13-05-2022
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
FrIdAy
DhAkA: May 13, 2022; Baishakh 30, 1429 BS; Shawal 11,1443 hijri
www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net
Regd.No.DA~2065, Vol.20; N o. 12; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00
InternAtIonAl
Biden co-hosting 2nd
COVID summit as
world's resolve falters
>Page 7
Savar Tannery Estate
Guideline to be
prepared over
plot allocation
DHAKA : The government will prepare
a complete guideline over plot
allocation in the BSCIC Tannery
Industrial Estate in Savar. Industries
Secretary Zakia Sultana asked the officials
concerned to draft the guideline
during exchanging views with stakeholders
at the tannery estate on
Thursday, said a PID handout.
She stressed the need for using surface
water instead of underground water and
finding out a sustainable method to reuse
the water used in the industrial estate.
The secretary asked the representative
of the Department of Environment to collect
water samples from the effluent treatment
plant at least once a month and send
a report to the authorities concerned.
Chairman of Bangladesh Small and
Cottage Industries (BSCIC) Mahbubor
Rahman and representatives of
Bangladesh Tannery Association were
present. Later, the industries secretary
planted saplings in the tannery area.
Dhaka seeks more
int'l support for NAP
implementation
DHAKA : Environment, Forest and
Climate Change Minister Md Shahab
Uddin has urged the international community
to provide more support to
Bangladesh for successful implementation
of its National Adaptation Plan
(NAP) 2022.
He made the call while speaking at the
Ministerial Meeting titled 'Local Climate
Adaptive Living Facility' organised by the
UNCDF in Brussels, Belgium, on
Wednesday, according to a message
received here on Thursday.
The minister said the United Nations
Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and
Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility
(LoCAL) may provide technical support
to explore innovative financing instruments,
such as scaling up insurance, climate
bond, strengthening capital market,
blended climate finance based on publicprivate
partnership where public finances
can catalyze.
He said they may also help explore
other innovative approaches as well.
The environment minister said the government
is currently spending around 6
percent to 7 percent of the country's annual
budget for climate change adaptation.
More than 75 percent of this amount is
financed from domestic sources, he said,
adding that the adaptation financing
needs will increase with the increase of
frequency of extreme events.
"By 2050, our adaptation costs of tropical
cyclones and storm surges are estimated
at US$ 55.17 billion. Annual recurrent
expenditure will be US$ 112 million. Cost
of inland monsoon is estimated to be US$
26.71 billion and recurrent yearly spending
will require US$ 54 million," Shahab
Uddin said.
He said such high expenditure induced
by climate change will affect the country's
allocation for welfare, income generation
and poverty reduction programmes.
Shahab Uddin said implementation of
Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 will cost US$
23.23 billion dollars.
Zumma
03:55 AM
01:30 PM
04:32 PM
06:36 PM
07:58 PM
5:17 6:33
sports
Atletico seal Champions
League qualification
after win over Elche
>Page 9
a court yesterday sentenced Destiny Group President
Harun-ur-Rashid to four years and managing Director
Rafiqul amin to 12 years of imprisonment. Photo : TBT
Harun gets 4-year, Rafiqul
12 in Destiny scam case
DHAKA : A court yesterday sentenced
Destiny Group President Harun-Ur-
Rashid to four years and Managing
Director Rafiqul Amin to 12 years of
imprisonment for allegedly embezzling
Taka 1,861crore through Destiny
Multipurpose Cooperative Society
Limited, reports BSS.
The tribunal also fined Rafiqul
Taka 200 crore and Harun Taka 1.50
crore, in default, to suffer six-month
more in jail.
The court also awarded Destiny
Chairman Mohammad Hosain with
10 years in jail and imposed a fine of
Taka 50 lakh, in default, to suffer one
year more imprisonment. Judge
Sheikh Nazmul Alam of Dhaka fourth
Special Judge Court handed down the
verdict yesterday. The rest of the
accused have been sentenced to 5 to
10 years of imprisonment as well as
fine. Among 46 accused of the case, 39
are absconding.
Of the accused, Destiny Chairman
Mohammad Hossain and MD Rafiqul
Amin are in prison at the moment.
Lieutenant General (retd) Harun-Ar-
Rashid, Mrs Jasmine Akhter (Milon),
Ziaul Haque Mollah and Saiful Islam
Rubel are on bail.
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)
on July 31, 2012, filed two cases under
Money Laundering Prevention Act with
the capital's Kalabagan Police Station.
The anti-graft body on May 4, 2014,
filed charge-sheet in the two cases for
embezzling Taka 4,119.24 crore.
In one case, 46 people were accused
of misappropriating Taka 1,861 crore
under the cover of Destiny
Multipurpose Cooperative Project
while 19 people were accused of embezzling
more than Taka 2,257 crore
through Destiny Tree Plantation
(DTPL).
The court on August 24, 2016 framed
charges in the two cases.
Tk 1,000 cr scheme gets
huge response from
cinema hall owners
DHAKA : Information and
Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan
Mahmud on Thursday held a fruitful
view-exchange with cinema hall
owners on proper utilization and
facilities of the government's Taka
1,000 crore refinance scheme for
construction of new cinema halls
and renovation.
The ministry arranged the meeting
at Tathya Bhaban in the city's
Kakrail area while over 100 cinema
hall owners and entrepreneurs from
across the country joined it, said a
press release.
After the discussion while
addressing as the chief guest, Hasan
expressed his optimism that it is
possible to open several hundred
cinema halls across the country
within one and half or two years
through constructing Cineplex and
cinema halls at every district and
upazila by getting soft loan facilities
from the scheme.
"We want our film industry will
take place in world arena," he said.
Describing film as a huge part of
culture, the minister said film or
expansion of cinema halls is conducive
to protect society from
derailment.
He said film industry can plan a
significant role in saving young generation
from drug addiction and
militancy.
During the meeting, cinema hall
owners described the formation of
Taka 1,000 crore refinance scheme
as a groundbreaking step in reviving
the country's film industry.
Bangladesh Film Exhibitors'
Association (BFEA) chief advisor
Sudipta Kumar Das underscored
the need for enhancing standard
and number of films for reviving
cinema halls.
Information and Broadcasting
Secretary Md Makbul Hossain
chaired the meeting while additional
secretary Faruq Ahmed, BFEA
general secretary Awlad Hossain,
Film Development Corporation
Managing Director Nuzhat Yasmin,
Film Censor Board Vice-Chairman
Muhammad Saifullah, representatives
of Bangladesh Bank and Sonali
Bank, Rupali Bank, Janata Bank,
UCB Bank, Meghna Bank, BDBL
and Union Bank joined it.
On approval of the Prime
Minister, Information and
Broadcasting Ministry requested
Bangladesh Bank to form a special
scheme for Taka 1,000 crore in
February and March last year.
In view of the request, Bangladesh
Bank formed the scheme and issued
two notifications asking all scheduled
banks to provide maximum
Taka 10 crore loan in constructing
new Cineplex or cinema halls and
maximum Taka 5 crore in renovating
halls to each owner and entrepreneur.
The repayment period of the
loans will be eight years. Interest
rate is 5 percent for metropolitan
area and 4.5 percent for outside of
metropolis.
Road crashes claim
376 lives during
Eid holidays : RSF
DHAKA : As many as 376 lives were lost
while 1500 people were injured in 283
road accidents across the country during
Eid-ul-Fitr holidays, according to a report,
reports UNB.
Road Safety Foundation (RSF), an organisation
that campaigns for safer roads, on
Thursday revealed this information in a new
report on accidents on Bangladesh's roads
from April 25 to May 8.
Besides, at least five people were killed
and two others injured while two went
missing in seven waterways accidents.
Ninteen people killed and three others
injured in 17 train accidents during the
period.
The report was prepared based on accident
reports carried by nine national
dailies, seven online news portals and electronic
media.
Of the total deceased, 38 were women
and 51 were children.
A total of 156 people were killed in 128
accidents involving motorbikes, which
accounted for 41.48 per cent of the total
deaths.
According to the RSF findings, at least
54 pedestrians were killed in road accidents,
which accounted for 14.36 percent
of the total deaths.
Some 49 drivers and their assistants
were also subjected to road fatalities and
that is 13 per cent of the total deaths.
Of the total accidents, 132 accidents
occurred on the national highways, 87 on
regional highways and 41 on rural roads
and 23 on city roads, the report said.
Govt bars govt officials
from overseas travel
until further notice
DHAKA : The government has put on
hold all kinds of overseas travel of its officials
until further notice due to the current
global crisis and to help post-Covid
economic recovery, reports UNB.
The Finance Ministry issued a notification
in this regard on Thursday.
All kinds of exposure visit, study tour,
visits under APA and innovation along
with overseas travel to attend seminars
and workshops have been indefinitely
postponed, said the notice. This restriction
will be applicable for all officials
under the operational and the development
budget with immediate effect.
Finance Minister AHM Mustafa
Kamal on Wednesday said the prime
minister has issued directives against
frequent foreign trips of the government
officials unless these are very exclusive or
essential from a strategic point of view.
Frequent overseas tours by government
officials often raised many eye
brows.
Arts & Culture
Moushumi, Shabnam
interested to act
together again
>Page 10
Sri Lanka crisis
Gotabaya Rajapaksa appoints
veteran politician as PM
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa
has appointed a new prime minister as he
tries to defuse protests over his handling of a
severe economic crisis. Senior opposition
MP Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in to
lead a proposed cross-party government.
The move came after the president ignored
calls to resign, and vowed to restore order in
a national address.
Nine people have been killed and 200
injured in unrest since his brother
resigned as prime minister on Monday.
During his nationwide address, Mr
Rajapaksa said he would appoint a new
prime minister who commanded the
majority of support in parliament, as well
as a new cabinet.
Mr Wickremesinghe has been on Sri
Lanka's political scene for decades - this
will be his sixth stint as prime minister,
although he's never seen out a full term.
He is seen as being close to the
Rajapaksas, and experts believe he has
been chosen because he would be likely to
guarantee their security and any safe passage
they might request.
But he does not currently command
much support within the opposition or
among the public. A nationwide curfew
that shut shops, businesses and offices was
lifted for a few hours on Thursday morning,
but reimposed in the afternoon. Sri
Lanka's economy is in freefall and people
are desperate as basic items like food and
fuel run out or become unaffordable.
In Colombo residents started lining up
outside petrol stations even before the curfew
was lifted. More vehicles could be seen
on the roads as people rushed out to buy
essentials.
News that Ranil Wickremesinghe is the
new prime minister has been largely met
with dismay and disbelief in Sri Lanka.
Mr Wickremesinghe, once a skilled tactician,
has seen his public appeal steadily
plummet over the years. In the last election,
his once ruling United National Party
managed to scrape together just one parliamentary
seat, leaving him its sole representative
in parliament.
One major reason for that has been his
perceived closeness to the Rajapaksa family
despite being in the opposition. Many
people believe he helped shield them
when they lost power in 2015 - his
appointment now is seen as a way for the
president to defy protesters' demands that
he quit.
Oil market will to be normal
soon: Tipu Munshi
Safiqul iSlam (Jami)
Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said, "If
oil prices continue to fall in the international
market, it will have an impact on our market
as well." As a result, it took time to pay for the
oil and distribute it. Apart from this, some
unscrupulous traders hid previous price. I
think within two or three days the oil market
will be normal. The minister was talking to
reporters after a ceremony at a hotel in the
capital on Thursday. Meanwhile, the
Bangladesh Competition Commission has
filed a case against eight edible oil refining
companies in the country. The commission
filed the case on Wednesday in the national
interest. A case has been filed against these 8
companies under sections 15 and 15 (2) of
the Competition Commission Act.
'Traders demand to stop the campaign of
the Consumer Rights Protection
Department', what is your comment on this?
Responding to a question, the minister said,
"We think we will continue to operate in the
market till they start supplying properly."
Replying to a question, the minister said,
"We are working on everything." We are
hopeful that we will be able to import oil
through Trading Corporation of Bangladesh
(TCB) from June.
Responding to a question on the FBCCI's
decision to withdraw tariffs on oil imports,
the minister said the National Board of
Revenue (NBR) is the office to reduce taxes
on everything. We can only give letters. In
term of our letter, they have reduced it by 10
percent. Now VAT is 5 percent. We will give
the letter to reduce it.
"We will continue what we have given to
one crore families," he added. If our traders
do what they regularly import, then there
should be a problem. We have increased the
price by 38 TK. But I did not do it in the
month of Ramadan thinking of the people.
The FBCCI said to look at the price for 15
consecutive days. We see every month.
The Commerce Minister said that at the
moment I am selling oil from India at a
reduced price of 13-14 TK. We are selling
from Pakistan for less than 36 TK. Nepal's
price is the same. If it does not decrease in
the international market, it will not be possible
for us to reduce. 90 percent of our
dependence is still on foreign countries.
Cyclone asani first turned into a deep depression and then normal. However, torrential
rain witnessed in the capital on Thursday. The picture is taken from Kamrangichar area
of Buriganga river.
Photo : Star mail
friDAY, MAY 13, 2022
2
Bangladesh's fate will
never be like Sri
Lanka's: Abed Ali
S M Akash, Chattogram Bureau
Professor Mohammad Abed Ali, Secretary
General of the SAARC Human Rights
Foundation and Chairman of the Election
Monitoring Forum, the largest
international human rights organization
in South Asia, said in a keynote address at
a reception in the Maldives, "Bangladesh
is moving forward in tandem with the
developed world. Bangladesh's current
economy is more prosperous than ever.
As long as millions of remittance earners
are working on foreign soil, Bangladesh
will move forward. Bangladesh condition
will never be like Sri Lanka's."
Professor Abed Ali made the remarks at
a reception hosted by the Expatriate
Social Workers Association Maldives at a
local restaurant on Wednesday, May 11, in
the presence of Zakir Hossain, President
of Expatriate Social Workers Association
Maldives and SAARC human rights
Representative of Maldives.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh in
Maldives Rear Admiral S.M. Abul Kalam
Azad, Special Representative of SAARC
Human Rights Foundation Maldives and
former President of Maldives
Employment Tribunal Amjad Mostafa,
Vice Chairman of Maldives Election
Commission Ismail Habib, Central Co-
President of SAARC Human Rights
Foundation Mizanur Rahman Majumder,
Central Director of SAARC, Distinguished
writer and columnist Dr. Muhammad
Masum Chowdhury.
Mohammad Sohail Rana (CIP),
Chairman, Global Rich Group, Maldives,
Dulal Hossain, Chairman, Maldives View
Construction, Md. Kamrul Islam, esteem
businessman Rabiul Alam, vice-president
of the Expatriate Social Workers
Association, Mahmudul Hasan and
Shahidul Islam, general secretaries,
Mashudul Islam Masud, organizing
secretary, Monir Hossain, finance
secretary and Al Amin, among others,
were present at the event.
Sadhan for
working together
to ensure safe food
DHAKA : Food Minister
Sadhan Chandra
Majumder yesterday called
upon the organizations
engaged in ensuring safe
food to work together to
implement the vision of the
government.
"I urge all the
organizations engaged in
ensuring safe food to work
under the same roof aiming
to implement the vision of
the government," he said.
The minister made the
call while virtually
addressing the 6th meeting
of the Food Management
Advisory Council here, a
press release said.
The food minister said a
prosperous golden Bengal
should be built under the
leadership of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina
imbued with the ideology
of Father of Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman.
He called upon the
concerned people to turn
the new generation into a
talented one by ensuring
safe food free from
adulteration.
Mayor of Dhaka South
City Corporation (DSCC)
Barrister Sheikh Fazle
Noor Taposh, Dhaka North
City Corporation (DNCC)
Mayor Md Atiqul Islam,
Food Secretary Mosammat
Nazmanara Khanum,
Cabinet Secretary
(Reforms
and
Coordination) Md Samsul
Arefin, Bangladesh Safe
Food Authority (BSFA)
Chairman Md Abdul
Qayum Sarker and Director
General (DG) of
Bangladesh Standard and
Testing Institution (BSTI)
Dr Md Nazrul Anwar also
spoke on the occasion,
among others.
Dbœq‡bi MYZš¿
†kL nvwmbvi g~jgš¿
191
GD-879/22 (10x4)
GD-881/22 (18x4)
FrIDAY, MAY 13, 2022
3
Rights group urges UN Security Council to
impose binding arms embargo on Myanmar
A special lecture on 'Inclusive Education' was held at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of
Dhaka University. Vice-Chancellor of DU Prof. Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman presided over the function.
University of Dhaka and Alliance Francaise, Dhaka jointly organized this event. Photo : Courtesy
A Special Lecture on ‘Inclusive
Education’ held at DU
A special lecture on 'Inclusive
Education' was held yesterday at Nabab
Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban
of Dhaka University (DU). Vice-
Chancellor of DU Prof. Dr. Md.
Akhtaruzzaman presided over the
function.University of Dhaka and
Alliance Francaise, Dhaka jointly
organized this event.
President of 'Libraries Without
Boarders' Prof. Dr. Patrick Weil
delivered the lecture on 'Inclusive
Education' while Director of Alliance
FrancaiseMr. Francois Grosjean gave
vote of thanks. Director of DU Institute
of Education and Research (IER) Prof.
Dr. Md. Abdul Halim delivered welcome
speech.
Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor
Prof. Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman stressed
the need for ensuring inclusive
education to achieve Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). Father of
the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
MujiburRahman had formulated
national education policy for making an
inclusive society, he mentioned.
Bangladesh has made tremendous
progress in achieving target of inclusive
education under the dynamic leadership
of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he
added. He called upon all concerned to
On the occasion of 42nd Home Coming Day of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Dhaka Mohanagar Uttar
Juba League organized an extended meeting at Bangabandhu Avenue yesterday. Photo : Courtesy
SC lawyers to get
new building:
SCBA secretary
DHAKA : Supreme Court Bar
Association (SCBA) secretary
Advocate Md Abdun Nur
Dulal said a new building will
be built for the lawyers of the
apex court.
