27-10-2022
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THURSDAY
DHAKA : October 27, 2022; Kartik 11, 1429 BS; Rabi-ul Awal 30, 1444 Hijri www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net Regd. No. DA~2065, Vol. 20; No.159; 12 Pages~Tk. 12.00
INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ART & CULTURE
Britain's new PM
Benfica win thriller with
eyes delay to crunch
Juventus to reach
Janhvi called herself
budget plan
Champions League
‘hero’ of the movie
Zohr
>Page 7
Airport road is another name of suffering. Even if it rains a little, cars get stuck from Tongi in Gazipur
to Banani. A long queue of vehicles started from Wednesday morning.
Photo : Star Mail
Japan to provide
TK 32.27cr to BD,
deals signed
DHAKA : The government of Japan will
provide an amount of 476 million Japanese
Yen (equivalent to approximately Taka
32.27 crore or $3.41 million) for the project
titled ‘The Project for Human Resource Development
Scholarship (JDS)’.
In this regard, ‘Exchange of Notes’ and
‘Grant Agreements’ were signed yesterday
between the government of Bangladesh and
the government of Japan.
Sharifa Khan, Secretary, Economic Relations
Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance
signed the ‘Exchange of Notes’ and the
‘Grant Agreements’ on behalf of the government
of Bangladesh, while Ito Naoki, Ambassador
of Japan in Bangladesh, signed
the ‘Exchange of Notes’ and ICHIGUCHI
Tomohide, Chief Representative, JICA
Bangladesh Office, Dhaka signed the ‘Grant
Agreements’ on behalf of the government of
Japan, said a press release.
‘The Project for Human Resource Development
Scholarship (JDS)’ is being implemented
during the period 2001-2025 by
the ERD.
Under the project, the grant provided by
the government of Japan is being utilized
for scholarships for the BCS Cadre Officers,
Bangladesh Judicial Service Officers and
First Class Officers of Bangladesh Bank to
study Masters and Ph.D. courses at various
universities in Japan.
This scholarship is contributing to develop
knowledge and skills acquired through
higher education from Japanese universities;
moreover, it is helping to develop relations
between the two countries.Some 383
officials have achieved Master’s degree and
2 officials have achieved Ph.D. degrees from
different Japanese Universities.
At present, some 89 officials are pursuing
Master’s degree and 12 Officials are pursuing
Ph.D. degree in Japan. Japan so far
spent approximately 5.94 billion Japanese
Yen ($40.45 million) as grant for implementing
this project for the period 2001-
2022.
Japan is the single largest bilateral development
partner of Bangladesh. Japan
has contributed significantly to the overall
development of the country.
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India not a strategic rival or
competitor for China : Envoy
DHAKA : Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh
Li Jiming on Wednesday said his
country does not have any “strategic rivalry
or hostility” to Bangladesh’s friendly
neighbor India at all.
The envoy said the two countries - India
and China can “closely work together”
to “resolve any economic, geopolitical
and other issues” in this region and beyond.
“We never view India as a strategic
rival or strategic competitor of China,” he
said while speaking at “DCAB Talk” held
at Jatiya Press Club.
Diplomatic Correspondents Association,
Bangladesh (DCAB) organised its
flagship programme. DCAB President
Rezaul Karim Lotus and General Secretary
AKM Moinuddin also spoke at the
programme.
The Chinese envoy said he is personally
a “big fan” of India, and he used to
travel to many Indian places and made
many friends. He also laid emphasis on
resolving all the problems in the region in
an “Asian way” and said that is the basic
intention of China.
Describing the situation in Europe as
“miserable”, Ambassador Jiming said,
“Do you want to see what happened in
Europe to happen here in our region? I
don’t think you want to see that. So, let’s
solve all the problems in an Asian way.”
The envoy said his country will continue
to work closely with Bangladesh to
ensure development, peace and stability
in the region.
“China-Bangladesh relations have
grown healthily and steadily, and (I) foresee
a promising outlook. We are ready to
work with Bangladesh for a brighter future,”
he said.
The envoy said China wants a “peaceful
and stable” Bangladesh as “peace and
stability” are preconditions for development.
Any problem, therefore, should
be resolved in a democratic and peaceful
way, he said, adding that China considers
Bangladesh as a “very good strategic
partner” and continues to improve the
relations with it.
The envoy said that China shares
the same views like Bangladesh on the
Ukraine issue and highlighted the importance
of having dialogue and discussion
to resolve problems peacefully.
“We both stand with peace and call for
appropriate settlement of the concerns of
all through diplomatic channels,” he said.
Media reported that India and China
have been increasingly buying discounted
Russian oil as global energy prices remain
high.
Govt increases healthcare facilities
for dengue patients : Maleque
DHAKA : Health Minister Zahid Maleque
yesterday said the government
has increased healthcare facilities
for dengue patients as the mosquito-borne
disease is increasing sharply
in the country.
“We have taken prompt steps to
provide healthcare services to the
dengue patients... the number of
dengue patients has increased alarmingly
in recent times,” he told a discussion
here, an official release said.
The discussion was held at Sheikh
Russel National Gastroliver Institute
and Hospital on the occasion
of the birthday of Sheikh Russel, the
youngest son of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,
reports BSS.
Director General of Directorate
General of Health Services Prof
Dr ABM Kurshid Alam, Director of
Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver
Institute and Hospital and National
Professor Prof Mahmaud Hasan,
among others, addressed the discussion
with Secretary of Health Service
Division Dr Muhammad Anwar Hossain
Haqlader in the chair.
The minister said the government
has set up medical units dedicated
to dengue patients at different hospitals
in Dhaka city including Dhaka
North City Corporation Hospital,
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical
University (BSMMU) and Lalkuthi
Hospital.
He urged the authorities of both
Dhaka South City Corporation and
Dhaka
North City Corporation to take
prompt action for killing Aedes mosquitoes
to control the rising trend of
dengue disease.
“We are launching awareness
campaign aiming to destroy potential
breeding sources of dengue. I
am urging people to keep clean both
inside and outside of their houses for
stopping the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes,”
Maleque added.
The DGHS sources said Mirpur,
Uttara, Mugda, Jatrabari, Dhanmondi
and Mohammadpur in Dhaka
city have been identified as dengue
hotspots. It said the highest number
of cases has been detected in Cox’s
Bazar after Dhaka.
At the discussion, Maleque said
the country has witnessed massive
development since the present government
assumed office.
“But BNP-Jamaat does not see
any development... they (BNP-Jamaat)
are always doing politics to
come to power,” he added.
>Page 9 >Page 10
Two-day bus strike
ahead of BNP rally
in Barishal
Zihad Rana, Barishal Bureau
Barishal District Bus Owners Group has
announced the suspension of internal and
long-distance bus services in Barishal for
two days from November 4 to demand the
ban on illegal three-wheelers and rented
motorcycles on the highway.
An application, signed by the organization’s
president Golam Masrek and general
secretary Kishore Kumar Dey, was submitted
to the Barishal Divisional Commissioner
on Tuesday. Meanwhile, BNP has called
a rally in Barishal on November 5 in continuation
of the divisional mass rally. The
leaders of the bus owners’ association have
set a deadline of November 3 to respond to
the demands.
Arrest warrant
issued against Evaly
chairman in DSA case
DHAKA : A special court here has issued
arrest warrant against e-commerce platform
Evaly chairman Shamima Nasrin in a
case filed under Digital Security Act (DSA).
Judge Ash Shams Zaglul Hossain of Dhaka
Cyber Tribunal passed the order on October
19, scrapping her bail in the case.
“October 19 was fixed for passing order
on taking the charge-sheet into cognizance.
Accused Shamima didn’t appear
before the court, instead pleaded for time
through her lawyer. The court after that
issued the warrant against her and set
January 22 for holding hearing on charge
framing in the case,” tribunal bench clerk
Shamim Al Mamun told BSS.
A customer named Alamgir Hossain
filed the case against Evaly managing director
Mohammad Rassel, its chairman
and Rassel’s wife Shamima Nasrin on
September 30, 2021, with the capital’s
Badda Police Station.
Bringing back black money
BFIU gets 3 months to sign
legal pacts with 10 countries
DHAKA : The High Court has given
Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit
(BFIU) three months to sign mutual
legal assistance (MLA) pacts with 10
countries for obtaining information and
proof required to recover black money
stashed abroad.
A HC bench of justices Md Nazrul
Islam Talukder and Khijir Hayat passed
the order on Wednesday.
Deputy attorney general AKM Amin
Uddin Manik appeared for BFIU, while
advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented
the Anti-Corruption Commission
(ACC).
In a report submitted to the court on
Tuesday, BFIU said that they had advised
the Financial Institutions Division
(FID) to sign MLA agreements with at
least 10 countries to get necessary help
in bringing back laundered money from
abroad.
These countries are the United
States of America (USA), the United
Kingdom (UK), Canada, Singapore,
Australia, Malaysia, the United Arab
Emirates, Switzerland, Thailand and
Hong Kong (China). The report also
said that “BFIU has asked Bangladesh
Bank (BB) to recruit manpower for
the proposed ‘Research Cell’ which
will help in identifying money launderers
and recovering the money”.
According to the report, the recruitment
process is currently ongoing.
The report added that the sixth meeting
of the taskforce, led by the attorney
general and formed to recover laundered
money, took place on January 3,
2022. The meeting was attended by representatives
of the Home Ministry, the
Foreign Ministry, FID, ACC, BFIU and
the Criminal Investigation Department
(CID) of Bangladesh Police.
It was decided at the meeting that
urgent steps needed to be taken to identify
the launderers and bring back black
money stashed in foreign banks.
The High Court on August 31 ordered
the head of Bangladesh Financial
Intelligence Unit to form a
research cell to prevent money laundering,
bring back laundered money,
monitor and control it.
Bangladesh Financial Intelligence
Unit head Md Masud Biswas was also
directed to submit a progress report regarding
the formation of Research Cell
by the next hearing set to be held on October
26.
On August 10, the Swiss ambassador
in Dhaka Nathalie Chuard said that they
have been providing the Bangladesh
government with all information regarding
deposits of Bangladeshi money
in Swiss banks, “but no request has been
submitted regarding any particular account”.
On August 11, the High Court bench
ordered the government and the Anti-Corruption
Commission to explain
why the government did not seek information
of deposits of Bangladesh money
stashed in Swiss banks.
On August 14, Bangladesh Financial
Intelligence Unit was asked to submit
a report in this regard in the affidavit
form. On August 21, following the High
Court order, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence
Unit’s report was submitted
stating that the information regarding
deposits of 67 Bangladeshis in various
Swiss banks was sought from the authorities
concerned in Bern.
THRUSDAy, OCTOBER 27, 2022
2
Dr. Lawrence N. Berlin, Professor Emeritus, Northeastern Illinois University,
Chicago, USA, Prof. Mahmudul Amin from NAEM, Prof. A.M.M. Hamidur
Rahman, Dean, Faculty of Humanities & Social Science and Dr. Liza Sharmin,
Head of the Department of English of Daffodil International University along
with the participants pose for a photograph after the workshop titled at the
"Exploring The Life Cycle of the English Language Teaching Professor" held at
Daffodil International University.
Photo : Courtesy
35-yr-old killed over land dispute in Sylhet
SYLHET : A man was beaten to death
allegedly by his neighbours in Sylhet's
Bishwanath upazila over a land dispute on
Tuesday night.
The deceased was identified as Saiful
Islam, 35, a rickshaw-puller by profession
and son of Hafiz Abdul Mannan of
Charchandi village of Daulatpur union of the
upazila.
Gazi Ataur Rahman, officer-in-charge of
Bishwanath police station, said that Saiful
had a dispute with his neighbours over a
piece of land. On Tuesday night, Saiful's
neighbours beat him mercilessly, leaving
him critically injured, the OC added.
A seriously injured Saiful was rushed to
Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College where
doctors declared him dead around 9.30 pm.
The body has been kept in the hospital
morgue for an autopsy, the officer said.
Dengue death
toll now 120 as
2 more die
DHAKA : Two more deaths
from dengue in 24 hours till
Wednesday morning raised
this year's fatalities from the
mosquito-borne disease in
Bangladesh to 120.
During this period, 923
more patients were
hospitalised with the viral
fever as cases keep rising,
according to the Directorate
General of Health Services
(DGHS).
Both deaths were reported
from Dhaka.
With this, the Dengue death
toll from Dhaka rose to 72.
The dengue death toll
remained unchanged at 36 in
Chattogram, at five in
Barishal, at four in Khulna
and at three in Mymensingh
division. Of the new patients,
520 were admitted to
different hospitals in Dhaka
and 403 outside it, according
to the Directorate General of
Health Services (DGHS).
A total of 3,380 dengue
patients, including 2,207 in
the capital, are now receiving
treatment at hospitals across
the country. The directorate
has recorded 33,923 dengue
cases and 30,423 recoveries
so far this year.
Elderly woman tied
to tree, tortured in
Natore
NATORE : An elderly woman
was tied to a tree and beaten
mercilessly by her neighbours
on Tuesday night for allegedly
having an illicit affair with her
son-in-law in Natore's
Gurudaspur upazila.
Kulsum Bewa, 80, was
dragged out of her house and
tortured by her neighbours,
Raton Ali and Ujjal Hossain,
said Abdul Motin, officer-incharge
of Gurudaspur police
station. However, the woman
claimed that since she was
sick, her son-in-law went to
her room to give her
medicines. On information,
police visited the spot and
rescued the woman.
No one has been arrested in
connection with the
thrashing, said the OC.
"Efforts are on to nab the
culprits."
University Research Day
President, PM greet teachers,
researchers, physicians
DHAKA : President M Abdul Hamid and
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday
greeted all concerned including students,
teachers, doctors, nurses and officials on
the occasion of the University Research
Day-2022. They issued separate
messages on the eve of the day to be
observed today under the arrangement
of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical
University (BSMMU) for the fourth time.
In his message, President Abdul
Hamid said that accurate knowledge
about the origin, causes, remedies and
prevention of various diseases can be
gained through continuous research and
thus research plays an important role in
human welfare.
Referring to medical care as one of the
basic human needs, the head of the state
said due to this reason, people have high
GD-1727/22 (6x4)
expectations of BSMMU, a top
institution of medical science in the
country. He underscored the need for
expanding basic research programs and
utilizing the research results for human
welfare in order to fulfil that public
expectation.
He called upon the university
authorities to take necessary initiatives
for this purpose alongside reaching
quality medical services at the doorsteps
of the common people with minimum
cost.
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina said the greatest Bangalee of all
times Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman undertook
various activities including the
establishment of hospitals for the
development of the country's medical
industry immediately after the
independence of the country.
In the war-torn country, he took
groundbreaking initiatives to expand
healthcare at the district, police station
and union level to bring medical care to
the doorsteps of common people, the
Premier said.
At the hands of Bangabandhu,
revolutionary changes began in the
development of the health sector and
medical science research in Bangladesh,
she added.
Following the footprints of
Bangabandhu, the Awami League
government established a medical
university for the first time in 1998 aimed
at creating the foundation of necessary
medical research to ensure the sound
health of the people, she said.
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GD-1726/22 (8x4)
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022
3
Rowshan Ara Mannan, the chairperson of the parliamentary standing committee on Road Transport
and Bridges Ministry.
Photo : Courtesy
Every driver must be fit to reach the destination
safely: Rowshan Ara Mannan
To reach the destination safely, every
driver must be physically and mentally fit,
said Rowshan Ara Mannan, the
chairperson of the parliamentary
standing committee on Road Transport
and Bridges Ministry. She said that the
role of drivers is very important to ensure
that passengers must reach their
destination safely. If the driver is sick then
the passengers of that vehicle are also
unsafe. So every driver should not drive in
sick condition, a press release said.
Bangladesh Road Transport
Authority (BRTA) and Dhaka Ahsania
Mission organized a free health and eye
Solo exhibition,
'Karukothon',
underway at
Zainul Gallery
TBT Report
"Karukothon", a solo
exhibition of artist Namira
Farzana is currently
underway at the Zainul
Gallery in the Department of
Fine Arts at the University of
Dhaka. The exhibition was
inaugurated by Professor Dr.
A S M Maksud Kamal, Pro-
Vice-Chancellor (Education)
of the University of Dhaka
recently.
Traditional folk motifs
along with Daruj appliqué,
tapestry, batik, experimental
drawings, metal relief, and
designs are being presented
in this exhibition. It features
30 experimental works of
the artist including some
samples from the beginning
of her academic career.
"Handicrafts can instantly
take an artist back to the
memories of their student
life. My first solo exhibition
is a small attempt to revive
that memory," said Namira.
The artist also urged
everyone to visit her solo
exhibition, along with their
friends and family. The
exhibition will continue till
October 30 from 10 am to 8
pm daily.
Abu Rushd Literary
Award Ceremony
The award giving ceremony
of Abu Rushd Literary
Award-2021 will be held on
October 29, 2022 at 11amat
Ramesh Chandra Dutta
Milon Kendro of
Chhayanaut Shangskriti-
Bhavan (3rd floor).
