26-11-2021
fridayDhAkA: November 26, 2021; Agrahyan 11, 1428 BS; Rabius-Sani 20,1443 hijriwww.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.netRegd.No.DA~2065, Vol.19; N o. 205; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00internationalMigrant boat capsizesin English Channel;at least 31 dead>Page 7SPortSBelow-strength S Africaseek breathing roomfrom one-day series>Page 9art & cultureFaria to performat Sharjah>Page 10RajbariBWDB exec engineershunted out forassaulting deputyRaJbaRi CoRReSpondentAn executive engineer of BangladeshWater Development Board (BWDB) inRajbari, who was caught on cameraassaulting a junior colleague, has beenshunted out. The action was takenagainst Abdul Ahad, the executive engineer,on Wednesday, after the video wentviral on social media.Abdul has been attached to the trainingand human resources wing of the additionalchief engineer's office of BWDB inDhaka, according to an order issued bythe board's deputy secretary (administration),Syed Mahbubul Haque.In the video footage, Abdul can be seenverbally abusing and physically assaultingdeputy assistant engineer MohammadRony in his office. A man who was presentthere at the time, can be seen trying tointervene. After the assault, Rony sent awritten complaint to the chief engineer ofBWDB. "Rony refused to carry out myorder. I lost my cool and assaulted him. Iadmit my mistake," Abdul said.GCC Mayor JahangirsuspendedaShRaful iSlam aShRafSix days after expulsion from AwamiLeague, disgraced Jahangir Alam wassuspended from the post of Gazipur CityCorporation Mayor on Thursday.Taking the allegations brought againstJahangir Alam into consideration overdifferent issues, the Ministry of LocalGovernment, Rural Development andCo-operatives (LGRD) suspended him,said Minister Md Tajul Islam at a pressbriefing on Thursday.A three-member mayoral panel, comprisingAsadur Rahman Kiran, councilorof Ward-43, Md Abdul Alim Molla, councilorof Ward-52, and Ayesha Akter, councilorof Ward-10, of the city corporation,has been formed for running the city corporationactivities as per rules, he said. Theministry issued a notification in this regardon Thursday. The notification directed theformer mayor to hand over charge to thenominated panel within three days followingthe Local Government (CityCorporation) Act, 2009."Various allegations are there againstJahangir Alam and those have been takeninto account. The ministry can suspend amayor for the sake of investigation accordingto the Local Government (City Corporation)Act," the LGRD Minister added.ZummaJahangir alam05:03 AM01:30 PM03:35 PM05:15 PM06:35 PM6:21 5:11Rabab fatima, permanent Representative of bangladesh to the united nations thankedafter un General assembly (unGa) adopted the historic resolution on the graduation ofbangladesh from the ldC category.photo : CourtesyUNGA adopts resolutionon graduation of BDfrom LDC categoryDHAKA : UN General Assembly (UNGA)has unanimously adopted the historicresolution on the graduation ofBangladesh from the LDC category, recognizingthe country's remarkable developmentjourney, reports UNB.With the adoption of this resolution,Bangladesh completes all the proceduresto graduate from the LDC category.This is a landmark achievement inBangladesh's development journey,which coincides with the celebration ofthe 50th anniversary of Bangladesh'sindependence and the birth centenary ofthe Father of the Nation BangabandhuSheikh Mujibur Rahman."What better way to celebrate the 50thanniversary of our independence andbirth centenary of Bangabandhu!Fulfillment of national aspiration andPrime Minister's vision 2021,"Bangladesh's Permanent Representativeto the United Nations AmbassadorRabab Fatima tweeted on Wednesday.Speaking after the adoption of thislandmark resolution, she thanked all theMember States, especially the developmentpartners, for their support to reachconsensus for the adoption of this resolution."Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina envisionedtransforming Bangladesh into amiddle-income country by 2021 and adeveloped country by 2041. She has ledus from the front in this exciting journeydespite the unprecedented challengesposed by the COVID-19 pandemic," saidthe Ambassador.Stressing that the graduation of anLDC is not only a success of the countryitself but also a testimony of the strengthof multilateral partnership led by the UN,she said, "Graduation shouldn't be a punishment;it should be a reward."The Ambassador highlighted theimportance of ensuring an incentivesbasedinternational support structure tograduating and graduated LDCs.She also called for tailored and clearlylaid down roadmaps to address everyaspect of graduation challenge, namely,post-graduation international supportmeasures, smooth transition, financingfor SDGs implementation.The Ambassador said the upcoming5th United Nations Conference on theLDCs (LDC5) to be held in Doha, Qatarprovides the development partners witha good opportunity to come up with atransformative programme of action forthe LDCs for the next decade.The Draft Doha Programme of Action(DPOA) identified graduation as one ofits priority areas. It has set a target toenable 15 additional LDCs to meet thecriteria for graduation by 2031.The success of this ambitious targetwill largely depend on enhanced supportand solidarity from the developmentpartners.Ambassador Rabab Fatima andAmbassador Robert Rae of Canada areco-chairing the preparatory process ofthe LDC5 conference.Daytime traffic jams in capitaldue to students protestShafiqul iSlam (Jami)Students of different schools in the capitalhave started agitation again to ensure saferoads. Students of Viqarunnisa Noon,Government Science College and HolyCross College staged a huge protestdemanding safe roads and arrest of the realkiller in the death of a student of NotreDame College in a collision with a DhakaSouth City Corporation (DSCC) garbagetruck. Besides, Ahsan Kabir Khan was diedby a garbage truck of Dhaka North CityCorporation (DNCC) opposite ofBashundhara City Complex in the capital ataround 2.30 pm on Thursday. Kabir Khanwas a former employee of Prothom Alo.Protests and sit-ins of students at variousimportant points of Dhaka yesterdaycaused severe traffic jams. Some passengerssaid most of the drivers drive the vehiclesrecklessly. As a result the accidentshave been happening. The relevant authoritiesshould take necessary steps immidiatelyon this matter.Students of Viqarunnisa College stageda protest at Shantinagar junction onThursday (November 25) at noon.Students from Government ScienceCollege and Holy Cross protested onFarmgate Road. Students of Wills LittleFlower School started a protest processionin Kakrail area of the capital onThursday morning.The procession started from the frontof Wills Little Flower School and wentaround Shantinagar area. Earlier, hundredsof students of Notre Dame Collegestaged a sit-in protest at Motijheel ShaplaChattar after 11 pm. They marched fromGulistan Zero Point. There, the Gulistanarea became abuzz with their slogan 'Wewant justice'.At this time they were giving differentslogans. They hold placards with variousdemands.The students said that safe road systemshould be ensured for all. This demandhas been agitated more than once before.But no success came.After Notre Dame student,now motorcyclist crushedunder DSCC truckDHAKA : Just a day after the tragic deathof a Notre Dame College student being hitby a DSCC truck, another man wascrushed under the wheels of a DNCC vehiclein the city's Panthapath area onThursday, reports UNB.The victim was identified as AhsanKabir Khan, 48, a printing-press businessmanof Moghbazar in the city.According to witnesses, Kabir, a pillionpassenger of a motorcycle, fell on the oppositeroad of Bashundhara shopping mallbeing hit by the speeding truck around 2:30PM. Golam Rabbani, a sub-inspector ofKalabagan police station, rescued him fromthe spot and took him to the emergencydepartment of Dhaka Medical College andHospital (DMCH) where doctors declaredhim dead around 4 pm.Another injured person is being treatedat a local hospital, he said. Kabir's wife,Nadira Parvin Rekha, said his husbanddid not know how to drive a motorcycle"He might be riding it with someone else,"she said.Meanwhile, DNCC (Dhaka North CityCorporation) has formed a three-memberprobe committee to investigate the accidentand asked it to submit a report within threeworking days. On Wednesday, Naim Hasan,a 17-year-student of Notre Dame Collegewas killed after a DSCC garbage truck hithim at Golchattar in the city's Gulistan areawhile crossing the road.Patrol police in the area detained thedriver of the vehicle, Russel Khan, whilehe was fleeing and seized the truck, saidMd A Ahad, DMP deputy police commissioner(Motijheel range).A case was filed at Paltan police stationin this regard following a complaintlodged by Naim's father, he said.Bangladesh is advancingat indomitable paceunder PM:HasanDHAKA : Information and BroadcastingMinister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterdaysaid Bangladesh is moving forward at anindomitable pace under the leadership ofPrime Minister Sheikh Hasina."Due to the skilled and visionary leadershipof the prime minister, the countryhas now become a role model of developmentin the world. Today, it is recognisedglobally," he said while taking part ingeneral discussion in the House, markingthe golden jubilee of the country's independence.Hasan, also the Awami League jointgeneral secretary, said US President JoeBiden, in his message sent on the occasionof Mujib Year, mentionedBangladesh as an example of developmentin the world.Besides, he said, the World Bank presidenttermed Bangladesh a role model ofdevelopment.Leader of the House and PrimeMinister Sheikh Hasina yesterdaybrought a motion under the parliamentaryrules of procedure 147 to hold a generaldiscussion on the golden jubilee ofthe country's independence.Hasan took part in the discussion onthe motion."We have been working to build adeveloped and prosperous BangladeshDHAKA : A writ petition was filed withthe High Court on Thursday seeking itsdirective on the authorities concerned togive a compensation of Tk 10 crore tothe family university student Shehrinwho died after falling into a drain inChattogram city, reports UNB.Barrister Anik R Haque filed the writpetition on behalf of rights organisationAin O Salish Kendra (ASK), Children'sCharity Bangladesh (CCB) Foundationand Sadia's maternal uncle Zahid UddinBelal on Thursday. The writ petition waspresented before the High Court bench ofJustice M Enayetur Rahim and JusticeMohammad Mostafizur Rahman, saidAdvocate AM Jamiul Haque Faisal.The Secretaries to the Ministry of LocalGovernment, Rural Development and Cooperativesand Ministry of Home Affairs,Chattogram Divisional Commissioner,Chattogram City Corporation, Chairmanthat sets an example of intellectualthoughts and humanity," he said.That is why a generation having intellect,thoughts, human values and modernknowledge must be built, the informationminister said, adding that thegovernment is working towards achievingthis goal under the leadership ofSheikh Hasina.Referring to the development andprogress that took place in the country inthe last 13 years, he said Bangladeshtoday is far ahead of all other countries inthe South Asia, including Pakistan, indevelopment and social indicators.Even, Bangladesh has surpassedPakistan in all the socioeconomic indexes,he added.Noting that Bangladesh was neverindependent before 1971, Hasan said thefirst "nation-state of Bangalees" wasestablished only under the leadership ofFather of the Nation BangabandhuSheikh Mujibur Rahman.Quoting a statement of communistleader Moni Singh issued on the occasionof the 53rd birthday of Bangabandhu in1972, he said: "Moni Singh saidBangabandhu in a letter in 1951 informedhim that he (Bangabandhu) was goingahead with the plan for independence ofEast Bengal."Writ seeks compensation over student'sdeath after falling in Ctg drainof Chattogram Development Authority(CDA) and others were made defendants.In the writ petition, the petitionersought the court's order to theChattogram City Corporation and theChattogram Development Authority toinform about the steps taken over thedeath of university student SehreenMahbub Sadia.The writ petition also sought its directiveto the authorities concerned for submittinga report on their steps taken toinvestigate the incident compensate thefamily or other action to prevent suchaccident.Earlier on October 19, legal notice wassent to the defendants to compensatethe family of the university student. Itwas mention in the notice that if noaction is taken within seven days ofreceiving the notice, a writ petition willbe filed with the High Court.thousands of students have blocked some key intersections of dhaka city demanding road safety, aday after the death of a notre dame College (ndC) student in a road accident. photo : tbt
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friday
DhAkA: November 26, 2021; Agrahyan 11, 1428 BS; Rabius-Sani 20,1443 hijri
www.thebangladeshtoday.com; www.bangladeshtoday.net
Regd.No.DA~2065, Vol.19; N o. 205; 12 Pages~Tk.8.00
international
Migrant boat capsizes
in English Channel;
at least 31 dead
>Page 7
SPortS
Below-strength S Africa
seek breathing room
from one-day series
>Page 9
art & culture
Faria to perform
at Sharjah
>Page 10
Rajbari
BWDB exec engineer
shunted out for
assaulting deputy
RaJbaRi CoRReSpondent
An executive engineer of Bangladesh
Water Development Board (BWDB) in
Rajbari, who was caught on camera
assaulting a junior colleague, has been
shunted out. The action was taken
against Abdul Ahad, the executive engineer,
on Wednesday, after the video went
viral on social media.
Abdul has been attached to the training
and human resources wing of the additional
chief engineer's office of BWDB in
Dhaka, according to an order issued by
the board's deputy secretary (administration),
Syed Mahbubul Haque.
In the video footage, Abdul can be seen
verbally abusing and physically assaulting
deputy assistant engineer Mohammad
Rony in his office. A man who was present
there at the time, can be seen trying to
intervene. After the assault, Rony sent a
written complaint to the chief engineer of
BWDB. "Rony refused to carry out my
order. I lost my cool and assaulted him. I
admit my mistake," Abdul said.
GCC Mayor Jahangir
suspended
aShRaful iSlam aShRaf
Six days after expulsion from Awami
League, disgraced Jahangir Alam was
suspended from the post of Gazipur City
Corporation Mayor on Thursday.
Taking the allegations brought against
Jahangir Alam into consideration over
different issues, the Ministry of Local
Government, Rural Development and
Co-operatives (LGRD) suspended him,
said Minister Md Tajul Islam at a press
briefing on Thursday.
A three-member mayoral panel, comprising
Asadur Rahman Kiran, councilor
of Ward-43, Md Abdul Alim Molla, councilor
of Ward-52, and Ayesha Akter, councilor
of Ward-10, of the city corporation,
has been formed for running the city corporation
activities as per rules, he said. The
ministry issued a notification in this regard
on Thursday. The notification directed the
former mayor to hand over charge to the
nominated panel within three days following
the Local Government (City
Corporation) Act, 2009.
"Various allegations are there against
Jahangir Alam and those have been taken
into account. The ministry can suspend a
mayor for the sake of investigation according
to the Local Government (City Corporation)
Act," the LGRD Minister added.
Zumma
Jahangir alam
05:03 AM
01:30 PM
03:35 PM
05:15 PM
06:35 PM
6:21 5:11
Rabab fatima, permanent Representative of bangladesh to the united nations thanked
after un General assembly (unGa) adopted the historic resolution on the graduation of
bangladesh from the ldC category.
photo : Courtesy
UNGA adopts resolution
on graduation of BD
from LDC category
DHAKA : UN General Assembly (UNGA)
has unanimously adopted the historic
resolution on the graduation of
Bangladesh from the LDC category, recognizing
the country's remarkable development
journey, reports UNB.
With the adoption of this resolution,
Bangladesh completes all the procedures
to graduate from the LDC category.
This is a landmark achievement in
Bangladesh's development journey,
which coincides with the celebration of
the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's
independence and the birth centenary of
the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
"What better way to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of our independence and
birth centenary of Bangabandhu!
Fulfillment of national aspiration and
Prime Minister's vision 2021,"
Bangladesh's Permanent Representative
to the United Nations Ambassador
Rabab Fatima tweeted on Wednesday.
Speaking after the adoption of this
landmark resolution, she thanked all the
Member States, especially the development
partners, for their support to reach
consensus for the adoption of this resolution.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina envisioned
transforming Bangladesh into a
middle-income country by 2021 and a
developed country by 2041. She has led
us from the front in this exciting journey
despite the unprecedented challenges
posed by the COVID-19 pandemic," said
the Ambassador.
Stressing that the graduation of an
LDC is not only a success of the country
itself but also a testimony of the strength
of multilateral partnership led by the UN,
she said, "Graduation shouldn't be a punishment;
it should be a reward."
The Ambassador highlighted the
importance of ensuring an incentivesbased
international support structure to
graduating and graduated LDCs.
She also called for tailored and clearly
laid down roadmaps to address every
aspect of graduation challenge, namely,
post-graduation international support
measures, smooth transition, financing
for SDGs implementation.
The Ambassador said the upcoming
5th United Nations Conference on the
LDCs (LDC5) to be held in Doha, Qatar
provides the development partners with
a good opportunity to come up with a
transformative programme of action for
the LDCs for the next decade.
The Draft Doha Programme of Action
(DPOA) identified graduation as one of
its priority areas. It has set a target to
enable 15 additional LDCs to meet the
criteria for graduation by 2031.
The success of this ambitious target
will largely depend on enhanced support
and solidarity from the development
partners.
Ambassador Rabab Fatima and
Ambassador Robert Rae of Canada are
co-chairing the preparatory process of
the LDC5 conference.
Daytime traffic jams in capital
due to students protest
Shafiqul iSlam (Jami)
Students of different schools in the capital
have started agitation again to ensure safe
roads. Students of Viqarunnisa Noon,
Government Science College and Holy
Cross College staged a huge protest
demanding safe roads and arrest of the real
killer in the death of a student of Notre
Dame College in a collision with a Dhaka
South City Corporation (DSCC) garbage
truck. Besides, Ahsan Kabir Khan was died
by a garbage truck of Dhaka North City
Corporation (DNCC) opposite of
Bashundhara City Complex in the capital at
around 2.30 pm on Thursday. Kabir Khan
was a former employee of Prothom Alo.
Protests and sit-ins of students at various
important points of Dhaka yesterday
caused severe traffic jams. Some passengers
said most of the drivers drive the vehicles
recklessly. As a result the accidents
have been happening. The relevant authorities
should take necessary steps immidiately
on this matter.
Students of Viqarunnisa College staged
a protest at Shantinagar junction on
Thursday (November 25) at noon.
Students from Government Science
College and Holy Cross protested on
Farmgate Road. Students of Wills Little
Flower School started a protest procession
in Kakrail area of the capital on
Thursday morning.
The procession started from the front
of Wills Little Flower School and went
around Shantinagar area. Earlier, hundreds
of students of Notre Dame College
staged a sit-in protest at Motijheel Shapla
Chattar after 11 pm. They marched from
Gulistan Zero Point. There, the Gulistan
area became abuzz with their slogan 'We
want justice'.
At this time they were giving different
slogans. They hold placards with various
demands.
The students said that safe road system
should be ensured for all. This demand
has been agitated more than once before.
But no success came.
After Notre Dame student,
now motorcyclist crushed
under DSCC truck
DHAKA : Just a day after the tragic death
of a Notre Dame College student being hit
by a DSCC truck, another man was
crushed under the wheels of a DNCC vehicle
in the city's Panthapath area on
Thursday, reports UNB.
The victim was identified as Ahsan
Kabir Khan, 48, a printing-press businessman
of Moghbazar in the city.
According to witnesses, Kabir, a pillion
passenger of a motorcycle, fell on the opposite
road of Bashundhara shopping mall
being hit by the speeding truck around 2:30
PM. Golam Rabbani, a sub-inspector of
Kalabagan police station, rescued him from
the spot and took him to the emergency
department of Dhaka Medical College and
Hospital (DMCH) where doctors declared
him dead around 4 pm.
Another injured person is being treated
at a local hospital, he said. Kabir's wife,
Nadira Parvin Rekha, said his husband
did not know how to drive a motorcycle
"He might be riding it with someone else,"
she said.
Meanwhile, DNCC (Dhaka North City
Corporation) has formed a three-member
probe committee to investigate the accident
and asked it to submit a report within three
working days. On Wednesday, Naim Hasan,
a 17-year-student of Notre Dame College
was killed after a DSCC garbage truck hit
him at Golchattar in the city's Gulistan area
while crossing the road.
Patrol police in the area detained the
driver of the vehicle, Russel Khan, while
he was fleeing and seized the truck, said
Md A Ahad, DMP deputy police commissioner
(Motijheel range).
