

present as the chief guest in the event.

Photo : Courtesy

Asian markets see rare rally but

caution rules as Fed hike nears

HONG KONG : Asian markets enjoyed a

much-needed bounce Tuesday, tracking

Wall Street's late rally as investors gird

themselves for another big Federal

Reserve interest rate hike this week,

though fears of a recession remain

elevated.

Global equities have taken a severe

body blow in recent weeks as central

banks struggle to rein in stubbornly high

inflation, Russia continues its war in

Ukraine and China's economic woes

darken the mood across trading floors.

With the main concern being that

sharp increases in borrowing costs will

cause recessions in major economies, this

week will be a minefield for traders with

several countries including Britain tipped

to announce more tightening.

The Fed's decision, however, is the

Hong Kong to further

relax covid restrictions

‘soon’: City leader

HONG KONG : Hong Kong's leader on

Tuesday said he will soon make a decision on

further relaxing coronavirus restrictions, as

residents and businesses decry quarantine

rules that have kept the finance hub cut off for

more than two years.

"We will make a decision soon and announce

to the public," chief executive John Lee told

reporters.

"We want to be connected with the different

places in the world. We would like to have an

orderly opening up," he added.

Hong Kong has adhered to a version of

China's strict zero-Covid rules throughout the

pandemic, battering the economy and

deepening the city's brain drain as rival

business hubs reopen.

It maintains mandatory hotel quarantine for

international arrivals-currently at three dayswidespread

masking, business operating limits

and bans on more than four people gathering

in public.

Lee, a Beijing-anointed former security chief,

took office in July and vowed to reopen the city

while keeping cases low.

He reduced hotel quarantine from seven to

three days but has faced a growing chorus of

criticism from residents, business

organisations and health experts saying he

should go further.

Over the past week multiple Hong Kong

media outlets have reported, citing sources,

that the government has already agreed to lift

quarantine.

Lee would not confirm that decision or

HARARE : Zimbabwe's economic growth is

projected to slump to around half of last

year's levels due to growing fiscal instability

and a drop in agricultural output, the

International Monetary Fund (IMF) said

Monday.

"After rising to about seven percent in

2021, real GDP growth is expected to decline

to about three-and-half percent in 2022" as

erratic rains and rising macroeconomic

instability hamper agriculture, Dhaneshwar

Ghura, head of a visiting IMF team, said in a

statement.

Zimbabwe's economy has been on a

downturn for nearly two decades.

New price and exchange rate depreciation

pressures have resurfaced.

main focus after figures last week showed

prices are still rising at rates not seen

since the early 1980s.

Most observers expect the bank to

announce a third successive 75-basispoint

lift, though there are some who

have flagged a possible one-percentagepoint

move. And there is speculation that

the rises will not stop until the rate is

above four percent, still some way from

the current 2.25-2.75 percent.

"We expect central bank tightening and

a fading of supply chain pressures to

moderate job growth and core inflation,"

JPMorgan Chase & Co said, tipping it to

end at 4.25 percent by early next year.

"In turn, we anticipate this will allow

the Fed and other central banks to pause"

in the first half of 2023, said strategists

including Marko Kolanovic and Nikolaos

commit to a firm timeline on Tuesday.

But his comments were the strongest

indication yet that Hong Kong is planning to

join much of the rest of the world in accepting

endemicity.

That would leave just China and Taiwan still

maintaining mandatory quarantine for

arrivals.

"Our goal is to maximise Hong Kong's

international connectivity and reduce the

inconvenience for arrivals due to quarantine,

on the condition that we can control the trend

of the pandemic," Lee said.

Hong Kong is in the midst of a technical

recession while its financial chief recently

warned its fiscal deficit is expected to balloon to

HK$100 billion ($12.7 billion) this year, twice

initial estimates.

Arrivals at the airport, once one of the world's

busiest, are at a fraction of pre-pandemic levels

with many airlines skipping the city altogether.

Regional rival Singapore has long dispensed

with coronavirus controls and is hosting a slew

of conferences, entertainment and sporting

events over the coming months.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong has seen multiple

events cancelled by organisers citing the

uncertain pandemic controls including most

recently next year's World Dragon Boat

Championships which will be held in Thailand

instead.

Hong Kong is planning to host a banking

summit and the Rugby Sevens in November,

although under current rules players in the

latter will have to stay in a "closed loop" bubble.

Zimbabwe growth to drop

by half in 2022: IMF

Inflation soared to 285 percent in August,

said the IMF, up from 60 percent at the

beginning of the year.

"Uncertainty remains high, however, and

the outlook will depend on the evolution of

external shocks, the policy stance, and

implementation of inclusive growth-friendly

policies," Ghura said following a visit to the

capital Harare. The IMF offers technical

support to Zimbabwe, but is precluded from

providing financial aid to the country "due to

unsustainable debt and official external

arrears", he said.

Any financial deal would require the

clearance of external debt arrears,

macroeconomic stability, poverty reduction

and transparency reforms.

Panigirtzoglou. The outlook remains

downbeat for some time, with Edward

Moya at OANDA warning the lows of

June could be seen again.

"Pessimism for equities remains

elevated as the US economy appears to

have a one-way ticket towards a recession

as the Fed is poised to remain

aggressive," he said in a note.

"The risks for a retest of the summer

lows could easily happen if the Fed

remains fully committed (to) their

inflation fight." Still, Asian markets were

on the up Tuesday.

Hong Kong led the way, rising more

than one percent, with Sydney not far

behind. Tokyo returned from a long

weekend to post healthy gains, while

Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Manila,

Wellington and Jakarta were also higher.

WEdNEsdAy, sEpTEMBEr 21, 2022

9

Bangladesh beat

Scotland by six

wickets in World

T20 qualifiers

sporTs dEsk

Bangladesh women's cricket

team defeated Scotland by six

wickets during their second

match of the World Cup

qualifiers at Zayed Stadium in

Abu Dhabi on Monday,

reports UNB.

Scotland were bowled out

for just 77 runs 19.3 overs as

Bangladesh bowlers bowled

with tight line, length and

accuracy.

Shohely Akhter was

particularly magnificent with

the ball as she took four

wickets conceding just seven

runs from her four overs with

one maiden.

Other bowlers also gave

good support as Nahida

Akhter took two wickets while

Salma Khatun and Sanjida

Akter Meghla took one wicket

each.

In reply, Bangladesh lost

the wicket of opener Shamima

Sultana early but skipper

Nigar Sultana played a

sensible innings of 34 off 43

deliveries to guide the team

closer to victory.

In the end Bangladesh

reached their target from 13

overs losing four wickets.