Two eminent writers
Anwara Syed Hoq and Wasi
Ahmed, have been
nominated for 'Abu Rushd
Literary Award'-2021 for
their novels 'Chokh' and
'Borofkol' respectively. Each
of the awardees will receive
Tk. 50000 cash and a
certificate. Besides, in young
writers' category two other
young authors, Papree
Rahman and Mahmud
Akhtar Shareef will receive
'Abu Rushd Creative
Literary Recognition' for
their books 'Nodidhara
Abashik Elaka' and 'Manush
Hober Kalponik Golpo'
respectively. Each of authors
will receive a certificate and
a crest, a press release said.
examination program for drivers
throughout the day in collaboration
with Lions Club of Oasis and Urban
Primary Health Care Services Delivery
Project on the occasion of National and
International Safe Road Safety Day on
Wednesday. She added that there a
huge development have been witnessed
in the roads during the current
government. So it is necessary to drive
the vehicle with caution on the road so
that no crashes happen on the road. If
the drivers feel sick, they should
undergo a health check-up
immediately.
Dhaka Bus-Truck Owners Group,
General Secretary, Alhaj Jalal Uddin,
Dhaka Ahsaniya Mission Health
Sector-Deputy Director, Md.
Muhlesur Rahman, Dhaka North City
Corporation Gabtali Bus Terminal
Assistant Manager Md. Zahid Hasan,
Dhaka District Shromik Union-Office
Secretary Md. : Ashraf, and Urban
Primary Health Care Services
Delivery Project-Medical Officer Dr.
Nusrat along with othe health officers,
drivers and employees of Transport
Owners Association attended the
program.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) of the University of Dhaka Professor Dr. A S
M Maksud Kamal inaugurated the exhibition yesterday. hoto : Courtesy
Speakers for competitive tariff
structure for post-LDC period
DHAKA : Speakers at a workshop on
Wednesday underscored the need for
competitive and rationalized tariff structure
for the post-LDC period.
They made the observation at a workshop
on "Competitive tariff structure: post-LDC
graduation context" organized by Dhaka
Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(DCCI) in the city, said a press release.
In his speech, DCCI President Rizwan
Rahman said that after the LDC
graduation, Bangladesh will have to pay 8
to 16 percent duty to the countries where
the country exports.
"Moreover, we will not be able to impose
any supplementary (SD) and regulatory
duty (RD) to safeguard local industries
which is going to be a challenge. At present
our average tariff structure is about 13.5
percent which is higher than Vietnam,
Taiwan and Malaysia. We need to prepare
ourselves in terms of enhancing
productivity, cost minimization, industry
skill development, ease of doing business
and cost of doing business," he added.
Joint Chief of the Bangladesh Tariff
Commission Md Mashiul Alam presented
the keynote paper.
He highlighted that Bangladesh is a
resilient country and last year, the country's
export was US$50 billion.
"Even after LDC graduation, Bangladesh
has the capacity to adopt the challenges.
But from now we have to go for regional
integration for PTA, FTA and CEPA with
potential trading partners to hold the
market access. It is true that our tariff line is
not very competitive and is higher than
many other countries, therefore we have no
alternative but rationalize it. In that case
sectoral tariff policy for at least five years
will be helpful for our exporters and
importers," he added.
Member of the Bangladesh Trade and
Tariff Commission Shis Haider Chowdhury
said that both government and private
sector should work jointly to make the tariff
structure competitive.
He said, "Bangladesh will graduate from
the LDC category in 2026 which is a good
news for the country but recently we are
going through a tough time due to Covidled
pandemic, Russia-Ukraine war,
worldwide economic recession and natural
disaster."
Previously we were reluctant about FTA
but now the government is doing few
studies to go for PTA and FTA, he added.
He said that Bangladesh's tax to GDP
ratio is only 7.9 percent which is not
expected.
"After the graduation we will have to go
for tariff rationalization at the same time we
will have to concentrate on VAT and tax
collection to balance revenue generation,"
he added.
Director-3 (Joint Secretary) of the WTO
Cell of the Ministry of Commerce Farhana
Iris said, "We have to increase our export in
line with tariff rationalization. Still we have
a big gap between export and import and
balance of payment. Government is
conducting study to sign FTA with Bhutan,
Nepal and Sri Lanka. But, maybe we will be
able to continue subsidy in the agriculture
sector till 2030."
DCCI Senior Vice President Arman
Haque chaired the workshop where around
50 member companies of DCCI took part in
the workshop.
Bangladesh,
Qatar sign MoU
to boost defence
cooperation
DHAKA : Bangladesh and
Qatar on Tuesday signed a
memorandum of
understanding (MoU) for
mutual cooperation in the
defense sector.
Lt. Gen. Waker-uz-
Zaman, Principal Staff
Officer, Armed Forces
Division, Prime Minister's
Office and Lt. Gen. (Pilot)
Salem Hamad Aqeel Al
Nabit, Chief of the Armed
Forces of Qatar signed the
MoUon behalf of
Bangladesh and Qatar
respectively at the
headquarters of the Armed
Forces of Qatar.
It is expected that
Bangladesh's cooperation in
the defense sector with
Qatar will increase through
the signing of this MoU, said
the Bangladesh Embassy in
Qatar.
The MoU, signed as part of
ongoing efforts to increase
cooperation in new areas of
bilateral relations between
Bangladesh and Qatar, will
strengthen the cordial and
brotherly relations between
the two countries, it said.
The meeting held between
Waqar-uz-Zaman andLt.
Gen. Al Nabit discussed
issues of mutual interest.
The MoU signing ceremony
was attended by Ambassador
of Bangladesh to Qatar Md
Jashim Uddin, Embassy
Defense Adviser Brigadier
General Md Sajjad Hossain
and Chief of Qatar's
International Military
Cooperation Brigadier Abdul
Aziz Al Sulaiti.
10 DU students given Dean's Award
Ten meritorious students from different
departments under the Faculty of
Engineering and Technology of Dhaka
University (DU) have been given "Dean's
Award" for their excellent academic results
in BSc. (Hons.) examinations of session
2018-2019 & 2019-2020. Besides, four
faculty members have received the Dean's
Award for their outstanding research. Dhaka
University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md.
Akhtaruzzaman distributed the awards
among the brilliant students and faculty
members at a function held yesterday at
Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate
Bhaban of the university, a press release said.
Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and
Technology Prof. Dr. Hafiz Md. Hasan Babu
presided over the function while Pro-Vice
Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Dr.
Muhammad Samad, Pro-Vice Chancellor
(Academic) Prof. Dr. A S M Maksud Kamal
and Treasurer Prof. Mamtaz Uddin Ahmed
addressed it as special guests. Chairpersons
of the various departments declared the
names of awardees.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md.
Akhtaruzzaman urged the brilliant students
to become a man of humanitarian values
rather than a man of success. He also called
upon them to play a pioneering role for
establishment of a knowledge and
technology based society through research
and innovation.
Awardee students are: Emraul Islam
Emon & Imran Hossain Sabuj (Electrical
and Electronic Engineering), Sadit Bihongo
Malitha & Ishmam Tahmid (Applied
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering), Md.
Tanvir Alam & Md. Tanvir Arafat (Computer
Science and Engineering), Farshid Reza &
Umme Mahbuba Nabila (Nuclear
Engineering) and Monisha Mushtary Uttsha
& Niloy Irtisam (Robotics and Mechatronics
Engineering).
Awardee faculty members are: Prof. Dr.
Chowdhury Farhan Ahmed (Computer
Science and Engineering), Associate Prof.
Dr. M. L. Palash (Electrical and Electronic
Engineering), Assistant Prof. Sujan Sarker
(Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering)
and Assistant Prof. Dr. Mainul Hossain
(Electrical and Electronic Engineering).
DU VC Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman placing floral wreath at the grave of
Sher-E-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq on the occasion of his 149th birth
anniversary.
Photo : Courtesy
Quantum Foundation
honors 403 voluntary
blood donors
DHAKA : The Quantum Foundation, a
charitable organization dedicated to
personal growth and serving humanity in the
country, honored 403 voluntary blood
donors at a function in the city.
Each recipient was given a certificate, an
identity card and a crest under three
categories of donating blood three times, 10
times and 25 times, a press release said.
Of the total award recipients, 24 are
members of the golden club, who donated
blood 25 times, 180 silver members, who
donated 10 times, and 199 are lifetime
members, who donated blood three times.
Additional Secretary of the Power Division
SM Enamul Kabir was present at the award
distribution ceremony at Institute of
Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh here with
Quantum Foundation Advisor Professor Dr
Zahir Uddin Ahmad in the chair.
Director (motivation) of voluntary blood
donation programme of the Quantum
Foundation M Rezaul Hasan delivered the
welcome address at the function.
According to the release, in order to meet
the huge demand for blood, the Quantum
Foundation has been creating awareness
among the people and carrying out voluntary
blood donation programme since 1996.
It has been able to help around 13 lakh
people, supplying safe blood in the last two
decades, the release added.
Bangladesh reports 196 more
Covid cases, zero death
DHAKA : Bangladesh reported 196 more Covid cases in 24 hours till Wednesday morning.
The total fatalities remained unchanged at 29,416 as no death was reported during the period.
With the new infections, the caseload rose to 2,034,729, according to the Directorate
General of Health Services (DGHS).
The daily case test positivity rate dropped to 5.01 per cent from Tuesday's 5.70 per cent
as 3,913 samples were tested during the period. The mortality rate remained unchanged
at 1.45 per cent and the recovery rate rose to 97.26 per cent. In September, the country
reported 40 Covid-linked deaths and 13,251 cases. Bangladesh registered its highest daily
caseload of 16,230 on July 28 last year and its highest number of fatalities of 264 on
August 10 the same year.
DMP arrests 26
for consuming,
selling drugs in
city
DHAKA : As part of the
anti-drug drive in the
capital, members of the
Dhaka Metropolitan
Police (DMP) arrested a
total of 26 people on
charges of selling and
consuming drugs during
the last 24 hours till 6am
on Wednesday.
According to a release
issued by the DMP, police
conducted the operations
against the drug sellers
and consumers in
different areas under
various police stations of
the capital. They detained
a total of 26 drug
traffickers and recovered
huge amounts of drugs
from their possessions
from 6am of October 25
to 6 am, Wednesday.
During the anti-drug
drives, police seized 2.90
kilograms and 60 puria
(small packet) of
cannabis (ganja) and
6,226 pieces of yaba
tablets from their
possessions, it said.
Police filed 21 cases
against the arrestees in
these connections with
respective police stations
under the Narcotics
Control Act.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud handing over the DRU literature award
2022 yesterday. Photo : PID
ThURsday, oCToBeR 27, 2022
4
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Thursday, october 27, 2022
Factors in ADP projects
and programmes
The Annual Development Plan (ADP) is a
major source of public sector investment
in the country. But success in ADP
implementation is not only about fulfillmentof
expenditure targets either. Success must not be
measured primarily on the basis of only how
quickly the money is spent. The emphasis
should be on how quickly as well as how ' well'
the money is spent on the ADP projects. There
can be no reason for satisfaction if the
expenditure targets are fulfilled or overfulfilled
while expected physical output and other
targets from the same record serious shortfalls.
Ensuring the 'quality' of the ADP projects
and programmes call for their sound
conceiving in the first place. If this is not
accomplished, then resources spent on them
are to be considered as wasteful. Over the years,
many ADP projects have tended to be symbolic
of such waste. Thus, the Public Expenditure
Review Commission (PERC) identified a saga
of misuse of ADP resources during the last two
decades. It found out, for instance, a railway
project costing taka 6.75 billion to link Cox'
Bazar with Chittagong notwithstanding that a
good road link already exists between these two
destinations which make spending in the
railway project irrelevant and superfluous. It
would make far better sense if the resources
spent on this project could be diverted to
another sector where the benefits would be
proportionately much bigger than the expected
ones from the railway project.
The PERC in its examination also focused on
a string of projects where routine substantial
expenditures from the ADP are being made as
preparatory to starting full fledged work on
them. In many cases, these projects and
programmes are dependent on resources
availability or commitment and actual
disbursement of foreign funding for them
which are uncertain. Year after year, a great
deal of resources are getting consumed in
maintaining project sites and paying salaries to
staff there in anticipation that works on these
projects and programmes could start. But
these costs are proving to be very wasteful as
there is no knowing when these ventures will
take off or whether these will take off at all.
Even common sense dictates that all ADP
programmes need to be started and ended
under a strictly defined timeframe after full
availability of funding for them and taking of all
preparations to complete them at one go.
Clearly, the first task in order of importance
ought to be selection of ADP projects and
programmes after these have been put through
cost benefit analysis and assessed for their rate
of returns and found to be worthwhile. It is
imperative for ADP proposals to be cleared
through an impartial filtering process to
ascertain their true value. In many cases, the
proposals are the outcome of 'political designs'
to favour individuals and group interests. Only
after such a scrutiny, the really sound proposals
should merit an inclusion in the ADP and that
too after finances have been fully lined up to
start works on them immediately and to end
the same within a stipulated period. These
aspects are very important to avoid the
escalating costs from delays in implementation
and to get promptly the benefits from
completed projects and programmes.
For the ptresent fiscal year, the government
has a big enough ADP in the planning boards.
However, as the saying goes that the taste of the
pudding lies in the eating, the larger outlay of
resources in the ADP will be reasonable and
would be justified if the rate of its
implementation proves to be notably better
than previous years and, more significantly,
the quality of the finished projects are judged as
truly beneficial for the economy.
Planned farm management can remove the gloom of the educated youth and put smiles on their faces
Due to the global economic recession,
not only getting a government or
private job, but getting a job
advertisement has become a golden deer
today. Thousands of educated young people
have been sweating for a long time to fulfill
the dream of their parents, brothers and
sisters, and they have not been able to get a
job. In the midst of the global economic
recession and the corona epidemic, the
pilgrims who want to fulfill their dreams are
disorientated and tired today. Those who
thought that after completing their
education, removing the concentrated
darkness of sorrow, the world will be bright
with the light of happiness, today they are
locked in four walls under the terrible
clutches of Corona. Students today are truly
out of luck as job advertisements have
stopped. According to International Labor
Organization (ILO) data, one in four youth in
Bangladesh is unemployed (27.39%).
Educated youth are affected in three ways in
the long-running epidemic. On the one hand
unemployment, education and training are
also disrupted.
Students who used to earn two-four paisa
by private tutoring and ride sharing, are
closed today due to the fluctuation of oil
prices in the global market. On the one hand,
the students today are lost way thinking
about the bloodshot eyes of some people in
the society and the cursed life of
unemployment. Today there is no one to
guide the wayfarers who have lost their way.
On the one hand, due to less advertisement
of government jobs, retrenchment of
workers in private jobs, return of expatriate
brothers to the country, the employment
situation is in a state of chaos today. In such
a situation, it is really difficult to say what is
going to happen to the pilgrims who wish to
fulfill their dreams.
Suffering a lot of pain and suffering when
THE by-elections held on Oct 16 were
extraordinary for a number of reasons.
First, the constituencies were arbitrarily
picked for re-election by accepting the
resignations of only 11 out of 123 PTI MNAs
who had tendered their resignation in protest
in April this year after the vote of noconfidence
against Imran Khan was passed. It
was alleged that these constituencies were
selected because the margin of victory for the
PTI candidates in these constituencies was
extremely thin in the 2018 general election and
the PDM saw a better chance in winning in the
by-elections.
PTI chairman Imran Khan decided to
simultaneously contest the election from seven
constituencies - which was unprecedented, as
six was the maximum number of
constituencies a person opted to contest
simultaneously in the past - and that too in a
general election. No one has ever dared to
contest from so many seats in a by-election
before. However, after his disqualification in
the Toshakhana case, his fate has become
the target unemployed educated youth
dream of becoming an entrepreneur,
thousands of questions nestle in their minds.
The dream that was cherished at one time
dies, burdened by thousands of questions
hidden in the darkness of one's mind.
Educated youth who want to fulfill their
dreams create many excuses in their minds
to push back their dreams. I am a simple
person, it is not possible to be an
entrepreneur with me. Who will pay so much
money, can I? In these thousands of
questions, one step forward and three steps
back, the dream of becoming an
entrepreneur disappears.
Thinking about the fate of lakhs of
educated unemployed youth, I decided to say
something as a former student of
Bangladesh Agricultural University to give
strength to the mind as the main weapon of
becoming an entrepreneur. Hopefully this
register will serve as a tool for their financial
thinking to become better entrepreneurs and
fulfill their family's dreams.
As an animal husbandry graduate I would
say that only integrated farm management
can free the educated youth from the scourge
of unemployment. I think educated youth
are not able to become entrepreneurs easily
due to lack of proper guidance and scientific
knowledge. It is very important to know
Md. nazMUl hasan
some things before becoming an
entrepreneur.
1. It should be ingrained in the mind to
hear how the small entrepreneurs succeeded
in rearing chickens, fattening cows, and
integrated farming of fish and ducks.
2. You should hear how the farmers coped
with the difficult situations and see how
some people are successful today and
increase your desire and courage.
3. If you want to see yourself as a successful
entrepreneur, you need to have a clear and
steady mind. One should attend the
Livestock Exhibition Fairs and Fairs
Thinking about the fate of lakhs of educated
unemployed youth, i decided to say something as a
former student of Bangladesh agricultural University to
give strength to the mind as the main weapon of
becoming an entrepreneur. hopefully this register will
serve as a tool for their financial thinking to become
better entrepreneurs and fulfill their family's dreams.
uncertain. For the moment, he stands
unseated unless the courts decide otherwise.