A case was filed at Paltan police station
in this regard following a complaint
lodged by Naim's father, he said.
Bangladesh is advancing
at indomitable pace
under PM:Hasan
DHAKA : Information and Broadcasting
Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday
said Bangladesh is moving forward at an
indomitable pace under the leadership of
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"Due to the skilled and visionary leadership
of the prime minister, the country
has now become a role model of development
in the world. Today, it is recognised
globally," he said while taking part in
general discussion in the House, marking
the golden jubilee of the country's independence.
Hasan, also the Awami League joint
general secretary, said US President Joe
Biden, in his message sent on the occasion
of Mujib Year, mentioned
Bangladesh as an example of development
in the world.
Besides, he said, the World Bank president
termed Bangladesh a role model of
development.
Leader of the House and Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday
brought a motion under the parliamentary
rules of procedure 147 to hold a general
discussion on the golden jubilee of
the country's independence.
Hasan took part in the discussion on
the motion.
"We have been working to build a
developed and prosperous Bangladesh
DHAKA : A writ petition was filed with
the High Court on Thursday seeking its
directive on the authorities concerned to
give a compensation of Tk 10 crore to
the family university student Shehrin
who died after falling into a drain in
Chattogram city, reports UNB.
Barrister Anik R Haque filed the writ
petition on behalf of rights organisation
Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), Children's
Charity Bangladesh (CCB) Foundation
and Sadia's maternal uncle Zahid Uddin
Belal on Thursday. The writ petition was
presented before the High Court bench of
Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice
Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, said
Advocate AM Jamiul Haque Faisal.
The Secretaries to the Ministry of Local
Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives
and Ministry of Home Affairs,
Chattogram Divisional Commissioner,
Chattogram City Corporation, Chairman
that sets an example of intellectual
thoughts and humanity," he said.
That is why a generation having intellect,
thoughts, human values and modern
knowledge must be built, the information
minister said, adding that the
government is working towards achieving
this goal under the leadership of
Sheikh Hasina.
Referring to the development and
progress that took place in the country in
the last 13 years, he said Bangladesh
today is far ahead of all other countries in
the South Asia, including Pakistan, in
development and social indicators.
Even, Bangladesh has surpassed
Pakistan in all the socioeconomic indexes,
he added.
Noting that Bangladesh was never
independent before 1971, Hasan said the
first "nation-state of Bangalees" was
established only under the leadership of
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Quoting a statement of communist
leader Moni Singh issued on the occasion
of the 53rd birthday of Bangabandhu in
1972, he said: "Moni Singh said
Bangabandhu in a letter in 1951 informed
him that he (Bangabandhu) was going
ahead with the plan for independence of
East Bengal."
Writ seeks compensation over student's
death after falling in Ctg drain
of Chattogram Development Authority
(CDA) and others were made defendants.
In the writ petition, the petitioner
sought the court's order to the
Chattogram City Corporation and the
Chattogram Development Authority to
inform about the steps taken over the
death of university student Sehreen
Mahbub Sadia.
The writ petition also sought its directive
to the authorities concerned for submitting
a report on their steps taken to
investigate the incident compensate the
family or other action to prevent such
accident.
Earlier on October 19, legal notice was
sent to the defendants to compensate
the family of the university student. It
was mention in the notice that if no
action is taken within seven days of
receiving the notice, a writ petition will
be filed with the High Court.
thousands of students have blocked some key intersections of dhaka city demanding road safety, a
day after the death of a notre dame College (ndC) student in a road accident. photo : tbt
FrIDAY, noVeMBer 26, 2021
2
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Fazilatunnesa Indira delivered
the inaugural address of the `16 Days of Activism against Gender
Based Violence' at the conference hall of Bangladesh Shishu Academy in
Dhaka on Thursday.
Photo: PBA
UNGA confirmation of Bangladesh's
graduation from LDC is a landmark
success: Kamal
DHAKA : The United Nations General
Assembly has adopted a historic resolution
to graduate Bangladesh from the LDC
category to a developing country, a move
hailed by Finance Minister AHM Mustafa
Kamal as a "landmark success."
The UNGA confirmation has come
during the 40th plenary meeting of its 76th
session where the Economic and Social
Council or ECOSOC placed the
recommendation for Bangladesh's
graduation, reports UNB.
"This is recognition of the incredible
socioeconomic progress that has been
attained under the prudent leadership of
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over the
years", he said in his reaction on Thursday.
Kamal also mentioned that this success
has been achieved thanks to the nation's
efforts at fulfilling the dream of the Father
of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman.
"This is an international recognition of
the indomitable progress made by
Bangladesh under the direction of the
prime minister. People from all walks of
life of this country have contributed to this
historic success", Kamal added.
Earlier, the Committee for Development
Policy (CDP) of the United Nations
recommended Bangladesh for LDC
Graduation during its triennial review
meeting held on 26th February this year.
CDP also recommended providing an
extended preparatory period of five years
for Bangladesh spanning from the year
2021 to 2026. The recommendation had
been duly endorsed by the ECOSOC of the
United Nations on 08 June 2021.
It is notable that Bangladesh is the only
country that has been recommended for
LDC graduation by fulfilling all three
criteria set by the United Nations. This
achievement will further brighten the
overseas image of the country and will
accelerate the ongoing development pace.
Bangladesh has been recommended for
graduation at a time when the whole
country is celebrating 50 years of its
independence as well as the birth
centennial of Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman.
As per the rules of CDP, a country can
enjoy three to five years long preparatory
period after being recommended for
graduation.
Since, Bangladesh has received a fiveyear
preparatory period for graduation as
per the recommendations of CDP, the
country will formally graduate from the
LDC status in 2026.
During this preparatory period,
Bangladesh would be entitled to enjoy all
the international support measures
reserved for LDCs.
In addition, as per the existing provisions,
the country would also remain eligible to
enjoy duty-free and quota-free access in the
European Union market for three more
years lasting until the year 2029.
With a view to continue the international
support measures received as an LDC in the
aftermath of graduation as well as to ensure
a smooth and sustainable graduation-the
government is taking various policy
measures under the leadership of the Prime
Minister's Office, in partnership with private
sector and development partners.
GD-1732/21 (8x3)
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MÖvg kn‡ii DbœwZ
Brace for a foggy
weekend!
DHAKA : Bangladesh may
well see visibility dipping on
Thursday night and Friday
early morning, with the
weather department
predicting light to moderate
fog in the next 24 hours,
reports UNB.
According to the
Bangladesh Meteorological
Department (BMD),
weather may remain mainly
dry over the country in the
next 24 hours. Night
temperature may fall slightly
but day temperature is likely
to remain nearly unchanged
over the country.
On Wednesday, the
minimum temperature was
recorded at 13.0 degrees in
Srimangal of Sylhet division
while the maximum was
33.0 degrees in Kutubdia of
Chattogram division,
according to weathermen.
Meanwhile, a low pressure
area is likely to form over
southwest Bay of Bengal and
adjoining areas in the next
12 hours as a trough of low
extending from South Bay
persists over North Bay,
according to a Met office
bulletin.
The ridge of subcontinental
high extends up
to West Bengal in
neighbouring India and
adjoining areas, it says.
Woman's body
found in Chattogram
septic tank
CHATTOGRAM : Police
recovered the decomposed
body of an unidentified
woman from the septic tank
of a house in Fatikchhari
upazila of Chattogram on
Thursday noon.
Jewel, a domestic help,
spotted the body around
10am when he went down to
clean the septic tank.
On information, police
recovered the body.
Md Azharuddin, Officerin-Charge
(OC) of Bhujpur
police station said they
visited the spot and found
the decomposed body the
woman aged between 32-35
inside the septic tank.
The body was sent for an
autopsy, the OC added.
Love transcends all
Mexican woman flies
to Bangladesh to
marry Jamalpur man
JAMALPUR : A Mexican
woman has flown over
15,000 km to arrive in
Bangladesh to marry her
heartthrob, a man of
Jamalpur district, reports
UNB.
Gladys Niley Toribio
Morales, a 32-year-old
daughter of a Mexican
businessman, converted
from Christianity to Islam
to tie the knot with 29-yearold
Robiul Islam Ruman
last week.
Like in many other
instances Facebook has
played the matchmaker.
Robiul, a freelance
diploma mechanic from
Pogladigha village at
Sharishabari in Jamalpur
district met with Morales, a
graduate from Meritorious
Autonomous University in
the Mexican city of Puebla,
on Facebook in 2019.
After a few days of chats
and exchange of personal
photos the two could not
resist from falling in love.
As the relationship
deepened Morales
proposed to marry Robiul
to which he immediately
said "Yes.'
The wedding was delayed
by the pandemic that has
prevented Morales to come
to the land of her
sweetheart.
Finally, their long and
anxious wait ended at 8:30
am on November 21 when
Morales landed at Shahjalal
International Airport in
Dhaka.
After welcoming the
would-be in-law Robiul's
family immediately drove
her to Dhaka Judge's Court,
where she converted to
Islam and got married with
her
boyfriend.
long-distance
Biden picks women of color to
lead White House budget office
NANTUCKET : Two women of color
are President Joe Biden's picks to lead
the White House budget office, a
milestone for the powerful agency after
his first choice withdrew following
criticism over her previous attacks on
lawmakers from both parties, reports
UNB.
If confirmed by the Senate, Shalanda
Young would become the first Black
woman in charge of the Office of
Management and Budget, while Nani
Coloretti, a Filipino American, would
serve as Young's deputy, making
Coloretti one of the highest-ranking
Asian Americans in government.
"Today it's my honor to nominate two
GD-1733/21 (15x4)
extraordinary, history-making women
to lead the Office of Management and
Budget," Biden said in a video
announcement released Wednesday
while he spends the Thanksgiving
holiday on Nantucket island in
Massachusetts.
"She has continued to impress me,
and congressional leaders as well,"
Biden said of Young, who has been
acting director for most of the year.
Biden turned to Young after his first
nominee for budget director, Neera
Tanden, came under bipartisan
criticism.
Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia
Democrat who has become a pivotal
1160
vote for Biden's agenda in a chamber
split 50-50, was the first Democrat to
oppose Tanden's nomination and,
lacking the necessary votes, she
ultimately withdrew from
consideration.
Biden later gave Tanden a job in the
White House, where she is staff
secretary and a senior presidential
adviser.
Young faces a Senate confirmation
vote, though it was not immediately
clear how soon it would be scheduled.
But she was confirmed as deputy
director in March on a 63-37 vote, with
backing from more than a dozen
Republicans.
dzjevox
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021
3
Neonatal-child
healthcare project to
be greatly helpful:
Japanese envoy
DHAKA : Japanese
Ambassador to Bangladesh Ito
Naoki on Thursday said the
project taken to support
neonatal and child healthcare
in Dhaka district would greatly
contribute to the improvement
of neonatal and child
healthcare services, reports
UNB.
The Ambassador made the
remark while attending the
inaugural ceremony of "The
Project for Provision of
Medical Equipment to
Support Neonatal and Child
Healthcare in Dhaka
District." The project is being
implemented by Dhaka
Community Hospital Trust
(DCHT) with support from
the government of Japan
through Grant Assistance for
Grassroots Human Security
Projects (GGHSP).
Prof Quazi Quamruzzaman,
Chairman of the DCHT, CIS
and A-PAD; Md Golam
Mostofa, Executive Director
of Community Initiative
Society (CIS) and Dr Omar
Sharif Ibne Hasan, Director of
the DCHT, also attended the
ceremony. In January 2021,
the DCHT received US$
68,633, equivalent to nearly
Tk 54 lakh. With the money,
the DCHT procured child
ventilator and color Doppler
ultrasound machines, online
UPS for color Doppler
ultrasound machines,
continuous positive airway
pressure (CPAP) machines
and interruptible.
Remco Kemper of the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing
Countries of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (CBI) handed over the
documents of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier between
the University of Dhaka and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development
Cooperation of Netherlands to Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof.
Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman yesterday.
Photo : Courtesy
Document of a MoU between
DU and Netherlands handed
over to DU VC
Document of a Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) signed earlier
between the University of Dhaka (DU) and
the Ministry of Foreign Trade and
Development Cooperation of
Netherlandswashanded over to DU Vice-
Chancellor Prof. Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman on
Thursday. Remco Kemper of the Centre for
the Promotion of Imports from Developing
Countries of the Netherlands Enterprise
Agency (CBI) formally handed over this
document at a function held at DU VC Office
Lounge.
Dean of DU Faculty of Fine Art Prof.
NisarHossain, Registrar Prabir Kumar
Sarker and Chairperson of DU Department
of Crafts Farhana Ferdausi were present on
this occasion.
The main objective of this MoU is
tostrengthen the competitive export
capacities of small and medium sized
enterprises (SMEs)of Bangladesh as well as
capacity building in home decoration and
home textile (HDHT)sector. Besides, the
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development
Cooperation of Netherlands willprovide
support to design a Post-Graduate course on
HDHT and SMEs at the University of Dhaka.
They will also provide technical assistance
and expertise to make young teachers and
students trained and skilled in this regard.
DU VC Prof. Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman
urged both sides of the MoU to follow and
implement the objectives properly.
Bangladesh-S Korea to have more cultural
exchanges in future: KM Khalid
DHAKA : State Minister for Cultural
Affairs KM Khalid on Wednesday said
the cultural ties between Bangladesh
and South Korea will become stronger
as the government has planned for
more cultural exchanges between the
two nations, reports UNB.
"One of the biggest development
partners of Bangladesh, South Korea
and its culture has a very harmonious
connection with us and Bangladeshi
people love the South Korean culture.
In order to further strengthening the
cultural exchanges between the two
countries, we are planning a cultural
exchange programme," Khalid said.
He inaugurated the Korean Film and
Tourism Festival 2021 as the chief
guest at the Main Auditorium of the
Bangladesh National Museum,
Shahbagh in the capital.
Further lauding South Korea's role
behind several development initiatives
in the country, Khalid thanked South
Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee
Jang-Keun at the event.
"Over 75,000 Bangladeshi and
Korean people are currently working
together in the Korean EPZ in
Chattogram, while many Bangladeshi
students are currently studying in
Korea and vice-versa. They have
honoured our Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman through establishing
'Bangabandhu Corner' in several
universities in South Korea, as part of
the Mujib Year celebration. The
country has already preserved our
'Baro Sardar Bari,' one of the most
significant heritage sites in Sonargaon,
which was the first attempt to preserve
a cultural heritage site in Bangladesh."
Greeting the audiences in Bengali,
ambassador Lee Jang-Keun said,
"After waiting for so long, we are very
pleased to resume this long waited
festival and ready to satiate the appetite
for the Korean films and beyond. We
have been organising this festival for
about 10 years, which had to be
postponed in the past year due to the
Covid-19 pandemic but we are really
happy that it is again being organized
this year, and we thank the State
Minister KM Khalid and Bangladesh
National Museum for organizing the
event."
"Our K-Pop (Korean Pop) has already
been pretty popular around the world,
and in recent years, Korean culture
received worldwide acclaim for the
popular 2019 Korean film "Parasite"
which became the first non-English
language film to win the best picture
award in the 92-year history of the
Academy Awards in 2019. Also, the
recent Netflix series 'Squid Game' has
become the biggest success for the
streaming giant, and we are really
happy our enriched Korean culture
through festivals like this," he added.
Zakir Hossain Raju, Head of the
Media and.Communication
Department at the Independent
University Bangladesh (IUB) also
spoke at the event. He described the
popular 2019 Korean film "Parasite"
before its premiere at the event, and
also narrated the struggle Bong Joonho,
the director of the film, went
through while directing this
masterpiece.
The inaugural ceremony also
featured a special K-pop performance
by some award-winning Bangladeshi
K-pop girls group named Rebel's
Groove, who showcased two dance
performances at the event.
Total 5 In-person films: "Parasite,"
"Mal-mo-e: The Secret Mission," "Kim
Ji-young, Born 1982," #Alive," and
"Red Shoes and The Seven Dwarfs,"
will be screened from November 24 to
26 at the Main Auditorium.
On the sideline of the film screening,
the Korean Tourism Festival is also
being paralleled at the National
Museum of Bangladesh, with an aim to
showcase the picturesque scenery of
South Korea to Bangladeshi visitors.
Covid kills 9 more in BD,
infects another 237
DHAKA : Bangladesh reported nine
more Covid-linked deaths along with
237 fresh cases in 24 hours till
Thursday morning, reports UNB.
With this, the daily-case positivity
rate declined to 1.25 per cent on
Thursday from Wednesday's 1.49 per
cent, said the Directorate General of
Health Services (DGHS).
On Wednesday, the country reported
three Covid-related deaths for the
second consecutive day along with 312
fresh cases.
The Final Round and Prize Giving Ceremony of 'BUP AccFinity - 2021' was held on Thursday
at Bijoy Auditorium of BUP. The 'BUP AccFinity - 2021' was organized by the Department of
Business Administration in Accounting and Information Systems, Faculty of Business
Studies (FBS).
Photo : Courtsy
HC scraps 10
percent quota system
for including FFs in
gazette
DHAKA : The High Court
(HC) yesterday scrapped a
Jatio Muktijoddha Council
(Jamuka) provision
keeping 10 percent quota
system for including real
Freedom Fighters (FFs) in
the official gazette.
A High Court division
bench comprising Justice
KM Kamrul Kader and
Justice
Muhammad
Mahbub Ul Islam passed
the order after holding
hearing on separate writ
petitions filed in this
regard.
Jamuka on April 18,
2019, issued a circular,
saying for including
Freedom Fighters' in
official gazette; authorities
cannot include more than
10 percent of the existing
number of gazetted
Freedom Fighters under
each upazilla.
"The writ petitioners
were included at the 'Ka'
list of Freedom Fighters by
the upazilla verification
committee in 2017. But
because of this 10 percent
quota system, many of
them were left out of the
gazette, forcing them to
challenge the circular with
the High Court," Advocate
Toufik Inam Tipu, who
moved the petitions before
the court, told newsmen.
The lawyer said none can
regulate the number of real
Freedom Fighters through
any act. It is
unconstitutional also. The
number of real Freedom
Fighters can be more or
less than 10 percent of
those who have already
been gazetted. You cannot
leave any real Freedom
Fighter out of gazette and
cannot add a single fake
Freedom Fighter in that, he
added.
Adamjee EPZ
starts vaccination
programme for
workers
DHAKA : Adamjee EPZ
started the vaccination
programme among the
workers of 49 factories on
Wednesday.
The EPZ authority
vaccinated initially 5,000
workers in first day of this
seven-day long program,
said a press release .
A total of 54,446 workers
of AEPZ will be vaccinated
through this program next
on the basis of registration.
17 booths in 7 centers inside
the zone have been prepared
to this effect.
Md Ahsan Kabir, General
Manager of Adamjee EPZ,
and Dr Mohammed Imtiaz,
Civil Surgeon of
Narayanganj District, jointly
inaugurated the vaccination
program.
This initiative has been
taken to ensure vaccine of all
workers safely as well as to
maintain uninterrupted
production and export flow
in EPZ.
BEPZA contacted with
Prime Minister's Office to
bring 5 Lac workers of EPZs
under the inoculation
program. Later, BEPZA
keeps continuing its efforts
to bring all workers of EPZs
under the program with the
help of the concerned
district administration and
Civil Surgeon office.
Total 163686 numbers of
Workers of EPZs under
BEPZA have been
vaccinated already.
Vaccination for rest of the
workers is under process.
BEPZA is working to ensure
100 percent vaccination in
order to maintain
production oriented
working atmosphere of EPZ
by ensuring good health of
the workers.
Mentionable that Cumilla
EPZ started vaccination
program formally on
August18, 2021 as the first
EPZ. Later, the other EPZs
started the program which is
still ongoing.