Bangladesh also beat

Ireland by 14 runs in their first

game and they will play their

third match of the group stage

against USA on Wednesday

before the play offs.

Eight teams are battling for

the two remaining places in

the next World Cup.

Bangladesh are in Group A

along with Ireland, Scotland

and the United States. And in

Group B consists of Papua

New Guinea, Thailand, UAE

and Zimbabwe.

The top two teams will seal

their berth in the main event,

which will be played in South

Africa in February and March

2023.

kylian Mbappe "decided not to take part in the photo session scheduled" with

France's national football team after the French Federation's refusal to "modify

the agreement" for the players' personality rights, he said. photo: Ap

Exclusive beach-front entertainment festival

unveiled for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

sporTs dEsk

Football fans traveling to the FIFA World

Cup Qatar 2022 will be able to experience all

the tournament's action from an exclusive

beachfront setting, after Qatar-based

UVentures and Qetaifan Projects announced

a partnership to establish an entertainment

area in Qetaifan Island North, in the new city

of Lusail in the north of Doha, for the monthlong

football event reports UNB.

Operated jointly by Madaeen Al Doha

Group in strategic partnership with Fusion

Hospitality and Exhibitions, the purposebuilt

Qetai-Fan Beach Fest powered by Unit-

Y will operate from early morning until latenight

hours during the entirety of the

tournament, allowing guests to enjoy a

variety of hospitality services, activities, food

and beverage offerings, retail outlets and live

music performances.

"We are thrilled to put our vision into

action ahead of the most eagerly awaited

event in the world. Qetai-Fan Beach Fest

powered by Unit-Y is a first-of-its-kind

entertainment concept that is meant to take

the fan experience to a different level in

Qatar," said Sheikh Nasser bin Abdulaziz Al-

Thani, head of business development at

Qetaifan Projects.

"With the support of our partners and

supporting stakeholders as well as the

relentless efforts of our team, we will be

bringing a holistic and historical

entertainment experience to life, where all

fans from all walks of life can gather to create

memories and exchange cultures through

the universal language that music provides,"

he added.

The festival will be a unique entertainment

area in Qatar, with direct beach access and a

license to operate catered music events

designed to offer experiences merging local,

regional and international cultures.

As part of the entertainment, resident

musicians and artists will perform alongside

concerts and special performances by worldrenowned

and rising artists.

Nations League games offer last

chance to prepare for World Cup

sporTs dEsk

A hectic schedule of club

football ahead of the World Cup

is interrupted this week as

national teams get a last chance

to finetune their preparations

before traveling to Qatar for the

start of the tournament on Nov.

20, reports UNB.

Holding the World Cup in the

middle of the European season

is having major consequences

for clubs but also for coaches of

national teams. While domestic

competitions bear the brunt of

the upheaval to the calendar as

they are forced to halt a week

before the opening game in

Qatar, that also means there

will be next to no time for

squads to work together before

beginning their World Cup

campaigns.

Extra importance is therefore

placed on events over the next

week, as European sides

complete the UEFA Nations

League group stage while other

contenders play friendly

matches, including back-toback

games for Brazil on

French soil against Ghana and

Tunisia.

Reigning world champions

France are preparing to defend

the crown they won in Russia in

2018 while simultaneously

trying to avoid being relegated

from the top tier of the Nations

League.

Les Bleus, who won the

Nations League last year, host

Austria on Thursday and visit

Denmark on Sunday needing to

win both games to be sure of

remaining in League A.

But France coach Didier

Deschamps has numerous

issues, not least injuries to key

players including Paul Pogba -

he is recovering from a knee

operation which has left him

facing a race against time to be

fit for Qatar.

"He will do everything to try

to be fit as quickly as possible,

despite the lack of time,"

Deschamps told broadcaster

TF1 on Sunday.

It is also too early to say if a

dispute between Kylian

Mbappe and the French

Football Federation over image

rights could impact squad

morale, with the Paris Saint-

Germain star refusing to take

part in a photo shoot on

Monday.

France's latest squad features

several new faces who are

hoping to seize their chance to

impress before final lists must

be submitted to FIFA by Nov.

13.

England manager Gareth

Southgate has handed an

opportunity to Brentford

forward Ivan Toney as the Euro

2020 runners-up play Italy and

Germany in Nations League A3.

Like France, England

suffered a series of poor results

Notable UEFA Nations League matches

this week (kick-offs 1845 GMT)

ThUrsdAy

Group A1

France v Austria

Croatia v Denmark

Group A4

Belgium v Wales

Poland v Netherlands

FridAy

Group A3

Germany v Hungary

Italy v England

sATUrdAy

Group A2

Spain v Switzerland

Czech Republic v Portugal

Group B4

Serbia v Sweden

sUNdAy

Group A1

Austria v Croatia

Denmark v France

Group A4

Netherlands v Belgium

Wales v Poland

MoNdAy, Sept. 26

Group A3

England v Germany

Hungary v Italy

TUEsdAy, Sept. 27

Group A2

Switzerland v Czech

Republic

Portugal v Spain

Group B4

Norway v Serbia

in June and so realistically need

to win both of these games to

avoid relegation to League B.

But Southgate will run the

rule over an expanded 28-man

squad with Qatar in mind.

"Part of the rationale is that

we are very close to a World

Cup and we feel, although our

results were disappointing in

the summer, we have picked on

the basis of form and capability

over a long period," Southgate

said last week.

Spain and Cristiano

Ronaldo's Portugal will warm

up for the World Cup by

meeting in Braga on Sept. 27 in

a game that could decide which

of the Iberian neighbors

advances to the Nations League

finals next June.

Meanwhile, fresh from

signing a new four-year deal,

Wales manager Robert Page

has named Los Angeles FC's

Gareth Bale in his squad for

games against Belgium and

Poland.

Wales look set to be relegated

from their Nations League

group too, but that is not

something that will concern

them too much before they

return to the World Cup stage

for the first time since 1958.

France's head coach didier deschamps, center, attends a training session

of the French national soccer team at Clairefontaine training center, south

of paris.

photo: Ap

Mbappe in image

rights fight with

France ahead of

World Cup

sporTs dEsk

A dispute between Kylian

Mbappe and the French

soccer federation over the

use of image rights

resurfaced Monday as the

team prepared for

Nations League matches.,

reports UNB.

The months-long

disagreement and an

ongoing extortion scandal

involving Paul Pogba are

threatening to disrupt

France's preparations for the

World Cup in Qatar.