"Chief Justice Hasan Foez
Siddique has visited our office
and given his consent in this
regard," the newly elected
secretary said after assuming
office yesterday.
Dulal said the result of the
recently held election of SCBA
was declared on April 27 and
the new committee took time
of 14 days after that to hold
annual general meeting
(AGM). After the passing of 14
days, today the new
committee assumed office
through AGM.
"We had promised to build
a new building for the
Supreme Court lawyers in our
election manifesto, and we
have already started our work
in this regard. The chief
justice visited our office on
May 11 and exchanged views
with the lawyer leaders there.
He gave his verbal permission
and also visited the place
where the building would be
built," the SCBA secretary
further said.
Reaching urban facilities
to villages stressed
RAJSHAHI : Reaching the
urban facilities to the
villages can be the best way
of substantial and
sustainable reduction of
influx of people to urban
areas from villages.
Many of the rural people
are seen migrating to
urban areas in search of
work, food and shelter as
well as getting a better life
every year. So, utmost
emphasis should be on
ensuring urban amenities
to the villagers collectively
as the present government
under the prudent and
visionary leadership of
Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina is pledged to do the
same.
The observations came at
a daylong regional
workshop styled "Amar
Gram Amar Shohor"
hosted by the Regional
Public Administration
Training Centre (RPATC)
at its conference hall here
today. Around 60 district
and upazila level officials
from different line
departments and other
stakeholders joined the
workshop.
Member Directing Staff
of BPATC, Savar, Abu
Momtaz Saaduddin
Ahmed addressed the
opening ceremony as chief
guest; while another
Member Directing Staff
Baby Rani karmakar spoke
as special guest with
RPATC Deputy Director
Parvez Raihan in the chair.
RPATC Assistant
Director Abdullahel Baki
moderated the discussion,
while Executive Magistrate
Imranul Haque gave an
illustration on the issue
during his keynote
presentation. In his
remarks, Saaduddin
Ahmed urged the
participants to put in their
level best efforts to
supplement the
government endeavor of
reaching the urban
privileges to the rural
people to improve their
work together for ensuring inclusive
education in the country.
Prof. Dr. Patrick Weil emphasized on
ensuring access to education for all
including under privileged and
marginalized communities around the
world.
It may be mentioned that
LibrariesWithoutBoarders (LWB) is a
charitable organization based in France
which provides access to information
and education for all. This organization
has developed an innovative technology
to build digital learning platform in
more than 50 countries including
Bangladesh.
living and livelihood
conditions.
He told the meeting that
the present government
led by Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina has been
working relentlessly to
uplift the socio-economic
condition of the villagers
through ensuring them
with requisite facilities.
In the workshop, the
participants were
acquainted with Amar
Gram Amar Shohor
besides enabling them to
understand and realize its
importance.
They were also sensitized
and given knowledge to
contribute towards
achieving the main
objectives of Amar Gram
Amar Shohor. In group
discussions, the
participants also devised
ways and means on how to
attain the cherished goal
that will also support the
sustainable development
goals.
DHAKA : The United Nations
Security Council should
urgently convene an open
session on Myanmar and pass
a binding resolution on the
situation in the country,
Fortify Rights said on
Thursday.
A Security Council
resolution on Myanmar
should impose a global arms
embargo on the military, refer
the situation in the country to
the International Criminal
Court, and impose targeted
sanctions, it said. Nine highlevel
representatives from
member states of the
Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) are
scheduled to meet U.S.
President Joe Biden on May
12 and 13 during a special
summit in Washington D.C.,
where the regional bloc's
response to the crisis in
Myanmar will be discussed.
"ASEAN and its consensus
have failed," said Matthew
Quader for
valuing tested
AL leaders
FARIDPUR : Awami League
General Secretary Obaidul
Quader yesterday stressed the
need for valuing the tested
leaders and said the
opportunists would not be
available during any crisis of
the party, reports BSS.
"We have to value the tested
AL leaders as the opportunist
leaders will not be found in
the party during its bad time,"
he told the inaugural session
of Faridpur district Awami
League's triennial council,
joining virtually from his
official residence in Dhaka.
The council was held on
Govt Rajendra College
premises at about 11.30 am.
Quader, also the road
transport and bridges
minister, said those who
siphoned off money abroad,
identified terrorists and
extortionists and drug traders
should not be allowed in the
party.
He said Bangladesh
achieved tremendous
development in the last 13
years under the bold
leadership of Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina.
"But, the BNP leaders do
not see any development or
achievement of the country.
They can see only the
darkness of night in the broad
daylight," the AL general
secretary said.
He said the AL must survive
to protect the country's
democracy, economic
solvency and development.
People should vote for AL
again to keep the party in
power for continuation of the
country's development, he
added.
About the politics of the
BNP, Quader said the
country's people think that
top-to-bottom leaders of the
BNP, including its secretary
general Mirza Fakhrul Islam
Alamgir, should resign from
the party because of their
failures.
Highlighting the progress of
ongoing mega projects, he
said the Padma Multipurpose
Bridge will be inaugurated in
June.
"And then we will think of
constructing the second
Padma bridge at Daulotdia-
Paturia point," he added.
Chaired by president of
Faridpur district AL advocate
Subal Chandra Saha, the
meeting was attended, among
others, by AL presidium
members Kazi Zafarullah, Dr
Abdur Razzaque, Shajahan
Khan, Lt Colonel (rtd) Faruk
Khan, Abdur Rahman and
advocate Jahangir Kabir
Nanak, joint general secretary
AFM Bahauddin Nasim,
organising secretaries Mirza
Azam, BM Mozammel Haque
and SM Kamal Hossain,
publicity and publication
secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan
Golap and secretary of
Faridpur district AL Syed
Masud Hossain.
Smith, Chief Executive Officer
at Fortify Rights, a rights
group which primarily works
to ensure human rights.
"The Security Council has a
responsibility to act. The flow
of arms and money to the
junta must be stopped, and
the Security Council is the key
international body with a
mandate to make that
happen," he said
In April 2021, ASEAN
leaders reached a "Five-Point
Consensus" with the
Myanmar military, aimed at
putting the nation back on a
path to peace following the
February 2021 military coup
d'etat led by Myanmar Senior
General Min Aung Hlaing.
The Myanmar junta has
flouted the agreement while
committing mass atrocity
crimes. The U.K. is the U.N.
Security
Council's
"penholder" on Myanmar and
should table a Chapter VII
resolution mandating an arms
250 students of Green University have been awarded VC and DINS certificates
for achieving meritorious results in academic examinations. The certificate
was awarded for the Spring-2021 semester through an event held
on the online platform Zoom on Wednesday.
Photo : Courtesy
BGMEA urges Aldi to source more
high-end apparel from Bangladesh
DHAKA : The Bangladesh
Government Manufacturers
and Exporters Association
(BGMEA) has called upon
Aldi, a Germany based
international retailer, to
source more diversified
high-end garment products
from the country.
President Faruque Hassan
urged Aldi to strengthen its
partnership
with
Bangladeshi suppliers in
building their capacities in
manufacturing apparel
products that have greater
demand in the international
market.
He made the call when a
delegation of Aldi paid a visit
to him in Dhaka Wednesday.
The delegation included
Denise Hochreiter-
embargo and referral to the
ICC, and President Biden
should use the occasion of the
Special Summit to obtain
ASEAN's support for such a
move, Fortify Rights said.
Chapter VII of the U.N.
Charter enables the Security
Council to take coercive action
with respect to threats to
international peace and
security; Chapter VII
resolutions are binding on all
U.N. member states.
The Myanmar military is
responsible for genocide,
crimes against humanity, and
war crimes and has long
posed a threat to international
peace and security, said the
rights body.
Since launching a coup
d'etat on February 1, 2021, the
Myanmar army and police
have reportedly killed more
than 1,800 people and
detained more than 13,640.
President Biden should also
encourage ASEAN member
Hamberger, managing
director for global sourcing,
Anke Ehlers, managing
director for corporate
responsibility international,
Katharina Wortmann,
director of corporate
responsibility international,
SM Nurul Azam, director of
corporate responsibility, Md
Hasan-Uz-Zaman, senior
manager, corporate
responsibility, Aldi South
Group.
BGMEA Vice-President
Miran Ali and Director
Abdullah Hil Rakib were also
present.
During the meeting,
Faruque said Bangladesh
has earned global
recognition and accolades as
a safe, sustainable and
states to engage the National
Unity Government of
Myanmar, as recommended
by Malaysian Foreign
Minister Saifuddin Abdullah,
said Fortify Rights.
Thailand should be urged to
stop returning refugees to
Myanmar and to authorize
cross-border humanitarian
aid, it said.
The U.S. Government and
ASEAN should also ensure
that humanitarian aid to
Myanmar is not directed
through the military junta,
said Fortify Rights.
"The Myanmar junta is
destabilizing the entire region,
and ASEAN is at risk of losing
all credibility for failing to take
decisive action," said Matthew
Smith.
"All governments have a
responsibility to protect the
people of Myanmar from
mass atrocities and that
includes members of the
Security Council."
No Covid-19 death reported
in 24 hours, 51 new cases
DHAKA : Bangladesh yesterday reported
zero Covid-19 death in the past 24 hours
while it recorded 51 coronavirus positive
cases during the same period.
"Bangladesh reported 0.89 percent Covid-
19 positive cases as 5,736 samples were
tested in the last 24 hours," Directorate
General of Health Services (DGHS) sources
said. During the past 24 hours, the combined
figure of coronavirus infection in Dhaka city
and upazilas of the district is 43 while no
Covid-19 death was reported during the
period.
The official tally showed that the virus
killed 29,127 people and infected 19,52,939,
so far, the statement added.
The recovery count rose to 18,98,603 after
another 291 patients were discharged from
the dedicated hospitals during the past one
day.
From the beginning of the pandemic,
97.22 percent Covid-19 patients recovered
among the infected people while 1.49
percent died, the DGHS statistics showed.
Among the 29,127 fatalities, 12,796
occurred in Dhaka division, 5,863 in
Chattogram, 2,142 in Rajshahi, 3,718 in
Khulna, 982 in Barishal, 1,327 in Sylhet,
1,417 in Rangpur and 880 in Mymensingh
divisions.
ethical apparel sourcing hub.
To retain its fame and
competitiveness, the apparel
industry of the country has
given priority to product
diversification, especially to
non-cotton and high-end
product segments, and
innovation in product
development and process
optimisation, he added.
The BGMEA president
also requested the Aldi
delegation to share
encouraging stories of
Bangladesh's garment
industry with relevant
international stakeholders.
Aldi, an international
retailer with over 10,000
stores around the world, has
long been sourcing garments
from Bangladesh.
FrIDAY, MAY 13, 2022
4
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Friday, May 13, 2022
Retention of human
resources
Like a parrot every government in Bangladesh has harped on the
theme of developing human resources for economic growth and
development. But nothing is said about the other side of the issue
: the crucial 'retention' of the made human resources for the country's
own use.
In some countries which have been declared already as failed states
like Somali and Sudan with a hopeless future and where even the basics
of survival are found to be in very short supply for well educated or
trained persons, the migration of educated and professionally qualified
persons from them in search of a better life and opportunities may be
justified.
But for well educated professionals in Bangladesh, this country is not
such a wasteland. It offers them-at least in start up cases like junior
doctors and engineers-not so much perks and privileges but gradually
these professionals can expect better income and higher living
standards. Certainly, many of them can point to less job satisfaction or
working conditions and less stimulations at their places of employment.
But all of these things are not very great hurdles to absolutely
demotivate them about Bangladesh and create in their minds the
longings and a sense of desperation to seek employment abroad.
While comparatively less income, non recognition of merit and
insufficient opportunities for research and other things, are usually
cited as the propellers that drive out well educated Bangladeshis and
professionals with the expectation of higher income abroad, the real
reason is transparent greed and self-seeking and the utter lack of any
decent values. We may live in a world where exhortations such as ' ask
not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your
country', such words uttered by one of America's most remembered
President, John F Kennedy, may no more inspire, but surely patriotism
continues to be a factor behind national strength and a sought after
quality even in this age of globalisation
These educated Bangladeshis will not be able to hide their lack of
character and values in most cases in betraying their country in the
most foul manner. They get government subsidized education in many
cases to acquire technical or professional qualifications but instead of
repaying what the get at the taxpayers' expense, they most heartlessly
and insensitively decide to stab their country in the back by settling
abroad and serving foreign masters. The state and the people make
great sacrifices for their education and upkeep but get nothing in return.
Many of them jeer at their countrymen from their overseas homes as
slobs without a future. But their consciences which they do not possess
in the first place, are never pricked by a thought of their criminality in
cheating and betraying the cause of their motherland.
But look at the sharp contrast between these so called educated and
talented Bangladeshis and the great number of Bangladeshis of
uneducated, little educated or humble rural origin who are going abroad
in large number to do menial jobs in most cases. They are a helpful lot
who go abroad with the sole purpose of aiding their families. The
monies they unfailingly send home cushion the country's foreign
exchange reserve, help in the consumption needs of the families they
leave behind or in the education and upbringing of dependents, get
invested in small enterprises and businesses and in the buying of real
properties. Besides, these humble people return home at the end of their
employment with their accumulated earnings.
Thus, the lifestyle and activities of these relatively non affluent ,
uneducated or little educated people, are very approvable because they
help out with employment, bring resources into the country and aid in
the alleviation of poverty at the individual and family levels. The
resources they acquire are generally invested in the country and stays in
it. Nothing can be more useful or patriotic for the country than such
behavior.
What behavior do we see from the well educated professionals or
students from the middle and upper classes who go abroad ? In most
cases of immigration, they sever all ties with the country. As the family
members leave in most cases with immigration, there is no need to send
money back to Bangladesh. Nor is there any intention to do so. On the
plea of the uncertain investment climate in Bangladesh, most of them
also do not attempt any investment of their resources here.
The students who go abroad on completing their education behave
the same like the immigrants. They take up jobs in the foreign countries
and at a later stage are seen bringing their parents and other
dependents into those countries and doing everything to end their
relationship conclusively with Bangladesh. Finally even family homes in
Dhaka and at other places are sold and the money obtained, thus, are
transferred overseas through the illegitimate hundi system from which
the country gains nothing.
So, the moot question is whether such behavior should continue to be
overlooked or casually responded ? If not, then what should be done
about it . According to a recent report in a national daily, the flight of
human resources from Bangladesh has acquired alarming
proportions. Every year about 4 thousand information technologists,
doctors, engineers, teachers, researchers, accountants, etc., are leaving
Bangladesh as immigrants.
The state and the taxpayers had done much for their education and
career but they would be lost forever by the country. Bangladesh would
get ultimately no services or resources from them and increasing
hazards will be faced to fill up their empty ranks here and countrymen
will suffer from yet further reduced services delivery to them from the
thinning number of the professionals to discharge these services.
Of course, government should recognize and do whatever it can
within its limitations such as giving them enhanced salaries, funding for
research and other facilities at work places, to motivate them to remain
in the country. But this writer for one, does not believe that more income
or facilities is the reason for their leaving. It is mainly the very
unpatriotic and very uncaring attitude and complete lack of a sense of
responsibility to the country, which are fueling the brain drain.
Time is more than ripe to make a list of the professionals in the
country and regulate their foreign employment and settlement. At
least, every professional on passing out from a government subsidized
study center, should be required to sign a bond that he or she would stay
and work in the country for a minimum of 10-15 years.
Hard attempts must be made to bring back teachers and others who
left their publicly run institutions with scholarships to foreign
organizations but are overstaying. They should be made to suffer
appropriate penalties for dereliction of their duties.
Of course government can have a policy of producing in its
educational institutions and training centers a 'surplus' of skilled
manpower for overseas jobs after carefully ascertaining the demand in
each sector locally. The surplus can then be sent out under a policy of
exporting skilled persons to earn more. Bur without creating this
surplus first but recklessly sending out en masse the skilled workers
means creating their fatal dearth for home employment and its
consequent adverse results.
Why Bangladesh is being called a 'donor country' now?
The subject of 'why Bangladesh is being
called a 'donor country now' has been
raised. Bangladesh celebrates its 51th
year as a sovereign nation in South Asia in
2022. It inherited a devastated economy and
a fully destroyed infrastructure after a fullfledged
independence war. Bangladesh's
phenomenal economic growth and
achievements were discussed globally as it
commemorated its 51th founding
anniversary. Bangladesh, on the other hand,
inherited a shaky economy when it was
founded in 1971. Bangladesh was been
described as a "bottomless basket" by US
Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.Many
economists and world leaders regarded it as
a hopeless economic disaster. Nobody
thought it could make it as an independent
country economically. The phoenix
emerging from the ashes has amazed and
charmed the world today.
Medical support to Sri Lanka
At a simple ceremony held at the State
Guest House Padma in Dhaka this week, the
government of Bangladesh gave muchneeded
medical supplies to the people of Sri
Lanka at the request of the Sri Lankan
government. The emergency medical
supplies provided have a total value of BDT
200 million ($ 2.32 million).
Bangladesh's recent medical and financial
aid to Sri Lanka improves the country's
image and standing. Bangladesh was once a
"bottomless hole" in need of aid. It is now
both a donor and a lender. It demonstrates
how all South Asian countries can rise from
the ashes.
Bangladesh has the honor of standing by
Sri Lanka in every way it can during times of
distress as a friend and neighbor.
In this regard, a ceremony was organized
on Thursday at the State Guest House,
during which Foreign Minister Dr. A.K.
Abdul Momen and Health Minister Zahid
Maleque presented Prof Sudharshan D.S.