Notwithstanding his recent disqualification
by the Election Commission, the by-elections
were unique in that Imran Khan in this case had
made it abundantly clear before the poll that he
had no intention of sitting in the National
Assembly after winning the election. The
electorate, therefore, knew they were wasting
their vote as their respective constituencies
would remain unrepresented even after the
poll. The PTI chief had claimed that the byelections
were a referendum on his demand for
immediate general elections. Since winning the
election for assuming the Assembly seats was
not a consideration, Imran Khan was in a way
right in his observation. The electorate knew
they were wasting their vote as their
constituencies would remain unrepresented.
The PTI won six out of eight National
Assembly and two out of three Punjab
Assembly constituencies, which is almost a 73
per cent success rate. Some analysts argue that
the PTI's defeat in two of the eight National
organized by WAPSA to cross the Hundred
Hills and spark the imagination.
4. Advice should be sought from
experienced Animal Husbandry Officers and
Veterinary Surgeons employed in
Government and Private sector. Also read
various books related to animals.
5. You cannot be a good leader if you think
only in your mind. His movement and farreaching
thoughts should have a positive
mindset. For this purpose, one should watch
the events of KrishiDivanishi,
KrishiogJeevan, Krishi Katha, Soil and Man
and DiptaKrishi etc. Which will sharpen the
positive thoughts hidden in his mind like
steel.
6. You have to overcome hundreds of
Multiple candidacies
ahMed Bilal MehBooB
Assembly seats, which it previously held,
indicates a setback and a sign of diminishing
fortunes for the party. This is partially true and
the loss of two National Assembly seats would
have made a difference to the party strength
had the PTI decided to return to the Assembly
to stake its claim for a majority. Since this is
not the case, the real test in the by-elections
was about the popular votes obtained and the
party share of the votes polled. The PTI had
obtained about 35pc of the total votes polled in
these 11 constituencies in the 2018 general
election. In the October 2022 by-elections, this
share shot up to 49pc, indicating an increase of
over 14 percentage points since 2018.
In addition, the PTI share of votes polled did
not register a decrease in any of the 11
constituencies in the by-elections compared to
the 2018 election. Since there were fewer
parties and candidates in the by-elections
compared to 2018, the PTI's opponents also
registered an increase in their vote share in the
by-elections but this increase was just six
percentage points, much less than the increase
hurdles and gain knowledge as well as hope
yourself to be the best agricultural
entrepreneur. So to acquire this related
knowledge training in poultry farming,
fisheries and cattle rearing should be done in
various term workshops of the Youth
Development Department and under the
One House One Farm scheme.
7. Many people think that I don't have that
much money. Can I do business? The dream
of becoming an entrepreneur is destroyed in
the bud by being burdened with such
thousands of questions. Remember,
becoming an entrepreneur doesn't require
huge sums of money, it just requires sheer
willpower and desire. So with little capital
you too can become a great agri
entrepreneur. Besides, some government
projects and bank support can build a little
seed of your dream. Through the One Home
One Farm scheme, incentives and financial
assistance to new entrepreneurs to set up
farms are aimed at. Moreover, the
Employment Bank, PravasiKalyan Bank,
Pallisanchaya Bank and Bangladesh Krishi
Bank etc. provide loans on easy terms.
So the dream should not always be
confined in the depths of the mind, it
should make itself blossom through good
care. And you have to awaken the latent
talent hidden within you. Remember that
no path in life is smooth. Crossing the
blood-stained road, climbing the mountain
of obstacles, showing thumbs to the bloodcolored
eyes of some people in the society
and saying that it was my dream to become
an entrepreneur, all I want. That dream
guides my hope today.
The writer is a Agriculturist, Manager,
Dhaka Breeders & Hatchery Limited and
Former Student, Faculty of Animal
Husbandry, Bangladesh Agricultural
University
Xi Jinping is seduced by a vision of greater isolation. A mistake that will make China poorer
As the leader enters his third term, there
are increasing signs that the country is
turning inwards, replacing the outside
world with cyber 'reality'.In August, there was
an unexpected stir in China about a scholarly
article. The piece, published in a respected but
specialist journal, argued that during the
Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and Qing dynasty
(1644-1911), China had been a country
relatively closed off to the outside world. Most
recent scholarship has assumed that this was
a bad thing and that greater openness in the
modern era had led to China's rise in global
standing and growth. But the article took a
contrarian position, suggesting that there
were economic and social advantages to the
doors being closed in large part. The
argument might have stayed in the realms of
the academic. But it was then sent out on the
social media feed of a thinktank closely linked
to the Chinese Communist party (CCP). There
was plenty of social media comment, mostly
wondering whether the CCP was hinting that
today, too, China should think about whether
openness was quite such a good idea.
Travel in and out of China has become
much harder. China is now the only major
country with a zero-Covid strategy
At first glance, it might seem that the
opening speech last Sunday by Xi Jinping at
the 20th party congress was giving a very
different message: indeed, there was a specific
pledge praising the idea of openness in the
next five years that will mark Xi's third term.
And attention at the end of the Congress has
been on the sudden, still unexplained
escorting of former president Hu Jintao out of
the meeting, and the new Politburo standing
committee whose members owe their
standing almost entirely to Xi. But there are
other signs that the China of the 2020s may
be considerably less open than the one we
have known for some four decades from the
1980s to 2020. China since the 80s has been
defined by the idea that "reform" and
"opening" have gone together. Yet that
openness created an anomaly in the first two
decades of the present century. China became
a society highly connected with the outside
world but also deeply controlled and
monitored at home: open but illiberal, a
combination that many theorists of
democracy thought impossible. Unlike the
old Soviet bloc, there was little sense that
China tried to restrict its citizens, except
political dissidents, from travelling abroad.
The Chinese of the reform era studied in
Britain, did deals in America, and saw the
sights and bought luxury goods in Italy.
Nobody stopped visitors from observing
democracy in all its guises in the liberal world,
but they understood that open discussion of
the concept stopped when they arrived back
at Beijing airport.
That open but illiberal Chinese world ended
- at least for now - in March 2020 when China
shut down and closed its borders against
Covid. Now, its population moves around at
home with relative freedom, as long as their
regular PCR test remains negative, but always
Rana MiTTeR
aware that a stray Covid case may cause a
sudden lockdown for days or weeks. But
travel in and out of China, for foreigners and
Chinese alike, has become much harder.
China is now the only major country with a
zero-Covid strategy. The decision is not
entirely political: part of the problem is that
China continues to have a huge proportion of
unvaccinated older people and its patchily
effective domestic vaccines do not prevent
infection or transmission very well. But the
The effects are clear. Chinese students are returning in decent
numbers to UK universities; yet once here, they know that they had
better make the most of their time abroad, as when they get home,
they will have to wait days in a hotel, hoping that the green light
shines on their app.
zero-Covid policy is very much associated
with Xi personally and his speech made it
clear that there is no prospect of it changing in
the short term at least.
Why go overseas, the implication goes,
when China is the most advanced society in
the world?
The effects are clear. Chinese students are
returning in decent numbers to UK
universities; yet once here, they know that
they had better make the most of their time
abroad, as when they get home, they will have
to wait days in a hotel, hoping that the green
light shines on their app. Meanwhile, the
foreign business people, students and tourists
who used to flock to China have become a real
rarity. People will go there and stay in
quarantine if they have urgent business to
conduct. But the quick in and out visits that
global entrepreneurs regularly take to other
countries are no longer possible and over time
this may well affect China's international
competitiveness as it seeks to attract talent
and finance in areas such as tech.
Instead, the existing technology has created
a new Chinese cyber world. China remains
connected to the outside world largely
through the virtual environment, in particular
social media and video apps. Yet the vision of
the world created within the country is very
partial. State media pumps out images of the
west still devastated by the virus. As China's
own technology sector becomes much more
sophisticated, a new message is emerging:
China's population is encouraged to work,
study and play at home. (Why go overseas,
the implication goes, when China is the most
advanced society in the world?) Ironically,
Chinese technology is becoming more widely
spread as its 5G systems are rolled out across
the global south, but the Chinese themselves
are much less visible in the world they are
creating. The economic policy that Xi has put
forward contains a similar sort of
contradiction. The central idea of the "dual
circulation" policy is that China should
increase its trade surplus with the wider
world, while simultaneously becoming more
dependent on its domestic economy to drive
consumption. Many economists think that
this will be a hard balance to manage. But, in
a sense, the strategy should not be seen as an
exercise in economics but in politics. It
mirrors precisely the idea of being highly
connected to the world while closed to it
physically.
Rana Mitter is professor of the history and
politics of modern China at Oxford University
in the PTI's case. Also, the PDM-cum-PPP vote
share fell in four out of 11 constituencies
compared to 2018. The analysis of vote shares
leads to the inescapable conclusion that the
PTI and, more specifically, Imran Khan is
enjoying a greater degree of popularity today
than in 2018 - at least in these 11
constituencies.
Imran Khan's earlier resignation as MNA
from his Mianwali constituency had not been
accepted by the National Assembly Speaker,
and had the PTI chief not been disqualified, he
would have held membership in seven
constituencies after winning the by-elections in
six constituencies. Theoretically speaking, he
could have retained any one of the
constituencies and resigned from the rest
within 30 days in accordance with Article
223(2) of the Constitution had his election been
notified.
The writer is president of the Pakistan
Institute of Legislative Development and
Transparency.
thursDaY, oCtoBEr 27, 2022
5
CarolinE BoloGna
In April 2022, Clea Shearer ? co-founder
of the popular organization company The
Home Edit ? announced that she had
breast cancer. The diagnosis came after
she discovered a lump in her breast and
called multiple doctors to go in for a
mammogram as soon as possible.
Estimates suggest that one in eight
women in the United States will develop
breast cancer at some point in their life.
Shearer had just turned 40 when she
discovered the mass in her breast. Stories
like Shearer's highlight the value of
familiarizing yourself with what is normal
and abnormal for your breasts.
Although many cancer organizations
no longer recommend all women conduct
monthly breast self-exams due to
concerns about their effectiveness and
the sense of self-blame they can promote,
experts do agree that awareness of how
your breasts typically look and feel is
useful for detecting signs and symptoms
of breast cancer, like lumps.
Still, I imagine I'm not alone when I
take the time to feel around that area and
wonder, "What exactly am I checking for?
What would a lump actually feel like? Am
I even doing this right?" So, I asked a few
experts to answer those very questions.
"A lump often feels like a round, hard
area," said Dr. Arif Kamal, a chief patient
officer at the American Cancer Society. "It
can either be deep or toward the skin
itself. Typically it is not painful. It's
typically not easily movable but
oftentimes fixed in a particular space,
meaning it doesn't shift in its location all
that easily. In terms of shape, it is
oftentimes round but sometimes it can be
a little bit more irregular than that."
Some experts have suggested the size of
a breast lump ranges from as small as a
pea to larger than a golf ball. Indeed,
Kamal noted that many of his patients
have compared it to a pea.
"In my clinical experience, a lot of times
patients describe it like a pea in a pod or a
frozen pea ? sort of on the smaller side, of
that texture, and of that hardness," he
said. "It's generally on the smoother side
for texture, generally more firm, generally
not painful. And it generally does not feel
like a cyst, which feels like a fluid
collection ? although even if a person feels
What a breast lump actually feels like
a fluid collection, they should report that
to their clinical team as well."
Dr. Alyssa Cubbison, an assistant
professor of radiology at the Ohio State
University Wexner Medical Center,
similarly noted that cancerous lumps
often feel firm and dense and can be
difficult to move from side to side.
However, she emphasized that all new
lumps should be evaluated by a
professional.
"You mainly want to feel around for
something discrete in your breast that's
separate from the rest of your breast
tissue," she explained. "Because the
textures and densities of masses can be so
varied, you're just feeling for anything
different, as vague as that sounds. You
can use your other breast as a baseline as
well." Of course, feeling a new lump isn't
the only indication of a potential issue.
Susan Brown, senior director of health
information at Susan G. Komen, shared a
list of eight warning signs, including
visual indicators, that people should look
out for.
"See a doctor if you notice any of these
breast changes," Brown advised. "Lump,
hard knot or thickening inside the breast
or underarm area; swelling, warmth,
redness or darkening of the breast;
change in the size or shape of the breast,
dimpling or puckering of the skin; itchy,
scaly sore or rash on the nipple; pulling in
of your nipple or other parts of the breast;
nipple discharge that starts suddenly or
new pain in one spot that doesn't go
away."
Although there are some common
characteristics of lumps and other
warning signs, there's ultimately no one
specific thing to look or feel for when it
comes to your awareness of your breasts.
The key is just to understand what is
normal for you so that you recognize
something new or different ? and seek
medical attention when you do
Part of the reason many experts no
longer recommend monthly breast selfexams
is that there are more organic
situations during everyday life that
Experts share how breast cancer commonly manifests and the physical signs and changes to look out
for.
Photo: Collected
provide the opportunity to familiarize
yourself with your "normal" and keep you
on alert for signs and symptoms.
"Many women who discover changes in
their breast or underarm area that turn
out to be breast cancer don't actually
discover them on the day and time they
have set aside for monthly [self-exam, but
rather noticed a change incidentally at
some other time, such as when showering
or dressing, and recognized the change
because they knew what was normal for
them ? or a partner noticed it," Brown
explained.
Again, the idea is not to necessarily look
for something specific, just to take note if
there's anything new or different.
"If you aren't already checking your
own body, I think a good place to start is
after you go in for a regular checkup with
your primary care provider or
gynecologist," said Dr. Janet Yeh,
assistant professor at New York
University (NYC) Grossman School of
Medicine and site chief of breast surgical
oncology at NYU Langone
Hospital?Brooklyn. "If you recently had
imaging or they did an exam and it was
normal, then you can get a good idea of
your baseline because you know there's
nothing there. You know the lumps and
bumps you might feel are your regular
breast tissue."
She recommended checking your
breasts when you're doing something
comfortable and routine, like lying in bed,
watching TV, standing in front of the
mirror, or taking a shower ("it's two birds
with one stone since you have to wash
your body anyway").
"Everyone's going to do it a little
differently, and that's OK," Yeh
explained. "Some use the tips of their
fingers and go in little circles. Others
might say to make the shape of a star. I
like to feel with my palm and fingers and
do a wiping motion. I think of the breasts
as a clock and wipe all around a center
point ? then press in to make sure I'm not
missing anything behind."
Lift your left arm as you check your left
breast and your right arm for the right.
Make sure to also check your underarms,
as cancer and other issues can manifest in
the form of swollen lymph nodes in that
area. "Some women have very lumpy
breasts, so it's important for those women
to get used to their own lumps and
bumps," Yeh noted. "That way they can
say, 'OK in the upper outer area, I usually
feel a lot of firmness and lumps.' And if
there's something different they're
unsure about, it doesn't hurt to get it
checked out, even if it turns out to just be
regular breast tissue."
In addition to seeing a doctor when you
detect any change or abnormality, make
sure to schedule regular medical
appointments and screenings. If you have
a family history of breast cancer or
personal health factors that increase your
risk, talk to a doctor about that. Discuss
which tests are right for you and the
proper age and cadence for screenings
like mammograms.
"Our technology with breast imaging is
so good these days that we really do pick
things up early," Yeh said. "If you're
compliant with the guidelines and getting
your mammogram, it'll likely pick up
things before you can even feel them.
Fortunately, most of the breast cancer we
see is so early, we can't even feel it
ourselves. Still, it remains important to
let a professional know if you feel a new
lump in your breast."
Things to consider before trying
a nonalcoholic drink
MatthEw BoCChi
In recent years, accessibility
to nonalcoholic beverages
has surged, and perhaps for
good reason. The COVID-19
pandemic alone brought in a
new wave of sober-curious
people, amid a rise in alcohol
consumption during the
isolation of lockdowns.
To meet this shift, drinks
like CBD-infused seltzers,
zero-proof liquors,
nonalcoholic wines and more
have filled the shelves for
those who are looking for
party options without the
buzz.
CBD drinks, for example,
promise to take the edge off
after consumption thanks to
the properties in cannabidiol,
a nonpsychoactive part of a
cannabis plant that may
promote a sense of
relaxation. Nonalcoholic, or
"NA," beverages give sober
folks a substitute for the
drinks that many may have
previously relied on in social
settings.
But for those who have a
difficult relationship with
alcohol, are these
alternatives really a solution?
Or is the need for them a sign
of something greater?
Speaking to HuffPost,
substance misuse experts
and people who are sober
shared a few questions to
consider if you're turning to
these beverages when you
give up drinking.
A recurring topic that
occurs in 12-step substance
misuse recovery meetings is
motive. What is your motive
for doing X vs Y? The
spectrum of answers may
range from attending a
wedding to visiting a bar with
nonsober friends.
Some may feel
uncomfortable around their
peers who still drink. It is
hard to socialize without
booze when you've become
so accustomed to having a
drink in hand to feel normal.
Some may find solace in
nonalcoholic beverages to
put on the facade that they
are still drinking, perhaps
because they haven't fully
disclosed the change to
friends. Others may insist
that they are just taking a
break from alcohol for health
reasons.