French media quoting an

Mbappe statement to

France's national news

agency reported that the

Paris Saint-Germain star

will refuse to participate in a

photo session Tuesday with

his teammates because the

federation has not amended

the collective agreement

governing rights for the

French team ahead of the

World Cup.

Mbappe's lawyer could not

be reached for comment.

The current agreement

that dates back to 2010

requires players to

participate in marketing

operations with the team's

sponsors. In return, players

receive €25,000

($25,000) for every

international match they

play.

But Mbappe and his

advisers argue that the deal

is unfair because images of

some high-profile players

are used more often than

others. They also want the

right to review the brands

with which players are

associated.

Mbappe boycotted a

marketing event for the

federation in March.

France play Austria on

Thursday and travel to

Copenhagen three days later

to take on Denmark. Les

Bleus face relegation to the

second tier of the Nations

League. The defending

champions are in last place

in Group 1 with two points

from four games. Denmark

lead with nine.

Black Caps tweak

2021 squad for

T20 World Cup

sporTs dEsk

New Zealand have named a

largely settled 15-man party

for the Twenty20 World Cup

in Australia with Finn Allen

and Michael Bracewell the

only players who did not

feature in the squad that

made the final in 2021,

reports UNB.

Martin Guptill will play in

his seventh T20 World Cup

and Devon Conway will keep

wickets in addition to his

batting duties at the

tournament, which starts for

the Black Caps with a re-run

of last year's final against

Australia in Sydney on Oct.

22.

Seamer Adam Milne, who

was an injury replacement

for Lockie Ferguson at last

year's tournament in the

United Arab Emirates, was

retained in the absence of

Kyle Jamieson, who has a

back problem.

Hard-hitting batsman

Allen and all-rounder

Bracewell are the numeric

replacements for leg spinner

Todd Astle and

wicketkeeper Tim Seifert,

who both missed out.

"It's great to have this

tournament so soon after

last year's event in which we

played some really good

cricket, but couldn't quite

get over the line at the end,"

said coach Gary Stead.

"With the nucleus of that

squad retained along with

the exciting additions of

Finn and Michael, we should

go into the tournament with

plenty of optimism."

New Zealand also face

Afghanistan, England and

two as yet undetermined

qualifiers from the opening

stage of the tournament in

Group 1 of the Super 12.

Everything stacked in

US favor at another

Presidents Cup

sporTs dEsk

The last Presidents Cup was so close the

International team walked away with

renewed hope that it had enough game and

enough fight to conquer the mighty

Americans, reports UNB.

That now seems so long ago.

Sure, the COVID-19 pandemic pushed the

Presidents Cup back a year.

"That's something that we've been looking

forward to for the last three years," said

British Open champion Cameron Smith, and

then 20 days later he was officially

announced as defecting to the rival league.

Joaquin Niemann of Chile and Marc

Leishman of Australia also took the cash to

sign with LIV Golf just two days before the

12-man International team was to be filled

out. Louis Oosthuizen, so good in the

Presidents Cup he had a winning record

while never playing on a winning team, was

among the first to go back in June.

US captain Davis Love III was asked if he

felt bad for Trevor Immelman, who was

chosen International captain long before LIV

was anything more than a Roman numeral.

"I feel bad for the game of golf right now

that this is the story going in," Love said. "I

feel bad for all of us, really. But Trevor has a

job to do, and that's to take 12 guys in there

ready to play, and he's going to be focused on

that."

The 14th edition of the matches between

Americans and an International team

composed of players from outside Europe

starts Thursday at Quail Hollow Club, and it

looks to be as one-sided as the record

suggests.

The Americans have lost only once, in 1998

at Royal Melbourne in Australia, matches

that ended 12 days before Christmas. There

was a tie in South Africa and then eight

consecutive US celebrations.

The US are not quite a year removed from

giving Europe their worst beating ever in the

Ryder Cup, 19-9 at Whistling Straits, with a

young and hungry team.

The Americans were not immune to the

defections - Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka

and Bryson DeChambeau were on that

Ryder Cup team - though there was no

certainty they would have made this team.

And the state of American golf is such that

replacements are easily found. All 12 players

are among the top 25 in the world ranking.

The International team counters with only

three players from the top 25 - former

Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama,

Sungjae Im and Tom Kim, the 20-year-old

South Korean who wasn't even a

consideration until he won the Wyndham

Championship six weeks ago.

Immelman brings eight Presidents Cup

rookies to Quail Hollow. Only three players

on his team have won tournaments this year.

Only two - Matsuyama and Adam Scott -

have won majors.

Love's team has only three players who

haven't won this year. That includes twotime

major champion Collin Morikawa and

Cameron Young, the PGA Tour rookie who

has been a runner-up five times and twice

came within one shot of a chance to win a

major.

Now think back to Melbourne in 2019, a

Presidents Cup that was going the

International team's way until a US rally on

the final day and a 16-14 victory. Ernie Els

was the captain who gave his side a new logo,

a new identity and a fighting spirit.

Els said of his team when it was over, "If

you look at their record and where these guys

are at the moment, they are going places, I

can tell you that."

The Americans have five Presidents Cup

rookies, though two of them (Morikawa and

Scottie Scheffler) played in the Ryder Cup,

and two others (Sam Burns and Max Homa)

have collected three PGA Tour victories in

the last 12 months.

It's one-sided on paper. It's a one-sided

history. If there is pressure on the

Americans, it's about not being the team that

finally loses.

Immelman doesn't hide the

disappointment at not having Oosthuizen

and Smith and Niemann and those who were

looked upon as being big contributors.

Justin Thomas of the Us Team plays a shot as caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay,

Assistant Captain Zach Johnson of the Us Team, and Mike Thomas look on

prior to the 2022 presidents Cup at Quail hollow Country Club. photo: Ap

US keeper Turner

unfazed by lack of

Arsenal game time

sporTs dEsk

Matt Turner said yesterday

he is unfazed by a lack of

minutes for Arsenal as he

bids to establish himself as

the US' first-choice

goalkeeper for the World

Cup, reports UNB.

Turner, 28, who started

eight of the USA's 14 World

Cup qualifiers, joined the

Gunners in June on a longterm

deal from the New

England Revolution after

being named Major League

Soccer's goalkeeper of the

year in 2021.

However Turner has failed

to dislodge first-choice

goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale

since moving to London, and

has not featured in any of the

Gunners' seven Premier

League fixtures to date.

Turner, though, does not

believe a lack of minutes will

hamper his match sharpness

as the USA prepare for

friendlies against Japan and

Saudi Arabia - the team's

final games before heading

to the World Cup in Qatar.

"The situation depends on

how you approach training,"

Turner told reporters on a

video conference call.