Seneviratne with a few cartons of
pharmaceuticals as a gesture.
Bangladesh has not been seen as a source
of financial aid to other countries in the past.
But, during the last two decades, the country
has effectively transformed from a poor
country to the economic powerhouse it is
today, but Dhaka had to travel a long way to
get there. The country routinely
outperformed India and Pakistan in terms
of exports, particularly in the clothing
New EU-China strategy made in Washington
In a pretty surprising move, on
September 16, the European Parliament
published a resolution on a new EU-
China strategy. This 18-page document,
which mentions "China" more tha 160
times, was released immediately after US
President Joe Biden, along with his faithful
Anglo-Saxon brethren from Australia
(Prime Minister Scott Morrison) and Britain
(Prime Minister Boris Johnson), struck a
new Cold War-like deal, commonly known
as "AUKUS." Why surprising?
What both developments have in
common is that they aim to boost Western
powers' presence in the Indo-Pacific region
in an effort to counter China's rise.
Setting the stage for 'la grande gaffe'
Either someone was really quick and
prepared the EU resolution overnight
(which is impossible), or it was already
waiting in the queue to be spectacularly,
with theatrical dramaturgy, announced once
the main perpetrators of the anti-China
foray finished their leadership bit so that
Europe could go ahead and follow.
"We must survive on our own, as others
do," the EU's foreign-policy chief Josep
Borrell said during the announcement of the
bloc's grand strategy for the Indo-Pacific
region, recalling French President
Emmanuel Macron's "strategic autonomy"
mantra.
Borrell also referred to the Naval Group's
loss of a US$40 billion contract canceled by
Prime Minister Morrison favoring nuclearpowered
submarines built with US knowhow.
"I understand the extent to which the
French government must be disappointed,"
the diplomat concluded.
The EU's chairman, Charles Michel,
further asserted that AUKUS "demonstrates
the need for a common EU approach in a
region of strategic interest."
So what exactly is the EU's "strategic
interest" in the Indo-Pacific region, and
what "common approach" does it want to
embrace to achieve it?
Reviving Yellow Peril narrative
"China is asserting a stronger global role
both as an economic power and as foreignpolicy
actor, which poses serious political,
economic, security and technological
challenges to the EU, which in turn has
significant and long-lasting consequences
for the world order, and poses serious
threats to rules-based multilateralism and
core democratic values," we can read under
Point B of the resolution.
The Point C of the document expresses
regret over China's one-party system and
the Communist Party of China's
commitment to Marxism-Leninism, which,
allegedly, precludes it from embracing
industry. The country is hailed as a South
Asian development model, similar to South
Korea, China, and Vietnam, all of which
have prospered thanks to export-led
economic strategies. As a result, its economy
has literally pulled itself up by the bootstraps
and will be the fastest growing in South Asia
by 2020. Now the country is being called 'a
donor country'.
Amazing story
How is it that Bangladesh continues to
astonish us? Exports, social advancement,
and economic foresight, according to
economists, are some of the reasons behind
this. Three other aspects must be
considered: sympathy, economic
diplomacy, and political will.
When Bangladesh offered Colombo $200
million in aid, the Sri Lankan media
remarked, "If Dhaka can be self-sufficient,
why can't we?"
Bangladesh gave Sudan 65 crore taka in
June to relieve the IMF's debt burden. The
IMF loaned the government Rs 510,000
crore taka. The country's economic situation
was so severe that it was unable to service its
debt.The government of Bangladesh thinks
that the investment will help Sudan battle
poverty.
Financial support to Sudan, Somalia, and
Sri Lanka
Somalia, another African country,
received more than 80 million takas from
Bangladesh.
This was also for the purpose of repaying
an IMF loan.
Sudan is a debt-ridden and impoverished
country.
Bangladesh has stated that it will assist Sri
Lanka in every way feasible to help the
island nation overcome its greatest
economic crisis since independence in 1948.
Bangladesh promised humanitarian
assistance to the Afghan people in
December 2021, while also expressing
"democratic values such as individual
freedom, freedom of speech and freedom of
religion," as it takes place in more civilized
parts of the world like Europe and the US.
The core part of the resolution relates to
the recommendation provided to the vicepresident
of the commission / high
representative of the Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) and the
Council on the importance of developing "a
more assertive, comprehensive and
consistent EU-China strategy that unites all
Member States and shapes relations with
China in the interest of the EU as a whole,"
which can be found under Article 1 (a).
Each pillar is rich in multiple articles, so I
will pay attention only to the most important
ones.
While it has to be admitted that some of
the pillars do have merit in advocating for
much-needed cooperation on "preventing
Afghanistan from becoming a new terrorist
base and discouraging North Korea from
continuing its nuclear program," or tackling
issues like the environment and climate
change, the economic recovery after the
pandemic, and the fight against global
health crises, it has to be admitted that the
overall tone is highly condescending, not to
say neocolonial.
Divide et impera 2.0
Among several complaints and
outrageous demands, we can see the
ongoing pattern of applying what Antony
Anghie, a professor at the National
University of Singapore Faculty of Law and
secretary general of the Asian Society of
International Law, calls the "dynamic of
difference."
In this case, we are dealing with the
"difference" between civilized democratic
European values and non-European
communist authoritarian values, with
human rights being portrayed as the crux of
the matter.
While human rights are the most precious
reward being obtained by the formally
colonized world during the ongoing struggle
with the Western colonial powers, in this
document, according to Oxford University
political theorist Jeanne Morefield's article
"When neoliberalism hijacked human
FuMIKo YAMADA
ADrIEL KASonTA
serious worry about the country's economic
and humanitarian problems.
Food and medical aid have been
announced by the country.
Bangladesh has previously demonstrated
its humanitarian ideals by cordially
welcoming about 1.1 million Myanmarese
Rohingya refugees.
Despite several diplomatic efforts, the
repatriation of Rohingyas has taken a long
time.
Taking in refugees
Despite the significant strain on the
economy, food management, limited
In this regard, a ceremony was organized on Thursday at
the State Guest House, during which Foreign Minister Dr.
A.K. Abdul Momen and Health Minister Zahid Maleque
presented Prof Sudharshan D.S. Seneviratne with a few
cartons of pharmaceuticals as a gesture.
resources, and other situations, Bangladesh
continues to generously welcome the
world's largest and expanding refugee
community.The question now is: if
Bangladesh can be self-sufficient, a donor, a
lender, and a South Asian economic miracle,
why can't others? Bangladesh can teach
South Asia a lot.
Bangladesh's transitionsfrom
internationalbeggar country to a donor
country
Leadership, creativity, planning, and
ownership are some aspects that helped
Bangladesh turn from an "international
beggar" to an "economically vibrant
country.Bangladeshi people have innovative
and creative skills, as evidenced by increased
garment exports, overseas remittances,
population control, higher literacy rates,
poverty alleviation, and women
empowerment.Bangladesh's administration
is focused on the economy, governance, and
social and human development.
The world has been surprised by this tiny
country's meteoric rise and economic
progress. Economists and political leaders
around the world are astonished, and this
remarkable progress and development
strategy is now being closely monitored.
Some countries are considering
implementing the Bangladesh development
rights" published in Jacobin magazine on
May 1, 2020, they serve as "a weapon to be
used against anti-colonial projects" like, for
example, the Belt and Road Initiative.
It is worth mentioning that Brussels
perceives the BRI as a "threat stemming
from China," among other initiatives like the
"dual circulation strategy, 14th Five Year
Plan, and Made in China 2025, China
Standards 2035 and 16+1 policies, including
The Point C of the document expresses regret over China's one-party system
and the Communist Party of China's commitment to Marxism-Leninism,
which, allegedly, precludes it from embracing "democratic values such as
individual freedom, freedom of speech and freedom of religion," as it takes
place in more civilized parts of the world like Europe and the uS.
its military modernization and capacity
buildup" - as we can read under Article 22 of
the resolution.
"We want to create links and not
dependencies," said Commission President
Ursula von der Leyen while promoting the
"Global Gateway" project aimed at
competing with the BRI. "We want to create
links and not dependencies," she continued
with a jab aimed at Beijing.
"We are good at financing roads. But it
does not make sense for Europe to build a
perfect road between a Chinese-owned
copper mine and a Chinese-owned harbor.
We have to get smarter when it comes to
these kinds of investments," von der Leyen
concluded, adding that priority would be
given to connectivity endeavors expected to
be discussed at a regional summit next
February.
Her comments fit the narrative of an
ongoing smear campaign accusing China of
practicing "debt-trap diplomacy," which for
those familiar with the subject is nothing
more than a "meme" invented by Indian
propaganda in 2017, as Deborah Bräutigam,
the Bernard L Schwartz Professor in
International Political Economy and
director of the China Africa Research
Initiative at Johns Hopkins University's
School of Advanced International Studies
(SAIS), argues in an article published in the
journal Area Development and Policy on
December 9, 2019.
To put it simply, "The Chinese 'debt trap'
is a myth," as an op-ed in The Atlantic
magazine co-authored by Bräutigam with
Meg Rithmire, F Warren McFarlan
Associate Professor at Harvard Business
School, puts it.
Human rights and convenient double
standard
model in their own countries.Many of the
world's best economists have now urged all
developing countries to adopt and
implement the Bangladesh model for
economic growth, advancement, and
development.
Covid-19 aid to India, Indonesia
On Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's
orders, the Bangladesh government sent the
delivery of medicines to Indonesia in its fight
against the Covid-19 outbreak in
2021.Bangladesh is one of the 40 countries
that has supplied Covid relief aid to India
twice as the country fights the second wave
of the tsunami.
Prior to these aids to India and Sri Lanka,
Bangladesh has been seen to stand with
other countries in providing humanitarian
support.
Bangladesh is committed to treating its
neighbors with respect and reaching out to
those who require assistance. Bangladesh
has begun to display its economic progress
and utilize it to forge deeper ties with
neighbors, from giving India with Covid
relief goods to extending financial aid to Sri
Lanka in its hour of distress.
Announcing humanitarian aid for Afghan
people
During the 17th Extraordinary Session of
the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
(OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers on
Afghanistan, held in Pakistan in 2021,
Bangladesh announced the relief packages.
Prabir De, a professor at the Research and
Information System for Developing
Countries (RIS), has remarked that
"Bangladesh is the new Royal Bengal Tiger
of Asia" in reference to Bangladesh's
emergence as a donor state. John Rozario,
India based researcher said that
Bangladesh's transitions from aid seeker to
aid provider is really praiseworthy! Thus,
Bangladesh's transitions from international
aid seeker to a donor country is governance
lessons for others.
The author, Fumiko Yamada specializes
in 'Bangladesh Affairs'. She is a research
fellow in 'Bangladesh Studies' at the
'University of Melbourne', Australia. She is
a graduate of South Asian Studies,
University of Toronto, Canada. She can be
contacted at fuyamada14@gmail.com
Moving further with its weaponization of
human rights, the entity that
"underdeveloped Africa" in the first place, to
recall Walter Rodney's famous book of the
same title, the resolution also calls for "the
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
to launch independent legal investigations
into alleged genocide, alleged crimes against
humanity and human-rights violations,
including forced-labor programs taking
place in several regions in China," namely
Xinjiang.
While the White Savior complex visibly
emanates from almost every point of this
neocolonial resolution, Europe, which
pledges to seek a separate trade deal with
Taiwan, wants to meddle in Hong Kong's
internal affairs (a clear departure from the
"one China" policy) and deploy (no matter
how cynical that may sound, bearing in
mind its naval potential) more ships in the
South China Sea to keep the rising non-
Caucasian power in check, demands from
China to put "the principle of reciprocity at
its core" when it comes to their bilateral
trade and investment relationship.
But this "Western political concept … is a
non-starter," to quote a Hong Kong-based
private investor from France, David
Baverez, whom I interviewed for Asia Times
in March.
"If I am Chinese, how can you offer me
reciprocity when I open to you a market of
1.4 billion consumers?" Baverez asked.
Doomsday Clock is still ticking
Despite allegedly seeking "strategic
autonomy" grandeur, the EU insists on a
policy "to develop and promote an
ambitious and dynamic trans-Atlantic
relationship with the US government, based
on our shared history, values and interests,
in the framework of a Transatlantic
Dialogue on China."
What that means in practice is that
Brussels not only wishes to align its foreign
policy toward Beijing with that of the US in
an attempt to support its quest to maintain
global hegemony but, in doing so,
dangerously exaggerates any potential
threat that may emanate from China and its
political system.
Being driven by trade and economic
motives, Europe tries to justify Western
expansion and its alleged moral dominance
by starting a new "civilizing mission," yet
this time aimed at the Chinese communist
barbarians, whose wealth is so tempting but
whose mere existence is despised.
Adriel Kasonta is a London-based foreign
affairs analyst and commentator, and
founder of AK Consultancy. You can follow
him on Twitter @Adriel_Kasonta
FRIdAY, mAY 13, 2022
5
uzAIR sATTAR
The most challenging problem the United States faces in
executing its foreign policy goals in Pakistan is anti-
Americanism. The ouster of former Prime Minister Imran
Khan following a vote of no confidence reinvigorates this
perennial challenge.
Khan is rallying his supporters over a new slogan,
"Imported Government Na Manzoor" (translation: rejected),
after alleging that the United States spearheaded a conspiracy
to remove him from office. His accusation of regime change
has been refuted by Pakistan's National Security Committee
(NSC), the country's highest bipartisan civil-military forum.
The NSC stated that a U.S. official's "undiplomatic language"
at a lunch amounted to "blatant interference" but concluded
that "there has been no conspiracy."
Yet, in an era where alternative facts are as good as true, this
does not matter to Imran Khan or his supporters. His
narrative is merely a symptom and not a cause of anti-
Americanism in Pakistan. There may be a temptation to
dismiss conspiracy claims as resurgences of repeated tropes
in Pakistani politics. However, this avoids confronting why
Khan can effortlessly tap into anti-American sentiments and
dynamics that in turn impact Pakistani politics and its foreign
policy.
Anti-Americanism sells in Pakistan. A Gallup poll revealed
that "only" one-third of Pakistanis (36 percent) believed the
foreign conspiracy claim. The same poll, however, showed
that more than two-thirds of Pakistanis (72 percent) thought
the United States was an enemy rather than a friend of
Pakistan. This figure has remained relatively consistent over
the past two decades. Two-thirds of Pakistanis today are
under 30 and have lived through the strongest waves of anti-
Americanism in Pakistan since 1990.
The United States and Pakistan have well-known laundry
lists of foreign policy grievances. When Pakistan airs these
grievances, Washington's establishment often dismisses
them as "familiar tropes." Whether or not Washington wants
to believe these grievances are legitimate, its passivity
increases anti-American sentiment in Pakistan. This, in turn,
makes it increasingly difficult for the U.S. to achieve its
foreign policy objectives. While the relationship has been
historically predicated on security asks, moving toward nontraditional
security collaboration may be the only structural
approach to mitigate anti-Americanism in Pakistan.
Anti-Americanism is not exclusive to Pakistan but takes a
unique form in the country. Radical anti-Americanism, anticapitalism,
and poor people-to-people relations are not the
major factors.
Radical anti-Americanism has erupted in minuscule
pockets in Pakistan but remains an anomaly in the 75-year
relationship. There is also no mainstream fiscal ideological
debate in Pakistan, which keeps Islamabad tied to the
Washington Consensus. While new leftist parties have added
invaluable dimensions to socioeconomic debate, they still
have a long way to go before uprooting centrist groupthink
and historic economic alignments.
Instead, liberal and sovereign-nationalist critiques remain
salient because of the United States' securitized engagement
with Pakistan and its foreign policy goals. Liberal anti-
Americanism critiques relate to Washington upholding
values for domestic audiences but dismissing them abroad.
Sovereign-nationalist critiques concern the impingement of
sovereignty - both directly, such as military intervention, and
indirectly, through coercive diplomacy.
Imran Khan is the latest in a long line of politicians to
exploit anti-Americanism for political survival. WikiLeaks
revealed that Pakistan's civilian leadership (some of whom
Anti-Americanism in Pakistan
supporters of ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf burn a representation of u.s flag.
Photo: muhammad sajjad
are now back in office) privately supported U.S. drone strikes
in Pakistan (2008-2018) but lied about their stance publicly.
This created an impression that the United States was playing
a double game in Pakistan. In addition to fueling the fire,
Khan has added another dimension to the phenomenon.
During the initial no-confidence vote, the deputy speaker of
Parliament, a Khan loyalist, justified dismissing the vote by
declaring all opposition members disloyal under Article 6 of
the constitution for allegedly working with the United States.
The term "traitor" has provided unending currency in
Pakistan. While military officials seem to remain immune, when
applied to critical politicians, journalists, and civilians, the
"diagnosis" is a cue to begin "self-treatment" through selfcensorship.
Not doing so can have severe consequences. Today,
advocates for maintaining or improving Pakistan-U.S. relations
represent a collective group at risk of being sent to "Traitorville,"
whose proverbial boundaries expand as Khan's false narrative
gathers steam. This is hampering a meaningful debate in
Pakistan about its relationship with all superpowers.
Washington's relative non-engagement with Pakistan's civilian
government and society has not helped either.
Pakistan and the United States have a state-to-state
relationship predicated on two primary issues: war and
terrorism. In that context, the United States has directly
engaged with the military and not civilian governments to
achieve its security objectives. This has undermined
Pakistan's post-colonial democratic institutionalization and
represents a structural faultline in the relationship.
The United States has taken advantage of indigenous
military coups by perpetuating dictatorships that have lasted
almost half of Pakistan's political life. None of the four U.S.-
supported dictators would have survived for as long as they
did without the United States' backing. Washington's modus
operandi has not changed following Pakistan's transition to
procedural democracy in 2008.