Whatever the case may be,
it is important to
acknowledge what the
motive is for wanting to
indulge in nonalcoholic
drinks in the first place and
to address that. Those in
recovery need to examine
whether the motive behind
drinking the nonalcoholic
beverage is potentially
detrimental to their sobriety.
"I feel as if you should be
fully abstinent for the first
two years of sobriety," said
Ashley Loeb Blassingame, a
co-founder of an online
substance abuse counseling
program named Lionrock
Recovery, noting that these
kinds of problems "aren't
substance-specific."
Consider your motive when deciding whether to try a CBD-infused or nonalcoholic
drink.
Photo: Collected
"Then, check your motives
to see if the desire for an NA
beverage is still there," she
continued.
If the desire is still there
and you decide to try an NA
beverage, think about why
you are doing it. Is something
missing in your sobriety? Is
your recovery checklist in
order?
"How much do you like the
taste of a NA beverage? Or do
you like it because it tastes
similar to alcohol?"
Blassingame said.
If drinking a beverage that
tastes similar to alcohol could
be triggering, it is important
to have a plan in order. In
recovery, the idea of a true
nonalcoholic beverage is
alluring, and with so many
new options becoming
available, it is OK to wonder
about them. Just make sure
you are valuing your sobriety
more than anything and not
becoming a victim of
surreptitious marketing.
If you're sober-curious but
not dealing with an
addiction, full abstinence
might not be totally
necessary right now. In those
circumstances, practicing
moderation tactics ? like
drinking NA beverages ? is a
good entryway into the
recovery world.
For both those in recovery
and those who are sobercurious,
it is important to
have a network in place -
people you can rely on in a
time of need or bounce
questions off without fear of
judgment, according to
Blassingame.
The reality is that many
nonalcoholic beverages
include small amounts of
alcohol. This is known as a
low alcohol by volume, or
ABV.
A sober-curious individual
partaking in these alternative
beverages is different from
someone in recovery doing
so. The former may look at
these options as healthier
choices. The latter has more
at stake, with the
consumption of low-ABV
drinks potentially igniting
the craving for something
stronger.
If you're in recovery, be
mindful of the ingredient list
for anything you're
consuming, experts told
HuffPost. This does not
mean diligently checking
every household item, but it
is good to be aware of what is
in your food and beverages,
as well as how certain
ingredients can affect you.
Beverages like kombucha
have an ABV of 0.5%, and
while that may not be enough
to even remotely affect some,
others may feel a buzz due to
overconsumption.
Check the alcohol volume
in drinks you're choosing.
Then ask yourself why you
may want them - and be
radically honest about it.
Sobriety isn't one-size-fitsall,
and this applies to the
beverages people choose to
consume, according to Trey
Laird, the CEO and founder
of a sober living facility in
Connecticut known as The
Lighthouse.
"I have worked with clients
who have tried both
nonalcoholic drinks and
CBD. For some of them, it
has a purpose, and I don't
judge them," Laird said,
adding that people in
recovery who drink them
should disclose this to
someone they trust
beforehand.
He warned, however, that
these beverages can become
a slippery slope in some
cases. Some of his clients
have reported drinking one
bottle of O'Doul's, which in
turn leads to drinking a sixpack
to feel a slight buzz. In
Laird's personal recovery, he
hasn't found the need to
indulge in nonalcoholic
drinks.
"For me, I have been sober
since 2011 and have gone this
long without trying a
nonalcoholic beer or wine,"
he said.
Lindsey Metselaar, the
host of the dating and
relationship podcast "We
Met at Acme," feels similar to
Laird in terms of her own
recovery. She isn't interested
in trying nonalcoholic drinks,
and she argued that the
consumption of CBD
products in recovery is
unnecessary and does not
equal sobriety.
The distinction needs to be
clearly defined for you,
Blassingame said. In her
opinion, the term "sober"
implies recovery in the
traditional sense, which can
include meetings, therapy
and more.
"It is the difference
between someone running a
marathon [on occasion] ...
versus an endurance
athlete," she said, noting that
to her, sobriety and recovery
imply complete abstinence
from all mood and mindaltering
substances ? even
drinks like CBD-infused
beverages or low-ABV beer
alternatives.
The sober-curious,
however, may think of the
change as just abstaining
from drinking, with the
option to either maintain
that or consume alcohol
when they want.
Decide what aligns with
your needs for your
relationship with alcohol,
and then make an informed
decision about whether
drinking alternative
beverages will fit into those
plans, the experts said. And
no matter what, make sure
you're relying on a support
system to guide you through
it.
Do kids really need to use
special skin care products
MariE holMEs
With inflation driving up
the cost of everyday items,
many families are trying to
find ways to save on
regular expenses. It can be
nice for every family
member to have brands of
their own in the bathroom,
but products designed for
babies and kids can be
pricey. And if you're giving
multiple kids daily baths,
you may be running
through products quickly -
particularly if the kids are
squeezing body wash out of
bottles on their own!
How necessary is it for
the youngest members of
the family to have their
own skin care products?
Could we all simplify and
save by purchasing just a
few gentle formulas for the
whole family to use?
"There are no specific
guidelines [on] what
makes a product for kids,"
Dr. Jen Trachtenberg, a
board-certified
pediatrician, told. Absent
guidelines, are there actual
differences between kids'
products and adult
products?
Dr. Jessica Hui, a
pediatric allergist and
immunologist at National
Jewish Health in Denver,
told HuffPost that "it
largely depends on the
specific product and those
main ingredients. The
answer ranges from barely
any difference to large
differences."
It's important to notice if
ingredients differ between
kid and adult versions.
"Many kids' products may
be the same as adult
formulations but with
different packaging, or
added color or even 'baby
smell' fragrances,"
Trachtenberg said. "Just
because it says 'for
children' doesn't
necessarily mean a better
or more appropriate
product," she added.
It's true that babies' and
kids' skin is often more
sensitive and thinner than
older kids' and adults' skin,
but that doesn't limit you to
using only products that
have the word "baby" on
them.
Trachtenberg
recommends "gentle
cleanser and not soap, as
it's much harsher and
drying."
She mentioned Dove,
Cetaphil, Vanicream and
CeraVe as gentle adult
products without dyes or
fragrances that kids can
use, too.
Trachtenberg
recommends a moisturizer
with ceramides, which are
the fats or lipids found in
your skin cells that help
your skin retain moisture.
They're "naturally found
in the healthy skin barrier,"
explained Hui. "Sunscreen
is important, too,"
Trachtenberg said, and
"not much different than
what adults need."
Some parents prefer to
use mineral rather than
chemical sunscreens for
their kids, as the FDA has
generally recognized them
as safe and effective. There
is also evidence that
chemical sunscreens are
absorbed into the
bloodstream, although we
don't know if this exposure
poses a risk. But mineral
sunscreens, sometimes
called physical (rather than
chemical) blockers, work
perfectly well for parents,
too.
Hui noted that the
protective ingredient in
sunscreen, such as zinc
oxide or titanium oxide (for
mineral sunscreens), is the
same for adults and
children, yet "the ones
marketed for children are
always more expensive."
any gentle product without fragrances, dyes or additives can work for all
members of the family.
Photo: Getty
tHuRsdAy, OCtObeR 27, 2022
6
district Literary Festival 2022 has been held in Habiganj under the auspices of the Ministry of
Culture on Wednesday.
Photo: Md. Mamun Chowdhury
District Literary Festival 2022
held in Habiganj
Md. MAMuN CHOWdHuRy, HAbIGANJ
CORResPONdeNt:
District Literary Festival 2022 has been
held in Habiganj under the auspices of
the Ministry of Culture with the aim of
highlighting the creations of district
level writers at the national level. The
fair was held under the management of
Habiganj district administration and in
coordination with Bangla Academy.
Md. Abul Mansoor, Secretary of the
Ministry of Cultural Affairs,
inaugurated the fair by blowing up
balloons at Shilpakala Academy
premises on Wednesday morning.
Deputy Commissioner of Commerce
Ashrafur Rahman, Additional Deputy
Commissioner (General) Mintu
Chowdhury,
Additional
Superintendent of Police of Sadar
Circle Mahfuza Akhtar Shimul, Chief
BU celebrates
AK Fazlul
Haque's birthday
The 149th birth anniversary
of Sher-e Bangla AK Fazlul
Haque was celebrated in
Barisal University. On
October 26 at 12 noon, vicechancellor
Prof Dr Sadequl
Arefin paid tribute to Sher-e
Bangla AK Fazlul Haque on
his birthday by placing a
wreath on his portrait. After
paying tribute, the Vice-
Chancellor called on
everyone to reflect the ideals
of this great leader in
everyone's life along with the
biography of Sher-e Bangla
AK Fazlul Haque. The
President of Barisal University
Teachers Association Abdul
Qayyum, general secretary Dr.
Abdul Baten Chowdhury, Arif
Hossain, proctor of
Bangabandhu Hall, proctor
Dr. Resident teachers of
Sher-e Bangla Hall including
Khorshed Alam, assistant
resident teachers, students,
officials-employees and
Chhatra League leaders was
present among others under
the chairmanship of Sher
Bangla Hall proctor Abu
Zafar Mia. Meanwhile, on the
occasion of Sher-e Bangla AK
Fazlul Haque's birthday, a
discussion meeting and quiz
competition prize
distribution will be held at
Sher-e Bangla hall on
October 31.
Driver dies in Gopalganj
road accident
GOPALGANJ: A driver
was killed and 15 others
were injured in a head-on
collision between two buses
on the Dhaka-Khulna
highway in the Majhigati
area under Kashiani Upazila
of the district last night,
reports BSS.
The deceased was identified
as BRTC bus driver Murad,
45. A Khulna-bound bus of
Imad Paribahan from Dhaka
collided head-on with a
Dhaka-bound BRTC bus at
around 9 pm last night,
leaving Murad dead on the
spot and 15 passengers of two
buses injured, Muksudpur
Fire Service Station Officer
Sajibur Rahman said.
Nirbahi Officer of Zilla Parishad Nurul
Islam, Principal Prof. Md. Ilyach
Bakhat Chowdhury, Deputy Director of
Bangla Academy Dr. Md. Shahadat
Hossain Nipu, District Awami League
General Secretary Advocate Md.
Alamgir Chowdhury, Municipal Mayor
Ataur Rahman Salim, valiant Freedom
Fighter Gaur Prasad Roy, District
Information Officer Pawan
Chowdhury, poet and writer Tahmina
Begum Gini were the special guests in
the program under the chairmanship of
Deputy Commissioner Ishrat Jahan.
After the opening ceremony,
selected essays were presented by
poet dramatist Ruma Modak and
Siddiqui Haroon. The speaker was
Professor Dr. Zahirul Haque, Dr.
Mohammad Azharul Islam. The
instructor in the writer's workshop
was Professor Dr. Suresh Ranjan
Basak, Dr. Abul Fateh Fattah,
Professor Dr. Sharadindu
Bhattacharya, Dr. Md. Shahadat
Hossain Nipu. The 1st day of the fair
concluded with a cultural
programme. A gathering of poets,
writers, dramatists from different
places of the district took place on the
occasion.
Addressing as the chief guest at the
event, Secretary Md. Abul Mansoor
said that the number of writers who
make a living by writing is few and far
between. Most people write for a
living. After the partition of the
country in 1947 and later the great
liberation war of 1971, Dhaka, the
capital of independent Bangladesh,
became the center of Bengali
language and literature and culture
practice. In this way, literary practice
should be promoted in every district.
birth anniversary of sher-e bangla Ak Fazlul Haque was celebrated in
barisal university on Wednesday.
Photo: Courtesy
On the occasion of National sanitation Month and World Hand Washing day, public
awareness rally and discussion meeting was held in barlekha. Photo: Abdur Rob
Public awareness rally held
in Barlekha
AbduR ROb, bARLekHA CORResPONdeNt:
On the occasion of National Sanitation
Month and World Hand Washing Day,
public awareness rally and discussion
meeting was held at Barlekha on
Wednesday afternoon. It was organized by
Upazila Administration and Department of
Public Health Engineering in collaboration
with CNRS Initiation Programme.
Upazila Chairman Soeb Ahmad spoke as
the chief guest at the discussion meeting
held under the chairmanship of UNO
Sunjit Kumar Chand and moderated by
Upazila Assistant Public Health Engineer
Moin Uddin. Upazila Vice Chairman Taj
Uddin, Female Vice Chairman Rahena
Begum Hasna, Upazila Agriculture Officer
Debal Sarkar, Upazila Social Service Officer
Saiful Islam, Upazila Secondary Education
Officer Howladar Azizul Islam, Upazila
Farmers League President Abdul Latif,
Upazila Primary Education Officer Mir
Abdullah Al Mamun, press club president
Asit Ranjan Das, upazila coordinator of
CNRS initiation program Mobarak
Hossain Chowdhury and others spoke
among others.
One to die
for killing
schoolgirl in
Nilphamari
NILPHAMARI: A court
here today sentenced a
man to death for killing a
school girl after rape in
Jaldhaka upazila of the
district in 2009, reports
BSS.
Nilphamari Women and
Children Repression
Prevention Tribunal-1,
Senior District and
Sessions Judge Md.
Mansor Alam pronounced
the verdict this afternoon.
The convicted accused is
Mahmudar Rahman, 37,
son of Afan Uddin, a
resident of Dundibari
village of the upazila.
The court also fined him
Taka 1.5 lakh. The accused
was absconding at the time
of the verdict. According to
the prosecution, on
September 30, 2009,
Mahmudar Rahman raped
and subsequently
murdered the student of
class eight of Jaldhaka
Model Pilot High School in
the area at her house.
Victim's father Yakub Ali
filed a rape and murder
case against Mahmudar
Rahman at Jaldhaka police
station.
The investigating officer
in the case submitted a
charge-sheet against him
on February 14, 2010.
After examining the
record and 14 witnesses,
the court found him guilty.
Special Public Prosecutor
(PP) Advocate Ramendra
Bardhan Bappi confirmed
the matter.
Two day pilgrimage to
start from 27 Oct
RAFIquL IsLAM AdHAR, sHeRPuR CORResPONdeNt:
The two-day pilgrimage of Fatima Rani of
Sherpur will start from October 27. This
biggest religious festival of Catholic
Christians is being held on October 27 and
28 in Dharmapalli of Barmari Saint Leo,
bordering India. The festival of lakhs of
pilgrims has been surrounded by strict
security measures.
South Asia's largest pilgrimage festival is in
a festive mood at the Sherpur border. South
Asia's largest pilgrimage is held in this
religious village modeled on the city of
Fatima in Portugal. The 25th pilgrimage is
being held with the slogan Fatima Rani Ma
Maria for meeting, participation and
motivation. This Dharmapalli of Barmari
Saint Leo was established in 1942 on about
42 acres of land.
This site was chosen as an annual
pilgrimage site since 1998. Fatima Rani
Pilgrimage Festival is held on the last
Thursday and Friday of October every year.
Not only in Sherpur, but about lakhs of
pilgrims from the country and abroad take
part in this pilgrimage.
Father Tarun Banwari of Baromari
Christian Mission of Nalitabari said that
the organizing authorities have completed
all the arrangements for the pilgrims. He
expects that the number of fans will
increase this time around. Vice-president
of Barmari Dharmapalli and former tribal
chairman Mr. Lewis Nengminza said that
Reverend Father Gabriel Koraia, the
former rector of Banani Major Seminary in
Dhaka, will be the main speaker at this
year's pilgrimage festival.
Sherpur Superintendent of Police
Kamruzzaman Russell in this regard said
that flawless security measures have been
taken in the entire area around the
pilgrimage festival. The entire village is
under intelligence surveillance since last
few days.
the two-day pilgrimage of Fatima Rani of sherpur will start from
October 27.
Photo: Rafiqul Islam Adhar
4,894 houses, 6,252.5 hectares
of crops damaged in Khulna div
kHuLNA: At least four districts of
Khulna division have been partially
flooded, over 700 shrimp fields (gher)
were washed away, over 2,50,000
people were marooned, storm surge
swamped embankments in low-lying
coastal areas, officials in Khulna
Divisional Commissioner Office said
here yesterday, reports BSS.
At least 1.75 lakh people of three
districts have been affected by tidal
waves following the impact of cyclone
'Sitrang' in the coastal-belt of Khulna
district, the officials said.
"Hundreds of shrimp ghers
(enclosure) have been washed way,
3,270 mad houses, huge trees were
uprooted and damaged, 1,624 houses
were partially damaged and many
villages were submerged by tidal surge
of 'Sitrang," the officials added.
Besides, one person was killed in
Narail district during the cyclone
'Sitrang'.
Khulna, Bagerhat, Magura and
Narail District Administrations,
Mongla Port Authority, Bangladesh
Navy, Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG)
of Mongla West Zone, Fire Service and
Civil Defense are working to
rehabilitate the affected people of the
coastal areas.
As part of the immediate response,
more than three lakhs people were
successfully evacuated and moved
them to nearby cyclone shelters in
coastal districts before the cyclone
'Sitrang' hit in Khulna, Barishal and
Chittagong division ," said Khulna
Divisional Commissioner Md Zillur
Rahman Chowdhury.
While a thorough assessment of
damage caused by the cyclone will be
made, there are reports of many trees
being uprooted from different coastal
resorts including Dakop, Koyra and
Paikgacha in Khulna, Shyamnagar,
Ashashuni and Kaligang in Satkhira,
Sharonkhola, Morelgang and Mongla
in Bagerhat and other two districts in
the division.