31st founding anniversary
of KU celebrated
TITASH CHAKROBORTHEY, KHULNA CORRESPODNENT
Students, teachers and employees of Khulna
University (KU) yesterday celebrated the
university's 31st founding anniversary with
much enthusiasm and fanfare.
Vice-Chancellor (VC) of KU Professor Dr
Mahmud Hossain inaugurated day's
programmes as the chief guest by releasing
balloons and pigeons at Shaheed Hadi
Chattar in the morning maintaining health
guidelines.
Afterward, a colourful procession was
brought out on the campus.
KU buildings including administrative,
senate, cafeteria, dormitories, roads and
main gate were decorated with colourful
illumination, marking the anniversary.
Expressing gratitude and facilitations to
contributors who played important role for
establishing Khulna University, the KU VC
said, the KU was not a regional university, it's
a university of Bangladesh.
"Our expectation is now to touch sky, we
want to reach the KU in a respectable height
globally in education, research and
innovative creation," he said.
Students, teachers and employees are
trying to make KU internationally slandered,
the VC said, adding that the KU to go ahead
of its goal following current fourth industrial
revolution. Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr Hosne
Ara, deans, disciplines head, director of
student affairs, provosts, among others,
attended the programme.
Later, the VC inaugurated mural of
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
dormitory, planted a coconut sapling in front
of Khanjahan Ali dormitory. The sapling
collected from a coconut tree which was
planted by Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
from Govt Women College.
A doa mahfil was held at the central
mosque after Asr prayers on the campus
while Hindu community organized prayers
at KU temple. Honorary crest were handed
over to students and organizations who
obtained outstanding preference in different
Disciplines.
KU started its academic activities formally
on November 25, 1991 with four Disciplines
under two Schools with only 80 students and
30 teachers with Prof Dr. Golam Rahman as
the founder Vice-Chancellor (VC), said Atiar
Rahman, Acting director of public affairs and
publication department of KU.
Now it has over 7,000 students and 500
teachers in 29 Disciplines under eight
Schools and two Institutes, he added.
Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University Professor Dr Mahmud Hossain
inaugurated the program Khulna University Day observation. Photo : TBT
Final Round and Prize Giving Ceremony
of 'BUP AccFinity - 2021' Held
The Final Round and Prize Giving
Ceremony of 'BUP AccFinity - 2021' was
held on Thursday at Bijoy Auditorium of
BUP. The 'BUP AccFinity - 2021' was
organized by the Department of Business
Administration in Accounting and
Information Systems, Faculty of Business
Studies (FBS). The purpose of the
programme was to build a platform of
crunching numbers of accounting
enthusiasts of our nation.
In the competition, 11 reputed universities
of Bangladesh participated, and the top 6
teams qualified for final round. Team
Wolves of Motijheel from Bangladesh
University of Professionals become
champion, Team 'Elder Wand' from North
South University and Team Advent
fromBangladesh University of Professionals
become1st and 2nd runner up respectively, a
press release said
Vice Chancellor Major General Md
Moshfequr Rahman, SGP, SUP, ndc, psc was
present as the Chief Guest of the final round
and distributed prizes among the winners.
Brigadier General Md Moazzem Hossain,
BGBM (BAR), PhD, Dean of Faculty of
Business Studies (FBS) and Professor Dr.
Mahfuzul Hoque, Department of Accounting
and Information Systems, University of
Dhaka were present as the Special Guests.
BUP High Officials, Teachers, Students and
Invited Guests were also present in the
programme.
Dhaka's air quality still 'unhealthy'
DHAKA : The densely populated capital of
Bangladesh continues to wait for cleaner air,
despite slipping a couple of notches in the list
of world cities with the worst air quality,
reports UNB.
Dhaka has, in fact, been ranked the fourthmost
polluted city in the world. The capital's
air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 188
around 10.15am on Thursday. The air was
classified as 'unhealthy'. An AQI between 101
and 200 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly
for sensitive groups.
India's Delhi, Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar and
Pakistan's Lahore occupied the first three slots
in the list of cities with the worst air quality
with AQI scores of 376, 243 and 233,
respectively.
AQI, an index for reporting daily air quality,
is used by government agencies to inform
people how clean or polluted the air of a
certain city is, and what associated health
effects might be a concern for them.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five
criteria pollutants-Particulate Matter (PM10
and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air
pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns
unhealthy during winter and improves during
monsoon. A report by the Department of
Environment (DoE) and the World Bank in
March 2019 pointed out that the three main
sources of air pollution in Dhaka "are brick
kilns, fumes from vehicles and dust from
construction sites".
With the advent of winter, the city's air
quality starts deteriorating sharply due to the
massive discharge of pollutant particles from
construction works, rundown roads, brick
kilns and other sources.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the
top risk factors for death and disability
worldwide. Breathing polluted air has long
been recognised as increasing a person's
chances of developing heart disease, chronic
respiratory diseases, lung infections and
cancer, according to several studies.
As per the World Health Organization
(WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven
million people worldwide every year, largely
as a result of increased mortality from stroke,
heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory
infections.
3 retired teachers become
UGC professor
DHAKA :Three retired teachers as well as
researchers have been selected as "UGC
Professors" by the University Grants
Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh.
They are: Retired Professor of Chemistry at
Jahangirnagar University Dr Shariff Enamul
Kabir, retired professor of cardiology at
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical
University Sajal Krishna Banerjee and retired
Professor of the Department of Agriculture at
Bangladesh Agricultural University Sultan
Uddin Bhuiyan.
They were elected for the next two years at a
recently held meeting of the UGC Professor
Selection Committee chaired by UGC
Chairman Prof Kazi Shahidullah , said an
office order of UGC.
According to the UGC professorship policy,
this post is awarded to retired eminent
researchers and UGC professors will get the
same benefits as a selection grade professor gets.
fRIday, NovemBeR 26, 2021
4
GCC, US united against Iranian threats
Acting Editor & Publisher : Jobaer Alam
e-mail: editor@thebangladeshtoday.com
Friday, November 26, 2021
Timely and efficient
completion of mega projects
The incumbent government has always
been ambitious when it came to
infrastructure development. The Padma
Bridge project as well as the various urban
projects targeted to reduce traffic congestion
clearly indicates the government's willingness to
undertake long term megaprojects.However,
repeated setbacks in multiple infrastructure
projects undertaken have also put a question
mark on the consistency of performance on these
projects.
The Mogbazaar-Malibaghflyover in Dhaka for
example was a glaring example of
mismanagement and faulty design. The
ambitious project had its design changed more
than 122 times. The original design was made for
left hand driven traffic lanes as well as faulty
placement of pillars. Too long delayed and over
budgeted the project was not only causing severe
traffic congestion on surrounding roads. Even
after completion it's efficiency in jam reduction
has also been put to question by experts.
The Dhaka- Chittagong highway was another
black hole. Grossly over budgeted by 62% the
deadline for its completion was delayed twice
resulting in undue cost escalations. Though
completed the overall traffic movement will
exceed the highway's four lane capacity by the
year 2030, the primary reason why the
government is now planning on constructing an
elevated expressway over the completed
highway. The importance of greater and careful
future planning here, is clearly highlighted.
But possibly more annoying has been the
elevated expressway that was planned to connect
Dhaka's northern areas with the south.
Originally budgeted at Tk 8,940 crore (USD 1.124
billion) and planned to be finished by 2014, the
project'svery startup was delayed thrice and as of
recently, seen not much activities. While some
initial works are underway, the project is yet to go
on full swing on part due to the contracted firm's
failure to procure adequate funding.
Bangladesh is, already, a highly populated
country with population density in Dhaka being
one of the highest in the world. As a city already
plagued by overpopulation and congestion, mega
projects being delayed not only results in
solutions to be delayed, but also further
contributes to mass congestion due to traffic
being hampered by construction work.
The situation with the elevated expressway in
particular is precarious. With the very inception
of construction delayed thrice,the project that
was supposed to be over by 2014 has not yet
started its main work. Not only will this push the
project's costs further; it will mean that the delays
in solving this city's traffic problem will be
delayed. Also, when construction does begin in
full swing but lingers on, it will contribute greatly
to further congestion of traffic due to
construction work.
The government therefore, needs to take these
scenarios seriously. These are not short term
projects that can be broken down and renewed.
These are long term projects that will influence
the city's as well as the nation's economic growth
and traffic system. Negligence, lack of
consistency as well as faults in such major, large
scale projects will not only compound future city
management but will put the government's
planning and execution credibility in question.
These projects will form the backbone of our
nation for decades to come. To see them dragging
on hopelessly for years will be highly undesirable.
It will be a waste of valuable resources and time
that a developing nation like ours simply cannot
afford. Therefore, urgent and decisive steps must
be taken in order to address these issues, and
ensure that future megaprojects do not meet
similar bumps.
Senior officials from the Gulf
Cooperation Council and the US
met last week in Riyadh and
agreed on a coordinated approach
toward Iran. The GCC-US Working
Group on Iran was set up in
November 2015 following the Camp
David summit of May 2015, where
President Barack Obama and Gulf
leaders agreed to set up several
working groups to manage different
aspects of the GCC-US strategic
partnership. While the focus of those
working groups was initially on
security and political issues,
subsequent summits and ministerial
meetings expanded the scope to other
matters.
In its meeting last Wednesday, the
GCC-US Working Group on Iran
reaffirmed that long-standing
partnership and expressed "shared
determination to contribute to
regional security and stability."
The meeting addressed three main
issues: Iran's regional activities, its
missile program, and its nuclear
activities.
In a statement issued afterwards,
the group condemned Iran's
"aggressive and dangerous" policies,
including the proliferation and direct
use of ballistic missiles and drones in
hundreds of attacks against civilians
and critical infrastructure in Saudi
Arabia, as well as civilian merchant
seamen in the international waters of
the Sea of Oman and Global Coalition
Against Daesh forces in Iraq and
Syria.
The gathering also discussed
regional issues and agreed that Iran's
support for armed militias across the
Middle East and its nuclear and
ballistic missile programs pose clear
threats to regional security and
stability. The US and GCC states
further agreed to hold subsequent
Earlier this month, the world's
leaders got together to small
talk about the weather and to
big talk about the climate at the 26th
edition of the UN's climate change
conference (COP26) in Glasgow.
On the sidelines, activists (myself
included) campaigned to persuade
governments to replace platitudes
with attitude, inaction with action.
Nevertheless, the hot air and
greenwashing were plentiful, with
delegates with ties to fossil fuel
companies outnumbering even the
largest country delegation.
In the pavilion section,
greenwashing came from the nuclear
industry, representatives of which in
banana suits claimed that living near
nuclear power stations was as safe as
eating a banana, as well as from
major coal producers like Australia,
and major oil producers such as the
Gulf states, each of whom had a
gigantic stand.
In the closing plenary, minister
after minister urged consensus and
collective action for the sake of their
children or grandchildren and the
future of humanity.
However, despite the platitudes,
rich countries, from the United States
to EU states, showed little appetite to
downscale their lifestyles and
emerging economic powerhouses,
such as China and India, exhibited
little willingness to clean up their
reliance on coal and other dirty fossil
fuels.
This left low-income countries and
island states feeling a profound sense
of betrayal. This was eloquently
expressed by Shauna Aminath, the
environment minister of the lowlying
Maldives, which could become
uninhabitable by 2050 and possibly
vanish from the map by the turn of
the century, while its vital coral reef
is dying off at an alarming rate.
"[This is] yet another conversation
where we put our homes on the line,
while those who have other options
decide how quickly they want to act,"
she told her fellow ministers in the
final session of the conference. "The
difference between 1.5 and 2C is a
death sentence for us."
Beyond kicking the hot potato of
meaningful climate action down the
road to mid-century for future
generations to deal with, another
favoured tactic of countries and
corporations is to make vague netzero
emission pledges.
More than 140 countries have
promised to be net zero mostly by
2050, with some countries aiming for
sooner and others for later. China has
dR. aBdel aZIZ alUWaISheG
meetings of this working group to
discuss these threats and other issues
within its terms of reference, which
were adopted in its inaugural meeting
on Nov. 3, 2015, addressing Iran's
conventional and asymmetric threats
against peace and security in the
region.
The US and GCC states agreed that
Iran's nuclear program is of grave
concern, as it has taken steps for
which it has no civilian need. These
steps, such as the production of highly
enriched uranium and enriched
uranium metal, would be important
only for a nuclear weapons program.
They called for Iran to fully cooperate
with the International Atomic Energy
Agency and allow unfettered access
and effective inspections of its nuclear
activities.
The US and GCC member states
affirmed that Iran has a better
alternative to these continued
escalations, which have kept the
region in turmoil for decades. They
called on Iran to change course and
contribute to a more secure and stable
region. Members of the GCC briefed
on their efforts to build effective
diplomatic channels with Iran to
prevent, resolve or de-escalate
conflicts, backed by strong deterrence
and defense cooperation with the US
and other partners. They described a
vision for these regional diplomatic
efforts developing over time to
Khaled dIaB
promote peaceful ties in the region,
based on a long history of economic
and cultural exchanges.
The two sides agreed that Iran's
nuclear program is of grave concern,
as it has taken steps for which it has
no civilian need.
However, those diplomatic efforts
will not succeed if Iran continues to
provoke a nuclear crisis and escalate
regional tensions. The GCC side
stressed that a mutual return by Iran
The US and GCC states agreed that Iran's nuclear program
is of grave concern, as it has taken steps for which it has
no civilian need. These steps, such as the production of
highly enriched uranium and enriched uranium metal,
would be important only for a nuclear weapons program.
and the US to full compliance with the
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
should pave the way for greater
efforts toward both better regional
economic relations and a longer and
stronger agreement to ensure that
Iran's nuclear program is exclusively
for peaceful purposes and that the
Gulf region will remain free of nuclear
weapons.
At the end, the two sides welcomed
the upcoming seventh round of
JCPOA negotiations in Vienna and
called for an urgent mutual return to
full compliance with the nuclear deal,
paving the way for inclusive
diplomatic efforts to address all issues
that are necessary to ensure
sustainable safety, security and
prosperity in the region.
The GCC and US urged the Iranian
administration of President Ebrahim
Raisi to seize the current diplomatic
opportunity to choose the right path -
to prevent conflict and crisis and
The 'net zero' myth
set 2060 as its target date and India
is aiming for 2070.
Businesses, from giant
multinationals to local steakhouses
in Glasgow, have also been falling
over themselves to announce netzero
pledges. At least a fifth of the
world's 2,000 largest corporations
had already made such promises
before COP26.
Well, not really. There are indeed a
few countries and companies that
have seriously committed to lowering
their carbon (and ecological)
footprint through an ambitious
strategy to reduce their emissions
and pursue sustainable production
and consumption models.
But, for many, climate strategies
amount to little more than a PR
exercise.
Possibly the most ludicrous netzero
claims are the ones being made
about fossil fuel products. One
flagrant example of this was Shell's
"Drive Carbon Neutral" campaign in
the Netherlands, which claimed that
consumers could offset their petrol
emissions by paying just one euro
cent ($0.012) extra per litre at the
pump.
To my mind, this is akin to a
modern reincarnation of the
indulgences sold by the medieval
church. But, here, instead of
"sinners", polluters pay a token
amount to absolve themselves of guilt
but without making any meaningful
change to their destructive
behaviour.
Although these indulgences may
help Shell executives sleep better at
night and motorists feel less guilty
about their gas-guzzling vehicles, this
stunt does next to nothing for the
climate.
For that reason, the Dutch
advertising standards agency asked
Shell to remove the ad after nine law
students filed a complaint accusing
the oil giant of greenwashing.
Unfortunately, Shell is not alone in
making these preposterous claims.
There is a troubling new trend among
fossil fuel companies of marketing
gas and oil which they claim is carbon
neutral.
A recent investigation we
conducted at Carbon Market Watch
found that such claims currently
being made by oil and gas companies
amount to brazen greenwashing.
To the untrained ear, net zero (also
known as carbon neutrality) sounds
deceptively like zero - and therein lies
the marketing genius behind this
term and its rapidly gaining
popularity. It gives the impression
that emissions will be (largely)
eliminated.
However, while one factor in this
equation relates to cutting down the
level of greenhouse gas emissions,
the other involves so-called
offsetting, i.e. balancing emissions in
one place against reductions in
another.
Offsetting can be achieved through
natural solutions that enhance
nature's carbon absorption capacity
(such as afforestation or restoring
wetlands), investing in renewable
energy elsewhere, by buying
To my mind, this is akin to a modern reincarnation of
the indulgences sold by the medieval church. But, here,
instead of "sinners", polluters pay a token amount to
absolve themselves of guilt but without making any
meaningful change to their destructive behaviour.
someone else's emissions reductions,
or by using largely unproven
technologies in the future to capture
carbon from industrial processes or
the air.
If we were to attempt to offset all
our emissions by planting trees, this
would require at least 1.6 billion
hectares (4 billion acres) of new
forests, Oxfam estimates.
This afforested land would cover
five Indias or more than all the
farmland on the planet. This would
not only lead to mass hunger, it is
impractical and impossible. We
would need a Planet B to offset this
Planet A.
The "net-zero" mantra can distort
reality and present as equal yet wildly
different realities.
For instance, a serious country or
company may have a carbonneutrality
plan which relies on
slashing emissions by 90 percent and
neutralising the remaining 10
percent through offsets. A company
or country looking for easy solutions
or to greenwash its image could aim
for the inverse: 10 percent reductions
and 90 percent offsets.
Even though these two hypothetical
create the basis for enhanced regional
security and prosperity. While the
GCC and US agreed to give the Vienna
talks a chance to succeed, they are
aware of the many pitfalls
surrounding such a proposition.
First, other than general
reconciliatory statements, the new
administration in Tehran has shown
few tangible signs that it is interested
in de-escalation. The Houthis have
gone into overdrive in Yemen, Iranaffiliated
militias have upped their
activities in Iraq, and Hezbollah is
tightening its grip on Lebanon,
driving the country into a complete
meltdown.
Second, there is a fear that Iran will
slow-walk the JCPOA talks, dragging
its feet while it takes additional steps
toward developing a military nuclear
capability, following the North Korea
example of the past.
Third, Iran may use the JCPOA
talks as cover to escalate its malign
regional activities, as happened with
the JCPOA in 2015. Then, it took
advantage of the P5+1's desire to
reach a deal and avoid censuring
Tehran while the talks were ongoing.
Fourth, without an enhanced
monitoring and inspection regime,
Iran's return to the JCPOA would be
meaningless, as there would be no
way of ascertaining its full
compliance.
Aware of these possible hazards, the
GCC-US Working Group on Iran will
continue to monitor progress in the
JCPOA talks, while taking steps to
strengthen GCC defenses in the face
of emerging threats from Iran.
At the same time, the GCC is going
to continue its efforts to de-escalate
the conflict through dialogue and
diplomacy.
Source: Arab news
cases are both theoretically "net zero"
or "carbon neutral", they are not
equivalent nor equal. The first is
about taking meaningful action to
clean up the atmosphere, while the
second is about atmospherics and
cleaning up one's image.
The cover provided by the fig leaf of
net zero allows the unscrupulous to
dress up inaction as determined
action. This helps explain why
emissions on paper can appear to be
falling while in the air, where it really
matters, they continue to rise.
After the temporary blip due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, the world is on
course to return to pre-pandemic
emissions levels and, without radical
action, emissions will continue to rise
steadily in the coming years.
In the vital near term, when we
need to massively roll back emissions
this decade if we are to keep global
heating below or near the critical 1.5C
threshold, ambition is severely
wanting.
When totted up, the combined
commitments of world governments
will shave a measly 7.5 percent off
global emissions by 2030 compared
with 2010 levels, according to a UN
assessment of national plans, rather
than the 65 percent scientific
research says is imperative.
To make matters even direr,
governments appear to have been
underreporting their countries'
emissions, partly thanks to creative
"net" accounting that unrealistically
exploits natural carbon sinks.