"I'd say if you're in

(training) just to stroll about,

and you don't think that you

can change your situation,

no matter what you do then

you'll lose a lot of that

sharpness.

"I don't know how much

you know about me or my

story, but that's not really the

kind of way that I operate.

"Every single day I go to

training, I'm going to try to

get better to try to learn and

improve, and try to get

myself onto the field."

Turner is one of three

goalkeepers included in the

US squad for Friday's game

against Japan in

Duesseldorf, Germany and

next Tuesday's friendly

against Saudi Arabia in

Murcia, Spain.

Luton Town's Ethan

Horvath and New York City

FC's Sean Johnson complete

the trio. Manchester City's

injured Zack Steffen, on loan

at Middlesbrough, is

expected to return to the

squad for the World Cup.

Turner meanwhile paid

tribute to the work of Arsenal

manager Mikel Arteta, who

has guided the Gunners to

the top of the Premier

League table after seven

games.

"He's just a great person to

be around," Turner said,

recalling an incident in one

of his first sessions at Arsenal

where the manager had

remonstrated with him.

"I gave a ball away, and I

sort of showed that I was

frustrated and upset,"

Turner said.

"And he just came up to

me and shoved me and

basically was like 'I don't

want to see that, I don't like

that reaction. I want to see

you pick yourself up and

keep going.'

"I think that really set the

tone for my mentality within

the club, and just to keep

going, no matter what.

"If you fail that's all right.

What matters is how you

react not about the failure in

itself."

WEdNEsdAY, sEPTEMBER 21, 2022

10

Mehazabien participates

in new TVC shooting

TBT REPORT

Lux Superstar Mehazabien

Chowdhury is television's most

popular actress. In terms of

commercials she is well known as well.

She regularly appears in television

dramas and commercials. After the Eid

break, she participated in only one play

and she went to Dubai for a holiday.

Mehazabien Chowdhury returned to

the country in the last week of the

month after spending her time in her

own way.

Last two days she participated in an

advertisement shooting. She is the

goodwill ambassador of Banglalink. As

part of that, she participated in the

shooting of the advertisement.

It was created by Adnan Al Rajeeb.

Apart from Mehazabien, more than

fifty artists participated here.

Adnan Al Rajeeb said, "I shot for two

days. Mehazabien is Banglalink's

Goodwill Ambassador, the response of

the works I have done with her earlier

is very good. She is very cooperative

about work. She worked comfortably. I

have done this work in thematic

concept, the audience will like it.

MCU ‘Phase 4’ is about fallout from

‘Avengers: Endgame’ says Marvel Exec

The core story of the MCU's Phase 4 is

about the fallout from Avengers:

Endgame, confirms a Marvel

producer. In 2019, Joe and Anthony

Russo culminated the decade-long

Infinity Saga through their

blockbuster film. It marked the end of

an era for the MCU, and now the

franchise is currently in the process of

rebuilding in Phase 4, laying the

groundwork for its next big crossover

event.

After being hampered by several

delays and schedule reshuffles due to

different factors, Phase 4 is finally in

full swing. At this point, six films have

already been released, with the latest,

Thor: Love and Thunder, currently

playing in theaters. Meanwhile, its

newly-minted Disney+ branch is also

booming with Ms. Marvel currently

preparing for its season finale.

Throughout all this, there are clear

arcs that tie different projects

together, such as the multiverse with

titles like Loki and Spider-Man: No

Way Home. At the same time, other

stories mainly function as standalone

installments, such as last summer's

Black Widow. While it's still unclear

what the overall narrative will be in

this new chapter of storytelling for the

MCU, a Marvel Studios executive

shares what's the common theme for

Phase 4.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of

Madness producer Richie Palmer

recently sat down with Empire Spoiler

Special Podcast (via Collider) to talk

about the film and what's next for the

franchise. He reveals that the MCU's

Phase 4 is defined by the events of

Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers:

Endgame as the characters are feeling

different emotions from their fight

against Thanos.

This is an interesting admission

from Palmer, as there was an

assumption that Marvel Studios is

moving away from the Infinity Saga

and setting up an entirely new arc that

will someday also culminate in a

blockbuster event. However, this also

explains much of their creative

decisions recently.

Source: Collider

Kona, Belal collaborate

in playback song again

TBT REPORT

National Film Awardwinning

singers Dilshad

Nahar Kona and Belal Khan

have collaborated in a movie

song again.

Kolkata's musician Adhyan

Dhara has written lyrics of the

song. He also has composed

and directed the music of the

song.

The some lyrics of the song

are 'Tor Dike Chole Jabo Bole

Etota Ashechi', 'Tor Srote

Mishe Jabo Bole Nodite

Bheshechi…' The track was

recorded at a studio in the

capital on Friday. The song

will be used in the movie

'Prem Puran'.

Masud Mahiuddin and

Mahmud Hasan Shikder have

jointly directed the movie.

The shooting of the movie has

already been completed.

Popular actors Ziaul Roshan

and Bubly will be seen playing

lead roles in the mofilm.

About the song Kona said,

"The lyrics of the song is

amazing. I hope the audience

will enjoy it very much."

Belal Khan is also very

hopeful about the track.

Kona and Belal Khan

collaborated in the song

'Kagojer Naw' for the movie

'Sonar Char' last time.

Directed by Jahid Hossein,

the film stars Omar Sani,

Moushumi and others.

Dilshad Nahar Kona is a

popular singger of the

country. She won Bangladesh

National Film Award for Best

Female Playback Singer for

her song 'Tui Ki Amar Hobi

Re' in the film

Bishwoshundori (2020).

Belal Khan is a singer,

songwriter and music

composer of the country. He

Nodi Khondaker: Dreamer of world

standard make-up industry

TBT REPORT

We all dream but very few can convert the

dreams into reality. Nodi Khondaker, a

Bangladesh-born Swedish Teacher,

Makeup Artist, Trainer and a Social Media

Influencer, widely known for her exquisite

facebook live presentation skills, is such an

example who build her fate by herself.

Nodi was born in Dhaka but moved to

Sweden with her family when she was four

only and completed her education in

Sweden. She then, persuaded her career

as a school teacher, one of the noble

profession in the world. But she is a bornartist

and her passion for make-up artistry

led her towards an adventurous life in the

glomour world.

The bold beauty wanted to get involved

with fashion and latest trends as she have

strong passion for beauty art. She

therefore, left off teaching in her mid 20s

and decided to learn makeup form various

won Bangladesh National

Film Awards for two times- in

2016 for his music

composition in the film

'Nekabborer Mohaproyan'

and in 2020 as the Best Music

Director for the film

'Bishshash Jodi Jayre'.

well known beauty trainers in Sweden.