The Pakistan Army's top brass has been the primary
benefactor in this equation, receiving military hardware,
technology, and economic support in return for
counterterrorism operations and helping fight two wars in
Afghanistan. These were wars which the Pakistani people had
nothing to do with. Recognizing this nuance is critical for
Washington to achieve its foreign policy goals in Pakistan,
even if the will to do so remains elusive.
Over 220 million Pakistanis, of whom two-thirds are under
30, have lived through the most vociferous waves of anti-
Americanism, sparked by the Pressler sanctions (1990-2001)
and the War on Terror (2001-?). Pakistanis have had to
reconcile Washington's military-centric engagement with
their changed lives. It is unfortunate that Pakistan's ongoing
sacrifices in the War on Terror - 80,000 killed on the street,
at weddings, in their houses, in school, at checkpoints, on
their way to work, and in places of worship, not to mention
economic losses - fall on deaf ears in Washington. By
choosing to fixate on the United States' engagement with the
military's top brass, Washington overlooks the consequences
of its approach to Pakistanis' lived experience. This active
choice increases anti-Americanism in Pakistan.
I grew up during the War on Terror. Like many Pakistanis,
I heard Washington's calls for Pakistan to "do more" to fight
terrorism. This was puzzling to me as a student since most
Pakistanis I know were directly or indirectly impacted by
terrorism. In just one of many examples, after the school
massacre in Peshawar in 2014 - when the Pakistani Taliban
killed 132 students and 17 staff members - the government
permanently increased security measures across educational
institutions, which inadvertently made kindergartens,
schools, and colleges a vessel for policing and fear.
My schoolmates and I were rigorously searched as we
entered our newly erected, prison-length school walls topped
with layers of barbed wire. Instead of going to class, we
rendezvoused at the school ground for daily morning terror
prevention drills. Watching four government-mandated
snipers slowly patrolling roof corners as we completed the
drill, I thought I had a clear idea of who the enemy was - as I
imagine the snipers did too. But when told we weren't doing
enough against terrorism, I began questioning who the
enemy might be.
Washington's "do more" ask may have been geared toward
Rawalpindi and not even related to the Pakistani Taliban.
Still, the public drumming at every seeming opportunity felt
like a ploy to humiliate Pakistanis for something they had no
control over - and indeed suffered from daily. I felt that
empathy was lacking.
Imran Khan taps into some of these dynamics as he
galvanizes his supporters on trumped-up charges of regime
change. On the one hand, he functionalizes simmering
sentiments stemming from a lack of historical reckoning. On
the other hand, his narrative successfully distracts voters
from domestic structural fault lines and veils the factor of his
questionable decision-making as a cause for his ousting.
Pakistani anti-Americanism structurally stems from a
military-first, people-second engagement approach.
However, this prism remains less relevant for the future. The
United States has placed India's strategic interests above
Pakistan's because of a newfound common adversary.
Washington ignored Pakistan's decade-long cautionary
advice on Afghanistan, which is now home to the worst
humanitarian crisis in the world. There is a real chance that
the United States will see Pakistan through red-tinted glasses
as it gears up for great power competition with China.
Instead of fighting these changing dynamics and Pakistan's
changed geostrategic alignments, the Pakistan-U.S.
relationship should move away from military-centrism and
instead focus on new opportunities to tackle non-traditional
security threats, such as climate change and geoeconomics.
The COVID-19 pandemic may have also provided a litmus
test for this thesis. As of April 28, 2022, the United States had
donated the most vaccines to Pakistan through its global
distribution program. It is bemusing how few Pakistanis
know about this. There is no replacement for on-ground
engagement in civil society and public diplomacy. Other
countries have demonstrated the benefits of direct
engagement after stepping outside embassy walls or hushed
military conference rooms.
Moving from traditional security to non-traditional security
collaboration will also make it more conducive for the United
States to meaningfully work with democratic governments
instead of direct engagement with the military. It would
reflect at least a surface-level appearance that the United
States still considers democracy in Pakistan as something
worth enabling rather than undermining. Doing so will create
space for civilian leaders-who have mics and pulpits that
military officials do not-to debate Pakistan's relationship with
all superpowers.
Upholding the business-as-normal approach will not only
perpetuate anti-Americanism but could give rise to different
forms of the phenomenon not substantively seen in Pakistan
to date, with dangerous downstream consequences. Engaging
with Pakistan's democratic institutions, changing prisms of
cooperation, and reckoning with Pakistanis' fundamentally
altered lived experience after the War on Terror represent
perhaps the only opportunities to mitigate anti-Americanism
in Pakistan.
Is Moon Jae-In South Korea's Merkel?
ThomAs ChAn
When South Korean
President Moon Jae-In took
office in May 2017, the Asian
edition of TIME magazine
hailed him as "the negotiator."
Moon's five-year tenure did
hold true to this name in a
way, as his presidency was
peppered with negotiations
and compromises with
Pyongyang and Beijing. Yet
tensions between Seoul and
Tokyo remain high as
historical strife between the
two states persist, much to the
dismay of U.S. decisionmakers
who anticipated
cooperation between the
Asian allies to push back on
China's ambitions in the Asia-
Pacific. More recently,
Russia's invasion of Ukraine
and the subsequent
international sanctions
against Moscow have left
South Korean business
interests uneasy, and North
Korea's ongoing missile tests
since January 2022 serve as a
reminder that Moon failed to
keep Pyongyang at bay.
Moon's term ends on May
9, and his economic and
foreign policies are up for
scrutiny. Like Germany's
long-time Chancellor Angela
Merkel, he has defined his
country's foreign policy as one
cornered into appeasement in
terms of economics and
energy. As a result, both
countries have their hands
tied at a time when
assertiveness is most needed.
Moon and Merkel share the
same traits of appeasement.
Moon's attempts to end North
Korea's nuclear and missile
development through
engagement took up most of
his five years of diplomacy.
Since the inter-Korea
summits in 2018, Moon has
continuously appealed to
Pyongyang for peace on the
Korean Peninsula, sometimes
with economic incentives. But
North Korea's hostile actions
intensified after the failed
North Korea-U.S. summit in
Hanoi in February 2019.
Pyongyang declared to further
advance its weapons
technology during the 8th
Party Congress in January
2021 and closed
communication channels
with Seoul and Washington.
Moon was flustered when
North Korea demolished the
inter-Korea joint liaison office
in June 2020. After
expressing "regrets and
warnings," he continued to
call for dialogue, including
offering two end-of-war
declarations at a United
Nations. Although Kim Jong
Un said inter-Korea ties could
improve in recent letters
exchanged with Moon, his
statement rings hollow as he
later vowed to "further
strengthen" North Korea's
nuclear arsenal.
Pyongyang launched seven
missile tests in January 2022,
consisting of the latest
hypersonic, short-range, and
intermediate-range ballistic
missiles. It further extended
its provocations by allegedly
launching an intercontinental
ballistic missile and a
platform for delivering tactical
nuclear weapons during
continued testing in March
and April.
When dealing with the
simmering China-U.S.
competition, the Moon
administration adopted
"strategic ambiguity" as the
core of its policy. It was not
south Korean President moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook.
Photo: lee Jin-man
hesitant about hedging its
alliance with the United States
by establishing close
relationships with China.
Back in his speech at the
Beijing University in 2017,
Moon went as far as stating
that "China is a country high
as a mountain, and even
though South Korea is a 'small
country,' it would be honored
to share the 'China dream.'"
He has also kept silent upon
Beijing's controversial policies
on Hong Kong and alleged
abuses in Xinjiang.
Moon's cautious China
policy came from three main
factors - trade, sanctions, and
North Korea. South Korea's
economy is highly dependent
on China, as about 25 percent
of its total exports are sent to
the Chinese market. Hence,
South Korea's economic
vulnerability to China creates
a persistent fear of damaging
such economic benefits
should the government in
Seoul displease an
increasingly sensitive Beijing.
South Korea's vulnerability
was made clear when China
imposed unofficial economic
sanctions on South Korea
starting in 2017. Beijing
targeted South Korean
industries after Seoul deployed
the U.S. Terminal High-
Altitude Area Defense
(THAAD) missile defense
system in July 2016. Beijing
views THAAD as a direct
security threat, despite
reassurances from South
Korean and the U.S. that
deployment was only aimed at
defending against the North
Korean missile threat. After
THAAD deployment, China
prohibited imports of South
Korean cultural products, such
as movies and dramas, and
informally banned Chinese
nationals' tourism in South
Korea. The economic cost
amounted to a 18.7 trillion
Korean won ($15.7 billion) loss
for the South Korean tourism
industry alone.
JAmes GuIld
The last several months have
been a wild ride for
Indonesia's palm oil sector,
culminating last week in a
blanket ban on exports of both
crude palm oil and its refined
products, such as cooking oil.
Right up until the end the
government sent a flurry of
mixed messages, walking
back its initial plan by saying
that exports of crude palm oil
would be allowed before
reversing itself again at the
last minute.
Indonesia is the world's
largest supplier of palm oil, so
depriving global markets of
the commodity is a big deal. It
will, among other things,
effect the cost of basic goods
like cooking oil at a time when
food prices are already being
squeezed. Trade partners will
not be pleased. So why did
Indonesia take this
extraordinary step?
The simple answer is that
it's about prices. According to
the Indonesian Palm Oil
Association, local production
of crude palm oil fell in 2021
compared to 2020, even as
global demand surged. When
demand increases and supply
falls or remains constant, all
else being equal, prices will
rise. And that is exactly what
has happened. In April 2020,
a ton of Indonesian crude
palm oil was fetching around
$545 on the European
market. Two years later, that
jumped to $1,700.
This has been good for
exporters, and for Indonesia's
current account. As I wrote
last week, booming global
demand for commodities
that Indonesia has in
abundance, such as coal and
palm oil, has reversed a
persistent current account
deficit and placed the rupiah
in a relatively solid position
as the U.S. Federal Reserve
begins raising interest rates
this year. It's also drummed
up increased revenue for the
Ministry of Finance.
But a roaring commodity
export market presents a kind
of paradox, because while it
Why Indonesia banned
palm oil exports
A view of a palm oil plantation in Bogor, Indonesia. Photo: Achmad Rabin Taim
benefits exporters and the
current account, the
Indonesian government does
not want domestic consumers
to pay the global market price
for these commodities. A key
priority for the government is
to ensure that the price of
staple goods - such as
gasoline, electricity, rice, and
cooking oil - remains stable
and affordable. Certain types
of gasoline have already seen a
(quite modest) price hike, and
the government is especially
sensitive right now to further
inflationary pressures.
The problem is that this
creates dueling incentives for
key actors. The political
interests of the state in
keeping domestic prices low is
at odds with the commercial
interests of palm oil producers
and exporters, who want to
sell as much palm oil as they
can at the highest price the
market will support.
Something has to give, and
clearly the government
believes that palm oil
companies chasing export
profits is diverting supply
away from the domestic
market where profit margins
are lower. This has caused the
price of cooking oil to surge,
and shortages and hoarding
were widely reported earlier
this year.
To bring the price down, the
government first tried some
regulatory fixes such as export
quotas, domestic market
obligations, and price ceilings
for cooking oil. Investigations
have been launched into palm
oil executives and trade
officials. But these have been
rushed and confusing. They
did not bring the price down
fast enough and with the
Lebaran holiday approaching,
when millions gather to
celebrate the end of Ramadan,
the government felt it needed
to be seen taking more decisive
action and finally announced a
blanket export ban.
Whether this will actually
have the desired (or any)
effect, on the price of cooking
oil in Indonesia is almost
irrelevant since I doubt the
ban will be in place for long.
More fundamentally, this is
meant to send a message
about the power of the state to
discipline markets when it's in
the national interest to do so.
It echoes actions taken earlier
this year, when coal exports
were banned to ensure a
sufficient supply was available
for domestic power plants at
below market prices.
As I wrote at the time, that
was also primarily about
sending a message, which is
that the Indonesian economy
is pro-market - but only up to
a point. When commercial
interests are at odds with the
political and national interests
of the state, the state will
intervene to protect these
interests. Each time they do
this there is a risk of
overplaying their hand, as
trade partners and investors
will not look on these actions
kindly, especially when
demand for these
commodities is not so hot
anymore.
But for now Indonesia
controls the raw supply of
things like coal and palm oil
which are in high demand, so
their reach can extend pretty
far when they want to send a
message. And that message -
that the domestic market
needs to be supplied first and
at affordable prices, even if it
forces exporters to leave
profits on the table - is coming
through loud and clear.
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2022
6
A colorful rally and discussion meeting was held at Mirzaganj of Patuakhali district yesterday on the
occasion of International Nurses Day.
Photo : Uttam Golder Natun
24,833 more
doses Covid-19
jabs administered
in Rangpur
RANGPUR : More 24,833
doses of Covid-19 jabs were
administered on Wednesday
raising the number of
inoculated vaccines to two
crore 78 lakh 36 thousand
and 370 doses in Rangpur
division.
Health officials said,
among the 24,833 doses of
the jabs inoculated on
Wednesday, 710 were
administered as the first
doses, 6,156 as the second
doses and 17,967 as the
booster doses.
"Till Wednesday, a total of
1,35,26,010 people got the
first doses of Covid-19 jabs,
and of them, 1,27,80,701 got
the second doses and
15,29,659 got the booster
doses," Divisional Director
(Health) Dr. Abu Md.
Zakirul Islam told BSS.
Meanwhile, the number of
Covid-19 infected patients
rose to 64,140 in the division
as one fresh positive case
was diagnosed after testing
43 new samples on
Wednesday.
The number of healed
Covid-19 patients remained
steady at 62,782 in the
division where no new
patients recovered during
the last 24 hours ending at 8
am on Thursday.
"Besides, the number of
casualties remained steady
at 1,284 in the division as no
new death was reported
during the last 24 hours in
the division," Dr. Islam
added.
1 tourist drowns,
another missing
in Karnaphuli
River
RANGAMATI : A tourist
drowned and another went
missing in the Karnaphuli
River of Rangamati on
Wednesday.
The deceased was
identified as 19-year-old
Lokesh Vaidya, son of Apu
Vaidya of Shakpura village
in Boalkhali upazila of
Chattogram district. He was
a first-year-student of
Chattogram Islamia College.
The missing tourist was
his friend Apurba Saha, 18,
resident of Chattogram
Sadarghat area.
The Navy diving team
based in Kaptai recovered
the body of Lokesh after a
two-hour effort in the
evening. Efforts are on to
recover Apurba's body, said
Navy sources.
According to the
deceased's friends, around 3
pm, six friends went down to
take a bath in the
Karnaphuli and started
drowning due to the river's
strong current.
Fighting against the
current, three of them
managed to swim ashore
and another was rescued by
Fire Service members, two
friends went missing.
On information, a fourmember
naval diving team
led by Lt. Commander
Faizul Islam Mandal and Lt.
Commander Selim Reza
started searching for the
missing tourist in the Sita
Ghat area at 4:39 pm and
recovered Lokesh's body.
Apurba however couldn't be
found till filing of this report
past midnight.
Lalmonirhat lynching: 38 surrender,
sent to judicial custody
LALMONIRHAT : A court
here has remanded in
judicial custody 38 men
accused of lynching a man
for allegedly discerating the
holy Quran last year.
Lalmonirhat senior
judicial amli court-3 judge
Joynal Abedin sent the
accused to judicial custody,
turning down their bail
pleas, when they
surrendered before the court
on Wednesday.
Lalmonirhat court
inspector Md Musa said the
38 men, accused of lynching
the man, attacking cops and
vandalising the Burimari
Union Parishad building in
Patgram upazila, were on
the run for a long time.
On October 29 last year, a
mob lynched Sahidunnabi
Jewel, 50, a former librarian
of Rangpur Cantonment
Public School and College,
and burnt his body in the
upazila accusing him of
"disrespecting the Quran".
Police have so far arrested
50 people in connection with
the crime. Besides, 12 more
accused have voluntarily
surrendered before the
court. Some of the accused
are also out on bail.
Jewel came to Burimari in
the afternoon on October 29
last year with Sultan Zubair
Abdar. After offering Asr
prayer at the central
mosque, he went to get a
Quran from a shelf, said
Sumonta Kumar Mohonto,
officer-in-charge of Patgram
Police Station.
As he was trying to take
one out, a number of
Quranic and Hadith books
fell at his feet, leading to an
argument between him and
the Muezzin. Locals took
Jewel and Sultan to the
Union Parishad office
adjacent to the mosque as
the argument escalated.
A rumour was spread in
the market and nearby
village that the two men
were arrested for
"disrespecting the Quran" by
the time, according to police
and locals.
At one stage, a group of
people swooped on the
Union Parishad office. They
broke open the door and
beat Jewel to death on the
spot.
The mob did not stop
there. It dragged the body to
the Patgram-Burimari
highway and set it afire. The
people also demonstrated in
the area.
On information, police,
Border Guard Bangladesh
(BGB) and firefighters
rushed to the spot but failed
to control the situation.
Police also fired 17 shots in
the air to disperse the mob.
Ten policemen, including
the OC, were injured as the
mob kept hurling brick
chips.
Activity to collect boro paddy directly from farmers through Krishak App
has been launched in Narail yesterday. Photo : Humayun Kabir Rintu
Expand farming of zinc-enriched
Bangabandhu dhan100: Experts
KURIGRAM : Experts at a
farmers' field day program
have stressed on expanding
cultivation of zinc-enriched
Bangabandhu dhan100 rice
and popularising its
consumption to improve
nutritional status of common
people.
The event was arranged for
harvesting the disease
tolerant, pest attack resistant
and fine variety Bangabandhu
dhan100 rice at Arjundara
village in Ulipur upazila here
on Wednesday, said a press
release.