The gap between actual and
reported global emissions could be as
high as 13.3bn tonnes a year, the
equivalent of the exhaust of nearly 3
billion cars, a new Washington Post
investigation estimates.
What all this reveals is that
reporting net emissions and aiming
for "net zero" is befogging the road
ahead and leading to dangerous
levels of procrastination and
complacency on the part of
governments and corporations.
To properly illuminate the
challenges on the horizon, we must
abandon talk of "net zero" and speak
about emissions and offsets
separately. While offsetting can be
used to compensate for essential and
unavoidable economic activities,
climate action must be
overwhelmingly focused on reining
in real emissions by 65 percent this
decade. What we desperately need
are climate heroes, not greenwashing
zeroes.
Source: Al Jazeera
FRiDAy, NovembeR 26, 2021
5
India and Pakistan on the
Indus Waters Treaty
vARsHA veNkATAsubRAmANiAN
Imagine yourself walking along the
banks of the Jhelum River. You begin
your trek at Verinag, walking along the
arcade and garden built by Emperor
Jahangir in 1620. You admire the city
of Srinagar (the "Indian" capital of
Jammu and Kashmir) as you continue
your walk. This river, once crossed by
Alexander the Great and one of the
many rivers mentioned in the Rigveda,
is now one of the main sources for
irrigation for the many apple orchards
of the region.
Agriculture is, and has been, the
backbone of the region's economy, and
today that economy is threatened.
Despite the Jhelum River being under
one of the most touted international
water treaties of the 20th century, the
Indus Waters Treaty, mining and other
damaging projects have made it more
and more difficult for the region's
farmers to get the water they need.
The Jhelum is just one of six
tributaries that make up the Indus
basin. Since 1960, the Indus Waters
Treaty (IWT) has attempted to divide
the water rights for the basin equitably
between India and Pakistan. However,
the treaty is currently hanging on by a
thread, and the roots of this precarity
can be traced back to the IWT's
establishment. Today, because of
growth in population and water
demands, the difficulties of climate
change, and the mismanagement of the
tributaries by both states, it is critical to
renegotiate the treaty.
The IWT has managed to survive
tense and at times violent relations
between India and Pakistan. However,
armed conflict over territory turns out
to be less difficult to overcome than the
realities of climate change,
technological development, and
population growth. For years, the IWT
was praised for its "far-sightedness" by
commentators and experts like Surya
P. Subedi in 1999, but in recent years it
has become clear that the literal
"divorce" of the Indus Basin was a
mistake. The IWT was a reasonable
short-term solution in the 1950s to the
growing territorial and water rights
tensions between India and Pakistan.
However, today, a critical reevaluation
of the assumptions and method of the
IWT is urgently needed.
A renegotiation of the waters in the
Indus Basin will require not only an
updated understanding of the current
physical situation, but more
importantly an attempt to reverse the
"split" of the Indus Basin and develop a
way to actually share the waters.
Currently, the Indus waters are not
being utilized efficiently or fairly, in
Pakistan, India, or Jammu and
Kashmir (not to mention the growing
water needs of Afghanistan and China).
Pakistani villagers carry potable water walking on the dry bed of the
indus River near Hyderabad city, Pakistan. Photo: Pervez masih
JAmes guilD
Southeast Asian economies are growing
fast, and investment in energy
infrastructure to fuel that growth is
racing to keep up. In 2018, the
Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam,
Malaysia, and Indonesia had a combined
GDP of $2.5 trillion and generated
939,803 GWh of electricity. The Asian
Development Bank estimates that from
2016 to 2030, the region will soak up
$14.7 trillion of investment in energy
infrastructure, leaving little doubt that
much more generating capacity is going
to be built in the coming years.
The question is what kind of capacity
will it be? Investors, developers, utilities,
and governments are laying the
groundwork now for energy systems that
will last for decades, and the choices they
make will determine whether these fastgrowing
economies get locked into highcarbon
footprints, or whether they can
finesse the transition to more sustainable
models of energy governance. Those
looking for a magic bullet that can affect
this transition, such as a tax on carbon,
are likely to be disappointed. Southeast
Asia is a large and diverse region, and
one-size-fits-all approaches will have
limited traction.
More important is understanding how
the state exerts control over domestic
fossil fuel resources and the rents derived
from them. As long as states in Southeast
Asia can control their own energy
destinies, market-based solutions like
taxes or subsidies designed to nudge
them toward renewables will be weak
motivation. Many countries have spent
decades building large and powerful
economic sectors around the exploration,
extraction, consumption, and
exportation of fossil fuels, and that
Southeast Asia's renewable
energy puzzle
A worker near a coal power plant in Cirebon, indonesia.
Photo: Achmad ibrahim
cannot be hand-waved away. Decoding
these motivations is key to figuring out
what path a country is likely to follow,
where market-based solutions might
have some cachet, and where trickier and
more painful political choices and tradeoffs
may be required.
Thailand and Vietnam have been
leading the pack in Southeast Asia when
it comes to renewables, gradually
liberalizing energy markets and seeking
to give private capital a bigger role in the
industry. These changes did not occur in
a vacuum, however. In Thailand, the
political class and other interest groups
started getting serious about reforms
around the time the domestic fossil fuel
supply began to dry up. Thailand's
domestic production of natural gas, its
largest fossil fuel resource, peaked in
2014 and after that the onboarding of
renewables like solar increased at a much
quicker pace. In other words, when the
ability of the state to determine its own
energy destiny through the control and
extraction of fossil fuels began
diminishing, that's when Thailand
pivoted in earnest toward renewables.
Timor-Leste is facing a
China's quest for greater
discourse power
Hugo JoNes
Shifts in China's economic
and military power continue
to produce dramatic
headlines, but few recognize
the changing nature and
impact of China's
internationally oriented
discourse as a form of
power. Those that do tend to
argue China still can't do soft
power and communicates
poorly with the outside
world. On closer inspection,
however, 2021 seems to
have charted a subtle
increase in China's
"discourse power."
COP26 is a prime
example. Despite facing
international criticism due
to Xi Jinping's physical
absence and surging
domestic coal consumption,
China appears to have
successfully employed
discourse to set certain
agendas at the conference.
The concept of "Ecological
Civilization," a slogan closely
linked to Xi's leadership,
found its way into many
climate conversations. This
followed the Kunming
declaration, signed by over
100 nations on October 13,
which enshrined Ecological
Civilization as a "Shared
Future for All Life on Earth."
And on November 1, the first
day of COP26, the U.K.
launched the Clean Green
Initiative (CGI), which has
clearly been informed by
China's Belt Road Initiative
(BRI).
This is not to mention the
Build Back Better World
(B3W) announced at the G-7
summit in August. It is
significant that that the CGI
and B3W have adopted
nomenclature that imitates
the BRI - even though these
projects are intended to
counter or compete with
China. In that sense, the CGI
and B3W represent a shift in
China's ability to shape
international discourse
around development
finance. Considering that
the BRI is in reality just an
umbrella term for China's
diverse global trade and
investment relationships, it
has been remarkably
successful as a narrative
capable of influencing
foreign audiences and
policymakers (its practical
economic performance
notwithstanding).
These events indicate that
China is increasingly
confident and capable in
propagating terminology
and vocabulary that carry
normative impact. Simply
put, China's discourse power
shows signs of growth.
Over the past two decades
discourse power (huayu
quan) has emerged as a
buzzword used increasingly
by Chinese political and
economic commentators. As
quan translates to both
"right" and "power," huayu
quan can also be understood
as the right to speak and be
heard, or the right to speak
with authority. In practice,
discourse power entails
creating shared vocabularies
in the international realm
that elevate China to a more
favorable position.
In the pursuit of discourse
power, diplomats and state
media have been
encouraged by Xi Jinping to
"tell China's story well." This
task is especially urgent
given the prevalence of what
has been termed "China
threat" discourse: depictions
painting China's rise in a
negative light.
In recent years Xi has been
the driving force behind a
top-down effort to increase
China's discourse power. In
August 2013, he made a
Distinct from general soft power, China's discourse power - the ability to set
and shape global narratives - is quietly on the rise. Photo: Craig Nagy
keynote speech at the
National Propaganda and
Ideology Work Conference
in Beijing, saying, "We must
strive to move international
communications capacity
construction forward…
disseminate China's voice
well, and strengthen our
discourse
power
internationally." In May
2021, Xi once again
reiterated the importance of
discursive power in remarks
made to a Politburo study
session: "China's
international discourse and
influence have significantly
increased while also faced
with new situations and
tasks."
One of these "new
situations" was the outbreak
of the COVID-19 pandemic
in early 2020. Aware of
China's image problems, Xi's
leadership doubled down on
discursive initiatives,
projecting terms such as
"win-win cooperation" and
"community with a shared
future for mankind" with
increased frequency. Over
the past two years we have
also seen China's discourse
become weaponized with
"wolf warrior diplomacy," a
form of public diplomacy
that is openly combative. As
an example, in February
2020 Zha Liyou, Chinese
Consul General in Kolkata,
replied to one tweet by
saying: "You speak in such a
way that you look like part of
the virus and you will be
eradicated just like virus.
Shame on you."
But many of China's
attempts at globalizing its
preferred political discourse
have not been successful.
The "Chinese Dream," a
cornerstone slogan of
national rejuvenation since
2012, has found little
positive reception in other
countries. This is despite a
concerted attempt by China
to popularize a discourse of
respective national dreams
over the past eight years.
Chinese diplomats,
ambassadors and consul
generals have invented and
promoted an endless list of
dreams: an Argentine
Dream, Salvadorian Dream,
Trinidad and Tobago
Dream, Ghanaian Dream,
Malian Dream, British
Dream, Sino-French Dream,
African Dream, and Latin-
American Dream, to name a
few. This discourse attempts
to standardize diverse
examples of national
development as analogous
"dreams," to build
international legitimacy for
China's rise through
commonality. However, the
political elites in these
countries and regions
seldom adopt Chinese
Dream discourse and are at
times alienated by it. With
the Chinese Dream, China
has not created a shared
vocabulary but is instead
largely talking to itself.
Examples such as the
Chinese Dream show the
limits of China's discourse
power. But they also show
that China is in a learning
process of improving its
discourse power - a trial and
error approach. Official
translations of the Chinese
term, zhongguo meng,
make-or-break moment
AveliNo Dos sANTos DA CosTA
Since the restoration of its
independence in 2002, Timor-Leste
has made tremendous progress in social
capital (education and health),
infrastructure (electricity and
telecommunication), and in
institutional frameworks such as
security, defense and foreign affairs. To
cite some figures, in the health sector,
the number of physicians per 1,000
people significantly increased from
0.034 in 2007 to 0.722 in 2018, which
amounts to a 21 fold rise. Additionally,
there have been enormous
improvements in access to electricity. In
2002, only 23.9 percent of households
had access to electricity - essentially,
only Timorese living in cities. However,
today, even those who live in the
countryside have electricity. According
to the 2019 survey, the number of
households with access to electricity
reached 94.7 percent nationwide. These
are just two examples of the stunning
improvements Timor-Leste has made
in less than 20 years.
Although there have been definite
advancements in the lives of the
ordinary people in general, however,
there is still a long way to go. For
instance, the supply of rice, the main
staple food of the Timorese people, is
always a huge concern due to the low
production rate in the country. This
consequently forces the government to
import almost half of Timor-Leste's
consumption from foreign countries
such as Vietnam, India, Pakistan, and
China annually. Additionally,
malnutrition in Timor-Leste is still
high. In 2013, 50.2 percent of children
under 5 years old had stunted growth,
though this number slightly decreased
to 47.1 percent in 2020. Taken together,
these and other data points indicate
that Timor-Leste needs to further
endeavor to improve the life of its
people. Clearly there is still much more
work to do collectively.
Among the priorities that need
attention, one of the biggest concerns
that the country is facing is how to
diversify its economy away from its
current massive dependence on oil and
gas revenue to other productive sectors,
such as agriculture, fisheries, small
industries, and tourism. Currently,
Timor-Leste's economy is still
vulnerable due to heavy reliance on
taxes collected from oil and gas
extracted from the Timor Sea. These
revenues are invested abroad in
financial assets, known as the
Petroleum Fund. Unfortunately, since
2013, there has been an enormous
decline of oil and gas revenues as
reserves in the Timor Sea dwindle.
Since then, the Petroleum Fund has
reached a plateau and currently it
merely relies on investment returns in
major international companies.
Thus, the depletion of this Petroleum
Fund is only a matter of time if annual
government spending keeps going
beyond the annual investment return.
In Timor-Leste more than 95 percent of
the state's annual spending is directly
withdrawn from the petroleum fund.
Additionally, the recent COVID-19
pandemic has also burdened the
government, which allocated an extra
budget with a total of $150 million to
deal with the outbreak and ensuing
economic cost. This budget also directly
withdrew from the Petroleum Fund.
A final downside of relying on the
Petroleum Fund is that its investment
return rate is hugely influenced by the
market. In 2015 and 2018 the
investment return was negative, while
2019 notched the highest-ever return
rate.
These points all suggest that there is
an urgent need to shift the economy to
ensure long-term sustainability. Timor-
Leste's governments have been working
on diversification of the economy based
on countless recommendations from
various credible institutions both
domestic and international, as well as
experts around the globe.
Unfortunately, this initiative has faced
tremendous challenges in the last few
years due to the numerous political
discords between the ruling and the
opposition parties, as well as between
the factions of Mari Alkatiri and Xanana
Gusmao.
In spite of this, the task of the next
government, the ninth constitutional
government, will be clear. This period
will be crucial in the history of Timor-
Leste, as the government must at least
initiate the shifting of the economy
sectors outside of oil and gas The main
priority of the next government's
program should include laying out the
foundation of how to face the new era in
The time is now, and every second counts.
the next 15 to 20 years without oil and
gas revenues. Early steps would involve
improvement of the quality and
quantity of domestic agricultural
products, promoting and growing
small-scale industries, and improving
as well as promoting the tourism
industry.
Apart from oil and gas production,
coffee is the current largest export of
Timor-Leste. Its annual coffee exports
range from $10-12 million, which is still
on a small scale; however, this counts as
a huge business in Timor-Leste's
economy. Improving the quality of the
coffee will naturally attract more
marketplaces, which eventually will
increase the value of the coffee as well.
Another sector that needs full
attention is the production of rice,
which is a main staple for most
Timorese people. The country needs
around 132,000 tonnes of rice to feed
its 1.3 million people. However,
domestic production capacity only
provides half of this. Thus, improving
the quantity of rice production is a
major issue for both the economy and
food security. The government needs to
respond as swiftly as possible to
eliminate the rice deficit.
As for tourism, Timor-Leste is still
one of the world's untouched
destinations with pristine landscapes as
well as seashores throughout the island.
Boosting the number of visitors should
be initiated by improving the basic
infrastructures of tourism as well as
cuisine, hygiene, and safety. These
should be prioritized by the next
government.
Small industries will play an essential
role for the sustainability of the
economy over the long term. These
small industries will also have a direct
effect on the unemployment rate in the
country. Timor-Leste must have
inclusive economic system where
foreign investments are welcomed
freely, with ease and fast bureaucratic
procedures.
Taken together, these are
representative examples of the
priorities that need to be addressed in
the coming years if Timor-Leste wants
to sustain its economy over the long
term.
Photo: Collected
The road will be steep and exhausting
to climb, but this is the only path for the
Timorese people in order to survive as a
sovereign and independent country.
Timorese people deserve an inclusive
economic system where all people
participate for a better life and thrive.
The people of Timor-Leste should
choose the next government by
supporting the party that they believe
would best provide and plan for the
initiation of economic diversification
toward non-oil and gas production.
Once this program is realized
nationwide, Timor-Leste, with a
sustainable economy, will be elevated to
the next level.
FriDAY, NOveMBer 26, 2021 6
Training workshop of Atrail beel Water
Management Cooperative Society held
MUBARAK HOSSAIN, SINGAIR CORReSPONDeNT
A training workshop for members of
Atrail Beel Water Management
Cooperative Society has been held at
Singair upazila of Manikganj. The daylong
training workshop was held at
Golaidanga High School in the upazila
on Wednesday (November 24) at the
initiative of local Government
engineering Department (lGeD)
under the Small Water Resources
Development Project (Phase II).
Around 250 members of the
association took part in it. Manikganj
local Government engineering
Department (lGeD) executive
engineer Md. faizul Haque spoke as
the chief guest at the occassion
organized by the Department of local
Government and funded by the Japan
International Cooperation Agency
(JICA).
During the time, Upazila engineer
Muhammad Rubaiyat Zaman,
Baldhara UP Chairman Abdul Majed
Khan, Upazila livestock Officer Dr.
faruk Ahmed, Senior fisheries Officer
Wahidul Abrar, Agriculture Officer
Tipu Sultan Sapan, Cooperative Officer
Akhinur Yasmin, Women's Affairs
Officer Raushan Ara and Sub-Inspector
Syeda Nasima Akter were also present
at the occassion.
A training workshop for members of Atrail Beel Water Management
Cooperative Society has been held at Singair upazila of Manikganj
recently.
Photo: Mubarak Hossain
20 modern equipments have been distributed among the farmers for cutting
and threshing paddy in Morrelganj on Thursday. Photo: M Palash Sharif
One die of Covid-19, casualties
reach 1,245 in Rangpur
RANGPUR: One more Covid-19 patient died
during the last 24 hours ending at 8 am
yesterday raising the number of coronavirus
related casualties to 1,245 in Rangpur division,
reports BSS.
"The new Covid-19 death was reported from
Dinajpur in the division that witnessed no
fatalities during the last seven days since
November 17," said Acting Divisional Director
(Health) Dr Abu Md Zakirul Islam.
The district-wise breakup of the 1,245
fatalities currently stands at 293 in Rangpur, 81
in Panchagarh, 89 in Nilphamari, 68 in
lalmonirhat, 69 in Kurigram, 254 in
Thakurgaon, 328 in Dinajpur and 63 in
Gaibandha districts of the division.
The average casualty rate currently stands at
2.24 percent in the division.
Meanwhile, the number of Covid-19 cases
reached 55,533 as five new patients were
diagnosed after testing 205 samples at the
positivity rate of 2.44 percent on Wednesday in
the division.
The daily positivity rate has been remaining
mostly below the five percent mark during the
last two months in the division.
"The district-wise break up of total 55,533
patients include 12,506 of Rangpur, 3,822
Panchagarh, 4,458 of Nilphamari, 2,745 of
lalmonirhat, 4,646 of Kurigram, 7,661 of
Thakurgaon, 14,827 of Dinajpur and 4,868 of
Gaibandha in the division," he said.
Dr Islam said a total of 2,99,195 collected
samples were tested till Wednesday, and of
them, 55,533 were found Covid-19 positive
RAJSHAHI: Rajshahi
Medical College Hospital
(RMCH) recorded one more
fatality in its Covid-19 unit
during the last 24 hours till
6am yesterday, reports BSS.
The death toll due to
Covid-19 and its symptoms
reached 32 so far this month
with the new death, RMCH
Director Brigadier General
Shamim Yazdani said.
The new deceased was a
female, hailed from Natore
RMCH records
one more fatality
in Covid-19 unit
and she was suffering from
symptoms of Covid-19.
Meanwhile, four more
patients were admitted to
the Covid-19 unit during the
last 24 hours, taking the
number of admitted patients
with an average positivity rate of 18.56 percent
in the division.
In the meantime, the total number of healed
Covid-19 patients reached 53,366 with
recovery of seven more infected patients on
Wednesday in the division where the average
recovery rate currently stands at 96.10 percent.