Nodi Khondaker established "Nodi

Khondaker's Makeover" in 2019. The

story of her initiation is like a fable. She

visited Bangladesh from Sweden in 2017,

which was a short trip but she became

obsessed with this city so much that she

decided to stay here for a while. She

contemplated to make the best use of her

time in Dhaka and started offering basic to

advance level makeup coaching classes for

make-up loving women and got

tremendous response since there weren't

many makeup instructors available in

Dhaka. She also gained a lot of social

media followers during this period as her

makeover and product review live

sessions on facebook became extremely

popular among her followers.

As a passionate and workaholic fellow,

Nodi decided to shift to Bangladesh

permanently in 2019 and initiated her

Bridal & party makeovers organization.

Her makeover venture grew rapidly over

time because of her splendid skills, hard

work and charming persona, which also

made her get offers from various reputed

brands in Bangladesh to review and

promote their brands on her social media

platforms as a social media influencer.

Her presentation got huge appreciation

and even during pandemic period, a large

number of brands showed interest to work

with her for her strong work ethics and

passion towards her work.

Kiara spotted at SLB's residence, possible film on the cards

Bollywood actress Kiara

Advani has carved a niche

for herself in Bollywood

within a short span of time.

The actress was recently

seen in Jug Jugg Jeeyo

alongside Varun Dhawan,

Anil Kapoor and Neetu

Kapoor. She was also a part

of the horror-comedy film,

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, costarring

Kartik Aaryan, and

it emerged as the second

highest-grossing Hindi film

this year. On Saturday, the

actress was spotted outside

filmmaker Sanjay Leela

Bhansali's office in Mumbai,

and we wonder if the two

are planning to work

together on a new project.

On Saturday evening,

Kiara Advani was seen

leaving Sanjay Leela

Bhansali's office. The actress

was clicked by the paparazzi

as she exited the office and

was heading towards her

car. She was seen wearing a

yellow and white ethnic

dress, and completed her

look with yellow juttis.

Needless to say, she looked

absolutely gorgeous! A few

of the pictures clicked by the

paparazzi show the actress

in the backseat of the car,

talking to someone on the

phone. Check out the

pictures below.

Meanwhile, earlier this

year, Kiara had expressed

her wish to work with

Sanjay Leela Bhansali. In an

interview with Filmfare, the

actress said that she hopes

to achieve three things

before 2022 ends- travel

more, keep shooting films

and sign a Bhansali film!

A few days ago, Kiara

Advani was seen looking

every bit gorgeous and

glamorous in a golden

shimmery outfit as she

turned showstopper at an

event in Delhi. She shared

pictures from the event on

her Instagram account, and

fans went gaga over the

actress.

On the work front, Kiara

Advani will next be seen in

SatyaPrem Ki Katha with

Kartik Aaryan, which is

scheduled to release next

year. She will also be seen in

Govinda Naam Mera,

alongside Vicky Kaushal

and Bhumi Pednekar. Apart

from this, she also has a

Telugu film titled RC-15 in

the pipeline.

Source: Hindustan times

H O R O s c O P E

ARIEs

Finances should be going well, Aries,

but your financial affairs aren't

something you want to talk about to

anyone now. Perhaps you want to

make a decision that's yours and not influenced by

others. Nonetheless, a close friend or lover is going

to find out. Maybe they'll guess or maybe you'll let

it slip. Don't panic. This person understands you

and won't try to exert undue influence.

TAURUs

You're likely to be in a solitary mood

today, Taurus, and probably want to

spend the evening reading or working

on a project of your own. However, it

isn't likely to work out that way. Family could drop

by or some equipment could go on the blink and

require repairs. Some unexpected calls could come

your way. Take a deep breath and summon your

good manners. You can be alone tomorrow.

GEMINI

Today you might have a strange feeling

that something is wrong, perhaps in the

neighborhood or with a friend or

relative. This is probably going to

bother you all day, Gemini, so it might be a good idea

to call this person or otherwise look into the matter.

There's probably nothing really wrong, but someone

close to you may have just experienced a shock of

some kind.

cANcER

An organization with which you're

affiliated may be having financial

problems, and this fact could come out

today. It might be a shock to you and

everyone else involved, Cancer, but it's good that it's

coming out now. This revelation might have a

profound effect on your goals, and may necessitate

some reevaluation. Some intense discussion with

those around you is definitely indicated.

LEO

Some unexpected changes that have

been kept under wraps at the

workplace could come out soon. They

may involve reorganization or a change

of ownership. This is going profoundly affect your

attitude toward your job. It could cause you to

consider making a change of your own. This isn't the

time to make a decision. Take a few days to consider

your options before making up your mind.

VIRGO

Some disconcerting revelations about

your past or the past of someone close

to you could come out today. This

might be a bit of a shock, Virgo, but it's

a positive development, nonetheless. It will shed

some light on how to deal with current issues in your

life or a relationship. Write down your thoughts,

meditate, talk to a friend, or otherwise try to make

sense of it.

LIBRA

Something you might have wanted to keep

between you and a few trusted friends

could inadvertently be revealed, perhaps to

the wrong people. Frustration and a sense

of betrayal could plague you, but don't turn against those

who knew. Even though this can be disconcerting, you

can learn from it. Benjamin Franklin said, "Two people

can keep a secret only when one of them is dead."nd of

the day because of all the questions you ask!

scORPIO

Demands placed on you by work

colleagues could have you stressed,

Scorpio. You might feel that your coworkers

are taking unfair advantage

of you. This could start you thinking of perhaps

going into business for yourself or with a partner.

This could well be a great idea, but today isn't the

day to make a decision this monumental. Wait a

few days and give it some serious thought.

sAGITTARIUs

Stress and job frustration might have

you thinking about breaking free,

walking out the door, and going

somewhere else. Another thought is

likely to concern going back to school and training

for a career in another field. You might need a

vacation, and returning to school could be a great

idea in the future, but don't decide today. Wait a few

days at least.

cAPRIcORN

A close friend or loved one might drop

out of sight today. You may panic

when he or she doesn't return your

phone calls. Don't jump to

conclusions. They're preoccupied with matters that

for the moment appear important and will contact

you in time. When you do finally connect, you could

hear some interesting news. Relax, go about your

business, and look forward to the call.

AQUARIUs

A household member might toy with

the idea of moving out or going away

for a while, Aquarius. This could stress

you out, but don't make yourself crazy.