Around four to five feet high tidal
surge due to impact of cyclonic storm
'Sitramg' caused a "fear of a partial
disaster is mostly over" he said, adding
loss to lives and properties as the
district administrations took
appropriate precautionary measures to
cope the disaster.
In some places, trees have been
fallen and traffic movement has
stopped. Raw-brick and kancha
houses have been partially and fully
damaged due to the tidal waves, the
embankments in the lower reaches of
Koyra and Dakop in Khulna and
other upazilas in Satkhira and
Bagerhat have been flooded, he
added.
The storm 'Sitrang', however,
claimed one life so far and injured some
people in the coastal areas.
National Sanitation Month observed
in Banaripara
s MIzANuL IsLAM, bANARIPARA CORResPONdeNt:
World Handwashing Day and
national Sanitation Month was
observed on Wednesday in
Banaripara. It was organized by
Upazila Administration and
Department of Public Health
Engineering. Upazila Nirbahi Officer
Ripon Kumar Saha presided over the
discussion meeting at the Upazila
Parishad Auditorium on the occasion
of the day. Barisal-02 Constituency
MP Md. Shah-e Alam was the chief
guest. Upazila Public Health
Assistant Engineer Mohammad
Nizam Uddin, Vice Chairman Md
Nurul Huda, Municipal Awami
League President Subrata Lal Kund,
Resident Medical Officer Dr. Anik
Hradoy Dey, Journalist S. Mizanul
Islam and others delivered the
welcome speech under the direction
of Primary Teachers Association
Secretary Md. Zahid Hossain. A mass
rally was taken out before the
discussion meeting.
World Handwashing day and national sanitation Month was observed on Wednesday in
banaripara.
Photo: s Mizanul Islam
ThuRSdAy, OcTOBeR 27, 2022
7
Britain's new PM eyes delay
to crunch budget plan
Thousands of Iranian mourners gathered Wednesday at the grave of Mahsa Amini to mark 40 days
since her death, defying heightened security measures as part of a bloody crackdown on women-led
protests.
Photo : AP
LONDON : British Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak could postpone an eagerlyawaited
budget plan due next week, a
senior minister said Wednesday, as the
youthful new leader gets down to
business after weeks of political
turmoil, reports BSS.
Following a meeting of his new-look
cabinet, Sunak was set to engage in his
first parliamentary joust against
opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer,
who is demanding a snap general
election. "The Tories have crashed the
economy, with low wages, high prices
and a cost-of-living crisis," Starmer
said, in a taste of the attack to come.
"The public needs a fresh start and a
say on Britain's future."
But Sunak, 42, ruled out an early
election as he vowed stability and fiscal
rectitude following his appointment by
King Charles III on Tuesday.
After appointing the cabinet team,
Sunak phoned the presidents of
Ukraine and the United States to vow
continuity on UK foreign policy,
including resisting Russia's invasion of
its neighbour with cash and military
aid.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverlyone
of several ministers retained by
Sunak from the old cabinet of Liz
Truss-said however that Monday's
"medium-term fiscal statement" was
no longer so pressing.
The statement was forced on Truss
after she caused financial markets to
implode with an ill-conceived plan for
tax cuts financed by extra borrowing.
She ditched her finance minister and
turned to a new one in Jeremy Hunt to
steady the ship, but her own
premiership was mortally wounded.
Sunak also retained Hunt in his
cabinet, and vowed to restore "trust"
and "integrity" in government after
Truss's financial carnage and the many
controversies that brought down Boris
Johnson before her.
But for critics, the new leader
undermined his own pledges by also reappointing
the hardline right-winger
Suella Braverman as interior minister,
days after she was forced to resign for a
security breach.
Cleverly said Braverman had shown
contrition for her "mistake" in emailing
sensitive government documents
outside her department.
On the fiscal statement, the foreign
minister told BBC television that "a
short delay, in order to make sure that
we get this right, I think that is not
necessarily a bad thing at all".
"He will want some time with his
chancellor (Hunt) to make sure that the
fiscal statement matches his priorities,"
Cleverly added, warning that further
cuts to foreign aid might be necessary.
As well as mending Britain's
wounded finances, Sunak is also
pledging to reunite the Conservatives
after another bruising leadership
contest, mere weeks after Johnson was
forced out.
Thousands of Iranians flock to Mahsa
Amini grave despite crackdown
PARIS : Thousands of Iranian
mourners gathered Wednesday at the
grave of Mahsa Amini to mark 40
days since her death, defying
heightened security measures as part
of a bloody crackdown on women-led
protests.
"Death to the dictator", men and
women chanted at the Aichi cemetery
in Saqez, Amini's home town in the
western province of Kurdistan, in
videos shared online.
Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian of
Kurdish origin, died on September
16, three days after her arrest by the
notorious morality police for
allegedly breaching the Islamic dress
code for women while visiting Tehran
with her younger brother.
Anger flared at her funeral last
month and quickly sparked the
biggest wave of protests to rock the
Islamic republic in almost three
years. Young women and schoolgirls
have led the charge, burning their
hijab headscarves and confronting
security forces.
Overnight, the authorities stepped
up security measures in Saqez,
deploying personnel in a central
square as well as reportedly shutting
off entrances to the city.
Despite that, mourners headed to
her graveside to mark 40 days since
her death-the end of the traditional
mourning period in Iran.
Iran's Fars news agency said
around two thousand people
gathered in Saqez and chanted
"Woman, life, freedom".
But thousands more were seen
making their way in cars, on
motorbikes, and on foot along a
highway, through fields and even
across a river, in videos widely shared
online by activists and human rights
groups.
Noisily clapping, shouting and
honking horns, mourners packed the
highway linking Saqez to the
cemetery located eight kilometres
(five miles) away, in images that the
Hengaw rights group told AFP it had
verified.
"This year is the year of blood,
Seyed Ali will be toppled," a group of
them chanted in a video verified by
AFP, referring to Iran's supreme
leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
"Kurdistan, Kurdistan, the
graveyard of fascists," others were
heard singing in another video shared
by activists on Twitter. AFP was
unable to immediately verify the
footage.
Hengaw, which monitors rights
violations in Kurdistan, said strikes
were underway in Saqez,
Divandarreh, Marivan, Kamyaran
and Sanandaj, as well as Javanrud
and Ravansar in the western province
of Kermanshah.
The Norway-based rights group
said Iranian football stars Ali Daei
and Hamed Lak had travelled to
Saqez "to take part in the 40th day
funeral".
They had been staying at the Kurd
Hotel but were "taken to the
government guesthouse... under
guard by the security forces", it said.
Daei has previously run into trouble
with authorities over his online
support for the Amini protests.
Kurdistan governor Esmail Zarei-
Kousha said the situation in Saqez
was calm and dismissed as
"completely false" reports that roads
into the city had been shut.
"The enemy and its media... are
trying to use the 40 day anniversary
of Mahsa Amini's death as a pretext
to cause new tensions, but
fortunately, the situation in the
province is completely stable," he
said, quoted by state news agency
IRNA.
Hengaw said most of Saqez was
"empty" as so many people had left
the city to join the ceremony to
commemorate Amini.
The 1500tasvir social media
channel, which chronicles rights
violations by Iran's security forces,
said fresh protests were being held
elsewhere, including at universities in
Tehran, Mashhad in Iran's northeast
and Ahvaz, in the southwest.
Oslo-based group Iran Human
Rights said the security forces'
crackdown on the Amini protests has
cost the lives of at least 141
demonstrators, up from 122
previously, in an updated death toll
Tuesday.
Amnesty International says the
"unrelenting brutal crackdown" has
killed at least 23 children, while IHR
said at least 29 children have been
slain.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak could postpone an eagerly-awaited budget plan due next week, a
senior minister said Wednesday, as the youthful new leader gets down to business after weeks of
political turmoil.
Photo : AP
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2022
8
The Premier Bank Limited celebrated 23 years of success and prosperity on Wednesday. Dr. H.B.M.
Iqbal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank inaugurated the 23 year celebration program
through a beautiful cake cutting ceremony.
Photo : TBT
Premier Bank celebrates
23 years of success
The Premier Bank Limited
celebrated 23 years of
success and prosperity on
Wednesday October 26,
2022. Dr. H.B.M. Iqbal,
Chairman of the Board of
Directors of the bank
inaugurated the 23 year
celebration program
through a beautiful cake
cutting ceremony. M.
Reazul Karim, FCMA,
Managing Director and
CEO of the bank presided
over the ceremony
attended by the Members
of the Board of Directors
B.H. Haroon, MP, M
Imran Iqbal, Jamal G
Ahmed, Nahyan Haroon,
Independent Directors
Kaiser A. Chowdhury and
Naba Gopal Banik, Advisor
Muhammed Ali and many
others, a press release said.
Dr. H.B.M. Iqbal,
Founder Chairman of The
Premier Bank Limited
stated in his speech at the
ceremony "Our journey
started in 1999. Since then,
we have been able to
prosper and achieve our
current position by earning
the trust, faith and love of
the people. Our bank has
had an important role in
the development of various
sectors across the country.
We could not have
achieved our current
position without the
support, guidance and love
of our valued clients, wellwishers,
patrons,
controlling bodies and
media personnel." Dr.
H.B.M. Iqbal also
expressed his heartfelt
gratitude towards the
Management Authority of
the bank for the gradual
and steady success of
Premier Bank.
M. Reazul Karim, FCMA,
Managing Director and
CEO of the bank, thanked
everyone and stated "Our
journey on the road to
prosperity will continue.
Premier Banks current
(30/09/2022) portfolio of
assets and deposits stand
at 38,280 crores and
29,130 crores respectively,
while present A.D ratio is
74.26% compared to
76.22% of last year. Our
banks present L.C.R is
123.96% which was
117.21% last year, while
N.F.S.R is 124.52% which
was 122.38% last year and
percentage of bad loans is
2.76%. Our A.D ratio,
L.C.R, N.F.S.R and
percentage of bad loans is
in good standing according
to the standards of
Bangladesh Bank. We are
hopeful that within the
next 5 years our bank will
be one of the top
performing banks of the
country based on all
parameters.
Muhammed Ali, Advisor
to the bank, stated in his
speech "Bangladesh is
moving forward towards
the goal of becoming a
developed and prosperous
nation by the year 2041. In
this journey, Premier Bank
continues to be a major
and significant contributor
due to the various
progressive strategies we
have adopted under the
leadership and guidance of
Dr. H.B.M. Iqbal,
Chairman of the Board of
Directors.
Standard Chartered guarantees steady supply
of medical oxygen forpatients in Jamalpur
Standard Chartered Bangladesh recently
collaborated with United Trust to make
sure that patients at M A Rashid
Hospital in Jamalpur have consistent
access to life-saving medical oxygen.
With the pandemic accelerating both
local and global demand for oxygen, it
became evident thatmedical oxygen is
essential for the treatment
ofcardiovascular and respiratory
illnesses, in addition to COVID-19.
To solve issues of availability, quality,
affordability, and supply, Standard
Chartered Bangladesh donated a
Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA)
Medical Oxygen Generation Plant to M
A Rashid Hospital in Jamalpur. The
plant's total installed capacity of 303
litres/minutewill provide over 80 ailing
patients with a constant supply of much
needed oxygen.
The PSA Medical Oxygen Generation
Plant was inaugurated by H.E. Mr.
Robert Chatterton Dickson, British High
Commissioner to Bangladesh, who
attended the event as a special guest,
along with Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief
Executive Officer, Standard Chartered
Bangladesh, and Moinuddin Hasan
Rashid, Chairman & Managing Director,
United Group. Other attendees
included: EnamulHuque, Managing
Director, Head of Client Coverage,
Corporate, Commercial & Institutional
Banking, Standard Chartered
Bangladesh; Bitopi Das Chowdhury,
Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand &
Marketing, Standard Chartered
Bangladesh;Abdur Rahim, Chairman,
United Trust; and members of local
government authorities.
Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive
Officer, Standard Chartered Bangladesh,
said,"Sustainable access to oxygen, at
times, is the difference between life and
death for patients. The need for oxygen
continues to increase, while availability
remains low - especially outside the
major cities of Bangladesh. Now,
patients and their families in Jamalpur
can rest easy knowing that they will
receive the oxygen they need, when they
need it. This is not a donation or a
reactive response to an unprecedented
pandemic - instead, it is an effort, on the
Bank's part, to support long-term
capacity building for better health care
services for communities in need. I
would like to express my profound
gratitude to the Board of Directors of
United Trust for providing the Bank with
an opportunity to be part of their
amazing contribution that changes lives
for the better. Being a leading British
Investor in Bangladesh, it is a great
privilege to inaugurate the oxygen plant
in the presence of H.E. Mr. Robert
Chatterton Dickson, British High
Commissioner to Bangladesh, who took
the time to join us in Jamalpur to
celebrate this occasion."
Moinuddin Hasan Rashid, Chairman
and Managing Director, United Group,
said, "As one of the four core focus areas
of United Trust, it was always our
greatest effort to provide the best
healthcare services to the people of
Jamalpur and the surrounding districts.
Hence, we established M A Rashid
Hospital, which will provide a model of
healthcare services for all second and
third tier cities."
Rashid added, "I am very thankful to
Standard Chartered for their act of
generosity, which will amplify our effort
to elevate the healthcare services in the
Jamalpur area and beyond. Ensuring a
constant supply of oxygen was much
needed after the post-pandemic era.I
would also like to thank Robert
Chatterton Dickson, British High
Commissioner to Bangladesh for his
cordial presence to inaugurate the
installation of the Pressure Swing
Absorption (PSA) Medical Oxygen
Generation Plant in M A Rashid
Hospital."
Earlier this year, in March,
ChattogramMaa-Shishu O General
Hospital was the first of three medical
facilities to receiveaPSA Medical Oxygen
Generation Plant from Standard
Chartered Bangladesh. Via the donation,
the Bank became the first in the nation
to provide a medical facility with access
to a steady supply of oxygen. Another
oxygen plant was donated to TMSS
Medical College &Rafatullah
Community Hospital (TMC & RCH) in
September. The total oxygen generation
potential of the three plants exceeds
1300 litres/minute and serves up to 400
patients per day.
United Trust a concern of the United
Group. As the conglomerate's social
welfare organ, United Trust works to
meet community needs across
Bangladesh. At present, United Trust
operates eight rural clinics and small
hospitals. With 250 beds, M A Rashid
Hospital meets the needs of patients in
Jamalpur and provides individuals with
much needed medical aid and
assistance.
First Security Islami Bank Ltd. arranged a day-long program 'Shwapnopuroner ekdin' at Fantasy
Kingdom, Dhaka for the fulfillment of dreams of underprivileged children. The main aim of this event
is to give the orphan and underprivileged children a day with full of joy and amusement. Children
enjoyed various rides throughout the day at Fantasy Kingdom. Quiz competitions and different games
were organized for them where various attractive gifts were given. A special magic show was also
exhibited for them and provided special food of their choice. Muhammad Mustafa Khair, Additional
Managing Director was present as the Chief Guest and Md. Masudur Rahman Shah, Deputy Managing
Director of the bank was present as Special Guest in the program. Among others, Zonal Heads of
Dhaka South and North Zone, Different Branch Managers along with other officials were also present
on the occasion.
Photo : Courtesy
PRAN Dairy provides free milkto day care center
The country's leading dairy
processor 'PRAN Dairy' will
provide free milk for a yearto
'Kichir Michir Day Care
Center' run by a non-profit
organization KarmojibiNari.
In this connection, PRAN
Dairy and KarmojibiNari
signed an agreement at the
head office of PRAN Group
on Tuesday. Maksudur
Rahman, Deputy General
Manager of PRAN Dairy and
Sanjida Sultana, Additional
Executive Director of
Kormojibi Nari signed the
agreement on behalf of their
respective organizations, a
press release. Zuran Chandra
Shikdar, Coordinator
(Finance and Admin) of
Kormojibi Nari, Nurul Afser,
Head of Corporate Brand of
PRAN-RFL Group and
Rakibul Islam Lanin,
Assistant General Manager
(Marketing) of PRAN Dairy
were also present at the
program. Nurul Afser said,
"We have taken the initiative
under our corporate social
responsibility. We will also
include more day care centers
in the future and hope the
initiative will play important
role in children's growth."
NRBC Bank is giving 5 percent loans to women entrepreneurs on easy terms. Under this special
scheme to raise women as entrepreneurs, maximum loan assistance of up to 50 lakh taka will be provided.
NRBC Bank has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jayeeta Foundation for
this purpose. This loan will be given from the 'Revolving Capital Support Fund' of 'Jayeeta
Foundation' which is formed under the special supervision of the Hon'ble Prime Minister under the
Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. Women entrepreneurs can take this loan in their own name
and in the name of the association. These loan facilities will be provided with or without collateral. A
MoU was officially signed by Afroza Khan, Managing Director of Jayeeta Foundation and Golam
Awlia, Managing Director & CEO of NRBC Bank in the conference room of Jayeeta Foundation while
Shahidul Islam, Additional Secretary and Project Director of Joyeeta Tower Nirman Project presided
over the ceremony. Harunur Rashid, Deputy Managing Director and CFO of NRBC Bank, Harunur
Rashid, Head of SME & Agriculture Credit Department and Suraiya Rahman, Manager of Dhanmondi
Women's Branch and others were present in the event.