The 53,366 recovered patients include 11,590
of Rangpur, 3,683 Panchagarh, 4,362
Nilphamari, 2,625 lalmonirhat, 4,527
Kurigram, 7,350 Thakurgaon, 14,434 in
Dinajpur and 4,795 Gaibandha districts in the
division.
Among the 55,533 patients, 35 are
undergoing treatments at isolation units,
including nine critical patients at ICU beds and
six at High Dependency Unit beds, after
recovery of 53,366 patients and 1,245 deaths
while 887 are remaining now in home
isolation.
"Meanwhile, the number of citizens who got
the first dose of the Covid- 19 vaccine rose to
65,62,710, and among them, 36,76,118 got the
second dose of the jab till Wednesday in the
division," Dr Islam said.
Chief of Divisional Coronavirus Service and
Prevention Task force and Principal of
Rangpur Medical College Professor Dr AKM
Nurunnobi lyzu said the Covid-19 situation
continues to improve during the last three
months in Rangpur division.
"To prevent another probable wave of the
lethal virus in the winter, everyone should
properly abide by the health directives of the
government," he said.
to 35, including seven
positive for Covid-19, at
present.
Two other patients
returned home after being
cured during the same time.
On the other hand, one
more patient tested positive
for Covid-19 after testing
240 samples in Rajshahi's
two laboratories on
Wednesday, showing a 0.46
percent positivity rate.
The training workshop discussed
important issues aimed at making the
members of Atrail Beel Water
Management Cooperative Society
(PABSOS) self-reliant and self-reliant
by expanding fisheries, agriculture and
animal resources.
Upazila Assistant engineer Nazrul
Islam, Abdul Malek, President and
General Secretary of Atrail Beel Water
Management Cooperative Society
along with officials and employees of
various levels of Small Water
Resources Development Project and
local Government engineering
Department (lGeD) were present.
20 machines,
fertilizer seeds
distrubted
among farmers
in Morrelganj
M PAlASH SHARIf, MORRel-
GANJ CORReSPONDeNT
In Morrelganj of
Bagerhat, 20 modern
equipments have been
distributed among the
farmers for cutting and
threshing paddy. Under
the farm mechanization
project, the upazila
agriculture department
distributed 10 paddy
harvesters and 10
threshing machines at
subsidized prices on
Thursday around 12
noon.
Upazila Chairman Adv.
Shah-i-Alash Bachchu,
Upazila Nirbahi Officer
Md Jahangir Alam and
Agriculture Officer Sifat
Al Maruf officially handed
over the machines. In
addition, 5 and a half
metric tons of high
yielding varieties of rice
seeds and 16 metric tons
of fertilizer were
distributed among the
farmers free of cost.
Upazila Vice Chairman
Mozammel Haque,
fahima Chabul District
Council Member
Professor Afroza Akter
lina were present on the
occasion.
GP's One Stop
Service Center
inagurated at
Nandail
ARABINDA PAUl, NANDAIl
CORReSPONDeNT
Grameen Phone's One
Stop Center has been
inaugurated by senior
officials of Grameen
Phone Company in
Nandai.
The service center was
inaugurated on Thursday
by cutting the ribbon on
the ground floor of labu
Plaza in the old bus stand
area of Nandail Upazila
Sadar. Invited guests
later cut a cake.
The guests present at
the inaugural function
said that Grameen Phone
Company is the oldest
and largest phone service
in Bangladesh. The
center has been
inaugurated at the upazila
level to expand this
service.
During the time, Akram
Hossain, secretary of
Nandail Bazar Business
Association, Hasan
Mahmud, Assistant
Manager Dipankar Das,
Retail Channel Manager
Muhammad Noor e
Khoda, Mymensingh
Retail Channel Manager
Mahmud Ur Rahman,
Territory Manager Syed
Ahmed Chowdhury,
NRBC Bank Manager Asif
Sarwar, NCC Bank
Manager Mahbub were
among others present at
the occassion.
An open discussion was held with the stockholders with the aim of getting the suggestions, complaints
and opinions of the beneficiaries regarding the activities of Sreemangal NGO's in
Moulvibazar on Thursday.
Photo: Sayed Ahmed
Open discussion regarding activities
of Sreemangal NGO’S held
SAYeD AHMeD, SReeMANGAl CORReSPONDeNT
An open discussion was held with the
stockholders with the aim of getting the
suggestions, complaints and opinions of the
beneficiaries regarding the activities of
Sreemangal NGO's in Moulvibazar. The
meeting was held on Thursday morning at
the Zila Parishad Auditorium Hall of the city
at the initiative of MCDA and educo
Bangladesh. Q
The program was attended by educo
Bangladesh Director (Program) farzana
Rangpur region to produce
11,688 tonnes of groundnut
RANGPUR: A target of
producing 11,688 tonnes of
groundnut from 6,015
hectares of land has been
fixed for all five districts in
Rangpur agriculture region
during the current (2021-
2022) Rabi season, reports
BSS.
Officials of the Department
of Agricultural extension
(DAe) said farmers produced
a record 13,191 tonnes of
groundnut from 6,027
hectares of land exceeding the
fixed production target of
12,161 tonnes during the last
Rabi season. "farmers have
already completed sowing of
groundnut seeds on 4,195
hectares of land as the process
continues amid excellent
climatic conditions,"
Additional Director of the
DAe's Rangpur region
Agriculturist Md. Tauhidul
Ikbal told BSS yesterday.
Tender groundnut plants
are growing fabulously now
both on the mainland and vast
riverine char areas in all five
districts of Rangpur
agriculture region.
farmers are expanding
groundnut farming every year
after getting repeated bumper
production and lucrative
market price in the last 13
consecutive years, even
during the Covid-19 pandemic
period.
As a result of conducting
massive motivational
activities by the DAe and
other agriculture related
organisations, farmers are
cultivating high yielding
varieties of groundnut evolved
by Bangladesh Agriculture
Research Institute (BARI).
farmers are showing keen
interests in enhancing
groundnut cultivation on
main lands and char areas to
reap more profits than many
other crops following the
constantly increasing demand
of the crop. Senior
Coordinator (Agriculture and
environment) of RDRS
Bangladesh Agriculturist
Mamunur Rashid said
farmers can earn Taka 40,000
by producing 26 to 30
mounds of groundnut per
acre of land, spending around
Taka 20,000 as farming costs
per acre.
farmers are getting
excellent groundnut yield by
cultivating its high yielding
varieties evolved by BARI in
all five districts of Rangpur,
Gaibandha, lalmonirhat,
Kurigram and Nilphamari in
the region.
High yielding varieties of
groundnut like 'Maizchar',
'Tridana', 'Basonti', BARI-8,
BARI-6, BINA-4 and BINA-8
are mostly being cultivated by
farmers after getting repeated
bumper output and lucrative
price in recent years.
Khan, educo Bangladesh Managerevaluation
and Knowledge Management Md
Jamal Uddin, Sreemangal Upazila Youth
Development Officer Asim Kumar Kar,
Monitoring & evaluation Officer Kamal
Kashna Roy were among others also present
at the occassion.
The event was attended by educo
Bangladesh's 4 local organizations Breaking
the Silence, MCDA, Idea and Prochestha's
Aloy Alo project beneficiaries from different
classes and 60 representatives from
stockholders.
With increasing demand for
groundnut in the country's
boosting food industry sector,
enthusiastic farmers are
expanding groundnut
cultivation every year.
"Some 7,000 farmers,
mostly living in riverine char
areas, have achieved selfreliance
by cultivating
groundnut twice annually on
sandy char lands with
assistance of the DAe and
different NGOs improving
their living standard," Rashid
added.
Talking to BSS, farmer
Abdur Rahman of village Char
Ghoneshyam village in
Jatrapur union of Kurigram
said he has cultivated
groundnut on one acre of char
land spending Taka 20,000
this year to recoup the crop
losses caused by recent floods.
farmers Abdul Hakim and
Bachchu Mian of Char
Nawani Para in the same area
said they have cultivated
groundnut on more char land
this season after getting
bumper production and
excellent prices every year in
recent times. Similarly,
farmers Abul Hashem,
lokman Hossain and Abdul
Haque of Char Biswanath
village in Kawnia upazila of
Rangpur said they have
cultivated groundnut on more
char lands this year than the
previous seasons.
95,687 patients
so far recover
from Covid-19
in Rajshahi
RAJSHAHI: Ten more
persons have recovered
from Covid- 19 in the
division on Wednesday,
taking the recovery count to
95,687 since the pandemic
began in March last year,
reports BSS.
Sixteen more people have
tested positive for the deadly
disease in six districts of the
division during the same
period, raising the caseload
to 99,295 so far.
The new positive cases
show a falling trend
compared to the previous
day's figure, said Dr Habibul
Ahsan Talukder, divisional
director of Health, adding
that a total of 24 people were
infected on Tuesday.
The death toll remained
steady at 1,680, including
685 in Bogura, 323 in
Rajshahi with 204 in its city
and 175 in Natore as no new
fatality was reported during
the last 24 hours span, Dr
Talukder added.
Besides, all the positive
cases of Covid-19 have, so
far, been brought under
treatment while 23,080
were kept in isolation units
of different dedicated
hospitals for institutional
quarantine. Of them, 19,723
have been released.
Meanwhile, 25 more
people have been sent to
home and institutional
quarantine afresh, while 26
others were released from
isolation during the same
time.
Of the 16 new cases, six
were detected in Joypurhat,
followed by three each in
Bogura and Pabna, two in
Naogaon and one each in
Rajshahi and Natore
districts.
With the newly detected
patients, the district-wise
break-up of the total cases
now stands at 28,204 in
Rajshahi including 22,761 in
its city, 5,687 in
Chapainawabganj, 6,441 in
Naogaon, 8,407 in Natore,
4,675 in Joypurhat, 21,700
in Bogura, 11,416 in
Sirajganj and 12,765 in
Pabna.
Grameen Phone's One Stop Center has been inaugurated by senior officials of Grameen Phone
Company in Nandail on Thursday.
Photo: Arabinda Paul
At least 31 migrants bound for Britain died Wednesday when their boat sank in the English Channel,
in what France's interior minister called the biggest migration tragedy on the dangerous crossing to
date.
Photo : AP
Migrant boat capsizes in English
Channel; at least 31 dead
CALAIS : At least 31 migrants bound for
Britain died Wednesday when their
boat sank in the English Channel, in
what France's interior minister called
the biggest migration tragedy on the
dangerous crossing to date.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin
said 34 people were believed to have
been on the boat. Authorities found 31
bodies - including those of five women
and a young girl - and two survivors, he
said. One person appeared to still be
missing. The nationalities of the
travelers was not immediately known.
The regional maritime authority,
which oversees rescue operations, later
said 27 bodies were found, two people
survived and four others were missing
and presumed drowned. The
discrepancy in the numbers was not
immediately explained.
Ever-increasing numbers of people
fleeing conflict or poverty in
Afghanistan, Sudan, Iraq, Eritrea or
elsewhere are risking the perilous
journey in small, unseaworthy craft
from France, hoping to win asylum or
find better opportunities in Britain. The
Sweden's first female
prime minister quits
hours later
COPENHAGEN : Hours after
being tapped as Sweden's first
female prime minister,
Magdalena Andersson
resigned Wednesday after
suffering a budget defeat in
parliament and her coalition
partner the Greens left the
two-party minority
government.
The government's own
budget proposal was rejected
in favor of one presented by
the opposition that includes
the right-wing populist
Sweden Democrats. Sweden's
third-largest party is rooted in
a neo-Nazi movement. The
vote was 154-143 in favor of
the opposition's budget
proposal.
Andersson, leader of the
Social Democratic party,
decided it was best to step
down from the post more
than seven hours after she
made history by becoming
the first woman to lead the
country.
"For me, it is about respect,
but I also do not want to lead
a government where there
may be grounds to question
its legitimacy," Andersson
told a news conference.
Andersson, who was
finance minister before briefly
becoming prime minister,
informed parliamentary
Speaker Andreas Norlen that
she is still interested in
leading a Social Democratic
one-party government.
Norlen, the speaker of
Sweden's 349-seat
parliament, said he will
contact Sweden's eight party
leaders "to discuss the
situation." On Thursday, he
will announce the road ahead.
Andersson said that "a
coalition government should
resign if a party chooses to
leave the government.
Despite the fact that the
parliamentary situation is
unchanged, it needs to be
tried again."
crossings have tripled this year
compared to 2020, and another 106
migrants were rescued in French waters
on Wednesday alone.
A joint French-British search
operation for survivors of the sinking
was called off late Wednesday. Both
countries cooperate to stem migration
across the Channel but also accuse each
other of not doing enough - and the
issue is often used by politicians on both
sides pushing an anti-migration
agenda.
Four suspected traffickers were
arrested Wednesday on suspicion of
being linked to the sunken boat,
Darmanin told reporters in the French
port city of Calais. He said two of the
suspects later appeared in court.
The regional prosecutor opened an
investigation into aggravated
manslaughter, organized illegal
migration and other charges after the
sinking. Lille Prosecutor Carole Etienne
told The Associated Press that officials
were still working to identify the victims
and determine their ages and
nationalities, and that the investigation
may involve multiple countries. "It's a
day of great mourning for France, for
Europe, for humanity to see these
people die at sea," Darmanin said. He
lashed out at "criminal traffickers"
driving thousands to risk the crossing.
Activists demonstrated outside the
port of Calais on Wednesday night,
accusing governments of not doing
enough to respond to migrants' needs.
Hundreds of people live in precarious
conditions along the French coast,
despite regular police patrols and
evacuation operations.
The bodies were brought to the Calais
port, Jean-Marc Puissesseau, head of
the ports of Calais and Boulogne, told
The AP. "We were waiting for
something like this to happen," he said,
given the growing numbers of people
risking the passage.
Aid groups blamed European
governments for increasingly hard-line
migration policies. "The U.K. is not a
choice, it is an escape, an escape for
people fleeing the lack of welcome in
Europe," said Nikolai Posner of French
charity Utopia 56.
3 men charged in Ahmaud Arbery's
death convicted of murder
BRUNSWICK : Three men were convicted of
murder Wednesday in the killing of Ahmaud
Arbery, the Black man who was running
empty-handed through a Georgia subdivision
when the white strangers chased him, trapped
him on a quiet street and blasted him with a
shotgun.
The February 2020 slaying drew limited
attention at first. But when video of the
shooting leaked online, Arbery's death quickly
became another example in the nation's
reckoning of racial injustice in the way Black
people are treated in their everyday lives.
Now the men all face a mandatory sentence
of life in prison. The judge will decide whether
their sentences are served with or without the
possibility of parole.
As the first of 23 guilty verdicts were read,
Arbery's father had to leave the courtroom
after leaping up and shouting. At the reading
of the last criminal count, Arbery's mother
dropped her head and quietly pumped her
fists.
"He didn't do nothing but run and dream,"
Marcus Arbery Sr. said of his son. Outside the
courthouse, dozens of Black supporters
hugged and cried.
The jury deliberated for about 10 hours
before convicting Greg McMichael, son Travis
McMichael and neighbor William "Roddie"
Bryan.
The McMichaels grabbed guns and jumped
in a pickup truck to pursue the 25-year-old
Arbery after seeing him running outside the
Georgia port city of Brunswick. Bryan joined
the pursuit in his own pickup and recorded
cellphone video of Travis McMichael fatally
shooting Arbery.
The father and son told police they
suspected Arbery was a fleeing burglar. But
the prosecution argued that the men provoked
the fatal confrontation and that there was no
evidence Arbery committed any crimes in the
neighborhood.
"We commend the courage and bravery of
this jury to say that what happened on Feb. 23,
2020, to Ahmaud Arbery - the hunting and
killing of Ahmaud Arbery - it was not only
morally wrong but legally wrong, and we are
thankful for that," said Latonia Hines, Cobb
County executive assistant district attorney.
Prosecutor Linda Dunikoski added: "The jury
system works in this country. And when you
present the truth to people and they see it,
they will do the right thing."
Travis McMichael, 35, stood for the verdict,
his lawyer's arm around his shoulder. At one
point, he lowered his head to his chest. After
the verdicts were read, as he stood to leave, he
mouthed "love you" to his mother in the
courtroom gallery.
Greg McMichael, 65, hung his head when
the judge read his first guilty verdict. Bryan,
52, bit his lip.
Three men were convicted of murder Wednesday in the killing of Ahmaud
Arbery, the Black man who was running empty-handed through a Georgia
subdivision when the white strangers chased him, trapped him on a quiet
street and blasted him with a shotgun.
Photo : AP
US jobless claims hit
52-year low after
seasonal adjustments
WASHINGTON : The
number of Americans
applying for unemployment
benefits plummeted last
week to the lowest level in
more than half a century,
another sign that the U.S.
job market is rebounding
rapidly from last year's
coronavirus recession,
reports UNB.
Jobless claims dropped by
71,000 to 199,000, the
lowest since mid-November
1969. But seasonal
adjustments around the
Thanksgiving holiday
contributed significantly to
the bigger-than-expected
drop. Unadjusted, claims
actually ticked up by more
than 18,000 to nearly
259,000.
The four-week average of
claims, which smooths out
weekly ups and downs, also
dropped - by 21,000 to just
over 252,000, the lowest
since mid-March 2020
when the pandemic
slammed the economy.
Since topping 900,000 in
early January, the
applications have fallen
steadily toward and now
fallen below their
prepandemic level of around
220,000 a week. Claims for
jobless aid are a proxy for
layoffs.
Overall, 2 million
Americans were collecting
traditional unemployment
checks the week that ended
Nov. 13, down slightly from
the week before.
"Overall, expect continued
volatility in the headline
figures, but the trend
remains very slowly lower,"
Contingent Macro Advisors
wrote in a research note.
Brazilians find stock
exchange bull
unbearable, remove it
SAO PAULO : Many
Brazilians felt bearish about
the new Wall Street-inspired
bull sculpture outside the
stock exchange, and didn't
have to wait long for it to
crash: The statue has been
removed a week after it was
installed.
Sao Paulo's stock exchange
had hoped to bestow the
rundown city center with a
flashy landmark. But its
golden sheen was offset by
nearby tents for the homeless
and the daily line outside a
major trade union of people
searching for jobs-any job.
By Tuesday night, it was
gone.
Critics said the metal and
fiberglass sculpture at the
gates of the stock exchange in
no way reflects Brazil's
current economic crossroads
nor near-term prospects, with
poverty and unemployment
high and inflation running in
the double digits. Local media
have shown poor Brazilians in
several cities so desperate for
food that they rummage
through rejected meat scraps.
"It represents the strength
and the resilience of the
Brazilian people," Gilson
Finkelsztain, the exchange's
CEO, said at its Nov. 16
unveiling. It was sponsored
by the stock exchange and
investor Paulo Spyer.
Spyer, who owns a
consultancy firm named Vai
Tourinho ("Go Little Bull" in
Portuguese), said he was
honored to give "a gift to all
Brazilians." Some locals were
keen to snap pictures with the
sculpture, which resembles
the Charging Bull in
Manhattan's financial district.
But celebration was swiftly
met with protests. The next
day, a dozen students posted
stickers that read "HUNGER"
on the bull's body. After their
removal, the nonprofit group
SP Invisible, which aids the
poor, organized a barbecue
beside the bull to feed
homeless people. Both
demonstrations reverberated
widely on social media.
"This bull is suggesting we
are experiencing some
progress, but it is the exact
opposite," Vinicius Lima, one
of the nonprofit's organizers,
told journalists. "Beef prices
have skyrocketed.