Don't try to talk him or her out of it. Listen

sympathetically and let your relative get it out of

their system. This person is probably feeling

temporarily restricted by forces outside the home

and isn't really likely to go anywhere.

PIscEs

Stress could have you feeling

uncommunicative today. You probably

aren't going to want to talk to anyone,

even your dearest friend, Pisces. This

might prove difficult, as people around you are

going to ask for advice and help. Keep your cool.

This feeling will pass, and you won't want anyone to

think you're upset. Go to lunch alone, and tonight

crash into bed with a good book.

weDNesDAy, sePTeMBeR 21, 2022

11

Injured UITS

student dies

at DMCH

DHAKA : A student of

University of Information

Technology and Science

died on Monday morningof

injuries she sustained in a

road accident on September

13

The deceased was

identified as Ananya

Chowdhury Phul, 21,

daughter of Abdullah of East

Basabo in the capital's

Khilgaon.

She was a 1st year student

of the BBA department in

the University.

Haji Danesh to be

Bangladesh's first

cashless campus: Palak

DHAKA : ICT State

Minister Zunaid Ahmed

Palak has said the Hajee

Mohammad Danesh Science

and Technology University

(HSTU) in Rangpur's

Dinajpur will be the first

cashless campus in

Bangladesh.

The state minister was

speaking at the programme

"Let's Talk: Cashless

Economy" organised by notfor-profit

policy research

organisation Centre for

Research and Information's

youth platform Young

Bangla at the HSTU.

A Discussion Meeting and Doa Mahfil was held at Islamic university in

Kushtia marking the death of Dr. Rezaul Karim, Professor of Applied

Nutrition and food technology department and organizing secretary of IU

Zia Parishad on Tuesday.

Photo : TBT

Kremlin dismisses mass burial

discoveries as 'lies'

KUPIANSK : The Kremlin

on Monday denied its forces

were responsible for largescale

killings in east Ukraine

and accused Kyiv of

fabricating its discoveries of

mass graves in recaptured

territory.

In the latest incident

spurring fears of an atomic

emergency, Ukraine said

Russian rockets landed

dangerously close to a

nuclear power station in

southern Ukraine.

Ukraine recaptured Izyum

and other towns in the east

this month, crippling

Kremlin supply routes and

bringing fresh claims of

Russian atrocities with the

discovery of hundreds of

graves-some containing

multiple bodies.

"These are lies," Kremlin

spokesman Dmitry Peskov

told reporters on Monday.

Moscow, he said, "will stand

up for the truth in this story".

Fighting in the northeast

has raged and AFP

journalists heard artillery

exchanges in frontline

Kupiansk on Monday, as

traumatised civilians headed

out of the town now mainly

in Ukrainian hands.

The streets were strewn

with broken glass, spent

cartridge casings and the

discarded remains of ration

packs issued by both forces.

Most of the fire was

outgoing, with Ukrainian

tanks and artillery targeting

Russian positions on the

west side of the town, over a

mess of broken bridges. A

column of smoke rose in the

distance.

At the entrance to the

town, cowering from the

sounds of Ukrainian tank

shells passing overhead

towards Russian lines,

civilians gathered to hitch

rides or join buses to head

out into safer Ukrainian

territory.

"It was impossible to stay

where we were living," said

56-year-old Lyudmyla, who

braved the constant crack of

shells to cross the Oskil river

from the disputed east bank

to the relative safety of the

west.

"There was incoming fire

not just every day, but

literally every hour. It's very

tough there, on the other

bank of the river."

In his address to the

nation on Monday,

Ukrainian President

Volodymyr Zelensky said

the Russians were

"panicking" as his forces

held recaptured territory in

the northeastern Kharkiv

region.

GD-1543/22 (8x4)

e½gvZv



1304

WA

Frid

Pres

clim

Afri

Rus

Th

focu

relu

Rus

GD-1544/22 (10x4)

GD-1542/22 (10x4)

Wednesday, Dhaka : September 21, 2022; ashwin 6, 1429 BS; Safar 24 , 1444 hijri

Myanmar

Dhaka seeks int'l

community's steps to

avoid regional instability

DHAKA : Bangladesh has sought support

and necessary steps from the international

community to stop the violence so that

Myanmar cannot take advantage of creating

instability in the region and thus avoid

the repatriation of the Rohingyas.

"We told them (diplomats) that we seek

your (diplomats) help so that Myanmar

can't take advantage of creating instability

in the region refraining from taking back

the Rohingyas," acting Foreign Secretary

Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam

told reporters at state guesthouse Padma

on Tuesday.

Director General (South East Asia wing)

at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Md

Najmul Huda was also present.

Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina's position, Khurshed said they are

working with much patience and tolerance;

and Bangladesh did not do anything

that might cause Myanmar's mortar shells

landing inside Bangladesh impacting on

the life and livelihoods of Bangladeshis.

"This can't be allowed to continue. We

are showing much tolerance and we are

not stepping into any provocations from

the Myanmar side. We no way want to get

involved in it.

They (diplomats) appreciated it

(Bangladesh position)," he said, adding

that Bangladesh does not want to give any

chance to avoid the Rohingya repatriation

showing any excuse.

Bangladesh conveyed its concerns over

possible instability in the region to diplomats

stationed in Dhaka - briefing them

on the current situation in bordering areas

with Myanmar. The briefing lasted for

around 30 minutes on Tuesday morning.

The diplomats assured Bangladesh of

conveying its concerns to their capitals and

help Bangladesh if they have anything to

do to raise the issue at the United Nations

(UN).

Responding to a question regarding

Myanmar blaming the Arakan Army and

ARSA for mortar shells landing in

Bangladesh, the acting foreign secretary

said the Myanmar side always makes the

same claims.

Explaining all aspects, Khurshed, also

Secretary at Maritime Affairs Unit, ruled

out Myanmar's such claims. "We told

them (diplomats) very strongly about our

Prime Minister's zero tolerance to terrorism

and Bangladesh never allows anybody

to use its land to destabilize the region."

At the very first time, he said, the

Bangladesh side told the Myanmar envoy

to take actions so that no mortar shells

land in Bangladesh territory.

The acting foreign secretary said

Bangladesh is maintaining communication

with Myanmar at all levels apart from

reaching to the international community

so that Myanmar understands that it is

dangerous for them and Bangladesh will

not accept it.

On Monday, Bangladesh briefed the

heads of missions from Southeast Asian

countries and apprised them of the prevailing

situation at Bangladesh-Myanmar

border.

Bangladesh made a similar request to

the envoys of ASEAN countries to use

their leverage so that mortar shells from

Myanmar do not come to Bangladesh side

and avoid creating pressure on the people

of Bangladesh.