Photo : Courtesy
Saudi blasts release of oil reserves
'to manipulate markets'
RIYADH : Saudi Arabia's energy minister
on Tuesday blasted the release of
emergency oil stocks as an attempt to
"manipulate markets", the latest
apparent salvo in a spat with Washington
over oil production.
"People are depleting their emergency
stocks, had depleted it, used it as a
mechanism to manipulate markets while
its profound purpose was to mitigate
shortage of supply," Prince Abdulaziz bin
Salman told an investor conference in the
Saudi capital.
"However, it is my profound duty to
make it clear to the world that losing
emergency stock may become painful in
the months to come."
Prince Abdulaziz did not single out the
US in his comments about emergency
stocks, but last week US President Joe
Biden announced he was putting the final
15 million barrels on the market from a
record release of US strategic reserves.
That tranche was to complete a 180
million barrel release authorised in the
spring, in response to price hikes linked
to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
It also came on the heels of a decision
by the OPEC+ oil cartel, which Riyadh coleads
with Moscow, to cut oil production
by two million barrels a day from
November.
The cartel's decision has drawn intense
criticism from the White House, which
has said it amounted to "aligning with
Russia" in the Ukraine war.
Prince Abdulaziz pushed back against
that assessment on Tuesday.
"I keep listening, are you with us or
against us? Is there any room for, 'We are
for Saudi Arabia and for the people of
Saudi Arabia'?" he said to applause.
Asked about getting the decades-old
partnership between Riyadh and
Washington back on track, he said: "I
think we as Saudi Arabia decided to be
the maturer guys and let the dice fall."
Hundreds of CEOs and finance moguls
are in Riyadh for the three-day Future
Investment Initiative (FII), a Davos-style
investment conference that analysts say
will highlight Saudi Arabia's geopolitical
muscle despite strained ties with
Washington.
The FII, often referred to as "Davos in
the Desert", was launched in 2017 as an
economic coming-out party for the
world's largest crude exporter, which is
trying to diversify away from oil under
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Benfica's portuguese midfielder rafa Silva (C) scores his team's fourth goal in spite of Juventus'
Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci (L) and Juventus' polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny during
their Champions League Group H match.
photo: Ap
Benfica win thriller with Juventus to
reach Champions League knockouts
SportS DeSk
Benfica reached the Champions League
last 16 on Tuesday after winning an
exciting contest with Juventus 4-3 and
sending the Italians out of the
competition, reports UNB.
Antonio Silva's early header, a Joao
Mario penalty just before the half-hour
mark and Rafa Silva's classy brace kept
Benfica second in Group H, eight points
ahead of third-placed Juve with one game
to play.
Roger Schmidt's side are unbeaten in
all competitions this season and can beat
their group-stage points record of 12 with
a win at bottom side Maccabi Haifa next
week.
Benfica are level on 11 points with
leaders Paris Saint-Germain and have a
chance to top the group next week,
although they would need Juve to get a
result against the French champions in
Turin after being dumped out at the
group stage for the first time in nine
years. "We played brilliantly with and
without the ball," said Schmidt.
"We were playing against Juventus
who are not an easy team to play against,
but we believed in ourselves and played
great football." Juve traveled to Lisbon
knowing that only a win would give them
any hope of making it through to the last
16, but although Moise Kean had them
level in the 21st minute the away side
never had the chance to claim the three
points. Another bad night for Juve was
somewhat alleviated by the fight shown
late on, with quickfire goals from
Arkadiusz Milik and Weston McKennie,
and a big push for the win in the final 15
minutes turning what looked like being a
thumping into merely a painful
elimination.
"We made things difficult for
ourselves," under-fire Juve coach
Massimiliano Allegri told Sky in Italy.
"(But) our elimination was already
decided before we played tonight's
match."
The defeat will put more pressure on
Allegri on a day in which prosecutors in
Italy closed preliminary investigations
into alleged false accounting by Juve.
His team have lost four of their five
matches in the competition and are not
even guaranteed of dropping down to the
Europa League as they are level on just
three points with Maccabi.
Benfica were well on top by the time
Antonio Silva put the hosts ahead in the
17th minute, glancing in his first goal of
the season from Enzo Fernandez's vicious
inswinging cross after a short corner.
Kean stunned the bouncing home
crowd four minutes later when he jabbed
home following chaos from Filip Kostic's
corner. Although his finish was initially
ruled out for offside, a long VAR check
amid ear-piercing whistles led to the Serb
drawing Juve level.
But just as Juve looked like they had
rattled Benfica, Juan Cuadrado handed
them the chance to retake the lead from
the penalty spot, an opportunity which
Joao Mario gobbled up with a powerful
strike in the 28th minute.
And Rafa piled further misery on Juve
with 10 minutes remaining in the first
half, just after Dusan Vlahovic had fluffed
a great chance to level the scores for a
second time.
The former Portugal forward spread
the ball wide and then raced into the box,
tracked by no-one and left completely
free to audaciously backheel in Joao
Mario's drilled low cross.
Rafa showed another touch of class five
minutes after the break to extend his
team's deserved lead to three, dinking
over Wojciech Szczesny after Leonardo
Bonucci played a lazy pass straight to
Alejandro Grimaldo.
The 29-year-old would have completed
his hat-trick in the 76th minute had he
not volleyed over another beautiful Joao
Mario cross. From there Juve suddenly
brought the match back to life.
Two minutes after Rafa's miss, Milik
swept in a cross from lively teenage
substitute Samuel Iling-Junior and
seconds later McKennie cut the deficit to
just one, lashing in following a goalmouth
scramble.
Juve pushed bravely knowing that they
needed two more to keep their
Champions League campaign going.
They were unable break through and
were lucky not to concede a fifth with four
minutes left when Rafa hit the post with
only Szczesny to beat.
Booker sparks Suns over Warriors
as Thompson ejected
SportS DeSk
Devin Booker scored 34
points as the Phoenix Suns
overpowered Golden State
134-105 in a hard-fought clash
that saw Warriors star Klay
Thompson ejected for the first
time in his career, reports
UNB.
Booker produced another
30-point scoring exhibition
for the third straight game as
the Suns laid down an early
marker against the defending
NBA champions.
The 25-year-old Phoenix
talisman was also at the center
of a third-quarter skirmish
with Thompson that led to the
Warriors' future Hall-of-
Famer being tossed for the
first time in his 651-game
career.
Thompson was expelled
after he bumped Booker
midway through the third
quarter to earn a technical
before earning a second
technical as he unleashed a
tirade at the Suns and referee
Ed Malloy.
That flashpoint proved
decisive, with the Suns
exploiting the Warriors' lack
of composure to turn an 83-77
advantage into a 13-point lead
at 90-77.
The Suns would eventually
outscore the Warriors 33-20
in the third to take a 105-86
lead into the final period.
Golden State rallied to cut
the deficit to 12 points midway
through the fourth, but
Phoenix pulled away once
again to seal a deserved
victory. Booker, who has
averaged 32 points in four
games to start the campaign,
said Phoenix were determined
to impress against the
reigning NBA champions.
"Those are the defending
champs over there," Booker
said. "They have a culture, an
environment, they're holding
the crown.
"Every time we match up
against them we want to play
hard and play competitive."
Booker made no apologies
for his spirited clash with
Warriors veteran Thompson.
"I love Klay Thompson, and
I have from the beginning,
coming up. Right from the
draft I said I wanted to be Klay
Thompson," Booker said.
"But that doesn't excuse us
from competing against each
other and talking a little mess
with each other... big fan of his
and his competitive nature,
and that's that."
Warriors coach Steve Kerr
also played down the Booker-
Thompson clash.
"They're both great
competitors, both great
players," Kerr said. "This is
the NBA - it's the highest
competition in the world.
Stuff like that happens."
Booker was given scoring
support from Mikal Bridges
with 17 points while Deandre
Ayton and Chris Paul added
16 points each.
Stephen Curry led the
Warriors scoring with 21
points with Jordan Poole
adding 17. Thompson
departed with two points after
making just 1-of-8 from the
field.
Elsewhere Tuesday, Luka
Doncic scored 37 points but it
was not enough to stop the
Dallas Mavericks slipping to
defeat against the depleted
New Orleans Pelicans.
Slovenian star Doncic
dragged the Mavs to within
one point of the Pels with four
seconds remaining after a
driving lay-up made it 112-111.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry and phoenix Suns guard
Devin Booker (1) face off during the first half of an NBA basketball game
tuesday in phoenix. photo: Ap
Leipzig hand
Real Madrid
first loss of
the season
SportS DeSk
Leipzig boosted their
chances of advancing to the
knockout stage of the
Champions League by
handing titleholder Real
Madrid their first loss of the
season on Tuesday, reports
UNB.
The German club won 3-2
and now only need to draw
their last group match at
Shakhtar Donetsk - which
drew 1-1 at Celtic on Tuesday
- to advance to the last 16.
Leipzig reached nine
points in Group F, one
behind Madrid, who had
already secured their spot in
the round of 16. Leipzig are
three points ahead of
Shakhtar, while Celtic are
last with two points.
Madrid had been
unbeaten in 16 matches in
all competitions this season,
with 14 wins and two draws.
The European champion
played without several
regular starters, including
Luka Modric, Federico
Valverde and Ballon d'Or
winner Karim Benzema.
Madrid can still secure
first place in the group with a
home win against winless
Celtic in the last round.
"It's a loss, but it doesn't
hurt us too much," Madrid
coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
"We will have another
opportunity to finish first at
the (Santiago) Bernabéu.
We have to move on."
Leipzig got off to a strong
start and Josko Gvardiol
scored his first Champions
League goal in the 13th
minute off the rebound of a
save by Madrid goalkeeper
Thibaut
Courtois.
Christopher Nkunku added
to the lead five minutes later
with a shot from inside the
area but Vinícius Júnior
pulled Madrid closer with a
header from near the
penalty spot in the 44th.
Shakib keen to
exploit South
Africa's 'must
win' game
pressure
SportS DeSk
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al
Hasan felt that they have
slight advantage, going into
the match against South
Africa as the mighty
opponent is in pressure to
stay alive in the T20 World
semifinal race after sharing
points with Zimbabwe,
reports BSS.
South Africa was in winning
position against Zimbabwe in
their first match but the
persistent rain in Hobart
forced the abandonment of
the game before D/L method
came into the effect.
The Proteas now know that
a win against Bangladesh is
mandatory, which could
impose a mental pressure on
them, according to Shakib.
"South Africa will feel the
pressure because they lost a
point against Zimbabwe. So
Bangladesh match is kind a
do or die game for them,"
Shakib said ahead of the
match. "It's the thing that will
keep them under pressure.
It's an important game for us
also. So we'll try to take
everything under our
control."
Bangladesh started their
mission with a 9-run win over
Netherlands. Even though the
margin could indicate that
Bangladesh struggled for
their victory, the reality is
their bowling attack was so
superior that made the
victory easier one.
The Tigers put up just 144-
8, however, Taskin Ahmed
who claimed career-best 4-
25, indeed threw Netherland
out of the game, taking two
wickets in the first two balls of
the innings.
tHurSDAY, oCtoBer 27, 2022
9
Wawrinka downs Ruud,
Murray also advances
at Swiss Indoors
SportS DeSk
On a stellar day for veteran Grand Slam
champions, Stan Wawrinka beat thirdranked
Casper Ruud and Andy Murray
rallied to win in three sets in the first round
of the Swiss Indoors on Tuesday, reports
UNB.
The 37-year-old Wawrinka hit his ninth
ace to seal a 6-4, 6-4 win over Ruud, who
was the US Open runner-up last month,
and delight his home crowd.
Wawrinka is now ranked No. 194 after
persistent injury problems but the win was
his second over a top-five opponent in five
weeks. He beat fourth-ranked Daniil
Medvedev last month in Metz, France.
"I fought despite the injuries. I wanted to
come and play in front of you," Wawrinka
said in a tearful on-court interview,
thanking fans for their support.
Murray, a former US Open champion
like Wawrinka, earlier won 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-
4 against Roman Safiullin after the
Russian led 4-1 in the final set.
The 35-year-old Murray, who also won
two Wimbledon titles, reeled off five
straight games to complete the victory
after more than 2 ½ hours on court. It was
the No. 49-ranked Scot's first match in
Basel since 2005.
"I changed the way I was returning a
little bit and when I did that I was able to
create a few more opportunities and
frustrate him a little bit," Murray said.
Wawrinka first played in Basel 19 years
ago but never went beyond the semifinals
at the event won by hometown favorite
Roger Federer a record 10 times.
Wawrinka next plays Brandon
Nakashima of the US. He could face
Murray in the quarterfinals.
Another Swiss winner was 20-year-old
Dominic Stricker who beat American
Maxime Cressy 7-6 (4), 6-3. Stricker, a
wild-card entry ranked No. 129, next faces
Pablo Carreno Busta. The fifth-seeded
Spaniard beat Sebastian Baez 6-2, 6-1.
Great Britain's Andy Murray returns the ball to russia's roman Safiullin
during their first round match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at
the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland.
photo: Ap
Tigers out to stun South
Africa for a memorable
debut in SCG
SportS DeSk
Emboldened by excellent
fast bowling group which
has recently risen
impeccably, Bangladesh
looked determined to keep
up the winning spree as
they take on South Africa
in their second match of
T20 World Cup's Super
12s at Sydney Cricket
Ground today (Thursday),
reports BSS.
The match starts at 9 AM
Bangladesh time and will
be aired live of Gazi TV
and T Sports Channel.
There is additional
motivation
for
Bangladesh---they will
play their first match at
the Australia's oldest
cricket ground in any
format of the cricket.
Therefore, they want to
make their maiden match
memorable here at this
stadium, affectionately
called as SCG which was
opened in 1848 and
hosted its first cricket
match in 1882.
Thanks to their fast
bowling
group,
Bangladesh made a
winning start in T20
World Cup, beating
Netherlands by 9 runs in
their first match in
Hobart. It was their first
win at the main round of
the T20 World Cup since
their victory against West
Indies in the inaugural
edition.
Taskin Ahmed led the
victory with his careerbest
4-25 and was ably
supported by new fast
bowling sensation Hasan
Mahmud. Another pacer
Mustafizur Rahman
though hadn't any wicket
to show, his economical
bowling seemed to bring
back his best after an
ordinary show in the last
one year.
Bangladesh indeed were
no match against South
Africa in the previous
seven games as they lost
all of those matches
without much resistance.
Moreover since the last
T20 World Cup in 2021,
they failed to beat any top
teams but still they oozed
with confidence, largely
due to South Africa's poor
luck in the major
tournament like World
Cup.
Like Bangladesh, South
Africa also could have
made a winning start
against Zimbabwe but the
rain in Hobart after
Bangladesh-Netherlands
match, forced them to
share points. After losing a
point, now they need a
victory against Bangladesh
badly before taking on the
giants like India and
Pakistan. The immense
pressure of winning the
match could give
Bangladesh an edge,
which captain Shakib Al
Hasan believes.
"They will be in
immense pressure
because for them it's a
kind of do or die match,"
Shakib said here today.
"A win is also important
for us. But South Africa
lost a point and they would
want to make it up. They
will be desperate, which
can give us an edge."
Shakib admitted South
African fast bowling group
is dangerous but he is
confident
that
Bangladeshi batting line
up would deal with them
successfully.
"Yes they have a great
fast bowling attack. Even
though we have no success
against them in this
format but in other format
our batters handled them
successfully of late. So it's
a thing that would give us
the boost we need to beat
them."
However having said
that he believes
Bangladesh must address
the vulnerable batting
which experienced a
collapse even against an
inexperienced bowling
line up of Netherlands.
Most of the top order
batters found the start but
simply couldn't carry.
However such sort of
batting could be fatal
against the world class
bowling line up of South
Africa.
Bangladesh tend to keep
up the winning
combination always,
which indicated they
would field an unchanged
XI against South Africa.
Overall Bangladesh
played 140 T20
Internationals and while
they won 48 matches, they
had lost 89 matches.
Three other matches
ended in no result.
Squad:
Bangladesh: Shakib Al
Hasan (captain), Mehidy
Hasan Miraz, Afif
Hossain, Mossadek
Hossain, Liton Das, Yasir
Ali, Nurul Hasan,
Mustafizur Rahman,
Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot
Hossain, Shoriful Islam,
Hasan Mahmud, Najmul
Hossain, Nasum Ahmed
and Soumya Sarkar.
South Africa: Temba
Bavuma (captain),
Quinton de Kock,
Heinrich Klaasen, Reeza
Hendricks, Keshav
Maharaj, Aiden Markram,
David Miller, Lungi Ngidi,
Anrich Nortje, Wayne
Parnell, Kagiso Rabada,
Rillee Rossouw, Tabraiz
Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs,
Marco Jansen.
THURsdAY, OcTOBER 27, 2022
10
Dighi to play title role in web
fiction ‘Tammi’
TBT REPORT
Prarthana Fardin Dighi (popularly
known as Dighi) is a Bangladeshi
film actress and model. She
won Bangladesh
National Film Award
for Best Child
Artist three times.