FriDAY, NovEmBEr 26, 2021
7
Scholz seals deal to crown
career as German chancellor
BERLIN : Olaf Scholz is set to become post-
World War II Germany's ninth chancellor,
crowning a career that has seen him serve in a
string of top government posts, after leading
his party to an election comeback that
appeared hugely unlikely just a few months
ago. The 63-year-old on Wednesday sealed a
deal for his center-left Social Democrats to
lead Germany's next government in a
coalition with the environmentalist Greens
and the pro-business Free Democrats. The
agreement followed relatively quick talks that
were disciplined and discreet, qualities that
reflect Scholz's own image. Scholz has a terse,
no-nonsense approach typical of his home
city of Hamburg, where he once worked as a
lawyer - an even more sober style than that of
outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel. He
joined the Social Democratic Party at 17 and
was first elected to parliament in 1998.
He is unflappable and unshakably selfconfident,
but no master of rhetoric. During a
turbulent stint as the Social Democrats'
general secretary in the early 2000s, he
Hiker finds remains of 4th,
final victim of Colorado flood
FORT COLLINS : A hiker found the remains of
the fourth and final person who died during
flooding and mudslides in an area of northern
Colorado that was burned by a massive
wildfire, authorities said.
The remains of Diana Brown, 57, of San
Antonio, were found Saturday, according to
the Larimer County Sheriff's Office. She was
swept away by the flood waters July 20 along
with her family members Richard Brown, of
Bellevue, Nebraska; Patricia Brown, of
Madison, Wisconsin; and David Brown, also
from San Antonio.
Richard Brown owned a mobile home in the
area, but his home residence was in Bellevue,
Nebraska, the Fort Collins Coloradoan
reported. All four victims were in the same
house in the small Black Hollow area 45 miles
(72 kilometers) west of Fort Collins when the
flood hit.
The first three bodies were recovered several
days after the flood, and the search was
earned the nickname "Scholzomat" for what
critics said was a habit of constantly repeating
the same phrases in support of then-
Chancellor Gehard Schroeder's welfare-state
trims and economic reforms, which faced
dissent within the party.
Scholz's experience, attention to detail and
sometimes technocratic image became an
asset during this year's election campaign, in
which he led the long-struggling Social
Democrats from third place in polls to a
narrow win in the Sept. 26 election.
He was helped by a series of gaffes and slips
by his two opponents - Armin Laschet, the
leader of Merkel's center-right Christian
Democrats, and Annalena Baerbock, who was
making the Greens' first run for the
chancellery.
The Social Democrats' stock rose as Scholz,
the finance minister and vice chancellor in
Merkel's government, calmly ran through a
largely accident-free campaign and turned in
unspectacular but solid performances in three
televised pre-election debates.
suspended July 29 with no sign of Diana
Brown's body. Another unsuccessful search
involving 120 people took place in mid-
September.
The flooding and slides happened in an area
that was burned last year by the 326-squaremile
(844-square-kilometer) Cameron Peak
Fire, the largest in Colorado's history. Fires
torch vegetation that usually helps absorb rain
and keeps the ground stable, making those
areas more vulnerable to flooding, especially in
steep sections. The soil in burned areas can
also repel rain.
Six homes were destroyed and another was
damaged, all on the same road, according to
the sheriff's office.
Scientists say climate change is responsible
for more intense and frequent extreme
weather like flooding and droughts and events
like wildfires. But more research is needed to
determine how much global warming is to
blame, if at all, for a single event.
A hiker found the remains of the fourth and final person who died during
flooding and mudslides in an area of northern Colorado that was burned by a
massive wildfire.
Photo : AP
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021
8
Malaysia PM launches Huawei customer
solution innovation center
The 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL) was held on
24th November 2021 at 6:30 pm in Hotel Intercontinantal, Dhaka. Chairman of GTCL Board of
Directors and Senior Secretary, Energy and Mineral Resources Division, Md. Anisur Rahman
presided over the meeting while, Shareholder and Member of Board of Directors Mr. A B M Abdul
Fattah Chairman, Petrobangla and all other Shareholders and Members of the Board Directors of
the Company attended the meeting. The Audited Accounts & Management Report for the fiscal year
2020-21 of the Company was approved by the shareholders at the AGM. During the FY 2020-2021,
the Company earned an amount of Tk.1,120.17 crore as revenue by transporting 25,597.17 million
cubic meter gas and 361.33 million liter condensate. The Company earned Tk.237.85 crore as Pre-tax
Profit and Tk.74.09 crore as Post-tax Profit and a total amount of Tk.753.17 crore was contributed to
the Government Exchequer.
Photo : Courtesy
Prime Bank wins prestigious Efma-Accenture
Banking Innovation Awards 2021
Prime Bank limited shines
in the international
Financial Sphere receiving
the Analytics & Artificial
Intelligence (AI) award-
Bronze at the prestigious
Efma-Accenture Banking
Innovation Awards 2021
along with Bank of
Santander, Spain (Gold) and
ING Bank, Turkey (Silver).
The accolade comes from
Prime Bank's AI driven
digital nano financing
platform, "PrimeAgrim" that
focuses on innovation that
facilitates banking needs
and propel financial
inclusion, a press release
said.
The Efma-Accenture
Banking Innovation Awards
have been a catalyst for
innovation in the banking
sector worldwide. The
awards ceremony is widely
recognized as the 'Oscars' of
the Banking industry. Efma
recognizes the best in
banking innovation,
attracted a record-breaking
816 entries from nearly 300
financial institutions in 73
countries.
PrimeAgrim, is a digital
nano financing platform that
is embedded with artificial
intelligence, machine
learning and alternative
credit to address emergency
needs of Blue-collar
Working Community.
PrimeAgrim is an end-toend
digital product that
assesses customers' credit
eligibility and completes
disbursement digitally,
negating the hassles of
document submission to
save time and energy.
Prime Bank Limited's
Head of Consumer Banking
Division and DMD, ANM
Mahfuz commented on this
occasion, "Prime Bank has
been working relentlessly to
promote financial inclusion
through
digital
transformation.
Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited inaugurated its 381st Branch at Kaliganj of Keraniganj Upazila in Dhaka
on 25 November 2021, Thursday. Mohammed Monirul Moula, Managing Director and CEO of the bank
inaugurated the Branch as chief guest. Muhammad Qaisar Ali, Additional Managing Director presided
over the program while Abu Sayed Md. Idris, Head of Dhaka South Zone of the bank addressed the welcome
speech. Md. Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan, Executive Vice President of the bank, Md. Jahangir Shah,
Chairman of Aganagar Union Parishad and Md. Shwadhin Sheikh, President of Keraniganj Garments
Babosayee O Dokan Malik Samobay Samiti addressed the program as special guest. Syed Zinder Kabir,
Head of Kaliganj Branch thanked the audience. Sushil Kumar Modak, Sayed Jobaer and Md. Nazmul
Hasan, businessmen addressed on behalf of clients and well-wishers. Executives and employees of the
bank, clients, well wishers and local elites were present on the occasion. Later, the new branch distributed
SME investment.
Photo : Courtesy
Walton declares huge discounts on combo packages
Bangladeshi Superbrand
Walton has declared special
discounts on combo packages
for the purchase of its various
products of electronics, home
and kitchen appliances under
its new initiative 'Wedfest
Combo Offer'. Under the
campaign, customers are
getting huge discounts on
specific models of refrigerator,
TV, AC, washing machine,
microwave oven, blender, rice
cooker, gas stove and fan
under three packages-
Platinum, Gold and Special,
says a press release.
On Thursday (November
25, 2021) the announcement
was made at a declaration
programme held at the
Walton corporate office in
Dhaka. The the 'Wedfest
Combo Offer' campaign,
customers can choose
products on three packages-
Platinum, Gold and Special
and get cash discounts from
Tk 23,000 to Tk 40,000 from
Walton Plaza, distributor
showroom or e-plaza across
the country. The benefits are
available from November 15,
2021 and will continue until
March 15, 2022. However, the
facilities under Walton's
ongoing Digital Campaign
Season-12 will not be
applicable for customers who
avail 'Wedfest Combo Offer'.
Rifah Tasnia Swarna,
Director of Walton High-Tech
Industries Limited, was
present at the programme as
chief guest. Deputy Managing
Directors Nazrul Islam Sarker,
Eva Rezwana, Amdadul
Haque Sarker and Eva
Rizwana Nilu, Walton Plaza
Trade's Chief Executive Officer
(CEO) Mohammad Rayhan,
Top officials of Walton pose at the declaration of its 'Wedfest Combo Offer. Photo : Courtesy'
Senior Executive Directors SM
Zahid Hasan, Ariful Ambia,
Walton AC's Chief Business
Officer (CBO) Tanvir
Rahman, Refrigerator's CBO
Anisur Rahman Mollick, TV's
CBO Mostafa Nahid Hossain,
Electrical Appliance's CBO
Sohel Rana, Home
Appliance's CBO Al Imran,
Kitchen Appliance's CBO
Mahfuzur Rahman, Media
Adviser Enayet Ferdous were
among others also present on
the occasion.
The Platinum package
include one model of 563-liter
side-by-side glass door
refrigerator, 1.5-ton's highenergy
saving AC, 43-inch
android smart TV, front
loading automatic washing
machine and 30-liter
microwave oven and three
unit of celling fan, one model
of blender, rice cooker and gas
stove. The market price of
these products are Tk
2,38,340. However, the
products can be bought
together with Tk 2,00,511
under the package which will
save Tk 40,000.
Customers have the
opportunity to purchase the
above-mentioned products of
other models with Tk 1,38,626
on a discount of Tk 27,000
under Gold package while the
customers can buy those
products with Tk 1,19,313 with
a discount of Tk 23,000 under
the Special Package.
The newly refurbished and
upgraded Huawei Customer
Solution Innovation Center
(CSIC) has been officially
launched by Prime Minister
Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri Bin
Yaakob recently as part of
the celebrations to
commemorate Huawei's
20th anniversary in
Malaysia. The CSIC, located
in Integra Tower at the heart
of Kuala Lumpur,
aggregates the company's
over 120 reference
applications and services
globally. Michael Yuan,
Chief Executive Officer of
Huawei Malaysia, was also
present at the event.
The state-of-the-art
technology and solutions
displayed in Huawei
Malaysia CSIC aims to assist
the nation in becoming the
ASEAN Digital Hub.
Huawei's CSIC was designed
as an Information and
Communications
Technology (ICT) Hub and
Centre of Excellence to drive
the industry's open
ecosystem and accelerate
digital
economy
transformation in Malaysia,
a press release said.
Delivering the keynote
address during the launch,
Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri said,
"Tthe CSIC is a testament to
Huawei Malaysia's
commitment to the nation's
digital transformation.
"Thank you, Huawei, for
accelerating digital
transformation and
strengthening the
development of Malaysia's
innovative platforms since
20 years ago."
CEO of Huawei Malaysia,
Yuan, meanwhile, said,
"Through the CSIC, Huawei
will continue to bring global
experiences to serve the
needs of the ICT industry in
Malaysia and to assist local
stakeholders in succeeding
in their businesses. This
center will act as a catalyst to
accelerate Malaysia's digital
transformation and to
capitalize on the potential of
Berger Paints Bangladesh
Limited (BPBL) has
inaugurated its latest Berger
Experience Zone at Khulna to
provide one-stop painting
solution to all kinds of
painting requirements. The
leading paints solutions brand
of the country has expanded
its service of excellence
further in the southern parts
of the country, as it opened
this franchised outlet under
the dealer "Mukut Hardware"
at the district's 383,
Khanjahan Ali Road, Ferighat
Mor.
Among the Berger officials
present at the inauguration
event were - Mohsin Habib
Chowdhury, Senior General
Manager, Sales and
Marketing; Ata E Muneer,
Divisional Sales Manager;
Shabbir Ahmed, Head -
Project, Prolinks and
Experience Zone; Sayed
Shorif Russel, Category Manager - Marketing and Shakil M Humayun, Branch
advanced technologies and
assist in driving investments
in the digital economy for
the nation at the same time."
Huawei launched CSIC in
Bangladesh in 2016. Since
then, it has been playing a
pivotal role in ICT through
the exchange of the world's
best technological
knowledge and practices
and innovation in business
solutions.
New Berger Experience Zone
inaugurated in Khulna
Manager - Khulna Sales, a
press release said.
Mohsin Habib Chowdhury,
Senior General Manager,
Sales and Marketing, BPBL,
said, "Khulna is a city that is
always full of life and festivity.
As we inaugurate this
franchised outlet in the heart
of the city, we are hopeful of
adding more colors to this
festivity and celebration of
life. Now the people of Khulna
can avail of genuine, top of
line paints solutions without
any hassle."
The core objective of Berger
Experience Zones is to offer
Berger's comprehensive
painting solutions to
maximum possible
consumers across the nation.
The outlets provide various
services, such as hundreds of
color shades, vibrant palettes,
and resolve all sorts of paintrelated
queries for the
common customers.
Why Bangladesh Inc is wary of a sturdy dollar
DHAKA : A stronger US dollar
is usually grody news for
emerging market economies
with heavy dollardenominated
debt. And
Bangladesh is no exception,
reports UNB.
In this country, the
corporate sector has
borrowed heavily in foreign
currencies from external
sources at lower interest rates.
A stronger dollar has now
made their foreign debt
expensive, hitting them really
hard as they struggle to tide
over the Covid-induced
economic slowdown.
Those entrepreneurs who
took hassle-free loans from
abroad some five years agowhen
the interest rate on bank
loans in Bangladesh was more
than 12% -- are now facing the
wrath of the appreciating
dollar, having forced to count
10% more on money they
borrowed at just 3-4%
interest.
The approved debt from
external sources for
Bangladesh's private sector
stood at USD 14,003.95
million as of June 2021, of
which USD 9,601.27 million
had been repaid along with
USD 677.37 million interest.
In the January to March
quarter of the last financial
year, the approved external
debt for the private sector was
USD 617.95 million, while it
declined to USD 230.81
million in the last quarter of
2020-21 fiscal, as per
Bangladesh Bank (BB)
statistics.
Experts say the size of the
Bangladeshi economy has
expanded and industrial
production has increased
significantly over the past
decade, but financing for
domestic investment still
remains a big challenge. In
addition, a large number of
entrepreneurs are still leaning
on foreign loans.
The loan money from
external sources comes to the
country in dollars or any other
currency and it has to be
repaid in that foreign
currency. For this reason, if
the exchange rate of a foreign
currency goes up, then the
borrowers will have to buy it
at a higher price, according to
the experts. Five year ago in
April 2016, one US dollar was
sold in Bangladesh at
Tk76.60. The rates remained
the same for almost three
years. However, Bangladesh
taka has lost 10% more value
over the past two years.
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar,along with
Professor Dr. Md. Golam Rahman, Advisor of Daffodil International
University's Department of Journalism, Media and Communication and
Editor of the Daily Ajker Patrika, Prominent Film Director Amitabh Reza
Choudhury, Syed Ishtiaq Reza, editor-in-chief of GTV, RafeSadnan Adel,
Head of Media and External Relations of BRAC, Digital Media Specialist
Nurunnabi Chowdhury Hasib at the closing ceremony of the 'JMC Media
Buzz' program organized by the Department of Journalism, Media and
Communication (JMC) of Daffodil International University. Photo : Courtesy
FriDAY, NoveMber 26, 2021
9
Man City beats PSG, both advance
in Champions League
SportS DeSk
Fresh from scoring Manchester City's
winner, Gabriel Jesus surely would not
have intended to have a dig at Paris
Saint-Germain, reports AP.
Even if the striker's comment after
City's 2-1 win on Wednesday - as both
teams advanced in the Champions
League - did cut to the heart of the
contrasts in their performances.
"We have a lot of players who can
help the team," he said. "Everyone
wants to give good balls to other
players. Nobody is selfish."
PSG had its 11 players on the field at
the Etihad Stadium - with Lionel Messi,
Neymar and Kylian Mbappe leading
the attack - but it didn't always seem
there was a complete team out there.
"They have a lot of quality," City
manager Pep Guardiola said. "We try to
keep the players far away from the
goal." It was the less glamorous
Brazilian attacker on the scoresheet
rather than Neymar in the chill of
Manchester. Brought off the bench in
the second half to give City a No. 9,
Gabriel Jesus completed the City
comeback with a scuffed shot after
being teed up by Bernardo Silva.
"We attack well in the spaces and the
quality from Bernardo," Guardiola
said. "When you talk about the right
technique, it is that. The right tempo
and doing it in the right moment to give
your team-mate the best chance to
score the goal."
City clinched top spot in Group A and
a meeting with a runner-up in the
round of 16 in February.
"It was a bit frustrating in the first
half," Silva said, "because it felt like we
were controlling the game, we felt like
we were pressing high, winning the
ball, having the possession, but it felt
like we were not scoring again."
The clash of the competition's
wealthiest teams, who are yet to win
European football's top prize, fully
came to life in the 50th minute when
Mbappe put PSG ahead after an
interchange between Messi and
Neymar. But the attacking dominance
by City that defined the first half saw
Raheem Sterling's outstretched left foot
nudge in a cross from Kyle Walker to
equalize before the winner came in the
76th. "After the goal, we conceded at
the beginning of the second half, the
team had a great reaction," Silva said.
PSG is also sure of going through as
runner-up thanks to Leipzig beating
Club Brugge 5-0.
All four English teams will now be in
the knockout stage with a game to
spare, with City joining defending
champions Chelsea, Liverpool and
Manchester United.
Pochettino, who reached the 2019
Champions League final with
Tottenham before being fired, was
hesitant in committing his future to
PSG. "The players know very well our
situation," he said. "They know their
situation. We are living in a business
where rumours are there."
The Champions League is the trophy
Pochettino has to deliver for the Qatari
ownership. Just as Guardiola is striving
to deliver the prize with so much
investment from Abu Dhabi.
It encouraged Guardiola that his
team beat PSG -- just like in the
semifinals last season -- after losing 2-0
in the group game in Paris in
September.
"They have a lot of quality defensively
with short passes and everything,"
Guardiola said. "We had a good game,
but the most important thing was of
course today we did it again and against
a top side."
Manchester City defeated paris Saint-Germain 2-1 on Wednesday - as both teams advanced in the
Champions League - did cut to the heart of the contrasts in their performances.
photo: Ap
Australian bowling coach
Cooley back with
England ahead of Ashes
SportS DeSk
England have appointed
Troy Cooley as a consultant
pace bowling coach ahead of
the upcoming Ashes series,
reports BSS.
The England and Wales
Cricket Board announced
Wednesday that the 55-
year-old Australian will aid
the tourists' quicks in
Brisbane under the direction
of elite pace bowling coach
Jon Lewis.
He will then assist the
seamers in England's
second-string Lions squad
when they face Australia A
in a four-day match that
starts on December 9.
Cooley was England's
bowling coach during their
2005 Ashes series success
and subsequently took up a
similar role with Australia.
He joined the England and
Lions players during the
three-day intra-squad
warm-up match that started
in Brisbane on Tuesday.
ECB performance director
Mo Bobat said in a
statement: "It's great to have
someone with Troy's
expertise and experience
supporting our Ashes prep
and also working closely
with our Lions pace bowlers.
"Troy's understanding of
what it takes to be successful
in Australian conditions is
second to none, and the
players are sure to benefit
hugely."
Joe Root's men are
looking to regain the Ashes
from arch-rivals Australia
following a drawn 2019
series in England.
The first Test of an
upcoming five-match
campaign starts at
Brisbane's Gabba ground on
December 8.
Maradona is dead, long
live Maradona! World
honors 'Golden Kid'
SportS DeSk
The world will on Thursday mark the oneyear
anniversary of the death of Diego
Maradona, regarded by some as the best
player of all time and a man adored in his
home country Argentina despite, or perhaps
because of, his human flaws, reports BSS.
Argentine club matches are to mark a
minute of silence and players will arrange
themselves in a "10" formation on the pitch
to honor Maradona's famous jersey number,
while special masses will be held -- including
in the Buenos Aires slum where Maradona
grew up, to mark the day he passed away.