On the occasion, farmer
Mizanur Rahman of the
village got 6.41 tonnes yield
rate of paddy after harvesting
Bangabandhu dhan100 rice
on his 3.06 acres of exhibition
plot.
With the Department of
Agricultural Extension (DAE)
assistance, Natun Zibon
Rochi (NAZIR) organised the
event under Integrated Food
System Approach to Build
Nutrition Security (IFS)
project of HarvestPlus
Bangladesh funded by the
Government of Canada.
HarvestPlus is part of the
Consultative Group on
International Agricultural
Research Program on
Agriculture for Nutrition and
Health and is based at
International Food Policy
Research Institute.
HarvestPlus is improving
nutrition and public health by
developing and promoting
biofortified food crops rich in
vitamins and minerals
alongside providing global
leadership on biofortification
evidence and technology.
Additional Director of DAE
for Rangpur region Md.
Emdad Hossain Sheikh
attended the program as chief
guest with Executive Director
of NAZIR, Lalmonirhat Nurul
Haque Sarkar in the chair.
Agriculture Research and
Development Officer of
HarvestPlus Bangladesh Md.
Ruhul Amin Mondol
moderated the function.
Country Manager of
HarvestPlus Bangladesh Dr.
Md. Khairul Bashar, Deputy
Director of DAE, Kurigram
Md. Abdur Rashid, Deputy
Director (Seed Marketing) of
BADC, Rangpur Md.
Asaduzzaman Khan and
Senior Scientific Officer and
Head of BRRI's Rangpur
Regional Station Md. Rakibul
Hasan attended as special
guests.
IFS project Coordinator
Md. Mozibar Rahman in his
welcome speech said zinc is an
essential micronutrient for
the human body which is
required in small amounts but
daily.
"Available sources of zinc
are meat, fish, milk and egg
which are not easily
unaffordable by the poor. Zinc
rice could be a sustainable and
cost-effective solution to meet
daily zinc requirements," he
said.
Rakibul Hasan said
Bangladesh is the world's first
country that developed zinc
rice. Bangabandhu dhan100
rice is popular like the
premier Naijarshail rice
variety.
Asaduzzaman Khan said
zinc is very important for
human health, especially
children and women.
Dr. Khairul Bashar said one
in every three people globally
suffers from hidden hunger
and malnutrition and women
and children are especially
vulnerable.
Zinc-enriched rice like other
biofortified crops facilitated
by HarvestPlus is developed
through conventional nongenetically
modified organism
plant breeding methods.
"Bio-fortified crops are high
yielding that farmers desire,"
he said, adding that
consumption of biofortified
zinc rice like Bangabandhu
dhan100 increases immunity
of the human body.
RMU pioneers expanding medical
education in northern region
RAJSHAHI : Rajshahi Medical
University (RMU) is playing a
pioneering role in expanding medical
education in the region arranging
competent and devoted workforces as
it has already achieved academic
excellence to a greater extent.
Around 12,000 students are being
admitted to 80 medical, nursing, dental
colleges and other institutions under
RMU's jurisdiction every year as its
registrar office has been implementing
all the scheduled works competently,
sources said.
RMU vice-chancellor (VC) Prof A ZM
Mostaque Hossain said they are
forwarding their development project
works hastily, hoping that the project
will be approved within this month.
Infrastructure development work will
start soon after approval of the project
that will contribute a lot to establishing
the university on a permanent site, he
said.
Examiners, invigilators and other
staff concerned are highly satisfied as
they were given payments of their longlasting
dues by dint of experienced
leadership in accounts section as
college inspection related works were
also updated, he also said.
As the new university, Prof Hossain
said utmost emphasis was given on
appointing experienced and competent
persons in different vital posts to run all
the administrative and academic
activities smoothly.
In terms of contractual
appointments, transparency and
accountability were fully ensured and
as a result of contractual recruitments,
dynamism has been infused into
Titas disconnects
8,000 more
illegal gas lines
in N’ganj
NARAYANGANJ : Titas Gas
Transmission and
Distribution Company
disconnected another 8,000
illegal gas connections in
Bandar upazila of
Narayanganj on Tuesday.
A mobile court led by
Fatema Tuz Zohra, executive
magistrate and assistant
commissioner (AC-land),
conducted two separate drives
in Gukuldasher Bag and
Ispahani Bazar area of
Dhamgarh union.
Titas also removed around
nine kilometres of illegal
pipelines and seized a huge
amount of risers during the
drives.
So far, 12,000 illegal gas
lines have been disconnected
in Bandar upazila.
Earlier, 4,000 illegal gas
connections
were
disconnected at two spots of
Kuripara and Bage Jannat
Masjid Road of the upazila.
Suruj Alam, deputy general
manager of Titas regional
marketing department in
Sonargaon, said the largest
natural gas distributor in the
country snapped around
30,000 illegal gas connections
in three phases.
Jubo Jote politician
killed in Kushtia
KUSHTIA : A local leader of
the Jatiya Jubo Jote was
hacked to death allegedly by
assailants in Daulatpur
upazila of Kushtia in the small
hours of Thursday.
The deceased was identified
as Mahbub Khan Salam, 35,
general secretary of Jatiya
Jubo Jote and son of Alauddin
of Amdah village in the
upazila.
Jabed Hassan, officer-incharge
of Doulatpur Police
Station, said Salam was
brought to Kushtia General
Hospital around 10.20pm in a
serious condition, and he died
at 1.20am. "The body bore
several stab injury marks,"
said the OC.
An eyewitness, identified as
Mamun, who was
accompanying the victim, told
cops that a group of armed
men suddenly attacked them
near Allahrdarga Boyan
intersection at night.
"Mamun also suffered
minor injuries in the attack.
Efforts are on to nab the
perpetrators of the crime," the
OC said.
operational activities of the university,
he added.
Apart from this, appointments were
made in line with the decision of
syndicate and allocation along with
following the approved rules of the
university grants commission in this
regard.
"We have already formulated a draft
project proposal (DPP) and sent it to
the Planning Commission for approval
in ECNEC," said Prof Hossain, while
talking to BSS exclusively at his office
here on Wednesday afternoon.
He categorically said they are
carrying out the examination activities
accurately. Even the academic activities
were not hampered significantly during
the period of Covid-19 pandemic, he
added.
As a result of experienced and
competent leadership in the office of
controller of examinations, the RMU
has advanced by around one year
compared to the contemporary
universities.
Prof Hossain vowed to build the
medical university as a center of
excellence in medical education and
research.
A competent and experienced
administration has been formed with
the committed teachers and
professionals for operating
administrative and academic activities
successfully, he said.
This is the high time to generate
skilled and competent workforces in
the health sector to cope with the
Covid-19 like pandemic situations, he
went on saying.
"I want to establish the RMU as a
unique institution increasing the
number of health experts," he added.
A site of 68 acres of land in Shilinda
area of Rajshahi city has been selected
for establishing own campus of the
university and there will be a 1,200-bed
modern hospital with the university.
A nursing institute will also be
established on the campus for creating
skilled nurses, Prof Hossain said.
He added that all the existing public
and private medical colleges, dental
colleges, nursing colleges and institute
of health technology in Rajshahi,
Rangpur and Khulna divisions were
brought under the jurisdiction of RMU.
There are 74 affiliated institutions,
including 13 government and 13 nongovernment
medical colleges, two
government and five non-government
dental colleges, six government and 31
non-government nursing colleges, one
government and two non-government
institutes of health technology and
Hamdard Unani Medical College and
Hospital under the university.
The RMU has been conducting
MBBS, BDS, BSc in Nursing, BSc in
Physiotherapy and Bachelor of Unani
Medicine and Surgery (BUMS) courses
since the 2017-18 academic session
successfully.
All activities including data entry,
students' registration and form fill-up
for examination are being executed
digitally through rmu.edu.bd website
from anywhere and anytime.
"We have plan of launching postgraduate
courses, including PhD,
under the existing eight faculties of the
university as soon as possible." Prof
Hossain added.
Salma Khatun (24), a resident of in Jashore has been allegedly killed in India
recently. Police arrested her husband in this connection. Photo : Shahid Joy
Six to die for killing minor
in Cox’s Bazar
COX'S BAZAR : A court in Cox's Bazar has sentenced six people
to death for abducting and killing a seven-year-old boy in 2011.
Cox's Bazar district and sessions judge Md Ismail handed
down the punishment on Wednesday after holding the six guilty
of the crime. However, two other accused in the case have been
acquitted "for lack of evidence".
The convicts are Sumon Ali, 26, son of Aftab Ali, Yeasin alias
Raihan, 29, son of Shamsul Haque, Yeakub, 34, son of Aslam
Mia, Ishak alias Kalu, 31, son of Atlongi Hossain, Saidul
Hossain, 47, son of Abdur Rahim, and Nazrul Islam, 28, son of
Nabi Hossain. Of them Saidul, Ishak and Nazrul were tried in
absentia. Those acquitted are Mohibulla, 45, son of Abdul Jalil,
and Didar Mia, son of Zafar Ahmed. According to the
prosecution, Sumon, who worked for the boy's father-Md
Abdullah of Teknaf upazila-had hatched the plot to abduct the
child for ransom.
On September 6, 2011, the convicts picked up the boy-
Waliullah-from near his house. But when the boy raised an
alarm, the convicts slit his throat and dumped the body near his
house. On September 9, 2011, Waliullah's father lodged a
complaint against 4-5 people with Teknaf Police. The cops later
registered a murder case.
On December 30, 2012, the investigating officer in the case
submitted a chargesheet against five people. The case was later
handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
On August 25, 2017, CID officers submitted a supplementary
chargesheet against eight people.
50-yr-old killed
over family feud
in Barishal
BARISHAL : A 50-year-old
woman was hacked to death
allegedly by her daughter-in-law
over a family feud in Kathalia
village of Barishal's Bakerganj
upazila on Wednesday night,
reports UNB.
The deceased was identified
as Nazneen Begum, wife of
Hanif Hawladar of the village.
Alauddin Milon, officer-incharge
of Bakerganj Police
Station, said Laboni Akter and
her mother-in-law lived in
their village house "while
Nazneen's two sons stay and
work in Dhaka".
Around 10.30pm, Ujjal, the
elder son of Nazneen, made a
phone call to his mother. As
no one received the call, Ujjal
requested his uncle Kalam
Hawladar to visit their house.
When Kalam reached the
house, he found Nazneen
lying in a pool of blood.
Bangladesh Nurses Association, Noakhali brought out a colorful rally and
paraded different roads Maijdee, Noakhali yesterday on the occasion of
International Nurses Day.
Photo : Manik Bhuiyan
FrIDAY, MAY 13, 2022
7
President Joe Biden speaks during a visit to O'Connor Farms, Wednesday,
May 11, 2022, in Kankakee, Ill. Biden visited the farm to discuss food supply
and prices as a result of Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Photo: AP
GD-884/22 (4x3)
we`ÿ r/Rb-1003 (2)/12/5/22
Biden co-hosting 2nd COVID summit
as world's resolve falters
WASHINGTON : President Joe Biden
will appeal for a renewed international
commitment to attacking COVID-19 as
he convenes the second global COVID-
19 summit at a time when faltering
resolve at home jeopardizes that global
response, reports UNB.
Eight months after he used the first
such summit to announce an ambitious
pledge to donate 1.2 billion vaccine
doses to the world, the urgency of the
U.S. and other nations to respond has
waned.
Momentum on vaccinations and
treatments has faded even as new,
more infectious variants rise and
billions across the globe remain
unprotected. Congress has refused to
meet Biden's request to provide
another $22.5 billion in what he has
called critically needed aid funding.
The White House said Biden will
address the opening of the virtual
summit Thursday morning with
prerecorded remarks and will make the
case that addressing COVID-19 "must
remain an international priority." The
U.S. is co-hosting the summit along
with Germany, Indonesia, Senegal and
Belize.
The U.S. has shipped nearly 540
million vaccine doses to more than 110
countries and territories, according to
the State Department - by far more
than any other donor nation.
After the delivery of more than 1
billion vaccines to the developing
Ukraine shuts off Russian pipeline
amid talk of annexation
ZAPORIZHZHIA: Ukraine
shut down a pipeline
Wednesday that carries
Russian natural gas to homes
and industries in Western
Europe, while a Kremlininstalled
official in a southern
region seized by Russian
troops said the area will ask
Moscow to annex it, reports
UNB.
The immediate effect of the
energy cutoff is likely to be
limited, in part because Russia
can divert the gas to another
pipeline and because Europe
relies on a variety of suppliers.
But it marked the first time
since the start of the war that
Ukraine disrupted the flow
westward of one of Moscow's
most lucrative exports.
Meanwhile, the talk of
annexation in Kherson - and
Russia's apparent willingness
to consider such a request -
raised the possibility that the
Kremlin will seek to break off
another piece of Ukraine as it
tries to salvage an invasion
gone awry. Russia annexed
Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula
in 2014.
"The city of Kherson is
Russia," Kirill Stremousov,
deputy head of the Kherson
regional administration
installed by Moscow, told
Russia's RIA Novosti news
agency. He said regional
officials want Russian
world, the problem is no longer that
there aren't enough shots, but a lack of
logistical support to get doses into
arms. According to government data,
more than 680 million donated vaccine
doses have been left unused in
developing countries because they were
set to expire soon and couldn't be
administered quickly enough. As of
March, 32 poorer countries had used
fewer than half of the COVID-19
vaccines they were sent.
U.S. assistance to promote and
facilitate vaccinations overseas dried
up earlier this year, and Biden has
requested about $5 billion for the effort
through the rest of the year.
"We have tens of millions of
unclaimed doses because countries lack
the resources to build out their cold
chains, which basically is the
refrigeration systems; to fight
disinformation; and to hire
vaccinators," White House press
secretary Jen Psaki said this week. She
added that the summit is "going to be
an opportunity to elevate the fact that
we need additional funding to continue
to be a part of this effort around the
world."
"We're going to continue to fight for
more funding here," Psaki said. "But we
will continue to press other countries to
do more to help the world make
progress as well."
Congress has balked at the price tag
for COVID-19 relief and has thus far
President Vladimir Putin to
make Kherson a "proper
region" of Russia.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry
Peskov said that it would be
"up to the residents of the
Kherson region" to make such
a request, and that any move
to annex territory would
would have to be closely
evaluated by experts to make
sure its legal basis is
"absolutely clear."
Russia has repeatedly used
annexation or recognition of
breakaway republics as tactics
in recent years to gain pieces of
fellow former Soviet republics
Ukraine and Georgia. Russia
annexed Crimea in 2014 after
holding a referendum on the
peninsula over whether it
wanted to become part of
Russia.
Kherson, a Black Sea port of
roughly 300,000, provides
access to fresh water for
neighboring Crimea and is
seen a gateway to wider
Russian control over southern
Ukraine. It was captured early
in the war, becoming
Ukraine's first major city to
fall.
GD-886/22 (6x3)
refused to take up the package because
of political opposition to the impending
end of pandemic-era migration
restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Even after a consensus for virus
funding briefly emerged in March,
lawmakers decided to strip out the
global aid funding and solely focus the
assistance on shoring up U.S. supplies
of vaccine booster shots and
therapeutics.
Biden has warned that without
Congress acting, the U.S. could lose out
on access to the next generation of
vaccines and treatments, and that the
nation won't have enough supply of
booster doses or the antiviral drug
Paxlovid for later this year. He's also
sounding the alarm that more variants
will spring up if the U.S. and the world
don't do more to contain the virus
globally. "To beat the pandemic here,
we need to beat it everywhere," Biden
said last September during the first
global summit.
The virus has killed more than
995,000 people in the U.S. and at least
6.2 million globally, according to
figures kept by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and the World
Health Organization. Demand for
COVID-19 vaccines has dropped in
some countries as infections and
deaths have declined globally in recent
months, particularly as the omicron
variant has proved to be less severe
than earlier versions of the disease.
Dhaka Water Supply & Sewerage Authority (DWASA)
Invitation for e-Tenders
Passengers injured as
plane leaves runway in
western China
BEIJING : A Chinese
passenger jet left the runway
upon takeoff and caught fire
in western China on
Thursday morning, and
several people were injured,
reports UNB.
Tibet Airlines said it
happened at 8:09 a.m. (0009
GMT) as the flight to the city
of Nyingchi in the Tibetan
Autonomous Region was
preparing to take off from the
western city of Chongqing.
The Airbus A319-115 jet
had 113 passengers and nine
flight crew onboard, all of
whom were safely evacuated
with some taken to a hospital
with minor injuries, the
airline said in an statement.
The plane itself had fire
damage, it said.
"In the process of taking
off, the flight crew discovered
an abnormality with the
aircraft and stopped the
takeoff, after which the
aircraft left the runway," the
statement said.
The incident follows the
crash of a Chinese Eastern
Boeing 737-800 in
southeastern China on
March 21 in which all 132
people on board were killed.
That accident, in which the
plane went into a sudden
nosedive and slammed into
the ground in a mountainous
area, remains under
investigation.
†kL nvwmbvi g~jbxwZ
MÖvg kn‡ii DbœwZ
GD-888/22 (6x3)
Sl
No
01
†kL nvwmbvi g~jbxwZ
MÖvg kn‡ii DbœwZ
Iqvmv-R:Z: 225/2022
GD-887/22 (5x3)
GD-889/22 (6x1)
GD-878/22 (6x4)
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2022
8
The 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Prime Bank Limited was held virtually on Thursday at in the presence
of 293 shareholders, Board of Directors, Independent Scrutinizer, auditors, observers, and high officials of the
Bank. The meeting was chaired by Tanjil Chowdhury, Chairman of the Bank, where, amongst others, Executive
Committee Chairman Zaeem Ahmed, Audit Committee Chairman Anwaruddin Chowdhury FCA, Risk
Management Committee Chairman Dr. Sharif M. N. U. Bhuiyan, former Chairman Azam J Chowdhury, and the
Managing Director and CEO Hassan O. Rashid were present during the meeting. The shareholders approved a
17.50% cash dividend for the year 2021 along with adoption of Director's Report & Audited Financials, appointment
and reappointment of directors, statutory auditor, and compliance auditor.