She has already
acted in movies as
a grown-up actress.
Also worked in web
series. Recently she
acted in a web fiction
titled 'Tammi'. It was
directed by Mahiya Mahmuda.
Dighi will be seen in the title role
in this fiction.
Regarding acting in it, she said,
'This is the first time I have acted in a
title role. The story of a woman's
struggling life is presented in this web
fiction. I also tried to portray the
character. The director also helped me
a lot. I hope viewers will enjoy the
web fiction.'
Dighi said that this fiction will be
published in a new app soon.
Wednesday was Dighi's birthday.
But she had no special plan to
celebrate her birthday. When her
birthday comes, Dighi remembers
her mother (late film actress
Doyel). Reminiscences with her
mother come in front of Dighi's
eyes during her birthdays,
according to the actress. For this
reason, Dighi does not keep any
arrangement for celebration
of her birthday. But her
father (noted film
actor Subrata)
and other
members of
her family try
to make the
day special for
Dighi.
Meanwhile, Dighi
is now regular in
stage shows. She
recently performed in
'Channel i Music Awards.'
Dighi starrer biopic on
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman titled 'Mujib' is waiting
to get release date now.
Therefore, she has also
completed shooting of government
granted movie titled 'Srabon
Joshnai,' directed by Abdus Samad
Khokon. In the meantime, Dighi has
completed shooting of a new TV
commercial directed by Rakib
Ahmed where film actor Mumnun
Emon performed opposite her.
This TVC will go on air soon,
Dighi also said.
It is noted that Delwar Jahan
Jhantu directed 'Tumi Achho
Tumi Nai' was Dighi's debut
movie in the silver screen.
Clooney, Julia bring back clichéd
rom-com in 'Ticket to Paradise'
Ticket to Paradise: Read Pinkvilla's
review of the George Clooney and
Julia Roberts starrer below.
Ticket to Paradise chronicles
divorced couple David and Georgia
Cotton (George Clooney, Julia
Roberts), who can't see eye-to-eye
on anything, especially when it
comes to their darling daughter
Lily Cotton (Kaitlyn Dever). 25
years after their marriage - they
split five years after - David and
Georgia are in for a shock because
Lily plans to marry a seaweed
farmer named Gede (Maxime
Bouttier), who she met in Bali
during her graduation break.
David and Georgia reluctantly call
in a temporary truce and work
together to sabotage their
daughter's wedding, fearing that
Lily will make the same mistake
they made 25 years ago. What
follows is one hilarious mishap
after another, which also brings
David and Georgia closer together,
even if they try wholeheartedly not
to.
Ticket to Paradise belongs solely
to George Clooney and Julia
Roberts' crackling chemistry that
comes blazing through in every
scene. Whether it be drunk
dancing after beer pong games and
embarrassing their daughter or
laughing at each other's miseries
like getting bitten by a dolphin; the
two are fire on ice. Also, a plus
point is the aesthetic "Australiaturned-Bali"
cinematography that
is sure to reel you in but never once
feels overindulgent like a tourism
ad. Even if the characters keep
mentioning how it's "the best place
on Earth." While some dialogues
reach their saturation levels,
overall, the writing by Ol Parker
and Daniel Pipski is sure to tickle
your funny bones just right,
particularly when Clooney and
Roberts are given free rein to duke
it out.
While Ticket to Paradise brings
back the love for romantic
comedies, it also suffers from the
"seen all that" syndrome and
there's nothing fresh to the genre
that the movie offers. The
supporting cast isn't as memorable
as they are teased and even has the
potential to be, with talented stars
like Billie Lourd and Lucas Bravo
at the short end of the stick.
Source: Collider
TBT REPORT
Dhallywood superstar Pori Moni
celebrated her birthday on
Monday in a grand manner, as
this was her first one after the
birth of her son, Rajya.
The occasion was also special
this year as her husband, model
and actor Sariful Razz, earned
critical and commercial success
in the industry for his
performances in back-to-back
blockbuster hits 'Poran' and
'Hawa.'
She also announced that this
will be her last grand birthday
celebration. From next year she
will only celebrate her birthday
in the comfort of her own home,
with only a few close friends and
family members.
She said, "Next year will be my
son's first birthday. He was born
on August 10. Mine comes two
months after that. So, from next
year, I will celebrate the birthday
of my son Rajya in a grand
manner with all the bells and
whistles. And mine will be in a
homely environment. Now my
Celebrating the 18th anniversary of its
inauguration, Geetanjali Lalitkala
Academy, a traditional culture training
centre, is hosting a two-day cultural
festival on October 28 and 29 at Small
and Cottage Industries Training Institute
(SCITI) auditorium, Uttara in the capital,
reports UNB.
Marking the occasion, the academy is
set to honour three prolific personalities
with the Geetanjali Sammanana Padak
(Geetanjali Honorary Award) 2022 on
October 28, Friday.
The personalities are - eminent
educationist Professor Emeritus Arun
Kumar Basak, writer Anwara Syed Haq
and painter Professor Mohammad Eunus
for their important contribution to
education, art, literature and culture in
Bangladesh. Dhaka North City
Corporation Mayor Md Atiqul Islam will
join the event as the
chief guest, while
Mohammad Habib
Hasan, Member of
Parliament for
Dhaka-18
Constituency,
will join as
the special
guest.
The
Pori Moni celebrates her
birthday in grand manner
child is my entire world,
everything is for him. Everyone,
please pray for us."
Previously, before she was
married to Razz, Pori Moni only
had her Nanu (grandfather) to
celebrate her birthday with.
However, now she has a
complete family of her own. The
actress is well known for
organising grand birthday
parties, and this year's party was
no different, taking place at the
capital's International
Convention City Bashundhara
(ICCB).
The gorgeous convention hall
was decorated with an ensemble
of white feathers, along with blue
and cream flowers. The whole
venue was glittering in the lights
of the gorgeous chandeliers.
Pori Moni looked like a
beautiful dove, with her offwhite
feathery gown, while Razz
looked dapper in a baby blue
suit. Razz could be seen holding
their 2-month-old son Rajya
while they cut the huge birthday
cake.
Pori's costume designer JS
Jimmy told the press that Pori's
'Dove'-like feathery outfit for the
night was designed by him at her
request. He also said the actress
wanted the white theme in
everything as the white Dove is a
sign of peace.
Pori said, "I have already
told everyone that this year, I
will highlight the message of
peace on my birthday. And
thus, the whole stage has
been donned in white. My
own white gown is also
resonating with the theme of
peace. I really hope that
everyone accepts my love and
prays for my family.
Everyone who is here today,
celebrating my birthday, you
are all like family to me."
Geetanjali Lalitkala Academy to honour 3 eminent personalities
inaugural day event on Friday will be
presided over by eminent educationist
and former DU Vice-Chancellor Professor
Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique.
Artists from the Geetanjali Academy of
Fine Arts will perform songs, dance, and
recitations at the two-day festival.
On Saturday, the closing day of the
festival will be joined by Asim Kumar
Ukil, Cultural Secretary of Bangladesh
Awami League and Member of
Parliament from Netrokona-3
Constituency as the chief guest in the
discussion seminar, in remembrance of
late National Professor Rafiqul Islam,
former Adviser of Geetanjali Lalitkala
Academy. Industrialist and Bangladesh
Awami League's Secretary of Industry
and Commerce Md Siddiqur Rahman will
join the ceremony as its special guest, and
the event will be presided over by
eminent artist Hashem Khan.
In the last 17 years of its glorious
journey, the Geetanjali Sammanana
Padak was awarded to several eminent
personalities including National Professor
Kabir Chowdhury, Professor Dr Zillur
Rahman Siddiqui, poet Professor
Alauddin Al Azan, writer and poet Syed
Shamsul Haq, National Professor
Mustafa Nurul Islam, Tagore researcher
Ahmad Rafiq, Language Soldier Abdul
Matin, educationist Dr Sirajul Islam
Chowdhury, National Professor Rafiqul
Islam, National Professor Anisuzzaman,
musician Sudhin Das, cultural personality
Kamal Lohani, painter Hashem Khan,
litterateur Hasan Azizul Haque, painter
Samarjit Roy Chowdhury, writer Rabeya
Khatun, cultural personality Ramendu
Majumdar, poet Asad Chowdhury, rt
maestro Rafiqunnabi, playwright Begum
Mamtaz Hossain, novelist Selina Hossain,
social and cultural personality Sultana
Kamal, artist Mustafa Monwar,
filmmaker Subhash Dutta, playwright
Imdadul Haq Milan, Artist Murtaza
Bashir, poet Nirmalendu Goon, cultural
personality Mofidul Haque, poet Nurul
Huda, painter Monirul Islam, actress
Ferdousi Majumdar, thespian
Asaduzzaman Noor, cultural personality
Nasir Uddin Yusuff, poet Kamal
Chowdhury, thespian Ataur Rahman,
researcher Muntasir Mamoon, and art
maestro Farida Zaman.
Janhvi called herself
‘hero’ of the movie
Janhvi Kapoor is a popular actress of the new generation of Bollywood. She is already accused of
nepotism. Allegations were made against her that Sridevi daughter is getting movies on one day
and on another father's money. Desperate to prove herself, this heroine is breaking the tradition
and making her name in female-led movies. Still when you hear the question, who is the hero
in this movie? Then the actress also gave her answer. In a recet interview, the 'Dhadak'
actress said, "I have done two films where the main character is a woman. I
played that role. Every time I go to talk about them, people are surprised. They
want to call 'The Kargil Girl' and 'Good Luck Jerry' as 'exceptional'. But
why? I heard a lot of people say, 'Oh well, you're doing a woman-centric
film?' If it was 'Milan' instead of 'Milli', would the actor have been
asked this too? Wouldn't that be weird?" But Janhveer is hopeful
that the audience looking for a male actor can appreciate a
good movie in theatres. That said, a really good
screenplay can still be the answer to everything.
In the words of the actress, 'Be it a thriller, an action or a
family film, at the end of the day we are telling the story of
different characters. It doesn't matter what I'm talking about. Is
it a woman or a man? This is not a question. If the movie is good,
then that is 'Hero'. Janhvi is willing to continue acting by believing in
herself. She said, 'Let's hope, one day the attitude will change. When I am
repeatedly asked about my films, 'Who is the hero?', I reply, 'Me'.
Source: Hindustan Times
H O R O s c O P E
ARIEs
Some close friends could turn you on to a new
interest or perhaps a group you might want to join.
Intellectual stimulation through those closest to
you could open the way to new plans and
innovations. You might want to try combining artistic interests
with technology, Aries, perhaps expanding your knowledge of
photography, computer graphics, or filmmaking. Success and good
fortune through such activities are strongly indicated.
TAURUs
Sudden, unexpected news could arrive
today, perhaps by mail or phone. You
could host a virtual group meeting of
some kind. A lot of exciting information
and stimulating conversation could take
place, Taurus, bringing fresh ideas that spark new
interests. Expect a very busy but productive day,
looking ahead toward the future rather than back
toward the past.
GEMINI
Short journeys in your neighborhood,
perhaps connected with a group you're
associated with, could take up a lot of
your time today, Gemini. Fascinating
and stimulating emails or calls could
arrive. Books and magazine articles could provide
information that sends you in a new direction in
some way. Write down your ideas! You will want to
remember them all.
cANcER
Technology could pave the way for you to
greatly increase your income, possibly
through new skills or investments. This is
likely to be a very positive development,
setting the stage for future financial success. Some
unusual, interesting dreams could come your way,
bringing unexpected revelations about you and your past
- and possibly your future. Write them down! They could
hold important messages for you from your higher self.
LEO
A surprising revelation, either from
within or from sources like books, the
Internet, or communications from others
could set you in an entirely new direction.
You will have an increased sense of freedom, as well as
a clearer and more progressive outlook. You might
consider some pretty heavy changes in your life, Leo,
but don't make any final decisions or arrangements
today. Wait before putting your ideas into action.
VIRGO
Discoveries made through occult sciences
such as astrology or numerology could
see you embrace some rather
revolutionary ideas about yourself, the
world, and life. You could become involved with a
group associated with metaphysical studies or take an
online class or workshop of some kind. This could
mean a new direction for you in some way, Virgo. It
might greatly enhance your life and thinking.
LIBRA
Sudden lucky breaks could come your
way today, Libra, possibly through
friends or groups with which you're
involved. A long-term goal you've been
working toward might bring unexpected but
wonderful results. Virtual group activities,
particularly those involving social or political issues,
could take up a lot of your time. This promises to be
a busy, productive day. Expect the unexpected!
scORPIO
Today you might feel the desire to break
free from your daily routine, Scorpio,
particularly regarding career matters.
You might consider developing a
business of your own, one that would give you a lot
more freedom than you currently have. This is a good
day to start looking into it. You might find that there are
more possibilities out there than you expected.
sAGITTARIUs
A sudden and unexpected opportunity
to take a journey by air could come your
way today, Sagittarius. This might be
something you've wanted for a long
time finally manifesting. Certainly, adventure is in the
air, although it might be mental adventure as much as
physical. Some information could come your way that
catapults you into a new and exciting field of interest.
This promises to be a thoroughly stimulating day.
cAPRIcORN
Technology could pave the way for you to
greatly increase your income, possibly
through new skills or investments. This is
likely to be a very positive development,
setting the stage for future financial success. Some
unusual, interesting dreams could come your way,
bringing unexpected revelations about you and your past
- and possibly your future. Write them down! They could
hold important messages for you from your higher self.
AQUARIUs
The unexpected need to take a journey
by air or spend a lot of time working
could bring about an inconvenient
separation from your partner. While the
reasons for this situation and the projected outcome
are very positive, it can cause a temporary upset in
your relationship. Don't worry about it. The upset will
pass, particularly when the desired results are
attained. Concentrate on the matter at hand.
PIscEs
Is your workplace upgrading its
equipment? Are you in the process of
increasing your technology skills?
Today's planets show that success and advancement
through technology are definitely in the offing for
you, Pisces. If you've been thinking about purchasing
a computer, do it today if you can. Whatever your
goals, you can harness current innovations to help
them along. Give it some thought!
thUrSday, OCtObEr 27, 2022
11
Climate pledges still
‘nowhere near’ enough
for 1.5C: UN
PARIS : International climate pledges
remain far off track to limit rising
temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius,
according to a report released by the
United Nations Wednesday, less than
two weeks ahead of high-stakes
negotiations to tackle global
warming. The combined climate
pledges of more than 190 nations that
signed up to the 2015 Paris climate
deal put Earth on track to warm by
around 2.5C (36 degrees Fahrenheit)
compared to pre-industrial levels by
the century's end.
With the planet already battered by
climate-enhanced heatwaves, storms
and floods after just 1.2C of warming,
experts say the world is still failing to
act with sufficient urgency to curb
greenhouse gas emissions.
"We are still nowhere near the scale
and pace of emission reductions
required to put us on track toward a
1.5 degrees Celsius world," said
Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of
UN Climate Change.
"To keep this goal alive, national
governments need to strengthen their
climate action plans now and
implement them in the next eight
years." The UN's climate experts have
said emissions-compared to 2010
levels-need to fall 45 percent by 2030
in order to meet the Paris deal's more
ambitious goal.
In its latest report, the UN said that
current commitments from
governments around the world will in
fact increase emissions by 10.6
percent by 2030.
Norway and Russia
agree on Barents
Sea fishing quotas
OSLO : Norway and Russia have reached a deal
on fishing quotas for 2023, Oslo said, a rare sign
of understanding amid heightened tensions over
the war in Ukraine.
Since 1976 -- when a first deal was drawn up
during the Cold War-NATO member Norway and
Russia have agreed on catch quotas in the Barents
Sea which is home to prized cod stocks and off the
coast of both countries.
"It's good that we have reached a fishing
agreement with Russia despite the extraordinary
situation in which we find ourselves", Norwegian
Fisheries Minister Bjornar Skjaeran said in a
statement issued late Tuesday.
In order to not endanger that agreement, which
has been held up as a model of cooperation since,
the Scandinavian country has strayed a little from
European sanctions imposed on Moscow after its
invasion of Ukraine.
Russian vessels are banned from docking in
European ports, but Norway has granted fishing
trawlers an exception, allowing them to unload
their catches in the Scandinavian country.
Macron, Scholz set
for frosty lunch amid
Paris-Berlin tensions
PARIS : French President
Emmanuel Macron will host
German Chancellor Olaf
Scholz for lunch
Wednesday, with the leaders
hoping to pare back
differences on energy and
defence and revitalise the
European Union's key
double act.
Russia's invasion of
Ukraine-less than three
months after Scholz took
office last December-pitched
their countries into crisis
mode and decisions taken
under the pressure of the
war and its knock-on effects
have raised hackles on both
sides.
Berlin's move to spend up
to 200 billion euros ($200
billion) subsidising soaring
gas prices and refusal to
consider an EU-wide energy
price cap nettled Paris and
other European capitals,
who fear the effect on their
energy costs.
And France also sees
commitments to cooperate
on defence procurement
floundering, given
Germany's plans for a
shared missile shield with
other NATO nations using
American equipment.
Longer-term projects to
jointly develop new fighter
jets and tanks also face
reluctance from big arms
companies, which has
worsened since war broke
out.
The depth of the
differences was laid bare by
the recent delay to a regular
joint cabinet meeting
between Paris and Berlin,
which would have been
Scholz's first as chancellor.