In Naples, where he spent part of his
career, two statues for the striker are set to be
unveiled. "We'll miss you for the rest of our
lives," said the Argentine Football League in
homage on the eve of the anniversary, with a
video of the life, goals, and many trophies of
the man nicknamed "Pibe de Oro" (Golden
Kid). Maradona died of a heart attack last
November at the age of 60, weeks after
undergoing brain surgery for a blood clot.
The former Boca Juniors, Barcelona and
Napoli star had battled cocaine and alcohol
addictions for years, and was suffering from
liver, kidney and cardiovascular disorders
when he died.His death shocked fans around
the world, and tens of thousands queued to
file past his coffin, draped in the Argentine
flag, at the presidential palace in Buenos
Aires during three days of national
mourning.
He may be dead, but in Argentina
Maradona is everywhere. From ubiquitous
mural frescos that portray him as a deity to
television series about his life and even a
religion bearing his name. His two goals in
the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals, which
saw Argentina triumph over England just
four years after the Falklands War, made
Maradona an instant hero.
EU calls for 'verifiable proof'
from China on Peng Shuai
SportS DeSk
The EU is calling on China to provide
"verifiable proof" of the whereabouts and
welfare of tennis champion Peng Shuai, who
has accused a powerful politician of sexual
assault, reports BSS.
"We urge a full and transparent
investigation" into the accusations, a
spokeswoman for the EU's diplomatic service
told AFP on Wednesday.
Peng, a 35-year-old Wimbledon and
French Open doubles champion, was not
seen for more than two weeks following her
allegations that former vice-premier Zhang
Gaoli, now in his 70s, forced her into sex
during a years-long on-off relationship.
On Sunday, official photos of a Beijing
tennis tournament showed Peng among
attendees, and she participated the same day
in a video call with the head of the
International Olympic Committee.
Last week, a Chinese state-run media outlet
published what it said was a screenshot of an
email by Peng which stated that the
accusations made by tennis star were "not
true" and that "everything is fine" with her.
"We have seen Peng Shuai's presumed
remarks and footage from her public
appearance. However, the reports, both about
the allegations of abuse and the fact that she
had not been seen for two weeks, remain very
worrying," the EU spokeswoman, Nabila
Massrali, said in a statement to AFP.
A below-strength South African team will be seeking a clean sweep when they play the Netherlands
in a three-match one day international series starting at SuperSport park on Friday. photo: Ap
Australia's Boyle
sees red as Hibs
lose to Ross County
SportS DeSk
Australia's Martin Boyle was
sent off following Hibernian's
1-0 loss at Ross County on
Wednesday, just days after his
hat-trick sent the Edinburgh
club into the Scottish League
Cup final, reports BSS
Boyle's treble was the
centrepiece of Hibs' 3-1 semifinal
win over Rangers at
Hampden Park on Sunday
that secured an appearance in
next month's final against
Celtic, the other half of
Glasgow's Old Firm.
But it was a different story
on Wednesday as Hibs
suffered a fifth consecutive
loss in the Scottish
Premiership.
Blair Spittal's 72nd-minute
goal separated the teams at
Dingwall after the substitute's
cross evaded everyone before
finding the back of the net.
To make matters worse for
Hibs, they also had Christian
Doidge sent off after he
appeared to rake his studs
down the leg of David
Cancola, with Boyle seeing
red for comments made
towards referee Gavin
Duncan after full-time.
"I know it's for something
the referee said Martin said to
him, which Martin says he
didn't," Hibs manager Jack
Ross told BBC Radio.
Below-strength South Africa
seek breathing room from
one-day series
SportS DeSk
A below-strength South African team will be
seeking a clean sweep when they play the
Netherlands in a three-match one day
international series starting at SuperSport
Park on Friday, reports BSS.
The series forms part of the International
Cricket Council's World Cup Super League
which is a qualifying tournament for the
2023 Cricket World Cup.
Hosts India and the best-placed seven
other teams will qualify automatically for the
World Cup, with the remaining five teams in
the Super League having to play in a tenteam
qualifying tournament to fill the other
two places in India.
Although the Covid-19 pandemic has
caused an imbalance in the number of
fixtures played in the league, South Africa are
currently in ninth place, outside the
automatic qualifying places.
Victory against the Netherlands and in a
home series against Bangladesh in March
will give the Proteas some breathing space in
their qualifying bid, with potentially difficult
series against India, Australia and England
to come.
South Africa have taken a minor gamble by
resting six key players, including regular
white-ball captain Temba Bavuma, ahead of
a Test series against India next month.
They were further weakened on
Wednesday when Cricket South Africa
announced that fast bowler Lungi Ngidi had
been withdrawn from the squad after testing
positive for Covid while fellow paceman
Lizaad Williams was injured.
South Africa should still be too strong for a
Netherlands team that failed to win a match
and were eliminated after the first round of
the recent T20 World Cup.
The hosts will nevertheless be wary of the
underdogs, who beat Ireland 2-1 in June in
the only series they have played in the league.
A month later South Africa could only share
the honours against Ireland, suffering an
upset defeat in one match with another game
being rained off.
The Netherlands team includes five South
African-born players, including veteran leftarm
spinning all-rounder Roelof van der
Merwe, 36, who played in 13 one-day
internationals and 13 T20 internationals for
South Africa between 2009 and 2011.
Squads: South Africa: Keshav Maharaj
(capt), Junior Dala, Daryn Dupavillon,
Zubayr Hamza, Reeza Hendricks, Sisanda
Magala, Janneman Malan, David Miller,
Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo,
Dwaine Pretorius, Ryan Rickelton, Tabraiz
Shamsi, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Khaya
Zondo.
Netherlands: Pieter Seelaar (capt), Colin
Ackermann, Bas de Leede, Scott Edwards
(wkt), Clayton Floyd, Brandon Glover, Boris
Gorlee, Viv Kingma, Fred Klaassen, Stephan
Myburgh, Musa Nadeem, Max O'Dowd,
Timm van der Gugten, Roelof van der
Merwe, Saqib Zulfiqar.
Djokovic won't want to risk
missing Australian Open - Tiley
SportS DeSk
Nine-time Australian Open champion
Novak Djokovic won't want to risk
missing out on winning a record 21st
Grand Slam title, tournament chief
Craig Tiley predicted Thursday as a
bumper series of lead-up events was
announced, reports BSS.
All players heading to Australia for
the opening major of the year in
January must be vaccinated against
Covid, casting doubt on whether the
Serbian world number one will play.
Djokovic, who is gunning for a
record-breaking 21st Slam crown, has
refused to reveal if he has been
inoculated. "He has not shared his
status with anyone," Tiley told sports
radio station SEN.
"He believes that what you say
around your medical position is private
and he believes people should have the
right to choose."
But Tiley added: "Novak has won
nine Australian Opens and I'm sure he
wants to get to 10.
"He's on 20 Grand Slam titles as is
Rafa Nadal, who is coming, and Roger
Federer, so one of them is going to
surpass the other.
"I don't think Novak will want to
leave that feat to someone else.
"One thing is for sure, if he is playing
here in January, then he is vaccinated."
Djokovic said at the weekend that
"we'll have to wait and see" when asked
whether he will be at Melbourne Park
to defend his title.
Currently around 85 percent of
players have got the jab and Tiley said
he expected that to reach between 95
and 100 percent by January.
"We take a lot of credit for that
because we put a vaccination
requirement on it (coming to
Australia)," he said.
His comments came as the seasonopening
schedule was released after
repeated delays as organisers worked
out what could be played where as
Australia gradually relaxes state and
international borders after long Covid
lockdowns. All Australian Open leadup
events took place at Melbourne Park
this year in bio-secure conditions after
players were forced to quarantine in
hotels for 14 days. Fully vaccinated
players are expected to be able to enter
Australia without being quarantined or
confined to bubbles in 2022, with
Sydney and Adelaide returning to the
calendar. Brisbane, Perth and Hobart,
which traditionally hold events, miss
out for a second year, as does
Auckland in New Zealand.
"It is not news to anyone that the
pandemic, closed borders and varying
rates of vaccination created a massive
Nine-time Australian open champion Novak Djokovic won't want to risk
missing out on winning a record 21st Grand Slam title. photo: Ap
challenge for us and led to the changes
specifically for the summer," said Tiley.
"It's why we waited as long as
possible to secure optimal conditions
for the players and fans in as many
locations as we could."
The men's ATP Cup, won this year
by a ruthless Russian team
spearheaded by Daniil Medvedev
and Andrey Rublev, and by
Djokovic's Serbia the year before,
will kick off the season on January 1
in Sydney.
FRIDAY, NoVeMBeR 26, 2021
10
Faria to perform
at Sharjah
TBT RepoRT
Bangladesh to mark Golden
Jubilee with 50 original songs
TBT RepoRT
Forty two singers have lent their voice in a unique
project involving 50 original songs marking the Golden
Jubilee of Bangladesh and also to encourage the
production of original songs.
The songs will be coming out gradually on the
YouTube channel of the record label Akkhor Records.
The project was initiated by promising composermusic
director-singer Muntasir Tusher, also the
proprietor of Akkhor Records. He has composed and
arranged music for the songs with the lyrics penned by
lyricists like Tofail Hossain Tapan, Rajib Hasan,
Hossain Munni and Hossain Rony. "The initiative was
taken to mostly patronise creation of original songs.
Now we are going through such a time that when the
old songs are being covered or having versions with the
music re-arranged. This project of 50 songs is an
attempt to push the practice of original songs forward
and motivate the practitioners," Tusher told on
Wednesday.
"A total of 42 artists have sung in this project. The
audios have been done meanwhile. We are expecting to
start creating videos for the songs by December," he
added. Tusher said, "Seventy per cent of the
performing artistes are new singers and the rest are
senior ones. It includes Kumar Bishwajit, Mehreen,
Badsha Bulbul, Priyanka Gope, Alok Sen, TW Sainik,
Parvez Sazzad, Pallabi, Rakiba Oyshi, Abanti Sithi,
Nandita, Monty, Sajal, Achol and many others."
"We have announced the project on Independence
Day this year by releasing a song sung by Pantha Kanai
from Akkhor Records. Our main target is to encourage
the creation of original songs," he said.
Akkhor Records released the song 'Shomukhe
Shonali Ahoban' in the voice of Pantha Kanai on its
YouTube channel in April this year, commemorating
the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh.
Sara Ali Khan in love with both
Akshay, Dhanush in 'Atrangi Re'
'Atrangi Re' trailer came out on Wednesday and the
Sara Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar and Dhanush starrer is
served with a generous dose of magical realism.
Sara's character Rinku is caught between two worlds -
her reality today and the one she lived aeons ago. The
director, however, explains that there is a lot more to
Atrangi Re than what we glimpse in the trailer,
according to a report of Indian Express.
Every character gets a grand entry here. Sara is
especially impressive as she shows growth as an actor.
When she asks if for once a woman can have everything
in life, she voices the hopes and aspirations of her
gender who juggle life, home and love on daily basis.
Atrangi Re brings back Dhanush that Bollywood loves
so much. His performance has a genuineness and
warmth that stays with you. We believe that the film
would have made for a spectacular theatrical watch, but
it will be streaming on Disney+ Hotstar instead. It is
also refreshing to hear Tamil lines being spoken in the
film by a Tamil actor, which shows that the director
cares about representation. Akshay's character is one
that is most surreal - he rides an elephant in the entry
shot and plays with fire during a magic show, and then
delivers a sermon from the scriptures.
While the nature of the movie is not clear, what is clear
is that it is an 'atrangi' (unusual/extraordinary) love
story with characters having "pure souls", as the
filmmaker himself suggests.
Earlier, Akshay gave audience the first looks at the
characters of Sara Ali Khan, Dhanush and himself from
the upcoming film. The motion posters were shared by
the actor on social media, giving a glimpse into the
colourful world of the three characters. While Sara plays
Rinku, Dhanush will be seen as Vishu.
Recently, in an interview with Mid-Day, director
Aanand L Rai opened up on the age-gap between the
cast. Since the time the film's cast was announced, it has
been criticised from all quarters due to the age
difference between Sara (26), and the two male actors
Akshay (54) and Dhanush (38).
Source: UNB
Dhallywood model, actress Nusraat Faria Mazhar is going
to perform at the famous Sharjah International Cricket
Stadium in UAE. The actress will be performing three
popular songs of her titled 'Pataka', 'Ami Chai Thakte' and
'Habibi' at the stadium.
The Bangladesh-UAE Friendship Festival will be held on
December 3 at 4 pm local time at Sharjah Stadium. People
can enjoy Faria's performances there and tickets will be
available for purchase from today onwards.
Regarding the context Faria said, "I have heard the name
of Sharjah Stadium a lot. It feels good to think that I will
perform in that stadium this time. I will be flying soon to
take part in the event. Hope you have a great time. "
Recently, shooting of the movie 'Bangabandhu', a stateof-the-art
initiative of Bangladesh and India, has started in
Bangladesh. Faria is playing the role of Mujib's daughter
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the movie based on the
biography of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman. Faria will return to the United Arab
Emirates on December 5 to join the film's shooting unit.
Saney's 'Unique Brothers Ltd'
creating buzz in the town
TBT RepoRT
With 1.15M followers on YouTube,
Unique Brothers Ltd is one of the
leading YouTube channels of
Bangladesh right now and the main
person behind is the famous
YouTuber of recent times Durjoy
Ahammed Saney.
Durjoy was born and brought up in
Keraniganj. He was born in 1999 and
in 2017 after passing out from school
and college, he took his first step
towards YouTube. He first bought a
digital camera as a hobby in
photography. But then watching
various contents of YouTube inspired
him to do something new, and that
was the start of his journey on
YouTube and the start of Unique
Brothers Ltd on YouTube.
Durjoy now is one of the top ten
YouTubers of Bangladesh with
millions of followers on Facebook and
YouTube. His amazing comic videos and contents different
from other general videos made people watch them more and
more. But the journey was not that easy at all and he didn't get
famous overnight. The videos he made didn't really get much
response at the begining. It took time for people to watch his
After several big-budget attempts at rebooting the 'Predator'
films, 'Predator 5' will debut on Hulu instead of in theaters,
showing the franchise has turned into a failure. 'Predator 5',
which is titled 'Prey', is reportedly set in the time of the
Comanche Nation 300 years ago. The film follows Naru (Amber
Midthunder), a female warrior forced to do her best Arnold
Schwarzenegger impression by protecting her tribe against an
alien predator. Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) directed
the film, and Patrick Aison (Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan) wrote the
script.
Attempts at continuing the 'Predator' franchise always come
up short. The original film, 1987's 'Predator', was an
unambiguous hit, earning more than $98 million at the box
office on a budget under $20 million. However, sequels haven't
been so lucky. Predator 2, a 1990 follow-up that's sans
Schwarzenegger, was a box office disappointment, earning
under $60 million. And additional installments also haven't
gained much traction. Predators, a 2010 reboot, earned more
than $127 million, but the 'Predator' follow-up didn't inspire a
direct sequel. Another franchise installment came eight years
later in director Shane 'Black's The Predator'; however, behindthe-scenes
drama, reshoots, and poor CGI plagued the
production. In the end, 'The Predator' was significantly changed
from the director's version and became a critical and box office
disappointment.
Source: IANS
videos and enjoy them.
Durjoy said in an interview that at first,
it used to make him really sad as he used
to work so much but didn't get a
response from people. But he didn't lose
hope and had belief in himself. And soon
the different and enjoyable contents of
his channel attracted the audience and
the channel is now one of the leading
YouTube channels.
After his channel Unique Brothers Ltd
touched the milestone of million
subscribers, he got the Silver and Golden
Play button from YouTube with a
verified sign. Durjoy says he loves
making the contents for people and it
gives him happiness. He is thankful to
his family and friends for always
encouraging him and staying by his side.
Durjoy Saney is a great inspiration for
young content makers nowadays. He
encourages everyone to focus on their
creativity and work on them and also
tells them to believe in themselves. It was
his belief in himself and his contents that led Durjoy to go
forward in life and his works. Durjoy wants to keep making
videos in the future for his followers who love his content. He
also cherishes the dream of working on the big screen
someday.
'Predator 5' plan shows how
badly the franchise has failed
H o R o s c o p e
ARIes
(March 21 - April 20) : You've decided
to let yourself go. You're tired of being
a perfectly controlled person. You
don't want to restrain your urges anymore!
Something in the air is different. You can express
your needs freely. Talk to your partner about your
desires. Your relationship can only benefit from
your current frame of mind.
TAURUs
(April 21 - May 21) : The present
planetary aspects could change your
approach to life. Almost compulsively,
you'll need to deepen your relationships
with the people you've recently met. You'll probably be
attracted to one of them, but be careful, as this person
might not feel the same way about you. Look on the
bright side. Why would you want to waste your energy
on someone who doesn't care about you?
GeMINI
(May 22 - June 21) : There might
be one aspect of your nature that
you ignore. You always need to be
the one in charge in a relationship.
It would be wise to change this. The planetary
configuration can help you do that now.
People will be much more receptive to your
natural charms if you can change your
controlling attitude!
cANceR
(June 22 - July 23) : Don't let your
emotions get the better of you today.
If you can harness them, you'll have
the vital force of ten people. You can be invincible.
You can do whatever you feel like doing and no
one can stop you. If you share this energy with
others, they might end up feeling like you do - the
best in your whole life.
Leo
(July 24 - Aug. 23): Finally, today,
you'll know what it feels like to be in
charge of things. You'll even feel
that you were born to do it. In any
case, you'll beautifully coordinate the day.
You're the maestro conducting a full orchestra.
You'll tell those around you what to do all day
long. Isn't it fun to feel such personal power?
VIRGo
(Aug. 24 - Sept. 23): Unlike other
occasions, today you'll display your
true feelings. Even when you hide
them they're still there, deep inside
you. You may think that showing your feelings is
a sign of weakness, but today you'll show the
world that your heart isn't made of stone, and
you'll let yourself go.
LIBRA
(Sept. 24 - Oct. 23): Your behavior is
about to improve your love life.
You're no longer hung up about
your body. You're no longer
distracted by it during passionate moments.
You'll focus on and enjoy the here and now, and
you won't be lost in your thoughts like usual.
You're a new person about to experience the
pleasures of life.
scoRpIo
(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) : You'll have a lot of
stamina in the weeks to come. Your
energy will increase, thanks to the
prevailing planetary transits. You
thrive on your romantic desires and your
creativity. You should try to stay in control of
situations. Don't let your or anyone else's
emotions take over your life.
sAGITTARIUs
(Nov. 23 - Dec. 21): You're a sensual
person. You have a strong emotional
force. Today that energy will increase
and express itself vigorously. The
people you encounter will be astonished by your
power. You could easily seduce the entire world.
Try to keep this energy under control. You could be
thrown off balance and into a situation you might
regret.
cApRIcoRN
(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20): You love to meet
new people and talk to them, but you
rarely get personally involved. You keep
a certain distance between you and the
person you're talking to. Today you'll wonder if
you're missing out on interesting experiences by
controlling your emotions so tightly, or if your
defenses are high for a good reason.
AQUARIUs
(Jan. 21 - Feb. 19) : You'll probably
feel a little lost today. You'll have to
come to a decision in the near future,
and your life will be greatly affected by
it. Should you listen to your desires? Should they be
in charge of your life? Or should you try to rein in
your feelings and take the more practical route? It's
something to think about.
pIsces
(Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) : Today you'll
change your approach to
relationships. In the past, they
were based on feelings, but now
you'll decide that they should be more
rational. You might feel that this sudden
change of attitude could detract from your
happiness, but it could also lead to stronger,
more stable relationships.
fRIDAY, NovEMBER 26, 2021
11
German economy weaker than expected in third quarter
FRANKFURT : Germany lowered its
growth estimate for the third quarter on
Thursday, as clouds gathered over the
economy with the coronavirus pandemic
resurging, reports UNB.