Photo : Courtesy
Huawei recognized
as a 2022 Gartner
Peer Insights
Customers' Choice
Huawei has recently been
recognized as a 2022
Gartner Peer Insights
Customers' Choice for WAN
Edge Infrastructure,
receiving this distinction for
the third consecutive year.
Huawei SD-WAN is also
named the "Customers'
Choice" in three categories:
Midsize Enterprise,
Asia/Pacific, Europe, the
Middle East, and Africa
(EMEA), in the Voice of the
Customer report, a press
release said.
As of December 31, 2021,
customers across various
industries, such as finance,
manufacturing, and
services,
had
comprehensively reviewed
WAN edge infrastructure
products and solutions from
multiple vendors in terms of
product functionality,
deployment, O&M, and
service support. According
to the Voice of the Customer
report, Huawei SD-WAN
received a total of 102
reviews and an overall rating
of 4.9/5 stars from
customers across industries
around the globe.
For the first time, Gartner,
an Information Technology
research and consultancy
company, has categorized
WAN edge infrastructure
vendors into four quadrants
based on User Interest and
Adoption, and Overall
Rating. Huawei received a
100% score in Willingness to
Recommend and scored the
highest overall rating of
4.9/5 stars.
Disney profit slips but streaming
TV subscribers jump
SAN FRANCISCO : Disney
on Wednesday said its profit
slipped in the recently ended
quarter but its television
streaming service and parks
were booming.
The entertainment giant
reported net income of $470
million, just over half of the
$912 million profit it made in
the same period a year
earlier, reports BSS.
But park attendance that
had fallen due to the
pandemic rebounded and
the Disney+ television
streaming service gained 7.9
million subscribers to 137.7
million. When adding in
subscriptions to Disney's
streaming services Hulu and
ESPN, the overall number
tops 205 million.
"Our strong results in the
second quarter, including
fantastic performance at our
domestic parks and
continued growth of our
streaming services once
again proved that we are in a
league of our own," said Walt
Disney Company chief
executive Bob Chapek.
He told analysts Disney is
open to raising its streaming
service subscription price in
the future, but has no specific
plans. Disney+ is pursuing a
version of the service that
would be supported by
advertising, Chapek said.
Disney+ gained more
subscribers than analysts
had expected, in stark
contrast to a dive in
subscriber numbers reported
by rival Netflix in the first
quarter of this year.
A drop of just 200,000
users-less than 0.1 percent of
the total Netflix customer
base-caused shares in the
Silicon Valley firm to plunge
and prompted a shareholder
to file a lawsuit accusing the
streaming television titan of
not making it clear that
subscriber numbers were in
peril.
"Disney+ has been taking
Netflix out at the knees," tech
analyst Rob Enderle of
Enderle Group told AFP.
"Kids have always chased
their content, and for parents
it has been a no-brainer to
get their service."
About half of Disney+
subscribers are families with
children, executives said on
the earnings call.
Disney stopped licensing
its coveted content to Netflix
to make it exclusive to its
own streaming service, and
said it planned to stick with
the tactic when it comes to
rivals in the market.
Walton releases CPU liquid coolers
Walton Digi-Tech Industries
Limited is well known for
producing various PC
hardware and accessories.
The Bangladeshi tech-giant
has now released two models
of attractively designed CPU
liquid coolers in the market.
Made on copper based plastic
body, the liquid coolers have
aluminum radiators with
multiple fans that ensure
perfect cooling performance,
a press release said.
Walton computer division
sources said that the coolers
modeled as WLC120B and
WLC240B are released on the
market under the 'arc'
packaging name. Priced at Tk.
5,850 and Tk. 8,550
respectively, customers can
purchase the products from
any Walton Plaza, distributor
showroom, IT and Computer
showrooms, or E-plaza across
the country.
Engineer Liakat Ali, Deputy
Managing Director of Walton
Digi-Tech Industries Limited,
said that Walton is
successfully producing and
supplying state-of-the-art
world standard products
according to the demands of
customers. Central
Processing Unit (CPU) is the
main part of a computer.
Commonly used air coolers
can't provide perfect cooling
for which Walton has
released the liquid coolers
considering the needs of
customers. Users will get
perfect cooling experience
with the Walton liquid
coolers. These accessories will
ensure best performance of
desktop computers.
Touhidur Rahman Rad,
Chief Business Officer of
Walton Computer Products,
said that the liquid cooling
system is used as radiator for
processor. This system
absorbs heat from the
processor and cool down the
processor making the
computer more effective.
He said that Walton liquid
coolers are specially designed
to ensure best possible
performance with digital
lighting series radiator and
cooling fans. Fans produced
with precise Aero-Dynamic
ensure less nose level while
the 100% sealed liquid
coolers can easily be installed.
Customers are getting two
years of service warranty on
Walton's arc liquid coolers.
SSLCOMMERZ
appoints
Chowdhury
AHM Lutful
Huda as the
new CEO
Chowdhury AHM Lutful
Huda has been appointed as
Chief Executive Officer of
SSLCOMMERZ Limited.
Previously, he served as
CEO at Abdul Monem
Group (Coca-Cola), Rangs
Motors Limited, and Partex
Star Group.
In years prior to his role as
CEO at the above mentioned
reputed firms, he assumed
high-ranking roles at various
multinational firms
including Managing
Director at Insight
Management Consulting
FZE (Dubai, UAE); General
Manager at DITRA
(Sharjah, UAE); Managing
Director at Reckitt Benckiser
Limited; Executive Director
of Trade Marketing &
Distribution (Seoul, South
Korea), Marketing Director
(Jakarta, Indonesia), Head
of Trade Marketing &
Distribution, Area Value for
Money Brand Manager
(Nairobi, Kenya), Head of
Brand Marketing (Harare,
Zimbabwe), and other roles
at British American Tobacco
(BAT).
With Bachelor of Business
Administration (BBA) in
Strategic Management and
International Marketing from
University of North Texas
(Denton, Texas), Lutful also
received certifications and
professional training on
business, leadership, product
development, functional
marketing from INSEAD
France, IMD Switzerland,
Oliver Wright, Leadership
Trust of UK, and reputed
organizations alike.
With an enormous wealth
of experience under his belt,
we are elated and confident
that, Chowdhury will add
significant value to
SSLCOMMERZ and steer
our firm towards greater
success.
SSLCOMMERZ is the first
and largest payment
gateway aggregator in
Bangladesh and a pioneer in
the FinTech industry since
2010. Licensed as a PSO by
Bangladesh Bank, they serve
over 5000+ online
businesses and connected to
100,000+ retail shops by
offering best-in-class digital
payment solutions enabling
them to extend their
payment acceptance across
different channels- physical,
web or mobile.
UK economic
growth slows
in first quarter
LONDON : Britain's
economy grew at a slower
pace in the first quarter
compared with the final
three months of last year as
the country battled soaring
inflation, official data
showed Thursday.
The economy grew 0.8
percent in the January-
March period compared
with expansion of 1.3
percent in the fourth quarter
of last year, the Office for
National Statistics said in a
statement.
After solid output in
January, the UK economy
posted zero growth the
following month and
contracted by 0.1 percent in
March, ONS data showed.
It comes after the Bank of
England last week warned
that Britain risks falling into
recession with UK inflation
expected to top 10 percent, a
four-decade high, by the end
of the year.
Tiffanybd.com by Regal’s
Couture presents new Dr.
Alvin Skincare product lines
Tiffanybd.com by Regal's
Couture (Tiffanybd.com) has
unveiled Dr. Alvin's new
Whitening Facial Set and
Rejuvenating Set no-5 in the
Bangladesh market for Acne
Solution, Melasma Solution,
Skin Glowing and spotless
clean skincare products. Model
and actress Samira Khan Mahi
inaugurated the two new
products officially at an event
held at the company's
Gulshan-1 office recently.
The company's officials
informed that Regal Arman
owner of "Tiffanybd.com by
Regal's Couture & Paese
Cosmetics" and Quazi Qumrul
Islam Owner of "Banthai
Barber & Beauty Salon, Both
company signed a contract
with the Dr. Alvin Skincare
company" A.R.M. Skin
Essentials Corp." at its head
office in Philippines in 2019 for
the first time as official
distributor in Bangladesh
History. Customer can watch
all Dr. Alvin Authentic
guideline Videos on
Tiffanybd.com FB page &
YouTube
channel.Tiffanybd.com then
shared a sub-distribution of
these products in Bangladesh
with the owner Mahinoor
Simran's online shop "Chic by
Choice". Tiffanybd.com is also
an authorized distributor of
Thailand's "Gosen Professional
Hair Care" and European
Color Cosmetics "Paese
Cosmetics".
Tiffanybd.com's Facebook
page and website
(www.tiffanybd.com) offer
Hair care, skincare, all beauty
services, All beauty machines,
all hair iron, hair extensions,
nail and eyelash extensions,
and pedicure-manicure
products.
In addition, Tiffanybd.com
hosts a variety of beauty service
and salon service courses every
two months under the
supervision of Quazi Qamrul
Islam, an internationally
recognized Hair and Beauty
expert, to train people
interested in Beauty related
services.
realme 9 - First Smartphone Powered
by ISOCELL HM6 Image Sensor will
officially launch in Bangladesh
Youth favorite brand smartphone brand
realme, will launch the realme 9 4G on May
22nd. It is the first 108MP ProLight Camera
in the realme 9 4G, powered by Samsung
ISOCELL HM6. The realme number series is
popular with young people worldwide
because it provides a premium imaging
experience that exceeds expectations from
start to finish. realme 8 was one of the few
smartphones to feature a 64MP camera.
With realme 9, they are ready to bring forth
a breakthrough.
The latest NonaPixel Plus technology,
upgraded from the traditional 3Sum-3Avg
solution to an unprecedented 9Sum readout
solution, brings superb brightness to photos
taken by realme 9. In practice, the 9Sum
Pixel Binning solution from NonaPixel Plus
technology improves the overall light intake
by 123% compared to the Samsung
FRANKFURT : German
industrial conglomerate
Siemens said Thursday its
profits were cut nearly in half
in the second quarter as the
group announced it would
wind down its operations in
Russia.
Siemens, which runs its
business year from October to
September, said in a
statement that net profit fell
to 1.2 billion euros ($1.3
billion) in the period from
January to March, from 2.4
billion in the same period last
year.
Sanctions imposed on
Russia following the invasion
of Ukraine has cut Siemens'
earnings by around 600
million euros as the German
giant-which makes products
ranging from trains to factory
equipment-wrote down the
value of its business in the
region.
Siemens said its transport
division, including rail service
and maintenance, was
particularly hard hit.
The group said it had begun
the wind down of "all
industrial business activities"
in Russia.
As Siemens has been active
in the market for nearly 170
years, "this was not an easy
decision," said chief executive
Roland Busch.
Siemens had already halted
its business in Russia at the
beginning of March, following
the start of the war.
Despite the conflict and the
lingering impact of the
ISOCELL HM2 image sensor. Moreover,
after the actual photo comparison, realme
finds that the low-light photo shot on realme
9 is significantly brighter with better color
reproduction.
In a bid to provide users with a highquality
photo experience, realme 9 utilizes
the HM6 sensor's in-sensor ultra-zoom
technology with a merging algorithm to
create a beautiful zoomed-in shot to get
closer to the details and compose photos the
way they want it. Apart from a power camera
the device will also have 90Hz Super
AMOLED Display and will come powerpacked
with a 6nm Snapdragon 680
Processor.
On May 22nd realme will also officially
launch the realme C35 as well which is
expected to be the most beautiful phone of
2022 till now.
Siemens profits down as
it plans Russia exit
coronavirus pandemic, the
group said revenues
increased to 17 billion euros
from 14.7 billion euros in the
same quarter last year.
Siemens's "ongoing
mitigation of supply chain
challenges allow us to look
confidently into the second
half of our fiscal year," said
chief financial officer Ralf
Thomas.
The Munich-based
conglomerate confirmed its
full-year outlook, targeting
growth in revenue of between
six and eight percent.
The projection was based
on the expectation that
disruptions from the
coronavirus and strained
supply chains "will not
worsen", it said.
FRIdAY, MAY 13, 2022
9
Atletico Madrid secured qualification for the Champions League on Wednesday as a 2-0 victory away
at Elche guaranteed their place in La Liga's top four.
Photo : Internet
Atletico seal Champions League qualification
after win over Elche
MADRID : Atletico Madrid secured
qualification for the Champions
League on Wednesday as a 2-0
victory away at Elche guaranteed
their place in La Liga's top four.
Matheus Cunha and Rodrigo De
Paul were both on target as Atletico
pulled six points clear of Real Betis
in fifth, with two games left to play.
Atletico also have the superior headto-head
record over Betis.
Sevilla, though, failed to make sure
of their top-four spot as the team's
poor end to the season had earlier
continued with a goalless draw at
home to struggling Mallorca.
Atletico look likely now to finish
third and although the defence of
their league title has been hugely
disappointing - they are 14 points
behind Real Madrid - Diego
Simeone's side have at least avoided
missing out on the Champions
League, which for a while seemed a
very real possibility.
"I'm happy for the players," said
Simeone. "It's been an up and down
season, with a Champions League
when we competed very well and a
La Liga where we haven't been able
to maintain our consistency.
"It's not what we imagined but we
have achieved the objective - the
Champions League for another year,
which is very important for the
club."
In December, Atletico lost four
league games in a row for the first
time ever under Simeone, before
defeat by Levante, who sat bottom of
the table, prompted crisis talks
between coach and players in
February.
But five consecutive victories in
March proved crucial and while
there has been another dip in recent
weeks, Atletico have done just
enough to seal Champions League
qualification for a 10th consecutive
year.
Cunha gave Atleti the lead in the
28th minute as Antoine Griezmann
picked out Renan Lodi's run down
the left and Cunha was in the right
place to divert in the cross to the
near post.
The visitors made it two shortly after
the hour, De Paul finishing off a
superb move after a slick exchange
with Lodi, who had again broken
through the Elche defence.
Atletico play at home on Sunday to
Sevilla, whose stalemate against
Mallorca at the Ramon Sanchez
Pizjuan should only delay their
qualification given they sit five
points clear of Betis, with two games
left to play.
Sevilla will need only one more point
to guarantee they finish ahead of
Betis, as they also have the better
head-to-head with their city rivals.
But Julen Lopetegui's side do have
two tricky last games, with Sunday's
trip to the Wanda Metropolitano
coming before a final match at home
to Athletic Bilbao.
And even if they get over the line,
Sevilla are ending what was once a
promising campaign with a
whimper, after just three wins now
in their last 12 in all competitions.
There were whistles from the home
fans while Mallorca were hardly
satisfied with a draw either. They
stay 18th, two points adrift of safety,
with Cadiz ahead of them playing a
game in hand away at Real Sociedad
on Thursday.
Sevilla had the better chances
overall but Mallorca were far from
overwhelmed and could have taken
the lead on the break when Vedat
Muriqi's header had to be clawed
away by Bono.
Anthony Martial went close for
Sevilla in the second half but their
best chance came in injury-time as
Youssef En-Nesyri connected well
with a header, only for Mallorca
goalkeeper Manolo Reina to make
an excellent save.
Bangladesh
hockey team
emerge group
champions
Agrani Bank Limited
SC notch win in BCL
DHAKA : Agrani Bank
Limited Sporting Club, came
from behind, beat
Fakirerpool Young Men's
Club by 3-2 goals in the
Bashundhara
Group
Bangladesh Championship
League (BCL) held on
Wednesday at Birshreshtha
Shaheed Sepoy Mohammad
Mostafa Kamal Stadium in
the city's Kamalapur.
In the day's match, Musa
put Fakirerpool ahead in the
15th minute while Sabbir
restored the parity for
Agrani Bank in the 37th
minute of the match.
After the breather,
Fakirerpool again took the
lead when Shanto scored the
second goal in the 80th
minute of the match.
Shanto of Fakirerpool
however made the hara-kiri
as he scored a suicidal goal
in the dying moment of the
match.
Bangladesh win
three silver medals,
one bronze last day
DHAKA : Bangladesh archery
team failed to fulfill the
expectation as the archers
won three more silver and one
bronze medal on the fourth
and last day of the Asia Cup
World Ranking tournament
stage-2 that concluded on
Wednesday in Sulaymaniyah,
Iraq. In the day's recurve
women's team event,
Bangladesh archery team
featuring Nasrin Akter, Diya
Siddique and Beauty Roy won
silver after losing to superior
India by 4-5 set points in the
final.
While in the recurve men's
team event, Bangladesh
archery team featuring
Ruman Sana, Mohammad
Hakim Ahmed Rubel and
Abdur Rahman Alif secured
silver after losing to India by 1-
5 set points in the final.
In the recure men's
individual event, ace archer
Ruman Sana failed to fulfill
the expectation as he lost to his
Indian rival Mrinal Chouhan
by 2-6 sets points in the final
and had to content with silver.
While in the women's
individual event, promising
archer Diya Siddique won
bronze medal after beating
her compatriot Beauty Roy by
7-1 set points in the bronze
deciding match.
Haaland will make Man City even
more prolific, says Guardiola
WOLVERHAMPTON : Erling Haaland's
arrival at Manchester City will make the
English champions an even more ruthless
attacking force, said Pep Guardiola after
seeing his side thrash Wolves 5-1 on
Wednesday.