And limited expectations
for Wednesday's talks were
clear from the schedule
released by Macron's Elysee
Palace office, which did not
provide for a joint press
conference before or after
the 12:30 pm (1030 GMT)
lunch.
"The two leaders will
continue their talks on
defence, the economy and
energy with the aim of
strengthening Franco-
German cooperation," the
presidency said in a
statement.
French President Emmanuel Macron will host German Chancellor Olaf
Scholz for lunch Wednesday, with the leaders hoping to pare back differences
on energy and defence and revitalise the European Union's key double
act.
Photo : Internet
GD-1731/22 (7x4)
Biden, Sunak agree
to support Ukraine,
stand up to China:
White House
GD-1729/22 (7x4)
WASHINGTON : US
President Joe Biden and
Britain's new Prime Minister
Rishi Sunak agreed in talks
Tuesday to work together to
support Ukraine and stand up
to China, the White House
said.
They spoke for the first time
hours after Sunak became
Britain's third prime minister
this year, inheriting an
economic crisis following the
resignation of Liz Truss after a
mere 49-day tenure.
The two leaders also
reaffirmed the "special
relationship" that exists
between the United States
and Britain, and said they
would work together to
advance global security and
prosperity, the White House
said in a read-out of the
conversation.
"The leaders agreed on the
importance of working
together to support Ukraine
and hold Russia accountable
for its aggression," the
statement said of the war
triggered by the Russian
invasion of its pro-Western
neighbor in February.
The White House said
Biden and Sunak also agreed
to "address the challenges
posed by China," which
Washington has identified as
its top geopolitical and
economic rival on the world
stage today.
Downing St had earlier
released its own read-out of
the call in which it said the
pair "discussed the extent of
UK-US cooperation, both
bilaterally and in regions such
as the Indo-Pacific," as well as
the more contentious issue of
Northern Ireland.
GD-1730/22 (15x3)
Thursday, dhaka : october 27, 2022; kartik 11, 1429 BS; rabi-ul-awal 30 , 1444 Hijri
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina exchanging views with the country's importers and exporters of
consumer goods at her official Ganabhaban residence yesterday.
Photo : Pid
JICA inks deal with
Govt for implementing
Human Resource Dev
Scholarship project
DHAKA : Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed
grant agreement with the government for
the implementation of the Project for
Human Resource Development
Scholarship (JDS).
The JDS is a grant aid that will support
young promising Bangladeshi officials to
acquire skills and knowledge necessary to
better serve the public through rigorous
research in the relevant master's or doctor's
courses in Japan, according to a press
release.
Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh
Ito Naoki, Chief Representative of JICA
Bangladesh Office ICHIGUCHI
Tomohide, Secretary of Economic
Relations Division (ERD) of Finance
Ministry Sharifa Khan, , representing the
respective governments, signed the
Exchange of Notes and Grant Agreement
in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Up to JPY 476 million (about USD 4
million) will be provided to the government
to implement the project. With the
signing of G/A, JICA will offer 33 scholarships
(30 Masters and 3 Doctoral) to the
civil servants of Bangladesh to study in
graduate schools of renowned Japanese
Universities.
This program creates an environment
where academic exchanges, which include
immersion and exposure to various fields,
become a tool for strengthening international
relations. To date, 492 fellows (477
Master's and 15 Doctoral Fellows) studied
in Japan. This year is the 50th anniversary
of the establishment of diplomatic relations
between Japan and Bangladesh.
JICA Bangladesh Office believes that
JDS will continue to enhance the everlasting
JapanBangladesh friendship even
further.
Forex reserves stand
at $37b, increases
12 times than BNP
regime: Hasan
DHAKA : Information and Broadcasting
Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday
said the foreign exchange reserves of the
country have stood at about US$37 billion,
increasing 12 times than the BNP regime.
"At the end of BNP's tenure, foreign
exchange reserves were less than US$ 3.5
billion in 2006, which increased 12 times
during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's
tenure and now stand at around US$37
billion," he said.
The minister was speaking at DRU
Sahitya Award-2022 distribution ceremony
as the chief guest at Dhaka Reporters'
Unity (DRU) auditorium in the city's
Segunbagicha area, reports BSS.
DRU President Nazrul Islam Mithu
presided over the function while General
Secretary Nurul Islam Hasib delivered the
welcome address. Dr Hasan, also ruling
Awami League (AL) joint general secretary,
said that Bangladesh is now the 31st
economy in the world as per the
Purchasing Power Parity or PPP.
Almost all countries across the globe are
running their states cutting the reserve savings
amid the Covid-19 and war situation, he
said, adding, "When it is enough for a country
to have foreign exchange reserves to
cover three months of import expenses, we
have the reserves for five months. So, there is
no scope to talk about reserve".
Referring to BNP leaders' talk about foreign
exchange reserves, the minister said
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken
the foreign exchange reserves to US$44
billion during the Covid-19 period, which
were US$3.45 billion at the end of BNP's
tenure and US$6.1 billion at the end of
caretaker government.
'No Hawa Bhaban at PMO
to share your profits with'
DHAKA : Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
on Wednesday asked businessmen to
place Bangladesh and countrymen before
profits.
"There's no Hawa Bhaban and development
wing at PMO to share your profits
with," she said.
The PM made the remarks at a meeting
with importers and exporters of consumer
goods.
She said that in the last 14 years, during
the Awami League rule, businessmen of
the country ran their businesses and made
profits without hindrance.
She said that at present, businessmen of
the country are free from the "pain of
Hawa Bhaban and development wing of
the PMO."
"You are not suffering that now. You
have to admit that," she said.
Hasina observed that in the past, the
lion share of profits went to Hawa Bhaban
and PMO's so-called development wing.
"...Keep that in mind, and consider the
country and its people (first)," she said.
The PM also said that during the Covid-
19 pandemic, the government provided
stimulus packages to businessmen to run
their business smoothly, even though they
did not ask for that.
She said that a team was formed
through her initiative, and it operated well
in running the wheels of the economy.
She also recalled that during the pandemic,
many factories and industries of
developed countries shut down.
"We said that we will not allow our factories
and industries to close down, we
have to continue... I ensured workers'
wages, gave the stimulus packages," she
said. The PM said that when the opposition
is holding anti-government protests
on the streets some businessmen have
Govt works to protect Sundarbans,
coastal areas from climate
disasters : Shahab
TBT rePorT
Minister for Environment Forest and
Climate Change Md. Shahab Uddin said,
the government is working to protect the
Sundarbans and the coastal areas from the
harmful effects of climate change.
He said various projects including protection
of the world heritage Sundarbans,
construction of sustainable embankments
and harvesting rainwater have been taken
to reduce the risk of disasters. At the same
time, he said, effective initiatives have also
been taken to realize climate compensation
from rich countries.
The minister was speaking at the chief
guest at a national dialogue on impacts of
climate change in southwestern coastal
areas of the country held at Parliament
Members' Club at the Jatiya Sangsad
Bhaban on Wednesday.
Deputy Minister for Environment,
Forest and Climate Change Habibun
Nahar, Mir Mostaque Ahmed Robi, MP,
Syeda Rubina Akhter, MP and general
secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon
Sharif Jamil addressed the dialogue as
special guests. Non-government organisation
LEDARS- Local Environment
Development and Agricultural Research
Society and Sundarbans and Coastal Area
Protection Movement jointly organized
the dialogue a day after devastating
cyclone Sitrang hit the country leaving
about 40 people killed.
Moderated by coordinator of the
become anxious, but there are some others
who have started looking for opportunities
about how to make profits by opening
Hawa Bhaban again.
"Don't know why, suddenly they (businessmen)
have started singing a synchronised
tune that there is lack of this or that,
and this cannot be done or that cannot
take place," she said.
She said that the government so far
managed to keep inflation under control,
mentioning that in England the rate of
inflation has jumped to 40 percent.
She also said that the whole world is suffering
from the crisis.
The PM said that the government is
importing LNG with higher prices and
providing it at a cheaper rate to the businessmen.
"The crisis is not originated in
Bangladesh, it is an international crisis, we
must keep that in our mind," she said.
Hasina said that to procure soybean and
sugar, a team led by the Commerce
Secretary will go to Brazil to negotiate
directly for the TCB (Trading Corporation
of Bangladesh).
"They (Brazil) want to sell directly, and
we have to procure those (sugar and soybean)
directly, no other means they will
allow, it is their system," she said adding
that this system has to be followed to procure
items from there.
Talking about the foreign currency
reserves, she said that during the COVID-
19 pandemic people could not travel overseas
resulting in high deposit of foreign
currency. She also said that expatriate
Bangladeshis send all their money
through banking channel.
"We did not have any expenditure, as a
result the reserve reached $48 billion," she
said.
Sundarbans and Coastal Area Protection
Movement, journalist Nikhil Chandra
Bhadra, LEDARS executive director
Mohon Kumar Mondal made the keynote
presentation in the dialogue.
Rafiqul Islam Azad, former president of
Dhaka Reporters Unity, Matilda Tina
Baidya of KARK In Aktri, Ahsan Wahid of
Manusher Jonne Foundation,
Moniruzzaman Mukul of SCAN
Bangladesh, Sheikh Abdul Alim of CCDB,
Mahbub-Ul-Hasan of Oxfam,
Shahiduzzaman Pulak of Swiss Contact,
Moshi Mondal of World Concern, Nripen
Boidya of Faith In Action, Anisur Rahim,
Md Noor Alam Sheikh, Madhobi Rani
Mondal and Azadul Haque, among others,
also spoke on the occasion.
In his speech, the environment minister
said that the risk of coastal areas including
Sundarbans due to climate change has
been determined. The government has
already taken a national adaptation plan.
He mentioned that various schemes
have been taken up to address the risk due
to climate change. Monitoring has been
strengthened to ensure transparency and
accountability of project implementation
in the coastal areas.
"A specific action plan has been taken to
develop the tourism industry around the
Sundarbans," he added.
He urged the government as well as
non-governmental organizations to work
to raise awareness on all these issues.
Low pressure problem in
gas supply to industries
to be resolved: Nasrul
DHAKA : State Minister for Power,
Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul
Hamid has said necessary measures will
be taken to address the low pressure problem
in gas supply to industries.
"We'll take a move to resolve the local
problem in gas supply so that situation doesn't
deteriorate," he told reporters after a
meeting with business body leaders at the
Bangladesh Investment Development
Authority (BIDA) at Agargaon in the city on
Wednesday.
He said the business leaders have complained
that industries are not getting gas in
adequate pressure in some particular areas.
"We'll look into those to fix them"
A group of business leaders, led by president
of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers
of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI)
Jashim Uddin, participated in the meeting
while Prime Minister's Private Industry and
Investment Adviser Salam F Rahman were
present on the occasion. The meeting was
held at a time when the export-oriented
industries, specially textile, garment and
ceramic manufacturers are desperately persuading
the top policymaker to get adequate
gas and power supply against the backdrop
of the ongoing energy crisis.
Nasrul said he has discussed with the business
leaders to address the local problems
that the industries are now facing in gas supply.
He said the meeting mainly focused on
the issues of local gas supply.
He assured them they would get similar
supply that they received previously. We all
will together try to keep the supply better in
the coming months and also next year".
Sitrang
Indian Coast Guard
rescues 20Bangladeshi
fishermen stranded
at sea
DHAKA : The Indian Coast Guard (ICG)
has rescued 20 Bangladeshi fishermen
near the Bangladesh-India international
maritime border line after their fishing
boat capsized when cyclone Sitrang made
landfall.
They were caught in the cyclone which
destroyed their boats. The fishermen
clung to floats and debris from their
sunken boats, reports UNB.
Although Sitrang spared India's West
Bengal, Bangladesh was not so lucky. At
least 25 people died as the cyclone made
landfall in the southern part of the country
Monday.
After that, ICG looked for any vessels
stranded at sea and spotted around 20
people in the water, about 90 nautical
miles (166km) from Sagar Island in West
Bengal, Tuesday.
"In a swift co-ordinated search and rescue
operation, India Coast Guard has rescued
20 Bangladeshi fishermen postlandfall
of cyclone Sitrang," ICG tweeted
Wednesday.
The fishermen will be handed over to
Bangladesh in accordance with the existing
memorandum of understanding
(MoU) between Dhaka and Delhi, it
added.
Tirail in Baraigram Upazila of Natore is
now known as bird village. Tirail Bazar
area has become a beautiful environment
with native and guest birds in the bamboo
grove. From early morning, everyone can
hear the chirping of birds in the bamboo
grove, see the free movement of their
wings, and their flight in flocks. The area is
full of chirping of visiting birds. These
birds came from the Siberia area in search
There is no alternative to Sheikh Hasina
in Bangladesh : Home Minister
DHAKA : Home Minister Asaduzzaman
Khan Kamal yesterday said there is no
alternative to Sheikh Hasina in
Bangladesh, as the country has been progressing
fast towards its desired goal.
"If people of this country vote for you
(BNP) in the next general election, you will
come to power. The only way to come to
power is the people's mandate. People will
not accept you (BNP) in power through
public sufferings," he said this at a programme
at Tejgaon Women's College
here.
The BNP men have been seeing many
colourful dreams for going to power, the
minister said, "Wait for another one year
to contest in the general election."
Awami League never came to power
through conspiracy or muscle power, he
said adding, "Awami League came to
power through people's vote. Awami
League thinks that people are its main
strength. People of the country think that
there is no other alternative to Sheikh
Hasina in the country."
Stating that the government has no
objection in holding free and fair election,
he said, "You (BNP) should not try to create
suffering for the people by holding rallies
in Dhaka-Chattogram. If the country's
situation is destabilized in the name of rallies,
people will not accept it."
About the Russia-Ukraine conflict,
Kamal said, "Commodity price has been
increasing due to the conflict. Russian-
Ukraine is a food bank. Anyone who
thinks food price will not go up, he or she
is living in a fool's paradise."
Mentioning a rise in diesel price internationally,
he said load shedding is being
mandatory in the country because of the
gasoline price hike. "Efforts are underway
to solve this issue. I think we will be able to
back to normal situation by December this
year," he added.
The home minister said that the country
will move forward as long as Sheikh
Hasina remains in power.
ireland´s Captain andrew Balbirnie (C) celebrates win with teammates
after the iCC men´s Twenty20 World Cup 2022 cricket match
between england and ireland at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
on october 26, 2022 in Melbourne.
Photo : internet
Ireland stun England for
famous win at T20 World Cup
MELBOURNE : Minnows Ireland pulled
off a huge upset Wednesday, stunning
world number two England by five runs
with a fine bowling display in a rain-affected
match to throw the Twenty20 World
Cup wide open, reports BSS.
After being sent in to bat, Ireland captain
Andy Balbirnie (62) led his team to
92-1 off 10 overs before a mid-order collapse
saw them all out for 157 with four
balls remaining
But England slumped to 29-3 with just
one boundary in the first five overs as the
Irish bowlers found pace and movement,
and they struggled to get any momentum.
Eighteen minutes were lost to rain at the
beginning of the game and the players
Tirail: a place known as the village of birds
SHeikH Tofazzal HoSSain, naTore CorreSPondenT:
Hargila birds sitting on the nest.
of food in the winter season and settled in
the Tirail Bazar area of the upazila. There,
around 4 acres of bamboo bushes and
mango, tamarind, mahogany trees are
considered as habitat for them. Visitors
are flocking to see these birds every day. In
the dark of night, some steal the eggs and
chicks of birds. Also, some took the mother
birds again. They are in a vulnerable
state. The area can be developed as a
Photo : TBT
were taken off again with England on 105-
5 off 14.3 overs just as Moeen Ali was getting
into his stride. England were five runs
behind on the DLS scoring method, giving
Ireland a famous victory when the game
was called off a few minutes later.
It was Ireland's second massive upset of
the tournament after they West Indies in
the first round to send the two-time champions
home. England were among the title
favourites and heavily-fancied to beat
Ireland after opening their tournament
with a five-wicket win over Afghanistan at
the weekend.Instead the shock defeat has
thrown Group 1 wide open with Australia,
Sri Lanka, Ireland and England all now
with one win and one loss.
tourist center if the government takes
notice. Visiting birds start arriving in early
winter in the surrounding bill areas
including Chalanbill of Natore. All these
guest birds can be seen in the green fields,
in most places of Chalan bill, Chinadanga,
Satail, Lohagara bill including Pangyar
Dighi of the upazila.
A large number of birds including Sand
Duck, Crane, Dahuk, Nalkak, Jalpipi,
Kombadak, Sarali, Patari Duck and
Hargila can be seen. These birds directly
benefit the farmers by eating harmful
insects and snails in the fields. Their discharge
of stools increases the fertility of the
land. It increases the yield of crops in the
field. Farmers are benefited.
Professor Mojibur Rahman of Tirail
area said that around 4 acres of bamboo
groves have created a sanctuary for various
species of birds. Most of them are
Hargila birds. They are 4 to 5 kg in weight
each in adult age. Earlier they used to
come only in winter and go away in summer.
For about ten years, the birds have
been guarded and preserved by the initiative
of the local people, and the birds have
made habitats to the high branches of
mango, tamarind, and mahogany trees
along with bamboo bushes. The birds
hatch eggs and hatchlings there.