In the two separate briefings,

Bangladesh conveyed to the diplomats not

a single Rohingya was taken back over the

last five years.

Myanmar always makes the same

claims: Acting foreign secretary

DHAKA : Bangladesh has conveyed its

concerns over possible instability in

the region to diplomats stationed in

Dhaka - briefing them over the current

situation in bordering areas with

Myanmar.

The diplomats have appreciated

Bangladesh's position of not stepping

into Myanmar's traps by maintaining

peace. Acting Foreign Secretary Rear

Admiral (Retd) Md Khorshed Alam

spoke to reporters at State guesthouse

Padma, following the briefing with

diplomats.

The briefing lasted for around 30

minutes. The diplomats assured

Bangladesh of conveying its concerns

to their capitals.

Responding to a question regarding

Myanmar blaming Arakan Army and

ARSA for mortar shells landing in

Bangladesh, the acting foreign secretary

said the Myanmar side always

makes the same claims.

"We sought their (diplomats) help so

that Myanmar can't take advantage of

creating instability in the region," said

the acting foreign secretary.

Earlier on Monday, acting Foreign

Secretary Rear Admiral (Rtd) Md.

Khorshed Alam briefed the heads of

missions from Southeast Asian countries

and apprised them of the prevailing

situation at Bangladesh-Myanmar

border.

The envoys took note of

Bangladesh's concerns and ensured of

duly conveying those to their respective

capitals.

The acting foreign secretary conveyed

Bangladesh's deep concerns on

the recent incidents of mortar shells

from Myanmar falling and exploding

inside Bangladesh territory, indiscriminate

aerial firings, human fatalities

and serious injuries, damages to the

properties and livelihood of the people

in the bordering areas to the ASEAN

envoys.

No diplomat representing Myanmar

was at the briefing but diplomats from

other ASEAN countries - Brunei,

Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,

the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand

and Vietnam - were present.

Director General (South East Asia

wing) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Md Najmul Huda was also present.

police arrested 3 people including two trucks full of rice while smuggling World Food program

relief rice from rohingya camp in noakhali. at that time, a truck driver fled after sensing the

presence of the police.

photo : tBt

Jobaer alam, Former Chairman & associate professor of the oceanography Department of Dhaka

University inaugurated a friendly football match organized by Jaldhaka Chhatra parishad (Jalchap) at DU

premises on tuesday.

photo: tBt

7 cops get seven years

in jail for kidnapping

Cox's Bazar trader

COX'S BAZAR : A court in Cox's Bazar on

Tuesday sentenced seven policemen, all

detectives, to seven years in jail for kidnapping

a trader and demanding a ransom of

Tk 17 lakh for his release.

Cox's Bazar District and Sessions Court

judge Mohammad Ismail handed down the

judgment in the presence of all the suspended

cops. The judge also imposed a fine of Tk

1 lakh on each of the convicts and ordered

them to undergo an additional one year in

prison for non-payment of the fine.

The court sentenced the convicted cops

to five years in jail for kidnapping and

another seven years for extortion by putting

a person in fear of death.

As both the sentences will run simultaneously,

the convicts will serve a total of

seven years in jail, said plaintiff's lawyer

Mohammad Jahangir.

The convicts are sub inspectors

Moniruzzaman, 35, and Abul Kalam

Azad, 39, additional sub-inspectors

Golam Mostafa, 36, Firoz Ahmed, 34, and

Alauddin, 32, and constables Mostafa

Ajal, 52, and MD Al Amin, 26.

On September 24, 2017, the seven kidnapped

Abdul Gafur, a trader hailing from

Teknaf and later demanded Tk 17 lakh as

ransom from his family by threatening to

kill him in a fake encounter, said public

prosecutor Faridul Alam.

According to the case complaint, the

Bangladesh Army arrested six of the

accused with the ransom amount from the

Marin Drive in Cox's Bazar on October 25,

2017. Later, another absconding detective

was arrested by the police.

JS body for taking legal

action against railways

land grabbers

DHAKA : The Parliamentary Standing

Committee on the Ministry of Railways

yesterday recommended taking legal

action against those grabbing railways

land in different parts of the country.

The committee made the recommendation

at its meeting held at Jatiya Sangsad

(HS) Bhaban with committee chairman

ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury in the

chair, said a press release.

Committee members railway minister Md

Nurul Islam Sujan, Asaduzzaman Noor,

Shafiqul Islam Shimul, Md Shafiqul Azam

Khan, Md Saifuzzaman, H.M Ibrahim, Gazi

Mohammad Shahnawaz and Nadira

Yasmin Jolly were present. The meeting also

recommended updating of the railway land

management policy 2020.

Not only in country, immense

job opportunity in global

market: Jobaer Alam

Shahriar azom, DU CorreSponDent

People can cross any hurdles if they have

strong will, determination, and perseverance.

This is the story of a young man from

the grassroots level who toppled many

obstacles to step into the classrooms of

Harvard University, one of the world's top

research universities.

On September 20, Jobaer Alam, Former

Chairman & Associate Professor of the

Oceanography Department of Dhaka

University was delivering remarks at a

friendly football match organized by

Jaldhaka Chhatra Parishad (Jalchap), an

organization of students of Jaldhaka upazila

of Nilphamari district of North Bengal who

are enrolled at Dhaka University.

Jobaer Alam, the Acting Editor and publisher

of the national English daily, The

Bangladesh Today advised to inspire students

by recalling the memories of his lost

childhood and university life. He also

stressed the importance of being self-reliant.

He studied in a primary school in

Binyakuri of Jaldhaka, a marginal village

on the foothills of the Himalayas. Starting

from the grassroots level, he gained the

opportunity to study in the Department of

Aquaculture & Fisheries of Dhaka

University.

He obtained excellent grades in his graduation

and master's level. Then he went to

DHAKA : Finance Minister AHM

Mustafa Kamal yesterday urged the

Asian Development Bank (ADB) to provide

more support to Bangladesh in facing

the post-LDC graduation-related

challenges.

The Finance Minister made the

request when ADB Country Director to

Bangladesh Edimon Ginting made a

courtesy call on Finance Minister AHM

Mustafa Kamal at his secretariat office

in the capital yesterday, reports BSS.

Kamal also stressed on strengthening

further the existing relationship

between Bangladesh and ADB in the

coming days to attain the overall development

goals.

He said that Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina has been working tirelessly to turn

Bangladesh into a hunger and povertyfree

prosperous developed country by

2041 and also to materialize the dream of

building 'Sonar Bangla' as dreamt by

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman.