Haaland's o51 million ($63 million, 60
million euro) signing ends City's search for a
recognised striker to replace the departed
Sergio Aguero.
However, there was little need for a
forward at Molineux as Kevin De Bruyne
scored four goals, including a hat-trick inside
24 minutes.
Raheem Sterling rounded off the scoring
as City took their tally in the last five Premier
League games to 22 goals.
Guardiola, though, was still not satisfied by
a number of missed chances with goal
difference potentially still a decisive factor in
the title race.
City are three points clear of Liverpool at
the top of the table and seven goals better off
with two games to go.
"Definitely he could help us score more,"
said Guardiola when asked how many his
side would have scored with Haaland up
front.
"Big congratulations to the club. It
is a signing for the next years. We are
very pleased he decided to come to
join us.
"Next season we will work together, we will
help him to settle quickly in Manchester. I'm
sure he is going to adapt quickly to the way
we want to play."
Erling Haaland's arrival at Manchester City will make the English champions
an even more ruthless attacking force, said Pep Guardiola after seeing his side
thrash Wolves 5-1 on Wednesday.
Photo : Internet
We want to bring maiden Olympic medal for
Bangladesh through gymnastics: Mamun
DHAKA : Bangladesh Gymnastics
Federation's (BGF) president Sheikh
Bashir Ahmed Mamun was one of those
85 sports personalities who received
prestigious national sports award.
In presence (virtual) of Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina those 85 sports
personalities received the award for their
outstanding contribution in country's
sports.
Mamun, a dedicated sports organizer
was over the moon after receiving
highest title of the sports, stating that he
is happy and proud of what he had
achieved.
Although Mamun started his national
level career as a cricket organizer, he
later took charge of the BGF. He is
currently serving the federation as its
president. He is also acting as the vice
president of the Bangladesh Olympic
Association (BOA).
In an exclusive interview with BSS,
Mamun expressed his determination to
bring the first Olympic medal for
Bangladesh through gymnastics.
As expected Bangladesh national hockey team emerged Pool B champions
in the Asian Games qualifier when the edged past Singapore by a solitary
goal held on Thursday in Bangkok, Thailand.
Photo : Internet
GD-890/22 (6 x 3)
‡kL nvwmbvi g~jbxwZ
MÖvg kn‡ii DbœwZ
DHAKA : As expected
Bangladesh national hockey
team emerged Pool B
champions in the Asian
Games qualifier when the
edged past Singapore by a
solitary goal held on
Thursday in Bangkok,
Thailand.
In the day's match,
Rakibul Hasan scored the
all-important goal for
Bangladesh hockey team,
who earlier confirmed their
spot of semifinal beating Sri
Lanka in their second
match. Bangladesh took the
lead in the second quarter
through a field goal and the
boys in red and green
maintained it till the final
whistle.
Singapore, however,
created some scoring
opportunities but failed to
convert any of those into
goal.
Earlier, Bangladesh got off
to a winning start in the
tournament as they beat
Indonesia by 3-1 goals in
their pool B opening match
and confirmed their Asian
Games participation after
defeating Sri Lanka also by
the same identical margin in
the tournament's second
match.
Bangladesh hockey team:
Biplob Kujur, Abu Sayeed
Nippon, Khorshedur
Rahman, Farhd Ahmed
Shitul, Ashraful Islam,
Sohanur Rahman Sabuz,
Mehedi Hasan, Rezaul
Karim Babu, Sarwar
Hossain, Roman Sarkar,
Naim Uddin, Fazle Hossain
Rabbi, Prince Lal Samanta,
Rasel Mahmud Jimmy,
Milon Hossain, Rakibul
Hasan, Arshad Hossain and
Pushkor Khisha Mimo.
GD-885/22 (8 X 4)
FRIdAY, MAY 13, 2022
10
Moushumi,
Shabnam
interested to act
together again
TBT REPORT
Legendary film actress Shabnam and
popular actress Moushumi worked
together in Kazi Hayat directed movie
Ammajan, which was released on
June 25 in 1999. But later they did not
get the opportunity to share the silver
screen together. In fact, after
Ammajan, Shabnam did not act in any
other movie. According to this veteran
actress, she has keen interest to act in
original story based movie till now.
But Moushumi is continuing acting in
the big screen.
Moushumi informed that few days
ago, she has returned to Bangladesh
from USA. After returns, she has
Deepika on her journey
to become global star
Deepika Padukone is truly on her journey to become a global
star. After winning hearts in Bollywood, the actress even
stepped into Hollywood with xXx: Return of Xander Cage in
2017. Back in August last year, she announced yet another
international project that will also witness her production
house backing it. But what about diversity in the West? DP
isn't exactly convinced that it's truly there.
For the unversed, Deepika is all set to be seen in a crosscultural
romantic comedy. It is developed by Eros STX Global
Corporations' division STXfilms and her Ka productions will
be co-producing it. After 'xXx' with Vin Diesel, many expected
Padukone to be seen in many more Hollywood projects but
unfortunately, that did not happen for a while now!
In the latest interaction with Vogue, Deepika Padukone has
called out the diversity in Hollywood. "Right now, the
conversation around diversity in Hollywood is surface-level.
The minute you have a Black or Asian actor, it's considered
'diverse casting'. But we have a long way to go before we start
seeing substantial change. I feel like 80 per cent of the people
A prequel to coming-of-age
supernatural horror film 'IT' is in
development at HBO Max.
According to 'Variety', the series,
currently called 'Welcome to Derry',
will begin in the 1960s in the time
leading up to the events of 'It: Part
One', the 2017 film based on the
Stephen King horror novel.
The story of the IT prequel series is
become busy with acting again. While
asking Shabnam regarding acting in
movie, she said, "I want to do acting. I
have already passed 22 years without
acting in any movie. In the meantime, I
couldn't get the opportunity to act in
any movie. Though I am not physically
well but still now I have keen interest
for acting. I am an actress. So, my thirst
for acting will remain before my death.
Moushumi is a good actress and also a
good human being. She can talk
sweetly. She acted with me in a movie
Ammajan. When she finds me she
shows huge respect to me and talks with
me so politely which really impress me.
If we get the opportunity to work with
‘IT’ prequel series in
development at HBO Max
also said to include the origin story
of Pennywise the Clown.
Andy Muschietti, who directed 'IT:
Part One' and 2019's 'It: Part Two', is
attached to executive produce the
series along with Barbara Muschietti
and Jason Fuchs.
According to sources, Muschiettis
and Fuchs developed the story for
the show with Fuchs writing the
her again I will surely do it."
Moushumi shared her feelings by this
way, "Few days ago, Shabnam went to
Pakistan. She acted in a TV series there.
She was presented so nicely in that
series which I watched her on the TV
screen. In our country, she passes lazy
days now. We should utilize such a
legendary actress like her in our movies.
I got the opportunity to work with
Shabnam in a movie. But I learned
many things from her while working in
that movie. I always feel thrill when I
am accompanied by her. It is no doubt
she is a renowned actress and a good
human being. I always pray for her as
she remains well."
in charge are still looking at inclusive casting as a box to be
ticked. No doubt, there are some who are genuinely interested
in turning the tide, but they are getting it quite wrong. It's a
learning process and I hope it's an earnest one," she said.
Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone was last seen in Shakun
Batra directorial 'Gehraiyaan'. The actress has a choc-o-bloc
schedule ahead with projects like The Intern remake,
'Pathaan' alongside Shah Rukh Khan & John Abraham,
'Project K' alongside Prabhas, and 'Fighter' with Hrithik
Roshan amongst others. Source: Hindustan Times
script. Andy would also direct the
first episode should the project go to
series. the writers' room is now
open. Warner Bros. Television is the
studio behind the project, with WB
having produced the two films.
Should the project go forward, it
would be the latest example of HBO
Max building a series component
into an existing WB film franchise.
Colin Farrell is set to reprise the
role of The Penguin from 'The
Batman' in a limited series for the
streamer, although a planned series
about the Gotham PD (and Arkham
Asylum) has stalled in development.
There is also a series in the works
about the Bene Gesserit from
"Dune" in the works at the streamer,
among several other film-based
projects.
The two new 'It' films collectively
grossed over $1.1 billion at the global
box office upon their release, with
the first film taking place 27 years
after the events of the first with a
new adult cast taking over from the
kids in part one.
'It' was previously adapted into a
two-part miniseries for ABC back in
1990, featuring Tim Curry's iconic
performance as Pennywise.
Source: Collider
Actress Warina in Oyshee's music video
TBT REPORT
Popular singer Oyshee
Fatima Tuz Zahra's new song
'Garir Mechanic' has been
released on the occasion of
Eid-ul-Fitr. Bollywood actress
Warina Hussain featured in
the music video of the song as
model.
The song is written and
composed by Kaushik
Hossain Taposh and the
music video is produced and
styled by Farzana Munni.
Directed by Adil Sheikh of
Bollywood, the music video
was shot in Mumbai
About the song, Oyshee
said, "I'm very much exited
about 'Garir Mechanic'. The
song as well as its music
arrangement is very beautiful.
And the music video of the
track is really amazing.
Warina has lip-synced so well
TBT REPORT
The pandemic has disrupted our lives
mostly in an unsettling way but we
can't deny that every dark cloud has a
silver lining. If you'd not been into
entrepreneurial endeavors then
perhaps you have unnoticeably gone
past many inspiring stories that
changed people's life. You're allowed to
frown in wonder so let's take a stroll
into such a stimulating tale of Nusrat
Jahan Sonia. Maybe you've responded
to many wedding bells of cousins and
friends in this long academic pause and
beheld beautiful brides in their
mesmerizing looks. Maybe you were
dumbfounded seeing your beautiful
cousin's mehendi makeover. Who
knows that might be from Nusrat
jahan's expertise.
Nusrat had kicked off her mehndi
makeover expedition out of passion in
2014 disregarding the economic
purpose but soon she discerned the
demand and moment of her beautiful
artworks over skins. She then made no
mistake to launch her social media
page which is known as' Nusrat
Mehendi and Fashion Buzzz'. And
guess what? Her makeovers stirred a
buzz amongst youth and old that
resulted in opening up a shop in
fortune shopping mall, named as '
Stylish Collection'. Starting it as a
pastime now she thrives as a mehendi
makeover artist which is seemingly
worthy of appreciation.
Her impressive makeover is now
popular for bridal mehendi, non bridal
mehndi, and for many other
perspectives. Talking about her journey
she lets us know that it hadn't been facile
being where she is today. She divulged
that she'd done so many successful
events throughout her passionate
journey. She has worked in so many
bridal makeovers, mehndi fairs, mehndi
events and even in national trade fairs!
She has left her outwitted touch of class
wherever she went on. Nusrat not only
did the contracted random jobs but also
did feature some celebrities who had
gilded their hands and toes coming
across her. It surely adds value and
muse to her passion.
Nusrat's facebook page has bagged
26k+ likes and substantial audiences
from time to time that now is soaring
high like a mountain. She is well
mannered and respects her audience's
choices that makes her a wonderful
soul too.
Perceiving the augmented demand
from the customers Nusrat now also
sells some complementary items like
eucalyptus oils, mehndi powders etc.
that it seems like she sang the
song, not me. Despite being a
non-Bengali, the way she gave
expressions along with a
Bengali song is amazing."
"I'm really lucky to working
on such a dream project.
Hopefully, the audience will
enjoy the song', she added.
Under the banner of TM
Records, 'Garir Mechanic'
was published on their
Facebook page and YouTube
channel on May 3. Earlier,
Oyshee's 'Dustu Polapain' was
released under TM Record,
featuring another Bollywood
actress Sunny Leone.
Nusrat Jahan Sonia
glorying with her own
creation with Mehendi
She now takes orders and contracts
through social media and mobile.
Some of her biggest events got tagged
in westin which was occasioned for
'Women's day'. She also had an event in
le meridian which was due to '
Valentine's day'. Nusrat surely has set
her path right to the course of success
someday! All the big events that she'd
been working on definitely substantiate
her caliber and credence.
We are as enchanted as you're right
now hearing more about her. We'll let
you slide into another astonishment
that all her work is single handedly
done by her. This illustrates the
unthinkable patience that she harbors
in herself! These artworks take quite a
long time to be done with.
Asking about what she told us, she
likes to do it by herself as an epitome of
dedication and love for the passion she
inherits! Nusrat's tenacity and
fascination for her budding mehndi
business instills an ardor towards the
like-minded people for standing up
their grounds. Nusrat aims to be a
global face hanging onto her
enthusiasm someday. She wishes to be
a famed mehendi artist around the
world and wants to work overseas.
H O R O s c O P E
ARIEs
Today your intellectual and
expressive abilities should receive a
boost from the planets. It's an
excellent time to organize your thoughts about
presenting a project to a possible collaborator,
engage in trade, or write. In terms of your
private life, it's also a good time to examine the
latest events, certain aspects of which are still
partially misunderstood.
TAURUs
Overall, the forecast for today is fairly
good. The aspects seem to favor figuring
out the meaning of all that's transpired
over the past several weeks. It's an
opportunity for you to take a leisurely look at the
distance you've covered moving toward your goals.
Since it's an auspicious day for social activities, why not
get together with friends and discuss the latest events
with them?
GEMINI
Have you felt somewhat lost for the past
few days? The fog may lift today and
enable you to situate yourself at last.
You're probably eager to settle a
question that has nagged at you and interfered with
your judgment. However, you should be patient,
especially if it has to do with emotional matters. Try
to understand, but don't take immediate action.
You'll be more objective beginning tomorrow.
cANcER
You may have been feeling somewhat
disillusioned. Perhaps you lost sight of
your goals or misplaced your faith in
yourself. You'll feel some relief
beginning today. This is an opportunity to end what
has been a somewhat apathetic and moody phase
and begin a new one that's based on work and
meditation. As you can imagine, this new phase will
be much more fulfilling!
LEO
You might be tempted to settle certain
matters by radical means. The
visionary part of you means you're
painfully aware of the world's wrongs.
You see no reason not to take action to correct them.
But the forces in play are so powerful that you can't
expect to institute a new order in one day. If you
have an emotional question to resolve, it would be
better to wait a few days before making a decision.
VIRGO
Today will be fairly calm in terms of
outside events, but your inner world is
likely to be in a rush of activity. Today you
wish you could find the solution to your
heartaches as well as your career predicaments. You'd
like to achieve some supreme understanding of the
events that took place over the past month. First you
must force your brain to slow down. Haste makes
waste, as you know!
LIBRA
You have a lot of thinking to do about
your professional goals, Libra. You'll go
over the elements to see if there isn't
some way to approach things differently.
Are there new paths you could try or ways to improve
things? Your mind will go a thousand miles a minute
today. Those who spend time with you may be totally
exhausted by the end of the day because of all the
questions you ask!
scORPIO
You just can't do everything at once,
Scorpio. How do you expect to reduce
your stress and recuperate while at
the same time continue to be a
superstar performer in every area of your life?
Don't pressure yourself to perform today. If you do,
you're likely to deplete your reserves even further.
Take it easy, rest, and relax! You've earned this
little break.
sAGITTARIUs
This is a good moment to adapt your logic
and reason to reality, Sagittarius. If you
don't, you're going to run into some
intellectual problems. Everyone knows that you find new
ideas plentiful, but unless you have plans to be a novelist,
link your thinking to reality. The "pie in the sky" thinking
that you engage in isn't particularly useful to the rest of
us living here in the real world.
cAPRIcORN
It's going to be a little difficult talking
to you today, Capricorn. You, who can
be easily influenced by others, will be
listening to and criticizing everything
that people say. Nothing emotional or vague is
going to get into your head. It's as if you've installed
an extremely fine filter that lets in only what you
allow. You're going to appear to be a real expert.
Don't show off too much!
AQUARIUs
Have you been reviewing your family
history lately, Aquarius? Of special
interest is your cultural background.
What educational, social, and religious
environment were you born into? What are its
values? In the end, do you feel a strong affinity with
them now or are those views different from the ones
you hold? These are interesting avenues of thought
for you today.
PIscEs
It's time to elevate your sense of self,
Pisces. You're just as good as anyone
else, so why don't you believe it? The
problem is that you're very sensitive
about having an ego. Even though you know
everyone does, you punish yourself for its existence!
This is a noble idea, but it doesn't do you any good.
You'll never be perfect and neither will anyone else.
What are you worrying about?
fRiDAY, MAY 13, 2022
11
MCC aims to resolve traffic
congestion in the city
Md. Ali Ahsan Raj, Mymensingh
Mymensingh City Corporation (MCC) has
taken five important decisions at the initial
stage to reduce traffic congestion in
Mymensingh. If the decisions are
implemented, the city dwellers will get relief
from traffic jams. These decisions were taken
at a discussion meeting with stakeholders to
reduce traffic congestion at the Shaheed
Shahabuddin Auditorium of the City
Corporation on Thursday. The decisions are:
No CNG will be allowed inside the city from
13 May. From May 21, vehicles carrying
bricks, sand and other goods will not be
allowed inside the city from 8 am to 8 pm.
From the first June, 7,000 licensed easybikes
will be run in two phases.
Necessary steps will be taken to relocate the
Trishal bus stand in the heart of the city to
Maskanda and mobile court activities will be
intensified to prevent construction materials
from being placed on the road, clearing
sidewalks and evicting illegal structures on
the road. President of the meeting
Mymensingh City Corporation Mayor Md.
Ikramul Haque Titu said, "We want to be a
traffic free city. Traffic congestion has
increased in this city for many reasons, but it
has to be eliminated at any cost. The mayor
also requested the Roads and Urban
Development Department to take necessary
steps for widening of roads from the bridge to
Kewatkhali, widening of inner city roads and
construction of flyovers or overpasses at
railway crossings."