The federal data agency said the
economy expanded by 1.7 percent in the
July to September period compared to the
previous quarter, down 0.1 percentage
points from a preliminary figure published
last month.
"The German economy's recovery
continued through the summer," Destatis
said in a statement.
But growth was decelerating, with the
third quarter figure easing from two
percent posted in the second quarter.
With new curbs imposed again in recent
days over record new Covid infections,
experts have warned that output in the last
three months of the year will be hard hit.
Already, an acute shortage of raw
materials was crimping growth in
Europe's biggest economy.
Germany's Bundesbank is now
expecting output to be flat in the fourth
quarter. For the full year, the government
forecasts that GDP will come in at 2.6
percent rather than the 3.5 percent
previously predicted.
Germany announced record
coronavirus fatalities and infections
Thursday as its total death toll passed
100,000, with its most severe virus wave
yet breaking just as a new government
prepares to take the reins.
Europe's largest economy recorded 351
fatalities in the past 24 hours, bringing the
total death toll since the start of the
pandemic to 100,119, according to figures
from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI)
health agency.
A mobile court on Thursday has fined two pharmacies Tk 3,000 for keeping expired and unauthorized
drugs in Kumarkhali upazila. The court was conducted by Upazila Assistant Commissioner
(Land) Tamanna Tasneem.
Photo: M R Nayan
Ethiopian leader called
war 'epitome of hell.'
Now he's back
NAIROBI : Ethiopian Prime
Minister Abiy Ahmed is
already a veteran at
surprising the world in just
three years in power. He's
done it again this week by
announcing that, after a year
of waging war, he will lead it
from the battlefront, reports
UNB.
Abiy's rule has been short
in the vast sweep of Ethiopian
history, but he has spent
almost all his life preparing
for it. Told as a child by his
mother that she believed he
would lead Ethiopia, he now
speaks of martyrdom, if
needed, to hold the nation
together.
Abiy rocketed to office out
of seemingly nowhere in
2018 with vows of dramatic
reforms to a long-repressive
national government. He also
announced he would make
peace with neighboring
Eritrea after years of bitter
conflict. For that, the youthful
prime minister was awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize.
Then, less than a year later,
Abiy announced his military
was at war with the leaders of
Ethiopia's northern Tigray
region, who had dominated
the previous national
government but quickly
found friction with the prime
minister. Political differences
turned to gunfire in
November 2020.
Tens of thousands of
people have been killed since
then, and close to half a
million people inside Tigray
now face the world's worst
famine crisis in a decade, one
that the United States has
called "entirely man-made."
IEA urges OPEC to take 'necessary
steps' to lower oil prices
PARIS : The head of the International Energy
Agency on Wednesday called on OPEC and its
allies to take measures to help bring oil prices
down to "reasonable levels".
"I very much hope to see in the next meeting or
meetings they... make the necessary steps in
order to comfort the global oil markets and help
bring the prices down at reasonable levels," Fatih
Birol told reporters.
The head of the IEA, which unites oil
consuming nations, also took aim at Russia over
gas.
"Russia can easily increase exports to Europe
about 15 percent... and significantly comfort the
European gas markets," said Birol.
Natural gas prices in Europe have surged this
year and Russia, the region's major supplier, has
been slow to step up deliveries.
OPEC nations and their allies, including
Russia, agreed in July to slowly increase their oil
output each month towards pre-pandemic levels
as the world economy recovers from the Covid-
19 pandemic.
Americans are spending
but inflation casts pall
over economy
WASHINGTON : Americans are doing the main thing that
drives the U.S. economy - spending - but accelerating
inflation is casting a pall.
A raft of economic data issued Wednesday showed the
economy on solid footing, with Americans' incomes rising
and jobless claims falling to a level not seen since the
Beatles were still together.
The spike in prices for everything from gas to rent,
however, will likely be the chief economic indicator
Americans discuss over Thanksgiving Day dinner.
The Commerce Department reported that U.S.
consumer spending rebounded by 1.3% in October. That
was despite inflation that over the past year has
accelerated faster than it has at any point in more than
three decades.
The jump in consumer spending last month was double
the 0.6% gain in September.
At the same time, consumer prices rose 5% compared
with the same period last year, the fastest 12-month gain
since the same stretch ending in November 1990.
"Although consumer confidence has declined in the fall
because of high inflation, households continue to spend,"
said Gus Faucher chief economist at PNC Financial.
Personal incomes, which provide the fuel for future
spending increases, rose 0.5% in October after having
fallen 1% in September, which reflected a drop in
government support payments. Pay for Americans has
been on the rise with companies desperate for workers,
and government stimulus checks earlier this year further
padded their bank accounts. That bodes well for a strong
holiday season and major U.S. retailers say they're ready
after some companies, like Walmart and Target, went to
extreme lengths to make sure that their shelves are full
despite widespread shortages.
Gift campaigns and hygienic kits have been distributed in Pirganj upazila of
Thakurgaon. The materials were distributed at the office room of Pirganj CDP
organized by Good Neighbors Bangladesh on Thursday afternoon. During the
time, Pirganj Upazila Chairman Akhtarul Islam, Mayor Ikramul Haque, UP
Chairman Ekramul Haque and Pirganj CDP Senior Manager Peter Tuhin
Bairagi were among others present at the occasion. Photo: Bishnupada Roy
S (21) (325)
GD-1734/21 (6x5)
They have declined to move faster despite a
jump in prices to over $80 per barrel, a level that
many analysts worry could undermine the global
economic recovery.
They are due to review their strategy at a
meeting in December.
The United States and a handful of other oil
consuming nations announced on Tuesday
releases of supplies from their strategic
petroleum reserves.
The move is aimed at blunting soaring prices at
the pump that are biting into consumers'
pocketbooks and pushing up transportation
costs."The rise in oil prices is placing a burden on
consumers in these countries and also in several
emerging countries," Birol said.
"It also puts additional pressure on inflation in
a period where economic recovery remains
uneven and still faces a number of risks," he
added.Inflation is pushing central banks towards
raising interest rates, a move which would slow
the global economic recovery as well as dent oil
demand.
GD-1731/21 (10x4)
Friday, dhaka: november 26, 2021; Agrahyan 11, 1428 Bs; Rabius-sani 20, 1443 hijri
'We've a very transparent
democracy': FM Momen
DHAKA : Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul
Momen on Thursday said Bangladesh
maintains a "very stable and transparent"
democracy and the US might have
invited those countries with weak
democracies for its Democracy Summit,
reports UNB.
"We've had a stable democracy over the
last several years, a very clear and transparent
democracy. Free and fair voting is
happening," he told reporters while
responding to questions on Democracy
Summit. After attending a programme in
the city, the Foreign Minister voters can
cast their votes freely and anybody can
contest elections if they want.
In Myanmar, Afghanistan many cannot
vote, said the Foreign Minister. "In
our country, all people can vote. When
there's a will, there's a way. From that
perspective, we're much better."
Dr Momen said those who are weak
were convened and the US side said they
DSCC truck's proxy
driver remanded
over Notre Dame
student's death
DHAKA : A Dhaka court yesterday
placed the man that was driving a killer
garbage truck that ran over a student of
Notre Dame College, leaving him dead
on the spot, on three-day remand in the
case filed in this regard. Dhaka
Additional Magistrate Tofazzal Hossain
passed the order as police produced
Russel Khan before the court and pleaded
to place him on seven-day remand.
Father of victim Nayeem Hasan, a
second-year student of the college, filed
the case under Road and Transport Act
last night with capital's Paltan Police
Station. Russel, who was nabbed by the
people on the spot, was shown arrested
in the case. The Dhaka South City
Corporation garbage truck, being driven
by the proxy driver Russel, who is
not a regular staff of the DSCC but used
to work as a helper of the vehicle, hit
and ran over the Nayeem in Gulistan
area on November 24.
Rohingya relocation
will hold the Summit in two phases.
In the first phase, some countries that
are weak in democracy will join.
He said there is nothing to be worried
as the people of Bangladesh will work
for further strengthening the democracy,
if required. Dr Momen said the US
itself faced problems in the recent past
despite being an old democracy. Those
who are weak in democracy were possibly
called by the US. "I don't say they've
dropped us."
Since day one, the Biden-Harris
Administration has made it clear that
renewing democracy in the United
States and around the world is essential
to meet the unprecedented challenges of
time.
President Joe Biden stated on the
International Day of Democracy, "No
democracy is perfect, and no democracy
is ever final. Every gain made, every barrier
broken, is the result of determined,
Gender-based violence
Media must be more
responsible
DHAKA : Faruq Faisel, Regional Director
for ARTICLE 19 South Asia, has said
media must be more responsible in reporting
and broadcasting the incidents of gender-based
violence, reports UNB.
For this, he said, the journalists involved
in reporting also need training on the use
of gender sensitive language.
On the occasion of the 16 days of
activism and International Day for the
Elimination of Violence against Women
(VAW), ARTICLE 19 on Thursday hosted
an online discussion with experts and
activists on gender-based violence and the
systemic VAW issues in Bangladesh.
This year's United Nations theme is
"Orange the World: End Violence against
Women Now!".
Fawzia Khondker Eva, Core Group
Member of 'Sangat', a feminist network in
South Asia, Dr Snigdha Rezwana, faculty
at the Department of Anthropology at
Jahangirnagr University and Aparajita
unceasing work."
On December 9-10, President Biden
will host the first of two Summits for
Democracy, which will bring together
leaders from government, civil society,
and the private sector to set forth an
affirmative agenda for democratic
renewal and to tackle the greatest threats
faced by democracies today through collective
action.
The virtual summit will focus on challenges
and opportunities facing democracies
and will provide a platform for
leaders to announce both individual and
collective commitments, reforms, and
initiatives to defend democracy and
human rights at home and abroad.
For the United States, the summit will
offer an opportunity to listen, learn, and
engage with a diverse range of actors
whose support and commitment is critical
for global democratic renewal,
according to White House.
Sangita, a human rights activist and an
international award-winning independent
filmmaker, spoke at the event as discussants
with Faruq Faisel in the chair.
Eva said patriarchal mindset is the main
obstacle to women's development and
empowerment, not men. "Women and
girls are the first victims of poverty, violence
and even pandemics due to this
mindset. Everyone, especially the media,
must come forward to dispel this misconception."
Dr Rezwana called for practising sensitivity
and ethics in reporting the incidents
of gender-based violence in the media.
She said victims are emotionally and
socially devastated by the use of inappropriate
and sexiest language in describing
incidents of rape and violence against
women.
Aparajita Sangita said transgender characters
are portrayed in a very offensive and
negative way in dramas and movies.
379 refugees leave for Bhasan Char
MAnik BhuiyAn, noAkhAli CoRResPondenT
As many as 379 Rohingya refugees left
Chattogram port for Bhasan Char on a
naval ship Thursday morning. These
refugees are part of some 1,500
Rohingyas slated to be relocated to the
island in the seventh phase.
Shamsuddauja, additional refugee
relief and repatriation commissioner in
Cox's Bazar, said naval ship Penguin carrying
the forcibly displaced Myanmar
nationals left the port at 10am after an
overnight stay at a military transit camp
at Patenga in Chattogram.
According to Navy sources in
Chattogram, 257 Rohingyas in the first
group and 122 Rohingyas in the second
group were brought from Ukhia in seven
buses to the Navy's transit camp at
Patenga Wednesday, where initial health
check-ups were carried out and food was
provided to them.
The personal belongings of the 379
Rohingyas have already reached Bhasan
Char, the sources added.
About 1,500-2,000 Rohingya men,
women and children willing to go to
Bhasan Char in the seventh phase have
gathered at the temporary transit
point-Ukhiya Degree College-since
Tuesday noon.
Jamalida Begum, leader of the Arakan
Rohingya Society for Peace and Human
Rights (ARSPH) in Ukhia, said the residents
of the camp in Ukhia are terrified
after the killing of Rohingya leader
Mohib Ullah and the gun attack on a
As many as
379 Rohingya
refugees left
Chattogram
port for
Bhasan Char
on a naval
ship Thursday
morning.
These
refugees are
part of
some 1,500
Rohingyas
slated to be
relocated to
the island in
the seventh
phase.
Photo : TBT
madrasa in Rohingya camp. "So, most of
the Rohingyas are willing to move to
Bashan Char."
Meanwhile, Mohammad Rafiqul
Islam, officer-in-charge of Bhasan Char
Police, said about 1,500 Rohingya
refugees are expected to reach Bhasan
Char in the seventh phase. "All the
preparations have been completed to
receive them," he added.
In six phases, over 18,500 Rohingyas
have been shifted to Bhasan Char so far.
Bangladesh is currently hosting over
1.1 million Rohingyas in camps in Cox's
Bazar and Bhasan Char. Most of them
have come to this country since August
25, 2017, when the Myanmar military
launched a brutal offensive targeting the
Muslim ethnic minorities.
Arrest warrant
issued against
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi
DHAKA : A Dhaka court yesterday
issued arrest warrant against BNP senior
joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi
in a case lodged under Special Powers
Act with capital's Badda Police Station.
Dhaka Senior Special Judge KM Imrul
Qayesh passed the order, accepting the
charge-sheet filed in the case, public prosecutor
(PP) Tapos Kumar Paul told BSS.
"Thursday was fixed for passing order
on accepting the charge-sheet in the case
filed in January, 2015. But the accused
failed to appear before the court for the
proceedings. The court accepted the
charge-sheet and issued arrest warrant
against him," the PP said.
Dhaka for commencing
'Political Dialogue'
with EU next year
DHAKA : Dhaka is looking forward to
commencing the 'Political Dialogue'
with the European Union (EU) next
year, reports BSS.
This was revealed while EU
Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles
Whiteley met State Minister for Foreign
Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam at the latter's
office on Wednesday, a press release said
During the meeting Alam appreciated
the EU's role as a development and trading
partner amid the COVID-19 pandemic
and looked forward to commencing
the 'Political Dialogue' with the EU
next year.
The EU ambassador said that "certain
provision of concern for Bangladesh's
RMG industry is being looked into further
in Brussels".
The state minister underscored the
need for enhanced bilateral cooperation
in climate action.
Alam encouraged the European
Investment Bank to further support
regional hydropower projects, alongside
other solar regional connectivity projects.
He thanked the EU for its constructive
engagement with Bangladesh's
Universal Periodic Review (UPN) recommendations
implementation under the
UN Human Rights Council. They also
discussed some issues concerning labour
rights and migration. Ambassador
Whiteley briefed the state minister about
some of the upcoming bilateral engagements
in the coming year.
Ataullah Mandal
as Gazipur unit
acting general
secretary of AL
DHAKA : Awami League has named
Md Ataullah Mandal as the acting
general secretary of the party's
Gazipur metropolitan unit replacing
disgraced Zahangir Alam who has
recently been expelled from the party,
according a press release on
Thursday, reports UNB.
Ataullah was chosen by the Awami
League's Central Executive Committee,
said the release signed by the party's
Office Secretary Biplob Barua.
The post fell vacant on November 19
after Awami League expelled Zahangir,
also the mayor of Gazipur, for life over
allegations of making derogatory comments
on Bangabandhu and martyred
freedom fighters, He also lost primary
membership of the party.
Awami League has decided to take
legal action against Jahangir.
Winter actually
starts with
selling vapa
pitha in
different
corners of
Rajshahi city.
These popular
pithas are sold
from morning
till night. The
picture is taken
from Tultuli
Para, Rajshahi.
Photo :
star Mail
Hasina's strong solidarity
message to Erdogan
elevated ties : Envoy
DHAKA : Turkish Ambassador to
Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan
has listed two watershed moments of
solidarity that elevated the relations
between Bangladesh and Turkey to a
new height and could make it stronger
with the exchange of high-level visits
in the coming days, reports UNB.
He said there are some circles that
do not want to see Bangladesh and
Turkey stay so close but Turkey will
not fall into that trap if there is any
attempt to spoil the "long-standing
and deep-rooted" relations.
"There may be some disagreements,
which are sometimes unfortunately
misinterpreted, but we are too close,"
said the ambassador without naming
the circles. "You can interpret it as you
hear it. I am not here to name names."
Ambassador Turan made the
remarks while interacting with the
members of the Diplomatic
Correspondents Association,
Bangladesh (DCAB) at the embassy on
Wednesday.
DCAB Vice-President Md Mahfuzur
Rahman Mishu and General Secretary
AKM Moinuddin also spoke.
Referring to the two significant
moments of solidarity, he said Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina was one of the
first world leaders to send a strong
message of solidarity to President
Recep Tayyip Erdogan after the "very
unfortunate coup attempt" in Turkey
in 2016.
"No other countries, not even
Turkey's allies in Europe, sent a message
to the Turkish government but
Bangladesh did. That shows how close
the two countries are."
Referring to the second moment of
solidarity between the two countries,
the envoy said Turkey's First Lady
Emine Erdogan visited Bangladesh
immediately after the Rohingya crisis
had begun in 2017.
"Probably Turkey is the country
which understands Bangladesh the
best when it comes to hosting over a
million Rohingya refugees. We are
hosting more than 4 million refugees,"
he mentioned.
The ambassador said they are very
much present on the ground in Cox's
Bazar to support the Rohingyas and
the host communities. "However,
repatriation of the Rohingyas should
be the real solution to the crisis."
There was a strain on bilateral relations
as Turkey reacted following the
execution of war criminals and top
Jamaat leaders who had assisted the
Pakistan army and participated in
genocide during the nine-month
Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971
and committed crimes against
humanity.
About Turkey's current position on
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the
ambassador said they do not have a
position on political parties in
Bangladesh. "We have a position on
our bilateral relations."
Ambassador Turan said it is up to
Bangladesh and its people how they
will treat political parties and Turkey
respects Bangladesh's position as a
friendly country.
He said Turkey and Bangladesh
enjoy long-standing and deep-rooted
relations and nothing can change that.
Responding to a question on a highlevel
visit, the ambassador said
President Erdogan will visit
Bangladesh to take relations to the
next stage. "We are working on it and
trying to decide the best time to make
that happen."
Also, he said they see no obstacles to
further improving the relations
between the two countries. "We
should have some highest level bilateral
visits at the level of the president
and prime minister."
When such visits take place, the
ambassador said, the relations will
certainly become stronger with the
signing of many bilateral and business
deals. "Our relations are gradually
growing."
Steam generators installed
at Unit-1 of Rooppur NPP
DHAKA : All four steam generators
have been installed at the design position
at Unit-1 of the Rooppur Nuclear
Power Project (RNPP), reports UNB.
Specialists of Energospecmontazh, a
subcontracting organization of the
Rosatom State Corporation
Engineering Division, have carried out
assembly operations to install the
steam generators at their regular position
in the reactor compartment in
accordance with the approved schedule,
said the Rosatom in a statement on
Thursday.
"Another important stage of the
installation works has been completed
at Power Unit- 1", said Aleksey Deriy,
Vice-President of ASE and Director of
the Rooppur NPP Construction
Project.
The steam generators being installed
in the permanent position allows starting
welding works on the main circulation
pipeline to connect the primary
circuit equipment, such as: a reactor,
steam generators, main circulation
pumps, he added. The steam generators
were manufactured for the
Rooppur NPP at the Atommash plant
(branch of AEM-Technologies) in
Volgodonsk of Russia. Each complete
steam generator is about 14-meterlong,
more than 4 meters in width and
weighs 350 tons.
The steam generators are the main
equipment of the reactor plant circulation
circuit and are designed to transfer
the heat produced in the reactor
core to the secondary circuit, where the
steam to rotate the turbine to generate
electricity.
The Rooppur NPP is designed and
constructed by the Rosatom State
Corporation Engineering Division as
the General Contractor.
The plant will consist of two
Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactor
power units with an expected life cycle
of 60 years and a provision extension
for another 20 years.