Kamal lauded highly the role of ADB

in the country's socio-economic development,

especially in overcoming the

adverse impacts of the COVId-19 pandemic.

The Minister also thanked the

ADB for extending its support to

Bangladesh in economic recovery from

the pandemic.

In response, the ADB Country

Director said that they would continue

support to Bangladesh in its urban and

rural sector development alongside promoting

climate-tolerant development

investment.

Mentioning that the ADB has an

intense relationship with Bangladesh,

Canada to complete his post-graduate diploma

from Vancouver University. Later he

took another master's degree from the USA.

All these paved the way for him to become a

faculty member of the country's oldest and

prestigious Dhaka University.

However, Jobaer Alam had a latent desire

to study at Harvard University in the United

States. He also fulfilled that dream. He participated

in a three-month long academic

program in one of the oldest and most prestigious

educational institutions in the world.

He advised the football match participants

to keep a regular check on the global

job market instead of only looking at the

existing jobs in the country.

He said, "There are many jobs outside the

country that require less effort than securing

a government job in the country. There are

many jobs that pay more with less effort.

You have to consciously look for the global

job market."

The breathtaking football match between

Jalchap President XI vs General Secretary

XI ended in a 2-2 draw. The match was held

at the Salimullah Muslim Hall Sports

Ground.

After the game, he expressed the hope of

organizing a game of Barrister Suman

Football Academy with Jaldhaka footballers.

He also dreams for the national football

team of playing in global platform of

football, FIFA World Cup.

Kamal urges ADB to provide

more support in facing post-

LDC graduation challenges

Ginting assured the Finance Minister

that they would always stand beside

Bangladesh.

Lauding highly the dynamic leadership

of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in keeping

operational the wheel of the country's

economy during the COVID-19 pandemic,

he said that Bangladesh has set up one

of the best examples in the world in tackling

the pandemic situation.

During the meeting, both the Finance

Minister and the ADB Country Director

discussed observing the 50th anniversary

of the relationship between

Bangladesh and the lending agency next

year as well as the participation of the

Finance Minister in the upcoming 55th

Annual meeting of the Board of

Governors of ADB billed for September

26-30, said a Finance Ministry press

release.

Officials said development assistance

worth $2 billion is under process from

ADB to Bangladesh in the current fiscal

year (FY23) in line with the development

goals of the government.

The ADB Country Director mentioned

that the ADB has been beside

Bangladesh from the very beginning of

social and economic recovery from the

pandemic while it would always stand

beside the country in its need.

ADB is one of the major development

partners of Bangladesh and it has so far

extended loans worth $27.555 billion to

the country. The ADB's assistance to

Bangladesh usually focuses on power,

energy, education, transport, water

resources, agriculture, local government,

good governance, and financial

and private sectors.

Gaibandha child murder

HC upholds death

sentence of one

DHAKA : The High Court on Tuesday

upheld the death sentence of a man in

connection with the killing of a child after

abduction in 2010 in Gaibandha district.

The HC bench of Justice ANM Bashir

Ullah and Justice Muhammad Mahbub

Ul Islam upheld death sentence of Zahid,

son of Siddique Mia of Gaibandha district,

after hearing the appeal petition.

The HC also acquitted two more

accused-Pavel, son of Majibur Rahman

and Rubel, son of Biltu Mia of Pirgachha

village-of the charges.

Advocate SM Shahjahan and AK Khan

Ujjal stood for the accused while deputy

attorney general Sujit Chatarji Bappi represented

the state.

According to the prosecution, the three

accused abducted Tasin Mia alias Arnab,

5, grandson of Nazrul Islam Madhu of

Pirgachha village in Sadar upazila on July

27, 2010. Later, they made a phone call to

Tasin's mother and demanded Tk 10 lakh

as ransom for his release.

Failing to realise the ransom money,

the accused strangulated Tasin to death

and dumped the body into a pond.

Father of Tasin lodged a complaint

against ten people with Sadar Police the

following day.

On January 26, 2017, Gaibandha

Woman and Child Repression Tribunal

Judge Ratneshwar Bhattacharya sentenced

three people to death in the case

and acquitted seven others as allegations

brought against them could not be

proved. The accused filed petitions

against the lower court judgment.

Irregularities in leasing

Egypt Air planes

ACC questions 7

CAAB officials

DHAKA : Anti-Corruption Commission

(ACC) has questioned seven officials of

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh

(CAAB) over two days as part of the investigation

against allegation of irregularities

over Biman Bangladesh Airlines processing

two Egypt Air planes in 2009-14.

Deputy Director of ACC Public

Relations, Muhammad Arif Sadeq, told

UNB that the CAAB officials were questioned

as the irregularities cost the national

flag carrier a loss of Tk1,100 crore.

The Commission quizzed principal

assistant director of CAAB, Saiful Haque,

air worthness consultant Golam Sarwar,

BFCC manager Sadequl Islam Bhuiyan

and Kamal Uddin Ahmed yesterday

while chief engineer (maintenance) SM

Siddique, principal engineer (I and QA)

SM Hanif and principal engineer (MCC)

Devesh Choudhury were interrogated

yesterday.

However, director of flight operation

and team leader of inspection team Israt

Ahmed did not face the interrogation on

the first day of the interrogation.

A team led by ACC Deputy Director Md

Salahuddin and Assistant Director

Jasmine Akhter is investigating the allegation.

On April 24, the Parliamentary

Standing Committee on the Ministry of

Civil Aviation and Tourism recommended

the investigation.

According to the Commission, Biman

Bangladesh lost Tk 1,100 crores for leasing

aircraft from Egypt Air in 2014.

The engines of one of the aircraft were

damaged after operating a flight in

February 2015 while the national flag carrier

Biman rented another engine from

Egypt Air.

Doctor Shakir

remanded afresh over

terror connection

DHAKA : A Dhaka court yesterday

placed Doctor Shakir Bin Wali on twoday

fresh remand in a case lodged under

Anti-Terrorism Act with capital's

Rampura Police Station.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate

Ahmed Mehedi Hasan passed the order

as police produced Dr Shakir before the

court after the end of his four-day

remand in the case and pleaded to place

him on 10-day fresh remand. The defence

however, pleaded to scrap the remand

plea and argued for his bail.

The court of Dhaka Metropolitan

Magistrate Ahmed Humayun Kabir on

September 14 had placed Dr Shakir and

his alleged associate Abrarul Haque on

four-day remand as police produced the

duo before the court and investigation

officer and inspector of Counter

Terrorism and Transnational Crime

(CTTC) unit SM Mizanur Rahman pleaded

to place them on 10-day remand.

21-09-2022

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?