Chief Executive Officer of MCC Md. Yusuf
Ali, Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh
Mohammad Enamul Haque, Secretary of
MCC Rajib Kumar Sarkar, Additional
Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Md.
Aminur Rahman, Executive Engineer of
Roads Department Md. Wahiduzzaman,
General Secretary of Press Club Babul
Hossain, BRTA officials, Traffic Inspector
Abu Nasser Md. Zahir, Chamber of
Commerce and Industry Senior Co-President
Shankar Saha, District Bus Owners
Association President Mumtaz Uddin Manta,
Secretary Somnath Saha, Battery Driven
Auto Owners Association President Rakibul
Islam Shahin, Auto Leaders Association
President Dilip Sarkar was present.
Land ministry
to hold 'Land
Service Week-
2022' from
June 19
DHAKA : The 'Land
Service Week-2022' will
begin across the country
on June 19 aiming to
bring dynamism in land
management and make
people aware of their
rights to land.
Land Minister
Saifuzzaman Chowdhury
will inaugurate the 'Land
Service Week-2022' at
Osmani Memorial
Auditorium in the capital
on June 19, said an
official release.
As part of the service
week, the ministry will
organise different
programmes from May 19
to 23 in the eight
divisions and 64 districts
and 507 upazila or circle
land offices across the
country with the theme
"Vumi Office a Na Ashe-e
Digital Vumi Seba
Grohon" (Receiving
digital land services
without coming to the
land office).
"Land service through
dialing 16122 of call
centre" and "Land service
by post" are given utmost
importance in this year
services.
As part of the Land
Service Week, "Land
Development Tax Fair"
will be held at district,
upazila, municipality and
union parishad levels.
During the fair, people
will be encouraged to
take digital land services,
including e-mutation
process, e-mutation
service and payment of
land development tax.
67 individuals, organisations get
BB remittance award
DHAKA : Sixty seven individuals and
organisations yesterday received the
"Bangladesh Bank Remittance Award-
2019-20" for sending home the highest
amount of remittance, investing bonds
and playing a vital role in receiving the
remittance.Finance Minister AHM
Mustafa Kamal handed over the
awards at a function at the Krishibid
Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in the
city.
Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor
Fazle Kabir, Financial Institutions
Division Secretary Sheikh Mohammad
Salimullah and Secretary of the
Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas
Employment Ministry Dr Ahmed
Muniruh Salehin attended the function
as special guests while BB Deputy
Governor Abu Farah Md Naser
delivered the welcome speech.In his
speech, Kamal said Bangladesh has
Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Local Government Engineering Department
Office of the Upazila Engineer
Upazila: Thakurgaon Sadar
Dbœq‡bi MYZš¿
District : Thakurgaon
†kL nvwmbvi g~jgš¿
www.lged.gov.bd
Reference No : 46.02.9494.000.14.001.21-253 Date : 11.05.2022
e-Tender Notice-8/2021-22
become a role model of development in
the world and expatriates of the
country are playing a vital role in this
regard."We are moving forward. We
can build hunger and poverty free
Bangladesh by 2030 and we will be
developed country in 2031. We will be
strong developed country by 2041," he
added. He urged the expatriates to send
money through legal channel for being
part of the country's development.
189
Dbœq‡bi MYZš¿
†kL nvwmbvi g~jgš¿
GD-882/22 (7x4)
MYcÖRvZš¿x evsjv‡`k miKvi
evsjv‡`k cywjk
cywjk mycv‡ii Kvh©vjq
LvMovQwo cve©Z¨ †Rjv
https://khagrachari.police.gov.bd
`icÎ weÁwß bs : †ikb-1/2022-2023
GD-880/22 (10x4)
GD-883/22 (9x4)
Friday, Dhaka: May 13, 2022; Baishakh 30, 1429 BS; Shawal 11, 1443 hijri
Madison event evocative of
Concert for Bangladesh:Joy
DHAKA : Commemorating the historic
1971-Concert for Bangladesh, the ICT
Ministry organized, at the same Madison
Square Garden, another concert, evoking
the precedence of 'melody for humanity' set
by the world's all-time best musicians, said
Prime Minister's ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed
Joy, reports UNB.
Sharing the vibe of the concert, Joy, who
was singing and cheering as part of the
crowd, wrote from his verified Facebook
account, "This weekend I relived that
moment as we paid tribute to that melodyfor-humanity
event through another concert
on the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh"
Reminiscing the unforgettable lyric by
George Harrison on war-torn Bangladesh,
'My friend came to me/ With sadness in his
eyes/ He told me that he wanted help/
Before his country dies', he wrote, "Beatles'
star George Harrison didn't just write and
compose the song but also went on to think
about doing something that might help the
people of Bangladesh, a victim of one of history's
worst genocides. He reached out to
maestros like Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton,
who also agreed to drum up support for the
cause. Rest is history. Concert for
Mango harvesting
in Rajshahi to
begin today
RAJSHAHI : Mango harvesting of the
current season is going to start from
today everywhere in the district to ensure
the natural ripening of the seasonal delicious
fruit.
Farmers can harvest the local and
indigenous varieties from Friday, while
Gopalbhog from May 20, Ranipachhand
and Lakhna from May 25 and Himsagar
or Khirshapat from May 28.
They can also harvest Langra from
June 6, Amropali and Fazly from June
15, Ashwina and BARI Aam-4 from July
10, Gormati from July 15 and Ilamati
from August 20.
The District Administration has fixed
the date in a meeting held at the conference
hall of Deputy Commissioner (DC).
Additional DCs Shariful Haque and
Kolyan Chowdhury and Deputy Director
of the Department of Agricultural
Extension Mozdar Hossain, among others,
addressed the meeting.
The meeting was told that there are
mango orchards on 18,515 hectares of
land in the district and the target has
been fixed to produce around 2.15 lakh
tonnes of mango this year.
The district administration has issued
notices fixing the dates for harvesting different
varieties of mangoes.
ADC Shariful Haque said the district
administration will remain vigilant
against harvesting and marketing of
immature mango.
Law enforcing agencies and upazila
administrations were already given
instruction to this end.
He also said there will be adequate
measures to make the transportation
and marketing of mango successful.
5 cops suspended
for assaulting
journos in
Chattogram
CHATTOGRAM : Five policemen
including an assistant sub-inspector of
Chattogram Highway Police have been
suspended allegedly for physically
assaulting two journalists when they
were taking videos of 'extortion' by
police members from different vehicles,
reports UNB.
The accused policemen are - Assistant
Sub-Inspector Masud Rana and
Constables Lokman Hossain, Aman, Md.
Karim and Md. Zaheer of Sitakunda-
Terrial police outpost. They have been
attached to Cumilla region, said Md
Abdullah, inspector of Kumira highway
police outpost on Thursday.
Earlier, the accused were taking money
illegally from a passenger bus and a
sand-carrying drum truck on Dhaka-
Chattogram highway at 11:30 pm on
Tuesday. At that time, two local journalists-
MK Monir and Farhan Siddique -
were physically assaulted by the cops
while they were recording videos of the
scene on their mobile phones.
The action was taken instantly against
those police personnel when the matter
came to light, said the inspector.
Bangladesh set the precedence of helping a
victim-of-war nation through a concert."
"Whenever I watch it on YouTube, it
takes me back to a golden moment - George
Harrison singing the song Bangladesh, Bob
Prime Minister's ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy
Dylan rendering 'How many roads a man
must walk down', and Pundit Ravi Shankar
playing his fingers on his sitar like a storm.
They are sharing the same stage!" he added.
"The dream for Bangladesh, as the
world's all-time greatest rock stars and
musical masters had seen, came true as the
war-torn country back in 1971 is now an
epitome of sustained progress and development.
From the engineering masterpiece
Padma Bridge to the technological feat
Bangabandhu Satellite, Bangladesh has
made inspiring history. Still, no success
story goes unchallenged by a few people
with wrong intentions," he mentioned.
Calling upon the country's people to
stand vigilant against the peddlers of religion
and supporters of war criminals, he
said, "We must be careful so that the ghosts
of war criminals cannot bring the dark
chapters back."
Joy said they must show zero tolerance to
the peddlers of religion.
"We must stand united on our promise
for Golden Bengal on this Golden Jubilee.
Let's sing Harrison's Bangladesh together
once more and let the world hear it. This
time the promise on this Golden Jubilee is
to build Golden Bangla, the dream of the
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman."
Scorpions rocked the stage on Sunday
while Bangladeshi band Chirkutt appeared
there as a guest performer.
Dhaka seeks Seoul's
"extra initiative" for
Rohingya repatriation
DHAKA : Foreign Minister AK
Abdul Momen has sought South
Korea's "extra initiative" and a
"pro-active" action for expediting
Rohingya repatriation, noting that
they have some leverages on
Myanmar.
"This would be a real achievement
if you can help us in repatriation
of these Rohingya people to
their homeland," he said while
addressing a seminar on
Bangladesh-South Korea relations
at the Foreign Service Academy.
South Korean Ambassador to
Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun and
Bangladesh Ambassador to South
Korea Delwar Hossain joined as
special guests at the seminar titled
"50 Years of Korea-Bangladesh
Relations: Trends and Directions"
chaired by Dhaka University Prof
Dr Delwar Hossain.
Momen said South Korea, one of
the largest investors in Myanmar,
maintains a very good relationship
with the ASEAN nation.
He requested the South Korean
government to take an "extra initiative"
and a "pro-active" action so
that the displaced Rohingya people
can return to their homes in
Myanmar. "You have some leverages
on Myanmar and therefore I
request you to use that leverage."
Bangladesh is now hosting over
1.1 million Rohingyas in Cox's Bazar
camps and Bhasan Char on humanitarian
grounds.
Rooftop gardening in Bogura.
"Myanmar is our neighbour, they
are not our enemy," Momen said,
adding that they have a history of
persecuting their people
(Rohingyas) and forcing them out
of their country.
In the past, repatriation of the
Rohingyas took place on a number
of occasions through dialogue and
discussion, he said.
"This time the number is too high.
I hope with your (South Korea) support
they will take back their people
because you are a good friend of
Myanmar," said the foreign minister.
He also thanked the South
Korean government for the humanitarian
support for the displaced
people from Myanmar now temporarily
sheltered in Bangladesh.
On the bilateral front, Bangladesh
and South Korea vowed to work
together for a better and promising
future making the best use of the
opportunities that the two countries
offer.
The two countries want to collaborate
more than before amid
emerging global challenges as 50
years of bilateral relations between
Bangladesh and South Korea will
officially be celebrated next year.
The Embassy of the Republic of
Korea, the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Bangladesh and the East
Asia Study Center of the University
of Dhaka jointly organized the seminar.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen handed over a research paper to South Korean Ambassador to
Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun on the occasion of 50 years of Korea-Bangladesh Relationship. Photo : Star Mail
69,000 packets
adulterated Orsaline
seized in Chattogram
CHATTOGRAM : Police in separate
drives have seized around 69,000 packets
of Orsalines from Hajarigoli and
Andarkilla wholesale market and arrested
a man in this connection, reports UNB.
The arrestee is Sujan Kanti Sikder, 42,
son of late Nirmal Sikder of Moddhom
Sonaichhari under Sitakund upazila of the
district. He runs a pharmacy named
Sikder Medical Hall at Islam Market in
front of Baro Auliya Mazar. He has been
sent to the court on Thursday, police said.
Chemist and Druggist Samity helped to
recover the huge amount of Orsaline, the
liquid formulation made by mixing salts
for diarrhoea patients, kept in 172 cartons.
Zahidul Kabir, officer-in-charge of
Kotwali police station, said police along
with the leaders of Chemist and Druggist
Samity and SMC Company's representative
Monwar Hossain, conducted drives in
two separate places in the port city on
Wednesday and arrested Sujan and seized
the adulterated Orsaline.
HAAB announces private Hajj
package for 2022, Minimum
cost fixed at 4,63,000
DHAKA : Hajj Agencies Association of
Bangladesh(HAAB) has announced package
for performing hajj under private management
this year. M Shahadat Hossain,
president of HAAB, announced the package
at a program in the city on Thursday.
The minimum cost for each pilgrim has
been fixed at Tk 4,63,000 excluding the cost
sacrificial animals. The private Hajj agencies
will be able to announce their own special
packages but it won't be lower than the minimum
general package announced by
HAAB. This year, a total of 57,856 pilgrims
will be able to perform Hajj from Bangladesh
and of them 53,585 will travel under private
management. The minimum cost under
government management has been fixed at
Tk 4,62, 150 this year which is over Tk 1 lakh
more than 2020.
Photo : TBT
32 Additional DIGs
promoted to DIG
DHAKA : The government has promoted
32 Additional Deputy Inspector General of
Police to the rank of Deputy Inspector
General (DIG). Public Security Division of
the Home Ministry on Wednesday night
issued a gazette notification signed by
Deputy Secretary Dhananjay Kumar Das
in this regard.
The Home Ministry has given the promotion
to these police officials upon a recommendation
by the Superior Selection
Board (SSB).
According to the ministry notification,
the newly promoted officers are-
Additional DIG and Commanding
Officer(CO) of RAB-4 Md Mozammel
Haque, Additional DIG and CO RAB-10
Mahfuzur Rahman, Additional DIG of the
Police eadquarters Md Rezaul Haque,
Joint Commissioner of the Dhaka
Metropolitan Police (DMP) Md Monir
Hossain, Additional DIG Anti-
Terrorism(ATU) Md Moniruzzaman,
Additional DIG Highway Police Md
Mizanur Rahman, Additional
Commissioner (Current Change) of Traffic
Division of the DMP Md Munibur
Rahman, Additional Commissioner
Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP)
Poritosh Ghosh, Additional DIG Rajshahi
Range Joydeb Kumar Bhadra, Additional
DIG Police Headquarters Kazi Zia Uddin,
Additional DIG of the Police Bureau of
Investigation (PBI) Golam Rauf Khan,
Additional Commissioner (Current
Change) of DMP and Chief of the Counter-
Terrorism and Transnational Crime
(CTTC) Md Asaduzzaman, Joint
Commissioners of the DMP Detective
Branch(DB) Md Mahbub Alam,
Additional DIG and Director of the RAB
Sheikh Mohammad Rezaul Haider, Joint
Commissioner of the DMP Shamima
Begum, Additional DIG ATU Salma
Begum, Joint Commissioner of the DMP
Miraz Uddin Ahmed, Additional DIG
Barisal Range AKM Ehsan Ullah,
Additional DIG Rangpur Range Shah Md
Shafiur Rahman, Additional DIG River
Police Mollah Nazrul Islam, Additional
DIG of the Police Headquarters S M
Mustak Ahmed Khan, Additional DIG
Dhaka Range Jhehadul Kabir, Additional
Commissioner of the DMP Moinul
Haque, Joint Commissioner of the DMP
Elias Sharif, Additional DIG Dhaka Range
Nure Alam Mina, Additional DIG
Mymensingh Range Shah Abir Hossain,
Additional DIG and Director RAB Jamil
Hassan, Additional DIG Dhaka Range Md
Mahbubur Rahman, Additional DIG
Chottagram Range Md Saiful Islam, Joint
Commissioner (Traffic Division) of the
DMP Syed Nurul Islam, Joint
Commissioner (Crime) of the DMP Md
Anisur Rahman and Joint Commissioner
of the DB Md Harun-or-Rashid.
The Ministry has also instructed the
newly promoted officers to join to the
Senior Secretary of the Public Security
Division directly or through e-mail immediately.
Rooftop gardening gains
popularity in Bogura
AzhAR ALI
The house owners of Bogura have started
reaping the benefits of gardening on the
roof of the house. From flowers, fruits,
cactus and even medicinal plants to vegetable
gardens, they are meeting the
needs of the family. Roof gardens have
been set up in more than a hundred
houses in Bogura. Many of them are also
starting their income by building roof
gardens commercially.
It is known that a number of young
entrepreneurs have resorted to gardening
since they did not stay at home during
the Coronavirus. Many have found
success in building roof gardens during
the Covid-19 period. Many of them later
became commercially viable when the
roof garden began to generate income.
Abu Saeed Arun of Shibbati area of
Bogura city said that he started gardening
as a hobby even before the time of Covid-19.
First start with flowering plants. After starting
with a few flowers on his roof, Aeun has
more than two hundred different flowering
plants and vegetable seedlings on his roof.
Later he leaned towards bonsai.
The garden was named Bogura Bonsai
Study. He makes bonsai with his family and
sell the plants on the roof. He also said that
he sells trees for 30 to 40 thousand taka
every month by making different flower
saplings.
Alhaj Latiful Karim of Naruli Dakshin
Para in Bogura city said that all the rare
flower seedlings are now available in the
Bogura nursery.
He has collected gardens of different
kinds of flowers and fruits from the nursery
and built a garden. He planted twin
and Arabic date palm saplings on his
roof. The family gets two days off with the
harvest they get from the vegetable garden.
And since the planting of the fig
trees and Arabic date palms, ordinary
people have occasionally flocked to the
roof to see it.
Tanjim Tarbiat Nitu, in the Matidali area
of Bogura city, said he first planted a flower
garden on the roof of his house. When flowers
come to the tree, many people show
interest in buying pictures of saplings and
flowers through social media.
At first the two started selling saplings. As
demand grew, he launched a page called
Tree World. There is more demand. Now
he has started a nursery called Tree World
with a few bighas of land next to his house.
From there he now regularly sells various
fruit and vegetable seedlings.
Abdur Razzak Tipu, a resident of the old
market area of Bogura's Dupchanchia upazila,
said he started a roof garden in 2001 as a
hobby. Now its roof is filled with all kinds of
pastures. From the roof garden he cultivates
vegetables according to the season.
Cultivated vegetables are meeting the needs
of the family. Some people also buy different
flowering plants as per their need.